[ WAITING FOR CIT OF
MINNEAPOLIS ]
DISBLE >> CASHMAN. >> PRESENT. >> OSMAN. >> PRESENT. >> RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> VETAW IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KOSKI. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. >> PRESENT. >> VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. >> PRESENT.
>> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> PRESENT. >> 12 MEMBERS PRESENT. >> WE HAVE A QUORUM. I'MOING TO CALL ON OUR CITY CLERK TO REMIND US ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. >> THANK YOU. LAST TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9, AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A
SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS WHICH COLLECTIVELY CONSTITUTE THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. AS PROVIDED UNDER CITY CHARTER SECTION 4.4. THOSE RESOLUTIONS WERE TRANSMITTED TO THE MAYOR THE NEXT DAY. ON DECEMBER 10th. THAT STARTED
FIVE-DAY CLOCK DURING WHICH TIME THE MAYORAY CONSIDER THE ACTS AND EITHER APPROVE THEM, VETO THEM, OR ALL THEM TO BECOME EFFECTIVE WITHOUT SIGNATURE. MOMENTS AGO, THE MAYOR RETURNED THE RESUTION TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. SOME APPROVED AND SIGNED. SOME RETURNED UNSIGNED.
MEANING BOTH RESOLUTIONS AS DEEMED APPROVED. THE MAYOR SIGNED THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION, WHICH IS THE ALLOCATION AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS TO ALL OPERATING DEPARTMENTS FOR 2026. THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS TWOFOLD. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS MEETING IS FOR THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER ANY VETO BY THE MAYOR OF ANY ROLUTIONS. AS I JUST NOTED, THE MAYOR DID NOT VE ANY BUDGET ACTS. IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR TONIGHT'S ADJOURNED MEETING TO CONSIDER AND REACT TO A MAYORAL VETO. THE SECOND PURPOSE FOR THE
MEETING TO CONSIDER IF IT WISHES ANY FURTHER ACTIONS BY THE COUNCIL TO REFINE OR PERFECT ITS BUDGET ACTIONS. I UNDERSTAND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOME REGARD HERE IN THAT MEASURE FROM A PROCEDURAL PERSPECTIVE. AS I'VE COMMUNICATED TO COUNCIL LEADERSHIP. IN ORDER FOR THE
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ANY ACTION ON THOSE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS TO REFINE OR PERFECT THEM, WE NEED A MOTION TO AMEND THOSE PRIOR ACTS. AS PURELY A PROCEDURAL MOTION. IT REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT FOR THE MEETING. ASSUMING WE HAVE A QUORUM AND WE DO. N
ORDER TO CONSIDER THOSE ACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED BUT NOT YET PUBLISHED OR BECOME LEGALLY EFFECTIVE. BECAUSE OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT PROCEDURAL VOTE IS NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO FULFILL ITS FINANCIAL AUTHORITY UNDER THE CITY CHARTER OF THIS MEETING. ASSUMING A
TWO-THIRDS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE ON A MOTION TO AMEND PRIOR ACTIONS ADOPTED, THEN THE COUNCIL COULD, DURING THIS MEETING, CONSIDER ANY PERFECTIONS TO THE PRIOR ACTIONS. REGARDLESS IF THE COUNCIL WISHES TO PROCEED ON SUCH REFINEMENTS, IT WOULD NEED
A MOTION, AS SAID, TO AMEND PREVIOUS ACTIONS. REQUIRING A TWO-THIRDS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT FOR THE MEETING WITH 12 MEMBERS PRESENT, WE NEED EIGHT AFFIRMATIVE VOTES IN ORDERED TO GET THAT ITEM IN FRONT OF US. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK I'LL STOP THERE IN TERMS
OF EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING AND THE PROCEDURE TO CONSIDER ANY FURTHER PERFECTIONS OR REFINEMENTS TO BUDGETARY ASKS. IF THERE IS A MOTION, THEN WE CAN ACT ON THAT AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY PROCEDURAL ADVICE THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY AFTER THAT. >> TO CLARIFY, THE ABILITY TO
MAKE THOSE PROCEDURAL CHANGES WOULD REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESENT, NOT ABSOLUTE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. THAT WOULD BE EIGHT VERSUS NINE. >> CORRECT, MR. PRESIDENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> MR. CHAIR, I WOULD YIELD TO THE BUDGET CHAIR. IF SHE'D MAKE
A MOTION OR I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF HERE. >> VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I WILL MOVE TO RECONSIDER THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION
FOR 2026. TO MAKE THREE AMENDMENTS AS -- AND ASK FOR A SECOND. AFTER WHICH I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THE SUBSTANCE. >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE.
