| Hi Ward 12 Neighbors,
I hope you are doing well! It has been a jam-packed time in the community and at City Hall. In the last Council Meeting,we took action on 53 items forwarded to us from our standing committees, received notice of 1 ordinance introduction, referred 1 ordinance to committee, and approved 3 honorary resolutions. All of the Council's votes yesterday were unanimous expect for one vote, which was 12-1.
I wanted to highlight for everyone's awareness that at this week's Budget Committee Council Member's discussed the priorities each of us is bringing forward to the Mayor, along with the Legislative Department's budget recommendations for next year.
In the Business Housing & Zoning Committee we approved Ward 12’s very own Sea Salt Eatery for a permanent expansion of premises to include the pavilion area to improve service to the community by having a concessions window facing tables and chairs in the pavilion. The premises will now consist of two indoor seating areas and four outdoor seating areas. So excited to see the growth of this local gem paired with the opening of the new sandwich shop at Sea Salt!
In my capacity as Intergovernmental Relations Chair, I helped sponsor a resolution supporting the Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act; Congressional Bill H.R. 6828, and adding it to our federal legislative agenda. The Act is named after Britany Clardy, an eighteen-year-old young Black woman from Saint Paul, Minnesota was a daughter, sister, friend, and beloved community member. I encourage everyone to read it to fully understand the epidemic in the United States of Violence against Black women from all walks of life in our nation. In 2013, tragically, Britany Clardy was murdered and taken from her family; She was missing for two weeks before she was found. I thank her family for their continued advocacy for Black Women and Girls across the State and Nation. I am grateful to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for authoring this important act and the incredible Black and Indigenous Legislators in Minnesota who created the first of the nation office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls and the Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women girls. This resolution is set to be sent to our U.S. Senators and The U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Please take a look through the updates in this edition of my Newsletter and please join me to one of my two office hours on Wednesday at 5:30 pm at Venn Brewing or Friday morning at Rick’s Coffee Bar at 8 am.
Happy Immigrant Heritage Month, Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month, and Happy Pride!
Yours Truly,
Council Member Aurin Chowdhury
Here is the full list of content:
Join me for Community Office Hours!
 I will be at Venn Brewing on Wednesday, June 26th from 5:30-7:00pm. Stop by if you can!
Venn Brewing
3550 E 46th St, 55406
Recap: Community Safety Center listening session
 I will be at Rick's Coffee Bar on Friday, June 28th from 8:00-9:00am. Stop by if you can!
Rick's Coffee Bar
5402 43rd Ave S, 55417
 Thank you to everyone who came out on Thursday May 23rd to share your time and ideas with Council Member Koski and I. The biggest take away for me is that we all want the same thing: a safe, livable community that has public safety resources to help people at any intersection where they may encounter it, be that diversion programs, prevention programs, recovery programs, emergency response or crisis response. Director Harrington and the Office of Community Safety have completed the first round of engagement with the South Minneapolis community about the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center and the Lake Street Safety Center. The information will help decide what services could be found in the community safety centers. Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part, whether it was at this, or one of the other 30+ in-person events, on the street or with the online survey. They will be reviewing the data and will share a report on the overall findings on this information in the coming weeks.
Thank you to the Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association and the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association for cohosting this engagement event!
Most of the reports from the individual engagement events can be found on the City of Minneapolis website. The page will be updated as more reports become available.
For updates and more information, check out the City website.
Clarifications & Updates on Lake Street Safety Center
2633 Minnehaha will be known as the South Minneapolis Safety Center, this where the police will be stationed and co-located with other safety services and resources will be. This is expected to open in the second quarter of 2025 (May, April, June.
There will be an Interim Lake Street Safety Center that was funded by me, Council Member Chavez, and Council Member Koski in the last budget cycle. This is different from the South Minneapolis Safety Center.
This Lake Street Safety Center is not going to be a place where police will be stationed- This is a location where 311 agents will be stationed 5 days a week, it will be a touchdown location for Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) & Lake Street social workers, and crime prevention specialists, community navigators, police officers, Lake Street safety coordinators, BCR, and Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD) case managers will be hosting office hours.
It was announced at the Public Health and Safety Community Meeting that the location will be at 2822 Lake Street in the Hi-Lake Center an active part of Lake street that will benefit greatly from more safety presence and help support the safety of the nearby areas. It is expected that this location will open September/October of this Fall 2024.
