Briefs June 2, 2022

Long-term closure of Cedar Lake Parkway
A portion of Cedar Lake Parkway closed to motor vehicles on May 23 for the continued construction of the Kenilworth tunnel extension under Cedar Lake Parkway. It road is not expected to open again until the spring of 2023. While the road is closed, pedestrians and bicyclists will have access across the tunnel construction area, but vehicle traffic will be detoured from Cedar Lake Road to France Avenue to West Lake Street.

Supplemental city budget approved
The council has amended and approved the 2022 mayor’s recommended American Rescue Plan proposals. Amendments included one by council members Payne and Koski to move $160,000 of the $1,000,000 in spending from the police department to the city coordinator’s office for two additional Behavioral Crisis Response Team vans. Another amendment, proposed by council members Jenkins, Chavez, Wonsley Worlobah, Ellison, and Chughtai, was approved that moves $700,000 from Convention Center Meet Minneapolis funding to the Business and Technical Assistance (BTAP) program to provide outreach and support to small businesses in the city’s four cultural districts in Cedar Riverside, East Lake, West Broadway, and 38th & Chicago.

7 Points Mall
The city planning staff and commission are recommending approval of the 7 Points Mall redevelopment project planned for 3001 and 3003 Hennepin Ave. and 1301 and 1419 W Lake St. This will include the construction of a new seven-story addition with 10,950 square feet of ground-level commercial space and 272 apartment units, an expansion of the parking ramp and changes to the surrounding outdoor areas. More at https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/board/agenda/CPC/3240.

Mortgage assistance
The HomeHelpMN program is accepting applications for assistance until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $35,000 in assistance for past-due expenses. Funds for the program are limited, and need is expected to be high. For more information about the program, including who is eligible to apply and what expenses are eligible, visit HomeHelpMN.org or call 1-800-388-3226.

Police lawsuit settled

The city council has approved settling the lawsuit brought by Jaleel Kevin Stallings for $1.5 million. Last year Stallings was found not guilty of attempted murder charges after an incident on May 30, 2020, that started when police in an unmarked van shot him with a 40-millimeter “non,-lethal rubber bullet” while he was getting fuel at a gas station.

DFL endorsement updates

The Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party held endorsing meetings in May for county and city offices that will be on the November ballot this year. They endorsed Mary Moriarty for Hennepin County District Attorney, and Dawanna Witt for Hennepin County Sheriff. Moriarty is a former head of the Public Defender’s Office. Witt is a Sheriff administrator, who holds the title of Major and oversees the Sheriff’s operations for the courts and jails. The three county commissioners who are seeking re-election to represent residents of Minneapolis, Irene Fernando, Angela Conley, and Marion Greene, were also endorsed. At the City Convention, school board candidates endorsed include Collin Beachy and KerryJo Felder for the At-Large seats and Mary Jo Lundeen McCollow for District 1, Fathia Feerayarre for District 3, and Lori White Norvell for District 5.  The candidate filing period ended on May 31^st for the August 9 primary and November 8 general elections.

City sssessor sppointment

Following Mayor Frey’s nomination and required public hearing at the City Council’s Policy and Government Committee, the City Council approved the reappointment of Rebecca Malmquist to serve another term as City Assessor. Because of the recent passage of the government structure amendment, the term will be four years instead of two. The City Assessor oversees the classifications and valuation appraisals for all properties in the  city.