Ward 9 City Council Member Gary Schiff's e-newsletter
The following is posted from Ward 9 City Council Member Gary Schiff’s e-newsletter. Ward 9 includes the area of North Longfellow from Hiawatha to 38th Avenue South.
Reserve your seat for the 2008 Ninth Ward Awards
Neighborhood activism will be honored at the January Breakfast with Gary. The State of the Ward Address and 2008 Ninth Ward Awards will take place Friday, January 25th from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. at Mercado Central, 1515 East Lake Street. “The Ninth Ward is a community of activists. The hard work for our community by groups and individuals deserves recognition and celebration,” Council Member Gary Schiff said.
Reserve your seat by e-mailing or calling the Ninth Ward office at (612) 673-2209. Awards will be given for the Leader of the Year; Block Club of the Year; Neighborhood Project of the Year; and Youth Leader of the Year.
To nominate someone for a Ninth Ward Award, write a brief description of the category and accomplishments that you think deserve recognition. Submit your nominations via e-mail, fax (612-673-3940) or by mail to Ninth Ward Office, 350 South 5th Street, Room 307, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Nominations must be recieved by Friday, January 18th. Food is $7.
East Phillips withdraws biomass support
A required ‘good neighbor agreement’ for a proposed Phillips biomass project has fallen apart, putting the future of the project in question.
A unanimous vote this week by the general membership of the East Phillips Improvement Coalition follows a similar vote by the EPIC board in December to withdraw support for the wood-burning power plant. The agreement with Kandiyohi Development Partners was one of many requirements for a city land sale. The neighborhood originally entered into the agreement in 2005.
In a statement explaining the reversal, Carol Pass, EPIC board president said, “This neighborhood already is host to two asphalt plants, a foundry, a superfund site and serious lead issues. The neighborhood’s willingness and ability to absorb more was extremely stretched.”
Council Member Gary Schiff says he will not support the extension of a March 30th project deadline. “The city required a good neighbor agreement for a reason. We are not going to force a project with environmental impacts in a neighborhood where it isn’t wanted.”
Negotiations to convert a former incinerator into a biomass energy and district heating facility began with the Green Institute in 2004. After competition emerged to develop the site, the city issued a request for proposals and awarded the rights to Kandiyohi Development, the only company that responded. Seventy-eight million dollars in Empowerment Zone bonds were issued in the fall of 2006, and have since expired. A power purchase agreement with Xcel Energy, plus financing commitments must be in place by the March deadline.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is reviewing Kandiyohi Development’s application for an air emission permit. The MPCA may order an Environmental Assessment Worksheet as part of their conditions for approval. The deadline for public feedback is January 14th. Comments, requests and petitions should be sent to: Paula Connell, Air Quality Permits Section, Industrial Division, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155, call (651) 282-2605, or fax (651) 296-8717.
Minneapolis pledges to reduce domestic violence
Advocates are teaming up with the City of Minneapolis in a new focus to reduce domestic violence rates. A pledge adopted by the city spotlights prevention, criminal justice interventions, evidence-based prosecution and police training.
Council Members received a detailed Domestic Violence Report this week in response to a motion made by Council Member Gary Schiff for implementation steps. “Pledging to reduce domestic violence is an important step for crime prevention,” Schiff said. “I hope this plan can be replicated to prevent other forms of violence and pushes Minneapolis to think more about what we can do to work with grassroots organizations.”
Under the new effort, police will track domestic violence cases in weekly reports and will be directed to carry out new protocols to collect evidence for prosecution. In addition, new prevention efforts will be launched in immigrant communities.
Funds available for auto theft victims
Car theft victims can now seek reimbursement for towing and storage fees when they retrieve their car from the Minneapolis impound lot. Up to $300 is available for car owners of vehicles retrieved after July 1, 2007 thanks to a fund established by the Minnesota legislature.
Each year over three thousand vehicles are stolen in Minneapolis. “Never leave your keys in your car,” Karen Notsch, a Minneapolis crime prevention specialist urges.
To receive funding a police report must have been filed and the vehicle needs to have had insurance at the time it was stolen. To apply, call (612) 340-5400.
Block club turns sledding into a work of art
Residents of the 16th Ave block club in Powderhorn Park are brushing up on their artistic skills in preparation for the ‘First Annual Art Sled Rally.’
The event will beautify the slopes of Powderhorn on Saturday, February 16th starting at 2:00 p.m. Event organizer Julian McFaul describes the event as, “part extreme sledding, part art car parade, part monster truck rally.”
Awards will be given for the most creative sleds and the most outrageous feats on a sled. Workshops with local artists for anyone interested in creating an art sled will be held at the Powderhorn Community Center, 3400 15th Avenue South on January 26th from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Feb 2nd from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Feb 9th from 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Feb 13th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The event is being organized in coordination with Powderhorn Park and the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. Residents are raising funds for a matching grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. To make a donation, contact PPNA at (612) 722-4817. To create art sleds, decorate the slopes, find local sponsors or donate materials, a sound system and/or live music, contact Julian McFaul at (612)-722-8640.
last revised: January 16, 2008