Council Member's Message

Minneapolis is a city of plans. We have neighborhood small area plans, larger community plans like the Central Avenue Small Area Plan and the Lowry Avenue NE Corridor Plan, and citywide plans like our transportation action plan Access Minneapolis. Overarching all of these plans is the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a document that shapes how Minneapolis will grow and change.

The City’s Comprehensive Plan provides a common vision for elected officials, City staff, developers, neighborhood groups and other community stakeholders and guides implementation to ensure progress toward that vision. The plan covers issues such as housing, job creation, environmental systems, public health, the design of new buildings, and how we use our streets. Because planning is a dynamic process, we revisit and update our plan every ten years.  To that end, we launched Minneapolis 2040, a multi-year planning and update process, in 2016. Once the Comp Plan update is completed, it will spur updates to Access Minneapolis, the Central Avenue plan and more.

As one of the members of the Minneapolis 2040 steering committee, I have been closely involved in shaping the plan’s vision and priorities. In April 2016 I authored a resolution establishing the goals of our Comp Plan update, with an emphasis on ensuring equitable outcomes in the built, natural and economic environment. To read that resolution, click HERE.

Civic engagement is an essential piece of this process and I encourage everyone to get involved and make your voice heard. I’ve talked with many Ward One stakeholders about Minneapolis 2040 at neighborhood meetings and events, one-on-one and in groups, and will continue to do so as the process moves forward. Please visit the Minneapolis 2040 website to learn more about the process, timeline, and engagement opportunities: https://minneapolis2040.com/.

Fall Street Sweep Begins Tuesday, October 17

Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city Tuesday, Oct. 17. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure the sweepers can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 16, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.

City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. The “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs may be ticketed and towed to the Impound Lot.

Folks can use an interactive feature on the City’s website to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The tool will be available at www.minneapolismn.gov/streetsweeping once we get closer to the start date. The fall street sweep takes four weeks, and visitors to the website will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the four weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.   

Public Works Diversity Hiring Pipeline

The Public Works Service Worker 1 Trainee Program is helping the department change the face of its workforce to better reflect the community it serves. Public Works is hiring for service worker 1 positions and for service worker 1 trainee positions. See the required qualifications and experience here.

Public Works is accepting applications throughout October for the next trainee program. The program offers adults a chance at on-the-job training to meet the qualifications for the Public Works service worker 1 position. Trainees perform manual labor to support construction and maintenance work while also learning the fundamentals of the construction industry and how to drive and operate Public Works equipment. Through the course of the program, they earn their Class B commercial driver’s licenses. Please help spread the word about these opportunities with folks in your network. Share this flyer, and encourage prospective applicants to attend one of several information sessions in October.

Public Works Service Worker 1 Trainee Program information sessions

2-4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center, 505 Fifth Ave. S.

3-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 12
American Indian OIC, 1845 E. Franklin Ave.

5-7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16
Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.

5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18
Waite House - Pillsbury United Communities, 2323 11th Ave. S.

3-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19
Summit Academy OIC, 935 Olson Memorial Highway

5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24
Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC)
2001 Plymouth Ave. N.

1-3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25
Emerge, 1834 Emerson Ave. N.

Attendees will be able to talk to Public Works representatives and apply for a position on the spot. Applicants don’t have to attend an information session; they can also apply online at www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.

Minneapolis Reaches First Goal on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Minneapolis has reached its first goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from citywide energy consumption, transportation, solid waste, and wastewater. Greenhouse gases caused by activities within the city limits of Minneapolis decreased 17.8 percent in 2015 compared to the 2006 baseline; the goal was a 15 percent reduction. The 2015 analysis included a substantial update to prior years’ calculations using a method that aligns Minneapolis with other cities around the world participating in the Compact of Mayors agreement. 2016 data is being analyzed and will be available soon.

Greenhouse gas emissions decreased 10.7 percent from 2014 to 2015, driven primarily by milder winter months, which resulted in a decrease in natural gas consumption. An increase in emissions from wastewater was offset by decreases in emissions from electricity consumption, natural gas consumption, on-road transportation and solid waste. Find more detail in the PowerPoint presentation.

Subsequent goals will require acceleration of energy conservation and cleaner heating options

Minneapolis’ next goals include a 30 percent reduction in citywide emissions by 2025 and an 80 percent or more reduction by 2050 (all from the 2006 baseline). A rise in renewable wind and solar electricity drove most of the emissions decrease since 2006, a trend forecasted to continue. With natural gas set, then, to become the City’s largest contributor to emissions in the coming years, meeting future goals will require accelerating progress in reducing natural gas consumption with energy conservation and shifting to cleaner heating options such as renewable natural gas and heat pump technology.

