>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR JULY 14, 2026. MY NAME IS AURIN CHOWDHURY AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. I WILL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AND ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL TO VERIFY THE
PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. >> COUNCILMEMBER PAYNE. >> PRESENT. >> WONSLEY. >> PRESENT. >> RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> VETAW. >> PRESENT. >> WARREN. >> PRESENT. >> OSMAN IS ABSENT. SHAFFER. >> PRESENT. >> STEVENSON. >> PRESENT. >> CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT.
>> WHITING. >> PRESENT. >> PALMISANO. >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR CHUGHTAI IS ABSENT AND CHAIR CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE 11 MEMBERS PRESENT. >> THANK YOU, CLERK. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, LET ME OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO
EVERYONE THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REALTIME CAPTIONING TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL SPEAKERS BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT OUR CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY CAPTURE AND
TRANSCRIBE ALL ITEMS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO PLEASE MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. COLLEAGUES, OUR AGENDA IS IN FRONT OF US. I'LL ASK MEMBERS TO GET INTO
QUEUE IF THERE ARE ANY AMENDMENTS. >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, IF I COULD INTERRUPT BRIEFLY, IT SEEMS SPEAKER MANAGEMENT IS NOT WORKING CURRENTLY, SO WE'RE GOING TO USE READ TEXT TODAY. >> MEMBERS, PLEASE IDENTIFY WHERE YOUR READ TEXT ARE.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA AND ADD TWO WALK ON ITEMS. BEFORE YOU THERE SHOULD BE A COPY OF THE REQUEST FOR COMMITTEE ACTION RELAT TO HERITAGE PARK. ONE IS THE RESPONSE TO THE
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE AND ANOTHER IS A BUDGET REALLOCATION REQUEST. COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU RECEIVED THESE RCA'S FROM ME LATE IN THE EVENING.
THIS HAS TAKEN A HIGHLY IRREGULAR PROCESS. IT WAS SUBMITTED LATE BECAUSE OF EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCILMEMBER WARREN ABOUT THIS. BUT WANTED TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THIS
REALLY BIG ITEM BEFORE IT CAME TO OUR COMMITTEE. SO THAT'S THE ITEM THAT I'LL MOVE. AND THEN I'LL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER SHAFFER TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA. AND WE CAN TAKE THOSE -- ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS TOGETHER. >> SURE.
THIS IS JUST A LAST MINUTE COMMERCIAL BLOCK EVENT APPLICATION FOR AMPLIFIED SOUND FOR THE AQUATINNIEL. >> GREAT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE ON IT,
I'LL JUST SHARE WHAT THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA IS GOING TO BE IN CASE ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDER OF AGENDA. SO WE WILL TAKE UP THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, THEN WE'LL TAKE CONSENT AND WE WILL ADD THE AQUATINNIEL SOUND PERMIT ITEM IN CONSENT.
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE WALK ON ITEMS FOR HERITAGE PARK AND DISCUSSION. AND THEN WE WILL PASS THIS MEETING OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER WHITING FOR THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND CONSENT DECREE SUBCOMMITTEES. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
NOT SEEING ANY RED TAGS UP. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS REVISED? >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE OUR AGENDA. OKAY, NOW WE WILL START BY
TAKING OUR STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS STARTING WITH THE ENTERPRISE LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IF ELR COMMITTEE HAS FOUR ITEMS TO BRING FORWARD ON THURSDAY. THE FIRST IS RESOLUTION FOR THE
FIRST QUARTER OF 2026 QUARTERLY DONATIONS. THIS SECOND IS A RESOLUTION FOR GIFT ACCEPTANCE FOR COUNCILMEMBER STEVENSON TO ATTEND A SUBMIT EVENT IN DULUTH.
ITEM FOUR IS A LEGAL SETTLEMENT WORKER'S COMP CLAIM. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? NOT SEEING ANY OF THE RED TAGS . SO NEXT WE WILL GO TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT GIVEN BY ITS
VICE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER SHAFFER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE BUDGET COMMITTEE IS BRINGING FORWARD ONE ITEM. ITEM NUMBER ONE ACCEPTS THE BURN DISCRETIONARY COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANTS PROGRAM FOR EVALUATION OF PROBLEM NATURE CODES AND APPROVES APPROPRIATION
OF FUNDS TO THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY. ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THAT ITEM. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE ANYTHING? NOT SEEING ANYTHING. NEXT WE'LL GO TO THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE
GIVEN TO ME AS VICE CHAIR. THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD 17 ITEMS TO THURSDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM ONE APPROVES A LIQUOR WITH LIMITED ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE FOR BILL'S BAIT SHOP. ITEM TWO APPROVED AN EXPANSION
OF PREMISES AND STREET CAFE LICENSE. ITEM THREE APPROVED A WINE AND BEER WITH NO LIMITATIONS. ITEM FOUR APPROVED THE FINANCING FOR THE GRAIN EXCHANGE CONVERSION PROJECT. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A VARIANCE
FOR THE PROPERTY AT 4710 HUMBOLT NORTH. THIS WAS SENT FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. I'LL JUST NOTE FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THIS WAS A QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM. AND THERE WAS A MOTION MADE FOR
GRANTING THE VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS. BUT THAT WILL JUST REQUIRE WORKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SOLIDIFY FINDINGS. ITEM NUMBER SIX APPROVES SIX LIQUOR LICENSES. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN APPROVED 24
LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS. ITEM EIGHT APPROVED TWO GAMBLING LICENSE. ITEM NINE APPROVED OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR BREAKFAST BAR OF MINNESOTA. ITEM TEN ACCEPTED A BID FOR SNOW REMOVAL AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
ITEM 11 AHORIZED A RESTRICTED LOAN. ITEM NUMBER 12 AUTHORIZED FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS HOMES REHAB PROJECT. ITEM NUMBER 13 AUTHORIZED REVISIONS TO THE ALTERNATIVE FINANCING PROGRAM. ITEM NUMBER 14 APPROVED LAND DISPOSITION AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY. ITEM NUMBER 15 AUTHORIZED A LOAN CONTRACT WITH METRO CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS. ITEM NUMBER 16 APPROVED TWO STREET VACATIONS NORTH OF FRANKLIN AVENUE WEST. AND LASTLY, ITEM NUMBER 17 IS A
HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR THE LAKESHORE ARMS APARTMENTS. THIS WAS SENT FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. WITH THAT, I WILL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE. I SEE CLERK AMBER IN QUEUE. >> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT SPEAKER MANAGEMENT IS NOW
WORKING SO WE CAN GET IN QUEUE AS WELL. >> EXCELLENT, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MEMBERS LOG INTO SPEAKER MANAGEMENT FOR THIS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE REPORT?
SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE TO THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. AND THAT REPORT WILL BE GIVEN BY ITS CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. >> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR CHOWDHURY. SORRY, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE GIVEN BY
COUNCILMEMBER STEVENSON. >> EXCELLENT. COUNCILMEMBER STEVENSON. >> THANK YOU. C&I COMMITTEE HAS NINE ITEMS TO BRING FORWARD. ONE, CONSIDERING THE WINDMILL AVENUE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
TWO, THE RESOLUTION FOR THE GIFT ACCEPTANCE. THREE, RESOLUTION FOR A GIFT ACCEPTANCE FROM BROOKINGS TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE. FOUR, RESOLUTION FOR A GIFT ACPTANCE FROM MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION. FIVE, RESOLUTION OF THE SUPPORT FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY 280 PROJECT. SIX, RESOLUTION FOR THE LAND SALE OF WEDGE POINT PARK TO MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD. VEN, AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATIONS TO MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR 2026 FEDERAL HIGHWAY SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS. EIGHT, ACCEPTING THE LOW BID FOR WEST RIVER ROAD PHASE TWO PROJECT. NINE, APPROVING A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE HENNEPIN ENERGY RECOVERY AREA. I'LL STAND FOR QUESTIONS. >> GREAT, MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? NOT SEEING ANYONE IN QUEUE. LASTLY, WE HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE GIVEN BY ITS CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND
EQUITY COMMITTEE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD THREE ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER ONE GRANTS CONSENT TO THE MAYOR'S NOMINATION TO THE APPOINTED POSITION OF CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. ITEM NUMBER TWO CONSIDERS A CONTRACT WITH SKYDEAL INC FOR A
DRONE AS FIRST RESPONDER PILOT PROGRAM. ITEM NUMBER THREE ACCEPTS A DONATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOR POLICE INSPECTOR MOLLY FISHER TO ATTEND THE POLICING LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, I HAVE A QUESTION. DID YOU SAY THAT THE SKY DEAL
CONTRACT WAS MOVED FOR APPROVAL OR WAS IT WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION? >> I DIDN'T SAY, BUT IT WAS SENT FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY. MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL TURN TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. FIRST, IS A RESOLUTION
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR TARGET FIELD WORKERS AUTHORED BY COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. AND AS A REMINDER THE SECOND ITEM IS A BUNDLE THAT APPROVES THE BLOCK PERMIT FOR THE AQU
AQUACENTTENIAL. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TARGET FIELD WORKERS. ALMOST 500 WORKERS ARE STATIONED AT TARGET FIELD AND ARE SPECIFICASPECIFI SPECIFICALLY EMPLOYED BY THE
DELAWARE COMPANY. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE MANY MEMBERS IN THE CHAMBERS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THESE WORKERS SERVE THE FOOD AND BEVERAGES THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE FAN EXPERIENCE AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF THE TWINS AND TARGET FIELD. WORKERS ARE CURRENTLY IN
CONTRACT NEGOTIATION SEEKING A CONTRACT THAT INCLUDES LIVING WAGES AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. UNFORTUNATELY, DELAWARE NORTH HAS NOT REACHED THE FAIR CONTRACT THAT GRANTS WORKE THE WAGES AND BENEFITS THAT THEY DO DESERVE. AND WORKERS WERE FORCED TO EVEN
STRIKE EARLIER THIS SUMMER. AND I FELT VERY HONORED TO JOIN THEM ON THE PICKET LINES AND JOIN THEM IN SOLIDARITY PUSHING FOR A FAIR CONTRACT. TARGET FIELD IS OVERSEEN BY THE MINNESOTA BALLPARK AUTHORITY.
IT'S ALSO HOME TO THE MINNESOTA TWINS AND IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A CORNER STONE OF THE ATHLETIC AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN MINNEAPOLIS. THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS ADOPTED POSITIONS SUPPORTING LIVING WAGES, AFFORDABLE
HEALTHCARE, UNION REPRESENTATION, DIGNIFIED WORKPLACES AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR ALL WORKERS. WE ARE A UNION-FRIENDLY CITY AND TOWN. AND WE'VE ALSO IN ALIGNMENT WITH THESE POSITIONS HAVE ADOPTED AS A BODY, SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING WORKERS, BE IT AT
DELTA AIRLINES, MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MINNEAPOLIS PARKS AND RECREATION, AS WELL AS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. AND I THINK THAT INDICATES THE COLLECTIVE OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AS CITY LEADERS TO ADVANCE THOSE VALUES IN OUR OWN BACKYARD,
SPECIFICALLY IN THIS CASE RELATED TO TARGET FIELD. SO IN LIGHT OF THAT, I AUTHORED THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU THAT ESTABLISHES A POSITION, A FORMAL POSITION OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO SUPPORT AND EXTEND SOLIDARITY TO TARGET
FIELD WORKERS AND SPECIFICALLY THE RESOLUTION URGES DELAWARE NORTH, THE TWINS, AND TARGET FIELD TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH FOR A FAIR CONTRACT THAT UPHOLDS THE MINNEAPOLIS VALUES AND THE CITY FORMAL POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF LIVING WAGES AND DIGNIFIED
WORKING CONDITIONS. SO WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR APPROVAL AND ASK FOR A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> GREAT. NEXT WE HAVE IN QUEUE COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
WONSLEY FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. THIS RESOLUTION, AS COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY SAID, EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR TARGET FIELD WORKERS AND URGES DELAWARE NORTH COMPANY TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH AND TO
AGREE TO A FAIR CONTRACT. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. MINNEAPOLIS IS A UNION TOWN. AND THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GET ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. NEXT I'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER
RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 17 HERE. I WAS A MEMBER FOR 23 YEARS. I WAS A SHOP STEWARD, TICKET LINE CAPTAIN. I HEAR YOU. I SEE YOU. I'M WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I PUT MYSELF IN QUEUE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, FOR REALLY CAPTAINING THE WORK OF THIS AND FORMING A SOLID POSITION FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL OF THE WORKERS THAT
UNITE HERE AT TARGET FIELD. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO COME TO THE STADIUM -- OR NOT TO THE STADIUM. OOPS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE STADIUM. NOT CROSSING THAT PICKET LINE. AN INADVERTENT DAD JOKE. THAT'S WHAT I'M KNOWN FOR OVER
HERE. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR CHAMBERS. WE WILL NOT BE GOING TO THE STADIUM UNTIL THEY BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH. JUST LOTS OF SOLIDARITY AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND REPRESENTING THE OTHER WORKERS THAT COULDN'T COME TODAY. SO I KNOW YOU HAVE MOVED THAT
FOR APPROVAL. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WILL REMAIN TO BE A CONSENT ITEM. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALL OF THE CONSENT ITEMS FOR APPROVAL. SO THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF THE AQUATENNIEL ITEM AS WELL. I MOVE THAT FOR APPROVAL.
COULD I GET A SECOND ON THAT? >> SECOND. >> EXCELLENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. AND THE MOTION IS CARRIED.
ALL RIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS, NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE, YOU'LL SEE IT AS ITEM NUMBER THREE, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE IT UP REALLY QUICK. IT'S THE POSTPONEMENT ITEM BEFORE WE MOVE TO DISCUSSION. I'LL MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER THREE TO OUR MEETING ON
SEPTEMBER 15TH. THIS IS BECAUSE STAFF NEEDS MORE TIME TO ISSUE A RESPONSE TO THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE. AND I THINK I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IS TRACKING THIS ITEM REGARDING INFORMATION ON MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENDING IN
2025, THIS WAS INITIALLY PRESENTED IN MAY. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AND AN EXTENSION WAS REQUESTED FOR THIS MEETING. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS NOT
COMPLETED. THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE SHARED WITH US IN AGENDA SETTING THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO THE LEADERSHIP CHANGE UP AND NEEDING TO HIRE I THINK STAFF FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ACTUALLY GET US THE INFORMATION.
THIS IS THE LAST EXTENSION IN CONSULTATION WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHUGHTAI'S OFFICE THAT I'LL BE WILLING TO GRANT FOR COMMITTEE. AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME TO ISSUE THE ADEQUATE RESPONSE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I WILL ROGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. I JUST WANT TO ADD MORE CONTEXT TO THIS ITEM. I'M LOOKING AT LIMS, IT SAID
THAT THE REPORT WAS DUE MAY 19, 2026. NOW IT IS JULY 14, 2026, ALMOST TWO MONTHS LATER. WE HAVE IN MANY INSTANCES GONE THROUGH THIS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND EQUITY COMMITTEE WHERE THE
ADMINISTRATION FAILS TO REPORT ON TIME FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES. ONE PARTICULAR ITEM I AM THINKING ABOUT IS AN ITEM THAT WAS AUTHORED BY COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. AND SHE THEN HAD TO SUBMIT TWO FOLLOW-UP REQUESTS BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO IT. SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF ONE
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE ASKING FOR INFORMATION. TWO FOLLOW-UP REQUESTS TO THE ADMINISTRATION. AND YET NOTHING HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND EQUITY COMMITTEE. I'M USING THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT HOW ADMINISTRATION IS HAVING THIS PATTERN OF FAILING TO REPORT BACK ON LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTIVE WHICH PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER SECTION 7.1H2, THE MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GET THIS INFORMATION. AND I AM FLAGGING THIS FOR CONCERNS, BECAUSE I HOPE THIS IS THE LAST TIME THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FAILS TO REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON
INFORMATION THAT IS DULY MEANT TO GET INTO OUR HANDS SO WE CAN BE GOOD POLICYMAKERS AND USE OUR DUAL AUTHORITY TO DO OVERSIGHT OVER WHAT THE CITY HAS AUTHORITY OVER. I HOPE THIS IS THE LAST TIME. BUT I WILL SAY THAT I AM
FRUSTRATED THAT THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS INFORMATION, WE SHOULD BE GETTING THAT INFORMATION. >> NEXT, WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I, AS A CO-AUTHOR ON THIS
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHUGHTAI, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I PERSOLLY HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE DELAYS INHIS LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE PASSION THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
FOR THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH US ABOUT THE DELAYS. THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR TRANSITION IN THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE PERSON WHO WASESPONSIBLE AND WHO COUNCILMEMBER CHUGHTAI AND I
HAD ASKED TO PSENT THIS INFORMATION IS NO LONGER WITH THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND THAT IS NOT THE ONLY TRANSITION THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IN THIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES ON THE RECORD THAT
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY FUNNY BUSINESS OR ANYBODY TRYING TO STALL SOMETHING. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF TRANSITIONS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THE INFORMATION. I CERTAINLY HAVE SAID PUBLICLY THIS IS INFORMATION I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. BUT THE CONVERSATION FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS BEING WITHHELD. AND THAT'S NOT HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT. I THINK THERE'S JUST BEE A LOT OF TRANSITION AND EXPECTATION THAT SPECIFIC PEOPLE PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO US.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEPTEMBER TIMELINE THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR US TO GET THE INFORMATION. AND I HOPE THEN IN THAT COMMITTEE THAT COLLEAGUES DO ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER CHUGHTAI AND I WERE THE ONLY
ONES WHO REALLY WERE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A REALLY ROBUST DISCSION IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED TO US. >> NEXT WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY.
>> THANK U, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ RAISED IN TERMS OF NOT SEEING LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES BEING COMPLIED WITH BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
I'VE SEEN THAT PLAY OUT IN ALMOST TWO DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES AS YOU KNOW THAT ALLOWS THIS BODY TO RECEIVE INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE INFORMED POLICY AND BUDGETARY DECISIONS. ESPECIALLY WHERE WE'RE DISCUSSING OUR CURRENT BUDGET
LANDSCAPE WHERE WE'RE IN A $30 MILLION ESTIMATED OR PROJECTED DEFICIT. AND WE KNOW THAT $23 MILLION OR SO OF THAT IS COMING FROM MPD. WE NEED TO BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS OF HOW WE GOT THERE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS BUDGET CYCLE TO MITIGATE FURTHER FINANCIAL STRAIN THAT'S
BEING ADVANCED BY MISMANAGEMENT WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT. SO I THINK MANY OF US REALLY WANT TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT TRANSITION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO UNDER THE CURRENT INTERIM LEADERSHIP, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS BUDGET FROM MY UNDERSTANDING SHOULD BE ABLE TO READILY PROVIDE SOME OF THESE REPORTS THAT WE ACTUALLY GET AROUND OVERTIME. SO JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THAT ISN'T BEING COORDINATED OR ADHERED TO. BUT THE POINT THAT COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ MADE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
CAN DO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS, I ALSO BROUGHT FORWARD AND I BELIEVE YOU SUPPORTED THIS AS A CO-AUTHOR AS WELL, THE CHARTER COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT I THINK LARGELY THE CITY ATTORNEY IS TAKING UP SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT AUTHORITY WE
HAVE T BETTER APPROACH THE ADMINISTRATION AROUND GETTING THESE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES FULFILLED SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOBS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S PLANNING TO COME FORWARD WITH THAT LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTIVE OR THE STAFF IN GENERAL ON AUGUST 3RD. WE'LL FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ALSO IS PRESENTED ON BECAUSE THAT'S ONE IN ITSELF THAT WAS DELAYED AS WELL. I AT LEAST WANTED TO NOTE THAT HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HAPPEN IN A PRESENTATION TO THIS BODY AND
THAT THIS BODY AS A COUNCIL CAN HAVE MORE OPTIONS ON HOW WE CAN HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT WE REQUEST AND APPROVE TOGETHER. SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME FOLLOW UP ON THAT. >> THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN
QUEUE. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND IT IS POSTPONED TO THE SEPTEMBER 15TH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TO JUST HAVE THE CHAMBER CLEAR. >> MADAM CHAIR. >> YES? >> MADAM CHAIR, SORRY. I CAN'T GET IN QUEUE RIGHT NOW. BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION I FOR
SHEET BUT WE DID -- >> YOUR MIC JUST WENT OUT. >> WE DID AT ELR COMMITTEE THIS CYCLE DO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF REBECCA LOMQUIST AS THE CITY ASSESSOR
AND I DIDN'T SAY THAT ON THE COMMITTEE REPORT. I DIDN'T READ THAT, BUT I PLAN TO BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD FOR APPROVAL ON THURSDAY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PALMISANO. OKAY.
NOW WE WILL BE RECEIVING A RESPONSE TO THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE REGARDING HERITAGE PARK. AND ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN ACTION ITEM DISCUSSED THAT ALLOCATES $2.5 MILLION FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO THIS PROJECT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE TO THE PUBLIC. I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT THAT UNFOLDS IN THIS CONVERSATION. I THIN THERE'S A LOT OF EXIGENT AND ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT'S LEADING TO A WALK ON ITEM FOR $2.5 MILLION. IT'S HIGHLY IRREGULAR.
AND I THINK WE'LL GET INTO THAT DISCUSSION. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER WARREN FOR HER WORK AND COMMUNICATION ON THIS. AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAVE ERIC
HANSEN, THE DIRECTOR OF CPED START THE PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM. WELCOME, DIRECTOR. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ERIC HANSEN, I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND I WANT TO START FIRST BY ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT YOU SAID, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR CPED TO BRING SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE PRESENTATION YOU'LL SEE WILL EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE BRINGING THIS IN SUCH AN ATYPICAL FASHION. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE RESPONSE TO THE HERITAGE PARK LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE AND REQUEST
$2.5 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR LIFE SAFETY REPAIRS AND RELOCATION SUPPORTS AT HERITAGE PARK. I AM JOINED IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY BY LEADERS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, REGULATORY SERVICES, AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHO ARE ON HANDO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTED INFORMATION.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALLOW FOR ME TO COMPLETE THE PRESENTATION ON BOTH OF THE ITEMS AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS FROM THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS -- THE PROPER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. WE HAVE A GROWING PROPERTY
CONDITION PROBLEM AT HERITAGE PARK THAT IS IMPACTING 685 PEOPLE IN 212 HOUSEHOLDS. THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING INTENSELY OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS WITH THE COURT ORDERED RECEIVER PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FUNDERS TO
IDENTIFY WAYS TO REHABILITATE HERITAGE PARK. IT IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM THAT WE ARE SOLVING. IT COMES FROM YEARS OF UNDERINVESTMENT INTO THE RENTAL COMPONENT OF THE PLANNED NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS UNDERINVESTMENT HAS LEFT THE BUILDINGS IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR TO THE POINT WHERE THE
CITY HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE CURRENTLY LIVING AT HERITAGE PARK TO FIND NEW STABLE AND SAFE PLACES TO LIVE. IN MY PRESENTATION, I WILL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND ON HERITAGE PARK, RESPOND TO THE
DIRECT QUESTIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE, AND DISCUSS THE REQUESTED EMERGENCY FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AT HERITAGE PARK. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO COGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WARREN FOR HER STEADFAST ADVOCACY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THESE UNITS AND
HER INVALUABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH CPED AND THE STAFF TEAM, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WE DEVELOP THIS PLAN AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS AT HERITAGE PARK. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
HERITAGE PARK IS A 440 UNIT MIXED INCOME RENTAL COMMUNITY THIS WARD 5. IT WAS DEVELOPED IN FOUR PHASES. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE MAP. CURRENTLY, ONLY 212 OF THOSE UNITS ARE OCCUPIED WITH AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 685
PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE UNITS. THE DELOPMENT OF HERITAGE PARK IS A REST OF A COURT-ORDERED COENT DECREE FROM TH PULLMAN V.CISNEROS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM THE 1990s WHICH ALLEGED THAT PUBLIC HOUSING AND SECTION
8 IN THE CITY PERPETUATED RACIAL AND LOW INCOME SEGREGATION AND ALL ALLOWED RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN -- HOUSING CONDITIONS. THE MAP SHOWS THE FOUR RENTAL HOUSING COMPONENTS OWNED BY
SEPARATE SUBSIDIARIES OF McCORMICK BARREN SALAZAR. MBS BUILT THESE HOUSING UNITS BETWEEN 2002 AND 2006.
AS ONE OF THE DEFENDANT PARTIES TO THE CONSENT DECREE, THE CITY PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING, SITE READINESS, AND FUNDING ACTIVITIES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF HERITAGE PARK. TH CITY INITIALLY INVESTED $4.3 MILLION IN FUNDS AND ADDED HOUSING TAX CREDITS INTO THE
DEVELOPMENT. OTHER FUNDERS TO THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE MINNESOTA HOUSING, HENNEPIN COUNTY, FAMILY HOUSING FUND, AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OR HUD.
THEY PROVIDE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS AND FUNDING FROM AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS CONTRACT OR ACC CONTRACT TO FUND OPERATIONS AND ONGOING CAPITAL NEEDS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. 200 OF THE 440 UNITS ARE PUBLIC
HOUSING. AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS. HERITAGE PARK RIGHT NOW IS IN A COURT-ORDERED RECEIVERSHIP TO THE OWNER'S FAILURE TO PAY THE FIRST MORTGAGE. CERTIS FINANCIAL LLC SERVES AS
THAT RECEIVER AND WOULD RECEIVE ANY GRANTS FOR REHABILITATION AND EXECUTE REQUIRED REPAIRS. THEY ACT AS THE OWNER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. CERTIS CONTINUES TO COMPLETE DUE DILIGENCE TO DETERMINE REPAIR NEEDS AT HERITAGE PARK.
STAFF IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH CERTIS AND THE MPHA THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND HAS ENGAGED HENNEPIN COUNTY AND OTH FUNDERS IN THE DELOPMENT ON THE REHABILITATIONND RELOCATION PLANNING. THE CITY'S PRIMARY ROLE RIGHT NOW AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE
CONSENT DECREE WHICHS ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD ARE TO SUPPORT AND MONITOR THE EXISTING SUBSIDY FUNDING, PROVIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PHASES, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE,
ADDITIONALLY LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE REGULATION. WE WILL RESPOND TO THE SEVEN QUESTIONS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN. YOU ASKED STAFF TO RESPOND TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BY JULY 28TH. THE BODY URGED STAFF FOR A
QUICKER RESPONSE IF POSSIBLE WHEN THE FULL COUNCIL APPROVED THIS DIRECTIVE IN JUNE. RESPONDING TO THAT REQUEST AND GIVING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT, WE ARE PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE.
