>> GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BUSINESS HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE FOR MARCH 20, 25. I'M JAMAL OSMAN, THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT REMIND ALL MEMBERS, STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC
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 OUR CAPTIONERS CAN TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. WE'LL BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT FOR THIS MEETING, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN. AT THIS TIME,
I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL TO VERIFY A QUORUM. >> COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> CASHMAN. >> PRESENT. >> JENKINS. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR ELLISON. >> HERE. >> CHAIR OSMAN. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE SIX MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE
HAVE A QUORUM. BEFE WE PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WE WILL FIRST TAKE OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 23. ITEM EIGHT IS APPROVING FIVE
LIQUOR LICENSE. NINE IS 211 LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS. 10 IS FOOD LOCKER REQUIREMENTS ORDINANCE. ITEM 11 IS A PASSAGE OF RESOLUTN APPROVING A GUIDELINES IF ARE THE CULTURAL BUSINESS WEEK CELEBTIONS
PROGRAM. ITEM 12 IS APPVING A DEBT FORGIVENESS FOR PILLSBURY AVENUE, 2011. 13 IS APPROVING A LOAN FOR THEASSAGE OF COMMUNITY PROJECT AT 17 SMZ
24th STREET EAST. ITEM 14 IS APPROVING ARE MINNEAPOLIS AFFORDABLE RENTAL STABILITYZATION GRANT FOR FOUR HOING PROJECTS. 15 IS AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION FOR EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT RIGS TO NORTHGATE DEVELOPMENT. 16 IS AUTHORIZING A GRANT AGREEMENT
FUNDING FOR CANNABIS BUSINESS TECHNICAL SERVICES. 17 IS TWO PASSAGE RESOLUTIONS FOR TWO BUSINESSES, GRANT AGREEMENT AND GREAT STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT AGREEMENT. 18 IS A PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LOAN
FOR T SPRING MAN MAN OR PROJECT. 19 IS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 8, 2025 FOR A LAND SALE AT 1027 ESSEX STREET
SOUTHEAST. 20 IS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 8 RELATED TO THE SIDEWALK CART STREET VENDING PROGRAMS. 21 IS RECEIVING AND FILING A REPORT ON VACANCY DATA STRATEGIES. 22 IS RECEIVING AND FILING A REPORT ON
THE HOUSING FIRST APPROACH TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. LASTLY, ITEM 23 IS RECEIVING AND FILING INFORMATION RELATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND RESPONSE TO THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE. NOW WE WILL
PROCEED -- OH. NOW WE'LL PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF OUR AGENDA. OH, SORRY. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS? I SEE COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. NOTHING I WANTED TO REALLY PULL
FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE PARIS HILL, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN LOWRY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SUPPORTS KIDS COMING OUT OF FOSTER CARE ON THEIR AFFORDABLE RENT STABILIZATION GRANT AWARD,
$56,000 AND THANK STAFF FOR MOVING ON THE UPTOWN BUSINESS SUPPORTS GRANTS DEFINITION AND GETTING TH GUIDELINES THAT I KNOW OUR PARTNERS IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ARE EXCITED TO APPLY FOR. AND GET THESE RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY BY SUMMER. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WAS HOPING MAYBE WE COULD PULL NUMBER 11, CULTURAL BUSINESS WEEK IS CELEBRATION FOR QUICK DISCUSSI. I KNOW THAT WE'RE APPROVING GUIDELINES AND IT JUST, AH, JUST WANTED TO GET MORE CLARITY IN TERMS OF WHAT
THIS MEANS FOR BLACK BUSINESS WEEK, LATINO BUSINESS WEEK, IF WE'RE EXPANDING IT FURTHER. JUST KIND OF WHAT MORE IN DEATH ARE THE GUIDELINE CHANGES AND WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT ON THIS ONE. >> WAS THAT A REQUEST? >> A REQUEST TO PULL IT FROM CONSENT. WE CAN TAKE IT UP LATER, IF YOU'D LIKE. OR WHATEVER YOU THINK IS RIGHT AS THE CHAIR. >> OKAY. OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND PU IT. ALL RIGHT. I PUT MYSELF IN QUEUE I WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON ITEM 10 FOR FOOT LOCKERS. I WANT TO THANK THE STF FOR TAKING TIME TO WORK WITH MY OFFICE AND, ALSO,
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY SERVICES. IT'S A LARST FOOD SHELF IN THIS STATE. IT'S LOCATED IN WARD 6. THI ORIGINATED FOOD LOCKER SYSTEM WOULD ALLOW NEIGHBORS DURINGHE OFF HOURS
TO COME AND PICK UP THE FOOD SHELF THERE. SO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKEDN THIS ITEM. I WOULD RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST REAL QUICKLY, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
MAIN CINEMA FOR THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE. IT'S BEEN A HARD JOURNEY AND LONG JOURNEY. THE STAFF HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH! AND ALSO RE ROSALIAH. IT W EMPTY SINCE THE BUILDING
WAS BUILT AND NOW IT'S FULL. EXCITING THING. AND THEN MY LAST COMMENT IS ON THE SPRING MANOR EXPANSION. THAT'S A $40 MILLION -- $40 MILLION INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HOUSING.
THAT'S GREAT TO GET THAT REMODELED! THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'L APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 11. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AND THOSE OPPOSESAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. AND
NOW WE ARE TURNING BACK TO ITEM 11. COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. YEAH, I WOULD THROUGH THE CHAIR, APPRECIATE IF STAFF WAS
AVAILABLE TO KIND OF JUST GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE IDELINE CHANGES THAT WE'RE APPROVING AND THEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT AND BLACK BUSINESS WEEK AND LATINO BUSINESS WEEK. .
>> GOOD MORNING. MANAGER OF THE SMALL BUSESS TEAM AND HAPPY TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY, AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY HAD ADOPTED PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR BLACK BUSINESS WEEK AND LATINO BUSINESS WEEK. SO THIS IS, IN PART, AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING
GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND HAVE THOSE PROGRAM GUIDELINES DOCUMENTED AND APPROVED THROUGH COUNCIL. THE SECOND THING THI WILL DO, IS ALLOW US TO PUT OUT A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PUT FORWARD THEIR OWN PROPOSALS, AS PART OF BLACKUSINESS WEEK
AND LATINO BUSINESS WEEK. >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY FOLLOW UP TO THAT IS, WE'LL STILL MAIAIN DOING BLACK BUSINESS WEEK AND LATINO BUSINESS WEEK. ARE WE THINKING OF EXPANDING TO OTHER CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS RELATED TO LOCAL BUSINESSES?
>> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, AT THIS TIME, THE TWO ADOPTED CULTURAL BUSINESS WEEKS ARE BLACK BUSINESS WEEK AND LATINO BUSINESS WEEK. WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY ADDITIONAL, AT THIS TIME. SO, YEAH. THE
CULTURAL BUSINESS WEEK CELEBRATIONS PROGRAM IS TO CREATE AN UMBRELLA TO CAPTURE THOSE TWO ADOPTED BUSINESS WEEKS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. WASN'T SURE JUST BASED OFF OF THE RCA ALONE. JUST WANTED TO GET THAT CLARIFICATION THAT THAT IS THE
DIRECTION WE'RE MOVING IN ON. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH OF THESE BUSINESS WEEKS. IT'S EXCITING THAT WRE CONTINUING BLACK BUSINESS WEEK AND WE'RE GOING INTO ANOTHER YEAR OF LATINO BUSINESS WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YES. NO PROBLEM. >> COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON. >> I'LL MOVE THAT ITEM FOR APPROVAL.
>> ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. FIT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PIZZA KARMA FOR EXTENDED
HOURS OPERATION. I'LL INVITE GREG TO COME UP AND PRESENT THAT. WELCOME, SIR. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M DISTRICT SUPERVISOR CRAIG ESON WITH LICENSES AND CONSUMER SERVICES. I'M PRESENTING AN APPLICATION
FROM PIZZA KARMA DINKYTOWNY LLC DOING BUSINESS AS PIZZA KARMA LOCATED AT 409 14th AVENUE SOUTHEAST IN WARD 2. OPENING SOON AS A RESTAURANT, AND REQUESTING AN EXTENDED HOURS OF OPERATION LICENSE. PIZZA KARMA
IS LOCATED IN DINKYTOWN, ADJACENT TO THE UVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. THEY WILL HAVE INDOOR SEATING FOR 20 PATRONS, OFFER CARRY YACHT, AND WORK WITH DELIVERY SERVICES. THEYRE REQUESTING TO BE OPEN LATER THAN THE AUTHORIZED HOURS OF OPERATION. TO BETTER SERVE THE
DINKYTOWN AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION ARE SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY 11:00 A.M.UNTIL 12:00 A.M. AND THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 11: A.M.TO 3:00 A.M. ON
FEBRUARY2th, PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES WERE SENT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PRISES. NOTICES WERE SENT TO THE MARCY HOMES AND PROSPECT PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. THE DINKYTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, AND COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE
COMMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY VOICING SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION. A REVIEW OF ANY COMPLAINTS, 3-1-1 CALLS, POLICE CALLS, AND OPERATING CONDITIONS FOUND NO ISSUES CONCERNING THE BUSINESS OR ISSUANCE OF THIS LICENSE. THE LICENSES AND
CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF AN EXTENDED HOURS OF OPERATION LICENSE FOR PIZZA KARMA. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND AT TIME, I WILL STAND FOR ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. AND NOW I'M GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING AND INVIT [?] WELCOME. >> COUNCILMEMBERS AND CHAIR. I'M THE FOUNDER OF PIZZA KARMA. SO PIZZA KARMA IS ALL ABOUT GOOD
THINGS. GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD FOOD, GOOD TIME. DINKYTOWN IS OUR FOURTH LOCATION IN MINNESO. OUR FIRST LOCATION STARTED IN EDEN PRAIRIE IN 2018, RIGHT BEFORE COVID. AND WE HAVE AN APPLE VALLEY LOCATION, AND THREE FOOD TRUCKS. WE'RE EXCITED TO
OPEN OUR, YOU KNOW, LOCATION IN DINKYTOW CATERING TO THE STUDENT COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESSES AROUND. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE QUESTIONS OF OUR STAFF, PLEASE. AND I'M WONDERING, ARE THERE OTHER FOOD LOCATIONS THAT ARE
OPEN UNTIL 3:00 A.M.IN THAT AREA? >> COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE, THROUGH THE CHAIR. YES, THERE ARE. I DON'T HAVE, OFFHAND YOU KNOW, THE SPECIFICS. BUT THERE ARE OTHER FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS OPEN THIS LATE. AND I SHOULD
POINT OUT, ALSO, THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE POLICE SECURITY REVIEW. INSPECTOR DID SIGN OFF WITH THE SECURITY PLAN FOR THE BUSINESS. THAT'S ALWAYS A PART OF THE EXTENDED HOURS APPLATION. THAT THEY MEET WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY DID SIGN OFF WITH NO
CONCERNS WH THESE HOURS. >> OKAY. AND THAT WAS MYECOND QUESTION, AS WELL. WE DO SPEND A LOT -- THANK YOU. ANDHEN JUST A COMMENT TO THE APPLICANT. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, DINKYTOWN, AT TIMES, HAS CAUSED
LOT OF SECURITY PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TO DEVOTE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO KEEP THE PEACE IN THERE. SO THIS IS NOT MY WARD, BUT IT USED TO BE. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CONDUCT THAT GOES ON THERE AT TIMES. >> YEP. SO ABSOLUTELY I AGREE
WITH THAT.. >> SIR, YOU CON DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER. >> I'M NOT ASKING AUESTION. >> SOUNDS GOOD. >> JUST VOICING CONCERNS. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK Y. COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAD THE SAME QUESTION ACOUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE ABOUT THE OTHER -- I'M
SEEING NODS FROM THE MANAGER THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN UNTIL 3:00 A.M., WHICH INDICES TO ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, LIKE, WE HAVE TESTED THAT IN THIS AREA TO SEE HOW WELL IT'S WORKING FOR SECURITY. I WANT TO I
UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE HOW LONG WE'VEAD BUSINESSES OPEN UNTIL 3:00 IN THE DINKYTOWN AREA. HAS IT BEEN SEVERAL YEARS W? >> COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN -- >> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE DISCUSSING. IS ANYBODY ELSE OPEN TO SPEAKING ON THE ITEM?
>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN IL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, SEEING NONE. CONTINUE, SIR. >> COUNCMEMBER CASHMAN, THROUGH THE CHAIR. MOST RECENTLY, WE'VE ISSUED THIS LICENSE UNTIL 3:00 A.M.FOR RAISING CANES, THE NEW
McDONALDS, THE PREVIOUS McDONALDS, I BELIEVE THEY HAD 24-HOUR OPERATION FOR YEARS. >> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE ARE SIGNING OFF ON THIS, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL TODAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON. >> JUST WANTED TO THANK THE BUSINESS OWNER. I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S STILL IN THE ROOM HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTING IN MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY THAT, FOR MY PART, WHE I
SEE BUSINESSES STAY OPENING LATER, I SEE IT AS A SIGN THAT BUSINESSES FEEL SAFE IN THE AREA. THAT STUDENTS ARE OUT AND ABOUT MORE. AND,OU KNOW, WHEN RESIDENTS ARE CLAIMING THE SPACE. RIGHT. WHEN RESIDENTS ARE SAYING "WE FEEL SAFE AND THIS IS OUR AREA AND THIS IS HOW
WE LIKE TO CONGREGATE AND GETS TOGETHER." THAT MAKES AN AREA SAFE. NOT THE ABSENCE OF PEOPLE. AND NOT ACQUIESCING TO OTHER ELEMENTS THAT DON'T MAKE US SAFE AND CONCEDING NIGHTTIME TO THEM. I THINK YOU SEE STUDENTS OUT THERE CLAING THE SPACE AND GRABBING PIZZA,
AND OTHER FOODS, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH! AND, OF COURSE, JUST BECAUSE A BUSINESS CAN STAY OPEN UNTIL 3:00, THEY DON'T HAVE TO. I'M SURE THE BUSINESS WILL ASSESS THAT AS THEY GO ALONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU WERE BUSINESS AND INVESTING IN
MINNEAPOLIS. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE MOTION OF APPROVAL. >> WONDERFUL. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WITH THAT MOTION,AL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. AND THE MOTN CARRIES. WE HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING FOR NOKKO, IF I'M SAYING IT RIGHT. I'LL HAVE THE MANAGER GIVE US THE PRESENTATION. ON SALE LIQUOR WITH SUNDAY SAL, NO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I'M PRESENTING AN APPLICATION FROM NOKKO, OWNED BY OKOME HOUSE LLC. LOCATED AT 47/47 NICOLLET AVENUE OF WARD 11. THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT ON SALE LIQUOR WITH SUNDAY SAS, WITH NO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. THE INTERIOR
SEATING CAPACITY WILL BE 52 SEATS, AND THE OUTDOOR AREA, WHICH IS SITUATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WILL ACCOMMODATE AN ADDITIONAL 30. IT'S A FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT HA HAS TAKEN OVER EDDY'S FAST FOOD LOCATION. IT AIMS TO OFFER SIT
DOWN RESTAURANT SERVING TRADITIONAL JAPANESE DISHES. THPROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE INTERIOR ARE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 5:00 TO 9:00. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 9:00 A.M.TO 9:00 P.M. HOURS OF OUTDOOR OPERATIONS MIRROR THE INTERIOR. ON FEBRUARY 25,
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES WERE SENT TO RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS WITH 600 FEET OF THE PREMISES. NOTICES WERE ALSO SENT TO THE NGLETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND COUNCILMEMBER EMILY KOSKI'S OFFICE. WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY THA RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE ARE NO ISSUES CONCERNING
THE BUSINESS OR THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE. LICENSES AND CONSUM SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL FOR THE ON SALE LIQUOR LICENSE WITH SUNDAY SALES AND NO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. AND I STAND FOR ANY CMENTS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO
PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBC HEARING AND CALL [?]
