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Minnetonka council declines to seek state eviction moratorium after lengthy debate
Summary
After hours of discussion and public comment, the Minnetonka City Council voted to decline a resolution asking the governor to implement a temporary eviction moratorium, with councilmembers citing legal limits and urging rental-assistance outreach instead.
The Minnetonka City Council on Feb. 23 declined to adopt a resolution asking the state to impose a temporary eviction moratorium, following extended council debate, staff legal briefing and public comments from residents and housing advocates.
Staff and legal counsel briefed the council on limits under state law (Minn. Stat. ch. 504B) and the governor's emergency powers (Minn. Stat. —12.31), noting that a statewide moratorium would require state action and that a governor's emergency declaration could have wider implications. Legal counsel said the possible basis for a peacetime emergency related to these events would likely be "civil disturbance," which could open the door to assistance from other jurisdictions.
Public commenters urged immediate relief and asked the council to be "louder" in support of residents targeted by federal enforcement. Kevin Ringhofer urged extending the pre-eviction notice window and more tenant outreach; Shannon Andresen said the city needed to reassure vulnerable residents that it had their backs. Several council members expressed empathy but worried an emergency declaration might have unintended consequences and emphasized targeted rental assistance and local program outreach instead.
Ultimately, Councilmember Foster Bolton moved to decline to adopt the resolution asking the governor for a temporary eviction moratorium. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.
