Council unanimously supported a proposal requesting the City Auditor to develop an independent review function of responses to high-impact public safety cases. This was brought forward in response to the recent murder of Mariah Samuels, a mother and dog groomer on the Northside who was killed by her abuser after making numerous requests for help. In response to the murder of Mariah, as well as the murder of Alison Lussier and shooting of David Moturi, Council unanimously supported requesting options in how we can perform equity analyses on our police responses to cases that involve patterns of threats or violence. 

Interpersonal violence does not happen in a vacuum, and significantly impacts brown and black communities. In an effort to continue improving our public safety responses, as well as addressing racial inequity in our City, this is a crucial step in addressing the epidemic of violence in our country. Mariah Samuels, Alison Lussier, and countless others should still be here today, and it is our responsibility on City Council to fight for the safety and wellbeing of our residents. 

If you want to learn more about how to prevent domestic violence, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office will be hosting a Domestic Violence Response summit to share tools and insight in how to combat interpersonal violence in our communities. More information about the event can be found here. 

If you, or someone you know, needs help in a relationship, contact the Day One Crisis Hotline by calling 1-866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995. The hotline offers confidential help and resources for individuals experiencing domestic and sexual violence, general crime, and trafficking, and can also help people concerned about a loved one. 

This week, Council Vice President Chughtai, Climate & Infrastructure Vice Chair Koski, and I brought forth an amendment to the City of Minneapolis’ Franchise Fees to restore climate funding (2025-01061 and 2025-01062). Our current franchise fee ordinances have a provision that for every monthly gas or electric bill, a small charge (about 5%) is tacked on that goes directly to the City to fund retrofitting and weatherization programs that reduce energy costs for residents.

When this 5% fee was first passed, it was estimated to bring in $10 million annually for our Climate and Legacy Initiative work. We recently learned that the current fee brought in $2 million short of our climate funding goal. We need this funding, and we need these programs to scale up and meet the moment. 

My colleagues and I are bringing forth an amendment that would increase Franchise Fees on residential, commercial, and industrial properties by around 0.5%-1% depending on gas and electric usage. I know people have expressed concerns about increased fees on residents, but I am pleased to share that, based on the data we have from our Sustainability Department, the Franchise Fee Increase would only increase utility bills for residents by $10 a year. We are prioritizing ways that lower the costs on the most burdened residents in our City.  

Dale Howey, a landlord of 185 units across Minneapolis, shared his appreciation for this ordinance amendment. Because of the existing Franchise Fees, he has been able to weatherize and retrofit his properties nearly ten years sooner than he would if he were paying out of pocket. “I can keep my rents affordable by mitigating fluctuations in energy costs. I’ve used the program for solar, heat pumps, and insulation, and this has kept my energy costs low. This allows me to pass those savings on to my tenants. I am able to save my tenants about $300 a month in energy savings.” 

You can learn more about the Franchise Agreements on the City website. 

This week, Council unanimously approved the STOP Slumlords Rental Licenses Ordinance (2025-00887). The ordinance requires a City Council vote on rental licenses for rental units that are below the City’s standards of health, safety, and livability. A full FAQ on this ordinance can be found here.  

Too many renters across our city have been living in buildings with major health and safety problems, fighting to get public attention to their absentee landlords. I’m proud that we united as a Council and passed this ordinance unanimously to bring public accountability to high-risk rental licenses. It was long overdue. I was proud to co-author this ordinance with Council Members Osman, Chowdhury, and Wonsley, because I know how badly our residents in Tier 3 buildings need help.

This ordinance should not be of concern to landlords who are present and responsive to their tenants. This isn’t about punishing people or revoking licenses, it’s about getting resolutions, strengthening consumer protections, and improving quality of life. 

If you are in a rental property and experiencing any livability concerns, such as heat or water being off, or pests in the building, please report these issues to 311. 

Today's question:

For this month’s Coffee with Katie, our office hosted a virtual roundtable with Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Director Michelle Rivero. We had a wonderful and thorough conversation about how the City is stepping up for vulnerable residents, and what we are doing at the local level to protect our neighbors from increasing Federal hostilities. You can find Know Your Rights cards in 52 different languages, information on the citizenship process, resources for legal representation, information on keeping students safe, and so much more under the “Know your rights and resources” tab on the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs City website. 