>> HELLO. I'M THE OWNER OF THE NOKKO HOUSE WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE LONG VIEW AREA. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN NOKKO, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU S MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SEEING NO ONE ELSE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND CALL COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH,HAIR OSMAN, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO OUR COMMITTEE TODAY! OKOME HOUSE IS LOCATED IN WARD 12 IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL BUSINESS IN
THAT AREA. IT'S JUST RIGHT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND A PERFECT PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO STOP IN AND GRAB SOME FOOD THAT'S PRETTY HEALTHY, REALLY DELICIOUS, REALLY FRESH. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND CONTINUE TO BRING IT OVER ON THE SOUTH SIDE. JUST
IN WARD 11. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. AND APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND MOVE THIS ITEM FOR APPROVAL. >> THANK YOU. WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY'S MOTION TO APPROVE. AYES HAVE IT AND
THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEING FOR ROSALIA WITH ON SALE LIOR SUNDAY SALES NO LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT. WE'LL HAVE THE BUSINESS MANAGER TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION >> THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, AMY LINGO. I'M PRESENTING THE APPLICATION FROM ROSE LEAH. THIS IS LOCATED AT 3 333
HENNEPIN AVEE. THEY REQUEST ON SALE LIQUOR WITH SUNDAY SALES, NO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. 80 SEATS AND THE OUTDOOR AREA SITUATED 0EN A PRIVATE PATIO SEATS 50. IT'S LOCATED ON THE MAIN FLOOR OF AN APARTMENT
BUILDING. FERS DINE IN AND TAKEOUT OPTIONS. SO THE PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE INTERIOR DAILY 10:00.M.TO 1:00 A.M. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE EXTERIOR ARE 10:00 A.M.TO 10:00 P.M., SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 10:00 A.M.TO 11:00
P.M. ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. ON FEBRUARY 25, PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES WERE SENT TO RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 60 00 FEET OF THE PREMISES. NOTICES WERE SENT TO THE EAST BANK NEIGHBORHOOD AND COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE'S OFFICE. WE RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS THE NEW LICENSE. WE
HAVE NO ISSUES CONCERNING THIS BUSINESS OR THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE. AND LICENSES AND CONSUMER RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. STAND FOR ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESTATION. I'M GOING TO
PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND RECOGNIZE THE APPLICANT, CARRIE GREY. LCOME. >> HELLO. CARRIE WASN'T ABLE TO
MAKE IT. I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON R R RO THEIR BEHALF. WE'RE EXCITED TO BE IN THE
NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE SMALL CORRECTION ON THE OUTDOOR HOURS. IT'S ACTUALLY 10:00 A.M.TO 10:00 P.M. SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND THEN 10:00 A.M.TO 11:00 P.M. FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD. >> JERRYOLF.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONY. SEEING NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. AND IFYF GRATITUDE TO THE OWNERS FOR FILLING THIS EMPTY SPACE. THANK
YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING
AUTHORIZING HOST APPROVAL FOR TAX EXEMPT REVENUE BOND FOR METRO SCHOOL COLLEGE PREP. I'LL INVITE STAFF FROM CPED TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR OSMAN AND MEMRS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I'M BECKY SHAW. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE HOST APPROVAL FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TAX EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS BY PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION OF 620 OLSON
MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, 622, 634, AND 638 7th AVENUE NORTH BY OREGON NONPROFIT. WONDERFUL FOUNDATIONS THROUGH THE RELEASED HOLDING COMPANY WFCS, V HOLDINGS LLLC. A NATIONAL BOND ISSUER
PROPING TO ISSUE UP TO $105 MILLION IN TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS TO WONDERFUL FOUNDATIONS TO PURCHASE AND RENOVATE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILIES IN VARIOUS STATES, INCLUDING THE METRO SCHOOLS COLLEGE PREP IN MINNEAPOLIS. FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS REQUIRE THE MUNICIPALITY
WHERE THE PROJECT IS PHYSICALLY LOCATE TO GRANT HOST APPROVAL TO AN OUTSIDE ENTITY FOR ISSUANCE OF THE TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS. T CITY AUTHORIZED HOST AAPPROVAL IN 2023, TO ISSUE BONDS FOR THIS PROPERTY. BUT THE BONDS WERE NOT ISSUED DUE TO
MARKET CONTIONS AT THAT TIME. THE MARKET CONDITIONS HAVE SINCE IMPROVED, BUT THE 2023 AUTHORIZATION HAS EXPIRED. SO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY IS ONCE AGAIN REQUESTING HOST APPROVAL TO ISSUE THE BONDS IN 2025. WONDERFUL FOUNDATIONS WILL
PURCHASE THE PROPEY THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS, THEN LEASE IT BACK TOTS CURRENT TENANT, METRO SCHOOLS COLLEGE PREP. THE PROJECT HAS PAID THE CITY $5,000 HOS APPROVAL FEE, AS REQUIRED UNDER OUR BOND POLICY. I DO HAVE AN
INDIVIDUAL HERE FROM THE PROJECT, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. AND I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I'M GOINGO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYO WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON. >> THANK YOU. JUST A FEW -- I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. SOME APOLOGIES. WE ALWAYS GET
THE QUESTIONS AND I'M PRETTY SURE I KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THEM BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE. SO THESE TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS, THESE ARE NOT COMING OUT OF TAAYERS' POCKETS. THIS IS NOT TAXPAYERS' AREN'T ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING THE BONDS BACK. >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
WITH REVENUE BONDS, THE PROJECT HAS TO PAY THE BONDHOLDERS BACK THROUGH THE REVENUES PRODUCED BY THE FACILITY. >> RIGHT. AND THEN SECOND QUESTION IS WHEN IT COMES TO TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS, IT'S NOT -- THERE'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A LIMIT. IT'S NOT LIKE A
LIMITED RESOURCE IN THE SAME WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, 9% CREDITS ARE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT, AS WELL. >> THAT'S CORRECT,ES. >> OKAY. COOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE CLARIFYING THOSE QUESTIONS I HAD. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OTHERWISE
I'LL MOVE APPROVAL. I KNOW WE HAVE AT LOT OF DEBATE UP HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO -- WE ALWAYS WANT TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I THINK WE DO AS A CITY FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE PLAYING A ROLE IN ENCOURAGING MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OUR CITY. NO MATTER THE ROLE, I THINK THIS IS T ONLY WAYS WE PLAY A ROLE IS BY ISSUING THESE BONDS. SO I'M GOING TO BE NO
ON THIS TODAY. AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER, AS A BODY, WHETHER THE ROLE WE'VE BEEN TAKING IN ISSUING THESE BONDS IS ENCOURAGING MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE A
COMMENT, BUT I WILL -- YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR YOUR WORK. I DO SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOLS. THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO SOME COMMUNITIES. ESPECIALLY MY COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE SEEN
CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING IVY LEAGUES AND ARE DOING GREAT! ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT, A MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT I KNOW,
CHILDREN GO TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. IT'S A POSITIVE, IN MY OPINION. AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM. >> I WANT TO E JUMP BACK IN QUEUE TO ASK IF -- OR JUST TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. ONE, I'M SOMEBODY WHO GENERALLY DOESN'T
SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOLS. RIGHT. WE'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES HERE. BOTH GOING TO VOTE FOR THESE, I HOPE. AND I HOPE MY COLAGUES WILL JOIN US. I'D SAY THIS IS FOR THE COUNCIL'S SAKE. WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE WANT
TO ADDRESS THESE KINDS OF ITEMS. IN THE PAST, COLLEAGUES HAVE VOTED AGAINST THEM. I'VE NEVER SEEN THE CONVERSATION COME BACK UP IN A WAY THAT REALLY MOVES US IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION LEGISLATIVELY. AND SO I REALLY WANT TENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, EAGER TO VOTE
AGAINST THESE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE AND COME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO WHEN IT COMES TO DISPENSING THESE ITEMS. I DON'T THINK THAT VOTING AGAINST THEM WHEN THEY COME UP IS THE RIGHT WAY TO ADDRESS THEM. AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION FOR STAFF. IF WE DON'T
GIVE HOST APPROVAL, AND THIS ACTUALLY CANNOT REMEMBER IF I HAVE THIS CORRECT. THIS -- THEY COULD SEEK HOST APPROVAL FROM THE STATE OR FROM THE COUNTY, IS THAT -- DO I HAVE THAT CORRECT?,
THROUGH CHAIR OSMAN, TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT ASKING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO ISSUE THE TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS FOR THIS PROJECT. THEY HAVE FOUND AN OUTSIDE ENTITY WHOSE A NATIONAL ISSUER WILLING TO ISSUE THE TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS. WE'RE ASKING PERMISSION TO ALLOW SOMEBODY ELSE TO ISSUE THE
BONDS. IF WE SAY NO TO THE HOST APPROVAL, THE PROJECT COULD ASK THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO ISSUE THE BONDS ON THEIR BEHALF. THEY SC COULD ASK ANOTHER NATIONAL APPROVER. THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN ISSUE FINANCING FOR THEM. AND SO THIS
PARTICULAR ACTION IS REQUESTING APPROVAL OF SOMEBODY ELSE FINANCING THE PROJECT. >> AND THEN THE LAST THING I GUESS I'LLAY, ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR QUESTIONS. I GUESS TO MY COLLEAGUES, WHAT IL SAY, IF WE WANT TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION HERE, DIFFERENT POLICY RECTION, THEN I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE ACHIEVE THE OBJTIVE WE'RE LOOKING FOR. IF THE OBJECTIVE WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS NOT HAVE CHARTER SCHOS IN OUR CITY, I THINK THAT IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STRATEGY THAN VOTING AGAINST JUST ONE SET OF BONDS
OR, YOU KNOW, A INTENSE OF BONDS AS THEY COME UP ON OUR AGENDA THIS WAY. THAT'S MYPERSPECTIVE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I PUT MYSELF IN QUEUE ONE MORE TIME. AND JUST SAY THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR
THE RECORD. EING NO ONE ELSE, WITH THAT MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NAY. >> NAY. >> ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT
ITEM HASASSED. LET'S DO A VOICE CAL. >> COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> AYE. >> CHMAN. >> NO. >> JENKINS. >> AYE. >> CHOWDHURY. >> NO. >> VICE CHAIR ELLISON. >> AYE. >> CHAIR OSMAN. >> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FOUR AYES AND TWO NAYS. >> THAT ITEM IS APPROVED. ALL RIGHT. OUR LAST PUBLIC HEARING IS A PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE REGARDING THE USE OF ALGORITHM IN RENTAL RATES. THIS IS BEING
PROVIDED BY VICE CHAIR ELLISON, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY, AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBE. I'LL HAVE VICE CHAIR ELLISON TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. WELCOME.
>> THIS IS M FORESHADOWING MY FUTURE. NOT ON THE BENCH ANYMORE. I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS QUICK. AND HOPEFULLY THE WHOLE THING GOES QUICK. BUT I GUESS WE CAN ALWAYS DEBATE IT
LONG-TERM. BUILT FOR THAT, AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. O I GOT A SCRIPT HERE. I'M MOSTLY GOING TO READ FOR IT. AS PEOPLE HAVE QUESTION I KNOW THE MATERIAL WELL ENOUGH TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND GO OFF SCRIPT. SO, YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS. I THINK I'VE NEVER DONE THIS IN MY CAREER SO
FAR. SO EXCITING! THANK YOU ALL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE ARE DISCUSSING AN IMPORTANT STEP TO ENSURING FAIR AND TRANSPARENT HOUSING PRTICES IN MINNEAPOLIS. MYSELF, COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY,
AND COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ ARE AUTHORING THE USE OF ALGORITHM IN RENT FIXING ORDINANCE, WHICH WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR RE TODAY. SO I'LL TWO TO SLIDE NUMBER 2 HERE. SO THE ISSUE WITH THESE TYPES OF
ALGORITHMS. LANDLORDS ACROSS THE UNTRY, INCLUDING IN MINNEAPOLIS, ARE INCREASINGLY USING AI-POWERED PRICING SOFTWARE TO SET RENTS. NOT BASED ON FAIR MARKET COMPETITION, BUT MAXIMIZE PROFITS ACROSS A NETWORK OF PROPERTY OWNERS. THESE TOOLS ANYZE PRIVATE RENTAL DATA TO
INFLATE PRICES, REDUCE COMPETITION,ND DRIVE MORE TENANTS OUT OF THEIR HOME PLS THE IMPACT IS UNDENIAL, STUDIES SHOW DOUBLE DIGIT RENT INCREASES IN CITIES WHERE THE TOOLS ARE WIDELY USED. SUCH AS PHOENIX AND TUCSON. HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS, WE'VE SEEN SIMILAR PATTERNS, HIGHER RENTS, FEWER AVAILABLE UNITS, AND MORE
TENANTS BEING PRICED OUT. RECOGNIZING THE HARM, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND ATTORNEY GENERALS IN 10 STATES, INCLUDING MINNESOTA HAVE SUED REAL PAGE, ALLEGING ITS SOFTWARE FACILITATES COLLUSION AND RENT PRICE MANIPULATION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS STEPPING BACK
FROM REGULATING AI BIG TECH, AND TAKING THE FOOT OFF THE GAS IN ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS. THIS INACTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL EMPOWERS COMPANIES TO CONTINUE MANIPULATING MARKETS UNCHECKED, WORSENING THE HOUSING AFFORDABLE CRISIS, WITHOUT INTERVENTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
WEISK GIVING COMPANIES EVEN MORE RING INFLUENCE OVER RENTS. PUSHING TENANTS FUT OUT OF THEIR HOMES. MINNEAPOLIS NEEDS TO TAKE THE LEAD, WHERE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS ARE FAILING. SO WHAT THE ORDINANCE DOES. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDS TITLE
12, CHAPTER 244 AT THE CITY CODE TO BAN LANDLORDS FROM USING ALGORITHMIC RENT SETTING TOOLS. IT EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS THE USE OF AI-DRIVEN REPRESENT PRICING, SOFTWARE, AND INTRODUCES CLEAR DEFINITIONS TO REGULATE THESE PRACTICES BY DEFINING ALGORITHMIC DEVICE AND NONPUBLIC
COMPETITOR DATA. AND IT ESTABLISHES AN ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, INCLUDING PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE. IF PASSED, THIS ORDINANCE WILL TAKE EFFEC MAR MARCH 1, 2026. ENFORCEMENT. SO HOLDING
LANDLORDS ACCOTABLE. THE LAW IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ENFORCEMENT. HERE IS HOW WE WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE. EDUCATION AND NOTIFICATIO THAT IS A PART OF WHY WE'RE GIVING THIS POLICY SUCH A LONG RUNWAY. REGULATORY SERVICES WILL NOTIFY AND EDUCATE LANDLORDS ABOUT THE NEW REQUIREMENTS BEFORE
IMEMENTATION. SO THAT LANDLORDS HAVE THE CHANCE TO CRSE USING SOFTWARE BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF LICENSE RENEWAL. TWO IS SELF-ATTESTATION. LANDLORDS MUST CONFIRM COMPLIANCE WHEN RENEWING THE RENTAL LICENSE, AGREEING NOT TO
USE ALGORITHMIC RENT SETTING TOOLS. THREE IS PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS. LANDLORDS WHO FAIL COMPLY CAN FACE FINES AND ULTIMATELY REVOCATION OF THEIR LICENS THREE IS COMPLAINT-BASED SYSTEM. TENANTS AND ADVOCATES ASK REPORT VIOLATIONS, ENSURING THAT
NONCOMPLIANT LANDLORDS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. FIVE, I'M GOING TO BE PURSUING A AMENDMENT TO THIS, JUST TO ADD THIS. I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS SORT OF IMPLICITN EVERY POLICY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S THERE AND CLEAR FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR SAKE AND THE SAKE OF ANYONE READING THE ORDINANCE.
