February 19 Ward 7 Updates from Council Member Lisa Goodman

Preparedness Efforts Ahead of Derek Chauvin Trial

The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is set to begin on March 8^th and will likely last through much of April. This trial will focus an enormous amount of attention on our city and state. The weight and uncertainty of this trial brings stress along with it. I want you to know that many dedicated leaders in public service in the city remain committed to your safety and well-being.  

 Presently, we are working with the county, state and a multitude of other partners to keep the peace and to protect the freedom of expression as well as the safety of employees, residents, businesses and visitors. The first few weeks of the trial are expected to be focused on jury selection with opening statements scheduled for later in March. At the City’s request, Gov. Tim Walz has activated the Minnesota National Guard to provide public safety assistance to Minneapolis and Saint Paul during the upcoming trials.

In the weeks ahead, we anticipate changes that may affect how you navigate and engage with downtown and our other city neighborhoods. These changes include temporary barriers being put in place around City Hall, the New Public Service Building, the Hennepin County Government Center, the County jail as well as our police precincts. These will be in place for the duration of the trial.  At this time, we do not have plans to put enhanced barriers around other City facilities. City buildings will remain open but starting March 1 there will be restricted access to the Hennepin County Government Center.

On March 1, Sixth Street South will be closed between Third and Fourth avenues. Currently, other streets will remain open. The City will provide updates when other closures are anticipated. 

Throughout the trials, the City’s communications and engagement teams will be working with partners from multiple jurisdictions in a joint information system to keep the public informed using a coordinated communications and engagement strategy. Our goal is to create multiple channels to share timely and relevant information and to receive ongoing feedback from the community.

The City’s Office of Violence Prevention is also working with the City’s Neighborhood and Community Relations Department on a toolkit to help neighborhoods and residents be prepared. The toolkit will include safety tips and best practices, among other information.

Similarly, the City’s Community Planning and Economic Development Department is developing guidance for business and property owners to take additional preparedness and security measures, while remaining open for business. Small businesses can reach out to SmallBusiness@minneapolismn.gov with questions.

I understand communication is critically important and that my office is committed to putting out timely information as soon as we get it. It’s important to understand that as a City Council Member I am not always “in the room where it happens” when many of these important decisions are being made by all these partners, however, I am committed to getting information from our communications system quickly and getting it out to residence as best I can. I know this is going to be a very intense time please know I’m doing my best to represent you and be there for you.

Lisa

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City Hosting Online Open Houses for Hennepin South Reconstruction Project

The City of Minneapolis is holding online open houses March 2 and March 4 to share and receive input on draft concept designs for the reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue South between Douglas Avenue and West Lake Street. Attendees will have the opportunity to view a presentation, provide comments and ask questions of project staff.

The City plans to reconstruct this section of Hennepin Avenue starting in 2024. The reconstruction project provides an opportunity to redesign Hennepin Avenue to meet the needs of current and future users of the street.

Project goals include improving the sidewalk and intersections for all users, evaluating bicycle network connectivity, providing space for enhanced transit stops for future METRO E Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, replacing aging infrastructure and maintaining and enhancing traffic flow for transit and motor vehicles.

Online open houses

• 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, March 2
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4

Visit the project website for instructions on how to attend the online meetings. For those unable to attend, open house materials including interactive draft concept designs and a recording of the presentation will be posted to the project website to view. The draft concept designs and comment form will also be available for input through April 16, 2021.

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Updates on Transforming Community Safety – Online Meeting March 2

An online meeting on the City’s work to transform community safety has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 2. Check this webpage for the RSVP, which will be posted later.

The City of Minneapolis is committed to a goal of safety for everyone in Minneapolis. On June 12, 2020, the City Council passed a resolution committing to creating a transformative new model for cultivating safety in Minneapolis.

Since then, internal work groups and key stakeholders have been exploring ways to develop an integrated community safety response that works for everyone.

Three pillars of community safety

The City’s realignment to provide a holistic community safety response will take place in phases over time with much staff, partner and community participation. It focuses on three main areas:

• A public-health-oriented response for preventing violence.
• Alternatives to police response for 911 calls.
• Reforming law enforcement policies, protocols and practices.

Some of the work in progress includes:

• Minneapolis’ crime prevention specialists (CPS) now report to the Neighborhood & Community Relations Department instead of the Police Department. The change reflects the crime prevention specialists’ roles in community engagement. Nothing will change as far as work location, scope of work, job titles and programs offered to the community without further planning and engagement.
• If you have a mental health crisis in Minneapolis, you can continue to call 911 or the Cope mobile crisis team in Hennepin County: 612-596-1223 (for adults in Hennepin County) and 612-348-2233 (for children 17 and under). In 2021, two mental health teams will be available 24/7 for crisis calls. This means police may not provide the primary response for a mental health crisis call or police may still respond if the mental health teams are both on current calls.
• To report theft of property damage, you can call 311, 911 or submit an online report. As part of a pilot this year, City employees (non-sworn officers) will take theft and property damage reports from residents. 

