September 2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Downtown Photos by Ric Rosow on Display in the SmartArt Rotating Art Program at the Convention Center

Article and photos by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

As a long-time resident in the Mill City area, I’m delighted to take part in the SmartArt Rotating Art  Program at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The program “Call for Art” seeks to highlight the spectacular visual art created by local artists…with a cultural or geographic perspective that is unique or appropriate to Minneapolis. Art Force requested submissions of original, two-dimensional artwork by Minneapolis artists. I’m thrilled to exhibit four of my pieces: Brilliant Downtown on the River, Moon Hiding in Downtown, Brilliant Downtown Sky, and After the Game.

I live in the Mill City District and each photograph in the exhibit is a view from our neighborhood. While there are many lovely photographs taken every day in this area, I look for unique scenes that are unlikely to be replicated anytime soon. While sunset and sunrise occur every day, while the river and downtown buildings change only slowly, the time of day, the season, the temperature, cloud cover, and other factors affect what we see. I see the cityscape as the canvas and the editing software as my paintbrush. I combine both to create beautiful pictures that depict downtown Minneapolis.

In Brilliant Downtown on the River, above, I took a daytime river scene and turned it into a neon light show.

In this photograph named Moon Hiding in Downtown, my goal was to capture the moon in a position partially behind a downtown building. I did that. But I also captured a surprising element of another building that I did not initially notice. It was so surprising that I had to use my binoculars to make sure it was really there and not an unreal artifact in editing the photo. See if you can find it.

I edited Brilliant Downtown Sky to bring color to a foreboding cloud formation.

In After the Game, I concentrated on highlighting the glow of lights all around the city as that was what attracted me to take the photograph in the first place.

The photographs are each 54” x 36”, printed on canvas and mounted in a floating black frame.

Ongoing Free COVID-19 Testing Available Mondays and Fridays in Cedar Riverside

October 2 7th Ward Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

My office has received many inquiries as to the City Council’s plan regarding the future of policing and the proposed community engagement plan for public safety changes and improvements. Today the City Council voted unanimously to approve the following outline for the public to weigh in on policing, police responses, public health-oriented violence prevention, law enforcement reforms and/or changes to protocols and practices.

In addition to this plan, the Public Health & Safety Committee of the City Council has noticed a public hearing/public comment period at the start of their next meeting next Thursday, October 8 at 1:30. Information on how to participate will be shared in a separate new article below.

The process is divided into four parts:

• Phase One (October 2020 - December 2020):  A community survey and public forums focused on the current model of community safety and opportunities for changes, with a synthesis of initial themes presented to the Council in early December along with a draft vision for consideration and adoption by the Council
• Phase Two (January 2021 - March 2021):  Public forums where community members can review and confirm the themes and goals established in the first phase plus a deeper dive into ideas for a new public safety model to help inform draft recommendations of actions steps to realize the established vision and goals
• Phase Three (April 2021 - May 2021):  Opportunities to offer feedback on draft recommendations at public forums and online
• Phase Four (June 2021 - July 2021):  Recommendations will be refined and finalized, incorporating community feedback gathered throughout the engagement process, with a final report to the Council on strategies for building a new model for community safety

The process is guided by the principles of accessibility, and meaningful and inclusive engagement. It will be open to all community members who wish to participate.

Recommendations made through this process will focus on but may not be limited to intermediate policy changes, investments and partnerships that support a public health approach to community safety, alternatives to policing, and research and engagement to inform the potential creation of a new Department of Community Safety. There will be a review and analysis of existing models, programs, and practices that could be applied in Minneapolis.

This process will build on the work already underway to refine and improve our 911 response and shift certain calls for help to responders other than MPD. It will also identify resources needed to support recommendations.

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Share Your Input on Public Safety at the First Public Comment Session on October 8 at 1:30pm

The Public Health & Safety Committee of the City Council has set a public comment period at the beginning of its next meeting to hear from the public about public safety.

Public safety public comment period 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8

To comment at the committee meeting, sign up in advance on the City website.

The City has an obligation to ensure all its public meetings comply with the law and that full and fair access is available to anyone interested in participating. State statute requires us to provide a minimum of three days public notice prior to a public comment period.

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Fall Street Sweeping Begins October 20

Crews will sweep streets across Minneapolis next month to clean the streets before winter to keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and ending up in our lakes and rivers as much as possible.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure crews can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 19, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.

Ways to stay informed of the parking rules:

• “No Parking” signs – City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. However, the “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking after the signs are removed. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs may be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
• Social media – The City will use Facebook and Twitter to post periodic street sweeping updates and information.
• Phone calls to residents – In addition to the “No Parking” signs that will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about 3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day. There’s no guarantee that the calls will reach everyone, so residents should be sure to check the various ways to be aware of the rules, and watch for signs.
• Interactive web feature – Folks can use a feature on the City’s website to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The Street Sweeping Schedule Lookup will be available on the City’s website once we get closer to the start date. The fall street sweep takes four weeks, and visitors to the website will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the four weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.
• Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong on the City’s YouTube channel and on Minneapolis City TV. Residents who have friends or neighbors who speak these languages are encouraged to share links to the videos.

Clean streets mean a healthier environment

Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and livable.

Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb with enforcement of parking rules once in the spring, and again in the fall. Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings, or other debris into City streets – it’s bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards, and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.

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Federal District Court Ruling Reinstates October 31 Deadline for 2020 Census

A federal court has ruled that the timeline for the 2020 Census must be extended for an additional month to Oct. 31. Due to disruptions caused by the pandemic, the original deadline of July 31 was initially extended to Oct. 31 to provide additional time to count residents, but it was later adjusted and reduced by a full month to Sept. 30.

Now with the federal court ruling, the Oct. 31 deadline is reinstated.

What does this mean?

This ruling means the U.S. Census Bureau will continue through Oct. 31 with door-knocking and following up with households that haven’t responded.

The census occurs once every decade, determining where $1.5 trillion in federal resources are distributed for transportation, housing, schools, health insurance, social service programs and infrastructure, including nearly $15 billion for Minnesota.

The data collected by the census also determines political representation. With Minnesota at risk for losing a congressional seat, a thorough and accurate census count is vital to the safety, success and future of our city and state.

We all count, so we must all be counted.

Read more.

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Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote

With just weeks left to go until the Nov. 3 election, it’s a good time for everyone to make sure they’re registered.

If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register. Any 17-year-old who will be 18 on or before election day may also register to vote now. Minnesotans can check their voter registration status before re-registering.

As of the State primary Aug. 11, Minneapolis had approximately 260,000 registered voters. That’s about 85% of the estimated number of voting age citizens* (18 or older) in the city, which means approximately 45,000 potential Minneapolis voters are not yet registered.

Registering and voting by mail

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail to avoid contacting others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year. Voters applying to vote by mail who have not registered will get registration information with their mail ballot.

The City recommends applying for a mail ballot at least 14 days before Nov. 3 election.

Voters can also register in-person when voting early or at their polling place on Election Day. However, registering in advance of reduces the time spent there and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

More information is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov.

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1‐Year Estimate of Minneapolis Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP)

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Mayor Jacob Frey Outlines More Detailed Plan for Proposed 2021 City Budget

Mayor Jacob Frey has released his finalized 2021 budget proposal for the City of Minneapolis.

With a limited 5.75% maximum levy increase and 12% increase in the overall tax base growth, three-quarters of Minneapolis residential property owners will see a decrease in their property tax bill with the median-valued household set to experience a $59 yearly decrease.

Despite the COVID shortfall, Frey’s 2021 budget proposal includes a $7.2 million increase in ongoing funding for affordable housing work, his top priority. That new, ongoing support includes a major boost to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was previously funded at $800,000 on an ongoing basis.

The ongoing funding commitment for affordable housing represents another record-setting benchmark for Frey who has invested in housing initiatives at the highest levels in city history in both of his first two years. The ongoing funding allocation also makes permanent the Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative – a program launched by Frey that, to-date, has ended or prevented homelessness for more than 2,000 kids in 745 Minneapolis Public School families with elementary school-aged children.

To support rebuilding and recovery efforts for businesses impacted by COVID and civil unrest, Frey will be allocating $5 million in one-time TIF funding for the Commercial Property Development Fund (CPDF) along with $500,000 in ongoing funding for the CPDF, at least $400,000 in supports for the Minneapolis Forward Community Now Coalition, and $250,000 ongoing funding for the Green Energy Cost Share program specifically for economic recovery.

The budget also invests in several safety beyond policing priorities and violence prevention work, including an expansion of the mental-health co-responder program, $2.5 million for the MinneapolUS violence interrupters initiative, and $300,000 of ongoing funding to support the continued implementation of the recommendations from the Mayor’s opioid task-force, including the First Step hospital-based overdose intervention program. Funding is further expanded by $50,000 to pilot a peer recovery initiative in partnership with the Minneapolis Fire Department.

Frey utilized a combination of an enterprise-wide hiring freeze, across-the board reductions in spending, an early retirement incentive, and broad departmental reorganization mandates to maintain current service levels while minimizing layoffs to 19. As Frey explained last month during his address, the hiring freeze will allow for flexibility in future planning and annual savings across the enterprise, including over $11 million from the Minneapolis Police Department.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) voted to adopt the maximum levy Sept. 23.

A link to the 2021 budget book can be found here.

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Office of Violence Prevention Developing Initiative to Interrupt Violence

You may be seeing violence interrupters out in our neighborhoods, wearing bright orange “MinneapolUS” t-shirts. The Minneapolis Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention is developing a new initiative modeled after successful global efforts like Cure Violence. The model complements existing outreach organizations already on our streets, employing a specific approach built on the idea that violence is a public health issue. By identifying and interrupting conflicts and working to promote community healing, the initiative is intended to break the “contagious” aspects of violence such as retaliation.

