Community Engagement Process

For the City of Minneapolis, the purpose of community engagement is to empower people to influence City decision-making. Community building, outreach and education are important parts of community engagement according to the Neighborhood and Community Relations unit of the City.

There are ongoing opportunities for Minneapolis residents (and others) to engage in the issues surrounding public safety and policing.  These are planned and managed by the City of Minneapolis; some others are linked to specific community interests; and yet others are reflective of broader groups and interests but few have the systematic and broad scope of the City’s efforts.  Here we try to identify and summarize significant engagement opportunities. 

City of Minneapolis

The Office of Violence Prevention is managing a four-phase process that focuses on three areas of concern surrounding public safety: prevention, alternatives and reform.  

• Phase 1: Gather input on existing models, opportunities for change, and new ideas
• Phase 2: Gather more input, review goals and develop draft recommendations
• Phase 3: Collect feedback on recommendations
• Phase 4: Refine and finalize recommendations

Phase 1 uses surveys, stakeholder interviews, policymaker interviews and group sessions.  Phase 1 also includes research on scientific literature and other sources to identify strategies and alternative models.

The survey closed the end of March.  As of January 21, the latest date for which results have been presented, there were 9,559 surveys with at least one valid response; 57% of those (5,478) respondents completed at least most of the survey. Of those completing at least most of the survey, 95% reported being Minneapolis residents. Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) respondents were underrepresented and white respondents were overrepresented. 

The Neighborhood and Community Relations office of the City of Minneapolis has been partnering with the Office of Violence Prevention in conducting group sessions to gather input on public safety.  These sessions have been conducted with various communities in Minneapolis, especially those that are underrepresented in the survey.

To see pdf presentation of additional results from the survey and other engagement tools click here.

Minneapolis residents are also able to hold their own meetings and submit input to the City.  The City of Minneapolis provides more information about how to do this. And broader information about involvement is offered here.  

The Public Health and Safety Committee of the City Council generally meets on the first and third Thursdays at 1:30PM.  The Police Department and the Neighborhood and Community Engagement both report regularly to this body.  The City’s website offers agendas, videos and other information on these meetings.  

There was also considerable resident input offered to the Minneapolis City Council in conjunction with  budget approval as covered in the StarTribune, 12/3/20.

Non-Governmental Inputs 

If you’d like to review results from other sources collecting input from Minneapolis residents, here are some options. Further options are listed in the Resources section of this website.

From the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs:
Over-Policed and Under-Protected: Public Safety in North Minneapolis | CURA by Dr. Michelle S. Phelps, 11/17/20

From Minnesota Public Radio:
Poll: Only a quarter of Mpls. residents favor city’s Police Department, 8/16/20

From The Center of the American Experiment as reported in a survey by Meeting Street:  Majority of Minnesotans Have ‘A Great Deal of Confidence’ in Police, Strongly Oppose Defunding Minneapolis Police Department, 7/1/2020

Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) https://www.cuapb.org
This organization holds weekly meetings; Saturday at 1:30 p.m. 4200 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis but due to Covid 19 the meetings are virtual.  You can get the call-in number by emailing: [email protected]