>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELLIOT PAYNE, THE PRESIDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL. AND AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CALL THIS REGULAR PLEATING -- REGULAR MEETING OF THE JULY CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT.
>> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. IS ABSENT. PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE NINE MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE HAVE A QUORUM. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, LET ME REMIND ALL THE MEETING IS BROADCAST TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THE BROADCAST
INCLUDES A REAL TIME CAPTIONING AS A MEANS TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF OUR SPEECH SO OUR CAPTIONERS CAN TRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL TO MODERATE THE SPEED
AND CLARITY OF T THEIR COMMENTS. THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING IS BEFORE US. AND BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL -- ONE ADDITION. AS YOU KNOW, LAST MEETING, THERE
WAS A VOTE ON THE PROGRAM THAT RESULTED IN A TIE. THAT DID NOT DISPOSE OF THE ITEM. YOU'LL NOTE ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA THAT IT'S BEFORE US ONCE AGAIN UNDER
UNFINISHED BUSINESS. THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE PREVIOUS ACTION THAT TIED. WE HAVE SINCE IDENTIFIED THE ACTION. THAT'S PRESENTED IN FRONT OF US. THAT IS THE RESOLUTION ASKING A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A COMMUNITY
SAFETY COMMISSIONER. AT THAT MAY 21st MEETING, THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY AND ALSO RESULTE IN A TIE. HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE NEXT MEETING UNDER UNFINISHED
BUSINESS. THAT WAS AN OMISSION THAT RESULTED FROM A CLERICAL ERROR. I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE RESOLUTIONS -- OH, THE RESOLUTION IS IN LIMS FILE 20 2026-00653 A PRINTED COPY IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY ON THE DAIS.
SINCE IT RESULTED IN A TIE VOTE, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DISPOSE THIS ITEM, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RETURNED FROM COUNCIL'S NEXT REGULAR MEETING ON JUNE 11th. SINCE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, I AM SUGGESTING THAT WE ADD THAT TO CONSIDERATION FOR TODAY'S MEETING UNDER UNFINISHED
BUSINESS. SO THAT WE CAN DO A FINAL DISPOSITION ON THAT ACTION. I'M ALSO GOING TO RECOMMEND, ONCE WE GET TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS, THAT WE TO A PROPER MOTION TO DISPOSE OF THOSE. AND MAYBE I'LL SEEK THE CLERK'S ADVICE WHETHER WE SHOULD DELETE THEM OR WHATEVER THE
APPROPRIATE MOTION IS WHEN WE GET THERE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE PLAN? SEEING NONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, INCLUDING THAT ADDITION. >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND. >> THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENS. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE.
>> 10 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES AND THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED. THE NEXT ITEM IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING JULY 16th. A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE.
>> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> 10 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES. THE MINUTES
HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED. FINAL, THE PROPER COMMITTEES. THE MOTION, PLEASE. >> SO SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE.
>> 10 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES. AND THE MATTERS HAVE BEEN REFERRED. THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM OUR STANDING COMMITTEES. WHICH ARE TAKEN IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE REPORT OF THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND
ZONING COMMITTEE. I'LL CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY AS VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD 20 ITEMS TODAY. ITEM NUMBER ONE APPROVES THE MAYOR'S NOMINATION OF ENRIQUE HA VELASQUEZ TO RECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES. TWO
APPROVES A WINE AND STRONG BEER WITH GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR STRANGE LOOP LABORATORY. ITEM THREE APPROVES AN INTERIM USE PERMIT FOR PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE AT 219 FOURTH STREET SOUTH.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN APPEAL REGARDING THE 300 MINNEHAHA AVENUE DEMOCRACY CENTER. THIS ITEM WAS SENT FORWARD WITHOUT RIGHTS. ITEM FIVE IS A REZONING AND ALLEY VACATION FOR THE DEMOCRACY CENTER AT 300
MINNEHAHA. THIS ITEM WAS SEND FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. ITEM SIXPPROVES FIVE LIQUOR LICENSES. SEVEN APPROVES 32 LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS. EIGHT APPROVES A GAMBLING LICENSE. NINE GRANTS BUSINESS, LICENSE OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR
BLOOMINGTON COMMERCIAL KITCHEN. 10 AMENDS THE 2026 LICENSE FEE SCHEDULE FOR TOW TRUCK SERVICE FEES. 11 AUTHORIZES CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH MACPHAIL
CENTER. 12 IS STATE OF MINNESOTA GRANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. 1 AUTHORIZES DTAP FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. 14 ACCEPTS A BID FOR REPLACING FLOOR BOXES AT THE CONVENTION
CENTER. ITEM 15 DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO CPED DIRECTOR FOR THE OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAMS. 16 ACCEPTS AN AUTHORIZED WATER EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAM FROM THE
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL. ITEM 17 AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT EXTINCTION FOR THE GREEN BELT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. 18 APPROVES A STAFF DIRECTION RELATED TO RENTAL PROPERTIES. 19 AUTHORIZES PGRAM CHANGES TO TH AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST
FUND ORHE AHTF. ASTLY, ITEM 20 AUTHORIZES PROGRAM CHANGES TO THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM. WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE FORWARD ALL ITEMS FOR APPROVAL EXCEPT FOR
ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. AND THEN HAVE A SEPARATE REQUEST VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 1. SO THAT'S ONE, FOUR, AND FIVE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY HAS MOVED APPROVAL OF THE BIZ REPORT
MINUS ITEMS ONE, FOUR, AND FIVE, I'LL RECOGNIZE WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AND STEVENSON. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE REMAINDER OF THE REPORT? SEEING NONE. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL.
>> WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> A. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 11 AYES.
>> THAT CARRIES. AND WE'LL NEXT TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE APPOINTMENT OF ENRIQUE VELASQUEZ FOR DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES. IS THERE ANY COMMENT
OR DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR VELASQUEZ AND EXPRESS MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR. WE SPENT FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN WARD FOUR, AND HAD A GREAT TIME WALKING AROUND THE WARD, LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE
LIVABILITY ISSUESHAT MY COMMUNITY FACES EVERY DAY. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN AMAZING AT CHECKINGHINGS OUT AND UNDERSTANDING, TALKING ABOUT, AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY WANT. THE CITY OF
MINNEAPOLIS TO LOOK LIKE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE TIME WE SPENT IN WARD FOUR ON FRIDAY. YOU'RE ONE OF THE KINDEST, MOST THOUGHTFUL LEADERS I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH. YOU
AG GENUINELY LOVE MINNEAPOLIS. AND YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU SPEND TWO SECONDS WITH YOU. YOU CARE ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS CITY. AND THE LOVE IS REFLECTED IN HOW YOU SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH AND THAT WORK
ALONGSIDE YOU. YOU LEAD WITH RESPECT, COMPASSION, AND UNDERSTANDING. AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT STRONG ORGANIZATIONS ARE BUILT BY INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S HUGE FOR A LEADER! AND I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU.
I RAN INTO SOMEBODY WHO WORKS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT COMING OUT OF THE ELEVATOR, AND I'M CERTAIN WE SPENT AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS TO WORK WITH YOU, AND HOW YOU TREAT THEM AS PARTNER IN THE TIME THAT YOU TAKE TO BUILD THEM UP AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
BUT, ALSO, THE ENTE VISION FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THEY SEE IN YOU THE CARE AND SO THAT INSPIRES THEM TO CARE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, DIRECTOR. WHAT'S ALWAYS STOOD OUT TO ME IS
YOUR RESPONSIVENESS. RATWHETHEM A COUNCIL MEMBER, A CONCERN FROM A RESIDENT, OR A CHALLENGE FACING THE DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE SOMEONE WHOISTENS, YOU FOLLOW THROUGH, AND YOU WORK TIRELESSLY TO FIND SOLUTIONS. YOU NEVER SHY AWAY FROM THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. HEY TYPICALLY
ARE, WHEN IT COMES TO WARD FOUR. THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY MAKE ME COMPRISE A LOT! FRIDAY YOU JUST HAD SO MANY IDEAS THAT I'M SO GLAD THAT AFTER THE DRONES DIDN'T PASS, YOU HAD ALREADY STARTED THINKING
ABOUT WHAT NEXT STEPS ARE FOR GETTING POLICY AND IMPLEMENTING SOME PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP. SO WHEN CHALLENGES ARISE, YOU SEEM TO HAVE GOOD SOLUTIONS. AND I LOVE HOW YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, TOOING WITH FOR TOO, FOR THE DECISIONS YOU
MAKE. THAT'S WHAT GOO LEADERS DO. YOU DON'T BLESS -- PASS THE BLAME OR AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY. DIRECTOR, YOU'RE A VISIONARY. AND SOMETIMES BEING A VISIONARY IS HARD. YOU CONSISTENTLY HAVE LOOKED BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE
CHALLENGES TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BUILD A STRONGER, MORE EFFECTIVE CITY FOR THE FUTURE. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED MOVE FORWARD MINNEAPOLIS WHILE KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES AT THE CENTER OF EVERY DECISION. LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING THE EASY DECISIONS. IT'S
ABOUT SHOWING UP EVERY DAY WITH INTEGRITY, HUMANITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS. YOU EMBODY THAT, ENRIQUE. YOU EMBODY ALL THOSE QUALITIES. MINNEAPOS IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY, FOR THIS
DEPARTMENT, AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CALL MINNEAPOLIS HOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR PARERSHIP, AND YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. UNFORTUNATELY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE REASONS WHY. WE GOT A TTER FROM OUR WORKERS IN YOUR OFFICE. WE HAD A MEETING AND DISCUSSED THAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND TALKING WITH ME DIRECTLY ABOUT
THIS. BUT THE FACTS FROM THE LETTER ARE JUST REALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. DOES THIS INDIVIDUAL EFFECTIVELY RESOLVE WORKPLACE ISSUES? NO. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. YOU TOLD ME
THAT THERE ARE SOME DISCIPLINARY ISSUES HAPPENING I THE PARTNER. I HAVE NO VISION INTO THAT. I HAVE TO TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD AND THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK THAT OUR EMPLEES, OUR STAFF, ARE
VINDICTIVE PEOPLE ARE MAKING THINGS UP. SO I -- THESE TWO TRUTHS HAVE TO BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME. AND SO I URGE YOU TO DO BETTER BY THE STAFF. YOU CAN. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE OUR CONVERSATIONS. AND I APPRECIATE
YOU AS A PERSON. AND I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER. SO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE DO THAT. WE COUNTED THE VOTES. WE KNOW YOU'LL GET APPOINTED. THIS IS ME SAYING ASKING YOU TO STEP UP TO A HIGHER LEVEL THAN I KNOW YOU CAN
DO. ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE ENCAMPMENT RECORDING ORDINANCE. IT'S NOT A SUGGESTION. IT'S AN ORDINANCE. IT HAS TO COME EVERY QUARTER. AND CURRENTLY HAVEN'T HAD ONE YET THIS YEAR. WE'RE IN JULY. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THIS IS NOT A CHOICE. WHETHER IT GETS PRESENTED OR NOT. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE LEVEL UP TO THE LEVEL THAT I KNOW YOU CAN DO. WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGEMENT AND MEETING THE
ORNANCE ON TIME, THESE ARE VITAL THINGS. THESE ARE NOT PREFERENTIAL THINGS. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING YO UR APPOINTME TODAY. I'M ASKING WE WORK TOGETHER ON WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR RELATIONS. OUR STAFF CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THEM. AND
IMPROVE REPORTING ON ENCAMPMENTS. IT'S AN ISSUE DEEPLY AFFECTING OUR CITY. WHICH YOU KNOW EXTREMELY WELL. AND FOR THESE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING YOUR APPOINTMENT. >> I WILL NOTE WE'VE BEEN JOINED
BY VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. AND I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> >> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, YOU HAVE A VERY, VERY HARD JOB. BUT YET YOUR PROFESSIONALISM SHINES THROUGH ALL THE TIME. I FEEL YOUR RELATIONS WITH YOUR STAFF
ARE EXRARE AND I WILL NOT BE SECOND-GUESSING YOUR MANAGEMENT DESIONS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DIGNITY THAT YOU BRING TO THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT SITUATION. IT'S HORRIBLE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED, WE HAVE SEX TRAFFICKING, CRIME, KILLINGS,
SHOOTINGS, BUT YET YOUR APPROACH TO THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR APPROACH. YOUR APPACH IS DIGNIFIED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVIN THE CITIZENS OF MINNEAPOLIS. I WL BE VOTING WITH YOU TODAY. I WILL SUPPORT YOU. AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANKS, PRESIDENT PAYNE. THANK Y, DIRECTOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION IN MY OFFICE I
THOUGHT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ONE. WE GOT TO BE VERY CANDID WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE JOB OF THE REGULATORY SERVICES DIRECTOR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. TT'S WHY I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND FOR DECIDING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
AGAIN. AND COME BEFORE THIS BODY FOR A NOMINATION PROCESS. WHICH IT'S NO SECRET THAT'S NOT EASY EITHER. HA. SO I JUST WANTED TO APPRECIATE THAT. I
WANT TO GIVE YOU A LOT OF PROPS IN YOUR ABILITY TO LISTEN. AND, ALSO, YOUR ABILITY TO SEE THROUGH THE HRT TEAM AND GROW
IT. AND ALSO KIND OF WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND THE WORK WITHIN THE REGULATORY SERVICES T DEPARTMENT. BE IT INSPECTIONS, BE IT ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL, BE IT DOING CONSTITUENT CASES. AS COUNCIL MEMBERS REACH OUT
WITH OUR JOB OF SERVING THE 450,000 PLUS RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT I'M STRUGGL ING IN MY DECISION AND MY CHOICE. BECAUSE NOTHING IS
BLACK AND WHITE. THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE HERE. I APPRECIATED WHEN YOU CAME TO COMMITTEE, YOU SHARED THAT YOUR CHARGE WAS TO COMMUNICATE TRANSPARENTLY, COLLABORATE WITHIN THE CITY WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS, AND DO THE
RIGHT THING NO MATTER WHAT. AND I BELIEVE YOU WILL BE THE RELATORY SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE NT FORESEEABLE TERM. AND I ONLY WISH YOU THE BEST IN ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS TO ITS
FULLEST EXTENT. A SUPPORT YOU FULLY IN ORDER TOO THAT. TODAY, HOWEVER, I'M WRESTLING WITH SOME OF THE PLACES WHERE I FEEL LIKE THE CHARGE DID FALL A LITTLE BIT SHORT. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO MOVE AHEAD WITH AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE. I'LL SHARE YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE. IT WAS THE -- MY OFFICE AND I HAD REACHED OUT ABOUT THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE FACING HOMELESSNESS OVER ON
CEDAR AND 26th. THE NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS I GOT FROM CONSTITUENTS WITHIN MY WARD AND OUTSIDE MY WARD THAT WAS JUST, LIKE, HELP. LIKE, THINGS ARE GETTING TO A BOILING POINT. AND WORKING ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT'S A FAMILIAR TYPE OF PHONE
CALL THAT GETS YOUR CORTISOL LEVELS GOING. YOU NEED TO CONNECT WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CANO. AND I REACHED OUT. AND THEN I FELT DEEPLY SURPRISED BY NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PLAN WAS
MOVI FORWARD. AND SEEING WE WERE GOING TO DO IT THIS BUST OF OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKETS IN THE SPECIFIC AREA. AND I THINK THAT WAS A POINT OF COMMUNICATION AND PLACE WHERE WE COULD HAVE WORKED TOGETHER. I WILL SHARE, LIKE,
I'VE HAD TO HAVE A LOT OF HARD CONSTITUENT CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD. AGAIN, GOING BACK TO WHAT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND IF THE CITY IS GOING INTO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE FAR TOO MUCH AND NOT SEEING THEIR HUMANITY. IF WE'RE GOING BACK
TO THE ERA OF WAR ON DRUGS. AND I BELIEVE IN YOU AND STANDING UP TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND I WILL SUPPORT YOU IN DOING THAT IN THE FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND THE SEAT YOU SIT IN. I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU IN THAT REGARD. UMM, I
THINK THE OTHER PLACE THAT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHERE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IS JUST, LIKE, THE MIXED REVIEWS WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK, LIKE, YOU'RE SOMEO THAT COMMITTED TO ME THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ABSOLUTELY STEP UP TO THE
PLATE TO DO. AND SO I'M LACKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT. AND THEN THE LAST THING IS, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW THE SAME PROBLEMS KEEP ON COMING UP YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO GET DONE AT THE END OF FOUR YEARS. RIGHT. WE HEAR OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE INSIDE. W NEED TO TRIAGE FOLKS AND GET THEM TO HOUSING. THE NAVIGATION CENTER CONTINUES TO POP UP. THE QUESTION ABOUT TINY HOME VILLAGES AND SAFE OUTDOOR SPACES, SAFE PARKING. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. LIKE, ACTUALLY
GETTING TO THE ROOT. THE ISSUES WITH INSPECTIONS. THE WAY THAT WE CAN SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS. I THINK WE CAN GET THERE AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH Y TO GET THERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. I'M NOT ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE TODAY. THAT'S NOT A REFLECTION OF MY WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE GROWTH I THINK WE HAVE BETWEEN THE WARD 12 OFFICE AND ENRIQUE HA VELASQUEZ, DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES
AND WHAT WE CAN DOOR THE CITY. >> I'LL NOTE WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY MAYOR FREY. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO GET IN QUEUE AND BUMP OUT. SHE WAS IN QUEUE FOR MAYOR FREY. I'LL RECOGNIZE MAYOR FRYE. >> THANK YOU FOR DEVIATING FROM
THE SEQUENCING ON YOUR SCREEN. CHAIR PAYNE, VICE CHAIR OSMAN, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO NOMINATE ENRIQUE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES. HE'S SOMEONE THAT APPROACHES HIS JOB
WITH SUCH INCREDIBLE COMPASSION. THE ISSUES THAT HE IS HANDLING ARE THEY NEITHER LACK COMPLEXITY NOR DO THEY LACK DIFFICULTY. IN WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INSPECTIONS, TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT, OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE REGARDING ENCAMPMENTS, OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKETS, AND HOMELESSNESS. THESE ARE ISSUES THAT OFTENTIMES DON'T JUST TOUCH ONE DEPARTMENT. THEY DON'T EVEN TOUCH ONE JURISDICTION. THE VAST MAJORITY
OF SOCIAL SERVICES LIE WITH THE COUNTY ENFORCEMENT LIES BOTH WITH OUR CITY AND EVEN LIES WITH THE STATE, AT TIMES. AND SO IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER. ENRIQUE IS SOMEONE WHO IS A TRIED AND TRUE COLLABORATOR. HE HAS SHOWN THAT TIME AND AGAIN.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATS, WHILE WE HAVEN'T SOLVED THESE ISSUES, WE HAVE NOT. AND THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE PROGRESS IS UNQUESTIONABLE. VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THE DATA SIGNS SHOWS THAT UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS IS DROPPING. IN SOME CASES, SUBSTANTIALLY. THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT WE'RE HOUSING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE MONTH. IN MANY CASES, THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE.