BUT IT'S PRIVATEIGHT OF ACTION. TENANTS AND ADVOCATES WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE LEGAL ACTIONN THEIR PRIVATE RIGHT AGAINST LANDLORDS WHO VIOLATE THE ORDINANCE. ENSURING RONGER ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIRECT RECOURSE FOR THOSE IMPACTED. SO DR NOT EVERY COURSE HAS TO BE COMPLAINT BASED
TO THE CITY. AND ERY REGULATION WE IMPLEMENT AT THE CITY, WE OPERATE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THOSE REQUIRED TO COMPLY INTEND TO DO SO IN GOOD FAITH. INCLUDING LANDLORDS. SO THIS OINANCE IS NOT ABOUT ASSUMING BAD INTENT, BUT ESTABLISHING CLEAR EXPEKIONS AND ENSURING A SMOOTH
TRANSITION. BY PASSING THIS ASURE, WE'RE PROVIDING AMPLE TIME AND RESOURCES FOR COMPLIANCE AND CREATING A BALANCED APPROACH TT ENSURES THAT A LANDLORDS ARE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS WHILE PROVIDING RENTERSITH TOOLS TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS. SO WHY THIS MATTERS FOR MINNEAPOLIS.
HOUSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. MAYBE NOT BY LAW, BUT I TNK WE SHOULD BELIEVE IN THAT. AND RENTERS IN OUR CITY DESERVE A FAIR, COMPETITIVE MARKET. ALGORITHMIC RENT SETTING E L INFLATES PRICING AND REDUCES HOUSG AVAILABILITY, LEAVING TOO MANY RESIDENTS STRUGGLING TO
FIND AND KEEP A HOME. BY BANNING THESE PREDATORY PRACTICES, WE ARE PREVENTING ARE PRICE FIXING AND FOSTERING FAIR COMPETITION, PROTECTING RENTERS FROM ARTIFICIAL RENT HIKES THAT COULD PUSH THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES, ENSURING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BY STOPPING UNCHECKED AI-DRIVEN RENT
INCREASES, AND REDUCING EVICTIONS BY MAKIN RENT MORE PREDICTABLE AND FAIR. MINNEAPOLIS IS JOINING A GROWING MOVEMENT. WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS EFFORT. CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND PHILADELPHIA HAVE ALREADY BANNED ALGORITHMIC RENT
SETTING AND OTHERS, INCLUDING SAN DIEGO, WASHINGTON STATE, AND NEW JERSEY ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, LAWSUITS ARE UNDERWAY, AS MENTIONED. AGAINST MAJOR LANDLORDS USING REAL PAGE'S SOFTWARE. A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AT THE STATE
LEVEL TO BAN ALL ALGORITHMIC RENT SETTING ACROSS THE STATE. AND SO IN CONCLUSION, THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE OVER PROFITS. IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT RENTERS IN MINNEAPOLIS AREN'T FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF UNCHECKED AI-DRIVEN
GREED. AND ABOUT KEEPING OUR COMMITIES STRONG AND VIABLE. WITH CLEAR ENFORCEMENT ISSUE MANIES IN PLACE, WE CAN ENSURE THISS MORE THAN WORDS. IT'S A REAL, ENFORCEABLE PROTECTION FOR RENTERS ACROSS THE CITY. SO THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON, FOR THAT
PRESENTATION. WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST. THEN QUESTIONS THAT COME UP. SO NOW I'M PROCEEDING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND I SEEWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
WILLIAM RAYMOND. WELCOME. WARD THREE. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY
NAME IS WILLIAM RAYMOND. I LIVE IN WARD THREE. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, IT REMINDED ME -- WELL, FIRST OFF,N
THESE ALGORITHMICS. I'VE HAD A LOT OF HOUSING INSECURITY PROVIDING FOR MY OWN SELF. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RENTAL PRICING ALGORITHMS, THEY'RE USED MOSTLY BY LARGE INVESTMENT FIRMS TO -- HOW DO I SAY IT? ARTIFICIALLY
INFLATE RENT AND HARM TENANTS. BUT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT THESE ARE LARGE INVESTMENT FIRMS. WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, LANDLORDS, TOO. AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY WHERE I LIVE UNDER. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN -- IN MY EXPERIENCE,
LIVING WITH A LANDLORD THAT ONLY HAS ONE UNIT OR A COUPLE OF UNITS HAS BEEN, LIKE, SO DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT. AND HAVING, LIKE, FAIR MARKET -- HOW DO I PUT IT? FAIR MARKET RATES, LIKE BETTER COMPETITION FOR THOSE LANDLORDS TO PROTECT THEM,
ALSO, I THINK IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE, LIKE, A BETTER, UMM, SAY, IN GENERA TO USE LOUISE. I MEAN, IF, BASICALLY,
ALL THE CEOS AND CFO CAME TOGETHER AND MET AND PUT THESE PRICE ADJUSTMENTS OUT AND AGREED UPON THEM, IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL MARKET COLLUSION. IF IT WAS, LIKE, A ROBOT OR AI THAT DID IT, WHY IS THAT LEGAL? THAT'S SORT
OF THE QUESTION I ASK. WHY DO WE ALLOW THAT? THAT'S REALLY ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT PERSON IS SIA. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. M NAME IS SIA SHELAR. I SERVE AS DIRECTOR AT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE. THIS
AMENDMENT IS CRUCIAL TO STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN RENTERS AND LANDLORDS PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND HINDERING MARKET MANIPULATION IN MINNEAPOLIS. STUDENTS ARE KEY CONSTITUES IMPACTED BY THIS ISSUE. WHILE I'M THE ONLY STUDENT HERE TODAY, I INCH YOU TO LOOK AT THE WRITTEN TESTIMONY SUBMITTED BY
SEVERAL STUDENTS IN THE COUNCIL COMMENT. WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, STUDENTS ARE IN A UNIQUE AND VULNERABLE PITION DUE TO THEIR LIMITATION OF NEEDING TO BE CLOSE TO CAMPUS. IN FACT, 75% OF U OF N STUDENTS RESIDE OFF CAMPUS IN IN THE PROCESS, A MAJITY OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF ARE
FIRST-TIME RENTERS. AS A SMAND FOR HOUSINGEMAINS HIGH, STUDENTS ARE AT THE MERCY OF LANDLORDS ACROSS VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THE UNIVERSITY WHO ARE ABLE TO INFLATE RENT PRICES AT INCONSISTENT RATES. THIS IS FURTHER EXACERBATED WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THESE RENT ALGORITHMS. STUDENTS ARE FORCED
TO LIVE WITH UPWARDS OF FOURO FIVE PEOPLE, HAVE SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT, AND OFTEN SACRIFICE BASIC NEEDS TO AFFORD THE HIGH PRICES. THESE ACTIONS TAKE A SIGNIFICANT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL. MANY STUDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN. ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THEUNIVERF
STUDENTS SHARED CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. THESE ALLE HAVE INTENSIFIED IMPACTING NOT ONLY MINNEAPOLIS BUT OTHER MAJ MAJOR CITIES. IT HAS IMPACTS ON STUDENTS. A
DECISION NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE BECAUSE OF RENT COSTS. IN CLOSING, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. THIS ORDINANCE UPHOLDS CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABILITY BY LIMITING THEIR ABILITY TO SHARE RENTER
SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO LANDLORDSES WHO USE IT FOR PREDATORY PURPOSES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON ONE MORE TIME, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM STAFF. >> WELCOME ANY DISCUSSION. I'M
GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE. I HOPE I CAN HAVE SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES. >> I SEE COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. U I I THINK I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR THE AUTHORS. HOW W THIS IDENTIFIED AS A NEED? LIKE,
WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? >> IT WASN THE PRESENTATION, A LITTLE BIT. THERE IS A HISTORY. AND WHILE WE'RE LUCKY IN THE STATE OF MINNESO FOR IT NOT TO BE AS PROLIFERATED AS IT IS- AS IT HAS IN OTHER STATES
WHERE IT'S WREAKING HAVOC ON RENTERS. I THINK WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE DIDN'T, FIRST, WAIT UNTIL THESE ALLERGIES WERE BEING USED FOR 50%, 60%, 80% OF R HOUSING STOCK BEFORE WE TOOK ACTION. AND SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE IDENTIFIED THE NEED AS
BY SORT OF LOOKING AT THE HOUSING LANDSCAPE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> OKAY. TNKS. AND SO REAL PAGE IS ONE OF THESE TOOLS? ARE THERE MANYF THESE TOOLS? >> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY THE ARE. CERTAINLY REAL PAGE
HAS EMERGED AS SORT OF ONE OF THE EXAMPLE OFFENDERS. >> AND DO WE HAVE EVIDENCE THIS SOFTWARE IS, INDEED, MANIPULATI THE MARKET? >> I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE LAWSUITSES ARE ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT THE DOJ INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT THE 10 STATE
AG LAWSUITS ARE ALL ABOUT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'D SAY YES. BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE MAYBE HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR WHA WE DEEM, YOU KNOW, REAL OR ACCEPTABLE. BUT CERTAINLY ALL THAT LITIGATION IS -- TELLS ME
THERE'S A PROBLEM, AND CERTAINLY THERE'S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE AND ANTIDOTES FROM OTHER STATES TO ATTEST TO THE WAYS THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.
I'M WONDERING HOW A RENTER WOULD KNOW A LANDLORD IS USING FOR THIS. I'VE LIVED IN A BUILDING OWNED BY A CAPITAL ASSETS IN CALIFORA. IN MY CASE, LS CAPITAL WAS EXTREMELY
NEGLIGENT OF OUR PROPERTY. BUT I WOULD HAVE NO IDEA OF KNOWING WHETHER THEY WERE UNG THIS OR NOT. I'M WONDERING HOW YOU'REAS WOULD EVEN FILE COMPLAINTS OR HOW ENFORCEMENT WOULD WORK. >> YEAH. AND SO THE WAY I SEE
IT, IS THAT THE WAY THAT THESE TOOLS WERE DISCOVERED WAS BY RENTERS AND ADVOCATES. WE WOULD BE RELYING O THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS -- AND I'VE ACTUALLY, IN MY HASTE UP HERE, FORGOT TO MAKE MY AMENDMENT. SO THIS IS I'M GLAD FOR THIS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE SORT OF ALLOW NOT ONLY IN THIS ORDINANCE, BUT I OTHER ORDINANCES, FOR PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. WE KNOW, AT TIMES, THERE ARE THINGS THAT RENTERS UNDERSTAND, THAT RENTER ADVOCATES LEARN, THAT LAWYERS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LEARN ABOUT
VIOLATIONS THATEGULATORY SERVICES JUST WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO. RIGHT. AND SO ACTUALLY AM GOING TO MODIFY MY MOTIO TO MOVE, ASMENDED, WITH THE AMENDMENT HERE. I THINK MY COLLEAGUES SHOULD HAVE THIS.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL GET YOU A COPY. DO THE CLERKS HAVE A COPY OF THIS AMENDMENT? ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. PERFECT. MY MOTION TO MOVE, AS AMENDED, BUT, YES. YES. I THINK WE WOULD BE RELYING ON TENANTS AND THEIR
ADVOTES TO HELP US IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM. THE WAY WE DO WITH A LOT OF PROBLEMS,OU KNOW, THE CITY CAN'T KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY POTHOLE THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY. BUT WE DO RELY ON, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO --
WE DO RELY ON PEOPLE WHO LIVE ACROSS THE CITY TO TELL US WHERE THEY ARE. I THINK THIS ORDINANCE WOULD WORK A LOT SIMILARLY. >> UH-HUH. I THINK I'M JUST TRYING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, LIKE, WHAT THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE HOPING THIS WOULD HAVE AND HOW
IT WOULD PLAY OUT. AND HOW MUCH, LIKE, TIME AND EXPERTISE IT WOULD TAKE CITY STAFF TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND WHETHER REC SERVICES HAVE THE CAPACITY TOO THE WORK. I KNOW THERE'S A BILL MOVING AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AS WELL. I'M WONDERINGOR STATE LEVEL, LIKE HOUSING AGENCIES WOULD BE BETTER
EQUIPPEDDED TO ACTUALLY RUN THESE TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THEY RECEIVE A COMPLAINT. I MEAN, WHEN WE GET A 3-1-11 COMPLAINT FOR A POTHOLE. IT'S EASY TO SEE IT'S THERE AND PATCH IT UP. A COMPLAINT ON USING THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY, I'M NOT
SURE IS AS SIMPLE TO FIND OUT. REGULATORY SERVICES HAS A LOT ON THEIR PLATE. I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYSUT AND HOW MUCH STAFF TIME AND CAPACITY IT WOULD TAKE TO INVESTIGATE THESE TYPES
OF COMPLAINTS. >> I'LL WELCOME REG SERVICES TO COME UP. I DON'T TNK WE'RE ANTICIPATING THEY WOULD OPEN UP DA ANALYTIC FORENSIC DEPARTMENT. I THINK WHAT WE WOULD BE ANTICIPATING IS, FIRST,
THAT IS GOOD FAITH COMPL COMPLIANCE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ANTICIPATE WITH EVERY LEGISLATION WE PASS. WE MOSTLY GET IT, I WOULDAY. EDUCATION IS A BIG PART OF THAT. NOT JUST FOR LANDLOR BUT RENTERS , AS WELL. I THINK RECEIVING
COMPLAINTS FROM COMMUNITY IS HOW A LOT OF OUR SYSTE WORK. BUT I WELCOME REG SERVICES TO WELCOME ANY CONTEXT THEY WANT. >> GOOD MORNING. APRIL BOGART. COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN,E WOULD
LARGELY RELY ON COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC FROM RENTERS. CERTAINLY DOING EDUCATION WOULD BE A BIG PART OF THIS. WE WOULD BE EDUCATING PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THIS WAS NO LONGER A I LOWED -- ALLOWED IN THE CITY. THE PLAN WOULD BE TO SEND
OUT THE INFORMATION WITH RENEWAL NOTICES STARTED ON JANUARY 1st. AND PROBABLY DOING SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION BEFORE THE LICENSES GO OUT IN MARCH. AND THEN FOLLOWING UP ON COMPLAINTS, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE LIMITED TO SPEAKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS, REMINDING THEM THAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT
USE THESE TOOLS. AND THEN ASKING, "ARE YOU USINGHESE TOOLS" AND WE WOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AGAINST THEIR LICENSE FROM THERE. >> THANK YOU. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THAT MANY PEOPLE ON WARD 7,
TO BE HONE. THE PEOPLE I HAVE HEARD FROM ARE AGAINST IT. YOU KNOW, BIG LANDLORDS, HOUSING DEVELOPERS SAY THAT THE DOJ RULED THERE'S NO MALPRACTICE IN THE USE OF AGGREGATED RENTAL HOUSING DATA. I'M HEARING KIND OF MIXED MESSAGES, WHICH IS WHY
I THINK I'M A NO FOR TODAY. THOUGH I'M STILL, YOU KNOW, CURIOUS, IUESS, TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HEAR MORE PERSPECTIVES. I ALSO HAD A SMALL DIY LANDLORD FROM MY WARD TALKING ABOUT WHETHER EXCEL
WOULD BE BANNED, BECAUSE XCEL CENTER INCLUDES ALGORITHMS. H ALSO SUGGESTED A CITY-REQUIRED PROGRAM LIKE THEY USE IN QUEBEC, INSTEAD, OPEN TO RENTERS AND LANDLORDS TO CALCULATED RENTAL
RAS, CONTROLLED BY THE CITY. AND WOULD CONTROL THE INFLUENCE RATHER THAN TRYING T CONTROL THE LARGE RANGE OF INDEPENDENT COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND INPUTS. SO I WOULD OFFER THOSE PIES OF FEEDBACK FROM, LIKE, AND, ACTUALLY, I WOULD ASK THE
THORS IF XCEL ISANNED AS PART OF THIS AND HOW THE DEFINITION CAN BE MORE CLEAR FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE TABLE HERE. >> I'VE EVEN ASKED REG SERVICES TO SEE IF THAT'S HOW THEY
UNDERSTOOD OUR INTENT HERE. I DON'T THINK REG SERVICES UNDERSTANDS OUR INTENT THAT WAY. >> CAN YOU GIVE ME, AGAIN, THE DEFINITION USED HERE. ALGORITHMIC SOFTWARE. >> I GUESS I'LL ASK REG SVICES
IF THAT'S HOW THEY PLAN TO ENFORCE IT. I DON'T THINK- I THINK THE ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS THAT XCEL WON'T BE IMPACTED. AND I'M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE IT'S A BIZARRE LINE OF QUESTIONING, QUITE FRANKLY. BUT, YEAH. >> THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I'M GETTING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS.
>> AND A I'M GIVINGOU THE ANSWER. BUT IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. ACCEPTABLE. >> I DON'T THINK WE WOULD CONSIDER XCEL TO BE ALGORITHMIC IN THIS INSTANCE. >> OKAY. OKAY. ELL, THANKS. THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR NOW. >> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR OSMAN AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMR ELLISON, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. IN MY RESEARCHI WAS REALLY LEANING ON THE INFORMATION BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE BIDEN-HARRIS
ADMISTRATION TALKING ABOUT ANTICOMPETITIVE PRICING ALGORITHMS AND RENTAL HOUSING AND THE EXTENSIVE WORK THEIR ADMINISTRATION WAS DOING AS RECENTLY AS DECEMBER OF 2024. AND JUST SHOWING INSTANCES OF AL PAGE RENTAL PRICING SOFTWARE USAGE IN MULTIPLE
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK WITH THIS W, WE ARE PLAYING OFFENSE. WE'RE NOT BEING DEFENSIVE. AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. ESPECIALLY IN THE NAME OF MAKING SURE THAT FAIR MARKET PRICES ARE
HAPPENING. THAT THERE'S FR COMPETITION. THAT'S THE REAL DANGER HERE. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY ATTORNEYS GENERALS KIND OF RAISE THE ALARM. THERE'S ALSO MONOLYZATION OCCURRING WITH THE
COMPANIESES THAT ARE HOUSING THIS TYPE OF SOFTWARE. WE
EXPLORINA CONVERSATION ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF USAGE OF AI AND HOW WE SEE TECHNOLOGY WEAPONNIZED AGAINST WORKING
PEOPLE. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ACROSS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK FOR US TO TAKE IT UP AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW FOR RENTAL PRICE
FIXING THROUGH AN AI ALGORITHM WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THEITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY PROTECTING AGAINST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, BUT SIGNALING SUPPORT TO OUR DELEGATION AT THE STALE LEVE -- STATE LEVEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING CITIES
ARE ASKING FOR. AND WE WOULD WANT THE SIMILAR TYPE OF PROTECTION ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IF NOT THE NATION, AS THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION WAS PURSUING. I CAN'T READ THE MIND OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. I WOULD ASSUME THAT COMBATING
MONOPOLYZATION ISN'T A TOP PRIORITY OF THEIRS. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS. I TNK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES HERE WITH OUR CITY STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE WAYS THAT WE PROTECT AGAINST THIS. AND WE'VE GIVEN,
IN PSING THIS, WE GIVE A TOOL TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, MINNESOTA LEGAL AID, RENTERS TO SAY IF THEY'RE SEEING SOMETHING HAPPENING, THEY CAN ENGAGE THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND S THAT
A COMPANY THAT IS DOING THIS, OR A LANDLORD ENGAGING IN THIS IS VIATING THE LAW. AND THERE'S RECOURSE TO BE TAKEN THERE. AND PRESENTLY THERE ISN'T. I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING TO SAY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOTHING IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO PROTECT AGAINST THIS. AND
PASSING THIS, WE WILL. . >> >>: THANK YOU. WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU. XCEL ENERGY PROVIDES ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS IN MINNEAPOLIS. NOWHERE IN
THE ORDINANCE DOES IT TALK ABOUT GAS OR ELECTRICITY. IT TALKS ABOURENT. PLEASE GO ONLINE AND READ THE RCA AND THE ORDINANCE IN FULL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE TT THE PUBLIC KNEW THAT. BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE CONFUSION HERE. IT'S JUST ABOUT RENT.
>> EXCEL THE PROGRAM SOFTWARE. EXCEL DOES USE ALGORITHMS. >> OKAY. THANKS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE. THAT WAS CONFUSING. THIS ORDINANCE IS JUST MEANT TO
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, PREVENT ARTIFICIAL RENT INCREASES. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. ONE IN SEVEN RENTAL UNITS IN THE TWIN CITIES IS MANAGED WITH ALGORITHMIC PRICING SOFTWARE THATS DRIVING UP RENT BY $312 A YEAR, ON AVERAGE FOR TWIN
CITIES RENTERS IN A UNIT MANAGED BY THIS SOFTWARE. THAT IT A LOT OF MONEY. THAT IS FOLKS THAT NEED TO PURCHASE FOOD, PAY THEIR RENT, STAY IN A UT, SOMEONE THAT CAN BE PREVENTED FROM GIFTING EVICTED FROM A UNIT
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN EXTRA $312 A YEAR. AND THIS BODY, WE CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX INCREASES THAT RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING. EVERY YEAR THROUGH THEIR TAX BURDEN. THIS IS HELPFUL, IF WE DO THIS, TO HELP PREVENT PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED
FROM INCREASES IN RENT THATIMPAS RESIDENTS, IMPACTS PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT'S A CLEAR ORDINANCE. I WANT TO MANAGE THAT BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT NOW. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE REFERRINGO THE STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW. THE STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW IS
PRETTY CLEAR ON UNDERMINING OUR COMMUNITIES WHO IS ATTACKING TRANS R RESIDENTS, GOING AFTER REPUCTI REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. THIS IS AUTHORITY WE HAVE DO IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE SHOULDN'T BE TESTIFF
DEFERRING IT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT ISN'T CLEARLY TO OUR STATE LEGISLATU RIGHT NOW. GLAD TO GET THE CLARIFICATION ON XCEL ENERGY AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXCEL. ? >> >>: DISCUSSION HERE WITH COUNCILMEMBERS. ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR SAY AYE. A POSED SAY N -- OPPOSED SAY NAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE
HAVE QUASI JUDIAL. WE'RE CONSIDERING REUNIFICATION OF THE LIMITED ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE FOR LA CARRETA RESTAURANT AND BAR LOCATED AT 1507 LAKE STREET EAST. THIS IS DUE TO
OUTSTANDING OWE TO THE STATE. I WELCOME THE CITY ATTORNEY TO INT INTRODUCE THIS ITEM OR SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM. CITY ATTORNEY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR A COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AS I THINK
I'VE SAID IN PREVIOUS MONTHS, WHEN THESE EXAMPLES OF THESE CASES HAVE COME FORWARD, I USED TO SAY IT WAS A UNIQUE OR RARE THING. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. SPECIALLY IT'S A STATE MANDATED REQUIRENT REASON IF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE NOTIFIES OUR BUSINESS
LICENSING DIVISION THERE IS A TAX DELINQUENCY ON A LICENSED BUSINESS, WE ARE MANDATED BY LAW TO REVOKE THAT BUSINESS LICENSE WITHIN 30 DAYS, UNLESS THE BUSINESS CAN PROVIDE WHAT IS CALLED A TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFATE, INDICATING THEY'VE PA PAID THE DELINQUENCY OR
ENTERED INTO A ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. I'VE SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEBUSINESS ENDEAVORING TO, HOPEFULLY, ACHIEVE THAT TAX CLEARANCE. THEY N DONE SO, AS OF YET. AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND IT
PROBABLY MOST PRUDENT TO FORWARD THIS MATTER WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL, SO THAT THE BUSINESS CAN CONTINUE WITH THE EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. I'M GOING
TO PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THE LICENSE OWNER HERE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE THIS ITEM
WITHOURECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE APPEAL FROM
TIMOTHY BAILOR FOR THE PROPERTY AT 1302 DOUGLAS AVENUE AND 1716 FREMONT STREET. THIS APPEAL STEMS FROM THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION DENIAL VARIANCE SITE
PLAN REVIEW. I'LL WELCOME CPED TO GIVE THAT PRESENTATION. WELCOME, SIR.. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AGAIN, THIS APPLICATION BEFORE YOU LOCATED
AT 1302 D DOUAS AND 1716 FREEMONT AVENUE. IT'S AN APPEAL OF DECISION MADE BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT'S A 2.5 STORY WELLING UNIT STRUCTURE. IT REQUIRED FOUR LAND USE APPLICATIONS, TWO
REQUESTED APPLICATIONS WERE STEMMING FROM THE HEIT. ONE A CUP TO INCREASE HEIGHT IN THE SHORELAND. THE OTHER A VARIANCE TO INCREASE HEIGHT IN THE INTERIOR. THERE'S ALSO A VARIANCE INCREASE REQUEST, AS
WELL AS SITE POINT REVIEW. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE UN2 URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT, BUILT FORM INTERIOR 2. THE LOT IS 13,A00 SQUARE FEET. STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF BOTH OF
THE HEIGHT REQUESTS, WHILE DENYING OR RECOMMENDED DENIALF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE TO THE A.R. INCREASE. UE TO THE F.A.R. INCREASE, RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, WELL. PLANNING COMMISSION ADOPTED STAFF'S FINDINGS,
STAFF'S FINDINGS REGARDING THAT F.A.R. VARIANCE ARE HERE. THREE FINDINGS MUST BE MET IN GRANTING THAT VARIANCE. STAFF WAS UNABLE TO MAKE TWO OF THE THREE FINDINGS. FIRST, STAFF FOUND NO CHALLENGES EXIST IN COMPLYING WITH THE ORDINANCE. BASED ON SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY UNIQUE TO
THIS PROPERTY. THERE'S APP 10-FOOT GRADE CHANGE ON SITE. STAFF FOUND THAT GRADE CHANGE HAS NO NEXUS TO THE F.A.R. REQUEST. THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL HAS A BASEMENT. THE BASEMENT IS SUFFICIENTLY BURIED
IN SO FAR AS THE GROSS FLOOR AREAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REQUEST. NEXT, STAFF FOUND PLANNING COMMISSION AGREED THAT THE APPLICANTS WERE NOT USING TO PROPOSE THE PROPERTY -- OR USE THE PROPERTY IN A REASONABLE
MANNER. STAFF FOUND THAT THE CODE REGULATES BOTH PREDOMINANTLY THROUGH F.A.R., THROUGH G.F.A. AND REQUESTED F.A.R. INCREASE FROM .8 TO 1.32 WAS NOT KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE.
AGAIN, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE REQUESTED C.U.P. TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT IN THE SHORELAND. AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATED VARIANCE TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT TO THE SAME, WHILE DENYING THE PROPOSED F.A.R. AND
SITE PLAN REVIEW. THE APPELLANT HAS APPEALED THAT DECISION. I'LL BE HERE FOR QUESTIONS AND APPELLANT IS ALSO PRESENT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS, WE'LL HAVE THEM AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. I THE LICENSE OWNER OR THE PRESENTER HERE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. WELCOME.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE SEVEN MINUTES. >> I'D LIKE TO PULL U A PRESENTATION.
>> SURE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M WITH AWH ARCHITECTS. OUR OFFICE IS IN MINNEAPOLIS. I'M HERE TODAY WITH OUR CLIENT, THE BAYLORS. I WANT TO THANK THE PLANNING STAFF AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK OVER THE YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS. WE'VE GONE THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT CITY PLANNERS. TWO DIFFERE ZONING CODES THAT MINNEAPOLIS HAD. WE STARTED OUT WH ABOUT SIX VARIANCES AND ASKING FOR ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE GRANTING THIS VARIANCE DOESN'T SET A
PRECEDENCE. EACH VARIANCE IS HELD ON ITS OWN MERIT. I WANT TOP START WITH TALKINGBOUT THE CONTEXT OF THE SITE. AND WHY WE'RE PROPOSING A SLIGHTLY HIGHER MASSING. THE IMAGE YOU
SEE HERE. CAN YOU SEE IT? >> YES. >> OKAY. IT'S AN EXISTING STRUCTURE. THERE'S TWO BUILDINGS ON TWO DIFFERENT SITES. AND THE BUTTING A DENSITY WE'RE PROPOSING, THANKS. WE FEEL FITS THE CONTEXT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S A VARIETY OF F.A.R. IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU'LL SEE A SLIDE COMING UP ON THAT. HERE IS MORE PICTUS OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS. BRICK, STUCCO, GABLE ROOF, A OF WHICH YOU'LL SEE LATER. THE DESIGN
WE'RE PROPOSING IS CONTEXTUAL OF THAT. NOT TRYING TO BE SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MUCH. THESE ARE SOME SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. , YOU KNOW, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF DENSITY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND HEIT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN READ THE ADDRESSES, THESE ARE ADJACENT AND ACROSS THE STREET TO OUR PROPERTY. SO, YOU KNOW, THREE-STORY BUILDINGS, HIGH-GABLE ROOFS AND PRETTY MUCH LOT LINE TO LOT LINE
DEVELOPMENTS. F.A.R. IS EXCEEDING 1.6, IN SOME INSTANCES. HERE IS A ELEVA ELEVATION. ALONG FREMONT, EAST
ELEVATION LOOKING AT THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, YOUAN SEE THE GRADE CHANGE ON HOW WE TRY TO MANAGE THAT AND KEEP IT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT, YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE HILL, THE BUILDINGS TO THE NOR ARE HIGHER. AND THE BUILDINGS TO THE SOUTH ARE LESS. ALSO, I
WANT TOP NO TO NOTE WE HAVE SET THE BUILDIN BACK. THAT WAS ONE OF THE VARIANCES HERE. SO THAT THE OTHER BUILDINGS DOWN DOUGLAS ARE ROUTE PROUD OF OUR PROPERTY. ON DOUAS AVENUE, JUST LOOKING AT THE BUILDINGS TO THE WEST
AND THE EAST. BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. HERE IS A MAP OF THE F.A.R. WE HIRED A THIRD-PARTY PLANNING COMPANY TO VALIDAT ALL OF THE F.A.R.S. THERE WAS SOME
DEBATE ON, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'RE CALCULATED AND WHATEVER. THEY'RE AN INTERNATIONAL PLANNING FIRM. SO THE ONES THAT SAY "M" ARE FM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND THE ONE THAT SAYS "KH" ARE FROM KINLEY HORN.
