>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2025. I'M STEVE BRANDT, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE
CLERK TO READ THE REMINDER REGARDING RATE OF SPEECH. >> BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS, STAFF AND THE PUBLIC THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THESE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REAL-TIME CAPTIONING AS
A FURTHER METHOD TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT OUR CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY CAPTURE AND TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED
AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. >> AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL SO WE CAN VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. >> MEMBER FREY IS ABSENT. ABENE. >> PRESENT. >> PAYNE.
>> PRESENT. >> CHUGHTAI IS ABSENT. VICE PRESIDENT PREE-STINSON. >> PRESENT. >> PRESIDENT BRANDT. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD SHOW WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT. I WILL NOW OFFER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE MEET
TODAY ON LAND THAT WAS CLAIMED BY THE DAKOTA AND PEOPLES. --
AVAILABLE AT LIMS.MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV. BOARD MEMBERS, THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING IS BEFORE US, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION BEFORE US. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> OPPOSED NAY. AYES HAVE IT. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. NEXT IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 12, 2025, MEETING. MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION BEFORE US. ANY DISCUSSION?
SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. AND THE MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED. ITEM 4 ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WHILE WE HAVE
CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LEVY, IT'S BOARD STANDARD PRACTICE TO RECEIVE COMMENT ON ANY OF OUR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS AND ANY MEETINGS AGENDA. THE CLERK INFORMED ME WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY TODAY. AND
I WILL THEN MOVE ON TO ITEM 5, AND THE ITEM IS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY PAY DISCUSSION. I WILL ASK VICE CHAIR PREE-STINSON TO LEAD ON THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. SO FROM OUR LAST MEETING WE HAD A COUPLE OF ITEMS
THAT WE SENT OUT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION WHICH WAS WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD PAY BACKPAY TO OUR STAFFER, WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD MOVE HER UP A STEP IMMEDIATELY. WHICH WILL GO EFFECTIVE THE FOLLOWING PAYCHECK FROM THE DECISION. AND THE THIRD ONE WAS IN RELATION MOVING UP TO
A STEP 3 AND WHETHER WE COULD DO THAT OR NOT. WHETHER IT BE JANUARY OR HER ANNIVERSARY DATE. WE RECEIVED INFORMATION BACK. THANKFUL TO STAFF FOR BEING SWIFT ON THAT. IT IS ILLEGAL, MEANING AGAINST THE LAW, IN ORDER TO BACK PAY. SO THAT IS OFF THE TABLE. WHAT IS ON THE
TABLE, YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE IS A MOTION. I'LL READ THAT IN A MOMENT. TO GO AHEAD AND INCREASE TO A STEP 2. TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY, THE REASON WE DID THAT WAS THE
DISCUSSION ON WHAT STEP TO START MS. KEIDERLING AT -- AT THE LAST MEETING I BELIEVE TO THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTED AT A STEP 2 IN MY OPINION, AND WE HAD SOME AGREEMENT AROUND THAT.
