Our public services and infrastructure are an essential part of our day-to-day lives. We experience our public services every time we call 311, call 911, our solid waste & recycling is picked-up, our streets are maintained, and more. We experience our infrastructure every time we use our streets, sidewalks, utilities, and facilities, and more. We must strive to provide excellent public services and infrastructure.

We need to restore pre-pandemic staffing levels to ensure that we can efficiently, and effectively, provide excellent public services and infrastructure. We must create additional hiring pathways, improve retention, and increase training opportunities for our workforce that provides public services. And, we need to listen to, and support the needs of our workforce.

We have aging infrastructure across the City of Minneapolis, and aging infrastructure carries risks. We need to invest in the rehabilitation, repair, and replacement of our aging infrastructure, in order to ensure the continuation of our public services that depend on this infrastructure.

I will continue to work hard to ensure that Ward 11 is provided excellent public services and infrastructure.

While serving as Council Member for Ward 11…

  • We approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Phase 2 funding which included funding for:

    • Street Light Improvements

    • Lead Remediation

    • The expansion of our Service Worker Trainee Program

    • The expansion of our Career Pathway Programs

    • Recruitment, Retention, and Hiring Support

  • We approved the City of Minneapolis’s 2023 Budget which included funding for:

    • Transportation, Maintenance, and Repair including…

      • Concrete Repair

      • Litter Pickup

      • Mowing

      • Graffiti

      • Sealcoat Operation

      • Trail and Protected Bike Lane Winter Work

      • Winter Complaint Response

      • Parking Ramp Maintenance

    • An additional 50 Full-Time-Employees, which brings our workforce closer to pre-pandemic staffing levels

  • We launched a new Neighborhood Traffic Calming process. The new process applies to neighborhood streets and provides a process that is data-driven, equitable, and transparent. Neighborhood Traffic Calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. Currently, the City of Minneapolis's Public Works Department receives over 2,500 requests a year for traffic calming.

  • In face of resident concerns during one of the snowiest winters on record in the City of Minneapolis, we implemented Winter Parking Restrictions to ensure access to our streets.

  • I brought the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Hennepin County, the DNR, and USGS together for a Town Hall Meeting on the Lake Nokomis Groundwater & Surface Water Evaluation. At the Town Hall Meeting we presented the Groundwater & Surface Water Evaluation, discussed next steps, and responded to Ward 11 neighbors.

  • I brought together the City of Minneapolis, MPRB, and Hennepin County for a Town Hall Meeting with Ward 11 neighbors to discuss solutions for the intersection of Cedar Ave South and Edgewater Blvd. And, I spearheaded the efforts which have resulted in the “No Left Turn” sign, and an upcoming pilot project which will prevent left turns at the intersection.

  • I regularly engage with our City Staff to understand their work, and how to support their work. I have shadowed our workforce that provides public services on multiple occasions, and continue to schedule shadows with additional departments/divisions of our workforce.

  • I worked with Council Vice President Linea Palmisano, MFD Chief Tyner, and Finance & Property Services to ensure that all of MFD’s Fire Station’s are maintained, and in tip-top-shape for our firefighters, who provide life-saving services every day.

    What’s next…

  • I will work to create additional hiring pathways, improve retention, and increase training opportunities for our workforce that provides public services and infrastructure.

  • I will advocate for investments in our aging infrastructure across the City of Minneapolis.

  • I will work to support our workforce by building relationships with, showing up for, and supporting them.

  • I will work to improve communication between residents and those who provide our public services and infrastructure.

  • I will work to ensure that Minneapolis 311 is as accessible as possible - so that all residents can communicate with the City of Minneapolis in an efficient, and effective manner.

  • I will ensure that public services and infrastructure are a top priority at the City of Minneapolis, and that we get back to pre-pandemic service levels.