OUR CURRENT F.A.R.S ARE 1.0 AND 1.03. THE TWO DIFFERENT PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STREET TO THE EAST ON DOUGLAS ARE HIGHER DENSITY ONES. AND THEN THERE'S SOME .8S AND LOWER ONES UP NORTH. WE DID NOT CALCULATE ALL THESE TOWN HOMES. THEY'RE ALL
INDIVIDUAL LOTS ON A BIGGER LOT. BUT THAT'S A PRETTY DENSE LITTLE CLUSTER OF TOWN HOMES. AND NOW THIS IS THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN. WE'RE SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY AND THE DEVELOPME WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLANTS
NATIVE PLANTS. >> WE USED FOUR DIFFERENT ENTITIES TO DETERMINE F.A.R., AND ALL FOUR CAME UP WITH DIFFERENT CALCULATIONS. THIS IS A NEBULOUS PROCESS. BUT THE
EXISTING PROPERTIES AT 1.01 AND 1.03. S IF WE HAD TO BUILD THAT PROPERTY, MY PROPERTY NOW, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT A VARIANCE. AND PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA THAT WE ARE IN, RIGHT ACROSS TO THE EAST OF US, A
COUPLE OF ROW HOUSES. THEIR F.A.R. IS 1.62. THE OTHER ONE , I BELIEVE, 1.31. THE TOWN HOMES TO THE NORTH 18 TOWN HOMES IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH THAT ARE SO MORE DENSE THAN THE 1.31
DESIGNATION. WE ARE AT THE CORNER OF DOUGLAS AND FREMONT, THERE'S A TRANSIT STOP I KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY OF ADDING THIS INTO A TRANSIT STOP. WE'VE OWNED THESE PROPERTIES FOR 41 YEARS. WE'VE BEEN THERE, RAISED
OU FAMILY THERE, OUR OFFICES ARE STILL THERE. WE ARE NOT ABSENTEE LANDLORDS. WE ARE VIBRANT AND CONSIDERABLY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE BEEN I
COMMUNICATION WITH THE LOWRY HILL ASSOCIATION ALL ALONG THE WAY. WE HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO CIRCUMVENT ANY PROCESS. AS YOU KNOW, THE LOWRY HILL ASSOCIATION HAVE GIVEN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. OUR IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBORS HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROJECT FOR SELF SEVERAL YEARS NOW. SOME OF WHICH REQUESTED TO BE A PART OF THE PROJECT WITH THEIR HOMES. OF COURSE, WE DIDN'T DO THAT. ONE PROPERTY OWNER ACRS THE STREET
FROM US ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED THE CURRENT, ALEX AND HIS TEAM, THAT PROVIDED THIS PLAN. OUR INTENT IS TO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT EVERY LEVEL. REPLACING WT IS NOW A PHYSICALLY AND
FUNCTIONALLY DEFICIENT BUILDING WI A NEWER, MORE ESTHETICALLY PLEASING STRUCTURE. SOME OF THE COMMENTS YOU MADE HERE COMING FORWARD REGARDING ME BEING AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD. THE FACT THERE MAY BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THAT MAY BE LOST IN THIS COMMUNITY. I'M NOT SURE WHY I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HSING FOR THIS AREA, BUT I'M NOT. AND I DON KNOW WHOSE SPO RESPONSIBILITY BUT THIS PROJECT IS RESPOIBLE FOR IT. THIS IS
A SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPMENT. GETTING IT DONE WILL BE TOUGH BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS IN THE MARKETPLACE. BUT WE BELIEVE THERE'S DEMAND IN A MARKET FOR THIS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE THINK THIS WOULD BE AN ENHANCEMENT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION. AND WE HOPE WE C GET YOUR SUPPORT. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I'M GOING TO GO HERE OVER THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP. I
HAVE HOWARD COVIN. WELCOME, SIR. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS HOWARD RUBIN. I LIVE AT 1305 MOUNT CURVE. SO THE BACK OF MY HOUSE FACES THE BAYLOR'S PROPERTY. AT FIRST, WE WERE EXCITED WHEN WE HEARD THE
PROSPECT THOSE TWO BUILDINGS WERE GOING TO BE RESTORED OR REPLACED. BECAUSE THE EXISTINGD SHAPE AND HAVEN'T BEEN WELL MAINTAINED OVER THE YEARS. BUT THAT SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THE
PROPOSED PROJECT IS FUNDAMENTALLY OUT OF SCALE, AND OUT OF CHARACTER WITH THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SINCE I BECAME INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSIO AND ITS STAFF MET TWICE. THEY REJECTED THE DEVELOPER'S
PROPOSAL. BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, LAST SUMMER, THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUGGESTED THAT THE DEVELOPER GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO HIS ORIGINAL PLAN. INCLUDING REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, AND PROVIDING SOME PERSPECTIVE FOR
THE COMMITTEE AS TO THE RELEVANT SIZE OF THIS PROJECT, GIVE THE EN THE LOT SIZE THAT EXISTS. WH THE SECOND MEETING ROLLED AROUND, THE DEVELOPER HAD MADE MODIFICATIONS, SOME MINOR MODIFICATIONS AND ADDED SOME
TREES AND LANDSCAPING. BUT HE DIDN'T ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. AND THAT WAS THE SIZE AND THE SCOPE OF THE BUILDING ITLF. THE TWO APARTMENTS NOW HAVE EIGHT UNITS. HE'S GOING TO HAVE EIGHT UNITS. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT INCREASES THE DENSITY
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE HERE AGAIN TODAY. SINCE THE DEVELOPER CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT HE SHOULD BE GRANTED THIS VARIANCE. AND HE'S DONE NOTHING TO DO IT -- NOTHING TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING. INSTEAD, HIS APPEAL
APPEARS TO BE RELYING HEAVILY ON THE FACT THAT THE LOWRY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD ISSUED A LETTER SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROCESS M OF ISSUING THAT LETTER WAS FLAWED. THE NEIGHBORS WERE NOT GIVEN NOTICE OF THE MEETING. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NEXT PERSON IS -- IF I CAN READ IT. [?] PRIEST. NEXT PERSON IS DAVID HARTWELL. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I LIVE KITTY CORNER FROM THIS PROJECT. AND I JUST HEARD THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ON T AGENDA FOR TWO YEARS. I HEARD ABOUT IT AFTER THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SAID THEY WOULD ENDORSE IT. THERE
HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS WITH THE NEIGHBORS. IT IS A PROJECT WAY OUT O SCALE. IT WILL CHANGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WILL SET A ECEDENT. WE SHOULD NOT BE
SETTING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HERE. YOU KNOW, THE ANNING COMMISSION SAID NO. YOU SHOULD SAY NO, AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PERSON IS SUZANNE LOWRY.
>> GOODORNING. I LIVE AT 1308 DOUGLAS, THAT IS MY HOME. HAS BEEN SINCE 1981. I'M DIRECTLY WEST OF THE PROPOSED NEW DEVELOPMENT. MY CONCERN IS THE SCALE. CURRENTLY I ENJOY
LOVELY EASTERN MORNING SUN AND AIR. WITH THE PROPOSED DESIGN, I WOULD BE LOOKING AT A MONOLITHIC WALL. NO AIR OR LIGHT WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS MY
PROPERTY. I FEEL THAT THE PROSED DEVELOPMENT IS TOO BIG. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT TESTIMONY. NEXT PERSON IS
WILSON, IS IT? WILSAR? GREAT. WILSON? WELCOME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS CRAIG WILSON. I LIVE AT 1768 FREMONT AVENUE SOUTH, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET ON DOUGLAS.
I'VE LIVED THERE SINCE 2004 WITH MY PARTNER. I WANT TO JUST REMIND US ALL THAT WE'RE IN A QUASI JUDICIAL PROCESS. THI IS REALLY ABOUT PRACTAL DIFFICULTY. AND THAT JUST HASN'T BEEN EXHIBITED HERE. WE HEARD FROM MR. BAYLOR THAT THERE
IS A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO ASK FOR THIS VARIANCE, BUT WE'VE NOT BEEN SHOWN ONE THAT SHOWS PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY OR HARDSHIP. I AM NORMALLY SOMEBODY WHO GETS BEHIND DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS. SOME OF YOU KNOW ME FROM MY WORK WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HOUSING THE UNHOUSED, AND I AM PUT IN A DIFFICULT POSITION WITH THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO SPORT IT. IT'S TOO BIG FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE AN
URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD INTERIOR 2 NEIGHBORHOOD THIS IS GOING TO BE TWICE THE F.A.R. OF MY HOUSE. THREE TIMES THE F.A.R. OF THE HOUSE KITTY-CORNER, AND WHEN WE TRANSLATE THAT INTO SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE LIMIT THAT THEY'RE
ALLOWED IS 10,800 SQUARE FEET. THEY WANT TO INCREASE IT TO 17,800 SQUARE FEET. THAT'S 7,000-FOOT VARIANCE. THAT JUST IS UNREASONABLE. EVEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD 3, THAT'S PUSHI
THE LIMIT AT 1.4F.A.R. SO THIS IS EXTREME. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGES LIKE THIS, D IT THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. DON'T USE VARIANCES T MAKE EXCEPTIONS. USE THE 20/40 PLAN WENT THROUGH A ROBUST PUBLIC
PROCESS. IT WAS TESTED IN THE URTS. IT WAS TESTED IN LEGISLATURE. LET'S STICK TO THE 1040 PN. LET'S NOT GRANT THIS VARIANCE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON IS
JOSE -- I CAN'T SAY THE NAME. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS HAZEL TURNER. I LIVE AT 1770 FREMONT. I'VE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE SINCE I WAS A VERY
YOUNG WOMAN. I'VE LIVED IT IN SINCE 1973. AND I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WAY TOO BIG. IT'S OUT OF CHARACTER FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I -- IT JUST DOESN'T FIT
WITH US. AND I'M VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO IT. I'D LIKE TO KEEP US THE WAY WE ARE, AND LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. NEXT PERSON IS TREVOR P. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TREVOR POORth. I LIVE AT 1768 FREMONT AVENUE SOUTH. I MOVED
TO THE CITIES ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO. FRE OUT OF COLLEGE. AND I COULD HAVE LIVED ANYWHERE ACROSS THE U.S. I CHOSEMINNEAPE PARKS, THE BIKE TRAILS, AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS. INCLUDING LOWRY HILL. WHICH, AT THE TIME,ELT
A FAR CRY FROM WHAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO AFFORD BEING FRESHUT OF SCHOOL WITH COLLEGE LOANS I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY BEING A PROUD OWNER OF OUR HE FOR 20 YEARS. I'VE INVESTED IN THAT HOUSE, KEPT IT UP, CONTIED TO BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT OUR HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN YOU
LOOK AT F.A.R.S, MY HOUSE, BY PLANNING STAFF, SAID OUR F.A.R. WAS .65. WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AT WHAT I MAY BE LOOKING AT, AT 3 SOMETHING, THIS IS DOUBLE THE MASS! THIS IS GOING TO TOWER OVER ME. WE
SAW IN THE DRAWINGS HOW IT'S GOING TO TOWER OVER THE HOMEOWNER WHO LIVES DIRECTLY TO THE EAST. I'M SORRY. DIRECTLY TO THE WEST. AND WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO DEVOPMENT, BUT THIS IS FAR TOO LARGE TO FIT WITHIN THE SCALE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
NEXT PERSON IS JACOB. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, CHAIR OSMAN, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JACOB SOFTLY. I'M A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY. I'M HERE ON BALF OF MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS APPEAL. I'M ASKING YOU DENY THIS APPEAL. APPROVING THE VARIANCE IS UNLAWFUL. YOU'RE STUCK IN A QUASI JUDICIAL PROCESS. YOU MUST FOLLOW THE FACTORS OUTLINED BY STATE STATUTE AND MINNEAPOLIS ORDINANCE. AS IDENTIFIED, YOU HA THREE REQUIREMENTS, AND WE
CANNOT FINE FIND FOR TWO OFTHEMD FOR ANY. IN ORDER TO APPROVE, YOU HAVE TO MEET ALL THREE. THERE ARE NO PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES HERE. IF STAFF COULD FIND THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE. THE BCA GRANTED ONE VARIANCE FOR F.A.R. LAST YEAR. IT'S INCREDIBLY DFICULT TO FIND A PROPERTY THAT JUST
DOESN'T FIT THE BULK. WE TALKED ABOUT THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN F.A.R. CALCULATIONS. WE'RE LOOKING AT THREE PROPERTIES TO THE EAST, ALL THREE PROPERTIES AMOUNT TO 10,000 SQUARE FEET. THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE
GFA OF THE APPROPRIATE BUILDING. THEY'RE ASKING FOR 17 ,000, AS NOTED. 7,000 OVER THE LIMIT. THOSE THAT THE APPLICANT IS USING AS AN EXAMPLE ARE ABNORMALLY SMALL BUILDINGS THAT WOULD ORDINARILY GET A F.A.R IF WE WERE REQUESTING A VARIANCE THERE. SECOND, THERE'S NO UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC TO THE
PROPERTY RELATED TO F.A.R. ONLY TO THE DEVELOPER'S PLANS THAT ARE OUT OF SCOPE AND CHARACTER FOR WHAT THE ZONING OR ANYONES ALLOWS. THE UN2 AND THE INTERIOR 2 ZONING DESNATIONS MAINTAIN A SMALL SCALE
CHARACTER. YOU CAN HAVE EIGHT UNITS WITH, IT HAS TO BE IN THE SCOPE AND SCALE THAT FITS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS AKIN TO A UN3, APPROPRIATE FIVE BLOCKS OVER AT HENNEPIN AVENUE. NOT HERE. WE'RE NOT ADDING DENSITY. WE'RE EQUATING THEAME NUMBER
OF UNITS WE ALREADY HAVE. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PRECEDENT, IF YOU APPROVE THIS, YOU'RE DOING IT WITHOUT ANY FINDINGS TO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL, THAT'LL ENCOURAGE EVERY DEVELOPER TO COME IN AFTER THIS TO ASK FOR THE EXACT SAME
VARIANCE FOR THE SAME REASON. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DENY. THANK YOU.. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SING NO ONE ELSE HERE LISTED. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? BEFORE W CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THEUBLIC HEARING AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON.
>> THANK YOU. A LOT OF GOOD TESTIMONY HERE TODAY. THE WAS THE ONE GENTLEMAN THAT SAID -- I THINK IT WAS CRAIG WILSON? THAT SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES HERE, IF WWANT TO SEE CHANGES HERE, IT HAS TO
GO THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. IT CAN'T HPEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN HAVING THAT PROCESS A LOT IN QU QUASI JUDICIALS LATERALLY. WE CAN'T LEGISLATIVE FROM THE BENCH IN TH WAY. I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT ATTITUDE WE NEED TO TAKE. I DON'T SEE EVIDENCE FOR PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY. YOU KNOW,
I SEE, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT OUR STAFF -- I HE FULL FAITH IN OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO CALCULATE THE APPROPRIATE F.A.R. I THINK THEY HAVE. I THINK THAT SUCCEEDS IT. FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO BE MOVING
TO DENY THE APPEAL. AND UPHOLD, YOU KNOW, STAFF'S DECISION, PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION AND MAINTAIN THAT. SO, AGAIN YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T ABOUT JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE ARE DETAILS OUTSIDE OF JUST THE
QUASI FACTS THAT COME UP IN THESE DISCUSSIS. WE CAN'T REALLY CONSIDER THEM. RIGHT. I THINK THAT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS AROUND DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY ARE VALID CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE TO BEHAVF YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS ALLOWED. AND
GET THAT BUY IN. NOT ONLY DO YOU -- BUY IN WOULDN'T MATTER HERE. WE'RE DEALING WITH THE FACTS OF THE CASE. YOU ALSO DON'T HAVE THE BUY IN. FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO BE MOVING TO DENY AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WOULD ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO CONTINUEORKING WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS ON A PLAN THAT IS
GOING TO, W WORK FOR ALL OF THEM. OR AT LEAST WORK ON A PLAN THATN GOING TO LAND YOU BACK BEFORE COUNCIL HAVING TO WEIGH IN ON THE DECISIONS AND CONSIDER THINGS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE QSI JUDICIALS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> YEAH. WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I THINK THE POINT THAT I'LL JUST DRIVE HOME IN TERMS OF WHAT IS NEEDED IN THIS QUASI JUDICIALS MATTER,
IN ORDER TO GET A VARIANCE, IS CHALLENGES THAT EXIST IN COMPLYING WITH THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANC UNIQUE TO THE PROPERTY. THE FLOOR ARE RATIO OF SURROUNDING AREAS CANNOT BE USED AS A PRACTICAL
DIFFICULTY TO SAY THAT THERE IS A UNIQUE CIRCUMSNCE ON THIS SPECIFIC SITE. THERE IS NO PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY IN COMPLYING WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE. AND JUST BY THAT VERY FACT, I BELIEVE IT IS
WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY AND THE BO SHOULD DENY THIS VARIANCE, AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID BEFORE. IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR COLLEAGUES NEED TO TAKE A LOOK, OR CITY STAFF, TOO,
DID GOOD JOB AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ALSO SHARING THE COMPARATIVE FLOOR AREA RATIO OF EACH SITE. AND SPOKE TO US BASED ON CITY RECORDS, THE MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO THAT THE CITY HAS CALCULATED IN AN
ENTIRE AREA ONLY WT UP TO 1.14, AS THE HIGHESTEVEL. WITH MANY OF THE PROPERTIES JUST AROUND A RANGE OF .37 UP TO .73. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A NOTABLE
FACTOR. AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING COUNCILMEMBER ELLISON'S MOTION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN WILL BE RECUSING HERSELF FROM THE VOTING. AND I'LL SEE
NO OTHER DCUSSION, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> COCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> NO. >> CASHMAN -- JENKINS. >> ABSTAIN.
