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Good Morning Neighbors,
Today is Election Day! Please remember to go out and vote, your voice matters. Polls are open until 8pm today.
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It has been an incredibly busy few Months at City Hall and in our community. A TLDR (Too Long Didn’t Read) Section is created for your convenience to pick and choose what you’d like to read.. However, I do encourage you to read through each section at your own pace!
At last week's City Council meeting we took action on 51 items forwarded to us from our standing committees, received notice of 4 ordinances being introduced, referred 1 ordinance to committee for consideration, and approved 3 honorary resolutions.
I supported the affordable housing right of first refusal ordinance which will help us preserve our limited affordable housing stock in the City, was approved with 9-4 vote. I co-authored The cannabis business regulation ordinance which officially sets what the City's regulations will be for businesses selling cannabis was approved on a 12-1 vote. The Council also unanimously approved a resolution I co-authored that calls for the county to officially shut down the HERC and for the City to accelerate our zero waste programming. You can read more about that resolution in the Sahan Journal.
As many in the Ward 12 Community know and for those who may not know I deeply saddened to share last weekend on Sunday, October 27 there was a shooting at an encampment on 44th and Snelling. Two lives were taken and person was critically injured and taken immediately to HCMC. This was a senseless act violence that should have been prevented. I have spent the last week gathering the most up to date information to share with you on this incident.
I arrived on the scene on Sunday as soon as I heard about the shooting, I spoke with neighbors in the area, the Chief of Police, the Investigator on scene, the Third Precinct Inspector, and convened with the building management and leadership team at Hillock Apartments onsite to get them the most up to date information. At this time, the individuals whose lives were lost have been identified to be Christopher Martell Washington and Louis Mitchell Lemons. My heart goes out to them, their families, and the neighbors in the area who were negatively impacted by this incident.
The suspect was apprehended by Saint Paul Police on October 29, 2024 in connection with this shooting and another that occured on Monday, October 28 on the 3500 block of Columbus Avenue. Investigators are working diligently with Hennepin County Attorneys see appropriate criminal charges are filed. I am grateful that the authorities were able to apprehend him and begin the process of bringing him to justice.
It is important to note that the suspect was not someone staying at the encampment and I have been informed by the Mineapolis Police Department officials that there is no evidence currently linking this shooting to the shooting that took place at the encampment on 15th Avenue South on Saturday, October 26. Additionally, the encampment at this site is no longer there, I have started discussions with the City administration to make short term and long term plans to activate and use this empty city owned parcel.
The recent tragic events at the encampment bring into sharp focus a distressing truth: our neighbors that live in and near encampments face heightened public safety concerns, and their safety and wellbeing is compromised by bad actors looking to exploit vulnerable people and engage in violence and exploitation. The status quo system that the City administration has in place is not working and is not furthering our collective goals for safety, livability, and dignity for all. Change is needed and it is going to take all of us.
My office has been actively addressing concerns at at this location since we were first informed of the formation of the encampment. We initially contacted the Homelessness Response Team on September 30th and continued to follow up as the encampment moved to 4440 Snelling Ave, a City owned parcel. I myself, did frequent visits to the area.
Residents near the encampment expressed a heightened sense of insecurity and safety concerns due to various incidents related to the encampment. After a constituent reached out to my office with concerns on October 9, we reached out to city staff to identify the parcel in question and informed both the homeless response and streets-to-housing teams of the encampment and requested a coordinated response to connect these unhoused residents with shelter and services.
We've requested increased site maintenance to help mitigate livability concerns for the immediate neighbors this request was fulfilled by Public Works. On October 11, I requested a briefing to get all the information regarding the plans to address the safety and livability issues by the City Administration and to elevate further resident concerns– as the City administration on the executive side are the only ones that can determine the direction of city operations. To my disappointment my frequent requests & follow-ups for this were not responded to for two weeks and then scheduled for October 31, 2024. In the absence of this my office continued to engage with constituents and stakeholders to work towards a solution.
On October 23, my office and I coordinated a meeting with the Third Precinct Inspector, Crime Prevention Specialists, Metro Transit, business owners and various stakeholders around the 46th st and Hiawatha Ave corridor to discuss the activity in the area and their concerns. This was a good initial step for building a longer term plan to improve safety and livability in the area.
On October 24, I met with residents of Hillock Apartments, which is a 55+ community home to former veterans and vulnerable adults, to discuss their first hand experiences and interactions with the nearby encampment and the unhoused individuals living there. The key issues that were raised from this conversation were delayed police responses, property damage, drug use, and a lack of communication from authorities regarding plans for addressing these challenges.
As your Council Member, I will say that this was an extremely frustrating, and hard experience. I have learned a lot of lessons from this and my resolve is stronger than ever to continue the work of increasing the safety and livability for all in our community, especially working people, vulnerable people, Black, brown, and indigenous people who consistently are not receiving services for their safety in an equal or equitable manner.
