News from Cam
Gordon
Council Member,
Second Ward
www2.minneapolismn.gov/ward2/
secondward.blogspot.com
facebook.com/MinneapolisWard2
2021 City
Budget Revisions. In early July, the City Council approved $102 million for the first round
of spending from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation
to the City. This was a compromise budget that included most of the Mayor’s
recommendations as well as several amendments by the Council. The majority of
this first phase will go towards work in the Community Planning and Economic
Development department, including helping businesses recover from the pandemic
and rebuild after the unrest of the last year. It includes significant funding
for economic recovery ($37 million), affordable housing ($28
million), public safety ($13.7 million), and a
new Minneapolis Guaranteed Basic Income program
pilot ($3 million). I was glad to see that over $12 million will
cover costs within City government including furlough relief to help those city
workers who, in 2020, suffered significant economic loss as the City imposed
furloughs on all non-represented employee groups and reached agreements on
furloughs with four labor unions. Employees who were not required to take
furlough did not suffer a similar, furlough-related economic loss. The furlough
recovery funding reduces the inequity between these groups. The approved budget
also includes significant investments in violence prevention and in the highly
successful Green Cost Share program, which will help us build back more
sustainably and more resilient. The public safety initiatives in the police
department includes funding to hire civilians to do some clerical and analyst work
currently being done by licensed law enforcement officers. This will allow
those officers to be assigned to work elsewhere. The majority of the $102
million will be distributed beginning in August and the Mayor will put forward
his proposal for allocating the remaining approximately $169 million later
this year. More information can be found at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2021-00651
Revised
Budget Council Amendments. During the process, the Council made several amendments.
With my strong support, we allocated $300,000 to ramping up our Right to
Counsel program to ensure that every tenant facing eviction has legal
representation, and $500,000 to the department of Race Equity to support our
Truth and Reconciliation process. I was happy to see the amendment I authored
with my colleagues, Council Members Cunningham and Osman, pass that will add $1
million in 2021 to the Youth Coordinating Board, to address educational
disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, and provide $60,000 for youth outreach
workers in the Cedar Riverside area. Other amendments I supported included
funds for senior service providers, efforts to end human trafficking and sexual
exploitation and funding for food shelves and food distribution.
Some
Emergency Regulations Extended. The Governor ended the statewide peacetime
emergency on July 1st. In order to provide a planned, phased end to
the health emergency on July 1st, the City Council voted unanimously to extend
several policies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic that supported
businesses, workers, and residents. The City Council passed an extension to the
following local emergency regulations until September 30th: waiving late fees for
renewal of food, taxi, liquor, wine, beer, or catering licenses; suspending liquor license renewal
installment fees; easing
other regulations specific to restaurants and bars; setting rules for
third-party food delivery platforms and services; and granting an additional 80
hours sick leave available to certain employees to use for COVID-19-related
situations through December 31; and amending certain paid leaves for qualified emergency responders through Dec. 31,
2023. You can read the full resolution at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/5471/COVID-19%20Emergency%20Declaration%20Resolution%2007012021.pdf.
Free COVID-19
Vaccinations. It's easy to get a free COVID-19 vaccine if you still need yours. You
don’t need insurance, you don’t need an appointment, and you don’t need an ID.
In addition, through August 15, you'll get a free $50 Visa gift card when you
get the COVID-19 vaccine at a Hennepin County vaccine event. People 12 and
older can get their vaccine at the Hennepin County Public Health Clinic (525
Portland Ave S) each weekday – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 612-543-5555 to
schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also accepted. Alternatively, you can attend
an upcoming City-run vaccination clinic: Thursday, July 15 from 3 -7:00pm at
Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway Ave (18 and older);
Saturday, July 17 from 9:00am to 12noon at Park Avenue United Methodist Church,
3400 Park Ave (18 and older); Saturday, July 17 from 11:00am. to 1:00pm at
Camden Farmers Market, 4150 Dupont Ave N (12 and older); Saturday, July 17 and
Sunday, July 18 from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the PRIDE Festival at Loring
Park, 1382 Willow St – look for the booth, (12 and older). Find more
information, updates, and community vaccination clinic listings from the City
at https://coronavirus-vaccine-outreach-cityoflakes.hub.arcgis.com/.
