City briefs - Jun 2026

Future of Roof Depot site
The East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) and City of Minneapolis have reached an agreement that will allow EPNI to buy the southern half of the property for $6.12 million, thanks to $4 million in state funding secured in early May. EPNI may start using part of the site this summer for raised-bed farming and educational programming.

Southside Safety Ambassadors
Community Safety Ambassadors in the East Lake St and East Franklin Ave cultural districts may now be contacted for non-emergency assistance in the areas they cover. The ambassadors can provide safety escorts, wellness checks in public areas, help filing police and 311 reports, and basic first aid including CPR and NARCAN. The ambassadors generally work five days per week, during daylight hours, and may be requested by calling 612-673-5392 or emailing safetyambassador@minneapolismn.gov. 

City department head nominations
In May, Mayor Jacob Frey nominated Brian O’Hara for another term as the Police Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department and the City Council set a public hearing to consider the nomination for June 3 at the Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee meeting that begins at 1:30 p.m. Frey is also recommending the reappointments of Eric Hanson to be Community Planning & Economic Development Department Director, Timothy Sexton to be Public Works Department Director, Rachel Sayre to be Emergency Management Department Director, and Reginald Freeman to be newly appointed as the Fire Chief. Freeman started his career in Mississippi and has been a fire chief in Oakland, CA, Hartford, CN, and Iraq for the U.S. Department of Defense

Drones as First Responders
In May, the city council reviewed a proposal by the Office of Community Safety to conduct a free 75-day trial period pilot program in the 4th Precinct with a drone manufacturer company, Skydio, to test the use of drones as in response to emergency 911 calls. The council asked for more information and has not approved the program at this time.

Public Safety Training & Wellness Center
On May 21 the city council voted 7- 6 not to acquire the 4.7-acre property in the Windom neighborhood centered around 146 W. 60th St for the construction of the training and wellness facility for police and other public safety city employees.

George Floyd Square
City officials have announced that street reconstruction in the area of 38th and Chicago will begin in early June and that they are recommending the Minnesota Agape Movement as the partner to redevelop the former Speedway People’s Way property that the city purchased in 2023.

Gun control ordinance
The city has approved a city gun control ordinance that requires state law changes in order to be enforced. The ordinance prohibits assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines, ghost guns, and guns in some public spaces. Because state law does not allow cities or counties to pass gun regulations beyond what state law approves, it is unenforceable at this time.

Data centers
Ward 12 Council Member Aurin Chowdhury and Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez formally introduced an ordinance on May 21 that, if passed, would establish a data center moratorium in the city, but would not apply to centers smaller than 350,000 square feet in the downtown area.