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Hi Neighbors,
Happy New Year and Happy Belated Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I hope you are taking good care, and staying warm. My team and I have been spending the early weeks of the year making a workplan to best represent and prioritize your voice and needs. Fill out this form to let us know what you would like to see.
In this newsletter, I will be giving you some key updates on the first council meeting of the year, updates on the Department of Justice Consent Decree that the we passed unanimously on January 6, 2025, a recap on the City Budget, & a few other tidbits. It is not required but recommended that you cozy up with your favorite hot beverage of choice while reading through this newsletter.
As always, there is TLDR; (too long, didn't read section) for you to pick and choose your favorite spot to start reading (neighborhoody news towards the end).
This last Thursday, was the first regular meeting of the City Council we took action on 68 items forwarded to us from our standing committees. We received notice of 1 ordinance, 3 honorary resolutions, had 1 closed session item, and sustained Mayor Frey's veto on our denial of raises to the highest paid employees of our City.
Some highlights:
- We passed 3 Collective Bargaining Agreements with our City workers belonging to the Minnesota Teamsters Public and Law Enforcement Employees Unit, Local 320 (Convention Center Unit), Minneapolis Foremen Association, & Minnesota Public Employees Association (911 Unit). Thank you to the workers who advocated to my office for a fair contract.
- We accepted a $250,000 Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) grant for private sewer lateral repairs. This will be added revenue that will go into our Sanitary Sewer Fund. This will go directly to property owners through a lotter system property owners to replace or repair failing private sewer line laterals.
A Note on the 2025 City Budget Process & Gratitude for Collaboration:
On Tuesday December 10th, minutes before midnight, the City Council passed a budget that lowered the levy to 6.8% from the originally set 8.3% and resourced critical projects to address public safety, homelessness, and supporting small business.
The historic 78 amendments brought forward to the recommended budget were due to the fact that the issues our constituents asked to see addressed, like public safety, housing, addressing the opioid epidemic and getting dedicated resources to the areas in our city that are combating livability concerns were pushed to the wayside in favor of additional spending on internal city services with no direct impact for our residents. They Mayor, disappointingly vetoed the City Budget, which if sustained would have set out city into a short-term financial crisis and would have required, the council and staff to work through the holidays to craft and implement a temporary budget so basic city services could continue. Fortunately, the veto was overridden and a budget was implemented that funded programs, initiatives, and projects that improve our city, especially safety through increased funding in public safety, and connect our communities.
At the end of the day, my goal was to deliver for the people of the 12th Ward and the people of Minneapolis. I can say we accomplished that goal while managing to reduce the levy impact on residents.
I am so glad that my colleagues supported the amendments I brought forward that are going to address safety in our community and citywide. I'm grateful for the collaboration of Director Amanda Harrington and the Office of Public Safety for their commitment to allocating a part of their budget to deploy resources to 46th and Hiawatha and the surrounding area to help reduce the public safety issues that many of you have met with me to discuss. I'm grateful for Commissioner Damon Chaplin and the Health Department for taking steps to address needle pickup to keep our community walkable and safe and looking ahead to implement opioid prevention strategies. I'm grateful for Director Karen Moe and the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department for their commitment to continuing to provide high quality services to our aging population so they can age in place, and maintain connections to their communities. I am grateful to every department head, city attorney, budget staff member, and city staff that worked with me and my office.
There were partners outside of the city that have been impactful in this budget process as well-- Executive Director Warsame and the staff at MPHA provided detailed program information to share the potential to expand the services offered for Stable Homes, Stable Schools. AVIVO Village continues to be critical part of the city's response to homelessness, providing low-barrier housing and wraparound services for hundreds of people. Minneapolis Public Schools who worked closely with my office to determine a path forward to Save Cooper Playground at the former Cooper School.
Finally, I would like to thank my council colleagues for their collaboration and the amazing community of the 12th Ward for your year long collaboration and advocacy.
Later in this newsletter I am including a list of all the amendments I authored in this budget cycle, with a brief description of what the proposal is-- please look over it, and feel free to reach out to me or my office. As always, it's an honor and a privilege to be representing you.
