City briefs - May 2024

The City of Minneapolis Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee (CLIC) is seeking public input on next year’s budget.  CLIC is the advisory committee that reviews and recommends which city park, street, sewer, public building and other capital or infrastructure project requests get funded. People can share feedback by email and in person at their southside listening session on Thursday, May 2 at 6:15 p.m. in the Lynnhurst Recreation Center at 1345 W. Minnehaha Parkway, or at their joint meeting with the Planning Commission at 6 p.m. or May 9 in the Public Service Building at 505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 100. Get a link to see all the requests 2025-2030 submitted by city departments and agencies and share comments at CLIC@minneapolismn.gov. 

 

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has nominated Timothy Sexton to be the next director of the Minneapolis Public Works Department. Sexton lives in Minneapolis and currently works for Minnesota Department of Transportation as the assistant commissioner for sustainability, planning and program management. He also served as a volunteer commissioner on the city’s community environmental advisory commission from Jan. 2018-2021. The city held a hearing on the nomination on April 18, and the council is expected to approve the appointment later in the month. 

 

In March, the school board started its review of a 2024-25 budget proposal.  School district staff are expecting a $110 million dollar budget reduction due to rising costs, decreased enrollment, and an end to federal funding aid.  Staff predict 413 fewer students to enroll next September than were enrolled this February. The proposed budget cuts $47 million and includes reductions in staff and some programs, but no school closing have been announced at this point. Staff propose to cover the remaining costs by using $55 million from the district's fund balance reserves as well as not hiring people for currently unfilled positions to save another $13 million.

 

Local Democratic Farmer Labor Party members endorsed Anquam Mahamoud for State Representative of District 62B on April 14. That district includes some or all of several southside neighborhoods, including Phillips, Powderhorn Park, Bryant, Bancroft, Kingfield, Nokomis, Northrop and Regina. Bill Emory has dropped out of the race and that leaves three candidates, including Mahamoud, running for the seat currently held by Hodan Hassan who is not seeking reelection. Londell French and Ira Joudain may still run in the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party primary that will be held on the Aug.13. The filing deadline is June 4, so candidates have time to leave or enter the race before then. The general election will be held on Nov. 5.

 

The city is still looking for organizations to manage Open Streets events for Central Ave. NE and on Franklin Ave. from Portland to 26th Ave. S. They are offering up to $50,000 for each event, as well as in-kind services to support event planning and execution. Three 2024 Open Streets events have been finalized and are pending city council approval with the Uptown Association on Lyndale on Aug. 24, West Broadway Business and Area Coalition on West Broadway on Sept. 21 and the Lyndale Neighborhood Association on  Nicollet on Sept. 28. Proposals are due by 2 p.m. on May 10.