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February Office Hours
When: Thursday, February 20th from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Where: Pilllar Forum Cafe 2300 Central Ave Ne
Details: Facebook event
March Community 1-1s
When: Thursday, March 6th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where:Coffee Shop Ne 2952 Johnson St Ne
Details: Sign up link will be included closer to the date
The Minneapolis City Council’s Climate & Infrastructure Committee voted on Thursday to refer the flexible/open concept layout, which has been opposed by the extended George Floyd Square community at and around 38th St and Chicago Ave, to the City Clerk. The Committee’s action provides greater clarity for City staff to move forward with the Public Works Department’s Pedestrian Plaza Concept Plan instead. This action is consistent with the resolution the City Council passed–deemed approved after mayoral review–on December 5th, 2024 that expressed support for the pedestrian plaza. Council Members continue working with City staff to make progress on the development of a pedestrian plaza.
“I have said from the very beginning of this process that the future of 38th and Chicago is about lifting up the memory of George Floyd and supporting his family, the victims of police brutality, and the extended community there,” said Council Member Jason Chavez. “That’s why a strong majority of the Council voted last December to support a pedestrian plaza, and this action today reaffirms our position that George Floyd Square should be community-focused. While the Frey administration continues to ignore community voices, the Council is continuing to move forward to support the community.”
The action Council took today to refer the flexible/open concept layout to the City Clerk ensures that the entire work done to-date on that plan is not lost. It will allow the City to pursue the pedestrian plaza concept in compliance with the MN State Statute, without losing the work on the flexible/open concept.
“We are actively working with the Clerk’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, and Public Works leadership on the next step–a legislative directive that will give Public Works the proper instruction to explore the Pedestrian Plaza concept. By doing this we are listening to community members who are asking us to try pedestrianization to the greatest extent possible, giving our options fair chances through proper legislative means, and ensuring that the concept layout we end up approving is one that is thoroughly explored and considered,” said Climate & Infrastructure Committee Chair Katie Cashman.
“The Council has been clear since December that we are ready to move forward with the Pedestrian Plaza Plan for George Floyd Square,” said Council President Elliott Payne. “This action today shows we are ready and willing to work with City staff and the Mayor’s administration and remove any barriers that exist for them moving forward with the Public Works Department’s Pedestrian Plaza Concept Plan, like we made clear in our resolution. This has been our message for months now. If any construction or plans are delayed, it is not because of lack of clarity from the City Council.”
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Members of the Minneapolis City Council have brought forward a proposal to allocate $1,125,000 to Hennepin County to temporarily take over administration of the Group Violence Intervention and Youth Group Violence Intervention programs (GVI and YGVI). The proposal comes after Council has publicly raised alarms about mismanagement of the Neighborhood Safety Department and misadministration of GVI programs to the Frey administration for over a year.
GVI is a nationally recognized public safety approach that emphasizes focused deterrence. GVI is grounded in the reality that an extremely small population is far more likely to be involved in homicides and shootings- roughly 0.5% of the population involved in 50% or more of the violent incidents. This small number of individuals are more likely to be both victims and perpetrators, and focused intervention on this key population can massively reduce violence for a whole community. Municipal investments in GVI have been credited with a 34% reduction in homicides in Indianapolis, a 63% reduction in youth homicide in Boston, a 41% reduction in violence for participants in Cincinnati, and more.
Members of the City Council have been raising the alarm about mismanagement issues within the Neighborhood Safety Department (NSD) for over a year. Since 2023, Council has added resources for programming and additional staff to NSD to try and address capacity challenges, brought national experts to town to support department leaders, urged engagement with nationally recognized technical assistance providers, and repeatedly asked for updates on outcomes and data. In April of 2024, Council Members wrote a memo outlining concerns and asked that NSD present a management plan to Council and the public. The plan was not delivered, causing Council Members to write a legislative directive asking for answers by November. This directive did not receive a response until this week, in the form of a presentation that didn’t instill confidence in significant improvements.
