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2/28/2025
Dear Ward 6 neighbors,
Happy Friday!
Ramadan Mubarak to Ward 6 and all celebrating in Minneapolis! May this blessed month bring peace, joy, and spiritual renewal to you and your loved ones. Our office will continue to operate as usual and remain here to serve you.
Thank you!
- CM Jamal Osman
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Native American Community Clinic-Housing Project: Tax-Exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bond Issuance (2025-00087)
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The Native American Community Clinic-Housing (NACC-H) project is a major investment in Ward 6 that will bring 83 affordable housing units and a new, expanded Native American Community Clinic to our community. Located at 1213 Franklin Ave E, Minneapolis, MN, this six-story development will provide housing for families earning 30% to 60% of the area median income, with a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments. It will also include a 39,000-square-foot clinic that integrates physical, mental, and behavioral health services under one roof.
This project is critical for addressing the housing crisis in our city. Nine of the units will be specifically designated for high-priority homeless individuals, who will receive on-site support services from Simpson Housing. The project has already secured Section 8 vouchers, Housing Support units, and Section 811 units.
I strongly support this project because it provides much-needed affordable housing and culturally specific healthcare to Ward 6 residents in Ventura Village. We need more developments like this—ones that not only put roofs over people’s heads but also provide wraparound services to help families and individuals stay housed. I’m especially glad to see a focus on housing for those experiencing homelessness because we all know how urgent that need is.
The developer has been awarded $1,000,000 in additional Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTF) through the Contingency Pool to fill the remaining project gap and applied for up to $22,000,000 in Housing Revenue Bonds.
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2024 Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Account Grant Awards (2025-00206)
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The Metropolitan Council awarded $15.3 million in Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) grants this year, and I’m excited that Minneapolis secured funding for several key projects. Two of the grants will support affordable housing—the Cheatham Apartments and Home of Our Own—and three will help expand transit-oriented development, including funding for The LOMA Project, the Rise Up Center, and the Indigenous Wealth Building Center which is located in Ward 6 (2301 E Franklin Ave).
The LCDA and TOD programs support projects that connect housing, jobs, and regional amenities; generate dense, diverse developments that increase transit ridership; expand housing choice or preserve affordable housing; create living wage jobs accessible to local workers; and minimize project impacts on climate change through sustainable site design and building practice. To qualify for funding, projects must help advance the programs’ racial equity goals.
This project will reuse the Playwrights’ Center to create office space for Mni Sota Fund staff and programming as well as free co-working space for entrepreneurs with access to CDFI support services, and incubator spaces for a café and Native artist in residence. Grant funds will be used to support the renovation of the building.
This is a huge win for Ward 6 and our native relatives. I fought to ensure that our neighborhood would receive this investment because economic development should be inclusive and community driven. The
$500,000 grant for the Indigenous Wealth Building Center will directly support Native entrepreneurs, helping them build sustainable businesses and create local jobs. I’m looking forward to seeing this space come to life.
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Emergency Warming Shelter Funding (2025-00241)
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Every winter, too many of our neighbors are forced to survive in dangerously cold conditions. The City of Minneapolis has historically allocated $250,000 per year for winter warming shelters, but this year, we recognized the growing need and allocated an additional $100,000 to support the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) in operating an emergency warming shelter.
This funding will allow MIWRC to provide critical support services to those in need. Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis work together to administer the homelessness response system in Hennepin County. Every year, the Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED) executes Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) with Hennepin County for funding an administration of various emergency shelter expenses, including winter warming shelter operation.
Because CPED has an established JPA process with the county for funding an administration of winter warming shelters, staff recommends incorporating the Regulatory Services Department winter warming center funding into that JPA. Hennepin County will then contract directly with MIWRC for the $100,000 contract. We hope that the establishment of the shelters along with the funding allocations for the next 5 years will reduce morbidity and mortality rates from exposure during the harshest environmental conditions.
