Message from Council Member Rainville
This week I want to offer several volunteer opportunities for 3rd Ward residents. My office has an open appointment to the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC). The BAC is a citizen committee that advises the city on bike infrastructure as roads and bridges are updated. Please email the completed application form to openappointments@minneapolismn.gov if you are interested in serving on the BAC.
The final opportunity is to serve on the Rent Stabilization Task Force. The Task Force is charged with recommending a policy framework and analysis for the City Council on a City policy regulating rent amounts for private residential property. Fill out the application on the City website by May 27.
As always, our office is here to serve you. Henry, Ryan and I look forward to hearing from you and helping you. Enjoy Art-A-Whirl this weekend as NE Minneapolis showcases the NE Arts District.
Your neighbor,
Michael
Community Connections Conference May 21: See updated schedule
See the updated event schedule for Saturday’s free Community Connections Conference. You can also read more about the food, opening performances, community conversations and Green Zones Summit activities. Find a list of organizations that will have booths in the exhibit hall.
COVID-19 safety measures
To minimize any possible spread of COVID-19 at the conference, staff are taking several important measures:
- Strongly encouraging the use of masks and providing surgical masks at the registration table.
- Encouraging attendees to get tested before conference day. Rapid tests and PCR tests are available for free at sites across the city, including the Minneapolis Convention Center. Read more on the State’s community testing webpage.
- Social distancing and spacing throughout the conference and in the exhibit hall following Minnesota Department of Health and CDC guidelines.
- Offering boxed lunches instead of a buffet style lunch.
- Fewer lunch tables and chairs for more distance between tables and between seats.
Sign up for the conference and find more information on the City website.
What to do when the power goes out
As storm season brings hail, tornadoes and high winds to our neighborhoods, Xcel Energy has tips to help you stay safe, report outages and know what to expect if your power goes out.
Be careful
Stay away from fallen power lines, poles and trees when driving or walking.
- Always assume a power line is carrying electricity, even if it’s close to or on the ground. Never touch or move a power line.
- If you come across a fallen power line or natural gas leak, leave the area and report it immediately by calling 1-800-895-1999.
- Call 911 to report an emergency such as fire or injuries.
Report your outage
Help Xcel Energy get a jump on restoring power by reporting outages.
- Online at xcelenergy.com/out
- Text ‘OUT’ to 98936
- Call 1-800-895-1999 and follow the prompts. Once the problem is identified, the system or an Xcel Energy representative will provide callers with an estimated restoration time.
Stay informed
Xcel Energy offers two ways to find out more about a power outage:
- Visit Xcel Energy’s online outage map to see the number of customers without power and estimated time for restoration.
- Follow Xcel Energy on Facebook and Twitter.
Other ways to prepare and stay safe
- Build a home emergency kit. Assemble a kit to use when your power is out.
- Observe food safety. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food safety is directly related to temperature.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
- A full freezer will keep food frozen for approximately two days and a half-full freezer approximately one day. Visit the USDA website for more information.
New smart electric meters will help you save energy and money
This year, Xcel Energy will be replacing your existing electric meter with a smart meter. The advanced grid and smart meters are designed to improve your experience in a few ways. Your new meter is part of a system that will help Xcel Energy improve grid reliability and resiliency and their new capabilities will allow the utility to deliver new programs and services.
When those fast-moving Minnesota storms damage the electric grid, the network will automatically isolate those outages, meaning fewer customers will lose power and those who do, will have their power restored safely and quickly. Smart meters provide you with new information on your energy use so that you can understand in real time the impact of your energy choices. You can access these new energy insights through the My Energy button within Xcel Energy’s My Account feature. Energy use data is securely transferred electronically from the smart meter, reducing the need for manual meter reading or estimates, which also helps reduce cost.
Learn more about smart meters and installation timeline at xcelenergy.com/SmartMeter.
City, Park Board leaders and community partners highlight $1 million investment in tree canopy
Mayor Jacob Frey joined other City and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) leaders May 16 to highlight $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding dedicated to expanding the urban tree canopy as part of the Green Minneapolis Climate Resiliency Initiative.
This partnership among the City of Minneapolis, the Park Board and Green Minneapolis is part of Green Minneapolis’ Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative to expand the urban tree canopy across the seven county metro area. This ARPA funding will jump-start the initiative’s goal to add 200,000 trees by 2040. This will add to the existing 600,000 trees under current MPRB management in Minneapolis.
Green Minneapolis will lead collaboration with the MPRB to add and maintain trees that will mitigate the City’s major heat islands in the Northside Green Zone, Southside Green Zone and Downtown.
Learn more about the Green Minneapolis Climate Resiliency Initiative.
Watch the May 16 news conference.
|
