City Briefs

Household Hazardous Waste
Hennepin County is holding a community household hazardous waste collection event Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 8 and 9 at South High School. They accept a wide range of household, lawn and garden products including adhesives, aerosols, batteries, cleaners, sealers, fire extinguishers, gas cylinders, paints and thinners, pesticides, insecticides and herbicides, hobby and pool chemical, auto and fuel waste, medicines and more.

Separation Ordinance
Council Members Chavez, Chughtai and Chowdhury are drafting amendments to Chapter 19 of the city’s code ordinances, “Employee Authority in Immigration Matters” also known as the “Separation Ordinance.” That chapter clarifies the relationship between the city and federal agencies with respect to the enforcement of civil immigration laws. It currently restricts all city employees from asking anyone about citizenship or immigration status or using any knowledge of someone’s status to enforce immigration laws.

Hiawatha-Lake bridge art
GoodSpace Murals has been selected with a team of artists including Greta McLain, Daniela Bianchini, Natchez Beaulieu, and Pablo Kalaka to complete an art project on the bridge pier of Hiawatha Avenue where it crosses Lake Street on the north and south vertical walls adjacent to Lake Street.

Galapagos Bar and Grill Parklet
Galapagos Bar and Grill, located at 3508 E. Lake St., has been selected to host a city-owned parklet for the 2025 season.

Neighborhood Safety Providers
Over the next three years, the city may pay up to $2,400,000 for services including hospital-based violence intervention, support for youths and families, street engagement, community justice partnership and environmental design and safety enhancements through the Center for Multicultural Mediation, HIRED, Metro Youth Diversion Center, Change Starts with Community, Somali Youth Link, Goodwill Industries, Pillsbury United Communities and the Sabathani Community Center.

Senior services contracts
The city has approved a set of contracts for senior services with the Sabathani Community Center, Longfellow Seward Healthy Seniors, and Nokomis Healthy Seniors Program.

Snelling Yards Apartments
The city council has approved financing a four-story apartment building at the Snelling Yards Site, in the Hiawatha neighborhood of Ward 12. This city-owned site has historically been used for public works storage. Called the Family Housing project, it will include 95 units of affordable rental housing with 13 units set aside for homeless veterans with full-service case management provided through the Veteran’s Administration.

County Health Plan
Hennepin County Public Health is developing its next strategic plan that will set priorities and guide decision making for their work from 2026-2028. To earn more and share thoughts, visit https://beheardhennepin.org/public-health-strategic-planning.