City briefs - June 2024

The city council has approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Michelle Phillips to be the next director of the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights. Phillips will be leaving her position as Inspector General for the City of Oakland, Calif. to oversee the department of 46 employees who help enforce city ordinances, investigate discriminatory practices, protect civil rights, and manage the Office of Police Conduct Review. 

 

May 25th was the 4th anniversary of the police killing of George Floyd and plans to redevelop George Floyd Square, where he was killed at 38yh Av and Chicago Ave., continue. Ward 8 Council Member Andrea Jenkins reports that there will be an approved vision for the area by the end of the year. This could include a set of guiding values, criteria for the future use and ownership of the Peoples Way site, decisions about places to preserve for future memorials and a layout for the streets and sidewalks. There will be a Visioning Workshop on Tuesday, June 25 from 5:30-8 p.m., at The Square at the Chicago Ave. Shops. 

 

Minnehaha Academy is seeking to make changes in the design and use of  their upper campus athletic field located in the Cooper neighborhood at 3100 W River Pkwy.  The school has applied to the city for several variances and a conditional use permit  to install floodlights, an astroturf field, new bleachers, a press box, and a taller scoreboard. The applications have raised concerns about noise, light pollution and traffic from some neighbors, and are expected to be reviewed by the Minneapolis City Planning Commission on June 10. The changes could allow the school to expand their athletic schedule to host night games and to rent their field to external, third-party organizations.

 

Hennepin County is planning to repave 42nd St. E between Cedar Ave. and Minnehaha Ave. in 2025. The design work is underway and the county is considering adding bike lanes near Cedar and 28th Ave. to close the bike lane gap.  This would eliminate some on street parking on one side of the street near these intersections. The planning and design stages for the repaving are expected be completed this summer.

 

 In Ericsson, on Nokomis Ave. S from 45th St E to Minnehaha Creek the city will continue work to replace over 800 feet of storm water sewer main that has deteriorated and the drain outlet to the Minnehaha Creek. 

 

This spring and summer, the city will be cleaning and removing rust and relining water main pipes in Morris Park and Minnehaha. Temporary waterlines will be installed during the cleaning, and the water supply will be monitored during the project to ensure it meets city drinking water standards. 

 

This spring, free tree planting services have been offered to people who live on 36th Ave. between 25th and Lake Street.  On May 19, on 36th Ave. at Brackett Park, an aroborist met with neighbors to discuss trees selections that include evergreens, flowering, fruit or shade trees. On June 3, trees will be delivered and planted. The initiative is part of the 36th ART group as a way to improve the street appearance, create shade and calm traffic.