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Dear Neighbors,
During the September 17 City Council Meeting, we took action on 41 items forwarded by our standing committees, received notice of 2 ordinance introductions, referred 2 ordinances to committee for consideration, and approved 7 honorary resolutions.
The City of Minneapolis has been working on new zoning rules for data centers. The City wants to make sure Minneapolis has strong rules for data centers so it can limit any negative effects on the community.
The City has created a new data center webpage where you can learn more. It includes the City’s research report about data centers, a summary of the preliminary recommendations and a recorded presentation.
Visit the Data Centers page on the City website to learn more.
Overlay districts no longer under consideration
Initial ideas included a potential overlay district. It would have allowed for review of smaller-scale data centers outside downtown. Based on feedback, the overlay district will not be included in the staff recommendations presented to the City Planning Commission and City Council in October and November.
Share your feedback
The City of Minneapolis Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the data center proposal at its meeting on Oct. 13. This meeting will be open to the public. Attendees will be able to sign up to make public comments. The agenda will be posted on our Legislative Information Management System (LIMS) website when it is available.
Look for the Planning Commission agenda in LIMS.
Planning Commission Meeting 4:30 p.m. or shortly thereafter, Tuesday, Oct. 13 Public Service Center, 250 S. Fourth St., Room 350
Comments can also be submitted in writing. Share your thoughts on the proposed zoning changes for data centers by completing this form.
I am co-authoring an ordinance called Workers Drive Minneapolis along with Council members Wonsley, Chavez, and Council Vice President Osman. Workers Drive Minneapolis ensures basic protection for workers and the public before commercial automated vehicles begin providing transportation service in Minneapolis.
Workers Drive Minneapolis would go into effect in October 2027 and require all companies to obtain a license from the city to operate a commercial AV. To qualify for a license, the company must ensure that all vehicles have a human monitor in the driver’s seat who has a driver’s license and meets other basic qualifications. The monitor must be paid at least the minimum rate set by law. Remote operation of a commercial AV by a person is prohibited.
Workers Drive Minneapolis will protect over 10,000 rideshare drivers, mostly workers of color and immigrant workers, who support themselves and their families by driving rideshare.
You can read the legislation along with a public memo outlining the risks that commercial AVs pose and the need for regulations to protect workers and the public before commercial AVs begin providing transportation service in Minneapolis.
Workers Drive Minneapolis is about public safety and protecting immigrant workers from losing their jobs to automation. Labor and community groups supporting the ordinance include the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, Minnesota Uber Lyft Drivers Association, Our Streets, Service Employees International Union Local 26, and Teamsters Joint Council 32.
Public hearings on Workers Drive Minneapolis will be held on September 22 and 29, with a potential vote on the ordinance on October 1st, 2026.
Workers Drive Minneapolis- Public Hearings
Public hearing #1
- September 22nd at 1:30 pm
- Business Housing and Zoning Committee
- City Hall - 350 South 5th Street, Third Floor
Public hearing #2
- September 29th at 1:30 pm
- Committee of the Whole
- City Hall - 350 South 5th Street, Third Floor
Testify in support of protecting workers from losing their jobs to automation.
Phase 1 construction near George Floyd Square will be substantially complete Oct. 9, nearly two months ahead of schedule. Crews have worked to upgrade water, sewer and transportation systems, and will begin paving the new roadway and installing new streetlights as construction wraps up. Once work is complete, cars can again travel through the intersection until phase 2 construction gets underway in 2027.
The City is working with community members and property owners to prepare for phase 2 and will share updates about upcoming construction and a pre-construction open house on the project webpage and in newsletters.
Support local businesses
Restaurants, shops and other businesses remain open during construction. Please plan to visit, shop and support local businesses.
Learn more about the project on the City website.
Join SENA for an afternoon of meeting neighbors, enjoying refreshments, hearing from community leaders, and voting in new board members. All Standish Ericsson residents welcome!
Sunday, Sept 20 4-7pm
Lake Hiawatha Park
Similar to our garden tool swap, you can clean out your holiday decor and bring new-to-you items home with our Holiday Decor Swap! Accepting items that are in good condition, reusable, and have plenty of life left in them.
Now through Oct. 15, take a five-minute survey to share what matters most to you about renting, as well as challenges and opportunities you see.
The City is working to update how it categorizes rental properties in tiers to create safer housing, and a more accurate, fair and simplified system. Your insights will help the City refine its initial ideas for changes.
Ways to help
Comparta sus experiencias con el alquiler en Minneapolis.
Nala wadaag waayo aragnimadaada ku saabsan kirada Minneapolis.
Ka qeyb qaado sahanka.
The City of Minneapolis is moving forward with its national search for the next Minneapolis Chief of Police. The City’s executive search firm has conducted its review of candidates, and interviews will begin in the near future.
The search has attracted more than a dozen applicants, including a mix of internal and external candidates. The City’s executive search firm vetted applicants based on the qualifications, experience and leadership characteristics identified through the search process.
Learn more about next steps in the search on the City website.
What should Minneapolis look like in the future? The City is working on its next comprehensive plan, Minneapolis 2050. Your input can help shape the plan’s goals and vision.
Take the Minneapolis 2050 survey today to share your ideas about the future of Minneapolis. You can take the survey in:
The survey is open until Sept. 30. It should take you less than five minutes to complete.
Over the next couple of years, there will be more opportunities to learn about Minneapolis 2050 and share your ideas and feedback.
Learn more at 2050.minneapolismn.gov.
Sign up for Minneapolis 2050 text or email updates.
As regular riders know, commuting with transit is a great way to save money on gas and parking, ease the stress of traffic and get the workday started right. Help mark the occasion this Sept. 30 by taking transit to work.
Join the City of Minneapolis and Metro Transit for a morning commute celebration. Transit commuters can pick up free coffee and donuts, take a selfie with Metro Transit mascot Skip Traffic and weigh in on local transit plans.
Downtown Transit to Work Day celebration 7-9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 Fifth Street South and Nicollet Mall (near the giant wind turbine blade)
Commuters near the University of Minnesota can join in on the day's celebrations from 7-9 a.m. at the bus stop in front of Coffman Memorial Union.
Happy riding!
From caps on security deposits to evictions for unpaid rent, Minneapolis renters have rights. This week, we’re highlighting two of those rights from the City and State.
Renter immigration status
When screening potential renters, rental property owners and managers cannot:
- Ask about someone’s immigration or citizenship status
- Require someone to disclose or provide proof of their immigration or citizenship status
- Deny a rental application because an applicant provided an individual taxpayer identification number
Renters may still be asked for this information under certain situations; for example, when it’s necessary to comply with state or federal law or needed to verify financial qualifications.
Renters’ right to organize
Renters have the right to form an association to address issues like maintenance repairs, the terms and conditions of renting, and housing and community development.
Retaliation can take on a lot of different forms. Retaliation against renters for organizing or seeking help for a housing issue is illegal. Reporting a current or prospective renter because of their immigration status might constitute retaliation.
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