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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 Board of Estimate and Taxation is holding a public hearing 5:05 p.m. tonight to consider setting the maximum property tax levies for 2021.
The public hearing will be continued at the board’s meeting 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 meeting where the maximum levies will be adopted. The Board of Estimate and Taxation sets the maximum tax levies for the City, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.
Mayor Jacob Frey’s recommended 2021 City budget includes a 5.75% levy increase for 2021. However, the overall growth to the city’s tax base means the median valued home ($281,500) will see a 3.7% decrease ($59) under the mayor’s proposal. City staff estimate 75% of residential property owners will see an overall decrease from last year’s property tax bill.
The public hearing will be broadcast on the City’s website, City’s YouTube channel and Comcast Channel 14 or 799; CenturyLink Channel 8001 or 8501 (Note: closed captioning is available on all broadcasts and web streams.) Learn how to participate in the public hearing.
Visit the City’s budget website to learn more about the budget process, key dates, FAQs and more. You can also watch a series of videos on the City’s budget process.
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The Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are hosting a Facebook Live event Thursday, Sept. 17 to promote Citizenship Day – the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution and a time to reflect on the meaning and importance of U.S. citizenship.
The City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, the City of St. Paul Refugee and Immigrant Program and the International Institute of Minnesota will host a Facebook Live event 10 a.m.-11 a.m. for a discussion about the benefits of becoming a citizen through the process of naturalization. There will also be information on strategies to support naturalization efforts from organization such as the Center for Popular Democracy and National Partnership for New Americans.
Tune into the Citizenship Day Facebook Live event.
Watch a video from Mayor Jacob Frey highlighting Citizenship Day.
Learn more about the City’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
To commemorate Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis will be lit teal and orange tonight. These colors are used by ¡Somos!, the City’s Latinx employee resource group.
Latino Heritage Month recognizes the significant contributions Latinos have made to the United States. Sept. 15, the first day of Latino Heritage Month, is significant because it marks the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16 and Chile on Sept. 18.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will not be any public celebrations of Latino Heritage Month. However, volunteers from ¡Somos! will be at a Powderhorn Park food distribution event Sept. 25 to help Latinx community members complete the 2020 census.
Read more.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is conducting a voluntary statewide survey through Sept. 30 as part of an ongoing effort to better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in Minnesota.
The modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, survey will include a household questionnaire as well as free virus and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Information learned from the survey will help health officials and others who are part of the COVID-19 response make decisions that best meet the needs of our communities.
During the survey period, teams of public health professionals will visit randomly selected households in 180 preselected sites around Minnesota. After agreeing to participate, one member of the household will complete a questionnaire. All household members who consent can receive a COVID-19 test using a swab to test for current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and an antibody test using a finger stick to draw a few drops of blood to see if someone has previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Participants with positive results for either test will be contacted by a nurse to receive additional information. All questionnaire responses and results will be kept private. For more information about this study, visit CASPER: COVID-19 Public Health Survey.
Following the advice of public health experts, senior advocates, labor leaders, doctors, hospitals, and long-term care providers, Gov. Tim Walz has extended the COVID-19 peacetime emergency that gives the state flexibility in responding to rapidly evolving issues stemming from COVID-19.
Minnesota’s peacetime emergency protects Minnesotans against evictions and wage garnishment; provides expedited procurement power for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other equipment; allows Minnesota to re-open society strategically, while following the advice of public health experts; protects workers from unsafe worker conditions; requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and provides economic relief and stability to those impacted by the pandemic. If the peacetime emergency were to end, it would jeopardize over $50 million each month in federal funding.
Read more about the State's response to the pandemic.
Minneapolis has reached a milestone in its 2020 Census count by meeting the 2010 Census self-response rate of 72.8%. Meanwhile, hundreds of households in Minneapolis remain uncounted. This undercount could leave communities without resources and fair political representation for the next 10 years.
What can you do to help?
- Complete the census.
- Already completed the census? Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
- Share census information on social media. Post the link: my2020census.gov and tell your networks about the importance of getting counted.
The data that is obtained by the census allows the federal government to determine where to allocate resources for things like schools, parks, roads and much more. Our communities deserve the proper funding for resources that we rely on including programs and services like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Head Start.
If your household misses the opportunity to complete the census this year, the next opportunity to be included won’t occur until 2030, so don’t wait. Complete the census for you and for everyone in your household including all children and all relatives that live with you. Visit My2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020 and get counted before the Sept. 30 deadline.
Free meal boxes are now available at 29 school sites. All families are invited to participate in this free program and do not have to have a student in Minneapolis Public Schools. Families can pick up one box per child per week.
Most sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with some sites open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit the Minneapolis Public Schools website for more information.
The City has launched the 45-day comment period for the public to review draft built form regulations that will regulate the scale of new buildings and additions throughout Minneapolis. The regulations are critical to achieving the goals of Minneapolis 2040, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2018. The plan will shape how the city will grow and change over the next two decades so all residents can benefit. Under consideration now are technical aspects of Minneapolis 2040 implementation.
Minneapolis 2040 includes 14 Built Form Districts that will guide the development of new regulations, which will govern issues such as: building height, floor area ratio (FAR), lot sizes and setbacks from property lines, among other things. The new built form regulations will resolve some of the major conflicts between Minneapolis 2040 and the City’s current zoning regulations. They are also intended to provide more predictability for the scale of new buildings and additions in different areas in the city, including neighborhoods, downtown, production/employment areas and areas served by high-frequency transit.
