July 18, 2024

A message from Council Member Chavez

Dear neighbor,

Before I dive into this long update and I wanted to remind you that I have office hours at 8:00AM tomorrow. I hope to see many of you there. You can find more information in this newsletter. 

I also wanted to send an update related to the police union contract. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Communities Against Police Brutality, Minneapolis for A Better Police Contract, and all residents who provided public comments to the Council during the Administrative Enterprise Oversight Committee (AEO). Additionally, I appreciate my neighbors in Ward 9 for participating in community office hours, sending emails, and making phone calls regarding the police union contract.

An overwhelming 82% of Ward 9 residents that reached out to me expressed their desire for me to vote “no” on this contract. Your advocacy, no matter where you stand on issues, was crucial to helping me make this decision. And while it does not encompass the entire Ward, it helped me come to the decision to vote no today and to expect more for our residents. I am deeply thankful for your continued involvement in shaping policies that will help our neighborhoods.

I want to remind residents that on November 21, 2023, I sent a newsletter where I also communicated my thoughts on a future police union contract and a vote on bonuses that happened last fall. I shared my belief that this contract should include reigning in on off-duty work, negotiating the ending of coaching that prevents discipline and accountability, gaining more management control, firing officers with terrible records (addressing discipline), and finding ways to incentivize those who are doing the job well (like Inspector Gomez who works hard for the 3rd Precinct and who I appreciate).

And while there were big pay hikes and an increase in some management control, my main concerns were not addressed in this contract. In fact, this contract has attempted to codify the city's position on coaching. It specifies that discipline refers exclusively to written reprimands, suspensions, demotions, and discharges. Coaching is not named in the discipline component and there are no guardrails for it. 

I believe in historic pay increases, but I believe that those historic pay increases should come with historic and permanent reforms. I look forward to the next contract negotiations, and I hope that the Mayor begins to make changes in the policy manual, and I hope he doesn't wait for the consent decrees to do so. 

In addition, the Mayor’s Administration moved forward with a proposal that would have defunded critical public safety programs to pay for this contract. Including a Collaborative Public Safety Strategies program that was meant to reduce gun violence in East Phillips and Midtown Phillips (I authored this proposal in last years budget). It made cuts to the Cultural District Safety Ambassador program that I authored last year as well. This would be on 38th Street, East Lake Street, Franklin Ave and other Cultural Districts. It would have also used the rest of the public safety aid to pay for the contract. I was not willing to sacrifice community safety funding that we desperately need. 

When the Mayor came out with his proposal to defund comprehensive safety programs, the Council decided to protect comprehensive safety. Council Vice-President Chughtai worked hard to find an alternative with her substitute proposal, which led to the Council attempting to use part of the boardroom and meeting room renovation funding for the Minneapolis Convention Center to help pay for the police contract.

This renovation item felt like a want and not a need. I would rather pay for public safety efforts than improve cosmetic improvements for the convention center. I am ready to vote this item down (and based on the conversations on the dais today, so is the council). However, Council Vice-President Chughtai and Council Member Cashman found a way to fund the Convention Center board room and meeting room remodel using Downtown Assets, saving our community safety proposals and public safety aid. I am willing to compromise with this proposal and supported this today instead. 

That means the Council approved the budget proposal that paid for the police union contract,  saved our comprehensive safety programs and funding, and will allow the convention center to have its full funding intact. 

I hope the Mayor chooses to support this route instead of raising property taxes and cutting comprehensive safety initiatives. 

Ward 9 Community Office Hours

Please join our next community office hours on Friday, July 19th. We will be at Wildflyer Coffee (3262 Minnehaha Ave South) from 8:00AM - 9:30AM.

Update on East Lake Street Community Safety Efforts

At today’s City Council meeting, we approved two items I have been working on since 2022. The Lake Street Public Safety Coordinator Pilot with the Lake Street Council. This is a project that Council Member Chowdhury and I worked on with the Lake Street Greenway Partnership. We were able to author an amendment to the budget this past December to get this off the ground and I want to thank Director Amanda Harrington who worked diligently to get this out as quickly as possible. 

This Community Safety Coordinator will work directly with residents, businesses, and other community members along the Lake Street Cultural District corridor, will help develop a pilot community safety program focused on the East Lake Street corridor to include goals, strategies, procedures, performance measures, and progress tracking, work closely with community to connect residents/businesses with safety resources addressing prevention, response, and restoration, maintain visible presence on the Lake Street Cultural District corridor, and will help better coordinate our safety functions across the corridor.

