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I hope everyone has been staying as warm as possible. Winter is almost behind us! I wanted to share a few exciting updates that will hopefully brighten up your day.
 I’m excited to share that Ward 4 is getting another Problem Property Officer to help address the issue of problem properties in our community. This means we will now have two officers dedicated to tackling these challenges. I’ve been in regular communication with Inspector Adams, and after discussing the needs of our area, he confirmed that the addition of a second officer is happening. This is a positive step forward in making our neighborhoods safer and more vibrant. With two officers now focused on these issues, we will see an even greater effort in resolving the ongoing concerns around problematic properties.
Apply To Minneapolis Boards and Commissions
Applications for boards and commissions opens March 1st and is a great way to get involved in the city and our community. Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. This is a way to help make changes and improvements that affect your community.
Applications will be taken in March for these boards and commissions:
· Advisory Committee on Aging
· Advisory Committee on Disabilities
· Advisory Committee on Housing
· Bicycle Advisory Committee
· Community Commission on Police Oversight (applications open until March 16)
· Homegrown Food Council
· Pedestrian Advisory Committee
· Public Health Advisory Committee
Apply March 1-31, and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting the City website at
Apply March 1-31, and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting the City website.
The City of Minneapolis plans to begin using traffic safety cameras as early as August 2025. The cameras will provide automated enforcement of speed limits starting at about five locations. The City plans to run the pilot through July 2029. The City may expand up to 42 camera locations. The pilot may also expand to include enforcement of red lights. All locations will have warning signs and will be listed on the City’s website. Locations that were chosen had to meet the criteria of the state law. Of those, public works chose which had the greatest safety concerns based on available data.
Before the pilot begins, public works wants to hear from you. The City will gather feedback on potential camera locations through mid-May. An online survey will be available soon, and the City will also take part in other events over the next months. You can read more information about the traffic safety camera pilot on the City website.
In-person open house 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 Presentation at 4:30 p.m. Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Room (second floor, up the escalator), 300 Nicollet Mall
Online open house 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 Join on Teams.
The City will gather feedback on potential camera locations through mid-May. An online survey will be available soon, and the City will also take part in other events over the next months.
Read more information about the traffic safety camera pilot on the City website.
 Minneapolis property owners can now enter the City Trees lottery through March 14th. Each property is eligible for up to three trees for $30 each. More than 15 varieties of shade and evergreen trees are available, and the trees are 3 feet to 7 feet tall.
If you’re successful in the lottery, you’ll get an email to order your trees March 17-31 and pick them up May 30-June 1. You can enter the lottery by March 14 at bit.ly/citytreeslottery.
Benefits of trees
Planting trees can:
- Save you money on utility bills.
- Shade and cool your property.
- Collect stormwater runoff.
- Provide habitat for wildlife.
- Improve our health and well-being.
- Increase property values.
Enter the lottery by March 14.
 In an effort to prevent theft of firearms and prevent gun accidents in Minneapolis, our Crime Prevention Specialists will be handing out these fliers to businesses and neighborhood groups reminding everyone about safe firearm storage. Remember, safely storing your firearm is not only best practice, it is the law in Minnesota.
Firearms should be stored unloaded and in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault, or storage case. You can also use a gun lock which makes the gun unable to fire.
When transporting a firearm in a motor vehicle, it should be unloaded in a case made to contain a firearm and in a closed trunk.
If you have a permit to carry, your firearm should be stored as described when not in use
 For Twin Cities residents and visitors who wish to beat a bit of cabin fever, Minneapolis is the place to be this weekend. Every major venue is booked with entertainment and sports options for the whole family.
A busy February weekend like this is somewhat rare, as the chilly temperatures tend to keep people home. Yet, more than 70,000 people are expected to spend time in Minneapolis this weekend.
Meet Minneapolis’ Winterapolis guide highlights more events, as does the calendar by the Downtown Council. Residents and visitors alike can always check out the Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department for goings-on in the arts community.
Read more on the City website to make your weekend plans and find any remaining tickets.
If you or someone you know is a college, graduate or law student, encourage them to apply for the Urban Scholars Internship Program. This summer leadership internship is for college and graduate students interested in public sector careers.
The 2025 Urban Scholars program runs from June 2 to Aug. 15. The program is a full-time summer program providing internships, professional development and mentorship opportunities for young professionals. The interns work full-time with the employers four days a week with leadership development every Monday.
Candidate applications are due March 17.
Over the last few weeks, the City has seen executive orders and memos come down from Washington D.C. regarding everything from federal funding to immigration issues. Our City is navigating the very fluid landscape of what it means to operate under this new administration.
While there is still uncertainty about the impacts to the City of Minneapolis, we continue to closely track and monitor all developments. Here are two things that we know today:
- We are a welcoming city to all of our neighbors.
- We are not making any staffing changes at this time.
This week, the City Council passed a resolution giving the City Attorney’s Office broader authority to challenge any federal actions in state or federal court to further support the City’s values, interests and functions. The City also has working groups in place to track key policy issues.
The City of Minneapolis remains committed to serving its residents.
 In a historic move for Minneapolis, the city recently signed two utility franchise agreements and two memoranda of understanding between the City and CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy. This marks a major milestone in the City’s climate equity goals. The memoranda establish city-specific decarbonization goals—the first of their kind in the U.S. —bringing Minneapolis closer to its objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The two utility companies have committed to going above and beyond their own targets, recognizing the urgency of Minneapolis' local climate policy.
- Xcel has committed to reducing community-wide emissions from Minneapolis electricity consumption by a 93% by 2035.