I WAS GOING TO MOVE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING UNTIL 6:45 TONIGHT SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE MAYOR AND HIS STAFF HAVE TIME TO VETO ANY ORDINANCES THEY'RE GOING TO VETO FROM THURSDAY. IF THIS IT OUR LAST SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE YEAR. >> THERE IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, MR. MR. CLERK. DO WE HAVE TO TAKE UP THE FIRST MOTION? >> MR. PRESIDE, THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED IS BEFORE YOU. IF THAT MOTION CARRIES, THEN, OF COURSE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOTIONS TO BE MADE. INCLUDING THE MOTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN BROUGHT FORWARD. THAT, HOWEVER, WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF ADJOURNING THIS MEETING TO A FUTURE DATE AND TIME. WHICH, IF CARRIED, WOULD CARRY FORWARD THE MOTION PENDING AND ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
THAT THE BODY MAY CONSIDER. >> I'LL CALL ON VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. >> YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'LL JUST -- I KNOW THE PROPER MOTION BEFORE US RIGHT NOW IS CONSIDERING THESE THREE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2026 CITY BUDGET. I WANT TO OUTLINE
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THEM. THE CLERK DID WALK AND PASS OUT A COPY. ON THE SECOND ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH PAGES, YOU'LL SEE OUTLINED IN YELLOW THE SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT AND ON THE SECOND-TO-LAST SHEET, ACTUALLY.
THE MAYOR DID ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A -- IN BUDGET -- ASSIGNED BUDGET THAT WAS RETURNED TO US TODAY AS OUTLINELINED BY THE CLERK. AND A PART OF ACHIEVING
ASS ASSIGN -- A SIGNED BUDGET IS AMENDMENTS -- REFINEMENTS TO THREE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE TAKEN UP DURING MARK UP. THE FIRST OF THESE IS AMENDMENT NUMBER 12 IN THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION. BUT WHAT YOU MAY KNOW AS AMENDMENT NUMBER 13 --
OR 17. SORRY. AS PART OF THE NONFATAL SHOOTING TASK FORCE. HERE THERE IS A LANGUAGE CHANGE THAT KEEPS THE FUNDING WHOLE. DOESN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES, OTHER THAN REPLACING THE WORDS "FOR STAFFING TO IMPLEMENT" WITH "TO
SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO CREATE A NONFATAL SHOOTING TASK FORCE." THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS, NUMBER 17 ON THE RESOLUTION.
AND IT REPLACES THE -- OR IT -- UMM, THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE $1.4 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHER IMPL IMPLEMENTATION IS DECREASE BY MILLION DOLLARS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND
REAPPROPRIATING EXISTING RESOURCES FROM AN OVERAVERAGE TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. AND ALONG WITH THAT, THE EXISTING SOURCE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. THIS COMES ALONG WITH A WRITTEN COMMITMENT THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE LIMS FILE FROM THE MAYOR TO INCLUDE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, UMM, AH, RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS.
UMM, AND THEN, FINALLY, A CHANGE TO THE AMENDMENT NUMBER 32 ON THIS LIST. ONIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS. ALSO CLARIFYING LANGUAGE AS APPROVED BY THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ALONGSIDE THESE FORMAL CHANGES ARE A LETTER THAT WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE LIMS FILE AND SENT TO THE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS EVENING. FROM THE MAYOR, OUTLINING A
COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, ALONG WITH THE THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO EMERGENCY HOUSING VCHERS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL
GO AHEAD AND MAKE MY PITCH. I SEE WHERE THE VOTES ARE GOING TO LAND. THE MAYOR SIGNED THIS BUDGET IN GOOD FAITH. THERE WAS A DEAL WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. THAT TOOK A LOT OF TRUST. THAT TOOK A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
THAT TOOK A LOT OF BELIEVING THAT THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL COULD WORK TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE AND TRUSTED COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI AS BUDGET CHAIR TO OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH ON THE COUNCIL'S BEHALF.
