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Recently, Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Member Michael Rainville, and Council Member Lisa Goodman joined City staff and downtown business leaders to announce $750,000 in ongoing funding to support the mayor’s Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup recommendations.
The mayor convened the Workgroup in late 2022 to explore opportunities to reinvent and revitalize the storefront experience downtown, both on the street and skyway levels. The Workgroup announced its recommendations in early June – and the mayor committed to include funding for some of the recommendations in his 2024 budget. The proposed funding is in the Arts & Cultural Affairs department and in the Community Planning & Economic Development department.
The group of leaders also announced 485 events happening in the downtown corridor between Thanksgiving and the New Year, including a Holiday market at the Dayton’s Project, lunchtime holiday performances in the Crystal Court in IDS, and several Chameleon holiday pop-ups featuring local BIPOC and woman-owned businesses.
The City of Minneapolis’ Labor Relations team has been in active negotiations with the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis (POFM) since September 6. On Wednesday, November 8, both parties signed a letter of agreement related to retention and recruitment incentives. The full contract negotiations between both parties remain ongoing.
Outlined in the letter of agreement, eligible employees in the POFM bargaining unit will receive incentives over the next three years. Existing employees will receive $18,000 over three years and new hires will receive $15,000 over three years, according to a specific payment schedule.
In return for these incentives, the City will reform the shift bidding process, gaining managerial authority over the police department’s internal process. Through this permanent change, the Police Chief will gain additional authority for assigning officers to vacant shifts, significantly decreasing the number of days a particular shift is vacant. The current shift bidding process requires that vacant shifts remain open for 28 days before the Chief can assign staff to those shifts. With the new reform from this letter of agreement, the Chief will be able to assign staff after just 10 days of the shift being vacant.
“As an employer, we need to compete to recruit and retain police officers – that's no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention,” said Mayor Frey. “Our officers are doing incredibly hard work every day, and we need to pay them accordingly. It’s also clear that stronger managerial authority for the Department and Chief is a key piece of our overarching reform and safety work. This letter of agreement is a step in the right direction to both pay our existing and new officers more and strengthen our ability to effectively staff critical shifts.”
The mayor’s administration has submitted a Request for Council Action (RCA) to the City Council asking they approve the letter of agreement. This RCA will be ready for consideration at the City Council’s Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 14.
The agreement would become effective immediately once published, following Council approval.
This past weekend, Mayor Frey joined Tony Sanneh and Mayor Carter for the first-ever annual Stars of the Cities Minneapolis vs. St. Paul high school soccer game.
"I think I can safely say both Mayor Carter and I were super impressed during the Stars of the Cities Minneapolis vs. St. Paul soccer game today. These players sure did the Twin Cities proud," said Mayor Frey.
The City of Minneapolis has accepted a $3.7 million personal guaranty as proof of East Phillips Neighborhood Institute’s (EPNI) ability to pay its share of the $11.4 million purchase price of the Roof Depot site in south Minneapolis. This personal guaranty met the Nov. 8 deadline outlined in the purchase agreement approved by the City Council on Sept. 7.
The sale of the site to EPNI is not yet final. The City looks forward to the State of Minnesota satisfying its commitment from May of 2023 to provide $2 million to the City as a good-faith deposit, which was due July 15, 2023. Additionally, the Legislature must provide another $5.7 million to the project in 2024 to satisfy terms of the $11.4 million purchase price.
If all terms of the purchase agreement are satisfied, the sale of the site is scheduled to close on or before July 15, 2024.
"We’re pleased to hear that EPNI has secured a personal guaranty for $3.7 million,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “The deal we struck with the Minneapolis legislative delegation and EPNI back in May made clear that if the City’s water fund was repaid in full – both with specific funds from EPNI and from the State – we would sell the site. I’m happy this collaboration has seen progress, and we look forward to the Legislature securing the remaining funds next session.”
“Today is a good day for the city of Minneapolis and for the residents of East Phillips,” said State Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura. “EPNI has secured the necessary funding to help purchase the Roof Depot site, and a project grounded in community, resiliency and sustainability is one step closer to coming to fruition. I look forward to continuing to champion this project at the Legislature to ensure additional funding is secured next session.”
Just in time for the holiday season, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC), in partnership with Secondhand Hounds, is introducing the Pawsitive Impact Foster Program to help local dogs in Minnesota find a forever home.
This partnership allows Secondhand Hounds to connect dogs who have been struggling in a shelter environment with willing foster homes in our community while also placing them in a foster home versus a shelter environment while the dogs are under MACC’s care.
Pawsitive Impact is launching in time for the holiday season with the hopes of finding new homes for as many dogs as possible.
MACC began their foster program in May of 2022 and since then around 750 animals have gone into foster homes. More information on adopting animals, volunteering, and supporting Animal Care & Control is available on the City website.
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Watch your mail for information on what to do when the City of Minneapolis declares a Snow Emergency. The City has sent out about 182,000 Snow Emergency mailers, one to each household in the city. The mailer has graphics and text showing the parking rules during the three phases of a Snow Emergency. Avoid a ticket and tow, and help crews do a complete job by moving your car when a Snow Emergency is declared.
Hold on to your mailer throughout the snow season and have it handy whenever a Snow Emergency is declared. It explains the Snow Emergency parking rules and ways to stay informed during the snow season. It’s also important to help neighbors and visitors know the rules.
Snow Emergencies are declared when there’s enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. Moving parked vehicles allows crews to plow the full width of the street.
When the snow flies, City Public Works crews have enormous jobs to do, with more than 1,400 miles of streets, parkways and alleys to clear. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of Snow Emergency rules can be ticketed or towed.
Sign up for alerts
There are several ways to know when the City has declared a Snow Emergency. We suggest getting your information in more ways than one so it’s less likely your car will be towed.
Read more about how to stay informed, and sign up for alerts on the City website.
Immunizations are available this fall and winter in the United States that can help protect against three major respiratory diseases: COVID-19, flu and RSV. Immunization against these viruses remains the best protection for reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalizations, long-term health impacts and death.
Recommendations for these immunizations vary based on age, pregnancy status or medical conditions.
To find flu and COVID-19 vaccines, visit vaccines.gov.
To learn more, including how to find recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
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