City brief - Dec 2025

City budget
Over the next few weeks city council members will be considering amendments to the mayor's proposed 2026 budget. Draft amendments are due Nov. 26 to be submitted to the budget chair and then, on Dec. 2, they will be released to the public. There will be one more public hearing on the budget starting at 6:05 p.m. on Dec. 9 after which the 2026 budget is scheduled to be adopted.

City Planning Commission appointments
The city has set a public hearing for Dec. 2 to consider the appointment of new planning commission members, including Southside residents David Sheppard from Ward 12 and Kellie Jones from Ward 6.

Hiawatha Commons Rehab
The city has approved spending money to support construction and rehabilitation of housing through its Affordable Housing Trust Fund Program (AHTF). This year $18 million is available. The city has approved using $14.4 million on several projects including $1,680,000 to rehabilitate the 20-year-old Hiawatha Commons 80-unit apartment building located at 2740 Minnehaha Ave.

Tenant opportunity to purchase
The council has set a public hearing for Dec. 2 to consider an ordinance amendment that would create a new Tenant Protections chapter in the city’s code of ordinances and establish a right of first refusal and opportunity to purchase for tenants, tenant associations and qualified developers when certain types of rental housing are offered for sale.

Traffic safety cameras
On Nov. 7, the city began issuing citations to drivers found to going 10 or more miles per hour over the speed limit at the five camera locations in the city. In October, the city reported that speeding was down at all locations.

DS Council Caucus
On Nov. 13, Ward 2 City Council Member Robin Wonsley announced her intention to bring forward a proposal to formally establish a Democratic Socialist Caucus within the city council as well as her intention to lead it. “This caucus will represent the city-wide movement we’ve built together over the past several years,” she said, “ensuring that residents who believe in justice, equity, and collective care see their values reflected in city hall.”

Gas and electric franchise fees
The city council will consider increasing the percentage rates of the franchise fees for both gas and electric utilities on Dec. 4. Under the proposal gas fees will increase by 1% and electric fees will increase by .25% for residential uses and between .25 to .5% for commercial and industrial user. 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 Climate Legacy Initiative.

Campaigns already starting for 2026
So far, four candidates are running for Hennepin County Attorney to replace Mary Moriarty who is not seeking reelection. They are Cedric Frazier, Hao Nguyen, Anders Folk, and Matt Pelikan.

Koski’s final Ward 11 Community Meeting
Ward 11 Council Member Emily Koski will be joined by Council Member-elect Jamison Whiting at her final Ward 11 meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Pearl Park.