|
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.
A federal court has ruled that the timeline for the 2020 Census must be extended for an additional month to Oct. 31. Due to disruptions caused by the pandemic, the original deadline of July 31 was initially extended to Oct. 31 to provide additional time to count residents, but it was later adjusted and reduced by a full month to Sept. 30.
Now with the federal court ruling, the Oct. 31 deadline is reinstated.
What does this mean?
This ruling means the U.S. Census Bureau will continue through Oct. 31 with door-knocking and following up with households that haven’t responded.
The census occurs once every decade, determining where $1.5 trillion in federal resources are distributed for transportation, housing, schools, health insurance, social service programs and infrastructure, including nearly $15 billion for Minnesota.
The data collected by the census also determines political representation. With Minnesota at risk for losing a congressional seat, a thorough and accurate census count is vital to the safety, success and future of our city and state.
We all count, so we must all be counted.
Read more.
|
This week, the City Council’s Public Health & Safety Committee approved an outline for expansive community engagement on how to improve our public safety system in Minneapolis. Under the proposed plan, community members citywide will have opportunities to offer feedback on alternatives to policing and police responses, public health-oriented violence prevention, and law enforcement reforms and/or changes to protocols and practices.
The process is divided into four parts:
-
Phase One (October-December 2020): A community survey and public forums focused on the current model of community safety and opportunities for changes, with a synthesis of initial themes presented to the City Council in early December along with a draft vision for consideration and adoption by the City Council.
-
Phase Two (January-March 2021): Public forums for community members to review and confirm the themes and goals established in the first phase plus a deeper dive into ideas for a new public safety model to help inform draft recommendations of action steps to realize the established vision and goals.
-
Phase Three (April-May 2021): Opportunities to offer feedback on draft recommendations at public forums and online.
-
Phase Four (June-July 2021): Recommendations will be refined and finalized, incorporating community feedback gathered throughout the engagement process, with a final report to the City Council on strategies for building a new model for community safety.
Watch the full presentation outlining engagement efforts here. The process is guided by the principles of accessibility, and meaningful and inclusive engagement. It will be open to all community members who wish to participate.
Recommendations made through this process will focus on but may not be limited to intermediate policy changes, investments and partnerships that support a public health approach to community safety, alternatives to policing, and research and engagement to inform the potential creation of a new Department of Community Safety. There will be a review and analysis of existing models, programs and practices that could be applied in Minneapolis.
This process will build on the work already underway to refine and improve our 911 response and shift certain calls for help to responders other than the Police Department. It will also identify resources needed to support recommendations.
The proposed engagement plan is a key component of the City Council’s commitment, adopted by the City Council in June, to a year-long process for gathering input, conducting research and exploring structural change.
Next steps
The full City Council will consider the plan at its next meeting, Friday, Oct. 2.
Mayor Jacob Frey has released his finalized recommended City budget proposal for 2021.
With a limited 5.75% maximum levy increase and 12% increase in the overall tax base growth, three-quarters of Minneapolis residential property owners will see a decrease in their property tax bill with the median-valued household set to experience a $59 yearly decrease.
Despite the COVID-19 revenue shortfall, Frey’s 2021 budget proposal includes a $7.2 million increase in ongoing funding for affordable housing work, his top priority. That new, ongoing support includes a major boost to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was previously funded at $800,000 on an ongoing basis.
The City Council will begin reviewing the proposed budget. Visit the City’s budget website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended budget, key dates in the approval process, FAQs and more. You can also watch a series of videos on the City’s budget process.
Read more.
|
Crews will sweep streets across Minneapolis next month to clean the streets before winter to keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and ending up in our lakes and rivers as much as possible.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure crews can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 19, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.
Read more and find ways to stay informed of the parking rules.
Lost your job? Need work now? Dislocated Worker services are designed to help workers who have been laid off get back to work as quickly as possible. Eligible workers may receive counselor-approved training, placement services and more. Visit Minneapolis Dislocated Worker Resources for more information.
Need help figuring out your next career step? Thinking you might need training to prepare for your next job? Contact staff at a CareerForce location near you for help. Visit Minneapolis Employment and Training for locations and assistance in Minneapolis.
Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins are proposing $7 million in new City investment, including $2 million in direct support for demolition work for businesses whose demolition costs are not covered by insurance and $5 million for the City’s Commercial Property Development Fund (CPDF) to support economic recovery in Minneapolis.
City staff have been working with property and business owners since June to support clean-up plans along corridors impacted by civil unrest. While many building owners have clean-up costs in excess of insurance benefits, the City has identified 16 sites where property owners are struggling with clean-up funding gaps in excess of $100,000 each.
The City is committing to cleaning those 16 sites with $2 million from a combination of funding sources, including newly received federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program income and unspent CDBG funds from previous years.
Read more.
Minneapolis Public Works is considering options for an interim winter street design for Chicago Avenue between 37th and 39th Street, and 38th Street between Elliot Avenue and Columbus Avenue. Public Works is working to ensure that essential access is retained through the winter. Ensuring essential winter access requires some adjustments in the area; no decision has been made on the final details of the winter design or timing of implementation.
Based on community feedback about the streets, Public Works has developed options for an interim winter design for streets in the area. These designs work to:
- Preserve space for mourning and reflection.
- Increase public visibility and safety.
- Preserve as much public art as possible.
- Ensure essential winter access is retained for emergency vehicles, utilities, local deliveries, and local residents.
- Improve business, resident, and transit access.
- Provide an interim design, not a return to normalcy.
Review the design options.
You can share feedback on the winter options in this questionnaire, which is open through Sunday, Oct. 4.
In addition to this questionnaire, Public Works staff are hosting an online open house to present briefly on winter street design options and answer questions:
38th & Chicago winter street design online open house
6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1
Link to join
Visit the City's website to learn more.
The City of Minneapolis has approved 10 projects for urgently needed artist-led creative healing in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the subsequent community uprisings. Current and former Creative CityMaking artists will lead the 10 selected projects as they respond to this historic moment in Minneapolis. The first funding priority was given to Black artists working with communities who have historically experienced the stress and trauma of racial discrimination.
Repurposing resources provided by the Kresge Foundation to the Creative CityMaking program, the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy allocated this $100,000 in Creative Response Fund grants to mobilize the unique and specialized skills of artists and designers to engage with and expand the impact of healing and community support. These grant dollars also recognize the unpaid labor of artists and designers as they respond to multiple health and racism emergencies to support community needs.
Read more.
(Upper right) Murals of Tony McDade, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Image provided by Creatives After Curfew, photo credit: Leslie Barlow.
|
Early voting is underway for the Nov. 3 general election. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
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.
The Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., makes early in-person voting more convenient for Minneapolis voters. It’s especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. While we are in a pandemic, voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.
The Early Vote Center’s hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center will have extended hours for the final two weeks of voting, including Saturday and Sunday hours. For the last seven days of early voting, the City will open two additional Early Vote Centers. All early voting hours and locations are posted on the Elections & Voter Services website: vote.minneapolismn.gov.
Read more about early voting.
|
With just weeks left to go until the Nov. 3 election, it’s a good time for everyone to make sure they’re registered.
If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register. Any 17-year-old who will be 18 on or before election day may also register to vote now. Minnesotans can check their voter registration status before re-registering.
As of the State primary Aug. 11, Minneapolis had approximately 260,000 registered voters. That’s about 85% of the estimated number of voting age citizens* (18 or older) in the city, which means approximately 45,000 potential Minneapolis voters are not yet registered.
Registering and voting by mail
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail to avoid contacting others during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Voters applying to vote by mail who have not registered will get registration information with their mail ballot.
The City recommends applying for a mail ballot at least 14 days before Nov. 3 election.
Voters can also register in person when voting early or at their polling place on Election Day. However, registering in advance of reduces the time spent there and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
More information is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov.
*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1‐Year Estimate of Minneapolis Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP)
The Public Health & Safety Committee of the City Council has set a public comment period at the beginning of its next meeting to hear from the public about public safety.
Public safety public comment period
1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8
To comment at the committee meeting, sign up in advance on the City website.
