. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2025. I'M KATIE CASHMAN, CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE F PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REAL-TE CAPTIONING AS A FURTHER METHOD TO INCREE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF
OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL TO VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> PRESENT. >> OSMAN. >> PRESEN >> CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> CHAIR CASHN. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE SIX PRESENT. >> WE'LL START WITH OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 3 THROUGH 7. ITEM
THREE IS AUTHORIZING A SUBORDINATE FUNDING AGREEMENT ON THE BLUE LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION. ITEM 4 IS AUTHORIZING ACQUISITION OF A PERMANENT UTILITY EASEMENT. ITEM 5 IS GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT FUND PLANNINGRANT FOR GEO THERMAL
PLANNING. ITEM SIX IS DIRECTING STAFF TO CONDUCT A LANDSCAPE REVIEW. ITEM 7 IS DIRECTING STAFF TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH AND ANAL ANALYSIS. ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> T Y QUICKLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT ITEM
7, RELATING TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT TIMES AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TORING THIS FORWARD AND HAVE THE POLICY AND RESEARCH DIVISION TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC. WE HAVE MANY FOLKS, SOMETIMES MANY WHO ARE LOW INCOME THAT TALK ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS THEY FACE. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF TO DO RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND THEN FIGURE OUT MINNEAPOLIS CONTACTS JUST TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS THERE ARE OUT THERE. VERY EXCITED TOOVE THIS FORWARD WITH COUNCIL VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IL RECOGNIZE VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> I WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 6. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ FOR SPEAKING FOR BOTH OF US ON ITEM 7. COLLEAGUES, I'M BRINGING FORWARD A STAFF DIRECTION TO EXPLORE MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT PROVIDE SUPPORTO PROPERTY
OWNERS AND MITIGATE THE COSTS RELATED TO THE ASSESSMENT, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF SEWER AND WATER LINES. THE RISING COSTS AND LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES ARE IREASING CONCERN FOR CITIES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING MINNPOLIS. OUR CITY'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING, AND MANY OF THE PIPES THAT HOMENERS RELY ON WERE INSTALLED DECADES AG WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS
ACCELERATING THE STRAIN ON THIS ALREADY DETERIORATING SYSTEM. IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE FREQUENCY O LATERAL WATER AND SEWER LINE FAILURES HAS BEEN RISING AT AN ALARMING RATE. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF SEWERY 125% FROM 651 TO 1,471. WHILE THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST HAS ALSO GROWN BY 30% FROM 7,804, TO
10,174. MANY OF THESE PIPES ARE NEARING THE END OF THEIR LIFE SPAN MAKING FAILURES MORE FREQUENT AND REPAIRS MORE COSTLY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ACCELERATING EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, MORE INTENSE STORMS, HEAVIER RAINFALL, AND INCREASED FLOODING ARE PUTTING MORE STRESS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. LEADING TO BACKUPS, OVERFLOWS AND FAILURES LEAVING HOMEOWNERS WITH EXPENSIVE, URGENT REPAIRS. THIS
IS A GROWING PROBLEM THAT WON'T RESOLVE ITSELF. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO HELP RESIDENTS ADAPT AND PROTECT THEIR HOMES. HOMEOWNERS IN MINNEAPOLIS ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THESE PIPES, WHICH CONNECT TIR HOMES TO THE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. WHEN A LINE FAILS, REPAIRS CAN COST THOUSANDS. SOMETIMES EVEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. FOR MANY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LOWER INCOMES, THESE UNEXPECTED EXPENSES CAN BE OVEHELMING AND
CREATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. WHILE THE CITY DOES OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE, LIKE THE ALITY TO SPREAD SOME REPAIR COSTS OVER PROPERTY TAXES, WE DON'T YET HAVE DEDICATED MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS LIKE GRANTS, CITY-BACKED LOANS OR COST-SAVING INITIATIVES TO HELP EASE THI BURDEN. CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY VE PROVIDED PROGRAMS AIMED AT PROVIDING RELIEF, INCLUDING GRANTS, LOW-INTEREST LOANS, AND ASSISTANCE.
INSPECTIONS AND REPAIRS AT THE TIME OF A HOME SALE TO PREVENT COSTLY FAILURES DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S TIME FOR MINNEAPOLIS TO EXAMINE THESE OPTNS AND FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL RELIEF. IT'S ABOUT STRENGTHENING OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING CLIMATE. IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION, THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF MAINTAINING AN AGING AND INCREASINGLY STRESSED WATER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO FALL SQUARELY ON INDIVIDUAL
HOMEOWNERS. WE CAN ENSURE THAT MINNEAPOLIS REMAINS NOT ONLY LIVABLE BUT RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO CREATE A STRONGER MORE PREPARED CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE TWO STAFF DIRECTIVES THAT YOU, VICE CHAIR KOSKI, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, ARE BRINGING FORWARD. SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEMS THREE THROUGH SEVEN, I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY
AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. AYES HAVE IT. THOSE ITEMS ARE APPROVED. NEXT UP, WE'LL TAKE OUR PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. ITEM 1 PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE GAS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. ITEM 2 RELATED TO THE ELECTRIC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS ITEM EIG WHICH IS THE MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY AND EXCEL ENERGY AND ITEM NINE. HERE TO
KICK OFF THE PRESENTATION IS JOCELYN AND LUKE TO PRESENT. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE C & I C AND I'M THE SIOR CITY ATTORNEY. WITH ME TODAY, IS LUKE, PROGRAM MANAGER FRO THE MINNEAPOLIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED GAS AN
AGREEMENTS AND THE CLOSELY RELATED CLEANNERGY PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN TODAY BY PROVIDING A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS. FIRST, WHAT IS A UTILITY FRANISE AGREEMENT? A UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SETS EXPECTATIONS BETWEEN A CITY AND A UTILITY COMPANY ON HOW THE UTILITY CONSTRUCTS, OPERATES, AND MAINTAINS EQUIPMENT LOCATED IN PUBLIC GROUNDS AND RIGHTS OF WAY. UTILITY FRANCHISE
AGREEMENTS DO NOT GIVE UTILITY PROVIDERS THE RIGHT TO A MONOPOLY, OR EVEN THE RIGHT TO OPERATE I THE CITY. RATHER, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA GRANTS UTILITY COMPANIES MONOPOLY RIGHTS. UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS HELP DEFINE HOW THOSE UTILITY PROVIDERS WILL OPERATE IN THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY. UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS ARE CREATIONS OF STATE STATUTE. UNR MINNESOTA LAW, THEY'RE
NEGOTIATED BETWEEN MUNICIP MUNICIPALITIES. CONTRACTS WHICH ARE INCORPORATED INTO CITY ORDINANCES. UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE THEY SPELL OUT SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO PUBLIC UTILITIES THAT ARE USING PUBLIC PROPERTY TO PROVIDE UTILITY SERVICES. UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS GIVE THE CITY THE OORTUNITY TO
CONFIRM THAT THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT THE UTILITY COMPANIES RECEIVE FROM USE OF OUR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IS FAIRLY COMNSATED VIA FRANCHISE FEES, WHICH ARE CODIFIED IN SEPARATE ORDINANCES. THESE DOLLARS ARE VITAL TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE THEY HEL PAY FOR CORE SERVICES, INCLUDING THE CITY'S CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE. ADDITIONALLY, CONSUMERS WANT A RELIABLE ENERGY SOURCE. THE CITY AND MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS WANT OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES TO OFFER CLEANER,
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, AND ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY. LITTLE BIT OF A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CITY'S UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS AND THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. BEFORE 2014, MINNEAPOLIS HAD ENTERED INTO AERIES OF 20-YEAR LONG UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH O GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITY PARTNERS. HOWEVER, WHEN THOSE AGREEMENTS CAMEP FOR RENEWAL IN 2014, THE PUBLIC EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN EXPLORING THE IDEA
OF MUNICIPALIZATION. THOUGH THAT OPTION DID NOT MOVE FORWARD, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE. ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH THE CLEAN ERGY PARTNERSHIP. THE FIRST IN THE NATION, AN AWARD WINNING PARTNERSHIP HAS INSPIRED THE SAME MODS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THIS SLIDE HELPS TO ILLUSTRATE THE INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTILITY
FRANCHISE FEES AND THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. AS NOTED EARLIER, HAVING UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, ALLOWS THE CITY TO COLLECT UTILITY FRANCHISE FEES. APPENDIX C-2. THOSE ORDINANCES ARE NOT BEING ANGED AT THIS TIME. THE CITY THEN USES THE FRANCHISE FEES TO COVER A VARIETY OF THINGS
INCLUDING THE CITY'S COST AND CLIMATE ACTION ACTIVITIES. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED AS A RESULT OF THE PARTY'S NEGOTIATIONS IN 2014. THE SEPARATE AGREEMENTS CALLED MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING OR MOUs EXPIRE WITH THE EXPIRING FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS. AS SUCH, THE CITY AND ITS UTILITY PARTNERS AGREE TO NEGOTIATE UPDATES TO THOSE MOUs A PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE UTILITY
FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A TIMELINE OF THE CITY'S NEGOTIATION PROCESS. THE CITY HAS DEVOTED SIGNIFICANT TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS OR SO TO THIS ENDEAVOR. IN FALL OF 2023, A GROUP OF INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE BEGAN MEETING. BETWEEN FALL OF 2023, AND SPRING
OF 2024 CITY STAFF SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME RESEARCHING FOR BEST PRACTICES, AND MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS. CITY STAFF ALSO MET WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON CHANGES TO -- PARDON ME. CITY STAFF ALSO MET WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK
ON CHANGES. BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE EXPIRING AGREEMENTS AND MOUs. MANY OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS ARE HERE TODAY, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PROCESS. BY THE END OF MAY 2024, NEGOTIATNS HAD BEGUN. DURING THIS PROCESS, I PRESENTED ON THE -- GAVE A PRESENTATION BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE IN JULY. A COPY OF THAT PRESENTATION CAN BE
FOUND IN THE CITY'S LIMS SITE. NEGOTIATIONS TOOK LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED REQUIRING SHORT-TERM EXTENSIONS. SINCE THE MOUs EXPIRE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, THOSE WE BY DEFAULT ALSO EXTENDED. IN DECEMBER, WE BEGAN THIS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS WAS COMPLETE BEFE THE EXPIRING FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS AND MOUs SUNSET. DURING THIS PROCESS, CITY STAFF
MET WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE AGREEMENTS AND THE MOUs. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A LIST THAT OUTLINES THEEY PRIORITIES THE CITY HAD GOING INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, AND MOUs BASED ON THE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH DONE BY STAFF IN THE FIRST PART OF E NEGOTIATION PROCESS. WE WILL DETAIL IN THE UPCOMING SLIDE. F
ON PRIORITIES A-G FOR THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, AND MY COLLEAGUE LUKE WILL BE PRESENTING ON PRIORITIES H-J FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. SO TO BEGIN WITH THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS. ONE OF THE PRIORITIESLL STAKEHOLDERS MENTIONED HAD TO DO WITH ADDING SOME FLEXIBILITY TO THE DURATION OF THE FNCHISE AGREEMENTS. THE
EXPIRING AGREEMENTS ARE 10-YEAR TERMS, AND REQUIRE THE AGREEMENTS TO BE IN EFFECT FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS BEFORE DETERMINATION. AS PART OF THIS NEGOTIATION PROCESS, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO SECURE A SLIGHTLY SHORTER DURATION TO THE AGREEMENTS WHICH EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2034. AND THE PARTIES AGREE TO ELIMINATE THAT FIVE- YEAR WAITING PERIOD FOR TERMINATION. ANOTHER ISSUEHAT
STAKEHOLDERS RAISED NEARLY UNANIMOUS WA A LACK OF SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, ALSKNOWN AS ADA. WHILE THE EXPIRING AGREEMENTS REQUIRE THE UTILITIES TO FOLLOW ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REGULATIONS, THE INCLUSION TO THE SPECIFIC ADA HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING RIGHTS OF WAY CLEAR AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. CITY
ENTERPRISE STAKEHOLDERS AND SOME COMMUNY ORGANIZATIONS ALSO SAW -- RELATED TO COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION SHARING, AND PROJE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND ITS UTILITY PARTNERS. WHILE THE EXPIRING AGREEMENTS REQUIRE INFORMATION SHARING, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENTS EXPAND UPON THIS REQUIREMENT TO SPECIFY MORE DATA. THIS MEANS THAT THE UTILITIES HAVE ALSO AGREED TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH COMPLETE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE LOCATIONS AND INVESTMENTS. AND THE PROPOSED AGREEMENTS ALSO REQUIRE OSER COORDINATION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND MAJOR PROJECTS TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTIONS AND CLOSURES IN THE RIGHTS OF WAY. PRIORITY D ISHE CLARIFICATION OF RESTORATION LANGUAGE. CITY ENTERPRISE STAKEHOLDERS PARTICULARLY FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THE PROPOSED
AGREEMENTS ACCOMPLISH THIS REQUEST. THE PROPOSED CLARIFIES THE CITY MAY ELECT TO PERFORM THE RESTORATION WORK AND BILL THE GAS COMPANY FOR DOING SO WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE COLETION. ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE CITY'S RIGHT. -- BUT DOES NOT COMPLETE IT IN A TIMELY MANNER, THEN THE CITY MAY PERFORM OR ARRANGE THE RESTORATION WORK AT THE
COMPANY'S EXPENSE WHICH EXPLICITLY INCLUDES THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AND OVERHEAD. THE ISSUE OF PERMIT FEES AROSE DURING NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS. REPEAL OUTDATED PORTION OF AN ORDINANCE EXEMPTING ALL FRANCHISE HOLDERS FROM PAYING PERMIT FEES. THE PROPOSED FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS CONTAIN LANGGE THAT REQUIRE THE UTILITIES TO PAY AN ANNUAL FLAT
FEE OF $100,000 EACH. THIS FUNDING, $200,000 IN TOTAL, WIL BE NEW FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S UTILITY CONNECTIONS DIVISION. THE PERMIT FEE IS INTENDED TO BETTER FACILITATE THE REVIEW OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND MONITOR COMPLIANCE OF APPROVED PERMITS. STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE BOARD REQUESTED THAT THE CITY ADOPT MORE GENERALIZED FRANCHISE
LANGUAGE IN THE UTILITY FRANCHISEAGREEMENTS. THESE PROPOSED FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS NOW REFERENCE THE CITY'S FRANCHISE FEE RIGHTS UNDER STATE LAW. IN COMPARISON, LANGUAGE IN THE EXPIRING AGREEMENTS STRICTLY ESTABLISH HOW FEES COULD BE EXPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENTS NOW REFER EXCLUSIVELY TO THE SEPARATE CITY ORDINANCES FOR FEE LEVELS AND CUSTOMER CLASSIFICATIONS. PRIORITY G IS THE INCLUSION OF A TIME TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES.
