Metro briefs: After viral video, Edina City Council OKs creation of Race & Equity Task Force

The Edina City Council on Wednesday approved the creation of a task force to reduce disparities based on race in council policies and actions.

City officials will seek a budget allocation of about $100,000 for the task force and appoint members sometime in January, according to a report from City Manager Scott Neal.

"This is a substantial initiative," Neal said. "It will take a lot of volunteer time. It will take a lot of staff time. I'm estimating a pretty significant budget cost for it as well."

The decision follows an October incident in which an Edina police officer handcuffed a black man walking on the shoulder of a road. The incident was captured on a video that went viral and sparked a discussion about interactions between law enforcement officers and minorities in the suburbs.

The council also voted to have the city join the League of Minnesota Cities' Government Alliance on Race & Equity program.

Miguel Otárola

Upgrades to Peavey Plaza are moving forward, following the Minneapolis City Council's approval Friday of an $895,500 contract with Minneapolis-based landscape architecture firm Coen+Partners to renovate the downtown plaza.

Construction is scheduled to be finished in 2018.

Built in 1974, Peavey Plaza was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Emma Nelson

Two Twin Cities-based transportation advocacy nonprofit organizations have agreed to merge Jan. 1.

Transit for Livable Communities (TLC) and St. Paul Smart Trips will continue to advocate for "equitable, sustainable, and multimodal transportation in Minnesota," but on a regional scale now, according to news release.

In a statement, Treat said the merger comes at a critical time. St. Paul Smart Trips will be moving from its downtown location to TLC's offices near University and Raymond avenues. The combined staff will number nearly 13 employees.

Janet Moore

A disaster recovery center to aid residents affected by September's record-setting rainfall and flooding will open Saturday, Dec. 17, in Brooklyn Park.

The center, to be operated by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is for residents who need financial aid and other services to help them repair homes damaged by flooding.

Those applying for aid should bring their Social Security numbers, the address of the damaged home or apartment, a description of the damage (including pictures if possible), insurance information, a phone number and mailing address, and bank account and routing numbers to facilitate direct deposit of funds.

Residents also may apply for aid by calling 800-621-3362 or by going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov/. The last day to apply for aid will be Jan. 30, 2017.

President Obama recently approved individual assistance through FEMA for victims of the storms that hit the metro area and parts of southern Minnesota for several days starting Sept. 21. The heavy rains flooded streets, submerged vehicles and led to highway and road closures across the state.