It’s important to emphasize the humanity of the unhoused individuals living in encampments especially in the wake of the loss of life. The dignity of unhoused people does not need to be in competition with the safety of housed neighbors. While the determinants of homelessness are not singular, as a council, we’ve advanced policy aimed at comprehensive opioid response to address and mitigate drug use, humane encampment response to rectify the ineffective whack-a-mole methods that cause encampments to resurface just blocks away, and securing additional shelter funding for Agate to address the shortage of available shelter beds in our city.
Yet, these measures require further support. Transitional, safe spaces and coordinated services are essential. Ideas for a a navigation center in partnership with community organizations, rapid rehousing, housing first policies, and a real plan for addressing the opiod epidemic need to be taken seriously. Only through full collaboration at every level can we create lasting, compassionate solutions that safeguard the well-being of all our residents.
Sincerely,
Council Member Aurin Chowdhury
This newsletter is broken into the following categories:
The full list of Topics in this newsletter are:
 
City Council Requests an After Action Review of the City’s Actions in Cases Involving Davis Moturi and John Sawchak
Starting in February, 2024, South Minneapolis resident Davis Moturi began reaching out to the City of Minneapolis reporting concerning actions by his next door neighbor, John Sawchak. Last week Council President Payne, Council Vice President Chughtai, Chair & Vice Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee Chavez & Wonsley, and Council Member Jenkins
and sent a letter to the Mayor and Chief because of the inaction. I fully support this action as it garnered the necessary media attention to lead to action that lead to the arrest of John Sawchak.
Mr. Moturi first reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department in February where he was concerned for himself and his neighbors' safety. He asked for help and did not receive the needed support he and his family deserved. Unfortunately, he was shot by his neighbor because of the inaction.
On October 28, MPD finally arrested Mr. Sawchak. I appreciate the outreach I received from constituents in the 12th Ward demanding an investigation be done on this. There is no spinning this– this was a failure of the leadership of our public safety system. We need to be clear eyed about that. While, it may be simple to only call on the Chief of Police for accountability in this action– it is important to keep in mind the person who holds the Chief of Police accountable is the Mayor of the City of Minneapolis (this was reiterated to Council Members many times during the police contract discussion), and the Commissioner of Public Safety is responsible for overseeing all the systems and programs in our public safety system. This is why these roles are created and the individuals tasked to hold them all must be held accountable for the actions and or lack of actions in this matter.
That is why I co-authored with my colleagues a request to the City Auditor to undertake an independent After Action Review of the City’s involvement in and response to all incidents and resulting cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak in the year 2024.
Finally, racial bias is inextricably linked to this conversation. Many in our community have questioned if Mr. Moturi had not been a Black man would he have been recieved the safety services he deserved sooner? It should not have taken him being shot in the neck and hospitalized and media attention for action to be taken to ensure his safety.
Comprehensive Update on 3000 Minnehaha
Thank you to every person who advocated to me and to our City to address the blight on the corner of Lake & Minnehaha at the former Third Precinct Building. Since day one of starting in Office as your Council Member I have been pushing consistently for it to be addressed and I can share that we have been successful in getting the administration to remove the razor wire, the replacement of the fencing to construction, and in a few months removing the burnt vestibule. Please listen to my remarks.
On the October 17, Council meeting I moved forward a resolution that demanded what is reflective of our community clean-up, remediate, and beautify the corner of 3000 Minnehaha immediately. This is the gateway of barbed wire, jersey barriers, fencing, and blight must end– we can not allow this corner to be a backdrop for those who wish to manipulate the trauma of our city for political gain, we must show through this corner that we care about our community, that Minneapolis is coming back, not for some but for all, specifically in this working community, home to so many of our BIPOC residents. Our community feels exhausted and uncared for; and that’s on this administration to change that.
Because of the actions of this council in our meeting on October 15, I received a phone call from our City Operation Officer stating that in the following 3 weeks the barbed wire will be removed, barriers taken down, and in about 3 months the burnt vestibule will be taken down.
This resolution also opposed the use of a Warehouse structure on the parcel, support for more community development and use, encore the use be for the purpose of furthering racial healing and reckoning with the past actions of racism, misogyny, and violence by third precinct officers.
I want to be clear, I support an election voter services use at this location. I see that our election voter services operation here at this city has grown and requires a central location, and that this use is one that many in my community feel a great optimism about. I share that optimism as a shared use at 3000. And at the same time– we have to be truthful as a City that there are discrepancies and nuances to support– that is why I believe it is intellectually disingenuous of the City administration to have declared that 70% of respondents support this use in in its current form, it negates that of that 70% only 43% of respondents strongly support, 27% somewhat support, and 20% neither support or oppose, and dissent to the plan. This isn’t disparaging the data; it’s just the facts. Data is really simple, and we are obfuscating it. From the engagement report, that residents shared contention of a warehouse use, the minimal community space, and the importance of racial healing and reckoning with the past.