Minneapolis will make progress toward its goals by continuing to implement its Climate Action Plan and working with CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy on implementing the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership 2017-2018 work plan.

Find the City’s other climate action goals here.

Save the Date Calendar

Tibetan Sand Mandala

Saturday, October 7, 3 – 4 p.m., Northeast Library, 2200 Central Avenue NE. Learn about mandalas and the process used by Buddhist monks to build colored sand structures and then release them back into nature.

Nordeast Big River Brew Fest

Saturday, October 7, 1 – 4 p.m., East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd St NE. 40 breweries will be participating in this annual celebration to benefit community programming. For tickets, visit esns.org/event-2638906

Energy Assistance Sign Up Day

Tuesday, October 10, 3 – 7 p.m., Salvation Army, 2727 Central Avenue NE. Sign up for energy assistance with Hennepin County Community Action. Representatives will also be on hand from CenterPointe and Xcel Energy to help with bill assistance and low-income programs. No appointment necessary.

Seniors On-The-Go Fall Expo

Thursday, October 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Audubon Park, 1320 29th Ave NE. Features exhibits on housing, transportation, food delivery, chore assistance, day trips and more.

9th Annual Northeast Celebration

Thursday, October 26, 5 – 7 p.m., Jax Café, 1928 University Ave NE. An evening of business and community awards and recognition. For more information and to register, visit http://www.minneapolischamber.org/events/details/northeast-celebration-an-evening-of-business-and-community-awards-9674.

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For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact Lisa Brock at lisa.brock@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-2201. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

612-673-3500.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700 •  Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 • Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 

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Council Member's Message

Traffic safety has always been one of the paramount concerns of First Ward residents and businesses. Everyone, myself included, would like to see safer streets and fewer crashes. And to that end, I'm proud of the work we've already done to create a better environment for pedestrians, bikers and vehicles alike. One example is the innovative program we launched this year to upgrade our crosswalks citywide with more visible durable markings. Another is the traffic calming work we continue to do on Johnson Street, including new lane markings and a pedestrian island. We have a curb-separated ped/bike path coming on 18th Avenue and have seen a record number of ADA installations and curb bump-outs across the Ward. However, more needs to be done. 

This September the Transportation & Public Works Committee that I chair will take the first steps to establish a Vision Zero policy, aimed at eliminating fatalities and serious injuries while expanding safe and equitable mobility for everyone. This exciting and innovative approach has the potential to dramatically reshape our response to traffic safety.

Vision Zero was first implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, has had impressive results in Europe and is now being considered in a number of major US cities. It utilizes cross-disciplinary collaboration between traffic engineers, transit planners, public safety and public health professionals, policymakers, and the community to address the complex issues of traffic safety and it employs data-driven strategies and community input to craft solutions.

The first step in the process will be a resolution committing to Vision Zero, followed by the development of an action plan. The goal is the elimination of fatalities and serious injuries from crashes within our city by 2027. Stay tuned for more about this initiative which will greatly enhance work moving forward in our Ward and across the city.

New Police Chief Medaria Arradondo

The City Council has approved Medaria "Rondo" Arradondo, who has served as acting chief since July 21, as the City’s new police chief. Arradondo joined the MPD in 1989 as a patrol officer in the 3rd Precinct. He has served as a school resource officer and a northside beat officer. He also has internal affairs and property-crime investigation experience. Arradondo has served as 1st Precinct inspector, deputy chief and chief of staff. He is now the City’s first African American police chief.

Ward One was the first community to get an opportunity to talk with the new chief, at a forum hosted by Council Member Reich just four days before the final confirmation vote. Chief Arradondo recapped his career with the Minneapolis Police Department and talked about his vision for MPD going forward. He was accompanied by Inspector Todd Loining, who heads the Second Precinct, and Troy Schoenberger, the newly appointed Commander of the Special Crimes Investigations Division.

Community members had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss their concerns and issues with the police department. Several discussed the need for the new Chief to restore public trust in the department, while others raised issues about how officers relate to people of color. Incentivizing officers to live in the city and response times for low-level crimes were other topics touched upon.

Council Member Reich intends to offer additional community forums later this year to continue the discussion of various aspects of policing in Minneapolis. Next up will be a discussion about the City's co-responder program that pairs mental health professionals with officers and new technologies that can assist in interactions between officers and people with autism.