Council Member's Message

Earth Day and the coming of Spring make April an obvious month to continue to talk about news related to the environment, climate and sustainability, so I hope you'll check out the story below about the award Minneapolis' Clean Energy Partnership received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month. I was also pleased to author a resolution in support of Earth Hour and coordinate the turning off of City Hall clock tower lights to honor this global acknowledgement of the benefits of conservation. Click HERE for the text of that resolution.

On another note, I am very pleased to announce the upcoming kick-off event for C-TAP, the City of Minneapolis' new Co-op Technical Assistance Program. I hope many of you will want to join us on Wednesday, April 20, 5:30-7:30, at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue S, to learn more about this innovative initiative that is an outgrowth of the City's Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP).

I am excited about this initiative because cooperatives play a significant role in our City's economy and, indeed, the economy of our region. I held a series of community forums in 2014 and 2015 to explore the economic and community development impact of cooperative businesses in more depth. The first forum focused on the Northeast Investment Cooperative (NEIC) and its impact on Central Avenue revitalization. The second forum was held in conjunction with the National Cooperative Business Association's 2014 Purchasing Cooperatives Conference and the Annual Cooperative Conference, both of which were jointly hosted in Minneapolis. Our forum, which was hosted at cooperative brewery Fair State, featured Dame Pauline Green, the president of the International Cooperative Alliance and former Cooperative Member of the European Parliament, as well as a number of other representatives from cooperative businesses around the nation. At that time I also authored a resolution declaring "Cooperatives Week" in Minneapolis. Our third forum was a study session focused on grocery cooperatives and their place in the highly competitive Twin Cities grocery market.

The cooperative business model - that people can work together, sharing resources and governance, to strengthen communities - offers significant benefit for all of us in terms of increased economic vitality, social equity and community development. I have high hopes for what we can accomplish through this partnership between cooperatives and the City of Minneapolis.

Minneapolis' Clean Energy Partnership Wins Climate Leadership Award

EPA's Dennis J. McLerran with CEP board members Laura
McCarten (Xcel), Brad Tutunjian (Centerpointe) & CM Reich

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership a 2016 Climate Leadership Award winner in the Innovative Partnerships category for addressing climate change. Council Member Reich accepted the award on behalf of the City of Minneapolis at the conference in March. The EPA, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and The Climate Registry are honoring 13 organizations, three partnerships and one individual in the fifth annual Climate Leadership Awards. Recipients have demonstrated leadership and dedication in reducing the pollution that contributes to climate change. The Innovative Partnerships certificate recognizes organizations working collaboratively on leading-edge climate initiatives.

This first-of-its-kind City-utility partnership, the Clean Energy Partnership began in 2015 and has the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy collaborating in new ways to help Minneapolis achieve clean energy goals in the City's 2013 Climate Action Plan and Energy Vision for 2040. The utilities are using the partnership to help customers achieve their energy conservation goals.

Key actions of the Clean Energy Partnership are outlined in the first two-year work plan within the planned 10 year partnership:

- Helping 75 percent of Minneapolis homeowners, renters and rental properties participate in efficiency retrofit programs by 2025, ensuring the distribution of participants reflects the distribution of income levels in the city.

- Implementing the Building Energy Disclosure policy for medium and large commercial buildings.

- Promoting the adoption of renewable energy solutions for Minneapolis customers, such as onsite solar, wind, community solar gardens and green tariffs.

- Investigating the feasibility of large-scale renewable energy purchasing for municipal government and/or residents.

- Continuing to shift to LED streetlights.

Partnerships recognized by the award have established objectives to measurably address greenhouse gas reduction goals and/or adaptation and resilience activities. Measurable results will be documented and reported annually following the development of metrics. Find more information about the 2016 Climate Leadership Award here.

City Offers Paid EMT Training Internships

Starting April 1, the Minneapolis Fire Department is taking applications from men and women ages 18-30 for a certification course in emergency medical services (EMS). The Fire Department offers the EMS Pathways Academy with Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to train Minneapolis residents from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds as emergency medical technicians. Twenty-five candidates will be accepted into the program. Graduates of the program will get preference points on the next Fire Department entrance exam, which will take place in the spring of 2017. Graduates will be eligible to apply at HCMC for jobs in EMS, and if hired they’d have the option of further education for paramedic certification. There is no cost to trainees. Trainees will be considered City of Minneapolis student interns and will earn $14.93 hourly to take this college-level course two days a week for 12 weeks.