OUR RESPONSES TO THE QUESTION POSED REFLECT THE BEST DATA STAFF HAS AVAILABLE. AND POSSESS RIGHT NOW DURING A VERY FLUID SITUATION. IN SOME CASES, RESPONSES RELY ON DATA FROM EXTERNAL PARTNERS. WE DID OUR BEST TO RETRIEVE THAT
INFORMATION AND PROVIDE A RESPONSE. STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING DAILY WITH CERTIS TO BEST UNDERSTAND THE REPAIR AND REHABILITATION NEEDS AT HERITAGE PARK. IT IS A COMPLEX PUZZLE BALANCING REPAIRS OF THE UNITS, ASSESSING
THE INTEGRITY OF THE OVERALL BUILDING ENVELOPE AND STRUCTURE, AND DEFINING THE NEEDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF THE GROUNDS, STORMWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES, AND FIXTURES LIKE LIGHTING AND PLAYGROUNDS. WE SEEM TO LEARN MORE EVERY DAY ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AT HERITAGE PARK.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE CENTER OUR ATTENTION ON THE 685 PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT HERITAGE PARK ENSURING THEY HAVE SAFE, STABLE HOUSING. IF THAT'S NOT AT HERITAGE PARK, THEN WE NEED TO HELP THEM FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THE EMERGENCY FUNDING ACTION I WILL DISCUSS LATER IN THE PRESENTATION ADDRESSES THEIR NEEDS FIRST AS WE CONTINUE TO DETERMINE A STRATEGY TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR PUZZLE WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE WEEKS TO COMPLETE, MONTHS TO DESIGNATE
FUNDING TO MEET THE REPAIR NEEDS, AND YEARS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. THERE ARE 76 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND THEY CURRENTLY
MAINTAIN ACTIVE RENTAL LICENSES. PRIOR TO 2025, THE CITY INSPECTION ACTIVITIES WERE PRIMARILY COMPLAINT DRIVEN. MEANING INSPECTORS RESPONDED TO CONCERNS REPORTED BY RESIDENTS. AS CONDITIONS AT THE PROPERTY BECAME MORE CONCERNING,
REGULATORY SERVICES SHIFTED TO A PROACTIVE APPROACH BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 2025 THE CITY CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE PROPERTY-WIDE INSPECTION AND INSPECTED EVERY OCCUPIED UNIT WHERE RESIDENTS PROVIDED CONSENT TO ALLOW FOR ENTRY. THOSE INSPECTIONS IDENTIFIED
SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING CODE ISSUES. SINCE OCTOBER, INSPECTORS HAVE OPENED 93 ENFORCEMENT CASES DOCUMENTING 975 CODE VIOLATIONS. TO DATE, 111 VIOLENCES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND CLOSED.
84 CASES REMAIN OPEN REPRESENTING 863 VIOLATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED BY REGULATORY SERVICES. ONE INDICATOR IS THAT THE SERVICE REQUESTS HAVE DECLINED SINCE THE PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS BEGAN, SUGGESTING THAT MORE ISSUES ARE BEING IDENTIFIED AND
ADDRESSED THROUGH THE CITY'S SYSTEMATIC INSPECTION PROCESS RATHER THAN WAITING FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS. OUR WORK CONTINUES UNTIL THE PROPERTY IS BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE AND PEOPLE HAVE SAFE, HEALTHY HOUSING.
THE CITY'S RESPONSE IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN INSPECTION THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. HOUSING LIAISONS HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE REGULATORY SERVICES INSPECTORS, MEETING DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS, CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND HELPING FAMILIES
NAVIGATE WHAT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT AND UNCERTAIN SITUATION. LAST FALL WE PARTICIPATED IN A COMMUNITY MEETING ALONG WITH FORMER RESIDENT ADVOCATE ORGANIZATION USI TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. AS REINSPECTIONS CONTINUE,
HOUSING LIAISONS ARE BROUGHT IN WHENEVER APPROPRIATE TO REDUCE NUMBER OF CITY STAFF ENTERING THE UNITS WHILE ENSURING RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT. OUR DEPARTMENTS REMAIN IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN QUICKLY ACCESS ASSISTANCE
WHEN NEEDED. WHEN ADDITIONAL INTERVENTION IS APPROPRIATE, WE WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH RESIDENTS AND THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TO HELP RESOLVE ISSUES. MORE RECENTLY, CITY STAFF HAS JOINED COUNCILMEMBER WARREN IN THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AT HERITAGE PARK
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WE WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RELOCATION. SINCE THE COURT APPOINTED A RECEIVER, CITY STAFF HAS WORKED
CLOSELY WITH BOTH CERTIS AND THE NEW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM. TOGETHER, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN INSPECTION SCHEDULE, PRIORITIZED REPAIRS, AND DEVELOPED TIMELINES. ANOTHER PRIORITY IS RETURNING VACANT UNITS INTO SERVICE.
MANY VACANT APARTMENTS REQUIRE EXTENSIVE REHABILITATION BEFORE THEY CAN SAFELY HOUSE RESIDENTS. ADDRESSING THESE UNITS REQUIRE BOTH IMMEDIATE REPAIRS AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION RATHER THAN TEMPORARY FIXES. THIS COORDINATED EFFORT AMONG
THE RECEIVER, MPHA, AND HUD AND HER PARTNERS IS ESSENTIAL TO STABILIZING THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF HERITAGE PARK. THE CITY HAS MADE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS IN THE RECENT PAST IN ADDITION TO THE $4.3 MILLION
IN DEFERRED FINANCING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE PUT IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR TO HELP WITH LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS, SECURITY UPGRADES, PARKING LOT REPAIRS, REHABILITATION OF VACANT UNITS
OR UNIT TERMS, FURNACE REPLACEMENT, WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER INVESTMENTS FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY. WE ALSO HAVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MINNESOTA HOUSING WITH $5.125 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING
FOR REPAIRS. AND $3 MILLION EARMARK THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUD FOR ONGOING REPAIRS AS WELL AS ONGOING OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES SUPPORT FROM MPHA. THERE IS NO SINGLE FUNDING
SOURCE THAT WILL SOLVE THE CHALLENGES FOR HERITAGE PARK. AND SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON A THOUGHTFUL, COORDINATED INVESTMENT STRATEGY WITH MULTIPLE SECTOR PARTNERS. HERITAGE PARK ENTERED A COURT
ORDERED RECEIVERSHIP IN DECEMBER OF 2025. WHEN CERTIS FINANCIAL WAS APPOINTED TO HELP STABILIZE THE PROPERTY. THE RECEIVER IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE TO DO
A PROPERTY ANALYSIS OF PROPERTY NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPERTY, FIGURE OUT A FUNDING/FINANCING PLAN, AND PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE STABILIZATION STRATEGY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CERTUS AND THE MPHA ON THAT
PROCESS AS WE TALK ABOUT RELOCATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS AN EVOLVING SITUATION ABOUT NEEDS. WE ARE EVALUATING A THRESHOLD QUESTION OF ARE THE REPAIRS NEEDED EXCEEDING THE COST OF
JUST REBUILDING THE BUILDING. AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT THRESHOLD QUESTION. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH CERTUS, MPHA, AND THE STAFF TEAM THAT IS WORKING ON THIS.
THEREFORE, DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A STABILIZATION PLAN WILL REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME. AND IT WILL REQUIRE BUY IN BY THE DISTRICT COURT,HE RECEIVER, LENDERS, PUBLIC FUNDERS, MPHA AND ALL THE OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS. ONCE WE WOULD GET FUNDING IN PLACE, WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S -- BEFORE WE CAN GET FUNDING IN PLACE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BUDGET WOULD BE AND WHAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE. GIVEN WE'VE ANSWERED THAT THRESHOLD QUESTION THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE WORTH BEING SAVED.
AND THEN WE WOULD GO THROUGH CONTRACTING, BIDDING, AND REDEVELOPMENT, AND REHAB UNTIL THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, CPED'S ROLE IS TO HELP COORDINATE WITH OUR PARTNERS, MONITOR PROGRESS AND HELP IDENTIFY FUNDING SOLUTIONS THAT HELP SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE IMPROVING LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS. OUR GOAL IS NOT TO ADDRESS TODAY'S ISSUES, BUT THE POSITION FOR HERITAGE PARK'S LONG-TERM SUCCESS. AND THAT WILL TAKE TIME.
NUMBER SIX, ANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS EFFORT INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING THE PUBLIC PROPERTIES INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC WORKS MAINTAINS RECORDS RELATED TO THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT DOES NOT POSSESS THE COMPREHENSIVE ENGINEERING
ASSESSMENT FOR THE ENTIRE SITE OF HERITAGE PARK. WE ARE WORKING AS STAFF TO IDENTIFY THOSE DOCUMENTS FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER INCLUDING ENGINEERING REPORTS AND TECHNICAL ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE CONDUCTED OVER YEARS BEFORE THE
DEVELOPMENT AND OVER THE YEARS OF THE DEVELOPMENT. THOSE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INTO THE CITY'S HANDS BY THE END OF JULY. WE WILL BE COLLECTING THOSE AND THOSE THAT ARE PUBLIC, WE WILL SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL. THE RECEIVER WHO HAS BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY AND
TRANSPARENTALLY WITH THE CITY STAFF HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO AUTHORIZE THE RELEASE OF ALL OF THE REPORTS ALLOWING FOR EVERYBODY TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERITAGE PARK. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUES WE'VE DISCUSSED AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. PUBLIC WORKS CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN STREETS, SIDEWALKS, BIKE FACILITIES, STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, LIGHTING, FIRE
HYDRANTS THAT SURROUND HERITAGE PARK. RECENT WORK INCLUDES ADA PEDESTRIANIZATION IMPROVEMENTS, ROADWAY RESURFACING WHICH I BELIEVE IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK, STORMWATER MAINTENANCE, LED LIGHTING UPGRADES, AND ROUTINE INSPECTIONS FOR ALL FIRE
HYDRANTS. THESE PUBLIC ASSETS WILL REMAIN IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED REGARDLESS OF WORK OCCURRING ON THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CONCERNS
IDENTIFIED DURING INSPECTION INVOLVES MOISTURE INTRUSION. AND THE CONDITIONS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MOLD. REGULATORY SERVICES ADDRESSES THE UNDERLYING HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS THAT CREATED THESE CONDITIONS INCLUDING WATER
INTRUSION, DEE -- DETERIORATING BUILDING CONDITIONS AND OTHER CONCERNS. CURRENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES REMAINS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY'S RENTAL PROPERTY VIOLATIONS DASHBOARD TO PROVIDE FURTHER TRANSPARENCY
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ALONGSIDE REGULATORY SERVICES TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS WHILE LONG-TERM BUILDING REPAIRS MOVE FORWARD. CURRENT EFFORTS INCLUDE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH ASTHMA
CONTROL SUPPLIES SUCH AS HEPA VACUUMS, DEHUED MID FIEERS, AIR FILTERS, MATTRESS COVERS. MORE COMPREHENSIVE BUILDING ENVELOPE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL
OCCUR AFTER CERTUS COMPLETES ITS MOLD ASSESSMENT AND CREATES A STRATEGY. THAT BRINGS US TO THE FUNDING REQUEST. THE CONDITIONS AT HERITAGE PARK ARE TO A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO
DECOUPLE THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE AND THE PROPERTY CONDITIONS HAPPENING WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU HEARD, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY WHICH WE ANSWERED IN THE -- ATTEMPTED TO ANSWER IN THE RESPONSES TO THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE ARE GOING TO TAKE TIME. THAT'S TIME THAT PEOPLE IN HERITAGE PARK DO NOT HAVE.
WE ARE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY ASKING FOR US TO REDIRECT $2.5 MILLION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS INTO TOWARDS HERITAGE PARK. AND WE WOULD WANT TO USE THOSE
FOR TWO ELIGIBLE USES. AND I'M GOING TO PRIMARILY FOCUS ON WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE USED FOR WHICH IS RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. WE KNOW THAT 212 RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLDS WILL TAKE TIME AND MONEY FOR THEM TO FIND NEW,
SAFETY PLACES TO LIVE. IT IS A PROCESS THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE TO STAND UP ALMOST AKIN TO AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE THAT WE HAD WITH THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING OR THE OPERATION METRO SURGE RESPONSE. WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY
WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP THAT PLAN AND WE NEED RESOURCES TO HELP THE PEOPLE AT HERITAGE PARK. THE OTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING OR THE OTHER USE OF THE FUNDING THAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED WITH
THIS ACTION WOULD BE TO HELP WITH EMERGENCY REPAIRS. WE WOULD HAVE A FOCUS ON EMERGENCY REPAIRS THAT ARE ONLY IN EVENT OF US NEEDING TO DO THOSE REPAIRS WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO RELOCATE PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO INVEST INTO
HERITAGE PARK IF WE DON'T KNOW THE THRESHOLD QUESTION OF IF THIS BUILDING IS WORTH SAVING. THAT IS CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE CALMLY AND COLLECTIVELY WITH THE MULTIPLE FUNDERS, THE OWNER, THE COURT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE AT
HERITAGE PARK FIRST. THE AUTHORITY THAT WE'RE SEEKING TODAY ALSO GRANTS ME THE -- DELEGATES THE AUTHORITY TO ME TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AROUND THE FINAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE USE OF THESE FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE WILL BE WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND THE OTHER FUNDERS. WE HAVE ASKED THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO HELP US WITH THE RELOCATION PLANNING AND TO BE A LEAD AGENCY IN
FINDING NEW PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE. THIS IS A WAY FOR US AS A STAFF TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. THE IDEA HERE IS TO HAVE IN THE NEXT NUMBER OF DAYS TO WEEK A PLAN AND THEN TO START
ADMINISTERING RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS WE HAVE A PLAN TO EXECUTE. WITH THAT, I AM WITH A HEAVY
HEART IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. BECAUSE IT IS NOT CPED OR THE CITY'S -- IT IS NOT OUR TYPICAL COURSE OF WORK TO HAVE TO RESCUE A PROJECT LIKE HERITAGE PARK.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR , FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE, TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ABOUT HOW FOCUSED WE ARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT HERITAGE PARK AND HOW THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION. IT WILL HAVE A CONSEQUENCE ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
BUT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THESE CONDITIONS NOW THAN IT IS FOR US TO DISCUSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION LATER THIS YEAR. WITH THAT, ALONG WITH THE STAFF THAT ARE IN THE ROOM, I'M OPEN
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HANSEN. AND THEN MEMBERS, WE'LL GO INTO DISCUSSION SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE GET IN QUEUE. FIRST WE HAVE IN QUEUE COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SLIDE SEVEN IF YOU WANT TO PULL THAT UP, PLEASE. SO IT LOOKS LIKE AS A CITY, WE'VE INVESTED 2.5 -- OR EXCUSE
ME $4.3 MILLION IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN THIS PRIVATE SECTOR PROJECT. AND NOW WITH THIS ADDITIONAL $2.5 MILLION, IT WILL BE $6.8 MILLION ALMOST $7 MILLION. DOES THIS STOP THE BLEEDING? ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT?
THAT'S ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR WE'RE GIVING THIS PROJECT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT NEEDED, DON'T GET ME WRONG. >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE, THE TABLE MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONFUSING. $4.3 MILLION WAS THE INITIAL INVESTMENT OF THE CITY BACK IN THE EARLY 2000S.
SO THAT'S IN A DEFERRED LOAN. THE ARTICULATION OF INVESTMENTS IN '22-'26, THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL YEARLY CONTRIBUTIONS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A MIXED-INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO NEED TO GO BACK TO PUBLIC AGENCIES FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. WE WERE HOPING THAT THIS WAS A WAY TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF GETTING UNITS TURNED.
WE WERE NOTICING THAT MORE AND MORE OF THE UNITS WERE VACANT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HABITABLE SO WE WERE TRYING TO GET THEM BACK ON BECAUSE IF YOU CAN HELP GET A OCCUPIED UNIT, YOU HAVE AN OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT IN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE NEED SAFE HOUSING AND YOU GET REVENUE TO HELP WITH THE STABILITY OF THIS
DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE INVESTMENTS WE MADE IN '22, '23,' AND 25. THE $2.5 MILLION DOES NOT STOP THE BLEEDING. THE $2.5 MILLION GIVES US
RESOURCES WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO ASK THE COUNTY, MPHA, AND OTHERS IF THEY CAN HELP FUND IT AS WELL. IT'S A VERY FLUID SITUATION SO I'M NOT ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT YET. BUT THE $2.5 MILLION IS TO ADDRESS THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, AFTER WHICH THERE IS A FULL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN AT HERITAGE PARK. AND THAT'S A FULL R RECAPITALIZATION OF HERITAGE PARK. AND THAT WILL BE IN THE TEN OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND IN THAT, THERE'S POTENTIAL
REQUESTS FROM PUBLIC ENTITIES FOR FUNDING. THE $5.125 MILLION THAT COMES FROM MINNESOTA HOUSING IS CONTEMPLATED AS ONE OF THOSE SOURCES FOR THE MAJOR REHAB OF HERITAGE PARK. BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SETTLE WHERE THE
PEOPLE ARE AND HOW THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING AND THEN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THEY'LL BE VERY COMPLICATED. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HERITAGE PARK RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO BE LIKE CONSTRUCTING A THREE DIMENSIONAL PUZZLE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT THOUGHTFULLY AND BEING MINDFUL OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND
WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IF ANY WHEN IT COMES TO HERITAGE PARK. BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT ON THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE NOW. >> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT THE PEOPLE COME FIRST BECAUSE OF COURSE I'M SURE ALL OF US SHARE THAT CONCERN. ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR FINANCES, HOW MUCH DOES THE
MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY SAY THEY HAVE OPERA OPERATING AND REPAIR SUPPORT ONGOING? WHAT DO THEY PUT INTO THIS? LIKE A YEARLY FIGURE OR TOTAL OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS?
>> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE, WE DID NOT HAVE THAT SPECIFIC NUMBER PUT INTO THE RESPONSE. WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU IN ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE WITH THAT NUMBER. >> OKAY. LL, THANK YOU. AND I'LL BE VOTING FOR THIS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE IN QUEUE IS COUNCILMEMBER WARREN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HANSEN, FOR
THE DELIVERY OF THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT I SUBMITTED EARLIER ASKING ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE HOUSING INSPECTIONS AND OTHER REGULATORY ACTIVITY AT HERITAGE PARK.
PAST, CURRENT, AND FUTURE RESIDENT OUTREACH EFFORTS SUMMARY AND COORDINATION EFFORTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND MPHA RECEIVER AND THE CURRENT PROPERTY MANAGER ONLINE
MAINTENANCE. I WANTED TO GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RENTAL LICENSING WITH HERITAGE PARK. HOW WAS A RENTAL LICENSE ISSUED IN 2025 AND WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR REMOVAL OF THAT LICENSE IN 2019?
JUST SO THAT THIS INFORMATION HERE GOES ON THE RECORD. CAN I GET SOMEBODY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION PUBLICLY FOR ME, PLEASE? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO DIRECTOR
VELASQUEZ ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU KINDLY, SIR. CAN YOU BRING YOUR MIC DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT. >> I'M A LITTLE BIT SHORTER THAN DIRECTOR HANSEN. SO THE QUESTION HOW IS THE RENTAL LICENSE ISSUED IN 2025?
AND WHAT LED UP TO THE REMOVAL OF THE RENTAL LICENSE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN PLACE. SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THE LAND ITSELF IS OWNED BY MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. SO WHEN OUR RENTAL LICENSING
INSPECTORS CONDUCT OUR ANALYSIS, WE LOOK FOR RENTAL LICENSING AND LOOK TO SEE WHETHER A PROPERTY REQUIRES RENTAL LICENSING. IT APPEARS LIKE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, EVEN THOU IT'S McCORMICK BARREN
THAT OWNS THE BUILDINGS, THE STRUCTURES ON TOP OF PUBLI HOUSING AUTHITY'S LAND. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO GAIN RENTAL LICENSING FOR ALL OF THEIR PORTFOLIO. AND HADN'T REACHED THAT POINT UNTIL THE STATE LEGISLATURE MADE
A CHANGE IN 2024 REQUIRING ALL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ENGAGE IN RENT OF HOUSING DWELLING UNITS TO HOLD A VALID RENTAL LICENSE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION WHICH THEY OPERATE. THAT'S WHAT LED -- AND THE
EFFECTIVE DATE ON THAT WAS JANUARY OF 2025. THAT'S WHAT LED US TO LICENSE THAT ENTIRE PORTFOLIO IN 2025. AND WHEN THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUORITY PROVIDED US WITH THEIR ENTIRE ROSTER OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND LOCATIONS, THIS
LOCATION WAS ABSENT FROM THEIR ROLES. THAT'S WHEN WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A GAP AND WENT BACK TO McCORMICK BARREN AND LICENSED THEM. >> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS BASED ON THE INSPECTION REPORT
SUMMARY THAT WAS PROVIDED AND ALSO PRESENTED AT THE COMMUNITY MEMBER MEETINGS THAT I HELD AT SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC, THERE IS AN INSPECTION REPORT THAT GOES ALONG WITH HOW RENTAL LICENSES
ARE ISSUED BASED ON PROPERTY INSPECTIONS. SO BEING THAT WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS ARE AND THE DRASTIC MEASURES AND MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO NOW TAKE AND EMBARK UPON AS A CITY THAT THESE THINGS DID NOT
OCCUR OVERNIGHT, THAT IT TOOK YEARS FOR THE DECAY, IT TOOK YEARS FOR THE MOLD TO BE AS PREVALENT AS IT IS. I AM DEFINITELY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY DID IT TAKE LITTLE OLD MEASLY ME TO COME
HERE AND SIT ON THIS COUNCIL AND BE ELECTED FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS AT HERITAGE PARK. SO HOW WAS THAT LICENSE ISSUED AND INSTRUMENTED? HELP ME UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. >> CERTAINLY.
CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, AS WE THOUGHT THIS WAS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY IN RESPONSE TO A PRIOR LAWSUIT THAT WAS SETTLED WAS THAT THE CITY WOULD HANDLE COMPLAINTS.
SO WE WOULD RECEIVE COMPLAINTS THROUGH 311. WE WERE NOT CONDUCTING PROACTIVE RENTAL LICENSE INSPECTIONS AT THAT TIME. SO AS WE RECEIVED THESE COMPLAINTS, WE WOULD GO AND INSPECT THEM AND PASS THE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WELL AS TO McCORMICK BARREN.
>> SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME, COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE I NEED TO HEAR THIS VERY CLEAR. YOU SAID YOU WENT AND CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION AND THEN PASSED THAT INFORMATION ON TO MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY? SO ARE YOU EXPLAINING TO ME THAT
THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAD NO JURISDICTIONAL OVERSIGHT OVER ENSURING THAT THOSE BUILDINGS WERE PAR AND NOT SUB PAR? LIKE YOU'RE DOING AN INSPECTION ON A PROPERTY. AND YOU SEE THAT IT IS IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION, AND YOU PASS THAT INFORMATION ON TO
SOMEBODY ELSE, THERE'S NO ACTION THAT HAPPENS AT THAT TIME? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE? >> WHEN WE CONDUCT THE COMPLAINT INSPECTION, WE EVALUATE THE VALIDITY OF THE COMPLAINT TO VERIFY THAT YES, IT'S FOUNDED OR NO, IT'S NOT.
IF IT'S FOUNDED, WE PASS THAT INFORMATION OVER TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR RESOLUTION. AS WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY JUST AS WE WOULD FOR MARKET RATE OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY, WE PASS IT ON TO THE MANAGEMENT FOR RESOLUTION.
AND IT WAS THEIR ACTION, SINCE THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN INSPECTIONS PROTOCOL TO FOLLOW THROUGH TO RESOLUTION, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF AUTHORITY TO GO IN AND VERIFY THAT THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. >> SO HERE IN THE CITY OF
MINNEAPOLIS, WE HAVE A RENTAL TIERING SYSTEM. SO KNOWING THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT CAME IN PRIOR TO WHEN THE LICENSE WAS REMOVED AND THEN REINSTATED AND WHAT HAVE YOU, THE CASE IS, SO WHAT TIERING WAS THIS PROPERTY
ISSUED A LICENSE AT AT THE TIME THAT A TIERED LICENSE WAS ISSUED? AND HOW MANY OF THOSE UNITS IN 2025 UP UNTIL CURRENT HAS MINNEAPOLIS WALKED INTO? HOW MANY INSPECTIONS ACTUALLY
HAVE BEEN PERFORMED? >> COUNCIL MEMBER, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION. >> OKAY. SO THIS IS AN INCOMPLETE DELIVERY OF MY LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE REQUEST. AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT. THE WHOLE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF
ME PUTTING THIS LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE OUT HERE AS I WAS BEGINNING TO DIG DEEP INTO THE ISSUES THAT WERE UNFOLDING AT HERITAGE PARK WAS SO THAT THERE WAS A TRACK RECORD OF UNDERSTANDING AND THAT PEOPLE IN OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
EVERYWHERE ELSE WAS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AS IT PERTAINED TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT HERITAGE PARK. SO I BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT INCOMPLETE DELIVERY OR DELAYED DELIVERY. I UNDERSTAND THE MEANS OF WHERE
WE ARE NOW. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS. BUT IN US GOING FORWARD, RIGHT, IN US IMPLEMENTING DIRECT CHANGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR THAT HOLDS AN ASSIGNMENT HERE IN THE CITY OF
MINNEAPOLIS THAT COMES FROM EVERY TAXPAYER, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS THOROUGH INSPECTIONS THAT ARE DONE ON EVERY PROPERTY THAT IS OUT HERE AND EXISTING BEFORE RENTAL LICENSING IS ISSUED. AND THAT INDIVIDUALS AND
RESIDENTS ARE NOT OVERLOOKED IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CPED AND REGULATORY SERVICES IS AS TIGHT AS A FROG'S BOTTOM. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE THAT EXISTING. AND THAT IS WHY THIS RIGHT HERE IS NOT JUST UPSETTING FOR ME,
BUT IT IS DAMAGING TO MY COMMUNITY. THAT WE ARE REVISITING THESE HARMS AGAIN. THAT THE PAIN AND PERPETUATION OF MARGINALIZATION AND DISTRUST AND DAMAGE TO FAMILIES CONTINUES TO CYCLE ITSELF OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN. WHILE WE PLAY A GAME OF PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY. I APOLOGIZE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MY WARD. BECAUSE NOW AS I'M SITTING IN THIS SEAT, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M OPPOSING EVERYTHING THAT I
RAN FOR. BECAUSE I'M HAVING TO BACKTRACK BEHIND PEOPLE AND GO DO SUBSEQUENT INSPECTIONS MYSELF. BECAUSE I CAN'T TRUST MPHA. AND I CAN'T TRUST THE CITY OF
MINNEAPOLIS AND REGULATORY SERVICES. THAT I HAVE TO SHOW UP ON THE SITE WHILE THEY'RE CUTTING OPEN BUILDINGS SO I CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE TRUTH IS BEING TOLD TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE CONSTITUENTS
OF MY WARD. THAT I HAVE TO WALK THROUGH BUILDINGS AND CLIMB STAIRWELLS WHERE THERE'S NO HEAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AND THAT THEY'VE BEEN GOING
THROUGH. AND I SIT AT A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH ABOUT 80 OR SO OF MY RESIDENTS LAST NIGHT, AND LISTENED TO THEM TELL STORIES ABOUT HOW THE ONLY PEOPLE LIVING IN AN EIGHT UNIT BUILDING BY
THEMSELVES AND THEIR HOMES ARE RIDDLED WITH RATS AND THEY'RE BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN THEIR BEDROOMS BY RATS. AND THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THEIR STOVES. AND THEIR CEILINGS ARE HANGING. AND THEY HAVE CALLED AND THEY'VE
REACHED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES, NOT JUST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT WAY BEFORE A LONG TIME AGO. THEN I HEAR PEOPLE SIT AND SAY HOW THEY'VE LOST THEIR HOUSING VOUCHER AND BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST.
FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LIVING CONDITIONS. FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE SANCTITY OF A PLACE THAT THEY SHOULD CALL HOME. A DOOR THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLOSE, TO SHUT OUT THE ILLS OF THE WORLD AND FEEL SAFE.
THAT THEY ARE ENDANGERED AND ENTRAPPED WITH THEIR SHOULDERS PENT UP AGAINST THE WALL WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO BECAUSE THEIR LOW INCOME, MODERATE OR NO INCOME.
THAT THEY ARE PUNISHED AND REPROVED FOR NOT HAVING THE MEANS AND FEEL LIKE THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE DESERVING OF.
THIS IS SICKENING. THIS HURTS ME EXTREMELY BAD. AND I KNOW IT HURTS THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS WARD. IT SHOULD HURT EVERY TAXPAYER
HERE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. TO KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE RIGHT HEREHERE WE SAY WE STAND UP FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. I HAD THREE DIFFERENT TRANSLATORS THERE LAST NIGHT.
MOTHERS SITTING THERE SAYING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH TO THE HOSPITAL AND TELLING PEOPLE AT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND TELLING MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AND CALLING 311 WITH THE CITY FOR YEARS.
PEOPLE WITH NOW CANCER DIAGNOSES. PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THERE CURRENTLY ON OXYGEN MACHINES. PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING ROI'S WITH ME. AND IF I CAN WALK IN THERE AND SEE THIS, I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND IS IT JUST -- VISION OR HAS EVERYBODY ELSE GOT THE SAME ONE I GOT. BECAUSE THIS IS DISRESPECT. IT'S INHUMANE.
I'M FIGHTING FOR THE $2.5 MILLION BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, THE RELOCATION OF THE 686 RESIDENTS AT HERITAGE PARK NEEDS TO BE TREATED WITH THE MOST
DELICATE CARE EVER KNOWN TO MAN. I'VE WALKED IN THOSE UNITS AND GONE IN TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE RESIDENTS. AND I KNOW NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN THERE BUT ME. AND AIN'T NOBODY ELSE COMING.
I KNOW THAT. I WANT PEOPLE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT BEFORE THEY'RE COUNTED ON A SHEET OF PAPER LIKE A NUMBER. I WANT YOU TO HEAR AND EXAMINE
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR CRIES AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND GIVE THEM THE SAME RESPECT THAT YOU'D GIVE YOUR OWN CHILD, PARENT, OR WHOEVER IT IS THAT'S VALUABLE IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU BETTER TREAT THEM THE EXACT SAME WAY OR BETTER. OR I PROMISE IT WILL BE HELL TO TELL THE CAPTAIN. I'M NORTH SIDE. AND I'M GOING TO BE THERE. THIS IS JUST THE WORST OF THE WORST IN MY WARD.
JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. BUT I SUGGEST SOMEBODY CLEAN IT UP QUICK OR YOU GONNA GET SICK AND TIRED OF ME. THE END.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN. NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER WARREN'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU RAISED, I'M ALSO STRUGGLING TO COMPREHEND BASED OFF OF THE
PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST RECEIV FROM STAFF. AND ALSO I KNOW MAYOR FREY RELEASED A PRESS STATEMENT AFFIRMING WHAT WE ALSO HEARD TODAY THAT THE CITY ONLY BECAME AWARE OF THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AT HERITAGE PARK
STARTING LAST YEAR. AND AS YOU HIGHLIGHTED, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS 311 REPORTS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE SUBMITTED OVER THE YEARS DOCUMENTING AND TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE HORRIBLE AND JUST UNACCEPTABLE
CONDITIONS THAT THEY'VE BEEN LIVING IN. AND I'M ALSO TRYING TO GET SOME UNDERSTANDING AND THIS LEADS TO MY FIRST QUESTION OF -- AND I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR ACTUAL EXISTING HOUSING CODE. SO CAN SOMEONE, IF IT'S CPED OR
REGULATORY SERVICES AFFIRM TO ME, ARE WE SAYING THAT NOTHING IN OUR HOUSING HOLD, I'M LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AROUND DIRECTOR'S DETERMINATION OF NONCOMPLIANCE. AND IT LISTS IN THIS SECTION THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THE
DIRECTOR THEMSELVES CAN TAKE OR EVEN GIVE TO COUNCIL WHEN A RENTAL OR BUILDING OR DWELLING UNIT FAILS TO MEET OUR LICENSING STANDARDS. AND IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM SHOULD MOST OF THESE UNITS HAVE MET THAT LICENSING STANDARD. AND THAT'S THE NEXT QUESTION
THAT I'M GOING TO GET TO. BUT I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF ARE WE SAYING OR BASED OFF OF YOU ALL'S FEEDBACK THAT NOTHING IN OUR HOUSING CODE COULD BE ENFORCED PRIOR TO 2025 WHEN IT CAME TO HERITAGE PARK?
AND WHILE YOU'RE MULLING THAT OVER, I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT TOO FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S ONE PIECE HERE WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES WHEN THEY FIND A RENTAL DWELLING THAT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARDS
SET FORTH IN SECTION 244.1920, THAT ESSENTIALLY THE LICENSE HOLDER OR APPLICANT CAN BE GIVEN 60 DAYS TO CORRECT THE DEFECTS. I THINK WE ARE LONG PAST 60 DAYS. AND THEN ALSO THE DIRECTOR COULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROCEED
IMMEDIATELY FOR DENIAL, NONRENEWAL, REVOCATION OR REMOVAL OF THAT LICENSE BASED ON THAT SECTION. AND I'M NOT SEEING AN EXEMPTION IN OUR CODE ANYWHERE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING. BUT I WANTED TO GET A SENSE OF BASICALLY WAS THIS NOT ABLE TO BE APPLIED PRIOR TO 2025? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY,
COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, ESSENTIALLY THAT'S CORRECT. SINCE THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD NO RENTAL LICENSE, WE COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH MANY OF THOSE DIERENT ELEMENTS THAT YOU SPEAK OF OF TH DIRECTOR'S DETERMINES OF NONCOMPLIANCE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED
TO HOLD A RENTALICENSE WITH THE CITY AND WERE OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION. >> SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE COULD -- THAT MEANT THERE WAS NO INSPECTIONS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE CITY THOUGH WE WERE RECEIVING 311 REPORTS? >> WE WERE COMPLETING COMPLAINT-BASED INSPECTIONS WHEN
WE RECEIVED THEM THROUGH 311. AND THEN PASSED THE INFORMATION OVER BASED OFF OF OUR INSPECTION OF THOSE COMPLAINTS. THOSE WERE PASSED OVER TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND THEN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORI RESPONSIBILITY TO REMEDY THOSE
FFERENT SITUATIONS AND CONDUCT THEIR OWN INSPECTIONS. >> SO AS THE OVERSIGHT BODY OF MPHA, I KNOW THEY REPORT DIRECTLY TO HUD, BUT IN THAT INSTANCE, WAS THERE NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES OUTSIDE OF SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS OVER TO
MPHA THAT YOU ALL COULD TAKE UP WHEN WE SAW OR WHEN YOU LEARNED THAT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WERE NOT BEING MADE AS IT PERTAINS TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE UNITS? >> CHA CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY,
ESSENTIALLY THAT'S CORRECT. WE COULD PASS THE COMPLAINTS OVER. IT WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ACTION. AS WE RECEIVED FURTHER COMPLAINTS, IT BECAME THE CLE. >> WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO NOTE A STAFF MEMO FOLLOW UP ON THIS.
BECAUSE I DO RECALL WE ACTUALLY WERE SUED, I RECALL A LAWSUIT WHERE WE WERE SUED BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S LACK OF INSPECTIONS ON PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS AND WAS FOUND THAT WE SHOD HAVE BEEN INSPECTING THEM. AND THIS WAS WAY PRIOR TO 2025.
SO IF THERE'S ALREADY A LEGAL PRECEDENCE THAT WAS DETERMINED WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WAY PRIOR TO 2025 I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE DISCREPANCY HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ANY UNDERSTANDING RIGHT OFF THE BAT YOU CAN REFER TO, OR IF YOU CAN GIVE THIS IN A STAFF FOLLOW-UP MEMO WHICH
REGARDLESS I WILL NOTE. UNLESS ARE YOU, DIRECTOR, AWARE OF THAT? >> I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT IN WRITING THOUGH, SO WE SHOULD GET THAT IN A MEMO. >> I'M AWARE OF THE MIRABELA CASE. WHICH THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS THAT WE WOULD DO THE COMPLAINT
INSPECTIONS FOR MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT POINT, WE DID NOT CONDUCT ANY INSPECTIONS ON MPHA PROPERTIES. >> AND WHAT YEAR WAS DATED FOR THAT? >> THE LAWSUIT WAS 2021, AND I BELIEVE THE SETTLEMENT WAS LATE '21 TO '22. >> SO WE DO HAVE A LEGAL
SETTLEMENT THAT POTENTIALLY IN 2021 SO AHEAD OF 2025, THAT GAVE US THE ABILITY TO INSPECT MPHA'S UNITS. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE AGAIN SOME FOLLOWP ON THAT THEN OF WHAT
WAS THE ISSUE THEN STILL? >> WE WERE AUTHORIZED TO DO COMPLAINT-BASED INSPECTIONS, NOT THE PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS, NOT TO FOLD THEM INTO OUR RENTAL LICENSING STRUCTURE, ONLY COMPLAINT BASED THROUGH 311. >> SO COMPLAINTS MEANING THEN
YOU WOULD ONLY DO YOU RECEIVE A COMPLAINT AND THEN YOU JUST RELAY THAT COMPLAINT TO MPHA I'M ASSUMING THEN UNDER THAT? >> WE WOULD RECEIVE THE COMPLAINT THROUGH 311, INSPECTORS, OUR COMPLAINT-BASED INSPECTORS WOULD GO ON SITE AND
EVALUATE WHETHER THE ISSUE WAS FOUNDED OR NOT, REPORT THE ISSUE TO THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH AN ORDER TO CORRECT. AND THEN THE ISSUE WAS PASSED TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
>> DO YOU KNOW BETWEEN 2021, AGAIN YOU ALREADY HAVE THE FIGURES FOR 2025. BUT BETWEEN 2021 WHEN THAT SETTLEMENT WAS FINALIZED IN 2025, HOW MANYOMPLAINTS WERE FILED? >> ANECDOTALLY I CAN SAY VERY
FEW COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED SPECIFICALLY THROUGH 311. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT FURTHER BECAUSE THERE WERE NO DOLLARS INVESTED INTO OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS TO TRY AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE AWARE THAT
THEY HAD THIS SYSTEM AND IT WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM. >> AND ARE STAFF -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, TENANTS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN MAKE COMPLAINTS? >> CORRECT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ALSO MAKE COMPLAINTS. >> KNOWING THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVER NIGHT.
WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO SITS ON THE BOARD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY WHERE I'M ASSUMING THAT COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF WHO WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THESE CONDITIONS AT HERITAGE PARK, ALSO THE MPHA COMMISSIONERS THEMSELVES, WERE THERE NO COMPLAINTS MADE BY THOSE STAFF MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS RELATED
TO HERITAGE PARK? >> I'M NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, IF OTHERS ARE. I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. >> OR DIRECTOR -- YOU HAVE BEEN THE MEMBER OR DIRECTOR HANSEN.
>> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAD AS A CITY STAFF TEAM WAS GETTING INFORMATION OUT OF THE OWNER ABOUT PROPERTY CONDITIONS. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, WHILE REGULATORY SERVICES WAS
ABLE TO START INSPECTING IN 2025, WE WERE NOT GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTY CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT HERITAGE PARK.
WE HAVE LEARNED MORE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WITH THE RECEIVER THAN THE COLLECTIVE SIX YEARS PRIOR TO THAT. AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAD OVER THE YEARS IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. SO NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, WE NEED TO ACT. >> SO YOU ALL DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY ANECDOTAL INFORMATION EVEN PRIOR
TO, AS STAFF? >> COUNCILMEMBER OR AIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, WE WERE RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN HERITAGE PARK TO THE EXTENT OF HOW BAD IT WAS WE DID NOT HAVE THAT TECHNICAL DATA UNTIL WE STARTED --
>> BUT AGAIN, I THINK WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE REPRESENTATION ON MPHA BECAUSE WITHIN THAT WE'RE SAYING IT'S KICKING THE CAN DOWN TO MPHA AND SAYING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RESOLVED THESE MATTERS. WE HAVE STAFF AND WE HAVE A BOARD THAT THIS COUNCIL APPOINTS
ON MPHA, THE COMMISSIONERS, NO ONE RAISED COMPLAINTS FORMALLY TO STAFF, ESPECIALLY INSPECTIONS. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, SO THE WAY I WOU SAY THAT IF WE
TALKED TO MPHA, MPHA HAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND MPHA UNITS WITHIN HERITAGE PARK, BUT THEY DO NOT OWN THE HERITAGE PARK, THAT IS OWNED BY McCORMICK BARREN SALAZAR. WE WERE GETTING AS DIRECTOR
VELASQUEZ SAID, WE WERE GETTING COMPLAINTS, THEY WERE RESPONDING TO THOSE COMPLAINTS, BUT WE DID NOT KNOW THE TOTALITY OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTIES UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO GET INSPECTIONS AND INFORMATION FROM CERTUS AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS. >> THIS IS JUST AGAIN A COMPLETE OVERSIGHT THAT'S NOT GETTING AT
THE CORE FM MY UNDERSTANDING. I'M ASKING FOR A COMPLAINT, MPHA COMMISSIONER OR THE STAFF COULD HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT USING THE EXISTING TOOL WE HAD GIVEN BY THAT LEGAL PRECEDENCE IN 2022, WHY THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR STAFF TO ALSO GO IN AND SAY OR
COMMISSION THEMSELVES -- ESSENTIALLY WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WARREN DID. AND TO USE A SIMPLE PHONE CAMERA AND SAY OH THIS IS REALLY CRAPPY. I'M ASSUMING THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. THAT'S THE QUESTION. MOVING FORWARD TO 2025 THEN, LOOKING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, I
SAW NEARLY EVERY RENTAL LICENSE IN HERITAGE PARK HAD A TIER ONE RENTAL LICENSE. MEANING THE BEST. EXCEPT FOR 20 UNITS THAT WERE TIER 2 AND 6 UNITS THAT WERE TIER THREE. BUT AGAIN THE OTHER 200 UNITS THERE RECEIVED A TOP TIER
LICENSE FROM THE CITY. SOMEONE PLEASE WALK ME THROUGH HOW YOU ALL CAME TO DESIGNATE THESE AS TIER ONE? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, I'M APRIL
BOGART, THE DIRECTOR OF INSPECTION SERVICES. WHEN WE -- THE TIERING SYSTEM USES A TWO YEAR LOOK BACK AT A HISTORY OF VIOLAONS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE TIER. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTIES AT HERITAGE PARK WERE GIVEN A 1D TIERING
WHICH IS OUR DEFAU WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO ASGN ANY OTHER TIER. IN SOME CASES WE HADONDUCTED ENOUGH COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS THAT WE HAD ENOUGH OF A HISRY THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A TWO IN SOME SES. BUT I BELIEVE MOST OF THEM ARE A
1D, MEANING DEFAULT. >> SO WITH YOUR TIERING PROCESS, DOES THAT NOT AUTOMATICALLY ENTAIL AN INSPECTION SO YOU CAN VERIFY YOURSELVES? >> IT DOES NOT. THE TIERING PROCESS INVOLVES A TWO-YEAR LOOK BACK, AND IN THIS CASE, WE DID NOT HAVE A TWO YEAR HISTORY OF INSPECTIONS AT THIS
PROPERTY. >> BUT KNOWING THIS, YOU DIDN'T EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO QUOTE UNQUOTE INSPECT THE PROPERTIES IN 2025, KNOWING THE UNIQUE CONDITIONS THAT YOU WILL ONLY HAVE ONE YEAR TO LOOK BACK, YOU DID NOT DO AUTOMATIC INSPECTIONS? >> WE DID NOT. >> OKAY. AND THAT SAID, I WILL NAME AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THE CITY'S TIERING PROCESS AND HOW IT ALLOWS SOME LANDLORDS TO SCAPE THROUGH AND GET RENTAL LICENSES AND ALLOW RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS, HEARING THAT MAKES ME QUESTION
FURTHER HOW WE'RE APPROACHING OTHER UNITS THAT ARE JUST TIER ONE AND OUR TIERING SYSTEM. MY OTHER MAJOR CONCERN AROUND THIS IS CAN SOMEONE SPEAK TO WHY ARE WE GIVING THE RECEIVER WHO HAS ALSO FUMBLED IN THE HANDLING
OF THIS PROPERTY, WHY ARE WE GIVING THEM $2.5 MILLION IN HOPES OF THE STABILIZATION PLAN AS OPPOSED TO USING THE CITY'S TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH FOR MY NEWER
COLLEAGUES, THAT PROGRAM ALLOWS IN CONDITIONS LIKE THAT THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR THE CITY TO FRONT MONEY TO RELOCATE STABILIZED HOUSING CONDITIONS FOR TENANTS LIVING IN PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED BY THE CITY AND ARE NOT MEETING UP TO OUR HOUSING CODE AND THEN WE
THEN GO AFTER THE LANDLORD TO RECOUP THE COST. WE ARE NOW GIVING THIS MONEY OVER TO THE RECEIVER DIRECTLY WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS PRCTIVELY AND HAVE FAILED TO DO SO SO NOW WE'RE HAVING TO COME IN. WHY ARE WE NOT USING OUR OWN PROGRAM? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY,
COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, GOOD QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS I FAILED TO MENTION DURING THE PRESENTATION, IT WAS A MISS ON MY HAND. THERE ARE TWO ELIGIBLE USERS OF THE FUNDING. THERE IS CERTUS FINANCIAL
RECEIVER FOR REPAIRS AND REHABILITATION COSTS FOR HERITAGE PARK. AND THOSE WOULD BE RELATED TO SOMETHING THAT'S AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE WILL BE USING FUNDING FOR A RELOCATION SERVICE PROVIDER, TO
YOUR POINT, FOR THE RELOCATION SERVICES. WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING OUT THAT PLAN WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE CITY APPARATUS, HENNEPIN COUNTY AND OTHERS. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS FUNDING, REVENUES TO RECLAIM
FUNDING. WE'RE BEING VERY HONEST WITH YOU. RIGHT NOW HERITAGE PARK OPERATES AT LIKE A DEFICIT OF $200,000 A MONTH. SO RECLAIMING THAT FUNDING IS PROBABLY LESS LIKELY. WE WILL USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE IF
WE CAN TO RECAPTURE THAT. BUT THE IDEA IS CERTUS WOULD NOT DO THE RELOCATION, AND I DID NOT MAKE THAT CLEAR. >> AND WE COULDN'T, BECAUSE I ALSO KNOW UNDER THE TENANT RELOCATION PROGRAM, IT ALLOWS US TO SUE AND LITIGATE FOR
RECOUPING OF COSTS. WE COULDN'T SUE THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO RECOUP THAT COST EN? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, THAT IS A LEGAL QUESTION I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO ANSWER. >> WITH THAT, I WILL NAME SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING, BECAUSE I
REALIZE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN QUEUE. OF COURSE I'M MORE THAN HAPPY T SUPPORT US TAKING ACTION TO GET RELOCATION OF THE 200 PLUS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER -- SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD TO SUFFER UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY'RE LIVING UNDER IN THE FIRST PLACE AND IT'S A FUMBLE ON
THE CITY'S SIDE, THE MPHA, EVERYONE INVOLVED WHO ALLOWED THIS TO GO FORWARD FOR MANY YEARS. JUST A MASSIVE FUMBLING. SO OF COURSE I SUPPORT T ACTION. I WILL BE WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER WARREN AND ALSO FOLLOWING UP AND DEFINITELY
HARASSING STAFF TO FIGURE OUT TWO PIECES. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE CITY ON THE PIECE OF THE TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND USE THAT AS A TOOL AS OPPOSED TO GIVING IT TO THE PLAYER WHO IS LITERALLY PUTTING US IN THIS PREDICAMENT IN THE
FIRST PLACE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS A STAFF FOLW UP, OP I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T USE CONTINGENCY FUNDING ALSO AS A SOURCE. WE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THE IMPACTS THAT WOULD BE MADE TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST AS
WE KEPT MAKING CUTS TO IT TO RESPOND TOPERATION METRO SURGE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT USING CONTINGENCY FUNDS, THIS FALLS UNDER AN EMERGENCY EXPENSE WE DID NOT SEE AS A CITY. I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER WARREN ON
EXPLORING THAT AHEAD OF THURSDAY. I JUST WANT TO NOTE THA FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, ST ECHOING YOUR LEADERSHIP. ALSO FOR BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON THIS. YOU DID WHAT MANY STAFF WHO GOT PAID TONS OF MONEY TO DO FAILED TO DO. AND YOU ALSO DEMONSTRATED THE
POWER OF COUNCIL USING OUR OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY, BE IT WITH A PHONE, WITH GOING AND DOING DOOR KNOCKS, WITH CONNECTING WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND SEEING HOW THEY'RE LIVING REPEATEDLY AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO IT. AND WHILE IT MIGHT BE
UNCOMFORTABLE, MANY OF US HAVE FACED PUSHBACKS WHEN WE'VE DONE THESE THINGS. THIS IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CONST S CONSTITUENTS, SPECIFICALLY BLACK FOLKS WHO SHOULDN'T BE GIVEN THE WORST AND DESERVE QUALITY, AND AFFORDABLE AND DIGNIFIED
HOUSING. AND I HOPE IN THE MIDST OF ALL WE'RE DOING, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO, NOT JUST FOR HERITAGE PARK, BUT FOR EVERY SINGLE RESIDENTS. SO I WANT TO ECHO KUDOS TO YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. I'M NEXT IN QUEUE. I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY
SAYING THAT I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW ANGRY I AM RIGHT NOW. AND THAT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE GRIEF, THE ANGER, THE FRUSTRATION THAT I'VE SEEN MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE GO THROUGH.
AND PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE PAIN OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN THERE. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN HERITAGE PARK AND WHAT THAT'S LOOKED LIKE. THERE'S MOLD EVERYWHERE. IT'S ON THE WALLS. COUNCILMEMBER WARREN SHARED A LOT OF THOSE DETAILS WITH ME AND MY TEAM.
THERE IS BROKEN PLUMBING. THERE'S CLOTHING MATTED TO THE FLOOR. THERE'S PEOPLE SITTING BY THEMSELVES IN A ONE UNIT BUILDING. THERE'S PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH DUE TO THE MOLD. THERE'S HOLES IN THE CEILING.
AND THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. I THINK THE VIDEO THAT COUNCILMEMBER WARREN POSTED ON HER OFFICIAL SIDE FACEBOOK DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ILLUSTRATING JUST IN PART HOW DEPLORABLE AND UNDIGNIFIED THOSE
CONDITIONS ARE. AND THERE'S NO WAY. THERE'S NO WAY THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN IN JUST A SINGLE YEAR. THIS IS A COMPOUNDING ISSUE FOR SURE. I HAVE A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH
HOW WE'RE PROCEEDING. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING THE HELP THAT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THE HERITAGE PARK RESIDENTS. BUT I AM CONCERNED IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE MOVING ABOUT HOW HUMAN CENTERED THIS WILL BE IN
CARING FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE THERE. WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT A $2.5 MILLION ALLOCATION ON THE FLY ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US LAST MINUTE, HIGHLY IRREGULAR. AND I SAY THAT NOT TO BLAME
ANYBODY, BUT TO SAY THAT PUTS THIS COUNCIL IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BY THE ADMINISTRATION. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POSITION TO BE IN. ONE THING THAT I'LL JUST NOTE RIGHT UP AT THE TOP, THERE NEEDS
TO BE BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALL OF US HERE IN THE CITY. CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND OUR DEPARTMENTS. AND I'M NOT SEEING THAT HAPPEN CURRENTLY. AND THE PLACE THAT I CAN POINT TO IS IT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING THAT WHAVE THIS LAST MINUTE
ITEM COMING BEFORE US AND THERE'S A PRESS RELEASE SENT OUT BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A BRIEFING OR A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE. AND QUOTE IN THAT PRESS RELEASE IT SAYS THE 20-YEAR-OLD COMPLEX
FELL INTO DISREPAIR LAST YEAR. THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. AND IT GIVES ME PAUSE ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE SENDING OUT TO CONSTITUENTS BEFORE WE GET TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TOGETHER BEFORE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE TO VOTE ON $2.5 MILLION
TO HELP RESIDENTS. OUR ABILITY TO STAND UP A SAY THAT WE ACTUALLY DID OUR JOB. TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS MATTER. SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE KIND OF GOING INTO THIS. DIRECTOR HANSEN, YOU SAID THAT THERE ARE 286 RESIDENTS THAT
WILL NEED TO BE RELOCATED. IS THAT ACCURATE? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, TO THE BEST OF OUR INFORMATION, 686 RESIDENTS IN 212 HOUSEHOLDS. >> 212 HOUSEHOLDS. >> 686 RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO
THE RECEIVER. >> HOW MANY OF THOSE UNITS ARE IN DISREPAIR? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE PRECISE DATA OF WHAT THE LEVELS OF CONDITIONS ARE. BUT WE'RE TO THE POINT WRE IN
ORDER FOR US TO REALLY MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT REPAIRS NEED TO HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THERE HAVE A PLACE TO BE AND THEN WE CA CONTINUE THAT WORK. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. WE'VE HAD MOL INSPECTORS OUT LAST WEEK.
WE'RE GIVING A SECOND OPINION. THIS WEEK, CERTUS BROUGHT OUT A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER YESTERDAY AND TODAY. WE HAD OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL OUT THERE SHADOWING AND OFFICIALS FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SHADOWING THAT WORK. REGULATORY SERVICES HAS BEEN
SHADOWING THEOLD INSPECTIONS. WE'RE CONTINUING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS. WE'RE STARTING TO ANSWER THAT THRESHOLD QUESTION OF IS IT WORTH SAVING THE BUILDINGS OR NOT. WE HAVE NOT ANSWERED THAT QUESTION, AND UNTIL WE HAVE THAT QUESTION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STRATEGY WOULD BE FOR HERITAGE
PARK AND THE BUILDINGS. SO WE WANT TO DECOUPLE THE PEOPLE FROM THE BUILDINGS. >> SO SINCE WE ARE RELOCATING INDIVIDUALS, DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE REVOKING THE RENTAL LICENSE? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, WE ARE NOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE MADE THAT DECISION. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.
