Minnetonka joins 12-city coalition; residents urge state emergency action and eviction moratorium

Minnetonka City Council on Feb. 2 announced the city’s participation in a 12-city coalition called Cities for Safe and Stable Communities and approved adding an amicus brief to the consent agenda in a case related to recent federal immigration enforcement activity.

City Manager Mike Funk told the council staff coordinated a press release and an amicus filing and has been meeting weekly with other city staff to monitor local ICE activity and its impacts. "We did have a press release go out today," Funk said, adding that the coalition has developed three central messages: community safety over politics, concern about economic destabilization, and local control and constitutional rights.

The meeting then heard extensive public comment. Cindy Reich told the council: "I am here tonight to ask you... for the Minnetonka City Council to pass a resolution requesting the governor to declare a state of emergency, enact a statewide eviction moratorium, and provide rental assistance." Sarah Almain urged the council to "be loud" and be specific about protections for immigrant neighbors and where to find help. Asia Reba, a naturalized citizen and parent, warned the council the city’s immersion programs depend on a diverse staff and said teachers are "terrified to come to work and to school." Sammy Gervais said, "We owe these community members support and safety." Several speakers described local mutual-aid efforts — food drives, rent assistance and observer trainings — but said state action was needed to prevent evictions and deportations.

Council members expressed sympathy and noted the limits of local authority. Council member Calvert cautioned that some actions residents request may be legally limited: "We cannot" prohibit certain federal uses of public property, she said, and urged residents to take state and federal-level concerns to legislators while committing to expand rental assistance where possible. Several members said they support symbolic measures such as resolutions to record the city’s stance and to create accountability.

The council voted unanimously to add the amicus brief (item 10f) to the consent agenda and approved the consent agenda that included the amicus filing. Mayor Schack said the coalition will continue to meet and the city will provide further updates to residents.

The council directed staff to follow up where appropriate; residents who left contact information were told staff would respond.