E-News

Early March 2023

In this issue:

• Cedar - Isles Plan
• Board updates
• Legislation affecting SWLRT
• Tree Lottery
• Park Board brush burning
• Mark your calendars

Read the plan here

Please comment on the plan here

Please note that the plan identifies water quality as its top priority. This is the direct result of local residents from CIDNA, Kenwood and East Isles neighborhood associations who worked to ensure that the plan would address deteriorating water quality of Cedar Lake, which is now categorized as eutrophic. (That condition produced the toxic blue-green algae that closed down Cedar Beach for several days last year). Environmental preservation is important to CIDNA; it is named in its mission, vision and statement of values.

Bills affecting SWLRT and the Met Council are now being heard at the Minnesota State Legislature. 

• Make the Met Council an elected body (members are currently appointed by and are coterminous with the governor. (SF1642 — chief author is our own Senator Dibble, chair of the Transportation Committee, HF 2092 — chief author is our own Rep. Frank Hornstein, chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee)
• Transfer responsibility for light rail from the Met Council to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (SF1625 — Dibble; HF2346 — Hornstein)
• Require Met Council to follow the cost-benefit and price recommendations of a federally required contractor (SF1626 — Dibble)



To read the bills and follow their progress, go to here.

Minneapolis Spring Lottery for $30 trees

Minneapolis property owners can enter a lottery any time through March 31 to buy a $30 tree for their Minneapolis property. The City will offer 2,000 4- to 7-foot shade, fruit, evergreen and flowering trees.

• One entry is allowed per Minneapolis address.
• Those selected in the lottery will get an email in April with the date when they can order.
• To register for the lottery, see what kinds of trees will be offered and get more information on the program, visit mpls-tree-sale.myshopify.com.

Park Board burning brush piles

You may smell or see smoke from brush pile burns in the coming weeks. Park Board staff will burn brush in Cedar Lake Park, at several woodland locations, between 8:30 am and 5 pm through April 1 depending on weather conditions.

About brush pile burns:

Brush pile burns are conducted by staff from the Environmental Stewardship division of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The Park Board manages natural areas in the Minneapolis park system to maintain healthy ecosystems and habitat for native plants and wildlife. Burning brush piles is an effective way to manage invasive plant material, diseased tree debris and debris from other natural resources management work.

Mark Your Calendars

CIDNA Board Meeting — April 12, 6:00 pm

At the Jones-Harrison Lakeview Room with an online option available. Email info@cidna.org to receive a Zoom link.

May Day Basket Making — April 30, 4:00 pm

More information coming soon.

Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association | 612-212-5508 | info@cidna.org

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