THAT'S DUE TO EN ENRIQUE. THAT'S DUE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND DUE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IT'S DUE TO A PARTNERSHIP. AND ENRIQUE IS NOTHING, IF NOT A TRUE PARTNER IN THIS WORK. HE'S LED LONG-TERM EFFORT TO CREATE
SINGLE CONSISTENT RENTAL LICENSING STANDARD. HE'S WORKED TO INSIST THAT WE WERE BRINGING MPHA INTO THE LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROGRAM. THAT WORK REFLECTS HIS BELIEF THAT
RESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, GENDER, ABILITY DESERVES A SAFE HOME. HIS LEADERSHIP EXPANDS WAY BEYOND HOUSING. UNDER HIS DIRECTION, YOU MAY KNOW THAT ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL HAS BECOME A MODEL NATIONWIDE FOR COMPASSIONATE
COMMUNITY-CENTERED SERVICE. THE DIVISION HAS EXPANDED ACCESS TO LOW AND NO-COST VETERINARY CARE, STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS. HE'S ALSO HELPED A WHOLE LOT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY INNOVATION. THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA PILOT AND CIVILIAN
CRASH INVESTIGATIVE PILOT. HE'S EMBRACED NEW IDEAS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DELIVERING SERVICES MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND MORE RESPONSIBLY. HE'S ALSO CREATED SOMETHING CALLED A TRUE ONE REGULATORY SERVICES TEAM. WHERE PEOPLE WORK ACROSS DIVISIONS TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS LIKE THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE. HE'S STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH SER CITY DEPARTMENTS, HENNEPIN COUNTY, AND STATE AGENCIES. WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT PARTNERSHIP IN THE PAST. HE'S BROUGHT IT. AND THOSE WHO WORKED WITH HIM, UNDERSTAND HE'S A THOUGHTFUL AND
CARING PERSON. I HAVE HEARD FROM STAFF, INDEED, WHO ADAMANTLY DISAGREE WITH THE LETTER THAT YOU GOT ABOUT THE WORK HE'S DONE. AND HOW COMMITTED THEY ARE TO WORKING WITH HIM AND FOR HIM. UNPROMPTED. AND SO I AM CERTAIN
THAT THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD WITH HIM, IF NOTHING ELSE, THEY'RE KIND. HE'S DILIGENT, HE'S URGENT IN THE WORK, AND HE'S WILLING TO APPROACH THESE VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, I'VE
TALKED TO MAYORS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE POLICIES AMONG DEMOCRATIC MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK CITY ARE VIRTUALLY THE SAME. EVERY CITY DOES HARD WORK TO PUT PEOPLE IN HOUSING AND
OFFER CARE AND PROTECTION. EVERY CITY CLEARS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. EVERY ONE. AND SO THIS IS NOT JUST A POSITION FROM ENRIQUE. THIS IS MY POSITION. THIS IS A POSITION OF VIRTUALLY
EVERY SINGLE MAYOR OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION. BECAUSE YOU ALL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU'RE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU'RE IN DEEP TOUCH WITH THE GRASSROOTS OF YOUR WARDS. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL URGENCY. GENUINELY. I CAN TELL
YOU IT'S FELT. IT'S FELT AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. AND I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR HA HAVE A HAS QUESTIONS IS DOING THAT, AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. SIMPLY PUT, HE'S A PERSON WHO DEMONSTRATED VISION, EXPERIENCE, AND A LOT OF LEADERSHIP. HE HAS MY FULL SUPPORT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I ASK FOR YOURS, AS WELL. MY APOLOGIES I'M GOING TO JUMP HERE. I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE ZERO RESOLUTIONS BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING. AND SO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING I'M SIMULTANEOUSLY AT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, DIRECTOR VELASQUEZ FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE BEEN EMBARKING UPON IN WARD FIVE. SPECIFICALLY
AROUND HERITAGE PARK AND YOUR, YOU KNOW, -- [ COMMENTS OFF MIC ] WE OKAY? OKAY. JUST YOUR
SOLUTIONS. COMING ON TOURS AND SHOWING UP FOR ALL OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN HOLDING THERE WITH COMMUNITY. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE WORK WE'RE DOING AT THE CITY AND DOING. I APPRECIATE YOU AND WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> THANK YOU. I MADE MY COMMENT ON LAST BIZ MEETING. BUT I WANT TO MAKE ONE. JUST KIND OF MENTION ONE MORE TIME I FULLY
SUPPORT YOU, ENRIQUE. I LIKE YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND I SAY IT WAS UNFAIR WHAT WE DECIDED AS A CITY TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SERVICES WITH LESS RESOURCES. YOUR TEAM
HAS DEMONSTRATED VERY HUMANE WAY TO REACH TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE. TO REALLY CONNECT WITH THEM. TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE CONNECTION. AND HELP AS MUCH AS
THEY CAN TO MINIMIZE HOMELESS FOLKS OUT ON THE SEET. AND GIVE THEM THE HELP THEY NEED. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGE AND ISSUE IN OUR CITY.
WE NEED MORE RESOURCES, SPEAKING ON THE BUDGET. WE CANNOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THE COUNTY. BUT WE HAVE TO PLAY THISOLE. BECAUSE THESE FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND THR DRUG DEALERS ARE,
YOU KNOW, DOING ALL KIND OF HORRIBLE THINGS TO PUT THESE PEOPLE THROUGH THESE KIND OF CONDITIONS. WE ARE DEALING WITH UNDER THE BRIDGE SITUATION. WHERE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. THERE'S OVERDOSES, THERE'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. THIS IS
OTHER AGENCIES, OTHER GOVERNMENT NEED TO INVOLVE MORE. YOU HAVE THE -- COMING TO THE COMMUNITY MEETING. HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. ALSO, YOU KNOW, PLING THAT CITY SPOKESPERSON
TO GO TALK TO THE COUNTY, METRO TRANSIT, AND OTHERS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I THINK WHAT YOU NEED IS MORE RESOURCES TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE. IT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS THAT
ARE STRUGGLING AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, LESS OPEN THR DRUG USE. LESS NEEDLES. WE NEED TO PUT ALL THE RESOURCES, AS MUCH RESOURCES AS
WE CAN IN THIS ISSUE. YOU HAVE HEARD ME MANY TIMES TALKING ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. st THAT SOME NEIGHBORS ARE STRUGGLING. NOT EVERY CITY IS DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, SO-CALLED OPEN DRUG USE. RIGHT
NOW GO AHEAD, YOU KNOW, WALK TWO OR SIX ON FRANKLIN AND SEE -- YOU'LL SEE THAT. BUT THOSE ARE VICTIMS THEMSELVES. THOSE ARE VICTS. THEY ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. BEING DRUGGED.
AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR SOCIETY TO HAVE THAT KIND OF ADDITION FOR HUMAN BEINGS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT URYO YOU'RE DOING. TO REACH OUT TO COLLEAGUES, TO
ASK RESOURCES. AND I'M HOPING THAT IN OTHER POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY LEADERSHIP AND MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP COULD HELP YOU ADDRESS THIS UNHOUSED SHELTERS
IN A HUMANE WAY. IN A RESPECTFUL WAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING MR. -- I'M SORRY, DIRECTOR VELAZQUEZ'S NOMINATION TODAY. SO THAT HE WILL, HOPEFULLY, CONTINUE SERVING OVER THE COURSE THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE TERM. AS THE
DIRECT OF THE REGULATORY RVICES DEPARTMENT. SO I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SHARING SO FLOWERS ABOUT THE WORK IN THE REGULATORY SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT IS GOING REALLY WELL. IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO THANK
THE INSPECTIONS TEAM AND YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR YOUR WORK WITH MY OFFICE. IN BEST SERVING THE LESS DE DENT -- RESIDENTS OF WARD 10. AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE SECOND MOST RENTER-DENSE WARD IN THE CITY. HOME TO THE SOME OF
THE CITY'S LARGER CONCENTRATION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT TENANTS ACROSS OUR CITY LIVE IN CONDITIONS THAT WE WOULD DESCRIBE AS UNDIGNIFIED AND INHUMANE. INSIDE OF THEIR
PROPERTIES. LIVING IN CONDITIONS THAT WE OURSELVES WOULD NEVER CHOOSE FOR OURSELVEE PARTNERSHIP AND THE URGE SIDE URGENCY THAT MATCHES MY
OFFICE AND THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO SERVE TOGETHER IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE I THE WORK WE'RE ABLE TO DO TO ENSURE THAT
DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP. MY BIG CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S MOVING IN THE DEPARTMENT AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER THROUGH DIFFERENCE AND FIND THE BEST PATH FORWARD THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. THAT GETS TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN
OUR CITY. BUT THE WAY -- THE DIRECTION I SEE OUR CITY MOVING NOW, AS IT PERTAINS TO RESPONDING TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS BREAKS MY HEART. IF WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IS WORTHY OF
DIGNITY. IF WE REALLY, REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT, IF WE TRULY BELIEVE -- AND I DO AND I KNOW YOU DO, THAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, JUST LIKE ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION. IF WE BELIEVE THAT NO PERSON IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD SHOULD LIVE I WORSE CONDITIONS THAN REFE REFUGEE CAMPS, IN WAR-TORN REGIONS, IF WE REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE THAT
EVERY PERSON IS WORTHY OF DIGNITY JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE ALIVE. JUST BECAUSE THEY EXIST. THEN THE WAY WE ARE APPROACHING HOMELESSNESS IS -- IS INCONSISTENT WITH THOSE BELIEFS.
IT'S INCONSISTENT. IF WE BELIEVE THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING, AND I KNOW IT IS, I KNOW YOU KNOW IT IS. THEN THE WAYE'RE APPROACHING THIS ISSUE IS UNCONSCIONABLE. WE'RE NOT PROTECTING ANYBODY. MOVING PEOPLE INTO THE SHADOWS, MOVING
VULNERABLE PEOPLE INTO THE SHADOWS DOES NOT ENSURE SAFETY. IT DOES NOT HOUSE PEOPLE. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE CORE PROBLEMS AS TO W THEY'RE LIVING OUTSIDE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I APPRECIATE
KNOWING THAT EVERY CITY, EVERY MAJORITY, EVERY MAJOR DEMOCRATIC MAYOR IN THE COUNTRY APPROACHES HOMELESSNESS THE SAME. AND YET THAT APPROACH , BECAUSE IT'S CONSISTENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE KNOW IS ONE THAT
CONTINUES TO FAIL. CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS IS A FAILURE EVERYWHERE WE TRY IT. THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS HOUSE PEOPLE, THE ONLY THING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A REDUCTION IN
HOMELESSNESS ISORE HOUSING, IS MORE SERVICES, IS MORE UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS THAT PREVENT HOMELESSNESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE DOES NOT GET US TO A BETTER SOLUTION! I
KNOW YOU KNOW THAT. AND WE SEE THAT EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. SO THIS WAR ON HOMELESS PEOPLE HAS TO END. BECAUSE STRIPPING
PEOPLE OF THEIR DIGNITY, STRIPPING PEOPLE OF THEIR HUMANITY BY SAYING, OH, THEY JUST DON'T WANT HELP. IT'S
UNCONSCIONABLE. AND IT'S NOT WORKING. AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT MY COEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW
SAID. AND I CANNOT SAY IT BETTER THAN THAT. I WON'T TRY AND RESTATE WHAT SHE SAID. AS A LEADER AND A PERSON, WE COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN THE CONSIDERATION, THE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH, THE INTELLIGENCE PAIRED WITH THE COMPASSION. AND
OH, BY THE WAY, THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF ENRIQUE HAVE A VELAZQUEZ. YOU HAVE A HARD JOB. IT'S SUCH A NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT ONE TO KEEP OUR CITY FUNCTIONING. AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE ON THE VERY FRONT LINES OF THIS WORK. I SEE YOU SUPPORT
THEM, HELP THEM TO HANDLE TOUGH SITUATIONS, AND DAYS THEY'RE ALL TOUGH SITUATIONS. DIRECTOR WEB YOU , YOU KNEW THIS ALREADY BUT YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. . >> >>: I'M ADDING MYSELF TO
QUEUE. I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOU TODAY. I WANT TO UPLIFT SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. IT WAS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT THE ASFME LETTER THAT GAVE MORE NUANCE TO THE LETTER. I AGREE
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. THAT'S SOMETHING TO WORK ON. ONE OF THE BIGGER TOPICS I HAVE IN THE ROLE OF HOW DO WE CREATE A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. SO MUCH OF THAT CONVERSATION IS CENTERED ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE CHALLENGES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT THAT DOESN'T ONLY EXIST IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE
THE ONES WITH THE GUNS. RIGHT. AND SO AS WTHINK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLINE AND SEVEN TESTS OF JT CAUSE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE CONSISTENT IN HOW WE'RE DELIVERING THAT. THAT'S TRUE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS IT IS IN EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT. AND WE SHOULD
BE PARTNERING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRONG AND ACCOUNTABLE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRENTERPRISE. ESPECIALLY IN REGULATORY SERVICES. YOU'RE IN THE COMMUNITY, IN A WAY, ON THE FRONTLINES. SIMILAR TO MPD. JUST WITHOUT THE GUNS. THERE
ARE CONSEQUENCES TO YOUR BODY OF WORK, AS WELL. ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT THE LIVING CONDITIONS. WHETHER THEY'RE IN AN APARTMENT THAT DOESN'T HAVE HEAT OR WATER. OR WHETHER THEY'RE UNSHELTERED NEIGHBORS. THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE, TOO. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE UP
WORDS OF THE MAYOR. THIS IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN ONE DEPARTMENT. AND I DON'T THINK THE CITY IS BEING SUCCESSFUL AT ADDRESSING THIS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT BETTER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. SHE'S EXPRESSED MY SENTIMENTS PERFECTLY. WE'RE FAILING THIS
COMMUNITY. PROFOUNDLY. I DON'T SEE THAT AS YOUR PERSONAL FAILURE. I SEE IT AS OUR INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE. AND WHY THE REGULATORY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE LEAD FOR SOMETHING THAT IS
AS CHALLENGING AND COMPLEX AS UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, WITH THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF UNEQUAL SOCIETY THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS WEALTH INEQUALITY NEVER SEEN IN
THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY. WE'RE THE WEALTHIEST NATION THAT HAS EXISTED IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY AND WE HAVE THE BIG BIGGEST. WHY IS THAT A REGULATORY SERVICES CHALLENGE TO SOLVE? THAT'S COMPLETELY INSANE
TO ME. I THINK IT'S A FAILURE OF THIS INSTITUTION. AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BEYOND THIS CONVERSATION IN YOUR APPOINTMENT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD LIVE AT A DEPUTY COO LEVEL? SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT CROSS-DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION.
SHOULD THIS LIVE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE? BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEBATE HERE. WAS IT A MISTAKE TO MOVE IT FROM PUBLIC HEALTH TO REGULATORY SERVICES. IT'S BIGGER THAN THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. RIGHT. MAYBE IT
OUGHT TO LIVE AT A DEPUTY MAYOR LEVEL. AS WE SEE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. SO THAT WE HAVE THAT ENTERPRISE-WIDE APPROACH. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WORKING. YOU HAVE BEEN SET UP TO FAIL IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. I'M NOT GOING TO USE THAT AS A
REASON TO VOTE AGAINST YOU. BUT IT IS A REASON TO SAY THAT WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT. SO THAT IS MY SENTIMENT ON THAT. AND I'M HOPING YOU'LL BE A GREAT GOVERNING PARTNER IN FIGURING OUT THE BETTER PATH.
AND I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER SHA SHAFFER. >> I JUST WANT TO STATE, AGAIN, YOUR WORK AND YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO WARD SEVEN IN THESE LAST FEW MONTHS. WE HAVE TACKLED A LOT OF RESIDENT ISSUES WITHIN OUR WARD.
THAT HAVE BEEN VERY SIGNIFICANT. AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLIC LY I WILI WILL YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I AM THRILLED TO WORK WITH YOU AND WILL BE CONTINUALLY SUPPORTING YOU IN THE YEARS AHEAD AND HOPE OUR
PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO GROW EVEN CLOSER. I CAN TELL YOU, YOUR WORK IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS HAS HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE REALLY GREAT IMPACT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. YOU KNOW. AS WE HEAD INTO SOME OF THESE THINGS. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR THAT, UMM, YOU HAVE BEEN REALLY A KEY PARTNER AND HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN TRYING TO STRATEGIZE AROUND ISSUES MY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN HAVING. SO THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW YEARS. >> SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN
QUEUE, IL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THEOLL. >> COUNC MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> NAY. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> NO. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> NO. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE NINE AYES AND THREE NAYS. >> THAT CARRIES. NEXT WE'LL TAKE UP -- BEFORE WE TAKE UP ITEM FOWRP, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN TO SHARE HOW HE WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> OH. THANK YOU. CLERK. THE CONSENT AGENDA ALL AYE EXCEPT NO
FOR NINE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER FOUR. COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY, SHOULD WE TAKE FOUR AND FIVE TOGETHER OR AS SEPARATE ITEMS?
>> WE CAN TAKEHEM TOGETHER. IF THE BODY WANTS TO SPLIT IT DOWN THE LINE, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, TOO. >> OKAY. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRESIDENT PAYNE. AND I JUST WANT TO START
OFF LOOKING AT THE ITEM. THIS IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PRELIMINARY PLAT SITE PLAN APPEAL. AND, FIRST, I WANT TO START OFF BY GING A BIGHANK
YOU TO THE FOLKS AT THE HOOK AND LADDER. AND IN DOWNTOWN LONGFELLOW. THE BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE AREA THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE. THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. HE REPRESENTS THE AREA IN THE NINTH WARD. I SAY THAT ALL MY
CONSTITUENTS ARE ALWAYS OVER THERE. AND I'M ALWAYS OVER THERE. SO IT'S A HUGE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY! I WANT TO THANK THEM NOT JUST FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO THESE ITEMS, BUT, ALSO, THE NUMBER OF YEARS THEY'VE PUT
INTO THIS CITY. THE CARE THEY'VE PUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY. HOOK AND LADDER HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN AN INCLUSIVE PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND OUR LGBTQIA COMMUNITY, IN OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY, IN OUR COMMUNITY OF ARTIS. IT'S BECOME AN IMPORTANT HUB. AND I WOULD S THE SAME FOR ALL OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, BE IT MOON PALACE BOOKS, THE COLISEUM.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN IMPORTANT TO GROUND US IN THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT 300 MINNEHAHA AND THE DEMOCRACY CENTER WITHOUT TALKING OUT THE IMMENSE PAIN THAT CAME FROM THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE HANDS OF MINNEAPOLIS
POLICE OFFICERS AND THE VIONCE OF THOSE OFFICERS ON TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY FOLLONG PROTESTS OF THAT POLICE MURDER. AND LEADING TO THE UPRISING, LEADING TO THE BURNING OF THE THIRD PRECINCTS.
