 The process of amending the Mayor’s proposed budget included major investments in new programs and expanded use of the Council’s budgetary authority.
The Minneapolis City Council has concluded its deliberations on the 2024 Budget and finalized an omnibus budget to be formally approved next week. Council met as the Budget Committee on November 30 and December 1 to consider forty-five amendments to the Mayor’s Proposed 2024 Budget, a $1.8 billion budget proposal. Council approved all forty-five amendments, totaling almost $30 million.
The Fmr. Budget Chair, Council Member Koski, led the Council in exercising their full budgetary authority during the process, including several amendments strengthening the budgeting process to increase Council's ability to advocate for resident priorities in future budgets.
Notable amendments include:
Community Safety & Police Reform
- Creating an Interim Safety Center for Third Precinct Residents to file police reports, get information, and connect with our Public Public Safety System. Co-authored by CM Chowdhury, CM Chavez, & CM Koski
- Increasing domestic violence navigators and resources for survivors. Authored by CM Chughtai & CM Koski
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Hate Crime Prevention Program- Co-authored by CM Chowdhury, CM Chavez, CM Chughtai, & CM Osman
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Transit Safety Coordinators to create positions within the Office of Community Safety to coordinate public safety measures along transit stations and corridors. Co-authored by CM Chowdhury & CM Chughtai
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Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD) Program- LEAD is explicitly designed to provide a new pathway to long-term, community based care for people who commit, or are at high risk of committing, law violations related to their behavioral health challenges and/or income instability on the East Lake Corridor. Co-authored by CM Chowdhury & CM Chavez
- Investing in approximately $16 million for the implementation of the federal consent decree, funding a team of 34 dedicated positions in MPD, Civil Rights, and Information Technology.
- Expanding the Behavioral Crisis Response program with ongoing funding of $2.9 million.
- Building out the Department of Neighborhood Safety and its violence prevention work with a $3.3 million investment by investing in programs such as a Lake Street Safety coordination pilot to improve the coordination of law enforcement and non-law enforcement responses along Lake Street and connect residents and businesses to services while also piloting area activation to improve crime and livability concerns. CM Chowdhury & CM Chavez
- Investing $2 million to add 15 new civilian positions within MPD to bolster investigative and administrative functions.
- Supporting the addition of three positions in the Office of Community Safety, helping to fulfill safety innovation work recommended through the Minneapolis Safe and Thriving Communities Report.
- Allocating $150,000 to the Minneapolis Fire Department to update computer systems in fire trucks to ensure personnel are quickly alerted of priority calls.
- Funding 731 sworn officers in the Police Department and 8 classes of new hires, additionally investing $7.126 million for overtime and contracting with other law enforcement entities.
Public Works and Infrastructure-
- Enhancing funding for an additional 40 Traffic Calming projects to be completed in 2024. Co-authored by CM Chowdhury, CM Chughtai, CM Koski, CM Wonsley, CM Osman, & CM Ellison
- Establishing funds to repair the Witch’s Hat to be safely reopened. Authored by CM Wonsley
- Providing the City's contribution of funding towards the Granary Crossing study to complete the missing link of the Grand Rounds from where it currently ends in SE Como with the East River Parkway in Prospect Park. Co-authored by CM Chowdhury & CM Wonsley
Neighborhood & Community Relations
- Amplifying funds to optimize services and resources to our immigrant, refugee, and senior community members.
- Establishing funding to continue the Open Streets event series. Co-authored by CM Ellison & CM Wonsley.
- Provides a direct investment of $420,000 in neighborhood organizations across the city, increasing the base budget for each neighborhood from $10,000 to $15,000 and ensuring that every neighborhood receives a minimum of $5,000 in equitable engagement funds.
- Supports Minneapolis Animal Care and Control with a $365,000 investment, helping to better staff animal shelters. CM Chowdhury, CVP Chughtai, & Fmr. CM Goodman
Climate Action & Public Health
- Ensuring culturally specific opioid recovery and harm reduction services to be implemented. Authored by CM Osman
- Supporting community health and wellbeing in high-need areas throughout the city.
- Invests $10 million annually into the Minneapolis Climate Legacy Initiative to support the City’s climate goals over the next decade, tripling previous climate work investments. This investment includes $4.7 million toward weatherizing all homes in Minneapolis, $1.4 million in workforce training, and $850,000 in the City’s tree canopy program.
