 Key Policy & Committee Updates: - Rideshare Minimum Compensation Ordinance: Yesterday the City Council passed a minimum wage ordinance for rideshare drivers, which was calculated at $1.40 per mile and $0.51 per minute for the time transporting a rider, according to our local wage laws and the cost of doing business. I amended the effective date of the ordinance to May 1 to give Uber and Lyft more time to come into compliance with the law and support the 2-4 week licensing period for alternative, driver-owned and locally-owned rideshare companies to start up in our city such as the Drivers Cooperative. Years of data and analysis went into the creation of this ordinance and I am grateful to my colleagues on the Council who amended the ordinance to raise rates for drivers that pick up riders with disabilities and created evaluation mechanisms to assess impacts to the drivers, riders, and market within 6 months and 1 year of implementation. We hope that the state legislature will complement our policy with a statewide policy this session. I will be paying close attention to their work to make sure we are in coordination.
 - Labor Standards Board: On Monday, my colleagues and I shared space with hundreds of workers during a Labor Standards Board Listening Session. We heard first-hand experiences about the need for minimum employment standards on compensation, hours, and other conditions that would factor in the health and wellbeing of workers. I am co-authoring this ordinance in partnership because many low-wage workers keep Ward 7 businesses running. This ordinance would ensure that both employers and workers are engaged in the standards-setting process, and that workers are fully informed of their rights—setting up Minneapolis to raise the floor on standards across industries.
- Public Health & Safety Committee workplan: Council approved the 2024-2025 PHS workplan. Setting and publishing these workplans is also a tool for increasing transparency and the ability for community to engage in the process. (Note: Initiatives related to MPD staffing levels will be reflected in the Administration & Enterprise Oversight (AEO) Committee work plan, as they are matters related to City employment.)
- Initiative and referendum charter amendment: The ordinance to amend the city charter to allow for ballot initiatives (otherwise known as Direct Democracy) was moving on an accelerated pace in order to meet the charter-mandated timeline to reach the November ballot in a presidential election year with higher voter turnout. My colleagues and I asked the author for more time to discuss it with our communities and learn about the issue; graciously CM Wonsley offered to “return to author” which means it will be at least another year before this matter would come before the council. Visit the link above to learn more about direct democracy (otherwise called "ballot initiatives") and review a policy research analysis and a memo from the City Clerk about the timeline and campaign finance. More on how ballot initiatives are impacting democracy and citizen engagement in other states and cities is available through the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
- Other Council actions this week:
- Preview of next week's Climate & Infrastructure Committee Meeting (Thursday, March 14, 1:30pm | Public Service Center, 250 S 4th St, Room 350)
- Public hearing on the following Public Works projects listed below. Sign up to testify and/or speak to public works staff who will be available to answer questions.
- 42nd Street E Resurfacing
- 50th St E/W Assessment
- Beltrami Residential Streets Resurfacing from 18th Ave NE to East Hennepin Ave and Central Ave NE to I-35W and Monroe Street Resurfacing from Broadway St NE to Central Ave NE
- 1st Avenue S (Lake St W to Franklin Ave) Street Reconstruction
- Presentation on the first-year rollout of the Climate Legacy Initiative, a $10.2 million annual fund to help implement significant parts of the City’s Climate Equity Plan.
- Discussion on the 2024-2025 Climate & Infrastructure Work Plan, a document organizing priorities solicited from all 13 Council Members and community members that we want to collectively move the needle on during my first term as Chair of the C&I Committee.
 - March 2024 Honorary Resolutions: In partnership with City staff and community, Councilmembers also brought forth 3 honorary resolutions recognizing Women's History Month, 2024 Ramadan and its significance to Muslims in Minneapolis, and Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month.
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: Name a location or opportunity in Minneapolis where you’d like to see food trucks. SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE HERE  On Wednesday I gathered with Unidos MN, ISAIAH, SEIU Local 26 and several other community partners in the Block by Block weatherization and climate investments coalition of Minneapolis at Mercado Central in South Minneapolis. I’m grateful for the chance to speak about the City’s historic investment in green infrastructure and jobs through the Climate Legacy Initiative and how we can continue to build and expand our investment in this critical issue.  Details for March "Coffee with Katie" Join me for the next monthly iteration of “Coffee with Katie” at Big Hill Books’ basement event space in Bryn-Mawr on Thursday, March 28th from 5-6:30pm. These informal, community-based office hours provide a chance to talk directly with me about ideas, concerns, and opportunities. Come and go as your schedule allows! Note: if you have mobility challenges, please reach out to arrange an individual conversation with me on the Big Hill Books’ main level.  Ward 7 Small Business Spotlights - We are excited to welcome a new business to Ward 7 with the opening of SK Coffee in the Skyway level at 50 S 6th St, Skyway Level. SK sources and roasts single-origin micro-lots, exploring unique and rare profiles from around the world. Check them out Monday-Friday from 8am-3pm.
- Check out this feature on Strive Bookstore, a Ward 7 small business that is a part of the Chameleon Shoppes, an initiative of the Downtown Council designed to place locally-owned small businesses into vacant downtown retail spaces.
City of Minneapolis Advisory Boards, Commissions, & Committee Openings Did you know that the City of Minneapolis has over 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions, and advisory committees with over 500 members? Members are recruited twice each year, and the spring recruitment period is open now through March 31st. Learn more about the boards and commissions and consider applying for a vacancy that aligns with your interests or expertise.  MPD Recruitment Campaign The City of Minneapolis has launched a multi-year recruitment campaign for hard-to-fill positions in 911 and the Police Department. We’re looking for talented, community-oriented people to apply for public safety careers like 911 call takers and police officers. Cities across the country are grappling with staffing shortages in critical public safety departments. Minneapolis is competing with local governments across the state and U.S. to recruit and retain officers. Imagine yourself making an impact in Minneapolis. Find your potential while building a strong career. Learn more on the City website.  Call for Uptown Farmers Market Vendors After a hiatus for visioning, East Isles Neighborhood Association is thrilled to announce a call for vendors for the revamped Uptown Farmers Market! 2024 will be a season of pop-up markets across participating neighborhoods, to build momentum and recognition for a stationary, weekly market season in 2025. Each pop-up this year will be connected to a larger, existing neighborhood event. While they aim to bring back many of the vendors, musicians, and food trucks who made the East Isles Farmers Market great, they're also welcoming new vendors and talent! Interested in vending? Learn more and fill out a vendor form. Interested in volunteering? Fill out a volunteer form.  Infrastructure Updates The City is scheduled to replace the Cedar Lake Road bridge over the BNSF railroad in the Bryn–Mawr neighborhood in 2027 with engagement and design taking place this year. This planned project is an opportunity to improve aging infrastructure and design a more people friendly street. Project staff will be beginning collecting a new round of community input this month and invite community members to sign up for project email alerts to stay informed on ways to engage.  Metro Transit is partnering with the City’s Public Works Department, as well as the cities of Columbia Heights, New Brighton, Richfield, Bloomington, and Hennepin County to improve service on Route 4 Identified improvements which will be implemented in August 2024. Visit the project website, and take their short survey by March 19th to weigh in on their proposed changes. This will be Metro Transit’s sixth Better Bus Routes project, having previously completed similar improvements on routes 2, 3, 17, 22, and 63. |
