UMN Short Survey on Pedestrian Safety

The HumanFIRST laboratory is seeking volunteers to participate in a short survey about pedestrian safety in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. This is a follow up survey to one that was administered in Nov 2020-Jan 2021. Regardless of your participation in the previous survey, they appreciate your response to this follow up survey. Everyone aged 18 and older is invited to take this survey, including those who previously took it last winter. This survey is expected to take approximately 5 minutes to complete and can be found here: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bIrin9QOLwS1ymy

This research is being conducted by Dr. Nichole Morris from the HumanFIRST Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, email Nichole Morris at [email protected]
Contact Bradley Drahos [email protected] with any additional questions about this survey. If you would like to know more about this project feel free to read more at tcsafetycup.umn.edu.

City asks public for ideas on Minneapolis redistricting

redistricting

After every census, Minneapolis updates the boundaries of its 13 City Council wards and six Park Board districts to reflect new population counts. The Redistricting Group, made up of 24 Minneapolis volunteers, builds the new maps with input from their communities. The Redistricting Group needs your help with the redistricting project to make sure all voices are heard.

The 2021 municipal election is based on the 2010 census maps, but City Council members elected in November will serve a term of two years rather than four. Another City Council election in 2023 will be based on the new maps from the 2020 census.

Participate in the redistricting project


Share your feedback on proposed 2022 City budget at upcoming online public hearings

Three upcoming online public hearings are available for people to speak publicly to the City Council regarding Mayor Jacob Frey’s recommended 2022 City Budget. Comments can also be submitted online at the City’s website.

Online public hearings

  • 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16
  • 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1
  • 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8

Comments submitted online will be entered into the public record and shared with the mayor and council members. The City Council is scheduled to vote on adopting the budget on Wednesday, Dec. 8. 

Learn how to participate in online public hearings.

The proposed 2022 $1.599 billion City budget includes a 5.45% levy increase. 

Visit the City’s website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended budget, key dates in the approval process, FAQs and more. You can also watch a series of videos on the City’s budget process.


Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board seeks applicants for Advisory Committees

Application accepted through December 3 for openings on five different committees, boards or councils

 

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is seeking applications for community appointments to five ongoing Advisory Boards and Committees:

  • Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board – One (1) Opening
  • Minneapolis Tree Advisory Commission – Five (5) Openings
  • Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee – Three (3) Openings
  • Racial Equity Advisory Committee – One (1) Opening
  • Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council – One (1) Opening

Use the application linked below to apply for any of the above openings:

Board Appointments Online Application

You may also download an application from the MPRB Committee Appointments page or call MPRB Customer Service at 612-230-6400 to request an application, fill it out and submit it via email or mail:

  • Email to [email protected] 
  • Mail to Board Secretary; Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board; 2117 West River Road North; Minneapolis MN 55417

Service commitment may vary based upon needs, expectations and policy goals. However, most committee members can expect to approximately 10-15 hours of work per month.

Terms for the appointments for the Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board and Minneapolis Tree Advisory are one-year and there are no term limits. Terms for the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee, Racial Equity Advisory Committee and Minneapolis Homegrown Food Council are two-years and some term limits may apply.

Some Boards/Commissions have a need for specialized skills, but most people will find a Board or Commission that is a great fit for their knowledge base. Public members of Board and Commissions are people who may not have regular, ongoing experience in a specific topic area, but have a general interest in a Board or Commission’s work area. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about an area of interest and contribute a fresh and unique perspective. 

Applications are due by 4:30 pm on Friday, December 3, 2021.  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 4, 2021 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 [email protected].

Use the link below to sign up for email notifications for advisory committee opportunities:

Committee and Advisory Board Appointments Email Subscription


Upcoming Organics Recycling Informational Sessions

Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling is happy to announce the opening of three new organics recycling drop-off sites this fall in partnership with Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. These drop-off bins are free for residential use, and can be accessed by signing up online at minneapolismn.gov/organics-dropoffs.

 

Sites opening this fall:

  • Holmes Park: open 10/27/21. Park located at 414 SE 3rd Ave.
  • Elliot Park: open 11/1/21. Park located at 1000 E 14th St.
  • Towerside Park: open 11/9/21. Park located at 2909 4th St SE.

 

New to organics recycling? Learn how to collect organics in your home at an upcoming informational session:


Public hearing on Park Board's Comprehensive Plan, Parks for All, scheduled Sept. 29

After three years of research, engagement and public feedback, a public hearing on Parks for All, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's Comprehensive Plan, will be held 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 in the board room at Mary Merrill Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Headquarters, 2117 W. River Road.

Parks for All is a new Comprehensive Plan for the Park Board that will set long-term organization priorities and policy direction. 

How to participate

  • Call (recommended): You may sign up to provide comment for the public hearing by phone by completing the Virtual Speaker Signup Form before noon Sept. 29.
  • Write: Send your comment to [email protected] by noon Sept. 29.

Learn more about the Parks for All plan


Review and comment on the draft METRO E Line Corridor Plan

The draft Corridor Plan for the METRO E Line project defines where stations will be located and how they’ll fit into the 13-mile bus rapid transit corridor. This plan reflects years of project planning and community engagement to shape this investment in the Route 6 bus corridor, and we’re seeking your feedback on the plan before it’s finalized next spring.

Before the pandemic, customers took more than 8,000 daily rides on Route 6, making it one of Metro Transit’s busiest bus routes. Route 6 has retained strong ridership through the pandemic, and investment in bus rapid transit is a key part of Metro Transit’s efforts to build back as a stronger and better transit system.

