March 29 Newsletter from 7th Ward Council Member Goodman

City preparing for Final Four festivities

Minneapolis is gearing up to welcome teams and fans for the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four April 5-8.

The City is focused on ensuring the four-day event in downtown Minneapolis is a safe and welcoming experience for visitors and residents.

In addition to the games at U.S. Bank Stadium, there will be several family-friendly events:

• A free three-day music festival at the Armory.
• Fan Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
• Activities and entertainment on Nicollet Mall.
• A free open house at U.S. Bank Stadium for team practices and the All-Star Game.
• The “Final Four Dribble” with youths dribbling basketballs on downtown streets.

The City has worked with event organizers and downtown stakeholders to minimize traffic and parking disruptions as much as possible. There will be limited road and lane closures around U.S. Bank Stadium and Nicollet Mall.

There are many ways to get around downtown for Final Four activities. Transit and walking are great options. For planning to drive, park once and enjoy downtown by foot. For more tips, visit finalfourminneapolis.com and watch the recent Final Four “Know Before You Go” press conference.

City closing streets, restricting lanes around U.S. Bank Stadium, Nicollet Mall for Final Four festivities

The City began the first phase of street closures around U.S. Bank Stadium in preparation for the 2019 Final Four in downtown Minneapolis April 5-8.

Through Friday, April 12, the following streets are closed around the stadium:

• Chicago Avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets.
• Norm McGrew Place between Third and Fourth streets.

Additional closures and lane restrictions begin Wednesday, April 3, as noted on the map. Roadways, bike facilities and sidewalks will reopen beginning Tuesday, April 9. Chicago Avenue South and Norm McGrew Street will be closed through Friday, April 12.

The City is also closing portions of Nicollet Mall and adjacent streets for Final Four festivities. Closures begin Monday, April 1, and all roadways will reopen Thursday, April 11 if not sooner. Note: 11th Street from Marquette Avenue South to LaSalle Avenue South will be closed intermittently April 5-8.

Pedestrian access and sidewalks along Nicollet Mall and cross streets will remain open.

The City of Minneapolis has worked closely with event organizers and stakeholders to craft a traffic management plan that will enhance the Final Four experience while minimizing disruption to traffic and parking as much as possible.

Apply for openings on Minneapolis boards and commissions

Several board and commission positions are open for City Council and mayor appointments this spring. Board and commission members in the City of Minneapolis help shape key policy decisions, give community-based input into the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are available on request so all residents can participate.

People can apply through the open position pages linked below and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings. The positions are open until filled.

There are 77 open positions on 10 City boards and commissions:

• Animal Care & Control Advisory Board. Apply by April 19.
• Census Complete Count Committee. Open until filled.
• Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. Apply by April 12.
• Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Apply by April 19.
• Racial Equity Community Advisory Committee. Apply by April 12.
• Southside Green Zone Council. Apply by March 30.
• Upper Harbor Terminal Community Planning and Engagement Committee. Apply by April 14.
• Violence Prevention Steering Committee. Open until filled.
• Workplace Advisory Committee. Apply by April 12.
• Zoning Board of Adjustment. Apply by March 30.

Boards, commissions and advisory committees

The City of Minneapolis has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that advise the City on issues and help develop policy and administer services. Boards and commissions fall into a handful of categories: appeal boards, development boards, general advisory boards and special service districts (defined areas within the city with special services).

Appointments to boards and commissions are made twice a year: in the spring and fall.

Minneapolis’ appointed boards and commissions are becoming more inclusive with a steady increase in residents of color serving. A new study shows that the City has met its race diversity benchmark with board and commission members within 80 percent of the city’s demographics. Thirty-three percent of the City’s board and commission members are people of color, whereas the population of Minneapolis is 36 percent people of color.

The City still pursues more diverse representation in its appointed boards and commissions with:

• High school and technical school graduates.
• Renters.
• People ages 18-24.

Potential applicants can find more information at 612-673-2216 or OpenAppointments@minneapolismn.gov.

2019 collection of leaves and bundled brush begins week of April 8

The 2019 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings starts the week of April 8. Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on garbage day.

Yard waste must be in compostable bags – paper (Kraft) or compostable plastic – or unbagged in a reusable container 26-32 inches high, no more than 26 inches wide, with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided garbage, recycling or organics recycling carts.

Preparing yard trimmings and leaves

• Less than 40 pounds.