I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON STANDING UP THE RESPONS FOR RELOCATION AND THEN THOSE OTHER THINGS WOULD COME AFTER THAT. WE'RE FOCUSED -- MY CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN WITH DIRECTOR SAYER ABOUT HOW TO STRUCTURE WHAT A RESPONSE WOULD LOOK LIKE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE
FOR 212 INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS ALL WITH THEI UNIQUE NEEDS, W WOULD NEED TO HAVE A FORCE OF STAFF THAT WOULD WORK ON ITN A COORDINATED WAY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HENNEPIN COUNTY TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE GETTING THERE AND THEN THOSE THINGS WOULD COME LATER. AS I SAID, THIS IS A VERY FLUID SITUATION. SO NOT EVERYTHING IS ANSWERED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. >> I REALLY RECOMMEND WE FIND A WAY WHERE WCAN BOTH DECOUPLE THE PEOPLE FROM THIS AND HELP THEM AND REVOKE THAT LICENSE OR
AT LEAST NOT GIVE THEM A 1D TIERING STATUS. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> DO YOU KNOW OF THE UNITS THAT
ARE THERE, IF THEY'RE THE STATUS OF BEING CONDEMNED OR NDEMNABLE? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT DATA NOW. >> IS THERE ANY PRELIMINARY INF? >> I'M A LAYPERSON, IT'S BAD. IT'SAD. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ENGAGING
WITH REGULATORY SERVICES, BUT ALSO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING. THE TECHNICAL REPORTS, THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING REPORTS THAT WILL BE COMING OUT THIS WEEK TO GET AN ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE AT THAT DECISION POINT.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE HERE AND WILL BE RELOCATED ARE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, I D'T HAVE THIS PRECISE NUMBER OF SECTION 8 VOUCHER HOLDERS.
I KNOW THERE ARE 200 PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY UNITS WITHIN IT. AND I'M JUST GOING TO -- ABOUT 160 ADDITIONAL UNITS WITH SECTION 8.
>> I'LL ASK FOR A FOLLOW UP JUST FOR THE PRECISE NUMBER BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS THAT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE CARE. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE CARE FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, CERTUS, AND THE
PROPER MANAGEMENT COMPANY. DID YOU ASK MPHA TO COME HERE TODAY TO BE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS TO THIS BODY? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, WE DID ASK FOR THEIR PRESENCE IN THE MEETING, BE YOU THEY DE -- BUT THEY DECLINED TO COME. >> DID THEY GIVE A REASON WHY
THEY DECLINED TO COME? >> THEY DID NOT. I DO NOT HAVE THE REASONS. >> THEY DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR WHY? >> I DO NOT HAVE THE REASONS. >> I THINK THAT'S DEEPLY CONCERNING THAT MINNEAPOLIS
PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOT HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT HERITAGE PARK NCE THERE ARE TENANTS THAT USE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS AND THIS IS ON MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY LAND AND ALL OF THE
COMPLAINT-BASED INSPECTIONS AS WE LEARNED WERE GETTING PASSED OFF TO MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. I'LL ALSO SHARE, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN 2025 AND 2026 WHERE WE ARE WHERE I THINK A COMPLAINT-BASED INSPECTION COULD HAVE INDICATED IF YOU WENT
INTO THAT BUILDING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY WRONG GOING ON. AND I GUESS I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE WARD WILL ALLOW ME TO ASK HER, CERTUS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE ROOM.
BUT YOU'VE HAD COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS. I'M RLLY STRAINING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR ROLE HAS BEEN IN THIS AND I THINK WE'RE FAILING TO FULLY UNDERSTOOD THEIR ROLE IN THE DERELICTION OF
DUTY IN THE PROPERTY? IS THERE ANY INSIGHT YOU CAN PR? >> AT THIS TIM MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING THE LEAD ON THE RELOCATION OF INDIVIDUALS B
ADDITIONAL HOUSING. AND ALSO CEUS ALSO SENT ME A MESSAGE AND TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THE LEAD ON
ANY HOUSING OR RELOCATION AT THIS TIME. AND I THINK JUST BEING QUITE FRANK, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT INTERESTS IN THIS PROJECT AND IN THIS ROLE. WHERE MY INTEREST IS IN THE
CONSTITUENTS AND THE SAFETY OF THE FAMILIES IN THERE. YOU GOT TO KIND OF LOOK AT THIS SITUATION LIKE THIS; A PROPERTY IS IN RECEIVERSHIP. IF THERE'S NO LONGER ANYONE LIVING THERE, THEN IS THERE A NEED FOR SOMEBODY TO RECEIVE
ANYTHING? THERE'S NOT A NECESSITY. SO THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT VESTED INTEREST. AND THEY'RE SAYING OH YEAH, IT'S BAD, BUT IT'S NOT THAT BAD. BUT IT'S BAD AND I'M GOING TO
TELL YOU FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS KNOCKED ON EVERY DOOR IN HERITAGE PARK MORE THAN ONCE. >> I'LL JUST SHARE WITH YOU, DIRECTOR, AND JUST EVERYONE HERE THAT'S A PART OF THIS, I FIND IT
DEEPLY STRIKING THAT CERTUS DID NOT REACH OUT TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AS THINGS WERE FALLING APART FOR US TO HELP IN ADDRESSING THIS SOONER. >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, I DO WANT TO CLARIFY. WE HAVE BEEN IN ALMOST DAILY CONVERSATIONS WITH CERTUS. THEY HAVE REACHED OUT TO US.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TM SINCE THEY TOOK OVER. I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE CHANGE IN INFORMATION SHARING SINCE CERTUS HAS TAKEN OVER FROM THE OWNER OF MBS.
I DON'T WANT TO PAINT CERTUS AS SOMEBODY WHO WASN'T PROACTIVE. THEY'VE BEEN VER TRANSPARENT, VERY OPEN TO US. THEY SHARED ALL OF THE INFORMATION I SHARED EARLIER ABOUT SOME OF THE TECHNICAL REPORTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO UNCOVER. THEY'RE GOING TO SIGN OFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE PUBLIC.
SO WE'VE HAD A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP. THEY ARE IN A CHALLENGING POSITION. THEY ARE A RECEIVER FROM THE COURT. THEY HAVE A DUTY, FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THAT ROLE. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO HELP
THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOL THIS COMPLICATED PROCESS AND PROJECT. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS STRONG WITH CERTUS AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION. THEY TOOK OVER EARLIER --
>> IN DECEMBER OF 2025. >> 2025. OKAY. SO IN THIS A ACTION, WE'RE
DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO YOU FOR FUTURE FINANCIAL ACTIONS, CORRECT? WHO ARE WE DELEGATING IT FROM? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, IN TYPICAL CITY COUNCIL FASHION, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR CONTRACTING AND THAT SORT OF
THING. THE DELEGATION OF THIS AUTHORITY WOULD DO IT THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS. WE'D STILL HAVE AN APPROVAL PROCESS, IT'SE C DIRECTOR'S REPORT AS OPPOSED TO REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION.
THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE AUTHORITY THAT YOU DELEGATED TO ME DURING THE RESILIENCY FUND EARLIER IN THE OPERATION METRO SURGE. WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT DELEGATION SO THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICK. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. THE THING THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE ON THAT IS I THINK
WE LOSE A NECESSARY TOUCHPOINT ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND A ACE FOR US TO DISCUSS. I JUST WOULD LIKE SOME CONTEMPLATION ON HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT THAT. AND I ALSO ASK FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE
COO'S OFFICE WORK ON SCHEDULING BRIEFINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON WHAT'S GOING ON. AGAIN LIKE WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE RCA'S LAST NIGHT. SO WE NEED TO HAVE FURTHER COMMUNICATION. >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, I WILL
ACKNOWLEDGE, IF YOU GRANT US THIS DELEGATION, WE WILL BE RESPONDING TO THE FULL COUNCIL ON ALL OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE T WORK WITH COUNCILMEER WARREN ON THE RELOCATION PLAN. SHE IS A VERY STRONG PARTN IN
THIS WORK, TRUSTED BY THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HER AND HER OFFICE. AND AS FAR AS COMMUNICATIONS, MUCH LIKE THE RESILIENCY PLAN, WE WILL BE COMMUNICATING TO YOU. AND THEN I WILL APOLOGIZE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE SITUATION THAT
CPED LIKES TO WORK UNDER. EVEN IN THE LAST WEEK SINCE AGENDA SETTING FOR THIS COMMITTEE MEETING, THE CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED UP UNTIL THROUGH THE WEEKEND. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN KIND OF WORKING AS BEST AS WE CAN WITH THE INFORMATION WE KNOW.
AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THA WE HOPE TO BE A PATTERN FOR US. BUT WE DOPPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO KNOW. BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN JUST TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN ASSESS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IDENTIFY SOME RESOURCES AND GET THE PLANNING
TO ASSISTEOPLE AT HERITAGE PARK. >> WILL YOU COMMIT TO REACHING OUT FOR BRIEFINGS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I'M ALMOST DONE HERE AND THEN I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. I'LL JUST START BY SAYING THAT THIS IS AN ENTIRE SYSTEM BREAKDOWN.
OVER MANY YEARS. AND I THINK A PIECE OF WHAT NEEDS TO COME TO LIGHT IS WHO WAS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW. THE RESIDENTS HERE DESERVE TO KNOW. AND THERE'S A LEVEL OF JUSTICE THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT. AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYONE THAT HAS TAKEN FULL THROATED
ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE. BECAUSE THIS HAS GONE ENTIRELY WRONG. AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAPPENED. THE LAST THING THAT I WILL SAY IS WE SHOULD LOOK INTO HOW WE CAN RECAPTURE FUNDING. FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
WE NEED TO. WE CANNOT IN THIS TYPE OF BUDGET SITUATION AS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS DOLE OUT $2. $2.5 MILLION, CANNIBALIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT WE USE TO MAKE PROJECTS HAPPEN.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN EXPLORING WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY BROUGHT FORWARD OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ABOUT TO RECAPTURE FUNDING THROUGH LITIGATION IF NECESSARY. I THINK McCORMICK BARREN HAS
FUNDS ON ASSETS THAT HE OWES TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IF WE'RE ABOUT TO DOLE SOMETHING OUT. AND I WILL JUST SAY, PLANT THE SEED THAT I'M INTERESTED IN US IF WE CAN MAKE A RECAPTURE PLAN AND JUST IN GENERAL FOR LOOKING INTO THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS.
BECAUSE I'M NOT INTERESTED IN CANNIBALIZING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BECAUSE McCORMICK BARREN CREATED AN ENTIRE DERELICTION OF DUTY AND NOW WE'RE FRONTING THE BILL. COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AS WELL. DIRECTOR THE MAYOR'S PRESS RELEASE SAID THE 20-YEAR-OLD BUILDING COMPLEX FELL INTO DISREPAIR LAST YEAR AND THE
COURT APPOINTED RECEIVER TOOK RECEIVERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY. DO YOU AGREE THIS FELL INTO DISREPAIR LAST YEAR? >> THE WAY I READ THAT SENTENCE WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THE 20-YEAR-OLD PROJECT FELL INTO
DISREPAIR. LAST YEAR THERE WAS A COURT APPOINTED RECEIVER. MAYBE I READ THAT WRONG. BUT I DO NOT AGREE THAT IT FELL INTO DISREPAIR LAST YEAR >> THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY YEARS. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STAFF IS AWARE THIS ISN'T AN
ISSUE THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS SAID INSPECTORS HAD CONDUCTED BUILDING BY BUILDING INSPECTIONS OF MORE THAN 400 UNITS BEGINNING IN DECEMBER OF 2025. IS THAT ACCURATE? IS THAT TRUE? >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, THAT WOUL
BE THE INSPECTIONS DONE BY REGULATORY SERVICES. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, THAT IS TRUE. WE BEGAN INSPECTIONS IN OCTOBER OF 2025. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. SO OCTOBER 2025, EVEN EAIER. OKAY, GREAT. SO I GUESS NINE MONTHS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS EIGHT MONTHS. BUT NINE MONTHS LATER WE NOW HAVE THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, USED HER PHONE TO BLOW THE WHISTLE. WHY DID IT TAKE THIS MANY MONTHS LATER TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO LET US KNOW THISSSUE WAS HAPPENING? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY,
COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION TO ASK. SO THE CITY HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE FORMER OWNER, McCORMICK BARREN, NOT VERY PRODUCTIVELY. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THEY'D NOTIFIED THE CITY THAT THERE WAS CONDITIONS, SUB STANDARD CONDITIONS AT HERITAGE PARK, AND WE WERE WORKING ON IT. AND WE NEEDED VERIFICATION. SINCE THE RECEIVER TOOK OVER IN DECEMBER,HERE'S BEEN A FLOOD OF INFORMATION. AND SO WE HAD BEEN WORKING
TOWARDS WHAT THIS COMPLEX PROJECT OF CAN YOU REPAIR IN PLACE, CAN YOU MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, WHAT IS FIRST THE EXTENT OF THE IMPVEMENTS THAT
NEED TO BE ME KNOWING THAT THEY THERE ARE SUB STANDARD CONDITIONS IN HERITAGE PARK, AND CAN YOU DO THAT WITH FOLKS IN PLACE OR T? AS RECENTLY AS TWO WEEKS AGO FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE WERE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE BUILDINGS
THAT HAD SIX UNITS FULLY VACA. AND THAT WAS BEING USED POTENTIALLY AS A TURN AND YOU'D MOVE PEOPLE INTO THAT BUILDING AND CLEAR UP SOME OF THE OTHER BUILDINGS, MOVE THEM BACK AND FORTH. DOOME SHUFFLING OF TENANTS. AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY STARTED
LOOKING ATHAT BUILDING THAT'S WHENHEY UNCOVERED MOLD BEHIND THE WALLS. THEY FOUND WATER INFILTRATING THE WINDOWS. THEY FOUND FAILURES IN THE WINDOWS. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THAT STOPPED THAT CONDITION. THE PATH THAT WE WERE TAKING
WITH RESPECT TO T WORK WITH CERTUS WAS DEPLOYING THE $5.125 LLION, WORKING ON A SHORT-TERM, NEAR-TERM APPROACH TO IT. IT WOULD BE LIKE WHAT'S THE EMERGENCY, THE BUILDING ENVELOPE, THE ROOFING, THE
SIDING, AND UNIT TURNS. THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON UNTIL WE DISCOVERED THE MOLD INFESTATION INTO BEHIND THE WALLS. AND SO FROM THAT POINT IN TIME, KIND OF CHANGED.
SO WE WERE WORKING TOWARDS CONVERSATIONS AND REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR THE MAJOR PLANITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT NEAR TERM WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN ROOFING, SIDING, AND UNIT TURNS UNTIL
LAST WEEK. AND NOW WE'RE TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE JUST CONTINUING TO LEARN MORE. AS WE LEARN MORE, WE KNOW MORE, AND AS WE KNOW MORE, WE HAVE TO DO MORE. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S NEARLY NINE MONTHS AGO. WHAT STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE BEING MADE SO THIS DOESN'T
HAPPEN AGAIN? >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY AND COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, THAT'S ANOTHER EXCELLENT QUESTION TOO. WE'RE IN THE CRISIS MODE OF THIS SITUATION AND WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF THE
RESIDENTS OF HERITAGE PARK. WE ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION. WE ARE IN THE INFORMATION COLLECTING PHASE. BUT NOW WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE TO A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO WORK ON RELOCATION. AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SAFEGUARDS WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE AND THE A REAL ANALYSIS
OF WHERE THIS WENT SOUTH AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AFTER WE FOCUS ON THE WELLBEING OF THE RESIDENTS. >> HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WERE MADE IN 2025?
>> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, I LOOKED AT REG SERVICES. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WERE MADE, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. >> I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS CASE IS NOT ISOLATED. THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT HAVE MANY CONCERNS WITH HOW
INSPECTIONS HPEN ACROSS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. IS THERE ANY PLAN FOR DIRECTOR VELASQUEZ TO INCREASE LICENSE FEES TO HELP US HIRE MORE SPECTORS? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, I'M GOING
TO HAVE TO DEFER TO REG SERVICES ABOUT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, DIRECTOR VELASQUEZ HAD TO STEP OUT. WE ARE RIGHT NOW HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR RENTAL LICENSING FEES.
WE DID INCREASE RENTAL LICENSING FEES ACROSS THE BOARD BY 10% LAST YEAR. ANDHOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING NOW. >> I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE IT A LOT MORE, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE INSPECTORS ACROSS THE CITY. WE KNOW PARTICULAR AREAS OF OUR CITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY HOW INSPECTIONS ARE HANDLED. DO WE HAVE ALAN OTHE CURRENT TIERING SYSTEM? >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, YES, WE HAVE BEEN EMBARKING ON A LENGTHY PROCESS TO REVISE OUR TIERING SYSTEM AND THAT WORK CONTINUES. >> AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS CASE THAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT
TODAY WHICH IS HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY IN GENERAL AS WELL IS A REMINDER OF HOW MUCH QUICKER WE HAVEO BE WORKING ON BOTH TIERING SYSTEMS. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING WITHOUT HEAT OR WATER THIS YEAR? THERE? >> I DO NOT HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AT HAND. >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A WATER SERVICE ISSUE. BUT I CAN LOOK AT THE FURNACES. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ON OUR REPAIR LIST. >> SO I GUESS FOR HEAT, DO WE
KNOW OR NO? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT INFORMATION. WE'LL HAVE TO ASK THAT. >> I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW MANY HOMES DON'T HAVE BASIC NECESSITIES, THAT'S A CONCERN. I GUESS FOR STAFF, WHY DID IT TAKE A VIDEO FROM MY COLLEAGUE
RATHER THAN THE CITY'S OWN INSPECTION PROJECT TO FORCE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION AROUND THIS? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THAT IS AN
EXCELLENT POINT. I WAS ON THAT TOUR WITH THE COUNCIL MEMR WHERE SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT VIDEO. WE AS A STAFF WERE WORKING TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. BUT A PICTURE TELLS THE STORY OF
A THOUSAND WORDS. AND THAT S, I THINK, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY OF HERITAGE PARK TO BRING FORWARD IN FULL COLOR WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE AT HERITAGE PARK, AND WHETHER WE AS A CITY, DECIDE
IF THAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE OR NOT. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE AS A CITY WILL AGREE THAT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. >> WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S
RESPONSE TO THE NAACP'S LETTER? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ, I DO NOT HAVE THE OFFICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE TO THE NAACP LETTER. >> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD FOLLOW UP. IF THE CITY, IF WE AS A BODY ARE ALLOCATING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND, WHICH I
THINK WE SHOULD BE USING CONTINGENCY FUNDEING, BUT I WAN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. IF WE USE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND, IS THERE NOT A PLAN TO REPLENISH IT WITH THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING FROM THOSE
IMPACTED BY OPERATION METRO SURGE? >> I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES. I DO WANT TO JUST BE TRANSPARENT. THE WAY THE COUNCIL HAS ALLOCATED THAT FUNDING,
$1.8 MILLION HAD A REQUIREMENT FOR A HIGHER AREA MEDIAN INCOME CAP. THAT HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE COUNTY. WE STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCILMEMBER WSLEY IN HER OFFICE ABOUT THAT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO EXPECT TO SEE
LIKELY COUNCIL ACTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTRACT THAT $1.8 MILLION. BUT THERE'S NO EXPECTATION FOR THE CITY OR CPED TO USE THAT MONEY FOR BACKFILLING. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL HAVE $2.5 MILLION FEWER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION IN
2026. >> THANK YOU. AND THAT WAS MY HOPE. I JUST WANTED TO ASK PUBLICLY SO WE CAN HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE IF THAT PLAN CHANGES. I WILL SAY THAT I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN FOR BEING RELENTLESS FOR HER CONSTITUENTS
IN WARD 5. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE AS A CITY TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS IN HERITAGE PARK. WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS JUST DEEPLY CONCERNING. IT MAKES ME CONCERNED FOR WHAT THIS MEANS FOR RENTAL UNITS ACROSS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AUDIT ABOUT HOW WE DO INSPECTIONS IN GENERAL
IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. BECAUSE I'VE HAD MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH SOME BUILDINGS WHERE THERE'S BEEN INSPECTIONS, NOTHING IS AN ISSUE, BUT THE CONSTITUENTS TELL ME THAT THERE STILL IS ISSUES. AND I THINK THAT MEANS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL ON HOW WE DO THIS WORK. SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION
THAT. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO MY ATTENTION. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TODAY. AS WE HEAD TO FULL COUNCIL, I HOPE THERE IS A BETTER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT FUNDING STREAM WE COULD USE. I THINK CONTINGENCY FUNDING IS AN ADEQUATE USE OF FUNDING. IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE USING THAT WAY IT DOESN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK. SO THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD AT LEAST PUT OUT THERE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER WARREN FOR THIS WORK. I THINK YOU CALLED ME MAYBE AN HOUR BEFORE YOU PUT THE VIDEO OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE PROBABLY TALKED AN HOUR. AND SO THAT DAY WHEN YOU CALLED
I SAID WE GOT TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF HERITAGE PARK. IT'S COOL TO HAVE THE VIDEO AND SHOW IT. BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? AND AS YOU KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE VIDEO BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE COULD DO
AS A CITY IN THAT MOMENT AND I KNEW HOW BAD IT WAS. SO I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE RIGHT NOW BEFORE US LIKE WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY. AND I COMPLETELY SUPPORT YOU. I APPRECIATE HOW YOU'VE BUI
THIS TABLE OF PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO. WHAT OUR PART IS. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE LEADING THIS WORK BECAUSE I CAN HEAR AND SEE SOME THINGS HAPPENING THAT HAPPEN
OFTEN WHEN YOU'RE A NORTH SIDE COUNCIL MEMBER, OTHERS TEND TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR STUFF. SO I REALLY DO WANT YOU TO HOLD FIRM TO DOING THINGS THE WAY THAT YOU KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SEE THEM BEING NE. OTHERS HAVE IDEAS, THAT'S GREAT,
BUT YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ALL OF US WHAT THOSE PEOPLE AT HERITAGE PARK AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE DONE. YOU KNOW WHAT JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE TO THEM. THEY WILL TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF JUSTICE THEY WANT. AND SO I REALLY AM PROUD OF YOU. I'MO PROUD THAT SIX MONTHS IN, THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE AT.
LIKE YOU'VE COME HERE TO WORK FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU'VE COME HERE WITH A VOICE FOR THEM. THAT WHAT THEY SEND YOU HERE TO DO. THEY SEND YOUERE TO BE THE VOICE OF THEM. IF YOU FAIL, YOU HAVE TO FACE THEM. NOT ANYONE ELSE UP HERE. SO I'M SO PROUD OF YOU FOR COMING UP HERE AND REPRESENTING
YOUR WARD. AND REESENTING PEOPLE AT THEIR ABSOLUTE WORST. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE, THE WAY PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE. AND YOU AND I HAVE SEEN IT, WE KNOW IT. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN RUMORS CIRCULATING. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS TALK ON THE NORTH SIDE HERITAGE PARK IS
SINKING, BUILDINGS ARE LEANING. ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. YOU CAN DRIVE DOWN OLSEN HIGHWAY AND SEE THE ROOF OF SOME OF THESE BUILDING THERE WAS ONE THAT HAD A FIRE AND WAS JUST KIND OF SITTING FOR YEARS. WE LIVE THERE SO WE KNOW. AND WE KNOW WHAT PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND SO I'M JUST SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH SUCH A TERRIBLE THING AND TRYING TO FIX IT. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMAIN THE LEADER I FIXING IT. AND THAT YOU LEADOT ONLY THIS
COUNCIL, BUT ALSO THIS STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATION. I ALSO DON'T WT THIS TO BECOME A POLITICAL FIGHT. BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY IS 686 PEOPLE NEED TO BE RELOCATED. I DON'T CARE WHAT PRESS RELEASE GOT RELEASED TODAY. I COULD CE LESS ABOUT A PRESS
RELEASE OR ANYTHING ELSE. 686 PEOPLE NEED TO BE RELOCATED. THAT'S WHAT MATTERS TO ME. NOT WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. NOT WHAT I SAID. NOT WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAID. THIS IS 686 PEOPLE WHO NEED SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.
SOMEWHERE TO LAY THEIR HEAD. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. AND GUE WHAT THEY'RE NOT CARI ABOUT, A PRESS RELEASE OR WHAT WE'RE IN THIS ROOM TALKING ABOUT IF IT'S NOT ABOUT SOLUTIONS FOR THEM AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I THINK THE ONE THING THATE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT, AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER WARREN KNOWS THIS AND OTHERS, IS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THERE WHO ARE TERRIFIED AND THE WAY WE'RE TALKINGS EVEN MORE TERRIFYING. I'VE HAD PEOPLE APPROACH ME THAT LIVE THERE AND SAY, YES, THIS HAS BEEN LIKE A SPOTLIGHT ON US.
PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP TO WHERE WE LIVE WITH CAMERAS AND TALKING TO US AND SCARING OUR KIDS. AND LIKE WE D'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE STILL LIVE HERE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY. THIS IS A REALLY BIG PLACE IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE. AND IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THIS
PLACE, THERE ARE OTHER APARTMENTS AROUND THERE AND THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HERITAGE PARK, CECIL NEWMAN, CITY VIEW, THIS ENTIRE AREA. SO THERE'S BEEN AN INVASION ON THIS AREA THAT WE AS LEADERS
HAVE TO B COGNIZANT OF AND RESPECTFUL OF. THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE. EVEN IN HERITAGE PARK. THIS IS NOT THE ENTIRE FACILITY OVER THERE. THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE MOVING OUT IS NOT EVERYONE THAT LIVES THERE. THERE ARE HOMEOWNERS THERE. THERE ARE TOWN HOMES THERE,
THERE'S SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THERE THAT ARE ALL A PART OF HERITAGE PARK. AND THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR IN THESE PEOPLE ABOUT THE WAY WE CONDUCT OURSELVES. AS NOT ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT A CITY ENTERPRISE. SO WE'VE GOT TO BE MINDFUL OF
IT. I'M SUPPORTING COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, SHE'S THE LEADER ON THIS. AND WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT SHE'S SAYING HERE. SHE IS OVER THERE EVERY DAY ALL DAY. TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE. TRYING TO EASE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
THIS IS SERIOUS. SOMEONE, IT'S NOT EASY TO BE A WHISTLE BLOWER. THAT'S WHY IT'S A NAME FOR IT. SHE'S THE PERSON BRAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VIDEO. BUT THERE'S PEOPLE WHO TOLD HER TO COME AND MAKE A VIDEO. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE
WHO HAD THE FORESIGHT TO SAY TO HER, HEY, COME OVER HERE, SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING WHOUT KNOWING WHAT COULD HAPPEN. WITHOUT KNOWING IF THE NEXT DAY, THEY WERE GOING TO BE ON THE ST. BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, WE
DON'T HAVE 212 AVAILABLE APARTMENTS OR HOUSING OPTIONS IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT NOW. AND GUESS WHAT'S HARD, TO SAY YOU GOT TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU GOT T MOVE OUT OF YOUR KID'S SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOU GOT TO MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR CHURCH.
YOU GOT TO MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR AUNTIE WHO BABYSITS FOR YOU, AND YOU WALK TO HER HSE. NOW YOU GOT TO FIGURE OUT TRANSPORTATION TO GET YOUR KIDS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND 212 HOUSEHOLDS, IF THAT IS THE ACTUA NUMBER, TO
RELOCATE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA. SO I REALLY DO. WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT THESE ARE HUMANS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO US TO LEAD. AND LEADING IS N FIGHTING. LEADING I NOT POLITICIZING A
REAL LIFE TRAGEDY THAT IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. LEADING IS CERTAINLY NOT BLAMING. LEADING IS TAKING WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND MAKING IT BETTER CERTAINLY, BUT BLAMING IS GOING TO GET US NOWHERE. WE NEED TO FIX THIS NOW AND COME BACK TO BLAMING LATER IF THAT'S
YOUR THING. BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO GET FROM UP UNDER THIS RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO SPEND EVERY SINGLE BIT OF ENERGY, TIME, RESOURCES WE HAVE ON FIXINGHIS RIGHT NOW FOR THESE 686 PEOPLE. AND THAT NUMBER FEELS VERY FLUID TO ME. I FEEL LIKE THAT NUMBER CAN CHANGEY THE END OF THIS DAY.