All the best,
Aurin
 Join me at Sisters' Sludge (3746 23rd Ave S) for my community office hours that is open to all! I will be there from 4:30PM-6:00PM
I am lead author or supporting author on 21 of the amendments for the 2025 City Budget. As many of you know, the City of Minneapolis is facing an unprecedented deficit this budget cycle. For this reason, I was intentional in sourcing funding for my proposals from vacancy savings, departments with general fund balances that would be able to absorb the impact of a decrease, and re-allocating funds appropriated to new spending. Below are a list of the amendments I worked on.
A quick note on misinformation. There are unfortunately claims that our budget defunded the Minneapolis Police Department. I want to set the record straight in the age of disinformation-- I voted and finalized a budget that increased MPD's by 5.8% to from $217M to $229M, largely to fund the increase in starting salaries. Any email or message saying that the Minneapolis City Council defunded the police is unequivocally false. Yes, we did not fund the $500,000 proposed budget for a PR Campaign for recruitment. My reason for reallocating that funding is clear: we approved $1 Million dollars for this campaign last year, and when I asked publicly for documentation of metrics of success on the first campaign, no public documentation was shared. I cannot fund costly projects year after year with evidence that we are getting a return on investment, when given the opportunity to show metrics of success to the Council and the public-- there was no response. The positive thing is we funded many things that will help improve our City.
#8 - Civilian Investigators
Authored by: Wonsley, Payne, Ellison, Osman, Chowdhury
- Allocates funds to add 3 civilian investigators to support public safety efforts, for a total of 5 civilian investigators.
- Funding civilian investigators will ensure that the extensive backlog of cases is adequately addressed and aid in alleviating the burden of capacity on current investigators and sworn officers.
#14 - Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD)
Authored by: Chavez, Chowdhury
- Allocates $250,000 for the LEAD program. LEAD provides a valuable public safety service on Lake Street at a time when residents and business owners in the corridor feel unsafe. A comprehensive approach to safety is needed to address the myriad challenges facing community members.
- The model was developed as part of an attempt to respond to livability offenses such as drug use, sales, and prostitution. An evaluation of the Seattle LEAD program found that participants in LEAD were 60 percent less likely than people in the control group to be arrested within the first six months of the evaluation and 58 percent less likely than the control group over the following two years.
#22 - Hiawatha Neighborhood Needle Pickup and Opioid Prevention Strategies
Authored by: Chowdhury
- Allocates $10,000 ongoing funds for needle collection and opioid prevention strategies lead by the Health Department.
- Our Health department relies on 311 reports to dispatch services, and states that our community can expect the reported areas to be addressed within 48 hours.
#23 - Hiawatha Neighborhood Safety Initiatives
Authored by: Chowdhury
- Allocates $150,000 one time to fund a coordinated and focused non-police community safety service to address safety and livability issues in the Hiawatha neighborhood.
- The areas at the 43rd to 46th and Hiawatha Avenue corridor and adjacent areas in the Hiawatha neighborhood have faced several issues related to safety and livability that are not uncommon in areas of overlapping jurisdiction.
- These funds are allocated to execute the goals of the safe and thriving communities report. To provide preventative, responsive, and restorative responses that are non-police.
#27 - Public Health Response to Unsheltered Homelessness
Authored by: Chughtai, Chavez, Chowdhury
- Allocates a total of $515,000 ongoing to support a public health response to unsheltered homelessness.
- $90,000 will fund personal storage solutions for those residing within encampments who wish to store their personal belongings.
- $15,000 will fund handwashing stations for those residing within encampments.
- $160,000 will fund portable bathrooms for those residing within encampments.
- $250,000 will fund Hennepin County Continuum of Care shelter providers and warming shelters
#30 - AVIVO Village Stabilization and Shelter Operations Grant
Authored by: Ellison, Chavez, Chowdhury
- Allocates $1,600,000 to AVIVO village stabilization and shelter operations. This will help stabilize the shelter operations of Avivo Village to prevent losing needed services meant to address homelessness.
