Letter from Doug Verdier to FERC re: Symphony Hydro


Local Hydro activist Doug Verdier weighs in on the proposed Symphony Hydro project, cites need to keep lock functional for emergency contingencies:
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Claudia Kittock
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Becky Fillinger
Small Business Reporter
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Michael Rainville Jr.
History Columnist
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Doug Verdier
River Matters
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MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET
With over 100 local farmers, food makers and artists, MCFM strives to build a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.
HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM
Hennepin History Museum is your history, your museum. We preserve and share the diverse stories of Hennepin County, MN. Come visit!
Visit their website...
MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers.
MSP FILM SOCIETY
Promoting the art of film as a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration.
GREAT RIVER COALITION
Enhancing the Minneapolis riverfront environment—for people and pollinators.
Key contributors to the Central Riverfront Neighborhoods.
Organizations involved in preserving and rivitalizing the Mississippi River and the Minneapolis Riverfront. Thank You!
Friends of the Mississippi River
Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association
Minneapolis Community Planning & Economic Development
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership
MN Mississippi River Parkway Commission
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics
River Talk | Institute on the Environment | U of M
St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board
Public spaces and landmarks along the Minneapolis Riverfront.
Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
North Mississippi Regional Park
Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock & Dam
A complete list of Minneapolis Parks.
Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
Local Hydro activist Doug Verdier weighs in on the proposed Symphony Hydro project, cites need to keep lock functional for emergency contingencies:
Based on a request from 3rd Ward Council Member Frey's office, the Minneapolis Dept. of Public Works conducted a study of a dangerous intersection at 2nd Ave N & 3rd St N in the North Loop. The study found a number pedestrian safety issues that will be addressed in over the next 10 weeks:
The November meeting of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association will be held Thursday, November 6 at 6:00PM. Join us at Open Book - 1011 Washington Ave. S.
AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS:
- Made Here Initiative. Presented by Tom Hoch from the Hennepon Theatre Trust and Joan Vorderbruggen from Made Here. With Made Here, Hennepin Theatre Trust showcases Minnesota’s wealth of artistic talent to activate the vibrant downtown Minneapolis Cultural District. From locally created visual displays in vacant storefronts, to pop-up parks and art galleries and live performances in commercial spaces, the rich diversity of the Twin Cities’ cultural community is front and center for all to share. More info on Made Here...
- Nicollet Hotel Block RFP. The City of Minneapolis is seeking redevelopment proposals for the City-owned property located at 30 Third Street South. The 1.7 acre city block is bound by Third Street South, Washington Avenue, Hennepin Avenue, and Nicollet Mall and commonly referred to as the “Nicollet Hotel Block.”. More details and download the RFP here...
- North Loop Intersection to Get Safety Makeover. Based on a request from 3rd Ward Council Member Frey's office, the Minneapolis Dept. of Public Works conducted a study of a dangerous intersection at 2nd Ave N & 3rd St N in the North Loop. The study found a number pedestrian safety issues that will be addressed in over the next 10 weeks. Download the staff report and drawing...
- Crown Hydro Discussion. A resolution will be presented opposing Crown Hydro.
The City of Minneapolis is seeking redevelopment proposals for the City-owned property located at 30 Third Street South. The 1.7 acre city block is bound by Third Street South, Washington Avenue, Hennepin Avenue, and Nicollet Mall and commonly referred to as the “Nicollet Hotel Block.” The City’s development goals for the property include iconic high quality designed new construction of a structure(s) of not fewer than 20 active floors in height with a mix of commercial, retail, residential, office, and hospitality uses, active street front retail, and integrated public/green space amenities.
Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted in writing to Erik Hansen (City of Minneapolis, Department of CPED, 105 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401) no later than Wednesday, November 19 by 4:00 p.m. Questions will be answered and posted on the CPED website by Tuesday, November 24.
On the agenda of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association meeting on Thursday Night, November 6 at Open Book. I intend to introduce a resolution opposing the Crown Hydro project and make a motion that the DMNA submit a letter conveying the resolution to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The Minneapolis Park Board has posted an online survey available until November 12 for the planned Northeast Athletic Field Park Recreation Building. Please take 10 minutes to share your ideas for this building and how it might best serve the community. Contact Project Manager Dana Murdoch at 612-230-6446 ordmurdoch@minneapolisparks.org with any questions.
Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NortheastParkRecreationBuilding1
Project Page:
Job Description
Olive & Company is looking for a Marketing Strategist to provide ongoing strategic marketing leadership to our clients. You will collaborate closely with clients to develop holistic, innovative marketing plans while coordinating with our internal team to execute individual project components, measure campaign performance, and identify opportunities for growth and optimization. Ideal candidates must have a combination of marketing strategy, brand management, and client service experience, must be passionate about driving brand and business results for clients, and must be completely comfortable with emerging digital marketing trends and tactics.
