Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

Many of you are still cleaning up from the aftermath of the powerful storm that passed through Minneapolis at the end of June. I am pleased to announce that the trees that were actively blocking streets in the First Ward have been removed, though work continues in other parts of the City. If you have questions or concerns regarding boulevard trees, please call the Forestry Department of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) at 612- 370-4900. MPRB is also currently working with its contractor to make wood chips available to the public. If you need someone to remove a tree on your private property, I encourage you to visit the City’s website for tips on hiring a contractor and a list of contractors licensed in Minneapolis.

Other issues arose from the storms as well:

• Many downed trees pulled up or otherwise damaged adjacent sidewalks. Given the extreme nature of this storm and the number of properties affected, the City will not be assessing any homeowners for repairs to their sidewalks for damage resulting from the storm.
  
• Many people who rely on electrically-powered medical devices in their homes found themselves in difficult circumstances during the extended power outage following the storm. While we may not see such widespread outages again in the near future, it’s good to keep in mind that the Red Cross is an excellent resource for people who can’t use the medical devices they rely upon. Our local Red Cross can be reached at 612-871-7676.
  
• While MPRB’s boulevard pick-up of tree limbs ends on 7/12, regular yard waste collection will be available all summer. Brush and small branches should be bundled and secured with twine or rope. Each bundle must be less than 3 feet long and must weigh less than 40 pounds. Bundles of yard waste should be placed at your alley or curbside pickup location by 6 a.m. on your normal collection day.

Keep an eye out next spring for low-cost trees from our partnership with the Tree Trust so we can continue building our urban forest.

Central Avenue Median Update

Phase II of the Central Avenue medians prairie plantings has been launched this summer, with continued maintenance of last year’s plantings and the addition of some colorful newcomers – Golden Alexander, Indian Grass and Yellow Coneflower. Neighborhood representatives, the Edison Green Youth Council and CM Reich joined Prairie Restorations in installing 15,000 of these plants at the end of June. The project began in 2011 when funding was identified to clear the medians and install a more durable prairie-style landscape. After the City held a number of meetings with neighborhood representatives and community members, Prairie Restorations, which has been developing prairie landscapes for 37 years, began the initial establishment of the plantings in the summer of 2012. That process included general seeding with a MN DOT-approved mix of native grasses and wildflowers, as well as regular mowing and spot applications of herbicides to control invasive species growth.

Prairie plantings require patience, since it takes two to three years for the root systems of these perennials to get fully established and able to crowd out annual and biennial weeds. However, once that process is complete, the native plants will provide not only beauty, but also improved soil infiltration, habitat for bees, butterflies and birds, and long-term maintenance cost savings. Part of the overall vision community members developed for the landscaping extends beyond the medians to encompass the boulevards on the east and west of Central Avenue. To that end, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) has installed several new trees along the west side of the Avenue near the Columbia Manor parking lot. For further information about the Central Median plantings, please contact the 1st Ward office.

New Public Art Sculpture in Holland

The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) has commissioned Northeast Minneapolis-based sculptor James Brenner to create a public art installation that will educate the community about energy conservation. The Northeast Green Light Project will be located at the corner of Quincy Street and 22nd Avenue, adjacent to the Edison High School parking lot. Conceived as a group of light sculptures fabricated from Cor-ten steel, sculpted glass and led lights, the installation will be connected to a wireless data management system and will change color from red and orange to green and blue in correlation with energy savings achieved by the surrounding community through CEE energy audits and programs. The ultimate goal is to realize energy savings in the Holland neighborhood equivalent to the amount of energy required to power Edison High School.

Brenner conceives of the project’s mission as “a visual representation of how an active and intentional community can educate the public in energy awareness and conservation. The installation operates as both a beacon to draw in and educate the larger community and as a catalyst to spur that community to action.” The Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association (HNIA) is a partner in the project and their current Medallion Public Art Connector (MPAC) Initiative will both raise funds for a future phase of the project and serve as a conduit for information about CEE’s energy conservation programs. Edison High School will also partner in the project, with students assisting in the energy usage data collection and analysis. The Northeast Green Light Project will offer a unique opportunity for practical, hands-on science education. An informational kiosk and Q-Reader at the site will offer members of the public an easy way to learn more about the project and follow the energy conservation process.