BEUSE I'VE BEEN THERE AND I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND SO I REALLY DON'T WANT USO LOSE SIGHT. I THINK WE ALL PROBABLY FEEL ANGRY TOWARDS SOMEBODY OR FEEL LIKE AN INDIVIDUAL OR SOMETHING IS RESPONSIBLE. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT TO USE MY ENERGY ON.
I REALLY WANT USO FOCUS AS A CITY ON HOW WE DO BETTER. W WE MAKE THIS BETTER RIGHT NOW. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND FIGURE OUT THE SYSTEM AND ALL OF THE OTHER THIS. BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIX IT. THISS URGENT. SH CALLED ME A MONTHGO NOW ABOUT THAT VIDEO.
THAT MEANS WE'RE 30 DAYS BEHIND OR HOWEVER MANY DAYS THAT WAS ON MAKING THIS BETTER FOR PEOPLE. SO I REALLY DO WANT US TO FOCUS ON LIKE HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THIS, AND SO, DIRECTOR, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE ?
LIKE WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? IF WE VOTE ON THIS ON THURSDAY AND THE MONEY IS THERE, HOW DO WE DO THIS? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER VETAW, WE ARE STANDING UP A TEAM TO DEVELOP A STRUCTURE. AND IT WILL BE WORKED TOGETHER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT'S GOING TO BE GIVING SOME PLANNING ASSISTANCE AND HOPEFLY FINANCIAL RESOURCES A TECHNICAL STAFF.
WE'RE GOING TO LIKELY HAVTO ASSIGN, DELEGATE SOME STAFF FROM OTHER JOBS TO WORK ON THIS. THIS IS AN ENORMOUS SET UP. BUT I THINK YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IF YOU WERE UP AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER DURING THE RESPONSE TO ANNUNCIATION OR
OPERATION METRO SURGE, IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO THAT LEVEL. >> I MEAN WHAT'S THE TIMELINE THOUGH?HAVE YOU ALREADY STARTEDG ON IT? >> WVE ALREADY STARTED SCOPING OUT THE FRAMEWORK. WE'LL BE DOING THAT OVER THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE
STARTING TO SET UP THE PLANNING AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE MORE TO REPORT. I DON'T WANT TO OVERPROMISE ANYTHING. BUT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THE STRUCTURE AS WE SPEAK. >> AND THEN WHERE DIDHE $2.5 MILLION NUMBER COME FROM? LIKE WHAT ARE WE CONGURE ING FOR
FAMILIES? >> CHA CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER VETAW, THIS IS REPURPOSED MONEY. WHEN WE FIRST WERE TALKING TO THE RECEIVER A FEW WEEKS AGO BEFORE WE WERE AWARE OF THE EXTENT OF THE MOLD, THIS WAS EM FOR SOME EMERGENCY REPAIRS.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON FURNACES, UNIT TURNS, AND ROOFING. AND THAT COST WAS IN THE BALLPARK OF $3 MILLION. THE CITY HAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED IN THE CPED BUDGET HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR HERITAGE PARK FOR THIS YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE $2.5 MILLION COMES. AS WE ARE WORKING THRGH THE PROCESS FOR THIS RCA, WE KEPT THAT NUMBER STATIC. WE'RE CONSULTING WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF
BENEFITS THAT TYPICALLY THE PEOPLE TYPICALLY GET WITH RELOCATION. AND IT SEEMS IN LINE. 'RE LOOKING FOR POTENTIALLY SOME ASSISTANCE FROM HEEPIN COUNTY AND THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE'VE ASKED TM ALSO TO MATCH THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.
>> SO THE RELOCATION DOLLARS THOUGH FOR THESE FAMILIES ISN'T JUST LIKE WE'VE FOUND YOU AN APARTMENT. THE RENT AND THE DEPOSIT IS THIS AMOUNT. WE'RE GOING TO PAY TO DO THAT. THIS IS LIKE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING TO MOVE. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER VETAW, IT'S MORE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. TO YOUR POINT, IT'S YOU HAVE 212 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE THEY'RE DIFFERENT SIZES OF HOUSEHOLDS, PEOPLE WITH PETS, PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS,
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT. EVERYBODY HA A UNIQUE SITUATION, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING THE UTMOST CARE OF WHAT THAT SITUATION IS IN FINDING WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. AND WHAT EXPENSES. SO WE WERE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING ALSO WHAT ALL OF
THOSE EXPENSES WOULD BE. SO IT'S NOT JUST A SIMPLE FIRST MONTH'S LAST MONTH PLUS A DAMAGE DEPOSIT. IT'S WHAT DOES IT TAKEOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE WORKING ON. >> SO LAST NIGHT, I KNOW, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY MEETING HOSTED BY COUNCILMEMBER WARREN AND A
LOT OF YOU CAME. I GUESS I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW YOU LEFT IT WITH FOLKS YESTERDAY. WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM WAS GOING TO HAPPEN LAST NIGHT? LIKE WHAT ARE NEXT STEPS FOR THE COMMUNITY? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER VETAW, SO MAYOR
FREYAS IN ATTENDANCE. YOR FREY MADE SOME OPENING REMARKS EXPLAINING TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND HE HAS DIRECTED US TO
PRIORITIZE AND RESOURCE THE RELOCATION OF HOUSEHOLDS AT HERITAGE PARK. WE WERE FRANK WITH THEM ABOUT WE WERE COMING TO THE COUNCIL FOR FUNDING TODAY. AND WE WILL BE DEVELOPING THE PLAN AND WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO GET THAT
INFORMATION. AND COUNCILMEMBER WARREN WHO WAS THE HOST OF THAT MEETING COMMUNICATED, IF I MAY, TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING NEXT WEEK. SO WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A REGULAR CADENCE OF COMMUNICATIONS AS THINGSECOME
AVAILABLE AND WEIND OUT WHAT OUR POINTS OF CONTACT, WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES WE CAN OFFER,HAT RESOURCE CENTERS WE CAN POTENTIALLY STAND UP AT HERITAGE PARK SO PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR QUESTIONS ASKED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING PEOPLE'S CONCERNS AND FEARS ABOUT THIS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN HERITAGE PARK SINCE IT OPENED. THIS IS THEIR HOME. THIS IS WHERE THEY LIVE. THIS IS THEIR COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS REALLY A SHOCKING SITUATION TO BE IN. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S TRAUMATIC, AND WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE TAKING THE CARE TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THEIR NEEDS AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE MEET THOSE. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOU DID ANSWER MY QUESTION AROUND, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU'VE SET UP A MECHANISM SEPARATE SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO CALL 311 AND FILTER THROUGH
THAT. BUT LIKE A HERITAGE PARK HOTLINE IS WHAT I'M SAYING. SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT ABOUT THINGS SPECIFICALLY. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY AND COUNCILMEMBER VETAW, YES. WE'RE FIGURING OUT THAT.
WHILE 311 IS THE FRONT DOOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CITY AND EVERYBODY CAN USE THAT, WE ARE NOT EXPECTING THAT TO BE THE PRIMARY COMMUNICATION TOOL. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION, WE'LL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHO'S THERE AND REACH OUT TO THEM AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THEM REACH OUT TO US. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. NEXT WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER WHITING. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWURY. AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR U. BUT I WANT TO KIND OF START, FIRSTLY, IT IS NOT I THINK LOST
ON ME. AFTER COUNCILMEMBER WARREN BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO US, I DID SOME RESEARCH HERE ON THE HISTORY OF HERITAGE PARK. THAT HERITAGE PARK WAS BUILT THROUGH A COURT-MANDATED CONSENT
DECREE BECAUSE OF HOW BAD THE STANDARDS WERE FOR A HISTORIC NORTH SIDE SECTION 8 AND GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HOUSING. SO HERITAGE PARK WAS BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH A CONSENT DECREE
CRITICIZING AND HOLDING TO THE FIRE A PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM THAT TALKED ABOUT THE CITY'S PERPETUAL LIVING STANDARDS FOR
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING CONDITIONS. D WE BUILT A CONTINUANCE OF THAT SAME EXACT CONDITION. AND IT JUST IS REALLY, REALLY HARD FOR ME TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THE CONTINUANCE OF THESE SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS BASED ON A LAWSUIT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
AVAIL THE NORTH SIDE OF THESE CONDITIONS. AND SO I THINK THAT JUST THE HISTORY OF IT, I THINK, IS HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. THAT THIS ISN'T JUST SOME VERSION OF A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT WE WANTED TO, BY THE GOODNESS OF THE HEA OF GOVERNMENT TO COME THROUGH.
BUT THIS WAS ACTUALLY MANDATED BEUSE OF HOW BAD THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE BEFORTHIS. AND SO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF START THERE. AND THE QUESTION FOR YOU, DIRECTOR, THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS DO WE HAVE ANY LEVEL OF -- AND I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO IT A
LITTLE BIT THAT THIS IS A MASSIVE INVESTMENT OR THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A MASSIVE INVESTMENT INTO THE REPAIR AND REALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR US TO GET TO THIS TO A VERSION OF LIVABILITY. DO YOU HAVE ANY ESTIMATE OF WHAT
THAT TOTAL COST IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE TO MAKE HERITAGE PARK MORE OR LESS LIVABLE? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNLMEMBER WHITING, THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR RESEARCH. WE CAN SHARE MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HERITAGE PARK IF YOU'R INTERESTED AND THE CONSENT DECR. AND TO AWER YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE TO HIT THAT THRESHOLD QUESTION. ARE THE REPAIRS THAT ARE
REQUIRED EXCEEDING THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. WE ARE NOT THAT --E DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH INFORMATION. SO THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS PRECISION. AND WE'RE THINKING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED.
BUT YOU'D ALSO NEED THEN A RECAPITALIZATIONROGRAM OR STRUCTURE SO THAT YOU CAN FINANCE THE REPAIRS AND THEN STABILIZE THE OPERATIONS OF HERITAGE PARK.
AND THAT EXCEEDS THE COST. SO THE RAW COSTS AND THEN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET TO THE REPAIRS WILL EXCEED THAT. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF MONEY. >> OKAY. AND THEN REALLY THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS IF WE ARE PUTTING
$2.5 MILLION INTO -- I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S ELIGIBLE USE OF THE REHABILITATION AND RELOCATION. BUT IF WE'RE PUTTING $2.5 MILLION INTO THE REPAIRS OF A FACILITY OF A HOUSING PROJECT THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO EITHER TAKE IT ALL
DOWN OR REPAIR IT, I THINK -- ARE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT'S THE LIVABILITY KIND OF PIECE, KIND OF THE EMERGENCY LIVABILITY PIECE? I GUESS THAT'S THE ONE QUESTION FOR US TO DO. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY,
COUNCILMEMBER WHITING, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WHAT YOU'RE PROVIDING IN THE QUESTION THAT YOU'RE ASKING IS AUTHORITY TO PUT FUNDING INTO RENOVATIONS, EMERGENCY LIFE-SAVING RENOVATIS AND REPAIRS AND RELOCATION. IT IS OUR INTENT TO FOCUS PRIMARILY ON RELOCATION.
THE REASON WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT OTHER REPAIR IS BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED THAT THRESHOLD QUESTION. SO WE DON'T WANT TO INVEST MONEY IN SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT BE SALVAG SALVAGEABLE. BUT WE'RE NOT TO THAT POINT YET. BUT IS THE SOMETHING WE NEED
TO DO BECAUSE IT HAS IMMEDIATE HEALTH RISK OR SAFET RISK TO SOMEBODY, THEN WE WANT TO HAVE THAT LATITUDE. BUT OUR FOCUS IS ON THE RELOCATION COMPONENT OF THIS. AND ONCE WE HAVE RELOCATED, THEN IT WILL BE THE STRUCTURED CONVERSATION WITH FUNDERS AND THE OWNER AND HOW THAT RECEIVER
PROCESS WORKS ABOUT WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD QUESTION. THAT STUFF, THE TECHNICAL WORK WILL CONTINUE. IT'S NOT LIKE IT STOPS. WE'LL HAVE THE TECHNICAL STAFF WORK ON IT. BUT THE FOCUS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, THE FOCUS OF CPED, FOCUS OTHE CITY IS GOING TO BE ON THE RELOCATION EFFORTS AND SETTING THAT UP.
AND THEN WE CAN WORK ON THAT OTHER STUFF AS IT COMES UP. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. AND THE LAST NOTE TO IT. I JUST WANT TO AGAIN REITERATE COMMENTSROM MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. I THINK WE'VE SEEN COUNCILMEMBER WARREN DO MORE WORK FOR THIS
COMMUNITY THANECADES OF AGREEMENTS, REPORTS, REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS, IN SIX MONTHS. AND SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL APPRECIATIVE OF WARREN.
AND PLEASE, CONTINUE TO TAP US IN WITH WHERE IT IS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHITING. NEXT WE HAVE IN QUEUE COUNCILMEMBER STEVENSON. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANTED TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, FOR BEING
THE FIRST AND/OR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU AND I ARE LEARNING IN REALTIME THAT ROLE. AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP AND FOR NOT GIVING UP ON YOUR PEOPLE. I'M GLAD TO SEE US RESPONDING TO THIS URGENTLY. OF COURSE I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE
MONEY TO GO AND RELOCATE FOLKS OUT OF HERITAGE PARK. THE SOUTH SIDE IS WITH YOU. PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE HAVE LIVED IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS. AND NONE OF THEM HAVE REACHED THE GRANDIOSITY OF WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE EXPERIENCING
RIGHT NOW. BUT WE'RE WITH YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS IN HERITAGE PARK ARE TAKEN CARE OF. AND THAT THERE'S JUSTICE FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE, THE CITY, ARE THE ONES LEFT HOLDING THE BAG HERE, EVEN
THOUGH MPHA OWNS THE LAND AND McCORMICK AND SALAZAR AND SOMETHIN ELSE HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO DECADES MAKING MONEY OFF OF THESE BUILDINGS. YEAH, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
THERE ARE ONLY TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO CARE AT THE END OF THE DAY ABOUT WHETHER HERITAGE PARK IS LIVABLE AND THAT'S THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HERITAGE PARK AND THAT'S THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND I INK WE JUST NEED TO RECOGNIZE GOING FORWARD THAT THERE REALLY ARE ONLY THOSE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE OR THOSE TWO
GROUPS WHO WILL AT THE VERY END OF THE ROAD WHICH WE'RE AT NOW IN TERMS OF THE LIVABILITY OF HERITAGE PARK, ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHETHER HERITAGE PARK SUCCEEDS. SO WE NEED TO ACT ACCORDINGLY WHEN WE TAKE OUR NEXTSTEPS. SO TO ME, THAT SAYSHAT IF WE'RE PUING PUBLIC DOLLARS IN,
THE PUBLIC NEEDS CONTROL. EITHER THAT OR THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES NEED CONTROL OVER THE BUILDINGS, THE CONDITIONS, THE FINANCES. BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS SEEM TO BE THE ONLY TWO GROUPS WHO CARE ABOUT WHETHER HERITAGE PARK
CONTINUES AND CONTINUES SUCCESSFULLY. TWO MORE THINGS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO USE CONTINGENCY FUNDS AND NOT SPIKE OUR ABILITY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING THIS YEAR.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN UNEXPECTED EXPENDITURE FOR CITY SERVICES. AND I WOULD ABSOLUTELY EXPECT THATE ARE GOING TO BE SEEKING IS MONEY BACK FROM McCORMICK SALAR AND WHOEVER ELSE.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PUT THIS SITUATION TOGETHER AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO BE PAYING THIS. THEY PROFITED FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES. THEY CAN FIND THAT MONEY FOR US ONCE WE FRONT THE MONEY FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND LASTLY, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE ALL AGREEING THAT THIS
TYPE OF LIVING CONDITION IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND I HOPE THAT AS WE LOOK AROUND THE CITY AND WE FIND HER FOLKS LIVING IN THESE TYS OF CONDITIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE A SIMILARLY TYPE OF POWERFUL RESPONSE TO REMEDYING THEIR TERRIBLE LIVING CONDITIONS AND PUTTING IN THE TYPE OF
POLICY AND THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT WE NEED FOR EVERYBODY ACROSS THE CITY WHO ARE LIVING UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT SLUM LORDS HAVE PUT THEM IN TO GET JUSTICE AND GET A LIVING SITUATION THAT'S WORTHWHILE FOR ANY HUMAN BEING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER WARREN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. BEFORE I MOVE THIS FORWARD WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, CAN I GET A SECOND? WITHOUT RECOMMENDATIONS, CAN I GET A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> UM, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE
THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY. IN THE BEGINNING OF ME FIRST LEARNING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT HERITAGE PARK, THE VERY FIRST THING THAT I ASKED FOR WAS A MOLD INSPECTION. AND A MOLD INSPECTION REPORT. AND I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THE CITY DID NOT HAVE THE
CAPACITY OR THE FUNDS OR THE FINANCING AND THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS DID. AND THAT MAYBE THEY COULD GO TO HOME DEPOT AND GET SOME TEST STRIPS AND SEE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN. SECOND THING THAT I ASKED FOR
WAS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER'S REPORT. WITH RESPECT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDINGS. BECAUSE THERE ARE 38 ROOFS WITH HOLES IN THEM. THAT HAVE BEEN IN THAT CONDITION
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WHICH STILL LEADS ME TO REALLY STRUGGLING TO TAP INSIDE OF MY BRAIN OF HOW IT IS THAT MY GREAT CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS ISSUED A RENTAL LICENSE TO A PROPERTY
THAT IS IN THAT DEPLORABLE OF A CONDITION. THAT THE OVERSIGHT AND THE POWER FOR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS AND JURISDICTION HAVE TO MEET A
SPECIFIC CODE COMPLIANCE, AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT CODE COMPLIANCE. THAT CODE COMPLIANCE WAS NOT MET. IT IS STILL NOT BEING MET AT HERITAGE PARK. AND I MEAN, TO WALK INTO A
BUILDING AND TASTE MOLD, TO SMELL THE ROT OUTSIDE OF A BUILDING. TO SMELL IT. IT SMELLS LIKE DECAYING FLESH. IT REALLY DOES. LIKE I SENT SECURITY TO GO CAN
YOU DO A WELFARE CHECK BECAUSE SOMETHING JUST DOES NOT SMELL RIGHT AROUND HERE. THE SAD PART WAS 168 HVAC UNITS WERE REPLACED OVER THE WINTER BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE THERE WITH NO HEAT IN DECEMBER WHEN THE RECEIVER ARRIVED. HE ARRIVED THE 4th OF DECEMBER,
THE HVAC UNITS WERE REPLACED WITHIN THAT FIRST 2 TO 3 WEEKS, LIKE RIGHT OVER THE TIME THAT PEOPLE WERE CELEBRATING GOOD OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THERE WERE CHILDREN INSIDE OF THESE APARTMENT UNITS AT HERITAGE PARK THAT WERE EEZING.
SPACE HEATERS PRESENTING FIRE RISKS AT HERITAGE PARK. A TIME WHEN WE COULD HAVE CAME TOGETHER AS A CITY THEN, THIS WAS BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, AND SAID HEY, HERE'S A LIFE SAVING MEASURE. LET'S GIVE THEM OUT OF THERE.
AND I UNDERSTAND, DIRECTOR HANSEN, THAT YOU ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS $2.5 MILLION, THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IN THIS RCA IS THAT I APPRECIATE CERTUS, THEY'VE BEEN SO HELPFUL AND RESPONSIVE AND
ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THEY'VE PROVIDED US WITH A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND A LOT OF THINGS. GOOD GUYS. APPRECIATE THEM. THE EXTENUATING HEALTH CONCERNS RIGHT NOW, TO ME, IS THESE 94
AND 97 DEGREE HEAT WAVES THAT WE HAVE HAD AND THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SENIORS IN THOSE BUILDINGS WITH OXYGEN TANKS THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY COOL AIR FLOWING THROUGH THERE AND THEY'RE SITTING IN MOLD. DAMP MOISTURE, CONDENSATION,
FESTERING, HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. WE HEARD THESE STORIES LAST NIGHT. I DIDN'T ADVERTISE MY COMMUNITY MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FOR ADVERTISEMENT BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT ON DISPLAY.
THEY ARE NOT ADVERTISED. THAT IS UNHUMANIZING. AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY PICKING THEM APART LIKE PIECE OF OLD WHATEVER. NOT INTERESTED IN THE MEDIA
BEING IN THERE. GET YOUR STORY ELSEWHERE. THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO FIND OUT WHAT SITUATION DO YOU THINK WILL BE EXTENUATING ENOUGH BEFORE WE START MOVING PEOPLE INTO HOTELS
AND GETTING THEM OUT OF THOSE SITUATIONS ON THIS ONE-WAY TICKET, PUTTING PEOPLE'S THINGS INTO STORAGE UNITS AND HELPING THEM START THE PATH OF RECOVERY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT'S NEEDED RIGHT NOW. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, I CAN'T
SLEEP. WHEN IT'S HOT LIKE THIS, I AM PISSED OFF. BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT MY RESIDENTS AND THE CHILDREN ARE GOING THROUGH IN HERITAGE PARK.
I KNOW. BECAUSE I'M OVER THERE. BEEN TAKING ZERTEX D LIKE
TICTACS JUST SO I CAN BREATHE AND GET THROUGH THIS. THE FACT THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A COOLING CONDITION OVER THERE, HAD A NINE MONTH PREGNANT MAMA STAYING ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF A UNIT IN BUILDING, EIGHT-PLEX, BY
HERSELF, IN THAT BUILDING, THE ONLY RESIDENT, BABY DUE IN ONE WEEK. SHE GOT TO BRING HER FRESH NEW BABY HOME TO THAT ENVIRONMENT. WOULD YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR FRESH NEW BABY HOME IN THERE,
DIRECTOR HANSEN? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN, NO. >> SO, LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT. I WANT SOME JUSTICE FOR THE
CONSTITUENTS OF MY WARD. AND I WANT THEM TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THERE IS NOT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW THAT CERTUS NEEDS FROM US IN THE IMMEDIACY TO PUT A BAND AID ON
ANOTHER BULLET WOUND OVER IN HERITAGE PARK. THE ORIGINAL NUMBERS FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT WE WERE SOFTLY FLUFFING UP AND AROUND, I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT
THE CAPITAL AMOUNTS WERE GOING TO BE. PROBABLY ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ROUGHLY A $35 MILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. BUT NOW WITH THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED WITH REGARDS TO THESE BUILDINGS PRETTY MUCH BEING GUTTED DOWN TO THE
ENVELOPE, TO THE STUDS, YOU KNOW. AND THE AMOUNT OF ROOF REPAIR, AND THE STREET PAVING, THE FOAM THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO UTILIZE UNDERNEATH THE STEPS AND THE CONCRETE IN ORDER
TO LIFT IT AND RAISE IT, AND BALANCE IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, UNTIL THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STRUCTURAL, YEAH WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER $100 MILLION. AND JUST SO WE KEEP IN MIND, THE
HOME AND CONSENT DECREE WAS $118 MILLION. MPHA INPUTTED $27.8 MILLION. HUD DENOTED $16 MILLION. RIGHT? CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS $4.3 MILLION. DID McCORMICK BARREN SALAZAR
COME TO THE TABLE WITH ANY MONEY? THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A $225 MILLION DEVELOPMENT, 900 HOMES IN TOTALITY. 900 HOMES AS WE SAW IN THIS PRESENTATION RIGHT HERE WERE NOT DEVELOPED.
WHAT BAG DID HE COME WITH? McCORMICK BARREN SALAZAR WAS SUED IN 2018 IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, CLINTON V. PEABODY, CHECK THAT OUT. SUED 2021, 2023 IN SAN FRANCISCO
EAST PLAZA FOR AGAIN MORE OF THE SAME DEPLORABLE LIVING CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HERE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND IN 2022 IN NEW ORLEANS, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SETTLEMENT FOR FAIR HOUSING VIOLATIONS.
WHAT WE SEE RIGHT HERE IS A DEVELOPER THAT HAS A HABITUAL PRACTICE OF BAD BUSINESS. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT'S IN MY POWER HERE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, IS
DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE HABITUAL PRACTICE OF BAD BUSINESS. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TRULY INTERESTED AND INVESTED IN MY COMMUNITY DOING
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH BUILDING ANYTHING IN MY COMMUNITY. I'LL HAVE A LARGE GLASS OF NO THANK YOU WITH A SIDE OF PLEASE MOVE AROUND. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE SOME
EXTREMELY EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THERE. AND DIRECTOR HANSEN, YOURSELF, AND EVERYONE WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT HEARD FIRSTHAND WHAT THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE. I'M GOING TO LET THIS BE ONRD
RAH -- ON RECORD. MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, YOU NEED TO RETURN THE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS OF THE RESIDENTS WHO YOU RETALIATED AGAINST AND REMOVE THEIR SECTION 8 AND HOUSING VOUCHERS BACK TO THEM. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE LIVING IN
HOTELS THAT ARE DISPLACED WITH THEIR CHILDREN THAT NEED THEIR VOUCHERS BACK. SO YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THEM, BECAUSE YOU WERE WRONG, NOT THEM. THE END. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WARREN. COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY FURTH
DISCUSSION? JUST CHECKING MY QUEUE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. THE MOTION BEFORE US IS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMME RECOMMENDATION. I'LL MAKE THE POINT THAT I THINK TO STAFF, I THINK IT WOULD BE
VALUABLE FOR YOU TO BE PRESENT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL DEPARTMENTS. I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE VALUABLE TO HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LOOPED INTO THE CONVERSATION AS WELL. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE DIDN'T TOUCH BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO COVER HERE TODAY.
SO WITH THE MOTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER WARREN TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES] THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THAT MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. ALL RIGHT.
NOW, WE'LL BE RECEIVING A PRESENTATION THAT -- SORRY, I'M A LITTLE OUT OF SCRIPT. LONG PRESENTATION. NOW I'LL RETURN -- OKAY. WE'RE MOVING INTO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS OF COMMITTEE.
I'LL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER WHITING, THE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE -- SETTLEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE. I'LL ALSO SHARE WE HAVE CAPTIONING UNTIL 4:30.