- Adds $730,000 to go toward Electric Vehicle Charging stations across Minneapolis.
Good Governance
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Legislative department staffing and funding. Including Communications staffing in the legislative department co-authored by CM Chowdhury & CVP Chughtai
- Improving the city's financial policies to strengthen government oversight and transparency.
- Increased oversight and transparency for State Public Safety Aid.
- Improved the city's financial policies to strengthen government oversight and transparency.
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Establishing a truth and reconciliation commission and beginning to implement a citywide process to address the decades of harm against Indigenous and Black residents. CM Chowdhury, CM Wonsley, & CM Chavez
Affordable Housing & Homelessness
- Expanding renter relocation assistance funds to better safeguard our most vulnerable community members from displacement. Co-authored CM Ellison, CM Wonsley, & CM Chughtai
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Creating funds for a multitude of social services to be coordinated for people experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, food insecurity, and deep poverty to help meet basic needs in a safe and welcoming environment.
Economic Inclusion & Recovery
- Building up the Developers Technical Assistance Program (DTAP) to make certain that more resources can be made available to small and emerging real estate developers. Co-authored by CM Ellison, CM Chughtai
- Ensuring fair raises for some of the lowest-paid city workers who support basic civic services. Authored by CM Chughtai
- Increasing labor standards co-enforcement programs to protect workers’ rights and enforce existing laws to prevent and stop wage theft. Co-Authored by CM Chowdhury, CP Payne, & CM Koski
- Invests an additional $3 million to the Ownership and Opportunity Fund to provide ownership opportunities to local BIPOC small business owners
Amendments also included several new pilot programs to collect data on the parameters of future permanent programs, including:
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Safety ambassadors for the seven cultural districts (38th Street South, Cedar Avenue South, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East, West Broadway, Lowry Avenue North, Uptown, Dinkytown, Mill District, and East Hennepin) - friendly presences who staff key commercial corridors, increasing safety through visibility and connection to resources. Co-authored by CM Chavez, CP Payne, CM Osman, CVP Chughtai & CM Ellison
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Sidewalk snow and ice removal- City-led clearing of key segments of Pedestrian Priority sidewalks and transit stops; increased enforcement to property owners with repeated violations; and sidewalk clearing services for seniors and elders. Co-authored by CM Wonsley, CVP Chughtai, & CM Osman
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Public safety pilots for the proposed Third Precinct/Community Safety Center- $4 million to pilot new unarmed public safety programs rooted in diversion, restorative, and prevention services, at 2633 Minnehaha Ave Co-authored by CM Chowdhury, CM Wonsley, & CM Osman
The City Council amended and adopted Mayor Jacob Frey’s 2024 budget on Dec. 5.
The 2024 budget includes significant investments in the City’s record-setting affordable housing production, a historic level of funding for public housing, strategic inclusive economic recovery work, and alternatives for public safety strategies and police reform. The budget also triples funding for climate action work across Minneapolis and allocates historic funding for the health of the city’s parks and public water systems.
The budget totals $1.8 billion with a tax levy increase of 6.2%.
Read details about the budget on the City website.
 On January 25, 2024 on the first City Council Meeting of the term I brought for notice of introduction of four ordinances I am co-authoring. Our current practices as a City does not treat our unhoused residents with the dignity and humanity they deserve, it does not improve and at times exacerbates existing public health issues, and it does not reduce homelessness nor prevent the formation of new encampments. Ward 12 Residents and residents in the City of Minneapolis deserve better. So I have initiated the policy making process to change our practices for the better outcomes for people in Minneapolis. Addressing homelessness with dignity and humanity from a policy standpoint has been work I have been pursuing for the last two years and I'm excited to be working on this now in collaboration with community members as a council member. Here is the list of noticed ordinances I am bringing forward with Council Member Chavez & Council Vice President Chughtai:
Safe outdoor spaces ordinance
Chavez, Chughtai, and Chowdhury give notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting of the City Council the subject matter of an ordinance amending Title 12, Chapter 244 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Housing: Maintenance Code, amending temporary housing provisions, including Section 244.60, to develop regulations establishing authorized and regulated “safe outdoor spaces” or individualized outdoor sheltering options for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Humane encampment response ordinance
Chughtai, Chavez, and Chowdhury give notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting of the City Council the subject matter of an ordinance amending Title 11 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Health and Sanitation, adding a new Chapter 237 establishing provisions of a humane encampment response policy.