Preparing brush

• Less than 40 pounds.
• Less than 3 feet long.
• Branch size less than 3 inches in diameter.
• Must be bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).

Reusable containers

• Less than 40 pounds full.
• Between 26 and 32 inches high.
• No more than 26 inches in diameter.
• Must have sturdy handles.

Which bags can be used in the program?

• Compostable plastic bags labeled with the BPI logo.
• Paper (Kraft) bags.

Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.

It’s against the law and bad for our lakes, creeks and river to rake leaves into the street.

For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. People can also find more information here.

Youth Violence Prevention Week events March 30-April 6

The City of Minneapolis joins a national public education effort by participating in its fifth annual Youth Violence Prevention Week. Activities and events March 30-April 6 will call attention to the issue of youth violence, identify strategies to combat this public health epidemic and promote the positive roles young people and adults can play in making their communities and schools safer.

A diverse array of youth-oriented activities includes a pop-up recording session, basketball tournaments, art, dance, a girls’ symposium and personal safety workshops.

Find details in the 2019 Youth Violence Prevention Week event list.

Minneapolis among top metro areas nationwide for solar jobs growth

Minneapolis-Saint Paul is among the top metro areas nationally with Chicago, Miami and Seattle for the number of solar jobs added in 2018.

The Solar Foundation released a map on the number of solar jobs in every state, metropolitan area, county and congressional district revealing how solar energy is supporting local economies nationwide. The report found 242,343 solar workers in the United States as of 2018.

To tackle climate change, Minneapolis has set clear and ambitious goals to get Minneapolis to 100 percent clean energy by 2030. The City of Minneapolis and Xcel Energy offer these programs and uses these practices that help support solar jobs:

• Incentives for solar projects through the City of Minneapolis.
• Incentives for solar projects through Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards.
• Solar panel installation on select City buildings.
• Community solar garden subscriptions.
• Purchase of Renewable Connect for City energy use.

Find out if your home or business is right for rooftop solar.

Find the interactive solar jobs map and detailed state fact sheets at SolarStates.org. Find complete information on the National Solar Jobs Census 2018 at SolarJobsCensus.org.

Join 2020 Census celebration April 1: We Count

Join Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Member Abdi Warsame, the Minneapolis Complete Count Committee and leaders from nonprofit organizations, business and community organizations to kick off the yearlong 2020 Census complete count campaign:

We Count Minneapolis kickoff 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 The Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Ave.

We Count Minneapolis will promote awareness and participation in the 2020 Census. The goal is to ensure everyone is counted and fairly represented, regardless of immigration status, age or income level.

Getting a fair and accurate count in the 2020 Census is a major focus of the City of Minneapolis, which is the only municipality in Minnesota to dedicate funds toward the effort. Reaching historically undercounted communities will be a priority. The kickoff event will bring together community stakeholders committed to ensuring a complete count. 

Find more information at minneapolismn.gov/census.

Help shape the future of transportation in Minneapolis

The City is hosting five community workshops and one online open house in April to collect public input on ways to improve the city’s transportation system as City staff develop the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan and the Vision Zero Action Plan.

The Transportation Action Plan will be a 10-year plan to implement the transportation vision outlined in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It will develop strategies and actions on advanced mobility, pedestrian, bicycle, transit, freight, street operations and street design.

The Vision Zero Action Plan will be a three-year plan to advance the City’s commitment to ending traffic fatalities and severe injuries resulting from traffic crashes on our streets by 2027.

Community workshop (southwest) 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 Richfield Lutheran Church-Fellowship Hall, 8 W. 60th St.

Community workshop (south) 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 11 Longfellow Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.

Community workshop (east) 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. NE

Community workshop (Downtown) 4-6 p.m. Monday, April 22 Central Library, Doty Board Room, 300 Nicollet Mall

Community workshop (north) 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 Farview Recreation Center, 621 29th Ave. N.

Online open house (City’s Facebook page) 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 City of Minneapolis Facebook page

Public Works will conduct community engagement to gather input and feedback on these two plans throughout the year. Staff is expected to submit the plans to the City Council for approval in 2020.

Can't attend an event? You can still get involved.

You can learn more about the Transportation Action Plan and provide direct feedback on our interactive website. Our topic pages include short surveys and are a great place to share your thoughts. You can also use #gompls to talk transportation with us and follow the City of Minneapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jobs with the City

Ever considered working for the City of Minneapolis? Opportunity is knocking. The City of Minneapolis has more than 900 different job types. Find your dream job today.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.