- Avivo Village North Loop has supported 278 residents annually, providing critical low-barrier shelter and moving over 250 individuals into permanent housing. Through onsite wraparound services, the Village has reversed over 214 overdoses, addressed health challenges, and effectively combated the opioid crisis. These achievements have led to significant cost savings by reducing reliance on emergency systems and improving public safety.
- Current cost per client per year is $20,593 which demonstrates the model’s efficiency compared to other public interventions like Police, encampment closures, emergency room visits or incarceration. However, Avivo Village is approaching a fiscal cliff in 2025 as current funding sources diminish. While they remain committed to leveraging their existing resources, closing this gap is critical to maintaining and expanding their services.
#31 - Senior Housing Code Abatement
Authored by: Wonsley, Koski, Chowdhury
- Allocates $810,000 in one time funds to support a budget proposal that would allow senior residents living in owner-occupied housing to apply for small grants and/or loans for housing code abatement.
- Code abatement repairs are typically minor renovations that correct exterior property code violations. Code abatement repairs can also be crucial for repairs and rehabilitations to support aging in place for senior residents in owner-occupied housing.
- Minor renovations that allow aging in place and property maintenance give many senior residents the opportunity to stay in their current residence. Without these options, many seniors with limited incomes are forced to relocate to other housing options that may be less safe, stable, pleasant, or culturally appropriate for them. Small grants and loans to empower residents to age in place helps stabilize housing for thousands of aging residents.
- Preventing minor code violations from snowballing is also a crucial strategy for maintaining affordable and stable housing for elder residents. Since many senior residents have fixed incomes, a few thousand dollars to address a minor code violation can be out of reach. Code violations lead to citations, which can accumulate into a financial burden far beyond the original renovation required and far beyond the reach of an income-limited resident. By giving senior residents access to small grants and loans, the city can prevent many senior residents from entering into this precarious spiral.
- Supporting senior residents living in owner-occupied single family homes helps preserve the housing stock by preventing deterioration. Well-maintained housing single-family housing stock entering the market is good for new homebuyers and the city’s housing market overall, meaning that the whole city benefits from seniors code abatement programs.
#32 - Stable Homes Stable Schools Expansion Pilot Program
Authored by: Chavez, Payne, Chowdhury
- Allocates 830,500 to expand the Stable Homes Stable Schools Initiative, a collaboration between the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Minneapolis Public Schools, and Hennepin County.
- The initiative addresses homelessness in students and families, which is the largest non-academic barrier to success and by funding both proposed pilot expansions, MPHA estimates an additional 180-225 families (representing 440-565 children) could be served by SHSS.
- Homelessness among MPS students has risen by 30%. This program is a proven tool for reducing homelessness and promoting student success. Research shows that students with stable housing are more likely to graduate high school and pursue further education.
- While this is a one-time request, it’s important that ongoing funding is provided until homelessness in Minneapolis is eradicated for our youth.
#34 - Safe Outdoor Space Program (Safe Parking)
Authored by: Chowdhury, Chavez, Chughtai
- Allocates $100,000 for a Safe Parking pilot program. The goal here is to make a secure overnight space for people living in their vehicles. This will be open to anyone experiencing homelessness and living in a vehicle when a program is established.
- In 2019, cities spent between $3,393,000 and $8,557,000 annually on encampment-related activities– Those expenditures include outreach, clearance, and prevention, as well as emergency shelter costs and permanent supportive housing.
- Advocates for safe outdoor spaces point to the opportunity they present to care for people’s basic and rehabilitative needs more efficiently, reducing the costs of policing and medical care for unhoused people.
#36 - Social Housing Study
Authored by: Payne, Ellison, Chowdhury, Wonsley, Chughtai, Osman, Chavez
- Allocates $50,000 in one-time funding for a Social Housing Study to explore the feasibility of municipally or state-owned housing infrastructure.
- This initiative will contract with a subject matter expert to provide data, financing options, and implementation strategies for social housing. Social housing is deeply affordable, community-controlled, and operates outside the speculative real estate market.