“The residents who are most at risk of being perpetrators or victims of shootings are not getting adequate service due to mismanagement in NSD. Temporarily moving this program to Hennepin County will ensure these high risk individuals are getting the services they need, keeping our entire community safer,” said Council Member Jason Chavez, Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee.
“Every good leader knows when it's time to ask for help. GVI has been severely mismanaged by the current administration, and residents are paying the price. As the city’s oversight body, it’s our job to be sober about that reality and figure out what to do about it,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley, Vice Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee and author of the proposal.
The City Council Budget Committee will take up the item on Monday, February 10th at 1:30pm at the regularly scheduled Budget Committee meeting. Council Members Wonsley, Chavez, and President Payne will host a press conference prior to the meeting to share comments and answer questions.
“We look forward to the day when we can return GVI to the city with confidence that these crucial programs will be administered effectively. Until that day, residents deserve to know that those most at risk of being involved in a shooting are getting the preventative services they need,” said Council President Elliott Payne.
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Throughout the snow season and especially when a lot of snow is in the forecast, make sure you have ways to find out if a snow emergency is declared. Whenever there’s winter weather, from freezing drizzle to a large snowstorm, City crews provide snow and ice control. When snowfall is heavy, we may declare a snow emergency – temporary street parking rules – so we can clear the streets, including parking lanes, as wide as possible.
Sign up now, stay informed throughout the season
Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to learn when snow emergencies are declared and what to do when they are. We recommend signing up for at least two types of alerts:
- Call the snow emergency hotline. You can reach our automated hotline at 612-348-SNOW (7669). If a snow emergency is in effect, the hotline will have information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
- Check our social media pages.
- Watch local TV or listen to the radio.
Read more about snow emergencies.
The first semi-annual report is out from the independent evaluator on Minneapolis compliance with police reform. The Effective Law Enforcement for ALL (ELEFA) report documents the City’s advance toward compliance with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement. ELEFA’s report covers the period from March 18 to Sept. 30, 2024.
The report is on ELEFA’s website. ELEFA will continue to host regular community engagement sessions. The next review period will cover work completed between Oct. 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025.
Read more on the City website.
The City of Minneapolis is seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Community Commission on Police Oversight. The independent body allows the public a forum to have meaningful engagement in police oversight and review. Members of the commission serve on the Police Conduct Review Panel as civilian panelists making recommendations about whether MPD policies and procedures have been violated and making recommendations about discipline.
Applications are open now for three current vacancies plus eight seats that will open in May. Applications are due by March 16.
Read more on the City website.
Building on the tremendous success of the popular 2024 Open Streets program, the City of Minneapolis is now looking for four 2025 summer event organizers. New in 2025, the City is expanding the proposal process to allow organizers to select from several event dates and routes around the city.
Open Streets transforms major city streets into car-free places for one day. Open Streets shuts down car traffic during the event to allow people to walk, bike and roll down the street. Organizers plan programming and free activities for the day.
Since the City launched Open Streets in 2011, the events have brought nearly 700,000 people to different areas of town to enjoy all that the City of Minneapolis has to offer. In 2024, the City co-hosted three Open Streets events, partnering with the Uptown Association on Lyndale Avenue, with the West Broadway Business Coalition on West Broadway, and with the Lyndale Neighborhood Association on Nicollet Avenue.
Read more on the City website.
Elliott Payne was re-elected in 2023 to represent Ward 1
Elliott serves on the President of the Minneapolis City Council, Chair of the Audit Committee, member of the Public Health & Safety Committee, Budget Committee, Intergovernmental Relations Committee, and Committee of the Whole.
Contact the Ward 1 Council Office
Elliott Payne, Council Member - Email
Liam Davis Temple, Policy Aide - Email
Ikram Mohamud, Policy Associate - Email
Brandon Garcia, Policy Aide - Email
Office Phone - (612) 673-2201
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward1
We've moved while work is being done in City Hall. Our office is in:
Room 100, Public Service Center
250 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 asistencia, llame al 311. Rau kev pab 311. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 311.
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