Ward 10 News
Dear Neighbors,
Happy Monday! I’m excited to continue serving Ward 10 residents as a second-term Councilmember! Ward 10’s boundaries have changed a little bit – the East Harriet neighborhood from 36th to 42nd is now represented by Ward 13, and we welcomed a portion of the East Isles neighborhood from Lagoon Avenue to West Lake Street into Ward 10. I’m honored that my colleagues elected me as the new Council Vice President at our January 8 Organizational Meeting. I’ll also be serving as Chair of the Budget Committee. The ‘power of the purse’ is one of the most significant powers of the City Council. I look forward integrating participatory budgeting into the Minneapolis budget process and doing more to exercise the Council’s budgetary authority to meet residents’ needs.
Since I’m serving as Council Vice President this term, our office is hiring an additional policy aide to help ensure our office carries out the leadership responsibilities on the Council, along with communications, policy, and constituent services work. The job posting has more details. Take a look or share it with anyone you think may be interested! The deadline to apply is 11:59pm on February 5, 2024.
As always, my office is here to help you with your questions and issues. The best way to get in touch with us is via email at Ward10@minneapolismn.gov. We will work diligently to follow up with you, find the information you need, and ensure Ward 10 residents are served.
I’m looking forward to all we can accomplish this year for Ward 10 residents and the people of Minneapolis!
Below you’ll find some updates from our first few weeks of the new year and new Council term.
In solidarity,
Aisha Chughtai, Ward 10 Councilmember & Council Vice President
Paul Shanafelt, Ward 10 Policy Aide
Brad Sigal, Ward 10 Policy Associate
City Council Sets Officers, Committees for New Term
The Minneapolis City Council set its leadership and committee membership on January 8 for the 2024-2025 Council term. Council Member Elliott Payne was elected as the new Council President, and I was elected as the new Council Vice President.
The 2024-2025 Committees include:
Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee, led by Chair Robin Wonsley and Vice Chair Linea Palmisano. Councilmembers LaTrisha Vetaw, Jeremiah Ellison, Katie Cashman, and I will serve as members of the AEO Committee.
The AEO Committee exercises oversight and evaluation on all matters related to general government, enterprise, and Administration operations not assigned to other standing committees. The AEO Committee receives regular reports and presentations about the City’s Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan (SREAP) and evaluates the Mayor’s Office and Administration on efforts to recruit and retain employees, eliminate corruption and unnecessary waste of taxpayer resources, and foster a healthy ethical culture in the enterprise.
Budget Committee, led by me as Chair and Vice Chair Emily Koski. All Councilmembers serve on the Budget Committee.
The Budget Committee exercises oversight, evaluation, and coordination with respect to the Council’s power of the purse, which includes reviewing and refining priorities outlined by the Mayor in the annual State of the City Address, reviewing and refining annual budget proposals and recommendations, conducting budget hearings, and performing markup functions, and ensuring the financial wellbeing of the City, including a balanced budget and healthy bond and credit ratings, as well as approval of all City financial policies.
Business, Housing & Zoning Committee, led by Chair Jamal Osman and Vice Chair Jeremiah Ellison. Councilmembers Michael Rainville, Katie Cashman, Andrea Jenkins, and Aurin Chowdhury will serve as members of the Business, Housing & Zoning Committee.
The Business, Housing & Zoning Committee exercises oversight and evaluation on all matters related to community and economic development and related matters; housing and housing policy; land-use and zoning policy and all related administrative and quasi-judicial functions; and employment and training programs.
Climate & Infrastructure Committee, led by Chair Katie Cashman and Vice Chair Emily Koski. Councilmembers LaTrisha Vetaw, Jamal Osman, Jason Chavez, and Aurin Chowdhury will serve as members of the Climate & Infrastructure Committee.
The Climate & Infrastructure Committee exercises oversight and evaluation on all matters related to community infrastructure and the shared infrastructure grid, and policies and programming related to the built environment, including but not limited to: climate resilience and sustainability initiatives and programming; transportation; public works; improvements; traffic and traffic-management issues; broadband capacity and information technology as a component of the community grid; utilities; special service districts and assessments; bicycle and pedestrian programming; recycling, solid waste, and zero-waste measures; severe weather mitigation and response; and appeals relating to block events and encroachment permits.
Committee of the Whole, led by Chair Jason Chavez and Vice Chair Aurin Chowdhury. All Councilmembers serve on the Committee of the Whole.
The Committee of the Whole exercises oversight and evaluation on all matters related to strategic goals and enterprise-wide initiatives; receives reports, studies, and presentations not otherwise included in the jurisdiction of a different standing committee as well as reports that are enterprise-wide in nature; and considers actions related to the appointment of the Mayor’s Cabinet.
