 Last night we had our Ward 7 Community Conversation on the mayor's proposed 2027 budget. Our Budget Director Shawn Greene gave a presentation where he did an excellent job laying out the city's relative strengths – including our AAA bond rating – while at the same time highlighting the reality that expenses are outpacing non-property tax revenues, leading the city to rely more on the levy to balance its books. Compounding the issue is that plummeting commercial property values mean that homeowners and renters are shouldering a greater share of that property tax burden than ever before. People are fed up with their taxes going up while it seems like the city is not doing enough to rein in expenses.
One decision that helped bring us here was using temporary American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to add new full-time positions. As ARPA funding dried up, these positions were often transferred onto the General Fund. When I served on the Park Board, we used ARPA dollars to work through a backlog of one-time projects. The distinction matters: a project ends when it is completed; a permanent position needs funding each year going forward. This is the reality for many municipalities who are wrestling with right-sizing budgets in light of discontinued ARPA funds.
Director Greene showed us what it would take to bring the proposed levy increase down to single digits, as I want to do. Each percentage point represents about $5.5 million, and the choices ahead could mean eliminating roughly 100 additional full-time positions. Those positions represent real people and livelihoods. We owe employees honesty and respect as we make these decisions, but city government is not a jobs program. We need to find efficiencies and scale back because we can't balance our books by continuing to ask our residents to pay double-digit property tax increases year after year.
Yet I understand scaling back to this degree is something Minneapolis has little “muscle memory” of over the last ten years, and we aren’t used to exercising this discipline. This has to change. We only need to look across the river to the University of Minnesota for our inspiration and fortitude. The UMN recently announced a $225 million budget reduction from their $5.4 billion dollar budget. In my opinion, the city of Minneapolis should be able to trim another $25-30 million from a $2.3 billion dollar budget. The question will be if my colleagues and I have the willpower and fiscal savvy to put the long-term health of our city first. We cannot keep plodding along on this path of dipping into our reserve funds, raiding the downtown asset fund and risking the loss of our bond rating (forcing the city to pay more interest on our bond borrowing and reducing the number of our infrastructure projects).
I was also hoping we could discuss the maximum levy set by the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). Instead, the six-member board deadlocked 3–3 at its meeting on Wednesday and set no maximum. (Whose idea was it to put an even number of people on this board?) The BET plans to meet again Tuesday at 4 p.m., ahead of Wednesday's certification deadline to see if they can reach a decision.
Basically, what it boils down to is this: the Park Board has requested a 5.86% increase and appears likely to receive something close to it. The unresolved question is whether the City's maximum will accommodate the mayor's proposed 11.3% increase or require a lower number. If the BET cannot agree, last year's levy limits may remain in place, forcing the Council and mayor to make substantially deeper cuts, in the neighborhood of $50 million.
I'm committed to working with colleagues across the ideological spectrum to bring the levy down. None of us will get everything we want. That is the work the voters elected us to do.
Staff Time and the Mayor's Memo
Unfortunately, the relationship between the Council and mayor is making that work harder than it should be. The mayor has directed departments to limit the time staff spend at committee and Council meetings, submitting written memoranda instead. We do need access to staff when an item requires their expertise. But I also saw the mayor's point at Tuesday's Business, Housing and Zoning meeting: our business licensing manager sat through hours of testimony on the proposed Waymo ordinance before the items related to her department came up near the end. That was not the best use of her time, and we should be able to schedule staff time more efficiently than that.
The response from some of my colleagues has been to pull routine items from consent for discussion and delay action until staff appear. That has made meetings longer, but without resolving the underlying problem. It also puts staff and people outside City Hall in the middle of a fight they did not start.
Consider Aeon. The affordable housing provider urgently needs City action on mortgage and covenant restrictions tied to its distressed Villa Nova property. The committee moved the matter for further discussion instead of resolving it that day via the consent agenda, as originally proposed. Members are entitled to ask serious questions about the transaction. But if we let a dispute over staff attendance delay a time-sensitive decision, Aeon and its residents bear the risk. It's also inappropriate to make them a pawn in the middle of the council's fight with the mayor.
The fight reached the Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee, too, where outside compensation for Inspector Ryan Kelly's travel to an October conference was sent forward without a recommendation. I think this is incredibly petty. Inspector Kelly has been nominated for an international police officer award for his heroic response to the Annunciation shooting – he was one of the very first on scene, and absent his combat medic skills, more lives would likely have been lost. His recognition shouldn't risk becoming collateral damage in a fight between elected officials.
Committee leaders should manage agendas so staff can be present when their expertise is needed, and Council members should send routine questions ahead of time. The mayor's office, in turn, needs to make sure we can get timely answers on decisions before us.
