mpls downtown council 2025 Plan Committee Grants $86,500 Toward 4 Efforts Helping Those Experiencing Homelessness

Via an April 10 Press Release from mpls downtown council:

The mpls downtown council and its Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan Ending Street Homelessness committee announced today the award of grants totaling $86,500 to four organizations working to help those experiencing homelessness in our community. Grant funds were donated by mpls downtown council member companies and individual mdc board members.

Grants were awarded to recipients intending to launch projects that will help Minneapolis reach the goal of “functional zero”, the point when the number of people experiencing street homelessness is not larger than the number of housing placements available. The Request for Proposals submissions were due February 2, with winners notified in March.

“Our 2025 Plan Ending Street Homelessness Committee is comprised of volunteers and organizations working hard to help end street homelessness in the city by the year 2025,” said Steve Cramer, president & ceo of the mpls downtown council. “The initiatives chosen for this grant funding are inspiring causes that work toward that goal and will make a difference in our community.”

Recipients of the grants include:

• YouthLink: Street outreach expansion—addition of a worker for evening hours
• St. Stephen’s Human Services: Enhancing engagement protocol to improve street outreach outcomes
• Teen Tech – Hennepin County Library: Street outreach worker to serve as a community resource mentor for Teen Tech Center at the Minneapolis Central Library
• Avenues for Homeless Youth: Housing stability/eviction protection fund

“Ending street homelessness is a community effort, and this grant process is an example of that,” said Mark Hamel and Joseph Desenclos, co-chairs of the 2025 Plan Ending Street Homelessness Committee, in a joint statement. “These grants were made possible by generous corporate and individual donations. Their private contributions will make a difference in people’s lives, and we’re grateful for their involvement in this important work. A huge thank you to our grants selection subcommittee for their work throughout the process, particularly sub-committee chair Paul Verrette for his leadership.”

Criteria for selection in the grant process included:  target population, need, activities, project feasibility, overall goals, projected short-term results, long-term outcomes desired, and innovation.

A Grants Selection Subcommittee of the Ending Street Homelessness Committee made final recommendations on selected projects and financial allocations. Grants were made ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

The Ending Street Homelessness Committee is one of six 2025 Plan committees. These six committees, comprised of more than 350 volunteers, are working to create an extraordinary downtown by addressing the 2025 Plan’s 10 key initiatives established in 2011—one of which is ending street homelessness in the city.

For more information on The 2025 Plan’s initiatives or overall development downtown, follow @mplsdowntown on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #mplsdowntown and #2025plan.

About the mpls downtown council:

Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the mpls downtown council (mdc) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The mdc’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit mplsdowntown.com.

About The 2025 Plan:

Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan is a vehicle to help leaders and citizens build on downtown’s assets and guide downtown Minneapolis’ development. This includes initiatives to double downtown’s residential population, transform Nicollet Mall into a must-see destination, create a compelling and walkable environment around the clock, lead the nation in transportation options, end street homelessness, forge connections with the University of Minnesota and more. For more information on the 2025 Plan and its initiatives, visit mplsdowntown.com/2025plan. The 2025 Plan is a mpls downtown council initiative introduced in 2011. 

County Will Activate Sirens on April 12 as Part of Severe Weather Awareness Week

Via an April 9 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

As part of a statewide tornado drill, the county will activate outdoor warning sirens at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. on April 12. 

The drills are part of Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 9 – 13. This week serves as a reminder for individuals, families, places of business and schools to create, update and practice emergency plans.

Sirens alert people who are outdoors of severe weather warnings and other situations when they should take shelter. People who are indoors may not hear them and should use another means to monitor the weather, such as a NOAA weather radio.

Weather-related sirens sound when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning and/or if there are reports of sustained straight-line winds in excess of 70 miles per hour. While the county activates sirens, the cities within Hennepin County purchase and maintain the equipment.

In Minnesota, more than half of federally declared disasters are due to severe weather. While severe weather can happen during any month of the year, it most commonly occurs in Hennepin County between May – July. During Severe Weather Awareness Week and into the 2018 severe weather season, residents should take time to prepare for the worst. 

Siren safety tips

• Obey the sirens. Sirens still mean people should seek shelter and tune to local weather information on radio, television or a NOAA Weather Radio. Unless it’s a first Wednesday of the month drill, the warning is real. 
• Be weather aware. Know the weather forecast when you start the day. Keep track of the weather as you continue with your day. 
• Be alert and know where to shelter. If conditions change quickly or you see violent/threatening conditions, seek shelter and tune to local media. Take time today to learn and practice the emergency procedures at your workplace or school.
• Get a personal warning. Sirens alert people who are outdoors. Inside your home, you may not hear them. Use a NOAA weather radio or a severe weather smartphone app and stay tuned to local media.   

