City briefs - Feb 2026

Council, county condemn enforcement surge
In January, the Minneapolis City Council and Hennepin Cunty Board both passed resolutions calling for an end to “Operation Metro Surge.” The council condemned “the egregious disregard of constitutional rights of our community members and the reprehensible, unsanctioned commission of violent acts,” by Operation Metro Surge and called for an investigation into the killing of Renee Nicole Good conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 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 calling on Governor Tim Walz to use his authority enact an eviction moratorium. Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, Ward 6’s Jamal Osman, Ward 9’s Jason Chavez, and Ward 8’s Soren Stevenson have also given notice of their intention to introduce an ordinance amendment that, if approved, would authorize the city to impose eviction moratoria during states of emergency.

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 and did not receive the nine required votes to override it. Council members voting to sustain the veto were Vetaw, Warren, Shaffer, Whiting, Rainville, and Palmisano.

Public school finances staff change
Three senior finance staff from the Minneapolis Public Schools, Ibrahima Diop, Tariro Chapinduka and Aaron Gilbert, were placed on administrative leave in January.

City employee pay raises
Various “non-represented,” or management and administrative employees who are not part of a formal labor organization, will see salary increases next year. In January the city council approved a 4% increase to the salaries and wages for all 336 employees classified as non-represented. They also approved a 2.5% raise for the 42 employees classified as politically appointed, which includes the policy aids hired by and working in the offices of the mayor and council members. Elected officials’ salaries were set last term and this action did not include department heads who include the highest paid city employees.