13th Ward News: An Important Note About Today's Council Meeting

13th Ward News from Minneapolis Council Member Linea Palmisano
Visit us at www.minneapolismn.gov/ward13

6/26/2020

Contact Information

Council Member Linea Palmisano
350 S. 5th St.
City Hall, Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.673.2213
linea.palmisano@minneapolismn.gov

John Freude, Senior Policy Aide
john.freude@minneapolismn.gov

Josie Vautrin, Policy Aide
Josie.vautrin@minneapolismn.gov

City of Lakes

Dear Neighbor,

It has been a busy week finalizing the first phase of cost containment measures in our city budget, preparing to author and introduce changes to our Police Conduct Oversight ordinance, and speaking to and hearing from thousands of people sharing their thoughts and ideas for our City in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

This morning my colleagues and I of the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to take the first step to determine if a ballot measure should be used to decide whether or not to change provisions in our Charter about the Minneapolis Police Department. I strongly support the residents of Minneapolis weighing in on this important decision, whether it is for or against it.

You can find the ordinance that shows the exact details of how the charter would be changed here. It is notable that this amendment does still allow for a division of sworn law enforcement, just reorganized into a new department, and without any guarantees on staffing.

There is much confusion over this point: our vote this morning does not make any immediate changes to the Minneapolis Police Department, but rather whether this decision about the police department’s future should be put to residents for a vote.

Now that the council has voted, this item moves to the Charter Commission where they will deliberate and hold a public hearing to hear all sides of this discussion and determine if this is ready for a vote of the general public. Under state law, the Charter Commission has 60 days to complete its review and has four options: 

  1. They could extend their consideration an additional 90 days;
  2. Approve the proposal;
  3. Reject it, or;
  4. Offer a substitute and then return it to the City Council.  

Once the City Council receives it back, we can accept either the original proposal, a revised proposal, or not submit any proposal. In order to have this on the ballot for this November, all of these steps need to happen by August 21st. 

If the Charter Commission goes with the first option and extends their consideration, the amendment would likely be moved to the 2021 ballot.

As far as the ballot question for voters, the specific language proposed by Council was:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to provide for the establishment of a new Community Safety & Violence Prevention Department and to remove the Police Department?

If seen on the ballot, this would be indicated by a “yes” or “no” option for response.

I am eager to get back to the work that needs to be done. There’s a lot of people here who want to be engaged. My concerns here were for this charter initiative to be seen as short cutting that process. I’m looking forward to that opportunity for deeper engagement and following through on the resolution that I helped to author at the last Council meeting. I spoke about this at length in my last newsletter.

There’s so much more to say, but this somewhat dry explanation seems like an important clarifying statement as there has already been a lot of confusion. I and my staff are working diligently to get back to everyone who has reached out. Just know we have received hundreds, maybe thousands, of messages just this week and are working through the list. Have a good weekend.

Yours in service,

Linea

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