When the Minneapolis City Council adopted its inclusionary zoning ordinance, together with its Unified Housing Policy, in late 2018 there was optimism that the ordinance would result in the creation of much needed affordable housing in the city.  The ordinance mandates a minimum percentage of 10-20 percent of units within multifamily buildings be affordable where the project requires certain approvals, including variances, zoning amendments, or density increases.  Since it became effective at the beginning of…

The Minnesota Legislature passed sweeping new amendments to statutes which create criminal penalties for the failure to pay wages and impose requirements for employers (including contractors) to document the terms of employment with their employees.  The new amendments took effect July 1, 2019.  Then, on August 8, Minneapolis passed an ordinance, essentially piggybacking on the new law, requiring employers (including contractors) to provide new notices to employees effective January 1, 2020.  The ordinance applies not only to employers…