How does it work?

Using informal mediation, non-physical conflict resolution and interruption expertise, trusted community members will work on our streets to stop conflicts before they happen and as they happen. They’ll also work to foster healing and mobilize communities to reject violence through strategies like awareness building, community gatherings and peace walks.

These trusted community members on neighborhood-specific teams have themselves experienced violence or are familiar with the impacts violence has on communities. They have strong relationships with young adults, neighborhood members, community leaders and service providers.

They will also work to connect people to jobs, housing, mental health and chemical dependency services, and other resources and supports.

Watch the City website for more information about this initiative and the Office of Violence Prevention as it becomes available.

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More Electric Vehicle Charging Hubs Coming to Minneapolis, Saint Paul in 2021

The Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network (TCEVMN) has been awarded $6.7 million by the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) as part of its Advanced Innovative Vehicle Technologies program. The TCEVMN, led by the City of Saint Paul in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, HOURCAR and East Metro Strong, will build 70 charging hubs in the two cities, primarily in the public right-of-way. These hubs, powered by renewable energy, will provide public charging for electric vehicles and will also host a new, one-way electric vehicle car-sharing service operated by local nonprofit HOURCAR. The award was the third largest in the DOE’s $139 million announcement and will be administered by the Lung Association.

Xcel Energy will provide up to $4 million of electrical infrastructure for the project as part of a Public Utilities Commission-approved package of electric vehicle pilots.

Read more.

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Vision Zero Traffic Safety Update, More Speed Limit Yard Signs Available

This year has seen a surge in requests for community traffic safety and traffic calming along with more reports of reckless driving and speeding.

The City is committed to reaching Vision Zero: having zero traffic deaths and severe injuries on our streets. Traffic staff have been working to respond to the safety requests in a fair and equitable way while recognizing the urgency of the current challenges. Public Works is also working on updated procedures related to neighborhood traffic calming, so that community members can better understand how decisions are made. A draft of those procedures will be available for public comment this winter.

The City continues to ramp up investments in traffic safety by implementing the 2020-2022 Vision Zero Action Plan. The 2020 Vision Zero Annual Report highlights recent work including:

• Lowering speed limits.
• Launching the Vision Zero traffic enforcement working group focused on safety and racial justice.
• Preparing quick safety improvements for high injury streets including converting a section of Lyndale Avenue North from four lanes to three, and making additional safety improvements at more than 30 intersections this year.
• A capital budget request for expanded improvements in 2021 and 2022.

Pick up a “20 is Plenty” yard sign

More “20 is Plenty, Slower is Safer” yard signs are now available for pickup while supplies last. Help get out the word about new, safer speed limits. You can pick up a yard sign at four locations:

• North: 2710 Pacific St. outside the main Public Works gate.
• Northeast: 1809 Washington St. NE outside the fence at Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue.
• South: 27th Street just east of Longfellow Avenue near the Public Works gate.

Southwest: 6036 Harriet Ave. S., at the southwest corner of 60th Street and Harriet Avenue.

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Early Voting Begins for November 3 Election

Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 18 for the Nov. 3 general election. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.

The City is mailing 114,873 requested mail-in ballots to Minneapolis voters. Voters who applied early should allow seven to 10 days for their ballot to arrive. Voters who applied this week should allow 15-20 days for their ballot to arrive.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year.

Changes to voting by mail

Any Minnesota voter can vote early; no reason is needed. However, due to a recent court action, some of the requirements for voting by mail have changed. These affect witness requirements and the deadline for returning your ballot.

• If you are registered to vote at your current address you will not need a mail ballot witness.
• If you have moved, changed names or need to register for the first time, you will need a witness to sign your mail ballot envelope.

A voter’s ballot will count as long as it is postmarked on or before Election Day (Nov. 3) and is received in the mail no later than seven days after Election Day (Nov. 10). This is a change from previous election law requiring mail ballots to be received by Election Day. Please note that if voters deliver their ballot in-person to the Elections & Voter Services office, it still must be returned by 3 p.m. on Nov. 3.

For the Aug. 11 State Primary, a court decision allowed an individual voter to return an unlimited number of other voters’ mail ballots. For the general election, this decision has been reversed, and voters may only return mail ballots for up to three other voters. When returning another voter’s ballot, identification with name and signature is required and paperwork must be completed. More information on how to vote by mail is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.

Voting at the Early Vote Center

The Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., makes early in-person voting more convenient for Minneapolis voters. It’s especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. While we are in a pandemic, voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.

The Early Vote Center’s hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center will have extended hours for the final two weeks of voting, including Saturday and Sunday hours. For the last seven days of early voting, the City will open two additional Early Vote Centers. All early voting hours and locations are posted on the Elections & Voter Services website: vote.minneapolismn.gov.

Voters can save time by taking these three steps

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote, or pre-register at least 21 days before the election. Voters can register or check the status of their registrations at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/register.
2. Download and complete the absentee ballot application form in advance and bring it when you go to vote early. Find the request form at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.
3. Look at a sample ballot ahead of time; even bring it to refer to when you go to vote. Find your sample ballot at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.

State law allows voters to bring materials into the polls to help complete their ballots — and the sample ballot is the single, best tool available for this purpose. By downloading and printing their sample ballots (which are customized to their specific ward and precinct), voters can practice marking their ballots. They can bring this marked-up sample ballot as a reference to the voting booth when completing their official ballots. This is the best way to reduce the time spent waiting in lines.

Elections website has a new look

Just in time for the Nov. 3 general election, the City’s Elections & Voter Services website is out with a new look and improved functionality. Check it out at vote.minneapolismn.gov.

The new features include:

• Simpler design and improved organization make it easier to find what you want.
• More compatibility with smart phones.
• Improved search tool.

Handles increased website traffic more effectively.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of September 30, 2020

Situational Updates: Minneapolis

• As of September 30, there are 10,868 cases in Minneapolis and 245 deaths. The total number of cases increased by 5% over the previous week, however there has not been a similar increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions. Hospitalizations increased by 3% and ICU admissions by 1%.
• The average daily number of cases increased by 20 cases per day compared to the previous two weeks. Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Community transmission accounted for 25% of all cases this week, down from 40% in the first two weeks of September. Despite the recent decrease, the high level of community transmission is still concerning. Community transmission means that a person’s infection cannot be traced to a known case or a specific activity. Increased community transmission makes it more difficult to conduct effective contact tracing and prevent further transmission.
• There continues to be a high number of cases in the 18-22 year old age group. Cases in this age range represent 73% of cases among those 15-24 years old diagnosed in September. This increase has coincided with the return of college students to campuses across the city.
• The CDC has canceled the CASPER survey because of the hostile reception these teams received in Minnesota communities. Given the uncertainty of the situation and the impact the incidents had on team members, CDC decided to demobilize the entire team. Results of the CASPER survey may have led to a better understanding of how COVID-19 is spreading in Minnesota and how it is affecting people. That kind of understanding may have helped improve multiple aspects of the pandemic response.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated and patrons can approach the bar to order as long as they don’t congregate.

Situational Updates: Minnesota

• As of September 30, there are 99,134 cases in Minnesota out of over 2 million tests completed. There have been 2,036 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 27,728 cases and 936 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The MN Department of Health is using a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. As of September22, the State is at17.2casesper 100,000andMinneapolisisat17.4cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19. Rates have increased significantly in both the city and the state over the past two weeks.
• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening.
• Governor Walz’s statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.

Health Incident Command updates

Businesses

• Over the last week, Health inspectors completed 79 food safety routine inspections, which included reviewing COVID-19 preparedness plans and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols. Health inspectors also responded to three food safety and COVID-19 complaints from 311. Health inspectors connected with three businesses with reported COVID-19 positive employees/patrons to provide customized information and assistance.
• Inspectors conducted a bar sweep of 18 bars on September25 and completed two follow-up visits on September 26 to ensure that violations were addressed. The sweep was conducted in response to increasing COVID-19 cases among young adults.
• Environmental Health staff responded to a complaint at the Salvation Army indicating that residents were not wearing masks. 200 masks were distributed to help rectify the problem.
• Environmental Health staff are working with other City departments on housing options for people experiencing homelessness.
• Representatives from the State and the City, including Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant, have met with the Vikings regarding their request to increase the number of fans at games held in U.S. Bank Stadium.

Case investigations/Contact tracing

• MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 22investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the10,868cases in Minneapolis, 85.5% have been interviewed,2.2% have refused,10.2%have been lost to follow-up, and1.9% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Twenty-six percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Community testing and flu shots

• On Saturday, September26, 90 people were tested at the Abubakar Islamic Center in South Minneapolis and 99 people were tested at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. The latter event was focused on men recently released from incarceration but was open to everyone. On Tuesday, September29, 223 COVID-19 tests and 221 flu shots were given at Eastside Neighborhood Services.
• Going forward in2020 and 2021, MHD is exploring ways to utilize employees across the City enterprise to help support community testing events and other COVID-19 response efforts.

Halloween messaging

Thanks to Council Member Palmisano for sharing this fun Halloween resource from the Harvard Global Public Health Initiative. This interactive website provides guidance depending on color coded COVID-19 risk levels by county. Minneapolis risk level is orange which means accelerated spread. Recommended activities include a neighborhood candy hunt or trick or treat drive by.

Upcoming testing events

• Masjid An-Nur Mosque, 1729 N. Lyndale Ave. 2:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 Somali interpreters will be available. Register onsite.
• New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Bryant Ave. N. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 Pre-registration is available soon, or register onsite.
• St. Peter’s AME, 401 E. 41st St. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 Pre-registration is available soon, or register onsite.

Test results are usually available in two business days.