Public Health & Safety Committee, led by Chair Jason Chavez and Vice Chair Robin Wonsley. Councilmembers Elliott Payne, Michael Rainville, Jeremiah Ellison, and Linea Palmisano will serve on the Public Health & Safety Committee.
The Public Health & Safety Committee exercises oversight and evaluation on all matters related to public health and social service programs and initiatives, including civil rights, labor and workers’ rights, environmental justice, opioid epidemic response, and all policies and service delivery related to community safety services including but not limited to emergency management and response, fire and emergency medical services, police and safety-beyond-policing initiatives and programming, and related matters.
Intergovernmental Relations Committee, led by Chair Aurin Chowdhury and Vice Chair Michael Rainville. All Councilmembers serve on the Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
The Intergovernmental Relations Committee exercises primary oversight, evaluation, coordination, and direction with respect to the City’s federal and state legislative platforms, policy proposals, and related issues. The IGR Committee acts as the primary lobbying authority to advance the Council’s legislative and policy interests with any and all governmental agencies.
City Hall Under Renovations, City Council Chamber Meetings Move Across the Street
The City Council Chamber is closed through the year for City Hall renovations. Until this construction is completed, regular Council meetings will take place in the Minneapolis Public Service Center, 250 Fourth Street South. Meetings will still be livestreamed on the City’s YouTube channel. For the most up-to-date information on meeting locations, go to the City’s Legislation Information Management System.
Notices of Introduction for Several New Policy Proposals
At the January 25 City Council meeting, Councilmembers gave Notice of Introduction for several potential new policies. I’m a co-author on four of them: Labor Standards Board, Safe Outdoor Space, Humane Encampment Response, and Encampment Removal Reporting. These aim to address crucial issues facing working people and to address unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis.
A Notice of Introduction is the beginning of the legislative process, giving the City Council and the public notice that we intend to begin the process of drafting ordinance language. In the coming weeks, these proposals will be referred to relevant committees, where they will be reviewed in detail. A public hearing will be conducted on each proposal, after which further review and refinement can happen before the Council takes a final vote. We will share updates as the policy proposals are fleshed out and move through the process.
Ceasefire Resolution Passed
At our January 25 meeting, a supermajority of the City Council approved a Ceasefire Resolution. I authored the resolution alongside Council President Payne and Councilmembers Chowdhury, Chavez, Ellison, Wonsley, and Jenkins. Here you can watch the Council’s discussion of the resolution at the January 25 meeting; you can also watch the discussion on proposed amendments at the Committee of the Whole at our January 23 meeting.
Minneapolis joins more than 60 cities around the country in passing resolutions to express their residents’ support for a ceasefire to our federal representatives. The Minneapolis City Council has passed resolutions about other international issues in recent years, including one against war and for de-escalation with Iran in 2020 and one for humanitarian aid in Ukraine in 2022.
This resolution has received a lot of attention, leaving some with the impression that this is all the City Council has been working on. But as evidenced by the notices of introduction listed above and by the dozens of other items on the January 25 City Council agenda, we are advancing many important policy initiatives.
February 5: Neighborhood Social at Roat Osha
The East Bde Maka Ska Neighborhood Association invites you to a neighborhood social on Monday, February 5 from 5–7:00pm in Roat Osha's VIP Room (in Seven Points, enter across from parking ramp).
This is an opportunity to meet your neighbors, learn what's happening in East Bde Maka Ska, and ways to get involved in the neighborhood association. All are welcome at their Neighborhood Socials!
Wayfinding Sign Installed at Nicollet Avenue Greenway Entrance
After hearing from several constituents about the lack of wayfinding signage at the Nicollet Avenue entrance to the Greenway, our office worked with Public Works to get signage installed there. We are happy to say that there is now a wayfinding sign at the entrance to the Greenway on Nicollet Avenue!
Public Works crews also installed wayfinding directional signage at the Green Crescent transit center location at the Greenway and Stevens Ave South.
We appreciate when you contact us about issues like this – if you’re aware of other wayfinding signs that should be installed, get in touch with us and we can try to help!
Hennepin Avenue Reconstruction Updates
Preparation work for the Hennepin Avenue Reconstruction Project is underway. You can always get the latest updates at the project website. Here are the latest updates our office has received:
Utility Construction will continue on Phase 1 of the Hennepin South Reconstruction Project from Lake Street to 26th Street. This work will continue until April 2024.
Current utility work consists of Xcel Energy installing new concrete duct banks along the east side of the corridor.