>> I'M THE CHAIR OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND CONSENT DECREE SUBCOMMITTEE WHICH RESIDES WITHIN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. THIS HAS BEEN OUR SECOND MEETING OF THIS SUBCOMMIEE. MEMBERS, WE WILL NEXT BE PICKING UP ITEM NUMBER TWO WHICH WE ARE
RECEIVING A PRESENTATION FROM EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ALL OR ELEFA. ELEFA IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR OVERSEEING THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE MDHR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. ELEFA IS AN EXPERT IN CIVIL RIGHTS POLICING AND IT'S ROLE IS TO OBJECTIVELY MONIT MINNEAPOLIS POLICE'S PROGRESS
THE PURPOSE IS TOEASURE THE CITY'S PROGRESS TOWARDS SYSTEMIC REFORM AND BUILD COMMUNITY TRUST IN POLICING. THE REPORT THAT WE WILL HAVE TODAY IS ELEFA'S MOST RECENT SEMIANNUAL REPOR WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025,
THROUGH MARCH 31, 2026. AND JUST TO NOTE HERE, THIS IS THE FIRST OF WHAT WE HOPE TO BE REGULARLY SCHEDULED PRESENTATIONS AFTER EACH SEMIANNUAL REPORT FROM ELEFA AND
SO I WILL PASS IT OVER TO OUR INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR, DAVID DOUGLAS, AND DELIVER THIS PRESENTATION. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. DOUGLAS FOR THE QUICK TURNAROUND AS WE ASKED FAIRLY QUICK AND YOU CAME AND MADE IT A POINT TO BEHERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> CHAIR WHITING, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY. >> IF YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE MIC RIGHT THERE. PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> THIS TAKES ME BACK TO ONE OF OUR EARLY PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE I DEMONSTRATED MY INABILITY TO
STAND IN ONE PLACE AND TALK WITHOUT PACING. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO APAIR TOD -- APPEAR TODAY. WE APPRECIATE IT. THE WORK WE DO CAN'T BE DONE IN ISOLATION. WE HAVE TO BE PART OF AN ECOSYSTEM THAT WILL DRIVE
TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAIN IT AFTER WE LEAVE. SO I AND OUR TEAM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTEREST THAT YOU'VE ALL SHOWN AND THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN US. I'LL ALSO NOTE I CAME FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. I APPRECIATE YOU ARRANGING THE
HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY FOR MY COMFORT, BUT REALLY YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE. SO I DO HAVE A FEW SLIDES HERE TO WALK US THROUGH.
SO SIMPLY FOR OUR AGENDA. VERY SIMPLY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROCESS, WHERE WE ARE OVER THE FIRST TWO YEARS, AND THEN OF COURSE WHERE WE'LL BE GOING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THIS INVITATION COMES AT A GOOD TIME BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING ON
OUR REVISED EVALUATION PLAN FOR YEARS 3 AND 4. SO THIS IS A PERFECT TIME TO UPDATE ALL OF YOU. IF I CAN JUST START WITH PROCESS. AS CHAIR WHITING EXPLAINED, WE'RE THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR.
OUR ROLE IS -- OUR ROLE SIMPLY PUT IS TO DO THREE THINGS. WE MONITOR, WE COACH AND REPORT. I WORK WITH A TEAM OF ABOUT A DOZEN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
AND THEY LEND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE AND INSIGHTS TO HELP THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACHIEVE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. IF I CAN ZOOM OUT HOWEVER FOR A
MOMENT, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION. SO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE IS A WHEEL. THERE IS STUDIES AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFORMATION. AND WE FOLLOW THAT MODEL IN OUR
WORK. IT INFORMS WHAT WE DO, IT GUIDES WHAT WE DO. WE FOLLOW A PATH. SO JUST BRIEFLY THOSE KEYS ARE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO HAVE A GREAT TRANSFORMATION. AND THAT OF COURSE IS VERY TRUE HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS. YOU HAVE TO FORM A POWERFUL
COALITION. AND YOU HAVE THAT IN MINNEAPOLIS AS A BIG PART OF THE REASON THAT WE WERE SELECTED BECAUSE OF BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THERE HAS TO BE A VISION FOR CHANGE. AND THAT'S CAPTURED SPECIFICALLY IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, BUT MORE BROADLY IN THE DEMANDS FOR
CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND WE DO THAT IN LARGE PART THROUGH OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS AND APPEARING BEFORE YOU. WE HAVE TO EMPOWER OTHERS TO ACT ON THE VISION, AND WE DO THAT BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
GOT TO CREATE SHORT-TERM WINS. AND SOME OF WHAT I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY OF SHORT-TERM WINS. AS YOU BUILD THOSE WINS, YOU CONSOLIDATE THOSE GAINS, YOU EXPAND THEM, AND ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE CULTURE CHANGE. AND YOU WANT TO ANCHOR THE
CHANGES YOU'VE MADE IN A NEW AND SUSTAINABLE CULTURE. SO IN THE BIG PICTURE, THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. IT'S WHY THIS TAKES SO LONG BECAUSE IT'S HARD AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES. BUT IN THE CATEGORY OF SMALL
WINS, BUT IMPORTANT WINS, LET ME HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM. THERE ARE MANY MORE LISTED IN OUR MOST RECENT REPORT. BUT SOME OF THE KEY ACHIEVEMENTS ARE THE FULL USE OF FORCE POLICY SUITE, USE OF FORCE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT BROUGHT US HERE.
SO THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE'VE ALSO APPROVED POLICIES FOR NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICING AND MISCONDUCT. ON THAT ONE WE'RE WORKING ON A CORRECTIVE ACTION MATRIX. SIMILARLY, STOP, SEARCH, CITATION, AND ARREST POLICIES
ARE LARGELY APPROVED. I THINK THERE'S THE ONE WE'RE WORKING ON IS WARRANTS. AND A POLICY AND RESOURCE HUB HAS BEEN LAUNCHED THAT WILL MAKE POLICIES MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OFFICERS. I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE TRAINING, WHERE THE TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED. THE DEPARTMENT WIDE USE OF FORCE TRAINING HAS BEEN DELIVERED AND THAT POLICY IS NOW LIVE. CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING, REFRESHMENT TRAINER SUPERVISOR
LEADERSHIP TRAINING HAS BEEN DELIVERED AS WELL AS OFFICER WELLNESS AND EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM TRAINING. ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE, THE PEER SUPPORT TEAM HAS GROWN.
IT'S RESPONDED TO SEVERAL CRITICAL INCIDENTS AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. THERE ARE NOW SIX PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARDS. THE DATA SYSTEMS PLAN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ALTHOUGH THAT HAS BEEN A LONG PATH.
AND WE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY AND OFFICER SURVEYS IN JUNE. AND WILL BE REPORTING ON THOSE LATER THIS SUMMER. WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF APPROVED POLICIES, I'M NOT GOING
TO GO INTO THIS LIST, I JUST WANTED TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF THOSE I HAVE IN THE KEY ACHIEVEMENTS. WE HAVE APPROVED A NUMBER OF POLICIES. THERE'S WORK CONTINUING. THESE POLICIES ARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, WHICH IS A
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WITH US AND DHR AS WELL AS THESE. SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON ON THE POLICY FRONT. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE AND WE'VE DONE THIS IN OUR PUBLIC MEETING SO SOME OF THE BENEFICIAL
CHANGES THAT THESE NEW POLICIES PUT IN PLACE. SO THE OLD ESCALATION POLICY WAS MUCH VAGUER ABOUT DE-ESCALATION, IT WAS MUCH MORE MORE DISCRETIONARY TO THE OFFICER.
THEY SHALL ATTEMPT TO USE IT, WITH YOU IT WASN'T A SPECIFIC POLICY, IT'S MUCH CLEARER. SWORN MEMBERS HAVE A CLEAR AFFIRMATIVE DUTY TO DE-ESCALATE. MEMBERS SHALL NOT USE TACTICS THAT UNNECESSARILY ESCALATE AN ENCOUNTER OR CREATE A NEED FOR FORCE. AND EXPANDED LIST OF
DE-ESCALATION TECH KNEEINGS AND TACTICS TIED -- TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS TIED TO TRAINING CONCEPTS. WE OBSERVED THE USE OF FORCE TRAINING, IT WAS REALLY QUITE GOOD. THERE ARE MANY MORE EXAMPLES I COULD GIVE YOU, BUT THAT'S JUST A SENSE OF IT.
BUT THESE POLICIES WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS IS A SCREENSHOT AND A GIF, I GUESS, SHOWING YOU THERE IS A NEW POLICY HUB. AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT BECAUSE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE THINGS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE OFFICERS IS THAT THE POLICIES WERE TOO LONG AND TOO
INACCESSIBLE. THEY WERE JUST IN A LONG MANUAL. SO NOW THIS IS AN ONLINE PLATFORM AND THE OFFICER OR FOR THAT MATTER ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CAN GO TO. IF YOU NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT A POLICY, FOR EXAMPLE HERE
THE DUTY TO DE-ESCALATE, YOU CAN CLICK RIGHT ON IT. WITHIN THE POLICY ITSELF, IF YOU HOVER OVER A DEFINED TERM, IT POPS UP. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED FROM OFFICERS, WILL THESE POLICIES BE MORE CONCISE? WELL THE TRUTH IS THE POLICIES
ARE NOT MORE CONCISE, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO BE CONCISE AND COMPREHENSIVE AND CLEAR ALL AT ONCE. BUT THE REAL QUESTION, I THINK THEY'RE ASKING, IS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY. ARE THESE POLICIES GOING TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE. AND THROUGH THE POLICY HUB, THE
ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY YES. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS THROUGH THEIR VEHICLES, THROUGH THEIR PHONES. AND THE POLICIES ARE CLEARER. SO WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL FIND THIS TO BE A MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
SO THE PATH TO COMPLIANCE HAS THREE KEY ELEMENTS. FIRST POLICIES WHERE WE'VE BEEN PUTTING A LOT OF OUR ATTENTION. AND WE'LL MOVE INTO TRAINING INCREASINGLY. AND THEN ULTIMATELY ACCOUNTABILITY WHICH IS THE LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT BECAUSE THE POLICIES AND
TRAINING REALLY DON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF IT DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO CHANGE ON THE STREET. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT ACCOUNTABILITY. WE DO THAT THROUGH AUDITS. AND WE'LL BE CONDUCTING REGULAR AUDITS. WE'LL START A USE OF FORCE AUDIT THIS YEAR NOW THAT THE TRAINING HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER FORMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION SYSTEM IS CRITICAL TO THAT. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. AND OF COURSE CLOSE SUPERVISION IS ALSO CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT OFFICERS UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO AND HELP THEM DO IT AND THEN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY DO NOT. SO THERE ARE CHALLENGES, AND THERE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES OVER
THE FIRST FEW YEARS AS DOCUMENTED. IN OUR REPORT, FIRST THERE'S BEEN STAFFING SHORTAGES AND TURNOVER THAT'S BEEN MOST ACUTE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT, ALSO A FACTOR IN THE OFFICER HEALTH AND WELLNESS UNIT. BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
MORE GENERALLY AS ONE WOULD EXPECT THERE'S ALWAYS SOME TURNOVER. THE BIG ONE HAS BEEN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS BACKLOG AND THE REVIEW BOTTLENECKS. AS YOU SEE IN MY LAST REPORT, THERE REALLY HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY NO MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON THAT. THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE
THAT WE OBSERVED PREVIOUSLY THAT REALLY CAME TO A HEAD IN OUR MOST RECENT REPORT.WE TALKED AB DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. ALTHOUGH I FEEL MUCH BETTER OUT THOSE. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED, EFFICIENCIES ACHIEVED,
IMPROVEMENTS MADE. AND I FEEL IT IS WORKING MUCH BETTER, SO I FEEL OPTIMISTIC THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE'LL SEE POLICIES DEVELOPED AND APPROVED AT A FASTER RATE THAN DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS. TRAINING QUALITY AND DELIVERY GAPS. WE'VE SEEN ISSUES OF TURNOVER
AND LACK OF INTERNAL COORDINATION OR ALIGNMENT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY BEGINNING TO FOCUS ON NOW AS WE INCREASINGLY MOVE FROM POLICIES INTO TRAINING. SO THAT WILL BE A MAJOR AREA OF FOCUS FOR US OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE TECHNOLOGY AND DATA SYSTEMS, YOU CAN'T RUN A MODERN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ROBUST TECHNOLOGY AND DATA SYSTEMS. AND THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN MUCH SLOWER THAN WE HAD HOPED. BUT THAT WILL BE KEY TO IMPLEMENTING AND SUSTAINING ANY
OF THE CHANGES OR ALMOST ALL OF THE CHANGES UNDER THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. AND FINALLY, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP WE'VE COMMENTED ON THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF OFFICERS, LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM DEPARTMENT LEADERS ABOUT WHAT THIS PROCESS
IS, ITS IMPORTANCE AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR OFFICERS. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE. I SHOULD PROBABLY PAUSE JUST TO NOTE THAT THESE CHALLENGES ARE FROM THE FIRST TWO YEARS. AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LEADERSHIP CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT WE'VE SEEN.
IT'S VERY EARLY, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CRITICISM AND WE'RE NOT YET PICKING UP OBSERVATIONS ABO ABOUT --.
SO I'M SURE MANY OF IF NOT ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF OUR CRITICISMS OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS. WE HAD BEEN REPORTING ON THAT AND EXPRESSED OUR CONCERN ABOUT IT IN EACH OF OUR REPORTS. THE BACKLOG IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. AND AS WE'VE SAID IT'S SERIOUS
FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S SERIOUS FOR OFFICERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINTS HANGING OVER THEM FOR NOT JUST MONTHS BUT IN MANY CASES YEARS. SO THIS SLIDE SIMPLY REALLY CAPTURES WHAT WE HAD REPORTED OVER TIME. BUT JUST TO BE CANDID, IT WAS IN
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT WE SORT OF CAME TO THE POINT THAT WHATEVER CHANGES HAD BEEN PROMISED AND CHANGES THAT WERE REALLY MAKING NO DIFFERENCE, AND IN FACT IT DID NOT EVEN SEEM THAT THEY WERE REALLY DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. IT JUST SEEMED LIKE CHURN QUITE FRANKLY. AND THAT'S WHEN WE BECAME VERY POINTED IN OUR CRITICISM IN OUR MOST RECENT REPORT. THIS SLIDE JUST GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE TIMELINES AND DELAYS WE'VE SEEN IN THE
CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND OPCR. THE ROOT CAUSES THAT WE'VE SEEN ARE VENDOR STAFF ATTRITION, AND SLOW FOLLOW-UP ON CONFIGURATION REQUESTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE
FIRST YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY SLOW IN ARTICULATING WHAT IT NEEDED FROM THE SYSTEM AND THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS. THE PROJECT WAS UNDERRESOURCED. AND IT WAS, THE CURRENT VENDOR,
THE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP DEPRIORITIZED THE PROJECT IN FAVOR OF A PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE VENDOR. BUT THERE HAD BEEN A LACK OF COMMITMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO DRIVING THESE REALLY CRITICAL SYSTEM CHANGES. WE ALSO NOTE HERE THAT THE EARLY
INTERVENTION SYSTEM PHASE TWO DEPLOYMENT HAS BEEN PAUSED DUE TO STAFFING TURNOVER AND LEADERSHIP CHANGES. WE HOPE THAT WILL BE RECTIFIED SOON. AND THAT THAT WILL GET BACK ON TRACK.
IN OUR LAST REPORT, WE MADE A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HOPE THE CITY WILL ACT ON. SOME OF THEM THEY ALREADY HAVE. IN FACT THIS FIRST ONE, REASSESS PERSONAL CAPACITY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, THEY'VE BEGUN TO DO THAT. THE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED OUR TEAM FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON
THE STAFFING AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT. AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT OTHER ISSUES TO HOPEFULLY ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE RIGHT ALIGNMENT OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
ESTABLISHING CLEAR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY AND REPORTING. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE'S THIS ODD CONSTELLATION, THERE'S THE MPD IMPLEMENTATION UNIT, THERE'S THE CITY ATTORNEY'S IMPLEMENTATION UNIT. OF COURSE THEY'RE THE SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS THEY NEED TO TALK TO. AND OFTEN IT WAS UNCLEAR WHAT THE ROLES WERE AND WHERE THE AUTHORITY LAY. AND THAT JUST LED TO DELAYS AND INEFFICIENCIES. SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT IS CLARIFIED.
SUPPLEMENT COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION CHANNELS. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SMALL WORK STREAMS HERE. AND THERE ARE BIG MEETINGS WITH MANY GROUPS. BUT SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO GET A FEW PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TALKING TO EACH OTHER. THIS IS ALL WITHIN MPD TO GET A LINE ON WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO
MOVE THINGS FORWARD. NOW THAT THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING AS IT SHOULD. AND NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION UNDER THE AGREEMENT. BUT NOT ALL OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
THEIR ROLE IS, HOW IT FITS IN. MANY OF THEM HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES BEYOND IMPLEMENTATION. SETTING PRIORITIES AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND HOW IT FITS IN HAS BEEN LACKING. AND WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL IMPROVE AND WE'VE RECOMMENDED
THAT THE DEPARTMENT TAKE STEPS TO DO THAT. STANDING MEETING TIMES. AGAIN, SOMETIMES WE OBSERVED DELAYS JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE BUSY AND THEY COULD NEVER GET ALL OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE
ROOM. WE'VE DONE THAT. WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE PARTIES ON A WEEKLY BASIS. WE HAVE STANDING POLICY MEETINGS. STANDING DATA MEETINGS SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE AN HOUR. THIS IS THE THING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS NEXT AND WE'VE ENCOURAGED THE DEPARTMENT TO DO MORE OF THAT. AND THEN KEEP DEPARTMENT
PERSONNEL INFORMED. WE FOUND THAT OFFICERS KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT THEM. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT VACUUM LEADS TO MORALE ISSUES AND CONFUSION AND MISINFORMATION.
SO WE WOULD HOPE THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ESTABLISH BETTER LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE RANK AND FILE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT WORK. SO WHERE DO WE GO IN YEARS 3 AND 4? SO YOU SEE IN THIS SLIDE, WE
GENERALLY HAVE USED THIS CONSTRUCT OF THE FOUNDATION, EVALUATION, AND COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION. FIRST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN FOUNDATIONAL. SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL BEGIN SLOWLY TO TRANSITION TO THE
EVALUATION PHASE. BUT TO BE CLEAR THE FOUNDATION PHASE HAS GONE SLOWER THAN WE THOUGHT. MAJORITY OF GOALS WERE NOT MET FOR THE REASONS I DISCUSSED. BUT WE ARE BEGINNING TO
TRANSITION TO THE EVALUATION STAGE. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'LL BE DOING AUDITS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL DO A USE OF FORCE YOU HAD IT NOW. AND THERE ARE NEW POLICIES IN PLACE. WE KNEW THAT THINGS WERE BAD. THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT US HERE. SO WE DIDN'T DO AUDITS JUST TO TELL US WHAT WE KNEW.
WE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL A NEW POLICY HAS BEEN ADOPTED, TRAINED ON, AND IMPLEMENTED. WE WAIT 3 TO 6 MONTHS FOR OFFICERS TO GET USED TO IT AND THEN WE'LL START AUDITING. WE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE HIGHER LEVELS OF NONCOMPLIANCE EARLY ON, AND YOU
FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION NECESSARY FOR OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S EXPECTED. SO WE'LL DO THOSE AUDITS ON A RECURRING BASIS AS WE MOVE TO COMPLIANCE. AND THEN FINALLY, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT SPECIFIES WHAT
CONSTITUTES COMPLIANCE AND THAT WILL BE THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS WHERE WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ULTIM ULTIMATELY -- IF THE PARTIES DON'T AGREE, THEN JUDGE JANICE WILL DECIDE ULTIMATELY IF THE
DEPARTMENT HAS MET ITS RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE AGREEMENT. THERE'S NO NUMERICAL MEASURE FOR THAT. THE AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY SAYS WE DON'T USE PERCENTAGES. THAT MAKES SENSE. SO IT'S A MUCH MORE QUALITATIVE
PERFORMANCE-BASED ASSESSMENT THAT WE'LL BE MAKING. SO THE SPECIFIC THINGS, PRIORITIES FOR YEARS 3 AND 4, WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE REMAINING POLICIES, STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURES, AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT SUPERVISORS IMPLEMENT AND REINFORCE APPROVED POLICIES. WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON REDUCING THESE ACCOUNTABILITY BACKLOGS. WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN IN YEAR THREE AND NOT CONTINUE INTO YEAR FOUR.
WE WANT TO DEPLOY THE EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM AND IMPROVE THE WELLNESS RESOURCES AND WORKFORCE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. WE'LL BE EXPANDING OUR AUDITS AND COMPLIANCE REVIEWS, STRENGTHENING DATA SYSTEMS, DASHBOARDS AND REPORTING. AND THEN ULTIMATELY OR
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT TO SUSTAIN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY. YOU'LL NOTE HERE ON THE SLIDE THAT ONLY TWO PARTS, POLICY AND BODY-WORN AND ANY CAR CAMERAS ACHIEVE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE
COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE INITIAL FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT. I SHOULD ALSO NOTE HERE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS, WE APPROVED A FACILITIES PLAN THAT CALLED FOR A NEW TRAINING CENTER. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT HASN'T BEEN FUNDED. SO THE CITY WILL -- TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE -- WILL HAVE TO COME
UP WITH A PLAN THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A CALL THAT WE DON'T MAKE. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THE CURRENT TRAINING FACILITIES ARE JUST WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OR THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AS YOU KNOW. THEY'RE IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY DON'T OWN IT.
IT'S NOT IN ANY WAY CONFIGUREABLE TO THE NEEDS OF A BIG CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. EVEN IF IT WERE POLICE PROPERTY, THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS UNIT IS NOT THERE. THE TRAINING PLAN CALLED FOR A SINGLE SOURCE OF TRAINING WHICH
WOULD BRING NOT ONLY MPD, BUT ALSO FIRE, EMS. WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH SORT OF THE ULTIMATE PUBLIC SAFETY ECOSYSTEM THAT YOU WANT TO SEE. IN A CITY. AND IT ALSO CALLED FOR THE
HEALTH AND WELLNESS UNIT TO BE HOUSED THERE WITH TRAINING WHICH WE BELIEVE IS A VERY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP. BACK AT OUR LAST PUBLIC MEETING, A WOMAN STOOD UP VERY ELOQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT THE TRAUMA THAT THE
OFFICERS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD HAD EXPERIENCED. AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF OUR OFFICERS MENTAL HEALTH. MOST IMPRESSIVELY THOUGH TO ME, SHE MADE THE LINK. SHE SAID BECAUSE THE OFFICERS
WHO ARE TRAUMATIZED REPEAT THEIR TRAUMA ON US. SO OFFICER HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS CRITICAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO PROTECTING THE PUBLIC. SO WE DON'T LOOK AT THIS NARROWLY AS SOMETHING FOR OFFICERS.
TRAINING OFFICERS TO DO THE THINGS WE DEMAND OF THEM TO DO REQUIRES A FACILITY OR CONFIGURATION EQUAL TO THAT TASK. SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE EXPECT TO GO SEE FROM
THE CITY IN THIS NEXT PHASE. A FEW NEXT STEPS. SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY AND OFFICER SURVEYS. WE'LL BE RELEASING THOSE LATER THIS SUMMER. WE'LL PROBABLY DO ITN A VIRTUAL MEETING SO THAT THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE WILL HEAR
IT. OUR YEAR 3 AND 4 EVALUATION PLAN WILL ALSO BE RELEASED THIS SUMMER. AND WE DO A LOT WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR PUBLIC MEETINGS WHICH ARE VERY WELL ATTENDED. WE MEET WITH OTHER GROUPS, SMALL GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS.
SO WE TRY AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO FOLKS HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS AND TO HEAR THEIR QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH SLOG, BUT I WILL SAY PERSONALLY I AM AS
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS PROCESS AS I HAVE BEEN AT ANY STAGE IN IT. I AM ENCOURAGED BY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE NEW LEADERSHIP. AND I'M REALLY SEEING IN THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THEY'RE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS AND THE ENGAGEMENT IN OUR MEETINGS IS -- WE GET 60 TO 80 PEOPLE. THE QUESTIONS ARE GOOD.