THE EXPIRING AGREEMENTS -- CONTACT PERSON BUT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OBLIGATION FOR THE PERSON TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER. PUBLIC WORKS AND FINANCE AND PROPERTY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS REQUESTED THAT THIS ISSUE BE CLARIFIED DURING NEGOTIATIONS. IN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENTS, THE UTILITY COMPANS HAVE AGREED TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE OR AT MINIMUM, ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF AN INQUIRY WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS
DAYS EXCT IN EX-TENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THIS OBLIGATION OF RESPONSE IS MUTUAL. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, LUKE. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. IT'S A PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THIS SUBJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND MY TIME HERE DESCRIBING SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE TO THE MEMORANDUMS OF
UNDERSTAING. FIRST, A PRIORITY THAT WE SOUGHT AT THE CITY WAS STRUCTURAL ENHANCEMENTS TO THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. THIS WAS A PRIORITY NOT JUST FOR US BUT PARTILARLY FOR MEMBERS OF EVAC, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. WHAT WE SOUGHT BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO SECURE WAS THE HIRING AND COST SHARING OF AN OUTSIDE ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP WITH THE WORKLOAD OF THE OPERATIONS OF
THE PARTRSHIP. WE ALSO SOUGHT THE COMMITMENT FROM EACH UTILITY. THEIR MOST SENIOR LOCAL UTILITY EXECUTIVE AS A BOARD MEMBER ON THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. AS A REMINDER, THE CITY'S BOARD MEMBERS ARE THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN, COUNL VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI, AND OUR CITY OPERIONS OFFICER MARGARET ANDERSON-KELLIHER. WE
SOUGHT FOR MORE PROCEDURAL INCLUSION OF EVAC MEMBERS AND THEIR BODY IF AND WHEN GOALS OF THE PARTNERSHIP WERE NOT BEING MET. AS I MENTIONED, UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SUCCEED IN PLACING THESE ITEMS INTO THE MOUs. WITH ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION, WHICH IS THAT CENTERPOINT ENERGY HAS COMMITTED TO HAVE ARE THEIR SENIOR LEVEL
EXECUTIVE HERE LOCATED IN MINNEAPOLISS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BOARD MEMBER OF THE PARTNERSHIP. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PRIORITY, AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THIS ONE WAS PARTIALLY, AND I WOULD SAY SIGNIFICANTLY ACCOMPLISHED, WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MINNEAPOLIS STATISTIC DECARBONIZATION GOALS BY THE UTILITIES. THE MOUs NOW CONTAIN THESE GOALS THAT ARE TWO IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS IS THEY ARE
UTILITY ESTABLISHED COMPARED TO THE CITY'S ESTABLISHED GOALS IN THE CLIMATE AGREEMENT PLAN. AND THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, WHICH IS AGAIN UNIQUE COMPARED TO MANY OF THEIR OTHER GOALS WHICH WOULD BE CORPORATE WIDE OR EVEN STATE WIDE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD, BUT THESE GOALS DO NOT ENTIRELY ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S GOALS, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN A FEW MINUTES HERE. BUT AIN, AS A
STEP FORWARD, THESE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT. THESERE A FIRST FOR BOTH EXCEL ENERGY AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY. THEY HAVE NOT MADE A COMMITMENT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT THEY SERVE. THIS IS THE LANGUAGE THEY'VE AGREED TO IN THE MOU. XCEL ENERGY WILL REDUCE GAS EMISSIONS COMMUNITY WIDE SPECIFIC TO
MINNEAPOLIS BY 93% BY 2035. TO GET A LITTLE CONTEXT OF WHAT THAT MEANS, I DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS GRAPH. ON THE LEFT YOU'LL SEE SHOWN IN GRAY IS HISTORICAL EMISSIONS FROM ELECTRICITY USE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND OVER THE LAST SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION. FURTHERMORE THAN SHOWN ON HERE
IN THE BLUE SQUARES ARE THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOALS THAT THE CITY HAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR CULMINATING IN CARBON FREE ELECTRICITY B 2030. A FEW OTHER NOTABLE GOALS. ONE WHICH IS ACTUALLY STATEAW IS THAT AS OF A FEW YEARS AGO, XCEL AND OER ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE CARBON FREE BY 2040. AND XCEL IN THEIR
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS HAS MADE NATIONWIDE GOALS WHICH ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT. IF YOU WERE TO MAP THOSE NATIONWIDE GOALS ON TO OUR EMISSIONS PROFILE, THEY EQUATE TO WHERE YOU SEE THE RED SQUARE. FURTHERMORE,CEL HAS SPECIFIC GOALS CONTAINED IN THEIR UPPER MIDWEST REGIONAL PLAN. THAT IS THEIR PLAN APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FOR MINNETA AND THE SURROUNDING STATES. AND THAT GOES EVEN FURTHER THAN THEIR CO
AGREEMENT THEN XCEL GOES BEYOND OTHER PREVIOUS GOALS. AND THEY COMMIT TO THOSE GOALS THAT WERE IN THE 90% PLUS RANGE IN 2030 AND 2035. NOTABLY, VERY CLOSE TO THE CITY'S OWN GOALS AS WELL. M AND GAS SERVICE. CENTERPOINT HAS ALSO AGREED TO SPECIFIC REDUCTION GOALS WITHIN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THESE ARE GOALS THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED. NOTABLY, THEY ESTABLISHED AS A BASELINE GOAL THEY REDUCE
EMISSIONS 20-30% BY 2025. AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT GRAPH, WHY THE 2021 BASELINE. ONE THING TO NOTE IS THE 2021 BASELINE, AND 2006 EMISSION LEVELS AR BASICALLY THE SAME. BUTOING FURTHER BEYOND THAT GOAL IS THAT CENTERPOINT OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE CITY'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOALS, AND THEN
ESTABLHES AS REACH GOALS EQUIVALENCIES TO WHAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN. NOTABLY, YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT PAGE THOSE ARE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE GOALS TO HELP US MEET OUR TARGETS. SO IN A SIMILAR CHART TO WHAT SHOWED YOU FOR XCEL ENERGY, YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT IN GRAY IS THE HISTORICAL EMISSIONS FROM NATURAL GAS. NOTABLY THEY HAVE MAINTAINED RELATIVELY STEADY IF
NOT INCREASED SLIGHTLY OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. ESTABLISHED AGGRESSIVE CARBONIZATION GOALS IN THE BLUE SQUARES HERE. CULMINATING IN THE GAS SECTOR BEING ZERO EMISSIONS, CARBON NEUTRAL IN 2050. SO THE GOALS THAT CENTERPOINT IS NOW AGREEING TO ARE SHOWN ON TOP OF THESE OTHER PNTS IN I'D SAY ORANGE TRIANGLES HERE. OUR CENTERPOINT GOALS LOW END AND HIGH END REPRESENTING 20-30% REDUCTION BY
2035. AND OUR REACH GOALS ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S 2030 AND 2035 GOALS. ANOTHER PRIORITY OF THE CITY, AND I SHOULD ACTUALLY MENTION PREVIOUSLY ON THOSE DECARBONIZATION PRIORITIES, I THINK THOSE WERE UNIVERSAL PRIORITIES FOR CITY STAFF, FOR ECTED OFFICIALS FROM CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WN
THE FINAL PRIORITY WAS TO MAKE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ON UTILITY SERVICE QUALITY AND PROGRAM DELIVERY AS PART OF THIS. THIS IS A PRIORITY OF CITY STAFF. AND WAS ALSO A PORITY FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WE ALSO TALKED TO. IT WASN'T A UNIVEAL PRIERPT PRIORITY. BUT FOR SOME IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTA BECAUSE THESE TOUCH VERY SPECIFIC PEOPLE'S LIVES AND CAN IMPROVE THEM SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME NOW
THESE MOUs INCLUDE THESE EQUITY EXPECTATIONS ON THE DELIVERY AND PARTICULARLY, THE QUANTITY AND THE QUALITY OF ENERGY SERVICE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THIS APPLIES TO THINGS LIKE ELECTRIC SERVICE RELIABILITY FOR THE GRID, AS WELL AS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY MINNEAPOLIS CUSTOMERS, RESIDENTS, AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. SO FIRST FOR ELECTRICITY, THEY HAVE MADE
A COMMITMENT THAT RELIABILITY METRICS SHALL PERFORM EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE REST OF XCEL'S MINNESOTA TERRITORY.N ESSENCE, WHAT WE WERE AIMING FOR HERE IS TO BE AT OR ABOVE AVERAGE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME OF THE OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE OF ELECTRICITY SYSTEM IS LOCATED IN MINNEAPOLIS. SO THERE IS CONCERN THAT WITH THAT OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, RELIABILITY WILL START TO LAG. THIS IS A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE IT OVER PERFORMS THE REST OF ITS TERRITORY OR AT MINIMUM,
EQUALS IT. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HERE'S AN EXAMPLE AT THE TOP OF THE SLIDE HERE OF RELIABILITY PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT XCEL ALREADY REPORTS FOR THEIR MINNESOTA-WIDE RRITORY. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN IT COMES TO RELIABILITY, THEY TRACK METRICS LIKE OUTAGE DURATION PER CUSTOMER. AVERAGE NUMBER OUTAGES PER CUSTOMER PER YEAR, AS WELL AS THE AVERAGE OUTAGE LENGTH. THEY PROVIDE EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON THESE METRICS, BUT AGAIN,
THEY ARE SPECIFIC TO THEIR ENTIRE MINNESOTA TERRITORY. WHAT IS NOW PART OF THIS MOU IS A COMMITMENT THAT THOSE VALUES FOR MINNEAPOLIS WILL EQUAL OR EXCEED OR I SHOULD SAY EQUAL TO OR BE BETTER THAN THE REST OF THEIR TERRITORY. AND WE'VE ALREADY SET UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD REPORT ON THESE METRICS. IN THE ANNUAL REPORT, OF WHICH WE PRESENTED A FEW MONTHS AGO. ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THAT REPORT IS
THAT WE ALREA STARTED TRACKING THE MINNESOTA SPECIFIC RELIABILITY METRIC. AND WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER IN A FUTURE REPORT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING MORE DATA ABOUT THE AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME WHEN OUR NEXT ANNUA REPORT WILL BE COMPLETED. TURNING TO CENTER CENTERPOINT ENERGY THEN. WE WILL ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN CREATING