Responsibilities
Requirements
To Apply
Please send your resume and a cover letter that details the value that you will provide to Olive & Company and to our clients. Send materials to erik@oliveandcompany.com.
Internship Posting—Winter/Spring 2015 Marketing & Communications Internship
Winter/Spring position (January/February – May, 2015)
10-20 hours per week, primarily daytime, Tuesday – Friday
Loft unpaid internships offer a flexible and enjoyable workplace, excellent supervision and mentoring, and the company of dedicated and creative colleagues.
Primary Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
To Apply: Visit https://loft.submittable.com/submit/b8cb27b9-1982-4158-a08b-ccf49256a068
Internship Posting—Winter/Spring 2015 Development & Administration Internship
Winter/Spring position (January/February – May, 2015) 10-20 hours per week, primarily daytime, Tuesday – Friday
Loft unpaid internships offer a flexible and enjoyable workplace, excellent supervision and mentoring, and the company of dedicated and creative colleagues.
Primary Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be organized, detail oriented, and creative.
To Apply: Visit https://loft.submittable.com/submit/8fc44700-7120-41b6-b6c0-f5d765b0d611
Terra Rathai is an artist living in Minneapolis, MN. Her work is a meditation on the extraordinary beauty and interest of the everyday.
http://www.terrarathai.com/exhibitions-index/
Sorella is celebrating their 7th Anniversary, and holding their annual Fall Wine Sale simultaneously! Details Below:
Huge Savings in Every Department
November 6th-22nd
15%-40% All Wines
Kick-Off Tasting - Wine, Beer & Spirits
Friday, Nov. 7th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
2 More Huge Wine Tastings
(Fridays) Nov. 14th & 21st, 5:30-7:30
All the details will be in next week's newsletter!
News from the Central Riverfront Neighborhoods
CENTRAL RIVERFRONT / CORPS URGED TO LOCK OUT CARP AT LOCAL DAMS
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/280269772.html
NORTHEAST / NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLITANS OPPOSE RIVERSIDE MAINTENANCE OPS BUILDING
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/280423012.html
NORTHEAST / BETTY DANGER’S OFFERS MINNEAPOLIS ‘TREE-TOP’ DINING
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/10/28/betty-dangers-offers-minneapolis-tree-top-dining/
NORTH LOOP / FIRST LOOK: VELO APARTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/280315052.html
MILL DISTRICT / MPLS. PARKS FOUNDATION PLANS TO RENOVATE MILL RUINS PARK
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3598314.shtml
MILL DISTRICT-NORTH LOPP-DINKYTOWN / LOVE THY NEIGHBORHOOD: YOUR GUIDE TO FALL BREAK IN THE TWIN CITIES
http://themacweekly.com/2014/10/love-thy-neighborhood-your-guide-to-fall-break-in-the-twin-cities/
If you didn't receive one in the mail, you can view the 2014-2015 Minneapolis Snow Emergency Brochure online.
In additional to other important information, the brochure outlines ways to find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared, including: call 348-SNOW (7669), sign up for a text message, check online, or download the Snow Emergency app for iPhones and Android devices.
Talk of the Stacks with Dana Cowin
in conversation with Andrew Zimmern
Dana Cowin has been covering the world of food, wine and style for over 30 years. Food & Wine’s Editor-in-Chief since 1995 and a guest judge on Top Chef, she was inducted into the James Beard Foundation Who’s Who in Food & Beverage in America in 2012.
Ms. Cowin will be joined by friend and fellow foodie Andrew Zimmern to discuss her newly released cook book, Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen− a collection of recipes, stories of her own culinary ineptitude and invaluable lessons she has learned from some of the today’s greatest chefs.
(From Planning Commission Agenda 10-27-2014)
The Encore (BZZ-6843, Ward: 3), 935 2nd St S (Hilary Dvorak).
A. Conditional Use Permit: Application by Tony Kuechle with Sherman Associates for a conditional use permit to amend an existing Planned Unit Development to construct a new 12-story, approximately 176 657 square foot, 122-unit residential building located at 935 2nd St S. The property is zoned C3A Community Activity Center District and is located in the DP Downtown Parking Overlay District and the DH Downtown Height Overlay District.
Recommended Motion: The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the application for a conditional use permit to amend an existing Planned Unit Development to construct a new 12-story, approximately 176,657 square foot, 124-unit residential building at the property located at 935 2nd St S, subject to the following conditions:
B. Variance: Application by Tony Kuechle with Sherman Associates for a variance to increase the floor area ratio (FAR) of the building located at 935 2nd St S from the permitted 4.8 to 5.62.
