REFERENDA APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF MINNEAPOLIS
Until 1921, all changes to the city charter of Minneapolis had to pass both houses of the state legislature. The so-called Home Rule Charter of 1920 granted voters the right to amend the charter. Below you will find all the charter amendments that the city's voters have approved.
- Feb. 13, 1872 Union of Minneapolis and St. Anthony
- April 3, 1883 Creating the Park Board
- Nov. 2, 1920 Home Rule Charter
- Nov. 2, 1920 Municipal Pension System
- June 13, 1921 Amendment #1: raising the levy for the schools
- June 13, 1921 Amendment #2: raising the levy for the library
- May 9, 1927 Amendment #3: changing building codes
- June 13, 1927 Amendment #4: giving the Board of Estimate more power
- May 13, 1929 Amendment #5: levy for city-wide street upkeep
- June 8, 1931 Amendment #6: levy for sewage disposal
- June 20, 1932 Amendment #7: filling vacancies for Mayor and Aldermen
- Nov. 8, 1932 Amendment #8: on borrowing money against uncollected taxes
- June 11, 1945 Amendment #9: raising the library levy
- Nov. 5, 1946 Amendment #10: redrawing the ward boundaries
- May 9, 1949 Amendment #11: revoking Amendment #3
- Sept. 12, 1950 Amendment x: on keeping the school levy
- Nov. 7, 1950 Amendment x: raising the police pension
- Nov. 7, 1950 Amendment x: raising the pension for city employees
- June 11, 1951 Amendment #12: reducing the Aldermen to 13, and their term to 2 years
- Sept. 9, 1952 Amendment x: raising the school levy
- June 13, 1955 Amendment #13: moving city election day to Tuesday
- March 20, 1956 Amendment #14: staggering the dates on city licenses
- Sept. 11, 1956 Amendment x: raising the school levy
- April 30, 1957 Amendment #15: requiring notice to Directors of special School Board meetings
- June 11, 1957 Amendment x: Park levy
- June 9, 1959 Amendment #16: amending the Liquor Patrol Limits
- June 9, 1959 Amendment x: approving the new school district for Minneapolis
- Nov. 8, 1960 Amendment x: school levy
- June 13, 1961 Amendment #17: enlarging the Police Department staff
- Nov. 3, 1964 Amendment x: school levy
- June 8, 1965 Amendment #18: giving the Mayor more power over appointments
- June 8, 1965 Amendment #19: allowing the Mayor to appoint a representative to serve on boards in his stead
- Sept. 13, 1966 Amendment #20: raising the library levy
- June 13, 1967 Amendment #21: election of 6 Park Commissioners from districts, 3 at-large
- Sept. 10, 1968 Amendment x: approving the sale of alcohol on Sundays
- Nov. 7, 1972 Amendment x: moved city general elections to November
- June 12, 1973 Amendment #52: limiting the city's bonding power
- Nov. 5, 1974 Amendment #58: abolished the Liquor Patrol Limits
- Nov. 5, 1974 Amendment #59: merger of offices of Comptroller and Treasurer
- Nov. 5, 1974 Amendment #60: boosting the Mayor's veto power
- Nov. 5, 1974 Amendment x: approval for a new vocational-technical school
- Nov. 4, 1975 Amendment #67: setting the term of Park Commissioners at 4 years
- Nov. 4, 1975 Amendment #68: requires the Mayor's approval of Park Board actions
- Nov. 4, 1975 Amendment #69: provides for special elections to fill City Council vacancies
- Nov. 2, 1976 Amendment #73: requiring a special election to fill a vacancy ocurring before March of a city election year
- Nov. 2, 1976 Amendment #74: adding city planning and budget proposal to the Mayor's duties
- Nov. 8, 1977 Amendment #76: allowing immediate action to fill vacancies for Mayor and City Council
- Nov. 6, 1979 Amendment #79: 3-year term for Chief of Police
- Sept. 9, 1980 Amendment #80: 4-year term for Fire Chief
- Nov. 4, 1980 Amendment #81: 4-year term for the Mayor
- Nov. 4, 1980 Amendment #82: creating a commission to re-district wards
- Nov. 8, 1983 Amendment #96: requires all candidates for Mayor and Alderman to run in the primary election
- Nov. 8, 1983 Amendment #97: changes title of "Alderman" to "Council Member"
- Nov. 6, 1984 Amendment #101: establishes the office of City Coordinator
- Nov. 6, 1984 Amendment #102: 4-year term for Aldermen
- Nov. 7, 1989 Amendment #114: gives the Mayor more control over city departments
- Nov. 3, 1992 Amendment #129: establishing a Community Services Bureau in the Police Department
- Nov. 2, 1993 Amendment #131: changes in the Planning Department
- Nov. 2, 1993 Amendment #133: rules about the size of the Mayor's staff
- Nov. 2, 1993 Amendment #135: staggered terms for the City Council
- Nov. 5, 1996 Amendment #143: revoking staggered terms for the City Council
- Nov. 5, 1996 Amendment #144: allowing wine and beer licenses for more restaurants
- Nov. 4, 1997 Amendment #145: requires a referendum on public financing of pro sports stadiums
- Nov. 4, 1997 Amendment #146: added a Civil Rights section to the City Charter
- Nov. 2, 1999 Amendment #148: changing the reapportionment commission
- Nov. 7, 2000 Amendment x: school levy
- Nov. 7, 2000 Amendment x: money to build a new downtown library and to renovate branches
- Nov. 7, 2006 Amendment x: mandates Instant Run-Off Voting in municipal elections
- Nov. 4, 2008 Amendment x: raises the school levy
- Nov. 4, 2008 Amendment x: raises the number of School Board Directors to 9, 6 elected from districts, 3 at-large
- Nov. 2, 2010 Amendment #171: puts the City's Charter Commission in charge of re-districting Minneapolis
- Nov. 4, 2014 Amendment x: raises the filing fee for candidates for municipal office
- Nov. 4, 2014 Amendment x: removes mandatory food sales ratios for wine and beer establishments
- Nov. 8, 2016 Amendment x: extends the existing revenue authorization for 9 years
- Nov. 6, 2018 Amendment x: removes the area and spacing requirements pertaining to liquor licenses
- Nov. 6, 2018 Amendment x: school levy
- Nov. 6, 2018 Amendment x: school levy
li>Nov. 2, 2021 City Question 1: proposal to give the mayor authority over operating departments