 CM Jenkins with CP Payne, city employees and community members receiving the National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week Resolution
Dear Neighbors,
This past council meeting I was proud to bring two resolutions honoring “National Transgender Children Day” and “Recognizing October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week, October 20 – 26, 2024.” As a person who lives with and confronts both issues, I am honored to bring attention and awareness to these concerns. According to the website, “National Transgender Children Day, observed on October 26 every year, is a day to honor and acknowledge all transgender children who have long been ‘hiding in the closet’ and cannot, for whatever reason, ‘come out.’ It is a day to open your arms and welcome these children and let them feel included in the family and community. Transgender children are less likely to announce their gender status as compared to transgender adults. This is because their survival is mainly dependent on their parents’ reactions to their declaration. Hence, parents should strive to be more understanding to them from this day onward.”
Subsequently, this year’s NDEAM theme, “Advancing Equity and Access,” emphasizes the need to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities to prepare for and succeed in employment.
We also addressed climate change concerns by passing a legislative directive to look at fees related to Pollution Control Annual Registration (PCAR), which charges a fee for those creating excessive carbon emissions into the environment. The move will study and potentially charge additional fees to some of the largest polluters. In full disclosure I voted against this item, as it was drafted, because it names the fees prior to the study being done to accurately determine what those fees can legally be. But I want to be clear that I support the intent, it is the process that concerns me as it potentially puts the City and therefore taxpayers on the hook for any litigation that may come later.
I hope that you all will join myself and Council Members Koski and Chowdhury for the South Minneapolis Senior Fair on Wednesday, October 23rd at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church. You can read more details about the fair below.
Lastly, no matter the outcome of Sunday’s game, we are proud of our Minnesota Lynx for playing a great season!! I hope you enjoyed this beautiful Fall weekend.
Love,
Andrea
 CM Jenkins with CP Payne, CVP Chughtai, and City Attorney Anderson presenting the National Transgender Children Day Resolution
 With Election Day just a couple weeks away, the main Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., is extending voting hours. Elections & Voter Services is also opening two more early voting sites. Anyone who can vote in Minneapolis on Election Day can vote early at these sites or any of the pop-up voting events regardless of where they live in the city.
Beginning Oct. 22, Urban League at 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. and Bethel Lutheran Church at 4120 17th Ave. S. are also open to serve Minneapolis voters.
The last day of early voting is Monday, Nov. 4, which is the day before Election Day, and hours Nov. 4 are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Find all the early voting dates, times and locations on the City website.
One-day in-person early voting locations
Minneapolis residents can visit one of our 11 one-day pop-up early voting locations to cast their ballot. Each of these sites is open one day only between Tuesday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Nov. 1.
Find pop-up voting locations, dates and other details on the City website.
Early voting by mail
Voters can apply to vote by mail and check on the status of their mailed ballot on the City’s website. We recommend applying for a mail ballot no later than Oct. 29. Consider applying earlier if you plan to both receive your ballot by mail and mail your ballot back. Ballots can also be dropped off at any early voting location during voting hours. Your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Ballots may be dropped off until 8 p.m. on Election Day at Election & Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin Ave. Ballots may not be returned to the polls on Election Day.
Preparing for Election Day
If you’re planning to cast your ballot on Election Day, Nov. 5:
The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, go to the City website.
 The public is invited to attend our final engagement event on the future of George Floyd Square. The City and engagement team will host a dinner dialogue Oct. 29 to share a vision for the memorials, streets and Peoples’ Way site. The vision will guide the development of George Floyd Square.
The City and engagement team (4RM+ULA and the Cultural Wellness Center) have hosted five visioning workshops since the spring of 2024 and have organized community input into a final vision for George Floyd Square.
The final vision for George Floyd Square will include:
- The racial and cultural values and priorities that should serve as the foundation for the future of George Floyd Square.
- The criteria for the use of the Peoples’ Way site and selecting a community-centered owner.
