What happens to a City Council motion when there is a tie vote?
A recent proposal to bring drones as first responders to the Fourth Ward in North Minneapolis was defeated in a tie vote. City Council members voted unanimously on July 30 to refer the action back to staff. What? As the City Clerk explained that day, a defeated action “doesn’t determine its outcome.” Meaning, the action was still legislatively alive.
So the council had to either choose to keep it alive or kill the action. A motion to deny the action would kill it, a motion to refer it back to staff would keep it alive. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw proposed to move the action back to staff with a quick second by Ward 10 Council Member Aisha Chughtai. The action is now back with City staff and the use of Skydio drones as first responders will come back in front of council at a later date.
Kickstarter launches for Video Store
You may have seen the flyers in local businesses, advertising The Video Store MPLS. We have the story behind the Southwest neighbor who has whipped up a ton of interest in starting a classic video store filled with DVDs and Blue-rays.
To give you an idea of the idea’s popularity, a Kickstarter campaign that started Aug. 1 has already surpassed its goal, but more funding equals a better video store when it opens.
Midtown Greenway street artist exhibits work through August
George R. Thompson IV, otherwise known as EWOK, is exhibiting his work at Southside Preservation Society through August. The exhibit, “Zigged When I Should’ve Zagged” is a 30-year retrospective on EWOK’s work including murals and graffiti in Southwest Minneapolis.
He got his start in his graffiti work in the 1990s along a once hot spot for street artists–an unused railway that is now the Midtown Greenway. Artists then called it “the tracks.” You can also see EWOK’s work on the outside walls of the Uptown Cub where he collaborated with other street artists in the annual LynLake Street Art Series.
Non-fatal gun violence task force update
The Minneapolis Police Department gave a presentation on its new initiative to address non-fatal gun violence with the same urgency as gun-related homicides in late July. The task force is made up of investigators that show up at any gun-related situation in Minneapolis. The taskforce has been in operation since March 2026. The department reports that by investigating all non-fatal shootings, they have been able to identify repeat offenders.
“This initiative has already reduced violent crime by thoroughly investigating non-fatal shootings, relieved some of MPD’s Homicide Unit’s workload, and provided much-needed immediate victim and witness support following non-fatal shootings,” Ward 8 Council Member Soren Stevenson said in his newsletter.
The presentation is available on the City’s website via the July 22 Public Health, Safety & Equity meeting agenda.
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