- This study aims to address racial disparities in housing access, with communities of color being disproportionately impacted by housing cost burdens and homelessness.
- The findings will inform policymakers and staff on actionable steps to expand equitable, stable, and affordable housing options in Minneapolis.
#41 - Small Business Support for Construction & Hardship
Authored by: Chowdhury, Chughtai
- Allocates $900,000 in one-time funding to create a forgivable loan program supporting small businesses impacted by major construction on public right-of-ways.
- The program targets businesses along Lowry Avenue NE, Hennepin Avenue S, and Lake Street, providing loans starting at $10,000 and up to 37,000 for those demonstrating a 15% revenue loss during construction. Each corridor will receive $300,000 in funding.
- Our small businesses have had to shoulder the burden caused by the drop in revenue that occurs when construction closes a main throughway or corridor. While the improvements are necessary and there is not a legal right to recover for the construction impact, the impact is greatly felt by local business owners. The program is a goodwill effort to stabilize businesses that experience significant challenges during construction, helping them recover and maintain their contributions to the local economy.
#42 - Street Vendor Entrepreneur Grant and Compliance Program
Authored by: Chavez, Chowdhury
- Allocates $150,000 in one-time funding for the Street Vendor Entrepreneur Grant and Compliance Program to support marginalized street food vendors in Minneapolis. The program will provide financial assistance for permits, food carts, and business start-up costs, enabling vendors—many from immigrant and low-income backgrounds—to comply with city regulations and operate safely and lawfully.
- This initiative addresses systemic barriers like financial disparities, language barriers, and limited access to resources while fostering economic inclusion and stability.
- Focused on empowering immigrant communities, particularly the Latinx population, the program supports Minneapolis' Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan goals for economic development and inclusion
#48 - Labor Standards Co-Enforcement
Authored by: Payne, Koski, Chowdhury
- Allocates $500,000 annually to sustain and expand the Labor Standards Co-Enforcement program in Minneapolis. This program partners with community organizations to enforce our labor standards ordinances, including Sick and Safe Time, Minimum Wage, and Wage Theft.
- Co-enforcement partners provide outreach, training, and advocacy for workers, particularly in low-wage sectors with high violation rates. Since 2018, the program has recovered over $3 million in unpaid wages and trained over 500 workers on their rights.
- This funding addresses systemic inequities disproportionately affecting BIPOC, immigrant, and female workers, who are at higher risk of wage theft and labor violations.
- Sustaining this program supports racial and gender equity while reducing the workload of the Civil Rights Department through proactive education and dispute resolution. Managed by the Labor Standards Enforcement Division, the initiative aligns with the city’s Minneapolis 2040 goals to eliminate race-based employment disparities and ensure safe and equitable workplaces
#52 - Latino Center for Community Engagement Development Project
Authored by: Chavez, Chowdhury
- Allocates $300,000 in one-time funding to support the development of the Latino Center for Community Engagement (LCCE) at 2905 E. Lake Street, a site heavily damaged during the uprising in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
- This project aims to restore the building as a community-owned hub for economic development, cultural exchange, and empowerment, reflecting the historical and ongoing contributions of Latinos on Lake Street.
- This funding will assist COPAL's capital campaign to establish a center addressing the needs of Minnesota's growing Latino population, projected to reach 10% of the state by 2030.
- The project will reduce blight, enhance neighborhood safety, and foster pride and belonging by returning land ownership to the local community, aligning with Minneapolis’ Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan (SREAP) goals for economic inclusion and development.
#56 - Carbon Fees
Authored by: Wonsley, Cashman, Chavez, Chughtai, Chowdhury
- Allocates $274,617 in 2025 and $149,617 annually thereafter to implement a Pollution Control Annual Registration (PCAR) fee for carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) in Minneapolis. This includes one full-time staff position to administer the program and a one-time allocation of $125,000 for a fee study and technical support for program launch.
- This initiative targets the city’s 36 largest polluters, aiming to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 6% in 2025 and holds polluters accountable for the costs of emissions reduction, generating revenue to sustain itself without burdening taxpayers.