ENERGY SAVING GOALS PERTAINING SPECIFIC TO GAS. THE WAY THOSE GOALS ARE OFTEN MEASURED IS ENERGY SAVINGS AS A PERCENT OF THE OVELL ENERGY SALES THAT THEY HAVE IN A TERRITORY. THIS IS A SPECIFICETRIC THAT THE STATE USES TO GAUGE THE EFFECTIVENESS ANDHE BREADTH OF THEIR PROGRAMS WITHIN MINNESOTA. THE MINNEAPOLIS ENEY SAVINGS,
THE MINNEAPOLIS PERFORMANCE OF THE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS WILL BE EQUAL TO OR EXCEED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REST OF THEIR TERRITORY. ACOMGAI AGAIN, THISY IMPORTANT METRIC AND GOAL FOR US BECAUSE SOME OF THE OLDEST HOUSING STOCK IN CENTERPOINT'S TERRITORY IS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HERE. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE VERY LARGE NEED WE HA PARTICULARLY OF PEOPLE'S HOMES. SO THIS METRIC WILL ENSURE THAT WE LOOK AT PROGRAMS LIKE THAT AND HAVE THE EXPECTATION THAT
THOSE BE TAKEN WELL ADVANTAGE O THAT THEIR PERFORMANCE WILL BE EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE MINNESOTA TERRITORY. LIKEWISE, CENTERPOINT ALSO DELIVERS A NUMBER OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP MAKE GAS MORE AFFORDABLE, ASO WEATHERIZE LOW INCOME HOUSING. THEY'VE MADE A COMMITMEN THAT THOSE PROGRAMS AND SPENDING WILL BE EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE
ST OF THE MINNESOTA TERRITORY. AND ON THE CENTERPOINT SIDE, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AGAIN IS WE'LL BE TRACKING AND HAVE EXPECTATIONS ON ITEMS LIKE WEATHERIZATION OF HOMES. AGAIN, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NEED FOR. AND A PROGRAM THAT FITS INTO THIS CONSERVATION GOAL ALSO IS HOME ENERGY SQUAD. THAT'S ANOTHER PROGRAM. WE'VE BEEN REALLY PROUD IN RECENT YEARS T PARTNER WITH THE UTILITIES BY HELPING PAY THE CUSTOMERS CO-PAY FOR THOSE
VISITS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING OUR WORK AND EXPANDING THEREADTH OF THAT WORK IN MINNEAPOLIS. AND SIMILAR TO WHAT I MENTIONED WITH XCEL, WE ALREADY HAVE A PLACE IN OUR CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL REPORTS TO REPORT DATA ON THESE SPECIFIC GOALS. AND AGAIN, THAT INFORMATION WILL BECOME AVAILABLE SPECIFIC TO MINNEAPOLIS IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. SOO CLOSE OUT, CONCLUDING ON THE MOUs, WE FEEL THAT THESE MOUs REPRESENT A STRONGER, MORE GOAL ORIENTED
CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME W, THERE ARE GOALS IMBEDDED INTO THIS MOU, OR THESE MOUs. NOTABLY, THERE ARE NOW MINNEAPOLIS SPECIFIC UTILITY ESTABLISHED REDUCTION GOALS. WE THINK THAT'S A STEP FORWARD IN OUR RELATIONSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER. THERE'S ALSO THEN EQUITY EXPECTATIONS FOR THE DELIVERY OF THEIR SERVICE AND PROGRAMS. THIS MOU STRENGTHENS ONE OF THE CITY'S IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR ACHIEVING CLIMATE
EQUITY GOALS. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TOO WE HAVE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TOOL. WE FEEL IT IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO JOCELYN. >> I'LL PROVIDE A CONCLION TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS. THE UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTSRE MODERNIZED FOR THE NEW ERA. THEY INCREASE FLEXIBILITY BOTH IN DURATION AND IN HOW TO STRUCTURE
FRANCHISE FEES. THEY IMPROVE THE COORDINATI AND INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN THE CITY AND ITS UTILITY PARTNERS. AND IT ADDRESS THE PERMIT FEE ISSUE THAT AROSE DURING NEGOTIATIONS. SO WE BELIEVE THAT THESE PROPOSED UTILITY FRANCHISE UTILITY AGREEMENTS MARK AN IMPROVEMENT UPON THE EXISTING AND EXPIRING ONES. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE STAND FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I BELIEVE THAT
WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST. SO WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO WELCOME ALL THE PUBLIC WSE COME HERE TODAY AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TECHNICAL THESE DOCUMENTS ARE IN NATURE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION, AND LAYS OUT OUR ABILITY TO PROCEED WITH THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION AND BUILD RESILIENCY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. AND SO ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT OR THE MOU OR THE
FUTURE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ARE ALL REALLY RELEVANT TO THIS CONVERSATION. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WILL PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING BY WELCOMING OUR FIRST SPEAKER, PATRICE. IF Y DID COME TO SPEAK, PLEASE SIGN UP WITH THE CLERKS OVER HERE. AND AS YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD MPLET WELCOME, PATRICE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PATRICE AND I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF WARD 2. MANY OF US HAVE A VISION OF MINNEAPOLIS THAT ENSURES THAT EVERYONE CAN LIVE IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. A VISION EMBRACED BY THE CITY'S CLIMATE AND EQUITY PLAN. THIS VISION CAN ONLY BE REALIZED IF WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING SURE THAT THOSE CONTRIBUTING MOST TO POLLUTION AND PROFITING FROM IT ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE
FRANCHISEGREEMENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN IMPLEMENTING THE CITY'S CLIMATE AND EQUITY PLAN. THE RECENTLY NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT THEY FALL SHORT OF WHAT THEY COULD BE. I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE FRANCHISE HOLDERS ARE N LONGER EXEMPT FROM PAYING PERMIT FEES, AND THAT THIS REVENUE WILL BE NEWUNDING FOR THE CITY'S UTILITY CONNECTING DIVISION. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CITY
WAS NOT ABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY STRENGTHEN THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FRANCHISE HOLDERS SO THAT THERE WOULD BE RE REPRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS. HOWEVER, ISK YOU TO SUPPORT THESE AGREEMENTS IMPERFT AS THEY ARE, BUT ALSO TO KEEP PRESSURING THE UTILITIES TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HELPING MINNEAPOLIS KEEP ITS
CLIMATE GOALS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, PATRICE. NEXT WILL BE JULIE DOHERTY FOLLOWED BY KAT, AND THEN DAN TURNER. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME I JULIE DOHERTY. I LIVE IN WARD
12. I THINK A LOT OF YOU KNOW THAT ISAIAH -- BUT THE REALITY IS NEITHER OF THESE WILL BE POSSIBLE UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS WE ARE IN. WE'VE DONE GOOD WORK HERE IN MINNESOTA AND IN MINNEAPOLIS. INCLUDING NETIATING THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND ACCOMPANIED MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE TALKI ABOUT HERE TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WISH THESE AGREEMENTS WOULD HAVE OFFERED MORE. BUT WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF A NUMBER OF THINGS. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BOTH OF THE UTILITIES HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIO FROM ENERGY DELIVERED HERE IN OUR CITY. BOTH HAVE COMMITTED TO IMPORTANT GOALS. XCEL IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING BOTH SERVICE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY. AND CENTERPOINT HAS COMMITT TO ENSURING THAT ITS MINNEAPOLIS
WORK IN ENERGY CONSERVATION INVESTMENTS AND IN LOW INCOME AFFORDABILITY WILL EQUAL OR EXCEED ITS WORK IN OTHER PARTS THINGS. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE DID NOT GET THAT WE WANTED. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DWELL ON THOSE BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THESE FUNDS ARE CONNECTED WITH THE CLIMATE
AND EQUITY PLAN IN PUTTING THAT INTO PRACTICE AND USING THAT MONEY TO MAKE OUR CITY A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL THRIVE. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THESE AGREEMENTS, AND THEN I'M ASKING YOU TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU CAN TO GET THIS CLIMATE AND EQUITY PLAN MOVING AND ACTUALLY WORKING HERE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JULIE. NEXT, IS
KAT KNUDSON FOLLOWED BY DAN TURNER, THEN JOHN MARSHALL. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN, VICE CHAIR KOSKI, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. CENTERPOINT IS PRIVILEGED TO SERVE THE CITY'S HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITH SAFE, RELIABLE,
RESILIENT ENERGY, AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MEETING THE ENERGY NEEDS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS NOT JUST NOW BUT IN THE TURE, INCLUDING PROVIDING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY LOWER CAON. WHEN WE WORKED WITH THE CITY AND XCEL BACK IN 2014 TO CREATE THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP, WE KNEW WE'D LEARN A LOT ALONG THE WAY. AND WE HAVE. THE DOCUMENTS BEFORE YOU ARE THE CULMINATION OF MANY HONEST CONVERSATIONS, AND MANY LESSONS LEARNED. THEY
ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN A DO TOGETHER WHILE HELPING US LEAD TOWARD THE CITY'S ENERGY FUTURE. THEY BUILD ONHE SUCCESSES THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR WORKING TOGETHER LIKE INVESTG IN THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY NEEDS IN THE GREEN ZONES, CONTINUING TO MAKE THE BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY MORE WIDELY ACCESSIBLE. WE KNOW THAT ACHIEVING DECARBONIZATION ALS REQUIRES CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND
ALL STAKEHOLDERS. AND OUR TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO FINDING ADDITIONAL AVENUES. WE EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO THE CITY'S ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF FOR WORKING SO DILIGENTLY WITH US TO REACH THIS NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND MOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS DAN TURNER.
