December by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts Art Exhibit announces new exhibit, “The Nature of Things”

Opening Reception Saturday, January 26, 3:00-6:00PM            with complimentary wine, sparkling water and sweet drinks

Exhibition dates January 26 - March 30, 2019

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The Mill Yard presents a new show, “The Nature of Things”

A Veronique Wantz Gallery Pop-Up at The Mill Yard

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The new exhibit showcases a collection of works that offers space to consider the times in which we live.

Our world is in constant flux. We ride the ebb and flow, sifting through layers of complexity in search of a clarity that we can anchor onto. From inward we look out, observing that what goes up, doesn’t always come down. We seek solace in our connections, to tame the currents swirling around us, and find solid ground, for a while. It’s the nature of things.

The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence.  The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community. Contact us at: TheMillYard.Stonebridge@gmail.com  More Info: Facebook  Twitter

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts is located at 1120 S 2nd Street (next ot Izzy's)

Special thanks Luke Kleckner, Condo Development and Sales, for his generous sponsorship.

GALLERY AND FEATURED ARTIST DETAILS:

Jack Dale

Natural Echo, oil on canvas

Jack Dale was born in St. Paul, MN and has made his home here for all but 3 years. He grew up in St. Paul and attended the University of Minnesota on a hockey scholarship. He played on the 1968 U.S. Olympic Hockey team and three years as a professional before suffering a career-ending knee injury. He turned his attention to art, which he had studied in college, and has been a painter for over 40 years. He was a member of Groveland Gallery in the early eighties when he was doing mostly landscape work and is very pleased to be represented by the Veronique Wantz Gallery today. Jack has had numerous solo and group shows and his paintings have been collected all over the country. His abstract expressionistic paintings are known not for the images that are represented, but for the emotions that they evoke. It is in this sensorial space where intuition takes over, and the viewer finds a place to engage on a deeply personal and powerful level. “As a mark-maker the paint carries me on a journey of understanding: allowing me to make sense of the world around me and vocalizing feelings that can’t always be easily explained.”

Allison Johanson

Big Lake Swells, acrylic on canvas

Allison Johanson is a contemporary painter from Saint Paul. She grew up near the north shore of Lake Superior and enjoys referencing the vastness of the lake and sky as well as the nostalgia she feels about her rural upbringing. Allison’s abstract landscapes are rooted in the beauty found in the natural world, and they speak about the mystery found in distant horizons. Her intuitive painting style yields soft and immersive works that create feelings of connectedness.  “I love to create paintings that subtly engage and communicate a quiet mood yet provide interest upon closer observation. Seeing the artist in the textures, brush strokes and mark making is what excites me most about original art.”  Instagram: @allisonjohansonart

Samuel Johnson

Vessels, wood fired stoneware

Samuel Johnson was born on the Eastern prairie of the Red River Valley. He studied painting and ceramics at the University of Minnesota at Morris, serving an apprenticeship in pottery under Richard Bresnahan. He has been a guest of Denmark’s Design School in Copenhagen, worked in a studio in New York, and traveled to Japan as a guest of Koie Ryoji. In 2005, Johnson earned graduate degrees in fine art from the University of Iowa. He is currently an Associate Professor of Art at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Central Minnesota. Johnson’s work reflects today’s malleable socio-political climate through both the process of shaping wet clay and its transformation through fire. As raw unglazed vessels are fired in a kiln, each are marked by wood, heat, melting ash and charcoal resulting in a somber patina of natural hues and irregular textures. The work is intended to be mysterious and enigmatic in ways that feel familiar.  “My work strikes a balance between the wild and mysterious character of ourselves and that part of our psyche that sets us apart from it, containing contradictory elements that provoke a sense of mystery and gravitas and suggest those aspects of our nature that is just on the other side of consciousness.”  Facebook, Instagram: @samueljohnsonpottery

Eleanor McGough

Perilous Passage, acrylic on board

Eleanor McGough grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from Kansas City Art Institute. She also studied at the Polytechnic in Brighton, England. She is the recipient of two Minnesota State Arts Board Grants and a Bemis Foundation residency. McGough’s paintings explore our fleeting place in the vast patterns of weather, migrations, and time. Imagined life forms inhabit terrestrial, aquatic, or atmospheric spaces, revealing fragile and tenuous relationships within these complex systems. She is influenced by the research of high altitude entomology that details the astonishing fact that billions of insects are carried in air currents through the layers of our atmosphere. This idea serves as a visual metaphor to the broader context that all life is transitory and swept up in immense patterns of energy.  “I am drawn to insects for their metamorphosis and find hope in the idea that transformation is an enduring possibility and cause for optimism as life on our planet evolves.”  Instagram: @eleanormcgough

Wendy Westlake

Set A Guard Over My Mouth, acrylic on canvas

Wendy Westlake was born in Washington state. She earned an Associate Degree in Applied Art from Pima College in Tuscon AZ, where she studied a wide range of media including oils, printmaking and ceramics. Upon moving back to MN in 1992, Wendy connected with the watercolor community in the Twin Cities area. She became a Board Member of the Minnesota Watercolor Society in 2012 eventually becoming MNWS President from 2014-2016. A desire to work on a larger scale than paper would allow pulled Wendy back to her earlier training with acrylic and oils. Her work is influenced by her background in watercolor as well as the tradition of American Abstract Expressionism.  Wendy’s poignant graphical forms bring order within a place of chaos: shapes overlap and interconnect, with redacted and transparent elements changing our view. Her paintings expand on the idea that everything is connected and questions the way in which we read the truth. “I begin by flinging paint on canvas with great abandon and then search for order in the chaos, highlighting some shapes while losing others, defining and editing, pushing toward resolution.”  Facebook  Instagram: @wendywestlakestudio

Upcoming Opportunities to Meet with 3rd Ward Council Member Fletcher

Council Member Fletcher holds regular open office hours on Wednesday evenings for constituents to drop by, ask questions and raise any community-related issues. These events rotate through the different quadrants of Ward 3, and everyone is welcome at any of them. If you would like to discuss a specific issue, contact his office at 612-673-2203 to have it added to the agenda.

Upcoming Coffees with Your Council Member are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

Wednesday, January 9, at 5 p.m., at the Purple Onion Cafe Wednesday, January 16, at 5 p.m., at Open Book Wednesday, January 23, at 5 pm., at In the Loop Coffee Company Wednesday, January 30, at 5 p.m., at Taraccino Coffee Wednesday, February 6, at 5 p.m., at Five Watt Coffee Wednesday, February 13, at 5 p.m., at the Purple Onion Cafe Wednesday, February 27, at 5 p.m. Open Book Wednesday, March 6, at 5 p.m., at In the Loop Coffee Wednesday, March 13, at 5 p.m., at Taraccino Coffee Wednesday, March 20, at 5 p.m., at Five Watt Coffee Wednesday, March 27, at 5 p.m., at the Purple Onion Cafe

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Launches New Instagram Account

Follow @minneapolisparks for beautiful images captured at Minneapolis parks and recreation centers

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is kicking off the new year with a new way to follow and enjoy parks and recreation in the city of Minneapolis.

The MPRB just launched an Instagram account where it will post images depicting the activities, events and everyday beauty that make Minneapolis parks and recreation centers great.

Follow the MPRB on Instagram @minneapolisparks or check out the feed at www.instagram.com/minneapolisparks. 