>> CASHMAN IS ABSTAINING. JENKINS IS ALSO ABSTAINING. CHOWDHURY. >> AYE FOR DENIAL. >> VICE CHAIR ELLISON. >> AYE. >> CHAIR OSMAN. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE THREE AYES, ONE NAY, AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
>> I BELIEVE THAT MOTION CARRIES? ALL RIGHT. THAT MOTION CARRIES. CITY ATTNEY. >> CHAIR, SOME CLARITY ESTABLISHED. THERE WAS ONE ABSTENTION AND ONE RECUSAL. DIFFERENT LEGAL TERMS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING AND SPEAKING TODAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM WE WILL TAKE -- ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM RECEIVING AND FILING ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE REPORT. I WELCOME DIRECTOR ENRIQUE VELASQUEZ FOR THAT PRESENTATION. WELCOME,
SIR. >> GREETINGS. I'M I
HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING THE GREACITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES. TODAY I'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU THE FIRST ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE REPORT. IN
AUGUST OF 2024, CITY COUNCIL AMENDED MINNEAPOLIS CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 244.60 BY INCORPORATING SPECIFIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS NOT SOLELY FOR GOVERNANCE. THIS CHANGE -- THE CHANGES MADE WERE ALSO TO INCLUDE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE WORK THAT THE CITY UNDERTAKES
WHILE RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF UNSHELTERED HOMES. SPECIFICALLY THE CHANGE IS FOCUSED ON ENCAMMENT -- ENCAMPMENT
CLOSUR. THE CITY RESPONSE TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A SINGULAR EFFORT UNDERTAKEN BY A SOLE DEPARTMENT. IT'S A COLLABORATION ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY RESPONDING TO EVENTS WHEN
ENCAMPMENTS FORM, ENGAGING WITH PERSONS EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. PLANNING AND COORDINATING EFFORTS LEADING UP TOP ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE, THE ACTUAL DAY OF CLOSURE ACTIVITIES, AND, LASTLY, POST CLOSURE DATA EFFORTS. THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS LISTED HERE ARE THE PRIMARY PARTICIPANTS IN THE DATA COLLECTION EFFTS. WHEN AN ENCAMPMENT IS LOCATED AT A CITY SITE, OUR PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALSO SERVE A ROLE. WHEN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PROPERTY OWNED BY OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, W ENGAGE THOSE PARTIES TO ASSIST WITH PLANNING AND CLOSURE ACTIVITIES. SHELTER AVAILABILITY INFORMATION IS PROVIDED DIRECTLY FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY'S HOMELESS SHELTER BED AVAILABILITY ON
THEIR WEBSITE. THE DATA DICTION TOOK SIGNIFICANT TIME TO CREATE. FIRST, USING THE AMENDED LANGUAGE IN MCO244.60 AS THE BASELINE AS THE FRAMEWORK. AND DEVELOPING THE SPECIC MEASURES AND DISCRETIONS REACHED AHEAD OF
CREATING THE ACTUAL DATA REPORT. NOW SPEAKING OF THE REPORT, THE REPORT FOR THIS FIRST REPORT INCLUDES FIVE SPECIFIC DATA ELEMENTS. THE FIRST ONE, A BRIEFING MEMO, WHICH SERVES TO SUMMARIZE FINDINGS FROM THE CURRENT PERIODS AND ENCOMPMENT
CLOSURES. THE SECOND IS THE DATA DICTION, WHICH PROVIDES DESCRIPTIONS, EXAMPLES, AND WHAT TYPES OF DATA THE VIEWER CAN EXPECT TO SEE WITHIN A GIVEN FIELD. THE THIRD, SHELTER AVAILABILITY SHOWING SHELTER
AVAILABILITY FOR SINGLE ADULTS AGED 18 AND ABOVE. FOURTH, ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE DATA OVER THE PRIOR PERIOD. THIS PERIOD IS JULY 25, 2024, THROUGH DECEMBER 18, 2024. AND THE FIFTH ITEM IS 9-1-1 CALLS FOR
SERVICE FOR THE ENCAMPMENTS CLOSED DURING THIS SPECIFIC REPORTING PERIOD. NE ITEM OF NOTE, IS THAT WE COLLECTED 9-1-1 DATA FOR THEONTH PRIOR TO THE ENCAMPMENT FORMING AT A SPECIFIC LOCATION. THE PERIOD FOR WHICH AN ENCAMPMENT WAS PRESENT, AND,
ALSO, WHERE POSSIBLE, FOR ONE MONTH AFTER THE ENCAMPMENT CLOSED. THE KIND AND QUANTITY OF POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE WHILE THE ENCAMPMENT WAS IN PLACE WAS NOTED. WE DID THE SAME EXERCISE FOR 311 CALLS FOR
SERVICE. AND THESE DATA HELP US IDENTIFY COMMUNITY IMPACTS AND THE TYPES OF CALLS THAT WERE RECORDED THROUGH EACH REPORTING SYSTEM, AND WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE FOR COMMUNITY THROUGH EACH OF THESE. YOU'LL SEE HOW
IT'LL BE DISPLAYED ON THE WEBSITE. HERE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THEOST RECENT REPORT, HOW TO UTILIZE THE REPORT. ONE LIMITATION OF THE CITY WEBSITE IS YOU'LL ONLY BE ABLE TO SEE THE CURRENT INFORMATION. SO WITH THAT MEANS, AS NEW REPORTS COME AVAILABLE, THIS DATA WILL
BE WIPED AWAY AND ONLY THE MOST CURRENT WILL BE RESIDENT HERE. FOTHOSE LOOKING TO DO HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OR LOOK AT TRENDS, WE'LL HAVE A LINK TO THE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM T THE SPECIFIC FILE WHERE THAT INFORMATION WILL BE LOCATED. SO
THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THAT HISTORICAL DATA. AND SO THE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO IT. WE WANT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMION IN THE MOST ASSESSABLE WAY. SHIFTING INTO
WHEN THE CITY DECIDES TO CLOSE AN ENCAMPMENT, THE CROSS DEPARTMENTAL TEAM CONSIDERS THE FOLLOWING FOUR FACTORS: PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY/LIFE SAFETY, COMMUNITY LIVABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL OR OTHER
EXTERNALITIES. WHAT THE FOURTH ITEM IS TO SAY, WE EVALUATE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING THE ENMPMENTS AND TAKE THEM INTO CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO RESIDE SURROUNDING THE ENCAMPMENT? IS THE ENCAMPMENT CLOSE TO A SCHOOL BUS STOP OR
PUBLIC SCHOOL? ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT AN ENCAMPMENT IS NOT A SPACE DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR HUMAN HABITATION, AND ARE THERE CONDITIONS AT THIS SITE THAT MAKE IT DANGEROUS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE ENCAMPMENT AS WELL AS SURROUNDING THE
ENCAMPNT. ALSO NOTING THAT EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS EXTREME COLD, WILL SEE MORE SMOKE FROM FIRES THAT ARE BURNING AT THE ENCAMPMENT SITE. AND THAT, BY ITSELF, CREATES ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS FOR ANY
POPULATIONS THAT ARE AT RISK OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT VULNERABILITIES OR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, AND THE LIKE. THESE FACTORS ARE ALL REVIEWED INDEPENDENTLY R EACH ENCAMPMENT SITE, AND COMPARED ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE PSENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
AND MAKE DETERMINATIONS ON WHICH ONES TO PRIORITIZE FOR CLOSURE, TO BALANCE COMMUNITY NEEDS, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF OUR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS. THIS FIRST REPORT COVERS A BROAD REPORTING PERIOD. I MENTIONED JULY 25 THROUGH DECEMBER 18.
OVER THIS TIME, CITY STAFF PARTICIPATED IN 17 ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES. THIS GRAPHIC TO THE RIGHT HERE DISPLAYS THE QUANTITY AND LOCATIONS FOR THESE CLOSURES, WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS. WITH SIX IN WARD SIX, FIVE IN WARD NINE, FOUR IN
WARD 10, AND TWO IN WARD FIVE. ACROSS THE 17 ENCAMPMENTS, 227 INDIVIDUALS WERE AFFECTED BY THESE CLOSURES. IN TERMS OF HOUSING OUTCOMES, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THERE WERE 227 AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS
WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THESE 17 ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES. THE HOMELESS RESPONS TEAM, AT THIS TIME, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WAS JUST A TEAM OF TWO OUTREACH COORDINATORS. THEY WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH 169 OF
THE INDIVIDUALS. SO ABOUT 75% OF THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS. OF THESE ENGAGEMENTS, NINE PEOPLE ACCEPTED SHELTER. WHILE THIS RATIO IS LOW, IT'S NOT TO STATE THAT THE REMAINING 160 DID NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING OR SHELTER OR DID NOT ACCEPT SHELTER. ALSO DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE ADDITIONAL 58 THAT THE HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM DID NOT CONNECT WITH ALSO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING OR SHELTER. ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS M HAVE ACCEPTED SHELTER OR HOUSING
THROUGH ENGAGEMENTS WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY STREET HOUSING TEAM, THEIR STREET OUTREACH TEAMS, OR THEIR COHORT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS. WE DO NOT HAVE THESE DATA, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CONNECT THE DOTS BASED ON HOW CITY COLLECTS INFORMATION AND
HOW HENNEPIN COUNTY AND THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS COLLE INDIVIDUAL DATA. THE HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM, THEY FOCUS ON ENCAMPMENTS AND ALL OF THOSE WIIN THE ENCAMPMENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE CASE MANAGEMENT OR NOT. ND
WHEREAS, HENNEPIN COUNTY STREETS HOUSING TEAM AND THE SERVICE PROVIDERS FOCUS ON CLIENT-SPECIFIC ACTIONS WITHIN THE COORDINATED ENTRY. SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO REALLY COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES OF WHO IS RESIDENT AT SPECIFIC ENCAMPMENT AND TIE THAT TO WHICHINDIVIDUALG
OR SHELTER. SO THAT'S CERTAINLY A DEFICIENCY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WE LOOKED AT IN THE FIRST ENCAMPMENT ENCLOSURE SUPPORT IS THE COST SPENT TO CLOSE
ENCAMPMENTS. COST INCLUDE STAFF LABOR, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT, AND CONTRACTOR TIME FOR THE DAY OF CLOSURE ACTIVITIES. NOTING, IN MOST CASES, ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE IS POSTED AT THREE WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF CLOSURE. WE DON'T COUNT THAT COLLTIVE EFFORT OF TIME. IT'S SOLELY FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF
THAT SPECIFIC DAY WHEN CLOSURE IS HAPPENING. AN AGGREGATE, THE CITY SPENT MORE THAN $330,000 TO CLOSE THESE 17 ENCAMPMENTS OVER THE COND HALF OF 2024. OR ABOUT $13,000 PER CLOSURE. MINNEAPOLIS POLICE COMPRISED A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS AT $269,000. PUBLIC WORKS FOLLOWED WITH JUST UNDER $55,000. OR ROUGHLY 16.5%. AND REGULATORY SERVICES WITH JUST OVER $8,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 2.5% OF WHAT WE
SPENT. SHIFTING FOCUS TO THE HOURS SPENT DURING AN ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE, WE SEE THE LABOR DISTRIBUTION FOR EACH DEPARTMENT. MINNEAPOLIS POLICE LEAD THE WAY AND COMPRISED WITH 71% OF THAT LAB. FOR THE 17 ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES. PUBLIC
WORKS, AGAIN, SECOND, REQ 24.5%. AND REGULATORY SERVICES UNDER 3%. 14 HOURS WERE CAPTURED FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DID NOT CAPTURE THE ASSOCIATED COST FOR THAT. THAT'S A DEFICIENCY THAT WE'LL WORK TO
CORRECT AND AMEND. LOOKING AT THE COST AND AGGREGATE CAN BE A BIT JARRING INFORMATION TO RECEIVE. THE NUMBERS ONLY TELL US ONE PORTION OF THAT STORY. WHEN WE VIEW THE DATA OVER THE COURSE OF EACH DATE OF CLOSURE, WE SEE THREE SPECIC DATES
THAT CONSUME THE MOST ENERGY AND ASSOCIATED COSTS. JULY 25, OCTOBER 1, AND NOVEMBER 12th. ON EACH MUCH THESE DATES, SIGNIFICANT LIFE SAFETY RISKS PRESENTED THEMSELVES WITH A STRING OF SHOOTINGS THAT NECESSITATED SWIFT ACTION.
MULTIPLELOSURES OCCURRED ON EACH OF THESE THREE STATE DATES WITH STAFF WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY WAS RESTORED AS A MATTER OF TOP PRIORITY. LOCATION AND COMPLEXITY ALSO FACTOR INTO HOW THE CROSS DEPARTMENTAL TEAM PLANS AND COORDINATES RESOURCES
WHEN APPACHING ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES. MORE HEAVILY CONGESTED THE AREA, THE MORE CAREFUL PLANNING AND RESOURCES ARE REQUIRED TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC FLOW AND COMMUNITY LIVABILITY. LOOKING TO THE FINAL FOUR DATES OF ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES, WE SEE THE
TOTAL HOURS SPENT AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLOSURES DECREASED SHARPLY. WEANTICIPATL CONTINUE TO REMAIN LOW WITH SUBSEQUENT CLOSURES, AND HOPE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IN FUTURE REPORTS. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 20 ACTIV AC ACTIVE
ENCAMPMENTS ACROSS MINNEAPOLIS. THE LARGEST ENCAMPMENT HAS AN ESTIMATED 18 OF PEOPLE AND NINE TENTS. THE SECOND LARGEST HAS FOUR PPLE IN FOUR TENTS. AND THE REMAINING ENCAMPMENTS HAVE ONE TO TWO PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT LOCATION. A TOTAL OF 46
UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS AT THE VARIOUS ENCAMPMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. BY WAY OF COMPARISON, OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE ROLLING AVERE FOR ENCAMPMENTS HAS HELD FIRM BETWEEN 30 AND 35. REGARDLESS OF THE SSON OR WEATHER CONDITIONS. ADDITIONAL
KEY TAKE AWAYS WE GLEANED FROM THE FIRST REPORT, THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE 17 CLOSE ENCAMPMENTS WAS ABOUT 50 DAYS. JOV OVERALL AS LOW AS 5 TO 147 DAYS. 11 ENCAMPMENTS FORMED ON FORMER
ENCAMPMENT SITESHAT WERE ALREADY CLEARED. REPOSPOSTED WITH NO TRESPASSING SIGN AGE AND RESECURED. TWO WERE SPANNED ACROSS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PARCELS THAT WERE OWNED BY MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AGENCIES. SO THESE CLOSURES REQUIRED ADDITION
RESOURCE CRDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BEFORE WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH CLOSURE. THE TWO-PERSON HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM MADE 89 VISITS TO THE 79 SITES FOR AN AVERAGE OF FIVE PER ENCAMPMENT LOCATION.
