| Council Member Cashman speaking on the dais during the City Council Meeting in a multi-colored shirt Police union contract & police reform Over the last few weeks, the City Council has hosted opportunities for the community to learn about and weigh in on the City’s tentative agreement with the police union. During the July 8th Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee Meeting, I made a motion to approve the contract and advance it to the full Council for further discussion and votes. The contract was approved by the full Council during yesterday’s meeting. As I've shared previously, this contract is not perfect. It does, however, deliver some elements of reform that have been identified as key to reshaping the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) in a way that allows it to more effectively serve the public. It increases the pay scale for officers, allows for more scheduling flexibility, and allows for non-sworn officers to be hired as civilian investigators. At a time when officer levels are far below what is mandated by our City Charter, I believe this contract can be a valuable recruitment tool not simply for the financial incentive, but because it could help attract and support new candidates who want to play a role in shifting the MPD’s internal culture. I also believe it is important for us not to forget why reform within MPD is necessary and to understand the broader set of tools working toward that end. We cannot forget that the City is currently obligated by a court-enforceable settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after their investigation found a probable cause determination that the City of Minneapolis and MPD have engaged in a pattern or practice of race discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The U.S. Department of Justice also investigated these practices and is currently negotiating with the City to set the terms of a second court-enforceable decree after a pattern of conduct that violated peoples’ rights under Constitutional federal law was founded. And we cannot forget that since 2019 the City has paid out over $71.3 million in misconduct settlements and $30 million in PTSD settlements for a total of $101.3 million in Minneapolis taxpayer money. These factors have collectively eroded trust in MPD for many residents and stakeholders, and it will take intentionality and a genuine will to change for things to improve in that regard. In addition to the police union contract negotiation and consent decree implementation, the City has also worked in partnership with community to establish and support the work of the Community Commission on Police Oversight (CCPO). The CCPO is an independent body that was established in 2023 that allows the public to participate in police oversight. Learn more about their work and how you can engage with them. Finally, the last 4 years have brought an unprecedented level of investment in community safety programs providing alternatives and complements to an armed police response. The Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) unit was created in 2021 and funding was expanded to support 24/7 operation in 2023. The City now contracts with community-based organizations uniquely positioned to interrupt patterns of violence by leveraging trusted relationships and in-depth knowledge of cultural communities. We invest in public placemaking initiatives like Warehouse District Live to activate specific blocks with a positive presence that in the past have been prone to incidents of gun violence. These programs do not just happen. They require ongoing collaboration across City departments and with community partners, often with dedicated funding over a number of years, to solidify their impact. Minneapolis needs and deserves a comprehensive public safety system that accounts for the nuances and complexity of the challenges we face in our community and neighborhoods every day. To that end, I could not support the Mayor’s proposal to reallocate Council-approved funds for comprehensive safety programming to pay for this police contract. Paying for the police contract My Council colleagues and I have been working hard the past few weeks to identify viable sources of funding to cover the anticipated $6 million cost of the police contract through 2026. With projected budget shortfalls for 2025 and 2026, it is critical that we do this in a way that does not reallocate any funds currently slated for comprehensive community safety initiatives or add dramatically to the property tax levy. In order to do this, at yesterday’s Council meeting we reallocated funding from projects managed by our staff in CPED that were eligible for that funding, and we also pulled from some unobligated American Rescue Plan Act funds that will expire at the end of the year, as well as a portion of the public safety aid money that had not yet been assigned to a specific program. We then backfilled the identified project funds with money from the Downtown Assets Fund cash balance. The Downtown Assets Fund, which is generated through 5 local option sales taxes, is to be used for economic development and to reinvest in public assets like the Convention Center, Target Center, and Peavey Plaza. This larger reallocation package included a major Convention Center remodel project, which Council Members voted to separate out from the larger package and refer back to the Budget Committee for futher conversation. I will continue to work with partners at the Convention Center and Meet Minneapolis to get the Convention Center remodel back in front of Council for approval in the coming weeks. This project is critical for staying competitive in the tourism industry and supporting our vibrant hospitality sector which employs over 30,000 workers in our city. Other key policy updates: - Vacant Building Registration ordinance: Council Members approved thoughtful amendments to an existing ordinance regarding the City’s Vacant Building Registry (VBR) program, which will create more levers for addressing chronically vacant and dilapidated buildings in our neighborhoods. These buildings are disproportionately located in areas of concentrated poverty, and currently, there is no limit on the length of time that a property can be in the VBR program; many have been for years or even decades. These boarded and hazardous properties are a massive lost opportunity for economic growth, commercial development, and housing. The presence of boarded and hazardous properties can contribute to public health and safety dangers and can bring down neighboring property values. The ordinance amendment would change the length of time a property may be on the VBR before a new fee structure is enacted; the amended structure serves as a tool to incentivize owners to make a plan for their building(s), whether it be to make necessary repairs, sell, or redevelop the land. Learn more about the VBR and the changes enacted by yesterday’s vote.