Stay up-to-date on all MPRB news by subscribing to the other social media accounts linked below:

Facebook: @MinneapolisParks

Twitter: @MplsParkBoard

LinkedIn: Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board

$800,000 Grant to Help Reduce Pollution in Northeast Minneapolis

Columbia Golf Course project will protect local neighborhoods, Mississippi River

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) announced today that it has been awarded $800,000 from the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) to address water quality and flooding issues in Northeast Minneapolis.

The funds, which come from the state’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, will be used to install a series of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) at the Columbia Golf Course in Northeast Minneapolis. The improvements will capture and treat stormwater from 600 acres that drain to and through the golf course, protecting the nearby Mississippi River from polluted runoff. In combination with other improvements planned for the area, the practices will also help to mitigate flooding.

“A large portion of Northeast Minneapolis drains through the Columbia Golf Course, and this new green infrastructure will benefit the entire community,” said MWMO Executive Director Doug Snyder. “The project will help protect the golf course and the surrounding neighborhoods from flooding, as well as reduce pollutant loading to the Mississippi River and improve habitat by adding native vegetation.”

The golf course improvements are part of a larger Northeast Stormwater Management Initiative being led jointly by the MWMO, the City of Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The initiative will address local stormwater issues by modifying the city’s stormwater infrastructure, adding regional stormwater BMPs, and integrating new green infrastructure in portions of Northeast Minneapolis and Columbia Heights.

The golf course BMPs have the potential to remove an estimated average of 100 pounds of total phosphorus (TP) and 20 tons of total suspended solids (TSS) each year, keeping these pollutants out of the Mississippi River. Up to 6.7 million cubic feet of stormwater could be infiltrated.

The golf course improvements are expected to begin construction in mid-2020. More information can be found at mwmo.org/northeast, where residents can also sign up to receive email updates.

About the Minnesota Clean Water Fund

Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 to:

• protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat;
• preserve arts and cultural heritage;
• support parks and trails; and
• protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater         

The Clean Water Fund receives 33 percent of the sales tax revenue generated by the Legacy Amendment. More information about the Clean Water Fund is available here.

January 1 Newsletter from Green Minneapolis

Via a January 1 e-newsletter from Green Minneapolis:

It is remarkable to look back on 2018 and see how much we have transformed downtown, together. 

Now in its second year, annual attendance at THE COMMONS has grown to over 600,000. Green Minneapolis hosted 103 free public events throughout the year, from our farmers market and movie series to extraordinary performances by the Minnesota Orchestra and MN Sinfonia. The Commons is knitting together the new neighborhood of East Town. It is your downtown oasis – an exciting place to connect with nature, and community.

In downtown west, Green Minneapolis anchors the public-private partnership that transformed the HENNEPIN-LYNDALE CROSSROADS, adding plantings and greenery to the busy intersection and making it more welcoming to pedestrians.

We also spearheaded the $12 million fundraising campaign to revitalize PEAVEY PLAZA. With contributions from the City, State and many private donors, the project is officially underway. The new Peavey will reopen in Summer 2019, complete with beautiful flowing fountains, a vibrant tree canopy, live music and other special events.

Through GREENING LAB, we provided supplemental watering and maintenance for hundreds of young trees downtown, supporting a crucial phase in trees’ growth cycle. Every successful tree planted helps us grow our downtown forest and transform downtown from gray to green.

Never afraid to think big, we also partnered with the University of Minnesota’s College of Design to envision how the POST OFFICE at 1st Street and Marquette Avenue could take on new life and better connect downtown to the riverfront.

These projects are just the beginning! Every time you get out and experience your downtown, you help us achieve our vision of the green and vibrant downtown Minneapolis of tomorrow.

See you there, in 2019.

January and February programming at the Kroening Interpretive Center and North Mississippi Regional Park

The Minneapolis Park and Rec Board invites you to enjoy the great outdoors with these January and February offerings at the Kroening Interpretive Center and North Mississippi Regional Park.

* * * * * * * * * * January Events * * * * * * * * * *

Snowshoeing: Get some wonderful exercise while recreating in nature by checking out a pair of snowshoes to explore the park! Please wear winter boots for use with snowshoes. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required.

SATURDAY  11-3pm	SUNDAY   1-3pm
Jan 5      Activity #93933	Jan 6      Activity #93941
Jan 12    Activity #93934	Jan 13    Activity #93942
Jan 19    Activity #93935	Jan 20    Activity #93943
Jan 26    Activity #93936	Jan 27    Activity #93944

Winter Break Camp: Frozen Planet January 2 - 4, 8am-4pm

Are you curious about the wonders of the cosmos? Then, embark on an adventure through the cold depths of outer space...with the help of your imagination. Learn about amazing astronomical phenomena, complete missions with your crew and conduct experiments for extreme environments. Sign up to be the ultimate space explorer! Registration Fee $90  Ages 6-12  Activity #93993

Day camp will be based out of Kroening Interpretive Center. Every day please: Bring a lunch and snack and dress for a mess and outdoor adventure (winter coat, boots, snow pants, hat and gloves).

Bird Watching: Winter Woodpeckers - Saturday January 5, 4-5:30pm

Winter is a wonderful time to be on the lookout for the bright flashes of woodpeckers on the bare trees. Join us for a walk in the park to seek out and learn about Minnesota’s winter woodpeckers. Binoculars provided if needed. FREE  Ages 8 & up  Activity #93949

Snowshoeing: New Year Resolutions Hike - Saturday January 5 1-2:30pm

Do you have a New Year’s Resolution to be more active, to go outside more, or try new things? Take the first step on a naturalist-led snowshoe hike along our prairie, woodland, and river trails and start the year off right! - Please wear winter boots for use with snowshoes. FREE  All Ages  Activity #93959

Family Funday: Winter Arts & Animals - Sunday January 13 1-3pm

Come learn about our neighborhood native species. Meet some MN animals up-close, then let nature inspire your creation of winter-themed artwork to take home. FREE  All Ages  Activity #93963

Homeschool Day: Clues from Nature - Thursday January 17 1-3pm

Learn how to become a nature detective by uncovering the clues that animals leave behind. Investigate animal tracks, scat and other markings to better understand animal behaviors and decipher the story they tell. Registration Fee $5  Ages 5-13  Activity #93988

Nature Art: Candle Making – Saturday January 19  2-3pm

Craft the warm, comforting glow of your own candle with a nature twist to use on cold winter nights. Use your creativity to choose the scents colors and designs you like best! Registration Fee $5  All Ages  Activity #93968

School Release Day: Winter Fun & Games January 25  8am-4pm

Get ready for snow filled fun! Build shelters, snowmen and other creations outside. Hike through the park and play games on snowshoes. Make art, toss snowballs, and warm up inside with hot cocoa. Ice cube boat races.  Registration Fee $25  Ages 6-12  Activity #93994

Day camp will be based out of Kroening Interpretive Center. Every day please: Bring a lunch and snack, and dress for a mess and outdoor adventure (winter coat, boots, snow pants, hat and gloves)

Outdoors: Winter Survival Challenge - Saturday January 26  1-3pm

Assemble your team of family or friends and practice your winter skills in the park through nature challenges! Build shelters, maneuver through obstacles, and seek out hidden clues in the wild while discovering strategies Minnesota animals use to survive the winter. Then enjoy hot cocoa and a treat by a cozy bonfire.  FREE  All Ages  Activity #93974

* * * * * * * * * * * February Events * * * * * * * * * * *

Snowshoeing: Get some wonderful exercise while recreating in nature by checking out a pair of snowshoes to explore the park! Please wear winter boots for use with snowshoes. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required.

