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Celebrating the Black History Month honorary resolution at the Council meeting on Jan. 30th
Dear Neighbors,
As we approach this long holiday weekend, let me just say Happy Black History Month. While I’m at it, I’ll add Happy Women’s History month, Happy Pride Month, Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Happy Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31st) and Happy Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov.20th) Oh yeah, Happy Presidents’ Day because to be clear it is not dictator day, or monarch day.
I’m proud to have authored the City’s annual Black History Month honorary resolution which we presented on January 30th despite the federal administration’s attempt to cancel Black History Month that very day.
The current occupant of the publicly owned White House has declared through his Executive Orders that these holidays and recognitions are no longer honored nor recognized by his administration and subsequently the federal government. Senseless attacks are happening against immigrant communities, women, LGBTQIA+ communities, particularly singling out Transgender Americans. I identify as Transgender in case some of you out there didn’t know. DEI has been cancelled though I am not sure if they really know what that means? What it effectively means, get rid of anything that remotely benefits Black people.
As these pernicious and hateful attacks keep coming, Minneapolis stands firm on its commitment being a welcoming, sanctuary city for immigrants, Trans families and Trans individuals. The Council did receive an update from our legal team at the City, and at this point it is simply too early in the process to determine what the potential impacts may be on City services and operations. Today, however, the Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the City Attorney’s Office to sign on to lawsuits and issue amicus briefs that offer resistance to the federal administration.
Yesterday was also a big day for environmental justice efforts. The Council finalized the Franchise agreements with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint. Together, the documents contain standard-setting commitments, such as, Minneapolis-specific greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, equity expectations in service quality and program delivery, and improvements to information sharing for work done on public streets. These provisions were not included in the last 10-year agreements, which highlighted the importance of negotiating with a proactive and future-forward lens for the next decade ahead.
Consequently, yesterday was not such a great day for George Floyd Square. My colleagues decided, once again, to ignore the hundreds of hours of intense community engagement that led to the Public Works Department offering a “flexible open concept.” In addition to preserving memorial space that could be closed to traffic for public events, the concept added critical infrastructure upgrades to the area, including:
- Green stormwater systems.
- Upgraded street lighting.
- New sidewalks and bike lanes.
- Replacement of lead drinking water pipes.
- Green spaces and planted boulevards.
- Restored Metro Transit service on one of the city’s busiest routes.
- Expanded areas for future memorials and art installations.
More information about the work to redevelop George Floyd Square can be found on the City’s website. While I am deeply disappointed in this outcome. I’m committed to continuing to create a 38th Street cultural corridor that reflects the history and creativity of the African American community.
I want to take a moment to thank the outgoing Inaugural Poet Laureate Heid E. Erdrich and congratulate the incoming Poet Laureate Junauda Petrus. Both of these incredible women have and continue to contribute to the artistic landscape that is Minneapolis. Their words inspire, define, and activate our city to be better versions of ourselves. Learn more about them and their work here.
Love,
Andrea
 CM Jenkins and Junauda Petrus
 Ben Johnson and Heid E. Erdrich
Over the last few weeks, the City has seen executive orders and memos come down from Washington D.C. regarding everything from federal funding to immigration issues. Our City is navigating the very fluid landscape of what it means to operate under this new administration.
While there is still uncertainty about the impacts to the City of Minneapolis, we continue to closely track and monitor all developments. Here are two things that we know today:
- We are a welcoming city to all of our neighbors.
- We are not making any staffing changes at this time.
This week, the City Council passed a resolution giving the City Attorney’s Office broader authority to challenge any federal actions in state or federal court to further support the City’s values, interests and functions. The City also has working groups in place to track key policy issues.
The City of Minneapolis remains committed to serving its residents.
Minneapolis is a welcoming city, one that fosters inclusivity, respect and safety for all, regardless of immigration status. We work to connect our neighbors and residents with services and opportunities so that everyone – including those born outside of the United States – feels a sense of belonging and can achieve their highest potential. This is and will remain our goal and commitment.
The City does not participate in immigration enforcement. There are many important distinctions between local and federal government. The City stands with and in support of its residents, including those born outside the U.S.
The City of Minneapolis has an ordinance that states it will not operate programs for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.
Below are links for residents to be aware of their rights and responsibilities:
In the City of Minneapolis, we know that many are impacted by immigration developments and many are committed to welcoming and fostering a sense of belonging for residents born outside of the United States. Working together has never been more important than now.
Please visit the City’s Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs webpage to learn more.
Actions of the new federal administration have brought up questions on several City initiatives and programs. One of these is the federal consent decree jointly filed in federal court Jan. 6 by the City of Minneapolis and the U.S. Department of Justice. Both parties came to an agreement on the consent decree, and it is now in the hands of the judge.
No matter what happens with the consent decree, the City is committed to this work and to building upon the reforms we’ve continued to implement in the Minneapolis Police Department. We will be moving forward with the terms laid out in this agreement, with or without the federal government.
The consent decree can be found on the City’s website.
Minneapolis City government offices, including Minneapolis 311 and the Minneapolis Service Center at 505 Fourth Ave. S., are closed Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of Presidents Day. City offices resume regular business hours Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The City's metered parking spaces are not enforced on this day. Other metered parking restrictions in Minneapolis may be in effect and subject to enforcement, including the Park Board, University of Minnesota and private organizations that operate their own meters. Always read the information posted on the meter to be certain.
Minneapolis police and fire emergency services and 911 are not affected. Garbage and recycling pickup are not affected.
