City briefs - Mar, 2024

 The presidential nomination primary will be held on March 5. The election is partisan and only open to candidates seeking to run with one of the three participating major parties in Minnesota: the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the Legalize Marijuana Now Party, and the Republican Party. Voters must choose only one party to vote in.  

 

Southside Minnesota State Representative, Hodan Hassan (District 62B), announced that she will not be seeking reelection. She was first elected in 2018 and is currently serving her third term representing residents in the Central, Corcoran, Phillips, Powderhorn, Kingfield, Bryant, Bancroft, Regina, and Northrop neighborhoods. Two candidates have started campaigning for the 62B seat: former Minneapolis Park Board commissioner Londel French, and Bill Emory, a policy aide to Hennepin County Commission Irene Fernando.

 

The city is accepting grant applications to repair failing private sewer pipes and connections to the public sewer. Homeowners can receive grants between $5,000 to $10,000 and may need a match to receive the funds. The city expects to provide grants to 30-35 property owners using Metropolitan Council funds. 

 

 City Council Members Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai, and Aurin Chowdhury introduced three ordinances focused on addressing how the city regulates camping and temporary housing. One would “develop regulations establishing authorized and regulated “safe outdoor spaces” or individualized outdoor sheltering options for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. One would establish provisions of a humane encampment response policy, and the last mandate regular reporting about outcomes for those experiencing homelessness related to encampment removals. 

 

The city council and mayor have approved new appointments to a number of its advisory committees for the next 2-3 years. Kelly Fischer from Ward 9 will be serving on the Heritage Preservation Commission. Lucas Franco from Ward 12 and Brian Elliott from Ward 11 will serve on the Workplace Advisory Committee.  Andre Robinson from Ward 2, Stephanie Randolph from Ward 8 and Bhupinder Manhani from Ward 11 have been appointed to serve on the Public Health Advisory Committee. Planning Commission appointments include Tom Wagner from Ward 12 and Kellie Jones from Ward 6. Jaspar Lepak from Ward 11, and Boo McCaleb from 12 will be joining the Minneapolis Arts Commission.  Sean Gosiewski, Ward 9, has been appointed to the Community Environmental Advisory.  New Civil Right Commission appointments include Mark Stignani and Ann Marie Schott from Ward 11, and Kaamil Dakane from Ward 6.

 

City and state Department of Human Rights officials have selected a nonprofit group called Effective Law Enforcement for All to monitor compliance with the city’s settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights related to discriminatory police policies and practices. The monitor could start work in early March. 

 

In January the city held online and in person meetings on a traffic camera pilot program being planned to help decrease driving-related crashes and injuries. The pilot program will have 10 cameras at intersections where there have been reported accidents. Owners of vehicles recorded violating traffic rules would be sent a ticket. They would have a legal status like a parking ticket and would not be connected to a person’s driving record or driver’s insurance. A state law change is needed before the program can move forward.

 

The city council has authorized a new waste disposal contract with Hennepin County, for an estimated $13,065,000, to process and disposal of solid waste collected by the city through Dec. 31, 2025. All the trash will be burned downtown at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center incinerator.