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4/25/2025
Dear Ward 6 Neighbors,
Happy Friday!
We had a busy and productive week at the council, addressing critical issues impacting our community daily. But above all the great things we have accomplished, one thing was dear to my heart. Last week, I was proud to introduce a vital resolution aimed at enhancing culturally responsive water safety and drowning prevention for autistic children. This resolution highlights the urgent need to address the alarming drowning statistics affecting our autistic youth and the systemic barriers they face. It also underscores our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.
- CM Jamal Osman
Minneapolis is preparing for a busy 2025 construction season. More than $225 million is planned in infrastructure improvements. The 66 capital projects getting underway this year represent a major investment in safer streets, more reliable utilities and more vibrant neighborhoods.
From storm sewers and sidewalks to bridges and bikeways, these projects will strengthen the city’s foundation and improve quality of life for residents. To keep the public informed, the City is also introducing a new online construction dashboard. The dashboard offers real-time updates on project timelines, traffic impacts and key milestones.
See highlighted projects and read more about the 2025 City construction season on the City website
For the first time, all residents in Minneapolis are represented by a neighborhood organization. Come celebrate at Neighborhood Day Saturday, May 3.
Neighborhood Day is an annual day set across the city to increase resident participation in local civic engagement through one of the city’s 68 recognized neighborhood organizations. It’s a chance to come together in community, find the neighborhood organization that represents you and get to know your neighbors.
Participating neighborhood organizations host their own events from board officer elections, recycling and clothing drives to food trucks, potlucks and tool swaps. There’s something for everyone.
Your voice is important
Neighborhood organizations are the most local, smallest form of government. It’s an easy way for residents to be involved at the most grassroots level in their own neighborhood, on their own street.
Organizations act as their own nonprofit and have volunteer boards of directors. The organizations communicate to residents – share City news and awareness of topics such as housing and environmental concerns – and engage with one another.
Local neighborhood boards review, respond and participate in City projects at the local level and participate in conversations on everything from stop signs to development projects.
Learn more about Neighborhood Day and which organization represents you. There’s also a map of neighborhoods engaged with the day and details on their events.
The Community Commission on Police Oversight is hosting a public hearing May 13, and you're invited to share your thoughts.
This is a space for community members to give input on Minneapolis Police Department policies, rules, practices and special orders. We hold these hearings to make sure community voices are part of shaping how public safety works in our city.
The commission will be soliciting feedback for the three policies below. Please review the policies ahead of May 13 and provide your feedback at the public hearing or send a written comment.
Public hearing
Those who are interested in speaking in the public hearing may register.
Written comments
Written comments may also be submitted for the record of this public hearing either:
- By mail to the Office of City Clerk, 350 Fifth St. S., Room 304, Minneapolis, MN, 55415.
Community Commission on Police Oversight public hearing 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 Public Service Building, Room 100, 505 Fourth Ave. S.
Learn how to participate in a public hearing.
The draft 2024 Minneapolis Consolidated Plan is posted for public comments until May 23, and the public hearing will be held May 20. The plan describes the City’s housing and community development strategies for residents with low and moderate incomes.
Goals of the Minneapolis Consolidated Plan
- Provide decent affordable housing.
- Develop housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
- Provide special needs housing.
- Expand economic opportunities.
- Improve neighborhood conditions.
2025 Consolidated Plan public hearing 1:30 p.m. before the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee Tuesday, May 20 Room 350, Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S.
Find out how to participate in a public hearing on the City website or call 311.
If you’re unable to attend this public hearing, you can send written comments by May 23 to Rachel Boehm.
See the draft plan and learn more on the City website.
 May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to emphasize the importance of mental well-being and bring attention to challenges faced by people living with mental health conditions.
It's OK to not be OK
On Thursday, May 1, we invite everyone in the city to wear green to support our community and those struggling with their mental health. Green represents new life, growth and hope. It’s a symbol of mental well-being and recovery.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Do you need help or know someone who’s struggling? Call or text 988 for free. It’s confidential and provides 24/7 support for people in distress, and access to prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
Learn more about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Find more mental wellness resources on the City website.
 Join a work group to advise the City on its safety services. The Safe and Thriving Communities work group will also support on engagement opportunities to connect with community members. Applications are open through May 4.
The new work group will provide community feedback as the City develops its community safety ecosystem. This includes services and procedures around:
- Prevention
- Non-police response
- Restoration
- Community safety centers
We’re looking for people who have expertise or lived experience in:
- Violence prevention services
- Unarmed violence intervention services
- Restorative justice and healing services
- Criminal justice system
Learn more about qualifications, expectations and the appointment process by visiting the City's website.