The budget will require difficult compromises. Turning every meeting into a power struggle is exhausting and makes those compromises harder. It may make for good headlines, or good social media content, but it does not make for good governance.
Call me Pollyanna, but I think that we will be able to find a way to put our differences aside and do what’s in the best interest of our residents.
 On Wednesday, staff from Public Works hosted an open house at the Walker Library to preview their plans for interim and potential permanent improvements in the area around the Hennepin/Lake Street intersection. The headline news is that starting in the next few weeks, the department plans to re-stripe the block of Hennepin between Lake and 31st to provide an option for loading/unloading for businesses and other short-term parking needs. If this pilot project is deemed successful and funding is available, these changes may be cast in concrete in 2028, with more permanent cutouts made to the sidewalks.
I’ll be watching this project with great interest. Businesses in the area have been advocating for such short-term parking accommodations for years now, and hopefully this will prove a workable way to address those concerns. If you’re interested in learning more about the details and providing input to the Department, they’ve set up a home page that allows you to do so.
 On Wednesday evening, I attended the graduation of 29 new Minneapolis Police Officers and one Park Police Officer from the Minneapolis Police Academy. The new officers now begin their field training immediately, with the MPD graduates spread out among the five precincts, and the Park Police following a similar program. For those keeping track, MPD now has 643 sworn officers. That’s still short of the 731 required by the city charter, but it’s movement in the right direction and that’s good news for the city. Thanks to these new officers for choosing to protect and serve our community. It is an inspiration to see the joy and pride of family and friends as they pin the badge on their loved ones, committing to sacrifice and service to residents of our city.
On a similar note, this morning I also attended the Minneapolis Fire Department’s Fire Academy graduation, including 12 men and 5 women, all of whom completed an intense, three-month training program in which they learned cutting-edge skills that equip Minneapolis firefighters to save lives and protect property during the toughest emergencies. The new graduates came from a wide variety of backgrounds including financial and healthcare professions, paramedics and former 911 dispatchers. Led by newly-inaugurated Minneapolis Fire Chief Reginald Freeman, the members of the Minneapolis Fire Department are thoroughly trained and ready to serve with skill, courage, and compassion, while also working proactively across the community to reduce risks before disasters happen. In particular, a poignant moment was when Chief Freeman called on the new firefighters to turn to face the crowd and express appreciation to their friends and family who are supporting them on this journey.
 Looking for something fun (and free!) to do on Saturday? The Dakota Block Party is back for 2026, with live music, food, drinks and more between 2:00 and 10:00 p.m. Outside performers include Sounds of Blackness, Dylan Salfer, and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, while those inside the club will hear from Moore by Four, Karrin Allyson, The New Standards and more. The Dakota has been a much-loved Ward 7 venue for years, so be sure to stop by, show your support, and have a great time!
Got kids? There’s free live music, creative activities and fun just across the street at the Quinlan Room by Dakota from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., 901 Nicollet Mall (i.e., the Young Quinlan Building). This portion of the program is produced in collaboration with the Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance and funded by the City of Minneapolis through Minneapolis Forward to support community and economic resilience: Get event details and see who's performing.
 As if residents along I-394 didn’t need more disruption, this weekend from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday all eastbound lanes of I-94 will be closed between Highway 55 and I-394 as MnDOT does bridge repair work to I-94 bridge passing over Glenwood Avenue and the Green Line Extension light-rail tracks. The Ward 7 motto is “forewarned is forearmed” and so hopefully this information will help you avoid any traffic snarls this weekend.
 A major milestone in the transformation of Upper Harbor is here. The new 20-acre Upper Harbor Regional Park opened Sept. 19, giving the public its first opportunity to experience the riverfront as redevelopment of the former Upper Harbor Terminal site continues.
The opening marks significant progress on a project designed to reconnect North Minneapolis to the Mississippi River and create new opportunities for housing, jobs, arts, recreation and community gathering.
The City has been building the public infrastructure needed to support the site’s transformation, including new and reconstructed streets and utilities. Later this year, the City will complete the new segment of West River Road North on the site, creating another connection along the riverfront.
The site is also home to the future 8,000-seat Community Performing Arts Center. Construction is underway, with the foundations and steel now taking shape. The amphitheater will open in 2027 and will be a major new venue for outdoor performances.
Future development at Upper Harbor is expected to include 520 housing units, 180,000 square feet of industrial space, commercial and cultural space, and a health and wellness hub.
Together, this work is transforming a former industrial site into a place where people can live, work, gather and connect with the Mississippi River.
Learn more about the Upper Harbor project on the City website.