AND I THINK SHE DID EXACTLY THAT. I THINK SHE DID EXACTLY THAT FOR US. THE COUNCIL WAS READY TO MOVE FORWARD, AND NOW WE'RE NOT. THAT'S A WEIRD CHANGE OF COURSE, IF THIS DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD. A
LAST-MINUTE CHANGE OF HEART. A LAST-MINUTE "LET'S ADD OTHER THINGS ON TO THE NEGOTIATED DEAL." YOUR ACTIONS TODAY IN THIS SPEAK LOUDLY TO HOW YOU WISH TO OPERATE IN THIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP CALLED LOCAL VERNANCE. THOSE THAT ARE RETURNING, I ASK THAT YOU LEAVE
THIS ALL HERE IN THIS TERM. LET'S WORK BETTER TOGETHER NEXT YEAR. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO WHY THIS IS COMING FORWARD. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR USES TO HAVE A BIT OF CONTEXT. USUALLY
I'D SAVE THIS FOR THE SUBSTANTIATIVE ITEM. BUT I THINK THIS IS RELEVANT TO -- I THINK THIS INFORMATION MIGHT BES VOTE ON THIS ACTION NOW. WHEN WE WAITED UNTIL THIS BUDGE PROCESS, I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL LEADERSHIP ASKED THE MAYOR TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH ANY LAYOFFS WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE. I THINK THAT WE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO MAKING SURE WE WEREN'T GOING TO FURTHER ANY AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD RESULT IN LAYOFFS. AND I THINK THAT THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS,
AND THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH LEADERSHIP IN THE ADMINISTRATION, I THINK THAT WHAT I'VE COME TO BE CONVIED OF, AT LEAST ONE OF OUR AMENDMENTS WILL RESULT IN LAYOFFS. AND NOT ONLY WILL IT RESULT IN LAYOFFS, BUT WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE MONIES TO PREVENT
THAT COURSE OF ACTION. IN THE HOUSING VOUCHER ITEM, THERE WERE THREE SOURCES THAT WE WERE GOING TO USE. ONE SOURCE WAS A -- I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN LAY TERMS
HERE. ONE IS A STAFF MEMBERFROS AN FTE CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, NOT FILLED IN THE CAO'S OFFICE. AND ONE WAS MONEY THAT WE USED TO FUND CIVILIAN PUBLIC ROLES IN THE POLICE OFFICE DOING DATA
ANALYTICS AND ALL THAT WE VALUE WITHIN THE WORK AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND BECOME A CITY THAT IS NOT A POLICE-ONLY CITY. IT'S THE POSITIONS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE UNION POSITIONS. THAT IF WE REMOVE THOSE DOLLARS, THE MONEY IS NOT
THERE TO FUND PEOPLE. IN ORDER TO FILL A MILLION DOLLAR HOLE ONGOING, THE ONLY ONGOING EXPENSE THEY HAVE. THERE IS PERSONNEL. AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET RID OF PERSONNEL IN ORDER TO FILL THAT GAP. THE AMENDMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
WONSLEY BROUGHT FORWARD, THE ITEM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY BROUGHT FORWARD IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK. IT IS. AND I KNOW THAT -- AND I KNOW THAT SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK TO WHY SHE DISAGREES WITH THIS COURSE OF ACTION I'M RECOMMENDING HERE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS COURSE OF ACTION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. AND KNOW THIS MONEY IS
ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE IT'S ONGOING. THAT MEANIN PERPETUITY. BUT ONGOING MONEY THAT RESULTS IN FOUR PEOPLE LOSING JOBS IN AN ECONOMY THAT IS -IN A JOB MARKET ONE OF THE WORST IT'S BEEN SINCE 2008. WHICH I HOPE A LOT OF US REMEMBER WHAT WAS LIKE TO FIND A JOB BACK THEN. I DON'T THINK
IT'S A GOOD MESSAGE TO SEND TO THE STAFF AND A GOOD MESSAGE TO SEND TO THE PUBLIC. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, EVEN THOUGH THE MONIES WE'RE REPLACING, COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY SOURCED WITH ARE NOT ONGOING. THEY'RE NOT IN IN
PERPETUITY. I THINK THEY GET THE WORK GOING. THEY GET IT KICK STARTED. THEY COME FROM THE MAYOR TO IMPLEMENT THE WORK AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE. BUT WE KNOW IN THE MAST, WE'VE NOT HAD THE COMMITMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT WORK. AND HENCE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE WORK IMPLEMENTED.
WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENT COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW HERE ON THIS. SO THE WORK CAN BE REAL. NOT JUST THE MONEY. THE WORK CAN BE REAL. AND SO WE'VE GOT A COMMITMENT THIS WORK IS GOING TOE FUNDED FROM A SPECIFIC SOURCE INTO THREE YEARS. WE MAINTAIN THE ONGOING MONEY FROM THE CAO'S
OFFICE SO THAT WHEN WE DO, I INEVITABLY HIT THE CLIFF. IT'LL BE A CLIFF THAT GOES TO ABOUT A QUARTER MI MILLION. IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE DEAL WITH CLIFLS. WE RERESOLVE THEM
ALL THE TIME. I THINK WE TRADE ONGOING MONEY FOR PERMANENT IMPLEMENTATION, A COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT. AND A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT. AND A PROMISE OF NT WE'RE TRADING THIS FOR. I THINK
THAT'S WHY THIS ACTION IS WORTH IT. YOU KNOW, IT IS LONG-TERM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S NO LOST TO THE ITEM. BUT I THINK THAT -- I THINK IT'S WORTH IT. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRADING IS WORTH IT. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL VOTE WITH ME
HERE. FOR US TO OPEN THIS ITEM BACK UP. FOR US TO MAKE THIS AMENDMENT. FOR US TO BEGIN THIS WORK. AND TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAYOFFS THIS YEAR AT CITY HALL. THAT'S ALL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. UMM, THE COUNCIL HAS SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS WORKING ON THE 2026 BUDGET. WE DID SO THROUGH TRANSPART AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS, GIVE INPUT, AND SEE
DECISIONS BEING MADE IN REAL TIME ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT IMPACT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. AND HUNDREDS OF WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AND RESIDENTS CONTINUE ORGANIZING AROUND THEIR PRIORITIES. THEY CAME TO CITY HALL AND TESTIFY,
THEY SIGNED PETITIONS, AND EVEN CALLED AND E-MAILED OUR OFFICES. AND COUNCIL TOOK A OF THAT INFORMATION AND DID ABOUT A DOZEN HOURS OF BUDGET DEBATE AND DISCUSSION IN THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR BUDGET. AND SOME OF OUR VOTES WAS UNANIMOUS. SOME WERE DIVIDED. IT WAS DONE THROUGH A
TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AND REPRESENTATIVES WENT TO BAT FOR THE THINGS THEIR CONSTITUENTS NEED. VOTES WERE TAKEN. AND COMPRISES -- I WANT TO NOTE, NUMEROUS COMPRISES BEFORE WHAT WAS EVEN APPROVED LAST TUESDAY WERE MADE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES COULD SUPPORT WITH TH MAJORITY OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT. AND THEN, AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, THE WHOLE COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT A PEOE-CENTERED BUDGET THAT MEANINGFULLY ADDRESSED SOME OF THE MOST QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN OUR
CITY. IN LIGHT OF THAT, I'M INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINT COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON CHOSE TO SPEND THE PAST 48 HOURS IN CLOSED-DOOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH MAYOR FREY. AND I HAVE RECEIVED A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT 15 MINUTES
AGO PRIOR TO THIS MEETING. CLAIMING THAT THE MOR AND THE BUDGET CHAIR HAD REACHED THEIR AGREEMENT ON A BUDGET AND I HAD NOLUE WHAT THEY WERE REFERRING TO. SINCE THE COUNCIL HAD ALREADY REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET BY ADOPTING IT A WEEK AGO. AND WHATEVER AGREEMENTS WERE MADE BETWEEN THESE
INDIVIDUALS AND THE MAYOR TONIGHT REPRESENTATIVE -- AND I NEED TO STATE THIS. DO NOT REPRESENT ALL OF COUNCIL. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T REPRESENT WORKING-CLASS RESIDENTS IN THE CITY. WHO WEREN'T INVITED TO BACK-ROOM DEALS BEING MADE IN CITY HALL. THIS IS EXACTLY THE BEHAVIOR THAT INSPIRES REGULAR
PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE TRUST IN POLITICIANS. AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO BELIEVED IT'S APPROPRIATE TO UNDERCUT NOT ONLY THE WORK OF AN ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE BODY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UNDERCUT THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE
THAT FROM THE OVERALL DISCUSSION AROUND HOW RESOURCES GET SPENT. AND BOTH OF YOU HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE SEVERAL WEEKS WE HAD THE DEBATE ON IT. AND YOU OPTED NOT TO. AND INSTEAD YOU ARE
PROPOSING JUST FOR REEMPHASIS ON THIS. SWITCHING EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS FROM ONGOI FUNDING TO ONE-TIME FUNDING. WHICH, AS BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED, WILL RESULT IN A FISCAL CLIFF. AND THAT IS GOING AGAINST A
SPECIFIC PARAMETERS OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS ASKED WHEN I STARTED WORKING ON THIS PROJECT ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. AND MAYOR FREY'S STAFF WAS PRESENT IN THE MEETING WHERE IT WAS CLEARLY STATED THAT ONGOING FUNDING WAS NOT NEGOTIABLE TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF A HOUSING-FO ING-FIRST RESPONSE TO
HOMELESSNESS. AND GIVING FAMILIES HOUSING FOR ONE OR THREE YEARS AND THEN TERMINATING IT WILL RESULT IN A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FISCAL CLIFF AND LEAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BEING PUT BACK ON THE STREETS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2027 AND 2029. WHY
WOULD WE ENTERTAIN THAT? WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE AN APPROVED BUDGET THAT PROVIDES ONGOING FUNDING. AND THE SUGGESTION IS, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, BRING A PRO PROMISE SAIR NOTE FROM MAMAYOR FREY SAYS "I GOT YOU"
I'M DISAPPOINTED SOME OF THE COLLEAGUES CHOOSE TO TAKE THE DEBATE OF REGARDING LAYOFFS OF WORKERS. THESE ARE OPERATION NALG DECISIONS ONLY THE MAYOR CAN MAKE. IT'S NOT THE FIRST ME HE USED SENSATIONISM TO SWAY VOTES. WE SAW IT IN REGARDS TO HIM STATING HE WOULD CUT FUNDING AND PASS FUNDING FOR
EMERGENCY SHELTERS TO SUDDENLY CHANGE HIS MIND ONCE THE VOTES WERE TAKEN. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THIS YEAR WHEN MPT OVERSPENT THEIR BUDGET BY NEARLY $20 MILLION. THE MAYOR THAT ACCOMMODATED THAT WITHOUT LAYING OFF ANYONE. DANGLING JOBSN FRONT OF THIS BODY TO HELP HIM
IS INCREDIBLY CYNICAL AND MISLEADING. AND I WILL NOT NORMALIZE NEGOTIATIONS BASED IN BAD FAITH A TAKE PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. I FEEL INCREDIBLY PROUD, HOWEVER,
OF THE WORK MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES DID. WHO DID TAKE THE TIME TO PURSUE THIS PROCESS IN GOOD FAITH. AND IF THERE WERE EVER TECHNICAL OR MINOR AMENDMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE AROUND BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO GET YOU ALL SUPPORT, YOU ALL KNOW I HAD AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY
AND WILLING TO TALK TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.AND EVEN SAID, IF THERE WERE CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE, LIKE WT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSIDERING, THESE ARE EASILY ABLE TO BE ACCOMMODATED EARLY NEXT YEAR. AND YOU DECIDED TO UNDERCUT THAT TODAY. AND I HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON AND COUNCIL VICE
PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. YET FOR SOME REASON, WE'RE HERE DISRUPTING THE PROCESS THAT ACCOMMODATES CHANGES NOT VETTED BY MYSELF AS AUTHOR OF THE AMDMENTS. AS WELL AS THE BODY AS A WHOLE. AND WE SHOULD HAVE FELT CONFIDENT GOING INTO 2026 WITH OUR UNANIMOUSLY-SUPPORTED
