City council proud of 'historic budget mark-up with unified support for transformative investments in 2024'

The Minneapolis City Council has concluded their deliberations on the 2024 Budget Markup and finalized an omnibus budget to be formally approved next week. Council met as the Budget Committee on November 30 and December 1 to consider forty-seven amendments to the Mayor’s Proposed 2024 Budget, a $1.8 billion budget proposal.

Council approved all forty-seven amendments, totaling almost $30 million. Forty-one amendments passed with unanimous votes and six passed with near unanimous support.

The Budget Chair, Council Member Koski, led the Council in exercising their full budgetary authority during the process, including several amendments strengthening the budgeting process to increase Council ability to advocate for resident priorities in future budgets. 

Notable amendments include:

Community Safety & Police Reform:

• Creating a Community Safety Center for Third Precinct Residents to file police reports, get information, and connect with our public safety system. 
• Increasing domestic violence navigators and resources for survivors. 

Public Works and Infrastructure:

• Enhancing funding for an additional 40 traffic calming projects to be completed in 2024. 
• Establishing funds to repair the Witch’s Hat to be safely reopened.

Neighborhood & Community Relations:

• Amplifying funds to optimize services and resources to our immigrant, refugee, and senior community members. 
• Establishing funding to continue the Open Streets event series. 

Climate Action & Public Health:

• Ensuring culturally specific opioids recovery and harm reduction services to be implemented. 
• Supporting community health and wellbeing in high-need areas throughout the city. 

Good Governance:

• Advancing funding for a new Legislative Department with a dedicated nonpartisan team to better serve residents through enhanced community outreach and engagement programs, communications, and constituent services.
• Improving the city's financial policies to strengthen government oversight and transparency. 

Affordable Housing & Homelessness:

• Expanding renter relocation assistance funds to better safeguard our most vulnerable community members from displacement 
• Creating funds for a multitude of social services to be coordinated for people experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, food insecurity, and deep poverty to help meet basic needs in a safe and welcoming environment.

Economic Inclusion & Recovery: 

• Building up the Developers Technical Assistance Program (DTAP) to make certain that more resources can be made available to small and emerging real estate developers. 
• Ensuring fair raises for some of the lowest-paid city workers who support basic civic services. 
• Increasing labor standards co-enforcement programs to protect workers’ rights. 

Amendments also included several new pilot programs to collect data on the parameters of future permanent programs, including:

• Safety ambassadors for the seven cultural districts (38th Street South, Cedar Avenue South, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East, West Broadway, Lowry Avenue North, Uptown, Dinkytown, Mill District, and East Hennepin) - staff in key commercial corridors who increase safety through visibility and connect residents to social services and resources. 
• Sidewalk snow and ice removal- City-led clearing of key segments of Pedestrian Priority sidewalks and transit stops; increased enforcement to property owners with repeated violations; and sidewalk clearing services for seniors and elders.  
• Public safety pilots for the proposed Third Precinct/Community Safety Center- $4 million to pilot new unarmed public safety programs rooted in diversion, restorative, and prevention services, at 2633 Minnehaha Ave. 

Budget Chair Emily Koski said: “I am proud to have led the Budget Committee through what has been a historic budget process characterized by communication, collaboration, and consensus. As a result, we have an amended 2024 City Budget that reflects and invests in our shared priorities. I am unbelievably grateful to have taken the lead in creating and funding a Domestic Violence Navigators Program through the City Budget, this is a huge step forward in tackling domestic violence and lifting up survivors in the City of Minneapolis.”

Council Member Elliott Payne said: “I’m proud that the City Council stood up in a strong unified voice to make urgently needed investments in keeping Minneapolis residents safe. I’m particularly grateful for the unanimous vote of support on our $3 million investment in getting safety ambassadors on cultural districts and other crucial corridors”

Council Member Robin Wonsley said: “This budget cycle, Council Members worked together collaboratively to bring forward working class priorities. We worked hand-in-hand with our residents to bring forward massive investments into public safety initiatives that go beyond policing, worker’s and renters’ rights, and pilot programs to fill gaps in city services. Residents told us clearly what they needed and Council rose to the challenge, using our full budgetary authority to do so.”

Council Member Jeremiah Ellison said: “This year, we saw a record number of budget amendments made that reflect the critical needs and priorities that our residents deserve. These investments were made possible by the inclusive and thoughtful dedication of our resident advocates, partner organizations, and my council colleagues and their staff who understand firsthand the impact this budget can make on our most vulnerable residents. I am grateful for the level of care that was put in to ensure that we make significant strides in community safety and police reform, climate action, and affordable housing. I am honored to serve North Minneapolis and look forward to continuing building the thriving and vibrant community that Northsiders deserve.” 

Council Member Jason Chavez said: “As always, I’m proud and humbled to represent Ward 9 and I am thankful for my colleagues' collaboration and support to see these historic investments in the George Floyd Square area, the East Lake Street corridor and Hi-Lake, and our Midtown and East Phillips communities. I am thankful for these needed investments in our small business corridors and our communities for a safe and vibrant Minneapolis for all. I am thankful for the collaboration of so many of our residents, community organizations, and my colleagues who helped shape these amendments to make needed investments in our community for all who live, work, or play in Ward 9.”

Council Member Aisha Chughtai said: "All budgets are moral documents, demonstrating which stated values are prioritized with resources. Minneapolis residents deserve dignified and affordable housing, meaningful and urgent public safety measures, thriving commercial corridors and innovative solutions to make sure our city is resilient to climate change. I'm proud of the work we've done with this budget to deliver for our residents.”

Council Member Aurin Chowdhury said: "I was sworn in on November 21 and co-authored 12 amendments. I made a commitment to Ward 12 residents to deliver for them on day one. I am grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to work with the community and my colleagues to make significant investments in effective public safety initiatives such as improving transit safety, increasing funding for traffic calming across the City, and supporting our neighborhood associations. This budget aims to move us towards a safer and thriving Minneapolis for all residents.”