 On Thursday I attended an open house at Uptown’s storied Rainbow Building. The open house, held in the former Chino Latino space, was a good reminder of the many opportunities that exist in Uptown’s commercial core, and hopefully will help spur more economic activity in the area. Hempel Real Estate is the lead agent for this property, and anyone interested should feel free to reach out for more information.
 If you’ve been by the Uptown Transit Station on Hennepin recently, you’ve probably noticed a change: Portraits created by Minneapolis-based portrait artist Robert Harrison were installed within the last two weeks on glass windows and doors, part of an ongoing effort to beautify stops and stations and deter vandalism through the use of public art. Originally created as acrylic on canvas paintings, these large-scale prints represent various people he has painted over the last few years. The interior waiting areas at the station remain closed while plans for the future of the facility are in the works. Public art projects at the Light Rail Training Facility and North Loop Garage are also underway.
Monday, September 28: Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 5:30 p.m., via Zoom. Visit the DMNA calendar for Zoom instructions.
Monday, October 5: Kenwood Neighborhood Organization monthly meeting, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., at the Kenwood Rec Center, 2101 W. Franklin Ave.
Tuesday, October 6: Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association monthly board meeting, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., at the Kenwood Rec Center, 2101 W. Franklin Ave. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, October 6: Stevens Square Community Organization Board of Directors Meeting, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., 1900 Nicollet Avenue. Hybrid meeting with Zoom option.
Monday, October 12: Citizens for a Loring Park Community board of directors meeting, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., via Zoom. Click here for directions.
Tuesday, October 13: West Maka Ska Neighborhood Council annual meeting, 6 – 8 p.m., Bakken Museum Great Hall, 3527 Zenith Ave. S.
Tuesday, October 13: East Isles Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Grace Trinity Church, 1430 W. 28th Street. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, October 14: Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 6:30-7:30pm at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 420 Cedar Lake Road.
Wednesday, October 14: Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Jones Harrison Senior Living, 3700 Cedar Lake Avenue. Click here for full details.
 This section is intended to flag issues coming up in the next council cycle (and beyond) which we believe might be of interest to Ward 7 constituents. Here are some upcoming items that you may find interesting:
Budget: As mentioned above, this week’s meeting of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) ended with a deadlock on setting the amount of the maximum levy. The board will reconvene on Tuesday to try to break that deadlock. The filing deadline for the levy is Wednesday, and if no action is taken, the levy reverts to the prior year’s amount, which would result in the city having to close a roughly $50 million gap. That’s obviously high stakes. As you may already know, I don’t sit on this particular committee, but I’ll be watching it closely, and I remain concerned about the proposed new levy and the cumulative impact of multiple years of increases that are substantially in excess of the rate of inflation.
Waymo: It was front-and-center this week, and will be back in front of the council this coming week. After a lengthy public hearing on Tuesday before the Business, Housing and Zoning (BHZ) committee, the public hearing was continued until next Tuesday’s meeting of the Committee of the Whole (COW). I expect there will be substantially more public comment on that day before the item moves to the full council on Thursday for a vote. Assuming it passes, then it’s off to the mayor for signature or veto. Thank you to everyone who has written in to the Ward 7 office to share their opinion on this matter. Some of the most striking testimonies were from those in the disability community who support the innovation and the option to choose an automated vehicle ride share without a human monitor or driver.
Metro Blue Line Extension: The proposed extension of the Metro Blue Line is getting quite real, and many North Minneapolis are feeling worries that echo those felt by a number of Ward 7 residents during the planning for Southwest Light Rail. This Tuesday’s BHZ agenda also included a proposed $750,000 contract for station planning along the route, and the item was continued to the October 6 BHZ meeting. I expect we’ll be hearing much more about this project moving forward.
Behavioral Crisis Response contract: As previewed in last week’s Looking Ahead, the city’s proposed contract with Community Bridges, Inc., to provide behavioral crisis response (BCR) services in the city came before the Public Safety, Health, and Equity (PHSE) committee on Wednesday. As expected, this item generated substantial discussion and has now been continued until the October 7 PHSE meeting, so – not unlike Waymo and the Blue Line – this will continue to be a major discussion item. We are waiting on an auditor’s report of the BCR services to date and I hope we can hear this report before having to vote on a new contract.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone getting ready to vote in this year’s general election will want to make sure they’re registered.
You can register to vote online. You can use this same registration link to update your current name or address on your registration.
Unsure if you are registered at your current address? You can use the online lookup tool to check your registration.
The pre-registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 13. Registering beforehand will make for a smooth check-in when you vote. You can also register in person when you vote early or vote on Election Day.
You will need to show proof of residence. You can prove where you live in many ways; be sure to read all your options and come prepared.
The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division is responsible for administering elections in the city of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, go to the City website.
 Credit: Lane Pelovsky
The City’s Open Streets events transform city streets into car-free spaces for a day, giving people a chance to walk, bike, roll and enjoy local businesses, events and activities.
