City of Minneapolis COVID-19 Update, May 20, 2020

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May 20, 2020

The City of Minneapolis remains committed to delivering high quality services for residents and business in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. For an overview of the City's response to COVID-19 and the latest impacts to City services, visit minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus. 

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Donate homemade face masks Memorial Day at Minneapolis fire stations

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Minneapolis residents can deliver homemade masks to their local fire station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.

Remember to stay 6 feet away from others when dropping off your donation. Note: fire stations are not equipped to take any other donations at this time.

The City plans to distribute the donated masks throughout Minneapolis to residents, organizations and businesses that are most in need, including food shelves, congregate living facilities, small corner stores and shelters. 

Face mask design patterns and instructions can be found online.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings to help protect others from COVID-19. Cloth face masks can help prevent the wearer from infecting others – especially in situations where they can spread the virus without having any symptoms.

Watch a video on Covid-19 mask do's and don'ts


City and neighborhood organizations launch Neighborhoods Respond to COVID-19 Fund

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The City’s Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) Department has collaborated with several neighborhood organizations to launch the Neighborhoods Respond to COVID-19 Fund (NRC-19) to provide a meaningful and efficient way for neighborhood groups to assist with the City’s COVID-19 response.

The neighborhoods who have contributed to the fund include: West Calhoun Neighborhood Association, $25,000; Jordan Area Community Council, $3,500; ECCO: $3,000; Kenny Neighborhood Association, $2,500; and the Cleveland Neighborhood, $1,000.

The fund has paid for 2,500 face masks and 4,800 bottles of hand sanitizer (3 million-plus doses of hand sanitizer) for the city’s most vulnerable residents.

The City’s Health Department has established an online portal to connect resources with community organizations and individuals in need of non-personal protective equipment resources during the pandemic. Requests that cannot be covered with City funding but can be covered by Neighborhood Revitalization Program dollars will be considered for the NRC-19 fund.

Photo above: Members of the West Calhoun Neighborhood Association join NCR director David Rubedor (right) in preparing facemasks and hand sanitizer for distribution for residents.


State transitions to next phase of COVID-19 response: Stay Safe MN

The next phase of the state's COVID-19 response: Stay Safe MN began May 18. All gatherings are limited to 10 and social distancing with masks, hand-washing and other safety measures should be followed to protect one another. 

Retail stores and other main street businesses can reopen if they have a social distancing plan and operate at 50 percent occupancy.

Starting June 1, limited outdoor dining at restaurants and bars will be allowed. Salons and barbershops will be allowed to open June 1 at 25% occupancy to ensure the safety of both the employees and the customers inside.

In both industries, customers will be either strongly recommended or required to wear masks, make reservations, and adhere to social distancing requirements to keep themselves, other customers, and employees safe.

Learn more about the Stay Safe MN order

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Minneapolis park courts, playgrounds and fields to slowly reopen during Stay Safe MN

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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is beginning to slowly reopen courts, play areas, skateparks and sport fields over the next two weeks with the expectation that park visitors will follow social distancing guidance outlined in the governor's Stay Safe MN order.

The MPRB urges park visitors to follow the executive order and the updated outdoor recreation guidelines. MPRB Park Ambassadors will continue to be in neighborhood and regional parks to provide information and encouragement on physical distancing practices to park visitors. Park signs will remind visitors to stay 6 feet apart, avoid team sports, and to wash hands before and after park visits and use hand sanitizer during park visits.

Learn more about MPRB's reopening schedule


Public health information: Slow the spread of COVID-19

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Census has impact on federal funding for mental healthcare

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Data from the census is used to not only determine political representation and redistricting for states, but it is also used by local governments to determine federal funding for many services and programs, including mental health care.

Mental health issues are common and affect tens of millions of Americans, but only half of individuals with mental Illnesses receive adequate treatment. Without accurate census data, the funding that communities receive for necessary mental health programs may not be representative of the population that truly relies on such services. Completing the census allows communities to receive the funding that is truly reflective of their needs.

Don’t hesitate, complete the census now: my2020census.gov.


Learn about new renter protection rules

The City of Minneapolis passed new renter protection rules that will go into effect in 2020. Starting June 1, there will be limits on what a rental property owner can use to deny rental applications, and caps on security deposits.

  • Inclusive screening criteria will set limits on what information in a renter’s criminal, rental and credit history can be used to deny a rental application. Landlords who don’t use the inclusive screening criteria will have to specifically state why an application is denied and provide an opportunity for the applicant to add more context to their history.
  • Security deposits will be capped at one month’s rent, or one-half month’s rent if the landlord requires first and last month’s rent to be paid in advance. If they require the first and last month’s rent to be paid along with the security deposit, renters must have the option to pay the security deposit in installments over three months.

The ordinance goes into effect June 1, 2020 for owners with more than 15 rental units. The effective date for property owners with 15 rental units or fewer is Dec. 1, 2020. Enforcement will be through the City’s housing maintenance code.

This follows previous renter protection efforts adopted recently, including relocation assistance for displaced renters and a requirement that owners of naturally occurring affordable housing rental property give the City 60 days’ notice before selling their units.

To learn more, visit minneapolismn.gov/renterprotections.


Comment period ends May 22 for draft Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan

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The comment period for the draft Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan ends Friday, May 22.

The 10-year action plan will guide planning, design and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around.

Visit go.minneapolismn.gov to submit comments on draft strategies and actions and to watch recordings of online open houses held during the comment period.


Resources for businesses

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Resources for workers

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Minneapolis sick and safe time ordinance

Under the City’s sick and safe time ordinance, employers are required to provide access to sick leave (or more generous leave) to all employees in Minneapolis. Leave must be paid by employers (unless they employ five or fewer workers) and accrual and use balances must be provided on pay stubs.

An employee's accrued sick and safe time hours are legally protected for their use due to COVID-19 symptoms, testing or infection. Protection extends to the employee and the employee's care of a covered family member. Learn more about how COVID-19 impacts sick and safe time protections

Additional resources: 


Housing resources


City's cultural radio programs now weekly

Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has weekly programs on KMOJ 89.9 FM (English); La Raza 95.7 FM (Spanish); KALY 101.7 FM (Somali); and WIXK AM 1590 (Hmong.) Radio shows schedule


Updates from City partners


Community resources and ways to help


Eight ways to spend Memorial Day weekend in Minneapolis

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Check out Meet Minneapolis' guide to celebrating Memorial Day weekend

You can find a pre-recorded Memorial Day ceremony from Lakewood Cemetery, hike ideas, Mississippi River audio tour information and much more. 


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COVID 19 sign up

 

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact City Communications at communications@minneapolismn.gov.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-263-6850.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.

 

minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus