| Officer Jamal Mitchell smiling in his MPD uniform in front of a royal blue background. On Tuesday I joined my colleagues and members of the public at the memorial service to pay our respects to Jamal Mitchell, an MPD officer and beloved person killed in the line of duty on May 30th. It was a beautiful service with moving tributes to his character and sacrifice. Those interested can view a recording of the service and learn of ways to support his family here. Council Member Cashman speaking from the dais during the June 10th Budget Committee meeting Police union contract Many of you may know that The City of Minneapolis’ Labor Relations team and Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis (POFM) have been negotiating a new 3-year police contract over the past few months. The tentative agreement was reached on May 28, 2024 and the POFM union voted to ratify the agreement on June 4th. The contract will now move through the City Council review process, where we will be taking a final vote on whether to approve it at the Thursday, June 27th meeting. If approved, the contract would deliver a historic boost in pay for Minneapolis peace police officers and significant reforms. The 21.7% pay increase over the three years of the contract would make the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) among the highest paying in Minnesota by 2025. I will be voting in favor of approving the contract. Leading up to the June 27th Council meeting, there will be opportunities for the Council and members of the public to view presentations on the contract provisions by City staff and community groups. Members of the public can submit comments on this topic to be included in the public record by attending the June 18th or 25th AEO Committee meetings and signing up to speak, completing this public comment form, or emailing CouncilComment@minneapolismn.gov. Include LIMS file number (2024-00312) in the latter two methods. - Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee
- Committee of the Whole
- When: Tuesday, June 25 at 1:30pm
- Where: In person at the Public Service Center Room 350, 250 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415 or online
- Adjourned Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee
- When: Tuesday, June 25 at 5:00pm
- Where: In person at the Public Service Center Room 350, 250 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415 or online
- Legislative Department 2025-2026 budget recommendations: The City Clerk presented on and transmitted the budget proposal for the Legislative Department, which includes City Council and ward offices, the City Clerks team (Elections and Voter Services, Records and Information Management, Legislative Support and Operations) and the City Auditor’s team (Policy and Research, Internal Audit, Oversight and Evaluation). View the presentation and learn how this department relates to the entirety of the City’s budget.
- Securing the LaSalle Community Garden: In an effort to preserve green space and support successful community gardens in targeted areas, the City is working with MPRB to designate seven City-owned parcels for a permanent community garden pilot program, including the LaSalle Garden (1809 LaSalle Ave S) in the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood.
- Additional funds for Rapid Rehousing: Council approved up to $450,000 in grant funding from the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program to be used for rapid rehousing, essential services, street outreach, and/or shelter operations.
- Office to residential conversions ordinance: Notice was given at today’s Council meeting for zoning code amendments I am authoring with Council Member Rainville to streamlining the review of nonresidential to residential building conversion. This will be further discussed at an upcoming meeting of the Business, Housing, and Zoning Committee.
Ward 7 Budget Priorities Council Members are working with one another, the Mayor, and City department staff early in the budget development process to identify funding needs, potential cuts or reallocations, and areas of alignment. In a new process created by the Budget Committee, each Council Member was tasked with selecting 5 issue/program areas that we may expect to advocate for inclusion in the 2025 City budget. For me, these preliminary items were selected based on a number of factors including, but not limited to: - Topics raised most frequently by constituents;
- Competing needs across different parts of the ward;
- Knowledge of other Council Members' priorities;
- Cost implications and fiscal responsibility;
- Initiatives for which demand outpaced the funding allocated in recent years; and/or
- Input from City department staff implementing budgeted programs and initiatives.