THAT'S THE MOTION YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD PORTION THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO VOTE BUT WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT SHE IS ELIGIBLE TO MOVE UP TO A STEP 3 AT HER ANNIVERSARY DATE. >> ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE MADE A
MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTNS OR COMMENTS? >> I WAS GOING TO READ IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. >> VERY GOOD. >> THE MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZING A NEW EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR
THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CHRISTINA KEIDERLING TO INCREASE HER PAYRATE TO THE NEXT STEP IN THE PAY PROGRESSION SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE WITH THE PAY PERIOD FOR WORK PERFORMED -- SUCH AGREEMENT SHALL INCORPORATE ALL
OTHER -- SUCH INCREASE SHALL NOT AFFECT THE DATE OF SERVICE FOR FUTURE PROGRESSIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US AND IT HAS BEEN SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER ABENE. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE VICE
PRESIDENT FOR WORKING ON THIS AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS PROBABLY A REALLY GOOD WAY TO DO IT BECAUSE IT WON'T AFFECT THE STEP INCREASE THAT'S GOING TO COME IN APRIL. IT WON'T CHANGE THAT CYCLE. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD WAY TO HANDLE THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE WILL CALL THE QUESTION ON THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. THE NEXT ITEM IS A DISCUSSION OF REVENUE
PATHWAYS AND POSSIBILITIES. I'LL TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS DISCUSSION. WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO HERE IS FOLLOW UP ON THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AT OUR OCTOBER 22ND MEETING, THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS ALSO RECEIVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
ABOUT POSSIBLE SOURCES OF REVENUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CITY COUNCIL DECISION. BUT SINCE THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED THE REPORT TO BE MADE BOTH TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BET, I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY
FEEDBACK FROM THE BET OR MEMBERS OF THE -- I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF ANY CONSENSUS DEVELOPS OUT OF THIS GROUP THAT WE CAN USE TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL. SORT OF OUR INITIAL GLANCE. THIS IS A VERY PRELIMINARY REPORT. WE NEED
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS COMING IN A FEW WEEKS. BUT NOT TRYING TO SUPPLANT THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECISIONMAKING IN THIS AREA BUT MAINLY ACT IN ADVISORY CAPACITY.
SO I'LL LEAD ON THIS. THESE ARE IN RANK ORDER SINCE WE JUST GOT DONE WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING. MY FIRST CHOICE IS ALREADY ON THE TABLE, AND SO IT'S NOT REALLY AN
ADDITION TO THE DISCUSSION. ALTHOUGH I MIGHT ELABORATE ON SOME OF MY THOUGHTS. THAT IS EXPANDING THE DOWNTOWN TAXING AREA FOR LIQUOR AND RESTAURANT -- LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENTS AND RESTAURANTS
THAT HAS BEEN BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE I BELIEVE TWICE. EVIDENTLY THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO IT IN THE MINDS OF LEGISLATORS. MY ONLY COMMENT ON THIS OTHER THAN TO
INQUIRE IF ANY OF MY -- IF COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE CAN ADVISE AT ALL ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THIS ONE AND WHY WE'RE RUNNING INTO RESISTANCE IS THAT MAYBE WE'RE AIMING A LITTLE -- I WOULD
SUGGEST WE AIM A LITTLE BIT MORE AMBITIOUSLY ON THIS ONE. AND SEEK AUTONOMY OVER THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR LIQUOR AND TAXING AREA AS A CITY, AS A HOME RULE CITY. IT SEEMS TO ME WE KNOW THE CITY BEST. AND
LEGISLATORS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE DON'T. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PERHAPS THE COUNCIL CONSIDER AMENDING THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO MAKE THIS ITEM AUTHORITY FOR
THE CITY COUNCIL TO SET THE LIQUOR AND RESTAURANT TAXING AREAS. NOW THEY'RE IN THE STATUTORY AND SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT OF STATUTE. SO I'LL GET THAT ONE OUT OF THE WAY FIRST. BUT LOOKING AT THE NEW OPTIONS THAT WERE PLACED BEFORE US TWO WEEKS AGO, I WOULD
HAVE TO SAY MY FIRST CHOICE CONCEPTUALLY WOULD BE THE INCOME TAX ON HIGH EARNER HOUSEHOLDS. I SAY THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS CONCERN FROM THE VOTERS I SPOKE WITH ABOUT WHETHER THIS WOULD CAUSE
TAX FLIGHT FROM THE CITY. AND I THINK THAT'S A VALID CONCERN. I THINK WE SHOULD ASK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESEARCHING THIS AREA TO RESEARCH THE EXPERIENCE OF
CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED A LOCAL INCOME TAX IN A LARGE METRO AREA ON SOLELY THE CENTRAL CITY SO THAT WE CAN SEE, AND IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO THAT I BELIEVE USING CENSUS DATA, WHICH
STRATIFY INCOMES WHETHER THERE IS INDEED VALIDITY TO THAT CONCERN. I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT WE MAY BE LOSING PEOPLE TO THE PROPERTY TAX, HIGH PROPERTY TAX NOW AMONG THOSE HIGH EARNS.
