Minneapolis Open City Journal

/home

/posts

/about

Home > Posts > Public Health & Safety Committee

Public Health & Safety Committee

  ·   2 min read

This summary was created by generative AI from video transcripts and could contain mistakes. Read more.

Meeting Information

  • Date: February 5, 2025
  • Title: Public Health and Safety Committee Regular Meeting
  • Present: Jason Chavez (Chair), Elliot Payne, Michael Rainville, Linea Palmisano, Robin Wonsley, Jeremiah Ellison (joined late)
  • Absent: None
  • Guests: Jenny from Health Department, Louisa from Health Department, Eric Hansen (CPED Director), Ashley Juke (City Auditor’s Office)
  • Votes: 2 (consent agenda and receipt/filing of reports)

Highlights

  • Received update on five-year Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant implementation and results
  • Discussed former Navigation Center operations and potential for new sites to address unsheltered homelessness
  • Received analysis of other cities’ drug overdose prevention strategies, including vending machines and response teams

Discussion

REACH Grant Update

The Health Department presented on the implementation of their $5M CDC REACH grant focused on improving health outcomes for Black, African-American, and Native American communities. The program works on nutrition access, physical activity, breastfeeding support, and vaccination access. First-year accomplishments included partnering with hospitals on food service guidelines, implementing produce prescription programs, and supporting community-based vaccination efforts. Council members expressed concern about potential federal funding reductions but praised the program’s community-focused approach.

Vote: Received and filed unanimously

CPED Director Hansen presented an analysis of the 2018-2019 Navigation Center experience and potential sites for a new facility. The original center cost approximately $3M to operate for 9 months and served up to 160 people, with 68 “positive exits” to housing. Three potential city-owned sites were evaluated but each presented significant challenges. Council members debated the effectiveness of the model, with some questioning the cost-per-person ($66,000) while others emphasized the urgent need for emergency shelter options.

Quote from Council Member Ellison: “While we learned all of that, I don’t know that we put all those learnings to use. I don’t know that we’ve necessarily been in the best position to build on those learnings at a systemic level.”

Vote: Received and filed unanimously

Drug Overdose Prevention Strategies

The City Auditor’s office presented research on other cities’ approaches to overdose prevention, including harm reduction vending machines ($2,500-$15,000 per unit) and specialized response teams. The report highlighted successful programs combining immediate intervention with longer-term support services. Council members expressed interest in expanding Minneapolis’s existing naloxone vending machine pilot program and potentially creating dedicated overdose response teams within emergency services.

Vote: Received and filed unanimously

Public Comments

No public comments were recorded during this meeting.

←
Business, Housing & Zoning Committee
Climate & Infrastructure Committee
→
back to top