The family and loved ones of Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, the Minneapolis Police Department, the City of Minneapolis and the broader community continue to mourn his loss following his death in the line of duty on May 30.
Officer Mitchell’s memorial was held at 11 a.m. at Maple Grove Senior High school on Tuesday, June 11th. I was in attendance with fellow Council Members and joined by State and Federal leaders.
There have been inquiries about opportunities to support Officer Mitchell's family, and I am including a link with donation opportunities below for anyone that wishes to contribute and offer support during this time.
Find more information about donation opportunities on the City website.
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Juneteenth 2024 Spent at the Soul of the Southside!
 Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19th, marks the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in the United States. It originated in Galveston, Texas in 1865, when Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 acknowledging the end of slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is a day of reflection, education, and celebration of Black American culture and achievements. It's a time to honor the enduring spirit of resilience and the ongoing fight for equality and justice.
I spent Juneteenth in community attending Soul of the Southside! It was an incredible day of community, kinship and celebration as well as recognition of the Black community in Minneapolis and beyond. I also got to experience the re-opened Historic Coliseum Building!
Shout out to Emmanuel & Fancy, owners and operators of the Legacy Building, and their entire team for putting together another excellent Soul of the Southside!
3000 Minnehaha: Please take survey on future use of former 3rd Precinct building
I am glad to see that the Administration has listened to the calls I made for more community engagement & information sharing to residents on this project. I had some good meetings with the Office of Public Service about the need for engagement. There was a community engagement event on June 10 in the form of an Open House. Letters were sent to household at 1.25 mile radius from 3000 Minnehaha inviting residents to attend alongside digital advertising.
Here is more information on the project and the survey link:
Minneapolis is proposing to redevelop the site of the former 3rd Police Precinct to house a new democracy center to expand access to the ballot box and provide a large space for community use. We’re asking residents to give us your input through a survey on the City website.
City experts reviewed the physical space, operational fit and feedback gathered throughout the last several years. As a result, the City is proposing to relocate its Elections & Voter Services, which is currently leasing industrial space in northeast Minneapolis, into the building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave.
More than 8,000 square feet of the space would be used for community use, which is roughly two thirds of the ground floor of the existing building. The City’s proposed timeline would have the site open as early as 2026.
Take the survey.
Read more on the City website.
On June 12, 2024, Minneapolis Police Officers shot and killed Michael Warren Ristow. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating this incident.
The Settlement Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights contains specific requirements that the City must meet following a critical incident. The City Attorney’s Office is in contact with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the independent evaluator, ELEFA, to ensure the City is complying with those requirements.
I am saddened be this gun violence in our South Minneapolis Community. I will share updates as we receive them.
From the BCA Website:
ST. PAUL – The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man who died during a use-of-force incident June 12 in Minneapolis. According to the medical examiner, Michael Warren Ristow, 39, of Minneapolis died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified three Minneapolis police officers who used force during this incident. They are all on critical incident leave.
- Enoch Langford fired his department handgun. He has four years of law enforcement experience.
- Abdirizaq Mumin fired his department handgun. He has almost two years of law enforcement experience.
- Chaz Wilson fired his department handgun. He has five years of law enforcement experience.
According to the preliminary investigation, officers responded after a 911 caller reported being threatened by a man with a gun. When they arrived, they saw the man, later identified as Ristow, and tried to make contact with him. He ran away and the officers chased after him while telling him he was under arrest. Ristow came up to a fence line and turned toward the officers with a gun in his hand. All three officers fired, striking Ristow. They provided medical care but he died later at the hospital. None of the officers were injured.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered at the scene cartridge casings and two handguns that were later determined to be stolen. The officers were wearing body cameras that captured portions of the incident. BCA agents are reviewing all available video as part of the active investigation.
The Minneapolis Police Department asked the BCA to investigate this incident. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without a charging recommendation to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for review.
New traffic calming street art installation for the Safe Routes to School program
Our Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs has unveiled two new artist-designed asphalt murals near Folwell Community School and South High in our Ward and Ward 9 as a part of Public Works’ Safe Routes to School program. I checked them out earlier this month with Council Member Chavez!
