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Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
I want to update you all on my work with my fellow Council Members on the budget, the new Labor Standards Board, and an update on a very exciting housing project at 200 Central Ave.
The budget process will be in its final stage the next few weeks. All Council Members must submit their amendments to the Mayor’s proposed budget by 5pm on November 20th. I will not be asking for any new funding and will not vote for any new funding given the proposed 8.3% property tax levy increase. In cooperation with several other Council Members, I will be proposing a budget cut to all departments. In next week’s newsletter I will explain my amendment in more detail.
With the lack of growth in new construction and the continued drop in value of downtown buildings, every renter and homeowner is facing increases in property tax for years to come. As a City, we have to tighten our belt, just as residents have had to do.
At the Council meeting this week a resolution establishing a Labor Standards Board passed. The board will recommend workplace regulations such as wages, benefits, and training for the City Council to enact. I voted against it for several reasons. First, the authors refused to hold a public hearing for workers and employers to give feedback to us on the proposal. As a Council we have been steady in offering the opportunity for public input on a wide range of proposals and topics. Second, the authors did not provide an estimate for how much it will cost to administer. Third, this will add another layer of regulation to our small business community. Putting the City in the role of a labor union will not fill empty storefronts in Downtown, Uptown, Lake St., Central Ave, or West Broadway. Our tax base is shrinking and we need to add businesses, not intimidate them away.
The owner of the empty lot at 200 Central Ave SE has found a potential funding source for the proposed 360 unit apartment building. A national non-profit developer, whose mission is to ensure permanent affordability, is interested in backing the project which will have 72 units at 50% area median income (AMI), and 90 units at 80% AMI. The rest of the units would be market rate.
Thank you to the safety club walkers of the Sheridan neighborhood. I joined them Tuesday night for a walk along 13th Ave NE, speaking to the dog walkers and dropping in to say hello at the busy restaurants.
As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.
Your neighbor,
Michael
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