 The City is looking for applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to join advisory boards and commissions.
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 are open until March 31 for these boards and commissions:
- Advisory Committee on Aging
- Advisory Committee on Disabilities
- Advisory Committee on Housing
- Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Homegrown Food Council
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Public Health Advisory Committee
Apply by March 31, and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting the City website.
Translation and interpreting are available so all residents can participate.
 Save the date! Saturday, May 3 is Neighborhood Day in Minneapolis. Neighborhood organizations across the city will host community gatherings and events to welcome new people to get involved in their neighborhood. Several organizations also hold their board elections on May 3.
Some examples of past Neighborhood Day events include:
- Garden tool swaps
- Youth summits
- Plant giveaways
- Potlucks
- Happy hours
- Garage sales
- Community clean-ups
- Annual meetings
Learn more by going to minneapolismn.gov/neighborhood-day
Immigration updates and resources
Find resources and know your immigration rights on the City website.
 Twin Cities immigration forum now biweekly
The City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) in partnership with the City of Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Program hosts a biweekly immigration forum to offer immigration-related updates to the community. The next meeting of the series will be on Thursday, April 3.
The topics covered include:
- Federal immigration news and resources.
- City, community and advocacy organization updates.
- Other topics important to immigrant, refugee and new American communities.
Find dates on the OIRA events calendar. Get a link to the meeting series by emailing oira@minneapolismn.gov.
Community office hours
OIRA also hosts community office hours at the South CareerForce Center at 777 E. Lake Street. Stop by on:
- Mondays, 1 – 4 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m.
Check the OIRA events calendar for updates.
 The City of Minneapolis shares important news and updates in English, Spanish, Somali, Oromo and Hmong over community radio stations and two television programs.
You can see the upcoming schedule for these shows and find past recordings on the City website.
 The City of Minneapolis has launched an initiative aiming to move the Minneapolis community toward a future grounded in racial equity and justice by harnessing the power of conversations to heal racial divisions. "Minneapolis Your Story,” a partnership with independent nonprofit StoryCorps Studios, will create an archive of community-centered stories focused on racial healing.
Now through May, people can record their perspectives in their own words and archive them as part of this special partnership. The community archive will include stories about the history of racial discrimination and injustice in Minneapolis, George Floyd’s murder, the civil unrest that followed, and the ongoing efforts to reform the Minneapolis Police Department.
The City will then host a community listening session to hear selected recordings.
Read more about StoryCorps and share your story on the City website.
New rights for Minneapolis renters
Minneapolis renters, you have housing rights that protect you. Two new renter rights went into effect March 1.
Changes to the pre-eviction filing notentice for unpaid rent
Renters at risk of being evicted for not paying their rent will now have a longer notice.
Before property owners start the eviction process, they must now give renters 30 days’ notice. Before, the notice period was 14 days. The period begins once the notice is mailed or the day it’s hand-delivered to the renter.
Mandatory information from property owners
In 2024, the City passed an ordinance that set a new standard for transparency in renting. The ordinance helps new renters learn more about the places they call home and their protections and resources. Property owners must share some information before new renters sign a lease, and other information within 90 days after the lease starts.
Make sure to visit the City website to see the full explanation of what property owners must share and when.
 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 about the traffic safety camera pilot and take the survey on the City website.
 The City is looking for community input before advancing a development group for Peoples’ Way to the mayor and City Council for approval. Please take a survey by March 28 to share your feedback.
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.
Read more about Peoples’ Way on the City website and take the survey by March 28. You can also see presentation materials and video recordings from a Feb. 26 event with four applicants to redevelop the site.
 The public is invited to a brief presentation and discussion March 24 to learn more and share input on a planned METRO station. The Met Council’s Blue Line Extension Project is seeking community feedback on an updated design for the light rail station planned for the intersection of Lowry and West Broadway avenues in north Minneapolis.
Your feedback will help shape the final design of the station.
