Minneapolis is a welcoming city to all residents. We strive to provide a safe and livable city with an active and connected way of life for everyone that calls Minneapolis home. We are proud of this value and we want to show it. A municipal ID is one way to show our civic pride and belonging, connecting municipal government to the residents the City serves.

In offering a municipal ID, the City would join cities across the country like Detroit, New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco who are already offering a City ID benefit to their residents.

A municipal ID program advances the City’s goal to reduce disparities. It would give all residents equal access to an official ID to allow them access to resources and services they need to be successful and connected to the community.

With a municipal ID, we would work on establishing relationships to connect residents to vital services, including:

• Opening a bank account
• Being admitted to a hospital
• Getting prescription drugs
• Registering children for school
• Filing a police report
• Getting identification with the correct gender identity

A Minneapolis municipal ID could help provide the security and access to core services that come from having a recognized form of identification to use at banks, cultural institutions, libraries, schools, businesses, and pharmacies. A Municipal ID card will would also help enhance public safety by serving as a ID for interacting with the Minneapolis Police Department.

If the municipal ID program move forward in the future, City departments and services, including law enforcement, would accept the municipal ID card as a valid form of identification if identification is needed when interacting with the City.

We would also create and foster relationships with many partners to develop acceptance of the card to access non-city services such as financial institution and transit as well as several businesses and community organizations to establish discounts and “perks” for card holders.

Throughout 2019, the City of Minneapolis researched extensively what it would take to develop the program including finalizing the process for obtaining an ID card, what technology will be used, location(s) for accessing the card and staffing needs.

The City also recognized certain barriers to implementing a municipal ID program such as data privacy concerns. Currently, under the Minnesota Data Practices Act municipal ID information is deemed public information. As a result, program development is not continuing at this time.

The current draft of the municipal ID ordinance proposes the following criteria for eligibility:

• Minneapolis residents aged 13 and above
• The ordinance defines the criteria for showing proof of identity and residency
• The program administrator will propose fees to be adopted by the City Council
• Applicants receiving public assistance or who have limited incomes may receive a full or partial waiver of fees

The ordinance does not allow the card to be used as:

• Drivers' license,
• A form of voter identification
• Access other government benefits
• Proof of legal age for the purchase or consumption of liquor or tobacco.