Metro Transit is seeking community feedback on planned station locations. Explore the plan and provide your comments by October 31.  Learn how you can participate in the process at metrotransit.org/e-line-project

If you have any questions, need further accommodations to access plan materials, or if your group is interested in a virtual project presentation, please contact project staff by email or by phone at 612-599-0459.

What's in the Corridor Plan? 

Station maps include specific locations for each planned station, including the proposed corners where stations would be built at each intersection

More information on the E Line corridor, including alignment, and proposed changes to Route 6 and other bus service.

How can I get involved?

Due to the continued pandemic, E Line project staff are not hosting in-person meetings. Here is how you can get more information or get involved:


Resident Connection event on Oct. 9

Join us in-person for an afternoon of fun! The Third Ave. Bridge project team is hosting a resident connection event from 1-3 p.m. on Sat, Oct. 9 at 30 Main St. SE between Central Ave. and Hennepin Ave. This family-friendly event will include games, activities, live music and local treats. Project team members will be there to provide bridge construction updates and answer questions.

BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO TOUR

A behind-the-scenes construction tour narrated by construction manager Tim Nelson is online! Check out the video on the project webpage under About this project.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The historic Third Ave. Bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls opened in 1918 and needs significant repairs. The bridge carries Third and Central avenues, which are part of Hwy 65.

Construction began in May 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in August 2023. The bridge is fully closed to traffic through November 2022. Motorists, transit riders, and people walking and bicycling will need to use alternate routes across the river during this time.

For more information, visit the project webpage. To contact the project team email [email protected] or call the project hotline at 612-547-7968.


City Seeks Feedback on Funding Priorities for American Rescue Plan Act Funding Round Two

American Rescue Plan

The City of Minneapolis, including the Mayor and City Council is seeking feedback from residents, businesses, and neighborhood and community organizations as it considers funding priorities for the second round of American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded to the City to address economic and public health impacts from the pandemic. 

The survey will be open until Midnight on September 24th, and these results will help City leaders as they determine funding priorities for the remaining federal funding awarded to the City. Earlier this year, the City Council amended and approved the first $102 million spending plan for ARP funds. 

The Mayor is expected to recommend a spending proposal for the second round of funding to the City Council in the late fall or early winter coinciding with public conversations around the 2022 City Budget.

The City may use the funds on the following:

  • Support public health expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency.
  • Serve low-income communities and individuals, families and businesses hardest hit by the pandemic.
  • Replace public sector revenue lost due to the pandemic.
  • Provide premium pay for essential workers.
  • Invest in necessary improvements to water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

Take the survey and make your voice heard!


Check out potential concepts for Graco Park, new riverfront park project in Northeast Minneapolis

A view of Hall's Island, Plymouth Avenue Bridge and East Bank Trail running through the future Graco Park. Image courtesy of Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.

 
Review and comment on three concepts created based on feedback received over the summer
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is developing a new park along the Northeast Minneapolis riverfront called Graco Park! This summer MPRB staff collected initial feedback from the community and researched opportunities and constraints at the site, which is located just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge with Mississippi East Bank Trail currently running through it.
Now three distinct design concepts for Graco Park, created based on the initial feedback and research, are available for public comment. Use the link below to view each concept and comment on what you like or don't like about them. 
 

Graco Park Concepts

 

Feedback will be used to generate a refined concept that will incorporate elements from all three designs. The refined concept will be shared in late fall 2021.

 

Each concept is unique, but all include:
  • A public multiuse building
  • Access to the Mississippi East Bank Trail
  • Improved landscaping and greenspace
  • Improved stormwater treatment
  • Improved intersection safety near 8th Avenue NE and Sibley Street NE
Graco Park Concept 1
Concept 1 for Graco Park. Tap or click the image to open a larger file in an internet browser.
 

Get Involved

The MPRB invites anyone interested in the Graco Park project to give feedback on the three park concepts. There are multiple ways to get involved:

 

Online Survey: Visit the project engagement page to find images and information about the project and concepts, along with prompts to share your thoughts and opinions. All submitted ideas and comments will be documented and considered as designs for the project are developed. The survey will be open until Sept. 26, 2021.

 

In-Person Event: Share your thoughts in person at Graco Park on Sunday, Sept. 12, 3-5 pm.Look for the MPRB tent and table!

 

Virtual Conversation: Join MPRB staff and community members for an online open house on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 4:30-6 pm. Use the Zoom link below to join:
Meeting ID: 883 7023 0432
 

Phase 1 Recap

The first round of community engagement occurred June 7-July 7, 2021. During the first round of engagement, MPRB staff met with more than 100 potential park users across several engagements and collected more than 170 comments through an online survey. Engagements included: Neighborhood meetings, Pop-Ups in Graco Park, a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting,  a virtual Public Open House, intercept interviews in the park, and a Youth Engagement Bus Tour with 60+ youth.

 

Visit the project engagement page for more details on the feedback received during the first phase over the summer.
 

Down the Road

A third round of engagement will occur this fall with another survey and additional in-person events to share a preferred park and building design concept for feedback. The final concept will have a public hearing before being considered by MPRB Commissioners for final approval. Contract bidding is scheduled spring 2022, with construction anticipated to begin in summer 2022.

 

Visit the Graco Park and Lot 2 project page and enter your email address into the box under "Subscribe to Email Updates" to stay informed about this project.
Read more