I FOUND THE PROPERTY TAX FIGURES SHOW AN INCREASED DEPENDENCE ON THE PROPERTY TAX IN GOING OUT THROUGH 2031 TO BE VERY
ILLUMINATING. AND CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT WOULD DRIVE POTENTIALLY SOME RESIDENTS OUT OF THE CITY WHO ARE PAYING HIGH PROPERTY TAXES. SO THERE ARE QUESTIONS TO PURSUE AS WE EVALUATE THAT POTENTIAL
STRATEGY. I THINK MY SECOND PRIORITY WOULD BE THE LAND TRANSFER TAX. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE IS STATE AND COUNTY PRECEDENT FOR A LAND
TRANSFER TAX. THE STATE WOULD CHARGE US ABOUT $825 ON A $250,000 HOME. AND HENNEPIN
COUNTY CHARGES ABOUT $25. STATE IS $1.65 -- THE COUNTY PORTION IS .25, 25 CENTS ON EVERY $500.
AND IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A REFERENDUM MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION ON THAT ONCE GETS TO POTENTIALLY TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO WE CAN
CLARIFY THAT. THE THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT HITS PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY WHEN THEY'RE FLUSH WITH CASH, AND THAT IS AT THE TIME OF SALE OF A HOUSE. AND THEREFORE, IT SHOULDN'T PRESENT THE SAME HARDSHIP AS SOME OTHER
POTENTIAL TAXES. WE MIGHT EXPLORE WHETHER THERE'S LOGICAL USE FOR THAT TAX THAT WOULD FIT WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. SUCH AS RE-DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES AND SO ON. SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A
LOGICAL USE OF THAT REVENUE. AND THE THIRD PRIORITY I HAVE AMONG THE NEW POTENTIAL SOURCES OF REVENUE IS THE VOLUNTARY PILOT.
INSTITUTIONS ARE REQUESTED TO MAKE A PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT FULL OR PARTIAL THAT REPRESENTS THE VALUE OF THE CITY SERVICES THAT THEY RECEIVE. THE FACT THAT THEY'RE SERVED BY POLICE, FIRE, STREET PLOWING. I KNOW THAT MY
CHURCH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WOULD BE TAX EXEMPT HAS BENEFITED FROM FIRE SERVICES WHICH KEPT THE SMALL FIRE FROM GETTING MUCH LARGER. AND ALSO HAS USED SECURITY RECENTLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED AT ANNUNCIATION
CHURCH. THE OTHER THING I LIKE ABOUT THE BOSTON ONE, WHICH BASED ON THEIR PER CAPITA YIELD COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO YIELD 40.2 MILLION JUST BASED ON
OUR POPULATION, IS THAT THEY PUBLISH A LIST OF WHO HAS PAID AND WHO HASN'T PAID. SO THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IMPLIED PEER PRESSURE TO AT LEAST PAY SOMETHING. AND IN BOSTON, IT APPLIES TO MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT
HAVE MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN TOTAL PROPERTY. SO THAT HITS THE BIG PLAYERS NOT THE SMALL SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT ARE OUT THERE. SO THAT'S MY INPUT. AND I WILL NOW BE QUIET AND LISTEN TO
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE. COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> I WOULD SAY THAT JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, TAXES NO MATTER WHO WE TAKE THEM FROM DON'T DO US ANY GOOD IF WE'RE NOT SMART ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THEM. THAT'S JUST THE FIRST THOUGHT IN MY HEAD. WHEN I THINK
ABOUT TAXING THE RICH, WHAT I'M REALLY THINKING ABOUT IS PEOPLE PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. WE HAVE MILLIONAIRES IN OUR CITY. MANY OF THEM MOVED FROM OUTER SUBURBS TO PLACES LIKE THE MAIL DISTRICT AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT. WHAT THEY SEEMED TO FEEL WAS LESS
WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH TAXES THEY WERE PAYING. MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEIR DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATION THERE. I HEAR THE CONVERSATION A LOT. IT'S CALLED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. FLIGHT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
PEOPLE HAVE USED THE TERM WHITE FLIGHT. THE TERM IS THERE IS NO FINANCIAL SANCTUARY CITY IN THIS CITY. WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES. WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE'S SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS. WE RELY ON 80% OF OUR TAXES IN THIS CITY IN ORDER TO KEEP IT GOING. AND