- Utility franchise agreements: During the July 11th Climate & Infrastructure Committee (C&I), our City Attorney assigned with negotiating the City’s contracts with utilities—Xcel for electricity and CenterPoint for gas—presented on the basics, significance, and climate implications of having a right-of-way agreement. It was educational for Council Members and the public alike since the last time the agreements were negotiated was 2014, and 1994 before that. These agreements give rights to utilities to have equipment (poles, wires, energy generators, gas lines, etc.) be built and embedded within our public spaces. They also allow for revenue generation through franchise fees, which affect residents and industrial & commercial property owners, to support our City’s climate goals. This presentation is timely because the City is currently undergoing negotiations with utilities, and I am committed to using my position in the Clean Energy Partnership and as Chair of C&I to support our City’s vision of clean, efficient, reliable, and affordable energy.
- Neighborhood Traffic Calming: During the same C&I Meeting, Public Works staff managing the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program presented on program design, overall demand and implementation, as well as the criteria by which they select projects to pursue in a given year. The program has been immensely popular, with the number of applications far outpacing the allocated budget in each of the programs first 2 years. The 2024 City Budget allocated $500,000 to this program, and staff have estimated that funding for both the applications already submitted and those we are on pace to receive in 2024, would require a $15 million investment. While we are facing a budget shortfall year and difficult decisions will need to be made, it remains my goal to find a way to ramp up funding to greatly increase the number of projects that we’re able to implement in 2025. If you or your neighbor have submitted a Traffic Calming application but were not yet selected, you do not have to reapply; your submission is kept on file for consideration in the next year’s review of projects.
- Honorary Resolutions: Council brought forth an honorary resolution celebrating the City of Minneapolis’ 4th Annual Black Business Week, which takes place Monday, July 22 to Sunday, July 28. August is National Black Business Month. The City is hosting a wide range of events and activities and invites community members to attend and to support the Black-owned businesses in your neighborhood.
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A photo of people walking and boarding/exiting busses on Nicollet Mall Ward 7 Community Survey Series In each Ward 7 Newsletter, we include a question for constituents to weigh in on. Questions may be related to upcoming policy decisions, future planning, issue prioritization, community project ideas, and more. Today's question: For the last several months, staff in the City's Public Works Department have been exploring with Metro Transit the idea of fully pedestrianizing Nicollet Mall in Downtown. The idea would include a rerouting of busses off of Nicollet Mall and onto adjacent streets, and a shift in use of Nicollet Mall as a public plaza for events and programming while maintaining easy access for pedestrians and folks using bikes, scooters, and other types of micro-mobility. Staff have committed to maintaining or improving the current ease and overall experience for those taking transit. Watch a December 2023 presentation on this concept. On July 25th, the Council's Climate & Infrastructure Committee will hear an updated presentation on this concept and the plan for community engagement for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to share their perspective on this idea.