- The initiative also addresses racial disparities in air quality, as neighborhoods with higher BIPOC populations face disproportionately greater respiratory hazards.
#57 - Climate Legacy Initiative Zero Waste Planning
Authored by: Cashman, Chughtai, Wonsley, Ellison, Chowdhury, Koski
- Allocates $500,000 in one-time funding to support zero waste planning initiatives as part of the Climate Legacy Initiative. The funding will expand Public Works’ Solid Waste & Recycling (SW&R) programming to promote waste reduction and diversion measures essential for the planned 2027 closure of the HERC.
- The funding would support achieving an 80% recycling and composting rate citywide by 2030. It also supports the transition away from reliance on incineration at HERC, which disproportionately impacts low-income and BIPOC communities in nearby neighborhoods with high environmental burdens.
- This proposal advances Minneapolis’ climate equity and sustainability goals while addressing systemic inequities in waste management and environmental health. It provides a critical opportunity to accelerate the city's zero waste initiatives, benefiting residents, businesses, and future generations by building a circular, equitable economy.
#58 - Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Authored by: Wonsley, Ellison, Cashman, Chavez, Chughtai, Koski, Chowdhury
- Allocates $1.5 million in one-time funding to address the backlog of neighborhood traffic calming projects citywide and will support the completion of approximately 75-150 projects, each costing $10,000 to $20,000. These projects aim to improve pedestrian and bike safety, reduce vehicle collisions, and enhance public safety and livability.
- The proposal responds to over 850 eligible traffic calming applications expected for the 2025 construction season, reflecting strong resident demand for safer streets.
- By reducing the backlog of requests, this funding advances the city’s Transportation Action Plan, Comprehensive Plan, Climate Equity Plan, and Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan. It directly improves safety for residents who walk, bike, roll, or use public transit, prioritizing equity while promoting a safer and more sustainable transportation system.
#61 - Save Cooper Playground
Authored by: Chowdhury
I made a huge effort to bring forward the Save Cooper Playground amendment. Despite exhausting all efforts, I unfortunately was not able to find a pathway forward conducive with our financial policies at this time.
Neither MPS nor the Minneapolis Parks Board have budgetary capacity to fully fund this project, as it doesn't squarely fit within either of their funding priorities (for MPS, because it is not an active school, and for the Parks Board, because it is not Park property). One of my biggest frustrations as a new council member has been issues like this that require cross-jurisdictional collaboration that have more red tape than paths forward.
I want to thank the neighbors of the Cooper Neighborhood that have mobilized to build a coalition of supporters to advocate for the needs of their community, and the trust you put in me as your council member to work alongside you.
#62 - Senior Services
Authored by: Koski, Chowdhury
- Allocates $50,000 in one-time funding to the Neighborhood & Community Relations (NCR) Department to enhance senior services in Minneapolis. The funding will be distributed through a competitive process where service providers submit proposals to address gaps in senior service delivery. Thank you CM Koski for your partnership in working to make Minneapolis a truly senior-friendly city.
- This investment supports equity by expanding culturally responsive and accessible services for seniors, particularly those from underserved communities. It also indirectly benefits low-income caregivers and family members by alleviating caregiving burdens, contributing to greater stability and well-being for households across the city.
#63 - Seniors Transportation Program
Authored by: Chowdhury, Koski
- Allocates $25,000 ongoing annually to fund the Seniors Transportation Program, which supports community organizations in delivering door-to-door transportation services for seniors in underserved neighborhoods.
- These services help seniors access essential resources, including grocery stores, medical appointments, vaccine clinics, and community events, while reducing isolation and promoting independent living.
- In 2024, the program successfully facilitated over 800 round-trip rides for seniors, with a 30% increase in clients served compared to the previous year. The funding allows service providers to continue addressing transportation gaps for low-income, BIPOC, and aging communities, particularly in areas where access to such services is limited.
- By maintaining this investment, the program ensures that Minneapolis seniors can access vital resources and remain active in their communities. It supports equitable service delivery, helping underserved populations experience greater independence, connectivity, and quality of life.