We’ve heard directly from the community about the need for more support for unhoused Indigenous residents, and I’m glad to see the City and County working together to meet that need. Collaboration across agencies is essential to making sure our warming shelters are well-funded and well-run. No one should be left outside in the Minnesota winter, and I’ll keep pushing for long-term solutions to homelessness, not just temporary shelter.
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Community Safety Ambassador Pilot for East Lake Street & Franklin Avenue (2025-00202)
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The Community Safety Ambassador Pilot is a key initiative designed to enhance neighborhood safety and foster a more connected and vibrant community along the E. Lake Street and E. Franklin cultural districts. This pilot program plays a critical role in Minneapolis' ongoing efforts to transform community safety approaches, aligning with the principles outlined in the Safe and Thriving Communities Report.
City staff began exploring this pilot in the summer of 2024. After extensive work with Neighborhood Safety, Office of Community Safety, and Performance Management and Innovation, a comprehensive pilot plan was developed. This process included a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select local organizations to provide Community Safety Ambassador services. A formal RFP was issued on November 26, 2024, seeking Safety Ambassadors for the Lake Street and Franklin Avenue Cultural Districts with a choice to apply to one (1) or both of the cultural districts. Six (6) applicants applied, and with a thorough evaluation, the Department seeks to award Metro Youth Diversion Center for both Cultural Districts.
Community Safety Ambassador programs have proven to be effective safety resources in cities across the U.S., including in downtown Minneapolis. These programs offer a range of services such as safety escorts, emergency assistance, wellness checks, community outreach, and referrals—each of which contributes to a safer, more cohesive community.
In Ward 6, Community Safety Ambassadors will be stationed in the Phillips West, Seward, and Ventura Village neighborhoods, offering safety escorts, emergency assistance, wellness checks, and community outreach. The opening of the Lake Street Safety Center will also create a central hub for safety coordination, allowing Ambassadors to respond more effectively to issues as they arise.
Ward 6 residents have been asking for a better safety response, and I’m glad we’re moving forward with this pilot. Metro Youth Diversion has deep ties to our community, and I’m confident they’ll make a real difference. This isn’t about policing—it’s about having trusted community members visible in our neighborhoods, helping people feel safe, and addressing concerns before they escalate. The Lake Street Safety Center will be an important step toward better coordination and response times, and I’ll be watching closely to make sure this program is effective.
Minneapolis is working to start a pilot for traffic safety cameras and wants to hear from you. Take a new survey to share your feedback on camera locations. A new State law allowing this pilot requires protections for fairness, equity and privacy.
Camera enforcement is proven effective at saving lives and reducing crashes. It’s one part of the City's effort to get to zero traffic deaths and serious injuries.
The pilot will launch as early as August with about five camera locations that will enforce speed limits. The pilot will run for up to four ears and may expand to a maximum of 42 locations. The program may also expand to enforce red lights.
The City will gather feedback on potential camera locations through mid-May.
Read more information about the traffic safety camera pilot on the City website.
Come to a public meeting March 12. You’ll get updates about the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department’s path to meet the requirements of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement. Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA), the independent evaluator of the settlement agreement, will present the updates.
ELEFA will present an overview of its role in the settlement agreement, describe its requirements and how it checks compliance, and provide implementation updates from the first semi-annual evaluation report.
5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 5:30-6 p.m. Food and refreshments 6-8 p.m. Event presentation Ukrainian American Community Center, 301 Main St. NE
If you have questions or require accommodation to attend, please contact ELEFA.
Learn more about the March 12 information sessions on this flyer (PDF).
You can also learn more about the evaluator and its work on its website.
 The City of Minneapolis has appointed Robert Timmerman the new city auditor, effective immediately.
The Office of the City Auditor office provides independent, objective review and consulting services to add value and improve City operations. Services also include auditing, continuous monitoring and investigations. The city auditor reports to the audit committee, which is made up of two City Council members, a Park Board commissioner and four community members.
