Minneapolis City Council Committee Meeting Summary

Meeting Information

• Date: November 7, 2024
• Title: Climate & Infrastructure Committee Meeting
• Present: Katie Cashman (Chair), LaTrisha Vetaw, Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Jamal Osman (arrived late)
• Absent: Emily Koski (Vice Chair) - noted as having another commitment
• Guests:
  • Jeff Hanlon (Public Works)
  • Allison (Health Department)
  • Kathleen (Transportation Planning Supervisor)
• Votes: 3 (Consent agenda, Boulevard ordinance delay, Receive and file TAP report)

Highlights

• Proposed boulevard ordinance amendment to allow food growing and gardens in city boulevards
• Transportation Action Plan (TAP) and Racial Equity Framework progress report
• Safe Streets for All grant implementation update ($25 million federal/state funding)
• Mode shift and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction goals progress update

Discussion

Boulevard Ordinance Amendment

The committee discussed significant changes to the boulevard ordinance to allow food growing and gardens. Main points of contention centered around permitting requirements for raised beds and fruit-bearing shrubs. Councilmember Chowdhury and Chair Cashman expressed concerns about permits creating barriers, especially for non-English speakers and residents in Green Zones.

“I personally don’t think that we should require permits for shrubs. I don’t think we should require permits for raised beds. I think permits are a barrier and our goal here is to encourage people to use the boulevard to beautify the boulevard, to plant and grow food in the boulevard, and any kind of permitting process bureaucracy is going to be a barrier,” said Chair Cashman.

The committee voted to delay the ordinance for one cycle to clarify language around fruit-bearing shrubs and consider removing permit requirements. Motion passed unanimously.

Transportation Action Plan Progress Report

Kathleen presented a comprehensive update on the TAP implementation, highlighting:

• 40% completion of 100-mile pedestrian improvement goal
• 30% completion of intersection improvements
• 12 of 25 transit priority projects completed
• Reduction in vehicle miles traveled by 225 million miles per year (goal is 500 million)
• Equity metrics showing investments in Transportation Equity Priority Areas matching or exceeding citywide rates

Report was received and filed without objection.

Public Comments

Boulevard Ordinance

1. Tessie Cohen-Brown

• Shared experience growing vegetables and fruits in North Minneapolis
• Emphasized importance of community gardens in food deserts
• Described success of combining gardening with community music events

2. Niki Karlsson (1717 Dupont Avenue North)

• Participated in Edible Boulevards program
• Praised program coordinator Michelle Shaw
• Supported changes to allow raised beds
• Described successful experience growing peppers, tomatoes, and onions

3. Amy Dare-Waller (3659 Folk Street Northeast)

• Advocated for making guidelines as easy as possible for food growing
• Requested clarity on rules for food-bearing bushes and trees
• Suggested alternatives to permit requirements for raised beds

4. Michelle Shaw (Green Zone Task Force)

• Emphasized importance of removing permit requirements as barriers
• Requested clarity on mulch regulations
• Suggested adding climate impact sections to ordinances
• Highlighted success of Minneapolis Edible Boulevards initiative since 2019