City of Minneapolis News Update: Oct. 22

Mail: Minneapolis City Newsletters · 1 week ago · City of Minneapolis
City of Minneapolis News Update: Oct. 22 Expanding access to polls, Lake Street Safety Center closes and more City of Minneapolis News Update bannerCoM news update

Oct. 22, 2026

This newsletter provides updates on important news and information from the City of Minneapolis and partners. Find updates at minneapolismn.gov/news.

Expanding access to polls with additional hours, early vote locations

With two weeks to go until Election Day, Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services (EVS) is expanding access for voters by offering extended hours and multiple ways for you to cast your vote.

Starting Monday, Oct. 19, Minneapolis residents have access to expanded hours at the city's main Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. Monday also marked the beginning of 12 one-day pop-up early vote locations across the city. Then starting Tuesday, Oct. 20, a new North and South Early Vote center will provide two additional locations to cast your vote or drop off your ballot ahead of Election Day.

Early Vote Center

The main Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. is open extended hours, including weekends, now through 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.

Additional Early Vote Centers

Elections & Voter Services will be opening two additional Early Vote Centers with the same hours as the main location, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20. These locations are:

Pop-up voting sites

Changes made during the 2023 legislative session allow EVS to host one day pop-up style voting events. These pop-up sites feature the same security measures, rules and processes as any other polling location in Minneapolis.

Find a pop-up voting site near you on our website.

How to help

Every election year, Minneapolis sees strong voter turnout and residents who want to step up — whether by serving at a polling place or helping a neighbor request a ballot. This year is no exception.

Visit our website to learn about simple, nonpartisan ways to support voters and help ensure a smooth and accessible election for all. These include sharing accurate election information, making a plan for how you’ll vote and helping others reach the polls when they’re ready to cast their ballot.

The Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division is responsible for administering elections in the City of Minneapolis. For information about registering and voting in Minneapolis, go to vote.minneapolismn.gov.

Lake Street Safety Center closed Oct. 21

Exterior view of the Lake Street Safety Center.

The Lake Street Safety Center (LSSC) closed Oct. 21 as our lease for the space expired and the pilot program came to an end.

Construction is underway on the new South Minneapolis Community Safety Center at 2633 Minnehaha Ave., expected to open in the second quarter of 2027. The new center will bring together the Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd Precinct, City services and community-based organizations in one location.

Learn more about the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center on our website.

Lessons learned from the Lake Street Safety Center pilot will help determine service needs at the new center.

Community resources remain available

Although the Lake Street Safety Center has closed, community members can continue accessing support through:

Find more resources on the Lake Street Safety Center webpage.

Family Gathering Concert Series continues Oct. 24 at Green Room

Graphic promoting the Family Gathering Concert Series event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Green Room.

Bring the kids for a free morning of live music, creative activities and fun.

Family Gathering Concert Series: Koo Koo with DJ Hampster Dance
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Green Room, 2923 Girard Ave. S

The series is produced in collaboration with the Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance and funded by the City of Minneapolis through Minneapolis Forward to support community and economic resilience.

Get event details and see who's performing.

City Council announces community listening sessions for 2027 budget

The Minneapolis City Council is adding another way for community members to make their voices heard during the budget process. The City Council will host two informal listening sessions for residents to provide feedback on the Mayor’s 2027 recommended budget.

The dates for the upcoming sessions are:

Thursday, Oct. 29
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Listening session from 6-7:30 p.m.
University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N.

Thursday, Nov. 5
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Listening session from 6-7:30 p.m.
Whittier Elementary School Cafeteria, 315 W. 26th St.

Listening session format

The listening sessions will begin with a brief budget overview. Residents will then have an opportunity to ask questions or give their opinions to City Council Members. Community members wishing to address the City Council are asked to arrive 30 minutes before the session begins to sign up to speak, similar to public hearings held in City Hall. Space will be limited. All City Council members are invited to attend these listening sessions; however, since these are not official City Council meetings, quorum is not required. There will be audio recordings of these sessions for the public record.

Other ways to participate

Residents who can’t make it to one of these listening sessions can participate in other ways, including:

Hennepin County continues upgrading outdoor warning sirens

In August, Hennepin County began upgrading the control system that operates outdoor warning sirens across Minneapolis. The upgraded system will reduce alarms that reach areas not directly at risk and will give technicians better real-time data about system performance. These improvements help ensure the sirens are ready when residents need them most.

As this work continues, you may hear short, 10- to 15-second “growl tests” from these outdoor warning sirens. These tests help confirm that individual sirens are working. You may also notice small differences in how the monthly sirens sound or the timing of the alerts. These changes are normal parts of the testing process.

Learn more about the work to upgrade the sirens on the Hennepin County website.

Know where to turn: Minneapolis Civil Rights Department helps residents understand and protect their rights

Many people know their rights matter, but they may not know where to turn when they believe those rights have been violated. The City of Minneapolis Civil Rights Department is here to help residents understand their rights, navigate their options and, when appropriate, submit a complaint.

The Department provides free and accessible services related to a range of civil rights and workplace issues. This includes discrimination based on a protected class, wage theft and other labor standards violations, misconduct by Minneapolis police officers, and worker protections on City construction projects.

The need for help can arise in everyday situations. A renter may believe they were treated differently because of a protected characteristic. A worker may not have been paid for all the hours they worked. Someone may experience or witness misconduct by a Minneapolis police officer and be unsure how to report it. Workers on City construction projects may have questions about whether they received the appropriate wage or were properly classified.

In each of these situations, residents may not know whether what happened violated their rights or what to do next. They don't have to figure it out alone.

The Civil Rights Department can help residents understand whether City protections may apply to their situation and explain their options. Residents can connect with the Department by phone, by appointment or online. Services are provided at no cost.

We're launching a public awareness campaign this fall to make these protections more visible and help more Minneapolis residents know where to turn when they need assistance. The campaign will run across social media and out-of-home advertising, using familiar, everyday situations to connect residents with the Civil Rights Department.

Know where to turn. Learn more about your rights, the protections available in Minneapolis and how to get help at minneapolismn.gov/civil-rights.

No-cost consulting services available for small businesses in Minneapolis

Artist Martha Bird was struggling with her business. A consultant at Springboard for the Arts helped her keep moving towards her goals. She met with that consultant free of charge, thanks our Small Business Team’s Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP).

Watch a video on YouTube about how Martha got help.

Through BTAP, small businesses in Minneapolis can get up to 50 hours of no-cost help from expert advisors. BTAP consultants can help you in areas such as:

If you are starting or growing your business, you can get support through BTAP. More than 25 experienced service providers are part of the BTAP network. They speak different languages and have different kinds of expertise.

Visit our website to find out if BTAP is right for you.

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact City Communications. 

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850.

Para asistencia, llame al 311. Rau kev pab 311. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 311. 

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