Additionally, if you have a loved one detained by ICE and need to know where they are located, you can use the United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement Online Detainee Locator System. You can also receive additional help with federal enforcement matters through Representative Ilhan Omar’s office. You can find all the options for contacting them on their website. 

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in two public safety ride-alongs, with 5th Precinct Police officers and with Behavioral Crisis Responders. I thank the Ward 7 Police Oversight Commissioner, Chris Baker, for joining us. While I didn't get a photo with the 5th precinct officers due to the nature of the calls we attended to, I appreciate their diligence in responding to 911 calls as quickly as possible, even with such a high volume and under considerable pressure and dangerous circumstances. I also appreciate the mentorship seasoned officers are providing to newcomers who are within their first days on the job.  

The Behavioral Crisis Response team is a relatively new mental health response that the City of Minneapolis has developed, and they are doing an incredible job. I am proud that the Council has continued to fund and expand their capacity. They meet community members where they're at and help them access mental health and addiction services. If you need their help, all you need to do is call 911. You can learn more about this service on the City’s website. 

With the West 21st St and Bryn Mawr Stations activating their rail crossing warning systems, the Green Line Extension project team has asked us to share the following: 

• Warning systems at West 21st Street and adjacent to Bryn Mawr Station will be permanently active. Starting in October, the lights, bells, and gate arms at these crossing locations will be permanently active and in full operation when freight rail trains travel through the crossing.
• Crossing safety: Whenever a freight train approaches these crossings, gate arms will come down, lights will flash, and bells will ring.
• Please stay alert! Safety is everyone’s responsibility! Know the rules and share them with others. When you see or hear warning signals, that means a train is coming. These systems are in place to keep everyone safe. 

Testing on the Green Line Extension LRT Project is underway and will continue through 2026. As part of the testing program, starting in mid-October, Light Rail Vehicles will be pulled through Minneapolis by a railcar mover for Phase 1 testing from Eden Prairie to St. Louis Park. Testing with Light Rail Vehicles in Minneapolis will begin in 2026. Testing is an important step to ensure the system is safe, reliable and ready for you to ride in 2027. 

Thank you for your patience and support as we take this important step forward. For general questions, contact community outreach coordinator Kaydee Kirk, 612-373-3941. For urgent construction matters, call the Green Line Extension Project Construction Hotline, 612-373-3933. 

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner has announced his retirement at the end of the year. Chief Tyner started his career with the Minneapolis Fire Department in 1995. He became the City’s second Black fire chief Dec. 4, 2020. 

During his time with the Minneapolis Fire Department, Chief Tyner has: 

• Increased the number of firefighters in the department
• Initiated the EMS Pathways paid internship program to start young people on track to a career as a first responder.
• Led the implementation of a Safe Station at Fire Station 14, where individuals facing substance-use challenges can seek help without judgment or any questions asked.
• Instituted a now-nationally recognized commercial building inspection and registration program to ensure building use compliance and occupant safety. 
• Supported the physical and mental well-being of fighters with the addition of new infrared saunas at five fire stations. 

Chief Tyner has been an invaluable leader and partner for the City in working towards a healthier and safer city for all. I am extremely grateful for the work he has done, and the leadership he has brought our communities. After thirty years with MFD, I look forward to seeing what he does next for Minneapolis. 

Read more about the legacy and accomplishments of Chief Tyner on the City website. 

City crews are getting ready to sweep streets across Minneapolis. Street sweeping helps keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains. That helps keep them out of our lakes and creeks and the Mississippi River. Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb street sweeping throughout the city Tuesday, Oct. 21. 

During the four weeks in October and November, crews clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. 

Stay informed 

Temporary hot pink “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours before they start so the street will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 20, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules, or their cars may be ticketed and towed.  

Stay informed about the parking rules through a web map showing when your street is scheduled for sweeping, “no parking” signs on the street, and email and text alerts. 

Learn more about street sweeping on the City website; Facebook, Bluesky, Threads and X; and videos in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong. 

If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now’s the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register. 

Register ahead of time 

You can register to vote online. You can use this same registration link to update your current name or address on your registration. Pre-register by Oct. 14. After that, you can register when you vote. 

Unsure if you’re registered at your current address? You can use the online lookup tool to check your registration.  

Register when you vote 

You can also register to vote in person when you vote early or vote on Election Day. 

You’ll need to show proof of residence. Certain types of ID can be your proof of residence, but there are other options that don't require an ID. Be sure to read all your options and come prepared.  

Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, visit the City website.