SATURDAY  11-3pm	SUNDAY   1-3pm
Feb 2     Activity #93937	Feb 3     Activity #93945
Feb 9     Activity #93938	Feb 10    Activity #93946
Feb 16   Activity #93939	Feb 17   Activity #93947
Feb 23   Activity #93940	Feb 24   Activity #93948

Event: Groundhog Day Celebration – Saturday February 2  1-3pm

Can a groundhog really predict the coming season? Will it be an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Come celebrate a day of weather forecasting woodchucks with art, games and activities. Hike the park with a naturalist to see if our resident woodchucks have been out to make their own predictions.  FREE  All Ages Activity #93984

Bird Watching: Birding on Snowshoes - Saturday February 2  4-5:30pm

Looking to try something different and develop new skills? Then come birding on snowshoes with a naturalist along our prairie, woodland, and river trails! We’ll enjoy the winter scenery while keeping our eyes and ears open for our feathered friends. Please wear winter boots for use with snowshoes. Binoculars provided if needed. FREE Ages 8 & up  Activity #93950

Senses in the Season Hike – Friday February 8  4-5:00pm

After the hustle and bustle of the week, take a peaceful walk through the park to realign your senses with nature. Discover how each season peaks our senses in different ways. Reset your mind and body from overstimulation and become grounded in nature while appreciating the nuances each season offers. FREE  All Ages Activity #93997

Nature Art: Colors and Ice February 9 1:30-2:30pm

Make colorfully cold creations! Make a mural outside with the snow as your canvas, create beautiful mini ice castles, and use colored ice to make pictures to take home.  FREE  All Ages  Activity #93969

Valentine’s Day Fireside Snowshoeing - Thursday February 14 7-8:30pm

Brrrr! Baby its cold outside! This Valentine’s Day get warmed up on a snowshoe hike along the river, then cozy up around a bonfire while sipping hot cocoa and try your hand at crafting a candle to bring home. Please wear winter boots for use with snowshoes.  Registration Fee $7.50  Ages 18+  Activity #93962

Snowshoeing: Over & Under the Snow Hike – Saturday February 16  2-3:30pm

Take a hike on snowshoes as we look for tracks and signs of life in the snow. Discover the animals that have been hiding out below all winter. Who’s active and who’s hibernating and how do they make it through the long winter.  FREE   All Ages  Activity #93961

Homeschool Day: Birds of Prey - Thursday February 21  1-3pm

Raptors, the predatory birds of the sky. Examine the adaptations that make them superior hunters, dissect an owl pellet to understand what and how they eat, and go on a bird watching expedition to look for these majestic predators.  Registration Fee $5   Ages 5-13  Activity #93989

Family Funday: Owls - What a Hoot!  - Sunday February 24 1-3pm

This time of year owls are already nesting! Examine the adaptations that make them superb nighttime hunters, dissect an owl pellet and find out how to look for owls in your neighborhood.  FREE  All Ages   Activity #93964

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park

4900 Mississippi Court, Minneapolis, MN 55430

612-370-4844 

CCX Media Series on the Hennepin County Library

The Hennepin County Library started as a horse-drawn book wagon in the 1920s and has grown to 41 locations with more than three quarters of a million check-outs of more than 15 million items. While it might seem like physical libraries would be obsolete in this high tech age, they are thankfully creating new ways to stay relevant and important. In Part 1 (below), CCX Media examines in-person classes and opportunities to learn from what’s offered at the Hennepin County Library.

Editor's Note:

We posted a recap of a guided tour we took of the Central Library back in 2010. It is truely a treasure! Check out all the programming offered via this link.

A Holidazzle History

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The holiday season in Downtown Minneapolis is a magical time of year. Colorful lights line the streets, the shops and restaurants play Christmas music, and the familiar jingle of Salvation Army bell ringers can be heard throughout the skyway system. There are many ways to celebrate this time of year, and one of the most fun ways to do so is attending the Holidazzle. It’s hard to imagine a holiday season without the joy and good tidings that fill the city when the Holidazzle takes place every year.

In the grand scheme of things, the Holidazzle is rather new. In the summer of 1992 a group of businesses in Downtown Minneapolis were worried that the small national recession the year earlier, combined with the opening of the Mall of America coming up in October, would be disastrous for them during the holiday shopping season. A plan needed to be made to keep shoppers in Downtown. Brookfield Development and Dayton’s each put down $200,000 to get things started, and when the City of Minneapolis saw this ambition, they contributed $1,000,000.

The Circus Train float   Photo: midwestliving.wordpress.com

As different ideas were being tossed around, they finally settled on hosting a parade. Inspired by the daily extravagant parades at Walt Disney World, the new Holidazzle parade would run four nights a week from the Friday after Thanksgiving to Christmas along Nicollet Mall, which oddly enough was made to counter the opening of the Southdale Mall. The first year saw only eight floats, but it was an instant success. Shops were full, the sidewalks were packed, and everyone was happy.

The City would also advertise other events going on during this time that would make coming into town worth your while, like these first-year events such as the Guthrie Theater’s A Christmas Carol, Sesame Street Live at the Target Center, the Lovely Liebowitz Sisters’ A Krakatoa Holiday music show, and Puss in Boots at the Dayton’s 8th Floor Auditorium. Metro Transit also offered the “Holidazzle Express” for those who didn’t want to deal with busy downtown driving. The shuttle service went from five metro Park & Ride locations, Brooklyn Park, Minnetonka, Richfield, South Minneapolis, and St. Paul, to Downtown Minneapolis. The parade became so popular it even made an appearance in the all-time classic Twin Cities Christmas movie Jingle All the Way when Arnold Schwarzenegger participated in a fictionalized version of the parade.

Michael Rainville, Jr. (left) in the circus seal costume with a friend.

The eight floats in the parade quickly grew to twelve, and the parade featured over 350,000 lights and 300 volunteers in costumes. For the 2000 edition, an almost 6-year-old Michael Jr. had the opportunity to sit next to Santa in his sleigh one night as he closed out the parade. However, little Michael was far too nervous to sit next to such a legend and ended up watching the parade from the sidelines with his parents. It was scary, okay? I did get my redemption the next week though. My father, Michael Sr., learned from his past mistake and this time pulled some strings to get two spots for myself and my friend Josiah to be seals in the Circus Train float. It took us about ten minutes to fit the costume over our bulky winter jackets and snow pants, but we had the time of our life and even made friends with the elephant and giraffe.

Fireworks over Loring Park Photo: Holidazzle website

In 2013, the organizers announced the biggest change the Holidazzle has seen when they decided to discontinue the parade and instead host a European-esque holiday village in Peavey Plaza. The Holidazzle Village would have live music, fireworks, great food, and vendors from around the world. Fortunately, the big change did not jeopardize the Holidazzle and they eventually moved to the even more spacious Loring Park.

From a magical holiday light parade to a festive village, the Holidazzle has been a Minneapolis and Twin Cites staple. While it has evolved over time, it has brought holiday cheer to the Twin Cities for almost thirty years, and hopefully many more. Happy holidays!

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Balls Cabaret Celebrates its 25th Anniversary at The Southern

BALLS Cabaret, the longest-running weekly midnight cabaret in human history, will present the best of BALLS during PRIME TIME BALLS, at The Southern Theater, January 10, 11, and 12 at 7:30pm.