Emergency
Rent and Utility Bill Assistance. Minneapolis renters who qualify can receive help
with rent and utility bills dated on or after March 13, 2020. To apply for
RentHelpMN or find more information, visit renthelpmn.org
or call 211. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to
answer questions about RentHelpMN 8:00am – 8:00pm Monday through Saturday. In
Minneapolis, you can also apply through Comunidades Latinos Unidos en Servico
(CLUES) at 651-362-0162; New American Development Center (NADC) with Assistance
in Somali, Oromo and Amharic at 612-823-0180 and the NorthPoint Health and
Wellness Center at 612-767-9198.
Help
with Electric Bills. Customers who have fallen significantly
behind on their Xcel Energy electric bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be
eligible for a new program called the Payment Plan Credit Program, which
forgives up to 75% of their past-due balance when customers enroll in a payment
plan and stay current on that plan. The Payment Plan Credit Program is
available to Xcel Energy residential electric customers who have between $1,000
to $4,000 in past due charges. Customers can enroll through the My Account
feature at www.XcelEnergy.com, or contact customer care at 1-800-895-4999 for more
information. Additional information is available at www.xcelenergy.com/EnergyAssistance and www.xcelenergy.com/PaymentPlanCredit
Federal
Grant for COVID-19 Response. In July the Council accepted a grant from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for over $4 million
through May 31, 2023, to address COVID-19 health disparities among high-risk
and underserved populations. This will help the city work with community partners
to implement strategies that will decrease disparities and the overall rates
and impact of COVID-19 as well as expand existing and develop new mitigation
and prevention resources and services. among populations at higher risk and
that are underserved.
Eviction
Moratorium Ends. With the end of the State peacetime emergency
preventing landlords from evicting residents for not paying rent, Gov. Walz
has signed the Housing Omnibus bill into law. The law funds housing assistance
programs at the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. It also includes a policy
guiding landlords and tenants in an orderly transition. The policy requires a
landlord who intends on filing an eviction for non-payment of rent to provide a
written notice to a tenant, along with information about rental assistance, 15
days before filing an eviction proceeding with the courts. This law also
prohibits a landlord from evicting a tenant if the tenant has applied for
rental assistance at the state or local level. The tenant must be able to prove
that they’ve applied for rental assistance. If you think you need help or
want legal advice, please reach out to Home Line’s tenant hotline (Metro:
612-728-5767 or homelinemn.org) or your local legal services organization.
You can also find information at www.LawHelpMN.org.
Right to
Counsel. I have introduced a Right to Counsel ordinance that will guarantee that
everyone in our city has access to an attorney when they are facing eviction.
The City has been funding access to counsel for a limited number of people
through Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and ensuring that this right is extended to
everyone facing eviction will require a greater investment. I believe this is a
commitment we need to make and will work to get it budgeted once the ordinance
is passed.
Rooming House/Single
Room Occupancy (SRO) Ordinance. The proposal I have developed with coauthors Jeremy
Schroeder and Lisa Goodman, creating a regulatory framework to allow for new —
and to better regulate existing — rooming houses, single room occupancy units,
and congregate living facilities was given a hearing in June at the Planning
Commission and will be coming to a Council Committee on July 13, for another
hearing and consideration. The proposal includes amendments to both the zoning
and housing maintenance codes. This is following up on an amendment I made to
the Comprehensive Plan and will help address a gap on the affordable housing
continuum by creating a set of regulations for units that may share a kitchen
and/or a bathroom. Rooming-type units are currently allowed only when
establishing housing with supportive services (e.g., supportive housing,
community residential facilities, assisted living, nursing homes). If the
amendments are approved, single-room type housing will be classified as a type
of congregate living within the zoning code and would not require supportive
services. You can read more about this in a recent article in MinnPost: https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2021/07/in-a-bid-to-offer-more-affordable-housing-options-minneapolis-council-members-propose-bringing-back-the-rooming-house/,
and also see the ordinance proposals here: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2020-00702.