I was also excited about the approval of a 24-month lease for the Lake Street Safety Center located at 2228 Lake St E with great access to transit, including it being next to the light rail and bus, as well as biking, walking, and driving. The site is located on East Lake Street at Hiawatha Ave, adjacent to the Lake Street Midtown Station. I also started working on this project in 2022, and this past December Council Member Koski, Council Member Chowdhury, and I successfully authored and passed a budget amendment for this. 

Resolution Expressing Support for Park Board Workers

I was proud to author a resolution with Council Member Wonsley and Council Member Chowdhury expressing support for Minneapolis Park Board Workers.  Supporting their right to fair treatment and equitable working conditions. Along with supporting the continuing efforts to negotiate sought-after terms and conditions of employment. I hope the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board recognizes the importance of these workers. 

We have the best parks in the nation. In part, because of these workers who deserve a fair contract that respects their dignity and worth. The recent storms that led to downed wires and fallen trees have shown how critical our park workers are to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all residents of the City of Minneapolis.

This passed with a near unanimous vote of 11-1. Council Member Palmisano was the lone no vote.

Phillips Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project and the Green Central Safe Routes to School Project

I was excited to author an agreement with Hennepin County for the Green Central Safe Routes to School Project to fund improvements at the intersections of Portland Avenue and Park Avenue on East 34th Street. This project overall is a great one, and will also help address some traffic safety issues on Park Ave and Portland Ave. 

I was also glad to author an additional two resolutions to support the Phillips Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project that would include the implementation of pedestrian focused safety improvements at select intersections along 24th Street, 26th Street, and 28th Street in the broader Phillips and the Green Central Safe Routes to School Project. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has excess federal funds due to project withdrawals and extensions and are able to distribute funds for these projects. 

I want to thank our incredible city staff for all their work on getting these improvements for our Ward.

Southside Greenway Project

I was proud to bring Ward 9 neighbors to the Climate and Infrastructure Committee to learn about the Southside Greenway Project. This is a proposed north-south bicycle and pedestrian corridor connecting 12 parks and trails in South Minneapolis. The concept has been developed through years of community engagement and advocacy. The route has been incorporated into long-range plans by the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Most of the route is also included in the City’s Transportation Action Plan and in the All Ages and Abilities Network Map.

The Southside Greenway would provide a safe, inviting route for people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, and roll. This aligns with the City's goal of having three out of five trips taken by walking, biking or transit by 2030. It would also support the Climate Equity Plan goals to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. I will continue to work with my neighbors to make this project a reality. 

Learn more here.

Analysis of other cities’ drug overdose prevention strategies

We need to do more to address the opioid epidemic. At today's full council meeting, Council President Payne and I directed the City Auditor's Office to undertake research to produce a national landscape analysis of other cities’ drug overdose prevention strategies.

• They will Identify current policies and programs related to the expanding access to fentanyl test strips and naloxone (public transit stations, dispensers, vending machines, municipal provision, and requirements at high-risk venues). 
• They will Identify current policies and programs related to Overdose Response Teams, whose goals include reducing overdose deaths, engaging overdose survivors, and providing treatment options).
• They will Identify implementation strategies, resources, and assessments, in example cites’ policies and programs and Identify good practices through any available measurement factors that can demonstrate the relative impact of example cities’ policies and programs.

This research will not entail Overdose Prevention Sites because at the last City Council meeting, we already accepted a grant to collaborate with St. Paul – Ramsey Health Department, on the efficacy, impact, and feasibility of Safe Recovery Sites.

I look forward to hearing the report back on this grant and staff direction so we can implement these sites and programs across Minneapolis. This opioid crisis is disproportionately impacting the Phillips area and this work can help us address it proactively.

Public Works Director Tour

On July 2, I met with Public Works Director Sexton at Wildflyer Coffee so we could look at areas in Ward 9. We went to the Hiawatha and Lake intersection and discussed the needed support for traffic calming, trash cleanup, graffiti prevention, and support on livability issues across our neighborhoods.

Seeing the issues our neighbors face is a first step to improving the lives of our residents. We also talked about no barrier job opportunities for the homeless and others in precarious housing situations that can help with this. 

