City Briefs - July 2024

Early voting for the state primary election for Aug. 13 started on June 28. People who wish to vote early can do so in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave. or by mail. In Minneapolis, there will be a runoff primary for at-large school board member where Shayla Owodunni, Kim Ellison and Elena Condos are running. The top two vote getters in that race will go on to be on the general election ballot in November. For southwest Minneapolis voters, in addition to the major party federal level senate and congressional candidates, there will be a primary in district 61A for state representative where Isabel Rolfes, Will Stancil and Katie Jones are running for the Democratic Farmer Labor endorsement. The winner of that primary race will join Green Party endorsed Toya Lopez on the November Ballot. The General election will be held on Nov. 5. To learn more, see https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ and www.vote411.org  

 

The Minneapolis City Council has amended its vacant building ordinance to limits the previously unlimited time that a property’s can be the city’s registry of vacant building to two years, with an optional third year if the owner applies and the director of regulatory services determines that the owner has made substantial progress towards bringing the building into compliance. After two or three years, the property will be handled with standard administrative citations for noncompliance, which can cost up to $24,000 in annual citations, rather than the previous maximum  fee of $7,087 per year.  

 

The city is preparing to provide automated enforcement of traffic laws following the state law change that now allows camera’s to be used to enforce speeding and traffic light laws and authorizes a 4-year pilot for Minneapolis and Mendota Heights for speeding and red light running to go from Aug. 1, 2025 – July 31, 2029. According to report presented on July 11, 33 people were killed in crashes involving speeding/red light running in Minneapolis in 2022 and 2023.  City staff hope to start the pilot with five cameras as early as Aug. 1, 2025, and expand it in 2026. Later this month, they hope to apply for federal grant to help cover costs and return to the council for pilot framework approval this fall with more community engagement in early 2025.

 

The city has selected the Lake Street Council to hire and supervise a full-time Community Safety Coordinator to manage a Lake Street Public Safety Coordinator Pilot Program from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, with an option to extend one additional year. The coordinator would work with residents, businesses, other community members and city staff to improve safety along Lake Street from Pillsbury Ave. to the West, 28th St. to the North, Hiawatha Ave. to the East, and 32nd St to the South.

 

Southbound traffic on France Avenue is now being detoured to Xerxes Avenue between 39th Street and 60th Street. Phased construction will allow France Avenue to remain open to northbound through traffic for the duration of work, Local traffic between station intersections will be able to travel northbound and southbound. Work is under way at the Upton and 43rd Station, France and 58th St, and  France and 47th. Watch for traffic control and pedestrian access signage, as well as detours. For more information email ELine@metrotransit.org, or call 612 524-6050.  

 

 The Met Council is offering construction walking tours in July and August including two tours for the Kenilworth LRT Tunnel on Wednesday, July 31 and Friday, Aug. 2. Space is limited and registration is required. People wanting more information and groups that would like to arrange a walking, biking or driving tour may contact Community Outreach Coordinator Diane Anastos at diane.anastos@metrotransit.org.