NOTE: Work will begin at Lake Street starting about February 2 and will go through the end of February. Northbound lanes from 31st to Lake Street will be closed starting about February 2 for one week. View the Latest Construction & Traffic Impact Update (PDF)
Addressing Streetlight Outages from Wire Theft
You may have noticed more streetlights out than usual lately. We are working to repair streetlights throughout the City that have had their wiring stolen for the copper. Thank you for your patience as the City works through these wire theft challenges.
Earlier in 2023, the City replaced stolen wire with the same style of copper wire but learned that those lights frequently had their wire stolen again immediately. The City is now shifting to aluminum wiring, which has less value than copper, with hopes that this will protect the new wiring from theft.
City of Minneapolis Awarded $20 Million Federal Grant to Improve Street Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the City of Minneapolis a $20 million grant to address the highest priority unfunded safety projects on streets in Minneapolis.
We will use the federal grant to make safety improvements on high priority projects and actions in the City’s 2023-2025 Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan. The plan outlines priorities for the next three years to advance the City’s goal of ending traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2027.
This significant award of federal funds will allow Minneapolis to implement safety improvements on nearly all streets with the highest percentage of severe and fatal crashes that don’t already have a plan for safety-focused investment.
Highlights include:
Safety improvements along 25 miles of high-injury streets.
Traffic signal improvements at 526 intersections.
More safety planning work, such as evaluating the speed limit change and quick-build safety treatments.
This grant, coupled with my budget amendment to invest $500,000 into Neighborhood Traffic Calming in 2024, represents the City’s ongoing commitment to making our roads and communities safe for all people.
Read more about the grant and the City’s work to make streets safer.
City Council Approves $18.3 Million in Affordable Housing Investments
The City Council has approved $18.3 million to help produce or save 876 affordable rental homes throughout Minneapolis. In Ward 10, this includes an additional $1,000,000 for the 1301 Lake Street project which is a mixed-use building with affordable family housing and 24 units set aside for homelessness.
For every dollar the City invests, more than $18 will come in from other sources to support these homes. The investments came from the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs for 2023.
The Affordable Housing Trust Fund supports housing for renters with incomes at or below half of the area median income. That’s $62,100 per year for a family of four. Most renters pay more than 30% of their income for housing because of the affordable housing shortage in the city.
Read more about affordable housing investments on the City website.
Call for Artists: Create Traffic-Calming Asphalt Murals
The City of Minneapolis is seeking an artist or artist team to create asphalt art murals on two intersections. The murals will be on the South-Folwell Safe Route to School. The artist must have experience working with young people to create large murals. The artist will work with students at South and Folwell schools to create and paint the designs. The chosen artist or artist team will receive a $20,000 artist fee and $4,000 for materials. Bloomberg Philanthropies is supporting this City study as a traffic calming strategy. The Intent to Apply form is due by February 5 at 4:00pm. Apply by February 7 at 4:00pm. Find more information on the City website.
Free Program to Help Children with Asthma
The Minneapolis Health Department offers a free program to help kids with asthma. The program includes:
A home assessment to help identify common asthma triggers.
Personalized asthma trigger education for you and your family.
Free services and products, such as air purifiers, to help improve indoor air quality.
If you have a child 21 or younger with asthma, email the City Health Department or call 612-673-2301 for more information.
Partnership Engagement Fund Applications Now Open
The City's Partnership Engagement Fund is now open for applications! Community-based organizations, groups, and individuals can apply for funding for small-scale, meaningful projects to make Minneapolis communities more socially connected, healthy, and safe.
In 2024, a total of $1 million is available for 40 $25,000 contracts with the City. Applicants will need to work with one of the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations for their project engaging underrepresented residents in Minneapolis.
The review committee, made up of community members and City staff, will make selections based on qualities including cultural community knowledge, representation of historically underrepresented communities, city geographic representation and specialized knowledge (for example: unsheltered populations, youths, seniors, immigrants and refugees, etc.).
Those interested in joining the community review committee can learn more on the City website.
Previous community projects have included youth mentorships, public events, garden infrastructure, civic leadership development, entrepreneurship training, addressing health disparities, employment support, youth peace building, corridor development, resource support for unsheltered neighbors, community building, youth media and storytelling, arts programming and placemaking.
Potential applicants can sign up to join either of the workshops or find a recorded webinar afterwards on the Partnership Engagement Fund City webpage.
Interpreters are available by emailing PartnershipFund@minneapolismn.gov.
Applications are open now with an interest form due February 19 and the completed application due March 3.
Potential applicants can email PartnershipFund@minneapolismn.gov with questions.