CERTAINLY, WE ARE NOT A MAJORITY OF MILLIONAIRES. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SPEAK TO ME SINCE YOU USED RANK CHOICE VOTING, I'LL FOLLOW SUIT. I DO LOVE THE IDEA OF EXPANDING THE DOWNTOWN TAXING. THAT IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BIGGER LIFT THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT MORE, IT'S GOING
TO REQUIRE US TO RELY ON RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AS WELL. AS WE TALK TO FOLKS THAT NORMALLY WE DON'T TALK TO. I LIKE TO HAVE A BIGGER PICTURE GOAL THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK TO GET THERE. BUT ALSO TWO THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE LOWER HANGING FRUIT. BUT CERTAINLY
THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO OPERATE OUTSIDE OF OUR GOVERNMENT FOR, WHICH IS PAYROLL TAXES FROM CORPORATE ENTITIES WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. AS WELL AS LUXURY TAX FROM CAPITAL INVESTMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE. ANOTHER THING, I KNOW
I SAID I WAS GOING TO STICK TO THREE. BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT I THINK WILL COME OUT WHEN WE GET INTO THE WEEDS OF THE PRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTANT, ARE SOME THINGS LIKE INCREASING THE FEE FOR PEOPLE KEEPING THEIR PROPERTIES VACANT WHETHER
THEY'RE COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. IT'S SET WAY, WAY TOO LOW. AND PERHAPS THERE CAN BE OTHER GREAT POLICY THAT COMES OUT OF THAT. LIKE A FUND THAT GOES INTO REMODELING A LOT OF THESE HOMES. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAD THE PLEASURE
OF WORKING ON A CAMPAIGN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, THAT FOCUSED ON THE PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS THAT COME IN AND BUY UP LARGE SWATHS OF OUR CITY IN AREAS OF OUR CITY THAT ARE UNDER SERVED BOTH
HISTORICALLY AND PRESENT DAY. AND THEY OFTEN SUCK THE LIFE'S BLOOD OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN LEAVE IT AND LEAVE DESTITUTE PROPERTIES FOR WHICH US TO DEAL WITH. THOSE MAKE SENSE TO ME AS WELL EXPOUNDING
POR UPON IT AND THINK ABOUT SMART POLICY DECISIONS THAT CAN -- CHANGES NOT JUST ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY GOES BUT ALSO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ENFORCEABLE POLICY TO START MOVING SOME OF THESE DOLLARS AND MAKING BETTER DECISIONS. WE ARE A CITY THAT IS
VERY TOP HEAVY. OUR GOVERNMENT IS PRETTY BIG. HAS A LOT OF DIVISIONS. A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS. WHILE WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB RESTRUCTURING, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE DONE IN THIS
AREA. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON, THANK YOU. PAYNE OR COMMISSIONER ABENE. COMMISSIONER PAYNE. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BRANDT. I THINK AS YOU OUTLINED, WHAT WE PURSUE IS GOING TO REQUIRE
CHANGES AT THE CAPITAL. WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON OUR PRIORITY. I'LL BE TAKING THIS FEEDBACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IN GENERAL, MY APPROACH TO THIS ENTIRE TOPIC IS
THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN HOW DOWNTOWNS WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO MINNEAPOLIS. WE NEED A STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN HOW WE FUND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PEOPLE DRIVING IN FROM THE SUBURBS TO WORK DOWNTOWN AND
THAT DRIVING ALL OF OUR TAX REVENUE. SO A LOT OF WHAT I'LL BE LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S EXPANDING OUR AUTHORITY AROUND ENTERTAINMENT TAXES, LIQUOR TAXES, OR, YOU KNOW, LAND VALUE TAXES. JUST A LOT MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND LOCAL CONTROL, I WOULD SAY, AS A KIND OF BROAD THEME OF HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS. BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO S US -- US TO GET A POINT WHERE EVERY PLACE IS AN ATTRACTIVE
