Council Member's Message

2015 was an eventful year for the City of Minneapolis on a number of fronts and I am pleased that some of the initiatives and improvements launched over the course of the past year will have positive impacts on our community and our environment far into the the future:

• Organics recycling was launched in August of 2015 and will be expanded citywide in 2016. This initiative, combined with the one sort recycling that was rolled out 2012/13, represents a significant step in moving closer to the City's Zero Waste goals.
  
• The Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership Board, of which I am a member, completed its first year of work toward helping Minneapolis achieve its clean energy goals.
• In September the Council approved the Percent-for-Art Ordinance that I authored with CM Glidden to dedicate 1.5% of City-issued net debt bonds annually to public art funding. This ordinance will ensure stable and predictable funding for public art and reinforces our commitment to the creative vitality artists generate in the First Ward and our City as a whole. Click HERE to read more about the ordinance.
• The City's Regulatory Services department rolled out a tiered rental license system that is designed to align costs and inspections to bring more resources to bear on problem rental properties.

2015 was an especially productive year for the First Ward. Many items that have been top priorities for me and for our community came to fruition in a big way, including the sale of the Hollywood Theater and the return of a ladder truck to Station 15. Read about some of the highlights below; we have much to celebrate!

Ward One 2015 Highlights

Rail Safety Resolution

CM Reich brought forward a City of Minneapolis resolution urging legislation at the State and Federal level to enhance rail safety. This resolution was preceded by a First Ward Rail Safety Forum in June that featured panelists from BNFS and Canadian Pacific, as well as Rep. Ellison, Sen. Dziedzic, Rep. Hornstein and Fire Chief Fruetel. The concerns expressed at that forum by Ward One residents and the research and input of the Minnesota chapter of Citizens Acting for Rail Safety (CARS) were key elements in developing the Rail Safety Resolution. Click HERE for the full text of the resolution.

Hollywood Theater Renovation
Local developer Andrew Volna closed on the purchase of the long-vacant theater from the City of Minneapolis and is continuing the work of restoring the building’s historic elements and converting it into creative office space. Click HERE to read more about the Hollywood’s ongoing revitalization.
Northeast Minneapolis Arts District #1 in the Nation
USA Today named the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District #1 in the Nation in 2015. We’ve always known it was true but it’s nice to have it called out! Click HERE to read more about the Arts Districts that were competing against us.

Station 15 Ladder & Engine TrucksFor the first time in Station 15's history, it now has two brand-new trucks: a Ladder truck and an Engine truck. The new Ladder truck, which arrived last January, was especially welcome because Northeast Minneapolis had't had a ladder truck since 2003. The acquisition of this new equipment, which has been one of CM Reich’s top priorities, represents a significant investment in public safety in the First Ward and Chief Fruetel commented that having a ladder truck in Northeast would positively impact response times. Click HERE to learn more about Station 15’s resources and the community event to celebrate the arrival of the Engine Truck.

New Development on Central Avenue
Central Avenue continued to display a flurry of development and revitalization in 2015. Neighborhood HealthSource’s new clinic opened at 22nd and Central, while a new Walgreens store rose on the vacated corner of 26th and Central. Meanwhile, across the street Eastside Food Co-op launched a multi-million dollar expansion of their store that will significantly increase their offerings and amenities. The City of Minneapolis contributed $450,000 to the project in a Great Streets Gap Financing Loan. Click HERE to read more about the expansion timeline.

MWMO's Stormwater Park & Learning Center
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization's headquarters on the banks of the river opened Stormwater Park last fall. This unique green space welcomes the public to view state-of-the-art stormwater recapture and reuse infrastructure in action. MWMO remediated signifcant amounts of industrial contamination to create a sustainable landscape and an accessible pathway to the river. They have also transformed the first floor of their headquarters into a public Learning Center that features a variety of educational and interpretive elements, including a Magic Planet digital globe, interactive touch-screens and water-themed art.

Edison Athletic Field
Thanks to an innovative partnership between Minneapolis Public Schools, the City of Minneapolis, Edison Community & Sports Foundation, the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL/LISC Grassroots Program and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Edison High School’s Pete Guzy Field received a sustainable redesign in 2015. The renovation incorporated cutting-edge infrastructure to manage stormwater onsite, as part of the larger Green Campus initiative launched in 2010. Read more about the field’s sustainable technology HERE.