Minneapolis Lowry Avenue Station Design Workshop
5-7 p.m. Monday, March 24
Sanctuary Church, 2018 Aldrich Ave. N.
If you have questions or need help to attend this meeting, email the Blue Line Extension team.
Learn more about the Blue Line Extension Project.
Take the tap water survey and enter into raffle
Help us understand how you use tap water. This survey will guide us as we plan for a sustainable future that meets human needs and protects the environment.
When you take the quick survey, you'll get the chance to enter into a raffle to win an iPad. Your answers will stay anonymous and will only be used to help with planning.
Take the five-minute tap water survey from the City of Minneapolis and the Water Research Foundation.
 National Night Out is a time for City residents to come together and celebrate with neighbors. Many blocks in Minneapolis take this opportunity to reconnect, eat and build relationships while kids play and bike freely in the closed street.
Registration is now open and is free. Pro tips:
- Include neighbors in your organizing efforts.
- Register only one event per block (appoint one neighbor to register).
- Consider whether you want your street blocked off to traffic.
- Checking the box for 75% approval is fine if you plan to notify every household of the event.
- Call 311 to request a firetruck, MPD K9, and/or MPD Mounted Patrol.
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Contact a City crime prevention specialist with questions.
Registration closes July 29. Read more about National Night Out and register your block’s event on the City website.
Grants available for innovative waste reduction projects
Grants of $5,000 - $25,000 are available to support your community-led projects that reduce or divert materials from the waste stream. This program is part of the City’s Climate Legacy Initiative.
Any organization that serves Minneapolis residents is encouraged to submit a proposal for an Innovative Waste Reduction project.
The project must increase diversion of materials from the waste stream. Proposals can be for short-term projects or to expand existing projects. Funding is not intended for future planning or research projects.
All projects must include an educational component.
Projects are to be completed in calendar year 2025. Learn more about the City’s Innovative Waste Reduction grants, including eligible projects and grant details through the City’s eSupplier portal.
Proposals are due at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Proposals must be submitted through the City’s eSupplier portal.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) also has $820,000 in grant funding available for waste reduction and reuse projects.
Learn more about MPCA’s Waste Reduction and Reuse grants.
Vibrant Storefronts: artists apply by May 16
The Vibrant Storefronts pilot program is expanding to offer rental support for artist spaces in new parts of Loring Park, Downtown and Uptown. Bringing property owners and artists together ensures stable tenants for the owners and furnishes space for the local creative community.
The first three awardees from November have opened their doors in the Harmon Place Historic District: Black Business Enterprises, Blackbird Revolt and Pride Cultural Arts Center. The two remaining awardees will open this spring. The Vibrant Storefronts pilot is a part of Minneapolis 2040.
Applications open March 14. The City will hold site visits April 11, 12 and 19. Interested artists can learn more and apply by May 16 on the City website.
Planning work continues for Minneapolis Democracy Center
The City of Minneapolis is moving forward with a plan to create the Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave., the former 3rd Precinct police building. The Minneapolis Democracy Center will house Elections & Voter Services as well as a large, ground-floor space for community use.
Progress on cleanup
City crews are cleaning up the site. Fences are now off the sidewalk, and the razor wire is gone. Cleanup inside the building includes selective demolition before a complete building renovation. More work will include building systems updates, replacing windows and doors, and rebuilding the front entry at Lake and Minnehaha. Work will continue through the summer.
Read more on the City website.
A look back: 2024 City of Minneapolis highlights
Nearly half a million people call Minneapolis home. Twenty-seven departments serve our residents, businesses and visitors. We all do our part to make this city hum, with each department offering its specific expertise and contributions.
So even a few months into the new year, we think it’s a healthy exercise to look back at some accomplishments from 2024: from being named the happiest city in the country to showcasing strides made in affordable housing.
Let’s show off Minneapolis a bit, shall we? Take a look at our 2024 highlights and, for a few moments, celebrate what makes Minneapolis shine.
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