PLACE TO WORK. STILL HAVE THEM DRIVING DOWNTOWN AND TODAY, IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY DOWNTOWN AT LUNCH. YOU KNOW THOSE MONDAYs AND FRIDAYs WHERE YOU MIGHT BE WORKING FROM HOME. OR YOU MAY EVEN HAVE A CO-WORKING SPACE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU ARE
STILL GENERATING THAT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BUT IT'S JUST NOT CAPTURED IN OUR FRAMEWORK FOR TAXING. SO I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY ON THIS BODY OF BET, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAX LEVIES AS KIND OF OUR MAIN
PU PURVIEW, IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER FOR US TO ADOPT LOWER AND LOWER PROPERTY TAXES IF WE HAD THOSE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE. I THINK HOW WE FOCUS AND PRIORITIZE FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE CAPITAL IS GOING TO BE REALLY KEY HERE. THE OTHER THING I'M
THINKING ABOUT AS WELL IS AROUND THE FACT BECAUSE I THINK ESPECIALLY WE TALK ABOUT WEALTH TAXING PEOPLE. OH, YOU CAN JUST GO ACROSS THE BORDER 15 MINUTES AND GET AWAY FROM A WEALTH TAX IN MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK A LOT OF OUR SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS HAVE HAD
ARTIFICIALLY LOW TAXES OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS. AND AS THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS COMING TO END OF LIFE, THEY'RE GOING TO START GETTING HIT WITH INCREASING LEVELS OF PROPERTY TAXES JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AT A STATUS QUO
LEVEL. AND SO I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH VICE PRESIDENT STINSON THAT THIS CONCEPT, THE FLIGHT OUT OF THE CITY. THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE SOME SAFE PLACE TO LAND WHERE THERE ISN'T A JURISDICTION THAT ISN'T IN SOME SORT OF STRUCTURAL CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW
THEY'RE RAISING REVENUE TO KEEP THEIR CITY ALIVE. SO I THINK THIS IS ABOUT REALLY REORIENTING THE ENTIRE MODEL OF HOW GOVERNMENT IS FUNDED.
>> COMMISSIONER ABENE. >> VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION. I THINK THE ONLY THING I'LL COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, TRY TO THINK ABOUT PARKS. BECAUSE I'M THE PARK COMMISSIONER HERE. BUT THE ENTERTAINMENT TAX I THINK HAS SOME MERIT. SO THE PARK
BOARD, ESPECIALLY IF, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH REVENUES COULD FLOW TO THE PARKS EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM MAYBE SOME NEW REVENUE SOURCES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. MAYBE THE PARK BOARD STILL IS A
PROPERTY TAX DEPENDENT ENTITY. BUT THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN THAT THE CITY HAS IS RELIEVED BY SOME OTHER MECHANISMS. THE ENTERTAINMENT TAX. THE PARK BOARD IS A HUGE DRIVER OF VISITS TO THE CITY. THE CHAIN OF LAKES ARE THE SECOND BIGGEST
ATTRACTION IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BEHIND THE MALL OF AMERICA. AND MANY, MANY OF THE VISITORS, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBERS, BUT MILLIONS OF VISITORS COME FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY. TALK ABOUT SERVICES, THE CITY SUPPLIES, WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CITY, AND ALL OF THAT. I
THINK WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ALL THAT IS WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THE SAME PAYERS. SO I WOULD JUST PUT MY VOTE IN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. I WOULD FOLLOW UP
ON THAT. THE FEW COMMENTS. I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SMART CITY SPENDING. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED BY ALMOST EVERYBODY I MET WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
INCOME TAX IDEA WHILE OUT CAMPAINING IN THE, FOR THE ELECTION LAST WEEK. AND I HOPE TO TALK TO COMMISSIONER PAYNE FURTHER ABOUT THAT. SO THAT PERHAPS WE COULD FIGURE OUT A
WAY FORWARD ON THAT. THERE ARE SORT OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON THE VACANCY ISSUE. ONE IS THE SAN FRANCISCO APPROACH WHICH IMPOSES A CERTAIN FEE ON HOMES THAT ARE VACANT FOR