Learn more about Severe Weather Awareness Week

Learn more about Hennepin County Emergency Management

Run With Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey - Bee Run Earth Day 5K Run/Walk

  

Request for April 27 Garage Sale Donations to benefit Cedar Riverside Community Traveling Basketball Program

Article by Claudia Kittock

A year ago, I realized that the Cedar Riverside community is our next door neighbor, and yet there seem to be very few things we do together as neighbors. In trying to figure out how to begin to reach out to extend invitations, I was advised to talk to Coach Jennifer Weber from the Cedar Riverside Community School. I am honored to say that I now count Coach Jennifer as a neighbor and a friend, who has brought untold connections and richness to my life.

Coach Jennifer runs an amazing Cedar Riverside Community Traveling Basketball program, and the first event I attended in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood was a basketball tournament. As a former ‘Basketball Mom’ I felt instantly at home and loved watching the ferocious basketball players engaged in wonderful competitions. Coach Jennifer embodies all of the best qualities of the coach you would want for your child or grandchild. Working hard, playing fairly, and being a good person are the most important parts of her program.

The program is holding a Garage Sale Fundraiser event on April 27-29 that will benefit student athletes from this program by assisting with tournament fees, uniforms, coaches training, referee training, travel expenses, etc. These young people deserve our assistance by helping them with donations. I KNOW you all have things you no longer need that could be put up for sale.

  Donations are being accepted and can be dropped off at Cedar Riverside Community School, or pickups can be arranged by contacting Coach Weber at j.weber.mn@gmail.com or 763-464-2790. Please look through your home and donate from the heart. These basketball players are our neighbors and deserve our support!

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

April District 4 E-Newsletter

New Hennepin Healthcare building opens downtown

On March 17, the new Hennepin Healthcare Clinic was unveiled in the Downtown East neighborhood. With more than 25 primary and specialty clinics and five same day surgery suits, the new look gives the Healthcare clinic a much needed upgrade.  The $225 million clinic has six floors for patient care and two levels of underground parking.Hennepin County wants the upgraded facilities to attract more residents to the area as it is projected to see over 500,000 patients by the end of the year.

Youth sports hits $20 million mark

Proceeds from the Target Field sales tax have been funding Hennepin County youth sports since the ballpark opened in 2010.  Just recently those proceeds have eclipsed the $20 million mark. "For several years, it's been an honor to see new and improved facilities open in neighborhoods throughout the county. Beyond the excitement of the grand opening events, these facilities will make an impact on children and families for years to come", Commissioner McLaughlin said.  In total, youth sports have been awarded $21.7 million for 136 facility projects, 260 small equipment projects, 10 playground projects, and water safety lessons throughout the county from the sales tax. 

110 affordable units being built in downtown Minneapolis

Local affordable housing developer AEON is planning to build a 110 unit building near U.S. Bank stadium. The 25,000-square-foot property was recently purchased by AEON from Hennepin County for $2.45 million. The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority authorized the purchase agreement of surplus land to AEON back in October.  Hennepin County had originally purchased the land back in 1991 for $1 to protect the land for the future alignment of the Blue Line LRT, which became operational back in 2004. 

Hennepin County celebrates drug court commencment

On February 23, Hennepin County held a drug court graduation ceremony for 25 individuals who overcame addiction The voluntary program works with nonviolent adult offenders who are wanting an opportunity to change their lives for the better. Drug court aims to break the cycle of chemical dependency and crime by providing assisted services such as education, job training, and family counseling.  A study conducted in 2017 for 2011-2013 participants found that 59 percent of participants do not reoffend within two years and 63 percent have no incarceration within two years. 

Autonomous shuttle to be showcased on the Midtown Greenway

A demonstration of an electric-powered shuttle will occur over Earth Day weekend, April 20-22.  Elsewhere in the country, the shuttle is operated safely in mixed traffic with pedestrians and bicyclists. The shuttle will only travel at 12 mph or less and there will be a human operator on board to take over if needed. This is a great opportunity for the community to get to see a new and innovative technology being shown. Hennepin County is studying how the technology of electric powered automobiles can complement other multimodal forms of transportation.

Library hours and sports fund boosted by debt payments

Hennepin County invested $350 million in the construction of Target Field and in 2017 the board approved actions that have put the county on track to pay off the debt a decade earlier than anticipated.  To date, the county has paid $79.2 million of the bonds early. Early payments have saved $154.7 million which have funded other projects, like increased library hours and the youth sports fund mentioned above.

Mental health housing gets increased funding

This past December, the Hennepin county board approved the increase of 2018 budget to $2.4 billion. It is a $285.7 million increase from 2017. The increase includes a provision to set aside funds for the Mental Health Housing Support project. The Mental Health Housing initiative is a strategy to prevent hospitalizations and over representation of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system.

About District 4

This 4th district serves parts of east and downtown Minneapolis, and Fort Snelling.