Homeless encampments

• MNDOT closed the Hiawatha encampment on September 29. MHD staff and outreach workers helped move people from the encampment to shelters, hotels, and other safe spaces.
• The Health Department continues to work closely with the Park Board, Hennepin County, and other partners including Healthcare for the Homeless to respond to the needs of those living at encampments across the city. Healthcare for the Homeless is currently making weekly visits to all encampments to offer supplies and services including COVID-19 testing and flu vaccinations.

Personal protective equipment

• MHD continues to distribute personal protective equipment, including N95, surgical, and cloth masks as well as hand sanitizer, to community requestors. This past week, staff distributed 3,280 masks and 226 bottles of hand sanitizer. There were fewer requests compared to previous weeks, which may reflect a stabilizing supply chain for these products, although partners continue to engage in community distribution. Recipients include small businesses, religious organizations, and other community sites such as the YWCA on Lake Street which hosts a weekly food shelf and hygiene product distribution.

Find COVID-19 tips for staying well and travel guidelines on the Health Department web page.

• The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

MSP Film Society's 8th Annual Cine Latino Film Festival to be Experienced From Home

The MSP Film Society has announced the 8th Annual Cine Latino Film Festival will return as a virtual festival, October 15-22. Cine Latino will come to you - as CINE LATINO AT HOME / EN CASA!

Rare Drawdown of Mississippi River Below St. Anthony Falls Taking Place the Week of October 5th

Reposted from Mississippi Park Connection's website:

During the week of October 5, you will have a rare opportunity to see what parts of the Mississippi River looked like before it was altered by the lock and dam.

On October 5, the US Army Corps of Engineers will begin the process of lowering the river’s water level immediately below St. Anthony Falls. The purpose of drawing down the river is to allow for intermittent inspection of infrastructure that is normally underwater. The last drawdown occurred more than a decade ago, in 2008!

Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam will be open to the public for viewing the river on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM! There will be knowledgeable park rangers and volunteers to help interpret the river and answer questions.

The river will be at the lowest level on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 6 and 7), and then slowly refill on Thursday until it returns to the normal level later in the week.

The drawdown of the Lower Saint Anthony Pool will nearly restore that part of the river to its natural flow. Most notably, viewers will be able to see rapids in the river that once stretched from St. Anthony Falls to the Minnesota River, until engineering of the river for industrial and navigational purposes altered the flow. One of the most exciting things to see is the Stone Arch Bridge as it was intended, which is much taller than it appears. The lowered water level will also expose footing for the 10th Ave. wagon bridge and portions of William de la Barre's 1879 dam foundation.

Parade Ice Garden Open Skate and Adult Open Hockey Returns in October

Via a September 29 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

The Parade Ice Garden is located at 600 Kenwood Parkway

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is excited to announce the return of open skating, open hockey and pro’s ice figure skating! Starting the week of October 4th, you can lace up your skates and enjoy the skating at Parade Ice Garden.

*  *  *  *  *  Open Skate  *  *  *  *  *

Open skate will consist 25 skaters on the ice at a time, and participants under 12 years of age must have 1 parent/guardian on the ice with them. A waiver must be on file prior to skating. Sign up through SignUp Genius. Pay upon arrival via credit card, check or exact cash.

Admission: Adults and Youth: $3, Seniors: $2.75 and Kids Under 5: Free

• Monday and Wednesday (Ages 54 and younger): 3pm-4pm
• Tuesday and Thursday (Ages 55 and over): 12pm-1pm

To reserve a spot to skate

Open Skating waiver

*  *  *  *  *  Adult Open Hockey  *  *  *  *  *

Must be 18 years old.  Open Hockey will consist of 24 skaters on the ice at a time, with 20 skaters and 4 goalies per session. Social distancing is not enforced during play. A waiver must be on file prior to skating. Sign up through SignUp Genius. Pay upon arrival via credit card, check or exact cash.

Admission:  $5 skaters, goalies play for free 

• Monday, Wednesday and Fridays: 11:30am-1pm
• Thursdays: 7:45am-9:15am

To reserve a spot to skate  

Open Hockey waiver

*  *  *  *  *  Pro's Ice Figure Skating  *  *  *  *  *

A unique program that allows figure skaters to practice on their own or with a skating professional. A waiver must be on file prior to skating. Sign up through SignUp Genius. Pay upon arrival via credit card, check or exact cash.

Admission:  $14 for 60 minutes

To reserve a spot to skate

Pro’s Ice waiver  

Contact

Phone: 612-370-4904, Email: arenas@minneapolisparks.org 

September 29: MnDOT Historian Shares Third Avenue Bridge History

Join MnDOT historian Katie Haun Schuring and the project team for a conversation spanning the history of the Third Avenue Bridge. Learn about early 20th century Minneapolis, the bridge design, interesting features and construction methods used during this time.

*  *  *  *  *  *  REGISTER *  *  *  *  *  *

This free virtual presentation will be on Tuesday, September 29 from 5:30-6:30pm. An interactive question-and-answer session will take place after the presentation. If you’re not able to attend, a second virtual presentation is planned for late fall. More information on this second opportunity will be available in the coming weeks.

Check out more bridge history on the Third Ave. Bridge project page. Through facts and photographs, explore the unique design, construction and legacy of this historic bridge.

Register for Meet Minneapolis' September 30 Webinar, Featuring Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo

Wednesday, September 30

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Featuring Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo

Meet Minneapolis hosts monthly webinar updates, and for this month's update they will take a deeper look at public safety, the latest impact of the pandemic, and provide key data and insights that are the basis of a strategic recovery plan for this critical economic industry in Minneapolis.

The Tourism and Hospitality industry is integral to the Minneapolis economy, representing more than $8 billion in metro area visitor spending and supporting nearly 36,000 workers in the city in 2019. The coronavirus pandemic has brought us to a standstill – keeping our visitors, convention attendees and sports fans at home and temporarily halted critical incremental spending at our airport, restaurants, shops, attractions, hotels and meeting and convention facilities.

Even though it will look different - people will travel again. For Meet Minneapolis, restoring confidence among residents and visitors is critical for Minneapolis to continue being a vibrant, diverse and active city where we all love to live, work and play.

This webinar will cover:

• Public Safety Update
• Q & A with Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo 
• Research Update
• Meet Minneapolis Recovery Plan

*  *  *  *  *  REGISTER  *  *  *  *  *

The Guthrie Announces A Christmas Carol will Continue

Via a September 25 e-announcement from Guthrie Theater

A very merry announcement!

In a year with more humbug than anyone could handle, we’re thrilled to share a special announcement: Our tradition of presenting A Christmas Carol will continue, but with a virtual twist.

Join us for Dickens’ Holiday Classic — a special event streaming December 19–31 that draws inspiration from Dickens’ own holiday custom of reading his beloved ghost story out loud for audiences from London to New York. 

Under the guidance of Adapter/Stage Director Joseph Haj and Film Director E.G. Bailey, four Twin Cities actors will use Dickens’ hand-curated chapters to reimagine the classic and bring this uplifting story into our homes and hearts when we need it the most. 

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, October 6, so mark your calendars (and get the hot cocoa ready).

Cheers from all of us at the Guthrie! 

Minnesota Vikings Partner with Satisfi Labs to Provide Seamless Solutions for Fanless Stadium

Via a recent Press Release:

Satisfi Labs’ Interactive Search Engine enhanced fan engagement by answering over 30,000 queries in the 2019 season

Satisfi Labs announced a continuation of its partnership with the Minnesota Vikings, expanding the integration of Satisfi’s Interactive Search Engine with Apple Business Chat to engage with fans through the 2020 season. The team’s Apple Business Chat incorporation launched in 2019 handled a notable 31,000 questions and a one point increased satisfaction score across the overall fan experience. As a majority of NFL teams go fanless for the start of the 2020 season, strengthening fan engagement from home has become a priority for organizations.

Satisfi Labs’ Interactive Search on Apple Business Chat will allow fans to access information through iOS touch-points such as Messages, Siri, Safari, Maps, and Search, on which many guests already have access to and familiarity with via devices including iPhone and Apple Watch. The Satisfi Labs’ virtual assistant will help thousands of fans navigate crucial questions about safety protocol at stadiums when they return and new information about players from the comfort of their home this year.

Satisfi Labs has a long-standing relationship with the Minnesota Vikings, launching the first virtual assistant in 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium to help answer fan inquiries relevant to game day experiences and food and beverage availability. The virtual assistant provides the Vikings with insights about fans’ entertainment interests, concession preferences and stadium logistics challenges. Zero-party data can be leveraged to improve future game day offerings. As the stadium-attending landscape is quickly evolving, the questions being asked are too, so Satisfi Labs is working closely with the Vikings to keep its fan base up to date with a more personal experience through Apple Business Chat.

“It's important for us to bring Vikings fans closer to the team and ensure every engagement point is seamless, informative and fun. Being able to offer the Satisfi Labs virtual assistant through Apple Business Chat helps us accomplish that because we’re able to provide a unique experience on platforms with which fans are already familiar. As we look to further provide innovative ways to enhance the fan experience, we’re glad to continue our partnership with Satisfi Labs and Apple Business Chat."

“The Minnesota Vikings lead the way when it comes to fan engagement through flawless customer service and information accessibility,” said Don White, CEO and co-founder of Satisfi Labs. “Utilizing our Interactive Search Engine with Apple Business Chat to answer fan questions directly from applications, which are native to iOS devices, shows a true dedication to providing world-class user experience in a seamless way.”

September 18 Ward 7 Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

City Hosting Online Open Houses for Hennepin Avenue South Reconstruction Project

The City of Minneapolis is holding two online open houses later this month to share updates, answer questions and solicit feedback about the reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue South between Douglas Avenue and West Lake Street.