National
Night Out is August 3. National Night Out (NNO) takes place
every year on the first Tuesday in August. Events are held in neighborhoods
across the city. This gives you and your neighbors a chance to get to know each
other and build relationships that can help keep your neighborhood safe and
healthy. You can find more information and register your event at
the Minneapolis Police department’s National Night Out webpage at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/nno/. On the 3rd I hope to stop by some events
and hope to see some of you there.
Police
Oversight Teach-In. I am seeking input on my proposed Police Oversight Ordinance amendments.
I have already met with several groups and thank those who participated in the
Ward 2 Forum in June where we presented a rationale and framework for amending
the ordinance. Please feel free to view and share the forum with others.
A video recording of it can be found at https://www.facebook.com/MinneapolisWard2/videos/351512933304658.
I would be happy to provide an overview of the proposal to you, your block
club, organization, or other group that you are part of. If you are
interested in hosting a forum/teach-in, please contact let me know and I would
be happy to set that up - Cam.gordon@minneapolismn.gov.
Public Safety
Charter Amendment Update. On July 2, the City Council
withdrew the Transforming Public Safety Charter Amendment it initiated and sent
forward to the Charter Commission earlier this year. This will eliminate
confusion at the ballot box by presenting voters only the community-led
proposal to create a new Department of Public, which could bring together law
enforcement and violence prevention, mental health response, and other public
safety strategies. While there are minor differences in the language of the two
proposals, I see no functional difference and feel certain that it will be
deemed a necessity to maintain a division of law enforcement in Minneapolis. State
and federal law require us to have licensed law
enforcement to conduct a number of essential public safety duties, so it is
clear that they are necessary components of our public safety system.
Audit Report
on Field Training Officer Program. The City Council’s Audit Committee has
received a report on the Minneapolis Police Department’s Field Training Officer
(FTO) program. The study confirmed some of our worst suspicions about this
problematic program and found serious problems in the program, including lack
of oversight, lack of training requirements for FTOs, gaps in communication, a
lack of regular meetings and standardization, and no performance reviews. It is
worth remembering that Derek Chauvin was working as an FTO at the time of Mr.
Floyd’s death, actively training two other officers who have also been charged
in his murder. You can find the report at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/AU2021-00007
Police
Overtime Reserve Funds Released. In June, the City Council received a presentation about
the Police Department's 2021 overtime usage and forecast for the remaining year
and voted to appropriate the $5 million dollars from the Public Safety Staffing
Reserve fund to cover Accelerated retirements and separations due to disability
leave and worker's compensation claims continue and since January the MPD
attrition has already exceeded typical attrition by approximately 160
FTE's. In addition to the currently budgeted $3.5 million for overtime in 2021,
MPD projects a further cost of $5 million due to the decrease in
capacity. The increase in overtime cost covers less than 20% of the
operational capacity decrease due to the increase in attrition.
Auto
Theft Prevention Grant. The City has been awarded and, with my
support, accepted a grant award from the Minnesota Department of Commerce
for over $1.2 million for auto theft prevention. The funds will run
through June 30, 2023 and will support our Auto Theft Bait Vehicle program and
will consider all data on car-jackings and incorporate this information in its
enforcement efforts. You can find more information, including a presentation
with further details at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2021-00648
Community
Safety Update. On June 24 the Council received a comprehensive safety update from
our Police Department and our Office of Violence Prevention. It provides
detailed information about violent and nonviolent crimes trends, illegal guns,
auto thefts, the Next Step program, Community Outreach and Support trial
program and the MinneapolUS Strategic Street Outreach violence interrupter efforts.