Encampment removal reporting ordinance
Chowdhury, Chavez, and Chughtai give notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting of the City Council the subject matter of an ordinance amending Title 12, Chapter 244 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Housing: Maintenance Code, amending temporary housing provisions, including Section 244.60, to establish provisions mandating regular reporting – including, but not limited to outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness – related to encampment removals delegated by any ordinances or other City policies relating to homeless encampment removals.
The fourth ordinance I introduced is to start the process of forming a labor standards board that will help establish standard working conditions across sectors and address issues raised by workers. This is introduced with Council Member Cashman and Council Vice President Chughtai.
Labor Standards Board ordinance
Chughtai, Chowdhury, and Cashman give notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting of the City Council the subject matter of an ordinance amending Title 2, Chapter 40 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Administration: Workplace Regulations, adding a new Article VIII creating a process to establish a Labor Standards Board to study and report on working conditions in specific industries.
Office Hours with Council Member Aurin Chowdhury-
Come join me, Council Member Chowdhury and the Ward 12 Staff team for the beginning of regular in Ward community office hours! All are welcome, please come to learn about updates, share comments and concerns, and ask questions. Please if you are able let us know if you are coming ahead of time and if there is anything specific you would like to touch on so we can be best prepared for you when we meet. Times and locations will rotate to best accommodate and create accessibility for Ward 12 constituents. This will take place on February 13, from 5:30-7:30PM at Sisters' Sludge Coffee Cafe and Wine Bar (3746 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407).
 LGBTQIA+ Community Safety Conversation Office Hours with the Queer Equity Institute
Come join our Community Office Hours with the Queer Equity Institute, Council Member Chowdhury, and Council Vice-President Chughtai. We will be discussing LGBTQIA+ Community Safety and the ways the city can better partner with our community. This will take place on Friday, February 2, from 8:00-10:00AM at Wildflyer Coffee (3262 Minnehaha Ave South).
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the City of Minneapolis a $20 million grant to address the highest priority unfunded safety projects on streets in Minneapolis.
We will use the federal grant to make safety improvements on high priority projects and actions in the City’s 2023-2025 Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan. The plan outlines priorities for the next three years to advance the City’s goal of ending traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2027.
This significant award of federal funds will allow Minneapolis to implement safety improvements on nearly all streets with the highest percentage of severe and fatal crashes that don’t already have a plan for safety-focused investment.
Highlights include:
- Safety improvements along 25 miles of high-injury streets.
- Traffic signal improvements at 526 intersections.
- More safety planning work, such as evaluating the speed limit change and quick-build safety treatments.
Read more about the grant and the City’s work to make streets safer
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 In February the City plans to start accepting grant applications to repair failing private sewer pipes and connections to the public sewer. Homeowners can receive grants between $5,000 to $10,000 and may need a match to receive the funds. The City expects this year’s funding to provide grants to 30-35 property owners. You can look at information now to get ready with bids and then apply when applications open.
Eligibility
- Residential property in Minneapolis.
- Owner occupied property.
- Uses a City of Minneapolis Target Market Program contractor. At least three bids will be required from this vendor list.
- Copies (photos or scanned images) of three bids uploaded with the application.
- Copy of proof of residency (license, utility bill or mortgage statement) uploaded with the application.
The Metropolitan Council funds these grants.
Find more information on the City website.
On Thursday, January 25 the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution in support of a permanent ceasefire and preventing loss of human life in the Middle East. I want to thank everyone that took time to reach out to me and the Ward 12 office to share your thoughts and concerns.
This resolution underscores Minneapolis’ commitment to global peace, justice and human dignity. It reflects our city’s values of empathy and solidarity. It recognizes the painful history of displacement and occupation endured by Palestinians, the unspeakable acts of violence on October 7, the ongoing suffering caused by the hostile taking of Israeli hostages by Hamas, as well as the tragic loss of lives on both sides. At its core, this resolution reaffirms the right to self-determination and peaceful, safe futures for both Palestinian and Israeli people, and emphasizes our stance against antisemitism, islamophobia, and racially motivated violence and hate crimes. This resolution calls on our Federal government to hold a sovereign state that receives billions annually in US public funds to adhere to our basic tenants of humanity for civilians. We joined this call to action on our federal government alongside 60+ cities across the nation.