- Locations for future memorials and how the City can support memorial processes.
- A concept layout for the streets and sidewalks that aligns with the future use of the Peoples’ Way site and accommodates memorials within the public right of way.
Dinner dialogue on the future of George Floyd Square 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 Calvary Lutheran Church, 3901 Chicago Ave.
Food and refreshments will be served; please RSVP.
Read more about the event on the City website.
Attend the free Oct. 23 seniors fair. The seniors fair is tailored for our senior community members and caregivers. The day will feature workshops, an elected officials panel, a resource fair, and a free breakfast and lunch. The workshops will cover yoga and meditation, City services, public safety and connecting with community.
Free rides
Metro Transit will provide free rides to and from the seniors fair. Get your voucher online or by mail:
Seniors fair 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave. S.
Schedule
Raffle with prizes to be announced.
9 a.m. - Welcome and breakfast 10 a.m. - Morning workshops: yoga for all – mind and body; City services (presented by Public Works and 311) such as street maintenance and design, broken streetlight repairs, snow removal, solid waste, recycling, 311 operations and top service requests. 11 a.m. - Resource fair and lunch Noon - Panel discussion with local elected officials including City Council Members Andrea Jenkins, Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury. 1 p.m. - Afternoon workshops: the City’s holistic approach to community safety, unarmed responses, embedded dispatch and crime prevention; and making community connections through art.
The seniors fair is sponsored by Wards 8, 11 and 12. Watch the video invitation.
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 Ts Madison will headline the 10th Trans Equity Summit Oct. 30. The free summit will feature workshops, speakers and panel discussions at the McNamara Alumni Center.
Madison is known for her candor on LGBTQ+ issues and is the first Black trans woman to star in and produce her own reality series, “The Ts Madison Experience.” She is also a recurring judge on the popular reality tv show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Madison’s lived experiences that led to her advocacy and voice for the trans and gender non-conforming community will be part of her keynote speech, which is designed with a fireside chat feel in mind.
The Trans Equity Summit is an event for trans and gender non-conforming community members to connect to resources and each other, and for all attendees to learn more about issues impacting their communities. Panel and workshop topics during the summit include:
- Combating transphobic violence: intersectional approaches to addressing risk.
- Belonging: building a support system for trans youths and beyond.
- Trans safety beyond the streets: combating violence in housing and the workplace.
- Building a trans-led response to violence: leadership and organizing.
Hosted by the City of Minneapolis, the 2024 Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit is free and open to the public.
Trans Equity Summit: “A Safe and Thriving Trans Community” 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall, 200 Oak St. SE
For general questions about the Trans Equity Summit, please email City staff.
Sign up
Sign up now to attend; space is limited.
The Minneapolis City Council has approved municipal consent for the Blue Line Light Rail Extension. The City’s consent involves the station locations and alignment of the project. The proposed route starts at the Target Field station and extends through north Minneapolis up to Brooklyn Park. The council resolution highlights economic and transit benefits. It also advocates for anti-displacement work supporting residents and businesses.
The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County lead the project. Municipal consent means that all cities along the proposed route must approve certain physical components. The project will go ahead with final design and an environmental work plan.
Read more about the Blue Line extension resolution on the City website.
This fall marks the fifth year of the Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative. The program helps Minneapolis families and students experiencing homelessness with housing or housing stability. More than 1,800 Minneapolis families representing 5,300 students have benefitted from the program.
This year, the initiative also saw an increase in school stability. That means the number of Minneapolis students enrolled in the program are more likely to stay in the same school for the academic year and make more connections with peers and teaching staff.
Resources
Families in immediate need of eviction prevention resources can reach out for these resources:
The initiative is a collaboration among the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, and the YMCA of the North. The Pohlad Family Foundation provided initial grant funding and has consistently been the primary funder of the Housing Stability Fund.
Read more about Stable Homes Stable Schools on the City website.