BUDGET. WHICH INVESTED SO MANY PRIORITIES WE KNOW IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS FROM HOUSING, UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS, STABLE HOMES, STABLE SCHOOLS, TRAFFIC CALMING CODE ENFORCEMENT, 38 THRIVE. THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT WAS ACTUALLY REFLECTED OF THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS IN WHAT
WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY LAST WEEK. AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS RECONSIDERATION TODAY. THAT UNDOES ALL THAT WORK. AND SETS THE CLOCK BACKWARDS. ACTUALLY, WHO ACTUALLY SHOWS UP FOR WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AMONGST THIS BODY. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE
RECONSIDERATION. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. THERE ARE TWO ORDINANCES WE PASSED ON THURSDAY. THE FRANCHISE FEE FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC THAT WILL PROVIDE THE
FUNDING NEEDED FOR THIS BUDGET. UNTIL THOSE ARE SIGNED, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SUPPORTING A BUDGET THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MEY IN IT FOR THE $4 MILLION FOR WEATHERIZATION AND RETROFITTING I'VE SPENT THE LAST SIX MONTHS DEVELOPING AS A
POLICY. AND SO I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS TO COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AND TO THE MAYOR HE SHOULD SIGN THOSE ORDINANCES AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RECONSIDER THIS BUDGET TO ADJUST FOR THE CHANGES AND AVOID LAYOFFS. BUT I -- THAT'S WHY I WANT TO ADJOURN UNTIL 6:45. SO
WE MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THE SIGNATURES AND PASS THE BUDGET DEAL.. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I'M IN QUEUE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANT TO
SPEAK TO MY GRATITUDE FOR CHAIR CHUGHTAI. I VOTED FOR YOU FOR THE BUDGET CHAIR BECAUSE I TRUST YOUR ULTIMATE WHY AND YOU LED US THROUGH THE PROCESS. I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. YOU'RE GOING TO SOLELY BE MISSED. YOUR ABILITY TO COMPRISE IS NOTED
HERE. UNDER THE SYSTEM WE'VE OPERATED UNDER, THE MAYOR HAS VETO POWER UNDER THE BUDGET. HE IS MELY EXERCISING WHAT HE SEES FIT FOR THE CITY. WE NEED TO TRUST THAT. HE WON THE ELECTION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REFERENDUM ON THE MAYOR'S
ECTION. THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HE WON. >> ASCRIBING -- >> NOT SEEING ANYONE LEFT IN QUEUE. THE MOTION IS TO
RECONSIDER THE BUDGET. WE HAVE TO DISPOSE OF THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER, FIRST. NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN HAS NOTED SHE WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS QUESTION OF THE FRANCHISE FEES. FOR TH VOTE. AND HAD
SUGGESTED ADJOURNMENT. WE COULD TAKE A BRIEF RECESS WHILE WE HAVE THIS ITEM ON THE TABLE. CORRECT, MR. CLERK? >> MR. PRESIDENT, YES. WE CAN TAKE A BRIEF RECESS. I WILL NOTE WE HAVE CAPTIONERS UNTIL 7:00. SO WE CAN WORK WITHIN THAT TIMELINE. AND I HEARD
COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN SUGGEST ADJOURNI TO TOMORROW OR ANOTHER DATE. SO WE CERTAINLY CAN ADJOURN TONIGHT FOR A BRIEF BIT, IF WE NEED TO RECESS. WE CAN CERTAINLY CONSIDER POSTPONEMENT TO THIS ANOTHER DATE AND TIME. >> LET'S TAKE A RECESS TO 6:45.
6:30? YEAH. LET'S TAKE A RECESS TO 6:30. AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A RESOLUTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION YOU CAN DECLARE IN RECESS. IF THERE IS AN OBJECTION, WE NEED TO
VOTE. >> IS THERE AN OBJECTION? >> >>: I'M ON QUEUE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO WHATEVER THE MOTION IS TO COME BACK AT 6:30:00 P.M. >> RECESS THE MEETING. >> RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL 6:30. CAN I GET A SECOND.
>> SECOND. >> SECOND. >> I'LL HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> AYE >> COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ELLESON.
