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Dear Community,
Council has completed our first full cycle of meetings. During this first cycle of the 2024-2025 term, Council got to work immediately addressing the priorities of working class residents: a humane encampment policy that centers public health, expanding workers’ voice in labor standards, a ceasefire in Gaza and end of US military aid to Israel, and expanding local democracy through ballot initiative to empower residents to take action on the issues they care about.
City Hall was full of diverse working class people this week- as it should be! I look forward to the next two years governing alongside you.
Sincerely,
Council Member Robin Wonsley
The Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution supporting an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to all US military aid to Israel. You can read my statement on the resolution here.
Hours later, the International Court of Justice at the Hague ruled that Israel must do everything possible to prevent genocide. This reaffirms that Minneapolis is on the right side of history.
Key votes: Council votes 9-3-1 for a resolution calling for a ceasefire and end to US military aid to Israel. Council Members Payne, Ellison, Osman, Cashman, Jenkins, Chavez, Chughtai, Chowdhury and myself voted in favor. Council Members Rainville, Vetaw, and Palmisano opposed. Council Member Koski abstained.
The city has published a Request for Proposals for organizations to host Open Streets events. These competitive RFPs are funded by the budget amendment that Council Member Ellison and I brought forward last year. Prior to this budget amendment, organizations hosting Open Streets were not compensated by the city, despite organizing the city’s most successful community engagement event. This put the entire Open Streets event series in jeopardy until Council amended the Mayor’s budget to ensure that the series could be funded. I’m excited to attend the Open Streets series this year and continue to invest in it- maybe even into a Ward 2 location!
Key votes: No votes taken.
Council appointed representatives to external boards and commissions. I will serve on the Rethinking I-94 Advisory Committee, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee, and the University District Alliance. You can read the full list of appointments here.
Key votes: Unanimous support for appointments to external boards and commissions.
Council Member Chavez, Osman, and I are moving forward with two ordinances, one that would guarantee a $15 minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers and another that grants workers’ rights to drivers and safety protections for drivers and riders.
On January 30th at 1:30, there will be a presentation on a comparative wage analysis to help Council and the public have a clear understanding of what per-mile and per-minute rates best approximate a $15.57 hourly minimum wage for drivers. The meeting is open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s youtube channel.
Key votes: Council votes unanimously to refer the Fair Drives, Safe Rides ordinances to Committee.
At Thursday’s Council Meeting I gave notice of intent to introduce an ordinance that would give Minneapolis residents the power of ballot initiative and referendum. Ballot initiative is the process by which residents can collect signatures to put an ordinance on the ballot directly to voters.
It has been two years since voters approved Question 1 and Minneapolis switched to a strong mayor system. In the first year of implementation, Council unfortunately only focused on implementing the new government structure on the executive side, building out the offices and authority of the Mayor’s administration. Last year, we finally made investments into the legislative side of government, strengthening the Council’s capacity to do our policymaking, oversight, and budgetary duties. While we have made strong strides to full implementation, the power of ballot initiative is a key piece of the strong mayor system that has not been formally considered yet.
The cities that have been models for our own strong-mayor system have ballot initiative power, including Saint Paul and Duluth. This is a critical power for residents to serve as a check and balance to City Hall here in Minneapolis, too.
The power of ballot initiative will require amending the City Charter, which is a long process. Introducing this ordinance is the first step. I look forward to many conversations with my colleagues and residents about the power of ballot initiative and referendum in the coming months.
Key votes: No votes taken.
In 2015, the Minneapolis City Council designated the Dinkytown Commercial Historic District. The district is centered around the intersection of 4th St SE and 14th Ave SE. Staff in the Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) have prepared draft design guidelines for this district. Design guidelines affect changes to buildings, structures, and landscapes.
Staff completed a draft in October 2023, then held two community meetings to discuss the project and the draft. Staff revised the document and will present it to the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) on February 13, 2024, for discussion. This will not be a public hearing. The draft will then be sent to the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office for review. Staff will bring the final draft to the HPC for adoption in a public hearing by summer 2024. Members of the public can give testimony at that time.
Key votes: No votes taken.
My office convened a meeting of local stakeholders to discuss the ongoing work to improve safety and livability in the Malcolm and University area, and to ensure local residents understand the operations at the ITI intermodal container depot nearby. The notes are available here. Thank you to ITI leadership and residents for taking the time to meet and your commitment to partnering on a healthy and thriving Prospect Park.
Thank you to the Prospect Park Association for having me at the Board Meeting to share updates. I shared updates on the Witch’s Hat and Grand Rounds Missing Link, and enjoyed hearing about PPA’s ongoing business on a variety of community issues.