I'LL NEVER SANITIZE THAT HISTORY. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO IT. AND THE HOOK AND LADDER AND THE BUSINESSES IN THE AREA HAVE DEEPLY STRUGGLED OVER THE YEARS. DUE TO IMPACT AND JUST THE TRAUMA. THE TRAUMA OF A
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING THIS. AND I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME PITIVES. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REALLY COMING TOGETHER IN DOWNTOWN LONGFELLOW TO CE BACK, TO BE STRONG, TO BE VIBRANT, AND CREATE SPACES AND PLACES F PEOPLE. IT WAS
AMAZING DURING THE WORLD CUP THIS YEAR! SEEING THE AREA THAT HAD A BUILDING THAT WAS BURNT DOWN. IT WAS A GASSY FIELD TURNED INTO A PLA WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GATHER. HAVE A PLACE TO SIT, WATCH THE
WORLD CUP, AND THEN VISIT THE BUSINESSES IN THE AREA. SOUL OF THE SOUTH SIDE IN THE AREA. ND I SAY ALL THIS TO SAY THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE DESIGN OF 3,000 MINNEHAHA DEMOCRACY CENTER. ESPECIALLY THE ALLEY VACATION. THE SITE
PLAN. AND CONCERNS IT'S GOING TO FURTHER BE A NEGATIVE IMPACT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE LISTENING. WHEN Y HAVE NOT ONLY ONE BUSINESS REACHING OUT TO YOU, BUT YOU HAVE SEVERAL BUSINESSES, AN ENTIRE CORRIDOR REACHING OUT TO YOU, SHARING
THEIR CONCERNS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE YOUR RESIDENTS SAYING WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS AREA. AND HOW THIS PROJECT MIGHT IMPACT IT. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT LIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY IN COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ AND I TRIED TO GET
SOME EXTRA TIME TO WORK OUT SOME MORE DETAILS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN REGARDS TO THE PLANNING AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS VOTED DOWN. AND I WANT TO THE JUST SHARE TO THOSEHO ARE TUNING IN EITHER HERE OR LISTENI. IT'S
CLEAR THAT THE WAY THAT THE DESIGN IS, IS MOVING FORWARD THAT'S JUST BASED OFF OF WHERE THE WILL THIS COUNCIL BODY IS. I BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. I BELIEVE IT'S A GREAT ACTIVATION FOR THE AREA. I
THINK THE WAY THAT ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU ALL AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAS NOT BEEN GREAT. I HAVEN'T BEEN QUIET ABOUT THAT. I'M DISAPPOINTED WE AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE HERE FOR YOU. HOUR, I WANT TO SHARE
WITH THE BODY AND THOSE LISTENING, I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT DOES CREATE A CONDITION THAT I THINK COULD PROVIDE SOME MORE CHANCE FOR US TO BRING SOME THINGS TOGETHER. IT'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR. BUT IT IS
SOMETHING. I'LL READ IT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE. WITH THE DENIAL OF THE APPEAL, WE'RE I'M MOVING TO PUT A CONDITION THAT SAYS THAT THE APPLICANT, WHICH IS THE CITY, SHALL WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE DATE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY BEING ISSUED CONSULT
WITH THE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN LONGFELLOW, AND THE BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND FINALIZE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR PUBLIC USE OF THE REDEVELOPED SURFACE PARKING LOTS ON THE 3,000 MINNEHAHA AVENUE AND 3033
SMELLING AVENUE PARCELS, INCLUDING ADA ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES, AT A MINIMUM DURING THE TIMES WHEN THEY'RE NOT BEING USED BY A CITY OCCUPANT. THIS PUTS IN WRITING THAT THERE WILL BE A SHARED USE AGREEMENT FOR
PARKING. THERE WILL BE A DEFINITIVE AND TRANSPARENT TIME IN WHICH IT WILL B IMPLEMENTED. IT DOES ALSO SAY THAT THE BUSINESS DISTRICT MUST BE CONSTED IN PLANNING TS OUT. CREATING A PLACE FOR ENGAGEMENT AND FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO B CONSULTED. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST
BEEN AN ISSUE AT THE TOP. WE'RE JUST NOT BRINGING ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE NEIBORHOOD TOGETHER, AS WE'RE MAKING THESE CHOICES AND DECISIONS. WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT MOVING FORRD. AND I HOPE THIS CONDITION ISN'T THE ONLY PLACE IT'S GOING TO BE. I'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT. AND, COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT IN THIS TODAY. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. AH, FIRST, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. THE VOTER SERVICES CENTER. IT WAS A
PROJECT THAT I INITIALLY DID NOT SUPPORT. I DID NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT FOR A VARIETY OF CONCERNS THAT I HAD. PART OF IT WAS MY OPINION THAT THERE STILL ISN'T ENOUGH COMMUNITY SPACE. ALL THOUGH I'M EXCITED FOR THE COMMUNITY SPACE COMPONENT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD COMMUNITY
ASSET. THE COMPONENT OF WINDOWLESS, COMPONENTS OF THE DEMOCRACY CENTER, THE LICENSE AND VOTER SERVICE CENTER, WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT. AND I HAD BEEN EXPRESSING THOSE CONCERNS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I DO THINK THAT STAFF COULD HEAR SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD. AND
THEY WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE PARTICULAR CONCERNS. SO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THEM MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO THE WINDOWLESS STUFF THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE A LOCATION ON LAKE STREET THAT WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I
THINK THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS I'VE HAD. I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THAT COMPONENT. I REALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY COMPONENT. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A BIG ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT IN THE NINTH WARD.
AND I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF 3,000 MINNEHAHA. I THINK AS WE TAKE THIS VOTE TODAY, AND AS WE HEAR FROM NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA, I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I WANT IS A PROJECT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE
FRUSTRATION, MORE OPPOSITION, WHEN IT'S A PROJECT THAT I HOPE BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER. SO I GUESS WHAT MY ASK IS, I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT THIS MOTION. I THINK IT'S A MIDDLE GROUND TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ASKING FOR.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR. IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. IT WON'T BE. IT WON'T BE EVERYTHING EVERYONE IS ASKING FOR. I THINK IT TRIES TO DO THIS APPROACH OF NOT STOPPING A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO ACTIVATE THE LAKE STREET
CORRIDOR BUT ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT EVEN FOLKS THAT WANT IT TO HAPPEN. ARE SHOWING THE FRUSTRATIONS. SO I GUESS WHAT I WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IS TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MOTION. SO THEN WE CAN APPROVE THE REST OF THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
CHAVEZ, I AM IN QUEUE HERE. SO MY COMMENT IS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS -- THERE WAS A BACKGROUND CONVERSATION THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY'S LEADERSHIP. ABLE TO TALK TO THE STAFF AND GO THROUGH THIS
MOTION. AND THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN ANY, YOU KNOW, RESISTANCE ON THIS. SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL SHOW THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES. AT THE SAME TIME. JUST MAKING THE COMMUNITY A LOT,
YOU KNOW, COMFORTABLE. THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE TRUSTING US AND SHOULD BE TRUSTING THE GOVERNMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL I THINK THIS LANGUAGE MAKES IT WORKING. IT MAKES THE
RELATIONSHIP WORK BETTER. MAYBE NOT HAVING ADA PARKING. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT. WE ENFORCE THE ADA POLICY. WE' THE CITY. BUT TO PUT IT IN LETTER, LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WE'RE THERE TO
WORK WITH YOU. WE' SUPPORTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND WE ARE A GREAT COMMUNITY THAT IS MOVING FORWARD AND PROGRESSING. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COLLEAGUES TO WORK WITH US. THIS HAS BEEN A
COLLABORATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY AND MY OFFICE. AND TO SPEAK TO THE STAFF ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU..
THANK YOU. NEXT IN LINE IS COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE HERE AT THE SAME TIME. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN LONGFELLOW BUSINESS DISTRICT AND DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEIR SUCCESS. GIVEN THE HISTORY OF
3,000 MINNEHAHA AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR LIVELIHOODS. I GIVE ALL THAT DUE DEFERENCE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY IN THIS VICINITY. AND WE CAN ALSO BUILD A DEMOCRACY CENTER THAT MEETS OUR NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND BRINGS AN
INCREDIBLY VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT ASSET TO THIS AREA. AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE TODAY. WE WOULD, I NEED TO POINT OUT, WE WOULD NEVER PUT A CONDITION LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER APPLICANT. IT'S ONLY BECAUSE
THE APPLICANT HERE IS THE CITY. WE WOULD NEVER DO THIS TO ANY OTHER APPLICANT. BUT THESE TWO THINGS SUPPORTING THE DOWNTOWN LONGFELLOW BUSINESS DISTRICT AND BUILDING A DEMOCRACY CENTER ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. WE'RE GOING TO DO BOTH OF THESE THINGS AT
THE SAME TIME TODAY. WHICH IS GOOD. WE HE THIS CONDITION TO ALLOW FOR SHARED USE OF THE PUBLIC PARKING AREAS OF THE DEMOCRACY CENTER THAT WE WILL FIGURE OUT AFTER IT OPENS. WE HAVE BEEN GOOD PARTNERS HERE. LISTENING TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS
AND RESPONDING WITH MODIFICATIONS TO OUR PLAN. TO OUR OWN DETRIMENT. WE'VE MADE MODIFICATIONS TO OUR PLAN. MY BIGGEST WORRY IS THAT ANY FURTHER DELAY WOULD HAVE A CUMULATIVE EFFECT. IT WOULD MEAN THAT THE DEMOCRACY CENTER
WOULDN'T BE READY FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. WE NEED TO HAVE FULL OCCUPANCY AHEAD OF THAT ELECTION IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THINGS LIKE EARLY VOTING, ET. CETERA. WE ARE FINALLY IN A PLACE TO MEANINGFULLY MOVE THIS SPACE
FORWARD. FROM BEING A FIRE-DAMAGED BUILDING TO SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. I WANTED TO THANK OUR ARCHITECTURE GROUP AND ALL OF THE TIME THEY'VE SPENT ON THIS. AND ALL THE TIME THEY'VE SPENT IN COMMUNITY WORKING OUT ISSUES FOR
THIS. IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF VOTES. IT'S BEEN DELAYED FOR EVEN MORE CONVERSATIONS OF PLANNING COMMISSION. IT'S INVOLVED ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A BUILDING
IN MY TIME HERE. ALL OVER THE CITY. THIS BUILDING IS NOT WHAT IT WAS. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY FOR DEVELOPING THIS PLAN. I SEE IT AS A COMPRISE THAT I CAN SUPPORT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE.
AND U I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. I THINK THE ENTIRE BODY UNANIMOUSLY AGREES WITH. I THINK MINNEAPOLIS IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE SEEN THIS SITE SPECIFICALLY BE USED AS A PROP FOR ULTRA CONSERVATIVE MAGA REPUBLICANS
CONSISTENTLY. AND I THINK THIS IS A VERSION. I KNOW I HEARD IT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS I'VE HEARD IT FROM MANY OF MY RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT TO BE THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD, WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT MEET THAT STANDARD.
AND I THINK A VERSION OF THIS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THIS BUILDING SIT HERE AS A BURNED OUT SITE OF ONE OF THE HARDEST MOMENTS IN HISTORY FOR OUR CITY. AND I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUE TO THE LEFT HERE OF FIGURING OUT AN OPPORTUNITY. FIGURING OUT A COMPRISE THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO RELIVE A VERSION IN OUR CITY THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT THE BEST OF WHAT WE CAN BE.
THANK YOU FOR FIGURING OUT AN OPPORTUNITY AND A COMPRISE TO CONTINUE MOVING THIS FORWARD. AND ENSURE THAT THERE ISN'T ANYMORE UNDUE DELAYS ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I WANTED TO JUST GET IN QUEUE
AGAIN TO JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT T THIS PROCESS. WHEN THIS ARRIVED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT WAS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE. APPROACH BY NOT JUST THE HOOK AND LADDER, BUT SEVERAL OF OTHER BUSINESSES.
THE BUSINESS DISTRICT THEY HAD NOT BEEN CONSULTED WITH AS I CAME TO THE DESIGN OF THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. AND THE IMPACTS ON THAT. AND NOT CONSULTED IN THAT. NOT BROUGHT
IN ENOUGH. THAT WAS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS, AFTER L, THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. IT'S IRIC FOR US NOT TO DO THE ENGAGEMENT NECESSARY THAT IS MOVING ON THIS. WE HAVE TO, IN THIS MOMENT, TAKE THIS VOTE, MAKE A RECOMMITMENT AS WE EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY OF BUILDING THIS
OUT. THAT WE ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE AREA. AND IF WE DON'T, IT'S JUST DEEPLY UPSETTING FOR ME AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM ME. EVERYONE WILL BE HEARING FROME. AND I WANT YOUR SUPPORT IN ENSURING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT MOVING
FORWARD. THAT WE CAN BE PROACTIVE HERE. AND THAT DELAY IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO FORGE A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN TO MOVE THIS ALONG. IT JUST ABSOLUTE I WILL NOT A PLACE WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE. I THINK
THE OTHER THING TO SHARE HERE IS DOWNWN LONGFELLOW, THIS AREA HAS FELT SO, SO OVERLOOKED. AND I'VE HEARD COMMENTS HERE AND THERE WHERE PEOPLE AND FOLKS ARE
LIKE IT'S ONE BUSINESS SPEAKING OUT. I WANT TO CLARIFY IT'S NOT JUST ONE. LIKE, HOOK AND LADDER IS AN ANCHOR BUSINESS FOR THIS AREA. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE HOOK, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE
COLISEUM, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE. THERE'S A WHOLE BUSINESS DIRICT BEHIND THEM. AND THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF WORK OUTSIDE THIS THAT WE AS A BODY NEED TO DO. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO SHOW UP FOR IN SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN
LONGFELLOW AND BRINGING IT TO VIBRANCY. THE BUSINESS GROUP THERE IS CALLED LONGFELLOW RISING FOR A REASON. THEY WANT TO SEE A FUTURE HERE. THAT SUPPORTS EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY MEMBER, WHETHER THEY WORK, PLAY, OR LIVE IN THE AREA. TO BE
SUPPORTED. AND AN AREA THAT IS DEEPLY DIVERSE AND HAS A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING PEOPLE WE AS THE CITY NEED TO START HAVING A NEW CHAPTER AND HOPING UP THIS -- WORKING ON THIS DEMOCRACY CENTER AND ALSO SUPPORTINGOWNTOWN LONGFELLOW WITH THE MNITUDE THAT WE
SUPPORT OTHER BUSINESS DISTRICTS. PERSONALLY FROM THE ENGAGEMENT WE'VE DONE IN THE AREA, WE'RE NOT MEETING THE MOMENT IN THE CITY IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT WE CANO HERE. AND IT GOES BACK TO THE CORNER OF THE BURNT THIRD PRECINCT BEING LE YEAR AFTER YEAR, BARBED
WIRE LEFT ON. LIKE, IT'S NOT OKAY. AND PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THAT YET. AND I AGREE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN A REASON YET. THERE'S REPAIR THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE PRO ACTIVE WORK ON THE DEMOCRACY CENTER AND HOW WE SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
VIBRANCY IN THIS AREA IS HOW WE DO THE REPAIR WORK. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> ANYONE FROM CPED HERE THAT I CAN ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF? NO. I'D LIKE TO KNOW, MAYBE,
COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY OR CHAVEZ YOU CAN STEP IN ANSWER SOME OF THESE. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WITH THIS PARKING. IS THIS GOING TO BE INSTALLING METERS THEN THAT THE BUSINESSES WOULD USE IN THE EVENING? CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COSTS AROUND -- OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE A FREE
PARKING? >> YEAH. T LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANDREW HERE FROM PLANNING. MAYBE YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS ALWAYS AN INTENTION FROM THE CITY TO HAVE A SHARED USE
AGREEMENT FOR PUBLIC USE ON THIS SITE. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CONVERSATIONS AROUND METERING. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER, ANDREW
WITH CPED PLANNING. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION. >> I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY PLAN AS WE LOOK TO THE TRANSITION AND DISCUSSION YOU'RE GOING TO BE HAVING WITH THE COMMUNITY. IF THESE WERE GOING TO BE METERED PARKING LOTS THEN FOR EVENING USE OR IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A COST ASSOCIATED
WITH THESE SPACES TO THE BUSINESS DISTRICT. OR THOSE THAT USE THE SPOTS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER, THAT WOULD BE ENTIRELY UP TO PROPERTY SERVICES. SO PROPERTY SERVICES IS THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE APPLICANTERE. SO THEY WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES
TO COME UP WITH HOW THE SHARED USE AGREEMENT IS GOING TO FUNCTION. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REGULATED BY CPED. >> OKAY. BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF OUR PARKING IN THE -- AND DO WE HAVE OTHER AGREEMENTS LIKE THIS WHERE WE ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS TO USE OUR PARKING
LOTS THAT ARE NOT METERED? >> AH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER, I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DIRECTED TO PROPERTY SERVICES. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CPED WOULD REGULATE. >> I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT IN THIS DISCUSSION. BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S -- IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW,
THAT MOST OF THE CITY AND OUR CITY-OWNED LAND, WE EITHER HAVE CITY PARKING LOTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SERVICED WITH PAYMENTS. OR ELSE OUR PARKING METERS. AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE. IS THIS, UMM, SETTING
PRECEDENT? >> AH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THIS WOULD NOT BE SETTING PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF FUTURE APPLICATION. >> OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW. UMM, I JUST THINK THAT PARKING ON OUR STREETS AND PARKING LOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR REVENUE STREAM. AND FOR US TO BE INCONSISTENT IN THAT FEELS A LITTLE, UMM, HARD TO SWALLOW, I THINK. YOU KNOW, 31st AND LAKE. WE LOST ALL OUR PARKING. UPTOWN WE LOST A TON ON
HENNEPIN. THERE WERE NO CONCERNS THEN. SO I APPRECIATE THE NEEDS OF PARKING. I REALLY DO. I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT. SO I APPRECIATE THE NEEDS OF THE LONGFELLOW DISTRICT. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A QUESTION HERE AROUND MAINT MAINTENANCE, AND, OBVIOUSLY, THE METERS IS HOW WE MAINTAIN OUR PARKING LOTS. THE COST IS HOW WE MAINTAIN SOME OF OUR STREET STUFF. SO THAT'S MY BIG
QUESTION HERE. IS, UMM, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE US SOME MORE BACKGROUND ON THAT. BUT, UMM, I'M NOT -- I'M -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS TO THAT -- IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO METER THEM OR NOT.
>> THANKS FOR RAISING THOSE CONCERNS, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. THAT WOULD BE UP TO PROPERTY SERVICES AS THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. AND I KNOW THEY'RE LISTENING HERE. AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AT A FUTURE DATE. >> OKAY. WELL, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO CAST A VOTE WITHOUT KNOWING THAT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S KIND OF AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION, IN SOME WAYS. BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES. I THINK THIS IS A VALID REQUEST. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE COSTS, UMM, AS WELL. AND WE DON'T WANT TO, UMM, BE INCONSISTENT AS A CITY.
THANK YOU. >> THANKS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBERS CHOWDHURY AND CHAVEZ FOR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THIS COMPRI. AND AT THE SAME TIME
KEEPING THE LONG-TERM GOALS O THE CITY IN MIND. EQUALLYITH THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I'LL BE VOTING FOR THIS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I THINK FOR ME, IT'S THIS IS A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE.
THIS IS MINNEHAHA AREA. IT'S AN AREA THAT WAS ON FIRE. BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT LAKE STREET IN THIS AREA WERE SET ON FIRE. THIS IS A BUSINESS AREA THAT WAS DEVASTATED BY THE UPRISING IN THE SUMMER OF 2020. AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD THAT CAUSED A WORLD-RIDE RACIAL
RECKONING. IT'S A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE. IT'S AN AREA THAT HAS FACED SO MUCH TRAUMA. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO RECOGNIZE. AND I WILL SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER INITIATIVES ABOUT FREE PARKING IN UPTOWN ON FRIDAYS. SO THIS ISN'T A NEW
THING. UPTON GETS FREE PARKING ON FRIDAYS. I THINK THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT MADE THIS YEAR OR SOMETHING. BUT HA-HA. SO I WOULD SAY IT ISN'T JUST ON THE LAKE STREET PART THAT I REPRESENT. THERE HAS BEEN PRECEDENT IN THE PAST. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON.