#64 - Senior Community Navigators Program
Authored by: Chowdhury
- Allocates $235,000 in one-time funding to sustain the Senior Community Navigators Program within the Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) Department.
- While the program originated during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the urgent need for culturally specific meals and expanded to address broader challenges faced by the city’s aging population, it continues to fulfill critical goals outlined in the Minneapolis for a Lifetime: our Age-Friendly Action Plan, including improving housing options, transportation services, and health initiatives for seniors. The program also builds community connections, addressing the isolation many seniors experience and helping them integrate into multigenerational neighborhoods.
- By continuing this investment, the city ensures that seniors can access critical services, age in place with dignity, and remain active participants in their communities. The program aligns with the city’s commitment to equity, improving quality of life for seniors and creating a more inclusive Minneapolis.
the U.S. Department of Justice Consent Decree Agreement that we considered on Monday. This agreement will mandate necessary changes to the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and can be read .
Learn more about the federal consent decree on the City’s website.
Monday, January 6, the City Council held a special, closed meeting for seven hours to receive a briefing on the tentative agreement to reform the police department. The City Council (including myself) voted 12-0 to enter into the federal consent decree agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. This court-enforceable agreement delineates training requirements, policy guidance, and other mandates to guide MPD reforms moving forward. The consent decree is a result of Department of Justice findings that MPD regularly engaged in patterns and practices of misconduct in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The investigation began after the heinous murder of George Floyd by MPD, which sparked a global racial reckoning and calls to overhaul policing as usual.
The Department of Justice also found that MPD:
- Uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and unreasonable use of tasers.
- Unlawfully discriminates against Black and Native people in its enforcement activities, including the use of force following stops.
- Violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech.
- Along with the City, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.
- Had persistent deficiencies in policy, training, supervision, and accountability that contribute to the unlawful conduct
The main highlights from the consent decree include:
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Community engagement: MPD operational strategies to address crime will be developed to further emphasize collaboration between police and the community.
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Use of force review: MPD will institute both a robust Force Investigation Team to review certain uses of reportable force and a Force Review Board to provide executive review of certain use of force incidents.
- First Amendment: The MPD will adopt, train on, and sustain policies that facilitate the exercise of First Amendment rights of community members and journalists while enabling MPD to maintain public safety and order.
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Behavioral health response: The City will continue to advance and build on its behavioral crisis response with additional training, policies, protocols, review, and coordination.
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Supervision: Changes to supervision requirements will facilitate more officer accountability and evaluation opportunities
The decree calls for the appointment of the Effective Law Enforcement For All team as an independent monitor to assess whether the requirements of the decree are being implemented. The independent monitor will report publicly on the city’s implementation efforts on a regular basis.
The federal consent decree will be in effect at the same time as a similar settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Both agreements are expected to be in effect for several years.
What's next, the City of Minneapolis is waiting for the Federal Judge assigned to this to sign-off on the consent decree to go into effect. Police accountability and a roadmap for reform is a key priority for my office. We will work with City leadership and engage with you as community members to ensure that these important reforms are implemented and the process is transparent. I will share updates on the Federal Consent Decree with you on this newsletter.
Business, Housing & Zoning
In the last Business, Housing & Zoning committee meeting of the year on November 19th, Council approved the Great Streets Façade Improvement Grant Program Administration Funding Awards. Our very own Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association were awarded $20,000 each as grant recipients of this program!
The Great Streets Program was created in 2007 to cultivate and sustain vibrant neighborhood commercial districts in the City of Minneapolis. The program utilizes a variety of investment tools, including the Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program which provides grants to businesses and property owners for building improvements. The approval of a new round of funding awards for the Facade program is the subject of this report.
The Great Streets Facade Grant Program seeks to stimulate visible investment in businesses and buildings, attract new businesses to vacant storefronts, support healthy and attractive neighborhood business districts, and provide a resource that administering organizations can offer businesses in their service area.
