City briefs - Aug 1015

Pay raises for MPD leadership
The city council has approved the terms for collective bargaining agreements for two police department staff groups: the inspectors and commanders organized under the Minnesota Public Employees Association, and the assistant and deputy chiefs organized as the Minneapolis Association of Police Deputy Chiefs-MPD Assistant and Deputy Chiefs. Both agreements cover Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2026, and include pay increases of 4.5% for 2024 and 4% for 2025 and 2026.

City candidate filing
The candidate filing period for candidates to secure a line on the ballot was ended on Aug. 12 for the 2025 city election. All candidates who will appear on the ballot have filed. The positions on the ballot this year include mayor, city council members for all Wards 1-13, the two positions on the Board of Estimate & Taxation Member, three Park Board commissioner at-large positions and Park Board commissioners for Districts 1-6. Early voting is scheduled to begin on Friday, Sept. 19 with election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Safe and Thriving Communities Work Group
The city council has approved the first set of appointments to its new of Safe and Thriving Communities Work Group that is intended to advise the mayor and council on the creation of the new southside community safety center, as well as the implementation of the comprehensive community safety system. The appointees include Michele Braley, former director of Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice, as well as Jane Lansing, chair of the Reimagining Public Safety Committee of the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis.

Behavioral Crisis Response contract
On Aug.7, the city council unanimously approved the Fire Department’s request for a 12-month extension of the city contract with Canopy Roots LLC to carry out the city’s Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) program. This sets a new expiration date of Aug. 15, 2026, and increases the contract by $6,845,000 to a total of $26,095,000. BCR is a 911 response by mental health practitioners, that is offered 24 hours a day anywhere in the city. It provides crisis intervention, counseling, referrals and connection to support services.

Neighborhood Safety Providers
The city council has approved a group of safety service providers who may be contracted with over the next three years. The city may pay up to $2,400,000 for services including hospital-based violence intervention, support for youths and families, street engagement, community justice partnership and environmental design and safety enhancements. The approved providers are the Center for Multicultural Mediation, HIRED, Metro Youth Diversion Center, Change Starts with Community, Somali Youth Link, Goodwill Industries, Pillsbury United Communities and the Sabathani Community Center.

Separation ordinance
Council Members Chavez, Chughtai and Chowdhury are drafting amendments to Chapter 19 of the city’s code of ordinances, “Employee Authority in Immigration Matters” also known as the separation ordinance. That chapter clarifies the relationship between the city and federal agencies with respect to the enforcement of civil immigration laws and currently restricts all city employees from asking anyone about citizenship or immigration status or using any knowledge of someone’s status to enforce immigration laws.

September Open Streets
There will be an open streets event on Sept. 6, on West Broadway, between Logan and Lyndale Avenues operated by the city in partnership with the West Broadway Business & Area Coalition and on Sept. 20, on Hennepin Ave., between W. 26th and 36th Streets in partnership with the Uptown Association. During the event the street is closed to motor vehicles and people are allowed to walk, bike, and roll in the street and participate in a variety of programs and free activities coordinated by the partnering groups.