I had the honor of speaking at the city’s annual Black History Month Kick-Off, hosted by the city’s Minneapolis Black Employment Network. The theme this year honors the contributions of Black artists. I spoke about Eartha Kitt, a powerful Black artist who was not only a fierce actress but also a resilient Civil Rights and Anti-War advocate. Her advocacy work, especially around condemning the 1960’s Vietnam War, would eventually result in her being blacklisted from production companies in Hollywood. Yet, she continued making art and speaking truth to power. Her story is relevant even in today’s world, with so many artists, political leaders, and community members facing persecution for standing against the genocide in Gaza. However, her persistence and that of my Black ancestors helps remind me of the obligation I hold to do whatever I can to push the “moral arc” of our city to “bend towards justice” (Dr. Martin Luther King, 1968).
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I had a great time at the Building Trades Brunch connecting with local labor and community leaders.
I had the opportunity to join Student’s United at their New Year Kick-Off. I look forward to working with them throughout the coming year on initiatives that improve conditions on campus for college students.
The city has published a summary of 2023 development. Residential, commercial, and industrial developers continue to choose to invest in Minneapolis despite nationwide market pressures. These investments continue to grow a vibrant, livable, equitable, sustainable, and safely built city for everyone. The total for 2023 was $1.54 billion. This compares to $2.1 billion in 2022, $1.63 billion in 2021, and $1.74 billion in 2020. The total newly constructed residential dwelling units totaled 1,705.
A map of the top-ten highest development projects is shown below. Most of these projects are years in the making. Thank you to the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Department for your hard work supporting developers in navigating through the land use, site plan, and building code requirements for each project.
The two highest-value construction projects in the City of Minneapolis in 2023 were located in Ward 2. I will continue to work with students and neighbors to ensure that the continued development near the U adds high-quality, affordable housing to the Ward and the city and is not exploiting workers and renters for corporate profit.
Celebrate Black History Month with us. The City of Minneapolis is offering free, public events under the theme African Americans & the Arts.
Upcoming Black History Month events
- Black Music and the Arts – The Minneapolis Sound A panel discussion to explore the history of Black contributions to music with a focus on the “Minneapolis Sound.” Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 City of Minneapolis Public Service Building, Conference Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
- Black and Belonging A community discussion around belonging to a collective and creating welcoming spaces where we all belong. Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 City of Minneapolis Public Service Building, Conference Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
- Family Feud: Black History Month Trivia Featuring Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis employees: a live event to have fun, laugh, show off what you know about Black history, or learn something new. Noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 North Point Conference Center, Fifth Floor, Suite 5200 1256 Penn Ave. N.
- History Makers at Home The Minneapolis Civil Rights Department will recognize leaders in the areas of business, criminal justice, education, economic development, health, housing and government. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway Ave.
- Rock Your Crown This is the event where hair rules! With the State of Minnesota signing the Crown Act into law, we will celebrate the history of Black hair and the art of styling it. Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 City of Minneapolis Public Service Building, Conference Room 100 505 Fourth Ave. S.
The mayor and City Council passed a resolution honoring Black History Month. The resolution states that “the Mayor and City Council do hereby commemorate the achievements of Black Americans as history makers and legacy trailblazers and their role in the development of the region and the nation since its inception, and we join in recognizing the annual celebration of Black History Month and the anniversary of the Minneapolis Black Employee Network.”
The events for Black History Month are presented in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County through the efforts of these employee resource groups: City of Minneapolis Black Employee Network, Hennepin County People of Color Employee Resource Group and Hennepin County African American Employee Resource Group. History Makers at Home is presented by the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights.
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.
Join an open house Jan. 29 to hear about Minneapolis’ proposed pilot for traffic safety cameras. Camera enforcement is proven effective at saving lives and reducing crashes. To do the project, the City is seeking legislative authority. The City is committed to a pilot that protects privacy and is fair, equitable and effective.
The open house will offer a presentation and opportunity to ask questions and share feedback.
In-person open house 5-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 Minneapolis Public Service Building, 505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 100 Presentation at 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Traffic safety
The City is interested in a pilot for speed and/or red light cameras. Speed and running red lights are two of the top four factors in severe and fatal crashes in Minneapolis. The work is part of the City's effort to get to zero traffic deaths and severe injuries.
State law and timing
A local pilot on traffic safety cameras would need a state law change. The City is working on a bill (House File 2098/Senate File 2026).
If the bill passes this year, the City will work to develop the full details for a local pilot. This would include significant community engagement. The earliest a traffic safety camera pilot program could start is the summer of 2025.
Email Council Member Wonsley and her staff at ward2@minneapolismn.gov
Or contact staff directly:
Policy Aide Celeste Robinson
Policy Aide Qannani Omar
Share your opinion or address an issue, use the Ward 2 contact form
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