>> THANK YOU. UMM, I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT COCIL MEMBER U SHAFFER, YOU BROUGHT UP SOME EXCELLENT POINTS ON PARKING POCY, IN GENERAL. AND THE VALUOF OUR PARKING LOTS. AND THE PUBLIC SPACE THAT WE
DEDICATE TO PARKING, IN GENERAL. WE DEDICATE, LITERALLY, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PUBLIC LAND TO PARKING. IT HAS A HUGE MAINTENANCE COST. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING
DISUKSES DISCUSSIONS ON PARKING METERING AND REVENUE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. I WANT TO MENTION THE FREE PARKING UPTOWN. AS MUC AS I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE THE CITYHOULD BE PROVIDING AS MUCH FREE PARKING A AS IT IS, TO
PROVIDE IT IN UPTOWN AND NOT PROVIDE IT IN LONGFELLOW IS A LITTLE ODD. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS. BUT BEING GENUINE, I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ON PARNG POLICY TO RECOUP THE IMMENSE COSTS THAT
WE'RE PUTTING OUT FOR PARKING ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AH, UMM, MY COLLEAGUES TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH. BUT, UMM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO START, FIRST START BY TALKING ABOUT,
UMM, THE -- I'VE HEARD A COUPLE -- A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES, AH, OVER THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. AH, THAT -- THATHIS IS, UMM, THIS FRAMING THAT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITY-OWNED PIECE OF PROPERTY. AND IT'S -- IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE IKNON THIS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UMM, WHO DIRECTLY REPRESENT THIS AREA ALL HAVE A SHARED UNDERSTANDING, UMM, THAT -- THAT REALLY HAS BEEN SHAPED BY THE IMPACTED
COMMUNITY. UMM, THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ANY OTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY. AND TO TREAT IT AS SUCH IS A MISTAKE. AND ONE THAT JUST LEADS TO MORE HEART ACHE FORVERY PERSON INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. SO, UMM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM WORDS LIKE
"PRECEDENT" WE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM WORDS LIKE "CONSISTENCY" BECAUSE -- BECAUSE THIS IS -- THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION. UMM, SECOND, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PARKING FUND. SO,
UMM, ALL REVENUE THAT IS GENERATED BY PARKING IN THE CITY GOES INTO THE PARKING FUND, WHICH IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND HERE AT THE CITY. HE PKING FUND, UMM, TOOK A HIT. JUST LIKE ANY
OTHER,MM, ANY OTHER ONE HERE AT THE CITY. WHEN COVID HAPPENED, UMM, A THIS IS, UMM, THE REVENUE THAT THE CITY COLLECTS FROM PARKING HAS BOUNCED BACK IN A WAY THAT WE
HAVEN'T SEEN OTHER ASPECTS. AND THE HEALTH OF THE PARKING FUND IS INCREDIBLY EXCELLENT REVENUE GENERATED THERE. IT'S ABLE TO BE USEDN LAWFUL WAYS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR CY. AND
SO I WANT TO ALLEVIATE CONCERNS HERE ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY DO TO THE HEALTH OF PARKING REVENUE. I DON'T THINK IT'S AONCERN HERE. AND TN WANTED TO LIFT UP THAT JUST THIS YEAR, IN THE MAYOR'S ANNUAL ATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, HE
NOUNCED AN ITIATIVE TO BRING FREE PARKING TO UPTOWN. THAT'S A LOSS OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY. IF WE CAN DO THAT FOR UPTOWN, BECAUSE WE WANT THE ECONOMIC VIBRANCY OF UPTN TO BE PRIORITIZED AND, U KNOW, I CAN
DISAGREE ALL DAY AND NIGHT ABOUT, UMM, WHETHER A FREE PARKING PAC SPACE IS GOING TO CTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE AREA OR NOT. BUTHAT'S -- THAT'S CHOICE WEID MAKE. AND WE CHOSE TO INVEST IN UPTOWN IN THIS WAY. AND ASK THE PERSON
THAT REPRESENTS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE UOWN CORRIR, I WOULD FIND IT TO BE INCREDIBLY DISINGENUOUS FOR US TO NOT ALSO -- FOR ME TO NOT ALSO BE A, UMM, AN ADVOCAT FOR MAKING SURE
THAT THE LONGFELLOW COMMUNITY IS GETTING ITS NEEDS MET. GIVEN ALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CORRIDOR. SO, UMM, SO WANT TO -- WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN -- IN, UMM, IN SUPPORTINGHIS
COMPRISEPATH FORWARD. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> THANK YOU. YEAH. JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS. AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE SAID. THE
UPTOWN FREE PARKING IS FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHTS. IT'S ENDING IN A FEW WEEKS. IT'S PROBABLY THE -- IT'S NOT ALL OF UPTOWN. IT'S LAGOON AND LAKE STREET FOR MAYBE A SPAN OF THREE TO FOUR BLOCKS ON EACH SIDE OF HENNEPIN. SO THIS IS A TARGETED AREA.
FOR A SHORT A OF AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THIS SUMMER. THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING REVENUE FROM THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, GOING TO
BE IMPACTFUL. WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, THOUGH, IS THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE -- WE ARE CONSISTENT. THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS IN OUR CITY CAN KNOW
THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT WILLY-NILLY CHANGE DIRECTION ON THIS FOR THAT, DEPENDING ON A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT IF WE HAVE A PARKING POLICY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, WE SHOULD FOLLOW THAT. AND I WAS ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT THIS IS
NOT AN UNUSUAL USE CASE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE THE OTHER USE CASES ARE IN THE CITY. FROM MAYBE THAT'S A STAFF FOLLOW UP. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GROW IN MY OWN EDUCATION OF WHAT IS OUR PROCESS FOR ALLOWING THIS KIND OF ARRANGEMENT. BECAUSE IT
SHOULD BE A PROCESS. AND IT SHOULD BE PREDICTABLE. SO THAT ALL OF US CAN STAND UP HERE IMMEDIATELY AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT PARKING. BUT WE KNOW WHAT IS OUR PROCESS AND THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL. AND SO, YEAH, I'LL LOOK FORWARD
TO HAVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. BUT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CONSISTENT PROCESS, IN MY MIND. WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS. AND SO, UMM, I'M EXCITED THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS LONG OVERDUE. AND I'M GOING TO
BE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS COME TO LIFE. >> SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, AND WE HAVE IMS FOUR
AND FIVE WITH THE AMENDED ITEM NUMBER FOUR IN FRONT OF US. COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE IT UP AS A PACKAGE. >> I DO. >> OKAY. AND WITH THAT, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBE WHITING. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN IT >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE.
>> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES. THAT COMPLETES THE BUSINESS REPORT. T NEXT IS FROM THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, PRESENTED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON, THE VICE CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MMITTEE THAT IS 13 ITEMS. NUMBER ONE DINNER DU NORD COMMERCIAL BLOCK EVENT. TWO GABBANA THAT BALL GAMES BLOCK EVENT PERMIT. THREE SKYWAY EASEME FROM MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATI BOARD. FOUR
METRO GREEN LINE EXTENSION SUBORDATE FUNDING AGREEMENT. FIVE MINNEAPOLIS STREET LIGHTING PLAN AMENDMENT. SIX CEDAR LAKE ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT OVERPASS AGREEMENT. NUMBER SEVEN COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY REGIONAL
RAILROAD AUTHORITY F THE GRAND AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE. NUMBER EIGHT METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MUNICIPAL INFILTRATION ANDINFLOE PIPELINING. NUMBER NE BID FOR
2026-2027 PUBLIC WORKS TREE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL. NUMBER 10, BID FOR THE INSTALLATION OF GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE WEST FULTON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. 11 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MEMBRANE PLANT
ROOF REPLACEMENT. 12 CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH CS McCROSSAN CONSTRUCTION, INC. NUMBER 13 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE REPORT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON HAS
MOVED APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY.
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.>> . >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >> THAT CARRY AND THE REPORT IS ADOPTED. THE NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, GIVEN BY THE
COMMITTEE'S CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE, THANK YOU.
THE COMMITTEE THE WHOLE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD THREE ITEMS TO TODAY'S MEETING. ITEM ONE APPROVES THE SPECIAL LAW RELATED TO FOOD HALL LICENSES. TWO IS A GRANT APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATE BALLISTICS INFORMATION PROGRAM FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE. THIS ITEM WAS SENT FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. AND LASTLY ITEM THREE APPROVES A STAFF DIRECTION THAT ANALYZES INFORMATION RELATED TO LEGISLATIVE BUDGETS. WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ALL ITEMS FOR APPROVAL EXCEPT FOR ITEM TWO, WHICH I'LL
PULL FOR DISCUSSION. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY HAS MOVED APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT PULLING ITEM TWO FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION. ANY DISCUSSION OPEN THE REMAINDER OF THE REPORT? SEEING NONE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL
ON THE REPORT MINUS ITEM TWO. >> WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES.
>> THAT CARRIES. NEXT WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER TWO AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. COLLEAGUES, I WILL NOT BE THE SUPPORTING THIS GRANT APPLICATION TODAY. THE MEMO SENT TO US BY STAFF
STATES THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES TO MAINTAIN THE ACCESS. I WANT TO DISAGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY PASSED AN OFFDUTY WORK ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO RECOUP FEES, IN GENERAL. FEES THAT COULD REDUCE THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. THAT
ORDINANCE HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SO BEFORE I CAN EVEN ACCEPT THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE HERE, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY A COUNCIL-APPROVED TOOL COULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS I TERMS OF RECOUPING FEES AND ADDRESSING THE TAX ISSUES THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH AS A CITY, WHY
IT'S NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY OR EVEN IMPLEMENTED. WE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECOUPING OFFDUTY FEES, BUT THE REFUSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE ORDINANCE MEANS OUR RESIDENTS ARE S SUBSIDIZING SIDE GIGS FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WHY WAS IT NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET LAST YEAR. IF WE WERE TO LOSE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE NETWORK BY THE END OF 2026, DUE TO THE SYSTEM INCOMPATIBILITY, WHY WAS IT NOT A PRIORITY FOR THE MPD BEFORE THE GRANT APPLICATION. WHY WAS IT NOT INCLUDED IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET. WHY HAS THE FIRST TIME THE COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARD OF THIS? WHAT WOULD BE THE PLAN IF THE GRANT APPLICATION WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY? I WILL ONCE AGAIN MENTION WHY I AM AGAINST THIS GRANT APPLICATION. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WORDS. THE NOTICE OF
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 MODERNIZATION PROGRAM EXPLICITLY STATES THE PROGRAM STATUTORY PURPOSE AND PROGRAM GOALS IN TERMS OF INVESTIGATING CRIMES COMMITTED BY, QUOTE, ILLEGAL AIL Y
ALIENS I DON'T CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT AS ILLEGAL AIL ALIENS. WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES IN ADDITION TO BEING QUOTE, UNLAWFULLY PRESENT LANGUAGE I'LL CONTINUE TO REJECT AND CALL
DEHUMANIZING AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE DUTY STATUTE LISTS NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OPERATES UNDER IS A SECTION WHICH IS TITLED BRIDGE IMMIGRATION RELATED DEFICITS NATIONWIDE REIMBURSEMENT FUND. I BELIEVE, AS I SAID THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A DUTY TO ENSURE WHEN WE'RE
APPLYING FOR OR ACCEPTING FEDERAL FUNDS, WE DON'T USE THE CITY'S NAME, RESOURCES, OR PARTNERSHIPS TO A FUNDING FRAME WORK THAT DEHUMANIZES, STIGMATIZES OUR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS. AND THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL MORE TARGETED. THE NOTICE OF FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY EXPLICITLY LISTS IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT -- AROUND THE FUNDING PRIORITIES. AS I SAID LAST TIME, I DO NOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THE PREMISE IMPLICIT OR EXPLICIT IN THIS OR FUNDING -- REQUIRING, LOCATING,
AND APP HENTING. I WILL CONTINUE TO DON DEM THE HATEFUL AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT RHETORIC INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WILL BE VERY CLEAR THAT I DO NOT TRUST THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING OUTLINED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY CAME TO MINNEAPOLIS SAYING THEY
WERE GOING TO COME AFTER, QUOTE, CRIMINALS, BUT WHAT THEY DID WAS COME AFTER MOTHERS, FATHERS, CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL, AND I KNOW THAT I'VE HAD TO DO OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, A LOT OF EDUCATION HERE ON THE DAIS AND EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF THE DAIS.
ABOUT WHY IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO CALL PEOPLE ALIENS. WHY IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO CALL PEOPLE ILLEGAL. WHY IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO, UMM, YOU KNOW, THAT CONSIDERING PEOPLE THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS CRIMINALS. BECAUSE
THEY'RE IMMIGRANTS. THAT'S JUST WRONG. ADDITIONALLY, I'LL MENTION THIS PART. YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE STAR TRIBUNE REPORTING, THE OCCUPATION OF MINNEAPOLIS DISP DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED THE LATINO COMMUNITY MOST. 90% OF
THOSE KIDNAPPED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA TO MARCH 10. I D'T ACCEPT THAT. AND I DON'T ACCEPT THE WORDS IN THIS. I DON'T LIKE THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING STATED IN THIS. THAT TALKS ABOUT IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT. I THINK IT'S WRONG. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT WAYS TO FUND THIS PROGRAM. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING LAST YEAR ABOUT HOW WE CAN FUND THIS PROGRAM. AND I JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN. AT LEAST WITH MY OFFICE. SO I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAER.
>> I DEFINITELY HEAR THE CONCERN AMONG THE HARMFUL LANGUAGE ST CONTAINED IN THE NOTICE FOR THE $300,000 GRANT. NO ONE ON THIS BODY WANTS TO DEVALUE, DEHUMANIZE, OR DEMONIZE ANYONE BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION
STATUS. WE ARE 13-0 ON THAT. THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS WHETHER APPLY FOR THE GRANT WOULD MAKE THE CITY COMPLICIT IN THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION'S ANTI-IMMIGRANT RHETORIC AND POLICIES. OR VIOLATE OUR SEPARATION
ORDINANCE. OUR CITY ATTORNEYS HAVE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION PUBLICLY, EXPLICITLY, AND CLEARLY. IT WOULD NOT. I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES ASKING THE QUESTION. AND I APPRECIATE OUR ATTORNEYS FOR
GIVING US A DIRECT ANSWER. MPD WILL USE THIS GRANT SOLELY TO INVESTIGATE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCUR IN MINNEAPOLIS. THAT MATTERS. BECAUSE GUN VIOLENCE HAS BECOME SO COMMON IN OUR CITY, I FEAR WE'RE BECOMING NUMB TO IT. MY QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE SAME
CONCERN. SAME PASSION, SAME URGENCY AND OUTRAGE OVER THE UNACCEPTABLE NUMBERS OF SHOOTINGS IN OUR CITY? TWO WEEKENDS AGO, TWO MASS SHOOTINGS LEFT MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE INJURED, ONE PERSON DEAD. ANOTHER UNABLE TO WALK. THOSE
ARE SHOOTINGS THAT MAKE THE HEADLINES. WE RARELY HEAR ABOUT THE OTHERS. ALSO, WE ALL RECEIVED THE REPORT OF A LOCAL BUSINESS BEING SHOT AT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THESE OTHERS. THE RESTAURANTOWD
INTO HIS BUSINESS FOR AN APPARENTLY NO REASON. AND A BULLET MISSED ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES BY ONLY A FEW FEET. IMAGINE THE HORROR AND THE TRAUMA THAT EMPLOYEE CARRIES. WONDERING WHAT IF I HAD BEEN STANDING OVER THERE INSTEAD OF
RIGHT HERE. IMAGINE THE BURDEN OF THE BUSINESS OWNER WONDERING IF HE SHOULD CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS IN OUR CITY BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE TO ASK THEIR EMPLOYEES TO COME TO WORK WHEN THEY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE. THE SHELL
CASINGS, WE HEARD, LEFT BEHIND ARE LIKE FINGER POINTS. IT CAN HELP MPD CONNECT A GUN TO A CRIME, CONNECT RELATED SHOOTINGS TO ONE ANOTHER, IDENTIFY THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE, AND PREVENT THE PERSON FROM DOING IT AGAIN.
MPD NEEDS ACCESS TO NINIBIN. WE CAN ACCEPT THIS GRANT WITHOUT COMPRISING OUR VALUES. OUR RESIDENTS' SAFETY IS TOO IMPORTANT TO REJECT A USEFUL TOOL WITHOUT COMPELLING REASON. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM COMMANDER BROWN THAT WE WOULD
LOSE ACCESS TO THE NIBIN SERVICE AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITHOUT THE NEEDED UPGRADE. WE ARE ALSO FACING THE PROSPECT OF UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL PAIN. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ROUGHLY
30 MILLION PLUS SHORTFALL AHEAD OF US. WE'LL FACE EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT CHOICES IN THE COMING MONTHS. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TURN UP OUR NOSES TO $300,000 BECAUSE WE DISLIKE WHO OCCUPIES THE WHITE HOUSE. OR WHO LEADS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THIS IS
HARD, BUT WE NEED EVERY AVAILABLE RESOURCE THAT CAN MAKE MINNEAPOLIS SAFER. ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCEPTING IT DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO SURRENDER OUR VALUES. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE.
