City Briefs - August 2023

The city arts commission has approved an application for SPRAYFiNGER teaching artists to work with youth from Hiawatha High School’s public art club after-school program to install murals on the east and west walls under the 36th Ave. Midtown Greenway railroad bridge. The project was conceived by 36th ART, a group of volunteer residents from the Seward and Longfellow working to improve aesthetics, wayfinding and safety in the corridor. 

 

On July 20, the city council approved the 2023 Climate Equity Plan with some changes since a draft was released this spring. Changes include better connections between goals and strategies as well as more clarity on implementation with a timeline for the first year. The plan sets 2030 goals of insulated 5,000 homes, reducing fossil fuel emissions by 35%, having 100% renewable electricity city-wide, supporting 1,000 Minneapolis residents for union jobs, recycling and composting 80% of the city’s waste, expanding tree planting and increasing trips taken by walking, biking or transit.

 

B Line construction work on the north side of Lake Street between West River Parkway and Minnehaha Avenue continues. In early August, work will shift to the south side of the street. Two-way traffic is being maintained with lane and parking restrictions. Later this summer, construction will include a mill and overlay, as well as lane restriping.  Sidewalks will remain open on at least one side of the street and pedestrian access will be maintained to homes and businesses.    

 

The City Council has approved a one-years contract extension through August 2024 with Canopy Roots to operate the city's Behavioral Crisis Response teams. The current contract was set to expire this summer. 

 

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued the results of their investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department and hosted a community listening session on  July 25 to hear people’s ideas and concerns about what should be included in the consent decree they will be negotiating with the city in the weeks ahead. People can also share input by emailing community.minneapolis@usdoj.gov or calling (866) 432-0268. 

 

In June, the City Council approved an 8% pay increase and a $6,500 bonus for upper level, non-union, appointed leadership positions, excluding the police chief, in the police department (MPD) who remain with the department through September. This includes city employees with titles of assistant chief of police, deputy chief of police, police commander, and police inspector.  

 

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has opened a comment period on the the MSP Airport 2040 Long-Term Plan that they began drafting in 2019. The plan will outline future facility and infrastructure needs at the airport as well as how to address future environmental factors including noise. On July 11, there was a public presentation at the Sabathani Community Center and written comments on the draft plan are being accepted through an online form, by email, or by mail until 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21. To learn more visit www.mspairport.com/long-term-plan.   

 

By the end of the year, black plastic to-go containers will no longer be accepted under the city's Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Ordinance that limits what can be used as take out containers in Minneapolis. They will be added to polystyrene, plastic lined paper cups and plates and stryrofoam containers that have been banned since 2015.  The material cannot be sorted or sold by recycling facilities and they are not being recycled. 

 

Starting July 19, people calling 311 will be greeted with “Thank you for calling Minneapolis 311. To continue this call in English, say ‘English’ or press 1. [In Spanish] For Spanish, say ‘Spanish’ or press 2. [In Somali] For Somali, press 3. [In Hmong] For Hmong, press 4.”