August 15, 2025

A message from Council President Elliott Payne

Hello neighbors,

At Wednesday's Public Health & Safety Committee meeting, Council Member Wonsley and I presented on our work that will allow the City to start collecting fees for the use of City resources (cars, uniforms, etc.) for off-duty police work. After the presentation, the committee then passed the final code amendment needed to advance off-duty fees before the 2026 fee schedule is finalized. This comes after the City Council already unanimously passed the ordinance Council Member Wonsley & I authored earlier this year that allows us to start collecting these fees. Check out our presentation to learn more. 

The City's annual budgeting process is officially underway after the Mayor's 2026 Budget address earlier this week. Every year the Mayor proposes the budget and then the Council amends and adopts it. Now that the budget has officially been proposed, we will spend the coming months reviewing it and having departments come and present to our budget committee so that Council Members can ask questions and the public can have more transparency into the budget. There will also be multiple public hearings so residents can weigh in on the budget and the Mayors proposed 7.8% property tax increase. You can review the Mayor's 2026 proposed budget here.

We've all only just begun going through the entire budget, but what's clear is that we need to be honest with our community s that this is an austerity budget that makes significant cuts to important programs. Last year, the City Council showed that we can make hard choices by prioritizing investments in important programs and resources while also lowering the Mayor's proposed tax increase. I look forward to the coming months of gathering community feedback and working with my colleagues on the City Council and in the administration to ensure we have a people-centered budget that is mindful of the financial burden facing City residents without compromising important City programs and services that improve people's lives. 

Best,

Elliott

Connect with Council President Elliott Payne

September Office Hours

When: Tuesday September 2nd from 5:00-7:00 PM

Where: Marshall Terrace Park (2740 Marshall St Ne)

Details: Facebook event

September Community 1-1s

When: September 4th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Where: Yellowbird Coffee Bar (639 22nd Ave Ne)

Sign up: Sign up link will be included closer to the date

Public hearing Sept. 10 on maximum 2026 property tax levy

The public is invited to comment on the maximum property tax levy for 2026. The Board of Estimate and Taxation will take public comments at its meeting Sept. 10.

5:05 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 Room 350, Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S. A signup sheet will be onsite 30 minutes before the meeting.

You can also send comments online or directly to your Board of Estimate & Taxation elected officials or the city clerk.

Find out more about the board, find meeting agendas and minutes, and see the meeting schedule on the City website.

Open house for Minneapolis Democracy Center Aug. 25

At an open house Aug. 25, community can get an update on future steps for the Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave.

• LSE Architects will give an update on the design process for the Election & Voter Services spaces.
• Both applicants for the community partner space will present their proposals. The applicants are Change Inc. and Mama Sheila’s House of Soul.
• A Q&A session will follow, and attendees can take a survey on their opinions of the two applicants. This survey will be available online for several weeks.

Democracy Center open house 5:30-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 Coliseum Building, 2708 E. Lake St.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., presentations begin at 6. Food and refreshments will be served.

The engagement feedback and findings will be presented to the City Council later this year, tentatively in November.

Read more about the open house on the City website.

Register – or re-register – your bicycle serial number

The City is switching its bicycle serial number registry. In the future, Minneapolis Police will check the serial numbers of recovered bikes on Bike Index, the largest bicycle registration service in the United States. This change offers City staff a wider pool of data to help return missing bicycles. Take a few minutes today to register (or re-register) your bicycle serial numbers.

Public, free and national serial number registries make it easier for police departments anywhere to return recovered bicycles. It's also easier for bike buyers to know they’re buying from a legal owner. If you’re buying a bicycle from a stranger, check the bicycle's serial number against a public index before you buy to confirm that it's not stolen. It's harder for thieves to sell stolen bicycles when we use these registries.

Learn more about bicycle registration on the City website, including where to find your bike's serial number. Find out what to do if your bicycle is lost or stolen on the City website.

I-94 closure Aug. 15-18

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close I-94 in both directions and its entrance and exit ramps between I-35W and Highway 280, as well as the ramp from eastbound I-94 to Highway 55, starting the evening of Friday, Aug. 15. Most of the lanes and ramps will reopen Monday morning, Aug. 18.

Follow the posted detour of I-35W to Highway 36, I-35E to I-94.

Plan ahead by checking 511 and giving yourself more time.

For more information, visit the I-94 project webpage.

New Metro Mobility service

Starting Sept. 3, Metro Mobility riders can choose UZURV for their Premium On Demand service. When riders choose UZURV, Metro Mobility will contribute up to $20 towards every ride.

UZURV offers

• Same-day, on-demand rides or scheduling ahead.
• A $5 base fare. Metro Mobility pays up to $20 of the remaining fare.
• Accessible, door-to-door service every ride.
• Courteous drivers who know how to help people with disabilities.
• An easy-to-use, accessible UZURV Ride app and full-service call center.

Plus:

• No tipping is necessary.
• Up to two guests ride free.
• Service animals are always welcome.
• Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available.
• All rides are monitored by real people in real time.

Learn more about UZURV on the Metro Transit website

Open Streets Aug. 17 on Cedar and Riverside

There’s plenty of summer fun still to be had. Open Streets Minneapolis, the City’s popular summer event series, continues Sunday with Cedarfest Sunday, Aug. 17, in south Minneapolis.

Open Streets transforms major business and commercial corridors into car-free fairs for all ages to enjoy and connects all of its neighbors to enjoy culture, entertainment, activities and local vendors. Watch a video about Open Streets 2025.

• Aug. 17, Cedar Avenue between 15th Avenue and Sixth Street, and Riverside Avenue between Cedar Avenue and 19th Avenue

• Sept. 6, West Broadway between Logan and Lyndale avenues

• Sept. 20, Hennepin Avenue between West 26th and 36th streets

Find details about the 2025 Open Streets on the City website.

Register your event by July 29 for National Night Out Aug. 5

You can still register your event for the 2025 National Night Out, Aug. 5 this year. 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 open until July 29 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 fire truck, MPD K9, and/or MPD Mounted Patrol.

• Confirmation emails are sent on Mondays. The confirmation will include the NNO pop-up calendar for picking up caution tape and other supplies for your event.

• 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.

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

Brandon Garcia, Policy Aide - Email

Ikram Mohamud, Policy Associate - Email

Liam Davis Temple, Policy Aide - Email

Office Phone - (612) 673-2201

Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward1

Our offices have officially moved back to City Hall! You can visit us at 

City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415

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.