Recommended Motion: The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the application for a variance to increase the floor area ratio (FAR) of the building from 4.8 to 5.62 located at 935 2nd St S.
C. Site Plan Review: Application by Tony Kuechle with Sherman Associates for a site plan review for the property located at 935 2nd St S.
Recommended Motion: The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the site plan review application to allow a new 12-story, approximately 176,657 square foot, 124-unit residential building at the property located at 935 2nd St S, subject to the following conditions:
The Superior Plating Task Group (SPTG5) will be held Wednesday:
5:00pm to 6:30pm
October 29, 2014
Ginger Hop (corner of 2nd St NE and East Hennepin)
Project & Meeting Materials
View aerial photos of the site:
https://lennar.app.box.com/s/js9tbl2gp2lcombrdxyc
Download the developer presentation:
https://app.box.com/shared/static/kolewngyjmbc83w29sbn.pdf
Download the meeting agenda:
For 12,000 years, the Mississippi River has powered through Minnesota, where it’s scrawled a deep gorge like a signature through limestone and prairie. The source of this massive geological imprint was the River’s only true waterfall, now known as St. Anthony Falls, which receded over millennia and now graces the heart of Minneapolis. It is this unique geography, geology and history that inspired a schematic vision for a new destination park on the West Bank of St. Anthony Falls, developed by the Minneapolis Parks Foundation in partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and presented to the public at the Mill City Museum on Thursday, October 23, in the form of a design presentation and 3D flythrough animation.
Called Water Works because the city’s original water supply and fire-fighting pumping stations were located on the site in the 19th century, the four-acre strategic urban location encompasses Minneapolis Park Board-owned land between Portland Avenue South and the Third Avenue Bridge, and between First Street and the Mississippi River. The Water Works site is an important convergence of multiple riverfront destinations and physical features in addition to St. Anthony Falls, including the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, the Stone Arch Bridge, lock and dam, listed and eligible industrial ruins, the Mill City Museum and Guthrie Theater, as well as parkway, trails, and Mill Ruins and Gold Medal parks. Like the city itself, this site has grown to meet the changing needs of the people living in it from navigation, to industrial, to recreational and residential.
Water Works is also a RiverFirst signature project. RiverFirst is a 20-year vision for transforming 5.5 miles of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. In realizing this great vision — beginning with multiple priority projects in the next five years — the “City of Lakes” will restore its identity as a city of the mighty Mississippi and leverage one of the three great rivers of the world as a source for economic development and community and cultural vitality.
“This site is where Minneapolis became the city it is today and has long been a point of convergence: between water and land, industry and recreation and between people from across the world. These falls have attracted and captivated people – first Native Americans, and later, European settlers, who harnessed the power of the falls through a massive intake canal unheard-of in size, and turned Minneapolis into the world’s milling capital,” says Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Parks Foundation. “With many hours of collaborative input from community leaders and engaged citizens, and in partnership with staff and citizen advisors appointed by the Minneapolis Park Board, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation has presented a schematic vision for a four-season park on St. Anthony Falls that meets the needs of 21st century residents and visitors, while celebrating and reactivating the most compelling features of the site, including the historic intake canal.”
The design was created by the interdisciplinary design team of New York-basedSCAPE/Landscape Architecture and Rogers Partners, with James Lima Planning + Development and SRF Consulting (Minneapolis), through a 13-month process begun in 2013. The team was selected by a five-member multidisciplinary Designer Selection Committee that included representatives from the Minneapolis Park Board, St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, City of Minneapolis, University of Minnesota and MPF.
Working closely with the Parks Foundation, the Minneapolis Park Board and in response to the advisory committees and community input, the Design Team identified three zones – Mezzanine & Outdoor Rooms, River’s Edge, and Canal & Gatehouse – and shaped each zone based on its key features and potential use, then reconnected the zones to each other and the river via intricate realignment of paths, trails and roads. Within and across these zones, the team overlaid four year-round experiences:
“This is one of many transformative RiverFirst projects proposed for the upper riverfront that will provide greater access to the most significant river in the nation,” said Liz Wielinski, Board President of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “It is made possible due to the wonderful public-private collaboration between the Park Board and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, which is committed to private fundraising to improve the riverfront and the city.”
Water Works schematic design ran concurrently with the Minneapolis Park Board’s Central Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan revision, and will be included as an addendum to the updated Master Plan. The Minneapolis Park Board will adopt the revised Master Plan in January 2015, following a 45-day comment period beginning mid-November of this year. In May 2015, the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission will vote to adopt the Master Plan, making the park eligible for regional park funding.