I cannot support a warehouse, inactive with loading and docking operations year round at this site does not fit the zoning of this location CM4, warehousing occurs at PR1. This is the gateway to downtown Longfellow this not what our community deserves and that our local businesses have shown strong opposition to. This intersection was the heartbeat of East Lake Street before the uprising, and the fact that the impacted businesses and community groups that lost their homes and businesses still fighting to rebuild here demonstrates that it still is.
I do see the need to secure our balloting/election equipment on site and I believe that this is possible, without a warehouse, and we can expand community space here as our COO on Tuesday indicated as a possible option in response to this council. I strongly support the expansion of community development and use here.
At the core The truth is that the approach on by our city was to decide what will be here, announce it to the community, and then defend it. Decide, announce, and defend is not the approach that will reflect our communities voice in this public space. we cannot declare a democracy center design without democratic and community design. We need an approach that charts a path of collaboration and is responsive to all constituent voices.
Finally, I will share– this action has not delayed the process for bringing a new use to 3000 Minnehaha. The design plan is not final as indicated to council publicly multiple times, this is our way of setting forward our position and priorities and create a path for us to negotiate the final design and ensure that as votes around contacts to get the work done are supported and passed. I believe we can get a good outcome here and am have glad to have led in a dialogue around this.
City Council Passes Cannabis Zoning Text Ordinance
In September of this year, an ordinance was introduced to enact standards to regulate adult-use recreational cannabis, medical cannabis, and lower-potency hemp edible businesses. The intent of the amendment is to implement regulations to help to ensure that legalization of cannabis at a local level is safe, equitable, and accessible. I was proud to lead the work on this with Council Member Osman as my co-author. The ordinance passed 12-1.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Minnesota since 2014. Adult-use recreational cannabis was legalized statewide in 2023, following legislation permitting edible THC products to be made with small amounts of hemp-derived THC, also known as lower-potency hemp edible products, in 2022. Through state legislation, cities and counties have been tasked with adopting cannabis related regulations for their communities for "time, place, and manner." Local government units, including the City of Minneapolis, are now creating regulations that will be in place when the state begins issuing licenses for cannabis and lower-potency hemp edibles businesses, estimated to be early 2025.
The regulations recommended by staff reflect the policy approach emphasizing safety, equity, and accessibility, with a goal of creating a framework that is permissive but safety conscious.
The ordinance that amends the City’s zoning code and helps clarify where and how dispensaries and other licensed cannabis businesses can be located. Highlights of the ordinance include:
- Allowing cannabis retailers in most commercial and production zoning districts;
- Requiring a three-acre area of contiguous commercial or production zoning in order to locate a cannabis retailer;
- Requiring a 300-foot buffer between cannabis retailers and schools;
- Requiring commercial cultivation of cannabis in the Production and Processing zoning districts, similar to existing urban agriculture uses; and
- Allowing limited production of cannabis products in most commercial districts
Minnesota state law requires the City to allow a minimum of 34 licenses for dispensaries, based on a requirement of one cannabis retailer for every 12,500 people. State licenses cover the entire market from seed to sale; including cultivation, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and sales.
It has been truly a joy to work with so many local businesses, our city staff, and fellow council members on this. The era of legalization has begun in Minnesota and the promise it has for working towards addressing the injustices of the past and creating economic development of our city is exciting.
Legislative Directive Lighting Outage due to Copper Wire Theft
I authored a resolution to get a comprehensive update on the City’s efforts to address lighting outages due to copper wire theft, the challenges that they have faced, future best practices, and an understanding of policy and legislation to address the situation. Thank you to every Ward 12 resident for reaching out to me about your concerns about the lighting outages in the city particularly on Hiawatha Avenue. I have continued to advocate for speedy repairs and my office has been working closely with the Public Works Department to address these issues and prioritize high traffic areas like Hiawatha Avenue. I want to share that I am grateful for the dedicated and consistent work done by public works staff to address these concerns. They are truly doing their best but have great challenges that make the work difficult. Here is a presentation that was done on copper wire theft light outages that explains deeper the nature of this issue and what our city is doing about it.
You can also watch the meeting on it here.
There will be state legislation that will go into effect on January 1 that we advocated for this past legislative session will help address the problem. The Statute Requires a valid license to sell scrap metal copper (for non-licensed electricians), license will have a cost, seller of scrap copper will need to provide personal information, and Seller will provide “Acknowledgement that the applicant obtained the copper by lawful means .
This is the current and difficult status of Hiawatha avenue:
Public Works completed their verification of the Hiawatha lighting status last night, and documented the following:
- 28th to 38th: lights are out
- 38th to 42nd: lights are on
- 42nd to 46th: lights are out
Although we are still awaiting aluminum wire delivery (and generally are not doing theft repairs with copper due to the risk of re-theft), our electrical crews will return to Hiawatha and install copper wiring. We will be utilizing some “extraordinary” measures in an attempt to “harden” access points to our light poles and cabinets. Our plan is to start at 46th and work northerly, first addressing the LRT station vicinity.
