The Minnesota Department of Transportation has scheduled a series of open houses for the I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge replacement. Open houses are informal events, and provide opportunities for the public to talk to and ask questions of the project engineers and to learn about the new bridge design. All meetings will be held in Minneapolis.

Thursday, Aug. 30, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m - Humphrey Institute Atrium, University of Minnesota west bank campus, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN

http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/HHHCtr/index.html

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has scheduled a series of open houses for the I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge replacement. Open houses are informal events, and provide opportunities for the public to talk to and ask questions of the project engineers and to learn about the new bridge design. All meetings will be held in Minneapolis.

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. - A.I. Johnson room, McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota east bank campus, 200 Oak Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN.

http://www.alumnicenter.umn.edu/events/parking.html

Reminder: keep doors and windows locked. From Carol Oosterhuis, Second precinct:

We have realized an increase in burglary of dwelling in Southeast Minneapolis during the last week. The most common types of burglary have been through an open window and burglary of garage.

Most of the burglaries have occurred between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. They have occurred in the following blocks:

900 block of 18th Ave SE
1300 block of 7th Street SE
600 block of Ontario Street SE
100 block of 25th Ave SE
On Nicollet Island on Island Ave W
1700 block of University Ave SE
500 block of 4th Street SE
1300 block of 7th Street SE
1100 block of 7th Street SE

Melissa Bean, MHNA

We had a good discussion at MHNA meeting last night about the new 35W bridge, rebuilding and what will happen in the interim. Some highlights:

We now fit the criteria re: increased traffic flow to be eligible for a stoplight at 6th & University. Now funding is being sought. This was a priority of the Mayor before the bridge collapse and it is still a priority.

MNDOT wants to hear from us! So please send your ideas, opinions, concerns, as they have the power. Besides the bridge design, there will be traffic flow, construction noise, pollution, etc to consider in our comments.

If you go to the city’s website (www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us) then on the home page left side (under Minneapolis Responds, more information) there is a link to MNDOT website.

We have updated our website to feature locations that you can get your low cost rain barrel. We also have recently found out that Hennepin County has\ 55 gallon rain barrels made from recycled material available for only $58.

So, for those of you that missed out earlier this spring, you can get your rain barrel here:

Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park
612-348-3777

Bins are available for purchase on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays during regular facility hours.

To see our updated rain barrel section of the website:
http://metroblooms.org/rainbarrels.php

Native Plant Grants

We still have plenty of money available for the native plant grants and rain garden installation grants, so don’t forget to turn in your applications! If you have any questions about the grant, please let us know. To apply:

http://metroblooms.org/grants.php

Community meeting ­ Monday, August 20, 7:00 p.m., at Van Cleve Park building, 901 15th Ave. S.E.. This meeting is hosted by Council Members Paul Ostrow, Cam Gordon, and Diane Hofstede. Minneapolis Public Works officials will be present to answer you questions and gather your comments and suggestions. The focus of this meeting will be traffic and transportation impacts on the SE and NE neighborhoods after the 35W bridge collapse.

For those of you who were not present at the 35W community meeting on August 15th, there are still opportunities to weigh in on the discussion — both new bridge design and what’s happening in the interim.

Last night the message from officials was - we want to hear from you! We are the eyes on the street and need to report where the traffic problems are, solutions, etc. Many ideas were generated last night, including:

Signs needed at all avenues intersecting University and 4th St SE No Parking 30′to clear sight lines for turning

Stoplight needed now more than ever at 6th Ave SE

Open 10th Ave Bridge to pedestrian and bikes first

A plea to shop local - nearby businesses are being hurt by this

A desire to plan for light rail on bridge at some time

Changing the timing on some traffic signals

Keeping neighborhood streets form becoming freeways

Keeping Second St SE open

You can send your thoughts to Mayor R T Rybak at:
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us (go to Mayor’s office link) He said that he is reading them ALL.

There is also a link there on city’s homepage for MNDOT comments under How You Can Help. Or comment directly to MNDOT at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/

More meetings scheduled:

Community meeting ­ Monday, August 20, 7:00 p.m., at Van Cleve Park building, 901 15th Ave. S.E.. This meeting is hosted by Council Members Paul Ostrow, Cam Gordon, and Diane Hofstede. Minneapolis Public Works officials will be present to answer you questions and gather your comments and suggestions. The focus of this meeting will be traffic and transportation impacts on the SE and NE neighborhoods after the 35W bridge collapse.