 October is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, and Minneapolis Animal Care & Control has plenty of four-legged friends available for adoption as the shelter is at maximum capacity.
The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) through the Subaru Loves Pets initiative granted the City $4,000 to cover adoption fees during a “clear the shelter” event this month. Normally Minneapolis residents pay no adoption fees for cats or adult dogs but $250 for dogs 6 months and younger. Non-residents normally pay a $250 adoption fee for any of the pets.
Adoptable cats and dogs are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. While adoption fees are covered, licensing fees for cities of residence still apply.
Clear the shelter event Community members can take home a furry companion with no adoption fee (normally $0-$250.) 1-5 p.m. Oct. 25 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 26
The Best Friends Society has also awarded $10,000 to the City to waive first-time impound fees (up to $85) for cats and dogs to reunite them with their owners – now through the end of the year.
Find adoptable pets on the City website.
The Cold Weather Rule is now in effect. The Cold Weather Rule means that if you can’t pay your home heat bill, your heat can’t be shut off Oct. 1-April 30. If you get a notice about disconnecting your primary heat source, make sure to immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan.
Find resources on the State of Minnesota website. This information is also available in Español/Spanish, Hmoob/Hmong and Soomaali/Somali.
Crews are preparing to sweep streets across Minneapolis this month and November to clean the streets before winter. Street sweeping helps keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and from ending up in our lakes and creeks and the Mississippi River.
Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb street sweeping throughout the city Tuesday, Oct. 22. 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 hot pink “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. 21, 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.
Find ways to stay informed of the parking rules.
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The City of Minneapolis has selected the awardees for the 2024 Minneapolis Cultural Districts Fund. In its first year, the fund will grant 65 awards totaling $690,000 across the city’s seven cultural districts. This fund supports:
- An arts ambassador for each cultural district.
- Festivals, cultural venues and cultural spaces.
- Pop-up projects and creative activations.
The projects and arts ambassadors will showcase a vibrant tapestry of community engagement, artistic expression, and cultural celebration across the seven Minneapolis cultural districts. The districts are: Lowry Avenue North, 38th Street, Cedar Avenue South, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East and West Broadway.
Highlights of the funded projects include:
- Transforming train cars into mural canvases.
- Engaging community elders, stakeholders and youths to document and exhibit Native stories.
- Art workshops to empower youths through self-expression.
- Events featuring Día de los Muertos, art demos, and workshops connecting diverse residents.
- A monthly photo exhibition, iron pour, and a celebration of Native artists.
- Northside Art Crawl revitalizing the local art economy.
- Showcasing local fashion designers and artists.
This initiative provides critical financial support to empower local artists, creative entrepreneurs, community place makers and cultural organizations. Read more about the projects, recipients and districts on the City website.
Whether sitting around with friends or making s’mores, be prepared whenever you build a backyard fire. Burning wood can affect local air quality by increasing harmful pollutants in the air, which creates health risks for the community.
Be a good neighbor
Wood smoke is especially harmful to older adults, children and anyone with asthma. Follow these steps to be a good neighbor:
- Let your neighbors know before you start a backyard fire. It’ll give them a chance to close their windows.
- Limit your number of fires, and consider a different location if your backyard is too close to your neighbors.
Follow the rules to keep everyone safe
- Make sure the fire is 25 feet away from a building and has a barrier around it.
- Keep a fire extinguisher and bucket of water or hose nearby.
- Don’t burn when the wind exceeds 10 mph or when the air quality is poor.
- Never burn treated or painted wood, cardboard boxes, trash, or debris because the smoke can be toxic.
- Minneapolis allows outdoor recreational fires from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Keep your fires less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.
- Fires must be supervised by someone 18 or older.
- Don’t burn when the air quality is poor. Sign up for air quality notifications.
Learn more about City rules for recreational fires. Fines start at $200. If you think someone is violating the rules, call 311.
