Category Archives: Neighborhood Issues

Metro Blooms looking for Garden Evaluators

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History

Blooming Boulevards’ efforts to promote and recognize boulevard gardens began in 1983 under the leadership of the City of Minneapolis’ Committee on Urban Environment (CUE). Member Nate Siegel was so impressed with the beautiful boulevard flower gardens on a visit to Vancouver, B.C., that he started a similar program to beautify Minneapolis.

In 2002, Friends of CUE formed a nonprofit to enable us to secure donations and grants to help carry on our mission of promoting and celebrating Minneapolis gardens.
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Proposed 2014-2016 CPP Budget-Vote at Annual Meeting June 16th

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At the annual meeting and potluck picnic at the Columbia Picnic Pavilion on June 16, we will be voting on the proposed 2014-16 CPP (Community Participation Plan) for the Columbia Park Neighborhood Association. Please read the application and more detailed budget. If you have comments or would like to suggest changes please send them to our CPNA email, contact @columbiapark.org prior to June 14th.

Proposed 2014-16 CPP Application

Proposed 2014-16 CPP Budget

Rainbarrels Available from Friends of the Mississippi River

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Saturday, June 21st, 9-11:30 a.m., Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will be holding a Rain Barrel Rollout in the Target parking lot at the Quarry in NE Minneapolis. Rain barrels and supply kits must be purchased online in advance for $40 (link below). We’ve ordered a large number — 200! But based on how quickly previous rain barrel workshops have been filling, expect them to sell out pretty fast. We wanted to make sure our local partners and community groups had a chance to hear about it.

The complete description and online purchase and signup is available at
http://fmr.org/participate/events/rainbarrel_rollout-2014-06-21

Also, FMR is in the process of setting up a planting event near the riverfront for late June. We look forward to being in touch about our first hands-on, outdoor, public volunteer opportunity to help restore the Mississippi River above St. Anthony Falls.

NCEC Elections coming in June

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The Neighborhood and Community Engagement Committee (NCEC) will be having an election for new board members in on Thursday June 12, 2014.  District 4, which represents many of the NE neighborhood is one of the seats up for election.  If you are interested in serving the application is available at http://www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr/boards/ncec/WCMS1P-122610.

If you live in Columbia Park and are interested in having a vote, the Columbia Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) will be choosing an elector to attend the June meeting at our May 19, 2014 meeting at the Columbia Manor at 6:30pm.

St. Anthony Parkway Bridge Closure/Reroute Info

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Planning work on the St. Anthony Parkway Bridge replacement project continues, along with public meetings; the next Citizens Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16th from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. in the Activity Room at River Village. (The March St Anthony CAC #7_Meeting Minutes are available in PDF.) Other information on the bridge replacement project, including a rough timetable, is on a dedicated web site. The rerouting of traffic necessitated by the closure is detailed in this map:

 

Air Quality Study Redux

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The next sampling event has been scheduled. It will run from 5 p.m. on Friday May 9th through 5 p.m. on Monday May 12th. In order to participate you need to be available to pick-up and drop-off your canister, as well as turn it on and off at the designated times. Pick-up for the canisters will be:

·         Wednesday, May 7th 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Public Service Center: 250 S 4th St, Minneapolis 55415 – more information will follow. There will be no training. You can come anytime during the 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. window to pick up your canister. If you are unable to make this time, but need to pick up your canister at the Public Service Center, you may contact me to make alternate arrangements.

·     Monday, May 5th through Friday, May 9th between 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Pace Analytical: 1700 SE Elm St, Minneapolis 55414 – Again, there will be no training. You can come anytime during Pace’s business hours the week of May 5th to pick up your canister. Please pick-up your canister so you can open it by 5pm on Friday, May 9th.

Please reply to Jennifer Lansing, City of Minneapolis Environmental Services – Office: 612-673-3023 Cell: 612-709-9977 Jenni.Lansing@minneapolismn.gov –by March 26th and let her know if you are interested in and able to participate in the May sampling event. Please include your name and address with zip code if you are able to participate.

Agenda: Board Meeting Feb. 24

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Board Members Jane McCarney, Jeff Schalles, Darielle Dannon,  Matt Stellphlug and Irro Mohamed
Other: Staff: Liz Wielinski
6:30 – Call to Order
6:31 – Approval of the Agenda
6:31- Official acceptance of resignation by Peter Doughty from the board so he can continue as website administrator by contract
6:33 – Approval of minutes of November 19, 2013 and summary of Jan. 24, 2014 gathering
6:35- Treasurer’s Report
6:40 – Old Business

  • Update on Ward 1 issues by CM  Kevin Reich
  • Update by Darielle on the raingarden project with Metro Blooms/ and lottery
  • Gateway Gardens, Sue Bembenek
  • Current update on St Anthony Parkway bridge replacement, Kristin Petersen
  • Review of MNDOT Roadside Project Application

7:30 – New Business

  • Draft comment letter to NCR about their emergency relief fund
  • First look at proposed 2014-2016 CPP/NPP budget  (very preliminary)

7:45- Announcements/ Communications

Hennepin County is hosting the first public workshop for the Lowry Avenue Northeast plan:  Thurs., February 27, 6pm – 8pm  Edison High School Media Room

2nd Annual Community Connections Conference Common Ground: A City that Works for All

Starting March 17, the City of Minneapolis is offering–via TreeTrust–more than 1,000 trees to Minneapolis property owners, including residents, businesses and nonprofits for $25.

8:00 – Adjourn

 

Cleanup at Cedar Service Site

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Update December 2013 from Canadian Pacific on the Cedar Service site (west side of Canadian Pacific (CP) Shoreham Facility near University Avenue and 31st Avenue NE):  As a result of operations conducted by wood-treating businesses that leased the site between 1915 and 1972, soils at the site were contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and groundwater was contaminated with PCP. The soil cleanup is complete and a Soil Response Action Report describing implementation of the cleanup was approved by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) in September 2008.

The final Groundwater Response Action involves pumping from two deep wells: one near 27th Avenue NE and 6th Street NE, the other near University Avenue’s bridge over the railroad tracks north of 27th Avenue. The water is treated on-site to remove PCP. The groundwater extraction and treatment system continues to operate, extracting 34 gallons per minute from the two wells; since operation began in December 2006, more than 3,700 pounds of PCP have been removed. CP has recently invested in two enhancements to the system: an infiltration basin (constructed in December 2012), to which treated groundwater is discharged under permit by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to replenish the groundwater of the area; and, in 2013, two solar panels to supply energy to the pumping system.

Water levels and groundwater chemistry are regularly monitored by CP, using a network of monitoring wells, and the results reported to MDA. CP and MDA consider the trends in groundwater concentrations of the pollutants to be favorable.