THEY'RE CONSTRUCTIVE. MEMBERS OF OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS SHOW UP SO IT BECOMES A DISCUSSION OF ISSUES. AND THAT, I THINK, IS TAKING US DOWN THE ROAD TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE WHICH IS CREATING AN ECOSYSTEM AROUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WHEN WE'RE
GONE, ALL OF YOU ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE AND WE'RE START TO GO SEE THAT HAPPEN. SO I RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S TAKEN LONGER THAN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE WANTED AND PROBABLY LONGER THAN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, BUT IT IS HAPPENING. AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU. >> YES, AND THANKYOU, MR. DOUGLAS. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK AS IT RELATES TO THESE PROGRESS REPORTS AS WELL. I KNOW IT'S HELPFUL FOR MYSELF AND I KNOW A LARGE NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. AND SO WITH THAT, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT HAVE QUESTIONS. SO WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO OUR COLLEAGUES HERE AND SO FIRST ON OUR LIST IS COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR WHITING. I WANT TO FIRST START BY EXPRESSING MY FRUSTRATION WITH
MPD'S LACK OF PROGRESS REGARDING THE STATE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. AND MY REGARDS WITH ELEFA WITH REGARDS TO HOW LONG THEY REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF FOR
ELEFA TO SPEAK UP. RESIDENTS ARE PAYING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY NOT SILENCE. I HOPE ELEFA IS MORE PROACTIVE IN REACHING OUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A PUBLIC DEBACLE FOR YOU TO SPEAK UP T ADDRESS ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE 9th WARD HAVE. HERE ARE SOME CONCERNING HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS REPORT AND POLICE LACK OF PROGRESS. ONE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS. TWO, THERE'S NO MEANINGFUL PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO
CONCERNS ABOUT MPD'S LACK OF PROGRESS TO REDUCE ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS CASE BACKLOG. THREE, PROGRESS TOWARD INFLUENCING AN EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM HAS ALSO STALLED DUE TO MANAGEMENT WEAKNESS AND PERSONNEL TURNOVER. FOUR, POLICY AND TRAINING
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES AT AN UNEVEN PACE. FIVE, THE CITY HAS NOT ACHIEVED MANY OF ITS GOALS IT SET OUT FOR THE YEARS 1 AND 2 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND PROGRESS. THAT'S JUST A FEW THINGS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS REPORT. AND I'M GOING TO REREAD THE LAST PART I SAID OUT LOUD BECAUSE I
HOPE PEOPLE HEAR IT AND HOW IT'S FRUSTRATING. THE CITY HAS NOT ACHIEVED MANY OF THE GOALS SET OUT FOR YEARS 1 AND TWO FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. 1 AND 2. WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY TO
HAVE SOME WORK ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REFORM AND NOTHING IS HAPPENING. THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ALSO SAID THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND MPD REMAIN FAR FROM ACHIEVING THE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE NECESSARY TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF RACE-BASED POLICING AND POINTED
TO MPD CONTINUING TO HAVE FLAWED ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS. STILL. AND WHERE IS MPD? IF THEY CAN COME IN THIS ROOM PLEASE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE JUST DIRECTED AT YOU. VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND
NEIGHBORS DESERVE A LOT BETTER. WONDERING IF MPD OR THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION IS HERE TO ANSWER SOME OF MY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIRECTED AT YOU OR THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION AND MPD AND EVERYBODY BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES WE HAVE YOU HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS
TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE. FIRST, THE REPORT SAYS THERE ARE OBSERVATIONS THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS LACK AN APPRECIATION OF HOW THEIR WORK RELATES TO OTHER IMPLEMENTATION TASKS OR HOW OTHERS DEPEND ON THEIR WORK TO MEET THEIR IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT ALSO APPEARS TO US THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS, AND THIS IS WHAT THE REPORT SAYS, WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR WORK RELATES TO WHAT? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THIS? IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS, WHAT OVERSIGHT WE LEE FA
ARE YOU DOING, IF MPD, IF SOMEONE CAN COME IN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MPD IS NOT IN THE ROOM TODAY. THIS IS THE WHOLE PORT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, I THI WE'RE HOPING TO GET A CONSISTENT
STATUS REPORT ONHE REFORM WORK FROM MPD THEMSELVES AND THEY CAN REPORT TO THIS BODY. WE'RE WORK SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> MY QUESTIONS WERE PHRASING IT
TOWARDS MPD WHO ARE FAILING TO ADDRESS AND MEET OUR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS, COMPLETELY. >> SO LET ME START WITH THIS. WE
MET WITH MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU. SO AN OPEN INVITION AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TOACILITATE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS OR APPEAR HERE REGULARLY. WE WOULD LIKE TO DO
THAT. A CENTRAL PART OF OUR ROLE IS TO GET THE WORD OUT AND IF THERE IS ANY PERCEPTION THAT WE'RE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT, LET ME CLARIFY. I APOLOGIZE FOR IT. WEE NOT ONLY HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU, WE'RE EAGER TO MEET WITH YOU. WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
WH'S GOING ON IN THIS PROCESS. WITH RESPECT TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR REPORT AND THE FORCED RESIGNATION OF CHIEF O'HARA, TO BE CLEAR, WE GAVE THIS REPORT TO THE CITY, THE
MAYOR, AND THE CHIEF, CHIEF O'HARA PRIOR TO HIS RENOMINATION AND PRIOR TO THE SCANDALS THAT LED TO HIS MISCONDUCT, I SHOULD SAY, THAT LED TO HIS FORCED RESIGNATION. IN FACT, PRIOR TO GIVING THEM THE REPORT, I MET WITH BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE
CHIEF TO TELL THEM WHAT WE WOULD BE REPORTING. SO TO BE CLEAR, IT WAS NOT HIS FORCED RESIGNATION THAT TRIGGERED THIS REPORT BUT WE HAVE A CADENCE WE ISSUE TWO REPORTS A YEAR AND WHEN WE ISSUED THIS ONE, WE FULLY
EXPECTED CHIEF O'HARA WOULD BE THE CHIEF. SO, THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT HIS DEPARTURE THAT ALTERED THE TIMING OR THE LANGUAGE IN OUR REPORT. AS TO THE DEFICIENCIES YOU JUST RECITED, I
THINK MY SHORT ANSWER, AT LEAST INITIALLY, IS THAT WE AGREE. WE REPORTED THEM. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY. I CAN SAY THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE MAKING SOME CHANGES, BUT I DON'T THINK I'M THE RIGHT PERSON TO
ADDRESS EVERYTHING THAT MAY HAV BEEN DONE OR WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE. >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I AM NOT SAYING THAT THE DEBACLE IS WHAT LED TO WHAT WAS IN THE REPORT. I'M SAYING THAT ELEFA MADE COMM
BRIEF COUNCIL. THERE WERE NO CONVERSATIONS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS PERTAINING TO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT PUBLICLY. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT. WHEN DID YOU GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE MAYOR? YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT. >> WE GAVE THE MAYOR THE REPORT
AND THE CITY, I BELIEVE CHAIR WHITING AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ ON MAY 11th, AND PROBABLY A COUPLE WEEKS TO THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT, I HAD MET WITH THE CHIEF AND WITH THE MAYOR. >> SO YOU HAD ALREADY TALKED TO THE MAYOR IN A MEETING THAT THIS
WAS A PROBLEM. >> YES. >> AND HE WAS STILL RENOMINATED? OKAY. THANK YOU. >> CAN I ALSO, I WANTED TO ADDRESS -- I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT. GENERALLY I DON'T TALK TO THE MEDIA. I AM NOT
AUTHORIZED TO TK TO THE MEDIA UNLESS THE PARTIES GIVE THEIR CONSENT. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WILL ONLY LEARN ABOUT OUR WORK THROUGH THE MEDIA. SO, WHILE WE DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS OR PRESENT OUR WORK THROUGH THE MEDIA,
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE PARTIES HAVE ALLOWED US TO SPEAK TO THE MAYOR AND THE RESIGNATION OF CHIEF O'HARA WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN AND WE COULD SEE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT DID THE MONITOR KNOW AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT AND WHEN
WERE THEY GOING TO TELL US. THE ONLY REAL STATEMENT I MADE ABOUT THE CHIEF. I USED THE WORD NON-ALLY. I WILL SAY AND I SAID IT, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT, THE QUESTION WAS MOVING
FORWARD, WILL PROGRESS BE MADE? WAS SAYING THAT YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING VERY HARD TO IMPLEMENT THIS AGREEMENT IS WHAT WE SAID IN OUR REPORT. I SAID, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHIEF HARA WAS NOT ALWAYS AN ALLY. IT WAS ONLY THAT LATER PIECE I
RECALL THAT WAS REALLY QUOTED, WHICH LED MANY PEOPLE TO THINK I WAS MAKING A BROADER STATEMENT THAN I HAD INTENDED. TO BE CLEAR, IT IS TRUE. LOOK AT THE CRITICISMS IN OUR REPORT. THOSE FALL DIRECTLY AT THE FEET OF THE
CHIEF. IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO SAY HE DIDN'T CTRIBUTE AT ALL TO THE PROCESS. MANY OF THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED HAPPENED UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AND HE MADE SOME CHANGES EVEN BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL. SO, IT IS FAIR TO SAY HE WAS NOT ALWAYS AN ALLY IN THE PROCESS,
IT WAS TOO STRONG TO SAY HE WAS NEVER AN ALLY IN THE PROCESS, AND TO YOUR BROADER CONCERN UNDERLYING YOUR QUESTION, WE GENERALLY SPEAK THROUGH OUR REPORTS AND OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE DON'T DO IT THROUGH THE
MEDIA. SO WE DON'T MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA. YOU WILL NOT LEARN OF OUR WORK THROUGH THAT CHANNEL. >> THANK YOU. THE REPORT SAYS THERE ARE OBSERVATIONS THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS LACK AN APPRECIATION OF HOW THEIR WORK RELATES TO
OTHER IMPLEMENTATION TASKS OR OTHERS DEPEND ON THE WORK TO MEET THE IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES. IT APPEARS TO US THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR WORK RELATES TO THE AGREEMENT OVERALL. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THIS
CONCERN? THAT IS OUTLINED IN THE REPORT. >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MBER CHAVEZ, I HAVE SOME SENSE THAT THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING TO TIE MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER THE WORK DONE BY THE VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROJECT. I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT AND I SHOULD SAY THAT, OUR REPORT IS FAIRLY RECENT, SO I THINK THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT. OTHER THAN MY SENSE OF THE MEETINGS WE HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
GETTING READY FOR A VUATION PLAN, WHEN WE LOOKED BACK AT THE PLAN FOR YEAR 1 AND 2, YOU'RE RIGHT. MANY OF THE GOALS WERE NOT MET. A BIG PART OF THAT REASON IS THE GOALS WERE UNREALISTIC. I THINK THE CITY DIDN'T APPRECIATE AT THE TIME.
MOST CITIES HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH THIS, SO THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW HARD IT WOULD BE TO REVISE POLICIES AND HOW LONG THE PROCESS WOULD TAKE, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT FRUSTRATE TIMETABLES. SO, IN PREPARING FOR THIS PLAN, WE SAT DOWN WITH THEM AND WE WENT THROUGH THEIR
TIMETABLES AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THEM AND THEY WORKED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MUCH MORE REALISTIC. SO OUR TIMELINE WILL BE MORE RELIABLE THAN THE TIMELINE SET FORTH IN THE INITIAL PLAN. SO TO THAT SENSE,
I HAVE A SENSE THAT THEY TAKEN STEPS TO BETTER ALIGN PERSONNEL WITH THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. I DON'T HAVE A VERY GRANULAR. >> THE REPORT SHOWS NO MEANINGFUL PROGRESS HAS BEEN
MADE UNDER THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS BACKLOG. MPD HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS FOR YEARS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAD SPECIFICALLY CHANGED IN MPD'S APPROACH AND WHY WE AS CONSTITUENTS SHOULD EXPECT A
DIFFERENT RESULT? YEAH, I GUESS WHAT IS THE CHANGE THAT WILL HAPPEN AS A RESULT? WE KNOW THAT A LACK OF PROGRESS IN THIS IS A LACK OF JUSTICE. >> I KNOW SOME OF THE CHANGES. SO FIRST, THE LIEUTENANT THAT IS INVOLVED IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS. SO
FAR, I A IMPRESSED OF HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE NEED FOR CHANGE. IN FACT, TO RESTORE SOME SYSTEMS THAT WERE IN PLACE WHEN HE WAS IN CHARGE AND THAT LAPSED WHEN HE MOVED. SO THAT IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I
BELIEVE THEY HAVE ASKED US FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOOK AT THEIR STAFFING, THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT IS UNDERRESOURCED. SO, WE ARE PROVIDING ADVICE THERE. I HAD SOME INITIAL MEETINGS, SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO AUGMENT THE PERSONNEL.
>> THEY HAVE A PLAN TO ELIMINATE THE BACKLOG BY 2026 BUT SET NO DEADLINES. DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT IS THE CASE? HAS MPD COMMITTED TO SPECIFIC MILESTONES AS OF TODAY? >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, I DO NOT KNOW WHY THAT
WAS THE CASE. I HAVE NOT SEEN A NEW PLAN. I BELIEVE ONE MAY BE IN THE WORKS. >> THE EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM REQUIREMENT OF PROGRESS UNDER THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROCESS HAS STALLED DUE TO MANAGEMENT
WEAKNESS AND PERSONNEL TURNOVER. WHAT IS THE CURRENT TIMELINE TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS? >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, I BELIEVE THE FORMER CHIEF WAS MOST DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE, FOR HE MADE THE PERSONAL ASSIGNMENTS. HE ALLOWED
OR MADE THE TRANSFERS AND THINGS OF THE PERSONAL TURNOVER. >> ON POLICY AND TRAINING DEVELOPMENT, FLAGGED ACROSS MULTIPLE REPORTS NOW, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS UNEVENNESS THAT IS FRUSTRATING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS? IT'S
INDICATED IN YOUR REPORT. >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, SO LOOKING BACK OVER THE TWO YEARS, IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE WORKED HARD WITH THE CITY TO SORT OF RERUCTURE AND REALIGN HOW THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS WORKED. THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS REQUIRES MPD TO DEVELOP A POLICY THAT MEETS THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT'S TERMS AND THEN TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH US AND WITH MDHR TO ENSURE THAT THE POLICY
MEETS THE AGREEMENT'S REQUIREMENT. THAT IS A LONG, HARD PROCESS. WHAT WE OFTEN FOUND WAS THE QUALITY -- IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE PARTICULARLY FOUND THAT THE QUALITY OF DRAFT POLICIES THAT CAME TO US WERE NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I THINK CANDIDLY IN THE MEETINGS
WITH THE PARTY, THERE WERE INEFFICIENCIES, A LOT OF THINGS WENT BACK ANDFORTH. YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GET DOCUMENTS THAT HAD EXTENSIVE 20 PAGES OF JUST RED LINES THAT YOU ARE SLOGGING THROUG THERE WERE HARD TIMES
SCHEDULING MEETINGS. WE REALLY WORKED HARD TO ADDRESS THOSE. I THINK WE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT PROCESS. I HOPE WE WILL SEE THE FRUITS OF THOSE LABORS IN THE COMING TWO YEARS. >> THEY SAID THAT THE CITY
REMAINS FAR FROM TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF RACE-BASED POLICING. WHAT IS THE PLAN OF ACTION TO ADDRESS THAT? >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS A MEANS TO AN END. THE MDHR
AGREEMENT, THE INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS ARE DESIGNED TO GET TO RACE-BASED POLICING. >> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? I MISSED IT. >> THE OVERALL GOAL, I THINK AND INTENT OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS TO ELIMINATE RACE-BASED POLICING. HOW WE DO
THAT IS THROUGH POLICIES, TRAINING, SUPERVISION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU KNOW, THOSE SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS. SO, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RACE-BASED POLICING. WHAT WE WANTO FIRST MAKE SURE IS THAT
THERE IS REASONABLE SUSPICION FOR A STOP. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE POLICY IS FOLLOWED SO THAT WHEN WE AUDIT AND DO EVERY STOP, WE CAN LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ENCOUNTER FOLLOWS IS POLICIES. THEN THERE WILL BE THE MUCH MORE CHALLENGING JOB OF LOOKING AT DISPARITIES, WHICH IS
ONE OF T MOST COMPLEX AREAS IN POLICING. SO, THE WAY WE GET TO THE END OF ELIMINATING RACE-BASED POLICING IS THROUGH THE MEANS OF THE RIGHT POLICIES, THE RIGHT TRAINING, AND THE RIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS.
>> THE SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEW FROM THE MDHR DOCUMENTED IN ITS APRIL 22, 2022, FINDINGS THAT THE CITY AND MPD HAVE FLAWED ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS, THEY ARE DELAYED OR OPAQUE. THIS IS
CONCERNING. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT? AGAIN, THAT WAS YEARS AGO. >> I AGREE. WE WERE VERY POINTED IN OUR REPORT. THAT SYSTEM IS
BROKEN. IT REMAINS BROKEN. WE'RE WORKING TO FIX IT. THERE IS A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CULTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. >> THAT'S THE HONEST. I'M WAITING FOR ELEFA TO BE PUBLIC
ABOUT IT. I HOPE THAT ELEFA IS WORKING TO REBUILD TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I REPRESENT ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH ELEFA AND HOW FORTHCOMING THEY HAVE BEEN WITH INFORMATION, ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY.
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE FAILING TO ADDRESS AND MEET THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE. WHEN WE ARE FAILING TO MEET OUR GOALS FOR YEAR ONE AND YEAR TWO, AND WE'RE IN 2026, THAT IS A DEEP CONCERN. I THINK WHETHER MPD WAS INVITED TO THIS MEETING OR NOT, THE FACT THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A SINGLE PERSON FROM MPD OR THE CITY ADMINISTRATION IN THIS ROOM TO HEAR THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO HEAR THE CONCERNS WE HAVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS CONCERNING. I REPRESENT THE AREA WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED. MY
CONSTITUENTS HAVE MANY CONCERNS THAT YOU KNOW, DECADES LONG OF POLICE VIOLENCE THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED UPON THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT PROUDLY. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LACK OF, MY OPINION, COMPLIANCE WITH THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. WHEN YOU'RE NOT MEETING YEARS ONE AND TWO GOALS,
THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OR MPD I NOT WILLING TO BE IN THIS MEETING TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ABOUT HOW WE'RE FAILING TO MEET THE COMMITMENTS FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY. I WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT TODAY AND I HOPE ELEFA DOES THE WORK TO REBUILD TRUST, AT LEAST I WILL SPEAK FOR MY CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ AND I WOULD NOTE TOO -- IT LOOKS LIKE WEAVE A FEW DROP OFF HERE AS WELL. WE ONLY HAVE
FOUR SPEAKERS LEFT. I THINK WE HAVE CAPTIONING UNTIL 5:30, SO JUST HAVING THAT MINDFUL FOR COLLEA COLLEAGUES. COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. MY
QUESTION, JUST A LITTLE BIT SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINT BUT I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE PRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO WHAT IS BEING DONE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT OFFICERS THAT ARE
COMING TO WORK FOR OUR DEPARTMENT DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER OF INFRACTIONS IN THEIR SIDE SHIELD WHE BEING EMPLOYED WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER
WARREN, THAT'S NOT AN AREA I CAN SPEAK TO. IT'S NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR WORK. IT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION AND IT'S GOING TO GO TO CHANGES AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING PROCESS IS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR
WORK. >> SO THAT IS IN THE PURVIEW OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS WRITTEN INTO THE PLAN, WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT --
BECAUSE I THINK THAT TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE. SOME ARE TRAINING DEFICIENCIES AND SOME ARE LEARNED BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR
PRACTICES, RIGHT? SO IF YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED OR ASKED TO LEAVE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE WHAT WE HAD IN THIS SITUATION HERE. DOES THAT OFFICER HAVE THE
ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD, RETRANSFER TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT ACCEPTS HIM, DOESN'T SEE WHAT WAS IN HIS SIDE SHIELD. NOW WE INHIT A PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE, YOU KNOW, ABREAST TO THE CULTURE AND
THE CLIMATE THAT WE ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING SO HARD TO DEVELOP AND ACHIEVE HERE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS OF INTEGERABLE OFFICERS THAT NOW WE GOT SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT FROM HERE, DOESN'T KNOW HERE, AND IS
BRINGING A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF LAWLESSNESS HERE THAT WOULD IN TURN ADD TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINTS WE HAVE. I WANT TO NIP THE -- I WANT TO DO AN INTERVENTION, RIGHT? WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS
BEING INDOCTRINATED INTO OUR SYSTEMS HERE. >> SO CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN, YES, I AGREE. IT'S NOT WITHIN OUR PURVIEW TO LOOK AT THE RECRUITMENT AS A GENERAL MATTER, YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE HIRING OFFICERS THAT HAVE
MEANINGFUL INFRACTIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THEY SHOULD SCREEN FOR THOSE AND NOT HIRE THOSE PEOPLE. ON THE NARROW QUESTION OF OUR ROLE IN THAT IT NOT WITHIN OUR PURVIEW, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT. I
CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S IN THE CONSENT DECREE THAT THE MAYOR HAS COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING, BUT WE'RE NOT YET WORKING ON THAT. SO, IF IT'S THERE, IT'S NOT COMING FROM MY MIND. I ALSO
WANTED TO ADDRESS OTHER POINTS YOU MADE ABOUT TRAINING AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CULTURE. SO I WANT TO IMPROVE THE CULTURE. A GOOD CULTURE WEEDS OUT BAD ACTORS. A BAD CULTURE AMPLIFIES
BAD ACTORS. WHEN YOU GET THE RIGHT CULTURE, YOU WILL WEED OUT THE OPLE CAUGHT IN TRAINING OR CAUGHT IN THE FIELD TRAINING OFFICER PIECE OF THEIR TRAINING, AND EACH ARE IN OUR PURVIEW. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED IS THE FIELD OFFICER
TRAINING, OPERATING PROCEDURES. SO THAT THOSE INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WILL IN PART ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BAD OFFICERS COMING INTO THE DEPARTMENT. >> UH-HUH. AND NOW WE WANT TO
TREAD LIGHTLY ON THAT. THAT'S KIND OF A MURKY WATER. WE KNOW DEREK CHAUVIN WAS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER. COME ON NOW. >> WE DO INDEED. >> THAT WATER IS A LITTLE MURKY. >> THAT'S WHY IT HAS TO CHANGE. >> RIGHT. SO IN ENSURING THAT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELEVATED TO POSITIONS OF DIRECT INSTRUCTION AND LEADERSHIP, RIGHT? IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INFRACTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED, THAT
ARE ALLEGATIONS, AS WE ARE SITTING WITH ALL OF THESE, OVER 300-PLUS INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVELY RESPONDED TO, WHICH I AM HOPING THAT WE DO OBTAIN SOMEONE WHO IS A VERY DEDICATED
AND COMMITTED INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATOR THAT HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF SITTING WITH THE DEPARTMENT MORE THAN A F MONTHS. I'M HOPING THAT WILL BE THE CASE HERE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES BECAUSE THEN THAT
CONCERNS ME. IF THERE ARE NO DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CARRIED OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME BEHAVIORS THAT HAVE AWARDED COMPLAINTS, THEN PEOPLE THINK THEY SKATED BY THE SYSTEM, RIGHT? SO, NO ONE
SAW ME DO IT. I HID MY HAND. LET ME TRY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. WE DON'T WANT MORE OF THE SAME. WE JUST REALLY WANT BETTER FOR PEOPLE AND I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WIN AND BE GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN WRITE SOMETHING IN AND ENSURE
THAT OFFICERS THAT ARE COMING TO US FROM OTHER PLACES, YOU KNOW, LIKE 13 COLONIES AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, THAT WE ARE GETTING WHAT WE NEED AND THEY DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF BACK BURNERED BEHAVIORS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN AND TO YOUR POINT, AS DIRECTOR DOUG NOTICED, THE HIRING PIECE IS IN NOT IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THERE ARE A FEW PARAGRAPHS ABOUT THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. I WOULD
NOTE TOO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU NEED TO TAKE OFF, WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF LOSING QUORUM HERE. >> THANK YOU CHAIR WHITING. A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED A FEW OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO COMMENT ON. IT'S
BEEN A FRUSTRATION. A NUMBER OF US HAVE SPOKEN AT LENGTH, ESPECIALLY LAST TERM AROUND ELE ELEFA'S HANDLING OF LACK OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC, WITH THE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THIS BODY. I KNOW IT WAS A JOURNEY
AND FIGHT WITH WORKING WITH COUNSEL PRESIDENT PAYNE LAST TERM TO GET A PRESENTATION SCHEDULED FOR ELEFA TO COME BEFORE THIS BO. WE HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS BASED OFF THE PROGRESS REPORT AND HOW THINGS WERE HANDLED. SO, I AM HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE
A PRESENTATION. THIS CHAMBER IS FOLLOWING THE SECOND PROGRESS REPORT YOU DID THIS YEAR THUS FAR. I DO WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ HAS RAISED IN MY STAFF ATTENDED ONE OF THE RECENT COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHERE THE FRUSTRATIONS WERE LOUDLY EXPRESSED AS WELL AND YOU MADE
NOTE OF THAT. I ALSO WANT TO ECHO INTERIM AFFAIRS. -- INTERNAL AFFAIRS. THE DYSFUNCTIONAL INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION SIGNALS TO OTHER
OFFICERS, EXISTING OFFICERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO WORK HERE, THAT MISCONDUCT CAN BE TOLERATED. THERE IS NO FORMAL PROCESSES OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO HANDLE THOSE THINGS WHEN THEY COME UP. THE FACT THAT IT LEADS
TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO DO WANT TO COME FORWARD AND I WANT TO KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN SUED WHEN WE HAD OFFICERS COME FORWARD IN THE PAST. THEY FACED RETALIATION FOR DOING SO TO HOLD THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE,
HAVING A DYSFUNCTIONAL IA LED US TO HAVE A CULTURE WHERE WE'RE IN A PREDICAMENT OF VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF BLACK AND INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW
WHAT THE CITY SHARED AS THEIR RATIONAL FOR WHY NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN, EVEN AFTER YOUR FIRST REPORT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DETAILED IN MULTIPLE REPORTS NOW. SO WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE
CITY'S RATIONAL FOR NOT TAKING MORE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION ON THAT. >> CHAIR WHITING AND COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, FIRST LET ME TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE SOURCE OF THAT MISCOMMUNICATION OR
MISPERCEPTION. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO MEET, MAYBE ATTRIBUTING IT TO WE'RE NOT FROM HERE AND NOT KNOWING HOW IT WORKS. WE'VE APPEARED EVERY TIME
WE HAVE BEEN ASKED, WE NOTIFIED THE COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO COME AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. NOW WE ALSO OFFERED TO MEET INDIVIDUALS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. LET ME BE CLEAR GOING FORWARD,
WE ARE EAGER TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL AND ALL OF YOU AND THE COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN INTERNAL
AFFAIRS, WHEN I SPOKE WITH CHIEF O'HARA ABOUT THESE ISSUES, IT WAS THE EXPLANATIONS WERE ATTRIBUTED, I THINK THERE WERE THREE. SOME WERE THAT HE DID BRING IN PEOPLE IN THE HOPES THAT THEY WILL IMPROVE THE
SITUATION. THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INDIVIDUALS. IT WAS THE CULTURE. THE CHIEF EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT PERSONNEL, HAVING THE PEOPLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE HE WAS VERY
FOCUSED ON CRIME FIGHTING AND REDUCING RESPONSE TIMES. THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND I TOLD THEM IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES IN OUR VIEWS WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS AND OFFICERS ON THE STREET. IN
ANY EVENT, YOU CAN'T SACRIFICE ONE FOR THE OTHER. THAT'S THE CHALLENGE AND THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE TO GET BOTH OF THOSE THINGS DONE. HE DISCUSSED MORALE
AND MAKING THESE CHANGES ON MORALE, WHICH IS NOT DEFENSIVABLE CANDIDLY. SO I THINK -- I DO THINK THAT SOME OF THIS WITH THE PERSONAL CHANGES, WHEN THEY HAPPENED, THIS IS THE
SOLUTION. NOW THINGS WILL GET BETTER >> THANK YOU, I AM TRYING TO SPEED THROUGH SOME OF T REST OF MY QUESTIONS. THERE ARE A FEW FOLKS IN QUEUE. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE DEADLINE WE HAVE FOR
WHEN WE HAVE CLOSED CAPTIONERS UNTIL 5:30. THE NEXT QUESTION, AS YOU HIGHLIGHTED, THIS BODY HAD EXTENSIVE DEBATE AROUND THE WELLNESS, COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELLNESS CENTER, AND OFTEN TIMES WE LEARNED THAT ELEFA WAS USED
AS A PLACE TO SAY THIS WAS MANDATED. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE COMMENTS YOU ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION. FIRST, ANYWHERE IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES US TO PURCHASE, IN THIS CASE, THE CITY
WAS SEEKING A $40 MILLION SETTLEMENT. DO WE HAVE TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW FACILITY? >> NO, IT'S NOT PRESCRIBED IN THE SETTLEMENT. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT WAS NOT OFTEN COMMUNICATED ACCURATELY FROM THE CITY. IN
YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON PAGE 8, I BELIEVE, WHERE YOU SAID WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THIS AS A PRIORITY, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OR FROM MY UNDERSTANDING HOW WE CAN RELATE TO YOU, CAN THE CITY ALSO
BRING YOU MODIFIED FACILITY PLANS THAT ADDRESSES THE EXPLICIT NEEDS OF ITS OFFICERS.
>> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE CITY'S OBLIGATION IS TO MEET THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. SO, YES. I AM NOT -- I WOULDN'T SUGGEST THAT THE TRAINING CENTER IS NECESSARILY THE ONLY WAY, BUT TO BE CANDID,
I AM NOT SURE BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, THAT I AM AWARE OF OTHER GOOD OPTIONS. THEY MAY BE OUT THERE. SO, YES, IF THE CITY HAS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. >> SO WE CAN BRING AN
ALTERNATIVE. IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE US ACQUIRING A NEW FACILITY IN ITSELF. >> IT DOES NOT, BUT IT DOES DESCRIBE AN ASSESSMENT BEING DONE AS TO THE BEST WAY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT. THAT IS THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE ASSESSMENT. SO. >> THE ASSESSMENT THAT THE CITY PROVIDED, THE ASSESSMENT THAT THE CITY EXECUTED PER THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. YOU HIGHLIGHTED THAT. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES THAT WE DO A
FACI FACILITIES REQUIREMENT. WE CAN ALSO SAY GIVE US ADDITIONAL OPTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOLLOWED THE COMMUNITY'S SAFETY PROCESS. WHAT WE HEARD WAS THIS IS GOING TO GIVE OFFICERS MASSAGE ROOMS. THIS IS GOING TO GIVE OFFICERS SIMULATIONS AND IT
DID NOT CONNECT EXPLICITLY TO WHAT ARE THE HOURS THAT ARE REQUIRED IN OUR CURRENT CONSENT DECREE, WHAT TRAINING OR PROVISIONS ARE NEEDED TO BE ADHERED TO. SO IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A BLANKET CANVAS AS OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY OUTLINING
WHAT WAS CREDIBLY NEEDED. SO WHAT I WANT TO GET AT IS THAT YOU HIGHLIGHT THIS, ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS COULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION, IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR FACILITY'S IMPROVEMENTS. >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, YES.
