Finding a Green Way to Govern

Please join me and my Aide tonight at 9pm at the corner of Bryant and Lake to protest the brutal, unconscionable attack against Kristen Boyne one week ago. All of us, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, must come together to send the message that homophobia, hatred and violence have no place in our city. For more information, go here .

In December, the City started a six-month-long test of several new types of parking meters. Our current parking meters will need to be replaced in the next few years, and this will help is determine what kinds of meters we want. I am very interested making sure new meters accept credit cards. Six different types of meters are being tested on six separate blocks around the city. Four test areas include multi-space meters. There are test areas in Stadium Village, Dinkytown, Old St. Anthony, Eliot Park and downtown. Staff will evaluate the performance of the meters and you can help by sharing their feedback with Please direct all questions or concerns to tim.drew@ci.minneapolis.mn.us and fill out a short survey here by clicking on "parking meter testing" then select "filling out a short survey online." Here are the details about the various locations: Warehouse District Single-space parking meters These meters are similar to Minneapolis’ current parking meters, but un...

The University has been updating its master plan for the Twin Cities Campus for several months. Back in 2007 and 2008 they hosted a series of community meetings and many people have been wondering about results. Now the U appears ready to share plans and take input. People close to the campus are especially concerned about future plans to grow or expand the campus and seeing the U identify a border. I just received the following information: "...There will be four open forums to preview the master plan recommendations in the first week of February: • Monday, February 2, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, HHH Center, 301 - 19th Avenue, on the West Bank. • Tuesday, February 3, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union, 300 Washington Avenue SE, East Bank. • Wednesday, February 4, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., Room 33 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul (Falcon Heights) campus • Thursday, February 5, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Van Cleve Park, 901 - 15th Avenue SE, Minneapolis. Dra...

The Como neighborhood has had a focus on cleaning up pollution and environmental stewardship for years. In the three short years I have been in office they have been pushing themselves, the businesses around them, and the City as a whole to do more to address the environmental issues that affect us all. Most recently they have embarked on a Green Village effort that I am hoping will help inform and inspire the University District Partnership Alliance and, eventually, the City as a whole. For these reasons, and more, I was especially honored and delighted to present the following Resolution to Wendy Menken, president, and Jake Jacobi, Environment Committee Chair, of the Southeast Como Improvement Association this morning at the City Council meeting. I was very glad that Wendy specifically mentioned Environmental Coordinator, Justin Eibenholzl , who has key to these efforts for years. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS By Gordon, Benson, Colvin Roy, Goodman, Glidden, Hofstede, Hodg...

On Monday, The Health, Energy & Environment Committee will be taking comments on the Resolution Council Member Schiff, Lilligren and I introduced at the last Council Meeting regarding Xcel's Midtown High Voltage Power Line Proposal. January 26, 2009 at about 1:30 p.m. in Room 317 City Hall The resolution recommends that " Xcel Energy delay its routing permit application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for the Hiawatha Project and provide greater detail regarding the current and future electricity needs that the project is planned to address, as well as a thorough analysis of aggressive alternative methods to abate and/or supply the electricity that is needed" and "that if such an analysis is undertaken and fails to yield a successful alternative approach to the need for high voltage power lines in Midtown; that the preferred route for the new high voltage transmission lines is underground below 28th Street East." Written comments are also alway...