THEY WENT TO FOUR IN NOVEMBER. I'M GLAD TO REPORT, THE TEAM IS NOW AT FULL STAFF AT SIX. SO WHAT THIS MEANS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE MORE FREQUENTLY TO CONTINUE BUILDING TRUST WITH OUR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS IN HOPES OF HELPING PROGRESS THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY TO HOUSING
STABILITY. LASTLY, NO ARRESTS WERE MADE AT ANY ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WE DID CAPTURE 311 AND 9-1-1 CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR THE MONTH PRIOR TO ENCAMPMENT FORMATION. THE PERIOD WHILE AN ENCAMPMENT WAS IN PLACE, AND
MOST CASES, FOR THE MONTH FOLLOWING CLOSURE. THESE DATA POINTS HELP US IDENTIFY THE AFFECTS THAT ENCAMPMENT MAY HAVE ON COMMUNITY LIVABILITY. BUT WE UND, IN MOST CASES, CALLS FOR SERVICE LARGELY REDUCED TO NEAR
PREENCAMPMENT LEVELS, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT AN ELENT OF COMMUNITY LIVABILITY WAS EFFECTIVELY RESTORED. I DID STATE IN MOST CASES, FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, SOME OF THE SMALLER ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS DID NOT GENERATE 311 OR 9-1-1 CALLS
IN ADVANCE OF THE ENCAMPMENT FORMATION. AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY WHILE THE ENCAMPMENT WAS IN PLACE. SO THAT DATA POINT WAS STATISTICALLY NEGLIGIBLE. SOME
ENCAMENTS REFORMED ON THE SAME LOCATION DAYS OR WEEKS AFTER THE ENCAMPMENT WAS CLOSED. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SAME METHODOLOGY OF EVALUATING A MONTH BEFORE AND A MONTH AFTER. BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONTINUATION OF ENCAMPMENT PRESENCE FOR A
PERIOD OF TIME. AND WITH RESPECT TO PERSONAL PROPERTY, ALL FECTED INDIVIDUALS WERE GIVEN TIME TO REMOVE ALL THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE ENCAMPMENTS PRIOR TO CLOSURE. LEADING UP TO CLOSURE, STORAGE OPTIONS WERE OFFERED. NO ONE
ACCEPTED THE AVAILABLE STORAGEOD BEHIND WERE DISCARDED. AND I WILL NOTE, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ISSUING AN RFP FOR IN-COMMUNITY STORAGE OPTIONS THAT WILL BE MORE SC
ASSESSABLE FOR OUR COMMUTY. IT PLACES AN ADDED BARRIER FOR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS. ES IS HERBAL WILL I WHEN THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE PREDOMINANTLY LOCATED IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, AS
WE SAW IN SLIDE SIX. WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO DEVELOP A COHESIVE AND STANDARDIZED METHOD FOR DATA COLLECTION AS WE WORK
THROUGH EACH CLOSURE, RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE FACT WHEN A REPORT IS DUE AND GATHER ALL THE DA POINTS TO THEN PREPARE FOR THE REPORT. TO DELIVER TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. HOUSING OUTCOMES. AS DATA PREVIOUSLY, THE CITY FOCUSES ON ENCAMPMENT
ENGAGEMENTS REGARDLESSF WHETHER UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS HAVE A CASE MANAGER THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH OR NOT. AND HENNEPIN COUNTY AND THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS FOCUS ON CLIENT-SPECIFIC ENGAGEMENTS. WORKING WITH THOSE CLIENTS AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THE
COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM UNTIL REACHING HOUSING STABILITY. THESE TWO DATA SETS ARE NOT CONGRUENT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND REQUIRE ADDITIONAL WORK. SO THAT WE CAN RECONCILE AND PRESENT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE
HOUSING OUTCOME. OUTCOMES THAT LY ORIGINATED THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM. AND THEN SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF. HENNEPIN COUNTY HOMELESS SHELTER BED AVAILABILITY APP CAPTURES AVAILABLE ELTER SPACES FOR
THOSE THAT ARE 18 AND ABOVE. AND EXCLUDES EAGLE VILLAGE, HOMEWARD BOUND, FAMILY AND YOUTH SHELTER, SO, AGAIN, TO PROVID A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO WHAT ARE THE -- OUTCOMES WE NEED
TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THESE SPECIFIC AREAS AND BE SURE TO PRESENT THAT BACK. AND BEFORE CLOSING, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THOUGHT. FOCUS ON THE PEOPLEN THE ENCAMPMENTS AND ENGAGE COMPASSIONATELY TO ADDRESS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. ALL
THE REST OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ENCOURAGED WILL FALL INTO PLACE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT. THIS IS HOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD EVERY DAY. AS WE DRIVE TOWARD FUNCTIONAL ZERO FOR OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION. I'M PROUD OF THE COLLABORATION WE
HAVE ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE AND ACROSS ALL OF OUR AGENCIES. THIS IS CHALLENGING WORK, AND WE DO SO IN FAITHFUL SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. JUST WANTED TO REMIND MEMBERS THAT W DON'T
WANT TO BE LOSING MEMBERS. BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMITTEE C & I AFTERHIS AND THERE MIGHT BE TIME FOR LUNCH. I WANT TO RENI RENI RECOGNIZE WE
HAVE BEEN JOINE BY COUNCILMEMBER VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI AND I SEE COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR OSMAN. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR VELAZQUEZ FOR TAKING THIS ON. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AUTHORS WHO PUT TOGETHER THE ORDINANCE. COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI
AND COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CHAVEZ. WITHOUT THE ORDINANCE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE DATA IN FRONT OF US TODAY. AND I THINK I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I THINK THIS DATA IS CLEARLY INDICATING THAT OUR APPROACH ISN'T WORKING. THAT WE HAVE VERY LOW NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS ACCEPTING SHELTER, ACCEPTING STORAGE SERVICES, ENCAMPMENTS HAVE GROWN. NOT SLUNK IN NUMBERS OVER THE YEARS. AND WE NEED TO OWN THAT. RIGHT. WE NEED TO SEE THE BASELINE SITUATION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN OUR CITY, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE. SO THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT I'M SEEING AS REALLY CLEAR GAPS IN OUR APPROACH HERE. SO
THE FIRST OF FOUR RISK FACTORS USING THE DECISION TO CLOSE AN ENCAMPMENT WAS PUBLIC HEALTH. YET THERE'S ZERO RESOURCES DEDICATED FROM THE HLTH DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE KNOW MANY INDIVIDUALS IN ENCAMPMENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND ADDICTION. SO I'M WONDERING HOW, IF AT ALL, YOU'RE WORKING WITH T HEALTH
DEPARTMENT COLLEAGUES TO SERVE THOSE RESIDEN, AS WELL AS THOSE LIVING AND WORKING NEARBY. >> CERTAINLY. THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. SO WHAT WE SEE HERE ARE ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES AND THE HEATH DEPARTMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE RESOURCES TYPICALLY ON
THE DAY OF THE CLOSURE. WHILE THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES LEADING UP TO CLOSURES, THEY ARE PRODING NALOXONE AND OTHER SERVICES THEY'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH. THERE ARE CONTRACTORS PROVIDING NEEDLE EXCHANGE, A A VARIETY
OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THAT ALSO, HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS PLAYS A ROLE AT ENGAGING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE ENCAMPMENTS. THAT DATA IS JUST NOT REFLECTED IN THE DATA POINT OF ON THE DATE OF CLOSURE. >> GOT IT. OKAY. THERE IS HEALTH DEPARTMENT RESOURCES SERVING THESE RESIDENTS. BUT
NOT ON THE DAY OF CLOSURE. >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, YOU TALKED A LITTLE ABOUTTHR STAFF. CAN YOU EXPLAIN MORE DETAIL WHAT COORDINATION LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHEN AN ENCAMPMENT IS SET FOR CLOSURE. >> YES. THROUGH THE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. WHEN AN ENCAMPMENT IS SET R CLOSURE, WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE COUNTY WITH VARIOUS COUNTY PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THE DATE IT'S HAPNING, WHICH LOCATIONS, AND SO THAT THEY CAN INCREASE THEIR OUTACH AND ENGAGEMENT
EFFORTS. THEY'LL DESCEND WITH HOWEVER MANY STAFF THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE. BASED ON WHICH SPECIFICLIENTS THEY'RE WORKING WITH AT THAT LOCATION. AND INCREASE THAT ENENGAGEMENT EFFORT TO TRY TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS INTO HOUSING OR INT
SHELTER. >> BUT THE DATA POINT THAT WE HAVE IS NINE OUT OF 169 ACCEPTED SHELTER. THAT'S FROM OUR RESOURCES? HOW DOES THAT DATA CORRELATE WITH THEIRS? >> YES. THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. IT'S
FROM THE HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM. THE HOMELESS RESPONSE TEAM GOES ON SITE. THEY OFFER ACCESS TO SHELTER, AND WHEN E OF THOSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS SAYS "I'M READY FOR SHELTER." WE TAKE THAT INFORMATIONND THEN CONNECT
THEM OVER TO HENNEPIN COUNTY. OR CONNECT THEM THROUGH THE SHELTER HOTLINE TO GIVE THEM THE ACCESS TO THE SHELTER. SO THAT'S WHERE OUR DATA POINT COMES IN. WE DO NOT HAVE FORMATION ON WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE WORKING WITH CASE MANAGERS AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET INTO
SHELTER INDEPENDENT OF THAT. BECAUSE WE DO NOT CAPTURE NAMES. WE DO NOT HAVE A LIST. AND THROUGH THE PROTECTIONS THAT THOSE CLIENT-TO-MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL HAVE, THEY DO NOT
SHARE THAT INFORMATION. SO IF I CAN'T PROVIDE YOU WITH A NAME, THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ME WH DETAILS ON WHERE THAT PERSON WENT. >> THANK YOU. FORGIVE ME FOR A BASIC QUESTION HERE. ARE WE CERTAIN ALL THE FOLKS IN
ENCAMPMENTS ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS? I HAVE VISITED ENCAMPMENTS WITH FOLKS WHO SAID TH SOME OF THEM DID HAVE HOUSING. BUT THEY WERE IN THE ENCAMPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBERASHMAN. YES. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S BEEN OUR
EXPERIENCE, AS WELL. THEY'RE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE RELATIVES THERE. THEY MIGHT BE VISITING. THEY MIGHT HAVE HOUSING ELSEWHERE. MAYBE THEY'RE FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STE AND THEY CAME TO JUST SPEND TIME.
WEEE COMBINATION OF THOSE FACTORS. >> MY LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE OTHER INDICATER THAT YOU MENTIONED. SO NO ONE HAD ACCEPTED STORAGE. THE STORAGE OFFERING. WHERE DO YOU THINK
-- WHY DO YOU THINK THAT ? >> A CUP OF THINGS I WOULD POINT TO,HE STORAGE WE OFFER IS A LARGE BIN. WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE EVERY PERSONAL BELONGING THAT THEY WOULD CAR, NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO FIT
INTO THE BIN. AND THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWED TOAVE SING ACCESS TO A SINGLE BIN. THAT BIN WL BE TRANSPORTED DOWNTOWN. SO THAT BYIST CR BY ITSELF CREATES A BARRIER FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS OR RETRIEVE THEIR BELONGINGS OR
CHECK IN ON THEIR BELONGINGS. TO GET THERE AND BACK. IT MIGHT BE A RISK IF THEY GO TO STORA TO CHECK IN ON THEIR BELONGINGS, SOMEBODY MIGHT DO SOMETHING TO THE BELONGINGS LEFT BEHIND AT AN ENCAMPMENT. IT'S KIND OF A
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. WE'RE LON LONG -- LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE AN RFP, HOPEFULLY FAIRLY SOON WITH, SO IT DOES NOT CREATE A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING TO ELTER, INTERESTED IN TAKING UP STORAGE OPTIONS. >> TNK YOU.
>> IN QUEUE, I AM NEXT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU AND ME WORK CLOSELY. AND, YOU KNOW, TALKED EVERY ENCAMPMENT THAT STARTED IN WARD 6. I THINK I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS FROM MY OPINION. WE'RE DEALING WITH CRISIS THAT IS HUGE MAGNITUDE. WE ARE LEFT BEHIND TO DEAL WITH THIS. THE CITY WHERE THE COUNTY AND THE STATE A ALSO NOT VISIBLE THERE. THE COUNTY IS THE MAIN SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDER. THEY
GO OUT THERE TO AN ENCAMPMENT AND THEN PROVIDE SERVICES. BUT T THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. I THINK WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS, IS INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE
STAYING IN UNHUMANE SPACE. THE WEATHER OF MINNESOTA, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND THE LACK OF SAFETY AT THE ENCAMPMENTS, TOO. THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING AND, YOU KNOW, EITHER SELLING DRUGS AT THA AREA OR CREATING HARMFUL
SITUATION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING THE. IT ALSO AVERAGES T -- AFFECTS THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD SAY ANY ENCAMPMENT THAT FORMS. IT'S UNSAFE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS ST STAYING THERE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY
I WOULD SAY IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. AND PUBLIC HEALTH. THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO TO THE BATHROOM OR WASH. THERE'S NO ENCAMPMENT, IN MY OPINION, THAT
IS REALLY HEALTHY ANYWHERE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. SOMEONE WHO HAS DEAL WITH ENCAMPMENTS OVER AND OR AND OVER AGAIN. OF COURSE, THE SYSTEM IS FAILING. AND OUR RESIDENTS, AND ESPECIALLY
NONHOUSED FOLKS, MY QUESTION IS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT RISK FAKE DOORS BEING BEING -- FAKE DOORS BEING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. THAT TRICKS CLOSURE. I HAVE SEEN, AS I MESSAGED, I'VE SEEN
ENMPMENTS THAT CAUGHT FIRE. ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAD OVERDOSES. ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAVE SHOOTINGS, AND SO ON. FEEL LIKE WE, IN MY OPINION, ACT WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN. WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO
CLOSE IT RIGHT AWAY. WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO -- OUR SFF AN HOW HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM GO OUT THERE, AND, OF COURSE, DO OFFER SERVICES AND SO ON. BUT I FEEL LIKE WE WAIT UNTIL BAD THINGS HAPPEN. AND THAT'S WHEN WE ACT QUICKLY. AND IS THAT H YOU
SEE IT? I MEAN, I'LL PUT IT OUT THERE. THER ARE TIMES I'M E-MAILING. THE ADMINISTRATION E-MAILING YOUR OFFICE AND SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ENCAMPMENT IS NOT SAFE TO THE COMMUNITY. ANWE HAVE BEEN GETTING CALLS FROM THE RESIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE THINGS TO, DONE. I SEE IT
WAIT LONGER WEEKS, MONS, THOSE ENCAMPMENTS TO BE DEALT WITH. AND UNTIL SHOOTINGS OR EXPLOSION HAPPENS AT THOSE ENCAMPMENTS. I FEEL LIKE WE REACT WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN. AND WHEN WE'RE
NOT DOING GOOD WORK PREVENTING. THAT MY FIRST QUESTION. ARE WE ONLY REACTING WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN OR CLOSING IN A WAY THAT IS MORE EFFECTIVE? >> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, CHAIR OSMAN. I SEE YOUR POINT. A LOT OF ENCAMPMENT
CLOSURES REQUIRE AN IMMENSE AMOUNTF COORDINATION. NOT JUST INTERNALLY ALIGNING OUR RESOURCES BUT EXTERNALLY, IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE ANCIES INVOLVED. OR IF THERE'S ALSO A RISK, THAT ENCAMPMENT WILL SHIFT TO ANOTHER AGENCY'S PROPERTY.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS RESPONSIVE AS WE CAN. S PLANFUL AND AS INTENTIONAL AS WE CAN. AND SOMETIMESES WHEN WE'RE IN THE THROWS OF PLA PLAN -- THROES OF PLANNING FOR THAT ENOSURE, BAD THINGS HAPPEN.
AND AT THAT POINT, WE HAVE TO PULL IN ALL THE RESOURCES. WHETHER THEY'RE AVAILABLE OR NOT, TO RESPOND IN THAT MOMENT TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIACY OF THE SITUATION. IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE TAKING COMMUNITY IMPACT OR COMMUNITY STATEMENTS WITH A
GRAIN OF SALT. OR THAT WE'RE DISMISSIVE OF THEM. WE'RE VERY MUCH EAGER TO CLOSE THESE EA ENCAMPMENTS AND SEE THEM A UNSAFE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. MY QUESTION -- I THINK MY LAST QUESTION IS, WE ARE SEEING
CITY-OWNED LAND. NOT JUST THE CITY-OWNED LAND THAT THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE FORMING. BUT ALSO MNDOT OWNED LAND OR COUNTY-OWNED LAND. I FEEL LIKE MNDOT IS OUT THERE AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION THERE. AND THE CITY TAKES THE LEADERSHIP. THE
EFFORT TO ENGAGE. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE ENCAMPMENT. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S MNDOT-OWNED LAND IF IT'S UNDER
THE BRIDGE OR REACH OUT TO THE MINN MNDOT. WHROO IS THE PROCESS LIKE? I KNOW KNOW IT TAKES A LONGER PROCESS. AND I HAVE SEEN RESPONSES FROM THE
CITY THAT SAYS IT'S NOT A CITY-OWNED LAND. WE ARE WORKING ON IT TO ENGAGE OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT MORE OF THOSE DETAILS WHAT THE PROCESS IS LIKE DEALING WITH MNDOT AND OTHER AGENCIES.
>> WE ENGAGE WITH ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT MULTIAGENCY PARTNERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO REVIEW ALL OF THEIR ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE PRESENT. AND THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE TACTICAL LEVEL, AND THEN OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPEN A MORE OF THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL.