Please find more details at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/5443/CommunitySafetyUpdate%2006242021.pdf
Unarmed
Traffic Safety Division. In June the Council received a report on the design and
recommendations for the creation of an unarmed Traffic Safety Division, to be
housed in a department outside of the Police Department, to be responsible for
enforcement, education, and other activities that increase traffic safety. You
can learn more at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2021-00474
Behavioral
Health Crisis Services Contract. The Council has approved a two-year, $6
million contract with Canopy Mental Health & Consulting/Canopy Roots to provide
mobile behavioral health crisis teams. These unarmed professionals will respond
directly to nonviolent 911 calls for service, where someone is having a mental
health crisis or just needs help. Starting later this summer, mobile mental
health crisis teams will be available citywide, 24/7/365. I see this as a major
milestone in our efforts to transform our approach to public safety in
Minneapolis and a direct result of the Safety for All budget amendment last
year that allowed us to invest in a new “fourth response” to add to
firefighters, ambulances, and law enforcement. You can learn more at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/file/2021-00736. The Canopy Roots Team
is now hiring to provide 24-hour crisis response services for the city of
Minneapolis as an alternative to police response to mental health emergencies. https://www.canopymhc.com/careers
Other Public
Safety Alternatives. You can find a helpful summary of non-police public
efforts in the second quarter report on progress around the various pilots and
implementation projects for alternatives to police response at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2021-00332.
Line
3 Resolution. The Council unanimously passed a resolution I coauthored,
expressing the City's strong opposition to the Enbridge Energy Line 3 tar sands
oil pipeline. The unprecedented heat waves in the Pacific Northwest recently
underscore what we already know: for our civilization to survive, we need to
leave fossil fuels in the ground. We also need to listen to Indigenous
communities that are clearly stating that they do not want this pipeline to
cross the lands and waters of northern Minnesota. Those places are incredibly
valuable - and they are also very vulnerable. This action is in line with other
actions we've taken. We declared a climate emergency, have called for fossil
fuel divestment, and have opposed other oil pipelines, including Keystone XL. I
believe that this action reflects the values of the vast majority of our
residents and the resident of Minnesota. I'm hopeful that this will help build
momentum to end work on this terrible pipeline. You can find the resolution at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/RCA/18177/Enbridge%20Energy%20Line%203%20Pipeline%20Resolution.pdf
Truth and
Reconciliation Commission. The City Council has directed our staff to formally
establish our Minneapolis Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The
cross-cultural commission examine the experiences of American Indians and
Black/African descendants, drawing on narratives from each groups’ historical
experiences to tell the truth about the level of harm each group has endured.
The workgroup has spent the last six months examining the meaning of
reconciliation and has established definitions for priority groups outlined in
the resolution – American Indians and Black/African descendants – and clarified
the importance of focusing on these communities. The workgroup has also
outlined a vision statement for the truth and reconciliation process, provided
guidance on implementation in Minneapolis and made recommendations to partner
with the City in appointing commissioners. The City Council included $500,000
to support the City’s truth and reconciliation work. To learn more visit https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/coordinator/race-equity/what-we-do/ongoing-work/truth-reconciliation/,
and https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/RCA/18162/Truth%20and%20Reconciliation%20Workgroup%20Presentation.pdf.
Racism Public
Health Emergency. In June the Council received an update on the work that has resulted
from the Racism as a Public Health Emergency resolution that was passed in
July 2020. We learned of work being done across departments to address racism
in Minneapolis. I encourage you to review the work here https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/RCA/8106
and share your thoughts with me.
Minimum Wage
Increase. Thanks to the Minimum Wage Ordinance we passed 4 years ago this month, on
July 1, the minimum wage in Minneapolis went up to $12.50 for businesses with
100 or fewer employees and $14.25 for businesses with more than 100 employees.