I JUST HAD QUICK QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF COMMANDER BROWN CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ MADE A GREAT POINT ABOUT THIS NOT BEING MPD'S PREVIOUS BUDGET. JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT. WHY WASN'T IT IN THE
BUDGET. >> COMMANDER BROWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. SO, EXCUSE ME, STI HAVEN'T FOUND MY VOICE YET. WE DO NOT KNOW UP UNTIL THIS YEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO HAD BEE FUNDING
THROUGH MPD HAVE THEIR OWN -- HAVE THE NIBIN SYSTEM THEY WERE GOING TO REMOVE THE FUNDING. SO WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WAS THE CASE, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS FAIRLY SHORT NOTICE AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE U.S. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST MINNESOTA, IT'S ACROSS THE U.S. WOULD HAVE TO START
FUNDING IT FULLY THEMSELVES. THAT'S WHEN THE DOJ PROVIDED THIS GRANT. AND THE GRANT IS NOT FOR ALL AGENCIES THAT HAVE NIBIN. THIS IS FOR A SELECTED 170 DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE THE -- THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE NONCOMPETITIVE GRANT. SO, WE WERE -- THE GRANT
BECAME AVAILABLE AT THE 26th OF JUNE, I BELIEVE. AND SO IT'S FAIRLY SHORT NOTICE FOR AGENCIES TO DO SO. AND THAT IS WHY. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO START WITH TALKING ABOUT NIBIN ACCESS FOR THE CITY. AND I ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DURING COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE EARLIER THIS WEEK. BUT, UMM, THE -- I'VE SINCE THEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH SOME FOLKS. AND I'M HEARING -- I'M HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR, UMM, YOU KNOW, SOME MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS
THEY'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH, UMM, BUSINESS OWNERS IN MY WARD THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY RECENT GUN VIOLENCE. I HEAR MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TELLING MY -- THOSE IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MY CONSTITUENTS, THAT WITHOUT THE PASSAGE OF THIS ITEM, THE VIOLENCE, UMM, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED WILL NEVER BE SOLVED. AND I THINK THAT KIND
OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION HAVE AN IMPACT. SO IT FEELS IMPORTANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD UP HERE. WHILE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. BECAUSE THIS IS MY -- ONE OF MY FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT THE RECORD. AGAINST SOME, LIKE,
SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NIBIN ACCESS. UMM, AS WE -- AS COMMANDER BROWN SPOKE TO US ABOUT FROM THE DAIS
ON TUESDAY, UMM, IF THE CITY ISN'T GOING TO LOSE NIBIN ACCESS BY APPLYING OR NOT APPLYING TO THIS GRANT. APPLYING OR NOT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT THAT IS NO IMPACT ON THE CITY'S ABILITY
TO ACCESS THIS SYSTEM. THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO BY EITHER FINDING A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF MONEY, AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN A SECOND. TO PAY FOR THIS MODERNIZATION WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. OR SEVERAL OF THE
PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH ON FORENSICS. LIKE THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION, HAVE NIBIN ACCESS THEMSELVES. WE CAN CONTINUE TO US UTILIZE THE RESOURCE WITHOUT HAVING TO
ACCEPT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FROM THIS PARTICULAR GRANT. I'LL ALSO NOTE THE CITY COULD FIND A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF REVENUE TO, UMM, TO PAY FOR THE MODERNIZATION WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW THE
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENDS APPROXIMATELY, IN THE BALLPARK OF $600,000 PER ONE WEEK ON OVERTIME ALONE. HALF OF THAT, THREE AND A HALF DAYS OF OVERTIME COULD PAY FOR THIS
ENTIRE PROJECT. YOU HAVE THE MONEY. FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE SECOND PIECE THAT -- THAT I WANT TO NAME HERE IN THIS DISCUSSION IS, AH, I THINK I'M
ABOUT TO DO THE MINNESOTAN THING ON THE PLANET. I'M GOING TO INVOKE PAUL WELLSTONE. PREPARE MYSELF. MY FAVORITE PAUL WELLSTONE QUOTE IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T FIGHT HARD FOR THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN, AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO ACCEPT
THAT WE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN THEM. AH, I THINK IT'S INCREDLY POWERFUL AND ONE I REFLECT ON OFTEN. THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY BELIEVE IN PROTECTING OUR IMMIGRANTS, IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS SO MUCH THAT THEY WILL PUT THEIR
BODIES ON THE LINE. THAT TWO OF OUR RESIDENTS LOST THEIR LIVES STANDING UP FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. THAT'S HOW MUCH WE BELIEVE IN IT. BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO SAY FOR A
MEASLY $300,000, WE'RE OKAY WITH THE ASSERTION THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS? THAT WE SHOULD BE -- IN THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING,
IT TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE. THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUNDING IS TO HELP LOCAL JURISDICTIONS BETTER COOPERATE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
PROCEEDINGS. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUNDING, AS WELL. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO ABANDON THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN FOR
$300,000? BUT THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY WILL GIVE THEIR LIVES TO STAND UP FOR THEIR BELIEFS? THIS SEEMS INCONSISTENT TO ME. SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY. AND IT FEELS IMPORTANT TO ME, ALSO,
THEN TO NAME THAT, AH, I THINK THERE'S SOME DISINFORMATION HAPPENING, AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> AH, SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, I SEE VP IN THE QUEUE BUT I DON'T SEE HIM IN THE CHAMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBER
RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. SO, COMMANDER BROWN, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE. BUT IT'S MY KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS OVERTIME COST IS DRIVEN BY THE LACK OF 9-1-1 RESPONDERS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY 9-1-1 RESPONDERS T ANSWER
EMERGENCY CALLS. IS THAT TRUE? >> COMMANDER BROWN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. THAT IS CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, PRESIDENT
PAYNE. I THINK FOR ME, THE CONTENTION THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IS NOT WITH NIBIN. RIGHT. I SEE THE VALUE AND THE RESOURCE. ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STATE. BECAUSE I HAVE HAD RESIDENTS REACH OUT
THAT BELIEVE, LIKE, IF WE DON'T APPLY FOR THE GRANT IT'S GOING TO CEASE TO EXIST. IHINK ME AND OTHERS ON THIS BODY, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN AGREE THAT'S NOT HELPFUL. FOR RESIDENTS TO BELIEVE THAT NIBIN
WON'T EXIST IF WE DON'T APPLY FOR THIS. IT CREATES A LOT OF ALARMS FOR PEOPLE. I THINK OTHERS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOBF LAYING OUT, WE LIKE, WE HAVE A BUDGET CHOICE BEFORE US. RIGHT. IT'S $300,000 FROM OUR COFFERS,
CITY GENERAL FUND, WHEREVER. MAYBE WE NEED TO MOVE THINGS AROUND. WE OFTENTIMES MOVE THINGS AROUND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF THAT. ESPECIALLY AS IT COMES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OR IT'S TO TAKE THIS POTENTIAL FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RIGHT,
THAT HASN'T BEEN GRANTED TO US. THERE'S ALSO A CHANCE IT WON'T BE GRANTED TO US. WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DONL DOJ IS NOT REALLY A BIG FAN FOR MINNEAPOLIS. EVEN IF WE WERE INVITED FOR THIS. WE KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PURPOSEFULLY
NOT GIVING FUNDING O RESOURCES TO ITS POLITICAL ENEMIES AND DETRACTORS. THAT'S THE REALITY OF 2026. FOR ME, THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING
AND THE BIDEN ACT, AND THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH THIS CAME FROM, IS EXTREMELY EGREGIOUS AND DEPLORABLE. AND I -- THE TERM
"ILLEGAL ALIEN" IS NOT JUST A LEGAL TERM OF ART. IT'S A SLUR. IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY SLUR. CALLING PEOPLE ILLEGAL ALIENS IS DEHUMANIZING, DEGRADING, AND IT CREATES A PERMISSION STRUCTURE
FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM. IT JUST DOES AND H AND WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THERE'S A POLICY CHOICE HERE TODAY, DO WE APPLY FOR GRANTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING HAS SLURS WITHIN THEM? IT'S JUST REALLY
JUST STARKLY BEFORE US. U DON'T THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT RHETORIC OR IDEOLOGY. I THINK IT'S A GOVERN INNOC GOVERNANCE APPROACH. IF THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING LOOKED
DIFFERENT, THE GRANT, IF IT CAME FROM A DIFFERENT BILL. IT WOULD HAVE MY SUPPORT. BUT IT DOESN'T. AND I CAN'T SIT ON THIS BODY AND GIVE A PERMISSION STRUCTURE, CREATE A PERMISSION STRUCTURE HERE TO SAY THAT WE'RE
APPLYING FOR GRANTS WITH SLURS IN THEM.. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE A COMMENT AND THEN I HAVE ONE CLARIFICATION FROM THE STAFF.
COLLEAGUES, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS LANGUAGE, OR THIS GRANT IS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WE APPLY ALL KINDS OF GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE APPLY HOUSING GRANTS. WE APPLY ROADS,
HIGHWAYS. THERE IS ALL KINDS OF GRANTS THAT MAKES OUR CITY KEEP MOVING. AND, ALSO, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS USED A LANGUAGE, AND I'M SURE -- I'M SURE IF WE LOOK IN DEEP OTHER
GRANTS, WE'LL FIND SIMILAR LANGUAGE. SO WHERE DO WE STOP? IF WE START DISMISSING GRANTS, OUR CITY WILL NOT BE OPERATING. AND WE'RE NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING SERVING OUR RESIDENTS IN THE
BEST WAY WE CAN. WE NEED THAT ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS -- THEY HAVE USED LANGUAGE THAT IS CALLED DEMOCRACY. YOU CAN WAIT THROUGH
THE ELECTION PROCESS AND MAYBE A DECISION WILL CHANGE. MAYBE IT WILL NOT. ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU, IS THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS SET UP WE RELY ON THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPO TO OPERATE OUR CITY.
MY CONCERN WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THIS IS SOMEHOW ATTACHED TO I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT, SOME KIND OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR TO THAT,
WE HAVE T RIGHT TO REJECT THAT. THIS GRANT SPECIFILLY HAS NOT SAID ANYING ABOUT IMMIGRANT ENFORCEMT. I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THIS MORNING THINKING WE'RE VOTING ON
ACCEPTING THIS GRANT WILL RESULT I.C.E. IN ARRESTING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT'S MISINFORMATION, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT. AND I WOULD LIKE EITHER THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE STAFF TO KIND OF
CLARIFY ABOUT THAT AND GET THE MISINFORMATION OUT. WILL THIS RESULT IMMIGRANT ENFORCEMENT? ACCEPTING THIS GRANT? >> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU. AGAIN THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS AMY SHUNT. LEAD
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. THROUGH THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR OSMAN, YOUR QUESTION WAS WILL OUR APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT REQUIRE US TO PROPORT ON ANY KIND OF I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE LEGALLY REVIEWED THE TERMS OF THE GRANTS, AND ALL OF THE
DOCUMENTS REFERENCED IN AND THE ALL THE DOCUMENTS REFERENCED THEREIN FOR ANY TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR WHAT MY OFFICE IS CALLING PROBLEMATIC. ANYTHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO VIOLATE THE SEPARATION ORDINANCE OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE ANTI-THEATRICAL TO THE VALUES OF THE CITY.
AND IT IS MY OPINION, UPON DOING THAT REVIEW, THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS NOFO OR NOR THIS APPLICATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO VIOLATE THE SEPARATION ORDINANCE TO PERFORM ANY KIND OF I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT OR TO
OTHERWISE REQUIRE STAFF TO ACT IN A WAY THAT IS ANTI-THEATRICAL TO THE VALUES OF THE CITY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. EVEN IF IT WAS THE CASE, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN APPROACH APPLYING THAT. THAT WILL VIOLATE THE CITY SEPARATION ORDINANCE.
SO MY FINAL COMMENT IS THAT, COLLEAGUES, WE CAN BE ANGRY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE WAY THEY TREAT PEOPLE, THE LANGUAGE THEY USE. BUT VOTING DOWN THIS WOULD ONLY HURT US AND HURT -- NOT BENEFIT THE WORK WE'RE TRYING TO DO. WHICH IS TO
ACCEPT THIS GRANT SO WE CAN DO BETTER PROCESSING ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. SO I WOULD SAY I AM AN IMMIGRANT. I'M SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAS BEEN TARGETED IN THE CITY OF
MINNEAPOLIS. BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO WAIT ON HOW THINGS COME. THIS IS COMING SEPARATE ANGLE. AND IT'S NOT NOTHING TO DO WITH I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT. AND I THINK WE SHOULD VOTE ON IT. AND THIS IS MONEY THAT WILL COME TO OUR
CITY TO SUPPORT THE WORK WE DO FOR OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN ALREADY SAID MOST OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WE ARE NOT ABANDONING OUR VALUES
OR BELIEFS HERE. BECAUSE THE TERMS OF THIS GRANT DO NOT REQUIRE THAT. AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING LANGUAGE IN REQUIRING THE CITY NOT TO BE REQUIRED TO VIOLATE A SEPARATION ORDINANCE.
I FEAR THE CONFUSION AROUND THIS GRANT IS MADE BY RHETORIC ON THIS DAIS. NOT BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT, AND NOT BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY. WHO HAS SAID, BASICALLY THE SAME THING IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, AGAIN FOR US TODAY. WE ARE
ACCEPTING IS FEDERAL MONEY FOR A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, MOSTLY MONEY IN PUBLIC WORKS. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD STOP. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE -- >> SECOND. >> AND ASK THAT WE MOVE FORWARD. . THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO HAS MOVED APPROVAL. DID I HEAR A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. IT PAINS ME TO KNOW THERE'S
LANGUAGE THAT IS MARGINALIZING AND DISENFRANCHISING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT, LIKE I SAID THIS AT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING. I DON'T KNOW ANY ALIENS I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY MY LIFE.
THESE ARE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED BALLISTIC INFORMATION NETWORK, I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SITTING AND WAITING
FOR JUSTICE TO BE SERVED, AND FOR SOMEONE TO SUPPORT THE CRIES THAT FAR TOO LONG HAVE GONE UNANSWERED ON OUR COMMUNITY. I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW SPECIFICALLY IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, WE HAVE BURIED SO
MANY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO ARE STILL WAITING FOR A PHONE CALL THAT SAYS SOMEBODY HAS BEEN ARRESTED WITH RESPECT TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONE. RIGHT.
THEY'RE WAITING FOR THOSE ANSWERS. THEY'RE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO BE GIVEN TO THEM. AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT INCREASING ARREST FOR THE SAKE OF JUST ARRESTING PEOPLE. IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING EVIDENCE THAT IS LEFT
BEHIND AT CRIME SCENES AND LINKING IT TO SHOOTINGS THAT INVOLVE FIREARMS AND GIVING THE INVESTIGATORS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SOLUTION DRIVEN MORE QUICKLY. BEFORE PEOPLE GET AWAY.
SO I THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. I THINK ABOUT FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR JUSTICE, LIKE THE FAMILY OF ANIYA ALLEN, TRINITY SMITH, LA DAVEON GARRETT. I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE BABIES WHOSE MURDERS HAVE
NOT BEEN SOLVED RECENTLY. AND PEOPLE ARE JUST RUNNING AROUND HERE FREE. YOU KNOW, AND THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE A PIECE OF MIND KNOWING THAT SOMEONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WRONGDOING AND THE PAIN THEY
HAVE INFLICTED UPON OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT RACE YOU ARE, WHAT SEX YOU ARE, WHAT ANY OF THE -- NONE OF THAT STUFF MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL. IF YOU HAVE HARMED SOMEONE AND TEN A LIFE, OR INFLICTED PAIN UPON THE
COMMUNITY, THEN YOU NEED SOME TIME TO SIT DOWN AND SELF-REFLECT. AND THAT'S JUST WHERE I SIT WITH IT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PICKING OUT OR PICKING APART ANYTHING. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT BRINGING ANSWERS TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE CRIED OUT FOR
FAR TOO LONG ABOUT WANTING JUSTICE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO ACTS OF GUN VIOLENCE. THAT'S WHERE I HAVE TO SIT WITH IT AT. I DON'T KNOW ANY ALIENS. NEVER MET ANY IN ANY LIFE. BUT I KNOW THAT IT IS MY FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT ALL OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TO USE EVERY TOOL THAT I HAVE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY, LOVE, CARE, AND COMPASSION THAT IS EXTENDED TO MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THE SAME I WILL WANT FOR MY OWN FAMILY. THE END. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY SCHUTT. IN YOUR LEGAL ANALYSIS, IS
THERE LANGUAGE CONTAINED IN EITHER THE NOFO OR THE GRANT APPLICATION THAT VIOLATES OR THAT WOULD HAVE OUR CITY VIOLATED SEPARATION ORDINANCE? >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING, NO. THERE IS NOT. WE REVIEW THE GRANT AND
THE APPLICATION FOR CONCERNS LIKE THAT. FRANKLY, IT WOULDN'T GET TO YOU IF IT HAD A REQUIREMENT TO VIOLATE THE SEPARATION ORDINANCE. >> OKAY. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I KEEP HEARING THE POINT BEING MADE ABOUT NOT VIOLATING A
SEPARATION ORDINANCE. I THINK IT MEANS I NEED TO DO ANOTHER NOTICE OF INTENT IN STRENGTHENING THE SEPARATION ORDINANCE. THAT'S ONE. TO BE CLEAR, IF IT DOESN'T VIOLATE THE SEPARATION ORDINANCE. WE HAVE TO MAKE IT STRONGER AGAIN. I THINK WE'RE ASKING THE WRONG
QUESTIONS. IF WE WOULD INTERPRET US NOT HAVING TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW. WHAT I WANT TO WORK ON, BECAUSE THE REASON I DIDN'T BRING IT FORWARD THE RESOLUTION ON, LIKE, ATTACHING IT TO THIS. IS BECAUSE I -- IT NEEDS TO BE WORKSHOPPED MORE. AND I'M HAPPY TO BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME.
WHAT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPECTS OF US IF WE ACCEPT THE MONEY. THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS. IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO EXPECT US TO DO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S A CONCERN. IF WE ACCEPT THE GRANT, I BET. THAT'S WHAT I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT US APPLYING AND ACCEPTING THIS FUNDING. AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO MAKE IT ABOUT RHETORIC, IT'S NOT ABOUT RHETORIC. I'M HAPPY TO BRING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD SO WE CAN GET ANSWERS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> YEAH. THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI SAID EARLIER ABOUT IF WE REALLY BELIEVE THE THING THAT WE SAY THAT WE BELIEVE. WE ARE IN A HISTORIC TIME. A TIME WHEN OUR ACTIONS ARE UNDER DIFFERENT SCRUTINY AND HAVE
DIFFERENT MEANING THAN THEY WOULD IN ANOTHER TIME. AND I HESITATE TO USE THE WORD UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ENTIRELY UNPRECEDENTEDT.
BUT WE ARE IN >> THAT ICE INVADED OUR CITY AND TOOK OUR NEIGHBORS AND KILLED SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS. WE ARE IN A TIME WHEN OUR ACTIONS HAVE DIFFERENT RAMIFICATIONS. AND WE HAVE TO DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE
FACT THAT WE ARE NOT IN NORMAL TIMES. WE ARE NOT IN A TIME WHEN YOU C OVERLOOK CERTAIN THINGS. WHERE PUTTING UP YOUROSE AT DIFFERENT MORAL ISSUES IS ACCEPTABLE. WE ARE IN A TIME
WHEN WE NEED TO STAND FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE. WE NEED TO ACTUALLY IN WAYS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND IN WAYS THAT SOMETIMES CAUSE US DISCOMFORT STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE. AND IN THI CASE, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE
HERE AND WE LOVE THEM AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO ALONGITH THIS EVIL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN EVEN THE RHETORIC THAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEM. YEAH, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TIME.
WE'RE NOT IN -- THIS ISN'T 2012, YOU KNOW. WE'RE HERE IN 2026 IN MINNEAPOLIS AFTER THE INVASION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IT'S JUST TIME FOR US TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO ACCEPT THIS RHETORIC. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, ON A
BALANCE SHEET RHETORIC DOESN'T SHOW UP. RHETORIC DOESN'T MATTER ON A BALANCE SHEET. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE NOT BALANCE SHEETS, WE'RE PEOPLE. AND RHETORIC MATTERS TO PEOPLE. WE CAN AND WE WILL FIND OTHER MONEY TO KEEP
THIS NIBIN ACCESS GOING. WE DON'T NEED THIS MONEY. THERE IS $300,000 IN THE COUCH CUSHION IN THIS CITY. THE HARLEY DAVIDSON'S ALONE, LET'S SELL THOSE GUYS AND THEN WE COULD HAVE THIS FULLY FUNDED. IT REALLY IS THAT
SIMPLE AND SO LET'S STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE AND LET'S FIND MONEY, PARTICULARLY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON'S TO FUND NIBIN ACCESS. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN LOWERING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'RE JUST INTERESTED IN STANDING UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
>> I ADDED MYSELF TO QUEUE BECAUSE I SHARED SOME REMARKS RELATED TO THIS ON TUESDAY. BUT JUST ZOOMING OUT, AGAIN, I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE LEGAL ANALYSIS OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I'M PROFOUNDLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE FEDERALOVERNMENT WILL ASSESS THIS. AND JUST TO P IT IN THE CONTEXT, THE NEW YORK TIMES DID SOME RECENT REPORTING ON SOME OF THE CHARGES THAT WERE
BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ICE OBSERVERS. AND THEY WERE COMPARING AND CONTRASTING HOW THE DOJ HAS OPERATED IN THE PAST COMPARED TO HOW THEY'RE CONDUCTING THEMSELVES NOW. HISTORICALLY, THEY DON'T BRING CRIMINAL CASES FORWARD UNLESS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE EVIDENCE
TO WIN IN COURT. THAT'S LED TO MORE THAN 90% OF DEFENDANTS PLEADING GUILTY OR BEING CONVICTED AT TRIAL. IN THIS NEW YORK TIMES REPORTING, THEY ASSESSED 558 CHARGES AGAINST LEGAL OBSERVERS. THEY'VE ONLY
GOTTEN 246 THAT PLED GUILTY, AND FOUR CONVICTIONS. THIS IS A VERY DIVERGENT TRACT RECORD FM HOW THE DOJ OPERATES. AND IT'S A REPRESENTATION OF THE FACT THAT
THEY BRING SPURIOUS CHAES AND THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES NOT GROUNDED IN THE RULE OF LAW, BUT EARLY THROUGH POLITICAL MOTIVATION AND RETALIATION. AS BEST EVIDENCED BY THE MASS RESIGNATION OF OUR U.S.
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EARLIER THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE MURDER OF RENEE GOOD AND WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING TO PRESSURE THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE MS. GOOD'S WIFE RATHER THAN THE AGENTS THAT
MURDERED HER. MASS RESIGNATION BECAUSE SOME U.S. ATTORNEYS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH ACTUALLY, THEY ACTUALLY HOLD THEMSELVES TO SOME INTEGRITY. AND SO WHAT WE'RE LEFT WITH IN OUR CURRENT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS WHOEVER THE BACK-BENCHERS ARE WHO WANT TO SIGN ON TO THIS ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA. AND THIS AGENDA IS OVERTLY AUTHORITARIAN, IT'S OVERTLY RACIST. THEY ARE PUSHING RHETORIC AROUND WHITE GENOCIDE.
