City Briefs - Nov 2024

Green Party Presidential Candidate Dr. Jill Stein spoke in Crystal and at the GPMN HQ at 4200 Cedar Avenue South in Minneapolis on Oct. 18. As someone who has come to the Green Party specifically because of the party’s support for Palestinian human rights,Wissam Balshe believes the Muslim community will be energized by Stein and the Green Party’s message of peace and a demand for an end to the genocide in Gaza. “This attracted me and many Muslim Americans to join the Green Party,” he said. “I believe this growing Green Muslim movement will continue past the election, especially with more Muslims joining the party leadership ranks at the national and local levels.” Dr. Stein is currently on the ballot in 38 states and running write-in campaigns in another eight states, plus DC, representing a total of 510 potential electoral votes, more than enough to secure the presidency. (Photo submitted)

Posted Sunday, November 17, 2024 1:03 pm

Briefs compiled by Cam Gordon

Interstate 94
The Minneapolis City Council has passed a resolution updating priorities for the Rethinking I-94 project. The resolution opposes any expansion of lanes and supports highway removal that could include a “restored network” alternative with fewer lanes, that would “maximize the potential to repurpose highway land for new public housing, affordable commercial space, parks, community gardens, or other uses determined by surrounding communities.”

City budget
The city council has received presentations from every city department about their proposed budget for 2025, and council members are now likely drafting amendments to the mayor’s recommendation. The council held one public hearing on the budget in September, will hold a second on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. and a third on Dec 10 at 6:05 p.m. in the temporary the council chamber located at 250 S 4th St in Room 350. Written comments may be sent to CouncilComment@minneapolismn.gov. The council will vote on budget amendments on Dec. 5 and 6, with the final budget adoption scheduled after the last hearing on Dec. 10.

Hennepin County budget
A schedule of budget hearings and information on how to comment on the county budget can be found at www.hennepin.us/your-government/budget-finance/budgets.

MPD Off-Duty Fees
The city council is drafting an ordinance that, if approved, would give the city the authority to collect off-duty fees for police “off duty work.” They have also initiated a fee study to determine the costs for use of city vehicles, materials, and administrative costs. Current officers are allowed to take private security jobs for which they are paid directly, often in cash, by private entities while insured by the city and using city weapons, cars, and uniforms.

Carbon pollution fee
The city council has overridden Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of the council’s unanimously approved decision to add a new Pollution Control Annual Registration (PCAR) fee for the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the city. PCAR fees are a state authorized program that the city has been applying for years to a variety of air pollutants, but not CO2 (carbon dioxide). The new proposed fee to would charge large facilities $452/ton of CO2e and is set to go into effect after a study is completed in July in 2025.

Right of First Refusal Ordinance
The city council is considering an ordinance that would give “qualified organizations” the right of first refusal to buy some certain properties that are for sale. It would establish a list of that would get priority at purchasing qualifying affordable housing properties at market value if they commit to maintain specified affordability levels and renter protections. The ordinance would not apply to homesteaded properties, 1–4-unit buildings over a certain value, buildings with over five units newer than 30 years or with zero affordable units in the last five years, some subsidized affordable housing, any properties conveyed via estate, foreclosure, trust, or will, nor any single-family home sold to a tenant.

Cannabis regulation
A city council committee has voted to support a new ordinance regulating where, when, and how cannabis sales and consumption may occur in the city. It includes a provision, brought forward by Ward 12 Council Member Aurin Chowdhury, that establishes a 300-foot perimeter between a dispensary and a school or any other dispensary. This is the same as the spacing restriction applied to a liquor store.