Read more on the City website.
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Months of community engagement about the City’s proposal to redevelop the property at 3000 Minnehaha Ave., the site of the former 3rd Police Precinct, shows support for a new democracy center and community space.
A demographically representative poll found 63% of respondents support the democracy center proposal. The survey found even stronger support from people living within the 3rd Precinct, where there was a 70% approval rate.
The proposal
The City is proposing to relocate Elections & Voter Services into the building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. The building would become the new home to the City’s Early Vote Center, where it would be more centrally located and connected to transportation than it is now, and serve an area with historically lower voter turnout. Elections & Voter Services would also coordinate mail balloting, hospital voting, voter outreach and engagement, and pop-up voting events at the democracy center. More than 8,000 square feet would be dedicated to community use.
Next steps
Open house materials will be posted on the project website. Community members can send comments by email through Oct. 11. After the open house, the report will be presented to the City Council at its Oct. 15 Committee of the Whole meeting. The City’s proposed timeline would have the site open as early as 2026.
Read more about the proposal and the survey on the City website.
From supporting renter rights to creating healthier homes and neighborhoods, our community and City offer a wide range of renting, housing and health services. The Minneapolis departments of Regulatory Services and Health are bringing several resources to you this fall at two fairs open to everyone.
Overcome common renting issues
More than half of Minneapolis households rent their homes. We’re here to support renters and rental property owners every step of the way. Come find help with common renting issues such as renter rights, your role as a property owner, maintenance and repair issues, retaliation, and mediation between a property owner and renter.
Free vaccines and health resources
Nobody wants to miss school, vacations or the holidays with family. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and the community. Get your free COVID and flu shots at our fair.
Other health resources involve these programs: Air Quality, Green Careers, Lead and Healthy Homes, Emergency Preparedness and City Trees.
Renter rights and health resource fairs
Whether you have questions about a renting issue or are curious about health programs available through the City, all are welcome.
9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 9 Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.
4-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
 City customers’ garbage day the week of Nov. 25-30 will be their last 2024 pickup of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings.
Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curb line next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day. Set yard waste out in a reusable container, in compostable bags (paper or BPI-certified compostable plastic bags – look for the BPI logo) or bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).
Other requirements
- Reusable containers must be 32-38 gallons in size and at least 26 inches high with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided containers.
- Any container, bag or bundle must weigh less than 40 pounds.
- Branches must be less than 3 inches in diameter and less than 3 feet long.
Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.
Raking leaves into the street is against the law and bad for our lakes, creeks and river.
City customers are encouraged to set out properly prepared yard waste as soon as possible. There will be no additional 2024 yard waste service after the last scheduled pickup.
For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can check the City website or call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 Monday-Friday.
 Right now, City staff are looking at services that organizations may provide in the community safety center spaces.
Lake Street Safety Center
The lease for the Lake Street Safety Center building, 2228 E. Lake St., has been signed. Construction, design and build-out will begin soon. The City has hired Minneapolis 311 customer service agents who will work out of the Lake Street Safety Center supporting non-emergency requests. The Lake Street Safety Center is projected to open in November.
South Minneapolis Community Safety Center
From feedback gathered during community engagement March-May, community members would like to see services and resources in the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center. These include culturally specific navigators, and services around domestic violence, mental health, victims of human trafficking, and youths. City staff will gather proposals from organizations that provide those services.
The South Minneapolis Community Safety Center is projected to open in fall 2025.
More information
The City of Minneapolis will host an online meeting Oct. 22 about rail safety during construction of the METRO Green Line extension. The project is also known as the Southwest light rail. The extension will add 14.5 miles to the existing METRO Green Line, which connects downtown Minneapolis with downtown Saint Paul.
Residents will get information and have the opportunity to ask questions. Participants include the Southwest LRT Project Office, Twin Cities & Western Railroad Company and the Minneapolis Fire Department.