More details will be available on each item as part of the June 24th Budget Committee agenda. Share your thoughts on my preliminary priority items in today's newsletter survey question below, and stay tuned for more opportunities to weigh in on the budget and what you think I should advocate for over the coming months. 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: The City budgeting process is now underway. Keeping in mind the process and contextual information shared above, what initial reactions do you have to the following preliminary priorities? What is missing, and what would you remove from the list below in order to add it? VIEW BUDGET PRIORITIES AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK HERE An architectural rendering of the proposed building with identifying markers for the different uses and locations 3000 Minnehaha Community Engagement Minneapolis is proposing to redevelop the site of the former 3rd Police Precinct to house a new democracy center to expand access to the ballot box and provide a large space for community use. City experts reviewed the physical space, operational fit and feedback gathered throughout the last several years. As a result, the City is proposing to relocate its Elections & Voter Services, which is currently leasing industrial space in northeast Minneapolis, into the building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. More than 8,000 square feet of the space would be used for community use, which is roughly two thirds of the ground floor of the existing building. The City’s proposed timeline would have the site open as early as 2026. We’re asking residents to provide input through a survey on the City website. Learn more on the City's website. Online meeting June 17: How the City of Minneapolis can better support people with disabilities Join in a discussion June 17: What does it mean to be a resident with a disability or someone who supports people with disabilities in Minneapolis? What is and isn’t the City doing well with the accessibility of its programs, services and buildings? How can the City be a better partner with residents to improve City accessibility? Contact Guthrie Byard, 612-554-3666, with any questions, accommodations or alternative format requests. A graphic with program sponsor logos from Hennepin County and MPRB County, Park and Recreation Board announce summer event lineups Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board have announced their 2024 summer event schedules. Hennepin County’s free, family-friendly events include live music, Pianos on Parade, movie nights at Target Field Station, fitness classes and more. See the entire “Go Outside with Hennepin County” lineup.  Juneteenth community events Observed June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last of enslaved people in the U.S. received news of their freedom and entitlement to natural born human rights under the law, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Meet Minneapolis has compiled a list of community events celebrating Juneteenth and honoring Black culture all around Minneapolis. An event flyer with green and blue bubbles, event details, and photos of all three elected officials Details for July "Coffee with Katie" Lowry Hill residents, join me for the next monthly iteration of “Coffee with Katie” at Sebastian Joe's (1007 Franklin Avenue) on Monday, July 15th from 4:30-6pm. These monthly community roundtable discussions provide a chance to talk directly with me and your neighbors about ideas, concerns, and opportunities. This month, I will be joined by special guests MN State Senator Scott Dibble and MN House Representative Frank Hornstein for a recap of the legislative session and progress made in Ward 7. Come and go as your schedule allows! Coffee and tea provided. A blue and green flyer with information on the resources that will be available at the fair and event details Citizenship and immigration fair June 15 Learn about becoming a U.S. citizen and the immigration process Saturday, June 15. A citizenship and immigration fair will include: - An overview on the citizenship application process.
- Answers to your questions about citizenship and immigration.
- English language learning resources.
- Information about securing an interest-free loan through the New American Loan Program.
- Information on state driver’s licenses or state ID in Minnesota.
- Orientation on worker rights
Interpreters will be present at this event. This event is co-sponsored by the City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs and the City of Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Program. It’s part of a citizenship campaign by the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul to help residents learn about and apply for United States citizenship, with bimonthly events alternating between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Resource Fair
- When: Saturday, June 15 | 1-3 p.m.
- Where: Open Door Learning Center, 627 W. Broadway Ave.
- Cost: FREE
Learn more about applying for U.S. citizenship on the City website, contact the Minneapolis Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs directly by email, or call 612-394-6018 for more information.  |
Council Member Cashman and a group of people seated around a table engaged in conversation Out and About in Ward 7 Our team continues to get out into the community, engaging in more than 25 constituent and stakeholder meetings of all sizes and formats over the past three weeks. A few highlights include: - Talking with downtown residents about the 1st Avenue Reconstruction project, activating vacant commercial space through the City's Vibrant Storefronts initiative, and more at the June edition of "Coffee with Katie."
- Speaking with neighbors and sharing some of the work happening at the City at Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association's Annual Meeting and West Maka Ska Neighborhood Association's June board meeting.
- Talking with Ward 7 business owners and representatives across a number of industries from hospitality to supportive home healthcare.
I hope to see you out and about in the community this summer! Upcoming Community Events |