The City plans to reconstruct this section of Hennepin Avenue starting in 2023. The reconstruction project will include redesigning Hennepin Avenue to meet the needs of current and future users of the street. Project goals include improving the sidewalk and intersections for all users, evaluating bicycle network connections, providing space for enhanced transit stops for future bus-rapid transit (BRT) service, replacing aging infrastructure and improving traffic flow.

Online open houses

Public Works will host two virtual open house meetings to present the project background, introduce potential design concepts and get public input on the project. The open houses will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A session.

• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30

Find links to the open houses and more information about the project on the City’s website.

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Franklin and Lyndale Road Construction

The Public Works Department has scheduled a water valve replacement project at the intersection of Lyndale and Franklin.  This project will begin Monday, 9/21 and is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, 9/24.  Traffic will be maintained in both directions with lane shifts.

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Early Voting Begins for November 3 Election

Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 18 for the Nov. 3 general election. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.

The City is mailing 114,873 requested mail-in ballots to Minneapolis voters. Voters who applied early should allow seven to 10 days for their ballot to arrive. Voters who applied this week should allow 15-20 days for their ballot to arrive.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year. 

Changes to voting by mail

Any Minnesota voter can vote early; no reason is needed. However, due to a recent court action, some of the requirements for voting by mail have changed. These affect witness requirements and the deadline for returning your ballot.

• If you are registered to vote at your current address you will not need a mail ballot witness.
• If you have moved, changed names or need to register for the first time, you will need a witness to sign your mail ballot envelope.

A voter’s ballot will count as long as it is postmarked on or before Election Day (Nov. 3) and is received in the mail no later than seven days after Election Day (Nov. 10). This is a change from previous election law requiring mail ballots to be received by Election Day. Please note that if voters deliver their ballot in-person to the Elections & Voter Services office, it still must be returned by 3 p.m. on Nov. 3.

For the Aug. 11 State Primary, a court decision allowed an individual voter to return an unlimited number of other voters’ mail ballots. For the general election, this decision has been reversed, and voters may only return mail ballots for up to three other voters. When returning another voter’s ballot, identification with name and signature is required and paperwork must be completed. More information on how to vote by mail is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.

Voting at the Early Vote Center

The Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., makes early in-person voting more convenient for Minneapolis voters. It’s especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. While we are in a pandemic, voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.

The Early Vote Center’s hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center will have extended hours for the final two weeks of voting, including Saturday and Sunday hours. For the last seven days of early voting, the City will open two additional Early Vote Centers. All early voting hours and locations are posted on the Elections & Voter Services website: vote.minneapolismn.gov.

Voters can save time by taking these three steps

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote, or pre-register at least 21 days before the election. Voters can register or check the status of their registrations at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/register.
2. Download and complete the absentee ballot application form in advance and bring it when you go to vote early. Find the request form at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.
3. Look at a sample ballot ahead of time; even bring it to refer to when you go to vote. Find your sample ballot at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.

State law allows voters to bring materials into the polls to help complete their ballots — and the sample ballot is the single, best tool available for this purpose. By downloading and printing their sample ballots (which are customized to their specific ward and precinct), voters can practice marking their ballots. They can bring this marked-up sample ballot as a reference to the voting booth when completing their official ballots. This is the best way to reduce the time spent waiting in lines.

Elections website has a new look

Just in time for the Nov. 3 general election, the City’s Elections & Voter Services website is out with a new look and improved functionality. Check it out at vote.minneapolismn.gov.

The new features include:

• Simpler design and improved organization make it easier to find what you want.
• More compatibility with smart phones.
• Improved search tool.

Handles increased website traffic more effectively.

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September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. This year’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) theme is "Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today."

The City of Minneapolis encourages residents to set aside some time this month to use FEMA’s weekly themes and learn about ways to prepare for weather emergencies and other disasters that could occur at home and work and in their communities. Families preparing before an emergency with a focus on children’s understanding can help save lives and increase the community’s resilience.

FEMA’s weekly focuses in National Preparedness Month 2020: Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today

Week 1 Sept. 1-5: Make a plan

Week 2 Sept. 6-12: Build a kit

Week 3 Sept. 13-19: Prepare for disasters

Week 4 Sept. 20-26: Teach young people about preparedness

Find information on these weekly themes and more at Ready.gov/september.

Video

Watch and share FEMA’s preparedness videos.

App

Residents can prepare for a disaster today by downloading the FEMA app for real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, ways to share notifications with loved ones, emergency shelter information and more.

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Health Officials Begin Statewide COVID-19 Survey of Minnesota Households

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is conducting a voluntary statewide survey through Sept. 30 as part of an ongoing effort to better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in Minnesota.

The modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, survey will include a household questionnaire as well as free virus and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Information learned from the survey will help health officials and others who are part of the COVID-19 response make decisions that best meet the needs of our communities.

During the survey period, teams of public health professionals will visit randomly selected households in 180 preselected sites around Minnesota. After agreeing to participate, one member of the household will complete a questionnaire. All household members who consent can receive a COVID-19 test using a swab to test for current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and an antibody test using a finger stick to draw a few drops of blood to see if someone has previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Participants with positive results for either test will be contacted by a nurse to receive additional information. All questionnaire responses and results will be kept private. For more information about this study, visit CASPER: COVID-19 Public Health Survey.

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Resources for Job Seekers

Lost your job? Need work now? Dislocated Worker services are designed to help workers who have been laid off get back to work as quickly as possible. Eligible workers may receive counselor-approved training, placement services and more. Visit Minneapolis Dislocated Worker Resources for more information.   

Need help figuring out your next career step? Thinking you might need training to prepare for your next job? Contact staff at a CareerForce location near you for help. Visit Minneapolis Employment and Training for locations and assistance in Minneapolis.

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How Do You Stay Healthy and Grounded?

Many of us are feeling a huge emotional toll with the recent killings, racial injustice and COVID-19. This short video, introduced by the Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, features seven members of our Minneapolis community talking about some of the ways they take care of themselves so they can show up for their families and community.

Watch and discuss

Take a moment to watch the video with your loved ones and discuss some ways you can heal and stay healthy.

Resources

Find a list of mental well-being resources and support compiled by the City here.

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Learn More about Federal Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19

In addition to the City’s Sick and Safe Time ordinance, the U.S. Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ensures that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat COVID-19.

In general, employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public sector employers, are entitled to (up to) two weeks (of fully or partially paid) sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Additional partially paid leave is available to care for a child, including during school closure or virtual learning. Private employers that have fewer than 500 employees are reimbursed with tax credits for the cost of providing their employees with paid leave.

For more information, call 1-866-4-US-WAGE and check out the following resources: informational video, eligibility tool, poster and FAQs. 

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of September 16, 2020

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• As of September 16, there are 9,881 cases in Minneapolis and 231 deaths. The City shares Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Minneapolis has seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases from a high of 19 per 100,000 people in early August to 12 per 100,000 people as of September 1. In addition, there are now an average of approximately 50 new cases per day as opposed to 80 new cases per day.
• Current hospitalizations and ICU admissions have remained stable over the past week.
• Data show an increase in the percent of cases reporting community transmission. This means that a person’s infection cannot be traced to a known case or a specific activity. Increased community transmission makes it more difficult to conduct effective contact tracing and prevent further transmission.
• Colleges and universities continue to evaluate their COVID-19 safety plans for housing, classroom instruction, and other on-campus experiences. MHD is attending a weekly meeting with the University of Minnesota to stay apprised of their planning efforts around COVID-19 safety for students on campus.
• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is conducting a research study to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Minnesota communities. This study includes public health workers going door-to-door in certain neighborhoods across the state. In Minneapolis, surveys will be conducted September 14 to September 30. The survey is voluntary and includes a free COVID-19 test. Visit the State’s COVID-19 survey webpage for more information.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated and patrons can approach the bar to order as long as they don’t congregate.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• As of September 16, there are 85,813 cases in Minnesota out of over 1.7 million tests completed. There have been 1,869 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 25,093 cases and 909 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The MN Department of Health is using a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. As of September 1, the State is at 12.7 casesper100,000andMinneapolisisat 12.1cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19, although rates have decreased over the past few weeks.
• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening.
• Governor Walz’s statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.

Health Incident Command updates As the Minneapolis Health Department (MHD) continues to respond to COVID-19, we are applying an equity lens to all our work in conjunction with partners across the City enterprise.

Businesses

• In the past week, Health inspectors completed 37 food safety routine inspections with an emphasis onCOVID-19preparedness plans and the implementation of COVID-19 protocols. Health inspectors responded to six food safety/sanitation/COVID-19 complaints from 311. There was one event that was inspected over the weekend.
• MHD and Civil Rights met with Centro de Trabajadores Unidosen Lucha (CTUL) to discuss areas of collaboration to increase worker safety, including COVID-19 precautions.
• Environmental Health collaborated with the Police Department and Public Works Transportation to provide guidance on hosting a safe National Night Out. Additionally, they hosted two Q &A sessions for block club leaders.
• Environmental Health is working closely with Business Licensing, CPED and NCR to formalize a process for pop-up food distribution sites that want to continue operating.

Case investigations/Contact tracing

• MHD is conducting over50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 22investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the9,881cases in Minneapolis, 85.8% have been interviewed, 2.1% haverefused,10.6% have been lost to follow-up, and1.4% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Twenty-seven percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.
• The Health Department is partnering with Minnesota AmeriCorps Emergency Response Initiative on a new contact tracer program. The new program will place 20 case investigators/contact tracers within Minneapolis, beginning in mid-October. AmeriCorps is currently accepting applications for these positions. More information is available on the AmeriCorps website.