Rail safety meeting 6-7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22
Join the meeting on Microsoft Teams. Meeting ID: 261 660 102 554 Passcode: wnXDzJ
Or call in: 612-276-6670,,544056463# Phone conference ID: 544 056 463#
Bond rating agencies S&P Global and Fitch Ratings have assigned the highest credit rating possible to the City of Minneapolis for the second year in a row. The AAA rating to the $123.59 general obligation bonds indicates strong economic growth and revenue recovery for the City.
The AAA rating affirms the City’s creditworthiness and provides confidence to the bond holders. This also allows the City to borrow funds to finance critical capital projects at a lower interest rate and save taxpayer dollars.
“The AAA rating reflects Minneapolis’ highly productive economy and a management team that consistently has built reserves to a high level…responding to forward planning,” said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Jessica Olejak.
The report also speaks to the City’s stable outlook. Fitch Ratings says the AAA score incorporates strong demographics driven by high levels of educational attainment and a history of relatively low unemployment rates. It also credits the City’s amenities and cultural attractions. Fitch calls Minneapolis the second-largest economic center in the Midwest next to Chicago.
Read more about the AAA credit rating on the City website.
Last month the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department welcomed a class of 23 new officers at a swearing-in ceremony at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. The new officers include 11 new recruits and 12 laterals—officers who transferred to the MPD from other departments. This new class includes the first Somali-American woman to join the department and the first permanent resident.
The ceremony highlighted new recruitment efforts—including a recruitment campaign, a new police contract, and reinvigorated boots-on-the-ground approach—that have resulted in increased interest in serving on the MPD. Applications are up by more than 45% since last year, and for the first time in at least five years, we are on track to end the year with more officers than we started with.
Read more:
Bites from dogs and cats are projected to be up nearly 30% since this time last year in the Twin Cities metro area. That’s nearly 600 bites in 2024 so far compared to 480 in all of 2023. Reasons vary, but Minneapolis Animal Care & Control Director Tony Schendel says many of these bites happen when Minneapolis residents in particular don’t abide by the City’s leash ordinance. The ordinance requires owners to properly restrain dogs at all times. A first-time offense is a $75 fine. (There is no leash law for cats in the city.)
Schendel explained that animals are more likely to feel anxious or feel the need to protect their owners while out in public. Animals don’t have to display a long history of aggression to bite someone. It can happen very quickly and without much warning. Oftentimes animals react differently in an environment they aren’t familiar with. People should keep their distance from animals they don’t know.
Schendel says bites are getting more severe, affecting large areas of the face, arms and hands. Cat bites or scratches, while not considered as severe, could still lead to more infections.
In the event of any bites, people are urged to call 911 for medical attention.
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Measles is in our community right now. Watch and share these videos about the importance of vaccinating children against measles to protect their health and the community's well-being.
Get your vaccination
Protect your loved ones and get your family vaccinated at one of our free clinics.
Videos
Watch the videos about protecting our loved ones in English and Somali. Also watch a video that addresses some of the fears around vaccination and explains how immunization protects the entire community.
Measles is in our community right now. Watch and share these videos about the importance of vaccinating children against measles to protect their health and the community's well-being.
Get your vaccination
Protect your loved ones and get your family vaccinated at one of our free clinics.
Videos
Watch the videos about protecting our loved ones in English and Somali. Also watch a video that addresses some of the fears around vaccination and explains how immunization protects the entire community.
You can once again get up to four free at-home COVID-19 testing kits through the federal government. With a high number of cases in our community, it’s important to protect ourselves and our families. Regular testing can help you stay informed about your health and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to loved ones.
You can use these whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms. You can take the test at home and receive results within 30 minutes — no need to drop anything off at a lab.
The tests and shipping are free. Order your free tests today.
COVID test expiration dates
Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may still be able to use them after the date printed on the box. To check if your test has an extended expiration date, check the Food and Drug Administration’s list of extended expiration dates.
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