Our City Council has a long history of speaking in defense of basic human rights, de-escalation of violence and for peace to prevail. Past resolutions like the resolution opposing the unjust occupation and violence toward Ukraine in 2022, the resolution condemning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia in 2018, the resolution calling for the divestment of city funds from Sudan due to being complicit in a genocide in 2008, the resolution in support for the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace and Non-Violence in 2006, and the opposition with and call for de-escalation of the war in Iran in 2007 and 2020 are prime examples.
My additional thanks to the broad coalition of individuals across faiths, races and other backgrounds that lent their voices. You can view my remarks in support of the resolution at the Committee of the Whole meeting & the Full Council meeting.
The Ward 12 Office is committed to using every tool at our disposal to address antisemitism and islamophobia amid the rise of hateful rhetoric and acts. CM Chowdhury attended a Jewish Community Town Hall on antisemitism at Temple Israel this last Friday and will continue to engage with community members and organization committed to making Minneapolis a welcoming and safe place for everyone.
 I was honored to attend the annual Building Trades & Construction Union Brunch to celebrate and meet with our local building trades & construction union leaders, members, and supporters across government. The workers' represented by these union quite literally ensure that our city runs, continues to grow, and is well maintained.
The City Council has approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Margaret Anderson Kelliher as the City’s new city operations officer. The position oversees the City’s Office of Public Service and its 17 departments including Public Works, Community Planning & Economic Development and Regulatory Services.
Anderson Kelliher, a 34-year resident of Minneapolis, will lead thousands of employees Citywide to ensure high-quality, coordinated City services.
Under the City’s new government structure, the city operations officer is one of four direct reports to the mayor and oversees the Office of Public Service. Core functions of the Office of Public Service include internal services; communications and engagement services; and development, health and livability services. These departments primarily support the work of the enterprise, address community health and livability, foster racial equity, and administer performance management.
Read more about Anderson Kelliher and the appointment on the City website.
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From the villages of Afghanistan to the City of Minneapolis, Jim Doten’s work could reshape our city’s agricultural and forest future.
Doten, the Health Department’s Carbon Sequestration Program Manager, spent his life trying to improve the food system around the world. Now, he’s using his expertise to bring the benefits of biochar to our city. His dream is a decade in the making.
Biochar is a special type of charcoal produced by heating woodchips (or other organic material) at high temperatures. The process of making biochar turns the wood chips into a long-lasting form of carbon that won’t re-enter the atmosphere.
Learn more about City’s efforts on biochar.
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How would you invest in regional transportation? The Metropolitan Council and the Transportation Advisory Board would like to know how you’d distribute funding for transportation projects. Your responses will help inform the Transportation Advisory Board as it considers projects this spring.
Use this tool to build your budget and learn more about the funding categories. The budget exercise will be open through Jan. 31.
Projects focus on results such as moving more people more effectively, managing congestion and improving air quality.
The City’s Civil Rights Department encourages those who believe they have been discriminated against to file a complaint. Complaints can be made by calling 311, filling out an online form (available in six languages), or in person at the Service Center in the Public Service Building or City Hall, Room 239.
The City’s Civil Rights Department’s Complaint Investigations Division works to prevent and prohibit discrimination in Minneapolis by investigating complaints of discrimination made by members of the public. The division investigates discrimination that occurs within the city limits of Minneapolis in the last year based on a person’s protected class (race, sex, disability, national origin and more) in areas including employment, housing, public accommodation and public services.
Protections include newly enforceable language protecting those with Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers from discrimination in housing. A full list of covered protected classes and areas where the division can investigate can be found under the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance.
Successful mediations in 2023 so far have collected more than $200,000 in monetary damages for victims of discrimination.
Videos
These videos in four languages describe what is covered under the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance, how to file a complaint and what to expect after filing.
Video 1: What is discrimination under the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance?
Video 2: How do I file a Complaint of Discrimination and what happens after I file?
The website also includes information about discrimination complaints, the process of investigating discrimination charges and mediation.
The City of Minneapolis celebrates 40 years of curbside recycling.
Since 1983, recycling has become easier for Minneapolis customers. The City program evolved from paper and can drives to pickups. Schedules moved from once a month to every other week. Customers began by separating recyclables by material while now all recyclables go into one City-provided cart.