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KOSKI. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> 12 AYES. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT CARRIES. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED UNTIL --
RECESSED! WE ARE TAKING A BRIEF RECESS. WE'LL BE BACK AT LET'S SAY 6:40 NOW. [ MINNEAPOS CITY COUNCIL IS IN A BRIEF RECESS UNTIL
6:40:00 P.M. ]
] [ CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS IN A
RECESS UNTIL 6:40:00 P.M. ]
[ CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS IN A
RECESS UNTIL 6:40:00 P.M. ]
[ CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS IN A
RECESS UNTIL 6:40:00 P.M. ]
[ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
IS IN RECESS ]
WHILE I WASN'T IN NEGOTIATIONS TABLE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPENED. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET SOMETHING SIGNED. GIVEN THE IMPLICATIONS OF NOT BEING TO OVERTURN IT. IN SAVING STAFF FROM ABSOLUTE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
SO WITH THAT, IN CONSIDERATION I'LL B SUPPORTING THE RECONSIDERATION. BUT I WON BE -- I'M NOT HAPPY THIS IS HAPPENING. BECAUSE I DON'T THK THAT IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN IN THIS FASHION. WITH LAST-MINUTE CHANGES. AND OF
OTHER COMPONENTS. I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS TODAY, WHICH LOOKS LIKE WE ARE. I'M SUPPORTING IT, I GUESS. WE HAVE TO DIG DEEP IN FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THIS EMERGENCY HOUSING COMPONENT IS ONGOING FOR THE FUTURE. BECAUSE
I STILL DON'T FULLY TRUST IT'S GOING TO EXIST FOR THREE YEARS. I'M NERVOUS THE MAY WILL DO WHAT HE DID THIS YEAR, NOT IMPLEMENT THEM. AND I WOULD HOPE THIS IS
UP AND RUNNING. MY UNDERSTANDING WITHOUT THIS WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VETO. THAT'S WHY I VOTE FOR IT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I ALSO NEED TO NOTE THAT I APPRECIATE THE SYMBOLIC GESTURES OF SUPPORT FOR THE EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS. IT DOES NOTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT UP TO
150 FAMILIES ARE NOT PUT ON THE STREETS COME 2027. THAT IN A PROMISE SAIR NOTE, ALSO, IS NOT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE. AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE FOLKS OFF THE STREETS. I LOOK FORWARD. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, YOU WON'T BE
BACK HERE TO SEE IT THROUGH. FOR THE REST OF YOU ALL WHO FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT UNDERSELLING OR UNDERFUNDING EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE CREATIVITY YOU COME UP WITH TO FIND A BILLION DOLLARS WHEN THIS FACES A GAP
EARLY NEXT YEAR. AND, ALSO, JUST NEED TO NOTE IN THE SENSE OF THAT, TOO OF IF YOU RESPECTED THE WORK -- NOT EVEN MY WORK, AROUND EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS, WHICH HAS BEEN THREE YEARS IN. THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE CONTINUOUS CHANGING
WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE SITUATION WHERE IT WENT FROM MAYOR FREY STATING HIS ULTIMATE BOTTOM LINE WAS I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY STAFF BE LAID OFF. AND THIS BODY ALONG WITH MYSELF, SPECIFICALLY MY AMENDMENTS,
WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID NOT DO THAT. AND WE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED THAT. AND THEN IN THE LAST MINUTE, IT WENT FROM, OKAY, WE ACTUALLY MET THE
MAYOR'S GOALS ON THA TO, OH, WELL LET'S OPEN THE OTHER THINGS. AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FO HIGHLIGHTING IT'S THE BLACK WOMEN WHO DID THE MOST WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHO BROUGHT FORWARD ISSUES. WE PASSED ORDINANCES TO DO REPORTING. WE HAVE NO
RESOURCES WITH THEIR ASK TO MOVE FROM ENCAMPMENT. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT TAKES AWAY FROM A RESOURCE. TO SAY THAT, FINE, I'M OKAY WITH GIVING ONE-TIME RESOURCES TO THAT AND LETTING A CLIFF HAPPEN AND CHANGING THE GOAL POST ON WORK
THAT MY OFFICE PORED IN WITH DIFFERENT MARKERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM GLAD IN THIS PROCESS I GOT TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES TRULY BE THEMSELVES AND, ALSO, BE OKAY WITH UNDERCUTTING. IT'S NOT ABILITY
E YOUR WILLINGNESS UNDERCUTTING ME. THE FACT IT WAS UNDERMINING HOMELESSNESS AND YOU TONIGHT GET TO WALK AWAY FROM THE MEETING FEELING GOOD ABOUT CELEBRATORY PROMISE FROM MAYOR FREY WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO HOMELESS PEOPLE. YOU KW YOU ARE REDUCING COMMITMENT AROUND
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND GIVING A MILLION BACK TO MPD AND EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS WHO OVERSPENT THEIR BUDGET. ACTUALLY SAYING, MAYOR FRYE, WE'RE GIVING YOU CREDIBILITY TO
NOT IMPLEMENT OFFDUTY. SO I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE PICTURES OF YOU SHAKING HANDS WITH MAYOR FREY AND I HOPE YOU KP THAT SAME ENERGY WHEN UNHOUSED PEOPLE
ARE COMING TO THE CHAMBERS ASKING NEXT YEAR WHAT DO I DO? I GOT ANOTHER DATE I'M BEING PUT OUT. THERE'S A PHYSICAL CLIFF. I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN YOUR SPIRITS AWE YOU PUT THIS
FORWARD. >> SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> OSMAN. >> NO. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> NO. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON.