Minneapolis 2040 went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, following over two years of community engagement. The plan guides growth and change with 14 key goals, including eliminating racial disparities, promoting climate change resiliency, and increasing access to jobs and housing.
Upcoming online open houses on proposed regulations
Read more about how to comment on the draft regulations.
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The City of Minneapolis is holding two online open houses later this month to share updates, answer questions and solicit feedback about the reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue South between Douglas Avenue and West Lake Street.
The City plans to reconstruct this section of Hennepin Avenue starting in 2023. The reconstruction project provides an opportunity to redesign Hennepin Avenue to meet the needs of current and future users of the street. Project goals include improving the sidewalk and intersections for all users, evaluating bicycle network connectivity, providing space for enhanced transit stops for future bus-rapid transit (BRT) service, replacing aging infrastructure and maintaining and enhancing traffic flow for transit and motor vehicles.
Public Works will host two virtual open house meetings to present the project background, introduce potential design concepts and get public input on the project. The open houses will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A session.
- 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30
Find links to the open houses and more information about the project on the City’s website.
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To promote the power of wearing face masks, the City has made a 30-second video, billboards and social media images all featuring Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year, with the message “You have the power. Wear a mask for the team.”
Share the video with your own team and remember: The sooner you do it, the sooner we’ll get through this. You have the power.
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 tests in Minneapolis communities. All are welcome.
- Free COVID-19 tests focused on the East African community: noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 26 at Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center, 2824 13th Ave. S. Register onsite.
You can expect to get your test results in about two days.The COVID-19 test is free, and you do not need insurance for the test. If you need medical care but don’t have health insurance, the Minnesota Department of Health offers resources to find low-cost health care or health insurance.
If you are unable to attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you.
The State of Minnesota has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program.
LWA provides a temporary additional $300 per week benefit to Minnesotans receiving unemployment benefits. To be eligible, an applicant must have a weekly unemployment benefit amount of at least $100 and must be unemployed due to COVID-19.
Those currently receiving unemployment benefits do not need to reapply or do anything other than complete their weekly benefits request to receive the additional $300 a week. DEED Unemployment Insurance will review all payment requests made for the week of July 26 going forward and automatically pay applicants who are eligible for LWA.
DEED anticipates the program will last between five to eight weeks. Applicants can visit https://www.uimn.org/lwa for more information.
Want to make sure your ballot will be returned on time to count for the general election on Nov. 3?
Apply now and get your ballot right when early voting opens – ballots will be mailed out starting Sept. 18. This will ensure plenty of time to receive your ballot, vote, and then return your ballot using the postage-paid envelope.
Apply on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.
Learn more about how the City is working to ensure a safe election season during the pandemic.
Minnesota’s COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program has opened to cover housing expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities or other housing-related costs. This program will help keep folks in their homes and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners in communities across the state.
People in Minnesota interested in applying for assistance can call the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline at 651-291-0211, visiting 211unitedway.org or texting “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211. The 211 Helpline has dedicated multilingual staff to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
For questions regarding the application process, check the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program frequently asked questions.
In addition to the City’s Sick and Safe Time ordinance, the U.S. Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ensures that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat COVID-19.
In general, employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public sector employers, are entitled to (up to) two weeks (of fully or partially paid) sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Additional partially paid leave is available to care for a child, including during school closure or virtual learning. Private employers that have fewer than 500 employees are reimbursed with tax credits for the cost of providing their employees with paid leave.
For more information, call 1-866-4-US-WAGE and check out the following resources: informational video, eligibility tool, poster and FAQs.
Park Board updates on encampments
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) limits the total number of parks available for temporary encampments and the number of tents per encampment. It has also established a 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 board’s regulations respond to the growing number of people experiencing homelessness who are living in parks temporarily until dignified alternative spaces can be found. The MPRB is working with state, county and city health and human service agencies to find short, medium and long-term solutions.
For the latest information on encampment locations and Park Board actions, go to minneapolisparks.org/encampments.
Learn more about the City's work with partners responding to the increase in homeless encampments.
Minneapolis individuals, property owners, businesses and nonprofits can now apply for low-interest disaster loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved a disaster declaration for areas in Minnesota affected by the recent civil unrest.
Three types of SBA disaster loans
- Home disaster loans for homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property including automobiles.
- Physical disaster loans to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by businesses and nonprofits including real estate, inventory and equipment. Businesses and nonprofits of any size are eligible.
- Economic injury disaster loans for working capital to help small businesses and nonprofits meet their financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster.
For help preparing financial documentation, Minneapolis businesses can consult with an advisor through the City’s Business Technical Assistance Program or contact the Minneapolis Small Business Team at 612-673-2487 or SmallBusiness@minneapolismn.gov.
Apply online here by Oct. 2 for physical disaster loans and May 3, 2021, for economic injury disaster loans.
See the Small Business Administration news release and fact sheet for more information. Business and property owners with questions about the loan application can contact the SBA Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center at 571-422-6078 or 571-422-6871 or FOCE-Help@sba.gov.
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 and find more information here:
Minnesotans are required to wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings. Researchers have advocated for masking, calling it a simple and effective step to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The state regulation reinforces 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 are not 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 information on how to get a mask.
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. 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.
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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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