Council concludes historic budget markup

Dear Community, 

Council just concluded two days of Budget Markups. I am proud to share that all of my amendments passed with unanimous or nearly unanimous support. My amendments total $7,247,000 and all stem directly from priorities residents have shared with my office.

This budget cycle, Council Members worked together collaboratively to bring forward working class priorities. We worked hand-in-hand with our residents to bring forward massive investments into public safety initiatives that go beyond policing, worker’s and renters’ rights, and pilot programs to fill gaps in city services. Residents told us clearly what they needed and Council rose to the challenge, using our full budgetary authority to do so.

I look forward to voting in support of the omnibus budget on December 7th. 

Sincerely, 

Council Member Wonsley

City Council Concludes Historic Budget Markup with Unified Support for Transformative Investments in 2024

The process of amending the Mayor’s proposed budget included major investments in new programs and expanded use of the Council’s budgetary authority. 

The Minneapolis City Council has concluded their deliberations on the 2024 Budget Markup and finalized an omnibus budget to be formally approved next week. Council met as the Budget Committee on November 30 and December 1 to consider forty-nine amendments to the Mayor’s Proposed 2024 Budget, a $1.8 billion budget proposal.

Council approved all forty-seven amendments, totaling almost $30 million. Forty-one amendments passed with unanimous votes and six passed with near unanimous support.

The Budget Chair, Council Member Koski, led the Council in exercising their full budgetary authority during the process, including several amendments strengthening the budgeting process to increase Council ability to advocate for resident priorities in future budgets. 

Notable amendments include:

Community Safety & Police Reform:

• Creating an Interim Safety Center for Third Precinct Residents to file police reports, get information, and connect with our public safety system. 
• Increasing domestic violence navigators and resources for survivors. 

Public Works and Infrastructure:

• Enhancing funding for an additional 40 traffic calming projects to be completed in 2024. 
• Establishing funds to repair the Witch’s Hat to be safely reopened.

Neighborhood & Community Relations:

• Amplifying funds to optimize services and resources to our immigrant, refugee, and senior community members. 
• Establishing funding to continue the Open Streets event series. 

Climate Action & Public Health:

• Ensuring culturally specific opioids recovery and harm reduction services to be implemented. 
• Supporting community health and wellbeing in high-need areas throughout the city. 

Good Governance:

• Advancing funding for a new Legislative Department with a dedicated nonpartisan team to better serve residents through enhanced community outreach and engagement programs, communications, and constituent services.
• Improving the city's financial policies to strengthen government oversight and transparency. 

Affordable Housing & Homelessness:

• Expanding renter relocation assistance funds to better safeguard our most vulnerable community members from displacement 
• Creating funds for a multitude of social services to be coordinated for people experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, food insecurity, and deep poverty to help meet basic needs in a safe and welcoming environment.

Economic Inclusion & Recovery: 

• Building up the Developers Technical Assistance Program (DTAP) to make certain that more resources can be made available to small and emerging real estate developers. 
• Ensuring fair raises for some of the lowest-paid city workers who support basic civic services. 
• Increasing labor standards co-enforcement programs to protect workers’ rights. 

Amendments also included several new pilot programs to collect data on the parameters of future permanent programs, including:

• Safety ambassadors for the seven cultural districts (38th Street South, Cedar Avenue South, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East, West Broadway, Lowry Avenue North, Uptown, Dinkytown, Mill District, and East Hennepin) - staff in key commercial corridors who increase safety through visibility and connect residents to social services and resources. 
• Sidewalk snow and ice removal- City-led clearing of key segments of Pedestrian Priority sidewalks and transit stops; increased enforcement to property owners with repeated violations; and sidewalk clearing services for seniors and elders.  
• Public safety pilots for the proposed Third Precinct/Community Safety Center- $4 million to pilot new unarmed public safety programs rooted in diversion, restorative, and prevention services, at 2633 Minnehaha Ave.