Climate and Infrastructure
 On January 9, Climate and Infrastructure committee meeting, we received a the annual report of the Clean Energy Partnership. This is a partnership between the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, and Center Point Energy that was created in 2015 to help City reach its energy efficiency and renewable energy goals. This arguably one of the most important annual reports we get as a City to measure where we are in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a City. I encourage you to take a look at the report. The uncomfortable truth is that we are behind. We have fallen behind on reaching multiple goals, including reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 community-wide and reaching 100% renewable energy by 2030. We have our work cut out for us and we must reduce our reliance on natural gas/fossil fuels, Center point energy especially must start stepping up and being held accountable to achieving these goals. It is my commitment to work diligently to help us as a city catch up to our goals. Hear my remarks on the report.
In the November 21st Climate and Infrastructure committee meeting, there were a lot of great things that came forward. One that I would like to highlight is the Climate Legacy Initiative (CLI) implementation progress update for Q4 2024. We received a presentation with the Q4 2024 progress update on the implementation of The Climate Legacy Initiative (CLI), which is our plan to fund the City of Minneapolis’ climate goals, launched in January 2024.
CLI officially took off after year-long conversations with community members, grassroots advocates, nonprofits, unions, utility companies, and business representatives. The CLI is an innovative way to achieve the City’s accelerated, equitable climate action goals. Increases in electric and gas franchise fees that were adopted in October 2023 now fund an additional $10 million of climate action work each year, starting with the 2024 budget. This funding goes directly back to the ratepayers to lower energy bills, make energy efficiency improvements, and more.
The CLI helps provide the necessary funding to implement the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan, which provides a roadmap for climate work over the next decade. This community-wide plan sets a goal for Minneapolis to significantly reduce climate pollution by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. It also includes plans to weatherize all homes, reduce utility bills, promote green job training, and plant more trees.
Intergovernmental Relations
 In the intergovernmental Relations committee (which I chair!), we approved amendments to our 2025 Legislative Agenda and Policy Positions document. The City of Minneapolis annually adopts a Legislative Agenda and Policy Positions document that includes the City's position on several policy areas such as public finance, housing, community safety, capital investments and transportation. The Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Department, with the assistance of a multi-department staff team (Policy Liaison Team), develops the agenda and policies for Council review and approval.
We were also honored to present State Representatives Hodan Hassan and Frank Hornstein with resolutions honoring their years of public service representing the City of Minneapolis at the State Capitol.
 Happy 10th Birthday to Ward 12's very own Minnehaha Recording Company! Check out this awesome feature on them on Longfellow Whatever.
Picture Credit: Longfellow Whatever
The City of Minneapolis is organizing the Feb. 8, 2025, Community Connections Conference around the power of participating in your community and local decision-making. The theme is “Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow.” The conference is an annual free event that connects Minneapolis residents, community groups, neighborhoods and local government.
Volunteer or exhibit
We welcome volunteers to help spread the word about the conference and to volunteer on the day.
We also invite everyone in the community to share information, skills, resources and opportunities through exhibitor booths.
Apply for your exhibit space by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 13. We are especially looking for informative, fun, interactive exhibits for both children and adults. Exhibit space is free for nonprofits and public institutions, and conference partners will also have booth spaces.
Learn more and sign up online.
Read more on the City website.
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 Cooper Playground is Saved! After working with Rep. Sencer-Mura & Minneapolis Public Schools we were able to work together & MPS has committed to maintaining ownership of cooper playground & making improvements!
I brought forward a budget amendment to Save Cooper Playground, while I had to withdraw it due to financial policy barriers. It was important for me to make a public statement & help get a firm commitment with MPS to make sure the playground remained a public asset in our community. You can watch my statement on my thread on X:
This is a big step & victory— a victory that belongs to the community, your advocacy made this possible.
Following my statement there has been outreach to my office to support getting more resources to complete the playground improvements.
More work to do & I look forward to building partnerships to bring necessary resources to make the upgrades and improvements a reality. Thank you MPS, Rep. Sencer-Mura, & Hennepin County.
