City briefs - June 15

County Equity Advisor
Hennepin County District 3 Commissioner Marion Greene is looking for a volunteer to serve on the county’s Equity Advisory Committee. This group advises the county board and administration on reducing racial disparities and advancing racial equity. Learn more by emailing District 3 staff, Elie Farhat, at elie.farhat@hennepin.us.

City funds community projects
The City Council has approved funding several southwest community projects through the city’s Partnership Engagement Fund that supports community-based organizations and recognized neighborhood organizations collaborating to engage historically under-engaged individuals and groups. The Whittier Alliance will be the neighborhood partner for three projects. Guitarra en el Barrio will receive $20,000 to expand music education programming. The Somali Voter Outreach project will receive $20,000 to increase voter participation, and Futsal Society’s Coaching Education Program,will use $18,600. The Loring Park neighborhood will be partnering on the Strangers Meeting Strangers project, which received $20,000 for facilitated conversations in front of audiences to help build understanding.

Ward 10 campaigning
Ward 10 city council candidate, Nasri Warsame, has been banned by the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) party from seeking its endorsement, but has announced that he will continue running for the Ward 10 seat anyway. He was seeking the DFL endorsement at the convention that ended suddenly last month following the disruptive behavior of some participants. The DFL has announced that they will hold an online endorsement process; however, where members may still vote on endorsing incumbent Aisha Chughtai.

Young library advisors wanted
The Hennepin County Library is looking for young people to apply to serve on a Library Youth Advisory Committee. Two members from each district are appointed by the county commissioners. Members should live in the county, be 16 to 19 years of age, and be able to attend monthly meetings for the next one-year term that goes from September 2023 to August 2024. The committee advises the county board and library staff about how libraries can serve youth better. Apply online by June 23.

SWLRT-related closures
Cedar Lake Parkway will be closed between the tunnel construction area and Xerxes Avenue South starting June 12 for approximately one week for utility construction. There will be a two-month long closure of the Penn Ave/Wayzata Blvd. intersection starting late June. The Cedar Lake trail between Royalston Ave. and West River Parkway will also likely be closed this summer for work on retaining walls.

50th Street repaving
Hennepin County is repaving 50th Street between France and Lyndale avenues in Minneapolis this summer. Work on upgrading pedestrian ramps to improve accessibility will be followed by repaving and restriping the road. This will include narrower traffic lanes and wider shoulders to enhance safety. 50th will remain open during construction, but traffic will be shifted.