 Join us Feb. 25 for an open house for the New Nicollet Redevelopment. New Nicollet is a 10-acre parcel of land between the Midtown Greenway and Lake Street. It was home to Kmart for many years. The City is developing a plan to make it a walkable area that meets the needs of nearby neighborhoods. Community input is at the heart of that plan.
Community priorities
The New Nicollet team gathered community input in 2024. They did this through surveys, online meetings and in-person conversations. Residents, businesses and community members said what they hoped to see here. Top priorities include:
- Affordable housing with supportive services.
- Home ownership opportunities to prevent displacement and support wealth building.
- Well-connected public spaces for community connections and to promote public safety.
- A grocery store for access to healthy and affordable food.
The open house will showcase the ways extensive community input is shaping the project. Attendees can give feedback on the Development Framework and learn about next steps.
Final New Nicollet open house 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 Whittier International Elementary School, 315 W. 26th St.
Language interpretation will be available for Spanish and Somali. Free food and kids’ activities will be provided.
Find the Development Framework starting Feb. 25 on the New Nicollet Redevelopment webpage.
 The applicants for community partners to redevelop the Peoples’ Way site at George Floyd Square will give community presentations on their plans Feb. 26. Come hear their presentations and share your feedback. The City is looking for community input before advancing one of the groups to the mayor and City Council for approval.
Redeveloping the Peoples’ Way site for community use is a part of the City’s effort to work with community on a new vision for George Floyd Square. Years of feedback from community members has informed a shared vision for the area.
Four applicants responded to the City’s request for a community partner to redevelop the Peoples’ Way site at 3744 Chicago Ave.:
- Minnesota Agape Movement
- P3 Foundation (David’s Place)
- Rise & Remember
- Urban League Twin Cities
Peoples’ Way applicant presentations 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.
Food and refreshments will be provided.
If you cannot come to the applicant presentations, you can choose from several events to meet with staff. Read more on the City website.
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 nonsterilized 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.
The next round of appointments will be Feb. 25 and are only open to Minneapolis residents. Make an appointment on the City website.
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.
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With the possibility of dangerous temperatures all season, Minneapolis City officials urge everyone to take precautions. Frostbite can happen in just minutes during extreme cold temperatures.
How to stay safe and warm
Hennepin County offers warming station options throughout Minneapolis and the Twin Cities. Additional locations can be found at the Salvation Army and other organizations when temperatures drop below zero.
Find more cold weather safety guidance for inside and outside the home on the City website.
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 and finds that the City is on track to meet nearly all of its year-one goals assessed during this period.
ELEFA’s report covers the period from March 18 to Sept. 30, 2024. It highlights progress made in policy revisions, trainings, misconduct complaint backlogs, and plans for equipment, technology, facilities, and data systems. These achievements are key to transforming the MPD’s approach to policing and building a strong foundation for the next phases of compliance.
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.
 Minneapolis property owners can now enter the City Trees lottery through March 14. Each property is eligible for up to three trees for $30 each. More than 15 varieties of shade and evergreen trees are available, and the trees are 3 feet to 7 feet tall.
If you’re successful in the lottery, you’ll get an email to order your trees March 17-31 and pick them up May 30-June 1.
Benefits of trees
Planting trees can:
- Save you money on utility bills.
- Shade and cool your property.
- Collect stormwater runoff.
- Provide habitat for wildlife.
- Improve our health and well-being.
- Increase property values.
Meet some people picking up their trees last year in this video.
Enter the lottery by March 14.
Junauda Petrus is the city’s new poet laureate for 2025-2026. Petrus succeeds Heid E. Erdrich in this prominent literary role. A multidisciplinary artist, Petrus spans stage, screen and page in her work. She blends ancestral storytelling, speculative fiction and poetic verse around themes of Blackness, queerness and womanhood.
The administration of the Poet Laureate Award is overseen by The Loft Literary Center. The Loft is hosting a public celebration in honor of Petrus Feb. 13 at its headquarters in downtown Minneapolis.
Co-founder of the experimental artist collection Free Black Dirt, Petrus is known for creating innovative performances. Her acclaimed debut novel, The Stars and the Blackness Between Them, received the 2020 Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award. In 2023 she released her first children’s book, Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers? It is based on an abolitionist future and became a Minnesota Book Award finalist.
Deeply rooted in the cultural, social and historic fabric of Minneapolis, Petrus will use her visionary voice as poet laureate to celebrate the city’s beauty, struggle and magic through poetry.
Read more about the City of Minneapolis and The Loft Literary Center’s Poet Laureate Award on the City website.
Minneapolis reached a major construction milestone in 2024: surpassing $1 billion in construction value for the 14th year in a row. The total reflects the city’s continued growth and residents’ confidence in Minneapolis as a place to live, invest and build.
Half of the highest valued projects in 2024 are for affordable housing developments. This shows the City continues to invest in publicly subsidized homes for residents who need them. The City also permitted smaller residential projects such as kitchen or bath remodels and home additions. Over the last several years, this has proven that residents want to not only move to the city but improve their homes to stay.
Read more about 2024 Minneapolis construction projects 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.
We have had several auto thefts in Ward 8 where the vehicles were left running and unattended. In some cases, the vehicles taken had the keys inside the car. Please be vigilant in making sure that your running car is not left unattended.
Council Member Jenkins holds weekly office hours on Monday's from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please reach out to the Ward 8 office to book a virtual or in-person meeting. |
