Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Story
Council approves street and climate plans amid funding concerns
20-Year Streets Funding Plan & Infrastructure Improvements
Consent Agenda Items
Votes (3)
Approval of Consent Agenda
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanssley [0:07:37] · Seconded by Implied by vote [0:07:44]
No items were pulled for separate discussion from the consent agenda, indicating general agreement on the proposed items.
Receive and File Presentation Providing an Overview for the Climate Equity Action Plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanssley [1:00:23] · Seconded by Implied by vote [1:00:36]
The presentation covered the urgent state of climate change, the city's foundational investments, the scaling of green cost share projects with an equity focus, and the goals and challenges of the Climate Equity Action Plan (CEAP). Key areas of concern include being off-track on reducing fossil gas emissions, home insulation targets, and mode shift for transportation. Council members raised questions about the fiscal transparency of climate funding, state-level policy barriers, and the potential diversion of dedicated climate funds. The item was held over to August 20th for more comprehensive financial information.
Your City Your Streets 2025 Progress Report Presentation
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanssley [1:18:29] · Seconded by N/A
Public Works presented on 2025 street work, highlighting 308 miles of work since 2017 (29% in equity priority areas), pedestrian and bike facility upgrades, and 7,700+ ADA ramp improvements. Challenges include a decline in pavement condition index (from 72 in 2017 to 57 in 2025) due to rising costs, leading to fewer resurfacing miles. Specific projects like Hennepin Avenue and First Avenue South reconstructions were showcased. Council members inquired about the remaining ADA ramp upgrades and strategies to address pavement deterioration.
Notable Quotes (10)
We are now at 422.7 parts per million of atmospheric CO2 and climbing. When I come back for a presentation next year, that number will be higher.
We are on track to exceed that budget by 2030.
I will name it's kind of unsatisfactory to not have at least a estimate especially I think on your the slide that you added around the climate legacy initiative funding it already shows that we're set to spend over $10 million for year to date of 2026. So if we're already over 10 million, how much more are we looking at an estimate to collect for the remainder of the year?
I want that $4 million to be dedicated towards the climate legacy initiative. That was its intention. And it's also something that community members have raised up to me because it was shared... that that 4 million may be used to balance the budget.
Not to say that the central neighborhood, which has done quite well, is not a priority place. It certainly is. But um with all the knock-on effects of um of improving the livability of homes u I'm just reiterating what you already know about needing to invest more in South
Yes, I think um it's state level policies um such as uh codes and energy policies um and then other ways that local governments can influence around um development from a carbon perspective. Um there's opportunity there, but otherwise Yes.
So, while 21% of the streets are in equity priority areas, 29% of the work has actually been completed in the area those areas.
Pavement condition is a closely tracked metric associated with the 20-year streets funding plan... In 2017, the city's average estimated pavement condition index was at around 72. this year in 2025 it was at an estimated average of 57.
It is frustrating to see that despite our investment, the overall pavement condition index continues to fall. Um, other than increased funding, are there other ways that we're using to prevent this downward trend?
I do want to note that this was flagged for public works leadership in terms of a presentation that we would like to see come forward early next year.
Ordinances & Resolutions (58)
Permit for an event scheduled for September 10th, 2026.
Permit for games scheduled for August 7th through August 9th, 2026.
Public hearing set for September 10th.
Public hearing set for September 10th.
Authorization for a portion of Second Avenue North.
Authorization approved.
Amendment to reclassify railway segments as pedestrian street light corridors.
Set for September 24th to review and authorize collection of unpaid balances.
Authorization approved.
Authorization for the Grant Avenue South Bridge over the Midtown Greenway.
Set for October 22nd.
Accepted for cured-in-place pipelining repairs and cross connection elimination.
Accepted.
Accepted.
Accepted.
Authorization approved.
One appointment approved.
Approved by city council in 2023, a 10-year plan with a vision for an environmentally just, resilient, low-carbon, and equitable city.
Established to fund robust climate work, increased funding in 2024, with an initial goal of $10 million annual appropriation.
Passed by council in 2026.
Funding mechanism in place since 1998 for climate fight.
Program supporting energy efficiency, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and innovative climate technology.
Supports deep energy retrofits with tax credits for low-income households.
Provides EV charging infrastructure and car sharing with an equity focus.
Health department initiative focused on exposure, education, and credentialed training for green jobs.
Supported by climate funding, led by Public Works with consulting and education components.
Proposed policy to ratchet down carbon emissions in existing buildings over time.
Federal legislation mentioned for its clawed-back dollars that could have supported solar programs.
Pollution control annual registration, updated to include additional pollutants.
Adopted in 2017, provides a framework for prioritizing street work with additional funding.
Adopted April 2016, laid groundwork for the 20-Year Streets Funding Plan.
Adopted March 2023, outlines transportation equity priority scores for investments.
City plan adopted since 2017, influencing street improvements.
City guide adopted since 2017, influencing street improvements.
City ordinance adopted since 2017, influencing street improvements.
City plan adopted since 2017, influencing street improvements to eliminate fatal crashes.
City plan adopted since 2017, outlining ADA ramp improvements.
City ordinance adopted since 2017, influencing street improvements.
Completed second half from 26th Street to Douglas Avenue in 2025, providing safety, sidewalk, GSI, bikeway, and bus lanes.
Phase one completed in 2025, includes sidewalk level bikeway, GSI, new sidewalk, and pavement, constructed in-house.
Work completed in the Kenwood area in 2025, involving concrete panel repair and ADA upgrades.
Work completed from Hay Street to Central A in 2025 to extend street life, with a red chip seal planned.
Reconstructed alley between Park Avenue and Columbus Avenue (45th to 46th Street) in 2025.
Hennepin County-led project (Central to Johnson Street) reduced width, added pedestrian medians, and shared use path.
Hennepin County-led project (I35 to Oak Street) included bike facilities, new pavement, and sidewalk improvements.
Mindot-led project reduced highway from two to one lane, improving safety.
Several street improvements made in conjunction with this project, including Cedar Lake Parkway and Kenilworth Trail reconstruction.
Completed and opened in 2025, bringing faster, more reliable transit service and higher ridership.
Hennepin County-led project converted from four lanes to two lanes with a left turn lane.
Hennepin County-led project improving safety.
Filled a gap between William Barry Parkway Trail and the E-line station.
Improvements along 24th Street and intersections, including large curb extensions.
Included signal upgrades at eight intersections with ADA and APS push buttons.
City-led project with upgrades at 44th Street (Cyers and Vincent A) and Richfield Road (36th Street).
Funded flexible delineators along 38th Street and speed cushion pilots on Bryant Avenue North.
Reconfigured an intersection with signals, a new pedestrian median, sidewalk, and bike facilities.
Completed from Washington Avenue to University Avenue, filling a critical gap and adding safety features.
Presentation providing an overview of street projects completed in Minneapolis in 2025 and progress against the 20-Year Streets Funding Plan goals.