Minneapolis Council Passes New Police Ballot Proposal: READ

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council passed a new ballot proposal related to dismantling and replacing the city's police department during an emergency meeting Tuesday.

The vote was held hours after the council's previous version of the ballot proposal was struck down by a Hennepin County judge because it was "unreasonable and misleading."

"The Court finds that the Current Ballot Language is vague, ambiguous and incapable of implementation and is insufficient to identify the amendment clearly," Judge Jamie Anderson ruled Tuesday.

Read the new ballot proposal passed by the council Tuesday:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

Yes

No

Explanatory Note:

This amendment would create a Department of Public Safety combining public safety functions through a comprehensive public health approach to be determined by the Mayor and Council. The department would be led by a Commissioner nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the Council. The Police Department, and its chief, would be removed from the City Charter. The Public Safety Department could include police officers, but the minimum funding requirement would be eliminated."

Mayor Jacob Frey returned legislation unsigned, which means it is now "deemed approved," according to the city clerk. Unless the ballot proposal is struck down, it will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot in Minneapolis.

Here is how the previous version of the ballot proposal — which was struck down Tuesday morning because it was too vague — was written:

Department of Public Safety

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to strike and replace the Police Department with a Department of Public Safety which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, with administrative authority to be consistent with other city departments to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety?

The movement to dismantle the department gained steam following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. However, the push hit several roadblocks in 2020.