PRIME TIME BALLS will present the best of BALLS with three talent filled evenings of dance, music, comedy, poetry, magic, and storytelling - January 10, 11 and 12, 7:30pm at The Southern Theater. Each night will be a different show featuring BALLS alumni performers including: Mary Jo Pehl, Ben San Del, Norah Long, Brian Sostek and Megan McClellan, Ari Hoptman, Kaleena Miller, and more exciting reveals to come! If you have ever wondered what happens at BALLS Cabaret’s every Saturday at The Southern Theater, now is your chance to experience it before the clock strikes midnight. Tickets are a suggested $35 donation (or ARTshare membership) available at www.southerntheater.org. All proceeds from this event will support the historic Southern Theater, the home of BALLS Cabaret.

"The Southern is the perfect home for what we're doing," says BALLS founder Leslie Ball. "We encourage artists to take healthy risks, to stretch, and deepen and grow. And that's what the Southern has been doing for artists - and for audiences - for over a century! We're so lucky to have been here for a quarter of that century." Over the decades, BALLS has welcomed seasoned professionals, aspiring students, and complete neophytes - nurturing careers of countless successful performers including Frank Conniff, Maria Bamford, Nick Swardson, Derek Hughes, and Tay Zonday.

Performances are Thursday Jan 10 through Saturday Jan 12 at 7:30pm at The Southern Theater, 1420 S. Washington Avenue, Minneapolis. Tickets are a suggested donation of $35.00 and can be purchased online at www.southerntheater.org

About BALLS Cabaret

BALLS Cabaret, the longest-running weekly midnight cabaret in recorded human history began on August 3, 1991 at the old Jungle Theater before settling into its current Prime Time Balls Celebrates 25 years at The Southern Theater Page 2 The Southern Theater • 1420 S. Washington Avenue • Minneapolis, MN 55454 • www.southerntheater.org • 612-340-0155 home at The Southern Theater. BALLS is for artists of any and all disciplines - at any and all levels of experience – each given seven minutes to showcase their talents. Founder Leslie Ball views the cabaret as a ministry to promote community and creativity. Ball has fostered a place where community flourishes, lifetime friendships form, artistic cross-pollination and collaborations blossom. Follow us on Facebook @ballscabaret

About The Southern Theater

The Southern Theater opened its doors on March 1, 1910 and remains one of the Twin Cities most active historic theater venues. Each year The Southern Theater is host to an outstanding season of programing including dance, theater, music, live concert performances, film, spoken word and mixed media, all highlighting a celebration of local artistry under the historic arch. Follow us @SouthernTheater on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Those interested in presenting at The Southern can send inquiries to info@southerntheater.org. Tickets or an ARTshare membership to The Southern can be purchased at www.southerntheater.org.

Alfred Bangoura, New Superintendent of Minneapolis Parks, Takes Over January 20, 2019

Via a December 19 announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) next Superintendent, Alfred Bangoura, will take over leading the nationally acclaimed park system on January 20, 2019.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a three-year contract with Bangoura at tonight’s Board meeting. He will succeed Superintendent Emeritus Mary Merrill, who has served as interim superintendent and has been leading the organization since February. 

Alfred Bangoura“Mr. Bangoura stood out from a national pool of candidates as having the unique skills needed for our Superintendent. Al believes our parks are for everyone and he’s ready to advance this Board's mandate of increasing our investment in youth and building an even better park system for our guests and everyone who calls Minneapolis their home,” said Brad Bourn, President of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “His knowledge of Minneapolis and our parks coupled with his unique professional skills will provide cohesiveness and inspire collaboration.”

“I am honored to lead Minneapolis Park and Recreation, the premier park system in the country,” said Al Bangoura. “For 19 years, I had the privilege of serving Minneapolis residents and working with passionate communities. I am excited to reconnect with internal staff and the community. I intend to be the voice on how we build communities, deliver meaningful services and meet the diverse needs of Minneapolis residents. Thank you and I look forward to coming back home!”

Next month it is anticipated Commissioners will vote on a separate resolution related to leasing Bangoura a portion of the Theodore Wirth Home and Administration Building, located in Lyndale Farmstead Park. The lease will be based on fair market rental value and will take into consideration ongoing scheduled public access to portions of the home.

Bangoura is currently the Recreation Superintendent of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, which includes Charlotte, NC and serves more than 1.1 million people. Bangoura currently oversees community and recreation services for the county’s 17 recreation facilities and three senior and active adult facilities. He is a Certified Park and Recreational Professional (CPRP) and prior to joining Mecklenburg County, Bangoura served as the Director of Recreation Centers and Programs for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. From 2001 – 2015, Bangoura held a variety of progressive recreation leadership positions with the MPRB.

The MPRB Superintendent provides day-to-day leadership for the 6,811 acre nationally recognized park system. The Superintendent manages an annual operating and capital budget of almost $125 million and oversees the work of approximately 570 full-time and 1,170 temporary Minneapolis Parks employees who deliver programs, services and facilities that are responsive to the diverse needs of City residents and all segments of the community.

Former MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller resigned from the Park Board in February 2018 to take a position leading a public-private parks conservancy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Superintendent Emeritus Mary Merrill was unanimously selected by the Board to fulfill Miller’s contract and to assist in the search process for the next superintendent.

Metro Transit Holiday Service Schedule

TRANSIT SERVICE FOR YEAR-END HOLIDAYS

. Holiday service will be in effect on December 25 & January 1, 2019.  . Metro Transit buses and METRO Blue and Green lines will follow Holiday schedules on Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25, and on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1. The METRO Red Line will follow weekend/Holiday schedules those days. There is no Northstar service on either day. Metro Transit Service Centers, Customer Relations and Lost & Found will be closed both days. The Transit Information Center is closed December 25, but will be open from 8am to 5pm on January 1. . . . . . . . Reduced service on Monday, December 24 . . . . . . . Due to decreased demand on Christmas Eve, Metro Transit and regional transit providers will reduce service on Monday, December 24. Weekend fares will be charged (except where noted). Northstar will follow a reduced schedule on December 24 and charge standard weekday pricing. The Transit Information Center will be open 6:30am to 9pm on December 24. The Minneapolis Service Center will be open 7:30-10:30am (the St. Paul Service Center will be closed). Customer Relations and Lost & Found will be open 7:30am to noon. Routes will follow SATURDAY schedules unless noted here. Some routes will follow Saturday schedules with additional trips. If your route does not have a schedule for Saturday service and is not listed here, it will not operate on December 24. See the full schedule for Monday, December 24.

MPRB Seeks Residents Interested in Serving on Park Police Advisory Council

Deadline to apply for Park Police Advisory Council extended to Thursday, December 20, 2018

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Board of Commissioners is seeking applications for six appointments to the Park Police Advisory Council.

Since 1887 the Park Police Department has been the primary law enforcement agency tasked with policing Minneapolis parks. The newly formed six-member Advisory Council will meet monthly with MPRB personnel to discuss topics that are important to the MPRB and park patrons and to open two-way communication.

The primary role of the Advisory Council is to become knowledgeable about policing, crime, and safety in Minneapolis parks; evaluate broad approaches to community safety, enforcement, and reconciliation; contribute to broad community engagement by acting as community, neighborhood, and stakeholder advocates; assist with ongoing communication to the public; provide reports to the Board of Commissioners; and make consensus recommendations regarding certain matters of policy and programs for review by the Park Police Chief and MPRB Superintendent.

