Minneapolis committee members receive update on proposed public safety reform plan

Minneapolis committee members receive update on proposed public safety reform plan

Minneapolis committee members receive update on proposed public safety reform plan

One year after the city of Minneapolis launched a public safety effort that goes beyond policing, community safety leaders presented a progress update to the city council.

Minneapolis launched the Safe and Thriving Communities Plan last summer. The report outlines three areas — preventative, responsive and restorative services to enhance safety in the city.

The City Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee made it clear they want to be more involved in this plan, so they requested an update on progress.

They explained it’s a transparent way to keep the council and the community in the know.

“That this plan gets implemented, not 10 years down the road, but that it gets implemented now,” Jason Chavez, Minneapolis City Council member, said.

Last summer, the new effort was introduced as the city’s blueprint for public safety.

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The ball is already rolling on implementing the changes this plan calls for, but City Council members requested an update on progress.

“To ensure that there’s a democratic and transparent community engagement process around the city’s plan for public safety,” said Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley.

In Wednesday’s meeting, the Minneapolis Office of Community Safety said they’ve filled important positions, formed committees and held community engagements about safety centers in the last year.

“We need to focus on how we get the systems to work better together and use data to monitor and improve the services we offer,” Amanda Harrington, Minneapolis Office of Community Safety director of community safety design and implementation, said. “All of this work requires staff capacity as noted in the safe and thriving communities report.”

Earlier in the meeting, city leaders mentioned staffing challenges with behavior crisis response teams who respond to some mental health calls.

That service falls under the new safety plan.

“They’re spread thin with the amount of people that can respond to calls,” a city leader said.

Council President Elliot Payne calls this check-in essential in carrying out the work in this 10-year plan.

“You do need check-ins on those 10-year plans or they get dusty and you don’t know if you’re advancing the work,” Payne said.

The public has the next 45 days to give written feedback on this plan by emailing recommendations to councilcomment@minneapolis.gov.

There will also be several public input sessions organized in August.