Timmerman comes to the City of Minneapolis with strong state experience. Most recently, he served with the Minnesota Department of Transportation as acting director of the Office of Audit and an internal audit and investigations supervisor. Timmerman also served as a senior auditor for the Minnesota Office of the Legislator Auditor and a tax supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Timmerman holds a business administration degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a certificate in law enforcement from Metropolitan State University. He has performed government audits and led professional level government auditors for most of his 18 years in public service.
Read more about the city auditor appointment on the City website.
 The City of Minneapolis has unveiled a draft development framework for the New Nicollet Redevelopment project, guided by input from thousands of community members. Through 14 in-person and virtual events, 2,245 survey responses, and 520 in-person interactions, the community’s voice is represented and shaping every aspect of this project.
The bold vision would transform the former Kmart site into a thriving hub of green space, a variety of housing options and small business opportunities.
The New Nicollet Redevelopment site spans 10 acres of land between the Midtown Greenway trail, Lake Street, First Avenue and Blaisdell Avenue. The City's plan includes reconnecting Nicollet Avenue. A few of the top resident priorities emerging from community engagement include enhanced public spaces, a variety of housing choices for households at all income levels and a new grocery store.
Next steps
The project team will seek approval of the development framework from City Council and the mayor this spring. Construction on Nicollet Avenue is expected to begin later this year.
Read more and sign up for updates on the City website.
Recruiting members for boards and commissions opens March 1. We’re looking for applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting are available so all residents can participate.
Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. This is a way to help make changes and improvements that affect your community.
Applications will be taken in March for these boards and commissions:
- Advisory Committee on Aging
- Advisory Committee on Disabilities
- Advisory Committee on Housing
- Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Community Commission on Police Oversight (applications open until March 16)
- Homegrown Food Council
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Public Health Advisory Committee
Apply March 1-31, and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting the City website.
With the early warming up in our weather, some people may want to tidy and rake up their yards. But pollinators nest in the broken stems of plants and overwinter in leaf piles. To protect them, please do not rake any leaves or clean up your yard until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.
Yard waste collection will begin the week of April 7.
 If you or someone you know is a college, graduate or law student, encourage them to apply for the Urban Scholars Internship Program. This summer leadership internship is for college and graduate students interested in public sector careers.
The 2025 Urban Scholars program runs from June 2 to Aug. 15. The program is a full-time summer program providing internships, professional development and mentorship opportunities for young professionals. The interns work full-time with the employers four days a week with leadership development every Monday.
Candidate applications are due March 17.
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The City of Minneapolis guarantees workers have access to paid sick leave, a minimum wage, and protection from wage theft. By investigating and enforcing these workplace protections, the City has now recovered more than $2 million for Minneapolis workers in wages and damages.
Since 2018, more than 1,000 labor standards complaints involving more than 16,000 workers have been processed by the Civil Rights Department. These have resulted in 382 mediations or settlements. These investigations often include policy changes and technical assistance for all parties involved. Recent resolved cases include:
- More than $43,000 in back wages for three workers at Amigos One Stop, a grocery store in south Minneapolis.
- More than $145,000 in back wages and damages owed to 180 security guards and valet attendants with Unparalleled Parking LLC and Unparalleled Security LLC.
- More than $22,000 in back wages to seven workers at Plymouth Academy preschool serving children and families.
Violations can be reported by calling 311; filling out an online form; or stopping by in person at City Hall, Room 239.
Read more on the City website.
In Minneapolis, all dogs, cats and ferrets four months or older must be current on rabies vaccinations, and owners must have a license. Pet licensing helps the City know where an animal lives and its vaccination status if lost.
License fees for non-sterilized pets have been cut in half. The move is one of many that make pet ownership more affordable while helping safeguard both pets and the community.
Sign up for vaccine appointments
We’re once again offering low-cost vaccinations by appointment every other Tuesday. Microchipping and one-year rabies and distemper vaccinations are $10 each. Vaccinations help stop easily prevented disease and illness in our community’s pets.
Make an appointment on the City website.
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