Advisory Council members must:

- Live in the City of Minneapolis

- Commit to a two-year term

- Attend monthly evening meetings

- Embrace the MPRB guiding statements for racial equity, gender inclusion and universal access

- Be willing and eager to participate in challenging and meaningful conversation

- Act as a bridge between the community and Park Police Department

- Work collaboratively to enhance relationships between Park Police and the community, specifically with underrepresented residents and patrons. 

Applications must be received no later than 4 p.m., Thursday, December 20, 2018.  Following submission, applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of the application and describing the general process for appointment. Appointments for open positions will be made at the January 2, 2019 business meeting of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. For a full description of each committee and to complete the application please visit: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/abca.

Applicants with questions about the appointments process should email their questions to board.appointments@minneapolisparks.org or contact Radious Guess at 612-230-6419.

Please click here to sign up to be notified of all advisory committee opportunities.

Contact: 

Radious Guess

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Community Outreach, Equity and Inclusion Manager

612-230-6419

rguess@minneapolisparks.org

Mill City Players - Fall, 2018

Article by Claudia Kittock, photo by Rick Kittock

The Mill City Players ended the fall session on Thursday, December 13th with a performance at YouthLink. It was preceded by a performance at Sabathani Community Center on November 27th for 200 policymakers and people who work with the homeless for the county’s annual “Heading Home Hennepin” meeting.

This session was unique for the Players. Because of scheduling issues, the decision was made to concentrate on seven of the actors who are based in YouthLink. Our hope was to spend time with a smaller group of actors, and be able to work on leadership skills, artistic skills, and interpersonal skills. The Players have been rehearsing six hours a week for 10 weeks. Every rehearsal was split between work on acting, dancing, and drumming.

Mayor Jacob Frey with members of the Mill City Players after a November 27 performance at the Sabathani Community Center. 

Sam Karpeh, Zedekiah Zbichorski, Crystal Ray Lamm, Jalen Dyson, Jackie Santrelle and Anthony Anderson have all been part of the Players from the very first session. Charlie Ruffin joined us for this session. The benefits of having a stable core of artists is immeasurable. With each and every session, we have been able to watch this group of artists grow.

Why acting? Why the Mill City Players? The Friends of the Mill District began this program with the mission of offering artistic expression to young people who have not had that opportunity. Parents everywhere know the benefits of taking their children to music classes, dance classes, boxing classes, and acting groups. We have watched our children grow and change because of those classes. The Mill City Players offers that for the young people who decide to take this journey with us.

Our artistic staff, James A. Williams the Artistic Director, and Patricia Brown and Ahanti Young the Associate Directors, give our actors every bit of their artistic skill and their enormous hearts. We are so blessed by their work. Teaching young artists is filled with hard work, frustrations, and enormous blessings. We get to watch them struggle and grow and learn to express themselves in powerful ways. Twice a week we begin by eating together and then the hard work begins. We struggle together, but it is the best work because we do it together.

At the Heading Home event in November, our actors performed for a crowd that included Mayor Jacob Frey and were able to spend a few minutes talking with him about their journey. The audience was incredibly receptive to the artistry the Players displayed, and the Players were thrilled by the standing ovation they received.

The performance at YouthLink was a powerful ending to this session. Performing in front of your peers is always difficult, but our actors had a dynamic performance and celebrated afterward with dreams and plans for the next session beginning in February.

While the boxing class for the Players will continue during the hiatus, we are in the process of hiring our first writing teacher. Bill Breen, a poet and college writing professor, will join our group of artists working with the Players. We are excited to add Bill and his skills for our group of artists.

The future of the Players is unlimited. We are excited to continue this work, and are grateful for the support of the friends of the Friends. If you want to become more involved, we welcome contributions. Please consider becoming a sustaining contributor by signing up on GiveMN.com. Checks made out to Friends of the Mill District can be sent to: Claudia Kittock, 1240 S 2nd Street, Unit 1132, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

We are stronger together. This is good work and important work, and none of it is possible without you.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Park Rehabilitation Project Begins at Bohemian Flats and Annie Young Meadow

Project will replace sidewalks, picnic shelters, picnic tables, benches, park lighting and drinking fountains

Work began earlier this month on a project that will rehabilitate picnic and park facilities at Bohemian Flats and Annie Young Meadow.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff led community engagement sessions throughout summer 2018 and developed a plan to replace sidewalks, picnic shelters, picnic tables, benches, park lighting and drinking fountains at the two areas within Mississippi Gorge Regional Park. 

Accessibility improvements are also a part of this project. When complete, Bohemian Flats and Annie Young Meadow will comply with current standards set by the Americans With Disabilities Act, making the park more easily accessed by all visitors.

In February 2018, the MPRB voted to rename a portion of Riverside Park, formerly called Lower Riverside Park, to Annie Young Meadow in honor of Young, a seven-term commissioner who passed away in January 2018.

Construction is expected to be complete by July 2018. The MPRB is working with Paradise Charter Cruises to complete the area around its facility prior to its opening next spring.  

Project funding was provided by the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fund.

March 17, 2018 dedication and ribbon cutting to commemorate the renaming of Lower Riverside Park as Annie Young Meadow.

December News from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation

Via a December 14 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation:

From Tom Evers, Executive Director

Success in 2018 Means We'll Do More in 2019

'Tis the season to reflect on the previous 12 months and set aims for the coming year. "When future generations look back at the history of Minneapolis parks, 2018 will likely be seen as a pivotal year for our system" Tom Evers writes, looking back on the milestones reached in 2018 and what they foretell for the future. Read More »

Bank of America Awards $1M Grant for RiverFirst

Catalytic gift brings campaign to within $600,000 needed to break ground
Two of the most important new parks projects in a generation - Water Works and the Great Northern Greenway River Link - are within reach, thanks to Bank of America's generous $1 million contribution to RiverFirst. In awarding their catalytic gift, Bank of America is investing in a landscape that will benefit and connect the community for generations and decades to come. Read More »

Include the Parks Foundation in Your End of Year Giving

Parks have the power to connect us, heal us, and make us whole
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation works to ensure our parks exist for all of Minneapolis; we work to connect the whole city to our parks. We're asking for your investment in this vital resource. Your gift helps to connect us to our civic commons via our parks, the greatest public spaces in our city. Please donate today to ensure these spaces remain for generations to come. Thank you! Donate Now »

Community Profile: Meg Forney

Using IRA Charitable Distributions to Support Parks

 Meg Forney, an at-large Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner, will begin supporting the Parks Foundation with IRA distributions next year, when she turns 70 1/2.

"It's a simple way to support our favorite causes while gaining some tax benefit." Read More »

Position Opening: Project Implementation Director

The Parks Foundation has created a new position called the Project Implementation Director, who will help bring signature park projects to completion in partnership with our public agency, nonprofit, and private sector partners. Applications are being taken until the position is filled. Read More »

Discover Your Parks: 5 Remnants of the Past, Still Visible

They say the only constant is change. And if this adage is true, then city parks are no exception. Despite the momentum of progress, a few remnants of the past still exist in Minneapolis parks, including gravestones, faux rocks, and an old carriage road. Read More »

Links & News: Stories and Ideas of Interest and Impact

• The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board nominated Al Bangoura for the position of Superintendent. Bangoura was previously Director of Recreation Centers and Programs for MPRB.
• MPRB also named it's West River Road headquarters after Superintendent Emeritus Mary Merrill, saying her "name is synonymous with Minneapolis Parks."
• The Minneapolis StarTribune sings the praises of the (previously) "unsung" Third Ave Bridge, which has "a grace all it's own."
• Open Rivers is out with its Fall 2018 issue. Dive in to explore "Watery Places and Archeology," among other thoughtful pieces.