This weekend’s event features entertainment, local vendors and activities along the corridor:
Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and 46th Street 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 Hosted by the Lyndale Neighborhood Association
Learn more about Nicollet Open Streets.
 As previewed already in this newsletter, Metro Transit is hosting a community event tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., to publicly announce the opening date for Southwest Light Rail, also known as the Green Line extension. The event will be held at the Green Line Louisiana Station, 6610 Oxford St., in St. Louis Park, with community activities, food and official remarks. Full details are available at the Metro Transit website.
The Minneapolis 311 team will be participating in agent training next week, which means callers may experience longer than usual hold times.
The training will take place 12:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
During National Forensic Science Week, the City of Minneapolis is highlighting the work of one of its specialty units.
The Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) experts play a critical role in investigations, helping to uncover answers to complex questions. The Forensic Services Division laboratory conducts casework in:
- Computer forensics: Perform forensic examinations on items such as cell phones and computers
- Field operations (crime scene and fingerprint analysis): Examine, document, process and collect evidence at crime scenes and in the laboratory; process vehicles; and analyze and compare friction ridge impressions
- Firearms and toolmarks: Perform examinations on firearms, fired bullets and discharged cartridge casings
- Video forensics: Recover video from video systems, isolate and enhance still images, perform comparative analysis and prepare timelines
Watch this video to learn how MPD's forensic science team uses science, technology and expertise to help solve crimes and deliver justice.
During the week of Sept. 28, Minneapolis residents with a lead water service line will be getting a letter from the City. The water service line is the pipe that runs from the water main in the street to the meter inside a property and is owned by the property owner. The letter provides information about the water service line material, steps that can be taken to minimize lead exposure in drinking water and an update on the City’s effort to replace lead water service lines.
See an interactive map of the water service line inventory on the City website.
How we know our tap water is safe
Minneapolis takes steps to make sure our tap water is lead-free and safe to drink. The water is tested hundreds of times a day and is treated in a way that prevents lead from pipes from getting into the water.
This is the City’s third year of using state and federal grant funds to proactively replace lead service lines at no cost to property owners. This year, the City will replace nearly 2,000 lead service lines using state and federal grant funds. This effort will continue until the City has replaced or attempted to replace every lead service line in the city (replacement requires the property owner’s consent).
Project locations are selected based upon priorities established in State law; the City doesn’t replace lines upon individual property owner request. State law requires the City to prioritize replacement by:
- Replacing service lines at daycares and schools
- Focusing on areas with lower-income residents and other disadvantaged communities
- Coordinating the replacement of lead service lines with other capital improvement projects to maximize available grant funding
If you wish to replace your lead service line before your property is in one of the City’s designated project areas, you may do so at your own expense by contracting directly with a licensed plumbing contractor. Alternatively, you may authorize the City to hire a licensed plumbing contractor to replace the lead service line. In doing so, you agree either to reimburse the City directly for the replacement costs or to have any unpaid portion assessed as a special tax on the property payable over five years.
Find more information on the City website.
 Graco Park tunnel
Graco Park tunnel
The City of Minneapolis invites artists to apply to design and create artwork for the interior of the Graco Park tunnel. This bike and pedestrian tunnel connects Hall’s and Boom islands under the Plymouth Avenue bridge. Graco Park and the connecting trails opened in 2025.
Dates and deadlines
- Monday, Sept. 21: Call for Artists posted
- Monday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m.: Virtual informational meeting
- Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.: Deadline to email your questions
- Friday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.: Review the posted questions and answers document
- Monday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.: Upload and submit a completed application
Contact Witt Siasoco at witt.siasoco@minneapolismn.gov for more information.
Learn more and apply for this public art project on the City website.
Minneapolis Convention Center, January – June 2027
Art Angels is requesting submissions of original, two-dimensional artwork by Minneapolis artists for the rotating art program at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The goal of the exhibit is to highlight the spectacular visual art created by local artists. Consideration will be given to artists:
- With a cultural or geographic perspective that is unique or appropriate to Minneapolis
- Who could be considered emerging in their development
- Who work on a large scale
Submission details: Full submission details can be found at the Art Angels website. Among the requirements: artists submitting work must live or work within the city limits of Minneapolis. Because these are on public display nudity, religious and political content, and the inclusion of expletivesare not appropriate. Due to the amount of wall space to fill, MCC requires large scale works of art that are installation-ready. If your artwork is selected, the program requires that you agree to commit your artwork to the program for a minimum of 6 months.
DEADLINE: 5:00 pm on Friday, October 23, 2026, with materials sent to Lpr@mnangels.org. Please be sure to note that it is for the Convention Center Call. |