Here is the MHNA response presented last night:

August 15, 2007
To Whom It May Concern,

The following consensus statement from the MHNA Board and Land Use Committee was approved by the Executive Committee today concerning the 35W Bridge Rebuilding.

SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS. A 100-yr bridge can’t be designed in a day.

SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY. Years from now, today’s politicians will be recognized for their foresight and vision, not their undue haste , in rebuilding the bridge.

Consider how the new bridge could help and hurt us.

CREATE A BRIDGE DESIGN THAT COMPLEMENTS THOSE NEARBY

Arches as a theme

Safe, aesthetic and functional

Memorial component

Connects to the river

Creates an entryway into the neighborhood

RECONSIDER THE INTERCHANGES

Consider Dinkytown trench

Resolve connections from Granary Parkway to metro highways, not via neighborhood streets

Return Univ and 4th St to two way now, or keep option open for future

Consider light rail, bike routes, and other uses UNDER the bridge

Consider new TCF stadium destination/ LRT route

Consider future of Hardee’s site/ 10th & Univ, now vacant

Listen to neighborhood about problems experienced before the bridge collapsed and build solutions into the new plan (rush hour, accidents, pedestrian crossings)

FOLLOW NEIGHBORHOOD (MHNA) MASTER PLAN

Already spoken about keeping Second St SE as a neighborhood residential street

Work with neighborhood concerning details, connections

U of MN access is a priority

Bike Connections from Stone Arch Bridge to Dinkytown

Connections from Main St SE to East River Rd (a memorandum of understanding already exists between city, MPRB and U of MN)

PROTECT HISTORIC RESOURCES

Keep Florence Court

10th Ave. Abutment

Old Great Northern alignment

HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEAL WITH CURRENT TRAFFIC INCREASES DUE TO BRIDGE CLOSURE

Need No Parking 30′ signs at all avenues that connect with University and Fourth St SE

Need a traffic signal at 6th & University Ave SE

PLEASE proofread documents - there is a big difference between SO and SE, between SE and NE. Very confusing

Provide signage, info campaign to get people and trucks alternate routes to our area from elsewhere

To: MHNA Board and General Membership

From: Arvonne Fraser, MHNA President

Re: August 21, 2007 Meetings/ Board at 6 pm, General Membership at 7:30 pm
First Congregational Church, 500 8th Ave SE (note change in meeting place)

BOARD AGENDA 6 PM
1. Call to order, welcome new members, approve agenda
2. Secretary’s report ­ Board openings for appointed and 1 Director seat
open Approve June minutes
3. Treasurer’s Report/ July & August
4. Committee reports
NRP
EXECUTIVE
SAFETY & LIVABILITY
STUDENT AFFAIRS
LAND USE
5. Looking ahead and House Cleaning
a. Stadium/ Good Neighbor Fund projects applics. avail Jan
b. Looking at streamlining office procedures, NRP wind down
c. October Preservation convention/ neighborhood activities?
d. Are all board members signed up for committees? Need to replace Casey
@ Central Corridor group
e. Table at Third Ward Summit?
f. Website changes?
g. Urban Farming program
h. MHNA Adopt a Tree/ OSAA
6. Misc Announcements

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP AGENDA 7:30 PM
1. Call to order, welcome, approve agenda
2. Approve June minutes.
3. Board actions taken earlier tonight
4. A word from CM Hofstede/ Bridge update
5. Grand Rounds connection update, Steve Smela, Jackie Dekker-Travis
6. Recap events ­ Puppet Show, NNO, Bridge & traffic situation
7. Meet Missy Toft, photographer assigned to our neighborhood via
Overexposure program, with samples and seeking ideas for her work now ­
November.
8. Misc announcements

Thanks for donations this month from: Sir Speedy Printers, Holiday, Lunds,
Wilde Roast Café, D.Carlson. MK O’Hearn

Email changes for MHNA ­ please update your records.

Melissa Bean’s new email address: office@marcy-holmes.org
Elissa Cottle’s new email address: nrp@marcy-holmes.org

Council Member Community Meeting on I-35 updates
Monday, August 20, 7 pm to 9 pm
Van Cleve Park, 901 15th Ave SE

Council Members Gordon and Ostrow and City Public Works staff, possibly joined by other elected officials, will give information and solicit input from residents of Southeast and Northeast Minneapolis on transportation issues in the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse.

MNDOT has added a new tab to its website related to the rebuilding process. Neighborhood residents may be interested in checking out this website:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/i35wbridge/rebuild/index.html

This link has information on upcoming MNDOT pubic forums to discuss reconstruction of the bridge. There are no details up yet, but the meetings are expected to be scheduled and posted shortly.