 These traffic calming projects will lead up to permanent projects in 2026 to make travel safer for kids throughout the city as they go to and from school and around their neighborhoods. This is one way our youngest community members can be centered in infrastructure improvements through innovative, community-driven projects.
Mural locations:
Folwell Community School: Intersection 21st Ave. S. and 35th St.
South High Mural: Intersection of 21st Ave. S. and 31st St.
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis has voted 301-63 to support the terms of a tentative agreement for a 2023-2025 collective bargaining agreement with the City of Minneapolis. Following the vote from its members, the federation has advanced a contract agreement that would deliver a historic boost in pay for Minneapolis police officers and significant reforms.
The 21.7% pay increase over the three years of the contract would make the Minneapolis Police Department among the highest paying in Minnesota by 2025. The terms will be retroactively applied to January 1, 2023. The contract would expire on December 31, 2025.
Taken together, the proposed changes would enhance transparency, strengthen managerial oversight, and equip MPD management with essential tools to better deploy limited resources and run the department.
There will be two Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee dates where Public Comment will be received; an adjourned meeting on June 25th and the regularly scheduled meeting on July 8th.
Read about key reforms and contract changes on the City website.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out on this contract, your input has been invaluable, please continue to reach out and share your comments, thoughts, and concerns.
Minnehaha Academy Variances & Conditional Use Permit
Thank you to all the neighbors and Minnehaha Academy leadership and school community for engaging with my office. As the Council Member of the Ward and the Council Member appointed to the Planning Commission, my office and I paid close attention to this item over the last couple months.
I really appreciate you voicing your perspectives and concerns on the Athletic Field Variances and Conditional use permits. I attended two of the three community meetings, had meetings with residents at community office hours, and had a meeting with the President of the School, Dr. Donna Harris.
At the end of it all it is important for us to remember we are one community, when we all do better, we all do better, and to me it matters that we are able to work together to the best level of being good neighbors.
On June 10, the Planning Commission voted on 1 conditional use permit and 3 variances and this was final decision by the Planning Commission:
Conditional Use Permit. The City Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit to increase the height of two light poles from the permitted 35 feet to 70 feet and to increase the height of two light poles from the permitted 35 feet to 80 feet in the UN1 Urban Neighborhood District, subject to the following conditions:
- The conditional use permit shall be recorded with Hennepin County as required by Minn. Stat. 462.3595, subd. 4 before building permits may be issued or before the use oractivity requiring a conditional use permit may commence. Unless extended by thezoning administrator, the conditional use permit shall expire if it is not recorded within two years of approval.
- The light fixtures used shall be full cut-off fixtures.
- Lights can only be operated until 10:15 pm.
- The lights shall only be turned on when the athletic field is being used.
I made a motion to add a condition that the field lights would be required to turn off at 9:30pm due to the concerns on the impact on nearby neighbors who would have to experience amplified noise and light later into the evening. However, my motion did not pass and as a result Commissioner Meyer and I voted against the approval of this Conditional use permit.
Variance. The City Planning Commission approved the variance to reduce the required front yard setback along 46th Avenue South from 26.1 feet to 18.2 feet for bleachers, subject to the following conditions:
- A plant inventory shall be done along both 46th Avenue South and East 32nd Street to identify where shrubs are missing. If shrubs are missing, they shall be replaced in kind in accordance with the previously approved site plan.
I voted to approve, this variance reasonably met all requirements for approval.
Variance. The City Planning Commission approved the variance to increase the height of the bleachers (accessory structure) from 13 feet to 16 feet.
I voted to approve, this variance reasonably met all requirements for approval.
Variance.Action: The City Planning Commission approved the variance to increase the height of the scoreboard (accessory structure) from 13 feet to 24.5 feet.
I voted to approve, this variance reasonably met all requirements for approval.
Variance. Notwithstanding staff recommendation, the City Planning Commission denies thevariance to increase the maximum amount of impervious surface on the site from 60 percent to69 percent based on the findings that an athletic field is not a unique circumstance of the property as choosing to use synthetic turf is a design choice; the heat island impact, and that the proposed variance request does not meet the spirit and intent of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
I made the motion and findings to deny this variance for increase of impervious surface, athletic turf field on the basis that there is no unique use case for approval and concerns that this did not meet the spirit or intent of the 2040 plant to reduce urban heat island effect and impacts on our natural waterways from storm water runoff.