- CenterPoint will reduce weather-normalized GHG emissions from natural gas use by 20-30% by 2035
"Minneapolis continues to be a national leader" - CM Vetaw
The City of Minneapolis guarantees workers have access to paid sick leave, a minimum wage, and protection from wage theft. By investigating and enforcing these workplace protections, the City has now recovered more than $2 million for Minneapolis workers in wages and damages.
Since 2018, more than 1,000 labor standards complaints involving more than 16,000 workers have been processed by the Civil Rights Department. These have resulted in 382 mediations or settlements. These investigations often include policy changes and technical assistance for all parties involved. Recent resolved cases include:
- More than $43,000 in back wages for three workers at Amigos One Stop, a grocery store in south Minneapolis.
- More than $145,000 in back wages and damages owed to 180 security guards and valet attendants with Unparalleled Parking LLC and Unparalleled Security LLC.
- More than $22,000 in back wages to seven workers at Plymouth Academy preschool serving children and families.
Violations can be reported by calling 311; filling out an online form; or stopping by in person at City Hall, Room 239.
In Minneapolis, all dogs, cats and ferrets four months or older must be current on rabies vaccinations, and owners must have a license. Pet licensing helps the City know where an animal lives and its vaccination status if lost.
License fees for non-sterilized pets have been cut in half. The move is one of many that make pet ownership more affordable while helping safeguard both pets and the community.
Sign up for vaccine appointments
We’re once again offering low-cost vaccinations by appointment every other Tuesday. Microchipping and one-year rabies and distemper vaccinations are $10 each. Vaccinations help stop easily prevented disease and illness in our community’s pets.
The next round of appointments will be Feb. 25 and are only open to Minneapolis residents. Make an appointment on the City website.
The first semi-annual report is out from the independent evaluator on Minneapolis compliance with police reform. The Effective Law Enforcement for ALL (ELEFA) report documents the City’s advance toward compliance with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement and finds that the City is on track to meet nearly all of its year-one goals assessed during this period.
ELEFA’s report covers the period from March 18 to Sept. 30, 2024. It highlights progress made in policy revisions, trainings, misconduct complaint backlogs, and plans for equipment, technology, facilities, and data systems. These achievements are key to transforming the MPD’s approach to policing and building a strong foundation for the next phases of compliance.
The report is on ELEFA’s website. ELEFA will continue to host regular community engagement sessions. The next review period will cover work completed between Oct. 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025.
The City of Minneapolis is seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Community Commission on Police Oversight. The independent body allows the public a forum to have meaningful engagement in police oversight and review. Members of the commission serve on the Police Conduct Review Panel as civilian panelists making recommendations about whether MPD policies and procedures have been violated and making recommendations about discipline.
Applications are open now for three current vacancies plus eight seats that will open in May. Applications are due by March 16.
Read more on the City website.
CenterPoint Energy encourages those facing hardship to call the company to find out about payment arrangements and be referred to resources that may be available to them.
Under Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, residential customers who are having difficulty paying their heating bills are required to set up a payment plan with their utility to prevent disconnection of their service between Oct. 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. The Cold Weather Rule applies to both homeowners and renters. To arrange a payment plan, CenterPoint customers can call 800-245-2377 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/PaymentAssistance.
CenterPoint representatives can also refer customers to resources that provide financial assistance for heating costs such as Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program. This federally funded program helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-eligible households. Applications are still being accepted for this program, and funds remain for Minnesotans this heating season.
Winter Energy Guide
CenterPoint recently launched its Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help customers stay safe and warm throughout the winter season. The Winter Energy Guide can help customers:
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Prepare a winter emergency supply kit. A winter emergency supply kit should have various supplies including water, non-perishable food for customers, their loved ones and pets, first aid kit, cold weather supplies such as blankets and supplies to have on hand in case of an outage.
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Track energy usage. By managing their accounts online, customers can access an interactive chart that displays their energy usage trends and gives them insights into ways to save energy.
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Take easy actions to reduce energy use. CenterPoint offers a variety of free energy-saving tips that can make a difference in the amount of energy used such as adjusting thermostats, opening blinds during the daytime to take advantage of the sun's warmth and sealing air leaks.
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Implement vital safety tips: CenterPoint offers tips for customers and their loved ones to stay safe throughout the winter heating season including by using space heaters appropriately, testing carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, and by knowing how to identify and report a suspected natural gas leak.
Energy-saving Tips: CenterPoint offers a variety of free energy-saving tips that can make a difference in the amount of energy used:
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Make sure your heating system is operating safely and efficiently. An annual inspection and tune-up by a qualified technician are recommended. Change or clean your furnace filter regularly to help maximize your furnace’s efficiency and life.
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Turn down your thermostat. By lowering your thermostat by 7-10 degrees at night or when away for at least eight hours, you can potentially save 10% on heating costs. With a programmable thermostat, your heating system can work around your schedule.
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Keep warm air in and cold air out of your home. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts. You can also roll up towels and push them against the bottom of the door’s interior to help prevent heat loss. Close fireplace dampers when not in use, so you don’t lose heat.
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Use window coverings and blinds effectively. If it’s sunny outside, open your window coverings during the day to capture warmth from the sun, and close your coverings at night to keep warmth inside.
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Circulate warm air with your ceiling fans. Set your ceiling fans to turn clockwise slowly to move warm air from the ceiling to your living levels.
Safety Tips:
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Use space heaters safely. Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away from it. A space heater that uses natural gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
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Test your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms to make sure they work properly. Change batteries regularly. Alarms don’t last forever, so replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Know the signs of CO poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If you suspect you could have CO poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.
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Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak. If you smell the “rotten egg” odor of natural gas, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815. Don’t use electric switches and outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location or do anything that could cause a spark.
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