Looking Ahead to New Years Eve... Miller Lite again teams up with MTC and JJ Taylor to offer free rides

MILLER LITE® HELPS NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTYGOERS CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY® WITH FREE RIDES ON METRO TRANSIT

Miller Lite Rings in the New Year, Providing Free and Safe Rides for the Twin Cities

For the eighth consecutive year, the Original Light Beer is partnering with Metro Transit and J.J. Taylor Distributing to help residents and visitors celebrate New Year’s Eve safely. Miller Lite Free Rides will provide safe and free rides on all Metro Transit routes starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 31 until 3 a.m.

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the Free Rides program which has provided more than 6.4 million people in 27 communities with safe rides as part of an ongoing commitment to helping consumers Celebrate Responsibly®.

“Miller Lite believes that the only way to ring in the New Year is to do so responsibly,” said Diane Wagner, alcohol responsibility manager for MillerCoors. “Through our partnerships with Metro Transit and J.J. Taylor Distributing, we are making sure that beer drinkers in the Twin Cities have a range of options to get home safely and prevent drunk driving.”

Miller Lite Free Rides has provided more than 245,000 safe rides to residents and visitors of Twin Cities since the program began locally in 2011.

“Metro Transit’s partnership with Miller Lite encourages residents and visitors of the Twin Cities to celebrate one of the biggest nights of the year responsibly,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb. “Metro Transit’s bus and train operators are all proud to be your designated drivers this New Year’s Eve.” 

“Through our partnership with Miller Lite, we’re proud to kick off the new year by providing free, safe and convenient transit to the Minneapolis-St. Paul community,” said Billie Jo Smith of J.J. Taylor Distributing.

As part of the 2025 Global Goals MillerCoors developed in partnership with Molson Coors, MillerCoors aims to implement impactful programs to prevent drunk driving in every market where beer is sold. Designated driver and safe ride programs like Miller Lite Free Rides are critical components of meeting that goal.

December E-Newsletter from 3rd Ward Council Member Steve Fletcher

We Adopted Our 2019 Budget!

On Wednesday, December 5th, the City Council approved the City's $1.55 billion 2019 budget after our final public hearing. I'm really proud of so much of what we've put into this budget and how it aligns with our values. There's more detail on some of the highlights below.

I want to thank Mayor Jacob Frey for making an outstanding budget proposal, and especially for the historic investment of more than $40 million in affordable housing. Budget Committee Chair Linea Palmisano also deserves a lot of credit for making our budget process as open and transparent as it was, including by adding an additional public hearing for you to share your feedback with us.

It's worth noting that the total changes made by the City Council represent a small fraction of the Mayor's proposed budget. Mayor Frey made some major moves with his budget proposal - on housing, on economic development, on public safety, and more - almost 90% of which we preserved without any change, and for which I proudly cast my vote.

One significant change I led on, along with Council Member Phillipe Cunningham, was to increase our investment in public safety and violence prevention beyond policing. To fund this, we removed a little over $1 million that the Mayor had proposed to fund new positions within MPD. That means instead of increasing the MPD budget by 2.8%, we're increasing it by 2.2%. Those funds will instead be invested in the following:

• An expansion of the successful Mental Health Co-Responder pilot program to all five police precincts, rather than just three;
• a staff position and stable funding for the newly formed Office of Violence Prevention to invest in collaborative, community-based safety strategies, including downtown safety initiatives that had been funded on a one-time basis in recent years;
• ongoing funding for the Next-Step Youth Violence Prevention program;
• outreach funding for the Youth Coordinating Board in the Cedar-Riverside area;
• ongoing funding for successful pilot programs in the City Attorney's office on domestic violence outreach and alternative pathways for weapons offenses;
• adding staff capacity in the Office of Police Conduct Review and the City Coordinator's Division of Race & Equity;
• increasing funding to the Collaborative Enforcement program in the Labor Standards Division of the Department of Civil Rights; and
• restoring funding for Legal Services for Immigrants and Refugee Residents.

Some other highlights include amendments by Council Member Jeremiah Ellison and Council President Lisa Bender that added resources to a revolving loan to fund repairs to restore rental properties and avoid tenant displacement, and that shifted additional money to legal defense for tenants facing eviction. Both of these fill important gaps in our city's current approach to producing and maintaining affordable housing, and I am proud that I got to vote for them on behalf of Ward 3.

During our final markup, I proposed one final amendment to the budget to add a position in Public Works that will collaborate with our Planning Department on infrastructure investments and public realm improvements in areas anticipating rapid development. This idea came straight out of a lot of meetings and conversations I have had with residents across the ward about areas with a lot of planned projects, and I was very pleased to see the funding to create this position pass unanimously! I'm especially grateful to Public Works Director Robin Hutcheson and CPED Director David Frank for working together to support the creation of this new collaborative role between their two departments.

Our budget is one of the strongest reflections of our values that we can make year in and year out, and I am proud of the work we did to make sure our 2019 budget reflects the values and priorities we all want to see front and center in our work to make Minneapolis an even greater City for all.

Final City Council Meeting of 2018

On Friday, December 7, we had our final City Council meeting of 2018, and we passed several exciting ordinances and policies that reflect the culmination of, in many cases, over a year's worth of work by my colleagues.

In addition to approving the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan and sending it to the Metropolitan Council for their consideration (more on that below), we also passed:

• an ordinance enabling the creation of a Municipal ID program;
• an amended Unified Housing Policy with an interim Inclusionary Zoning Policy for 2019, which will require some affordable housing units in projects seeking an increase to the density allowed under current zoning. A more permanent policy will be developed in 2019;
• an ordinance creating the Office of Violence Prevention in the Department of Health, for which we allocated funding in the 2019 budget for collaborative, community-based safety strategies, including downtown safety initiatives that had been funded on a one-time basis in recent years;
• an ordinance I authored with Council Member Cunningham to expand and clarify the powers and duties of the Fire Chief to include emergency rescue and emergency medical response services, as they prepare to pilot a Mobile Integrated Healthcare model with Hennepin County;
• a set of Enterprise Operational Policies within our Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan;
• and a motion allowing Public Works to move forward with the expansion of the Hiawatha Maintenance Facility while investing in the development of a training facility on that site into a multi-faceted community asset.

We also reappointed Police Chief Medaria Arradondo to his first full three-year term!

Taken together, this final Council meeting closed out an incredibly productive year towards making Minneapolis a safer, healthier, more equitable City, and I'm proud of the work and energy I was able to contribute to our accomplishments.

Please join me at Kramarczuk's next Wednesday, December 19 from 7:30 - 9:00 A.M. for a Year in Review at my final Good Morning Ward 3 of 2018!

Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan Approved, Now Goes to Metropolitan Council for Review

On Friday, we approved Minneapolis 2040, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which will help shape how the city will grow and change over the next two decades so all residents can benefit. 

The Comprehensive Plan calls for allowing more housing options, especially in areas that lack housing choices and access to transit, goods and services. It also includes several policies to make the city more resilient to climate change.