By the end of the year, more than 800,000 tons of paper, cans and bottles will have been recycled through the City’s curbside recycling program. Even with this huge milestone, a lot of recyclable bottles, cans and paper still end up in garbage carts.
Choices make the difference
We would love to see more of those recyclable bottles, cans and paper in the recycling instead. Your choices make the difference every time you decide what to do with recyclables when you’re done with them.
- Recycle these: beverage, food, laundry and bathroom containers and clean papers.
- Flatten all cardboard boxes.
- Leave all containers except boxes in their original three-dimensional shapes. They go through the sorting machines best that way.
- The City’s recycling contractor can recycle plastics numbered 1, 2 and 5. Other numbered plastics – even if they show the recycling symbol – go in the trash.
- Black plastic items have to go in the trash.
Recycling protects the environment by reducing the natural resources we use. It provides local green jobs and supports the economy. Recycling supports 78,000 jobs in Minnesota and adds $23.9 billion a year to Minnesota’s economy.
Check the City website to see if an item is recyclable.
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The City Council approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Erik Hansen as director of the City’s Community Planning & Economic Development Department. Hansen has served as its interim director since June.
Before that, Hansen worked as the department’s director of Economic Policy & Development for five years and has served 12 years as a principal policy coordinator for the department.
Read more about Hansen’s nomination on the City website.
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The City of Minneapolis has accepted a $3.7 million personal guaranty as proof of East Phillips Neighborhood Institute’s ability to pay its share of the $11.4 million purchase price of the Roof Depot site in south Minneapolis. This personal guaranty met the Nov. 8 deadline outlined in the purchase agreement approved by the City Council Sept. 7.
The sale of the site to East Phillips Neighborhood Institute is not yet final.
The City looks forward to the State of Minnesota satisfying its commitment from May to provide $2 million to the City as a good faith deposit, which was due July 15. The Legislature must also provide another $5.7 million to the project in 2024 to satisfy terms.
If all terms of the purchase agreement are satisfied, the sale of the site is scheduled to close on or before July 15, 2024.
The City is dedicated to finding a new water supply maintenance facility and will explore other locations for this project. The Minnesota Legislature has committed $4.5 million to the City for a new facility.
Read more on the City website.
Winter market season has begun in four locations around the city. Farmers Markets of Minneapolis operate year-round with markets mainly operating outdoors.
Local produce is fresh, nutritious and affordable. Most of the markets accept SNAP-EBT (“electronic benefits transfer”) cards as payment, as well as Market Bucks and Produce Bucks, which combined provide $20 more for healthy food to market shoppers using SNAP-EBT.
In 2022, customers at the Farmers Markets of Minneapolis redeemed more than $350,447 in Market Bucks, Produce Bucks and SNAP/EBT, showing expanded access to fresh, healthy food for Minneapolis residents who experience food insecurity and receive federal food assistance. Sixty-two percent of market vendors donated leftover produce to hunger relief programs in 2022.
Find winter market schedules and locations.
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Save your snow emergency mailer for information on how to know when the City of Minneapolis declares a snow emergency and what to do. The City sent out about 182,000 snow emergency mailers, one to each household in the city. The mailer has graphics and text showing the parking rules during the three phases of a snow emergency. Avoid a ticket and tow, and help crews do a complete job by moving your car when a snow emergency is declared.
It’s also important to help neighbors and visitors know the rules.
Snow emergencies are declared when there’s enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. Moving parked vehicles allows crews to plow the full width of the street.
When the snow flies, City Public Works crews have enormous jobs to do, with more than 1,400 miles of streets, parkways and alleys to clear. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of snow emergency rules can be ticketed or towed.
Sign up for alerts
There are several ways to know when the City has declared a snow emergency. We suggest getting your information in more ways than one so it’s less likely your car will be towed.
Read more about how to stay informed, and sign up for alerts on the City website.
Minneapolis will move forward with plans to build out the 3rd Precinct and Safety Center at 2633 Minnehaha Ave. S. The City Council approved moving forward with plans to build out a 3rd Precinct and Safety Center at the site Mayor Jacob Frey and City leaders identified as an additional option.
This site is the cheapest to purchase and quickest to occupy of any site that has been on the table.
More information on 2633 Minnehaha Ave. S. is included in the memo on the City website (PDF).
Read the full council resolution and more on the City website.
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