- Hiawatha, 34th to 42nd was repaired about 3-4 weeks ago. The night signal truck will check it tonight to verify what is on or not.
- TPS met the street lighting foreman on Hiawatha today and walked from 46th to the north, 4 poles on each side. We had prepped this area while waiting for aluminum wire. The thieves have since attacked this area – several cover plates are missing, and our pull rope is out (they were looking for wire which they did not find).
- 2 or 3 cabinets ruined on Hiawatha.
- Cover plates are $200 each. We recently ordered 50. They are now ordering another 50.
- We have so much theft that they now have a “tape code” for each pole to be repaired. The number of wraps of tape and the colors signify the work to be done.
- We learned of two more wire thefts from USI because they lost their power: Kings Hwy, 38th to 42nd, went dark at 3:30 AM, 10/26; 11th/Fremont N, went dark Monday night.
This area continues to have major problems which makes it hard to say if/when all lighting will be restored and for how long.
Minneapolis City Council Passes Resolution in support of the closure of the HERC
The Minneapolis City Council has taken a significant step toward environmental responsibility and public health by passing a resolution to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC). This resolution reflects the city’s commitment to reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to more sustainable waste management practices, and addressing environmental justice concerns for communities most impacted by the facility. The Council’s decision aligns with broader climate action goals and sets a framework for managing waste in ways that prioritize both community health and environmental stewardship.
With this resolution, the City Council has directed staff to develop a phased closure plan, examining alternatives to incineration that can better serve residents and protect our local environment. This milestone underscores the Council’s dedication to building a more sustainable Minneapolis.
Food Vendors License Ordinance Update
On May 9, 2024, Council Member Chavez and I introduced a Notice of Intent for an ordinance to establish a new Sidewalk Cart and Street Vending Program. Since then, we have been working with staff on a pathway to create a new license to better support food vendors.
Council Member Chavez and I brought forward a Legislative Directive on Food Vendor Location Options and Regulations. This passed through committee and was approved in a final vote before the full council yesterday. This directive will set us on a pathway to pass an ordinance before Spring 2025 to ensure that there are permits for community to apply for so that they have the ability to sell food.
Further, this action will also provide an overview of the food vendor safety regulations. It will provide an overview of licenses and regulations for food vendors in the City of Minneapolis and an overview of outreach and engagement efforts for potential food vendors along with a map detailing the locations where permitted food vendors can currently operate. It will provide options for expanding the number of locations for permitted food vendors and options for an equitable fee system, including a subsidy program to make it affordable while waiving all first-year fees. It will provide options for accessibility and access of the licensing process to everyone, regardless of immigration status or language barriers. Lastly, it will have a breakdown of fines and citations issued to unlicensed food vendors in 2023 and 2024.
We have heard many concerns about how expensive licenses can be, how current food vendors are getting the police called on them leading to fines and citations of up to $250 because they are selling food while trying to make a living. Earlier this month, Council Member Chowdhury and I met with around 15 food vendors and heard about their needs and lived experiences. Many of these vendors live in Ward 9 and they do this work simply so that they can provide food for their family and pay the rent. This was an emotional meeting as we heard that this is one of the only jobs these entrepreneurs have access to. Some of these vendors have green cards but because of language barriers and the job market, selling fruit and other food is the only work they can find.
We look forward to moving forward on a new ordinance to uplift our entrepreneurs and address any public health concerns that may exist.
Minneapolis City Council overrides Mayor's veto on carbon emissions fees and takes climate action now
On October 2, 2024, the Minneapolis City Council adopted an amendment to the 2025 License Fee Schedule to establish a new program that would charge large facilities $452/ton of CO2e. At each of these sites, city staff would conduct site visits to complete technical analyses of projects to reduce emissions and refer facilities to a contracted partner to apply for a Green Cost Share program. The implementation of this fee is estimated to cover the city’s cost of reducing emissions 6% at each of the large facilities in 2025, a total reduction of 605.81 tons of CO2e. Unfortunately, the Mayor vetoed this action instead of working with the council to address his concerns which could have been easily addressed.
At the October 17, Minneapolis City Council meeting, we overturned Mayor Frey’s veto of the City’s entire 2025 license fee schedule on a 9 to 2 vote. The fee schedule, which was unanimously approved by the City Council, was vetoed to try and stop fees on carbon emissions from being implemented on the city’s largest polluters in 2025. The Minneapolis City Council spoke clearly yesterday that taking this bold action on climate change can’t wait.
The override comes after nearly three years of work from Council Member Robin Wonsley, who was the lead author of the fee and has been a steadfast leader on addressing environmental racism. Despite consistent collaboration with the administration, including with the Health Department, the City Attorney identified last minute concerns. To address these concerns, Council Member Wonsley and our colleagues brought forward additional actions to address the concerns that were noted as the reason for the Mayor’s veto. With all concerns being addressed and a clear super-majority on the Council voting to override, the legislative body has made clear on the need for immediate action on the climate crisis, no matter the obstacles.