My amendments to the plan included:

• Encouraging larger, family-supportive housing units near our Public Schools
• Ensuring that the City's data collection safeguards the data privacy of residents and visitors, and calling for the adoption of a City-wide Data Privacy Policy to govern data collection, retention, sharing, and use by City departments and vendors about City residents and visitors. (This is a policy I introduced as a subject matter earlier this year, and will be developing in detail soon).
• Requiring buildings with inactive uses, like storage facilities or adult entertainment establishments, to be screened with active uses on the street or to be located above or below street level.
• Together with Alondra Cano, directing staff to replace "citizen" with "resident" any time it appears throughout the plan.
• Amendments to the Land Use and Built Form maps to better align with the Minneapolis Park Board's Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Plan.

My colleagues brought many thoughtful amendments that strengthened the plan, and overall I think it's an excellent document that we should all be proud of for its commitment to racial equity and addressing the urgent challenge of climate change. I want to especially commend Council President Bender and Council Member Kevin Reich for their work on this plan over the last three years to get us to this point.

You can learn more about the plan at Minneapolis2040.com and read all of the considered amendments here on the City's Legislative Information Management System (LIMS).

Partners Open Temporary Navigation Center for People Experiencing Homelessness

This fall, the City Council approved a 1.25-acre site at 2109 Cedar Ave. in south Minneapolis as a temporary site for a Navigation Center that will provide a safe and service-rich environment for up to 120 single adults experiencing homelessness, and approved $1.5 million in funding towards its construction. I have been one of four City Council Members serving on a working group with City staff and partner organizations, and I am glad that it has now opened and people have begun to move in.

The Red Lake Nation and Simpson Housing Services have announced their commitment to lead the center. The Red Lake Nation owns the site and will provide security and some of the social services at the center, which will remain open until May 2019. After that, the Red Lake Nation is breaking ground on a new affordable housing project on the site.

Simpson Housing Services will provide shelter operational support. The City has worked closely with these and other coalition partners on the development of the center, which will offer the opportunity to regain safety and engage in pathways to permanent housing, income, healthcare and stability. Voluntary, individualized case management services will be provided on site by partner agencies.

To date, partners involved in outreach at the encampment have assisted more than 80 people with securing access to supportive housing. Following the opening of the Navigation Center, leaders from the Red Lake Nation and Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID), who have been providing support at the encampment site since it began, will take the lead in helping transition people from the encampment to the center or alternative locations.

Coalition partners (including those mentioned above plus Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota) are committed to collaborating on the transition to the Navigation Center, shifting existing encampment supports to the center, and the eventual closure of the encampment, which we all recognize is not safe given the cold weather and other conditions.

The City also remains committed to working with partners on long-term housing solutions, including developing recommendations for housing geared toward Native Americans experiencing chronic homelessness. There are some encouraging signs that some of those long-term solutions are already in the works.

"Collaboration is helping make downtown Minneapolis safer"

Photo credit: Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune

Last month, I shared a story from the Star Tribune on some of the work we've been doing as a city around downtown nightlife.

Now, just last week, the Star Tribune Editorial Board voiced their agreement that our work is paying off.

Downtown violent crime is down over 24% from 2017 to 2018 year-to-date, and it is truly the result of not just a strong economy but all of the collaborative work by the Mayor's office, the City Council, City staff in numerous departments, and so many community partners. I look forward to continuing this work in 2019 and beyond through the development of collaborative safety strategies with the Office of Violence Prevention and all downtown stakeholders.

Record Turnout in 2018 General Election

Photo credit: Ellen Schmidt, MN Daily

The 2018 General Election on November 6 was historic for more reasons than one, and all of them good.

First, Minnesota once again led the nation in voter turnout, and we very nearly had the highest statewide midterm turnout ever, second only to 2002 by half a percent.

• Total turnout in Minneapolis was 76% of registered voters, with 207,114 ballots cast - the highest City midterm turnout in 50 years!
• A total of 52,313 absentee (early) ballots were cast in Minneapolis for 25% of total turnout.
• In Ward 3, we had 74% voter turnout, just under the City- and County-wide average.

Ward 3 also had the highest number of absentee ballots cast anywhere in the City (6,287), and the highest number of Election Day voter registrations (3,472). On Election Day, when I heard that lines were long in Precinct 1 in Dinkytown, I went over to the polling place and had a great time talking with students to thank them for being voters. Precinct 1 had the highest number of Election Day voter registrations in the City, with 1,097!

Finally, we elected an amazing and historically diverse group of people to represent us at the County, in Saint Paul at the State Capitol, and in Washington, DC! I am looking forward to working with County Commissioners-Elect Angela Conley and Irene Fernando, County Sheriff-Elect Dave Hutchinson, State Representative-Elect Mohamud Noor, Governor-Elect Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General-Elect Keith Ellison, State Auditor-Elect Julie Blaha, Congresswoman-Elect Ilhan Omar, and the rest of our outstanding delegations.

Governing is truly a multi-jurisdictional effort, and I am confident that through strong relationships I can work together with my fellow elected officials at all levels of government to get things done for Minneapolis and Ward 3.

City Council approves $12 million in affordable housing investments throughout Minneapolis

The Minneapolis City Council recently approved $10.6 million in direct investment and $1.6 million in 10-year federal tax credits to create or preserve 764 units of affordable multifamily rental housing in 10 projects located throughout the city.

These investments are the result of awards from the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs for 2018. Together, these investments will make more than $188 million in additional private and public resources possible.

Renters represent three out of four households in Minneapolis that are paying more than 30 percent of income for housing. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs provide up front equity and gap financing to assist with the production and preservation of decent, safe and affordable multifamily rental housing.

The City Council approved the following projects for a preliminary reservation of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs totaling $1.6 million:

• In Ward 2, $587,103 for the Maya Commons project: 50 units of affordable workforce housing with a wellness focus, including eight units for people experiencing homelessness.
• In Ward 12, $983,475 for the Amber Apartments project: 81 units of affordable housing with support services for people with disabilities including 17 units for people experiencing homelessness.

These tax credits will generate more than $20.5 million in up front equity for these developments.

The City Council also approved a total of $10.64 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the following projects today:

• In Ward 3, $700,000 for the Gateway Northeast project, 125 units of mixed-use, mixed income housing.
• In Ward 7, $1.95 million for the Lydia Apartments project: 78 units of low income housing for disabled adults experiencing homelessness.
• In Ward 7, $465,500 for the PERIS Development project: 41 units of affordable housing, including 15 supportive housing units for at risk youths aging out of foster care.
• In Ward 4, $625,000 for the Prosperity Village project: 25 units of affordable family housing.
• In Ward 5, $2.75 million for the Northside Artspace Lofts project: 100 units of mixed income family housing.
• In Ward 5, $775,000 for the Penn Avenue Union project, 64 units of affordable family housing.
• In Ward 10, $1 million for the Raines Building project: 89 units of affordable senior housing.
• In Ward 10, $2.375 million for the Lake Street Apartments project: 111 units of affordable housing including six permanent supportive units and three units for people experiencing homelessness.

Minneapolis buildings exceed energy challenge goals

Minneapolis’ Building Energy Challenge winds up as a success with 75 percent of participating large buildings meeting or surpassing City emission reduction goals. They each reduced their greenhouse gas emissions at least 15 percent by becoming more energy efficient and by getting energy from clean sources such as wind and solar. Minneapolis ended the four-year challenge by awarding 10 buildings for reducing climate change pollution equal to the energy use of more than 2,000 homes a year.

Two of the 10 buildings switched to 100 percent renewable and clean electricity, nine of the buildings improved their heating and cooling systems and controls, and nine installed energy-efficient lighting.

Besides cutting pollution and saving money, energy efficient buildings can also attract more tenants and increase real estate values. Making buildings more energy efficient can support new jobs in clean technology and engineering.

