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It was a very good week in the 3rd Ward, and the City took a big step towards improving public safety. At the City Council meeting on Thursday we passed the police contract by an 8 to 4 vote. MPD officers have been working without a contract for the last 19 months. The lack of a contract and uncompetitive pay has made recruiting difficult. With the new contract, officers will have a starting salary of $91,000 which is in the top five in Minnesota.
Another benefit of the contract will be retention. Of the 512 officers currently available for duty, 160 are eligible for retirement this year. As with any workforce, we need these experienced officers to mentor the next generation of officers at all ranks.
The contract also gives Chief O’Hara much more management authority. He will now have greater control over scheduling, promotions, and discipline. Being able to hire civilian investigators will make more officers available to respond to 911 calls.
I want to ask for your help in a small matter that will result in a big public safety improvement. Please take the time to look at streetlights in your neighborhood when you are out and about. If they are not working please report it to 311. If they are not fixed within the timeframe given by 311, contact my office.
As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.
Your neighbor,
Michael
By an 8-4 vote, the Minneapolis City Council approved a collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, July 18, with the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis (POFM). The agreement gives Minneapolis police officers a historic pay increase and important reforms. The vote marks the successful conclusion of a nearly 10-month negotiation between the City and POFM.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, City leaders, labor relations representatives and members of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) gathered to celebrate the milestone following the City Council vote.
The contract, which applies to the period January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025, includes a 21.7 percent pay increase over three years. The salary bump means MPD officers will be among the highest paid in Minnesota by 2025.
MPD Chief Brian O’Hara praised the City Council’s vote to strengthen and support the police force.
Key reforms and contractual changes include:
- A zipper clause: A common term in collective bargaining agreements which eliminates any prior side agreements (LOAs) that are not attached to the contract. This gives the City, the POFM and the public the full scope of what has been agreed to in writing at the start of the term of the contract.
- Increased staffing flexibilities: the agreement gives management more discretion over job assignments and staffing ratios, so that Chief O’Hara and his leadership team can assign officers to areas of the greatest need and make promotions based on candidate readiness, not based on a mandated percentage.
- Employing civilian investigators: the MPD has identified opportunities to assign civilians clerical and investigative work so officers are deployed where they’re needed most.
- Public data requests: Officers will no longer receive automatic notification of the identity of the person requesting public personnel data about them.
- Extending investigation leave time: If there are allegations of severe misconduct, Chief O’Hara will have complete discretion to place the officer on paid investigatory leave and continue the leave for up to 180 days, instead of 30 days. This keeps the officer off the street while an investigation continues.
More information on the City’s contract negotiations with the POFM is available on the City’s website.
The full, clean version of the contract will be made public in the coming days after final review by both parties.
Michelle Phillips was sworn in Tuesday, July 16, at City Hall. Mayor Jacob Frey nominated Phillips and the City Council unanimously confirmed her appointment in May.
Director Phillips joins the City after previously serving as the first Inspector General for the City of Oakland, California. She has a deep expertise in civilian oversight of police, providing leadership in the promotion of constitutional policing and building departmental infrastructure to ensure thorough and fair investigative processes. Prior to her service in Oakland, Phillips served as Deputy Inspector General with the City of Baltimore, leading an investigative team focused on rooting out fraud and abuse and building trust in local government.
The Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights is tasked with:
- enforcing the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances,
- investigating discriminatory practices,
- ensuring the protection of members of protected classes and
- promoting the understanding of civil rights among residents, businesses and government.
The department, through its Office of Police Conduct Review, also plays a critical role in implementing reform efforts required by the settlement agreement reached with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Read more about Phillips appointment on the City website.
This month is a time to celebrate Disability Pride. Honor the diversity within the disability community, reflect on issues that people with disabilities are facing and inspire action to make the world more inclusive and accessible. Disability Pride Month occurs in the United States every July to commemorate the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990.
The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill and updated in 2021 to ensure accessibility. Each color of the flag represents a different type of disability: physical (red), cognitive and intellectual (yellow), invisible/non-apparent and undiagnosed (white), psychosocial (blue) and sensory (green).
The Minnesota Council on Disability has several resources to better understand the history of disability rights, including stories from those with disabilities.
Recently the City of Minneapolis updated it’s ADA Transition Plan addressing the accessibility of city streets and sidewalks and is currently updating its ADA Action Plan which addresses the accessibility of city programs and services.
In recent years, the City’s Health Department has significantly increased the number of clinics and free vaccines provided to community members, especially in diverse areas. The effort is paying off with more people getting vaccinated and a reduction in vaccine hesitancy.
You can help. Get yourself vaccinated for:
- COVID-19
- Flu
- Mpox
- MMR
- Tdap
Find a free vaccination clinic near you.
Consider hosting a free clinic in your neighborhood. Clinics can be added to already planned events or can be separate events. Staff and vaccines are provided at no cost.
Contact Sebastiana Cervantes for more information and to set up a clinic.
Read more about the City’s vaccine program on the City website.
Minneapolis is one of the country’s greenest cities according to EcoCation.
The City Trees program is creating a climate legacy by providing low-cost trees to Minneapolis property owners. Since the program began in 2006, the City has helped plant more than 20,000 trees.
Trees are available year-round to:
- Businesses
- Non-profits
- Organizations
- 5+ unit apartments
Residents in Minneapolis Green Zones are encouraged to participate and to plant shade trees for the most benefits, including natural cooling during the hotter months.
The Climate Legacy Initiative is funding the City Trees program.
See what tree programs are offered on the City website.
Watch a video and hear from our City Trees team.
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