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This newsletter provides updates on the City's response to COVID-19, an overview of recovery efforts underway, efforts to transform public safety and other important news and information from the City of Minneapolis.
Members of the public interested in commenting on the proposed charter amendment establishing a new Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention and removing the Police Department as a charter department can submit comments online.
The Minneapolis Charter Commission will hold a special meeting 4 p.m. tonight to review the proposed amendment and discuss next steps. The City Council voted June 26 to advance the proposal as a ballot measure to be considered by Minneapolis voters.
Under state law, the Charter Commission has at least 60 days to complete its review and submit its recommendation to the City Council. The statutory deadline for submitting questions on the Nov. 3 general election ballot is Friday, Aug. 21. If approved by voters, the changes would become effective May 1, 2021.
Online comment form.
Today, July 1, the minimum wage in Minneapolis is going up to $11.75 at small businesses and $13.25 at large businesses. The City is committed to supporting an economy that includes everyone.
The new economic reality as a result of the pandemic is especially challenging for the lowest paid workers in our city who are often employed in essential or public-facing jobs. The City’s Department of Civil Rights oversees enforcement of the municipal minimum wage, and workers are encouraged to report violations online.
The Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance defines small businesses as 100 or fewer employees and large businesses as more than 100 employees. Tips and gratuities do not count toward payment of a minimum wage.
Increases in Minneapolis’ minimum wage directly benefit tens of thousands of families. The ordinance supports the City’s goals of promoting economic inclusion and reducing economic and racial disparities. For more information about the ordinance, visit minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov. For additional questions call 311 or email minwage@minneapolismn.gov.
Read more.
Fourth of July fireworks are part of Independence Day celebrations, and the noise complaints and safety issues they can generate lead to high call volumes at 911 call centers across the country. That’s why the City wants to make sure folks stay safe during fireworks season and know what to do if they have fireworks-related complaints.
Instead of calling 911 for Fourth of July noise reports, people are asked to make noise reports online; the reports will be reviewed during normal business hours. Noise reports can also be made through the 311 mobile app, minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by calling 311. You can also text “fireworks” to 311898 to enter a fireworks complaint on the City’s website.
Reducing the number of noise complaints to 911 will allow emergency calls to be answered as quickly as possible. On a typical Fourth of July evening, Minneapolis 911 receives hundreds of calls per hour, most of which are related to fireworks noise complaints. On an average day, Minneapolis 911 receives 80-100 calls per hour. Because of the volume, police officers cannot be dispatched to each fireworks noise incident around the Fourth of July but calls will be prioritized to ensure public safety.
Read more.
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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation (MPRB) will begin to open 20 wading pools across Minneapolis on Saturday, July 4. The locations focus on areas of the city without lakes or other water bodies.
The wading pools will be open seven days a week from noon to 6:30 p.m. All wading pool areas will have a limited capacity to ensure that social distancing practices can be followed. Wading pool capacity numbers vary by location and MPRB staff will be on site to help monitor capacity.
Public restrooms will be open for use during the wading pools’ open hours. Drinking fountains will not be available, so please plan to bring your own water in a non-breakable container. Because of the limited number of children and adults who can be in the wading pool area at one time, we ask that visitors limit their time to two hours to allow others to use the wading pools.
Find wading pool locations.
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Minneapolis and Saint Paul are in the process of implementing new, lower speed limits to support safer streets. Slower speeds on local streets make travel safer for everyone no matter how you get around.
The new speed limit starting this fall will be 20 mph in both cities unless otherwise signed. To help get out the word about the new speed limits and the importance of slower speeds for safety, the City has yard signs available for community members.
You can pick up your “20 is Plenty” yard sign at any Minneapolis fire station. Signs will be available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from July 6 to July 24 while supplies last. Due to COVID-19, signs will be available outside the stations for no-contact pickup. Signs come with metal stands. Find your nearest fire station here.
Learn more about the new speed limits.
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The City is transforming its public access television services. As media consumption has evolved, it has become clear that the City should transition from a public access programming approach to explore new initiatives that support local storytelling and content creation and encourage community engagement.