Thank you everyone for your huge advocacy whether in calls and emails to my office, meetings with me, outreach via social media, and through 311 reports. The lights are restored along a large part of Hiawatha Avenue and parts of West River Parkway. Since, I was sworn into office just over a year ago, the lighting outages on these corridors due to copper wire theft have been a top priority for the Ward 12 office. Our advocacy to our Public Works Department to prioritize the restoration and repair of these corridors was nearly weekly. I carried a legislative directive last year to understand the full picture around copper wire theft on lighting and how we can mitigate it in the future.
Over the holidays and into the new year, our Public Works department worked on this restoration.
Here is the high level summary of repairs on Hiawatha ave by segment:
- 26th to 28th repairs needed
- 28th to 32nd (bridge area) will need power restoration as part of the Hiawatha and Lake project
- 32nd to 35th is now working on the west side (approx. 2,000 ft of wiring repaired)
- 35th to 46th is working on both sides (approx. 3 miles of wiring repaired)
I am extremely grateful to our Public Works team and crew. This was a challenging repair for a number of reasons, and they made great efforts to prioritize this area.
I am hopeful that copper wire theft will be significantly deterred as State Law is in effect as January 1, 2025 that prohibits a person from engaging in the sale of scrap metal copper unless the person has a valid license issued by the Minnesota Department of Commerce or qualifies for a statutory exception.
I am grateful to have joined our team at the City of Minneapolis for advocating for this.
The Metropolitan Council is simplifying and lowering transit fares starting Jan. 1. Full-price fares on all Metro Transit buses and trains will be $2 any time of day. Young people, seniors and Medicare recipients will be able to ride Metro Transit’s non-express buses and light rail for $1 all day, every day. The cost of all-day and seven-day transit passes will also be reduced.
The changes are expected to make transit easier to use.
Read more about transit fares on the Metropolitan Council website.
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The City is taking steps to address climate change over the next 10 years. These steps will ensure we build healthy communities for our residents while saving you money, making your home more comfortable and fighting climate change.
Through the City of Minneapolis Climate Legacy Initiative, more than 2,000 residential properties have already benefited from energy-efficient upgrades, saving community members more than $200 million.
Key projects funded by the initiative include:
- Weatherizing
- Putting in new windows
- Installing air-source heat pumps
- Increasing solar energy
Learn more about getting an energy rebate for your home. Read more about the Climate Legacy Initiative.
Come get a progress update on the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center and Lake Street Safety Center. Hear about services and resources in the centers and how your feedback is being used to shape plans.
This is the next engagement session details:
Ward 2 Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 at Matthews Park
2318 29th Ave. S,
Minneapolis, MN 55406
City staff will be available for a Q&A after the presentation. Community members can also learn more about other safety programs in the city.
Learn more on the event flyer in English, Español, Af-Soomaali, Hmoob and Oromo.
Find more information on the City website.
With more dark hours this time of year, you might notice lights out more on parkways or in parks. If you see a light not working, contact:
For parkway lights
The City of Minneapolis 311 Service Center: Call 311, email or report it on the City website or the app.
For path and trail lights in parks
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board customer service: Call 612-230-6400 between the hours of 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday or email anytime.
If you witness someone damaging a light, call 911.
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The Minneapolis Health Department has opened its ninth school based clinic at Wellstone International High School. The new clinic in the school will serve more than 240 international and multilingual students in grades nine through 12.
Minneapolis school based clinics offer easy and confidential access to health care services for no cost to high school students. The clinics allow students to:
- Take charge of their health.
- Get no-cost, confidential services.
- Go to appointments without leaving school.
- Build relationships with providers who understand teens.
- Reduce school absences and parents missing work.
- Increase their success in school.
Read more on the City website.
Affordable housing is essential to thriving communities, but what does it mean, how does it work, and what is the City of Minneapolis doing to ensure everyone has access to a safe, stable and affordable home? Watch a new video series based on insights from The Way Home report that unpacks these questions, providing an inside look at our strategies, success stories and ongoing efforts.
This video series is the next phase of enhanced communications of the City’s community development impacts. You can also see the award winning Minneapolis Forward Stories of Recovery series and the CPED Impact annual report.
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