MORE THAN 160 SOME DAYS A YEAR, WHATEVER HALF A YEAR IS. AND I DISCOVERED IN LOOKING UP A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT THAT IT'S BEEN UNFORTUNATELY RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL I BELIEVE BY A
FEDERAL COURT ON BOTH STATE AND CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS IN SAN FRANCISCO. I HAVEN'T READ IN DETAIL ABOUT THAT. THEN THE OTHER APPROACH IS THERE IS A VACANT AND BOARDED BUILDING FEE IN MINNEAPOLIS. MY RECOLLECTION
IS THAT HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE CITY'S COST OF ESSENTIALLY TENDING TO THOSE BUILDINGS THAT WE CAN'T CHARGE A HIGHER FEE THEN WE CAN JUSTIFY BY DOING AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO MONITOR THEM. OTHERWISE, I'D BE
WITH YOU ON THAT, COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> [ OFF-MIC COMMENTS ]. >> RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A FEE BUT IT'S COSTED ON WHAT THE CITY CAN JUSTIFY IN TERMS OF STAFF TIME AND EFFORT. AND I THINK WE'VE
BEEN TOLD PRETTY FIRMLY BY THE COURTS THAT IT HAS TO -- WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY ANY FEE THAT WE CHARGE IN THAT REGARD. I
AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ABENE THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIND A WAY TO MILK SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE MANY, MANY VISITORS WHO COME TO PLACES LIKE THE CHAIN OF LAKES. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I RAN INTO WHILE OUT LOOKING FOR
MINNEAPOLIS VOTERS THIS SUMMER AT THE LAKES WERE FROM SAINT PAUL OR FROM THE SUBURBS. WE ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE PARK SYSTEM. WE DO HAVE A CHARGE FOR PARKING AT THE PARKING LOTS AT THE CHAIN OF LAKES. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT
EXPANDED TO THE PARKING BAYS THAT GO AROUND THE LAKE AS WELL. I BELIEVE THAT STARTED -- I THINK I SAW ONE ON THE WEST SIDE OF BDE MAKASCA. THAT'S A
PROMISING WAY. SO WE'VE GOT SOME VIEWS OUT ON THE TABLE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CONSENSUS. BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU -- EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> I WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND SINCE WE DON'T HAVE EVERYONE TODAY, AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE
GETTING A BRIEFING BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR BY A CONSULTANT. PERHAPS THAT WILL BE TIME TO TAKE UP THE CONVERSATION AND MEMO WITH SOME CONSENSUS OF INFORMATION. AND HAVE A SUMMARY OF HOW DIFFERENT MEMBERS FELT TOO. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHERE WE ALL AGREED. THERE COULD BE
OTHER IDEAS IN THERE. I FEEL LIKE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PREMATURE TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE. BUT I THINK DISCUSSION IS GOOD. IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE TO ME WE SEND A MEMO AFTER WE GET THAT
PRESENTATION. JUST A SUGGESTION. >> I AGREE. I THINK THERE IS A NEED TO GIVE SOME FEEDBACK EVEN IF IT'S JUST INDIVIDUALLY TO THE
STAFF BECAUSE I THINK OUR SUPPORT FOR ANY NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS WILL DEPEND ON WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT ABOUT HOW THINGS HAVE PLAYED OUT ELSEWHERE. AND I
THINK I WILL PROBABLY TAKE THE INITIATIVE JUST SPEAKING PERSONALLY OF SENDING A MEMO TO DIRECTOR HAWKINS TO POINT OUT SOME AREAS WHERE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU AS WELL. AND I'D BE GLAD TO MENTION THAT WE DISCUSSED IT. WE DON'T HAVE A CONSENSUS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING FOR MORE INFORMATION. BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE A KNOWLEDGEABLE DECISION
THAT WOULD BE BOLSTERED BY WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HE COULD PROVIDE FOR US. AND SO ANYMORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. WE
HAVE NONE. SO I GUESS WE HAVE NOTHING TO RECEIVE AND FILE. BUT THANK YOU FOR A ROBUST DISCUSSION. THE LAST ITEM FOR DISCUSSION IS THE BET DASHBOARD DEMONSTRATION WHICH WILL BE
PRESENTED BY BE STAFFER CHRISTINA KEIDERLING TO LEAD ON
THIS ITEM. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. JUST BEAR WITH ME ONE MOMENT AS I GET SIGNED IN HERE. WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY. ALL