IT'S DISGUSTING. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE WHITE HOUSE TWITTER FEED OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMEND SECURITY'S TWITTER FEED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY THEY WANT
TO SEE FOR THE REST OF US. AND I'M NOTVEN GOING TO ENTERTAIN ATTACHING MY NAME TO THAT PROJECT. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT SUPPORTING THIS. AND SO WITH
THAT I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING IN QUEUE. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY HERE. CITY ATTORNEY ABELSON. I HAVE A QUESTION BROADLY ABOUT YOUR KIND OF LEGAL UNDERSTANDING. I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY A COLD CALL KIND OF QUESTION, SO IF YOU
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, I APOLOGIZE FOR PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT HERE. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY FEDERAL LAW, ANY STATE LAW, ANY CITY LAW THAT REQUIRES A CITY
JURISDICTION TO BE COMANDEERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENGAGE IN FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION? >> CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITIN ANSWER TO ANY LAW BECAUSE THERE CERTAINLY ARE STATES WHERE THEY REQUIRE THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ASSIST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN MIESOTA. WE RECENTLY ALSO GOT A VERY GOOD DECISION FROM THE DISTRICT COURT HERE REJECTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHALLENGE TO OUR SEPARATION ORDINANCE BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE
RIGHT TO COMANDEER OUR POLICE FORCE FOR IMMIGTION ENFORCEMENT. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN.
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> NAY. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> NO. >> STEVENSON. >> NO. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ.
>> AYE. NO! NO. [LAUGHTER] >> OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> NAY. >> THERE ARE SEVEN AYES AND FIVE NOES. >> TT ITEM CARRIES. NEXT, IS
THE REPORT OF OUR ENTERPRISE AND LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY ITS CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE ENTERPRISE AND LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAS 10 ITEMS TO BRING FORWARD TODAY. I THINK ALL ARE NON-CONTROVERSIAL HERE. FIRST IS
A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS REFORM RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS REQUEST. ITEM 2 IS A BID FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING APPARATUS EXPANSION PROJECT. ITEM 3 IS WHAT WE THINK IS THE LAST SMALL CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH SHAW LUNDQUIST FOR THE CITY
HALL RESTACK PHASE 3 PROJECT. ITEM 4 IS CONTRACT WITH SABA SOFTWARE FOR ENTERPRISE WIDE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE. ITEM FIVE IS A LEGAL SETTLEMENT WITH CAMERON CECCHINI. ITEM 6 IS A
LEGAL SETTLEMENT THAT IS A WORKERS' COMP CLAIM OF TERRENCE FLOYD. 7 IS A CLAIM SETTLEMENT MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER CLAIM AGAINST NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY. WE ARE RECEIVING MONEY IN THAT SITUATION. EIGHT
IS INDEBTEDNESS AND BOND ISSUANCE AUTHORIZATION RELATED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS. WE HAD A SHORT CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT IN COMMITTEE. NINE IS AN APPOINTED POSITION IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. THAT IS JUST TAKING AN OLD POSITION AND REFRESHING IT. ITEM 10 IS AN
ENTERPRISE AND LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE WORK PLAN. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OH WAIT. BUT I MOVE ALL OF THESE FORWARD FOR APPROVAL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO HAS MOVED APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, I'LL
ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> A >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE.
>> PALMISANO. >>AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES AND THE REPORT IS ADOPD. FINALLY, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY THAT COMMITTEE'S
CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE IS BRINGING SEVEN ITEMS. ONE IS APPOINTING DR. FREEMAN TO THE APPOINTED POSITION FOR FIRE CHIEF. I WILL
MOVE THAT FOR A SEPARATE VOTE. TWO IS CONTRACT WITH HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR THE POLICE CADET PROGRAM. THREE IS CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH GOVWORX INC. ITEM 4 AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH THE CENTER FOR MULTICULTURAL MEDIATION FOR
COMMUNITY TRAUMA SERVICES. ITEM 5 AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH A MOTHER'S LOVE INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY TRAUMA RESPONSE SERVICES. SIX ACCEPTS A GRANT FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE A FAMILY HOME VISITING SERVICES AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR
THE GRANT. ITEM 7 APPROVES A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY DEPARTMENT CONTRACT AUDIT. I MOVE ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR A SEPARATE VOTE AND DISCUSSION. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ HAS
MOVED APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT MINUS ITEM ONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE REMAINDER OF THE REPORT? SEEING NONE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL ON ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM NUMBER ONE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE.
>> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >> THOSE ITEMS CARRY. NEXT, WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER ONE. I THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE APPROVAL. >> FOR APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> ITEM NUMBER ONE HAS BEEN MOVED FOR APPROVAL AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OH. I SEE MAYOR FREY HAS JOINED US. H WANT TO JUMP IN?
>> MR. CHAIR, YES. AND JUST ASSUMEDLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RENOMINATION FOR FIRE CHIEF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE
NOMINATION OF OUR NEXT FIRE CHIEF. SO WHEN WE STARTED THE SEARCH FOR THIS FIRE CHIEF IN THE MINNEAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT, MY TOP GOAL WAS TO GET SOMEONE INTO THIS ROLE WHO COULD LEAD A TEAM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS EXCELLENCE BUT ALSO LEAD A TEAM
INTO THE FUTURE THAT'S RECOGNIZING INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, THAT'S UNDERSTANDING THE MANAGERIAL EXPERTISE FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, AND IS SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION OF THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT INTO A BROADER SAFETY ECOSYSTEM. DURING THAT SEARCH,
WE FOUND A REALLY STRONG FIELD OF IMPRESSIVE CANDIDATES. AND THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ROSE TO THE TOP, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE NOMINATED DR. REGINALD FREEMAN TO THE POSITION OF FIRE CHIEF. DR. FREEMAN'S IMPRESSIVE RESUME
IS ONE THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. FORMER CHIEF OF BOTH THE OAKLAND AND HARTFORD FIRE DEPARTMENTS. DR. FREEMAN HAS DEMONSTRATED AN ABILITY TO LEAD ORGANIZATIONS AND LEAVE THEM BETTER THAN WHEN HE STARTED. BUT EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN HIS RESUME, DR.
FREEMAN HAS DEMONSTRATED AND LEAVES AN IMPRESSION WITH THOSE HE WORKS WITH. I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE OVER 20 LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR DR. FREEMAN'S CONFIRMATION. THESE LETTERS COME FROM FIRE CHIEFS, FIREFIGHTERS, LABOR LEADERS,
ELECTED OFFICIALS. I'VE SPOKE WITH MAYORS HE HAD WORKED WITH AND FOR. EDUCATORS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THEY SPEAK TO HIS INTEGRITY, HIS CONSISTENCY, HIS SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND
COMPASSION FOR THIS WORK AND PEOPLE WHO HE WORKS WITH. SOMETHING THAT ALSO STRUCK ME AS IMPORTANT IS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE DOCTOR HAS INTERVIEWED FOR THIS POSITION. I WANT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE IN MINNEAPOLIS. THE FIRST GO AROUND
WHEN HE INTERVIEWED, HE ALSO DID AN IMPRESSIVE JOB. BUT HE WASN'T SELECTED. AND SOMEONE WHO STEPS UP, FAILS TO GET THE NOMINATION, AND STEPS UP AGAIN SIGNALS SOMEONE THAT HAS COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY AND REALLY WANTS TO BE
HERE. IF YOU TALK TO HIM, HE WANTS TO BE HERE. IF YOU TALK TO HIM, HE WANTS TO HAVE HIS FAMILY HERE. HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. AND LIKE I DID, UNDERSTANDS MINNEAPOLIS IS A PLACE WHERE HE WANTS TO BE. AND
SO I WANT TO THANK OUR WHOLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMISSIONER WHO HAS DONE REALLY A GREAT JOB LEADING THIS SEARCH AS WELL AS MANAGING THE OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK CHIEF MELANIE RUCKER FOR STEPPING UP
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS LEADING THIS TEAM ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2026. THAT GUIDANCE WILL ALWAYS BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. AND WITH
THAT, IT IS WITH GREAT PRIVILEGE THAT I RECOMMEND DR. REGINALD FREEMAN FOR CONFIRMATION OF FIRE CHIEF OF THE MINNEAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN MY VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. REGINALD FREEMAN. THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR ME. I TOOK THIS APPOINTMENT VERY SERIOUS LIKE I DO ALL OF THEM. BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY IMPACTS
E SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR RESIDENTS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE ON ONE WITH DR. FREEMAN, AND I WANT TO BE HONEST THAT I CAME AWAY WITH CONCERNS. SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS RELATE TO HIS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND OTHERS STEM FROM OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS
VISION AND LEADERSHIP. I BELIEVE IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO THOROUGHLY EVALUATE EVERY NOMINEE AND ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS. DURING OUR CONVERSATION, WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE LAWSUIT INVOLVING HIS PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT. DR. FREEMAN
SHARED HE WAS NOT PERSONALLY NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT, AND THAT WAS NOT ABOUT HIM DIRECTLY. WHILE I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION, I ALSO SHARE MY CONCERN THAT AS THE LEADER OF THE DEPARTMENT, THESE EVENTS OCCURRED UNDER HISLEADERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS NOT SIMPLY RATHER
HE WAS PERSONALLY NAMED, BUT RATHER THE WOMEN WHO WERE INVOLVED WERE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED AND SUPPORTED. WE HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR THE WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I WANT TO ENSURE THEY ARE WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE SAFE, RESPECTED AND
TREATED WITH DIGNITY. I ALSO MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FIREFIGHTERS UNION TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THIS DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY. THEIR PPORT FOR DR. FREEMAN WEIGHED HEAVILY IN MY DECISION. WHILE I
STILL VE RESERVATIONS, I RESPECT THE CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE IN HIS ABILITY TO LEAD. I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE DR. FREEMAN TO TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN FROM THE PEOPLE ALREADY SERVING IN THIS DEPARTMENT. IN MY EXPERIENCE, FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN AMONG THE MOST LOYAL PUBLIC SERVANTS. THEY
SHARE UNBREAKABLE BONDS WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND HAVE BUILT A CULTURE ROOTED IN SERVICE, TRUST, AND TEAMWORK. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT MINNEAPOLIS IS FORTUNE TO HAVE EXCEPTIONAL TALENT WITHIN OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE DEDICATED
LEADERS WHO KNOW OUR CITY, UNDERSTAND OUR NEIGHBHOODS, HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WIT OUR COMMUNITIES, AND KNOW HOW TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEMS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALREADY EXIST. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE TALENT, AND I HOPE WE WILL LEAN -- I HOPE DR. FREEMAN WILL
LEAN ONHE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THOSE ALREADY SERVING IN THIS DEPARTMENT. GOING INTO THIS PROCESS, I BELIEVE THE NEXT FIRE CHIEF COULD COME FROM WITHIN MINNEAPOLIFIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE A HIGHLY QUALIFIED INTERNAL CANDIDATE WHO STEPPED FORWARD BECAUSEHEY HAVE DEDICATED
THEIR CAREERS TO SERVING THIS CITY AND HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THEIR COLLEAGUES. THEY UNDERSTAND THE DEPARTMENT'S CULTURE, THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACING MINNEAPOLIS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE BUILT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE INTERL CANDIDATES AND THANK TM FOR
THEIR WILLINGNESS TO LEAD, THEIR EXPERIENCE, THEIR COMMITMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE REMAIN TREMENDOUS ASSETS TO THIS DEPARTMENT. OVER MANY YEARS, THIS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN RECRUITING, RETAINING AND PROMOTING BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL
AS WOMEN. THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING THE DIVERSITY THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT IS KNOWN FOR TODAY. IT HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE SEEN THEMSELVES IN THIS PROFESSION AND IT HAS HELPED BUILD A
DEPARTMENT THAT BETTER REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. WITHOUT THE PATHWAY PROGRAM, WE WILL NOT HAVE SEEN THE GROWTH IN NUMBER OF WOMEN SERVING IN THIS DEPARTMENT. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I BELIEVE IT'S CRITICAL WE CONTINUE BUILDING ON THAT
PROCESS, NOT START FORWARD. WOMEN ALREADY SERVING IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THIS DEPARTMENT HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADVANCING THIS WORK. AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AND PERSCTIVE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE VALUED AS WE STRENGTHEN AND GROW THE DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE OF THAT, I WILL BE VOTING YES TO
DR. FREEMAN TODAY, BUT WITH HESITATION. MY VOTE COMES WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT DR. FREEMAN WILL WORK TO EARN THE TRUST OF THE FIREFIGHTERS HE WILL LEAD, DEMONSTRATE, WITH STRONG
TRANSPARENT LEADERSHIP, IMPROVE MORALE, PROTECT THE PROGRESS THIS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE, AND WAYS PUT THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF BOTH OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR RESIDENTS FIT. I ALSO EXPECT FAIRNESS FROM LEADERS. EVERY FIREFIGHTER DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH
RESPECT, PROFESSIONALISM AND EQUITY REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR RANK. THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT OPTIONAL. THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO GOOD LEADERSHIP. SINCERELY HOPE DR. FREEMAN IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF OUR FIRE CHIEF
MEANS A STRONGER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A SAFER MINNEAPOLIS. DR. FREEMAN, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HERE, BUT I HOPE YOU'RE LISTENING. MONITORING THE DEPARTMENT PROGRESS AND HOLDING ITS LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE. I WILL
BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW YOU LEAD, HOW YOU TREAT THE MEN AND WOMEN O THIS DEPARTMENT AND WHETHER YOU FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE COMMITMENTS YOU HAVE MADE. I HOPE YOU EARN THE TRUST OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE FIREFIGHTERS YOU LEAD AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS. THANK YOU. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH DR. FREEMAN. REALLY IMPRESSED ME HISRESUME, HIS INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL EXPERIENCE. WE ARE ATTRACTING ONE OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST PEOPLE IN THE NATION. AND I THINK WERE LUCKY TO HAV HIM. I LK FORWARD
WORKING WITH HIM. WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW STAFFING, THE OLD EQUIPMENT CHALLENGES THAT HOW WE NEED TO UPGRADE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND ALSO, I TALKED TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE UNION THAT ARE HERE TO REPRESENT. AND
THEY REALLY HAD GREAT THINGS TO SAY AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIM. SO I WOULD SAY WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. WELCOME, AND WE LOOK FORWARD, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR LEADERSHIP TO LEAD US SAFER
CITY, A BETTER CITY, AND A WONDERFUL FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF
WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE STATED LATRISHA VETAW. IT WAS A CHEF'S KISS. THAT WAS GREAT. I ALSO HAD A SIT DOWN CONVERSATION WITH MR. FREEMAN, DR. FREEMAN. AND I ALSO
SPOKE WITH OUR FIRE'S UNION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS HEARING THIS. AND THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME HERE TO MINNEAPOLIS
BECAUSE THEY HEAR WHATEVER HOOPDALA ABOUT THE INTERNAL CLIMATE HERE IN OUR CITY. SO WHAT THAT SAYS TO ME IS WE HAVE TO TIGHTEN UP OUR SHIP. BECAUSE HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER IN OUR CITY AND INTERDEPARTMENTALLY IS HOW OTHER PEOPLE WILL COME. AND
THEY BELIEVE THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE THAT YOU ARE TO BE TREATING OTHER PEOPLE INTEROFFICE OR INTERDEPARTMENTALLY THAT WAY. THAT THAT'S ACCEPTED. YOU KNOW. MY PARENTS USED TO TELL ME, ME AND MY SIBLINGS, WE WOULD
QUARREL OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THEY SAID WHEN YOU GO OUT INTO COMMUNITY OR WHATEVER ELSE THE CASE IS OR YOU HAVE COMPANY TO COME OVER, HOW YOU TREAT EACH OTHER IS HOW OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO TREAT PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME INTO
YOUR HOME. SO NOW WE'VE GOT TO TIGHTEN UP HOW WE LOOK AT HOME. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THOSE CONCRETE INVESTMENTS. IF WE ARE SAYING OUR INTERNAL CANDIDATES -- BECAUSE LOOKING ACROSS THIS DAIS, I THINK MINNESOTA HAS SOME
NICE HOMEGROWN TALENT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF WE'RE SAYING INTERDEPARTMENTALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTING IN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IF WE DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, THAT'S OUR
FAULT. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE CONCRETE INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR HOMEGROWN TALENT AND WE ARE PROMOTING THEM AND ELEVATING THEM AND PUSHING THEM UP SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO REACH THE NEXT PINNACLE OF SUCCESS. THAT'S WHAT
WE HAVE TO DO. IT'S NICE TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE COME AND WE WANT TO SHOW OFF OUR CITY AND WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE PROUD OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE CREATE AND WE FEED RIGHT HERE AT HOME. AND I'M GOING TO SAY THAT WITH MY WHOLE CHEST, AND THAT WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND MAKE
THOSE REALLY QUALITY INVESTMENTS IN ONE ANOTHER. I KNOW THAT DR. FREEMAN IS NOT HERE. AND IT SADDENS ME THAT HE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE I LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO BE HERE SO I CAN SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES AND TALK TO THEM WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELEVATING YOU AND ASKING QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, THOSE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. AND I DID TALK TO HIM ABOUT THOSE ACCUSATIONS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DISCUSS. AND I BELIEVE THAT ANY TIME THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN LEADERSHIP THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS AND GAIN CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING OR
AGREE TO EVEN DISAGREE. HOWEVER, I VALUE EVERY SERVICE WORKER, EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE. ANY SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, I
VALUE THEM. AND I VALUE OUR RESIDENTS. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER IT IS THAT COMES INTO OUR CITY HOLDS THAT SAME VALUE AND TREATS EVERYONE WITH THAT SAME DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY. IT IS
NOT AN OPTION, IT'S A REQUIREMENT AND AN EXPECTATION. AND SO I'M GOING TO BE LEANING IN TO MY FIRE UNION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE. AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T SAY SOMETHING, I'M PULLING UP. THE END. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH DR. FREEMAN YESTERDAY AND I FOUND THE CONVERSATION TO BE REALLY WONDERFUL. VERY INSIGHTFUL. AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE STRENGTHS THAT DR. FREEMAN IS BRINGING TO
MINNEAPOLIS. THAT THE MAYOR DISCUSSED HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT UP IN DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. AND I THINK THAT MAKES ME EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTION IT CAN GO IN. I WANT US TO HAVE THE VERY BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE
WORLD BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS IN THE WORLD. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE GROWTH IN THIS DEPARTMENT THAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO LEVEUP IS GOING TO HAPPEN
WITHOUT EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP. THAT MATCHES THE TENACITY AND THE GRIT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WORK IN OUR DEPARTMENT. I ALWAYS HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT RAISED SOME CONCERNS FOR ME
AND FURTHER SOLIDIFIED MY CONCERNS ABOUT DR. FREEMAN AND UNDERSTANDING THAT I THINK THIS NOMINATION IS GOING TO BE APPROVED HERE TODAY. I WILL NOT BE, UNFORTUNATELY, ABLE TO SUPPORT DR. FREEMAN HERE TODAY.
