City Briefs

Hiawatha Golf Course
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board host an Open House on Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Lake Nokomis Community Center to share a final design of the new Hiawatha Links golf course project. Features of the three concept designs published last year have been incorporated into the new design that includes a nine-hole golf course, community building, walking paths and wetlands.

2027 City budget
Mayor Jacob Frey presented his recommended City budget for next year and proposed increasing it by roughly 13%, or $270 million, to $2.3 billion in 2027 with a property tax levy increase of 11.3%. The 2026 increase was 7.8%. The General Fund, that relies on property taxes, would increase from $700 to $753 million. The Board of Estimate and Taxation is scheduled to approve a maximum levy on Sept. 28 following a public hearing set for Sept. 9. A final city budget and property tax levy will likely be approved in December, following a council review of each department’s recommended budget in September and October and consideration of council member amendments that is expected to begin on Dec. 10.

Alternative City revenue sources
In July, the Board of Estimates and Taxation passed a resolution recommending that the City Council and mayor pursue greater statutory authority to levy additional taxes and raise other alternative revenues. It also called on them to consider establishing a “Payment In Lieu of Taxes program” so that non-profits, hospitals, colleges, religious institutions, and other tax-exempt properties could contribute to the budget.

Minneapolis 2050
The City has started to work on its next comprehensive plan to be completed for the Metropolitan Council’s approval every 10 years to help guide growth and development in the city and region. In August, City planning staff met with the Planning Commission to discuss their priorities. The plan is due to the Met Council at the end of 2028 and will go into effect at the beginning of 2030. Later this year, the City Council is expected to approve a vision statement and goals for the plan.

Data Center regulations
City staff have drafted a set of regulations for the size and location of data centers in the city. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Oct. 13.

Safe Parking Ordinance
Ward 12 Council Member Aurin Chowdhury and Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez held a meeting in August outlining their plans for a new ordinance that would permit safe outdoor parking areas in the city where people could stay in their passenger cars overnight. They would be allowed on surface parking lots that are at least 10,000 square feet, and require an interim use permit, a business license, staffing during operating hours, daily clearing, security plans, and proper hygiene facilities. Recreational vehicles and tents would not be allowed.

Expanding organized waste collection
Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley is proposing that the city create regulations to organize commercial waste collection. Waste collection is already organized by the city for all 1–4-unit housing properties but larger residential buildings and businesses, that generate roughly 53% of the waste currently being burned in downtown, are not. Under a system recommended in a study done for the city by Burns & McDonnell, franchised haulers would meet city service requirements and pay franchise fees. This could support efforts to track and reduce waste. Such a change is regulated by state law and requires notifications, a public hearing and establishment of a council appointed committee.

Behavioral Crisis Response Services
The mayor and council have authorized an increase of $2,230,685 to the contract with Canopy Roots, LLC, for behavior crisis response service through the remainder of the year. Canopy Roots has been providing this 911 emergency response since December 2021. It started with limited hours but has been providing 24-hour service every day since July 2023.

Public Housing Accountability Ordinance
Ward 5 Council Member Pearll Warren is moving forward with plans to amend the city’s Public Housing Authority ordinance to strengthen accountability of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.