Tips and gratuities do not count as part of the payment of minimum wage. The
City’s Department of Civil Rights oversees enforcement of the municipal minimum
wage, and violations of the minimum wage ordinance can be reported by calling
311, filling out a form at http://minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov/report-a-violation.html,
or in person at City Hall, Room 239. For more information about the ordinance,
visit minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov, call 311, or email minwage@minneapolismn.gov.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is conducting an independent,
comprehensive study of the economic impacts of this process.
Semi-Truck
Parking. The ordinance to prohibit large truck parking citywide passed the
Transportation and Public Works committee, with four votes in favor and one
abstention. Then on July 2 the Council discussed it and after considering an
amendment proposed by Council Member Osman, the full Council voted to refer it
back to the committee so that the amendment could be worked on more. Still, I’m
optimistic that it will pass after it is reviewed again and possibly amended to
reduce the fine and also pass a staff direction that would require staff to
assist in finding off street parking options. If it passes the Council at our
next meeting on July 23rd, that will start six months of education
and outreach to drivers and the industry, and ultimately the City will start
enforcing the ordinance in January of 2022. To see the ordinance and the next
steps in the process, go here: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2019-00855.
Open Streets
Franklin and East Lake Street Canceled. With ongoing
health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, and businesses and
organizations experiencing uncertainty about returning to work
in-person, the Open Streets events planned for Franklin Ave. and East Lake
in July have been canceled. Open Streets Minnehaha is stills set for October
24th, and any future closures will be announced eight weeks prior to the
reserved date. http://www.ourstreetsmpls.org/
Household
Hazardous Waste Collection. Hennepin County is hosting community Household Hazardous
Waste collection events for residents to properly dispose of unwanted household
products including paints, chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, and
fuels. The events will be held from 9 am – 4 pm on July 30-31 at Anthony
Middle School (5757 Irving Ave S); and, August 13-14 at South High School (3131
19th Ave S). People must wear masks and remain in their vehicles. Visit https://www.hennepin.us/residents/recycling-hazardous-waste/collection-events
to learn what items will be accepted at the event, review safety guidelines,
and view all 2021 events.
Public Works
launches Clean City webpage. The Public Works departments has launched a new Clean
City webpage. Visit it to learn how you can volunteer to help keep Minneapolis
beautiful and take part in one of our Clean City programs. https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/clean-city/
New IT
Director. Paul Cameron has been appointed chief information officer (CIO) and will
head up our Information and Technology Department He was serving as the interim
CIO and has worked in the City’s IT Department for two decades.
The City’s
New Victim Help Page. I was excited to see a new victim help page set up by
the City Attorney’s Office. The page explains the steps of the legal process,
guides you through the court process, and provides important contact
information, including how victims and witnesses in
cases being prosecuted can be assisted and supported by the attorney’s office.
Please check it out at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/victim-help/
Study of Sanctioned Encampments. On June 29th Jeremiah
Ellison and I sponsored a City Council Study Session about unsheltered
homelessness, and specifically about encampments. We heard from local experts
and community leaders from Denver and Seattle about their efforts to respond to
encampments. Those cities have had some success allowing sanctioned encampments
and offered insights for how this could work in Minneapolis. I am concerned
that the current way we are responding to the encampments, where the closure of
one encampment usually leads to the creation of another - is not working. This
study session provided valuable information about alternatives approaches. You
can watch the Council's Study Session on unsheltered homelessness and
encampments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAdUSxuxNl0.
Charter Commission Response to Rent Stabilization Charter Proposal. I was
disappointed to see that the Charter Commission recommended that the Council
reject the idea of allowing the people of Minneapolis to put forward a rent
stabilization ordinance by initiative. In my opinion, having a resident-led
option provides a check and balance on a council initiative, or lack of
initiative, that may not meet the needs or will of a majority of the people. In
the weeks ahead I will be making the case that the Council should reject these
antidemocratic impulses and put forward the good proposals we submitted to them
months ago. I encourage others to do the same.