>> OKAY, NEXT PIECE, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ HIGHLIGHTED THIS. WHAT IS VERY JARRING ABOUT THIS REPORT IS INITIALLY THE VERY FIRST REPORT THAT WE SAW IN THAT WAS COMPLETELY REITERATED IN
MULTIPLE PRESS RELEASES AND NEWS ARTICLES IS WHEN YOU SHARED THAT IT'S FURTHER AHEAD IN THIS FIRST YEAR THAN ANY OTHER CITY WE ARE AWARE OF, THAT WAS ELEFA'S COMMENTS AND THIS REPORT SAYING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE
MINNESOTA POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAIN FAR FROM ACHIEVING THE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF RACE-BASED POLICING. I THINK THAT SIGNALS ALSO FOR A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN HEARING, WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OR A YEAR AND A HALF, HOW DID WE GO
FROM THAT'S TO THIS. HOW DID ELEFA SEE THESE THINGS FALL SHORT? SO, YOU MENTIONED QUALITATIVE METRICS AS BEING THE DETERMINATION OF HOW TO ISSUE PROGRESS. CAN YOU SPECIFY A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT THAT
MEANS, OF THE QUALITATIVE METRICS THATOU ARE EMPLOYING. >> CHAIR WHITING AND COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, IT'S NOT JUST QUALITATIVE MEASURES. THERE ARE QUANTITATIVE MEASURES AS WELL. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT SAYS HOWEVER WE CAN'T MEASURE
COMPLIANCE, SURELY QUANTITATIVE BY A PERCENTAGE. THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. SO, IT'S LESS PRESCRIPTIVE. I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S ENTIRELY QUALITATIVE THE NUMBER OF POLICIES APPROVED. THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE WILL CERTAINLY LOOK AT WHEN WE DO
AUDITS. WE WILL LOOK AT PERCENTAGES THAT MAY NOT DRIVE THE FINAL COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN AMPLE. IF YOU TRAIN 95% OF OFFICERS IN USE OF FORCE, YOU SAY 95% IS PRETTY GOOD. IF YOU
HAVE 5% OF OFFICERS ON THE STREETS THAT ARE NEVER TRAINED, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THERE ARE 5% THAT HAVE BEEN ON VACATION, LEFT THE DEPARTMENT, ARE NEW. SO YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE REASONS FOR THAT UNTRAINED PERCENTAGE,
WHATEVER IT IS, AND YOU WOULD LOOK AT WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS THE CITY TAKING TO MAKE SURE THAT ULTIMATELY ALL OFFICERS ARE APPROPRIATELY TRAINED IN USE OF FORCE. IN A DIFFERENT AREA, SOME LIKE STOP, SEARCH, AND ARREST OFFICERS, THESE CONCEPTS GET
VAGUE WHEN YOU'RE STOPPING A CAR AND YOU GET MANY OFFICERS DOING THAT. THEN YOU MIGHT REALLY BE VERY HARD TO GET 90% COMPLIANCE ON WHAT A PAT DOWN, VERSUS AN
ARREST SEARCH INCIDENT TO ARREST. THAT'S THE THING WE SEE. SO YOU GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE GRACE. I'M NOT SURE THERE IS ANY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY THAT OFFICERS GET THAT RIGHT 90% OF THE TIME. SO, THAT IS WHAT I WAS SAYING. I HAS TO BE CONTEXT
SPECIFIC. LET ME JUST SAY BRIEFLY ON THE ARK, OUR JOB IS TO EVALUATE AND SHARE WHAT WE FOUND. MINNESOTA WAS OFF TO A GOOD START, THEY WERE ORGANIZED,
THEY HAD A PLAN. AS WE REPORTED OVER THE SUBSEQUENT REPORTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE ISSUES OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, THAT DETERI DETERIORATED. THAT WAS PRESENT IN THE SLIDE. WE WERE DOCUMENTING THIS PROCESS ALL ALONG THE WAY. IT'S NOT AS IF WE
SAID SOMETHING IN YEAR ONE AND PIVOTED TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN YEAR TWO. WE DID REPORT THE PATH ALONG THE WAY. >> YEAH, I THINK IT'S THE RAPID DETERIORATION OF WHAT WAS
PERCEIVED AS A STRONG START LEADING TO THE NEXT PIECE THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ONE, THAT HINDRANCES YOUR SCENE, IS THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN CLEAR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY AND REPORTING ESTABLISHED ALONG WITH
STANDING MEETINGS FOR ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WORK. I THINK THAT WAS JARRING TO SEE. I KNOW IN THIS BODY, WHEN IT PERTAINS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS, WE DEVOTED STAFFING POSITIONS TO THIS, WE HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY TOLD THERE IS A ROBUST IMPLEMENTATION UNIT THAT IS IN
CHARGE OF THIS WORK AND ALSO WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A CHIEF, THERE IS AN OFFICE OF SAFETY COMMISSIONER, AND THERE IS MAYOR JACOB FREY THAT OVERSEES THIS. HOW DO WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE
THERE IS NO CHAIN OF COMMAND? I DON'T THINK THAT IS A QUESTION YOU COULD ANSWER THAT IS LEADING TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ SAID. I THINK THOSE ARE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF THEMSELVES OF HOW ARE WE ABSENT OF MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES AS YOU CITED. THE LAST QUESTION I
WANTED TO RAISE AS IT RELATES TO IA AND MISCONDUCT IS LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH FORMER CHIEF O'HARA WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT PUT HIM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AS OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE, WHEN MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS HAVE
TAKEN PLACE. I WANTED TO KNOW ARE YOU ALL ADVISING ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL EXAMPLES OF POLICIES TO THE FREY ADMINISTRATION ON HOW THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT REREPEATED, TO HAVE ACTUAL CLEAR MISCONDUCT PROCESS THAT
OUTLINES LEAVE REQUIREMENTS WHEN MISCONDUCT ALLOCATIONS ARE BEING ADVANCED FOR MPD OFFICERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RANK AND FILE. >> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY WITH THE CITY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WILL CONCEDE TO THE NEXT QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. FOR THE EXPEDITED QUESTIONS, I KNOW WE HAVE TWO MORE MEMBERS LEFT AND WE ARE AGAIN CLOSE TO LOSING QUORUM HERE. I WILL PASS IT OVER TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR WHITING. I WANT TO SHARE AN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR OPTIMISM AND AN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR ATTEMPTS AT REMAINING NEUTRAL AND OBJECTIVE. I THINK THOSE THINGS
ARE A LITTLE BIT INTENTION. AS WE GO INTO YEARS THREE AND FOUR, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU FOR IS THAT INDEPENDENT AND OBJECTIVE TRUTHELLING OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING. I THINK THAT OPTIMISM CAN SOMETIMES,
WH WE ULTIMATELY NEED FROM OUR INDEPENDENT MONITOR IS CREDIBILITY. I THINK WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY WAS HIGHLIGHTING, YOU KNOW, MOST IMPRESSIVE DEPARTMENT WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO FAILING TO MEET THE CORE FOUNDATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
THAT IS A CREDIBILITY RISK, RIGHT? AS WE GET INTO YEAR 3 AND 4, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE WE -- IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE OUR POLICIES IN PLACE ON PAPER, IT'S NOT THAT WE TRAINED TO THOSE POLICIES, BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S TRANSLATING TO MEANINGFUL
CHANGE ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY ON HOW OFFICERS ARE CONDUCTING THEMSELVES? I THINK THAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND AS WE GET INTO YEAR THREE, WHAT IS THAT CRITERIA WE'RE USING FOR EVALUATION AND AUDIT. I WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE A MEANINGFUL DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO APPROACHES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CREDIBLE SOURCE OF TRUTH. OBJECTIVELY OUR FORMER CHIEF INTERFERED IN AN INVESTIGATION THAT WAS SITTING
IN IA, WHICH YOU HIGHLIGHTED HAS BEEN A DETERIORATING FUNCTIONALITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH TRANSLATES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO SAY THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE INVESTIGATIONS SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THE PERSON AT
THE TOP CERTAINLY DOESN'T. THAT'S WHAT THAT COMMUNICATES. WE APPRECIATE THE OPTIMISM ABOUT PROGRESS, BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED IS CREDIBLE TRUTH ABOUT THAT PROGRESS. AND THE CREDIBLE TRUTH IS THAT WE HAD A CHIEF
UNDERMINING ANY CONCEPT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AT A CULTURAL LEVEL. SO, IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK TO YEAR 3 AND 4 ON AUDIT AND HOW YOU WILL MAINTAIN CREDIBILITY AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THOSE EXERCISES.
>> CHAIR WHITING AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN. I DON'T KNOW THAT OPTIMISM IS CONSISTENT WITH OBJECTIVITY. I THINK IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR REPORTS, I THINK THEY DEMONSTRATE OUR OBJECTIVITY. IN THE FIRST REPORT, THE CITY WAS
HAPPY WITH WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THEM. YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS REPORT, LESS SO. SOMETIMES ONE SIDE WILL LIKE WHAT WE SAY AND ANOTHER SIDE MIGHT NOT. OUR JOB IS TO SHARE WHAT WE SEE. WHEN I
SAY OPTIMISM, I APPRECIATE THE TRAUMA THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN THROUGH AND THE SKEPTICISM. AS I SAID PUBLICLY, MANY PEOPLE THINK OF US AS THE RECENT PROMISE TO BE BROKEN. WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THIS THROUGH SERIOUSLY. IT IS ALSO
TRUE AND WE SAY IT IN PART, WE WORK EVERY DAY WITH PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE REALLY WORKING HARD TO GET THIS DONE, SOME WHO CAME TO THE DEPARTMENT TO GET THIS DONE. I DON'T WANT TO BE UNFAIR TO THOSE PEOPLE, THAT'S WHY IN MY SWER, IN THE MEDIA WAS SOMETIMES THE CHIEF
WAS NOT ALWAYS AN ALLY, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT COOPERATING. I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE THERE. THERE ARE SOME LIMITS ON THE WAY WE REPORT. WE ONLY WRITE TWO REPORTS A YEAR, SO WE ONLY HAVE THOSE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO COVER A LOT OF CHANGE. WE DO HAVE THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WHEN
WE MEET WITH PEOPLE, WE TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON. SO, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE CONSTRAINT IN THE PROCESS. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FINDINGS, WE STAND BY THEM AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD REASONABLY SECOND GUESS THEM. TO
TURN TO YOUR BROADER QUESTION ABOUT -- >> AUDITS VERSUS EVALUATIONS. >> THANK YOU, AUDITS. WHEN WE DO AUDITS, WE WILL LOOK. IF WE'RE DOING SEARCHES, LET'S LOOK AT
SEARCHES. WE WILL LOOK AT ARCTICABLE SUSPICION, WAS THERE PROBABLE CAUSE, WAS THERE PROCEDURAL JUSTICE? WE GO THROUGH AN ELABORATE CHECKLIST OF ALL OF THE ELEMENTS THAT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ADDRESSES.
THEN WE TAKE A SAMPLE OF REPORTS, BODY WORN CAMERAS, THEN WE REVIEW THEM ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY MEET THOSE ELEMENTS. THAT WOULD BE ON THE PERFORMANCE PIECE WHEN YOUOOK AT WHAT OFFICERS DO ON THE STREET. OTHERWISE, WE DO AUDIT BY
SYSTEM. IT'S OFF? IST ON NOW? >> YES. >> THERE WE GO. >> SORRY. I MUST HAVE BUMPED IT. SO THAT IS HOW WE DO THOSE AUDITS AND WE SHARE THE METHODOLOGY AND THE RESULTS SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT. >> THEN A FOLLOW UP IS AS IT
PERTAINS TO RACE-BASED POLICING, HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT A METHODOLOGY TO BRING CREDIBILITY AROUND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF THE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IT HERE. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE HAS COME UP WITH A WIDELY ACCEPTED WAY OF LOOKING AT
DISPARITIES, BUT IT IS SOMETHING -- WE LOVE TO BE THE FIRST. THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF LOOKING AT ITND WE WILL BE ASSESSING ALL OF THOSE. >> AND MY LAST QUESTION, WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING THIS ADMINISTRATION TIME ANDIME AGAIN TO GET TO A FINALIZED DISCIPLINE MATRIX.
WHAT IS THE HOLD UP? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT ONE? I THINK I AM LOSING PASHSZ AND I THINK WE NEED A HARD TIMELINE. I AM AT A LOSS ON WHAT TO DO. WHAT TOOLS DO YOU HAVE TO GET US TO A DISCIPLINE
MATRIX, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO HAVING SOME WAY OF ACCOMMODATING THE CHIEF'S ROLE AND WHEN THE CHIEF NEEDS DISCIPLINE. >> CHAIR WHITING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE GOING TO BE
DONE BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE COMMISSIONER THERE. THEY'RE WORK ON THOSE POLICIES AND THE CHIEF HAS TO BE HELD TO THE SAME POLICIES AS THE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S ONE PIECE. ON THE CORRECTIVE ACTION MATRIX,
THE EXISTING MAY TRTRIX HAD TOO DISCIPLINARY LEVELS AND THERE WAS TOO MUCH DISCRETION, SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY. WE NOW HAVE A FRAMEWORK. I THINK IT HAS SEVEN LEVELS, WHICH WE TNK IS APPROPRIATE. NOW THEY'RE DOING THE WORK TO SORT OF FILL EACH OF THOSE BUCKETS WITH WHAT OFFENSES, WHAT KIND OF
PENALTIES, AND THEY WILL COME BACK. E WORKE- WORK IS UNDERE DO HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS WHERE WE UPDATE NEXT STEPS AND WE MARCH THROUGH A SPREADSHEET, IF YOU WILL, FOR EACH TASK AND LOOK AT
THE NEXT ACTION AND WHAT IS THE DATE FOR THE NEXT ACTION, AND WE SEE HOW WE'RE TRACKING. WE'RE MONITORING IT CLOSELY AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE FILL IN FOR THE EXACT VIOLATIONS FOR EACH LEVEL OF THE MATRIX TO BE PROVIDED FOR
US. >> I AM GOING TO END IT THERE SO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES CAN GET THEIR QUESTIONS IN. >> THANK YOU. AS WELL COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> THANK YOU. I CLICKED THE WRONG BUTTON. THANK YOU. I HAVE
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND THEN A COUPLE OF COMMENTS IN GENERAL THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT YOU BUT THEY WON'T BE TO YOU. FIRST OFF, IN THE PRESENTION YOU SAID THAT SOMETHING WAS HELD
UP BECAUSE IA HAD A PRETTY -- PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE VENDOR. THE WAY IT WAS LAID OUT, IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WANTED TO GIVE A CONTRACT TO A PREFERRED VE R VENDOR, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE CORRUPTION. I WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU. >> CHAIR WHITING AND COUNCIL
MEMBER STEVENSON, I DIDN'T MEAN CORRUPTION IN ANY WAY. THEY WERE IN THE EARLY STAGES AS THEY WERE SORTING WHICH WAY TO GO. DIFFERENT VENDORS OFFICER DIFFERENT PACKAGES AND SYSTEMS. IT'S ONE OF THOSE. >> SO IT RAISED RED FLAGS FOR ME AROUND THAT AND YOU'RE SAYING
THAT'S NOT THE SE. >> NO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CLARIFY THAT. THAT WAS NOT IN ANY WAY MY INTENT. >> THANK YOU. THEN, I GUESS THIS IS NOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HIGHLIGHTED IS THAT THEY WERE NOT HOLDING STAN
REALLY AT A LOSS. LIKE WE HAVE STANDING MEETINGS FOR EVERYTHING. EVERYONE HAS STANDING MEETINGS FOR EVERYTHING. I MEAN THIS IS LIKE -- THIS IS BEFORE THE BASELINE. SO I AM FRANKLY AT A DEEP LOSS. YEAH, THERE WAS A LOT
OF VERY CONCERNING THINGS IN THIS AND ALL OF THE THINGS IN YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR REPORT THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE'RE NOT IN THE PATH TO 2028 TO
HAVE COMPLETE POLY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. THAT'S THE ONE I COULD WRITE DOWN BEFORE THE SLIDE FLIPPED. IT'S HIGHLIGHTING TO ME, AND THIS IS NOT TO YOU SIR,
THIS IS HIGHLIGHTING TO ME WHO IS NOT IN THIS RM RIGHT NOW. COMMISSIONER BARNETT COULDN'T BE HERE, THE MAYOR, OR SOMEONE FROM HIS OFFICE COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO BE HERE, THE INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO BE HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF
FOLKS ON THIS BODY WHO COULDN'T BOTHER TO STAY OR BE HERE. IT'S REALLY HIGHLIGHTING FOR ME THE IMPORTANCE THIS HAS FOR OTHER PEOPLE. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT AND NOW THE ABSENCE OF CERTAIN FOLKS IS SCREAMING LOUDLY. THE FRUSTRATION YOU'RE SENSING FROM ME IS COMING FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF MY COMMUNITY. MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE O IT BEING AGAINST POLICY FOR MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER TO SHOOT SOMEONE IN THE HEAD WITH A RUBBER BULLET, YET THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE THAT POLICY WAS IN PLACE AND NO DISCIPLINE HAS EVER BEEN LEVIED
AGAINST THIS OFFICER. MY COMMUNITY, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WAS MURDERED BY ICE AND THEY THOUGHT MPD WAS GOING TO PROTECT THEM FROM ICE AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. YEAH, SO
GEORGE FLOYD, I REPRESENT MUCH OF GEORGE OYD SQUARE, BUT NOT THE ACTUAL SPOT THAT HE WAS MURDERED, BUT THE REST OF IT. YOU KNOW, MY COMMUNITY AND MYSELF, WE ARE JUST SITTING HERE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE
LACK OF PROGRESS AND THE LACK OF ATTENTION. THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM CAN'T SEE THAT THE SEATS ARE EMPTY, NO ONE IS HERE. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHAT IF WE HAD A QUESTION WE WANTED TO ASK MPD? I MEAN A SINGLE QUESTION THAT WE
WANTED TO ASK AND HAV ANSWERED, AND THEY ARE NOT HERE. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, OTHER FOLKS FROM TH ADMINISTRATION, THEY WERE HERE FOR EARLIER ITEMS. THIS IS THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT TO MAKE
PROGRESS. THIS IS THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT TO MAKE AGREEMENTS ON THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND YET HERE WE ARE. I AM FLABBERGASTED, I AM DISMAYED, I'M A LOT O THINGS. YEAH, I HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS WRITTEN
DOWN THAT MAYBE I WILLAVE TO SKIP BUT I GUESS I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE MESSAGE I AM RECEIVING BY NOBOD BEING IN THIS ROOM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IS THAT THIS DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM. IF THAT IS NOT
THE CASE, THEN I ENCOURAGE THOSE FOLKS TO BE IN THIS ROOM NEXT TIME. YEAH. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. >>OUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ.
>> THANKS CHAIR WHITING. AS WE END THIS CONVERSATION TODAY, I WANTED TO CHALLENGE THE NOTION THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS JUST ON THE CHIEF AND THAT BECAUSE THE CHIEF, THERE WAS A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, THE ISSUES ARE RESOLVED, THAT IS NOT TRUE. THAT IS HOW WE WILL LEAD TO MORE
CONSENT DECREES IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S AN EXCUSE AND EXCUSES ARE NOT ACCOUNTABILITY. I READ THROUGH THE ORDINANCES, THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR AND I AT LEAST WANTED TO MENTION THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR TO ELEFA
THAT JUST BECAUSE AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW CHIEF DOES NOT MEAN THE ISSUE IS SOLVED. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THERE IS THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY. WHAT IS THEIR ROLE IN THIS? I WANT TO ECHO THE CONCERNS THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD
DELAY THIS ITEM A CYCLE SO WE CAN HAVE FOLKS FROM T ADMINISTRATION ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS NEXT WEEK. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY THIS CYCLE, SO THEY CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS NEXT WEEK. >> SECOND. >> THIRD. >> DO WE HAVE -- I MEAN.
>> AND I JUST LIKE TO NOTE, A PIECE ON THAT, THE HOPE FOR THIS PRESENTATIONTSELF IS SPECIFICALLY WE WILL HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES BAKED INTO THIS COMMITTEE, PARTICULARLY ASK QUESTIONS OF OUR INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR, PARTICULARLY ON HOW
THEY WORK THROUGH AND COME TO THE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE REPORTS AN TALK THROUGH ANY OF THE EVALUATIVE PROCESS TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE SEEING WITH MPD. I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS AS MY COLLEAGUES HERE, PARTICULARLY ABOUT INFORMATION AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OF MPD. WE ARE WORKING WITH MPD SPECIFICALLY, THAT INTERNALLY THEY HAVE A REFORM STAT, SORRY, WITH INTERNAL MEETING. THEY DO THOSE MONTHLY. THE HOPE FOR THIS
BODY, WE ARE WORKING AGAIN ON THE CADENCE NOW, BUT HAVING THOSE BAKED INTO THIS COMMITTEE, IN THIS BODY, SO THAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF MPD IN A SPACE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WORK PARTICULARLY THAT ELEFA DOES. I
THINK THE HOPE FOR THIS COMMITTEE IS TO DO THAT RK, SPECIFICALLY WE -- WITH ELEFA, TO ASK ABOUT INDEPENDENT EVALUATION AND THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK THAT MPD DOES. SO,HAT IS
WHY WE DELINEATED THE TWO VERSIONS OF THAT, SO THAT WE HAVE TIME AND AMPLE TIME, THE HOPE IS BIMONTHLY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ON REFORM WORK OF MPD IN A SPECIFIC SETTING WITH MPD
HERE AND THE HOPE AGAIN IS FOR THE CHIEF TO ANSWER THOSE QUESONS AND PRESENT THAT. THEN AGAIN, ASKOR A VENUE WIT WITH ELEFA TO ASK MONITORING QUESTIONS THAT ARE ABOVE AND OUTSIDE THE BROADER CONTEXT. JUST THAT PCE THERE, I KNOW
THAT AS WE ARE WRAPPING UP HERE SPECIFICALLY, I GSS WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US, RIGHT? >> I GUESS WHAT I AM TRYING TO GET AT IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT ELEFA BUT THE CITY HAS A ROLE HERE, THE ADMINISTRATION, MPD, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY,
NO ONE IS HERE IN THIS ROOM. IT IS LITERALLY EMPTY. WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPORT. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS ACCOUNTABILITY IF WE CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND WHAT IS MY OPINION IS FAILING TO MEET OUR AGREEMENT GOALS OF YEAR ONE AND TWO. I WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO
ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. MPD NEEDS TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. IS THAT GOING TO BE THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK? MY REASON FOR DELAYING THIS ITEM IS TO THAT WE CAN GET ANSWERS NEXT CYCLE. ANOTHER WAY TO ADDRESS THIS IS PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO
SUBMIT AN R.C.A. OR COUNCIL REQUEST TO COME IN NEXT WEEK. THE EASIER THING, DELAYING THIS CYCLE SO THAT MPD CAN ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS NEXT CYCLE. THAT'S MY REASON FOR DELAY. >> IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE BODY, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION
AS WELL OUTSIDE OF THE SETTING HERE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CADENCE IS HELPFUL TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, PARTICULARLY FOR MPD. I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE HERE OF WANTING MPD AND SPECIFIC MEMBERS FROM THE ENTERPRISE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPORT. >> I THINK IF WE HAVE IT NEXT
CYCLE, THAT WILL BE GREAT AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT THE CADENCE AFTER THAT. I'M HAPPY TO WITHDRAW THE MOTION IF IT CAN BE ON THE AGENDA. >> WE'RE IN DISCUSSION WITH MPD LEADERSHIP AT THE MOMENT SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO. COUNCIL
MEMBER WARREN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> NO, I WAS JUST SAYING WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES. >> WE SURE DO. WE WILL WRAP UP WITH TH. I THINK WE WILL ASK THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THANK YOU MR. DOUGLAS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME BEING HERE TO RECEIVE -- MAYBE NOT. >> I THINK THE MOTION IS STILL ON THE TABLE. IT HAS NOT BEEN WITHDRAWN. I WILL SAY MY OPINION. WHY DO WE WANT TO WORK ON AN R.C.A. IF WE DON'T HAVE
TO? LET'S JUST TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT CYCLE AND THEN ELEFA PRESENTERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE NEXT TIME AROUND. THAT COULD BE ADMINISTRATION. I THINK WE SHOULD SAVE OURSELVES SOME WORK. >> AND COUNCIL MEMBER, THE ONLY
WORD FOR ME AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE. IF W MOVE FORWARD -- SORRY, DELAY THIS CYCLE, DOES THE TOPIC ONLY HAVE TO RAIN GERMANE TO THE ELEFA PRESENTATION? I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT WE COULD ASK ANY VSION OF QUESTIONS FOR MPD, SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IF WE
REMOVE IT, IT COULD BE OUTSIDE JUST THE ELEFA PRESENTATION. THAT IS MY WORRY, THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE ELEFA PRESENTATION. >> I BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE TITLE.
>> OKAY. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE NEXT CYCLE, WHICH IS LITERALLY I THINK JULY 28TH, THERE IS A REPORT OR AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE
ELEFA REPORT THAT SHOWS WE'RE COMPLETELY FAILING. THAT'S IT. >> OUR HAPPY IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA. >> OKAY, SO THAT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA. IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY OTHER OPINION. >> CAN I JUST SAY THIS? I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW WHOEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO GET THOSE ANSWERS FROM, THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE WHO YOU ARE REQUESTING TO BE HERE. BECAUSE YOU CAN ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAS KNOWS ANSWERS ARE NOT QUESTIONED TO BE HERE, YOU WON'T GET THE ANSWERS
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. >> STEVENSON. >> YEAH, I THINK REPORT IS EXPANSIVE AND SPECIFIC ENOUGH. I WOULD PREFER THA WE JUST MOVE THIS TO THE NEXT CYCLE AND WE CAN STICK EXCLUSIVELY TO THE
REPO/PRESENTATION, AND THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER, WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL, WHICH I PREFER. MY STRG PREFERENCE IS THAT WE STICK WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND JUST POSTNE. >> YEP, IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BODY. >> YES, LET'S JUST SAY WE FIND
OUT FROM THE CLERK AFTER COUNCIL THAT WE NEED TO SUBMIT AN R.C.A., LET'S DO THAT. >> EXACTLY. SO DO WE HAVE TO REMOVE SINCE IT WAS WITHDRAWN? >> IT'S A MOTION TO CONTINUE ONE CYCL >> IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE. JUST DO A VOICE ONE THEN.
>> THANK YOU. >> CLERKS, IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO A VOICE VOTE, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. [AYES EXPRESSED] >> THAT IS PASSED. WONDERFUL. THEN I WILL PASS IT BACK TO OUR CHAIR.
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
[GAVEL]