The City has contracted with BFRESH Productions to reimagine public access television as community media. BFRESH will manage the City’s three public access channels and provide community media services to Minneapolis residents. Community media content will continue to air on Comcast channels 16, 17 and 75 and CenturyLink channels 8007, 8008 and 8009. Community media services and cablecasting will begin in July 2020.
BFRESH invites the community to provide feedback by taking a survey as they gather data and opportunities to best serve Minneapolis residents. Ideas for content and partnerships in the evolving community media access model are encouraged. BFRESH will also host several virtual conversations in July and August for residents to help shape the future of community media in Minneapolis.
Read more.
Minneapolis City government offices are closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day, which falls on a weekend this year.
There will be no change to City of Minneapolis garbage and recycling pickup. Crews will be working Friday, July 3 and the South Transfer Station will also be open. The City’s Solid Waste & Recycling Customer Service office will be closed July 3-4 and the South Transfer Station will also be closed July 4.
Minneapolis 311 is closed July 3-4, and will open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday, July 6.
Normal parking rules for the City's parking meters will apply Friday, July 3 and the City’s parking meters will not be enforced Saturday, July 4. However, all other parking restrictions in the city remain in effect and will be subject to enforcement, including Park Board meters along Minneapolis parkways, University of Minnesota parking meters and those of private organizations who operate their own meters. Always read the information posted on the meter and follow other parking regulations as posted to be certain.
The office closures do not affect 911 or Minneapolis police and fire emergency services. City offices will resume regular business hours Monday, July 6.
Early voting has begun for the Aug. 11 State primary and special election – Council Ward 6. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave. Requested mail-in ballots are now being mailed to Minneapolis voters.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year.
Read more.
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If your property sustained damage during recent civil unrest, you may be eligible for property tax relief.
The Assessor's Office is in the process of reviewing the reported damage to determine the percent of damage for each property affected. If your property was damaged and you have not heard from the Assessor's Office by June 26, 2020, you should call 612-673-5959 or email disaster.reassessment@minneapolismn.gov.
If your property sustained damage during the civil unrest, complete this Disaster Reassessment Intake Form. Once you complete the form a member of the Assessor's Office team will contact you with more information and instructions on the next steps in the process.
Visit the 2020 Disaster Reassessment page for more information.
The City of Minneapolis, in partnership with Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota, is seeking a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the areas impacted by the recent civil unrest in Minneapolis. A disaster declaration would make low-interest property damage and economic injury loans available through the SBA.
The City needs your help to receive this declaration. We are seeking additional information from businesses owners and property owners who sustained building damage, e.g. fire damage, or business loss, e.g. damaged inventory, and do not expect losses to be fully covered by insurance (40% or more uninsured loss).
If this describes your situation, please complete this survey no later than Thursday, July 2 to provide data on your losses. Your response is optional and will not impact in any way your eligibility for relief funds should they become available. You will not be more likely or less likely to receive relief funds. Instead you are providing information that will help our community apply for a disaster declaration and if declared, provide access to these loans to all eligible business and property owners in our community.
For questions or assistance completing the survey, contact the Small Business Team at 612-673-2499 or SmallBusiness@minneapolismn.gov. Assistance in Spanish, Somali and Hmong is available.
The City Council’s Budget Committee will hold two public hearings in July on proposed revisions to the City’s 2020 budget.
The City faces a significant revenue shortfall as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and needs to make cuts to the City’s roughly $1.5 billion budget. Mayor Jacob Frey will brief the City Council’s Budget Committee on a revised 2020 budget July 9 and staff will present the revised budget to City Council July 10.
The public can then engage and share their voices in this process during two online public hearings:
- 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, July 14
- 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22
You can watch or participate in the online meetings.
The City Council is scheduled to vote July 24 on a revised 2020 budget. For more information about the City’s budget, visit the City's website.
Mayor Jacob Frey’s emergency regulation requiring people in Minneapolis to wear cloth face masks or coverings when they are in an indoor place of public accommodation is in effect.
Businesses will not be required to provide masks to customers or employees themselves, though employers shall be required to mandate the use of masks by their staff. Non-compliance should be reported through 311. Find more information here.
Donate homemade face masks at Minneapolis fire stations for Mask Drive Mondays
Minneapolis residents can deliver homemade masks to their local fire station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday for Mask Drive Mondays.
Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has 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
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