>> AYE. >> KOSKI. >> NO. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> NO. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE NINE AYES AND THREE NAYS. >> THAT CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE
TO TAKE UP -- SO THAT -- WELL AMENDMENT NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE UP THE AMENDMENT. THERE ARE THREE AMENDMENTS HIGHLIGHTED HERE. WE COULD TAKE THEM ALL AT ONCE OR DIVIDE THEM OUT INTO INDIVIDUAL
AMENDMENTS. TAKE IT ALL UP AT ONCE? SOUNDS LIKE AT ONCE. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER -- >> I WANTED TO SPEAK. LAST
TIME. BEING ON THIS BODY AND HAVING TO MAKE DIFFILT DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE WE PUT OUR DOLLARS AND WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WE PUT OUR MONEY TOWARDS AND WHO ULTIMATELY IS THE BENEFICIARY OF THESE
DOLLARS. IT'S HARD WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER HEAR ANY ARGUMENT FROM ME THERE. SZ HAVING PURE TRUST IN THE MAY YES
OR NO, I DON'T HAVE, TO ME, IT'S BESIDES THE POINT. I CANNOT MAKE BUDGETARY DECISIONS BASED ON WHICH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES I SIMPLY TRUST MORE. I MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON REAL MONEY IN
THE BUDGET. IF PEOPLE ON THE DAIS FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING MATE YOUR'S BLUFF AND WAKING UP TOMORROW TO A STORY ABOUT MEMBERS GETTING THEIR WALKING PAPERS, PACKING THEIR BOX. I'M
NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ PUT IT WELL. IT'S UNNERVING TO ME THAT WE WOULD SEE PROGRAMS NOT IMPLEMENTED YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. BUT IT HAS BEEN WHAT WE'VE
SEEN. A PROGRAM WITH MONEY IN IT AND BEING IMPLEMENTED, I'LL TAKE IT OVER A PROGRAM ON PAPER ANY SINGLE DAY. THAT'S MY
POSITION. I DO, TSM, LIKE TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD IN MY COMMITMENT TO WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE IS QUESTIONED, AND IT'S BEEN -- AND MY COMMITMENT TO BEING A RADICAL LEFTIST OR WHATEVER. WHEN I FACE THE
CRITICISMS, WE TAKE IT IN STRIDE. I'LL TAKE IT IN STRIDE TODAY. BUT THE WORK THAT I'VE PUT IN IS BEYOND. AND SO I JUST LEAVE US THERE. AND I WANT US TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THAT PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO BE HOUSED AS -- FOR REAL. NOT JUST ON PAPER. NOT JUST WRITING ON A PIECE OF PAPER. BUT THE PROGRAM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY HAS BUILT IS GOING TO BECOME REAL AS A RESULT OF TODAY. AND I THINK THAT'S WORTH SOMETHING. WE'RE
GOING TO PREVENT LAYOFFS. T A TIME LIKE, AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS IT ENOUGH. WE'RE GOING TO PREVENT YOFFS IN A JOB MARKET THAT IS TERRIBLE FOR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. I DON'T CARE IF YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE VOTE OR NOT.
THOSE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE VOTE WE'RE TAKING TONIGHT. I KNOW I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. SO ... >> SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF US.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER C CASHMAN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KOSKI. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER
JENKINS. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> TH THAT CARRIES. AND THEN DOES THAT COMPLETE OUR BUSINESS, MR. CLERK, DO WE NEED TO ADOPT THE FULL BUDGET AS AMENDED. >> THAT COMPLETES THE BUSINESS
THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TONIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THE BUDGET IS COMETE. IF THE BUDGET PACKET ADOPTED LAST TUESDAY WITH THREE CHANGES ADOPTED. AND WHILE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE, WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY TO THE COUNCIL VICE
PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE WORK FORCE AND THE CITY. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK TO GET THE CITY BUDGET DONE BEFORE I BREAK FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WITH THAT, ALL BUSINESS BEFORE US IS COMPLETE. AND WE STAND ADJOURNED.