Contact us

Peter McLaughlin
Commissioner, 4th District
612-348-7884

Brian Shekleton
Principal Aide
612-348-5204

Dorothy Rucker
Scheduling
612-348-3204

Road Closures for April 8 Goldy's Run

Road closures for Sunday, April 8 - Goldy's Run 10 Mile
7:30am-12pm
West River Parkway from 13th Avenue S to E 38th Street
East River Parkway

10 Mile & Relay Course:

5K Course:

The Shops of the North Loop present The North Loop Spring Crawl, April 21

The North Loop Spring Crawl

Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 10:00am-6:00pm

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Loop into spring by shopping the North Loop! Local retailers will collaborate with area artists to celebrate the “coolest neighborhood in Minneapolis.” Grab a “passport” card from your first destination and journey to all of the stores listed. Receive an exclusive stamp from each store for the chance to win amazing prizes. Vote for your favorite spring-themed art installation showcased at participating stores and the winning artist will receive a prize, our way of supporting our local artists! The crawl will culminate with an after-party at The Hewing Hotel featuring appetizers, specialty cocktails, music, fun, and fabulous drawing prizes! To stay up to date on events occurring throughout the day; including fitness classes, restaurant specials, gift card giveaways and discounted services, head to the Shops of the North Loop Facebook page.

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Participating North Loop stores: Bonobos Guideshop - North Loop, C'est Chic Boutique, D.NOLO, Jeromeo Wellness Center & Shoppe, Lappin Lighting, Statement Boutique, Lolë Twin Cities, MartinPatrick 3, Mitrebox Framing Studio, Queen Anna, russell+hazel, Shoesters, North Loop Wine and Spirits 

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Crawl goers are encouraged to use any of the following hashtags when sharing their experiences from the day on social media: #shoptheloop #northloopcrawl #loopintospring

Volunteer for the 2018 Earth Day Cleanup!

Show up at any of 37 Earth Day Cleanup sites on April 21, 9:30 am-noon to help beautify Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), along with the City of Minneapolis, are proud to host the 24th annual Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup event on Saturday, April 21, 2018, 9:30 am – noon. 

The Earth Day Cleanup takes place at 37 sites throughout the city, making it the largest community service project in Minneapolis and. Since 2008, more than 19,000 residents have removed more than 158,000 pounds of garbage. A special thank you goes out to 2018 Earth Day Cleanup sponsors Minnesota Lottery, Budget Dumpster and Continental Cement for supporting this important community event.

Volunteers are needed to help pick up trash polluting our parks, neighborhoods and watersheds! It’s free to participate and no registration is required, just choose a site and show up. Bring gloves if you can, otherwise a site coordinator will provide a pair.

Find a detailed list of cleanup sites and more information at www.minneapolisearthday.com or call 612-230-6479.

April 4 E-Newsletter from 3rd Ward Council Member Steve Fletcher

Touring Our Storm Sewer System

Council Members Scroeder, Fletcher, and Ellison with a Public Works Surface Water & Sewers staff member.

Last week, I got the unique opportunity to visit one our City's storm sewers with our Public Works Department. It was an eye-opening and impressive experience to see a critical piece of our City infrastructure that is almost entirely invisible to us, 80 feet below ground, on a day-to-day basis.

Our City sewers were originally built over 100 years ago, and there was one combined system for wastewater and storm water. In recent decades, the City made the necessary investment to fully separate our storm water sewers from our wastewater sewers in order to keep the Mississippi River clean. I'm very glad to report that that investment has paid off: Minneapolis is now one of the few cities in the entire country to have a fully separated system, and to have done so without federal intervention.

As the City grows, however, we continue to put greater pressure on our storm sewers, and the work continues to maintain and upgrade some of our tunnels. 

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City Releases Draft Comprehensive Plan for Public Comment

Last week, the city released a first draft of the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. A whole lot of impressive work and planning - particularly by Council President Lisa Bender and Council Member Kevin Reich, as well as by city staff from across the city enterprise - has gone into incorporating three years of community feedback, policy best practices, and a clear vision for equity and sustainability into this document. It includes a set of guiding goals and specific policy ideas that, if we can move them into action, would mean great things for Minneapolis.

This document is very, very good, but it's not perfect. In fact, that's the point of releasing it now. By getting this first attempt at distilling community feedback into a written document, we can move the conversation forward by giving people something clearer to which we can all respond. This will (and should) improve quite a bit in response to public comment in the coming months. With the addition of your ideas and feedback, we can really make this the guiding vision our city deserves.

As you read, try to think of the whole, big picture before getting too focused on a specific policy proposal. Some of these ideas are things we ought to do anyway, and some are things that are only feasible in the context of the entire vision - that's why we call it "comprehensive."

Over the coming months, the City will do extensive outreach to residents to hear their concerns and ideas to improve the quality of life in the City. Comments will be collected at public meetings as well as online through July 22, 2018. That feedback will be taken into consideration as City staff revise the plan for City Council consideration.

