July 24, 2020 eNews

July 21, 2020 Meeting Recap

Officer Elections for two open positions were held. Kevin Ross was elected as Vice President and Patty Grabski was elected as Secretary. After this summer’s community conversations, the ANA voted to partner with the Theater of Public Policy to hold small group facilitated workshops on talking about race and being anti-racist (more details to come). The board approved funds for these workshops and to plan a safe and distanced neighborhood Food Truck Night in August pending permit approval. The ANA will continue working with the park on getting an event permit approved as the City of Mpls isn’t issuing residential food truck permits at this time. The Green Team presented plans for a few programs and events this summer and early fall including a new Native Plant Rebate program, an Adopt a Storm Drain campaign, and the annual Neighborhood Litter Be Gone Clean-up. The Board voted to approve funds for each initiative and to hold a regular monthly meeting on August 18.


Comments Sought on a Second Proposed City Charter Amendment

The Minneapolis Charter Commission has proposed another possible change to the City Charter, our City’s constitution, and is seeking public input on this proposal. This new proposal removes minimum funding requirements for the Police Department without eliminating Police as a required department.  Read this second proposed Charter amendment here. The public hearing for the second proposed Charter amendment is scheduled for Monday, July 27 at 5:00pm (access meeting info here).

This is the second of two proposed Charter amendments. The City Council submitted the first proposed amendment, which if passed would eliminate Police as a required department in the City Charter and instead require the creation of a Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention, which may include a police division. See answers to frequently asked questions about the City Council’s proposed Charter amendment here. If both proposals are approved by the deadline of August 21, then they could both appear as ballot questions this November.

How to comment:


Statewide Mask Order Starts Saturday

Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order requiring Minnesotans to wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings starting tomorrow, July 25. Minneapolis has had an indoor mask order in place since late May and researchers have advocated for masking, calling it a simple and effective step to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. For information and resources on the mask mandate, including frequently asked questions, visit mn.gov/COVID19.

Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the individual to maintain a face covering are exempt from the order. Children ages 5 and younger are also exempt. Children under 2 should never wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation.


Armatage Summer Festival – Until Next Year

Under usual circumstances, we’d be hard at work preparing for our annual Summer Festival and looking forward to spending our favorite day of the whole year with the neighborhood. While we can’t safely hold any neighborhood events this year, we’re grateful to see so many of you on Zoom and look forward to when we can gather as a community again. Until then, check out our calendar for upcoming virtual meetings and events at armatage.org/events (Image of Sheridan Ave next to Armatage Montessori)

Guidelines Passed for Park Encampments

Last week Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that will reduce the number of parks with temporary encampments for people experiencing homelessness to 20, limit the number of tents per encampment to 25, and establish a new encampment permit requirement. The MPRB is not pre-selecting the 20 sites and is instead allowing those applying for a temporary encampment permit to request the park they wish to stay in. If a permit is approved, the MPRB will provide restrooms or portable toilets, hand washing stations (as vendor supplies allow), and trash/recycling containers to the encampment within 48 hours of issuing a permit.

Encampment permit applications are available by contacting the MPRB at encampmentpermit@minneapolisparks.org.  Once an encampment permit is issued, the MPRB will communicate with the neighborhood association where the park is located and list the park at www.minneapolisparks.org/encampments


Low-cost Pet Vaccinations Available

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is now offering low-cost pet vaccinations by appointment only to follow safe COVID-19 guidelines and ensure there aren’t too many people in the shelter at one time. Getting animals vaccinated is an important public health and safety service and helps pets live happy, healthy lives.

Services: Rabies vaccination: $10; DA2PP (distemper combination for dogs) vaccination: $10; PRC (distemper combination for cats) vaccination: $10; and microchip: $10.

This service is only open to Minneapolis residents who have or buy a current pet license. Residents can sign up for an appointment using this form or by calling 311 or MACC at 612-673-6222. Appointments are available 1:00-4:00pm on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Polling Place Changes

50 polling locations throughout Minneapolis are changing for both the 2020 Primary and General Election. Of the 50 relocated polling places, 16 were in senior homes, high-rises and other residential sites and another 32 had insufficient space for people to keep at least 6 feet apart. Double check your polling place today at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us

Vote by Mail

All Minnesota voters are eligible to vote by mail, no reason needed. This year in particular, we encourage you to stay safe and minimize direct contact with others while exercising your civic duty. It only takes a couple minutes to request absentee ballots, which will arrive with postage-paid envelopes for return. Complete the vote by mail application online here.   You can even track the status of your ballot and confirm that it was received and accepted without problem.

Vote Early In-person

Visit the Minneapolis Early Vote Center (980 East Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis MN 55414) Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 4:30pm (Saturday hours start in August) to vote early in-person for the August 11 Primary.  Hours and details are posted at vote.minneapolismn.gov/events/ and please don’t forget your mask!


Emergency Rent Assistance & Evictions Suspended Through Aug 12

Hennepin County is still accepting applications for its emergency rent assistance program. Learn more and apply at www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/emergency-rental-covid19

With the extension of MN’s peacetime emergency through August 12, evictions are suspended but rent is still due so please continue to share this resource widely.

Last Chance to Comment on Park Master Plans

You have one last chance to comment on two Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Master Plans that impact our Armatage. Click on each link below to learn more about the project, view the final plans, and submit your comments:


Be Counted in the Census

Here’s our last plug in July to complete the 2020 Census if you haven’t yet! Census data determines how billions of dollars in federal funding is allocated and impacts representation at the local, state, and national level.

Minnesota is currently leading the nation with a 71.5 percent response rate! You can help maintain our lead by responding online here, by phone, or by mail.