>> HELLO, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAN TURNER. I LIVE IN THE STEWART NEIGHBORHOOD IN WARD 2. AS YOU KNOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS GETTING WORSE QUICKLY. IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE IN THE FUTURE. THE ONLY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH WORSE. THE CLIMATE AND EQUITY PLAN WHICH THANK YOU YOU PASSED. IT'S A VERY GOOD THING.
CAN HELP MINNEAPOLIS IN THE FUTURE. RETROFITTING, WEATHERIZING, ELECTRIFYING YOUR HOMES SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE MOUs IN MY OPINION ARE NOT PERFECT. A SMALL STEP, MAYBE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO PLEASE SUPPORT THEM. AND KEEP PUSHING THE UTILITIES AND DO WHATEVER YOU
CAN TO HELP GET US OFF THESE CARBON SOURCES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DAN. NEXT IS JOHN MARSHALL, FOLLOWED BY JEAN ROSS, THEN HANNAH MERRILL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. HELLO, MY NAME IS JOHN MARSHALL WITH XCEL ENERGY. ALSOERY PROUD MEMBER OF THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. I JUST WANT TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY REALLY TO THANK THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR ITS PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. 10 YEARS IN NOW. IT WAS DEFINITELY TIME TO RENEW THE FRANCHISE AND TO UPDATE IT FOR THE UPCOMING 10 YEARS. IT WAS AL VERY PRUDENT FOR US TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO REFRESH THE CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU AROUN BOTH THESE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY
REALLY DO GUIDE HOW WE INTERSECT AND COLLABORATE ON OUR SHARED GOALS THAT REALLY BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR CARBON FREE GOALS HAVE GREATLY IMPACTED ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS. IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO UPDATEOW WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. PLEASE KNOW WE REMAIN VERY COMMITTED TO RESPONSIBLY CONTINUE THE CLEAN AIR TRANSITION IN A WAY THAT DOES
NO SACRIFICE AFFORDABLE OR RELIABILITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS JEAN ROSS. >> HI, JEAN ROSS. DO I NEED TO SPELL THAT? >> NO. THAT' OKAY. >> 52-YEAR RESIDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS LIVING IN WARD 13. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE RESILIENT. BUT I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT XCEL AND CENTERPOINT MADE PROMISE TO BE
GOOD PARTNERS WITH MINNEAPOLIS' AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS BACK IN 2014. BECAUSE THEY FELT THREATENED AND THEY HAVE NOT COME THROUGH ON THOSE PROMISES TO BE GOOD PARTNERS AND HAVE DRAGGED TIR FEET ON CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS AND TRIED TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMUNITY INPUT, AND THREATS TO THEIR MAR MARKETSHARE. AND I HUMBLY IN MY
OPINN THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MUNICIPALIZED OUR UTILITIES. BUT BACK TO THE TASK AT HAND. OBVIOUSLY, THE UTILITIES CAN DO MUCH MORE THAN THEY HAVE. EMISSIONS AREN'T FALLING FAST ENOUGH. LOCAL SOLAR ISN'T BEING BUILT QUICKLY ENOUGH. AND THE CITY'S HOMES AND BUSINESSES REMAIN FAROO RELIANT ON METHANE GAS FOR HEATING AND HOT WATER. THE CITY SHOULD BE
AGGRESSIVE IN ASKING THEM TO GIVE US THE LARGER FUNDS. MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN HEAT OPTIONS SUCH AS GEO THERMAL ENERGY SYSTEMS. I WOULD LIKE THE UTILITIES TO PAY FOR THE POLLION THEY HAVE SUBJECTED RESIDENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS TO BECAUSE THEY PREFER USING HIGH CARBON INTENSITY ENERGY SOURCES. THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE DONE AND WE WON'T GET EVERYTHING WE NEED.
BUT AS IMPERFECT AS THEY ARE, I'M SURE YOU WILL PASS THEM AND KEEP PUSHING FOR STRONGER RESPONSES BY UTILITIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE GOALS THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JEAN. NEXT IS HANNAH MERRILL, FOLLOWED BY LESLIE JACKSON AND LEE HAMILTON COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANKS FOR
VING US. MY NAME IS HANNAH, I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 4.IKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND IN FRONT OF ME, I BELIEVE IN A MINNPOLIS WHERE ALL OF US REGARDLESS OF RACE, ZIP CODE OR ECONOMIC STATUS C HAVE AND DESERVE CLEAN AIR, MORE COMFORTABLE HOMES, LOWER ENERGY BILLS, AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR CITY IS DOING ITS PART TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE. I DO WANT TO THANK THE CITY STAFF WHO WORK SO HARD ON NEGOTIATING THIS. AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, IT DIDN'T INCLUDE EVERYTHING THAT A LOT OF
USAVE ASKED FOR. BUT SUCH IS THE NATURE OF NEGOTIATION. AND IT DOES GIVE US ALOOR TO WORK FROM. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THESE DRAFTS. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT. UTILITIES HAVE NOT TAKEN O MUCH RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEAN UP AFTER THE FOSSILL FUEL SYSTEMS THEY CREATED AND PFIT FROM. WE NEED TO KEEP ON IT. THIS IS NOT JUST A MINNEAPOLIS PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF OUR STATE AND THE REST OF OUR
COUNY. ALSO, ABOUT EVEN THOUGH THE FEES DIDN'T CHANGE, BUT HOW WE SPEND THEMHAT FEELS RELEVANT TO TALK ABOUT. HOW DO WE SPEND FRANCHISE FEE MONEY? I REALLY WANT TO SEE AND EXPECT TO SEE SOME SCALE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RETROFIT ELECTRIFICATION ANDDECARBONIZATION DISCUSSED IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN FROM THE CITY. AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT INCLUDE RENTERS. I WAS JUST ON THE WEBSITE FOR MY OWN. I'M A HOMEOWNER WANTING TO DO SOME INSULATION. AND I WAS ONCE
AGAIN REMINDED THAT MY -- DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY DO EXIST. WE NEED TO BOTH INVOLVE RENTERS AND PROTECT THEM. I ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES, BUT DO NOT CONSIDER YOUR DUTY TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE GOOD DISCHARGED WITH THIS VOTE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, HANNAH. NEXT IS LESL JACKSON.
>> HELLO AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. MY THING IS ABOUT THE GRID. BECAUSE OF POPULATION GROWTH AND EVERYBODY WANTS ELECTRIFY THIS, ELECTRIFY THAT. I'M WONDENG ABOUT THE GRID. THE UNITED STATES GRID HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 1970, SO THAT MAKES ME QUESTION WHAT'S GOING ON IN
MINNESOTA SINCE WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST TO GET THE GRID. AND SO I WANT TO KNOW HOW DO THEY PLAN TO DO IT? WILL THERE BE MONITORING? WILL THEY REPORT BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE AND BODY ABOUT THE UPDATES AND THE CHANGES THAT'S HAPPENING SO WE WON'T HAVE ANY BLACKOUTS? WE'RE IN A VERY COLD STATE, AND ANY BLACKOUTS AND THINGS TRIGGER OUR RESIDENTS HERE MIGHT BEOLD AND THE KIDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG THE
ELECTRICITY WILL COME BACK TO OUR HOMES. MY OTHERHING WITH THAT IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING DOWN EMISSIONS, ARE THEY GOING TO CLOSE THE PLANT ON RIVERSIDE? THE GREEN ZONES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AGAIN BY OVER BURNING AND THIS PLANT FROM COAL INTO THE CHANGES THAT THEY HAVE. AND SO MY THING IS IS THAT GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN? AND WHAT IS THE REAL PLAN OF CUTTING EMISSIONS
IN OUR CITY. I SEE THEY SHUTDOWN COAL PLANTS ALL OVER. NOW THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT CHANGE OF HANDS IN THE GOVERNMENT, I'M WONDERING ABOUT WILL THESE COAL PLANTS BE REOPENED. THE ONES THAT THEY RETIRED. OR IS THE ONES THAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON CLOSING, WILL THEY REMAIN OP? SO THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT GO IN MY HEAD WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE GREEN ZONES AND THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THE GRID, AND THE CLOSING OF THAT PLANT, AND WHAT IS THEIR MAIN PLAN AND GOAL TO
CUT EMISSIONS IN OUR CITY. AND HOPEFULLY NOT BY CARBON CREDITS AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE BUY. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS LEE SAMUELSON. >> YEAH, LEE SAMMELSON IN WARD 12. CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I SUPPORT HOW THE CITY HAS NEGOTIATED. AND HERE'S THE BANNER AND EVAC SLIDESHOW.
AND I SAY VOTE YES ON THE FOUR AGREEMENTS. MY BIG CONCERN THOUGH WAS THE ULITIES BEING RELUCTANT TO PITCH IN TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT STAFF FORHE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS WEBSITE HAS BEEN DYSFUNCTIONAL FOR YEARS. BUT THOSE MOUs CAN BE MORE EASILY AMENDEDT ANY TIME. WITHOUT CONSTITUENTS ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS AND MEETING NOTICES, PARTNERS CAN EASILY BACK TRACK FROM THEIR PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS WIT NOTHING WE CAN
DO ABOUT IT. FOR EXPLE, THEME NUMBER ONE IS THE PARTNERSHIPS, IS WITH ELECTRIFICATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. YETTHERS IN CENTERPOINT STILL HAVE BUILDERS CLUB NORTH UP. RECENT GHOST WRITTEN COMMENTSN FAVOR OF GAS APPLIANCE REBATES. FOR THEME TWO, I'M WONDERING HOW WE'RE GOING TO REACH THE CITY'S GOAL
BY 2030 WHEN THE PARTNERSHIP'S TASK FORCE -- FEES ON LOCALLY OWNED SOLAR PROJECT HAS NOT MET FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. AT ITS Q2 2018 MEETING, THE PARTNERSHIP AGREED TO A DEFINITION. CENTERPOINT REFUSED TO BUDGE ON MINIMUM RATE O RETURN FOR PROVIDING IT TO US BREAKING THE EXPECTATION SET BY THAT
DEFINITION. I'M NOT SURE IF XCEL HAS CONSIDERED IT. I COLLECTED 1,000 PETITION SIGNATURES ASKING THEM TO. SO WHEN THE UTILITIES ARE NOT FORTHCOMING WITH THE REAL REASONS WHY THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, GOOD EFFORTS GET TRUED UP ON THE DETAILS. BUT I AM DETERMINED TO FIND THE CENTERPOINT ON HOW TO MAKE -- THANK YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKER, JOHN RDY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN. I'M JOHN PURDY. I'M A RESIDENT OF SAINT PAUL. >> CAN YOU MOVE A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE. >> YES. JOHN PURDY, I'M A BROILER OPERATOR FOR TWO BUILDINGS UP ON 26th AND NICOLLET. AM I ALLOWED TO
PROCEED WITH THAT? THA YOU. THE FIRST BUILDING THAT I JUST GO DONE ENABLING -- IS THAT UPSIDE DOWN? PROBABLY. IS AT 1909 1ST. IT'S A LEGACY BUILDING THAT'S A FORMER 4-PLEX. IT'S BEEN TURNED INTO AN 8-PLEX. WE WORKED AND WORKED TO GET EFFICIENCIES IN THAT BUILDING.