The Minneapolis 2040 website is designed to gather feedback, and be an interactive way for us to continue the conversation about our city's values and vision. Please do give your feedback on the website, by email to 2040@minneapolismn.gov, or on Twitter: #Mpls2040 @Mpls2040. 

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Springtime for Public Works: Potholes, Street Sweeping, and Yard Waste Collection!

Street Sweeping: Public Works crews will begin posting spring street sweeping signage on April 16, with the city-wide sweep starting on April 17 and lasting approximately four weeks.

This thorough cleaning of all 1,100 miles of city streets and parkways is done every spring and fall with the goal of keeping our city clean and our neighborhoods livable. Removing the sand put down for winter maintenance, along with trash and decomposing leaves helps to prevent flooding in our streets and keeps our water ways healthy. Our sweepers are already out on the roads, weather permitting, as part of our general spring clean-up, but this dedicated curb-to-curb sweeping ensures that we can get access to all of our city’s streets in the most efficient way possible.

Interactive web tool – You can use a tool on the City’s website to find out when the sweeping crews are coming through your neighborhood! By the Friday before the first week of the sweep, you can go to this page and click on “street sweeping schedule lookup” to find out which week a street is scheduled to be swept. The weekend before that week, you can revisit the website to find out which day of the week the street is scheduled to be swept.

Potholes: We know this is the time of year when potholes become more apparent and we have crews dedicated to this work. Pothole locations can be reported through 311 or on the pothole reporting page of the City’s website. We are currently using a cold patch to improve the drivability of our streets until the asphalt plant is up and running for the season and more permanent patches are installed by our crews.

Yard Waste: Our Solid Waste & Recycling crews will begin collecting yard waste for the 2018 season the week of April 9. This service will be offered weekly, as part of resident’s regular garbage day collection and will continue through the fall.

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First Clean Energy Partnership Board Meeting of 2018

In addition to several City Council committees, I am privileged to serve on a number of external boards and commissions. One such board that I am particularly excited to have a role on is the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP). The Partnership is a first-in-the-country agreement between the City of Minneapolis and our utility providers, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, to work collaboratively on efforts to move forward the City’s Climate Action Plan and 2040 Energy Vision. The Board had its first meeting of the year with the new board members on Thursday, March 15th. At that meeting, we voted on the following priorities:

• Lower energy consumption and maximize energy efficiency in all building sectors (commercial, industrial, and residential).
• Make more clean energy (renewable energy and energy efficiency) accessible and available through new inclusive financing tools.
• Make the city more sustainable/resilient through increase local renewable energy.

I see enormous opportunity as we move forward with the specific activities under each of these priority areas to do some groundbreaking work to fight climate change and improve access to and equity in the renewable energy sector. You can learn more about the Clean Energy Partnership here: https://mplscleanenergypartnership.org/

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Green Business Cost-Sharing Program for Energy Efficiency and Solar

Part of the work that has been developed within the Clean Energy Partnership is the City of Minneapolis’s green business cost-sharing programs designed to help the city support a thriving business community and foster a clean, healthy environment.

2018 brought some exciting new updates to the program by adding in a solar program and setting priority on businesses in environmental justice priority areas known as Green Zones.

Businesses can apply now for 2018 programs. Businesses and multi-family residential buildings with four or more units that are willing to invest in cleaner, greener, or more efficient technologies should apply. There are opportunities in energy efficiency, solar, automotive repair, or even manufacturing/industrial projects that produce win-win solutions. There are many solutions already in the marketplace that can reduce environmental impacts.

The funds for the program come from pollution control fees that businesses pay to the City.

Application deadlines are March 1, April 1, May 1, and June 1, 2018.

Find more information about the City’s green business cost-sharing programs here: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/environment/WCMS1P-105418

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Following a technical review of the corridor and feedback from stakeholders, the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and MnDOT are recommending the installation of a pair of one-way protected bike lanes on University Avenue SE (eastbound) and 4th Street SE (westbound) between Central Avenue SE and Oak Street SE.

These lanes will have a buffer and physical separation. This recommendation is based on a number of considerations, including: 

• Minimizing tradeoffs with other uses along the corridor, including impacts to transit operations, motor vehicle traffic flow, and on-street parking; 

• Flexibility in its design over time: this one-way pair can be implemented through signing, striping, delineators, and some traffic signal modifications, which allows for greater flexibility to modify the design after installation.
• Opportunities for traffic calming on both University and 4th Street, with shorter crossing distances for pedestrians and fewer travel lanes on 4th Street SE. 
• Opportunity to add a full time parking lane on 4th Street SE.

While the recommended design is for a one-way bikeway on University Avenue SE, the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County will continue to monitor bicycle traffic to consider future accommodations or improvements for westbound bicycle traffic. 