SOME IS THE CROSSOVER. WE WORK PRETTY CLOSELY TOGETHER, HAND AND GLOVE, IF YOU WILL, TO FIND AN OPTIMAL PATH TO THE GET THE RESOURCES LINED UP AND MOVE FORWARDED WITH CLOSURE. INCERTL MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE ARE CLOSING ON A SPECIFIC DAY. A
SET THE DAY AND PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDATION TO MNDOT SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO RESPOND TO. AND KN, OKAY, THIS IS THE DATE. THIS IS THE URGENCY APPLIED TO THAT SPECIFIC PAGE. AND THAT LOCATION. NOW IT'S TIME TO BRING IN THE RESRCES FOR THAT SPECIFIC DATE. SO WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH CLOSURE. >> AGAIN. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM AND FOLKS OUT THERE REALLY VISITING THESE ENCAMPMENTS. WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE FOR A SMALL
DEPARTMENT. TO DEAL WITH IN MAGNITUDE. IT'S COSTING THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY. ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE MPD, AT PRESENT, THEY'RE PRESENT TO ENSURE TNGS ARE SAFE. THAT'S COSTING US A
LOT. AND I'VE TALKED TO THE POLICE LEADERSHIP THAT TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE THIRD SHIFT HAS TO STAY UNTIL 2:00 P.M. TO MAKE SURE THAT ENCPMENT IS SAFE AND CLOSED. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STA FOR THE WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING. GREAT
PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER CHUGHTAI. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DIRECTOR, UMM, THA YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UMM, IT'S THE FIRST ONE. THERE'S SO MUCH LEARNING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ALONG THE WAY. NEW SYSTEMS TT NEEDED TO BE CREATED TO GET TO
THIS POINT. AND I APPRECIATE IT. OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR PRESENTATION, PLACES YOU'VE POINTED OUT THE, UMM, THE INADEQUACIES OF DATA SYSTEMS AND TRACKING COORDINATION, INFORMATION SHARING ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND ACROSS
AGENCIES THAT EXIST RIGHT NOW THAT I SEE -- OR I HEARD YOU EXPRESS WANTING TO -- TO -- TO -- IMPROVE AND BUILD MORE ON. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND - AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON IT. I WANT TO START, ACTUALLY,
BY THE PLACE WHERE YOU ENDED YOUR PRESENTATION. UMM, ANDT REALLY -- I THINK IT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, AND IS AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHICH IS WHEN WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE, AND WHEN WE FOCUS ON THEIR NEEDS,
THE OTHER TNGS WILL BEGIN TO FALL IN PLACE. BUT IT ALWAYS HAS TO START THERE. AND I THINK FOR -FOR -- FOR SO MANY REASONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES WITHIN OUR CONTROL AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY OUOF OUR CONTROL, THERE'S THIS, UMM, THERE'S THIS BROADER,
KE, SOCIETAL NARRATIVE, MAYBE, THAT EXISTS. UMM THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE, UMM, LIVING WITHOUT A HOME. OR LIVINGUTSIDE, LIVING IN SHELTER, WHATEVER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE MAY BE. IT'S AS A
RESULT OF ACTIONS -- IT'S AS A SULT OF FAULT OF THEIRS, UMM, THAT -- THAT THAT THEY HAVE MADE A SERIES OF POOR CHOES AND MISTAKES, AND AS A RESULT THEY'RE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND DESERVEO BE. AND I THINK,
UMM, I THINK OUR ROLE, AND SOMETHING WE HAVE ALIGNMENT ON, IS, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING THAT'S NOT THE REALITY. UMM, THAT WE HAVE, AH, A DEFICIENT SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH PEOPLE END UP IN
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE NOT HUMANE. THAT ARE NOT DIGNIFIED AND NEED TO BE, UMM, AND CAN ONLY BE ADDRESSED WHEN WE CENTER PEOPLE'S HUMANITY AND THEIR NEEDS AND BEGIN TO ADDRESS THEM ONE-BY-ONE. I APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING -
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL VALUE THAT WE CAN THEN BUILD INTERVENTIONS AROUND. AND SYSTEMSROUND. UMM, YOU KNOW, I -- I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY LAST
FALL TO SPEND A PORTION OF MY DAY AND DO KIND OF LIKE A RIDE-ALONG WITH THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE TEAM. AND, UMM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME FROM THE DAY. ONE BEING, WE VISITED AN ENCAMPMENT IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS.
UMM, AND THERE WERE -- IT WAS RELATIVELY SMALL. UMM, AND ALMOST EVERY PERSON THERE, UMM YOU KNOW, WAS EXCITED TO TALK TO, UMM, THE PERSON FROM THE HOLESSNESS RESPONSE TEAM AND ASKED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SHELTER OPTIONS HOUSING OPTIONS, OTHER TYPES OF SUPPORT SERVICES. AND FROM THA EXPERIENCE, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WANT, UMM, PEOPLE WANT AND NEED HELP. A, UMM, THE
SYSTEMIC DEFICIENCIES MAKE IT SO WE CAN'T MEET THEM AT THE PACE THEY'RE NEEDED BE ABLE TO, LIKE, TRACK IT AND FOLLOW IT. AND I, YOU KNOW, ON THIS DAY, AN EXAMPLE THAT STOOD OUT TO ME. THERE WAS A PERSON WHO WANTED TO
GO TO A SHELTER. AND READY TOD AND E PERSON FROM THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE TEAM WORKED WITH THEM TO CALL ADULT SHELTER CONNECT AND SEE WHAT OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE DAY. AND THEY LEARNED THAT THERE WERE NO -- THERE WAS NO
AVAILABILITY OF SHELTER FOR THIS PERSON. AND I SEE THAT AS SOMEONE WHO IN OUR NUMBERS, RIGHT, IS BEING TRACKED AS A PERSON WHO WASFFERED HOUSING AND DIDN'T ACCEPT. OR, LIKE, WAS WANTED OR ACCEPTED BUT,
LIKE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HOUSE THEM SUCCESSFULLY. AND THE CORE CONCLUSION, FOR ME, THOUGH, STILL REMAINS, LIKE, THIS IS A PERSON WHO WANTS TO MOVE INDOS. WANTS THE HELP THAT IS PROVIDED OR THAT COD BE
AVAILABLE. AND THAT'S THE STORY OF THE AVERAGE PERSON THAT'S LIVING IN AN ENCAMPMENT. AND NOT ONE OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO INTERACT WITH US AT ALL OR DON'T WANT TO MOVE DINE -- INDOORS. I THINK IT IS -- I THINK ANOTHER SORT OF LEARNING
COMING OUT OF THIS PRESENTATION IS LIKE A THING, AT LEAST I THINK THAT DOESN'T FIT INTO OUR CORE BELIEF OF FOCUSING ON PEOPLE AND THEIR NEEDS. IT'S
THE APPROACH OF FOCUSING ON ENCAMPMENTS RATHER THAN CLIENTS. I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S THE CASE. WE DON'T HAVE A NEED TOO FOLW CLIENTSES IN THAT SAME WAY. AND MANAGE CASE
WORK OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CORE BELIEF AND MAYBE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT AND SEE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO FIT INTO A BIGGER ECOSYSTEM. OR A NEED THAT WE CAN TAKE ON. BUT, YOU
KNOW, I THINK I'LL JUST WRAP UP HERE. I KNOW Y'RE SHORT ON TIME. BUT I THINK IT'S STARK TO ME HERE. E INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED ABOUT 227 PEOPLE. AND OF THOSE, NINE WERE HOUSED. WHO
WERE LIVING IN E.J.S. -- ENCAMPMENTS. THAT'S LIKE A 4% SUCCESS RATE. A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING R WRONG AND HOW ARE WE CONTRIBUTING TO SEEING THE NUER INCREASE. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE, AT LEAST, A SHARED
GOAL. OF $332,000 SPENT. IT'S LIKE $37,000 PER PERSON WE SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED. I THINK IT'S WORTH SITTING WITH THE OUNT OF RESOURCES WE ARE SPENDING AND WHETHER THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO AN END GOAL THAT
I BELIEVE WE ALL SHARE, WHICH IS REACHING FUNCTIONAL ZERO ON HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME IN COMMITTEE TODAY. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
OSMAN. I'LL TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS LIMITED. BECAUSE I EL LIKE THERE'S SO MUCH I COULD GO INTO. BUT WE HAV TO TURN THIS OVER TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE AND FOLKS. FOLKS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME LUNCH
TODAY. THANK YOU TO YOU AND STAFF AND EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON GETTING THIS FIRST INITIAL REPORT TOGETHER. I KNOW WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THE ORDINANCE, WE DISCUSSED A LOT ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES REG SERVICES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS MIGHT FACE IN MAKING SURE THISEPORT HAPPENS. AND AS AN AUTHORITY, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT GIVING SOME GRACE ON THIS FIRST REPORT. AND TAKING TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE
CHALLENGES IN GETTINGT. AND I, TOO, APPRECIATED JUST, LIKE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ON PLACES WHERE THINGS COULD BE BETTER. AND WANT TO SUPPORT HOW FIGURING OUT AS A COUNCILMEMBER CAN DO THAT, ESPIALLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO HAVING A
PARTNERSHIP WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY ON FIGURG OUT KEY INFORMATION WE CAN GET. THE SEC THING I -- SECOND I'LL SAY IS, DIRECTOR HAVE A LASVELAZQUEZ, I DOT ENVY YOUR JOB. IT'S AN
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB TO OVERSEE, IN PART, CLOSURE OF ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE CLOSURES OF ENCAMPMENTS ARE AN EXPERIENCE THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THEM AS AN UNHOUSED PERSON, AS STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS TO TWO OUT
THERE TO DO THE WORK, IT'S TRAUMATIZING, VIOLENT, NO MATTER HOW IT HAPPENS. I WANT TO SAY THAT. IT'S ONE OF THE MORE INTENSE ROLES THAT YOU PLAY AND
THAT THE REG SERVICES DEPARTMENT PLAYS. I THINK LOOKING AT THIS REPORT, AND I ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLICND THE COLLEAGUES TO LOOK AT THE REPORT DATA IN THE LIMS FILE THAT KIND OFOES
THROUGH THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. THIS I IN PART, WHAT I WAS DEFINITELY HOPING FOR. THE THING WE TALKED ABOUTED IS GOOD GOVERNMENTS REQUIRES GOOD DATA. AND THIS IS, CERTAINLY, A START.
ESPECIALLY AN UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS GOING ON ON THE GROUND. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW MANY
ENCAMPMENTTHAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN OCCUR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THAT'S A STORY WE HEHEARD FROM RESIDENTS, ENCAMPMENTS, AN ENCAMPMENT EVICTION IS NOT A TOOL TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS. IT IS A PART OF
PLAYING WHACK-A-MOLE AND OFTENTIMES THE FOLKS THAT HAVE TO RESORT TO LIVING IN ENCAMPMENT, WHICH OFTENTIMES, FOR AN UNHOUSED PERSON, ISN'T SAFE, HEALTHY, OR DIGNIFIED. THEY'RE IN SUCH DIRE STRAITS WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO LIVE IN
THE SAME PLACE I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT THE STORAGE QUESTION WAS INTERESTING TO ME, TOO. THAT MANY PEOPLE DID NOTCCEPT STORAGE. AND I SEE THE BARRIERS THAT YOU LAID OUT IN TERMS OF IT
BEING DOWNTOWN. ONE BIN. I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT STORAGE ONLY BEING OFFERED PRI TO A CLOSURE. HAVING STORAGE AVAILABLE THE DAY OF. WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO MOVE, I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. AND FOR AN UNHOUSED PERSON, THE BELONGINGS THEY HAVE, THAT'S THEIR EVERYTHING. TO LOSE THOSE THINGS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO CARRY IT WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED, THAT'S A HUGE DETRIMENT IN THEM BEING ABLE TO
MOVE THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF CARE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIR. I THINK NOTICING AN ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE IS VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHER AGENCIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THE DATA WE HAVE BEFORE, SHOWS THERE ISN'T CONSISTENCY IN THAT. I AO THINK THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS AND ONLY NINE OF THEM ACCEPTING HOUSING
OR BEI ABLE TO GET HOUSED IS A REFLECTION OF THE FACT THAT, LIKE, AN ENCAMPMENT IS NOT THE BEST PLACE FOR A PERSON T HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A SERVICE PROVIDER. AND REALLY, LIKE, TAKE STOCK OF WHAT'S OFFERED BEFORE THEM. RIGHT. LIKE IF
YOU'RE A HOUSED PERSON, AND YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH DIFFENT THINGS. MAYBE IT'S AFFORDING FOOD, MAYBE IT IS TRYING TO GET, LIKE, A CITY RESOURCE. LIKE THE DOLLAR TRANSIT PASSES THAT WE HAVE. YOU GO TO A SERVICE
CENTER. OU TALK TO A PERSON ONE-ON-ONE, AND YOU'RE ABLE TO GET ONE-ON-ONE HELP. THAT'S AN EFFECTIVE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET SERVICES. AND ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY STREETS-TO-HOUSING TEAM, IS THEIR EFFORTS TO TRY TO TAKE
FOLKSES WHO LIVE IN ENCAMPMENTS OUT OF THE ENCAMPMENT AND GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK IF THE REALITY OF MAKING SURE THAT SERVICE PROVISION EFFORTS ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD RETURN ANDT
HAS TO DO WITH A LOT OF, LIKE, THE PLACE AND CONDITIONS IN WHICH YOU'RE TALKING TO AN INDIVIDUAL. RIGHT. I WAS AT AN ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE IN MY WARD. THERE WAS SO MANY PEOPLE. THEY THAT WAS THE MOMENT THEY WERE READY TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE
NEXT STEP. AND WE WERE -- WE HAD HEARD FROM A SERVICE PROVIDER THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF HOUSING ASSESSMENT EVENT AT EAST LAKE LIBRARY THAT THEY. WE WERE TRYING TO SCRAMBLE TO GET PEOPLE'S ADDRESSES OF EAST LAKE LIBRARY SO THEY COULD GO AND THEY'RE SO
WILLING. I THINK IT SHOWS THAT, LIKE, HAVING PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO GET SERVICES, NAVIGATION CENTER THAT TRANSITION, LIKE, THAT'S A KEY STEP THAT WE'RE JUST MISSING IN TERMS OF GETTING TO FUNCTIONAL ZERO. AND I THINK THIS DATA IS
INDICATIVE OF THAT. JUST LIKE, WHEN YOU'RE HAVING THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE AT AN ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE, OR LIVING WITHIN AN ENCAMPMENT AND ALREADY DOESN'T FEEL SAFE. WE'RE HELPING TO BE THERE BUT YOU'RE THERE AND TRYING TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PRIVACY, LIKE, THE LIKELIHOOD OFMENTING - WANTING TO TALK
TO A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, GO THROUGH A HOUSING ASSESSMENT AND DO IT IS VERY LOW. I MEAN, I WOULDN'T, AS AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON IF I WERE IN THOSE CONDITIONS, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH A HOUSING PROVIDER IN THAT SPACE WHEN I'M HUNGRY,
I'M TIRED. IF I'M STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND WITHDRAWAL. AT THAT TIM IT'S NOT SUCCESSFUL. I WOULD TURN TO YOU AND SAY "I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
NOW. I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY." I'M GOING TO PLAN ON FOLLOWING UP TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REPORT. TO KIND OF ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN, ALSO, SEE W WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXTEPORT IS EVEN BETTER. AND
KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE NOTED. AND MAYBE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT, PERHAPS, OTHER CHALLENGES OR THINGS THAT WERE SUCCESSL IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION. AND, YEAH. I HOPE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS, ON THIS BODY, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBERS, IN
GENERAL, TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT THIS REPORT. AND THINK ABOUT HOW IT CAN INFORM THE WAYS THAT WE SHIFT SYSTEMS AND POLICY WITHIN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. TO GET TO THE GOAL OF REDUCING HOLESSNESS AND FUNCTIONAL ZERO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANKS FOR
THE TIME. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO FILE THAT REPORT. AND I WILL ASK -- OH. AND WITH NO
OBJECTION, I'LL DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MU, EVERYONE. HAVE A GOOD ONE.