RIGHT NOW WE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE WANTED TO BY IMPROVING THROUGH CENTERPOINT WITH THE HELP OF CENTERPOINT. CUSTOM EFFICIENCY REBATES. HERE TODAY IS MY BILL, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M RATED COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL FIRM RATE. WHAT THAT DOES FOR ME IS IT DROPS ME INTO THE HIGHER OF THE FRANCHISE FEES. I PUTS
ME AT 7.75% INSTEAD OF A RESIDENTIAL RATE. WE HAVE AN 8-PLEX THERE AND IT'S A RESIDENTIAL UNIT. WE WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM STATE SALES TAXES THROUGH -- BECAUSE THE STATE ALLOWS A RESIDENTIAL UNIT THAT'S GREATER THAN FOUR UNITS SALES TAX EXEMPTION. SO WE WERE AE TO SAVE THAT MONEY. I FIGHT TO KEEP THESE BILLS DOWN. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT BILL, I'M
PAYING 7.75%. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET 6% BUT WE CAN'T BECAUSE CENTERPOINT ENERGY HAS A DEFINITION FOR RESIDENTIAL, AND THAT IS FOUR UNITS OR LESS. WE DISQUALIFY BECAUSE YOU'RE USING THEIR TARIFF, THAT RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU, TO DEFINE WHO IS A RESIDENCE. WE'RE A RESIDENCE. WE HAVE LOW INCOME PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON US. I'D ASK THIS COUNCIL TO TRY TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WITH YOU COLLABORATOR, WITH YOUR FRANCHISEE AND GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT. I'VE APPROACHED THEM BEFORE. I GET NOWHERE. >> OKAY. >> I JUST HAVE ONE THING IF I CAN CONTINUE ON AN XCEL ENERGY. >> I'M SORRY, YOUR TWO MINUTES ARE UP. BUT YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. >> I CAN? YOU'LL KEEP IT OPEN? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WHO DO I ADDRESS THAT TO?
>> PUBLIC COMMENT AT MN -- MADAM CHAIR, YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOCUMENTS OVER TO THE CLERK. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONA COMMENTS TO SUBMIT, I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE AND FOR YOU, MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOMMENT. >> IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANT TO SAY XCEL ENERGY IS CHARGING THE LIGHT RAIL FRANCHISE FEES. THE
LIGHT RAIL IS METRO COUNCIL. METRO COUNCIL IS EXEMPT FROM CITY FRANCHISE FEES. BUT XCEL IS CHARGING THEM FOR ALL OF THE LIGHT RAIL, WHICH IS THE MOST EFFICIENT ON THE TRANSPORTATION MEANS AVAILABLE. THE STATE STATUTE EXEMPTS THEM. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE CHGING. I'LL LEAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS UP HERE FOR THE REVIEW OF YOUR CITY ATTORNEY. >> PLEASE DO. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND DON'T FORGET YOUR GLOVES HERE. >> MY WHAT? OH YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS REVEREND
NATHAN ROBERTS, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN COY. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M REVEREND NATHAN RERTS WITH ISAIAH. AND I LIVE IN WARD 9, SHOUT OUT TO JASON CHAVEZ. CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE. HONESTLY, I HATE IT. I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S SO MUCH WORK. I DIDN'T MAKE IT AND NOW I'M JUST HAVING TO FIX IT AND IT SUCKS. AND WE ALL GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN BE HERE, RIGHT? AND YOU
DO TOO. I THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS. I AM NOT SMART ENOUGH TO DO THIS. LIKE 100% I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. BUT I DO KNOW THAT I HAD A BABY TWO YEARS AGO AND BECAUSE OF THE WILDFIRES IN CANADA, I DIDN'T GET TO PLAY OUTSIDE WITH MY BABY THE WHOLE SUMMER, AND THAT SUCKS. AND MY KID, HE'S TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD, H JUST WANTS TO WATCH SPIDERMAN AND PLAY SPIDERMAN IN THE BACKYARD. AND SOMETIMES HE
CAN'T GO OUTSIDE BAUSE IT SUCKS OUTSIDE. I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. I TRUST YOU GUYS TO DO THAT. I ALSO TRUST THAT YOU ALL ARE NOT TAKING DONATIONS FROM THESE PEOPLE. I WISH IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING. BUT PEOPLE BE CRAZY OUT HERE. PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY MONEY FROM THESE PEOPLE. THEY DON'T NEED ANY MORE POWER THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE. SECONDLY, I SUPPORT THIS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. I TRUST THE PEOPLE THAT AGREED ON IT. THIS
IS A MONOPOLY. I HATE THAT GAME. I HATE IT IN REAL LIFE. WHEN YOU HAVE A MONOPOLY, YOU HAVE TO WORK SUPER HARD. THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE GAME -- PLEASE WORK REALLY HARD. LIKE SUPER HARD. LIKE THERE'S A TWO-YEAR OLD KID WHO CAN'T PLAY OUTSIDE WITH HIS DAD HARD. I ASSUME THIS IS THE BEST WE GOT. RIGHT? WE DID THE BEST WE CAN. I'M TRUSTING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S
ALL I CAN DO. I CAN'T READ THE DOCUMENT. IT'S WAY TOO LONG. RIGHT? BUT I TOOK MY AFTERNOON HERE TO JUST SAY THAT. SO THANK YOU. >> THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NEXT IS BRIAN KRONKEY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRIAN, I'M A WARD 1 RESIDENT, RESIDENTIAL WARD 7. HI, KATIE, CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. HARD ACT TO FOLLOW THERE WITH THE REVEREND. BUT I' THESE AGREEMENTS, BUT I SEE A BIG HOLE. A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT IN THIS DISTANCE BETWEEN WHAT CENTERPOINT ENERGY IS OFFERING 20-30% REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS BY 2 2035. AND THIS SORT OF WILD CARD. HOW DO WE GET FROM WAY TOO MUCH EMISSIONS TO EMISSIONS THAT
MIGHT GET US ON A PHWAY TO DECARBONIZATION. I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEALED, EARS OPEN. WITHOUT THAT, THIS CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP IS KIND OF A RECIPE F FAILURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ULA NEILSON. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS ULA
NEILSON,'M AN ORGANIZER WITH UNIDOS AND WARD 8. UNIDOS HAS SPOKEN TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND ALMOST UNIVERSALLY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE CLEAN ENERGY UPGRADE PROGRAMS, WEATHERIZATION AND ELECTRIFICATION. WE ARE PROUD OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO PUSH THE UTILITIES TO BE ABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT WE NOW HAVE GOALS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME UTILITIES REFUSING TO ACCEPT ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES TO SUPPORT THEM IN MEETING THOSE GOALS. SO AS MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE SAID, IEEL LIKE ESPECIALLY NOW IN LIGHT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPTS TO HALT PROGRESS ON CLIMATE, IT IS IMPERATIVE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR WHAT IS NECESSARY. SO OUR 80% REDUCTION IN GAS BY 2035, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVE RESIDENT HAS THE FREEDOM TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR BOTH INSIDE AND OUIDE THEIR HOME. WE WANT TO SHOW THAT THE PATH TO A CLEAN ENERGY IS AFFORDABLE. HARNESSING
CALLY PRODUCED ENERGY FROM THE SUN, WIND, AND THE EARTH. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MORE TO DO. THANKS. >> THANKS, ULA. NEXT IS BYRON R THEN JONATHAN. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, HELLO, MY NAME IS BYRON RICHARD FROM WARD
11. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.T'S GOOD TO SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE. WE'RE GATHERED HERE TOGETHER FOR OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS WELL AS THAT FOR FE REALLY DESERVE AN ENEY VISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT IS EMPOWERED TO FUNCTION WITH TRANSPARENCY, LEADERSHIP, AND THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION ELIMINATION. WE KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT TO ZERO
EMISSIONS, WE NEED SPECIFIC AND MEASURABLE GOALS TO WORK WITH. AND WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE AGREEMENT IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THAT PURPOSE. I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORT TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS AND HOPE YOU AROVE THE AGREEMENTS. WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE KINDS OF ASSESSMENTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE DAMAGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KOSKI REPORTED ON EARLIER IN THE MEETING, AND CONTACT TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THEM. AND
I'D LIKE TO SAY TO THE BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHICH MINNEAPOLIS IS A PROFIT SOURCE, WE INVITE YOU TO ACT AS THOUGH YOU LIVE HERE TOO. I LOOK FORWD TO EAGERLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF IMPROVED AGREEMENTS AND MAKE PROGRESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MIKE
RAWLIN. >> HI, CHAIR CASHMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS MIKE RAWLIN. I LIVE IN WARD 8. I'M HERE WITH A BUNCH OF NEIGHBORS TAY BECAUSE WE WANT TO BUILD A MINNEAPOLIS WHERE EVERYONE CAN BREATHE CLE AIR, HAVE A HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE HOME, AND A LIVABLE FUTURE. THESE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS HERE TODAY ARE AN IMPORTA CONDITION TO FOLLOWING THROUGH ON FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE CITY'S CLIMATE
AND EQUITY PLAN AND MOVING TOWARDS HAVING THAT VISION FOR THAT FUTURE. AND WHILE THEY'RE NOT EVERYTHING WE WOULD HAVE WANTED, THEY ARE A GOOD START. ONE OF THE POSITIVES IN THESE AGREEMENTS IS THAT THEY GIVE THE CITY INCREASED FLEXIBILITY TO SET FRANCHISE FEES WITHIN THE EXISTING CITORDINANCE PROCESS. AS YOU KNOW, THE RECENTLY ENACTE FRANCHISE FEE THAT RAISES ABOUT $10 MILLION A YEAR IS A CRUCIAL FIRST PIECE TO PUTTING INTO ACTION THE CITY'S
CLIMATE AND EQUITY PLAN. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT TO FULLY MEET THE PLAN'S GOALS, WE'RE GOI TO NEED TO INCREASE CITY REVENUE WELL BEYOND THAT INITIAL FUNDING. THESE AGREEMENTS BEFORE US GIVE THE CITY AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO RAISE THAT REVENUE AND BE ABLE TO ACT THE THE SCALE NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND OUR CLIMATE. AS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED TODAY, A CONCERN WITH THESE AGREEMENTS IS THEY LACK CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES TO HOLD UTILITIES TO