The three agencies are sharing the concept with stakeholders in spring of 2018, and will seek Council Approval for the project later in 2018. The project is proposed to be installed in the summer of 2019 in coordination with the Hennepin County resurfacing project on University Ave SE between I-35W and Oak St SE.

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Open Streets 2018 Calendar is Set

The Open Streets calendar is set for 2018 with seven events scheduled around the city! Mark your calendar for one or all seven to explore neighborhoods in a safe, fun, family-friendly environment.

Open Streets Minneapolis is a free event and it's so much fun -- we close major streets to car traffic for the day, opening them up for walking, biking, rolling and playing, and for community groups and local businesses, too.

Find more information at www.openstreetsmpls.org.

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Are you or someone you know interested in shaping city policy on a wide array of issues?

There are many openings on 15 boards, commissions, and committees that provide valuable insights, help shape key policy decisions, and provide community-based input into the City's administration of services. 

 Stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions, and timelines here. And spread the word to folks you think would be a good fit. Potential applicants can find more information at 612-673-2216 or OpenAppointments@minneapolismn.gov.

The City of Minneapolis is working to redesign our entire public website, www.minneapolismn.gov. As part of the project, Minneapolis residents’ and business owners’ input is needed.

A new website will: 

• Focus on your needs, improving the browsing experience for residents, businesses and City staff.
• Foster improved two-way communication with consistent, high-quality content.
• Be ADA-compliant and accessible to users with disabilities.
• Better reflect the diversity and identity of Minneapolis.

 Please take this survey to share your thoughts and ideas with us!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Public Safety Community Forums

I serve as Vice Chair of the Public Safety and Emergency Management Committee, and we are hosting two community forums to engage with residents on the work of our committee.

The first was Wednesday, March 28 and the second will be Tuesday, April 10 from 5-7p.m. at Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.

These forums are interactive and serve as opportunities for neighbors and City policymakers to work together toward improved community safety in Minneapolis - please join us as we shape this vision together!

5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 at Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.

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Good Morning Ward 3 at Kramarczuk's

We held our second Good Morning Ward 3 on March 28 with Long Range Planning Director Heather Worthington and had a great discussion about the City's draft 2040 comprehensive plan.

Join us for our next Good Morning Ward 3 on April 18 with special guests Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, and Chris Meyer, Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner, to discuss the community's vision for public parks along the riverfront.

Good Morning Ward 3

Wednesday, April 18 from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Kramarczuk's Sausage Company, 215 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414

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Coffee With Your Council Member

Council Member Fletcher will hold regular open community office hours at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays at a rotating neighborhood coffee shop in Ward 3 for constituents to drop by, get to know him, ask questions, and raise any issues you see in the community. 

All are welcome! RSVP on Facebook or just show up. If you want to discuss a specific issue or project, email laura.dorle@minneapolismn. gov and we'll add you to the agenda.

• April 11 – Corner Coffee, 514 N 3rd St Ste. 102, 55401
• April 18 – Mojo Coffee Gallery, 2205 California St NE Ste. 102, 55418
• April 25 – Purple Onion Café, 1301 University Ave SE #1, 55414

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for all the details on future scheduled events, or contact our office at 612-673-2203.

Build Healthy Habits During the May 1-28 Step to it Challenge

Via an April 4 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

Registration is now open for Hennepin County’s Step to it challenge, a physical activity program that encourages people of all ages and abilities to become more active. 

The challenge is free and runs May 1 - 28. Participants log their activity on the Step to it website. Almost any activity counts, and everyone who registers is eligible to win prizes.

While the challenge is about getting active, having fun and connecting with others, it also includes some friendly competition between communities.

This year, 23 communities will compete to win trophies for most active community, most active residents and most actively engaged community. The top steppers from each community will receive free Minnesota Twins tickets and recognition on the field at a Twins game.

Elementary schools with the most registered participants will win a visit from a Twins player, conditioning coach and TC Bear. Prizes are also available for workplaces and organizations providing services for adults with disabilities.

Residents can learn more and register for the challenge at steptoit.org.

Overnight Closure on I-35W Begins April 4

Overnight closure details

As crews continue to make progress on the Franklin Ave. bridge, we need another overnight closure on Wed, April 4.

Beginning 10 p.m. Wed, April 4, the access to southbound I-35W out of downtown from 12th St/4th Ave. to southbound I-35W, and the ramp from eastbound I-94 to southbound I-35W will be closed. Northbound I-35W and all other areas of southbound I-35W will remain open.

The access and ramp will reopen by 5 a.m. Thu, April 5.

Upcoming ramp closure at 11th St. begins April 16

In order for us to complete work in the 11th St/Grant St/5th Ave. S area in downtown Minneapolis, and prepare for upcoming construction activities, we need to close the ramp from westbound I-94 to 11th Street for two months.

The 11th Street ramp is scheduled to close on Mon, April 16, weather permitting, and will remain closed through approximately mid-June 2018.

