Minneapolis rent control proposal advances, charter commission to discuss
[KSTP-TV]
A proposal to put Minneapolis rent control measures to a vote this November has received city council approval and continues to move forward.
The topic of a rent stabilization policy has come up as Minneapolis continues to grow, along with concerns that rental rates in many areas could increase faster than renters’ incomes.
The full Minneapolis City Council discussed the matter Friday in its regular meeting after a public hearing earlier this week.
More from KSTP.com:
Minneapolis rent control proposal moves forward
Proposed rent control charter amendments open to public comment in Minneapolis
The proposed charter amendments would allow either the Minneapolis City Council, or Minneapolis residents through a petition process, to adopt a rent stabilization law. The measures would need approval from voters in a general election. The charter amendments would not, on their own, create a rent control policy. Instead, they would give future councils and Minneapolis residents the option to adopt a policy through methods allowed under state law.
Friday, the council passed both charter amendment proposals.
"We are one small step closer to being able to add a rent stabilization policy to our toolbox for housing stability in Minneapolis," Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said in a statement. "These charter amendments are the first step towards a future rent stabilization policy that would curb rent gouging and keep more working families in their homes, and I look forward to working with the charter commission to keep this question on track to be on the November ballot."
Next, those proposals go before the city’s charter commission, which will meet on March 3.