THEIR GOALS. WE HAVE SEEN HOW RTNERS HAVE BEEN BEHIND ON MEETING THEIR GOALS. AS WE SAW TODAY, CENTERPOINT HAS NOT REDUCED EMISSIONS FRO GAS AT ALL FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. UTILITIES CAN FALL SHORT MEETING THEIR GOALSITH NO CONSEQUENCES TO THEM BUT WITH CONSEQUENCE TO US. I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THEM
AN KEEP PUSHING THE UTILITIES TO TAKE EVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PART IN SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL WELCOME KUWIE WASHBURN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KUWIE WASHBURN I'M A SIX-YEAR
RESIDENT IN WARD 13. AS MANY HAVE MENTIONED, A LOT OF WHAT IS IN THIS AGREEMENT IS GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THERE ARE FINALLY COMMITMENTS FROM THE UTILITIES THAT HAVE VERY SPECIFIC PERCENTAGES OF REDUCTION. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO USE THE -- SO RECOGNIZE SHORT-TERM FLEXIBILITY AND THE FRANCHISE FEE AS IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE LOSSES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DESCRIBING OR
WE TALK ABOUT PROFIT. WHEN PEOPLE WONDER WHERE MY NAME COMES FROM, IT'S BECAUSE I'M ORIGINALLY FROM HAWAII. SOME OF THE PLACES I GREW UP ARE LIKELY TO BE ALREADY BASED ON WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OUR POLLUTION ARE LIKELY TO DISAPPEAR. THE PLACE WHERE I FIRST TAUGHT MY CHILDREN TO SWIM IS GOING TO BE GONE. THE PLACE WHERE I PROPOSED TO MY WIFE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE GONE. AND IMAGI MY SURPRISE
WHEN I MOVED FROM THERE TO CALIFORNIA AND WILDFIRES CHASED US FROM CALIFORNIA ONLY TO ARRIVE IN MINNESOTA AND FACE WILDFIRES AND THREATS. SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT THESE SORTS OF THINGS AND OUR NEED TO MOVE MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO MAKE SURE THE EVAC HAS A PLACE IN THE STRONG OVERSIGHT, THOSE ARE AT THINGS THAT ARE AT STAKE FOR ME. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, I WANT US TO THINK OF THINGS IN TERMS OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST. THE NATION OF -- HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE BUILT THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD. WE NEED TO START IMAGINING THAT SORT OF TRANSFORMATION FOR OURSELVES AND WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF. THAT'S THE FUTURE WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS JONATHAN HARMS FOLLOWED BY JOEY AND
PATTIE O'KEEFE. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YR TIME. MY NAME IS JONATHAN HARMS. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 1, AND MEMBER OF ISAIAH. AS WITH MANY OF YOU, I'M WORRIED THAT WE'RE WALKING TOWARDS A DEADLY CLIFF THAT ONCE PASSED, WE CAN'T STEP BACK FROM. FOR DECADES, WE'VE KNOWN WHAT WE NEED TO DO. LOWER EMISSIONS. BUT ALWAYS IT'S BEEN
SEEN AS TOO COSTLY TO FIX AS THOUGH WE CAN JUST CAL OUR HOUSE CONDEMNED AND JUST MOVE DOWN THE STREET. I'M GLAD THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATES STRONG GOALS. THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR MAKING A BASIC AGREEMENT THAT HAS SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR CITY'S CONTEXT. WE WANT IT TO BE APPROVED. BUT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY DON'T MEET OUR OWN CITY'S PLANNED GOALS. XCEL HAS SAID THEY CAN'T REACH IT, AND CENTERPOINT HAS LISTED
IT AS A REACH GOAL. I TOLD MY WIFE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT CLEANING OUT OUR GARAGE IS A REACH GOAL. I'LL GIVE YOU A GUESS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S BEEN CLEANED. WE'RE CONTINUING TO COUNT ON YOU TO MEET THOSE GOALS NOT JUST TO SET THEM. AMONG OTHER THINGS, DEDICATING FUNDING FROM THESE FEES NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND MORE. IT'S TOO COSTLY NOT TO FIX. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
BACK AWAY FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOALS WE'VE MADE. OUR FUTURES ARE AT STAKE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JONATHAN. NEXT UP IS JOEY. RESECA FROM WARD 1. >> HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOEY RESECA. I'M A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER. I'M A RENTER IN WARD
1. I HAVE A VISION FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS REALLY BEING A LEADER IN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION AND REALLY SERVING AS A MODEL CITY FOR THE REST OF THE STATE, THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IN THAT REGARD. FOR LEADING AND DECARBONIZING AND RETROFITTING AND WEATHERIZING EVERY HOME IN THE CITY. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE SEE LARGE DEGREE OF DISPARITY AND INEQUALITY OF HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR UTILITY
BILLS. I THINK EVERYONE DESERVES TO LIVE COMFORTABLY AND TO LIVE WITH AFFORDABLE UTILITY BILLS AND TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION. REGARDING THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT STUFF IN THERE ARE LIKE CITY SPECIFIC TARGETS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN UTILITY COMPANIES TO COMMIT TO. AND FOR REDUCTION OF GREEN HOUSE
GASES. SO ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND URGE THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT. BUT THEN I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH UTILITY COMPANIES TO DO BETTER BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT'S MISSING IN THIS AGREEMENT. ESPECIALLY SEEING THE GAP BETWEEN THE CITY TARGET FOR FOSSIL GAS EMISSIONS AND WHAT
TH CENTERPOINT ENERGY STRETCH GOAL TARGET IS. I WASN'T EXPECTING IT TO BE SUCH A BIG GAP. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO KEEP PUSHING. AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE PUSHING IN THAT REGARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, DRIVING UTILITY COMPANIES TO DO BETTER. SO THANK YOU. >> THANKOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT IS PATTIE O'KEEFE, FOLLOWED BY TIMOTHY, AND PETER SCHMIDT. >> HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
PATTIE O'KEEFE. EVAC IS THE ENERGY VISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. THE INITIAL PLAN TO RAISE THE FRANCHISE FEE TO CREATE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR CLIMATE D ENERGY TRANSITION YEARS AGO CAME FROM OUR COMMITTEE. WE'VE SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS NEGOTIATION AND I'VE ENCOURAGED PARTNERS TO AGREE TO A STRONG AGREEMENT THAT PUTS US ON TRACK TO REACH OUR GOALS. BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS WE ARE NOT
ON TRACK AND NOT BY A LONG TRACK. I HAVE TO BE HONEST THAT SERVING ON EVAC SOMETIMES CAN BE QUITE FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I THINKIKE ALL OF US, LIKE WE SEE THE FIRES. WEEE THE HURRICANES. WE SEE THE WILDFIRE SMOKE. WE SEE ALL THE STORIES IN THE NEWS SAYING THAT THIS IS LIKE OUR LAST SHOT AND WE HAVE TO GO BIG RIGHT NOW. TO ADDRESS
CLIMATE CHANGE. AND TN IN EVAC, WE SEE YEAR AFTER YEAR OF OUR ANNUAL GOALS NOT BEING ON TRACK. AND SO THERE BEING THAT DISCONNECT AND THAT FEELING VERY SCARY. SO THE STAKES OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE VERY HIGH. THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS AND MO DO
FALL SHORT ON SOME IMOVEMENTS. -- COLLABORATION IN THE PARTNERSHIP. DESPITE ITS SHORTCOMINGS, IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEPS. THERE'S ROOM FOR IMOVEMENT. AND AGREE THAT KIND OF THE REACH GOALS DOES FEEL LIKE IT'S GIVING THE UTILITIES AN OUT. AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AS JUST THE BEGINNING AND NOW IT'S TIME TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE ACTIONS BACK UP THE COMMITMENTS. SO ALL IN THERE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANKS, PATTIE. NEXT IS TIMOTHY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TIMOTHY, I LIVE IN WARD 9. I ALSO WORK FOR COOPERATIVE ENERGY FUTURES WHICH IS FOCUSED ON ACCESS TO CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY. I'M A MEMBER OF EVAC,
ALTHOUGH I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. I WAS INVOLVED IN THE LAST EFFORT IN 2013 AND 2014. AND I WANTED TO START BY THANNG THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR ITS LEADERSHIP ON CLEAN AND EFFICIENT ENERGYN THIS PROCESS. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE MAINTAINED A TEN-YEAR AGREEMENT. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME GETTING CLEAR AND MEASURABLE COMMITMENTS FROM BOTH XCEL AND CENTERPOINT. BOTH ON CLIMATE B ON A NUMBER OF
EQUITY AND SERVICE QUALITY ISSUES. THIS IS A STEP FORWARD. BUT I ALSO REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE MOVING MUCH SLOWER THAN NECESSARY. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I AND MANY PEOPLE AT THE CITY AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL ACROSS OUR WHOLE STATE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS, DECADES. CENTERPOINT'S COMMITMENT OF 2 TO 30% FALLS LAUGHABLY FAR, FAR SHORT OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE. AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS WITH THEM FOR A DECADE. THIS IS REALLY THE FIRSTIME WE'VE GOTTEN EVEN THAT. WHILE XCEL'S COMMITMENTS ON THE CLIMATE SIDE ARE MH MORE SUBSTANTIAL, THEY LARGELY ALIGN WITH WHAT XCEL IS ALREADY REQUIRED TDO BY STATE LAW. AND ON A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, YOU KNOW, REDUCTIONS AND OUTAGES, ACCESS TO AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING ARE ONLY TO GET MINNEAPOLIS AS GOOD OR BETTER AS THE UTILITIES ARE ALREADY DOING STATEWIDE. WELLF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, MANY OF OUR GOALS,
YOU KNOW, WHAT XCEL AND CENTERPOINT ARE COMMITTING TO ARE NOT AS GOOD AS OTHER UTILITIES ARE ALREADY ACHIEVING IN MINNESOTA. WE NEED MINNEAPOLIS TO NOT JUST CATCHP BUT TO BE A LEADER. AND I'M LOOKING TO THE CITY THAT'S GOING TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE AND SHOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE A CLIMATE LEADER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS PETER, FOLLOWED BY MARCUS AND ALICE.
