City Briefs - Jan 2025

Council Approves Budget
Despite a veto from Mayor Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis City Council approved a budget for next year after lowering expenses, revenues and the mayor’s proposed property tax levy by 1.5%, or $12,708,577 and approving over 70 amendments.

2025 city election
There will be mayoral, city council and park board elections next year. Emily Koski, DeWayne Davis, Omar Fateh, Brenda Short and Jacob Frey have all announced that they are running for mayor in 2025. With Koski’s decision, Ward 11 is now an open seat, with one candidate, Jamison Whiting, running so far. The executive director of the Stevens Square-Loring Heights Community Organization, Lydia Millard, has announced her candidacy for Ward 10 council member. She will likely be challenging council member Aisha Chughtai, who was elected in 2021 and reelected in 2023. Becky Thompson, park commissioner from the northside’s district 2, has announced she will be running for city council for ward 12, where Aurin Chowdhury will be running for reelection. Soren Stevenson announced he is running for city council in ward 8 again for the seat that is currently held by Andrea Jenkins.

Facade improvements
The city has authorized agreements for Great Streets Facade Improvement Grants for next year, totaling $380,000, including to southside organizations as follows: $50,000 to the Lake Street Council, $20,000 to the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association, and $20,000 to the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association. The Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program provides grants to businesses and property owners for building improvements and, according to city staff, has stimulated over $11.9 million of investment in business facade improvements since its inception in 2008, including $3,477,044 in matching grants that helped leverage $8,477,203 in private investment.

Cooper Playground
On Dec. 13 the Minneapolis Public Schools’ operations office, Tom Parent, announced that the school district was awarded a $100,000 grant from Hennepin County to improve the Cooper playground which “will remain under MPS ownership and care.” They plan to work with the Longfellow Community Council to a develop a plan and make the playground improvements in 2025.

Affordable housing funded
The city council has approved $2,255,000 funding for Cheatham Apartments (3716 Cheatham Ave.) for new construction of 98 units of mixed income housing with a significant number of large family units.

City legislative agenda
The city council has approved a 2025 Legislative Agenda. It prioritizes state funding requests for the Nicollet Ave. Bridge over Minnehaha Creek ($2 million), renewal of a 36-inch water main, ($12.36 million), three flood mitigation projects and $5.7 million toward the community purchase of the Roof Depot site for use as a community-envisioned urban farm. It also calls for funding for programs that support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and local artists; affordable housing and homelessness prevention; and for zero-waste initiatives that will help prepare for the closure of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center.

County jail space
The Hennepin County Board has approved spending $5.4 million over the next six months to reduce its jail population to 600 of fewer inmates. The money will go to seven other counties to meet a state order to reduce the population at its Minneapolis jail.

County advisory boards
Hennepin County acceptedapplications until Dec. 31 from residents interested in volunteering to serve on advisory boards, commissions, councils and special task forces. This includes their Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council, Library Board, Racial Equity Advisory Council, Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and more. People can apply at hennepin.us/advisoryboards.

Food Waste Survey
The county is requesting input on a new food waste prevention plan that it is developing. They are seeking people to share ideas and provide feedback on proposed strategies to prevent wasted food and make progress toward zero-waste and climate-action goals. Find the survey at www.jotform.com/mplshdrpi/Hennepin-County-Wasted-Food