Second Ward July 2021 E-Newsletter

 News from Cam Gordon 

Council Member, Second Ward 

www2.minneapolismn.gov/ward2/   

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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 1^st. 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 30^th: 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 3^rd 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 23^rd, 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 29^th 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 30^th 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 10^th 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 27^th Avenue and 29^th 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.

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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.