I have engaged our Policy and Research team on this item and they feel confident that they will provide the council with a policy brief about this by November which means my office could make potential budget amendments for similar programs. 

Community Safety Grant from CenterPoint Energy for glucometer kits

Council Member Wonsley and I authored a resolution regarding a Community Safety Grant for the purchase of glucometer kits. CenterPoint Energy awarded the Minneapolis Fire this grant to provide firefighters with the ability to check blood glucose levels of patients on scene during an incident. The goal is to purchase a kit for each fire apparatus that is responding to calls in the city. I am excited about this as it will improve community safety for our residents. 

East Lake Street and Bloomington Ave South Clean-up

We had a great time at the July East Lake Street Litter Clean Up. The focus area this month was the near Lake Street and Bloomington Ave South in Powderhorn and Phillips.

Rental Pre-eviction Notification Ordinance Notice of Intent

At the full council meeting today I authored a notice of intent with Council President Payne and Council Member Chowdhury regarding a rental pre-eviction notification. We will officially begin the legislative process to amend the current 14-day pre-eviction notification to 30-days. This could help improve the chances of tenants who are facing rental evictions to receive legal aid services to be represented in court.  I’m excited to work on this policy with my colleagues to help reduce rental evictions in Minneapolis.

Michelle Phillips joins City of Minneapolis as Civil Rights director

Michelle Phillips was sworn in Tuesday, July 16, at City Hall. Mayor Frey nominated Phillips and the City Council unanimously confirmed her appointment in May.

As the Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee, the committee that exercises oversight over the Civil Rights Department, I look forward to working with her on improving the lives of Minneapolis residents.

Director Phillips joins the City after previously serving as the first Inspector General for the City of Oakland, California. She has a deep expertise in civilian oversight of police, providing leadership in the promotion of constitutional policing and building departmental infrastructure to ensure thorough and fair investigative processes. Prior to her service in Oakland, Phillips served as Deputy Inspector General with the City of Baltimore, leading an investigative team focused on rooting out fraud and abuse and building trust in local government.

The Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights is tasked with:

• enforcing the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances,
• investigating discriminatory practices,
• ensuring the protection of members of protected classes and
• promoting the understanding of civil rights among residents, businesses and government.

The department, through its Office of Police Conduct Review, also plays a critical role in implementing reform efforts required by the settlement agreement reached with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.  

Share your voice about the future of George Floyd Square

Join City staff and an engagement team from 4RM+ULA and the Cultural Wellness Center for a facilitated discussion to create a community-centered vision for the area. Topics for the third visioning workshop will include memorial locations, the Peoples Way site and right-of-way design priorities.

Visioning workshop on the future of George Floyd Square 5:30 – 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 The Square 3736 Chicago Ave. S. RSVP online.

Refreshments will be provided.

Find out more about the future of George Floyd Square and sign up for updates on the City website.

City announces new African American Heritage Work Group

The City has appointed 15 community members to serve on the African American Heritage Work Group. They will advise the Minneapolis City Council on efforts to document and honor African American history.

The group will focus on the Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context study. It will include research on 25 sites that are culturally relevant or historically significant to the City’s Black community. Three sites from the study will be nominated to the

Artists, educators, community leaders, and planners are among the volunteers selected for the work group. They will begin meeting in late July.

Read more about the African American Heritage Work Group and sign up for an email newsletter on the City website.

Find out about the Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context study

July is Disability Pride Month

This month is a time to celebrate Disability Pride. Honor the diversity within the disability community, reflect on issues that people with disabilities are facing and inspire action to make the world more inclusive and accessible. Disability Pride Month occurs in the United States every July to commemorate the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990.

The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill and updated in 2021 to ensure accessibility. Each color of the flag represents a different type of disability: physical (red), cognitive and intellectual (yellow), invisible/non-apparent and undiagnosed (white), psychosocial (blue) and sensory (green).

The Minnesota Council on Disability has several resources to better understand the history of disability rights, including stories from those with disabilities.

Recently the City of Minneapolis updated it’s ADA Transition Plan addressing the accessibility of city streets and sidewalks and is currently updating its ADA Action Plan which addresses the accessibility of city programs and services.

Protecting yourself with vaccines

In recent years, the City’s Health Department has significantly increased the number of clinics and free vaccines provided to community members, especially in diverse areas. The effort is paying off with more people getting vaccinated and a reduction in vaccine hesitancy.

