Proclamation of the Mayor
I, Jacob Frey, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, subject to the authority granted to me pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Ch. 12.29 and Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 128.50-60 do hereby proclaim the following Emergency Regulation:
Emergency Regulation No. 2020-19
Whereas, on March 16, 2020, I declared a local public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the City of Minneapolis and assumed executive responsibilities attendant thereto; and
Whereas, pursuant to the authority granted to me pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Ch. 12.29, and Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Sections 128.50 and 128.60, I am authorized to promulgate emergency regulations to protect the public health, safety, and welfare during this declared emergency; and
Whereas, it is a priority that race and equity be of paramount consideration in enacting and carrying out emergency regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the homeless crisis in the City and resulted in an unprecedented growth in homeless encampments; and
Whereas, the early onset of winter coupled with a resurgence in COVID cases poses a particular threat to the health and safety of these most vulnerable residents of the City; and
Whereas, the City anticipates that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect the metropolitan area for the foreseeable future and requires safe alternatives to unsheltered homelessness, including reducing reliance on unsafe, overcrowded, indoor alternatives like doubling up; and
Whereas, the City and its government and nonprofit partners have committed unprecedented funding to create new culturally specific shelter options, to ensure the expanded operation of existing emergency shelters, to make safety enhancements to existing shelters, and to invest in affordable housing; and
Whereas, the immediate exigencies posed by the onset of winter and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic demand creative ideas and solutions, such as the Indoor Villages project model, which would allow for more social distancing by providing personal space for individual residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jacob Frey, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, do hereby order the following emergency regulation:
In recognition of the preeminence of the health and safety of the City’s most vulnerable residents in this time of pandemic and increasingly colder weather, existing buildings within the City of Minneapolis that have the appropriate Certificate of Occupancy and an Emergency Shelter License or Board and Lodging License are authorized to allow for the provision of emergency overnight shelter services.
October 29, 2020
Expired on July 1, 2021.