|
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.
City election officials have opened two additional Early Vote Centers, making early in-person voting more convenient for even more Minneapolis voters.
There are now four places Minneapolis voters can cast early ballots:
- The new North Early Vote Center at Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
- The new South Early Vote Center at Longfellow Park Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.
- The Early Vote Center at Election & Voter Services offices, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
- The Hennepin County Government Center, 300 6th St. S. (for all Hennepin County voters)
Along with avoiding Election Day lines and crowds during the pandemic, Early Vote Centers are especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting.
All four early voting locations are open through Nov. 2. For hours and other information on early in-person voting, go to vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person.
Drop off mail ballots now
Because Election Day is less than one week away, mail delivery may not be able to return completed absentee ballots in time to be counted. Instead, City election officials recommend dropping off completed ballots at one of 13 mail ballot drop-off locations now open through Nov. 3.
Voters dropping off ballots from other voters can bring no more than three completed ballots (not counting their own ballots). They will need to show identification with name and signature and complete simple paperwork.
On Election Day, mail ballots can only be dropped off at one of the 13 drop-off locations until 3 p.m. and cannot be dropped off at regular polling places.
|
In a video message, Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo discuss how City leaders are working with partners to ensure public safety before, during and after Election Day on Nov. 3.
The City is taking all threats seriously and coordinating with local, state and community partners on preparedness efforts.
Watch the video.
|
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has released guidance to the public about federal and state laws that protect voters from interference or intimidation, entitled “Know your rights to vote safely and without intimidation.”
Ellison encourages anyone who experiences any interference or intimidation in voting or attempting to vote to report it to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office at 877-600-VOTE.
Watch the video, "Know Your Rights: How to Vote Safely."
The State of Minnesota has approved requests by the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County for property tax relief for properties damaged during civil unrest.
Following the civil unrest that occurred after the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, the City’s Assessor’s Office began reviewing more than 900 properties in Minneapolis that were reported to have potential damage from the civil unrest and determined there was more than $106 million in reassessed value lost as a result of the damage.
The amount of property tax relief for impacted property owners is estimated at more than $1.7 million for 2020. Of that, the State will be reimbursing the City and other local taxing authorities $1.3 million. The City’s Assessor’s Office collaborated with departments across the enterprise along with partners from Hennepin and Ramsey counties and the Department of Revenue to seek this relief for taxpayers.
Assessment officials have determined that just over 600 properties of the 900 properties reviewed sustained some level of damage and approximately 75 sustained significant damage or were destroyed during the civil unrest and are eligible for property tax relief.
Read more.
A new online City resource presents more than 40 different dashboards of continuously updated data. Minneapolis DataSource pulls data sets on many aspects of the City’s work and services including elections, housing, health, community safety (for example, use of force and crime statistics), outdoor air quality, city workforce demographics, and vacant and condemned properties. Minneapolis is using technology to provide services and solve city problems and sharing the data with anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Start using the dashboard to find information.
Six major boards and commissions are seeking applications for people to help shape important City decisions. Most of the boards and commissions below meet between one and four times a month.
Examples of past board and commission work includes reviewing a proposed charter amendment related to the creation of a Department of Community Safety & Violence Prevention (Charter Commission), comparing national best practices with current MPD policies for officer interactions with those experiencing mental health crises (Police Conduct Oversight Commission), and reviewing zoning changes to allow new affordable housing options (Planning Commission).
Read more.
|
Partners from the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and State of Minnesota are coming together to encourage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Hennepin County to come inside as winter weather arrives.
A broad coalition of government agencies, nonprofit and philanthropic partners are currently operating the largest and safest emergency shelter system that has ever existed in Hennepin County as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These collective efforts have thus far allowed us to avoid the devastating impacts COVID-19 has had on people experiencing homelessness in other cities.
There is existing emergency shelter capacity, especially for women, children and families. Emergency shelters continue to see beds becoming newly available each day, and some go unused each night. There are also around 200 current vacancies in board and lodge facilities, which provide low-barrier housing that people can access today.
Partners are also working to open new spaces that meet the individual needs of people sleeping outside before the end of the year, and to make permanent improvements to ensure COVID-19 safety guidelines continue to be met at existing and new shelter spaces, as they have since the beginning of the pandemic.