The goal is to provide a pipeline of candidates for the fire service and the Hennepin EMS workforce. This career pathway program will provide free EMT training and certification to young adults from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and low-income families. Becoming a certified emergency medical technician opens the door to many career paths. This is a rapidly expanding field, and as more jobs for EMTs are created demand will increase for qualified candidates who reflect the multilingual and culturally diverse communities they serve.

Candidates follow four steps to apply:

1. Check out the basic eligibility requirements.
2. Attend an information session April 5, 7 or 9.
3. Apply by 11:59 p.m., April 18, at www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs/index.htm under “Internship Opportunities.”
4. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the program will attend further screening.

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

Order a Compost Bin or Rain Barrel

Get a jump-start on gardening by ordering a $59 compost bin or a $74 rain barrel for your home. (These regularly cost $105 and $139.)

By using a compost bin, you can keep more than a quarter of your household waste out of the garbage while making valuable compost for your garden.

A rain barrel will help you save water and money by using rainwater rather than the faucet for your garden and trees. Rain barrels are also a way of trapping the stormwater that runs toward the storm drains – picking up pollutants along the way – and into our lakes, streams and rivers.

Order now and you’ll be able to pick up your compost bin or rain barrel at 3607 E. 44th St. in Minneapolis Saturday, April 30. To place your order, find more information or see other dates and locations, go to www.recycleminnesota.org.

Rake The Leaves Spring Yard Clean Up

Leaf it to spring. Improve your health while helping a senior citizen remain independent in their home! Volunteers choose the date and time to rake and clean up the yard. Perfect for individuals, groups, and families; youth age 7+ welcome when chaperoned. Seasonal: starting in late March (depending upon the weather). This is a one-time unpaid fun, flexible activity on weekdays or weekends. Feel free to sign up multiple times!

Exact location TBD in Minneapolis or Suburban Hennepin County, depends upon where the senior citizen resides. Ongoing unpaid volunteer opportunities are also available. Please contact Jeanne the HOME Program Volunteer Coordinator at scsvolunteer@seniorcommunity.org or call 952-767-7894 for more information.

The HOME Program number is 952-746-4046 or home@seniorcommunity.org , if a senior age 60+ needs spring clean-up or other services in Hennepin County. Senior Community Services is a nonprofit organization with five programs serving elders and caregivers statewide. For more information please visit www.seniorcommunity.org or call 952-541-1019. Seniors outside of Hennepin County should contact the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433 for information about services in their area. Thank you!

Volunteer for Art-A-Whirl

Have you ever wanted to be a part of Art-A-Whirl? NEMAA is looking for volunteers to fill shifts at the information booths, support the Art-A-Whirl Art Silent Auction fundraiser, ride along with the trolley as a Guide, and more. A variety of shifts are open leading up to the event in April and throughout the weekend of Art-A-Whirl, May 20-22. For more information about this opportunity, visit http://nemaa.org/, email volunteer@nemaa.org or phone 612-249-1883.

Save the Date:

Community Connections Conference: “Big Ideas: Your Minneapolis”

8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, April 2, Minneapolis Convention Center. This gathering of neighbors, community members, nonprofit organizations, business leaders, members of Minneapolis’ design community, developers and City officials is free and open to all. Register at www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr/conf.

12th Annual Hotdish Revolution

Sunday, April 3, St Maron’s Cedars Hall, 602 University Avenue NE. Entries due at 4 p.m., dining begins at 5 p.m. Come to compete or just come to eat at this annual neighborhood celebration that features food, music, beer flights and fun. For more information, contact HNIA at 612-781-2299 or www.hnia.org.

“Mary Poppins”, Morris Park Players

7:30 p.m. April 8, 15, 22 & 23; 2 p.m. April 9, 16, 17, 24. Edison High School Auditorium, 700 – 22nd Avenue NE. Tickets $15-$20. For more information, visit morrisparkplayers.org.

Empty Bowls NE

10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday, April 17. Eastside Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd St. NE. Local potters provide handcrafted ceramic bowls, local restaurants provide soup and guests provide a donation. Proceeds to go local organizations combating hunger in our community. There will also be a “Pottery Lottery” benefiting Edison High School’s art department. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1549705615358692/.

Audubon WingDing

Saturday, May 7

Art-A-Whirl

Friday, May 20 – Sunday, May 22.

NE Parade

Tuesday, June 21