Stay up to date

Stay updated on this work by visiting the City’s community safety webpage where you can see updated information on the three focus areas, key milestones and information presented to the community in an earlier presentation. You can also share your thoughts about what community safety looks like to you. Information will also be shared out over a variety of channels in many languages.

Staff will present regular community safety updates at City Council meetings. The first was a Health Department presentation on the first phase of engagement around public-health-oriented violence prevention. This presentation included a summary of the first phase of the online survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups. Staff from the City Coordinator’s Office also provided an update on the alternatives to police response work rolling out this year. Watch the Jan. 21 presentation to the Public Health & Safety Committee on the City’s website.

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Minneapolis and State of Minnesota Offer New Vaccination Web Tools

The City of Minneapolis has developed a new web tool to help residents find information in multiple languages on the current status of the vaccination rollout, what to expect when getting the vaccine, and the safety of getting a vaccine.

The web tool includes:

• The up-to-date status of the phased vaccination rollout. It shows which groups of people are being vaccinated now and which groups are next.
• Detailed information about:
  • The COVID-19 vaccines available.
  • The safety of receiving the vaccine.
  • What people need to know before, during and after a vaccine appointment.
• An acknowledgement of past trauma for those who have experienced discrimination in medicine and vaccinations. This web tool is one effort in the City’s commitment to ensure equity, justice and transparency in distributing the vaccinations.
• A form for community organizations and other groups to request a Minneapolis Health Department speaker to address common vaccine questions and concerns. The form is in four languages.

People should also check back for more web functions yet to be added, which could include a mapping tool to find vaccination locations and an interactive quiz to find out if they are eligible.

Find the City’s new COVID-19 vaccine web tool on the City website.

State launches new tool to connect all Minnesotans to COVID-19 vaccines

Minnesotans who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, regardless of their current vaccine eligibility status. The new Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector will help all Minnesotans find out when, where and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

Minnesotans can sign up at mn.gov/vaccineconnector. Minnesotans unable to sign up online can call 833-431-2053 for assistance signing up over the phone. Translation is available by phone in all languages. Minnesotans can call the translation hotline at 833-431-2053 for assistance signing up over the phone. When a Minnesotan becomes eligible to receive a vaccine under State guidelines, the Vaccine Connector will alert them of their eligibility, connect them to resources to schedule an appointment, and notify them if there are vaccination opportunities in their area.

Demand for vaccine still far exceeds supply, and Minnesotans should remain patient as more vaccine arrives in the weeks and months ahead. Every Minnesotan will have an opportunity to get vaccinated; it will just take time.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of February 17, 2021

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• As of February 17, there are 32,349 cases in Minneapolis and 382 deaths. The total number of cases and hospitalizations increased by less than 1% over the previous week. ICU admissions increased by slightly more than 1% over last week. Minneapolis-specific data are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Over the past week, there have been about 50 new cases per day on average. This rate has decreased significantly, however we are still seeing at least 40+ new cases per day as well as averaging three hospitalizations per day.
• The seven-day rolling average case rate for Minneapolis is 11 cases per 100,000. This rate has steadily decreased for the past four weeks and appears to be plateauing.
• COVID-19 testing in Minneapolis and across the state has decreased by over 40% since November. It’s possible we may be missing mild or asymptomatic infections.
• Please continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain physical distance, get tested, and stay home if you’re sick. These actions will help contain the spread of the virus.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.
• On February 12, Governor Walz issued Executive Order 21-07, loosening COVID-19 restrictions for certain businesses. Minneapolis Emergency Regulation No. 2020-17, which closed bar service, remains in effect. Details for Minneapolis businesses are available on the City’s Guidance for Restaurants, Bars and Breweries and Distilleries web page.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• As of February 17, there are 475,379 cases in Minnesota out of over 7 million tests completed. There have been 6,390 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 98,644 cases and 1,569 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The State uses a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases. As of February 8, Minnesota is reporting 15 cases per 100,000.
• The State continues to work with the CDC to conduct surveillance of newly identified strains of COVID-19 in Minnesota. As of today, 18 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant (first found in the U.K.) and two cases of the P.1 variant (which first emerged in Brazil) have been detected in Minnesota.
• Today Governor Walz updated Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan to allow more middle and high school students to return to the classroom. Beginning February 22, all middle and high school students can return to the classroom for hybrid or in-person learning. Additional details are found in the updated Safe Learning Plan and updated Minnesota Department of Health 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools.
• The statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.

Health Department Incident Command updates

• The Health Department is offering multiple community testing and vaccination clinics every week. Any City employee who is interested in volunteering at these events can fill out a brief survey. Staff who volunteer will receive training and personal protective equipment, including COVID vaccination for those volunteering at multiple events.

