Meeting Information

• Date: March 19, 2025
• Title: Public Health and Safety Committee Regular Meeting
• Present: Jason Chavez (Chair), Elliot Payne, Jeremiah Ellison, Linea Palmisano, Robin Wonsley (arrived late)
• Absent: Michael Rainville
• Guests:
  • Todd Barnette (Commissioner of Community Safety)
  • Amanda Harrington (Director of Community Safety Design & Implementation)
  • Assistant Chief Christopher Gators (MPD)
  • Brian Tyner (Fire Chief)
  • Leah Lakes (Deputy Director, Neighborhood Safety)
• Votes: 4 voice votes taken

Highlights

• Civil Rights Commission ordinance amendment to temporarily expand pool of civilians for police misconduct review panels
• Quarterly update from Office of Community Safety showing crime reductions and staffing improvements
• MPD updates on new Curfew Task Force and late-night safety initiatives
• Neighborhood Safety Department organizational changes and hiring updates
• Contract approval for additional State Fair enforcement with mounted patrol discussion

Discussion

Civil Rights Commission Amendment

The committee discussed an ordinance amendment to temporarily expand the pool of civilians eligible to serve on police misconduct review panels by including Civil Rights Commissioners. City Clerk Karl explained this would help address a backlog of approximately 202 cases needing review. The temporary expansion would expire December 31, 2025.

Council President Payne noted this was an interim solution while working on more comprehensive amendments: “We’re hoping to have a throughput through our review panels that the current level of commissions could handle. But the ordinance is going to allow for us to flex to a higher member number so we can move more cases through panels.”

Vote: Approved unanimously

Office of Community Safety Update

Assistant Chief Gators presented significant crime reductions in Q1 2025:

• 47% reduction in robberies
• 40% reduction in carjackings
• 32% reduction in gunshot wound victims
• 24% reduction in auto thefts
• 11% reduction in aggravated assaults

The department credited data-led policing efforts and new initiatives like the Curfew Task Force. Extensive discussion occurred around staffing improvements, with MPD noting they had hired 42 officers so far in 2025 compared to 68 for all of 2024.

Vice Chair Wonsley raised questions about the sustainability of community partnerships and proper contract structures for the Curfew Task Force program. Director Harrington acknowledged these needed to be formalized: “The curfew task force in place with the police on their own will continue until we have the community partners in place. That’s a matter of negotiations with the individual partners.”

Received and filed

Neighborhood Safety Department Reorganization

Deputy Director Lakes presented on departmental priorities including achieving full staffing, implementing financial management practices, and enhancing contract management. Significant discussion centered on new positions being created and the roles of various staff members.

Vice Chair Wonsley expressed concerns about proper training and coordination: “Hearing a lot of focus around contract management. But making sure staff have a baseline understanding of each program… there’s been a lot of confusion around what is YGVI, GVI, how it differs from MinneapolUS.”

Received and filed

Public Comments

No public comments were made during this meeting.