AND IT IS IN PART BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE. I THINK THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS NEEDING OF STABILITY AND SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL. AND I THINK THAT LOTS OF
THE MAJORITY OF THE LEADERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS FIREFIGHTERS ARE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS DEPARTMENT AND STAY HERE FOR A LONG TIME. SPEND THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS HERE. AND I'M
WORRIED ABOUT HAVING WHO IS GOING TO COME INTO THIS DEPARTMENT AND PERHAPS NOT SERVE OUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE TERM. AND THAT JUST RAISES SOME CONCERN FOR ME. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT'S HIS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN PARTICULAR HIS PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT I JUST WANT LOOK PAST. IN OUR CONVERSATION, I FELT AS THOUGH
THE NOMINEE DISMISSED THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT I BROUGHT UP ABOUT SOME PRETTY SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAT HAPPENED IN THE ORGANIZATION HE WAS A LEADER IN INTERNATIONALLY
THAT FORCED THE DISPLACEMENT OF 20,000 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FROM THEIR HOMELAND TO BUILD A CLIMATE CATASTROPHE INDOOR CITY
FOR THE CRIMINALLY WEALTHY. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH MY VALUES. AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS NOMINATION. BUT I WISH DR. FREEMAN THE VERY BEST
OF LUCK AS HE EMBARKS ON THIS JOURNEY AND OFFER MYSELF AS A PARTNER ALWAYS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE THAT'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SUCCESSFUL AND SET UP TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AS THEY CARRY
OUT THE IMPORTANT WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I AM NOT A FIREFIGHTER. I DON'T PURPORT TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AND DO NOT WANT TO
BE A FIREFIGHTER. IT IS A TOUGH JOB AND I ONLY TIP A HAT TO WHAT YOU ALL DO. AND SO WHEN MAKING DECISIONS OF THIS, I THINK GRAVITY THAT WE ALL ARE KIND OF WEIGHING HERE. I'VE GOTTA LEAN ON THE EXPERTS. I'VE GOTTA LEAN
ON THE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE'VE HEARD QUITE LOUDLY FROM OUR UNION, LOCAL 82 HERE, BUT FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. I HAVE YET TO HEAR A NEGATIVE WORD ABOUT DR. FREEMAN. AND SO
WHEN WE KIND OF, AGAIN, LOOK TO THESE APPOINTMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT I HAVE NO LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, I LEAN ON THOSE THAT DO. AND SO I AM BASING THE LARGE MAJORITY OF THIS DECISION BASED ON THE ADVICE THAT I'VE RECEIVED
FROM THE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AND THE WORK OF BEING BEHIND THIS CHIEF AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MEETS THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF WHAT THIS CITY DESERVES. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE DOING IT DAY IN AND DAY
OUT. I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT YOU ALL IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENCE HERE TODAY FROM THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION. AND I WANT
TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. WHEN I FIRST MET WITH THE CHIEF, I WAS VERY LEERY BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST OUTSIDE CHIEF THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS HAD.ND I HAVE TO ADMIT, HE DID NOT IMPRESS HE AT ALL. ESPECIALLY HIS RESUME WHERE HE GOES FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT. THAT'S TROUBLING TO
ME. BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE A FIRE CHIEF SHOULD COME FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT YOU COME ON THE JOB TOGETHER, YOU WORK TOGETHER, YOU GROW TOGETHER. THE CHIEF SHOULD COME INTERNALLY. BUT AFTER MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION AND WITH
COMMISSIONER BARNETT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME, COMMISSIONER. YOU BROUGHT ME WRONG. AND I DO HOPE THE CHIEF IS LISTENING TODAY BECAUSE VERY UNUSUAL TO NOT HAVE SOMEONE PRESENT HERE TODAY. THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING HIM EXPLAIN WHY HE
COULDN'T TAKE TIME OFF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO COME AND LISTEN TO US IN PERSON. THAT TO ME IS TROUBLING. BUT I JUST HOPE THAT THE NEW CHIEF UNDERSTANDS AND VALUES THE BRAVERY OF THE MINNEAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT. HOW
SMART AND WISE YOU ARE. YOU'RE A GREAT, GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE. MY EXPECTATION FOR HIM WHILE HE'S HERE IS TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING AND EXPERTISE AS NEEDED SO THAT AS T NEXT CHIEF COMES
INTERNALLY, COMES FROM WITHIN, HAS RIDDEN THE RIGS WITH YOU, SLEPT WITH YOU, ATE WITH YOU, FOUGHT FIRESITH YOU. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. I HOPE THAT CAN BE OVERCOME WITH THIS OUTSIDE CHIEF. BUT I WILL BE VOTING FOR HIM BECAUSE I'M RELYING ON YOUR EXPERTISE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT'S
BEST FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. >> COUIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANT TO ECHO IT'S REALLY WEIRD THAT HE'S NOT HERE. WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING HERE RIGHT NOW? THIS IS -- IE NEVER
APPLIED FOR A JOB THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO SIT ON IN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER I GOT IT OR NOT. YEAH. I CAME INHERE, YOU KNOW, KNOWING I WAS GOING TO VOTE YES. AND NOW HIM NOT BEING HERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY DISTURBING TO ME. AND KIND OF MAKING ME WANT TO CHANGE MY VOTE
A LITT BIT. YEAH. I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO ASK HIM. DOES HE PLAN ON MOVING HERE FULL-TIME WITH HIS FAMILY? WE H REALLY HERE FULL-TIME AND HE DIDN'T WORK OUT REALLY WELL. SO
I WANTED TO KNOW THAT. YEAH, I WANTED TO MAKE CLE TO HIM IN PERSON THAT GENDER DISCRIMINAON IN A DEPARTMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND HE NEEDS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT AND NEEDS TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON
THAT AND LEARN FROM HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. I NEVER THOUGHT WE SHOULDAVE GONE OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT PERSONALLY. I DIDN'T THINK WE NEEDED TO SPEND MONEY TO GO LOOK FOR SOMEBODY. OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE'VE
GOT GREAT FIREFIGHTERS. YEAH. SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS. THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT HIM. HIS WORK IN OAKLAND WITH MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE I THINK IS SUPER VALUABLE. SUPER IMPORTANT FOR OUR CONTEXT HERE. I THINK THE
FACT THAT HE HAS SUCH STRONG UNION SUPPORT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. AND IT'S GOOD AND THAT HAS SWAYED MY DECISIONERY SIGNIFICANTLY. YEAH. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIM PERSONALLY. SO YEAH, I GUESS ALL THIS BEING
SAID IS THAT HE WILL GET MY VOTE TODAY. BUT I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS GIVEN TODAY IN PARTICULAR, AND I WILL WANT TO SPEAK WITH HIM IN PERSON AND COMMUNICATE THOSE CONCERNS. BUT WE NEED LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THIS CITY. WE DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT POLICE CHIEF. WE DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT FIRE CHIEF. AND SO WE NEED SOME PERMANENCE IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY APPARATUS. AND I
WAS PERSONALLY PREVIOUSLY IMPRESSED WITH MR. FREEMAN, AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE SUPPORT THAT HE GOT FROM THE UNION. SO I WILL BE VOTING YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> I ENJOYED ALSO MY TIME WITH DR. FREEMAN. ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME WHEN I ASKED HIM TO DESCRIBE WHAT KIND OF
LEADERSHIP THAT HE HOLDS, HE REALLY USED TWO WORDS. HE SAID I AM A SERVANT LEADER. THAT'S MY STYLE OF LEADERSHIP. AND THE WORD SERVANT HAS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION SOMETIMES. BUT IT'S THE BASIS OF SERVICE, RIGHT? I DON'T JUST LOOK OUT FOR MY OWN
NEEDS, BUT I'M WORKING. YOU KNOW, MY MISSION IS TO LOOK OUT THROUGH THE MEMBERS THAT ARE AROUND ME. THE NEEDS OF MY TEAM. NOT JUST MY OWN. AND SO TO ME THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE KINDS OF LEADERS THAT YOU CAN HAVE. WHO IS WILLING TO
LAY DOWN THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND LISTEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE. WHO IS WILLING TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A TEAM'S PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN THE SECOND WORD, THOUGH, IS LEADERSHIP. EVERY TEAM NEEDS A LEADER. FIRE
CREWS KNOW THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. YOU DON'T HAVE A LEADER, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE. RIGHT? AND SO I FEEL LIKE DR. FREEMAN IS READY TO LEAD. AND BRINGING IN SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, A LEADER IS UNAFRAID TO
ADDRESS ISSUES WITHIN THE TEAM THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. AND JUST BE ABLE TO REALLY WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, RIGHT? AND I THINK I'M REALLY EXCITED -- NOT I THINK, I KNOW. I'M EXCITED THAT
HE WILL BE AND CHOSE THOSE WORDS IN HIS DESCRIPTION OF HIS LEADERSHIP TO ME. SO I TRUST HIM. I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO BE CHEERING HIM ON. BECAUSE I ALSO COMMUNICATED THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME RIGHT NOW IN OUR CITY AROUND TRUST IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW,
IT'S A CRITICAL TIME. AND I TRIED TO IMPOSE ON HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA PRESSURE ON YOU, RIGHT? BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH. AND THAT'S NOT -- SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN AS A NEGATIVE, IT'S JUST WE CARE. WE
CARE ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS. WE CARE ABOUT OUR TEAM MEMBERS. WE CARE OUR LEADERS ARE DEMONSTRATING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AT THE TOP SPOT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE BOTTOM IS DOING. SO I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT HIM TODAY. AND I ALSO WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU. THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. IT MATTERS. AND IT MATTERED TO OUR COUNCIL IN OUR DECISIONMAKING. THANKS. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANKS, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I
HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH DR. FREEMAN. WE SPOKE FOR OVER AN HOUR. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL TO KIND OF JUST GET TO KNOW HIM AND THEN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION THAT ARE PRETTY
BROAD. WE KIND OF JUST GOT RIGHT TO THE HEART OF ISSUES FACING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING EACH YEAR TO TRY TO GET THE FIRE ALERTING SYSTEM AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT, AND HOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEED HIM
TO COMMIT TO WORKING ON. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR YEARSAS FACED $5 MILLION TO $6 MILLION OVERAGE YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE JUST NOT INVESTING ENOUGH IN
THIS DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT HE'S GOING TO NEED TO FIGHT FOR THAT AND FIGHT REALLY, REALLY HARD. BECAUSE THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES THE LAST FIVE YEARS WHEN WE WERE IN A BETTER FINANCIAL POSITION TO GET THAT AND IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN. AND WE CAN'T KEEP ON AVOIDING MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHERE OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO EVEN MORE CALLS, AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT
OF CALLS THAT JUST KEEP GROWING AMOUNT OF STAFF. AND I ALSO CHATTED WITH HIM ABOUT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BUDGET. I WAS LIKE YEAH WE NEED TO SEE SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUESTS TO IMPROVE THE FIRE STATIONS. THIS IS WHERE THE FIREFIGHTERS LIVE. SO WE GOT RIGHT INTO THE HEART
OF IT. I REALLY APPRECIATED A LOT OF HIS RESPONSES AND H HE'S THINKING ABOUT IT. HE SEEMS LIKE A VERY STRONG CHANGE AGENT AS IT COMES TO BIG ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HAS A
TRACK RECORD OF IT. EVERY TIME I ASKED HIM A QUESTION ABOUT HOW HE WOULD THINK THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES, HE WAS ABLE TO CITE DIFFERENT INSTANCES THAT CAME TO MIND. AND THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY VALUABLE. I ALSO
CARE A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO SAY. AND THERE'S BEEN RESOUNDING SUPPORT FOR HIM FROM THERE. AND THEN HE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED TO ME WHEN HE WAS BECOMING THE FIRE CHIEF I
BELIEVE IN OAKLAND. THE UNION THERE AT THE TIME DID NOT SUPPORT HIM. AND HE HIGHLIGHTED THAT SAME LEADER NOW IS A CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER IN OAKLAND AND W SO I THINK THAT JUST SPEAKS A LOT TO THE WORK AND THE TRUST BUILDING THAT HAPPENED. I ALSO SHARED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO RECRUIT WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE FROM OUR
COMMUNITY, AND ALSO SHOW DEEP CARE FOR OUR LGBTQIA COMMUNITY AND GENDER EXPANSIVE COMMUNITY. AND HE SHARED ABOUT HIS WORK THAT HE'S LED NATIONALLY AROUND
IB, AND THE FACT THAT HE CO-FOUNDED A GROUP I BELIEVE IN OAKLAND FIRE FOR WOMEN AND NON-BINARY FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH I WAS LIKE, WOW. THIS IS THE TYPE OF INCLUSIVITY WE NEED. AND HE
HAD MEASURABLE WAYS OF ALSO H HE WAS ABLE TO CHANGE STANDARDS SO IT WAS EIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS T COME INTO THE DEPARTMENT AND G STARTED. SO APPRECIATED THAT CONVERSATION. WITH HIM. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
WORK TO DO. AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING HIM TAY AND EXCITED TO DO SO. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MAKE MENTION OF THIS HERE TODAY.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WORDS ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER THAT DR. FREEMAN GAVE ME ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT TO BEING RE IN MINNEAPOLIS. BUT ACTIONS MATTER
SO MUCH MORE. AND I SEE THREE ACTIONS HERE TODAY THAT STAND OUT TO ME. FIRST, ACTIONS MATTER AND I SEE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 82 HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. THAT'S WHY YOU MADE THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. SECOND, I SEE THE COMMISSIONER IN THE ROOM. I
REALLY APPRECIATE AS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE OVERSEEING -- WHO CURRENTLY OVERSEES THE DEPARTMENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO. AND THE NEW FIRE CHIEF IS GOING TO BE A PART OF YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT YOU ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AND
YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT THIS IS IMPORTANTND YOU'RE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME. THANK YOU TO LOCAL 82 AND TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR MAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT'S
CONSEQUENTIAL. AND JUS AS IMPORTANTLY, THE THIRD ACTION THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THAT DR. FREEMAN HIMSELF IS NOT HERE. IN FACT, HE'S NOT IN THE CITY. HE'S NOT IN THE STATE. HE'S NOT IN THE COUNTRY. HE'S IN SAUDI
ABIA. THAT IS JUST -- THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. IT STANDS OUT TO ME ABOUT WHAT MATTERS, WHAT'S PRIORITIZED AND WHAT ISN'T. I HOPE IN THE ACTIONS THAT HE WILL DEMONSTRATE AS A NEW LEADER OF
THE DEPARTMENTHAT IT WILL SHOW ME A DIFFERENT VERSION OF DR. FREEMAN. AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT FOR THE SAKE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE SAKE OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE.
COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED US TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR ASSISTANT CHIEFS, MELANIE RUCKER AND WES VAN VICKEL FOR THE SERVICE THEY STEPPED UP AFTER
CHIEF TYNER LEFT. THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN HOLDING DOWN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN IN HERE BEFORE US MANY TIMES GIVING US PRESENTATIONS AND WALKING US THROUGH A LOT OF THE THINGS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES. CHIEF RUCKER REACHED OUT
ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT. WE GOT $500,000 WORTH OF NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A BUNCH OF NEW JAWS OF LIFE. AND I GOT TO GO A TEST OUT SOME. COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER WAS THERE ALSO. SOME OF THE NEW EQUIPMENT. AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO JUST SHOUT OUT THE FOLKS WHO STEPPED UP DURING THIS SEARCH PERIOD AND WHO'VE DONE A GREAT JOB LEADING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DURING THIS TIME WHILE WE HAVE BEEN RECRUITING A NEW CHIEF. SO THANK YOU TO THOSE TWO CHIEFS FOR THEIR IMMENSE SERVICE AND
THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO. AND I CERTAINLY HOPE TO SEE THEM CONTINUE IN THOSE ROLES AND WORKING ON BEHALF OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOS. >> I SECOND THAT.
>> SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> NAY. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE.
>> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> NO. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 10 AYES AND TWO NAYS. >>HAT CARRIES AND THAT COMPLETES THE PHSE REPORT AND
ALL THE REPORTS OF OUR STANDING COMMITTEES. THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS NOTICE OF ORDINANCE INTRODUCTIONS. WE HAVE THREE TODAY. AMENDING PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE COMMERCIAL HOOD AND EXHAUST CLEANING PROGRAM. SECOND, COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN GIVE NOTICE OF INTENT TO INTRODUCE AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETIN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATING TO ENSURING THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF
THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. FINALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN GIVES NOTICE OF INTENT TO INTRODUCE AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING -- CONDUCTING ELECTIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM POLICY
BOARD. THESE NICES ARE HEREBY GIVEN AND NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THISIME. THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE INTRODUCTION A REFERRAL CALENDAR. WE HAVE FR ITEMS TODAY. FIRST PURSUANT TO NOTICE, COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAVEZ, MYSELF,
WONSLEY AND WARREN MOVE TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LIQUOR AND BEER CODE FOR FIRST READING AND REFERRAL TO BUSINESS, HOUSING AND ZONING COMMITTEE. REQUIRES A DRESS
CODE. SECOND, PURSUANT TO NOTICE, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ AND STEVENSON INTRODUCE ORDINANCE AMENDING PROVISIONS OF THE CODE RELATED TO NOISE REGULATIONS TO REMOVE IRRELEVANT CONTENT, ORGANIZE STRUCTURE IN A MORE LOGICAL FORMAT, ADD A
CLAUSE RELATING TO SOUND MOTION SENSORS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THIRD, PURSUANT TO NOTICE, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHAFFER AND RAINVILLE MOVE TO INTRODUCE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LICENSE AND BUSY REGULATIONS CODE FOR FIRST READING AND REFERRAL TO THE
BUSINESS, HOUSING AND ZONG COMMITTEE. AMENDING REPEALING AND ADDING PROVISIONS RELATED TO RENTAL HALLSND PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT TO CREATE EVE CENTER LICENSE ALLOWING FOR THE HOSTING OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS. AND FINALLY, PURSUANT TO NOTICE COUNCIL
MEMBERS WONSLEY, CHAVEZ, WHITING, AND CHOWDHURY MOVE TO INTRODUCE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THENIMAL CARE AND CONOL CODE FOR FIRST R PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE REMOVING CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON PET OWNERSHIP SOLELY DUE TO A PRIOR CONVICTION FOR CERTAIN FELONIES.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE INTRODUCTIONS? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN QUEUE, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMR WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE.
>> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >> THAT MOTION CARRIES AND THOSE
ARE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES. WE HAVE ONE RESOLUTION ON OUR AGENDA TODAY REALLY TO RECOGNIZING THE 2026 MINNEAPOLIS AQUATENNIAL. DO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO ADD? SEEING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.
>> THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE.
>> THERE A 12 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES AND THAT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS. AS I SAID AT THE TOP WE HAVE TWO ITEMS TODAY. ITEM 1 RELATES TO A PROPOSED CONTRACT
WITH SKYDIO INC. AT OUR LAST MEETING WE CONSIDERED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MOTIONS BOTH OF WHICH FAILED. THIS REMAINS BEFORE US FOR ACTION MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY GUIDANCE ON WHAT A PROPER MOTION WOULD BE TO DISPOSE OF THIS ITEM?
>> MR. PRESIDENT, WITH YOUR INDULGENCE AIT I THOUGHT I'D TALK ABOUT WHAT A TIE VE DOES. THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THAT. I WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT A TIE VOTE FOR COUNCIL HAS BOTH PROCEDURAL AND LEGAL EFFECT.
UNDER -- IT DOESN'T DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THE UNDERLYING OPOSITION THAT'S BEFORE YOU. THE CITY CHARTER, OUR CONSTITUTION, PROVIDES THAT A COUNCIL MUST ACT BY A DEFINED MAJORITY VOTE COMBINED WITH A
OFFICIAL RECORD TO BE PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR FOR HIS CONSIDERATIO A TIE VOTE DOES NOT ACHIEVE THOSE OUTCOMES OR REQUIREMENTS OF THE ARTER, AND THEREFORE I NOT DISPOSITIVE. IT DEFEATS THE MOTION BUT IT DOESN'T DISPOSE OF THE PROPOSITION. WHEN THERE IS A TIE
VOTE, THE COUNCIL MAY MAKE A DIFFERENT VOTE. SO YOU ASKED, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD BE A PROPER COURSE OF ACTION. A PROPER COURSE O ACTION WOULD BE A MOTION TO ACHIEVE THE OPPOSITE OF THE MOTION THAT FAILED BECAUSE OF A TIE VOTE. A MOTION TO REFER TO POSTPONE, TO
CONTINUE, ANY OF THOSE PROCEDURAL MOTIONS WOULD KEEP THE MOTION ALIVE. THE UNDERLYING PROPOSITION ALIVE SUBJECT TO A FINAL DISPOSITIVE VOTE OR IF THE MOTION TO APPROVE ILS, A MOTION TO DISAPPROVE. OFTEN YOU'LL HEAR THE CLERK SAY WHEN
THERE'S A TIE VOTE, MOVE TO DELETE FROM THE AGENDA. THE STANDARD IS THE MOTION THAT WOULD BE DISPOSITIVE BECAUSE IT WOULD ELIMINA THE MATTER FROM THE UNCIL'S FURTHER CONSIDERATION. A MOTION TO DELETE FM THE AGENDA OR A MOTION TO DENY IF THE MOTION TO
APPROVE IS TIED OR IF A MOTION TO DENY FAILS -- I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL TO THE BODY. >> WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE IN QUEUE. NOT SURE IF IT'S FOR QUESTIONS OR MOTIONS. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW.
