Beyond Similes & Metaphors: Fun with Figures of Speech

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.

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

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

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

• Monday November 1, 2021 (6 – 7 p.m.): Join session
• Tuesday November 9, 2021 (6 – 7 p.m.): Join session
• Future informational sessions will be posted at: minneapolismn.gov/organics-dropoffs

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. 

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:

• Review the plan and submit online comments
• Help us get the word out by sharing a social media posts with your community (Facebook, Twitter)
• Request a virtual meeting for your group or organization with project staff

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.

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!