The City has an obligation to ensure all of its public meetings comply with the law and that full and fair access is available to anyone interested in participating. State statute requires us to provide a minimum of three days public notice prior to a public comment period.
The City has launched the 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.
|
This year has seen a surge in community traffic safety and traffic calming requests along with more reports of reckless driving and speeding.
The City is committed to reaching Vision Zero—having zero traffic deaths and severe injuries on our streets—and traffic staff have been working to respond to the safety requests in a fair and equitable way while recognizing the urgency of the current challenges. Public Works is also working on updated procedures related to neighborhood traffic calming, so that community members can better understand how decisions are made. A draft of those procedures which will be available for public comment this winter.
The City continues to ramp up investments in traffic safety through implementation of the 2020-2022 Vision Zero Action Plan. The 2020 Vision Zero Annual Report highlights recent work including:
- Lowering speed limits;
- Launching the Vision Zero traffic enforcement working group focused on safety and racial justice; and
- Preparing quick-build safety improvements for High Injury Streets, including a 4-to-3 lane safety conversion on a section of Lyndale Avenue North, additional safety improvements at more than 30 intersections this year, and a capital budget request for expanded improvements in 2021 and 2022.
More “20 is Plenty, Slower is Safer” yard signs are now available for pick up while supplies last. Help get out the word about new, safer speed limits. You can pick up a yard sign at four sand giveaway locations:
|
Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, Minneapolis residents who have or buy a current pet license can get a free rabies vaccination for their pets in honor of World Rabies Day Sept. 28. Sign up for an appointment using this form or by calling 311 or 612-673-6222.
World Rabies Day is a global health observance started in 2007 to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention and control efforts worldwide. The theme for World Rabies Day 2020 is “Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate.” While rabies is a 100% preventable disease, more than 59,000 people die from the disease around the world each year – 95% of them from an unvaccinated pet. World Rabies Day is an opportunity to reflect on efforts to control this deadly disease and a reminder that the fight is not yet over.
Make an appointment
If your pet needs to be vaccinated, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control offers low-cost pet vaccinations by appointment. Minneapolis residents can sign up for an appointment using this form or by calling 311 or 612-673-6222. If you request an appointment between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, the $10 charge for a rabies vaccination will be waived.
Services available by appointment:
- Rabies vaccination: $10. This fee will be waived if you request a vaccination appointment between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2.
- DA2PP (distemper combination for dogs) vaccination: $10.
- PRC (distemper combination for cats) vaccination: $10.
- Microchip: $10.
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control offers 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. Because of capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is only open to residents of Minneapolis who have or buy a current pet license.
In honor of Fire Prevention Week starting Oct. 4, this year the Minneapolis Fire Department is focusing on cooking safety. Cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of home fires and home injuries, and most cooking fires in the home involve the kitchen stove.
Cooking nourishes our loved ones, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. You can enjoy cooking while helping keep your family and home safe by cooking with caution.
- Be alert. If you’re sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the oven or stovetop.
- Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- If you’re simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind yourself that you’re cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire
- On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire
- Just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call 911 from outside the home.
Cooking and kids
Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
A reminder as application review nears: 24 City boards and commissions have openings for appointments this fall. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are available so all residents can participate. The positions are open until filled; application review begins Sept. 30 unless marked otherwise.
City boards and commissions have brought forward recommendations that resulted in renter protections, wage protections and a ban on a hazardous chemical in dry cleaning. Board and commission members in the City of Minneapolis help shape key policy decisions, give community-based input into the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights.
People can apply through the open position pages linked here and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings. Applications are open now.
|
The City of Minneapolis is holding an online open house 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.
Upcoming online open house on project
- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30
- Find a link to the open house and more information about the project on the City’s website.
|
The governor's latest extension of the peacetime emergency means that the suspension of evictions and landlord-initiated lease terminations remains in place until Oct. 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.
Emergency rental assistance
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:
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 tests in Minneapolis communities. All are welcome.
The COVID-19 test is free, and you do not need insurance for the test. You can expect to get your test results in about two days. 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.
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.
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.
|
|
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
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
| 