Public Works crews have started the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program to clear away what accumulated in the streets over the winter. Drivers should watch for hot pink temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.
For approximately four weeks, sweeping crews will take care of more than 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers need to follow street sweeping parking rules or they may have their cars ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
Find your street on the schedule
You can see when your street is scheduled to be swept by visiting the interactive street sweeping map.
Learn more about street sweeping.
The City of Minneapolis has selected LSE Architects to design the new Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave., the former 3rd Precinct police building. The City’s community engagement efforts found 70% of respondents living within the 3rd Precinct support plans to create the Minneapolis Democracy Center.
The Minneapolis Democracy Center will include the Early Vote Center, offices for election staff, flexible space for election-related equipment and supplies, and a large ground floor space for community use.
City crews have been working on cleanup and maintenance of the site to make the building safe for workers and repairs. The City is currently working on the inside of the building, doing cleanup, replacing windows and doors, and rebuilding the front entry at Lake and Minnehaha.
The design process for the Democracy Center will begin this summer and will incorporate community input. A conceptual design presentation will be made to the City Council later in the year. The project is anticipated to move into construction in 2026.
The City of Minneapolis has selected four organizations to host street fairs for the 2025 Open Streets Minneapolis season, slated to kick off Aug. 2. Mark your calendar for entertainment, music, food and more.
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Aug. 17 Cedar Avenue between 15th Avenue and Sixth Street, and Riverside Avenue between Cedar Avenue and 19th Avenue Hosted by the West Bank Business Association.
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Sept. 20 Hennepin Avenue between West 26th and 36th streets Hosted by the Uptown Association.
Lime and Spin e-bikes and scooters are now available for rent for the 2025 season. To start your ride, download the operators’ app, (under the Lime and Spin websites) sign up and begin your rental.
This program makes it easier to leave your car at home and try walking, biking, rolling or taking transit more often.
April is Youth Employment Month in Minnesota. Many young people looking for work struggle, but we can help. City of Minneapolis Employment & Training has programs and resources specifically for youths.
Minneapolis Youth Works is a year-round program for youth ages 14-24 with challenges to employment. The program provides support to finish school, get training in job skills and find or keep a job.
The City of Minneapolis has a new online dashboard showing 911 emergency incidents. The dashboard’s rollout coincides with the testing of encryption on the City’s main emergency-response channels. This encryption meets requirements for Minnesota’s state data privacy regulations. Testing will continue until May 1, when the channels will be encrypted full time.
The new dashboard will be updated every 30 minutes and include the following features:
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911 calls over the last 12 hours
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Incidents categorized into police, fire and behavioral crisis response calls
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Incidents categorized by date, agency, neighborhood or problem code
Now that Minnesota’s cannabis regulations have been approved, it won’t be long before legal adult-use cannabis dispensaries start to open across the state. Wondering where you might find one in your neighborhood?
At a public listening session coming up May 1, a City advisory group will discuss the projects currently under review for the Minneapolis 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan. The committee invites public participation for a deeper understanding of community perspectives, to incorporate public input into their discussions with City departments, and to share information about the committee’s role in shaping the City’s long-range capital planning.
Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee Regular meeting, public listening session 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1 Sibley Park Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room 101 1900 E. 40th St.
The Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee is an advisory group for the City that provides recommendations for the its six-year Capital Improvement Plan through an annual report and project ratings system.
Minneapolis is finding ways to make your neighborhood streets safer and reduce risky driving. We’ve identified several areas for traffic calming treatments to be implemented this year. Learn about the 2025 projects and please give us your feedback through our upcoming open houses, online interactive feedback map and survey.
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Attend a neighborhood open house to learn about specific projects in your neighborhood and give your feedback to staff.
The City of Minneapolis is finishing up renovations to City Hall that improve accessibility and update workspaces while preserving the 130-year-old historic building. City offices have begun to return with the Office of Mayor moving to Room 330, City Hall, last month.
The construction updated heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems. The third floor now features a new formal media room and more natural light, as the process uncovered many windows.
Meetings that use the Council Chamber will move back to City Hall over the next few months. For locations, check the meeting’s agenda. As departments move back to City Hall, find their locations in the contact section of each department’s webpage.
News of layoffs – federal workers, tech workers and others – have topped headlines recently. Unexpected job loss is tough for anyone, but there are resources to help. The Dislocated Worker program helps workers laid off through no fault of their own. This free program offers services including:
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Career planning and counseling
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Education and training support
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Help with your expenses around employment or training goals
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