>> HELLO, CHAIR CASHMAN. MY NAME IS PETER SCHMIDT. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 10. FOR TRANSPARENCY'S SAKE, I WORK FOR A SOLAR COMPANY. I'M ALSO A SPOUSE OF A MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBER. I DO TRY TO BE MY OWN PERSON FROM TIME TO TIME. I ECHO AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS GROUP. THOUGH IT IS LACKING THE TEETH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IT IS STILL VERY MEANINGFUL TO GET ANY CONCESSION FROM UTILITY. I UNDERSTAND THE
CHALLENGE FROM THAT UTILITY. I STILL THINK THAT WORDS MEAN SOMETHING. THE POINTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE TODAY ARE TWO-FOLD. ONEN THE COORDINATION SIDE, ONE ON THE POLICY SIDE. THERE'S AN ENTIRE STION ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER WITH UTILIES. BUT I'M REALLY WAITING TO SEE ON THE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT. ONE BEING HENNEPIN AND THE SOUT XCEL DECIDED TO START FROM THE
VERY NORTH END OF THE CORRIDOR AND WORK FROM THE SOUTH. LIKELY MAKING IT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- LANDFILLS AND LACKING ANY KIND OF COMMENCE COMMON SENSE. ON THE SECOND SIDE, THE POLICY SIDE, I EXCITED FOR WHEN WE OPT OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT TO COME BACK WITH MORE STRONG GOALS. PARTICULARLY ON THE POLICY SIDE. KIND OF THE
LAST SPEAKER'S COMMENT WHERE XCEL IS ONLY DOING IT A LITTLE BETTER. TWO OR THREE INITIAL BRAINSTORM IDEAS WER MAKE SURE THAT XCEL OR ITS LOBBYISTS DON'T -- THATLSO MAKES SOLAR EVEN OUT OF REACH FOR HOMEOWNERS OR PEOPLEHAT HAVE ROOFS. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESILIENCY, HOW DO WE GET THEM TO COMMIT TO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. >> THANKS, PETER. OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS ARE MARCUS AND THEN ALICE. IF YOU DID WANT TO SPEAK, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO COME AND SIGN UP. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAM IS MARCUS MILLS. I LIVE IN WARD 3. I'M
ALSO AN EVAC CO-CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL,AVING BEEN A PART OF BOTH OF THESE PROCESSES IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE LAST AGREEMENT AND THIS ONE, LIKE A NUMBER OF THE FOLKS BEHIND ME, THERE'S A DEGREE OF GRATIDE IN JUST ACHIEVING THESE KINDS OF AGREEMTS. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES I'VE EVER HAD TO APPRECIATE THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
FOR ANY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THEY'VE ACHIEVED. SUSTAIBILITY, AND MANY OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. PLEASEDO SEE ANOTHER AGREEMENT. AND PLEASED TO SEE SOME OF THE CITY'S GOALS INCLUDED IN IT. BUT AS MANY FOLKS HAVE SAID, THESE GOALS ARE NOTEING MET, AND WE NEED TO SEE THAT CHANGED. ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SO HARD TO ACCOMPLISH IS BECAUSE COMMUNITY ISOT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE. THE FOLKS HERE ARE
OBVIOUSLY INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF WORK AND THEY ARE KEPT OUT OF THESE NEGOTIATIS ON PURPOSE AND BY DESIGN. IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PEOPLE IN THOSE ROOMS DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ANYONE OUT HERE. AND WE NEED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. EVAC IS ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES BUILT-IN VOICES IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED AND PUT FORWARD THE IDEA OF BEING FURTHER A PART OF THESE PROCESSES BOTH IN THE FUTURE AND
IN THEEXT STEPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THIS AGREEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE EVAC AS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP, AND IT SHOULD BE YOUR DESIRE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THAT WE AS COMMUNITY CAN BACK YOU UP AND ACHIEVE WHAT WE ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE. WHAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE IN THESE AGREEMENTS GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MARCUS. SO LAST
SPEAKER IS ALICE MADDEN. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STAFF AND TO THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TO ALL THE ELECTEDS WHO WERE PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS. THIS IS WORLDS DIFFERENT THAN 10 YEARS AGO. I THINK THESE ARE WORTH APPROVING AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE PROUD. I THINK IT'S ALSO NOTABLE THAT WE ONLY HAV
TWO TO THREE UTILITY FOLKS IN THE ROOM. AND 10 YEARSGO WE HAD DOZENS. I THINK THAT IS A RESPTFUL MOVE ON BEHALF OF THE UTILITIES, BUT IT'S ALSO A SIGN THAT WE HAVE MORE ROOM TO GW AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR MARKET SHARE. AND I THINK THIS IS SERATING OUT ARE THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM GOOD, NICE PEOPLE. THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN A MONOPOLY CORPORATE
POWER THAT CONTINUOUSLY RAISES THE RATES. CEO PAY IS JUST SHY OF OUR $10 MILLION A YEAR FOR EACH ONE OF THEIR TOP 10 MOST PAID EXECUTIVES. THEY HAVE THE LARGEST LOBBYING PRESENCE IN THE STATE OF NNESOTA. AND I THINK THE RISK TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO FORWARD IS WE GET TO MAKE TEETH HOWEVER WE WANT. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SUR THAT THIS PROMISE OF AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY IS NOT JUST COMPARED
TO THEMSELVES BUT COMPARED TO AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, OTHER UTILITIES. THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AND OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS. AND THEIR BUILT-IN INCENTIVE IS TO GOLD PLATE EVERYTHING. THEY MAKE ME MONEY BY BUILDING MORE STF. THEY MAY BUILD THE STUFF WE NEED AND THEY MAY NOT. THERE IS A MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE WAY TO DO THIS WHEN WE KEEP IN MIND WHO IS BENEFITING AND WHO IS BEARING THE RISK. THIS IS ONE PIECE OF
OUR TOOL. THE OTHER PIECE IS NOT LETTING THEM SAY ONE THING TO YOUR FACE AND DO SOMETHING ELSE. THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM, WE DON'T YET HAVEHE OTHER FOLKS IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I SUPPORT YOU APPROVING THIS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS, EVERYONE, FOROMING OUT TODAY. YOU ALL INSPIRE ME AND GIVE ME HOPE. YOU KNOW, IN THE NATIONAL POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE WE'RE IN, I'M REALLY PROUD THAT MINNEAPOLIS CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN SETTING THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS MORE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE. AS YOU ALL SAID, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. I'M GOING TO WELCOME QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AND AS FOLKS DO GET IN THE QUEUE, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THANK JOCELYN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. THANK YOU, LUKE, FOR LEADING ALL THE
SUSTAINABILITY ACCESS. JEFF FROM PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM. AND MOST OF ALL, MJ CARPIO FROM THE WARD 7 OFFICE WHO LITERALLY BECAME AN ENERGY LAWYER IN OUR FST YEAR IN COUNCIL, AND LED BRIEFINGS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BECSE THESE ARE HIGHLY TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE AGREEMENTS ARE WHETHER THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO THIS COMMITTEE. I'LL NOW OFFICIALLY
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WEL QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, STAFF, FOR REALLY PUTTING THE WORK IN. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF NEGOTIATION BEHIND THE DOOR. I CAN SEE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THAT CAME OUT. THEY'RE HAPPY. IT'S NOT PERFECT BUT THEY'RE HAPPY. THAT'S WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND ALSO, I WANT T THANK THE RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WARD 6 RESIDENTS, AND FOLKS THAT CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE. WE LIVE IN THIS BIG WORLD. WE ALL END IN ONE PLACE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU ENGAGE AND WHEN YOU CONTINUE THE PRESSURE, THIS IS THE KIND OF RELT WE GET. YOU HAVE BEEN EDUCATING US AND LETTING US KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, AND YOUR CALLS, YOUR ADVOCACY HAVE HELPED US GO THE RIGHT WAY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR A LONG TIME. LET'S CONTINUE DOING THAT. ONE QUESTION. THOSE RESIDENTS HERE WHO CAME AND WAS TALKING ABOUT HO XCEL ENERGY OR CENTERPOINT I THINK ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIZED RESIDENT PROPERTY. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT -- WHAT DO THEY CONSIDER RESIDENT PROPERTY? AND HOW DOES THE PERCENTAGE WORK? >>HANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE DETAILS A LITTLE BIT MORE. IT LOOKS LIKEHE TARIFF OR THE RATE THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS XCEL
ESTABLISHED. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS XCEL OR CENTERPOINT ESTABLISHED. THOSE ARE DESCRIPTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS FOR DIFFERENT TARIFFS ARE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. SO THAT WOULD BE A MATTER BASICALLY BETWEEN THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AND THE UTILITIES. THAT BEING SAID, WE IN OUR OFFICE IN SUSTAINABILITY, AS WELL AS OTHER OFFICES IN THE CITY
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN BEING A PARTY TO DISCUSSIONS AT PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO AND WEIGH ON IN THE FUTURE. >> I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. NEXT I'LL RECOGNIZE
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSKI. >> THANK YOU, STAFF. I KNOW YOU PUSHED HARD TO EVEN HAVE APACE IN THE ROOM AND WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH WAS NEW TO THIS PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS STILL NEW AS WELL. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE 10 YEARS OUT. IT'S ONLY SECOND YEAR TIME THAT WE'RE DOING THIS. WE'RE STILL LEARNING, RIGHT? BUT JUST REALLY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FOR THE UTILITY CPANIES FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, BUILD CONSENSUS. WEEARD MANY
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET. BUT PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS. SO EVERYONE YOU COULD GREAT TO HEAR THE CONSENSUS. SOMEBODY SAID THIS, WE'VE SET THE FLOOR NOT THE CEILING. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND MOVE FORWARD TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN. I
TOO JUST WANTED TO THANK STAFF, THE UTILITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU ADVOCATES. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY WERE HERE FOR THE LAST AGREEMENT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING THE WORK. LESLIE AND HANNAH FROM WARD 4. WE'RE BOTH HERE TODAY TO SPEAK. THEY CONTINUE TO SPEAK WH ME ABOUT THESE MATTERS. >> WOOHOO. >> THANK YOU, MS. JACKSON. I'M SURE THEY'LL CONTINUE TOSPEAK. AS I SAID LAST WEEK TO ALICE, THIS IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
WE REALLY SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT. I KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS FEEL LIKE THERE'S STILL MORE TO DO. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE TO DO. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THESE BIG WINS WHEN WE GET THEM. A THIS IS A BIG WIN. AND WE'VE ALL COME TOGETHER. AND I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THIS WILL BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM THIS COUNCI WE'LL BE CELEBRATING. WE ALWAYS CELEBRATE WHEN WE GET AN UNANIMOUS VOTE. YOU ALL CAN'T SEE IT. YOU ALL
SHOULD CELEBRATE WITH US BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL. MINNEAPOLIS HAS ALWAYS LED THE WAY. WITH ADVOCATES LIKE YOU IN THE ROOMS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SEND A BIG THANK YOU SO WARD 9. I GOT A LOT ASKING FOR A VARIETY THINGS. WE TAKE WHAT WE CAN. I APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY OF MY
CONSTITUENTSN PARTICULAR. I KNOW WITHOUT THEIR VOICE, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR ADVOCACY COMING TO TESTIFY TODAY, AND ALL THE WORK THEY DID IN THE BACKGROUND. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY STAFF. I KNOW THIS JOB AS YOU COULD. IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CELEBRATE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO CHAIR CASHMAN, AND MJ IN PARTICULAR. SHE HELPE ME
WORK THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS WHEN I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I THANK YOUR STAFF TOO, CHAIR CASHMAN. ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE A LOT LEFT TO DO. I THINK WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR, AND WE FEELT ALL OVER OUR CITY THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TODAY, AND YET, TRE ARE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POCKET LIKE POCIES, FUNDING, WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE QUICKER ACTION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO O RESIDENTS AT LEAST YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT YES, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. IT'S NOT PERFECT. AND I THINK THAT OUR STAFF DID AS MUCH AS THEY COULD. AND AT THE SAME TIME, OUR RESIDENTS PUSHED REALLY HARD ON THIS TOO. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF, THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP ODD. I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS. WE'RE GOING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO OTHER STUFF BECAUSE WE HEARD THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. THANK YOU. >> NEXT I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU TO YOU, ATTORNEY JOCELYN. THANK YOU, LUKE, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ALL THE WORK OF YOUR TEAMS IN GETTING THIS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO WHAT IT IS. I KNOW YOU HAVE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD. AND I ALSO EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE TO CHAIR CASHMAN AND COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI FOR THEIR WORK. MJ CARPIO IS REALLY GETTING A LOT OF SHOUT OUT TODAY BECAUSE SHE REALLY DESERVES IT. [APPLAUSE] >> YE, GIVE MJ SOME APPLAUSE FOR SURE. I SHARE IN THE JOYFULNESS OF COMING TO AN AGREEMENT. AND I APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT IN THIS AND ADVOCATING FOR US TO SUPPORT IT. A I THINK THERE'S SOME
