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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.
Two weeks into early voting, Minneapolis is seeing a high number of voters casting ballots ahead of Election Day, Nov. 3. The sharp increase is due in large part to people voting early to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Through Wednesday, Sept. 30, Elections & Voter Services has mailed out 133,442 requested mail ballots. Of those, 12,236 completed ballots have either been returned by mail or dropped off to election officials. Another 4,842 voters have cast their ballot in person at the Early Vote Center, and 2,243 ballots from Minneapolis voters have been received by Hennepin County Elections. That means 19,321 voters in the city have now officially cast their ballots, and there’s still about another month of early voting to go. For comparison, Minneapolis had 60,538 total early votes cast in the entire 2016 general election.
For additional information on 2020 voter turnout, check out the City’s interactive voter turnout maps, which are updated daily.
Learn more about early voting.
See what's on the ballot.
Don’t delay; complete the census today
Because of several census counting challenges and ongoing court hearings, the timeline for completing the census may continue to change. Although the final deadline for the census continues to be in question, it’s certain that the census will finalize all counting efforts in October. Although federal courts have ruled to extend the deadline to Oct. 31, the U.S. Census Bureau has stated that they intend to conclude all counting efforts by Oct. 5. Completing your census form online or by phone before Oct. 5 is the safest way to make sure that you and your family are counted.
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 matter, we all add value and we all count. Count yourself and everyone in your household today by visiting my2020census.gov or calling 1-844-330-2020.
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 tests in Minneapolis communities. All are welcome. You do not need insurance for the test.
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Masjid An-Nur Mosque, 1729 N. Lyndale Ave. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Somali interpreters will be available. Register onsite.
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New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Bryant Ave. N. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8; 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 Make an appointment if possible, or register onsite.
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St. Peter’s AME, 401 E. 41st St. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22; 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 Make an appointment if possible, or register onsite.
You can expect to get your test results in about two business 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.
Testing for other communities
Free COVID-19 tests focused on the Cedar-Riverside community hosted by Pillsbury United 1-4 p.m. every Friday and Monday Brian Coyle Center, 420 15th Ave. S. Note: Double-check with Pillsbury United for possible updates before heading over.
If you are unable to attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you.
Many traditional Halloween activities can have a high risk of spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to celebrate Halloween.
If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, like with all activities you should not participate in person in Halloween festivities or give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Stay safer during the holidays
If you’re wondering how to stay safer in light of the pandemic during the holiday season, the City of Minneapolis Health Department recommends following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.
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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.
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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. (Survey in Spanish)
Watch the Oct. 1 online open house hosted by Public Works on the design options.
Visit the City's website to learn 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.
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 house on proposed regulations
Read more about how to comment on the draft regulations.
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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.
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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:
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.
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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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