Minneapolis
Homes Financing Projects. On July 2, the City Council approved $13.7 million of
financing for Minneapolis Homes programs, including support of $4.9 million
from American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding sources. This includes $8.8 million for 36 projects that will result in 62
ownership housing units. Of those, 35 will be affordable to households below
60% of Area Median Income (AMI); 27 affordable below 80% AMI; half are designed
to ensure affordability in perpetuity, with 13 designed to a passive standard
and 7 designed to a net zero standard. An additional $4.9 million of ARP
financing will be allocated to 628 E Franklin, where $2.4 million will support
rehabilitation of this historic building and the rest will provide 35
households at risk of displacement an average of $70,000 each of acquisition
and rehabilitation through perpetually affordable housing investments. Federal
funds will also provide $1 million to the Homeownership Opportunity
Minneapolis program and increases down payment investment to households below
60% AMI to $20,000; and $2 million towards deferred loans of up to $25,000 to
homeowners with rehabilitation needs, funds will revolve upon repayment.
For more information see https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/homes-development-assistance/minneapolis-homes/
and https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/homes-development-assistance/owner-occupied-home-improvement/.
Seward Encampment Along 30th Avenue. Following the
community meeting I convened in Matthews Park in June, the Ethiopian church,
Debreselam, met with American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC),
and with help from the City and the County has developed a plan for closing the
encampment on their property, just north of the Greenway between 30th and 31st
Avenues. This include a service tent that will be operated by AICDC that is now
up on the site to bring services to the residents. My thanks to Mike Goze from
AICDC, the leadership at the church, Sheila Delaney, the Mayor's office, and
our county and city staff for helping to develop what I think is an innovative
and hopeful plan for a compassionate closure of the encampment in Seward. AICDC
is also partnering with community members including the American Indian
Movement patrol to enhance security and safety. It is my understanding is that
the church hopes to have the property vacated and cleaned up for an event they
are planning for later this month and the City staff are preparing to assist in
clean up efforts.
10th Ave
Bridge and Water Main Project. To facilitate the 10th Ave SE
bridge rehabilitation, West River Parkway will be closed to motor
vehicle traffic from July 12 to September 1
between 13th Ave S and 22nd Ave S. The 10th Ave SE bridge will remain closed to
all traffic including, vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians until fall 2021. This
closure will also help with repairs to Bridge #9 (serving the Dinkytown
Greenway) by the University of Minnesota. Please stay away from areas
where work is taking place and follow all posted detours and signage. Work
requires the use of heavy equipment that will increase noise, vibration, and
dust in work areas. Learn more about details on the
10th Ave repairs, schedule and bridge deck changes at www.10thavebridge.com and Bridge 9 improvements at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/bridge-9/.
The Local
Historic Designation of the Glendale Townhomes was considered by the Council’s
Business Inspections, Housing and Zoning Committee in June. It was
opposed by City Staff, the property owner (the Minneapolis Public Housing
Authority) and 4 members of the Committee. Following a lengthy
discussion, I was unsuccessful in getting the Heritage Preservation Commission’s
Recommendations for designation approved by the committee. When a motion to
recommend denial was made, I was able to convince committee members to approve
continuing (or tabling) the item until next committee meeting, and possibly
longer. I have already met with the core team of Prospect Park residents
who have been assisting me in the effort as I am reviewing options moving
forward. This includes trying to pass a separate resolution that would require
the area to remain as Public Housing into the future regardless of the historic
designation and reducing the size of the proposed historic district. For more
see, including access to the staff report and a video of the committee meeting,
visit https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/MarkedAgenda/BIHZ/2565.