RIGHTY, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD EVENING. AS YOU ALL KNOW MY NAME IS CHRISTINA KEIDERLING. I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE. SINCE LAST TIME WE SPOKE A BET WITH DASHBOARD WAS SET UP. THERE ARE TWO OUTSTANDING ITEMS I'M
STILL WORKING WITH I.T. ON. THOSE ARE FIRST OF ALL, THE DASHBOARD IS NOT BEING UPDATED IN REAL TIME. BUT THAT SHOULD OCCUR IN THE NEXT ONE TO TWO WEEKS. WE'RE WORKING WITH I.T. THAT WHEN I PUSH UPDATES ON MY
SOFTWARE, IT WILL -- THE OTHER THING THAT THEY ARE SETTING UP TO DO IS IMBEDDING THIS DASHBOARD ON TO YOUR PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE. SO RIGHT HERE I HAVE YOUR INTERNAL SHAREPOINT PULLED UP JUST SO YOU CAN TAKE A
LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD. IF YOU GO TO QUICK LINKS, IT'S GOING TO PULL UP THE DASHBOARD FOR YOU. I DID A FEW THINGS HERE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS IS THAT IT'S TAKING THE WORK PLAN YOU GAVE ME ALONG WITH ANY KIND OF
ADMINISTRATIVE DELIVERABLES THAT YOU HAVE TASKED ME WITH DURING THE BET MEETINGS AND IT'S GIVING YOU A PLACE TO SEE WHAT THE REQUEST STATUS OF THOSE ARE. BET 25003, IT WILL ACTUALLY LINK YOU TO THE BET MEETING WHERE YOU BROUGHT UP THAT ISSUE OR YOU
DISCUSSED IT OR YOU TOLD ME TO GO TAKE ACTION ON IT. IT'S A WAY TO GIVE US A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAKING SURE I AM MAKING PROGRESS HOW YOU WANT TO SEE IT AND YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN PROGRESS FOR THE BET. WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE HOUSED ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOUR PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE, THE
CITY WEBSITE, I IMAGINE WILL BE RIGHT DOWN HERE NEXT TO THE BYLAWS. I THINK THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO PUT A RADIO BUTTON. LIKE I SAID, ONE TO TWO WEEKS. FAR AND ABOVE MY IT
SKILLS. SO WE DO NEED TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT. FINALLY, JUST SO YOU HAVE A REFERENCE POINT AND YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF MAYBE WHAT SOME OTHER DASHBOARDS LOOKS LIKE. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THE POLICY AND RESEARCH DASHBOARD IS WHAT IT WAS CALLED. THEY'RE NOW
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND OVERSIGHT. IT'S HOUSED IN DATA SOURCE. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO BY GIVING THE BET A DASHBOARD. MANY IF NOT ALMOST ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE A DASHBOARD SO YOU CAN GO IN AND
SEE WHAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE WORKING ON. OR DOING THE EXACT SAME THING NOW FOR THE BET. WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT IS THE BET USING THEIR LEVIED FUNDS TO EXPLORE. WE'RE FOLLOWING WELL SET PRECEDENT. THERE'S NOT AS
MUCH ON OUR DASHBOARD YET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AS BUILT OUT. I THINK ONE DAY WE'LL PROBABLY LOOK A LITTLE MORE LIKE POLICY AND RESEARCH HERE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR MULTIPLE QUARTERS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. FOR NOW, WE JUST HAVE THE SMALL DASHBOARD THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH BASED ON THE
CURRENT WORK PLAN YOU'VE GIVEN ME. I EXPECT US TO BUILD THIS OUT OVER THE END OF THE YEAR, AND CERTAINLY INTO NEXT YEAR. IT'S GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE EVOLVING. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU ENVISION OR WOULD LIKE
TO WORK WITH ME WITH, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE TO LET YOU KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A DASHBOARD CREATED. WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET IT INTO DATA SOURCE WHERE IT HAS TO BE HOUSED, AND IMBEDDED ON TO THE PUBLIC FACING BET WEBSITE. SO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THAT, JUST LET ME KNOW. BUT IT WAS MOSTLY A STATUS UPDATE FOR YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. COMMISSIONER ABENE. >> THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT WORK. DID IT SAY YOU BET-CHA?
