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This calendar includes only public meetings of interest in the 11th Ward and does not reflect the Council Member’s full daily schedule.

Ward 11 Issues

There are several issues affecting Ward 11's livability.  The City and residents are both actively engaged in turning these challenges into opportunities and securing Ward 11's success.

  • 35W/Highway 62 Redesign – With goals of increasing road capacity and providing a continuous High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on 35W, this project is important to city and regional residents alike.  Construction began in 2007 and is scheduled to wrap up at the end of 2010.  MnDOT updates its project page regularly.  The most up-to-date information can be found there. 
  • 46th Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station – As part of the 35W redesign, 46th Street will be home to a BRT stop.  Metro Transit anticipates the stop will be up and running by December 2010. 
  • Airport Noise – Living so close to the airport has both its pros and cons.  The City of Minneapolis has won a suit against the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) on behalf of city residents.  Due to this verdict, almost 10,000 City homes will have access to noise remediation grants.  MAC began the noise mitigation work in 2008 and is scheduled to be done in 2014. 
  • Lyndale Bridge Replacement – Hennepin County plans to replace the bridge spanning Minnehaha Creek in 2011.  This bridge no longer meets traffic demand and is in deteriorated condition.  It is currently safe for operation, but has a sufficiency rating of 35.2 out of 100 and is classified as “structurally deficient.”    Replacement of the bridge is separate from the road reconstruction projects along Lyndale Avenue.  The trail under the bridge has been closed until construction finishes due to risk of falling debris from the current bridge. 
  • Making Cedar Avenue a more pedestrian friendly street is a goal of Ward 11 and its neighboring wards.  Our Public Works staff is working closely with county staff to assure that the street safely meets the needs of commuters, residents and businesses.  As a group, we are working on signage, speed control, and access.
  • Ward 11 is proud of its parklands and strives to work closely with the Minneapolis Park Board and our Park Commissioners.
  • Southern Bike Connection – The City of Minneapolis and interested residents are busy developing a southern bike connection between 24th Street and Highway 62. 
  • Street Resurfacing – Public Works has developed a program to quickly and cheaply resurface our City streets.  Lower traffic volume streets where the pavement is rough, but not completely failed, are good candidates for this program.  Ward 11 is benefiting greatly in the coming years. 
  • Water quality is of special concern to Ward 11 due to Minnehaha Creek and the many South Minneapolis lakes.  Water in Ward 11 drains to these special resources, making up a vital part of their watershed.  Minnesota has developed Watershed Management Organizations and Watershed Districts to improve water quality and abate water quantity issues in the district.  The Minnehaha Watershed District covers nearly all of Ward 11 and is a taxable body that offers programming, grants, and completes capital projects.  The wetlands around Lake Nokomis are a prime example of how the Watershed District has invested in Ward 11.