St. Stephens
Housing Proposal. I have learned details of a proposal by St. Stephens Housing to develop a
supportive housing and emergency shelter facility at 27th Avenue and
29th Street on the property currently owned by the operators of
China Wok. The facility would include units for approximately 40 long
term residents with 60 emergency shelter beds in a 4-story building. They are
seeking funding, have a purchase agreement, and have assured me that they will,
or have already, reached out to the neighborhood association.
The Market at
Malcolm Yards. The City Council has approved the liquor license for The Market at Malcolm
Yards, at 501 30th Ave SE. This license will allow a food hall to open in a few
weeks, in the former Harris Machinery building on the north side of the
University Transitway. This is the first phase in the overall Malcolm Yards
development that will ultimately include a park, hundreds of units of housing
(including affordable housing) and more.
Planters by
Pratt School. I was happy to work with Prospect Park residents to install the
planter-protected bump-outs on Malcolm Ave SE, adjacent to Pratt School. I
appreciate the Prospect Park Association’s leadership on this traffic calming
intervention, which I hope the City will use as a model for future similar
low-cost, “tactical” traffic calming.
Traffic
Calming for Southeast Franklin. I have won agreement from Public Works staff for some
short- and medium-term improvements that the City will make to Franklin Ave SE.
The first piece of good news is that Public Works has programmed the upgrade of
the pedestrian curb ramp at the northwest corner of Malcolm Ave SE and Franklin
Ave SE for next year, 2022. Staff are also planning to implement a variety of
lower-cost, short-term traffic calming measures in the next month or so. These
include a double yellow line in the middle of Franklin, rather than the
existing dashed line, adding a westbound-facing speed limit sign directly
adjacent to the railroad tracks, swapping out the small traffic signal heads
for City-standard 12-inch signal heads, refreshing the crosswalk pavement
marking, replacing the bike route signage, and completing another speed study
on Franklin. I’m very supportive of these smaller-scale measures as well. It’s
important to me to ensure that all of our streets, including this portion of
Franklin, are safe and convenient for residents and everyone who walks, rolls,
bikes, and drives. I think these improvements will help make Franklin safer,
and I really appreciate people’s organizing to make that happen.
Update on TCE
Soil Vapor Pollution. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is taking
some next steps on the General Mills site trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination
to the groundwater and soil vapor in Southeast Como. This site was listed as a
Superfund site on Minnesota’s “Permanent List of Priorities” in 2016. Since
that time, MPCA has been testing properties throughout the area and installing
vapor mitigation systems where necessary. The Site is currently in the process
of being evaluated for listing on the U.S. EPA’s National List of Priorities
(NPL) as a federal Superfund site. I support this and believe the listing on
the federal list could provide additional resources and technical expertise to
support long-term clean-up efforts. MPCA is supportive of listing the Site on
the NPL to assist in protecting the residents, workers and businesses in
the area from current and future exposure to the contamination identified. On
June 30th, I joined the public meeting MPCA held in collaboration with EPA, and
the Southeast Como Improvement Association (SECIA) to update community members
on the Site, answer questions and discuss future next steps and timeline. I
plan to work closely with the MPCA, EPA and neighborhood association to support
these efforts in any way I can.
Como
Congregational Church. The Designation for the Como Ave Congregational Church
was reviewed and considered after a hearing at the June 22nd Heritage
Preservation Commission. I spoke in favor of the designation, as did a
few others, but the Commission agreed with the staff and has recommended that
it not be designated. The staff report has been published online and can
be found at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Board/Agenda/HPC/2564.
The matter, and HPC recommendation, now goes to the BIHZ Committee of the City
Council for review.
City Update
Sign-Up. You can subscribe to get City updates on a variety of topics by email or
text at https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/MPLS/subscriber/new
Office Hours
in the Ward. In-person office hours have resumed. Cam will be holding open office
hours on Mondays from 9:30 – 11:00am as follows:
First and Third Mondays
at Dogwood Café at4021 E Lake St.
Second and Fourth Mondays
at Black Waffle and Coffee at 1500 Como Ave SE.