The detour route for the ramp closure is to continue on westbound I-94 to the Lyndale Ave/Hennepin Ave. exit and follow northbound Hennepin Ave to 12th St.

Motorists who use the ramp to access Grant St. and 5th Ave. S will also need to find alternate routes.

Note: Access to 11th St, Grant St. and 5th Ave. S from northbound I-35W will remain open. 

More about this project

To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94. 

Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit: www.metrotransit.org/35W. 

Stay connected:

• Visit the project website: www.mndot.gov/35w94
• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/mndot and Twitter: @mndotnews
• Email the project team at: info@35w94.com
• Call the project hotline at: 612-284-6125 

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit: http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwNDAyLjg3ODI2NzIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDQwMi44NzgyNjcyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE4Mjc4Njk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQG1pbGxjaXR5bWVkaWEub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1raW1AbWlsbGNpdHltZWRpYS5vcmcmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&107&&&http://www.511mn.org/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= or dial 5-1-1 

“The Americans in Tours: 1917-1919” on Display at the Hennepin Gallery, April 3 - May 30

Via an April 2 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

“The Americans in Tours: 1917-1919” on display in Hennepin Gallery April 3 through May 30

Minneapolis and representatives from Tours, France, a Minneapolis Sister City, are proud to present “The Americans in Tours (les américains à tours): 1917-1919,” an exhibit commemorating the 100th anniversary of World War I that will be on display in the Hennepin Gallery at the Hennepin County Government Center. Thousands of Americans, including Minnesotans, were stationed in Tours, France, and the exhibit features historical photographs and documents marking the arrival of the Americans in Tours, as well as their lives and work.

This special exhibit recalls a unique time in history when U.S. service members served in the Services of Supply (SOS) and the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). Tours, France, served as headquarters for the SOS. The efforts of Americans in Tours were critical for the success of U.S. soldiers on the battlefield and also laid the groundwork for a lasting connection between the U.S. and France – one that lives today through the Sister City relationship.

Minneapolis and Tours have been connected through the Sister Cities program since 1991. Tours is one of 12 Minneapolis Sister Cities. The Minneapolis program started in 1961 with the signing of the first Sister Cities agreement with Santiago, Chile, with the intent of fostering people-to-people citizen diplomacy. The program, managed by Meet Minneapolis, also includes Cuernavaca, Mexico; Eldoret, Kenya; Harbin, China; Ibaraki City, Japan; Kuopio, Finland; Novosibirsk, Russia; Winnipeg, Canada; Uppsala, Sweden; Najaf, Iraq; and Bosaso, Somalia. For more information about the Meet Minneapolis Sister Cities program, see their Sister Cities website and the Minneapolis/Tours site.

The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-level, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis. 

The exhibit is sponsored by and the gallery is a project of Hennepin County Communications.

Mill City Singers Perform with the MacPhail Community Youth Choir at Orchestra Hall

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Ryan Ojard

On March 9th and 10th, the Mill City Singers performed a 45 minute concert in the Atrium at Orchestra Hall.  Asked to be part of the Community Partnership program with Minnesota Orchestra, the singers were led by J.D. Steele and Fred Steele. The MacPhail Community Youth Choir joined the Singers at the performance.

Each of the performances were standing room only, and were enthusiastically received. J.D.’s magic includes involving the audience, and there were a number of songs with members of the audience singing, clapping, and moving along with the Singers.

Community Partners also receive tickets to an Orchestra performance. Each of the Singers was able to attend and enjoy the Pink Martini concert.

It was two nights of magic for the Mill City Singers. Does this sound like fun? It is! The Singers are open to all, free of charge, and require only a love of singing and a heart ready to sing about hope and community. If interested, please contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com.

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Early Bird Registration Ends Soon for Minneapolis Bike Tour!

Via a March 27 e-newsletter from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Early Bird registration ends this Friday!

Registration is now open for the 2018 Minneapolis Bike Tour, held on Sunday, September 16 at Boom Island! The early bird rate of $25 only runs through Friday, March 31, so visit minneapolisbiketour.com today to sign up.

Tech shirts ($10) and jerseys ($50) will be available for purchase this year and you can view them on our website. If you are interested in purchasing apparel, make sure to click on the merchandise tab when you are going through the registration process.

Register

Annual STEP-UP Mock Interviews to Provide Job Interview Experience to Over 1,500 Minneapolis Youth

Via a March 26 News Release from Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED):

Over 400 Twin Cities business professionals and community volunteers will conduct one-on-one interviews and provide feedback to young people at Minneapolis Convention Center March 26-29

Today through Thursday, March 26-29, over 1,500 Minneapolis youth and 400 Twin Cities business professionals and community volunteers will descend on the Minneapolis Convention Center for four nights for the 15th annual STEP-UP youth employment program mock interviews. These practice interviews match young people (age 14-21) who are preparing for summer internships at top Twin Cities companies, public agencies and nonprofits with experienced volunteers who are eager to share their skills and expertise with our region’s future workforce.

