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Table of Contents:
This ordinance aimed to address one of the city’s goals of housing that prioritized equitable access to safe, stable, accessible, and affordable housing to help eliminate racial disparities in housing. It sought to increase housing security and prevent displacement from safe and affordable housing. Additionally, it aims to reduce the rate of evictions that disproportionately impacted people of color by amending the pre-eviction notification from a 14-day notice to a 30-day notice. The effective date of implementation was set for March 1, 2025. (2024-00836)
The Agate Housing project received an Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) award in 2021 and was planned to close by July 2024 but faced a remaining funding gap of approximately $300,000. Like many other City-financed projects, the Agate Housing project was challenged with cost increases due to increased construction costs and reductions in housing tax credit equity pricing. Approval of this request provided the remaining funding to fill the financing gap and positioned the project to close and begin construction in July 2024. (2024-01049)
 The Minnesota Department of Transportation is planning for the full reconstruction of I-94 between Hiawatha Avenue and Marion Street as part of its Rethinking I-94 project. The Rethinking I-94 project is an opportunity to repair the harms that were committed during the construction of I-94 in the 1950s and 1960s, and to address the racially unequal public health impacts that I-94 has currently. In 2020, the City Council approved a resolution outlining the city's priorities for the Rethinking I-94 project at that time (2020-01259). This resolution establishes updated official city priorities for the Rethinking I-94 project process and outcomes to best align this major piece of transportation infrastructure with the City's equity, climate, and transportation goals.(2024-01027)
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution urging Hennepin County to stop burning trash at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) by 2028. The resolution committed the city to enhancing waste-reduction efforts and exploring alternative landfills for city trash if the incinerator were to be shut down. For decades, residents had fought against HERC, which burned trash to generate energy but also created significant air pollution. Hennepin County owned the incinerator and, after a major public pressure campaign, had pledged the previous year to develop a plan to close it sometime between 2028 and 2040.
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The resolution followed recent public discussions, including an August 2024 presentation by Hennepin County on plans to reinvent the county's solid waste system, as well as a public comment period in late September and early October regarding the future of HERC. Across the country, incinerators like HERC were criticized for their role in environmental racism, contributing to higher rates of asthma, heart disease, cancer, and premature death in nearby communities. The resolution reflected the city's commitment to supporting robust funding for zero-waste goals and aligned with the long-standing, community-driven call to shut down the HERC. (2024-01078)
The POFM has advanced a contract agreement that delivered a historic boost in pay for Minneapolis peace police officers and significant reforms. By an 8-4 vote, the Minneapolis City Council approved a collective bargaining agreement the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis (POFM). The agreement gives Minneapolis police officers a historic pay increase and important reforms. The 21.7% pay increase over the three years of the contract would make the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) among the highest paying in Minnesota by 2025. This includes:
- Leave time period - When there are allegations of severe misconduct, the Chief will have complete discretion to place the officer on paid investigatory leave for up to 180 days.
- Public data requests - Officers will no longer receive automatic notification of the identity of the person requesting public personnel data about them.
- Civilian investigators - With fewer sworn personnel serving in MPD, through the new agreement, the POFM has agreed that the City can make permanent hires of hire civilians for to assist with investigative work.
- Staffing flexibilities - The new agreement will give management more discretion over job assignments and staffing ratios, so that the Chief and his leadership team can assign officers to areas of the greatest need, and make promotions based on candidate readiness.
