CRIME & SAFETY One of DMNA’s top priorities is always improving safety, as well as the appearance of order, in downtown. The Crime & Safety Committee meets regularly with the police department at neighborhood meetings to stay updated on their efforts and to seek means of partnering to encourage safe practices. Here are some of the many partnerships and projects we are involved with to reach these goals: Restorative Justice Restorative Justice is one of DMNA’s important crime & safety partners, see their website Giving victims of crime an opportunity to interact with criminals in the spirit of true rehabilitation. Community Expectations - Survey and Declaration In 2007, DMNA successfully surveyed persons who live, work and play in downtown Minneapolis to assist it in developing “Community Expectations” for our Downtown community. The survey resulted in over 1,300 responses, which DMNA used to compile the Expectations and communicate to residents and law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and other local elected officials. DMNA will use the survey to identify new strategies as it moves toward preparing its NRP Phase II plan. >> View the Community Expectations >> View the Survey Responses Real Change | Not Spare Change In partnership with the police department & city attorney’s office, DMNA seeks to discourage downtown panhandling by educates members and visitors through outreach and dissemination of informational flyers >> See the Panhandling Ordinance Keep Minneapolis Beautiful On ongoing project in partnership with major downtown businesses to clean up and improve the often overlooked aesthetics of the city - from painting telephone utility boxes to picking up cigarette butts, this effort is important in maintaining a sense of order and beauty to reduce crime overall. NRP IMPLEMENTATION The proper and appropriate management and disbursement of Neighborhood Revitalization Project (NRP) funds is on of the most important functions that DMNA is engaged in. These efforts span many years and the planning involved is extensive. The NRP Implementation Committee meets regularly to review progress and stay updated with the current status of the program, which is currently going through major transition. Just a few of the MANY projects that DMNA has supported with its NRP funds are listed here: Improvements to Washington Boulevard: Installation of plantings on medians of this well-travelled but relatively bland thoroughfare. St. Anthony Mills Apartments: Funds towards a successful mixed-income housing project. Skyway Senior Center: Funds toward ongoing operation. The senior center is used by many of the DMNA’s membership. Greening of the Mill District: Installation of trees to spruce up this high-profile part of downtown. Dog Grounds: Support for a new urban dog park on an underutilized site. NRP management is ongoing and is one of the most critical and exciting aspects of the DMNA. LAND USE The Land Use Committee regularly reviews new construction projects, zoning variance requests, licensing variances and applications. The committee’s advises the DMNA Board of Directors when letters of support are requested. Letters are then forwarded to the planning department, city council, or other appropriate city agency. TRANSPORTATION Members of the DMNA Board of Directors serve in volunteer roles in various groups overseeing and recommending improvements to the streets, sidewalks, bike trails, and mass transit in downtown. DMNA regularly receives updates at board meetings from key players in these groups. DOWNTOWN IDENTITY The Identity Committee was established in 2007 to improve outreach to new members, create a new DMNA website and to help clarify DMNA’s role to its members.
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