While neighbors brought forward reasonable concerns on PFAS and Microplastics and impacts on public health from the in the proposed rubber infill turf field, the City of Minneapolis nor does the State or Federal government have policy/statute that is available to make legal considerations on this basis. I look forward to exploring future legislation at the local level to address these concertsns.
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Minneapolis City Council passes amendment to commercial tobacco ordinance
We passed a comprehensive amendment to the tobacco ordinance April 25. The amendment makes the minimum per-pack price of cigarettes one of the highest in the country and ends price discounts. It focuses on reducing health disparities and on youth initiation of commercial tobacco products, and it protects the health of the city’s residents as a whole. The ordinance includes:
- Increasing the minimum per-pack price of cigarettes and other commercial tobacco products to $15.
- Ending price discounts and coupons for commercial tobacco products.
- Increasing the penalties for licensees that violate City policy.
- Ending the sampling “loophole” for any new commercial tobacco products shop.
An increase in prices is known to decrease commercial tobacco use.
- For every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes, adult smoking decreases by 3-5% and youth smoking decreases by 6-7%.
- An increase in price leads to more attempts to quit.
- Calls to quit lines increase when prices increase.
- A study that looked at raising the state-level minimum price of cigarettes by an average of $2 per pack projected a resulting reduction in cigarette consumption by 15.9%.
Read more on the City website.
I am extremely thrilled to share that at the State legislature, that I alongside Council Member Chavez, Council Vice President Chughtai, and Council Member Wonsley were able to help close a deal at the Capitol for the final Uber/Lyft Rideshare Legislation that gave drivers a 20% pay raise, insurance, allows the State and City of Minneapolis to require data transparency for enforcement among other things-- making this the strongest rideshare ordinance passed in the nation.
I have deep gratitude for the drivers who organized and advocated to us and the State for nearly two years to get better pay and better workplace conditions. If rideshare service is essential, then they are essential workers, and their pay and working conditions should reflect that. I thank CM Osman, CM Chavez, & CM Wonsley for authoring the City Legislation and the State Authors Senator Omar Fateh & Representative Hodan Hassan for their tireless work on this bill.
As Majority Leader Jamie Long said Saturday night when a deal was reached, “I give tremendous credit to the City Council, we didn’t get a bill passed last year, the City Council did. They stepped up and stood up for drivers, they forced the issue at the State Capitol. They made sure we were going to be responding no matter what, they set a high bar for what we wanted to talk about for wages for drivers, and they made sure we were standing strong. They forced the conversation here and made sure we had the strongest deal possible for drivers.”
Minneapolis 2040 moves forward!
Before adjourning, State lawmakers passed a bill that will resolve a legal challenge under the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan that gave rise to a lawsuit. The legislation will allow the City of Minneapolis to move forward with permitting long-stalled multi-unit housing projects.
The Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan was passed in 2019 and was the guiding vision for shaping how the city will grow and change for the next 20 years. This includes historic zoning reforms to allow for a diversity of use in all neighborhoods across the city.
In part due to the 2040 Plan, Minneapolis has seen record-breaking levels of affordable rental housing units produced in the past several years, while also keeping rents at some of the lowest rates in the country.
Read about the plan on the City website.
Michelle Phillips confirmed as new Director of the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights
Phillips will oversee a department with 46 employees tasked with:
- Enforcing the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances.
- Investigating discriminatory practices.
- Ensuring the protection of members of protected classes.
- Promoting the understanding of civil rights among residents, businesses and government.
The Civil Rights Department, through its Office of Police Conduct Review, also plays a critical role in reform efforts required by the settlement agreement reached with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
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Homegrown Minneapolis community projects a part of Climate Legacy Initiative
The City of Minneapolis is committed to reducing climate pollution by 2030. To help accomplish this goal, the Minneapolis Health Department is announcing funding of more than $315,000 for 16 community-led projects related to urban agriculture and preventing wasted food.
As part of the City’s Climate Legacy Initiative, the funding will support efforts to create a fair and climate-resilient food system in Minneapolis.
Each organization’s project is addressing one or more of the following areas:
- Growing food using sustainable production methods.
