Minneapolis City Council approves 2040 plan, municipal ID

December 07, 2018 06:33 PM

The Minneapolis City Council voted Friday morning to approve its 2040 comprehensive plan, as well a plan to create a program to issue municipal ID cards to Minneapolis residents regardless of immigration status.

The lone dissenting vote on the 2040 plan came from council member Linea Palmisano. The plan now goes to the Met Council for review.

The plan would lay the groundwork for development in the city for decades to come. Late Thursday afternoon, a judge denied a motion from neighborhood and environmental groups who sued to block it.

Jack Perry, the attorney representing environmental groups like Smart Growth, said he wants more time to study this plan. Perry initially said he planned to file an appeal early next week.

However, after further review, he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he will not do so, though he still plans to push forward the original lawsuit.

Perry and Smart Growth said they are concerned the Minneapolis 2040 plan could cause problems with traffic, flooding, contaminated water and air pollution.

Lawsuit filed against Minneapolis 2040 plan argues it will adversely affect environment

Meanwhile, supporters of municipal ID say the program would not only benefit immigrants, but also the homeless, teenage foster children and low-income individuals. They say it would help in a variety of daily situations that often require identification like picking children up from school.