- Zipper clause - A common term in collective bargaining agreements which eliminates any prior side agreements (LOAs) that are not attached to the contract. This gives the City, the POFM and the public the full scope of what has been agreed to in writing at the start of the term of the contract.(2024-00312)
The City established Contract C-35511 with SoundThinking, Inc. (formerly known as ShotSpotter, Inc.) to provide support and maintenance of SoundThinking’s gunshot location system deployed in Minneapolis. The system provides detailed data for the response and investigation of violent crimes that contain gunfire events. It is utilized by both the Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center (“911”) and the Minneapolis Police Department (“MPD”); in that gunshot activations are received by 911, who then dispatches marked squads to the reported location. This amendment extended the Contract with SoundThinking through March 21, 2027. (2024-00888)
Member Osman introduced an ordinance to enact standards to regulate adult-use recreational cannabis, medical cannabis, and lower-potency hemp edible businesses on September 5, 2024. The intent of the amendment is to implement regulations to help to ensure that legalization of cannabis at a local level is safe, equitable, and accessible. Medical cannabis has been legal in Minnesota since 2014. Adult-use recreational cannabis was legalized by the Minnesota State Legislature and Governor Walz in 2023, following legislation permitting edible THC products to be made with small amounts of hemp-derived THC, also known as lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) products, in 2022. Through state legislation, cities and counties, as designated local government units, have been tasked with adopting cannabis related regulations for their communities for "time, place, and manner".
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Local government units, including the City of Minneapolis, are now creating regulations that will be in place when the State begins issuing licenses for cannabis and lower potency hemp edibles businesses, estimated to be early 2025, by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). The regulations recommended by staff reflect the policy approach emphasizing safety, equity, and accessibility, with a goal of creating a framework that is permissive but safety conscious. CPED staff note that policy goals cannot be achieved through land use alone – the implementation of an enterprise-wide policy recognizes the importance of providing supports that extend beyond zoning regulations to advance equity within the cannabis industry in Minneapolis. (2024-00947)
In March, the Council passed a historic minimum compensation policy with supermajority support. The Council’s action forced state leaders, including the Governor, back to the table after last year’s veto and set the terms for the state to pass a policy giving drivers a 20% raise and some of the strongest rideshare protections in the country. The result of this was preemption by the state legislature. Preemption stripped all cities of their authority to regulate compensation and other requirements for Transportation Network Companies like Uber and Lyft. The Council had intended to pass a revised rideshare policy, based on the original agreement with state leaders, that would have reduced the rates to $1.27 per mile and $0.51 per minute and mandated that TNCs disclose data to the city and provide fare transparency for drivers and riders.
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Since the state preempted the local legislation, the Council motioned to delete the revised policy from the agenda and, thus, did not take up a vote on it. All was not lost, however, as the majority of protective provisions that were included in the policy had been integrated into the statewide rideshare policy that passed this weekend. The statewide bill has gone into effect on December 1, 2024. (2024-00146)
Dr. Ali Shabo Honorary Resolution
Dr. Ali Shabo was celebrated for his musical talent and contributions to Oromo culture. As a singer and songwriter with the Afran Qallo Band, he blended traditional Oromo melodies with contemporary elements. His work preserved and promoted Oromo culture, gave voice to the Oromo people’s struggles, and advocated for their rights.
2024 Black Business Week Honorary Resolution
Since 2004, August has marked Black Business Month, celebrating Black entrepreneurs and their contributions to the economy while recognizing their challenges. Minneapolis hosted its fourth annual Black Business Week in 2024, themed “Access to Capital,” featuring seven events across the city. Activities included networking mixers, a business conference, panel discussions, and an art and music festival. The City emphasized supporting Black businesses and prioritizing equitable economic growth, while recognizing key organizations aiding this effort. Residents were encouraged to shop Black-owned year-round.
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Indigenous Peoples Day Honorary Resolution
The City of Minneapolis commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day, recognizing the history and contributions of Indigenous communities. The resolution emphasized the city’s commitment to truth-telling and honoring Dakota homelands.
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Norway House Honorary Resolution
Norway House, located in Ventura Village, has fostered connections between Norway and the U.S. through arts, business, and culture. In 2022, it opened an Innovation and Culture Center and hosted Queen Sonja of Norway. The organization continues to serve over 45,000 guests annually and strengthens the bonds within the Norwegian-American community while serving as a cultural hub in Minneapolis.
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National Night Out
Trash Pick-Up Day
Warm Winter Clothing Drive organized by Meet Minneapolis in support of Hennepin Healthcare patients
2024-2 Minneapolis Police Academy Graduation
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