The 10 high-performing large commercial buildings recognized for cutting their climate change pollution:

• Butler Square
• Calhoun Square
• DeLaSalle High School
• Forensic Sciences Building
• Hennepin County Government Center
• Hospital Parking Ramp
• Minneapolis City Hall
• Minneapolis Convention Center
• Royalston Maintenance Facility
• Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Minneapolis campus

The City of Minneapolis recognizes climate change as a serious problem to which human activities contribute heavily. The commercial-industrial sector contributed almost half of the total citywide greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 with building energy use as the main source.

The Building Energy Challenge was aided by the data from the Commercial Building Benchmarking and Transparency ordinance, which the City adopted in 2013. This ordinance requires large buildings to track and disclose their energy use. The Building Energy Challenge aligned with the goals and activities of the Clean Energy Partnership, and the challenge and ordinance both support the goals of the Minneapolis Climate Action Plan.

Anyone can contact Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy for information about how their building can reduce energy use.

Sign Up for Snow Emergency Alerts

We have not had a Snow Emergency declared yet, but it's only a matter of time!

The City's Public Works Department declares a Snow Emergency whenever there is enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. To get that done, people need to follow the parking rules and move their vehicles so crews can plow the full width of over 1,400 miles of streets, parkways and alleys. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of Snow Emergency rules can be ticketed or towed.

Minneapolis spreads the word about Snow Emergencies by direct mail, emails, text messages, automated phone calls, social networks, the City website and by working with the news media.

There are several ways to learn when Snow Emergencies are declared! Sign up now to stay informed throughout the season:

• Email alerts: People can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically emailed. Details are at minneapolismn.gov/snow/snow_esubscribe.
• Facebook: People with a Facebook account can like facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency.
• Twitter: People with a Twitter account can follow Twitter.com/minneapolissnow.
• App for Android devices and iPhones: Drivers who have Android devices or iPhones can download the Snow Emergency app. During a Snow Emergency, the app will tell them the parking rules for that day. It also has a street lookup for localized parking rules.
• The City’s website: People can check minneapolismn.gov/snow to find out whether a Snow Emergency has been declared and also a street lookup, so people can check an address or a neighborhood to see where they can park during a Snow Emergency.
• Hotline: By calling the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline, folks can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared and, if so, the current parking restrictions. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
• Automated phone calls: Anyone can add their cellphone or unlisted landline number to the system by signing up at minneapolismn.gov/snow.
• News media: News releases are sent to the media so TV, radio stations and other news outlets can inform their viewers and listeners that a Snow Emergency is in effect.
• Cable TV: People can tune in to Minneapolis City TV (Comcast channel 859 or CenturyLink channel 8502). These channels will have information in several languages when a Snow Emergency is declared.

For more information, videos in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong are available online to help explain where to park when a Snow Emergency is declared. Find out where to park your car when a Snow Emergency is declared to avoid a ticket and a tow at Minneapolis Snow Emergency Parking Rules.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

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

• December 19 - Maeve's Cafe, 300 13th Ave. NE.

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

Good Morning Ward 3: 2018 Year in Review

Join me on Wednesday, December 19th for a 2018 Year in Review!

7:30 - 9:00 A.M.

Kramarczuk's, 215 E Hennepin Avenue

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Central Riverfront Bridge Repair Projects Meeting

The 10th Avenue Bridge and 3rd Avenue Bridge, two of the major bridges across the Mississippi River in the Central Riverfront are in need repairs and will be closing to receive those repairs in the next two years. The Stone Arch Bridge, also owned by MnDOT, is also in need of significant repairs, and those needs are under assessment this fall.

I know a lot of folks across the Ward want to know more about these projects. In January, I will be holding a community meeting with State Senator Kari Dziedzic and staff from both MnDOT and Minneapolis Public Works to share information with everyone who will be impacted by these projects about how they are being coordinated.

The Community Meeting is Monday, January 14, 5:30P-7:30P at DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Drive.

Cordelia Pierson Re-Elected to MN Mississippi River Parkway Commission

Via a December 12 News Release from the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission:

Cordelia Pierson of Minneapolis has been re-elected to represent Elk River to Hastings Region on the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MN-MRPC). 

Established by Minnesota Statute, the MN-MRPC’s mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Mississippi River, to foster economic growth in the corridor and to develop the national, scenic and history byway known as the Great River Road. Membership consists of two members of the House; two members of the Senate; appointees from five state agencies (Transportation, Natural Resources, Tourism, Historical Society, and Agriculture); five regional members; and one member at large.

The Regional Commissioners on the MN-MRPC serve a critical role as liaison between the local communities of the region and the MN-MRPC.  Cordelia Pierson was originally elected to the MN-MRPC in 2011 and currently serves as Vice Chair.  Pierson looks forward to another term on the Commission and upcoming projects including refinement of new online travel maps and guides, a Plan Your Project online tool for road and project managers, new print maps and development of a Great River Road Ambassador Program to provide tools and information to attractions and communities along the route.

The MN-MRPC oversees the Minnesota Great River Road National Scenic Byway as the Mississippi River’s continuous pleasure drive network.  It works to ensure Minnesotans and travelers from around the world can connect to and experience what the river offers, now and into the future. The Commission regularly considers letters of support as partners seek funding for projects that improve the byway experience and help implement the Corridor Management Plan. The Minnesota Great River Road spans 565 miles, 43 communities, 20 counties, three tribes and six unique destination areas (regions).  Information on the Minnesota Great River Road – including online mapping and travel guides - is available at www.mnmississippiriver.com. 

The MN-MRPC is a member of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) which includes the 10 states that border the Mississippi River (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana).  The MRPC is a community focused organization supporting the parkway, the river, its amenities and the travel experience for the nearly 3,000 mile route from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. For more information, visit www.experiencemississippiriver.com. 

Hennepin County Board Adopts 2019 Budget

Via a December 11 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

The Hennepin County Board approved a 2019 budget of $2.4 billion at its meeting on Tuesday. The budget includes an $830 million net property tax levy, a 5.20 percent increase from 2018.

From workforce training to food assistance, and health insurance to disability services, 1 in 4 people living in Hennepin County receive direct services from the county. The budget addresses shifting needs and increased demand for services.

“The County Board took a hard look at the 2019 budget and engaged in active conversations about priorities and spending,” said County Board Chair Jan Callison. “This budget is the product of that robust engagement; it seeks to meet resident needs in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Budget priorities

• Child well-being – preventing the need for child protection by supporting healthy children and stable families
• Disparity reduction – addressing disparities that affect residents in the areas of education, employment, health, housing, income, justice and transportation
• Housing – preserving affordable housing, reducing the number of evictions and preventing homelessness
• Public health – focusing on the early impact of health outcomes and investing in early intervention in cases of mental illness and addiction
• Transportation – developing a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system that includes transit, bikeways, sidewalks and roads
• Workforce development – supporting career and educational opportunities for adults and children who face barriers to employment

The budget focuses on maintaining fiscal responsibility and leveraging existing funds and resources, rather than using new money to create pilots and initiatives.

“This budget enables us to respond to ongoing and diverse needs in Hennepin County, ” Callison said. “Our services empower residents to become self-sufficient and enable our region to thrive.”

Learn more about the budget process

Budget adoption follows more than six months of budget preparation and hearings. Commissioners amended the proposed 2019 budget on November 29 and December 5.

November 29 budget hearing video

December 5 budget hearing video

View details at hennepin.us/budgets