“Minneapolis is a young city—by 2020, a majority of our workforce will be millennials. Youth employment programs like STEP-UP help future leaders develop the skills and gain the experience they need to succeed in the workplace and keep our local economy strong for generations,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.

The mock interviews are scheduled from 4:45 - 6:15 p.m. each night at the Minneapolis Convention Center (Room 200, 1301 Second Avenue South).  The 400-plus volunteers will include employees from over 130 Twin Cities businesses and organizations. 

Prior to the interviews, each STEP-UP program applicant will have completed over 10 hours of work readiness training. The trainings, led by AchieveMpls and certified by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, focus on workplace conduct, professional communication, problem solving, interview skills, resume writing and other skills.

“Hosting a STEP-UP intern was a great experience,” said Julia Eagles, a STEP-UP supervisor at Xcel Energy. “It provided an opportunity for our staff to supervise and mentor young people, and introduced our whole team to the workforce of the future!”

The mock interviews allow STEP-UP interns to put their new skills to the test in what is for many their first professional job interview. The interviews last about 10 minutes, after which volunteers coach the interns and provide respectful, candid feedback to help them strengthen their skills and confidence. 

“I benefited from participating in the STEP-UP program in many ways,” said Samuel, a STEP-UP intern at TCF National Bank. “I learned how to interview and be in a corporate setting, and how to properly dress and have a schedule for when to arrive at work and when to complete work. I also gained the experience I needed to find another job in a field I’m interested in.”

About STEP-UP

STEP-UP prepares Minneapolis youth for tomorrow’s careers. As one of the country’s leading youth employment programs, STEP-UP recruits, trains and places more than 1,600 young people (ages 14-21) in paid internships at more than 200 employers each year. With a collective of partners spanning 15 industries and multiple sectors, STEP-UP is the largest and most enduring program of its kind in our region. It’s a backbone of support that unites businesses, schools, nonprofits and the city together in a common goal: to build and strengthen our future economy and the talented youth who will power it. STEP-UP is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, AchieveMpls, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Project for Pride in Living.

Learn more about STEP-UP by visiting the program’s website or follow STEP-UP activities and events all year long via @STEPUPMpls on Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat or with hashtag #STEPUPMpls. 

Minneapolis 2040 — Add Your Voice to the City's Draft Comprehensive Plan

Minneapolis 2040 is a draft Comprehensive Plan that shapes how the city will grow and change, including topics such as housing, job access, the design of new buildings, and how we use our streets.

The City is currently reaching out to the Minneapolis community to discuss this draft plan and to encourage review and feedback. Sign up for updates and follow on Twitter to learn about specific opportunities to engage. Please provide your feedback on the draft plan via this website — click here to learn how to comment.

Public input will continue through July 22, 2018, after which City staff will make revisions to the plan and present a final draft to the City Planning Commission and City Council in Fall 2018.

Draft Comprehensive Plan Policies - All Draft Comprehensive Plan Policies

 

2018 Minnesota Brewery Running Schedule

2018 Minnesota Brewery Running Schedule

All events include 5k-ish fun run, free beer, free swag and more! Additional details may vary by event. Cheers to beers!

(See Facebook for links to these events.)

APR 7 Headflyer Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

APR 14 Lakes & Legends Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

APR 21 Utepils Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

APR 27 Arbor Day 5k w/ Brewing A Better Forest Fri 6 PM

MAY 5 Pryes Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

MAY 6 56 Brewing BEER RUN! Sun 11 AM

MAY 12 Beaver Island Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

MAY 13 Root Beer Run - 2nd Annual Sun 12 PM

MAY 19 Omni Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

MAY 20 Indeed Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sun 10 AM

MAY 26 Finnegans Brew Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUN 21 0k Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUN 7 Fulton Brewing BEER RUN! Thu 6 PM

JUN 16 Bald Man Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUN 23 Excelsior Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 10 AM

JUN 23 Wayzata Brew Works BEER RUN! Sat 2 PM

JUN 30 Inbound BrewCo BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUL 7 Chapel Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

JUL 7 Imminent Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 2 PM

JUL 28 Summit Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 9 AM

AUG 46 12Brew BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

AUG 11 Bent Paddle Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

AUG 11 Blacklist Artisan Ales BEER RUN! Sat 2 PM

AUG 19 Dangerous Man Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sun 11 AM

AUG 26 Surly Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sun 10 AM

SEP 8 Insight Brewing BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

SEP 15 Bauhaus Brew Labs BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

SEP 22 Lupulin Brewing Co BEER RUN Sat 11 AM

SEP 23 Birch's on the Lake BEER RUN! Sun 11 AM

SEP 29 Badger Hill Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

OCT 6 Sociable Cider Werks (CIDER) BEER RUN Sat 11 AM

OCT 13 Modist Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

OCT 20 Wicked Wort Brewing Co BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

OCT 27 Fulton Brewery Spooktacular BEER RUN! Sat 11 AM

NOV 17 Bad Weather Brewing Co Pre Turkey Trot! Sat 11 AM

DEC 1 0.5k Winter Beer Dash! Sat 11 AM

Road Closures for March 24 Hot Dash 5K & 10 Mile

The following roads will be temporarily closed from 7:30am-1:00pm on Saturday, March 24, for the Hot Dash 5K & 10 Mile:

- Stone Arch Bridge
- NE Main Street - from 6th Ave SE to Hennepin Ave
- West River Parkway - from Plymouth Ave to E 27th Ave

Course map and more info.

