City of Minneapolis

In This Issue:

City job and housing growth outpaces region

City and Tree Trust want you to plant a tree

City named among most green in U.S.

City to examine large home projects

State of the City Address is Mar. 19

Police Award Top Block Clubs

Jobs for Youth Artists Available

Making Progress to Create a Premiere,
Unified City-County Library System

This week saw much progress on our goal to create a premier library system that maximizes the best of our Minneapolis and Hennepin County libraries. I heartily applaud the Minneapolis Library Board and City Council for their actions taken this week to support the unification of the City and County library systems.

Pending county and legislative approval of the library unification, the City is also going to give the Library Board an additional $2.1 million to re-open Roosevelt, Southeast and Webber Park libraries that were closed earlier this year. This funding is added to the $1.2 million supplemental appropriation the City gave to the Library Board as part of the 2007 City budget and would allow the three closed libraries to re-open at last year’s levels of 20-24 hours per week hours. In addition, I have also pledged to add another $500,000 from the City’s capital budget for library building improvements and renovation.

It is important that we are making progress on this important effort to strengthen our libraries. A unified city-county library system will help to ensure that residents have access to one of the best library systems in the nation and will offer:

• More stable funding for our libraries
• Greater tax equity that more fairly spreads the costs of our unique library collection over a broader population
• More accountability that aligns funding decisions with operational responsibility
• Increased efficiency of facility administration and coordination of the collections

As I have said many times before, I strongly believe that libraries are critical to our community and provide essential service to our residents. The current situation is not worthy of a great city. More stable funding, more equitable taxation, more accountability and increased efficiency in a united library system all make it easier to increase library hours and programs for our community.

The City of Minneapolis provided additional funding to keep more libraries open for longer hours until a long-term solution could be found. A strong, stable, fair, accountable and efficient united city-county library system is that solution and I will continue my work to make this plan a reality. It will take work, but together, we can create the world-class library system Minneapolis deserves.

Strong City Job + Housing Growth Outpaces Region
According to the 2006 Minneapolis Trends report, job growth and housing growth in Minneapolis each outpaced the rest of the region last year. By the end of 2006 Minneapolis grew over 9,100 jobs at a rate more than twice the rate of the metro area. Our unemployment rate is down to 3.7 percent – also below the region as a whole and the lowest level we’ve achieved in six years. Wages in Minneapolis also grew more than the region and state. And according to early reports, Minneapolis permitted more residential housing units than any other city in the 7-county metro area for the second year in a row. To read the whole report click here.

City and Tree Trust Want You to Plant a Tree
The City of Minneapolis and Tree Trust have 1,500 trees for Minneapolis residents. Planting a tree is the easiest way to improve the value of your property, reduce your energy needs and improve our air and water. Residents can order one tree per address and choose from six varieties: Cathedral Elm, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Bur Oak, Cockspur Hawthorn, River Birch and Austrian Pine. The cost of a tree is $15 and must be ordered by April 15. Free workshops on tree planting and care will be held Thursday, Mar. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Nokomis Recreation Center (2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway) and Saturday, Mar. 31 at 8:30 a.m. at the Minneapolis Urban League (2100 Plymouth Avenue North). To order your tree call 651-644-5800 or email Paul Wierzbicki.

Minneapolis Named Among ‘Most Green’ Cities
Minneapolis has been ranked among the top cities in the nation in the Earth Day Network’s Urban Environment Report. Out of 72 cities, Minneapolis ranked ninth overall and second among mid-sized cities for its environmental quality of life. Earth Day Network looked at toxins, drinking water quality, climate change, air quality, quality of life, parks and recreation, and public health.  Minneapolis strives to be a more sustainable city that meets its needs without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We can accomplish this by balancing environmental, economic, and social equity. To learn more about Minneapolis’ environmental sustainability efforts, visit the City website.

Minneapolis To Examine Large Home Build-ups
The City of Minneapolis is hosting a community open house to discuss the impact of “tear down and infill” housing development trends in the City – large home construction that is changing many traditional Minneapolis’ neighborhoods. The meeting will be held Monday, Mar. 19, 6:30-8p.m. in Room 319 of City Hall. Many smaller homes in the City are being demolished and replaced with large, new homes not in character with existing home features relating to height, square footage and open space. Some think such demolition of homes and extensive remodels are disrupting the historic fabric of neighborhoods. The City is responding to residents’ concerns about new construction by proposing a series of changes to the zoning ordinance and public input is needed on these proposals.