- Using energy-efficient controlled environments to extend the growing season into the colder months.
- Reducing wasted food through distribution to food shelves, composting and other programs.
Read about the 16 community award recipients and their projects on the City website.
City celebrates Timberwolves historic advance to Western Conference finals
In honor of the Minnesota Timberwolves making it into the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years, we celebrated by painting First Avenue downtown and temporarily changing street signs to honor the Wolves.
The City’s Public Works crews painted the words “Go Wolves!” on First Avenue North between Fifth and Sixth streets North. The 19-foot-tall letters were painted in Timberwolves blue and green.
City crews put up temporary street signs with the Wolves logo and team colors. The signs were at the intersections of First Avenue and Sixth Street and at First Avenue and Seventh Street.
As a Wolves fan myself, I'm proud of the team for making it to the conference finals with the number 1 defense in the league! Looking forward to next year; but it was exciting to see the outpouring of support for the Minnesota Timberwolves during their playoff run.
Read more on the City website.
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Peppers & Fries has been a neighborhood staple for years. Steve Frias & his daughter Maria are ready for their next chapter and they invite you to come celebrate on their last day. See you there!
 Jul 27, 2024, 9:00 AM
Keewaydin Park, 3030 E 53rd St Minneapolis, MN 55417
Register here: Great Southside Kickball Tournament & Fundraiser Registration (google.com)
Hennepin County and MPRB summer event schedules are live!
Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board have announced their 2024 summer event schedules.
Hennepin County’s free, family-friendly events include live music, Pianos on Parade, movie nights at Target Field Station, fitness classes and more. See the entire “Go Outside with Hennepin County” lineup.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board movies in the parks run June 1-Aug. 31 with 73 free outdoor movie screenings. Music in the parks offers 206 free outdoor concerts in nine park venues this summer. Read more about this year’s movies and music in the parks on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board website.
Seasonal hydrant maintenance
 In Minneapolis, City-owned fire hydrants are flushed each year between May and October. Hydrant flushing removes mineral deposits from the water mains. It is also provides an opportunity to make sure hydrants are in working order.
Because flushing stirs up mineral deposits, it can temporarily discolor the tap water. The water is safe for drinking and bathing. However, to avoid staining clothing, we recommend waiting an hour or so and checking to see the water has returned to normal before doing laundry.
Get notified
You can sign up for notifications about water hydrant flushing in your area. Sign up for notifications. Make sure to create a full Smart911 profile online to register your address for location-based notifications like this.
Read more about what to do when hydrants in your area are being flushed.
Runway construction will impact MSP Airport flight patterns
 Upcoming runway and taxiway construction projects at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) will impact aircraft flight patterns for the next several months.
MSP’s north parallel runway, 12L-30R, and the airport’s crosswind runway, 4-22, will be closed from June 3 through late September. The primary project is the full concrete reconstruction of the intersection of the two runways. Additional projects include reconstructing several connecting taxiways, regrading the runway safety areas along Runway 12L-30R, and installing new pavement markings, LED lighting and LED signage — all designed to maintain runway safety and improve operational efficiencies on the airfield.
“We’ve combined a number of important maintenance projects to complete between now and early fall on those two runways to reduce overall disruptions for operations and flight activity in the future,” said Roy Fuhrmann, COO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP. “During the construction, nearby residents may notice temporary changes to flight patterns and aircraft activity on flights to and from MSP.”
With the temporary closure of the two runways, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers will assign flights to MSP’s other runways. This will change takeoff and landing patterns for the next four months. FAA air traffic controllers determine flight paths and runway usage based on factors such as wind direction, air traffic demand and operational efficiency.
When runways are reopened this fall, the FAA will return MSP to its pre-construction operational patterns. The MAC is scheduling similar runway maintenance work on the south parallel (Runway 12R-30L) in the spring and fall months of 2025.
Residents who have any questions or concerns regarding airfield operations, aircraft noise or runway closures due to construction can contact the MAC Community Relations Office at 612-726-9411. Additional project information is posted online at MSPAirport.com.
Minneapolis will celebrate National Night Out Aug. 6
National Night Out is a time for City residents to come together and celebrate with neighbors. Many blocks in Minneapolis take this opportunity to reconnect, eat and build relationships while kids play and bike freely on a closed street. Our goal this year is to increase participation.