Community testing

• 322COVID-19 tests and200seasonal flu shots were provided at two testing events at Shiloh Temple in North Minneapolis on September 11 and 12. The testing event was conducted in partnership with Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, Hennepin Healthcare, and Hope Community. • Upcoming testing events:
• September 17 from 12 pm. to 6 p.m. at Tawfiq Islamic Center (2400 Minnehaha Avenue). Flu shots will not be offered.
• September 19 and 26 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center (2824 13th Avenue South). Flu shots will not be offered.
• September 29 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 NE 2nd Street). Flu shots will be offered.
• Every Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Brian Coyle Center (420 15th Avenue South). Flu shots will not be offered.
• MHD is working with Human Resources and the Emergency Operations Center to develop processes and staffing plans to ensure that local testing efforts are sustainable through the end of the year.

Encampments

• MHD staff continue to monitor public health and safety concerns at encampments in parks and other sites throughout the city, including the former Kmart site. Staff are supplying porta potties, handwashing stations, COVID-19 signage, and sharps containers as well as providing other services in collaboration with community partners.
• The MN Department of Transportation is in the process of clearing the 75+ tent encampment along Hiawatha and relocating people to other temporary housing options.
• Environmental Health staff are working in partnership with other City departments to explore emergency housing options for people experiencing homelessness.

Personal Protective Equipment

• MHD continues to distribute masks and other personal protective equipment to community organizations and businesses. In the past week, staff distributed 4,255 masks and 47 bottles of hand sanitizer. Recipients include community-based food distribution sites, COVID-19 testing sites, child care facilities, small businesses, unsheltered homeless, and community health care businesses.
• MHD is currently engaging in conversations with members from the Commission on Civil Rights to further expand mask distribution within the community.

Vaccinations

• The MN Department of Health is convening Local Public Health Departments on a weekly basis to discuss COVID-19 vaccination plans once a viable vaccine becomes available.
• MHD is working closely with NCR to develop an outreach plan for discussing COVID-19 vaccination with community members. The process will begin with listening sessions and radio program discussions.
• The first community outreach effort was conducted on September 15 through a presentation and Q&A session with representatives from 34 neighborhood associations participating in a citywide

Neighborhoods Meeting organized by NCR. Neighborhood associations (and, soon, other groups) can request to schedule a presentation and dialog with MHD staff to dive deeper into this topic.

The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

Spectacular Moon Photos by Mill District Resident Ric Rosow

Thank you to Mill District resident, Ric Rosow, for sharing these photos and his facinating process for creating the images.

The above photograph is a composite of eight photographic images taken during the early morning of September 4th. There are seven separate images of the moon moving across the sky. The images were taken between 5:40 and 5:57 a.m. I zoomed in on the moon to the full extent my 70-300 lens allowed. The eighth image is the stadium taken at 6:03 a.m. I changed the camera's setting to reveal the stadium and zoomed out to taken in the full width of the building and part of downtown. I then combined the seven moon images into one image. It was not a process of copying and pasting the moon seven times into the image. Rather, the process involved combining seven independent images of the moon into one, which I call the "7-moons" image. After completing that I then blended the "7-moons" image with the image of the stadium. At the time these photographs were taken the moon was not as close to the stadium as it is in this composite photograph. The moon was higher in the sky approaching the stadium. I transformed the 7-moon image to make the moon smaller and then blended that into the sky directly above the stadium.

Above is a second composite of the moon setting over the US Bank Stadium on September 4th. The images that comprise this composite were taken after the 7-moons composite photo when the sky was becoming brighter and the moon lighter. In this photograph I chose images that overlapped each other to create the composite. In addition I applied a special effect to the stadium roof which made the letters on the roof glow as if it was a neon light.

September 11 7th Ward Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

Announcing the 2020 Greening Lab Scavenger Hunt!

Greening Lab, a series of pilot projects that try to improve the survival rates of street trees downtown, is conducting a digital scavenger hunt this summer. The scavenger hunt begins at The Commons and ends at Loring Park, with 10 locations throughout downtown.

Use a cell phone and your knowledge of downtown sites to find the 10 tree tags in downtown Minneapolis between the Mississippi River and Hennepin-Lyndale Crossroads. Each tag will prompt you to text to learn about the street tree conditions at that particular site and provide the next clue.

The full Scavenger Hunt route is 1.8 miles and a perfect afternoon activity for kids and families. Find 4 or more clues and receive a FREE tree-lover prize!

Get started here... Clue #1: The Ginkgo Biloba is considered one of the oldest tree species in the world, and with a circumference of 10.5 feet, this Ginkgo is the oldest one downtown. Find it in East Town, in one of downtown's newest green spaces.

Need a hint? Text 'MAP1' to 612-913-4800 for a hint at its location. Share your progress on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. #GreeningLab

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City Hosting Online Open Houses for Hennepin Avenue South Reconstruction Project

The City of Minneapolis is holding two online open houses later this month to share updates, answer questions and solicit feedback about the reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue South between Douglas Avenue and West Lake Street.

The City plans to reconstruct this section of Hennepin Avenue starting in 2023. The reconstruction project provides an opportunity to redesign Hennepin Avenue to meet the needs of current and future users of the street. Project goals include improving the sidewalk and intersections for all users, evaluating bicycle network connectivity, providing space for enhanced transit stops for future bus-rapid transit (BRT) service, replacing aging infrastructure and maintaining and enhancing traffic flow for transit and motor vehicles.

Online open houses

Public Works will host two virtual open house meetings to present the project background, introduce potential design concepts and get public input on the project. The open houses will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A session.

• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30

Find links to the open houses and more information about the project on the City’s website.

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September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. This year’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) theme is "Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today."

The City of Minneapolis encourages residents to set aside some time this month to use FEMA’s weekly themes and learn about ways to prepare for weather emergencies and other disasters that could occur at home and work and in their communities. Families preparing before an emergency with a focus on children’s understanding can help save lives and increase the community’s resilience.

FEMA’s weekly focuses in National Preparedness Month 2020: Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today

Week 1 Sept. 1-5: Make a plan

Week 2 Sept. 6-12: Build a kit

Week 3 Sept. 13-19: Prepare for disasters

Week 4 Sept. 20-26: Teach young people about preparedness

Find information on these weekly themes and more at Ready.gov/september.

Video

Watch and share FEMA’s preparedness videos.

App

Residents can prepare for a disaster today by downloading the FEMA app for real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, ways to share notifications with loved ones, emergency shelter information and more.

Find more information about emergency preparedness from the Minneapolis Office of Emergency Management.

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Minneapolis Census Response Reaches a Milestone, but We Still Need Everyone by September 30

Minneapolis has reached a milestone in its 2020 Census count by meeting the 2010 Census self-response rate of 72.8%. While we still have three weeks and 27.2% of our community yet to count, this is worth celebrating.

Meanwhile, hundreds of households in Minneapolis remain uncounted. This undercount could leave communities without resources and fair political representation for the next 10 years.

What can you do to help?

1. Complete the census.
2. Already completed the census? Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
3. Share census information on social media. Post the link: my2020census.gov and tell your networks about the importance of getting counted.

The data that is obtained by the census allows the federal government to determine where to allocate resources for things like schools, parks, roads and much more. Our communities deserve the proper funding for resources that we rely on including programs and services like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Head Start.

If your household misses the opportunity to complete the census this year, the next opportunity to be included won’t occur until 2030, so don’t wait. Complete the census for you and for everyone in your household including all children and all relatives that live with you. Visit My2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020 and get counted before the Sept. 30 deadline.

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Neighborhoods 2020 Deadline Approaching: September 30

The public comment period for the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines on neighborhood programming and funding to support the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations in 2021 and beyond ends Sept. 30, 2020.

The equity and inclusion recommendations outlined in this document form the cornerstone of the City’s commitment to have an equitable neighborhood funding program for all of its residents.

The draft program guidelines follow the vision to preserve Minneapolis’ neighborhood organizations and create equitable communities in which all people are valued, communities are engaged and leadership mirrors the diversity of the city.

Ways to submit comments

• Email: Neighborhoods2020@minneapolismn.gov
• Phone: 612-673-3737
• Text messaging and voicemail: Español: 612-404-2978 Hmoob: 612-367-6548 Soomaaliga: 612-367-6729 English: 612-518-8743
• Mail: Neighborhood and Community Relations 105 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 425 Minneapolis, MN 55401

Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m., Sept. 30.

Next steps

The final guidelines and public comments will be presented to a City Council committee and then the City Council for a vote.

Neighborhoods 2020 is a plan for continuing to fund neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis when the existing funding source ends and a process to identify expectations for the work they do. These draft program guidelines are centered on building equity in our community. The City Council directed that staff work with a consultant to continue conversations with neighborhoods and the community on program guidelines and metrics for the Neighborhoods 2020 framework while continuing to ensure that racial equity remains at the core of the work.

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Public Comment Period Open for Zoning Code Updates to Reach Minneapolis 2040 Goals

The City has launched the 45-day comment period for the public to review draft “built form” regulations that will regulate the scale of new buildings and additions throughout Minneapolis. The regulations are critical to achieving the goals of Minneapolis 2040, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2018. The plan will shape how the city will grow and change over the next two decades so all residents can benefit. Under consideration now are technical aspects of Minneapolis 2040 implementation.

Minneapolis 2040 includes 14 Built Form Districts that will guide the development of new regulations, which will govern issues such as: building height, floor area ratio, lot sizes and setbacks from property lines. The new built form regulations will resolve some of the major conflicts between Minneapolis 2040 and the City’s current zoning regulations. They are also intended to make the scale more predictable for new buildings and additions in different areas in the city including neighborhoods, downtown, production and employment areas, and areas served by high-frequency transit. 

Minneapolis 2040 went into effect Jan. 1 following more than two years of community engagement. The plan guides growth and change with 14 key goals, including eliminating racial disparities, promoting climate change resiliency, and increasing access to jobs and housing.

