A recommendation is expected on Wednesday afternoon from the Minneapolis Charter Commission regarding a proposed public safety amendment. The amendment is about the wider replacement of the Minneapolis Police Department with the Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention following the death of George Floyd.
The Charter Commission can accept, reject, or offer up a substitute amendment to the Minneapolis City Council. If the Charter Commission pursues either of those three options, the City Council could still move forward with the proposal. However, a fourth option for the Charter Commission could extend the amendment's review by 90 days, which means the proposal would miss the August 21 statutory deadline and could not be submitted to voters in the 2020 election.
Last week, the judge-appointed body rejected a narrower proposal by an 8-6 vote to remove the minimum staffing requirement, casting doubt on the City Council measure.
"I think we're treading perilously into an area where some people seem to think our job is to put up guard rails for political mistakes made by the council, or the mayor. I don't think that's our roll here," Commissioner Greg Abbott said last week
Any action taken by the Minneapolis Charter Commission on Wednesday afternoon will be submitted to the council's Policy and Government Oversight Committee on Thursday.
Public Safety Charter Amendment Update:This week and next, important decisions will be made by the Charter Commission and, unless the Charter Commission delays their decision, the City Council and Mayor.Below are details about the upcoming meetings, hearings and decisions: pic.twitter.com/xGrhZfznJP
— Lisa Bender (@lisabendermpls) August 3, 2020
