Council Member's Message

As the City of Minneapolis fall street sweeping operation wraps up, preparations are underway for the coming snow season. All Minneapolis residents should have received a mailing with information about Snow Emergency parking rules and how to avoid a ticket or tow this winter. If you don't have that mailing, you may either call my office at 612-673-2201 for a copy or visit www.minneapolismn.gov/snow.  

Snow emergencies are declared whenever there's enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. Given that the City of Minneapolis has more than 1500 miles of streets, parkways and alleys to clear, this can be an enormous job for City Public Works crews. It's important that drivers follow the Snow Emergency parking rules so plows can do the best job possible of clearing the streets.

The City uses a variety of tools to inform residents, workers and visitors when a snow emergency has been declared:

·         Hotline – call 612-348-SNOW (7669). The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

·         City website – visit www.minneapolismn.gov/snow. You can also check out the street lookup, which lets you enter an address or neighborhood to see where you can park during a snow emergency.

·         Phone alerts – Minneapolis uses an automated notification system to alert residents when snow emergencies are declared. You can add your cellphone or unlisted landline number to the alert system by signing up atwww.minneapolismn.gov/snow.

·         Email alerts – visit www.minneapolismn.gov/snow/snow_esubscribe to sign up for email alerts.

·         App for Android devices and iPhones – Download the Snow Emergency app to your Android device or iPhone.

·         Media – TV, radio and other news outlets routinely announce snow emergency declarations.

·         Cable TV – Channels 14 and 79 have snow emergency information in several languages.

·         Facebook – visit www.facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency.

·         Twitter – if you have a Twitter account, just follow us.

·         Videos – informational videos in several languages are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/snow.

If you have other ideas for how to get the word out about Snow Emergency declarations, I’d like to hear about them.

Yard Waste Collection Ends Nov. 17

Your garbage day in the week of Nov. 17 is the last 2014 collection for leaves, brush and other yard trimmings. Yard waste must be in compostable bags – paper (Kraft) or compostable plastic – or unbagged in a reusable container at least 26 inches high with sturdy handles. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided containers. Set all yard waste next to your garbage cart by 6 a.m.

Leaves

· less than 40 pounds

Brush

· less than 40 pounds

· less than three feet long

· branch size less than three inches in diameter

· must be bundled with string (no tape)

For information about all of our services, see www.minneapolismn.gov/solid-waste. If you have questions about leaf and brush pickup, call 673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Remember – don’t rake leaves into the street; it’s against the law and pollutes our river.

One-Sort Recycling: Year in Review

David Herberholz, Director of Solid Waste and Recycling (SW&R), offered a review report on the One-Sort initiative to the Transportation & Public Works Committee this past October. As you will recall, the roll-out of the program was completed mid-June of 2013.

In its first year, the recycled component of our total waste has increased to 25%. At the same time, the simplified system has enabled SW&R to reduce its routes by half, saving in energy costs. Workman’s compensation claims have also been reduced over 62% due to automation of pick-up. Check out the Powerpoint report http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@clerk/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-132719.pdf . The map below allows you to see how your neighborhood is doing.

Recycling in Minneapolis Parks

Minneapolis residents will recognize new garbage and one-sort recycling carts in Minneapolis parks as the same ones they use at home. Minneapolis neighborhood parks are now part of the City of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling program.

Recycling in the parks is now an easier choice, because each garbage cart will be paired with a recycling cart. The one-sort carts collect glass, plastic, paper, aluminum and cardboard into one container. Remember – no plastic bags, trash, clothes, items that have food or wax on them, Styrofoam or other kinds of plastic foam.

For more information on what you can recycle in Minneapolis, click here.

Minneapolis Water Works Wins Award

Minneapolis Water Treatment and Distribution Services is among just nine public drinking water systems in the nation to receive the Sustainable Water Utility Management Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. This is the first year the association has presented the award, which recognizes water utilities that have made a commitment to management that achieves a balance of innovative and successful efforts in economic, social and environmental endeavors.

Minneapolis was recognized for incorporating strategies and financial procedures such as requiring the water division to maintain a minimum cash balance equal to approximately three months of operating expenses to keep cash flow available and implementing a five-year capital improvement program that details each construction project, its estimated cost and where the source of funding. The association also noted the addition of a fixed rate in utility billing that helps stabilize revenues from fluctuations in water use due to weather and the declining water demand by customers. Minneapolis was also recognized for encouraging its customers to use water wisely and being engaged in other environmental stewardship initiatives, including sustainable design in capital projects, efficient vehicles, collaboration on source water protection, supporting urban farms and community gardens, promoting the value of drinking water and reducing the use of disposable water bottles.

This is not the first time Minneapolis has received an award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. The City received the organization’s Platinum Award for Utility Excellence in 2011 and the Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance in 2002.

2015 Budget Process Underway

The City Council is in the process of considering the Mayor’s proposed 2015 budget from now through early December with final approval scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014.

The City of Minneapolis has tentatively scheduled two public comment hearings on the proposed 2015 property tax levy and budget:

Nov. 18 at 6:05 p.m.
Room 317 of City Hall

Dec. 10 at 6:05 p.m.
Room 317 of City Hall

Additional key dates in the 2014 budget process include:

• Sept. 16 – Nov. 7 – Ways and Means presentations and consideration of City departmental budgets hearings
• Dec. 2 and 4, 1 – 4 p.m. –Ways and Means Budget Subcommittee budget mark-up
• Dec. 10, 6:05 p.m. – City Council final vote on budget after the public hearing

Watch the 2015 budget process live on TV or the City website

You can watch the mayor’s budget address and all the budget hearings on Minneapolis 79 (Comcast Cable channel 79) or on a smartphone, tablet or computer by visiting the City of Minneapolis website at www.minneapolismn.gov/tv/79. Video recordings are available to watch any time on the City website. The rebroadcasts on Minneapolis 79 will be Mondays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at noon from now until early December.

Take the Northeast Park Recreation Building Survey

The Minneapolis Park Board has posted an online survey available until November 12 for the planned Northeast Athletic Field Park Recreation Building. Please take 10 minutes to share your ideas for this building and how it might best serve the community. Contact Project Manager Dana Murdoch at 612-230-6446 or dmurdoch@minneapolisparks.org with any questions.

The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NortheastParkRecreationBuilding1. Visit the project page at http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1482.

Save The Date Calendar

Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11. City offices are closed.

NE Network: NE Bakeries & Shop Local, Shop NE!, Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30 a.m., Eastside Food Co-op, 2551 Central Avenue NE. RSVP to nenetwork@eastsidefood.coop.

Autumn Bazaar, Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Edison High School Gym, 700 22nd Ave NE. Featuring local artists and crafters and a silent auction. Proceeds will help fund the Edison Senior All Night Party.

Homegrown Minneapolis Open House, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6 – 8:30 p.m., Cedars Hall, 602 University Ave NE. Join the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council for a short program, information fair, the 2014 Homegrown Heroes awards and a raffle. Snacks and refreshments will be served. RSVP at www.minneapolismn.gov/sustainability/homegrown/