Read more about how to comment on the draft regulations.

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Voters: Apply Now to Get Your Ballot for the General Election

Want to make sure your ballot will be returned on time to count for the general election on Nov. 3?

Apply now and get your ballot right when early voting opens. Ballots will be mailed out starting Sept. 18. This will ensure plenty of time to receive your ballot, vote and then return your ballot using the postage-paid envelope.

You can request your Absentee Ballot at:  www.mnvotes.org or you can call 1-877-600-VOTE (8683)

Learn more about how the City is working to ensure a safe election season during the pandemic.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of September 9, 2020

Situational Updates: Minneapolis

• As of September 9, there are 9,597 cases in Minneapolis and 227 deaths. The City shares Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Minneapolis has seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases from a high of 19 per100,000 people in early August to 13 per100,000 people in late August. In addition, there are now an average of approximately 60 new cases per day as opposed to 80 new cases per day. Current hospitalizations and ICU admissions have remained stable over the past week.
• We have created a dashboard for school administrators that shows the 14-day per 10,000 people COVID-19 rate for both Minneapolis overall and by race/ethnicity to help school personnel make decisions about virtual, in-person, or hybrid instruction. Additionally, MHD staff is assisting Minneapolis Public Schools with investigation and contact tracing for specific cases.
• Colleges and universities continue to prepare for the start of the fall semester by developing COVID-19 safety plans for housing, classroom instruction, and other on-campus experiences. The University of Minnesota created a four-step plan to gradually expand activities for students. The plan applies to students at some locations including the Twin Cities campus.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated, and patrons can approach the bar to order if they don’t congregate.

Situational Updates: Minnesota

• As of September 9, there are 81,868 cases in Minnesota out of over 1.6 million tests completed. There have been 1,869 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 24,433 cases and 895 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The MN Department of Health is using a color-coded map with multiple layers to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. Both the State and Minneapolis are at 13 cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19.
• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening.
• Governor Walz’s statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.
• The MN Department of Health is convening Local Public Health Departments on a weekly basis to discuss COVID-19 vaccination plans once a viable vaccine becomes available.

Health Incident Command updates

As the Minneapolis Health Department (MHD) continues to respond to COVID-19, we are applying an equity lens to all our work in conjunction with partners across the City enterprise.

Businesses

• In the past week, Health inspectors completed 80 food safety routine inspections with an emphasis on COVID-19 preparedness plans and the implementation of COVID-19 protocols. Health inspectors responded to five food COVID-19 complaints from 311 and to one business with reported COVID-19 positive employees and/or patrons.
• Environmental Health staff are working with the Police Department and Public Works Transportation to help neighborhoods prepare for National Night Out on September 15. Staff are providing COVID-19 guidance and hosting two Q&A sessions for block leaders to help ensure that residents can gather safely. Block leaders who submitted street closure permit requests for their events were sent information about how to obtain free face masks from the City and how to call in to the Q&A sessions.

Case investigations

• MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 26 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the 9,597 cases in Minneapolis, 85.7% have been interviewed, 2.1% have refused, 10.6% have been lost to follow-up (LTF), and 1.5% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. There was a slight increase in the number of cases marked as LTF due to backlog reporting by some laboratories and clinical sites. Twenty-four percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Community testing

• 81 COVID-19 tests and 45 seasonal flu shots were provided to residents of the Little Earth housing complex in partnership with the Native American Community Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare and Hope Community on Friday, September 3.

Future testing events include:

• Shiloh Temple, in partnership with Northpoint, Hennepin Healthcare and Hope Community on September 11 and 12 (1201 W Broadway Avenue N), 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Flu shots will be available.
• Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center in partnership with Hennepin Healthcare on September 19 and 25 (2824 13th Avenue South), 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• MHD is collaborating with Hennepin County and the MN Department of Health to offer testing at Tawfiq Islamic Center (2900 Lyndale Ave. N.) on September 17.
• MHD is working with community clinics, MDH, and other partners to plan for sustained COVID-19 testing in indoor environments. For instance, free COVID tests will be offered at the Brian Coyle Center (420 15th Ave. S) every Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. starting on September 11. The People’s Center Clinics and Services is sponsoring this testing. Find more information on the Brian Coyle Center website.

Encampments

• Residents at the newly reoccupied 75 tent Hiawatha encampment now have access to porta potties, handwashing stations, COVID-19 signage, and large sharps containers provided by MHD. Southside Harm Reduction Services provides smaller sharps containers and naloxone via MHD. Public Works is supplying 10 garbage cans and waste collection services. The City is working with Hennepin County and the MN Department of Transportation on this encampment.
• The health needs at additional encampment sites including those at parks and Kmart are routinely monitored.

Personal Protective Equipment

• MHD continues to respond to requests for masks and other personal protective equipment. In the past week, staff distributed 1,100 masks and 190 bottles of hand sanitizer to neighborhood organizations, people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, COVID-19 testing sites, and hospice/in-home health care service providers.

• Staff also distributed 1,000 masks to the Police Department for National Night Out events scheduled for September 15.

• The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

Help Clean Up Your Street During Litter Be Gone, October 1-10

Editor's Note: This information was taken from the Litter Be Gone website.

Residents of Minneapolis are invited to take part in Litter Be Gone, an annual litter cleanup event happening October 1–10, 2020. Volunteers will pick up litter from their neighborhood streets and sidewalks before it becomes covered by leaves and snow, and prevent it from ending up in storm drains and waterways.

Volunteers can join in this citywide effort while staying safe and socially distanced. Litter Be Gone encourages individuals, families, and small groups of neighbors to clean up their own blocks anytime during this 10-day event.

It’s easy to participate. Volunteers need only a pair of gloves and some plastic bags for collecting littered trash and recyclables. Volunteers can use their own supplies or pick up free gloves and bags at a Litter Be Gone supply hub on Saturday, October 3, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A limited number of litter grabbers and free drink coupons from local sponsors will also be available at the supply hubs. Visit www.LitterBeGone.org/supply-hubs for locations and details.

See the community-wide impact. Volunteers are asked to share their results (the number of volunteers, bags, and blocks cleaned) at LitterBeGone.org. Volunteers can also post photos and videos of their litter cleanups on social media to inspire others. Use the tags @LitterBeGoneMN #cleanMpls.

Help promote Litter Be Gone and earn a free Chinook Book app subscription. Block leaders, neighborhood organizations, local businesses, and other groups can help promote Litter Be Gone to their neighbors and earn a free Chinook Book app subscription. Email litterbegonempls@gmail.com for details.

For more information, visit www.LitterBeGone.org and follow @LitterBeGoneMN on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Litter Be Gone is coordinated by the Alliance for Sustainability in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and its Clean City program. Additional citywide support comes from Xcel Energy, Chinook Book, Adopt-a-Drain, Wings Financial Credit Union, and AlphaGraphics.

MacPhail Announces New Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) Program

Via a September 8 e-announcement form MacPhail Center for Music:

Full range of instruction in multitrack recording and electronic music production – enrollment now open!

MacPhail Center for Music today announces the official launch of our Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) program.  The program is led by MacPhail teaching artist Michael Cain, who has held significant teaching positions at Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory and Brandon University in Canada. Joined by mixing and mastering engineer and beat maker Isaac Rohr and singer-songwriter and DJ Krysta Rayford (aka K.Raydio), EMRA offers a wide range of instruction including multitrack recording, electronic music production, mixing, mastering, beat making, DJing, remixing, sound design, Hip Hop production, mobile music making and electroacoustic composition. 

Students will learn every aspect of recording and electronic music production including how to use industry standard software such as Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Logic Pro and FL Studios. A state-of-the-art studio is currently under construction at MacPhail’s downtown Minneapolis location, and classes can be enjoyed in the meantime through virtual Live Online learning, which MacPhail has been an industry leader in for the past ten years. 

EMRA’s Fall Semester offerings include: 

• Electronic Music Production: Basic to advanced techniques in electronic music production, including working with digital audio, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), multi tracking and sequencing as well as beat making, DJing and remixing.  

• Sound Design/Synthesis: Fundamentals of synthesis and sound creation using digital and analogue electronic instruments, effects and VST plugins.    

• Digital Audio Recording: Fundamentals of digital audio recording, covering topics such as sound acoustics, using microphones, signal flow, mixing, and mastering. 

• Electroacoustic Composition: Students learn the technologies and practices for creating electroacoustic compositions. Topics covered will address software such as MAX MSP and Chuck for creating electronic musical compositions in the genre of 20th century classical music. 

“Electronic music studios and programs are more than just vehicles for creating and teaching electronic music, they become a hub and center for the entire musical community to collaborate, experiment, and learn together. They really are community resources and, therefore, support and contribute to all kinds of musical activities in a variety of genres,” said Michael Cain, director, EMRA. “The opportunity to develop this program with the dream team that is Isaac Rohr and Krysta “K. Raydio” Rayford, two of the most talented people I know, will make EMRA one of the most unique, forward leaning, and comprehensive electronic music programs out there.” 

Registration for one-on-one lessons with EMRA are now open. EMRA lessons are in accordance with MacPhail’s detailed Fall Semester Plan to promote safe music learning and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Full details on the plan as well as Frequently Asked Questions can be found at https://www.macphail.org/coronavirus/ 

MacPhail Center for Music is committed to transforming lives and strengthening communities through music learning experiences that inspire. Each year, MacPhail offers programming to 16,000 students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, at locations in Minneapolis, White Bear Lake, Chanhassen, Apple Valley and Austin, as well as 104 community partnerships across the Twin Cities. An industry leader in online music education, MacPhail’s Live Online and Online School Partnerships programs have reached students for the past ten years. MacPhail has a 113-year history of excellence, promoting life-long learning and building long-term relationships between students and teachers. For more information, visit macphail.org 

August 2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

August 28 Ward 7 News from Council Member Lisa Goodman

For the past few weeks, I have been able to see the city of Minneapolis through the eyes of an old friend and coworker who was here visiting family and friends. He was here as a result of being one of millions of people laid off from a job he loved, due to the COVID pandemic. He was so proud of how far the city has come in so many ways since he left town. I got to see an “outsider” perspective of the resiliency of Minneapolis attempting to recover from civil unrest and to do better by varied communities of color that make our city the wonderful place it is.