- After the override the Council voted to amend the 2025 fee schedule to include an implementation date of July 1, 2025.
- In the coming weeks, we will be advancing enabling legislation (an ordinance) with an implementation date of July 1 to coincide with the fee schedule.
- We also secured a commitment from the Health Department to develop the program to be ready for implementation prior to July 1, 2025. I am glad that our continued push moved the Mayor’s Administration off of the 2026 timeline.
- Earlier this year, the Minneapolis City Council asked city employees to come up with a plan for adding carbon dioxide to the pollution control system next year. This resulted in a report by the Health Department and the Office of the City Auditor estimating that staffing would cost $180,000 per year for one full-time employee, and the report estimated carbon emission fees of $450 per ton. This is how we got the number that was included in the fee schedule. That being said, the City Council still approved a legislative directive for the administration to complete a fee study of carbon fees by May 1 so that the rate could be updated prior to the implementation of the fee if needed. This was an effort to continue our collaboration.
Taken together, these actions address the concerns that were outlined in Mayor Frey’s veto. This is a success story. The mayor’s administration wanted to wait until 2026 and instead we have pushed forward on a 2025 timeline. Climate action is one of the top priorities I hear from the neighbors in our ward. In order for us to address climate change with urgency we must act boldly and urgently, with only a few years left to significantly reduce emissions and then get to clean energy by 2040, setting this work behind a year can be a major setback to achieving our climate goals.
Minneapolis City Council Looking Into MPD Off-Duty Fees
Council Member Wonsley and Council President Payne brought forward a motion that directs the City Attorneys to draft an ordinance giving the City the authority to collect off-duty fees. They also brought forward an additional item, which was a Legislative Directive to do a fee study to calculate accurate costs for use of city vehicles, materials, and administrative costs. This is the first step towards implementing these fees and regulating this incredibly broken system. Both of these items passed by a vote of 9-2.
In this moment, Minneapolis Police officers are allowed to work “off-duty,” meaning they take private security jobs for which they are paid directly by private entities, but use city weapons and cars, wear city uniforms, and carry city liability while doing so. No other city employee does this. Everyone from small business owners to the US Department of Justice have recognized Minneapolis’ off-duty system as fundamentally broken and inequitable. Due to a mid-1990s court case, Minneapolis must allow MPD to do off-duty work.
Fees on squad cars are just one of many costs that we can start to quantify and recoup from officers when they work off-duty. Fees will not fully address MPD’s incredibly dangerous and unregulated off-duty system, but they are a strong starting place to ensure that taxpayers are not subsidizing officers when they are working off-duty for personal gain. Administering a fee collection system would also require MPD to adhere to more specific tracking of off-duty work in order to recoup these fees from officers.
Here is a previous staff directive to the Legislative Department which resulted in a report that outlined that an off-duty fee of $19/hour for use of a Ford Explorer squad car would align with the city’s vehicle operations expense rates.
The mayor and chief of police lead and direct the Minneapolis Police Department. However, this is one of the tools the City Council can take to influence police reform. I look forward to supporting the passage of this work to ensure we are moving forward with police accountability.
Fall street sweeping continues!
Crews are preparing to sweep streets across Minneapolis this month and November to clean the streets before winter. Street sweeping helps keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and from ending up in our lakes and creeks and the Mississippi River.
Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb street sweeping throughout the city Tuesday, Oct. 22. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure crews can do the best job possible, temporary hot pink “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 21, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.
Ways to stay informed of the parking rules:
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Interactive web feature – The Street Sweeping Schedule Map will be available on the City’s website before street sweeping begins. Visitors to the website will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the four weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.
- “No Parking” signs – City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. However, the “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking after the signs are removed. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs may be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot. The sweeping takes several steps, so people should not resume parking until the signs are removed.
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Email and text alerts – You can sign up to get an alert automatically emailed or texted to you at the start of street sweeping.
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Social media – The City will use Facebook and X to post periodic street sweeping updates and information.
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Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong on the City’s YouTube channel and on Minneapolis City TV.
Clean streets mean healthier water
Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb with enforcement of parking rules once in the spring and again in the fall. You can do your part by not pushing leaves, grass clippings or other debris into City streets. It’s bad for our lakes and waterways, it can cause safety hazards and it’s against the law.
Leaves that wash into storm drains end up in our lakes and creeks and the Mississippi River. They may quickly begin to break down, creating pollutants that overfertilize lake water and help harmful aquatic plants and algae grow. The murky lake water that results is not good for swimming or fishing. It can also harm wildlife and pets.
Learn more about street sweeping.
Get ready for snow season
 Avoid the hassle and expense of getting towed during a snow emergency this winter. Don't let unpredictable weather catch you off guard. Sign up for Minneapolis alerts to stay ahead of the snow and know about parking rules.
