Charter Amendments

Charter Education Partnership

This fall, Minneapolis votes on three charter amendments that will determine the future of public safety, rent control, and the structure of our local government. Confused? The Charter Education Team, a partnership of Southwest Minneapolis Neighborhood Organizations, will host two public forums about these amendments during the week of October 12th. Advocates in favor of and opposed to each charter amendment will make their case, and help you decide which way to vote. The forums will be held in a hybrid format, with an online stream and limited in-person attendance (COVID conditions permitting).

City Charter Amendments

Public Safety

Ballot Language

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to strike and replace the Police Department with a Department of Public Safety which could include licensed peace officers (police officers) if necessary, with administrative authority to be consistent with other city departments to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety?

In Favor

  • Comment 1
  • Comment 2
  • Comment 3

Information provided by Yes4Minneapolis (yes4minneapolis.org)

Opposed

  • Comment 1
  • Comment 2
  • Comment 3

Information provided by Charter for Change (www.charter4changempls.org)

Government Structure

Ballot Language

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to adopt a change in its form of government to an Executive Mayor-Legislative Council structure to shift certain powers to the Mayor, consolidating administrative authority over all operating departments under the Mayor, and eliminating the Executive Committee?

In Favor

  • Comment 1
  • Comment 2
  • Comment 3

Information provided by Charter for Change (www.charter4changempls.org)

Opposed

  • Comment 1
  • Comment 2
  • Comment 3

Information provided by ISAIAH/Faith in Minnesota (isaiahmn.org)

Rent Stabilization

Ballot Language

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to authorize the City Council to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis, with the general nature of the amendments being indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made part of this ballot?

Explanatory Note:

This amendment would:

  1. Authorize the City Council to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis by ordinance.
  2. Provide that an ordinance regulating rents on private residential property could be enacted in two different and independent ways:
    • The City Council may enact the ordinance.
    • The City Council may refer the ordinance as a ballot question to be decided by the voters for approval at an election. If more than half of the votes cast on the ballot question are in favor of its adoption, the ordinance would take effect 30 days after the election, or at such other time as provided in the ordinance.

In Favor

  • Comment 1
  • Comment 2
  • Comment 3

Information provided by Minneapolis United for Rent Control (mpls4rentcontrol.org)

Opposed

  • Comment 1
  • Comment 2
  • Comment 3

Information provided by Minnesota Multi Housing Association (www.mmha.com)