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Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
This week I want to pass on some Council actions and the community outreach our office did. First I want to acknowledge the service of the 4,000 City of Minneapolis employees. This week is Public Service Week and Monday we held an award ceremony in recognition of all our city employees. Special recognition was given to “Super Star employees.”
- Jasna Hadzic-Stanek, Transportation Planner from Public Works
- Jasna was nominated for her innovative solutions to an increase in crime and civil unrest. She recognized the need for a new outreach approach when it came to finding solutions to an increase in crime, speeding, and civil unrest in the communities of Little Earth and 18th Ave S. Jasna also applied for and secured a grant that funded a demonstration project and additional engagement in the area. This project provided immediate relief to the community, estimated to have resulted in a 7% decrease of the 85th percentile speeds along the street, 19% decrease in daily traffic in the neighborhood, and converted 2,112 square feet of street space into community space.
- Monique Fish, head of the Public Works Equity team
- Monique was nominated for her consistent leadership, encouragement and determination that she has shown to colleagues in her work supporting employee resources groups and topics related to racial equity.
- Ethropic Burnett, Office of Violence Prevention/Neighborhood Safety
- In early 2021, Ethropic was detailed from Neighborhood and Community Relations to Office of Violence Prevention to take on the project management for George Floyd Square. Since then, she has convened and coordinated the various stakeholders resulting in positive engagement with the family of George Floyd, the George Floyd Global Memorial, businesses, residents, neighborhood organizations, non-profits, and community advocates. She has been diligently working with partners to keep the streets open while also engaging with the various other initiatives going on including 38th Street Thrive, Public Works street redesign, Public Safety response, permanent memorial planning and engagement, event planning and engagement (i.e. Memorial events), street renaming, disposition of Speedway, and others.
- Cierra Evans and Ricky Revering, Regulatory Services
- Cierra and Ricky were nominated for their care and professionalism when helping a a fatal car crash along Hiawatha Avenue in March. Revering stopped a commercial vehicle that had a fire extinguisher to put out the car fire while Evans called 911. They stayed at the scene with that person until the Minneapolis Fire Department arrived and took control. They were recognized for going above and beyond their daily work and for their concern for the safety of the injured motorist.
- Sanitary & Storm Water Systems Team
- The nomination was for developing an innovative and highly efficient system that has resulted in zero known at-fault hits to the City’s sanitary and storm water systems. Hits happen when contractors dig and hit infrastructure by accident. Hits in 2020 and 2021 caused many different departments to spend a lot of time and money trying to figure out who was at fault for the utility hits. This group worked behind the scenes to figure out how to leverage technology and automation to help contractors avoid potential hits and provide information.
In the Business, Inspections, Housing and Zoning Committee we accepted a grant to install sprinkler systems in the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority apartments at 1900 3rd St NE and 809 Spring St NE. When these apartments were built in the 1960, sprinklers were not mandated and now our neighbors will have additional safety in their homes.
In the Public Health and Safety Committee we approved a grant of $20,000 to provide administrative support and oversight in the planning and implementation of shared resources and collaboration for the Marcy Holmes, Nicollet Island-East Bank, Prospect Park, and Southeast Como neighborhoods.
At the Committee of the Whole we were updated by the City Auditor and City Clerk on the plans to fully staff the legislative department to support the work of the City Council. With the new government structure, the Council will receive additional support with our policy making and oversight functions. We will also receive more support in our new roles in interacting with the City administration.
On Monday night, 100 3rd Ward neighbors gathered to meet the new Metro Transit Chief of Police, Ernest Morales III. The Chief explained his plan to increase public safety and cleanliness on the transit system and answered many questions. A big thank you to Chief Morales and our best wishes in your new job.
On Tuesday night, the Marcy Holmes neighborhood hosted a forum on the violence in Dinkytown last weekend. Commissioner Alexander, Chief O’Hara, Inspector McGinty, Nick Juarez from the U, Council Member Wonsley, and I all answered questions. The audience was also given details of last weekend’s violence and the plan to prevent a repeat in the future. Of the 35 individuals who were identified, only 8 were from Minneapolis. They ranged in age from 13-18 and one individual was arrested all three nights.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers of Minneapolis and a special shout out to my mother, Louise.
As always, Henry, Ryan and I are here to serve you.
Your neighbor,
Michael
On May 5, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health alerted Minneapolis Animal Care & Control to several cases of canine influenza found in Minneapolis, particularly in the North Loop and Uptown areas.
Canine influenza is a highly infectious virus spread among dogs. The virus is not believed to be a threat to humans, although it can infect cats. It is particularly concerning in areas where high concentrations of dogs gather.
Protect your pets
Take precautions to protect your pets by:
- Avoiding dog-to-dog contact as this is the most common way of transmitting canine influenza.
- Avoiding areas where large numbers of dogs are together.
- Keeping your distance (6 feet) at places where dogs congregate and while on walks.
- Keeping pet surfaces clean. The virus can remain on surfaces in the environment for 24-48 hours.
- Consulting your pet’s veterinarian if there are any symptoms of the disease.
- Consulting your veterinarian on vaccinating your pet against the disease.
Symptoms include:
- Cough.
- Fever.
- Runny eyes or nose.
- Shortness of breath.
- Hard swallowing or excessive throat clearing.
- Lethargy.
- Decreased appetite and water consumption.
Most dogs experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover within two-three weeks. Some dogs will experience more serious infections that could result in secondary conditions such as pneumonia and possibly death. It’s important to see a veterinarian for specific treatment plans.
Learn more about canine influenza.