Register your event by July 30
Registration is now open, and it’s free. Sign up early. Registration closes July 30, five days before the event.
Some points to consider:
- Register only one event per block, so confirm with your neighbors who will be registering.
- Consider whether you want your street blocked off to traffic.
- Ask neighbors for help organizing your event.
- Call 311 to request a fire truck, MPD K9, and/or MPD Mounted Patrol.
Contact the City crime prevention specialists with questions.
Register your block.
It's bonfire season-- let's keep our neighborhood air clean!
 Outdoor air quality affects our health. The City of Minneapolis recognized National Air Quality Awareness Week in May by highlighting programs it uses to track local air quality and give tips to community members to improve neighborhood air quality.
Outdoor air quality affects health
Air quality issues can affect everyone, especially those living with asthma or other breathing challenges. Minnesota is fortunate to generally enjoy good air quality. However, some communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution, including people earning lower incomes and people in Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color.
Recreational fires: Follow the law and be a good neighbor
Residential wood burning accounts for 55% of Minnesota’s tiny pollution particles in the air. The tiny particles are small enough to be breathed in and even enter the bloodstream affecting a person’s health. When having a fire in your yard, consider your health, your family’s and your neighbors’.
Recreational fire laws
- Avoid burning when Minneapolis is under an air pollution advisory. Fires release fine particles that contribute to air pollution and are implicated in health problems including strokes, heart attacks and asthma. Sign up for air quality alerts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- Outdoor recreational fires are permitted between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Keep fires small: less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.
- Burn only untreated, unpainted, dry wood. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris, because the smoke can be toxic.
- Have a hose or fire extinguisher present.
Learn more about City regulations around recreational fires.
For more information on recreational fires or to register a complaint about a recreational fire, call or email 311. To register a complaint about a recreational fire outside 311 hours, call 911.
Read more on the City website.
Farmers markets opening for the season
 Hennepin County is hosting community collection events for County residents to safely and properly dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes.
Minneapolis events
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, and Saturday, Aug. 10 Jenny Lind Elementary School (enter off Dupont Ave), 5025 Bryant Ave. N.
Visit Hennepin County’s website to learn what items will be accepted at the event, review safety guidelines, and view all 2024 events.
The first spring farmers markets have opened, kicking off the 2024 season. The other farmers markets and mini markets will open over the next several weeks.
Locally grown food
Farmers markets are a great way to get locally grown food. In 2023, the average distance traveled from farm to market was 42 miles.
Spring, summer, fall farmers market locations and schedules
To see the locations, hours and other information about the 2024 farmers markets, visit the City website.
To learn more about local farmers markets, visit the farmers markets page on the City website.
Market Bucks and SNAP
Shopping at farmers markets is an easy way for everyone to get healthy, local food on the table. The Market Bucks incentive matches up to $10 worth of coupons per day to customers who use SNAP benefits to buy eligible food at participating farmers markets. Participating markets are noted in the map on the City website.
2023 was a record year for SNAP and Market Bucks use citywide, bolstered by Produce Market Bucks offering a double match on SNAP dollars. Farmers market customers in Minneapolis spent more than $345,000 in SNAP, Market Bucks and Produce Market Bucks last year.
Homegrown Minneapolis also offers other ways to get healthy, local food on the table. Homegrown Minneapolis is a citywide initiative expanding our community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods.
‘20 is plenty’ yard signs available
To help get out the word about local speed limits and the importance of slower speeds for safety, the City again has free yard signs for community members.
Slower speeds on local streets make travel safer for everyone no matter how you get around. Speeding is the No. 1 factor in severe and fatal crashes in Minneapolis; please slow down to save lives.
You can pick up a free “20 is plenty” yard sign from any of the free sidewalk sand pickup locations:
- North: 2710 Pacific St., outside the main Public Works gate.
- Northeast: 1809 Washington St. NE, outside the fence at Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue.
- South: 27th Street just east of Longfellow Avenue near the Public Works gate.
- Southwest: 6036 Harriet Ave. S., at the southwest corner of 60th Street and Harriet Avenue.
The signs come with metal stands. They’re available to pick up 24 hours a day while supplies last.
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