🏛️ Mpls City Council has been busy

Minneapolis City Council Has Been Busy

While the Twin Lakes government has been fighting so much that residents want to delete the town, the Minneapolis City Council has actually been doing a lot recently, including passing the 2026 city budget. Here's a rundown of some other recent developments from the council.

• George Floyd Square: After years of disagreement, there is finally a council-approved plan for the redevelopment of the intersection at E. 38th Street and Chicago Ave. The council voted 9-4 to progress a plan supported by Mayor Jacob Frey and local businesses in the area, which will allow vehicle traffic to continue through the intersection without treading on the location where George Floyd was murdered. This is a complete 180 from a year ago, when the council was supporting a pedestrian plaza plan in opposition to Frey. [Star Tribune]
• No cooperation with ICE: Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to strengthen the city's separation ordinance, which is the law that prohibits local police from collaborating with federal immigration enforcement. Updates include codifying Mayor Frey's recent executive order prohibiting ICE from using Minneapolis parking lots, prohibiting the city from making agreements with federal authorities to enforce federal immigration laws, and updating employee training on the separation ordinance. This is the first time the separation ordinance has been significantly updated since its creation over 20 years ago. [Sahan Journal / City of Minneapolis]
• A plan for encampments: The City Council also approved an ordinance requiring the city to provide basic services to people living in homeless encampments. This includes public health measures like toilets and Narcan, seven-day warnings for residents before an encampment is cleared by the city, and storage locations for people's belongings. Mayor Frey has expressed concern that the ordinance may encourage more people to set up encampments in the city, and it is possible he may veto it. [Star Tribune]

Around town this week: Get in the Christmas spirit at the Black Nativity show at the Penumbra Theater, catch a holiday blues set from Twin Cities legend Cornbread Harris and Friends, check out the winter solstice parade at Powderhorn Park, or choose from a number of other awesome activities going on this week. It's all on today's episode of the City Cast Twin Cities podcast and on our website.

Don't be bamh'd out: Dinkytown staple Bánh Appétit announced that it will be closing after its final day of service on Dec. 23. 😢 You'll still be able to find some great banh mi in Dinkytown though, as the Pho Mai restaurant - though lacking a punny title - is still going strong. [Bring Me The News]

Get hip: If you haven't been following us on social media, you’ve missed a list of all the places host Sean McPherson has taken a dump downtown, producer Tiffany's excellent recommendations on the best holiday markets in the Twin Cities, and my coverage of the Santa Cycle Rampage 💅. Follow us on your preferred platform to stay up to date on everything in the Twin Cities. [Instagram / TikTok / YouTube]

Olympics-bound: The Minnesota-based Team Peterson curling team beat Norway to qualify for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The No. 1-seeded Norway team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the match, but Team Peterson rallied to take home an 8-4 win in the qualifier. [KARE11]

Fighting fraud: Gov. Tim Walz has appointed Judge Tim O'Malley as the Director of Program Integrity – a brand new role that multiple outlets are colloquially referring to as the "fraud czar." O'Malley has decades of legal and law enforcement experience and has been brought in to clean up the mess of a huge scandal once before. In 2014, he was tapped by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to crack down on clergy members accused of sexual misconduct. [KARE11 / MPR]

Monday, December 15

• 🛍️ Holiday Market | Small Hours
• ⚽ MNUFC Fan Happy Hour with CEO Shari Ballard | Uptown VFW
• 🎥 Red Carpet Benefit Screening: UNCONTAINED | Emagine Theater Eagan
• 🎙️ Joyann Parker: The Music of Patsy Cline | Crooners
• 🔮 $5 Secret Movie | Landmark Lagoon Cinema
• 🕵️‍♂️ Minnesota Mystery Night with Tracy Clark | Lucky’s 13 Pub
• 🌍 Tujenge Pamoja (Building Together) | The Southern Theater

Tuesday, December 16

• ☄️ Sixth Anniversary Celebration | Meteor Minneapolis
• 📚 Jane Austen's 250th Birthday Party | Big Hill Books
• ❄️ Father Frost and the Snow Maiden: An Evening of Winter Tales | The Museum of Russian Art
• 🎤 Merry Christmas From José James | The Dakota
• 🌙 Moonstruck | Parkway Theater
• 👠 Mistress Ginger's Generation X-mas | Bryant Lake Bowl
• 🎶 Channy Leaneagh & Gold Minefield | Berlin

• Internship Program Manager at Macalester College | $55k - $58k per year
• Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager at Twin Cities RISE | $65k - $79k per year
• Financial Administrator at City of Minneapolis Dept of Community Planning & Economic Development | $84k - $116k per year
• Health Educator at Ramsey County Department of Public Health | $71k - $107k per year
• VP for Business Affairs and CFO at University of St. Thomas | $315k - $355k per year