Sign up for alerts today
Text "MPLSAlerts" to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online to stay informed this winter.
Watch the video about signing up for alerts.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
 The Minneapolis City Council has approved a resolution declaring October National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is the 79th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Department of Justice’s theme this year is access to good jobs for all.
The City’s ADA Title I Coordinator Adrianne Wade and Community Specialist for People with Disabilities Guthrie Byard work together to help the City:
- Track employment data of people with disabilities.
- Explore more inclusive hiring, retention and advancement.
- Improve the City’s process for making reasonable accommodations.
In Minneapolis, around 11% of residents have a disability. Across Minnesota, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is over 7%. That’s double the unemployment rate of people without disabilities. People with disabilities who work are twice as likely to work part-time or be self-employed than those without disabilities.
Watch a video of the City Council addressing the resolution.
Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative helps more than 5,300 Minneapolis students
This fall marks the fifth year of the Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative. The program helps Minneapolis families and students experiencing homelessness with housing or housing stability. More than 1,800 Minneapolis families representing 5,300 students have benefitted from the program.
This year, the initiative also saw an increase in school stability. That means the number of Minneapolis students enrolled in the program are more likely to stay in the same school for the academic year and make more connections with peers and teaching staff.
Resources
Families in immediate need of eviction prevention resources can reach out for these resources:
The initiative is a collaboration among the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, and the YMCA of the North. The Pohlad Family Foundation provided initial grant funding and has consistently been the primary funder of the Housing Stability Fund.
Read more about Stable Homes Stable Schools on the City website.
Minneapolis reminds community to be aware of bats as rabies risk
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is getting the word out about bats as a potential rabies risk. They are urging the community to stay aware and look to vaccinating pets to protect them from rabies, a fatal disease spread by an infected animal’s bite.
Pet exposure to bats
The City recommends the following steps if pets are exposed or bitten:
- Whether or not they’re vaccinated, pets should visit a vet or a community clinic for a rabies booster within 72 hours of the exposure or bite.
- There could be a time of confinement and/or quarantine.
- If the pet is unvaccinated and exposed to a bat, it will need to be impounded until the bat is tested and has a negative result.
Low-cost vaccine appointments
Minneapolis Animal Care will start offering low-cost vaccine appointments within the next few months. In the meantime, several clinics in the area can help.
If a person is exposed to or bitten by a bat
While human rabies is rare, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends the following steps if exposed to or bitten by a bat. If the bat can be tested for rabies, it’s usually safe to wait one or two days for the test results to come back before taking action. If the bite occurred on your face or head, it may be more urgent. Consult the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-5414. If the bat can’t be tested, it’s recommended you receive the rabies shots.
Read more about protection from rabies on the City website.
Protect your family from lead poisoning
 The Minneapolis Health Department is committed to eliminating childhood lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is 100% preventable and is detected with a blood test. Contact your health care provider and test your child for lead poisoning if they:
- Are under 6 years old.
- Live in a home built before 1978.
- Live in a home with recent repairs to painted wood trim, walls or floors.
Or if you are concerned for your child’s health.
Read more on the City website about managing lead paint and how the City can help.
City Council passes Blue Line extension resolution
The Minneapolis City Council has approved municipal consent for the Blue Line Light Rail Extension. The City’s consent involves the station locations and alignment of the project. The proposed route starts at the Target Field station and extends through north Minneapolis up to Brooklyn Park. The council resolution highlights economic and transit benefits. It also advocates for anti-displacement work supporting residents and businesses.
The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County lead the project. Municipal consent means that all cities along the proposed route must approve certain physical components. The project will go ahead with final design and an environmental work plan.
Read more about the Blue Line extension resolution on the City website.
Give your feedback on the recommended 2025-2026 City budget
 There are two upcoming public hearings for people to provide feedback on the recommended 2025 City budget and 2026 plan. Comments can also be submitted online at the City’s website.
The proposed 2025 budget is $1.88 billion with a maximum tax levy of 8.3%. The City Council has started reviewing the 2025 budget – the first year of the biennial budget cycle – and will vote on adopting the budget Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Visit the City’s website to learn more about the recommended budget, key dates in the approval process, FAQs and more. You can also watch a series of videos on the City’s budget process.
City budget public hearings: These public hearings will take place at the Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S., Room 350.
- 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12
- Truth in Taxation hearing, 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. (The City Council will vote on adopting the budget following the hearing.)
Learn how to participate in public hearings.
Minneapolis readying mobile medical unit for service
 The City of Minneapolis is preparing its first mobile medical unit to help bring health care to people in underserved communities. The state-of-the-art vehicle should be fully operational and in the community by early 2025.
The Minneapolis Health Department is hiring and training staff to operate the vehicle and outfitting the vehicle with medical supplies. It can be used by anyone in the community but will deploy where access to care is challenging and needed most.