Highlight Center Opens
The former Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) headquarters building at 807 Broadway Street NE re-opened as the Highlight Center in 2015. When MPS decided to move their headquarters to a new location, they and the City of Minneapolis undertook a careful selection process with significant input from the Logan Park community’s 807 Broadway Task Force. After being selected to develop the property, Hillcrest Development purchased the former MPS headquarters in 2014 and began the process of rehabilitating the 100-year-old building into a multitenant office space. The building's new name references its origins as a lightbulb factory in the early 20th century. The Highlight Center has attracted a number of unique and creative occupants, including the newly opened Able Seedhouse Brewery.

Organics Recycling Goes Citywide

The City of Minneapolis’ organics recycling program is about to go citywide. Right now, the City collects food scraps, coffee grounds, meat trimmings, eggshells and many other items from about 12,000 residences for composting. Starting this spring, the rest of the city will be able to recycle organics too. Residents living in the second phase areas of this program will need to sign up by Feb. 1 to get their recycling carts during the spring rollout.

The City already has more than 19,000 organics carts to deliver for the next phase of organics recycling and will put together a residential delivery list this winter. To get on that list, residents must sign up by Feb. 1. Those who sign up after that date will get their carts in the summer. (Residents in the first phase rollout area who aren’t already in the organics recycling program can sign up now to receive a cart within a couple weeks.)

About 34,000 households have signed up to participate in the organics recycling program. To be part of the program, call 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, or email SWRcustomer@minneapolismn.gov. There is no additional cost to participate.

Organics recycling includes:

• All food scraps including fruits, vegetables, bones, meat, breads, pasta, nut shells, eggshells and dairy products.
  
• Non-recyclable and food-soiled paper products including paper towels, napkins, facial tissues, waxed paper, egg cartons and pizza boxes.
  
• Certified compostable paper cups, plates, bowls, utensils, bags and takeout containers.
  
• Other compostable items including coffee grounds; tea bags; wood chopsticks, Popsicle sticks and toothpicks; hair; and houseplant trimmings.

Do not include: yard waste, pet waste litter or bedding, milk cartons, ice cream tubs, Chinese food containers, dryer lint, dryer sheets, diapers and sanitary products, cleaning and baby wipes, grease, oil, Styrofoam, foil-lined products, non-certified compostable bags and food service items, or products labeled “biodegradable.”

Find more information at www.minneapolismn.gov/organics.

Workplace Partnership Group Listening Sessions

The Workplace Partnership Group, which is developing policy recommendations related to earned sick time and paid time off, wants to hear from employers, employees and the community. Over the coming weeks, the group will hold a series of community-based listening sessions to gain insights, concerns, perspectives, experiences, and suggestions from the public.

Jan. 13: Nonprofit/Social Sector employees and employers
3:30 – 5 p.m.
St. Mary’s University – Room 105, Br. Louis Hall
2304 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Jan. 14: Small business
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Bryant Lake Bowl
810 West Lake St.

Jan. 14: Downtown-based businesses
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Minneapolis Downtown Council, Skyline Conference Room
81 South Ninth St., Suite 260

Jan. 17: Hospitality/service industry
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Aster Café – River Room
125 SE Main St.

Jan. 20: GENERAL PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Urban League
2100 Plymouth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Jan. 21: GENERAL PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55409

Jan. 28: Public health/health care
2 – 4 p.m.
Allina Commons
Pettingill Hall (lower level)

All listening sessions are open to the public, and time may be reserved at each session to accept public comments. Each session is hosted by a member or members of the Workplace Partnership Group. More listening sessions are being planned and will be added to the Workplace Partnership Group website once they are confirmed.

The Minneapolis City Council established the Workplace Partnership Group last fall as a working group specifically tasked with developing policy recommendations related to earned sick time and paid time off. The group will report its recommendations to the Committee of the Whole no later than Feb. 24, 2016.

Save the Date

NE Farmers Market Winter Market

Saturday, January 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Solar Arts Building, 711 – 15th Avenue NE. Local food vendors and artisans, as well as cooking demos, music, games and activities.

