City Briefs

City Government Reorganization

The Minneapolis city council has advanced Mayor Jacob Frey’s proposed restructuring of city government. The proposal was developed by a task force he established earlier this year in response to ballot question #1 that was narrowly approved by voters in 2021. The ballot question, that needed 51% of the vote to pass, asked, “Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to adopt a change in its form of government to an Executive Mayor-Legislative Council structure to shift certain powers to the mayor, consolidating administrative authority over all operating departments under the Mayor, and eliminating the Executive Committee?”  It passed with 52.41%. The proposal significantly restricts the council’s ability to work with and direct most city departments. The city council made minor amendments to an ordinance draft before holding the one required public hearing on Oct. 18. More amendments could be made before final approval later this month or in November. 

Seniors resource fair

 The city is holding a South Minneapolis Seniors Fair on Oct. 26. The fair will feature the American Association of Retired People, Avinity Senior Living, Minneapolis 311, Assessors Office, Clerk’s Office and Public Works Department, Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Public Schools Community Education, Nokomis Healthy Seniors, Southside Clinic, Trust Inc, Trellis and more. Participants can join workshops and receive free blood pressure tests, COVID-19 tests, vaccinations, boosters, and flu shots. It will go 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.

2022 election 

Early voting for the Nov. 8 general election is underway. You can vote early at the Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services center at 980 E Hennepin Ave. or at the elections service area in the Hennepin County Government Center, Skyway Level, 300 6th St. S. On Election Day, anyone who hasn’t voted early can only vote at their assigned polling place. All polling places are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. If you are going to vote on election day you may have a new polling place because of the redistricting process. Find your polling place at www.pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.  To see your sample ballot visit https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/. 

County tax levy

 After Hennepin County staff recommended a 3.5% property tax levy increase for 2023, the county board is considering adding 1%, or $9 million more. This follows a 0% property tax levy increase for 2022. Commissioner Irene Fernando said that the county needs a larger reserve as the federal funding from pandemic relief is spent. In October, the board supported Fernando’s proposed  4.5% increase proposal by a 5-2 vote, though it must still vote on final approval on Dec. 15. 

Fall street cleaning underway 

During the last weeks of October and into November, the city will clean some 1,100 miles of city streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. To avoid getting ticketed and towed for parking on the street watch for temporary “No Parking” that should be posted at least 24 hours before street is swept. In addition to the “No Parking” signs posted the day before sweepers come through, the city will make about 3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day.  People can use the street sweeping schedule map on the city’s website to see in advance when their street is scheduled to be cleaned. 

Xcel’s proposed rate increase

           The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has set public hearings on Xcel Energy’s request to increase electricity costs for all its Minnesota customers. On average, the proposed rate change would increase the electricity bill for a typical residential electric customer by $18.56 per month. The increase must first be approved by the commission who has set hearings for Friday, Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Doty Board Room; and virtually online at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2.  People can also submit written comments without attending public hearings through January 6, 2023. Please contact Jorge Alonso at 651-201-2258 or Jorge.alonso@state.mn.us or Ben Gustafson at 651- 201-2247 or ben.gustafson@state.mn.us for more information.

New police chief

Mayor Jacob Frey has nominated Brian O’Hara, who is currently the deputy mayor of Newark, New Jersey, to be the next police chief for Minneapolis. A city council  committee is expected to set a public hearing for later this month. The mayor’s nomination requires the approval of the Council.  If it not approved, the mayor would need nominate someone else.