We had the good fortune of touring an historic building being saved after a fire and made into affordable housing. We walked around east downtown where he used to live, and he was so happy to see the new Finnegan’s Brewery and all the mixed income development in a neighborhood that had almost no development when he left. We looked at some of the many boards created by artists in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and felt hopeful that real change, systemic change, was around the corner and something we could do with public safety transformation here in Minneapolis and that it would start the nation on the path to real change in law enforcement.

Wednesday night, his last night in town, we witnessed a very different picture. A murder and suicide happened downtown, and two people lost their lives. That in and of itself is a tragedy, but what happened next was a travesty - violence, rioting and opportunistic looting - these are not acceptable responses to anger and trauma. It must be said that the level of distrust between law enforcement and many members of our community partially led to this situation as did being cooped up by COVID, unemployment, homelessness and uncertainty in these times we live in. The fact that this all began through misinformation being put out on social media is completely irresponsible, both by those who put out the message and by those that chose to react with abject destruction of property. 

What we have all witnessed occurring in our downtown and to our beloved neighborhood businesses is exactly the reason I believe we need a fully funded, well trained and transformed public safety system. We need a system that can respond to 911 calls, many of which are in and of themselves violent, and to conduct investigations so those who commit serious crime are found, tried and punished fairly but most importantly we need a public safety system that is proactive and engaged in the community. We need foot patrols that walk a beat, know neighbors by name, stop by businesses to listen to concerns and address them in advance of violence. We need intervention and redirection by community partners like MAD DAD’s, a Mother’s Love and YouthLink to communicate with people before violence happens and we need to partner with others who can best respond to traffic issues, mental illness calls and other concerns that might not need an armed law enforcement response. We need more public safety, not less. I have always believed that public safety is the most important public service element cities are responsible for and if we are not all safe, if we don’t all feel safe, than we have nothing.

I know no one wishes to hear this but I need to be honest: prior to this week, I had already heard from many small and large business owners, their employees and residents are seriously contemplating whether they wanted to live, work and own businesses in our city. Downtown businesses employ more than 175,000 people, many of whom also live in the city and want to be there because they can easily bike, walk or use transit to get to their jobs. My fear is that this is exactly the sort of unrest that will tip the scales. It isn’t only that businesses don’t want to invest in our downtown or Uptown but that there is a broader belief that downtown, in particular, isn’t safe. This affects all aspects of what our city has to offer and ultimately it hurts everyone.

Downtown Minneapolis is the economic hub of the state of Minnesota. We have a thriving theater district, a historic warehouse district along with restaurants and sporting venues, small businesses and big ones, hotels and event locations that will all suffer, if jobs cease to exist or move out of the city. Our neighborhood commercial and cultural corridors like 38th and Chicago, Lake Street and the incredible American Indian corridor of Franklin Avenue have suffered as a result of violence that has spun out of control as we hope they will have the resiliency to come back.

There is no excuse for people looting stores and setting businesses on fire. This does not honor the memory of George Floyd or any of the dozens of black and brown people who have been killed by law enforcement this year. Systemic racism is the challenge of our generation and our children's generation. We must step up and call out racism and work to cure it. We can do this, we must do this, and we can’t allow violence, arson and looting to be the path we are on to cure this public health crisis.

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Summary of Damage Assessment and Outreach

Below are some summary points of business support activities and below that a copy of the communication we sent to businesses. 

1. Following the Mayor’s emergency declaration, City staff were out immediately this morning to assess the damages.  This canvas identified damages to 61 properties throughout the city. We are also receiving data from our partners at the DID, Warehouse District, though 311 and 911, and other community organizations of damages that we will cross reference with our data in the coming days.
2. We will provide details on these properties and locations when we confirm the cross reference. 
3. City staff has reached out to the businesses who sustained fires, Britt’s, Walgreen’s, Tire’s Plus, and China Wok, to offer support and assistance. We plan to connect with all affected properties in the coming days.
4. We continue to work with our partners downtown and in the neighborhoods to provide supports and sent messaging out to businesses and community organizations this afternoon with tips and information around supports.
5. The City has technical resources available to affected businesses through our Business Technical Assistance program.  Please connect with the Small Business Team at 612-673-2499.

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Mayor Frey and Chief Arradondo Overhaul Policy on Police Using Force

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced an overhaul of the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) use of force policy. The new policy requires that officers use the lowest level of force needed to safely engage a subject and that officers first consider all reasonable alternatives before using deadly force. The changes also prohibit behavior that incites or escalates a situation.

Frey and Arradondo are also advancing a ban on shooting at moving vehicles and effecting a fundamental shift in department policy by replacing long-held standards for what is “legally allowable” with overarching principles and best practices to oversee use of force.

Some of the changes were made possible by new latitude afforded by the recent Minnesota Police Accountability Act, including the restrictions on deadly force. 

Read more and watch the announcement here.

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City Council Expands Revised Structure to Five Modified Committees

The City Council continues to update its committees and schedule to respond to changing needs during the local public health emergency. Beginning the week of Sept. 7, the two-week City Council cycles will consist of five standing committee meetings and the regular meeting of the full City Council. The standing committees are:

• Budget Committee.
• Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee.
• Policy & Government Oversight Committee.
• Public Health & Safety Committee.
• Transportation & Public Works Committee.

The full City Council will continue to meet at 9:30 a.m. every other Friday.

This is the latest change in the City’s policy-making process since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dates and times of upcoming meetings are available on the City’s website at lims.minneapolismn.gov.

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Census Deadline Approaching Fast – Get Counted

Have you completed the census yet? The deadline to get counted in the 2020 census is Sept. 30, and Minneapolis still has several neighborhoods that are severely undercounted. Completing the census will ensure that our communities receive resources for programs and services that we need. Many programs that our communities rely on, including SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Head Start are funded through data that is obtained by the census. The 2020 Census is our chance to shape the future of Minneapolis for the next 10 years.

In 2010, the City of Minneapolis had a census response rate of 72.8%.

Census takers have begun following up in Minneapolis with households that haven’t yet completed the 2020 Census. Census staff have been hired locally and are here to help households complete their census forms. The goal of census door knockers is to help get an accurate count. Census staffers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge that includes their photograph and a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark.

Census field staff follow both CDC and local public health guidelines, are trained in physical distancing protocols and will provide census takers with masks during their visit. Census staff have sworn a lifetime oath of confidentiality. Any information that you provide to them will not be shared with any entity other than the Census Bureau for statistical purposes only and never to identify an individual.

Find more information here on verifying a census taker’s identity, COVID-19 protocols or the strategy to visit households that haven’t responded yet.

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Highlights of Recovery Efforts Helping Business Community

As these unprecedented times test our resilience, staff across the City are working on strategic resources to begin the long path toward recovery. Since the start of the pandemic, the City’s economic development team has helped our business community start to recover through expertise, funding and adapting processes.

Overall, the City’s economic development team has connected with more than 2,000 businesses, provided more than 3,000 hours of direct customer assistance directly or through service contracts, changed licensing and regulatory processes to save businesses $1.4 million, and helped business access more than $3 billion in funding since the start of the pandemic.

Some highlights of our work:

Expertise

• The Small Business Team has fielded 650 calls since the beginning of April to connect businesses to resources. The team has reached out to cultural malls and damaged commercial areas and done research as part of establishing the Small Business Administration’s disaster declaration.
• Increased resources to community-based partners and modified program guidelines provided technical assistance supporting 645 businesses. The service helped navigate employee issues, triage outstanding expenses, negotiate payments with creditors and apply for relief funds.
• Our partners helped food establishments adapt their business models with online ordering and delivery, online sale of gift certificates, etc.
• The City committed a total of $500,000 to 10 community-based business organizations in pandemic specific funding.

Funding

• Made 173 loans totaling $1.55 million to businesses in targeted areas to increase equitable results. Around 70% of loan recipients identified as non-white with borrowers identifying as Black/African American as the largest overall recipient group at 42% of total loans.

• The program provided $5,000 or $10,000 loans of flexible funding to meet immediate working capital needs such as payroll and employee benefits, rent or mortgage payments, accounts payable and payments due to supply chain.
• Besides direct funds, our business teams helped businesses access funding from County, State and federal resources for a total (including the City funds) of almost 14,000 businesses receiving more than $3 billion.

• The City business assistance teams relaxed permit fees and fee collections, saving businesses a collective $1.4 million.

Improved processes

• The City streamlined reopening for 112 businesses expanding outdoors and reopening in early June by creating a guide; modifying processes and ordinances; and coordinating with the State of Minnesota, Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit.
• City staff rooted the opening plan in racial equity and identified those impacted most by having roundtables with restaurants, labor leaders and community-based groups; and completing a racial equity impact assessment to flag barriers to the business owners and needs of the workers.

See more ways the City is working to move recovery efforts forward.

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COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program Opens to Help with Housing Expenses

Minnesota’s COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program has opened to cover housing expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, or other housing-related costs. This program will help keep folks in their homes and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners in communities across the state.

People in Minnesota interested in applying for assistance can call the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline at 651-291-0211, 211unitedway.org or texting “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211. The 211 Helpline has dedicated multilingual staff to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

For questions regarding the application process, check the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program frequently asked questions.

