Meeting Information
- Date: September 12, 2024
- Title: Regular Meeting of the Climate and Infrastructure Committee
- Present: Katie Cashman (Chair), LaTrisha Vetaw, Jamal Osman, Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Emily Koski (Vice Chair)
- Guests: Council Members Ellison and Rainville
- Votes: 3
Highlights
- Approval of concept layouts for several infrastructure projects
- Passage of a resolution on priorities for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Rethinking I-94 project
- Approval of 2025 operating plans and service charges for various special service districts
- Public hearing on the preliminary design plans for the Blue Line Light Rail Extension
Discussion
Resolution on Rethinking I-94 Project
Council Member Osman introduced a resolution expressing the city’s priorities for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Rethinking I-94 project. The resolution, authored by Council Members Wonsley, Osman, and Cashman, aims to ensure that the state respects city priorities and listens to the community before moving forward with the project.
Osman emphasized the importance of reconnecting communities that have historically been targeted by state planning projects. He stated, “Reconnecting communities is the most important thing for our communities, and I stand behind this.”
The resolution passed unanimously.
Blue Line Light Rail Extension Preliminary Design Plans
The committee held a public hearing on the preliminary design plans for the Blue Line Light Rail Extension. City staff presented an overview of the project, highlighting its potential benefits and addressing concerns about displacement and community impact.
Key points from the staff presentation:
- The project is a billion-dollar-plus investment that will bring fast, reliable transit service to North Loop and North Minneapolis.
- It includes five planned transit stations, with the city requesting a sixth station.
- The project aims to help achieve mode shift, greenhouse gas reduction, and equity goals.
- Concerns about displacement and community impact were acknowledged, with staff emphasizing the importance of anti-displacement strategies.
Council Member Ellison commented on the challenges of balancing the need for improved infrastructure with the potential for displacement:
“We’re tasked with a really difficult challenge here. Right. On one hand, we know that ridership of public trans is the highest in North Minneapolis. And yet, we don’t have state of the art infrastructure. What good is the best infrastructure if it displaces you. You can’t use it. We preserve the infrastructure but not at the expense of our neighborhood and culture. That’s what we’re trying to square.”
No vote was taken on this item, as it was a public hearing. Further discussion and action will take place in future meetings.
Public Comments
The public hearing on the Blue Line Extension drew numerous comments from residents, business owners, and community organizations. Key themes included:
Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship representatives (Floyd, Garfield Clarke, Angela Scott, Anthony Lewis, Dr. E May Beechum) expressed concerns about the project’s impact on their church and its ability to serve the community. They requested that the council not give consent until relocation and reestablishment of the church within the Hawthorne community is ensured.
Matt Brauns from North Loop Neighborhood voiced concerns about the current plan’s impact on historic homes and suggested an alternative route along 7th Street and I-94.
Ricardo Perez from the Blue Line Coalition spoke in support of the project with a focus on anti-displacement efforts, emphasizing the need for policies and funding to prevent cultural, residential, and commercial displacement.
Several business owners, including Dean Rose, Dan Rice, and Diane Robinson, expressed concerns about parking loss and the project’s impact on their businesses.
Jarra Al-Hasan from Jordan Neighborhood raised safety concerns, including emergency vehicle access and potential risks for disabled individuals.
Anika Robins from the 5th Ward spoke in support of the project, emphasizing the need for transformative transportation systems while addressing concerns raised by others.
Fred Mozel from Ward 3 in North Loop suggested looking at the history of inner urban rail lines and raised concerns about unrestricted access to stations.
Candy Bacon, a Heritage Park resident, expressed support for the project as an opportunity for the future, emphasizing the need to ensure all voices are heard and respected in the process.
Council members, including Jeremiah Ellison, LaTrisha Vetaw, and Michael Rainville, thanked the public for their input and assured them that their concerns would be carefully considered in future discussions and decision-making processes.