By the end of 2020, partners, including city, county, state and philanthropy, plan to invest $55 million to open at least seven sites to provide emergency shelter, low-barrier housing and protective housing for people experiencing homelessness, as well as enhance existing shelters and expand support services and street outreach. An additional 670 units of very affordable housing designated for people experiencing homelessness will have opened or begun construction by the end of this year.
Read more.
Street sweeping has resumed. Keep an eye on the interactive map on the website for the most up-to-date schedule, and as always, watch for signs on your street at least 24 hours before a planned sweep.
During 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. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.
It’s no secret that the seasons are changing. For many Minnesotans, that might come with a draft of cold air across the living room or an annual heating bill increase. No one can stop the seasons from turning, but the City of Minneapolis wants you to stay comfortable at home and keep your energy bills low, and the Home Energy Squad can help.
Their recommendations can help you improve everything from the energy performance of large equipment like furnaces, to the smaller, easier-to-overlook energy users like lightbulbs.
While usually performed in person, Home Energy Squad is now offering a free virtual home energy audit. If you are working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have noticed that asking your home to act as both office and living space can really increase how much energy you use along with your monthly utility bill. After your free virtual visit, you and your energy expert may decide that the best next step is an in-person visit, which can be performed safely with health and safety guidelines in mind. Free in-person visits are available to income-qualified households.
Call 651-328-6220 or visit mncee.org/hes today for a free virtual audit that will help you discover ways to save energy in your home.
The City has extended the comment period for the draft built form regulations to Nov. 9. The public comment period closes with a public hearing before the Minneapolis Planning Commission, which will vote on forwarding a recommendation to the City Council.
The built form regulations 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.
Learn more.
|
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 tests and flu shots. All are welcome. You do not need insurance for the test. The flu shots are covered by insurance. If you have insurance, bring your insurance card for the flu shot. If you don’t have insurance, the flu shot is free.
-
Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at Hennepin United Methodist, 511 Groveland Ave.
Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
-
Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 Second St. NE
Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14
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 through Oct. 30
Brian Coyle Center, 420 15th Ave. S.
Note: Double-check with Pillsbury United for possible updates before heading over.
If you can’t attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you.
Watch and share these short videos in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong by the Minnesota Department of Health about what to expect.
The City Council's Budget Committee has begun reviewing departments' proposed 2021 budgets and will continue through November. The City Council is scheduled to vote on budget adoption Dec. 9.
Mayor Jacob Frey's proposed budget calls for a 5.75% maximum levy increase. With a 12% increase in the overall tax base growth, three-quarters of Minneapolis residential property owners will see a decrease in their property tax bills with the median-valued household set to experience a $59 yearly decrease.
Public hearings on the proposed 2021 City budget are planned for Nov. 16, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. Visit the City’s 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.
|
Now that the public comment period has closed on the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines, the Neighborhood & Community Relations Department is reviewing the 244 public comments received and creating a summary. The comments and summary will be available on the Neighborhoods 2020 webpage before the City Council takes action.
Next steps
-
Nov. 5: Public Health and Safety Committee public hearing and presentation.
-
Nov. 12: Budget Committee presentation to discuss the program allocations and base funding amounts.
-
Nov. 13: Full City Council vote.
By voting on the program guidelines before the budget, the City Council can discuss the funding needed to implement the program as designed.
Over the next few weeks, NCR will send out more information as it becomes available.
Find City Council meeting calendars, agendas and decisions on the City of Minneapolis’ Legislative Information Management System (LIMS).
Read more about Neighborhoods 2020 here.
The governor's latest extension of the peacetime emergency means that the suspension of evictions and landlord-initiated lease terminations remains in place until Nov. 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 helps 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.
Workers have a variety of overlapping protections to navigate COVID-19 and its effects in the workplace.
The State of Minnesota and City of Minneapolis can help clarify best practices and requirements for workplace safety. Watch this video and check online for more information. Call 311, or MN OSHA at 651-284-5050, to report safety problems in a business or seek additional guidance.
Every COVID-19 preparedness plan must ensure that sick workers stay home. 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 public health.
In general, employees (of government or private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees), 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 may be reimbursed with tax credits. For more information about Coronavirus Leave, call 1-866-4-US-WAGE and check out the following resources: informational video, eligibility tool, poster and FAQs.
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.
|
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.
| 
