|
The City of Minneapolis remains committed to delivering high quality services for residents and business in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. For an overview of the City's response to COVID-19 and the latest impacts to City services, visit minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus.
Español | Soomaaliga | Hmoob
With health officials advising everyone to reduce contact with others during the pandemic, the City of Minneapolis is recommending voting early by mail this election year. Voters can sign up now to get ballots for the August primary and November general election mailed to them. Ballots will arrive approximately six weeks before those elections, along with postage-paid envelopes for return.
All Minnesota voters are eligible to vote early by mail. Ballot applications should be made no later than 10 days before an election so the ballots can arrive in the mail with enough time for voters to return them.
Although voting early by mail is recommended, voters will still be able to cast their ballots in person at the City’s Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., or at their polling places on the day of the election.
Sign up to vote by mail at vote.minneapolismn.gov.
The City of Minneapolis passed new renter protection rules that will go into effect in 2020. Starting June 1, there will be limits on what a rental property owner can use to deny rental applications, and caps on security deposits.
- Inclusive screening criteria will set limits on what information in a renter’s criminal, rental and credit history can be used to deny a rental application. Landlords who don’t use the inclusive screening criteria will have to specifically state why an application is denied and provide an opportunity for the applicant to add more context to their history.
- Security deposits will be capped at one month’s rent, or one-half month’s rent if the landlord requires first and last month’s rent to be paid in advance. If they require the first and last month’s rent to be paid along with the security deposit, renters must have the option to pay the security deposit in installments over three months.
The ordinance goes into effect June 1, 2020 for owners with more than 15 rental units. The effective date for property owners with 15 rental units or fewer is Dec. 1, 2020. Enforcement will be through the City’s housing maintenance code.
This follows previous renter protection efforts adopted recently, including relocation assistance for displaced renters and a requirement that owners of naturally occurring affordable housing rental property give the City 60 days’ notice before selling their units.
To learn more, visit minneapolismn.gov/renterprotections.
Minnesota is currently number one in the nation in responding to the census. With a 69% response rate, we are 11% over the national average of 58.7%
Minneapolis is doing well also, landing at number six of large cities in the nation with populations of 300,000 or more with a response rate of 66.5%, which is close to surpassing our 2010 decennial rate of 72.8%.
However, there is still work to be done. There are several neighborhoods in Minneapolis with previously low response rates that have yet to gain real ground in their 2020 census completion. Too often communities that are underrepresented in the census are subsequently under-resourced when and where they need it the most.
View the Minneapolis neighborhood response rate map and encourage your friends, neighbors and community to complete the census. Data from the census is used to provide not only services and programs that many of our communities rely on, but also critical medical equipment and first responders during times of crises, much like the current pandemic. Data from the previous census is currently being used to determine where to send ventilators based on population numbers. Our collective response to the census is crucial to our ability to respond successfully to the needs of community.
Take the census now: www.my2020census.gov
|
The City is holding a final online open house May 14 to get your input on the draft Transportation Action Plan before the comment period ends May 22.
The 10-year action plan will guide future planning, design and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around.
Join us to hear about the plan and interact with staff in real time. Learn more at go.minneapolismn.gov/get-involved.
Upcoming online open house
|
|
Minneapolis sick and safe time ordinance
Under the City’s sick and safe time ordinance, employers are required to provide access to sick leave (or more generous leave) to all employees in Minneapolis. Leave must be paid by employers (unless they employ five or fewer workers) and accrual and use balances must be provided on pay stubs.
An employee's accrued sick and safe time hours are legally protected for their use due to COVID-19 symptoms, testing or infection. Protection extends to the employee and the employee's care of a covered family member. Learn more about how COVID-19 impacts sick and safe time protections.
Additional resources:
|
Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has weekly programs on KMOJ 89.9 FM (English); La Raza 95.7 FM (Spanish); KALY 101.7 FM (Somali); and WIXK AM 1590 (Hmong.) Radio shows schedule
-
Community support: Learn how to help and find other community resources.
- Hennepin County helpline for people impacted by COVID-19: 612-348-3000. The helpline is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Get help with clothing, financial assistance, groceries, medical care and equipment, and medication. Help is provided in multiple languages.
- Hennepin County COVID-19 community resources
- Find tips from Meet Minneapolis on ways to support our local business community.
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
| 