Future Tommie Night

Friday, January 29, 4 p.m., Edison High School Community Gym, 700 - 22nd Avenue NE. This event will feature three Tommies basketball games, as well as contests, student performances, games and prizes. $6 for adults, free for all K-8 students with an adult.

Soup for Art

Friday, January 29, 5:30 – 7 p.m., Edison High School Cafeteria, 700 – 22nd Avenue NE. Start off Future Tommie Night with all-you-can-eat gourmet soups and desserts provided by NE chefs and celebrities. All proceeds go toward NE public art projects. $10 for adults, $5 kids 12-17, kids under 12 free.

8th Annual Northeast Presidents Day Walk & Celebration

Saturday, February 13, 10 a.m., Northeast Library, 2200 Central Ave NE. This annual walk of Northeast's presidential streets includes a White House coloring contest, hot chocolate stops along the way and a celebration at Northeast Middle School upon completion.

Fix-It Clinic

Saturday, February 13, 12 – 4 p.m., Waite Park Rec Center, 1810 – 34th Avenue NE. Get free, guided assistance from handy volunteers on disassembling, troubleshooting and repairing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more.

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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.

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

612-673-3500.

Minneapolis Visitor Center Opens on Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis has a new visitor center and store at the corner of Nicollet Mall and Fifth Street Downtown. At Minneapolis Visitor Information, people can shop for unique, locally made items and learn more about the city. The hours of operation are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Minneapolis Visitor Information is a partnership with Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association; and CenterPoint Energy. Located at 505 Nicollet, directly across Fifth Street from the Nicollet METRO stop, the center and store are on the street-level corner of the CenterPoint Energy building, which was formerly part of Gaviidae Common.

Minneapolis Visitor Information includes three services in one convenient location:

• Partnering with St. Croix Promotions & Retail, the facility offers Minneapolis artisan retail products; area sports team logo merchandise; and Minneapolis, City by Nature-branded items.
  
• Move Minneapolis (formerly the Commuter Connection) is part of the new facility and will continue to provide services to commuters, carpool information, transit passes, schedules and maps, MnPasses, and bicycling commuting information and accessories.
  
• Meet Minneapolis staff will be available to answer questions from visitors, share visitor maps and help with suggestions about things to do in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. The Visitor Information Center in the Minneapolis Convention Center will remain open and available to provide similar information to visitors and convention attendees.

Senior Partners Care Information

Does the financial burden of the gap left between medical bills and Medicare keep you or a loved one from getting critical medical care needed to stay healthy? Stop worrying, there’s a solution! Let Senior Partners Care (SPC) help you. SPC is a statewide program, which began in 1973, that helps low to moderate income Medicare beneficiaries limit their out of pocket expenses by waiving the balance on medical services and treatments after Medicare payment for eligible clients who use SPC healthcare providers for Medicare approved services.

SPC has partnered with most of the major metropolitan area hospitals and hundreds of clinics and providers statewide, with some of the key providers being Fairview, HCMC, Park Nicollet/Methodist, North Memorial, HealthEast, and Minnesota Oncology. Partners agree to accept Medicare as full payment on Medicare covered services for SPC members.

For program details and applications visit www.seniorcommunity.org/programs or call (952) 767-0665.

STEP-UP Program Accepting Applications

The City of Minneapolis youth employment program STEP-UP is now accepting applications for 2016 summer interns. Eligible Minneapolis youths ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the 2016 STEP-IP class have until Feb. 5, 2016, to complete an application online.

STEP-UP is one of the country's premiere youth employment programs, serving Minneapolis youths who face some of the greatest barriers to employment. This includes youths from disadvantaged economic backgrounds, youths of color, youths from recent immigrant families, and youths with disabilities. In addition to summer jobs with more than 230 top Twin Cities companies, non-profits and public agencies, STEP-UP also offers work readiness training, advanced-level internships and industry-specific career opportunities that help interns integrate their career exposure with post-secondary education and career planning.

STPE-UP is a City of Minneapolis program in partnership with AchieveMpls, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Project for Pride in Living. To learn more about STEP-UP or to access the online STEP-UP application, visit the City of Minneapolis website.