City briefs - Dec 2025

South Lyndale Corridor
The Minneapolis City Council voted to explore ownership of State highway property along Highway 121 and South Lyndale Avenue in Ward 11 for development. The council plans to review the 2006 South Lyndale Corridor Master Plan to potentially transfer state-owned land to facilitate the redevelopment that would be consistent with past planning efforts and the Minneapolis 2040 Plan.

Great Streets funding
The Minneapolis City Council has approved facade improvement grant funding of $50,000 for the Lake Street Council, $23,000 for the Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association, $50,000 for the Southwest Business Association, $40,000 for the Uptown Association, and $50,000 for the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization. This provides matching grants to help businesses pay for repairs and updates to storefronts.

35th and 36th Streets reconstruction
The Minneapolis City Council approved the layout for the reconstruction of 35th and 36th Streets, between Blaisdell and 3rd avenues in the Central, Kingfield, and Lyndale neighborhoods. It includes two travel lanes on 35th Street, two travel lanes on 36th Street, reduced on-street parking, more boulevard space for trees and stormwater infrastructure, an “all ages and abilities bikeway,” and wider sidewalks.

Immigration enforcement restrictions
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved added provisions to the city’s ordinances that strengthen restrictions on city employees and property being used to support federal immigration law enforcement activity in the city. This includes prohibiting city employees from setting up perimeters or controlling public areas for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws and federal use of public property for such purposes.

Humane encampment response
The Minneapolis City Council approved a new ordinance that requires a public health response within 10 days of an encampment forming that includes access to sanitary toilets, menstrual hygiene products, handwashing stations, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, naloxone, solid waste collection, safe needle disposal supplies, weather-safe storage, and information on severe weather relief sites. It also requires pre-closure notice and safe storage of personal property when a closure occurs.

Gas and electric franchise fees
The Minneapolis City Council has approved increasing fees for both gas and electric utilities. Fees will increase by 1% for gas and 0.25% for electricity for residents and between .25 to .5% for commercial and industrial customers. City staff estimate that the average residential household impact would be roughly $10 per year and that the changes would generate about $5 million in additional annual revenue to support the City’s Climate Legacy Initiative.

Hennepin County Waste contract
The Minneapolis City Council has approved a one-year contract with Hennepin County for solid waste processing and disposal from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026 at a rate of $85 per ton.

Housing Advisory Committee
The city council appointed Bruce Brunner as the Ward 10 representative to the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing through June 30, 2026. Brunner lives in Ward 10 and owns nine rental properties primarily in Uptown. The committee advises the city council and mayor on housing policy and development, rental licensing, and other housing issues.

Hennepin County budget UP 7.79%
The Hennepin County Board approved a $3.1 billion budget on Dec. 11 for 2026 with a total property tax levy of $1.13 billion, an increase of 7.79% from 2025. County staff reported that $2.78 billion will go to cover general operating costs and $374 million will go to capital improvements including the Metro Transit Blue Line Light Rail Extension project. From the overall budget, 15% will go to Corrections, the Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office, 21.2% will go to health services including the Hennepin Health insurance program, and 26.8% will go to Human Services.

New Met Council chair
Gov. Tim Walz appointed Southwest resident Robin Hutcheson to serve as the new chair of the Met Council effective Dec. 1, for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2027. She led the Minneapolis Public Works Department from August 2016 to January 2021.

Hennepin County Advisors needed
The Hennepin County Board is recruiting volunteers for positions on several advisory groups through its annual open appointment process.  This includes the Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council, the Capital Budgeting Task Force, the Library Board, the Race Equity Advisory Council, and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board. You can learn more and apply through Dec. 31 at hennepin.us/advisoryboards.