City briefs - Nov 2025

Voting
Early voting for the Nov. 4 city election is underway. The Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. is open for voting in person Saturday and Sunday, Nov 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Safe outdoor parking for the unhoused
In October, the planning commission reviewed recommendations that would “support unhoused residents in Minneapolis by enabling safe, temporary, and regulated outdoor environments through strategic zoning code changes.” The review was focused on the first of a two-stage process that uses strategies outline in the city’s comprehensive plan and initiatives from other cities including Duluth and Denver. The recommendation would allow overnight parking for unhoused individuals in designated, managed lots that have on-site staff during operating hours and are cleared daily. The second phase could include other types of “Temporary Managed Communities” in safe outdoor spaces including temporary tiny home villages, tents, and longer-term parking sites.

ApartmentS at former Snelling Yards
Lupe Development and Wall Cos. have started construction on the Snelling Yards apartment building project in the Hiawatha neighborhood at 46th and Snelling. The four-story, 95-unit building will be built on the site of a former city facility and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. Many of the units are considered affordable, including 12 units designated for Section 8 vouchers from the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, and 13 units set aside for homeless veterans with Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing rental subsidies. The total development cost for the project is estimated at $33 million with roughly 25% of the funding coming from public sources including over $2 million from the city’s affordable housing trust fund.
High-risk rental licenses
The city council has approved amendments to the city’s rental license ordinance that will now require highest risk (currently called tier 3) rental properties to have their rental renewal application come before the council for approval as is currently required for certain high-risk liquor and gambling licenses.

City contract disclosure
On Oct. 23, the city council approved a professional services contracts ordinance, requiring requires regular disclosures of all contracts under $175,000. Previously, contracts under $175,000 could be entered into by the mayor or city administrators without the council being informed.

High-impact safety response review
The city council has formally requested the city auditor to develop an independent review of how the city operates in situations involving imminent harm and crisis responses to high-impact public safety cases, such as those leading up to the murder of Mariah Samuels, who was killed by her abuser after repeated requests for help, as well as the murder of Alison Lussier and shooting of David Moturi under similar circumstances.

Met Council Draft budget
The Metropolitan Council has adopted a proposed 2026 operating budget of $1.79 billion for review. The budget funds wastewater treatment; transportation services, regional parks and trails, rental housing assistance; and assistance to the 181 cities, towns, and seven counties in the region. The proposed regional property tax levy is $98 million, about 2% above the 2025 levy. That is estimated to be $48 in property taxes for a $300,000 home. More than half of the Met Council’s 2026 funding comes from state and federal sources, 24% from transit fares and wastewater fees, 6% from property taxes, and 10% from reserves. Nearly 66% of Met Council spending is on transportation.