The unit will offer dignified care in a private, closed space. The Health Department’s Opioid Response Team will operate the unit, offering essential services such as:
- Basic health screenings such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
- Medication consultation.
- Wound care.
- Vaccinations.
- Mental health counseling and referrals.
- Youth health services including physical exams, dental care and wellness checks.
- Medications for opioid use disorder.
Read more about the mobile medical unit on the City website.
Lake Street Safety Center opens!
 On Monday, November 4th, I attended the opening of the long awaited Lake Street Safety Center with Council Members Koski & Chavez.
I know this is just the beginning of getting the critical public safety resources we need back in the third precinct; but I am really excited that progress has been made, and there is now an area in the precinct that community members can go for their public safety needs.
Community safety centers update - Nov. 18: Learn about progress based on your community feedback
Come get a progress update Nov. 18 on the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center and Lake Street Safety Center. It’ll include services and resources in the centers and how your feedback is being used to shape their plans.
In spring 2024, Minneapolis residents, stakeholders and business owners attended community engagement sessions to say which social services, resources and other uses they’d like to see in the future community safety centers.
Community safety centers update
5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18
Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St.
City staff will be available for Q&A after the presentation. Community members can also learn more about other safety programs in the city. Learn more on the event flyer.
This session is hosted in partnership with wards 8 and 9. Any Minneapolis community member is welcome to attend.
More community engagement update sessions will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Find more information on the City website.
Violence Prevention and Intervention Analysis
The City recently accepted a $2.5M grant for the Minneapolis Community Violence Interrupter Program housed within the Neighborhood Safety Department that I authored. Violence interrupters are trusted community members who work to prevent gun violence and firearm-related deaths in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of such incidents. Having them is a key proactive and preventative public safety measure. They also offer support and resources to people at risk, particularly young people. By stepping in early, violence interrupters aim to create a safer and more peaceful environment, helping residents feel secure and thrive.
At yesterday’s City Council meeting, we approved a Legislative Directive authored by Council Member Cashman and Council Member Wonsley that will provide an overview of how the Neighborhood Safety Department (NSD) uses crime and safety data to determine when and where to assign violence interrupters from the MinneapolUS, Group Violence Intervention, Youth Group Violence Intervention, and how technical assistance providers have advised on how to improve and strengthen deployment based on data.
Additionally, it will provide an overview of the evaluation criteria for the Violence Prevention Services (previously called Violence Prevention Fund) and Community Trauma Response Funding and applications, including geographic distribution, amount of funding, and intended program outcomes.
It will provide the frequency in which NSD staff repeat data analyses in order to account for shifts in violence patterns, ensuring the assignments are responsive to changes in the environment and. an overview of how NSD staff coordinate with other entities that also have an unarmed public safety presence, including but not limited to Hennepin County, Metro Transit, the Downtown Improvement District, or locations that employ private security personnel.
Lastly, it will provide the City Council with the metrics by which NSD staff evaluate the success and effectiveness of violence interrupters and how and when NSD staff report on outcomes of violence interrupter programming to the City Council.
Community Policing Development Microgrants program to focus on recruitment and retention of women in law enforcement
The Public Health and Safety Committee, authorized an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to accept a $175,000 grant to go to MPD. hey will use that funding to focus on the recruitment and retention of women officers in support of the 30×30 Initiative, which is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States.
Activities of this proposal include creating a targeted digital marketing campaign, creating and hosting two Women's Leadership Academy events, and establishing an internal and external women's mentorship program that will assist prospective candidates through the application process to the hiring process and then through their career as a law enforcement officer. In addition to increasing the number of women officers, this proposal will build on and create significant relationships in the community which help build trust and a better understanding of first responder duties.
First public information sessions Nov. 13 and 14 on human rights settlement agreement
Come to a public meeting Nov. 13 or 14. Hear from Effective Law Enforcement For All as the independent evaluator of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement with the City of Minneapolis. You’ll get updates from Effective Law Enforcement For All about the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department’s path to meet the requirements of the settlement agreement.
Effective Law Enforcement For All will present an overview of its role in the settlement agreement, describe its requirements and how compliance is checked, and provide implementation updates related to MPD policies and training.
Each session will follow the same agenda and format.
South Minneapolis public information session 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St., Suite 120
North Minneapolis public information session 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 North Community High School, 1500 James Ave.
Learn more about the Nov. 13 and 14 information sessions on this flyer.
You can also learn more about the evaluator and its work on this three-page flyer.
Protection from heat being shut off
The Cold Weather Rule is now in effect. The Cold Weather Rule means that if you can’t pay your home heat bill, your heat can’t be shut off Oct. 1-April 30. If you get a notice about disconnecting your primary heat source, make sure to immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan.
Find resources on the State of Minnesota website. This information is also available in Español/Spanish, Hmoob/Hmong and Soomaali/Somali.