- Thursday, May 18th at 6:00p.m., North Minneapolis Listening Session – Farview Recreation Center Multipurpose Room. This is an opportunity for the public to express their opinions on the CBRs to CLIC. Please get the word out! CBRs are publicly available at 2024-2029 Capital Budget Requests.
- Thursday, May 25th at 6:15p.m., South Minneapolis Listening Session – Keewaydin Recreation Center Multipurpose Room. This is an opportunity for the public to express their opinions on the CBRs to CLIC. Please get the word out! CBRs are publicly available at 2024-2029 Capital Budget Requests.
As a late spring eases in, some Minneapolis neighbors will be enjoying more outside time around outdoor fires. Following these laws for recreational fires will help keep Minneapolis neighborhoods safe and livable:
- Outdoor recreational fires are permitted between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Keep fires small: less than three feet in diameter and two feet high.
- Postpone a fire when Minneapolis is under an air pollution advisory. Fires release fine particles that contribute to air pollution and are implicated in health problems including strokes, heart attacks and asthma. Sign up for air quality alerts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- Burn only untreated, unpainted, dry wood. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris, because the smoke can be toxic.
- Fire must be at least 25 feet away from a structure or combustible material and in a fire ring or pit with edges more than six inches high.
- Have a hose or fire extinguisher present.
- Postpone the fire when the wind exceeds 10 mph.
- Fire must be constantly attended by someone 18 years or older and completely out before being abandoned.
Illegal open burning or recreational fires could result in a fine.
Be a good neighbor
These simple suggestions could help neighbors be considerate of each other when having a fire:
- Let neighbors know when planning a fire.
- Postpone a fire when smoke will blow directly at a neighbor’s house or when still weather conditions prevent smoke from moving away at all.
- Understand that recreational fires can have serious health impacts, especially for children, older adults and people with existing health conditions.
- Consider fewer fires. Frequent burning can have a serious impact on neighbors.
- If neighbors say they are affected, respect the serious medical harm a fire could do to them and extinguish the fire.
Below are links to videos in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong on how to have a safe recreational fire in Minneapolis:
Recreational fires in the city Here’s what you need to know when having a recreational fire in Minneapolis.
Fogatas en la Ciudad (Spanish) Esto es lo que tienes que saber cuándo hagas una fogata en Minneapolis.
Qor-yo gub ka magaalada (Somali) Waa tanaa waxaad u baahantahey mar ka aad dooney-sid in aad dibada ku shidid dab gudaha miniyaabolis.
Hluav taws los yog bonfire hauv nroog (Hmong) Ntwam no yuav qhia koj txoj cov hluav taws nyob nruam zoo hauv nroog Minneapolis.
For more information on recreational fires or to register a complaint about a recreational fire, call 311 or email Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov, or to register a complaint about a recreational fire outside 311 hours, call 911. The Fire and Police departments are authorized to extinguish a fire immediately if it violates City ordinances.
For the Minneapolis law on recreational fires, visit the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Chapter 178.
Learn more about air quality research in Minneapolis on the City website.
Minneapolis community members can find crime incident reports made in your community on the City website.
The Minneapolis crime prevention specialists will no longer be sending weekly crime updates to residents, but you can get the same information online with updates on police activity in your neighborhood. If you have questions about a particular incident in your community, you can still reach out to your crime prevention specialist.
See the crime maps and dashboards with information about arrests, shots fired, stops and crime.
See a PDF about how to use the dashboard.
The City of Minneapolis has created a list of mental health support resources to help residents. People in crisis and their loved ones seeking help for mental wellness are not alone.
Minneapolis School Based Clinics
For students, Minneapolis School Based Clinics offer a range of mental health services. One in six youths each year experience a mental health condition, but only half of them get treatment. Mental health challenges for students include:
- Issues with family, relationships and academics.
Students can refer themselves or are referred by staff, parents or administrators.
Mental health resources
People in crisis and their loved ones can also turn to these resources:
- Minnesota warmline: a safe, anonymous and confidential way to connect with people. 1-877-404-3190 or text “Support” to 85511 noon to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): help finding resources for those with and without insurance. 1-888-NAMI-HELPS or 1-888-626-4435.
- CRISIS text line: a free, 24/7 phone line for those experiencing a mental health crisis. Adult services: 612-596-1223. Child services: 612-348-2233. Mobile phone: **CRISIS (274747) or text “MN” to 741741.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- Behavioral health crisis.
- Mental health support.
Mayor Jacob Frey has issued a proclamation declaring May Mental Health Awareness Month in Minneapolis.
Read about more resources during Mental Health Awareness Month and any time.
The City of Minneapolis has reached another milestone in its long history of delivering safe drinking water. Upgrades at the Fridley Filtration Plant to modernize filtering are complete.
Effective filtering removes microbes that could otherwise cause waterborne illness. The upgrades also help address taste and odor concerns. They also reduce many contaminants considered for federal regulation.
The Mississippi serves as the source of drinking water for the City of Minneapolis. The City of Minneapolis’ Fridley Filter Plant is on the east bank of the Mississippi River north of the city limits. The plant can treat as much as 135 million gallons of water per day.
The City distributes its drinking water to residents of Minneapolis, Bloomington, Columbia Heights, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, a small part of Edina, Hilltop and Fort Snelling, and to travelers at the MSP Airport.
Learn more about Water Treatment & Distribution Services.
Spring is ‘springing’ and so is the East MPLS Exchange Club with its new ‘Spring Speaker Series’
weekly Wednesday 12pm Luncheons featuring amazing community members and topics.
Please forward this email and attached poster to all who might be interested in your personal, work and social networks – your help to spread the word will go a long way to making these events worthwhile for all.
We request that guests sign-up in order for us to manage attendance.
Click Here to Sign-up
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