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Expanded Bus, Light Rail Train Service Coming in September

Upcoming schedule changes will serve riders with more options and space when traveling on buses and trains. The changes taking effect Saturday, Sept. 12, will mean that many local bus routes, the METRO A Line and the METRO C Line will have about as much service as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. The METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line will offer 10-minute service throughout most of the day. Because of a significant drop in demand, around 50 express bus routes will remain suspended and the Northstar Commuter Rail Line will continue to operate on a limited, weekday-only schedule. In July, ridership on local bus routes and the METRO A Line and METRO C Line was down about 50% compared to the same month last year. Light rail train ridership was down about 75%. Increases in local bus and light rail train service will help riders keep a safe distance on buses and trains as more people return to transit.

Learn more about the changes.

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Voters: Apply Now to Get Your Ballot for the General Election

Want to make sure your ballot will be returned on time to count for the general election on Nov. 3?

Apply now and get your ballot right when early voting opens. Ballots will be mailed out starting Sept. 18. This will ensure plenty of time to receive your ballot, vote and then return your ballot using the postage-paid envelope.

Apply on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website. 

Learn more about how the City is working to ensure a safe election season during the pandemic.

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City Leaders Continue Conversations with Community about Future of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue

The City is committed to supporting and investing in racial justice and healing in the area of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. City leaders have met with community leaders who have authored a racial justice resolution outlining a series of demands for the City to consider before barricades would be removed from the intersection.

While City staff and elected officials have had conversations with community about a potential phased reopening plan for 38th Street the week of Aug. 17, those plans are on hold to allow for continued discussions with community members.

City leaders and staff have been actively engaging with community members since late May following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in the custody of Minneapolis Police. They have attended daily meetings on the street and held several town halls. The City has heard numerous perspectives about this intersection, both short- and long-term desires and needs. City officials including Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and Council Member Alondra Cano met for two hours with justice resolution authors to discuss demands.

To provide safe access for visitors to the intersection, the City placed barricades to through traffic, while also ensuring access for emergencies and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since May, the barricades have remained in place. Moving toward a phased reopening is necessary to improve community access, mitigate neighborhood and business impacts, and support public safety. The City has expressed the need for a phased reopening to community members and organizers.

Conversations between City and the community are continuing with a commitment to work together toward longer term investments in racial justice, in addition to numerous efforts currently underway: 

• The City Council recently passed a resolution declaring racism a public health emergency and has committed to a series of action steps to dedicate more resources to racial equity work.
• The revised 2020 City budget includes $100,000 to support initial community engagement in the co-creation of a vision for a permanent memorial for Floyd. It also includes $150,000 for the Creative City Making program to hire a diverse team of artists and healers to create, implement, and lead community engagement processes to guide the City’s community healing and rebuild with racial equity efforts for areas most impacted by civil unrest.
• The City Council adopted an ordinance establishing 38th Street as one of seven cultural districts in Minneapolis. As outlined in Minneapolis 2040, the City’s comprehensive plan, the goal of cultural districts is to advance racial equity, prevent displacement, preserve cultural identity and fuel economic growth in areas with a rich sense of cultural and/or linguistic identity rooted in communities significantly populated by people of color, Indigenous people and/or immigrants. The ordinance allows the City to prioritize deploying resources to these areas.
• A recommendation to rename Chicago Avenue between 37th Street East and 39th Street East to honor Floyd is also moving through the City approval process.
• The City will accelerate funding to reconstruct the street and intersection to build the community vision in conjunction with the Metro D-Line bus-rapid transit project.

The City Council’s Policy & Government Oversight Committee heard a staff report Aug. 20 on the status of the intersection and future work.

Find updates on the City website.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of August 26, 2020

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• There are 8,768 cases in Minneapolis and 218 deaths. The City shares Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Minneapolis has seen a decrease in the seven-day rolling average of new cases from 19.2 cases to 15.5 cases per 100,000 between August 1 and August 19. This decrease coincides with the implementation of both Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 for bars and restaurants and Governor Walz’s Executive Order for statewide mask use.
• Colleges and universities are preparing for the start of the fall semester by developing COVID-19 safety plans for housing, classroom instruction, and other on-campus experiences. The state health department recommends they balance the need to return students to in-person instruction with the importance of reducing transmission opportunities. The University of Minnesota decided to delay the opening of dormitories and the start of in-person undergraduate classes by at least two weeks at its Twin Cities campus.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated and patrons can approach the bar to order as long as they don’t congregate.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• There are 71,236 cases in Minnesota out of over 1.4 million tests completed. There have been 1,793 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 22,044 cases and 873 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The Health Department is using a color-coded map with multiple layers to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. The State is at 11.1 cases per 100,000 and Minneapolis is at 15.5 cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19.
• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening.
• Governor Walz’s statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult

Health Incident Command updates

As the Minneapolis Health Department (MHD) continues to respond to COVID-19, we are applying an equity lens to all our work in conjunction with partners across the City enterprise.

Businesses:

• Health inspectors continue to assist with permitting and inspecting larger public events that will serve food. Health inspectors ensure events are following the governor’s executive orders, including having an approved COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and meeting food safety standards. Attorney General Ellison’s office has asked to be notified of large events as they are enforcing the Governor’s executive orders. On Sunday, August 23, health inspectors provided 1,000 masks to the Black Entrepreneur State Fair organizers to distribute to event goers.
• Health inspectors are normalizing COVID-19 education and review of Preparedness Plans into routine inspections.

Case investigations:

• MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 26 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the 8,768 cases in Minneapolis, 85.3% have been interviewed, 2.1% have refused, 9.3% have been lost to follow-up, and 3.3% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Twenty-eight percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Communications:

• MHD is working with City Communications to amplify the #MaskUpMpls media campaign to encourage mask wearing, especially among young adults. New campaign materials featuring Minnesota Lynx player, Napheesa Collier, will launch later this week. The media campaign will include a promotional video, social media, and donated billboard space. Magnets and branded Lynx and Timberwolves masks will be distributed at a youth-focused community event in partnership with Man Up Club in North Minneapolis on August 29. City Communications will send out a media advisory to bring awareness to the campaign.
• MHD and Communications staff are working with the state health department to develop messaging to promote flu vaccinations among BIPOC communities and other at-risk groups. This season, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever as it will not only protect against seasonal flu, but it will also help preserve scarce medical resources for health care providers and COVID-19 patients.

Community testing:

• MHD continues to work with community partners and clinics to host free COVID-19 testing events. So far this week, more than 650 people were tested at two events focused on low-income families and BIPOC communities.
• A pilot program to give free flu shots was held at a COVID-19 testing event on August 25. One third of the participants elected to receive a flu shot.
• The next testing event is planned for Friday, August 28 from noon to 7:00p.m. at New Salem Baptist Church (2507 Bryant Ave. N). While this event is focused on the north Minneapolis community, all are welcome. The testing is free for everyone. Online pre-registration is available, but not required. Flu shots will not be offered at this event.
• Testing events are promoted in a variety of ways including through cultural radio programs, social media, the City's COVID-19FAQ webpage, news webpage, twice weekly e-newsletters, and through City Council constituent newsletters.

Food security:

• MHD and NCR continue to co-host a weekly free food distribution event at Powderhorn Park (Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2p.m.) for 400-700 households, primarily serving the Latinx community.
• City staff are working to support pop-up food distribution sites and other community organizations as they address equity, accessibility, and other systemic barriers to food security and distribution. City staff are identifying potential operating options and regulatory frameworks for pop-ups that want to continue operating long-term. Pop-ups have varying organizational partners, structures, resources, and strategies. Each will need to consider what options work best for them and the community they are serving. The City is committed to working with pop-ups to ensure they can continue to provide low-barrier food support to their communities.

Encampments:

• This week, MHD staff placed hygiene stations and trash receptacles at two encampments located on City-owned land: one behind the former Kmart site on Lake Street and another at 9^thAvenue and 13^th Street. Staff will continue to monitor health and safety needs at these sites and other encampments across the city.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• MHD continues to respond to requests for masks and other supplies. In the past week, staffdistributed4,645masks and 110bottlesof hand sanitizer to neighborhood organizations, small business owners, faith communities, and community-based organizations. Specific efforts included distributing masks at the Black Entrepreneur State Fair, the Powderhorn Park weekly free food distribution, and City-sponsored community testing events.

Schools:

• Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS)has outlined five phases for students returning to full-time classroom learning. MPS will start the school year under Phase 2: Distance Learning with Student Supports.
• Health Department School-Based Clinic staff will provide services by appointment, either in-person or through virtual consultations (telehealth care). Clinics are located within Edison, Henry, Longfellow, Roosevelt, South, Southwest, and Washburn High Schools.
• School based clinics provide health education, medical, and mental health services to students. Services include physicals, immunizations, treatment of illnesses, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, family planning care, prescriptions, nutrition services, mental health assessment and ongoing counseling.

• The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

MPRB Presents September Movies in the Parks - Drive-In Style!

Brought to you by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board!

Movies in the Parks - Drive-In Style!

A League of Their Own - Friday, September 4 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opened Wednesday, August 26 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets

Grease - Friday, September 11 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opens Wednesday, September 2 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets

Top Gun - Friday, September 18 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opens Wednesday, September 9 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets

Space Jam - Friday, September 25 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opens Wednesday, September 16 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets  

2020 Monarch Festival

The 2020 Monarch Festival will look different this year.

The Festival will organize cultural, artistic, and educational virtual activities to keep the spirit of the Festival alive and promote our core message of protecting the Monarch Butterfly from August to September 12.  These bilingual, interactive online and in-person events will bring the Festival right into your home with local artists and hands-on projects, author and book reading, and our scientific experts.

Check out the activities here.