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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.
The City Council has approved a resolution declaring racism a public health emergency in the City of Minneapolis and committed to a series of action steps to dedicate more resources to racial equity work.
The resolution notes that “racism in all its forms causes persistent discrimination and disparate outcomes in many areas of life, including housing, education, health, employment, public safety and criminal justice; exacerbated further by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis,” and “a multitude of studies connect racism to inequitable health outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), including cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high infant and maternal mortality rates demonstrating that racism is the root cause of social determinants of health.”
The resolution commits the City Council and mayor to recognize the “severe impact of racism on the wellbeing of residents and the city overall” and to allocate funding, staff and resources to “actively engage in racial equity in order to name, reverse, and repair the harm done to BIPOC.”
Read more about the resolution and action steps policymakers have pledged to take.
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At its July 15 board meeting, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) commissioners voted to limit the total number of parks available for temporary encampments. The board’s resolution also regulates temporary encampments in parks to support the health and safety of their residents while preserving access to recreation features for park visitors.
The resolution limits the number of parks with encampments to 20 and the number of tents per encampment to 25. It also establishes a new temporary permit that can be issued to an individual or body that agrees to be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of an encampment. The MPRB would provide restrooms or portable toilets, hand-washing stations, and trash/recycling containers to a permitted encampment within 48 hours of issuing a permit.
The resolution also directs staff to formally request assistance from agencies and organizations that have clear and defined responsibility for addressing homelessness. The resolution sets a goal of Sept. 15 for park staff to update the board on progress toward moving encampment occupants into shelter and housing suitable for winter conditions.
Find more information on the Park Board's website.
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The Minneapolis Charter Commission is seeking public comments on a proposed amendment to the City Charter related to the future of public safety. People can submit their comments online or provide them directly to members of the commission at a public hearing 6 p.m. July 21.
The proposed amendment, submitted by the City Council, proposes removing the Police Department from the charter and adding a new Community Safety & Violence Prevention Department. Under State law, the Charter Commission is required to review and submit its recommendation(s) on the proposed amendment before a ballot question can be presented to voters.
The virtual public hearing will take place 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. Participation instructions will be published on the City’s website. If you’re interested in speaking at the public hearing, you can pre-register using the online registration form.
(Note: The Charter Commission is also holding a special meeting 4 p.m. Monday, July 20 to consider two substitute proposals to the proposed charter amendment and a proposed separate charter amendment.)
The City Council’s Budget Committee will hold another public hearing 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 on proposed revisions to the City’s 2020 budget. The City is facing approximately $156 million in projected revenue losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Jacob Frey presented the second phase of his revised budget proposal to the City Council’s Budget Committee July 9. The proposal avoids mass layoffs of City employees by relying on existing spending freezes, use of cash reserves, program cuts and furloughs. The budget also prioritizes preserving housing, economic development and racial equity work that will benefit the communities of color who have been hit hardest by COVID-19.
Frey’s Phase 1 response to the impact of COVID included spending and hiring freezes and has saved approximately $58 million to date. The City Council is scheduled to vote July 24 on a revised 2020 budget.
Learn about how to participate in public hearings virtually.
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The City of Minneapolis has entered in to license agreements with two operators —Bird and Lyft — to launch shared motorized foot scooters for 2020.
Scooter riders must follow the same traffic laws as bicyclists, as regulated by state law. Scooters can’t be ridden on sidewalks. New this year, scooters must be locked to a public bike rack or municipal signpost (except bus stop and stop signs), or parked in designated scooter parking zones when not in use.
Under the program, the number of scooters allowed in the city is capped at 2,500 to be divided evenly among the operators. A maximum of 1,000 scooters are allowed downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, and at least 750 scooters must be distributed in areas of concentrated poverty in north, northeast and south Minneapolis. The program runs through March 31, 2021.
Read more.
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To help keep voters safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 of 125 polling places in Minneapolis are moving for the 2020 primary and general election. The changes will help protect people living in residential facilities and provide more space to keep voters a safe distance from elections staff and each other.
Of the 50 polling places being relocated, 16 were in senior homes, high-rises and other residential sites. Another 32 were in areas with limited space that would make it difficult for people to keep at least 6 feet from others inside. Two were moved due to on-site construction.
Registered voters will receive a postcard in the mail indicating their new polling locations. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s polling place finder can also provide voters their new polling places. These locations will be the same for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections. All voters choosing to vote in person on Election Day should check the online polling place finder or call 311 to verify their polling place.
Though polling locations will be open for the primary and general elections, the City encourages voting early by mail to minimize direct contact with others.
Read more.
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The City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County have jointly released a request for proposals (RFP) for up to $14 million in federal Emergency Solutions Grant COVID (ESG-CV) response funds. The RFP information can be found on the City’s website here under the “housing development” tab. Proposals are due on July 24.
ESG-CV funding is designed to help local homeless assistance, prevention and housing providers deliver services, financial assistance and housing necessary to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 among persons experiencing homelessness. The City and County will be accepting proposals for four specific areas: emergency shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention (shelter diversion.)
The City and the County share the vision for this funding to support a housing-focused, culturally competent and trauma informed system-level response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, which ensures that the health, safety and well-being of people experiencing homelessness is preserved for the duration of the pandemic, and that the community staves off any increases in homelessness due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The vision for this system must explicitly address racial equity goals in our work on ending homelessness.
The governor's latest extension of the peacetime emergency means that the suspension of evictions and landlord-initiated lease terminations remains in place until Aug. 12.
This suspension will allow households to remain sheltered during the peacetime emergency. The executive order does not relieve a tenant's obligation to pay rent.
While the eviction moratorium continues, housing providers can evict a tenant when the tenant violates a lease by endangering the safety of others, engaging in certain illegal activities, or significantly damaging property. Evictions can also proceed if the homeowner or their family member needs to move into the premises or if a writ of recovery was issued prior to March 24 at 5 p.m.
Hennepin County offers emergency rental assistance for residents with low incomes who have been financially harmed by COVID-19. Residents can learn more and apply at www.hennepin.us/rent-help.
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is now offering low-cost pet vaccinations by appointment to follow safe COVID-19 guidelines and ensure there aren’t too many people in the shelter at one time. Getting animals vaccinated is an important public health and safety service, and we want to help pets live happy, healthy lives.
Services: Rabies vaccination: $10; DA2PP (distemper combination for dogs) vaccination: $10; PRC (distemper combination for cats) vaccination: $10; and microchip: $10.
Because of capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is only open to residents of Minneapolis who have or buy a current pet license. Residents can sign up for an appointment using this form or by calling 311 or 612-673-6222. Appointments are available 1-4 p.m. on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Residents can sign up for an appointment using this form or by calling 311 or 612-673-6222. Appointments are available 1-4 p.m. on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
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The public comment period for the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines on neighborhood programming and funding to support the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations in 2021 and beyond has been extended to Sept. 30, 2020. The equity and inclusion recommendations outlined in this document form the cornerstone of the City’s commitment to have an equitable neighborhood funding program for all of its residents.
The City has extended the comment period on the guidelines to give people more time to review and provide feedback as we face COVID-19 and civil unrest. The draft program guidelines follow the vision to preserve Minneapolis’ neighborhood organizations and create equitable communities in which all people are valued, communities are engaged and leadership mirrors the diversity of the city.
Read more.
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. through 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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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. The City's Health Department continues to get requests from the community for help securing masks and the donations make a big difference in meeting those needs.
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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