Case investigation/Contact tracing

• We continue to conduct follow-up with individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as contact tracing at workplaces and with exposed individuals. Of the cases in Minneapolis, 65% have been interviewed and 2.4% have refused. Thirty-two percent of cases have been lost to follow-up and less than 1% of new Minneapolis cases still need to be interviewed.
• Twenty percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents have been conducted in a language other than English, representing over 15 different languages.
• We have 50 active case investigators, including two non-MHD enterprise staff and 17 AmeriCorps staff. With the decrease in cases, case investigators are interviewing an average of 30 cases per shift and making an average of 80 calls per shift, plus conducting workplace and other contact follow-up.
• People now have the option of completing the case investigation interview online. Cases receive a text and are able to choose one of four languages to complete the survey in. About 5% of Minneapolis cases have chosen to complete the interview online.
• We are conducting case investigation and contact tracing for Minneapolis Public Schools staff diagnosed, exposed, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and providing recommendations to MPS on next steps. We are receiving an average of three situations that require follow-up per day.

COVID-19 vaccination planning and distribution

• We are partnering with Hennepin Healthcare to provide vaccinations in Minneapolis. To date, we have hosted over 40 vaccination clinics and given out more than 3,500 doses.
• This week we are hosting 16 clinics focused on Phase 1A priority groups including unaffiliated healthcare partners, Minneapolis Park Police, and assisted living and congregate care facilities. We are also vaccinating educators and school workers.
• We are partnering with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) to offer vaccinations for public housing residents living in 39 MPHA highrise buildings. First doses will be administered to interested residents in these buildings starting March 8.
• We are finalizing plans for vaccinating Phase 1B populations, with an emphasis on BIPOC communities who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
• The State continues to focus on vaccinating adults over 65, educators, and childcare workers. Updates on their vaccination efforts can be found on the State’s vaccination website.
• Vaccine demand continues to far outpace available doses. While waiting to be vaccinated, help stop the spread of the virus by continuing to wash your hands, stay 6ft apart, and wear a mask.

COVID-19 vaccination education and outreach

• On February 12, we launched a new Minneapolis COVID Vaccine webpage. This site provides the public with information about vaccine safety, a timeline for local vaccine distribution, and answers to frequently asked questions. Visitors can use the Google Translate function located on the left side of the page to view the information in multiple languages. Please help us promote this resource widely.
• Community organizations and groups interested in learning more about COVID vaccination, testing, and mitigation can schedule a virtual presentation/conversation with Health Department staff. To request a presentation, fill out a request form on the new Vaccine webpage (forms are available in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong).
• We are hosting vaccine briefings for Enterprise Leaders every other Monday from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. The next briefing is scheduled for Monday, February 22. Past recordings can be found on the COVID Vaccination Channel.

COVID-19 testing

• We continue to offer regular community testing events, which are free and open to everyone. In the past week, we provided 63 COVID-19 saliva tests at two community events.
• Local and state testing rates have decreased significantly in the last few months. Despite the vaccine roll-out, it is still important to get tested to help stop the spread of the virus. Please help us promote the following saliva testing events:

o Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway, February 20, March 13 and 20 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). No pre-registration required.

o Columbia Manor, 3300 Central Ave. N.E., February 18 and 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.). No pre-registration required.

o Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, 1301 10th Ave N., February 27 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). No pre-registration required.

o Minneapolis Convention Center - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing web page to register.

o Brooklyn Park Starlight Center – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing web page to register.

o Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport - 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing web page to register.

• The City's testing web page offers information on testing sites and guidance about what to do while you wait for COVID-19 test results. Staying away from others while you wait for your results is extremely important, especially if you have any symptoms.
• We are also offering free saliva testing kits and on-site testing for community partners, organizations, and businesses. Please use this form to submit a request for testing kits or onsite testing. Priority will be given to businesses and organizations with recent outbreaks.
• Any person in Minnesota can order a free at-home saliva test kit from the State’s COVID-19 Test at Home program. The test will be delivered to your home with rush shipping.

Businesses

• Last week, in response to Governor Walz’s Executive Order 21-07, we sent out a newsletter to licensed businesses explaining the loosening of restrictions for bars, restaurants, gyms, and other venues. In general, businesses are complying with COVID rules. Health inspectors are coordinating with Business Licensing to address any violations as they occur.
• Inspectors continue to reach out to businesses to provide guidance on COVID-19 cleaning and sanitizing practices, isolation and quarantine guidance for employees, best practices on masking and physical distancing, and other critical safety guidance.

Other community needs

• Last week, we fulfilled requests for personal protective equipment and saliva testing kits for Webber Mart and WeCare Childcare Center in North Minneapolis and Hard Times Café in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. We have additional inventory available and welcome more requests from businesses and community groups through the COVID-19 Requests and Inquiries form.

• We are responding to many emails from residents, business owners, health care providers, educators, and community groups in our COVID19@minneapolismn.gov inbox. Recent questions have focused on vaccination plans and revised COVID regulations for businesses. Please continue using this email for any COVID-related questions.

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