Charter Commission adopts 2026 citizen-petition timeline; clerk to publicize filing window

The Minneapolis Charter Commission on Tuesday adopted the city’s 2026 submission timeline for citizen petitions to amend the charter, directing the city clerk to publicize the filing window and procedural steps.

Chair Peter Ginder opened the item and the clerk described the statutory schedule: the clerk’s office will accept filings from January 1 through May 1, 2026, and signature validation and council action must occur before the statutory deadline to transmit questions for the November general election. “The deadline for us to submit that question to Hennepin County and to the secretary of state would be July 7,” the clerk said, explaining the timeline is tied to state law.

Commissioners pressed staff on public notice and summary approval. The clerk said the timeline and a guide to amending the charter will be posted on the city’s website and that the Charter Commission must approve any petition summary longer than 1,000 words that petitioners propose for circulation. “If it’s over 1,000 words, the first responsibility of this body is to make sure that you approve the summary that goes on the petition,” the clerk said.

After brief questions, the commission adopted the timeline by voice vote. The commission also directed staff to produce outreach materials and to return with any additional procedural guidance needed to help petitioners meet statutory requirements.

The adoption sets the public-facing schedule for groups considering charter amendments in 2026 and starts the clock on signature collection and validation ahead of the July filing deadline with Hennepin County and the state.