City Briefs - July 2024

City staff reported on a first round of engagement about the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center at 2633 Minnehaha Ave that is expected to include police department staff dedicated to serve the southside’s 3rd precinct area once it opens in 2025. Staff identified the five most supported social services to be those focused on mental health, homeless resources, drug addiction services, youth, and affordable housing. The five most supported other building uses included legal help, community meals, community meeting space, medical services, and childcare for people using services at the center.  To learn more see www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/community-safety-centers/.  

Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley is hosting a meeting on July 11 at 6 p.m. at Matthews Park to discuss the proposed 3rd Precinct/South Minneapolis Community Safety Center that will be opening next year at 2633 Minnehaha Ave in Seward.  

 

The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis voted ratify a new proposed contract with Minneapolis that  is expected to be voted on by the City Council in July following a public hearing set for June 25 starting at 5 p.m. The contract includes a 21.7% pay increase over the three years. If approved, the contract would be retroactively applied to Jan 1, 2023, and expire on Dec 31, 2025.

 

On June 11, the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education approved a capital funding plan and an operating budget that addressed a $110 million dollar loss in revenue by cutting $47 million through reductions in staff and some programs and using $55 million from the district's fund reserves. They will increase the class size by three students in those schools where fewer than 70% of the students are on free or reduced meals, but did not cut a popular 5th grade band program and three assistant principals as first proposed.  

 

The Minneapolis School Board has approved a resolution, authored by board member Adriana Cerrillo, that will establish an Anishinabe Academy Facility Advisory Committee to make recommendation next November of potential sites for the Academy move to so that it will have its own building for the 2025-2026 school year. For the past 14 years, the Academy has shared a building with the Anne Sullivan STEAM School at 3100 E 28th St. 

 

The Minneapolis Public School District announced plans to shorten the school year next year.  The last day of school in spring of 2025 will be June instead of June. In response some schools will likely extend their school day to meet state requirements about time in school.

 

Minneapolis elected officials are beginning their budget process with an estimated $21 million shortfall in predicted revenue due largely to decreasing property taxes from downtown. Mayor Jacob Frey will present his 2025 proposed budget in August with final budget approval set for December. The council also shared priorities of individual council members. Southside council member priorities follow. 

• Wonsley, Ward 2: Emergency Housing, City Policy Traffic Calming, Sidewalk Plowing, Dinky After Dark; 

• Osman, Ward 6: Graffiti Removal, Indigenous Wealth Building Center Project, Homelessness Prevention, Opioid Response;

• Jenkins, Ward 8: 38th Street Thrive, George Floyd Square, and Pillsbury Creative Commons;  

• Chavez, Ward 9: AVIVO Village, Tamales y Bicicletas, Latino Center for Community Engagement;

• Koski, Ward 11: Maintain or Lower Levy, Police Hiring & Retention, Auto Theft Prevention, Traffic Calming, Small Business Labor Standards project, Fire Station Alerting Systems; 

• Chowdhary, Ward 12: Transit Safety Coordinators, Neighborhood Associations, Zero Waste Initiatives, Small Business Support During Road Work, Public Health Needs Related to Homelessness, Traffic Calming.  

 

On June 12, Minneapolis police officers shot and killed Michael Warren Ristow near Hiawatha and 34th St. According to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, “Officers responded after a 911 caller reported being threatened by a man with a gun. When they arrived, they saw the man, later identified as Ristow .... He ran away and the officers chased after him while telling him he was under arrest. Ristow came up to a fence line and turned toward the officers with a gun in his hand. All three officers fired, striking Ristow.” He died of multiple gunshot wounds. None of the officers were injured.