What questions do you have about the idea to pedestrianize Nicollet Mall, which would shift busses off the Mall to create a public plaza? Downed Trees and Power Outages In the aftermath of last weekend’s big storm, many residents have reached out to report power outages and downed trees in their neighborhood. Xcel Energy crews have continued their work throughout the week to restore power. If there is a tree in your street that needs to be moved, make sure it is reported by emailing Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or calling 311. MPRB’s forestry services will help clear public right of ways for privately-owned downed trees, like on sidewalks, however this work is delayed due to the ongoing strike by MPRB workers negotiating for a new union contract. For downed trees or big branches in parks that need to be cleared but aren’t impeding people's right of way, call the Park & Rec Board forestry service at 612-313-7710 or email them at forestry@minneapolisparks.org with pictures, and they will work to address them as soon as possible. Image of red, gold, white, blue, & green stripes over a black background with white text stating "July is Disability Pride Month" July is Disability Pride Month This month is a time to celebrate Disability Pride. Honor the diversity within the disability community, reflect on issues that people with disabilities are facing and inspire action to make the world more inclusive and accessible. Disability Pride Month occurs in the United States every July to commemorate the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. The Minnesota Council on Disability has several resources to better understand the history of disability rights, including stories from those with disabilities. The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill and updated in 2021 to ensure accessibility. Each color of the flag represents a different type of disability: physical (red), cognitive and intellectual (yellow), invisible/non-apparent and undiagnosed (white), psychosocial (blue) and sensory (green). Recently the City of Minneapolis updated it’s ADA Transition Plan addressing the accessibility of city streets and sidewalks and is currently updating its ADA Action Plan which addresses the accessibility of city programs and services. Image of The Price Dynamic founder Alysha Price smiling, wearing a white suit in front of a green and white background New Ward 7 Business Opening – The Price Dynamic Welcome to the Ward! The Price Dynamic is a pioneering social enterprise founded by a co-parent dedicated to fostering positive co-parenting relationships. Specializing in coaching, parent education, and supervised parenting time, this business aims to support single, divorced, and never married parents in navigating the challenges of co-parenting. By providing valuable resources and guidance, The Price Dynamic empowers parents to communicate effectively and prioritize their children's well-being. Through its innovative approach, this enterprise encourages cooperative co-parenting for the benefit of families and children facing diverse family structures. Find the Price Dynamic in the Loring Corners building at 1645 Harmon Place, Suite 304, and learn more on their website. Image of the Minneapolis skyline at night with brightly colored fireworks shooting over the Stone Arch Bridge Minneapolis Aquatennial The Minneapolis Aquatennial is the official civic celebration of the City of Minneapolis, and this year’s celebration takes place July 24-27. Mark your calendar for the parade, fireworks, music, triples tennis, water ski show, on-the-go AquaTivities and more. Organizations in Loring Park are co-hosting a family fun night associated with Aquatennial also on July 24th from 5:30-7:30pm in the park featuring a kids' dance, food vendors, and more! A watercolor painting of vendor tents and people shopping at the Loring Park Arts Festival Loring Park Arts Festival The Loring Park Art Festival has been bringing together the arts and community since 2000. Located in beautiful Loring Park, this festival offers two days of art, music, food, and entertainment in a beautiful setting with ponds and formal gardens. Sunshine Artist magazine consistently ranks this festival among the top art festivals nationwide. Over 150 visual artists are invited to sell their original work, and visitors can enjoy strolling musicians, live music on the Westminster stage, special performances on the Neighborhood Stage, activities for kids and families, a Culinary Arts Market, and various food and beverage options. Saturday, July 27, 2024; 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday, July 28, 2024; 10:00am - 5:00pm Visit their website for info on participating artists, vendors, and activities. National Night Out It’s almost that time of year! National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 6 in neighborhoods across the city. It’s a great time to make new connections and strengthen old ones with your neighbors. Residents can submit their block event registration for FREE through Tuesday, July 30. Stay tuned for details on a few of the great community events happening throughout Ward 7 for NNO this year. Senator Scott Dibble speaks with a microphone to community members, seated next to Council Member Cashman and Representative Frank Hornstein in the seating area at Sebastian Joe's Legislative Session Recap at July “Coffee with Katie” Thank you again to everyone who came out to Sebastian Joe's in Lowry Hill on Monday night! It was a great conversation with Senator Dibble, Representative Hornstein, myself, and neighbors about the wide range of policy issues taken up by the state legislature this year. Save the date for our next “Coffee with Katie” on Wednesday, August 21st at the Walker Library in East Isles, 6:30-8pm. To find out about what’s going on in your part of town, check out the nine neighborhood organizations working to keep folks connected and engaged in Ward 7: |
