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Minneapolis council members may delay police contract
Some Minneapolis City Council members want to push final vote to July 18.
MINNEAPOLIS — A final vote on the new Minneapolis Police contract had been set for June 27, but some city council members are pressing to push that out to July 18 so that more community groups will have a chance to weigh in on it.
Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley told reporters Tuesday she had originally pledged to hold two public hearings on the new contract with the Minneapolis Police Federation, and she wanted to stick with that.
“My intention in this process is for there to be clear communication to the residents about what is and what is not included in this contract, the implications of any proposed changes or the lack thereof,” Wonsley explained.
The Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee that Wonsley chairs was already set to hold a public hearing Tuesday night. She proposed holding a second public meeting on the contract July 8 leading up to a final council vote July 18.
“This gives the public about three weeks to sit with the contract, sit with the information that’s presented, and to provide public comment.”
Council President Elliott Payne, appearing with Wonsley, noted that the Minneapolis City Council can’t negotiate different contract language.
“We don’t get to negotiate the details of the contract. It’s an up or down vote,” Payne told reporters.
“If we vote it up that means it gets enacted and we put it in play. If we vote it down, it goes back to negotiation.”
Mayor Jacob Frey told reporters there’s no need to postpone action, noting that the process has been the very transparent and the terms of the deal were published June 7.
“A delay is not the right move, especially right now. There has been time. Council members have been able to weigh in,” Frey remarked.
“We have 136 officers who could retire at any moment. The police officers have already waited, now a year for this new contract.”
The mayor was flanked by Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainwater and Ward 13 Council Member Linnea Palmisano, who said there’s no need slow things down this far into the process.
“I’m eager to get started. I’m eager to get those management rights back. I’m eager to have the opportunity to have competitive wages for our law enforcement, for their recruitment efforts,” Palmisano said.
The contract calls for a 21 percent increase in base pay across three years, which would be retroactive to January of 2023 when last contract expired.
By July of 2025, starting pay would range from $41 per hour for new recruits — $85,000 per year — all the way to $72 per hour for veterans at the very top of the pay scale.
The contract would also give Chief Brian O’Hara new management powers previous chiefs have lacked, specifically more control over staffing decisions.
“The chief has the ability to place officers where he needs them, and when he needs them there,” Frey said.
“Most people would’ve thought that’s an authority the chief already had. It wasn’t.”
The mayor was flanked by Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainwater and Ward 13 Council Member Linnea Palmisano, who said there’s no need slow things down this far into the process.
“I’m eager to get started. I’m eager to get those management rights back. I’m eager to have the opportunity to have competitive wages for our law enforcement, for their recruitment efforts,” Palmisano said.
The city is down more than 300 officers from where it was before the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.
Ward 5 Council Member Jeremiah Ellison said there are many unanswered questions about how the city budget will absorb the new costs, and what the impact will be in the long run on the city’s property taxpayers.
“It’s not a matter of do these officers deserve increased pay. It’s more a matter of, is it fair to every worker in the city, is it on pace with that, and how do we pay for that? How do we afford it.”
The city is down more than 300 officers from where it was before the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.
Some council members want more specific language around policing reforms inside the contract, but Frey those are part of processes in place outside of the agreement with the police union.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Investigators are trying to find out what led up to a 14-year-old boy being shot in St. Paul on Saturday.
Authorities told KARE 11 officers were called to the 1900 block of Wilson Avenue just before 12:30 p.m. There they found the teen with a gunshot wound.
The teen was taken to Regions Hospital with injuries officials described as “non-life-threatening.”
No one has been arrested yet, police said, and the investigation is ongoing.
Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle (ken), a pair of cups (sarado), and a ball (tama) that are all connected by a string.
PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Hundreds of people from around the world are in Minnesota this weekend to compete in North America’s largest kendama tournament.
Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle (ken), a pair of cups (sarado), and a ball (tama) that are all connected by a string.
The North American Kendama Open (NAKO) is Nov. 15 -17 at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel in Plymouth. It’s become popular in part due to a Minneapolis-based company, Sweets Kendamas, and the company’s owner, Matt “Sweets” Jorgenson.
Sweets Kendamas hosts the nation’s largest kendama competitions and sells the toys at Target stores nationwide.
In partnership with the nonprofit Mindfulness Through Play, it also operates 12 kendama clubs at afterschool programs across the Twin Cities.
Besides the competition, NAKO will feature music, merchandise, workshops, video premiers and an award show.
Tickets are $60 for the weekend or $25/day.
Taste the flavors of fall at this popular Minneapolis-St. Paul restaurant.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Celebrate the change in the seasons with a delicious meal off the new menu at The Buttered Tin.
James Beard-recognized chef Alicia Hinze offers breakfast, lunch and sweet treats at locations in St. Paul and Northeast Minneapolis. The new fall menu centers around local harvest and has vegetarian, plant-based and gluten friendly options.
Some of the new items are the Hot Honey Apple French Toast, Big Ol’ Bennie, TBT Hash with salmon filet, Portobello Melt and Jerk Shrimp Tacos.
The St. Paul restaurant is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Northeast Minneapolis location is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m..
