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Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
I hope you are enjoying the first week of Spring. This week I would like to highlight the 2025 Assessment Report by City Assessor, Rebecca Malmquist.
At the Budget Committee this week, the full Council received the 2025 Assessment Report. This information is important because every renter, homeowner, and building owner is impacted by the rise in property tax. The Council was given the reasons why there's been such a sharp increase:
- The biggest impact is the 22% decrease in value of Downtown buildings over the past two years. Just a few years ago, 33% of property taxes were generated by commercial buildings with a large percentage of that coming from Downtown. That has now dropped to 27%.
- The overall drop in commercial property value was 8.6% from 2024 to 2025.
- Apartment construction in 2024 was 50% less than 2023. The growth in new apartment construction has kept rent increases low, as well as added to the property tax base. This slowdown will continue for the foreseeable future.
What does all this mean? There are three categories of property tax: residential, commercial/industrial, and apartment. When or two categories drop in value, the loss of property tax must be picked up by the other tax payers. Below you can see how the amount you pay in property tax is calculated:
- Market Value: Set by the Assessor to reflect how a property would sell on the open market.
- Classification: Set by the Assessor according to the property’s use. Each classification pays a different class rate as determined by the legislature.
- Tax Rate: Based on the budgets set by local governments including: the City, County, Watershed District and School District.
With all the Downtown office buildings dropping value and taking the City to tax court to lower their assessed values even further, it is a top priority of mine to reenergize Downtown. I have been working with State elected officials to create a tax credit to convert underused commercial buildings into housing. This will increase our City's tax base, add new residents, and create a vibrant downtown. Another big boost to Downtown will be moving the buses off of Nicollet Mall to Hennepin, Marquette, and 2nd. This will improve transit times and create the greenest, most active pedestrian mall in the Upper Midwest. The potential for ongoing events is huge.
As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.
Your neighbor,
Michael
Are you interested in helping to build a more equitable, local, and sustainable food system? Do you garden, cook, eat, own or work in a food business? Do you visit or engage with a food shelf? Are you passionate about sustainable growing, preventing wasted food, or other ways the food system influences our climate? Do you do research about food? Are you interested in learning more about food systems and networking with other folks who share this interest? Then you may be a great candidate for our food council!
The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council is made up of 25 seats filled by individuals who are invested in helping build a more equitable, local, and sustainable food system in Minneapolis. The Food Council’s role is to advise the Mayor and City Council on food systems issues and guide implementation of the Minneapolis Food Vision, the City’s ten-year plan to shape Minneapolis’ food system.
We’re currently recruiting new members to join the council.
22 Food Council seats for residents are open for applications from March 1 - 31 on the City’s website.
To be eligible for an open seat:
- Applicants should be residents of Minneapolis
- Council members must be able to regularly attend in-person monthly Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council meetings which happen the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (with limited exceptions for conflicting holidays)
- Ideally, candidates will also engage with one of Homegrown Minneapolis’ action teams
Selected applicants will serve either a one- or two-year term that begins in July 2025.
Access the application on the City's Legislative Information Management System
Learn more about the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council
Learn more about the Minneapolis Food Vision and Food Action Plan
The 2025 City of Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 11, at the McNamara Alumni Center. The theme for this year’s event is “Trans Equity and Intergenerational Power: Strengthening the Future by Honoring Our Past.”
The City of Minneapolis and partners are planning the all-day, free event that provides space to connect on social, legal and health issues important to the transgender community.
The summit will include breakout sessions, a job and resource fair and healing justice offerings. Space will be protected for community care and collective witnessing for trans and gender non-conforming neighbors.
Bookmark this webpage and check back for updates.
The federal government has pulled back all of its COVID-19 funds. This means that City of Minneapolis work around vaccination clinics and immunization education is stopped. The impact on the community is substantial as we’re canceling the five free clinics in April and do not know the future of our vaccination services right now.
Impact
Decisions at the federal level are impacting lives in our community and hurting employees dedicated to making Minneapolis a healthy place to live.
In 2024, the Minneapolis Health Department partnered with community organizations to hold 87 vaccine clinics in underserved communities. The clinics provided more than 800 COVID-19 shots, more than 700 flu shots and more than 500 mpox shots.
The decision also impacts the immunization work of three Health Department employees. The City is evaluating all options. In the meantime, the three employees will remain on staff and be funded by other sources.
Read more on the City website.
Recruiting members for eight boards and commissions is open through the end of March. The deadline for the Community Commission on Police Oversight was extended.
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.
Apply by March 31.
If you’re a City Solid Waste & Recycling customer, watch your mailbox in the coming weeks for your annual service guide. Your guide will include a collection schedule for the year; ways you can create less trash and reuse what you already have; and a catalog of what belongs in the black garbage cart, blue recycling cart and green organics cart. The guide also has instructions for setting out large items and for managing household hazardous waste.
Find more resources for recycling and organics on the City website.
The Office of Mayor is moving back to the third floor of City Hall from the Public Service Center this week. The Office of Public Service will follow soon.
The City Council and Office of City Clerk are scheduled to return in June followed by Finance & Property Services in July.
Watch for updates.
You can see a video update of construction progress on the third floor of City Hall.
As part of the annual statewide tornado drill, Hennepin County will sound the outdoor warning sirens in Minneapolis at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 10.
The two drills are intended to cover times of day when you may be at work or out and about, and when you may be home with your family.
Take advantage of the drills and Severe Weather Awareness Week. Practice your family's emergency procedures and prepare for weather-related hazards. |