Geo:Code 2018 is Happening March 24-25 at Central Library

People of all backgrounds and skills will use open data to develop solutions to community challenges at Geo:Code 2018, being held March 24 and 25 at Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall.

During the annual event, civic-minded residents, geographers, technology developers and Hennepin County officials will come together for hands-on presentations, discussions and working sessions. Participants will brainstorm solutions to make county government more transparent and accessible. The event is free and open to people of all backgrounds and interests.

Topics for Saturday, March 24, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Delighting your customer: What does creating a great customer experience look like? Learn service approaches and behaviors to power moments and create experiences.

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Introduction to Usability Testing: See examples of successful usability projects, view a live demo, and learn tips and techniques to start talking with your users.

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Innovation by Design – Rapid Prototyping: Start with user research, create a low fidelity prototype, test the prototype, iterate and create an interactive prototype.

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Story Maps – Visual Storytelling with Maps: Go through the process of telling stories with maps using the ESRI Story Map platform. Bring a computer or tablet to create your own Story Maps in this workshop.

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Crowdsourcing Spatial Data Collection: Learn how to harness the crowdsourcing data collection capabilities of Esri’s online mapping platform, ArcGIS Online.

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Topics for Sunday, March 25, 10:00am – 3:00pm

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Digital Government Listening Session: Help us design a new virtual “doorway” to Hennepin County! Tells us your thoughts and ideas on dealing with usernames, passwords, security questions, and profiles.

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Data and Statutes and Laws, Oh My!: Learn about the laws we have to follow to protect data, and how to request it. In addition, we’ll be discussing what you (the citizens) want from us.

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Data!: Learn about free and open data sources that are available, where they come from and how to use them well.

Book Launch Open House Event for Bill Sullivan's Lemon Jail: On the Road with the Replacements set for April 18 at The Loon Cafe

Via a March 31 Press Release from University of Minnesota Press:

Book launch open house event for Bill Sullivan's Lemon Jail: On the Road with the Replacements scheduled for 6:00 PM, Wednesday, April 18 at The Loon Cafe, 500 N 1st Avenue

 ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Don’t bore us, get to the chorus” is Bill Sullivan’s motto, which will come as no surprise to anyone who opens Lemon Jail. A raucous tour diary of rock ’n’ roll in the 1980s, Sullivan’s book puts us in the van with the Replacements in the early years. Barreling down the highway to the next show through quiet nights and hightailing it out of scandalized college towns, Sullivan—the young and reckless roadie—is in the middle of the joy and chaos, trying to get the band on stage and the crowd off it and knowing when to jump in and cover Alice Cooper. Lemon Jail shows what it’s like to keep the band on the road and the wheels on the van—and when to just close your eyes and hit the gas.

That first van, dubbed the Lemon Jail by Bill, takes the now legendary Replacements from a south Minneapolis basement to dive bars and iconic rock clubs to college parties and eventually an international stage. It’s not a straight shot or a smooth ride, and there’s never a dull moment, whether Bob Stinson is setting a record for the quickest ejection from CBGB in NYC or hiding White Castle sliders around a hotel room or whether Paul Westerberg is sneaking gear out of a hostile venue or saving Bill’s life at a brothel in New Jersey. With growing fame (and new vans) come tours with REM and X (what happens when the audience isn’t allowed to stand?), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Violent Femmes (against their will), and Saturday Night Live, where the band’s televised antics earn the edict You’ll never play on NBC again. Fast forward: You’ll never play Washington, D.C., again. Or Moorhead.

Hiding in fans’ backyards while the police search the streets and pelted with canned goods at a Kent State food drive, the Replacements hit rough patches along with sweet spots, and Lemon Jail reveals the grit and glory both onstage and off, all told in the irrepressible, full-throttle style that makes Bill Sullivan an irresistible guide on this once-in-a-lifetime road trip with a band on the make.

Bill Sullivan has been on tour since the early 1980s. After the Replacements and stints with the Del Fuegos and the Cherrybomz, he was tour manager for Soul Asylum, Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst’s Monsters of Folk, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, The New Pornographers featuring Neko Case, Spoon, Syl Johnson, Teenie Hodges, and blues legend Jimmie Vaughan. He was co-owner of the 400 Bar on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota.