April 18th, 2025

A message from Council President Elliott Payne

Hello neighbors,

At today's City Council meeting we took action on 41 items forwarded to us from our standing committees, received notice of 2 ordinance introductions, referred 1 ordinance to committee for consideration, and approved 4 honorary resolutions. 

The City Council approved a resolution to roll over over $151 million in unspent funds from our 2024 budget year to this year. This is a massive amount of money that we were initially asked to approve at our Budget committee meeting on Monday, without much detailed information. Council Members did not receive more detailed information until Wednesday at noon, less than 24 hours before the final vote at our full City Council meeting. Since this is such a significant amount of rollover that we were being asked to approve with very little time or detailed information ahead of the vote, combined with the fact that our current financial policies require rollover funds to "Have a purpose consistent with the department’s business plan" and our departments don't have business plans, I tried to send this back to the Budget Committee to give Council Members and the public more time to get a better idea of why this money wasn't spent last year, and how it will be spent this year. Unfortunately, the motion to send it back to committee and have a more detailed and transparent discussion failed on a 6-7 vote. We then had to take a final vote on the rollover of those funds and it passed 12-1. I was the only vote against it and I'd like to quickly explain why. At a time when so many of you have just received the notice of big property tax increases, I couldn't justify rubber stamping over $151 million in unspent money from last year without more transparency and discussion. Regardless, I will be working on bringing forward a legislative directive to give more guidance to departments about what information needs to be included in business plans and/or the budget book to help with this issue going forward. 

We also unanimously approved a Sidewalk Cart & Street Vending Program Ordinance. This was in response to the increase in street food entrepreneurs working across the City, many of whom are immigrants. I know many people have loved buying fruit at 18th & Johnson in our Ward, and this ordinance will help support these vendors, and many more across the City, in their work while also removing previous barriers that existed from them being able to be in compliance with the permits and public health regulations that are needed. Here are some highlights from the ordinance:

• Increases locations per license from 1 to up to 3 (one cart, one license, up to 3 approved locations) 
• Increase access by allowing this in the City wide Goods and Services Corridors. 
• Changes 500 ft from Park building MPRB boundary to 200 ft from property line for expanded access.
• Amended approved operating hours from 7am-10pm to 6am-12am unless within 300 ft from a residence. In that instance, the approved hours are 7am-11pm.
• Added ability to create a Late-Night Operation Zone.
• Ensures that sites must meet ADA compliance standards.
• Removed harmful and outdated ableist language that was in the previous ordinance for decades. 

Lastly, I wanted to share that we officially approved the contracts for 2025 Open Streets events. That means that Open Streets will be coming back to Central Ave for the first time since 2019! See you on August 2nd!

Best,

Elliott

Connect with Council President Elliott Payne

April Office Hours

When: Monday, April 28th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Where: Dogwood Coffee 1209 Tyler St Ne

Details: Facebook event

May Community 1-1s

When: Thursday May 8th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

More details will be included closer to the date.

St Anthony Parkway Resurfacing Resumes May 5

The City of Minneapolis resumes resurfacing St. Anthony Parkway on May 5, 2025.

The parkway will be closed between Hayes Street NE and Johnson Street NE for about one month during the first phase of 2025 work. Temporary ramps at Ulysses Street NE will be in place to maintain pedestrian traffic. People on bikes will be required to dismount and walk.

A second phase of work, between Johnson Street NE and Central Avenue NE, will begin later in 2025. City of Minneapolis Public Works is hosting a community meeting for the project on Tuesday, April 29, 4-6 pm at Windom Northeast Recreation Center, 1801 23rd Ave. NE.

In 2024, the parkway was resurfaced between Hayes Street NE and Stinson Boulevard. Visit the City's St. Anthony Parkway Resurfacing project page for more details.

Street sweeping begins April 22

Public Works crews will start the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program April 22 to clear away what accumulated in the streets over the winter. Drivers should watch for hot pink temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.

For approximately four weeks, sweeping crews will take care of more than 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers need to follow street sweeping parking rules or they may have their cars ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.

Find your street on the schedule

You can see when your street is scheduled to be swept by visiting the interactive street sweeping map.

Learn more about street sweeping.

Ward 1 Traffic Calming Projects Open House

Expanding the number of traffic calming projects has been a priority for the City Council and I’m excited that as a result of that investment, 5 improvement projects are now happening in Ward 1 this year! Come join the public meeting on Wednesday April 23rd from 5:00-6:30 PM at NE park rec center to give feedback.

• Use the project feedback map to talk about safety concerns you experience near the projects.
• Take a short survey by May 15.

Learn more about the traffic calming project and ways you can get involved on the City website

Spring City Trees Sale now open to all Minneapolis properties

The rest of the trees for sale in the spring City Trees Sale can be ordered until April 30, while supplies last.

• Choose from shade or evergreen trees.
• Only $30 per tree.
• Order up to three trees per planting address.
• Trees must be planted on private property, not on the boulevard (area between street and sidewalk) or City right of way.

Order your trees today.

Boards and commissions deadline extended to April 20

Recruiting for several of the spring boards and commissions has stayed open through April 20. 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.

This is a way to help make changes and improvements that affect your community. Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them.

Apply by April 20 on the City website.

Lock and dam land transferring to Dakota stewardship

Federal land near the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam will transfer to Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, a Dakota-led organization working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to create a community space at the site. The space will feature indigenous vegetation, restored water flow, and a renewed connection to the river.

The historic transfer, which will put sacred Dakota land back into the stewardship of Dakota people, has been nearly a decade in the making and reflects years of collaboration between the City of Minneapolis, federal leaders, Owámniyomni Okhódayap, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the four Dakota tribes of Minnesota, groups, and community stakeholders.

Efforts to transfer management of the site began in 2015, when the Upper Lock was closed to maritime traffic to halt the spread of invasive carp. In 2020, Congress passed legislation ordering the transfer of the site from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the City of Minneapolis or its designee. The City chose Friends of the Falls, now Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, as its designee to transform the area into a community space that honors its Indigenous significance.

2025 Open Streets events

The City of Minneapolis has selected four organizations to host street fairs for the 2025 Open Streets Minneapolis season, slated to kick off Aug. 2. Mark your calendar for entertainment, music, food and more.

• Aug. 2 Central Avenue between 26th Avenue and 14th Avenue Hosted by the Audubon Neighborhood Association.

• Aug. 17 Cedar Avenue between 15th Avenue and Sixth Street, and Riverside Avenue between Cedar Avenue and 19th Avenue Hosted by the West Bank Business Association.

• Sept. 6 West Broadway between Logan and Lyndale avenues Hosted by the West Broadway Business & Area Coalition.

• Sept. 20 Hennepin Avenue between West 26th and 36th streets Hosted by the Uptown Association.

Read more about Open Streets on the City website.

Shared e-bikes and scooters open for the season

Lime and Spin e-bikes and scooters are now available for rent for the 2025 season. To start your ride, download the operators’ app, (under the Lime and Spin websites) sign up and begin your rental.

This program makes it easier to leave your car at home and try walking, biking, rolling or taking transit more often.

Learn more about renting, riding and parking scooters.

Learn more about e-bike sharing for short trips around the city.

Read more about the bike and scooter sharing.

Minneapolis launches new emergency incidents dashboard

The City of Minneapolis has a new online dashboard showing 911 emergency incidents. The dashboard’s rollout coincides with the testing of encryption on the City’s main emergency-response channels. This encryption meets requirements for Minnesota’s state data privacy regulations. Testing will continue until May 1, when the channels will be encrypted full time.

The new dashboard will be updated every 30 minutes and include the following features:

• 911 calls over the last 12 hours

• Map of incidents

• Incidents categorized into police, fire and behavioral crisis response calls

• Incidents categorized by date, agency, neighborhood or problem code

Read more about the dashboard on the City website.

Apply to join the Safe and Thriving Communities work group

Join a work group to advise the City on its safety services. The Safe and Thriving Communities work group will also support on engagement opportunities to connect with community members. Applications are open through May 4.

The new work group will provide community feedback as the City develops its community safety ecosystem. This includes services and procedures around:

• Prevention
• Non-police response
• Restoration
• Community safety centers

We’re looking for people who have expertise or lived experience in:

• Violence prevention services
• Unarmed violence intervention services
• Restorative justice and healing services
• Criminal justice system

Learn more about qualifications, expectations and the appointment process by visiting the City's website.

Cannabis dispensary map now available online

Now that Minnesota’s cannabis regulations have been approved, it won’t be long before legal adult-use cannabis dispensaries start to open across the state. Wondering where you might find one in your neighborhood?

Check out the map for zoning on cannabis dispensaries.

Public listening session on capital projects May 1

At a public listening session coming up May 1, a City advisory group will discuss the projects currently under review for the Minneapolis 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan. The committee invites public participation for a deeper understanding of community perspectives, to incorporate public input into their discussions with City departments, and to share information about the committee’s role in shaping the City’s long-range capital planning.

Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee Regular meeting, public listening session 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1 Sibley Park Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room 101 1900 E. 40th St.

The Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee is an advisory group for the City that provides recommendations for the its six-year Capital Improvement Plan through an annual report and project ratings system.

See the projects under review on the City website.

Connect with Elliott and Ward 1 Staff

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.