City briefs - Jan 2026

Council and county condemn enforcement surge
The Minneapolis City Council and Hennepin County Board both passed resolutions calling for an end to “Operation Metro Surge” on Jan. 15. The council condemned “the egregious disregard of constitutional rights of our community members and the reprehensible, unsanctioned commission of violent acts against the Minneapolis community and the greater community at large.” It also called for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the killing of Renee Nicole Good and for federal agents to leave the metro area “at the soonest available opportunity.” The county also stipulated that “County parking lots, parking ramps, vacant lots, or garages are not authorized for use as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases for civil immigration enforcement.

Eviction moratoria
The City Council unanimously approved a resolution formally calling on Gov. Tim Walz to enact an eviction moratorium. An ordinance amendment that, if approved, would authorize the city government to impose eviction moratoria during states of emergency was given notice of introduction by Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, Ward 6’s Jamal Osman, Ward 9’s Jason Chavez, and Ward 8’s Soren Stevenson. Expect to see it on a council agenda soon.

Encampment veto holds
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of the humane encampment ordinance, that the City Council passed in late 2025 by an 8-5 majority, was considered by the council on Jan. 15 but did not receive the 9 required votes to override it. Council members voting to sustain the veto were Ward 4 Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw, Ward 5’s Pearll Warren, Ward 7’s Elizabeth Shaffer, Ward 11’s Whiting, Ward 3’s Michael Rainville, and Ward 13’s Palmisano.

City employee pay raises
Various “non-represented,” or employees who are not part of a formal labor organization, will see salary increases next year. The council approved this month a 4% increase to the salaries and wages for the 336 mostly middle-management and administrative employees. They also approved a 2.5% raise for the 42 employees classified as politically appointed. This includes the policy aides hired by and working in the offices of all 14 elected officials.

County’s 2027 budget
The Hennepin County Board kicked off its 2027 budget process on Jan. 13, months earlier than is common practice. This is due to what County Commissioner Angela Conley called, “unprecedented forces at work that will have huge impacts on the county budget,” including the drop in commercial property values, inflation, and a potential lack of support from the federal government.

Park board leadership
The new Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board met on Jan 2. and elected Tom Olsen as president, Kedar Deshpande as vice president and reappointed deputy superintendent Jennifer Ringold as board secretary and Brian Rice’s law firm of Rice, Walther & Mosley as board attorney. All votes were unanimous except for one no vote, from District 5 Kay Carvajal Moran opposing Rice’s reappointment. District 4 Commissioner Jason Garcia was elected to be the Park Board representative on the city’s Planning Commission and Olsen to serve on the Board of Estimate and Taxation.

Mall Park Resolution
The Park & Rec Board is expected to soon consider a resolution that could lead to reconsideration of plans for the Mall Park area near Lake of the Isles, Hennepin Avenue and the Midtown Greenway. This is expected to include possible removal of some roadway and parking for green space.

Public School Finances Staff Changes
Three senior finance staff from the Minneapolis Public Schools, Ibrahima Diop, Tariro Chapinduka and Aaron Gilbert, have been placed on administrative leave.

Kenilworth Trail
The Kenilworth Trail has reopened for public use. Trail users can now access all trail segments that have been closed as a result of LRT construction. One small section is open in a temporary condition as work progresses on a tunnel systems house near the intersection of the Kenilworth Trail and the Midtown Greenway.