The site also has copies of two memos that the Governor received on Friday, August 10th:

1. The Federal Highway Administration issued a letter to the Minnesota Department of Transportation which delineates which costs for repair and restoration actions are eligible under the Emergency Relief program.

2. Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau and Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell issued a letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty outlining their reasons for concluding the inherent disadvantages of including a light rail line on the new bridge.

EVENT CANCELLATIONS

Most of the riverfront’s wonderful activities and events are proceeding as planned (so, please do come visit and enjoy), but there are some updates on changes in events and activities as a result of the work related to the bridge collapse recovery operations:

The Bohemian Days celebration planned for August 18 has been canceled.

TOUR THE UPPER ST. ANTHONY FALLS LOCK AND DAM
Re-opening August 13

Thursday -­ Monday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with tours on the hour except over lunch (or as posted at the site)

The Visitor Center at Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ St. Paul District, reopens for previously scheduled tours and public access on August 13. The Visitor Center and lock and dam had been closed to assist emergency response and recovery operations from the collapse of the I-35W Bridge.

The FREE tour will last up to an hour and include only the Visitor Center. The tour information will consist of the history of Upper St. Anthony Falls, navigation on the Mississippi and the operation of the lock structure. A visitor safety and security briefing will be provided to each group before they enter the facility. A maximum of 30 people will be allowed for each tour.

Sign up to host an Energy Challenge Block Party!

What you do -

- Bring neighbors together to discuss ways to save energy with heating, lighting and transportation.
- Neighbors pledge the actions they will take on line at www.mnenergychallenge.org and/or with a short survey. Block members will sign up as part of your block’s team.
- Celebrate your block’s total energy and cost savings under block clubs
at www.mnenergychallenge.org

What we provide -

- You will receive in the mail an Energy Challenge Block Party kit with door hanging flyers, Energy Challenge information sheets and sign up forms.
- The first 50 block clubs that register will receive 20 free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs to give to participants.
- Energy auditors are available to do an in-home energy audit as part of block events (for 10 block clubs.)
- The top blocks in the city will receive prizes & recognition.

Sign up to host a block party on line at
www.afors.org or www.mnenergychallenge.org

Questions? Please call

Sean Gosiewski, Alliance for Sustainability, 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org
Neely Crane Smith, CEE 612-335-5852
ncranesmith@mncee.org

The Alliance fwww.afors.org is offering this opportunity for through a Minneapolis Climate Change Innovation Grant www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability

Wireless Internet Update Tracker

As the city’s wireless internet network gets up and running, the City is hosting a series of community meetings to keep you updated.

Northeast neighborhoods Thursday, Oct. 18 Logan Park, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m Go to the city website to learn more about these forums and Wireless Minneapolis!

Wireless Internet Update Tracker

As the city’s wireless internet network gets up and running, the City is hosting a series of community meetings to keep you updated.

Northeast neighborhoods Thursday, Oct. 18 Logan Park, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m Go to the city website to learn more about these forums and Wireless Minneapolis!

Dear NE/SE Neighborhood Associations,

Senator Pogemiller along with Representatives Loeffler and Kahn would like to invite you to a community meeting to discuss the affect of the 35W Bridge Collapse on our neighborhoods. We have invited the Met Council, MN Dept of Transportation, and the City of Minneapolis to the meeting to discuss issues such as the reconstruction process, transit issues and clean up issues.

We would like your help in letting people know about this meeting. Information on the community meeting will be as follows:

Wednesday, August 15th
6 - 7:30 pm
Van Cleve Park - Gym

If you have questions please contact myself - Hue Nguyen at 651-296-5311 or Lindsey Wollschlager at 651-296-7809

Hue Nguyen
Leadership Assistant
Office of Senate Majority Leader
Senator Larry Pogemiller
Phone 651-296-5311
Fax 651-225-7588

From Carol Oosterhuis, Second Precinct.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information (name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information) to commit fraud or other crimes. This may include a credit card account being opened in your name; you get billed for the purchases. The thief might use your information to open a checking account and write bad checks, or even buy cars or take out loans in your name.

Preventing identity theft can be relatively simple. For example, don’t share credit or Social Security numbers with people that shouldn¹t have them. Buy a paper shredder and shred bills and other mailings, rather than throwing them in the trash.

Below is a link to the flyer “Guarding Your Identity” on the MPD Web site. It outlines the steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft.

www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/docs/identity.pdf