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation estimates Water Works site development to cost $19-$23 million, with development occurring in two phases, beginning with the Pavilion and Mezzanine level as early as 2016, followed by the Canal & Gatehouse. The design team identified a number of contingencies vis-a-vis now-buried ruins that will require further exploration. The Parks Foundation is committed to providing private-sector support for Water Works and other parks projects, through philanthropic investment in parks development and stewardship.
Another consideration is the future of the Minneapolis Lock and Dam, immediately adjacent to the site. Slated for closure at the end of 2014, the Lock’s public space will be explored as a future Federally managed visitor center.
# # #
Winners of the Mississippi Minute Film Festival were announced Monday evening, October 20th, at the Riverfront Summit, held at the Mill City Museum by the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership, www.minneapolisriverfrontpartnership.org.
Winners were juried by Brenda Langton, Spoonriver Restaurant; Ben Heywood, The Soap Factory; architect Tom Meyer of MS&R; Sarah McKenzie, editor of the Downtown Journal, and Jesse Bishop, Minneapolis St. Paul Film Society.
With the tagline “One River, One Minute, Your Vision”, the Mississippi Minute Film Festival asked for one-minute video essays that would amuse, inform and inspire viewers about the city’s great river. Winners are:
Best of Show Award:
Mississippi Night by Jack McTigue
People's Choice Award:
Mississippi and Friends by Dave Woradech, Cabin in the Woods
Category Winners:
Central Riverfront Entries
First Place: Why Yes by Artis Curiskis and Sara Rothholz Weiner
Runner-up: Origins by James Tucker and Ryan Siemers
Lower Gorge Entries
First Place: An Evening on the River with Minneapolis Rowing Club, by Lisa Ohnstad
Runner-up: Mississippi Tribute, videography & editing by Mark Ryan
Upper River Entries
First Place: It's the Mighty Mississippi, cartoon by John Akre
Runner-up: Labor Day by Isabelle Harder and The Starfolk
Upper Harbor Terminal Entries
First Place: Summer of 1975, directed by David Tinjum, videography, Josh Zenner, A Mill City Times Production
Runner-up: River, Wind, Canoe by John Gigrich and Sam Spencer
Honorable Mention
Intro to Belle: The Stone Arch Deer by Darrell Ayers
Spirits of the Winter River by Roy Sorenson
Greg Goes Through the Lock by Paul Helgesen, Greg Bohrer, Phil Harder, Patrick Pierson, and Glen Helgeson
Winners and all submitted films can be seen at www.mississippiminute.org.
Good Afternoon DMNA Supporters:
On behalf of the DMNA Board of Directors, thank you to everyone who came
out to the Annual Meeting on Tuesday night at the Depot. We had great
turnout for the event, with over 160 people in attendance.
Thank you to our guest speakers, including Third Ward Council Member Jacob
Frey; Joseph Desenclos from St. Stephen's; First Precinct Inspector
Medaria Arradondo; Ginger Kranz, the new principal of Webster School;
RiverWest resident Eric Laska; Steve Cramer, President and CEO of the
Minneapolis Downtown Council; and Dan Collison, Executive Director of the
East Downtown Council. We greatly appreciate that they took the time to
participate in the DMNA Annual Meeting this year.
A big thank you also goes out to the volunteers who assisted with the
sign-in and election processes: Chad Brown, Lauren Brown, Jay and Leo
Dworsky, Kim Eslinger, and Rick Kittock. We greatly appreciate your help!
Finally, thank you to the DMNA Board for helping plan and organize this
year's Annual Meeting. Special recognition goes out to board member Laurie
Jones for her outstanding outreach and engagement efforts and to board
member Peter Zenner for securing the location at the Depot and for
creating the wonderful video that was shown at the event.
Congratulations to the newly elected DMNA board members: Nick Cichowicz,
Ken Searl, Carletta Sweet and Dave Tinjum. They join existing board
members Chad DiDonato, Laurie Jones, Claudia Kittick and Peter Zenner.
The next DMNA Board meeting is coming up on Thursday, November 6, at 6
p.m., at Open Book. The meeting is open to the public. Anyone is welcome
to attend. An agenda will be posted on the DMNA Web site next week:
www.thedmna.org.
Have a great weekend everyone! It looks to be beautiful again.
Kind regards,
Christie Rock Hantge
DMNA Coordinator
The final outdoor Market of the 2014 Season did not disappoint. Thank you to Market Sponsor Cynthia Froid Group for the free pumpkins!
At the OHK Grange booth, kids got to paint a gourd to take home.
In keeping with tradition, Chef Heather Hartman was joined by her daughter Josephine for the final Mill City Cooks Demo of the season.
The goat!
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