>> THANK U, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I ACTUAL WOULDLIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH SKYDIO BACK TO STAFF. >> SECOND. >> DURING LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS AT BOTH MEETINGS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEEND THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING, COUNCIL MEMBERS RAISED SEVERAL SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTH SKYDIO AS THE VENDER AND IMPLICATIONS OF USING DRONES AS FIRST RESPONDERS. I HOPE THE MOTION GIVES TIME AND
POTENTIALLY MOVES AATH FORWARD. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW HAS MOVED TO REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO STAFF. IT HAS BEEN SECOND. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. SO WE'RE JUST SPEAKING ON NUMBERNE OF THE MOTIONS OR
BOTH? >> NUMBE ONE AT THE MOMENT. >> WHICH IS THE SKYDIO ONE? >> CORRECT. >> IILL SAVE MY ENERGY. >> WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO REFER ITEM NUMBER 1, SKYDIO
BACK TO STAFF. SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. SORRY. >> GIRL, YOU SECONDED IT. >> I KNOW. I'M SORRY.
>>OUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >>STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES.
>> THAT CARRIES. NEXT, AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE TOP, ITEM TWO RESULTED IN A TIE VOTE. IT SHOULD HAVE ENDED ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN JUNE 11th AND IT WAS NOT ON OUR AGENDA. AND SO
THAT'S WHY WE ARE TAKING IT UP HERE. AND WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE CLERK AROUND WHAT HAPPENED TO MAKE THAT NOT HAPPEN. I BELIEVE IT WAS PARTIALLY AN ERROR AS A RESULT OF THE CLERK DOESN'T GET TO TAKE VACATIONS ANYMORE BECAUSE HE
WASN'T THERE FOR THAT MEETING. BUT THAT'S A JOKE. [LAUGHTER] >> THIS ITEM, WE BROUGHT BACK TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONSISNCY AROUND HOW THESE MOTIONS ARE DEALT WITH WHEN THERE ARE A TIE. SO WE DO HAVE
TO DISPOSE OF THIS AND TO MAKE A MOTION TO DO AS MUCH. SO I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ TO EITHER MAKE A MOTION OR ASK A QUESTION. >> WELL I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO RETURN THIS ITEM BACK TO AUTHOR. AND IF THE AUTHOR WANTS TO WORK ON IT FURTHER, THAT WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL. BUT
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON PROCESS BECAUSE I POINTED THIS OUT LAST CYCLE AND I BROUGHT THIS UP. AND LAST CYCLE WE WERE TOLD THIS ITEM WAS DEAD. THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS DEAD. I WATCHED A RECORDING YESTERDAY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT LAST ITEM WAS
DEAD AND IT WAS STILL ON THE AGENDA. SO I BROUGHT UP THE CONCERN THAT THIS ITEM WASN'T AUTOMATICALLY PUT ON THE AGENDA. SO COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE, WAS IT YOUR -- BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, FOR BEING ABLE TO
INSTEAD OF JOKINGLY EXPLAIN IT. MR. CARL WAS NOT AT THE MEETING WHERE THIS RESULTED IN A TIE. AS A RESULT -- AND I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAMS. GEYSERHAT WAS WORKING OR MR. DAILIOR. THERE
WAS A DISCONNECT WITHIN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT TIME I JUST ASK THAT YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE PUBLIC MAYBE DIDN'T THINK YOU ADDED IT TO THE AGENDA. I DON'T WANT TO BE A CLERK MYSELF. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA AND MAKE SURE PROCEDURES
FOLLOWED EQUITABLY. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION AND QUESTION. AND ACTUALLY, THAT BRINGS ANOTHER QUESTION, MR. CLERK. WE HAVE SOME VERY SMALL NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A NINE-VOTE MAJORITY TO PASS. AND IF THEY
FAILED,S THAT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE? >> MR. PRESIDENT, NO. IN THAT CASE, THERE'S A DEFINE MAJORITY THRESHOLD THAT HAS TO BE ACHIEVED AND IT FAILED. SO THE ITEM ITSELF FAILS. THE FACT THAT MOTION ENDS IN A TIE, MEANS IT
DIDN'T ACHIEVE A MAJORITY. A M MAJORITY IS ALWAYS REQUIRED TO TAKEACTION. IF YOU DON'T ACHIEVE THAT MAJORITY, THE ITEM MEAN THE OPPOSITE OUTCOME IS
ACHIEVED. SO IF A MOTION IS MADE TO APPROVE A CONTRACT, AS AN EXAMPLE, AND THE RESULT OF 6-6, THE COUNCIL DIDN'T BY A MAJORITY ACHIEVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. BUT THE OUTCOME DIDN'T AUTOMATICALLY BECOME A FAILURE. YOU'D NEED TO INTRODUCE A MOTION
TO DENY THE CONTRACT AND THEN VOTE ON THAT MOTION. BECAUSE THE MOTION IN FNT OF THE BODY WAS TO APPROVE. WE ACT ON THE MION IN FRONT OF THE BODY. IF TIE VOTE DOESN'T ACHIEVE THE OPPOSITE OUTCOME. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ MADE A MOTION TO RETURN
TO AUTHOR. AND I FEEL LIKE I SAW YOU WANTING TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, RETURN TO AUTHOR IS SPECIFIC AND ONLY TIED TO RETURNING ORDINANCES. THAT'S WHY I SAID EARLIER DELETE FROM AGENDA IS RETURN TO EVERYTHING ELSE. RETURN TO AUTHOR IS ONLY
FOR ORDINANCES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MODIFY YOUR MOTION? >> YEAH. THAT'S FINE. >> DELETE. >> IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOON TO DELETE FROM THE AGENDA? >> SECOND. >> SECOND. >> THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW IS ON QUEUE.
>> NO, I'M NOT. HE ANSWERED IT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO.
>> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >>HAT CARRIES. AND THAT COMPLETES ALL OF THE BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA. EXCEPT WE DO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. BEFORE I
RECOGNIZE THE ATTORNEY AND WE RECESS FOR CLOSED SESSION. AND ACTUALLY WHAT I WILL DO IS TAKE A LITTLE PULSE. DO WE WANT TO HAVE A LUNCH RECESS OR POWER THROUGH? >> YES. >> POWER THROUGH. >> I'M HEARING PEOPLE WANT LUNCH. >> YES, LUNCH. >>EAH.
>> YEAH. >> SO BEFORE RECOGNIZE THE ATTORNEY AND WE RECESS FOR CLOSED SESSION, I WILL ASK IF THERE ARE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY ANNOCEMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. AS YOU ALL, I'M GOING TO SAY IT EVERY SINGLE TIME UNTIL AUGUST 8TH. SOUTHSIDE BE OUTSIDE. WE ARE HAVING A COMMUNITY BARBECUE. I HOPE ALL OF YOU TO BE THERE. 12:00 TO
4 P.M., WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, AUGUST 8TH. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS OF THE VERY FIRST NORTHSE JAZZ AND CULTURE FESTIVAL. IT WAS LITERALLY THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE SUMMER. BUT
IT WAS PACKED. THE NORTHSIDE SHOWED UP, HAD A GREAT TIME. WE GOT TO LISTEN TO SOME AMAZING LOCAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN'S DAUGHTER, ANAYA. SHE GOT TO SING A SONG THAT SHE
DOESN'T NORMALLY GET TO SING. AND SHE WAS SO PROUD OF HERSELF AND I WAS PROUD OF HER ALSO. SHE WAS FANTASTIC AND SO WERE THE OTHER ARTISTS. I ALSO THANK THE
PARK BOARD. THEY LET US USE THEIR BUILDING AND PARKING LOT IN A WAY I'VE NOT SEEN ON THE NORTHSIDE. IT WAS A GREAT FESTIVAL. A GREAT TURNOUT. WONDERFUL ENERGY. JUST PEOPLE OUT ENJOYING THE NORTHSIDE. WE WERE BY THE RIVER. BY THE OLD
RIVER VIEW THEATER. LOTS OF MEMORIES SHARED WITH FOLKS. IT WAS THE FIRST ANNUAL. AND I'M ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND ANNUAL. >> COUIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. JULY 31ST, AUGUST 1ST, AND
AUGUST 2ND, IS NOKOMIS DAYS 2026. BE SURE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY IN THE 12th AND 11th WARD. THERE ARE EVENTS FOR FAMILIES AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
THERE'S WONDERFUL SALES. COMPETITIONS, PRIZES, PARKING LO PARTIES, FREE CONCERTS, YOU NAME IT. DOING WHAT MINNESOTANS LOVE TO DO WHICH IS GO OUTSIDE,
EAT GOOD FOOD, LISTEN TO GOOD MUSIC. THERE'S A LOT OF SOUTHSIDE WE OUTSIDE MOMENTS HAPPENING IN THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO THE PARK ART FAIR
FROM AUGUST 1ST TO AUGUST 2ND. EACH DAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I SO MUCH ENJOYED MYSELF AT THE NORTHSIDE'S FIRST ANNUAL
JAZZ FESTIVAL. IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME. SO IF YOU MISSED IT, WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I DO WANT TO ALSO SHOUT OUT THAT THIS IS BLACK BUSINESS WEEK, WHICH IS THE KICKOFF TO BLACK BUSINESS
MONTH. SO GO OUT AND SHOP WITH YOUR BLACK BUSINESSES. AND YEAH, SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES. I THINK WE WERE AT THE COLISEUM, MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ THE OTHER DAY. AND OUR MAYOR LEARNED HOW TO BRAID. SO I AM EXCITED TO
SEE WHAT IS TO COME FROM THAT EXPERIENCE. SO HE WAS EXCITED TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE HE'S LIKE I GOT TWO DAUGHTERS, I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BRAID. GO OUT, SHOP, SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES. ENJOY SOME OF THIS GOOD WEATHER. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS APPROACHING US. SO I KNOW A LOT
OF THOSE FESTIVALS AND ACTIVITIES ARE GOING ON NEXT WEEK. GET OUT, CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. YOU KNOW, LAUGH, TALK, EAT SOME GOOD FOOD. SOME PEOPLE DO BIG COOKINGS FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST GET HOTDOGS AND A BAG OF CHIPS. EITHER WAY
IT GOES, IT'S ALL IN LOVE. BE GRATEFUL. BE THANKFUL. CELEBRATE EACH OTHER. AND STAY PLENTY HYDRATED. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. THE END. >> MR. CARL. >> I PUT ON MY SPARKLY TIE FOR
THIS. I WANTED TO OFFER A BRIEF COMMENT ABOUT TODAY'S VOTE ON THE DEMOCRACY CENTER. AS THE CITY'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICIAL, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT PROJECT MOVE FORWARD. I'M ANTICIPATING TO BE IN THAT NEW
FACILITY TO WELCOME VOTERS FOR THE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE BALLOT BOX TO ALL VOTERS. I
KNOW THEY'RE EAGER TO JOIN THE LONGFELLOW NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. I DO APPRECIATE SINCERELY COUNCIL PUSHING THAT PROJECT FORWARD. THE CITY AND THIS COUNCIL HAVE ALWAYS INVESTED IN ELECTIONS SO THAT EVERY MINNEAPOLIS VOTER HAS
THE EQUAL, FREE, AND FAIR RIGHT TO CAST THEIR BALLOT IN EVERY ELECTION, AND THAT MATTERS. AS COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THIS IS A REASON FOR THE ENTIRE CIT TO CELEBRATE. THANK YOU FOR THAT
VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU. I'LL ECHO CLERK CARL'S COMMENTS. I CANNOT WAIT TO MOVE INTO THE NEW DEMOCRACY CENTER AND CAST MY VOTE THERE IN THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. BUT MEANTIME, I HAD A TERRIFIC
EXPERIENCE AT THE EARLY VOTE CENTER AT 908 EAST HENNEPIN THIS WEEK. I SEE OTHER STICKERS HERE THAT SHOWED THAT OTHERS HAVE ALSO GONE TO EAST HENNEPIN TO CAST THEIR BALLOT EARLY FOR THE PRIMARY THAT IS AUGUST 11th.
THERE ARE FEW EXCUSES TO NOT BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO VOTE. THERE ARE POP-UP LOCATIONS HAPPENING BEFORE THE PRIMARY. I HAD A WONDERFUL VOTER FORUM. A FORUM IN MY WARD LAST WEEK WITH
THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTION SERVICES, CATIE SMITH AND HER DEPUTY JOHN MARTIN. AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE AND GET ASSURANCE I THINK FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY THAT WERE THERE ON OUR ELECTION SECURITY AND ALL
OF THE DIFFERENT CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT GO INTO VOTING IN OUR CITY. SO A PLUG FOR VOTING EARLY IN THE PRIMARY. IT WAS A WONDERFUL, EASY EXPERIENCE. I WAS IN AND OUT IN FIVE MINUTES. BUT FOR WANTING TO SMILE TO
EVERYBODY IN THAT CENTER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> YEAH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO EVENTS. ONE DOWNTOWN IS THE SAVANNAH BANANAS THIS WEEKEND. SOLD OUT EVENT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
STREET ACTIVITIES. BLOCKS CLOSED. YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE FUN EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T GET TICKETS. AND SECONDLY, WE ALL HAD A HAND IN BRINGING BACK THE UPTOWN ART FESTIVAL AND THAT IS THIS WEEKEND STARTING FRIDAY FROM 1:00 TO 7:00. SATURDAY,
10:00 TO 6:00. AND SUNDAY, 10:00 TO 4:00. I ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU HAVE TIME, COME BACK AND SEE IT. IT'S GOOD TO SEE IT BK IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF THE SAME FOOTPRINT FOR THOSE
OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE ATTENDED SOME OF THE LOPIT EVENTS IN THE MALL AND KIND OF THE SOUTHERN LAKE OF THE ISLES PARKWAY. ENTERTAINMENT, CONCERTS AND FOOD TRUCKS. SO LOTS OF FUN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE FIRST ONE, IT DONNED ON ME THIS LAST WEEK I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS WE ALL KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN WARD 3, AND PERHAPS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, THE INSPECTORS ARE BOTH WOMEN. SO BOTH THE FIRST PRECINCT AND THE SECOND PRECINC INSPECTORS, THE TOP COPS, ARE WOMEN. SO THAT
JUST SHOWS HOW FAR WE'VE ADVANCED IN PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THE SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT IS I'LL LET LATRISHA VEW CARRY FORTH ON IT. BUT I DID WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF PAST
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, JOHN. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING. NORTH MINNEAPOLIS LOST A RESIDENT, A PREVIOUS WARD 4 COUNCIL MEMBER, JOHN SERVED IN THE 70s ON THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL AND THEN WENT ON TO BE
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER. AND WE WILL MISS JOHN. JOHN WAS A GIGANTIC MAN WITH GIGANTIC HANDS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TALL HE WAS. MAYBE 6'5", 6'6".
JON WAS VERY GENTLE. VERY SMART. HEAD SO MANY PROJECTS. WE WENT TO DINNER LAST WEEK AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK HE'S DONE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND IN HENNEPIN COUNTY. JOHN WILL BE TRULY MISSED. HIS FAMILY STILL LIVES IN WARD 4. I JUST WANTED
TO HAVES ALL TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR JOHN DARRUS, FORMER CITY COUNCIL AND COUNT COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN.
>> I'M SORRY. I FORGOT AN EVENT. THIS TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO MISS IT BECAUSE IT'S AT 1:00. THE VIP SHOWING. BUT THIS WEEKEND, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, SISTER ACT 2 WILL BE AT
LUNDSTROM PERFORMING ARTS. AND MY DAUGHTER IS STARRING IN THAT PLAY. IT IS HER LAST MUSICAL BEFORE SHE GOES OFF TO SCHOOL IN NEW YORK. THEY'RE DOING IT. THIS IS LUNDSTROM'S BIG PRODUCTIONS. THEY'RE SO MUCH FUN. IF YOU
HAVEN'T BEEN TO A PRODUCTION AT LUNDSTRUM, YOU ARE MISSING OUT. THEY'RE IN THE WARD, IN THE 5th WARD. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW HAS GOT SOME FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PERFORMED AT LUNDSTROM. LOTS OF THE KIDS THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND THE STAFF IS GREAT. THEY DO A
LOT OF GREAT WORK WITH THOSE KIDS SO I WANTED TO SHOUT THEM OUT AND THAT SISTER ACT 2 IS SHOWING THIS WEEKEND THERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> ONE CLARIFICATION. IT'S NOT STARTING TOMORROW. BUT IT'S NEXT FRIDAY. ONE WEEKEND OUT IF I WASN'T CLEAR FOR BOTH EVENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT. TT IS ALL OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS. WITH THAT, WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA AND WILL NOW CONSIDER THE REQUEST FOR A CLOSED SESSION WHICH IS TO RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON THE LITIGATION MATTER LISTED ON THE AGENDA. BEFORE I MOVE TO CLOSE THE MEETING, I'LL
RECOGNIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE REQUESTED CLOSED SESSION. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A LITIGATION MATTER OF ASSAD AWAIJANE ET AL VERSUS BITTELL ET AL. YOU LAWYERS WISH TO PROVIDE
A BRIEFING ON THIS MATTER. MINNESOTA STATUTE SECTION 13D.05 SUBDISION 3B. THE COUIL MAY UPON A PROPER MOTION CLOSE THE MEETING FOR PURPOSES OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT INFORMATION. IN CONSIDERING THE MOTION, THE
COUNCIL SHOULD WEIGH THE RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT ITS GORNMENT IS DOINGGAINST THE NEED OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF DISCUSSIONS WITH ITS ATTORNEYS. >> THANK YOU, MR. CITY ATTORNEY MEETING AS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE
OPEN MEETING LAW, SPECIFICALLY MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE SECTION 13D.05 FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING A BRIEFING ON THE LITIGATION MATTER OFSSAD AWAIJANE ET AL VERSUS BITTELL ET AL. MAY I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? >> SECOND. >> THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. >> SHAFFER. >> AYE. >> CHUGHTAI. >> AYE. >> WHITING. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> STEVENSON. >> AYE. >> RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> VETAW. >> AYE. >> PALMISANO. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT PAYNE.
>> AYE. >> THERE ARE 12 AYES. >> THAT CARRIES. FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, I WILL NOTE THAT T BROADCAST FOR THIS MEETING WILL CONTINUE. AND RECONVENE AFTER WE'VE CONCLUDED THE CLOSED SESSION. WE WILL START THE
CLOSED SESSION AT 1:30. [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
IS IN RECESS ]
[ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS ] [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
IS IN RECESS ] [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS IN A CLOSED SESSION, THIS MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE CLOSED SESSION ENDS ]
[ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS IN A CLOSED SESSION, THIS MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE CLOSED SESSION ENDS ] [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS IN A CLOSED SESSION, THIS MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE
CLOSED SESSION ENDS ] [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS IN A CLOSED SESSION, THIS MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE
CLOSED SESSION ENDS ] [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS IN A CLOSED SESSION, THIS MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE CLOSED SESSION ENDS ] [ THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
IS IN A CLOSED SESSION, THIS MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE CLOSED SESSION ENDS ]
[ GAVEL ]. >> THE TIME IS NOW 3:08 AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FOLLOWING OUR CLOSED SESSION. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> AYE. PRESENT.
>> SHAFFER. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> PRESENT. >> WHITING. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> STEVENSON. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE IS ABSENT. VETAW. >> PRESENT. >> PALMISANO. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN IS ABSENT. PRESIDENT PAYNE.
>> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE 10 MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE HAVE A QUORUM. WITH THAT, WE'VE COMPLETED OUR BUSINESS TODAY. WITH NOTHING TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.