This project will be an exciting complement to the water quality projects being initiated by Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) on the Edison campus this summer. Data on stormwater capture and re-use rates will also be tracked by the data management system and analyzed by Edison students. The light sculptures will also be aesthetically related to the public art installations already in place on the Green Campus, including Innovation Backstop, In Flux, Double Flux and the Edison School sculptural sign.

League of MN Cities Honors Sen. Dziedzic

Minneapolis’ State Senator Kari Dziedzic has been selected by the League of Minnesota Cities as a Legislator of Distinction for 2013. This honor recognizes legislators for specific actions that aided efforts of Minnesota cities during the 2013 legislative session. This is a significant feat in her first term: congratulations on your work on behalf of Minneapolis, Senator Dziedzic!

National Night Out: Tuesday Aug. 6

Here’s some helpful information to organize your NNO event:

• You can obtain a free permit to block your street through July 23. From July 24 through Aug. 1, there is a $100 fee. No applications will be allowed after Aug. 1. To apply for a permit to block the street, visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/nno/nno_register.
• To access NNO Invitation Flyers in Hmong, Somali or Spanish, visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/nno/nno_translated-invite-flyers.
• If you would like a supply of Ward One Public Safety Brochures to distribute to your guests, contact the 1st Ward Office at 612-673-2201 or kevin.reich@minneapolismn.gov.

Volunteer for Open Streets!

Open Streets is seeking 150 volunteers for their summer events. Click HERE to find out more and register as a volunteer .

Voter Ambassadors

Help get out the vote for the November 5th municipal election as a Voter Ambassador. Ambassadors will be trained in basic election law, registration and voting procedures, and Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) so that they can provide information and resources to friends, neighborhoods and civic circles. The City will supply precinct maps, sample ballots, and RCV-specific guides to answer frequently asked questions. Materials will be made available in multiple languages to facilitate effective outreach to all voters. If you’d like to be part of the Voter Ambassador Program, contact Anissa Hollingshead at anissa.hollingshead@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-2296.

6th Annual Mpls Sister Cities Day

Minneapolis has 10 Sister Cities: Santiago (Chile), Kuopio (Finland), Ibaraki City (Japan), Novosibirsk (Russia), Tours (France), Harbin (China), Uppsala (Sweden), Eldoret (Kenya), Cuernavaca (Mexico), and Najaf (Iran). Our relationships with these cities are supported and implemented by local citizen groups whose members organize exchanges and activities. The Sister Cities Day Celebration, 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, is a free event and ice cream social.

Edison Student Wins Peacemaker Award

Nailah Heard 

Edison sophmore Nailah Heard was honored with a Peacemaker Award for her leadership. Through Project Re-Connect, she led a 10 member youth council representing North Commons, Farview and Folwell parks. The council participated in training in leadership skills, mediation, effective communication and conflict resolution.

Getting Better Connected

This June, the Logan Park Neighborhood Association (LPNA) and the Holland High Rise, located at 1717 Washington Street NE, celebrated their new computer training center. LPNA partnered with Computers for Schools, City of Minneapolis IT Department, Lakota Institute, USI Wireless, Hoff Auctions, MPHA and the Resident Council at Holland High Rise to close the digital divide for these residents. Thanks to free Wi fi access, reconditioned laptops and computer classes through the Lakota Institute, the Holland High Rise is now connected. The celebration included a community sing-a-long and live accordian music from local musician Dan Chouinard.

Save The Date:

Central Avenue Open Streets Event
Sunday, July 28, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Central Avenue from 26th Avenue NE to 18-1/2 Avenue NE will be closed to allow families and neighbors to walk, bike, skate, have fun and shop on the street in a safe, carefree environment.

National Night Out
Tuesday, August 6.

7th Annual All Northeast Community & School BBQ
Thursday, August 22, 3 – 8 p.m.
Join your friends, neighbors, teachers and students in the Edison High School parking lot, 22nd Ave & Quincy St. NE, for dinner and fun.