Yard waste collection ends week of Nov. 25
 City customers’ garbage day the week of Nov. 25-30 will be their last 2024 pickup of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings.
Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curb line next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day. Set yard waste out in a reusable container, in compostable bags (paper or BPI-certified compostable plastic bags – look for the BPI logo) or bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).
Other requirements
- Reusable containers must be 32-38 gallons in size and at least 26 inches high with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided containers.
- Any container, bag or bundle must weigh less than 40 pounds.
- Branches must be less than 3 inches in diameter and less than 3 feet long.
Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.
Raking leaves into the street is against the law and bad for our lakes, creeks and river.
City customers are encouraged to set out properly prepared yard waste as soon as possible. There will be no additional 2024 yard waste service after the last scheduled pickup.
For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can check the City website or call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 Monday-Friday.
Protecting the Minneapolis Community from Measles: Why Vaccines Matter
Measles is in our community right now! Farhia Budul explains the importance of vaccinating children against measles to protect their health and the community's well-being of the community. Don’t wait! Protect your loved ones and get your family vaccinated at one of our free clinics today.
Applications open for 2025-2026 poet laureate
Poets and spoken word artists are encouraged to apply for the role of the 2025-2026 Minneapolis poet laureate. Applications are due Nov. 15.
The Minneapolis poet laureate is an official ambassador of the city’s literary culture, connecting our community through the art of poetry. As an advocate for poetry and literary arts in Minneapolis, the poet laureate will engage the community in meaningful, impactful and innovative projects. The goal is to share the transformative art of poetry through community and education.
Poet laureate responsibilities
The City of Minneapolis’ Arts & Cultural Affairs Department and The Loft Literary Center are partnering to identify the 2025-2026 Minneapolis poet laureate. The poet laureate’s responsibilities include:
- Writing a poem reflecting on the current moment of the City of Minneapolis.
- Celebrating the City of Minneapolis through public service engagements, including addresses at official City events.
- Leading a public event that features the sharing of poetry and community.
- Teaching classes through The Loft Literary Center that promote poetry as an opportunity for connection.
- Advancing the art form of poetry in Minneapolis as an avenue for deep engagement in our community.
Find guidelines and application links on The Loft’s website.
Read more on the City website.
Tomorrow, come to a community led George Floyd Square Townhall
 Get free at-home COVID-19 test kits
You can once again get up to four free at-home COVID-19 testing kits through the federal government. With a high number of cases in our community, it’s important to protect ourselves and our families. Regular testing can help you stay informed about your health and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to loved ones.
You can use these whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms. You can take the test at home and receive results within 30 minutes—no need to drop anything off at a lab.
The tests and shipping are free. Order your free tests today.
COVID test expiration dates
Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may still be able to use them after the date printed on the box. To check if your test has an extended expiration date, check the FDA’s list of extended expiration dates.
George Floyd Square update
 The City is now looking for a community partner to redevelop the Peoples’ Way site at 3744 Chicago Ave. In June 2023, the City of Minneapolis purchased the property to preserve it as a community space.
Local organizations and teams can apply to buy the property. The City will review the applicants based on values centered on the community. Once the City Council and mayor approve a group, the City will help create a development and operation plan with the new owner.
Since 2021, the City has engaged with some neighbors about the future of Chicago Avenue and 38th Street. In 2024, these conversations expanded to include the vision for George “Perry” Floyd Square, the Peoples’ Way, and the memorials offerings at the site.
For more information about the Peoples' Way project, visit the City website.
Compost your jack-o’-lanterns and gourds
 When you’re done with your carved pumpkins and other gourds, you can put them in your green organics recycling cart. They don’t need to be bagged. Remember to remove any candles or lights first.
If you haven’t signed up for organics recycling, you can put carved pumpkins and other gourds with your other yard waste.
Added synthetic materials such as paint, permanent markers, glitter or jewels make pumpkins non-compostable, and then they have to go in the black garbage cart.
Wrappers from Halloween candy go in the garbage. They are not recyclable or compostable.
Find more information about organics recycling on the City website.
Renter rights and health resource fairs
From supporting renter rights to creating healthier homes and neighborhoods, our community and City offer a wide range of renting, housing and health services. The Minneapolis departments of Regulatory Services and Health are bringing several resources to you this fall at two fairs open to everyone.
Overcome common renting issues
More than half of Minneapolis households rent their homes. We’re here to support renters and rental property owners every step of the way. Come find help with common renting issues such as renter rights, your role as a property owner, maintenance and repair issues, retaliation, and mediation between a property owner and renter.
Free vaccines and health resources
Nobody wants to miss school, vacations or the holidays with family. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and the community. Get your free COVID and flu shots at our fair.
Other health resources involve these programs: Air Quality, Green Careers, Lead and Healthy Homes, Emergency Preparedness and City Trees.
Renter rights and health resource fairs
Whether you have questions about a renting issue or are curious about health programs available through the City, all are welcome.
9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 9
Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.
4-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19
Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. |