You can help. Get yourself vaccinated for:

• COVID-19
• Flu
• Mpox
• MMR
• Tdap

Find a free vaccination clinic near you.

Consider hosting a free clinic in your neighborhood. Clinics can be added to already planned events or can be separate events. Staff and vaccines are provided at no cost.

Contact Sebastiana Cervantes for more information and to set up a clinic.

Read more about the City’s vaccine program on the City website.

Minneapolis trees program creating a climate legacy

Minneapolis is one of the country’s greenest cities according to EcoCation.

The City Trees program is creating a climate legacy by providing low-cost trees to Minneapolis property owners. Since the program began in 2006, the City has helped plant more than 20,000 trees.

Trees are available year-round to:

• Businesses
• Non-profits
• Organizations
• 5+ unit apartments

Residents in Minneapolis Green Zones are encouraged to participate and to plant shade trees for the most benefits, including natural cooling during the hotter months.

The Climate Legacy Initiative is funding the City Trees program.

See what tree programs are offered on the City website.

Watch a video and hear from our City Trees team.

Household hazardous waste collection events

Hennepin County is hosting community collection events for County residents to safely and properly dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes.

Minneapolis event 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, and Saturday, Aug. 10 Jenny Lind Elementary School (enter off Dupont Ave), 5025 Bryant Ave. N.

Learn what items are accepted, review safety guidelines and view all 2024 events on the Hennepin County website.

Minneapolis Black Business Week, July 22-28

Show your support for Black business development in Minneapolis with the City’s annual Black Business Week, July 22-28.

Highlights include:

• Black Business Week kickoff.
• Doing business with the City mini conference.
• Career and networking fair.
• Emerging developer project tour and social hour: Coliseum building
• East African business resource fair.
• West Broadway business area tour, discussion, and networking event.
• Pop-up markets.

Watch a video about Black Business Week, view a full list of events and register for events on the City website.

Creating a Climate Legacy: Green Cost Share program makes weatherization more affordable

As part of the Climate Legacy Initiative, the City’s Green Cost Share program is helping Minneapolis residents make weatherization and other energy-saving improvements to their homes.

Owners of single-family or 2- to 4-unit residential properties can receive funds to make their property more energy efficient through rebates of up to $14,000.

From insulation to air-source heat pumps, the City can help you save money on utility bills and make your home more comfortable year-round.

Minneapolis resident Jamie Laudert received City funds to make her 100-year-old home energy-efficient year-round.

Watch Jamie’s video.

Apply for funds to make your home more energy efficient on the City website.

Become a Cultural District Ambassador

This is not to be confused with the Cultural District Safety Ambassador Program I have been working on.

The City of Minneapolis is calling on individuals, cultural groups, arts spaces, schools and neighborhood organizations to become Cultural District ambassadors. In this role you can engage deeply with your community, celebrate its rich cultural heritage and contribute to the vibrancy of our city. Join us in creating a thriving, connected, and dynamic community experience.

The City's seven Cultural Districts are:

• 38th Street
• Cedar Avenue South
• Central Avenue
• East Lake Street
• Franklin Avenue East
• Lowry Avenue North
• West Broadway

The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 26.

Apply on the City website.

Transit Assistance Program enrollment now available at Minneapolis Service Center

On June 8, 2023, Council President Payne and I passed a Legislative Directive for a high-level analysis of the potential to expand and establish a Metropolitan Council’s Transit Assistance Program (TAP) partnership with the City of Minneapolis. I am glad this program will now be available at the Minneapolis Service Center.

The Transit Assistance Program offers discounted transit fares for low-income residents, making it easier to commute to work, school, medical appointments and other essential activities. With a reduced fare TAP card, riders pay just $1 per ride, even during rush hour.

Now, qualifying riders can sign up for a TAP card at the Minneapolis Service Center in downtown. With its location near high traffic areas like the Government Center and Metro Transit’s Blue and Green light rail lines, the service center will be easily accessible by thousands.

Minneapolis Service Center Public Service Building, skyway level 505 Fourth Ave. S.

Find out more about the new location on the City website.

Start your enrollment on the Metro Transit website.

Contact the Ward 9 Office

Email: jason.chavez@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2209

We've moved while work is being done in City Hall. Our office is in:

Room 100, Public Service Center
450 South 4th St.
Get directions

For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311.