Finding a Green Way to Govern

The Council's Transportation and Public Works committee has received a very interesting report on single-stream and dual-stream recycling systems.   In a single-stream system, residents place all recyclables in the same container.  In a dual-stream system, residents place all containers (glass, aluminum and plastic) in one container, and all fibers (paper, newspaper, cardboard) in another.  Some key takeaways: If we transition to single or dual sort, we are not likely to see any significant decrease in the revenue we make from recycled material, but are likely to see an increase in the recycling rate and the efficiency of our recycling service. Many, if not most, other major cities in the US have switched from the multi-sort systems that most cities adopted in the 1980s to single- or dual-stream collection. Customers of single and dual stream systems like them. It is possible to switch to a dual or single stream system without increasing costs. The co...

There's been another tragic crash that has resulted in the death of a bicyclist in Ward 2.  Last Saturday, 61-year old Thomas Malloy was biking to worship in Saint Paul.  He was attempting to cross West River Parkway from the bike trail to the ramp up to the East Franklin bridge when he was hit by a truck driven by Wesley Gubbin.  According to what I've read in the media and heard from staff, Mr. Gubbin was driving north in the southbound lane, in order to pass vehicles that stopped - presumably conscientious folks taking the time to let Mr. Malloy cross the street.  Mr. Gubbin then drove away. I am pleased to hear that Mr. Gubbin - likely spurred on by the fact that the police had a good description of his truck - has turned himself in.  It makes sense that he's been charged with criminal vehicular homicide, and he faces serious consequences for his reckless behavior. In my opinion, this is not an infrastructure problem, but a problem of driver...

This morning the council took a step towards spending tax payer dollars in a more socially reponsible and just manner.    Following up on recommendations from the Disparity Study conducted last year, the Council has agreed to put in place our first-ever goal for the percentage of minority- and woman–owned businesses city government will purchase products and services from.   The goal is 25% .   T his means that each department will review, track and report on its purchasing practices and that Civil Rights staff will assist them in finding certified minority or woman owned companies available to provide the products and services they need.   There are a wide variety of private businesses we use for goods and services including food and beverages, legal services, equipment repair, printing services and more.   Also, for the first time, goals will be placed on grant recipients who may be nonprofit service providers to also purchase goods and services fro...

Despite the unfortunate destruction of one of the critical pieces of the farmers market community's recommended ordinance changes by the Council this morning, there's a lot of other good stuff in this ordinance. Most importantly, our ordinances will no longer be neutral on whether or not the food at farmers markets is local.  During the growing season, 60% of vendors at farmers markets will have to be agricultural producers, bringing foods like tomatoes and green peppers, or meat, eggs, and cheese to market.  Distributors will still be allowed, but they have to be part of the other 40%, and will not be allowed to sell foods that are available locally and in season.  (It's important to note that these changes don't apply to the Municipal market, which is governed by a different ordinance than the other farmers markets in town.) The  Mini Markets that were created in 2007 have been given legal standing (they weren't part of our ...

The farmers market ordinance that my office has been working on for a year passed the Council this morning.  I will be writing another post about all of the good that I believe it will do, and thanking those involved in drafting it. However, one major provision that the farmers market community asked for was deleted by the Council.  This was a requirement that Farmers Markets and Produce and Craft Markets be nonprofits, or the projects of nonprofits.  This was not an idea generated by City staff, but by the farmers market community itself.  They were looking to make clear to everyone that farmers markets are organizations established for the common good, and that this is an essential part of the identity of farmers markets. I beleive that this is summer we all know and appreicate about farmers markets today and that it is something most Minneapolitans value and would like to see continued. The fact is that all large-scale farmers market...

This morning, the Council voted to include bicycles in the definition of traffic.  In itself, this change is neither positive nor negative.  Bicycles were already defined in both State statute and City ordinance as vehicles, and vehicles are part of the definition of traffic. From the state law (which Minneapolis adopts by reference): 169.222 OPERATION OF BICYCLE. Subdivision 1.Traffic laws apply.Every person operating a bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this chapter, except in respect to those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles and in respect to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature cannot reasonably be applied to bicycles.  [emphasis added] And from the City ordinance before this change was made: Traffic: Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together, while using any street or highway for purposes of travel....