ROLL THAT DOWN. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SEE THAT. >> SURE. THIS IS YOUR INTERNAL SHAREPOINT. >> YEAH. I WANT TO KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THAT? IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW. >> IT WAS ME, MA'AM. >> THAT'S IT. LET'S GO BACK AND
MOVE HER TO STEP 3. [LAUGHTER] >> OKAY. >> YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. >> IF YOU DON'T FOR ANY REASON, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. >> I HAVEN'T TRIED BUT I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO USE MY CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS LOGIN. >> YOU DO, MA'AM. >> IT'S SOME WHAT RELATED, BUT
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SHAKE THE CITIZENS AND SAY PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE BET IS DOING. SO THIS IS GREAT. YOU HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY, IT'S A LITTLE DIVERSION FROM THE TOPIC. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA GETTING DUSTED OFF AS WELL. THE BET SOCIAL MEDIA. HAS THAT
HAPPENED? LIKE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE I'LL TOTALLY FOLLOW IT. >> I SO APPRECIATE IT. THE LAST UPDATE ON THAT, THERE ARE TWO CURRENTLY EXISTING SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. AND ONE IS FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT AND ONE IS FOR THE
PRESIDENT FOR THE ELECTED POSITIONS. WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ONE JUST FOR THE BET. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM WAS THINKING WE DID. BUT AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ONE. AS OF NOW, WE HAVE TWO SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES FOR THE PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT. THEY PLAN TO HAVE THEM RESET SO WHOMEVER TAKES OVER THOSE ROLES WILL HAVE NEW LOGIN CREDENTIALS. STAFF DIRECTION TO HAVE A THIRD BOARD
SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, IF THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU, IT'S JUST NOT IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY. VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE THIS ATTEMPT TO BE PUBLIC FACING. AND THAT'S ANOTHER MECHANISM WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> JUST QUICK FEEDBACK THAT WE DO HAVE COMMS AND IT DOES WORK WHEN WE PUSH THINGS OUT. WE DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB DOING THAT FOR THE LAST CHARTER REQUIRED MEETING, I BELIEVE. BUT WE COULD USE IT MORE OFTEN AND FOR OTHER MEETINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE BROKEN
THE RECORD FOR PUBLIC ATTENDANCE OF THIS MEETING BEFORE. AND PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. AND IT'S OUR JOB TO ENGAGE THEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE DATA DOES SHOW THAT WHEN WE DO, PEOPLE DO SHOW UP. AND WHEN WE DON'T, THEY DON'T.
>> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, UNLESS YOU HAVE A FURTHER PRESENTATION. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO IMPART FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. I NOTE THAT ALL THOSE WHO SOUGHT REELECTION ON THE BOARD WERE REELECTED. SO WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT GREAT
TURNOVER. AND WE'LL BE JOINED OF COURSE BY A NEW PUBLIC MEMBER, REPLACING COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. ALTHOUGH THERE'S CERTAINLY NO REPLACING COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON, AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, WE
WILL STAND ADJOURNED.