REALLY GOOD THINGS WITHIN HERE. IT'S A BIG DEAL TO GET THESE LOCAL LEVEL AGREEMENTS FROM THE UTILITIES THAT WE LET OPERATE IN OUR CITY, RIGHT? IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A REALLY LONG TIME AGO. I APPRECIATE THE EQUITY GOALS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ON SERVICE PROVISION. THE WORK THAT WE DID AROUND THE PERMIT FEES. THESE AREEALLY GOOD THINGS. THE HARD
WORK WITHIN THE MOU, AND THE CONTINUED WORK O THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. AND I FEEL I HAVE TO BE A BIT OF A CLIMATE KILLJOY. SOMEBODY HAS TO BE. THE QUESTION THA WE GOTTA ASK IS WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE IN 10 YEARS? TODAY, WE ARE SUPER PRIVILEGED TO ACCEPT THIS AGREENT. BUT I FEAR IN A DECADE FROM NOW THOSE WHO FOLLOW WILL NOT SHARE IN THAT
PRIVILEGE. THIS AGREEMENT AS IT STANDS WILL NOT BE ACCESSIBLE IN 10 YEARS. AND IN 10 YEARS, I REFUSE TO BE FRUSTRATED AS I AM TODAY ABOUT THE FAILURE TO MEET THE CLIMATE ACTION GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN SET, AND THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. TWO OUT OF THE SEVEN METCS THAT WE LOOKED AT HAVE NOT BEEN MET. AND THOSE ARE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS. PRIMARILY FOSSIL FUEL. I REFUSE
10 YEARS TO SILENTLY TOLERATE THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FROM CORPORATE UTILITIES THAT ARE HINDERING PROGRESS. WHEN FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES AT LARGE HAVE THE POWER AND THE MONEY TO PREVENT IT. AND AS IT STANDS, ARE POLLUTING AND PROFITING AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELLBEING. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ENRICH ONE SELF
THROUGH POLLUTION AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.O SAY THAT TODAY AND NOT LIVE THROUGH WHAT THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT COULD BE AT ITS FULL POWER. AND AM COMMITTING MYSELF AND I KNOW MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY ARE COMMITTING OURSELVES IN THE TIME THAT WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE COMMITTED TO -- PART OF THE
PARTNERSHIP AND THE ROLE THAT WE'RE PLAYING HERE IS THAT PIECE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE AS WE'RE COMING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT WHERE WE'RE STANDING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. IF 10 YEARS DOWN THE LINE WE HAVEN'T -- THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS
PROVISION WHERE THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY IN US DISCUSSING THIS AGREEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER. A COUPLE OF THINGS AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT I'M GOING TO BE REALLY LKING FOR IS SEEING THOSE CLIMATE EQUITY GOALS AND THE GOALS WITHINHE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP MET. I WISH THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHI BECAUSE NOT HAVING A CLEAR PLACE WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ACCESS THE
INFORMATION AROUND THESE GOALS WHILE LAUDING IT AS AN AWARD WINNING PARTNERSHIP IS UNACCEPTABLE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE UTILITIES AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS WE CAN COMMIT TO TRANSPARENCY AND HAVING AN EASY PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION AROUND THIS CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP THAT IS AN MOU THAT WE'RE PROUD OF AND AGREEING TO. I'LL END ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE. WHILE I'M
FRUSTRATED AND SHARE IN THE FRUSTRATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY, I REMAIN HOPEFUL BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE THE TOOLS, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE COLLECTIVE WILL AS THE COMMUNITY IN MINNEOLIS TO HAVE A FUTURE WHERE OUR COMMUNITIES THRIVE. AND ARE A PART OF THE CLIMATE FUTURE INSTEAD OF BEING LEFT BEHIND WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE PRESENTLY ARE. AND I ENCOURAGE EVERY SINGLE PERSONHAT'S SHOWN UP HERE FOR THE LAST DECADE TO
CONTINUE TO SHOW UP. AND ALSO LIGHTING A FIRE AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION. BECAUSE 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE GOING TO NEED EVEN MORE FACES TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND HOPEFULLY CELEBRATE THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE GAINED. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. SO YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO END
BY SAYING THAT THERE'S SOME FOCUS I THINK IN THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP GOING FORWARD ABOUT HOW DO WE FUNCTIONALLY INCORPORATE SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE MOU THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY HIEVE. AND SO WITH EVAC IN PARTICULAR, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THATE DO HAVE A LOT OF VACANCIES ON THE COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GOING TO BE WELCOMING FOLKSO JOIN THE COMMITTEE. I KNOW LUKE IS WORKING REALLY HAR
RUNNING. PROHAPS -- PERHAPS YOU CAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE. LUKE, CAN YOU OFFER SOME UPDATES THERE? >> SURE. HAPPY TO CHAIR CASHMAN. I JUST MET YESTERDAY WITH MY COUNTERPARTS AT THE UTILITIES. AS WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, WE HAD NUMBER OF BIDS TO CREATE A NEW WEBSITE. AND ONE OF THOSE BIDS HAS LOOKED VERY ATTRACTIVE. WE'RE JUST KIND OF WAITING TO GET BASICALLY THE OFFICIAL GO-AHEAD FROM OUR
SUPERIORS TO D A COST SHARE TO GET A NEW WEBSITE STOOD UP ONCE WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW WEBSITE PROVIDER. THEY'VE INDICATED IT WOULD BE 60 TO 90 DAYS BEFORE IT'S FULLY OPERATIONAL. BUT THEY'D BE ABLE TO GET SOMEART OF THE WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING EVEN EARLIER THAN THAT. >> THANKS FOR THE UPDATE. AGAIN, IF ANYONE WANTS TO JOIN THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE PLEASE COME
TO ME AND M GROUP. SO WITH THAT, THANKING EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT TODAY, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE TWO ORDINANCE AS WELL AS THE MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING TOGETHER. AND SEEING NO FURTH DISCUSSION BEFORE US, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THE MOTION CARRIES.
AND WILL BE FORWARDEDO THE COUNCIL FOR NEXT THURSDAY. >> WHOO! [APPLAE]
>> ALL RIGHT. SO AS YOU ALL EXIT THE CHAMBER, IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR VOICES DOWN SO WE CAN
CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA. MUCH APPRECIATED. OUR NEXT ITEM IS REVISITING THE CONCEPT LAYOUT APPROVAL AND EASEMENTS FOR 38th STREET AND CHICAGO AVENUE, GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE. I WAN TO REFER THIS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE PLACED ON FILE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE FILE. ONE, THE CONCEPT LAYOUT, AND TWO, THE
AUTHORIZION FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS. SO JUST WANTO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MOTION. THIS IS A DECISION THAT WAS DONE IN CSULTATION WITH CLERKS, ATTORNEYS, AND PUBLIC WORKS LEADERSHIP. THIS MOTION ESSENTIALLY PUTS THE CONCEPT LAYOUT ON I WHILE WE FURTHER EXPLORE THE DESIGN. THIS WILL ENSURE THE ENTIRE WORK TO DATE BY STAFF. WE CAN RETURN TO IT IF
THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA DOESN'T GET ADOPTED OR IMPLEMENTED. NEX WEEK I'LL BE -- TO GET THE INFORMATION TO COMPLY WITH STATE STATUTE. AND GIVEN THAT THE CITY ACTIVELY SUPPORTED THE PEDESTRIAN MALL BUILD AT THE STAGE WITH 38th AND CHICAGO IN MIND, THIS IS A REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE STEP TO TAKE TO USE THIS AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE. YOU KN, I SEE THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR BEST.
EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF VOTED IN SUPPORT OF A PEDESTRIAN PLAZA CONCEPT LAST YEAR, AND ARE DOING OUR BEST TO BALANCE THE NEEDS IN THIS SPACE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ASKING US -- GIVING OUR OPTIONS MAYOR CHANCES THROUGH T LEGISLATIVE MEANS WE HAVE, AND ENSURE THE LAYOUT WE END UP APPROVING IS
THE CONCEPT LAYOUT THAT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY AND MINDFULLY EXPLORED. FOR ME, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HONORING THE SACRED NATURE OF GEORG FLOYD SQUARE AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN SAFELY GATHER IN THAT SPACE FOR YEARS. -- SO I'LL ASK FOR A SECOND ON THAT MOTION. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL
MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. COULD YOU JUST QUICK REVIEW THE MOTION. >> YES. HAPPY TO. SO THE MOTION IS BEFORE YOU. IT'S PRINTED. IT'S A MOTION TO REFER TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE PLACED ON FILE
FOR THE CONSIDERATION O THE CONCEPT LAYOUT FOR 38th STREET AND CHICAGO AVENUE, GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE, AND AUTHORIZATION OF NEGOTIATION WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS. AS I WAS SAYING, ESSENTIALLY THIS WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK IN LAST COUNCIL MEETING WAS TO PUT THIS CONCEPT LAYOUT ON ICE WHILE WE FURTHER EXPLORE THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA DESIGN. NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE INTRODUCING A
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT ASKS PUBLIC WORKS TO BRING FORWARD THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. >> JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT, MADAM CHAIR. JUST SO I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON FILING THIS AWAY, SHOULD THIS BODY WANT TO BRING THIS BACK INTO DISCUSSION, IS THAT ONLY POSSIBLE WITHIN THIS COMMITTEE OR IS IT ALSO IN OTHER COMMITTEES, AND WHAT ACTION WOULD BE NECESSARY. PERHAPS THAT MIGHT BE FOR OUR
CITY CLERKS. >> CLERK KEN. >> CHAIR CASHMAN TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY'S QUESTION. THE MOTION PROPOSED HERE IS ESSENTIALLY KIND OF A WAY TO TABLE THIS ITEM TEMPORARILY WHILE THE BODY AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ESSENTIALLY COME TO SE SORT OF FUTURE PLAN. BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS ESSENTIALLY KEEP THE CURRENT PLAN JUST ON FILE WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE BUT IT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK IF AND WHEN IT IS
DESIRED BY EITHER THE BODY OR DEPARTMENT THIS MOTION IS A BIT OF A DIFFERENT MOTION. BUT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, IF THIS MOTION IS SUCCESSFUL, WOULD STILL BE FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY FOR FORMAL ACTION TO, AGAIN, PUT IT ON FILE WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE. SO IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE A WAY FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO TAKE IT TO VE IT FORWARD TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL WOULD MAKE THAT FINAL
DECISION AS TO WHETHERR NOT TO PUT THE ITEM ON HOLD WHILE WORK IS CONTINUING TO BE DONE OR SOMETHING ELSE IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO APPROVE THAT MOTION. BUT ULTIMATELY, THE FINAL DECISION WOULD STILL BE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IT WOULD BE A WAY FOR THIS ITEM TO PROGRESS OUT OF COMMITTEE EVEN IF TEMPORARILY JUST TO BE PUT ON HOLD. >> THANK YOU. FOLLOW UP TO THAT. IN ORDER FOR IT TO COME BACK TO COMMITTEE, A FORMAL MOTION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MADE BY A
MEMBER OF THE BODY AND ACCEPTED BY THE BODY? >> I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN. COLLEAGUES, TODAY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD BY APPROVING THE RECOMMENDED CONCEPT LAYOUT FOR GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE. THIS PLAN IS NOT A FINAL BLUEPRINT BUT A FRAMEWORK, A FLEXIBLE FOUNDATION THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP MOVING
FORWARD WHILE LEAVING SPACE TO REFINE, ADAPT, AND GROW AS WE LEARN FROM AND COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY. I SEE THIS LAYO AS A CANVAS, A STARTING POINT THAT PROVIDES STRUCTURE. LIKE ANY GREAT WORK IN PROGRESS, IT BEGINS WITH A FOUNDATIONAL LAYER BUT IT ISN'T FINISHED. IT LEAVES ROOM FOR US TO ADD, RINE AND BUILD OVER TIME. FOR ME, THIS PLAN REPRESENTS THE RIGHT
BALANCE BETWEEN PROGRESS AND FLEXIBILITY, BETWEEN TAKING ACTION AND KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN TO WHAT COMES NEXT. BLDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR A PEDESTRIAN PLAZA OR MALL. ALLOWING THEM TO EERIENCE WHAT THIS VISION COULD LOOK LIKE FIRST HAND BEFORE THEY MAKE A FINAL DECISION. I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THAT WHILE I BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST APPROACH. MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION FOR THE PATH FORWARD. AND I DON'T BLAME THEM. THIS DEBATE ISN'T JUST ABOUT A LAYOUT. IT'S ABOUT TRUST. TRUST THAT WAS BROKEN, NEVER REBUILT, AND REMAINS ABSENT FROM THIS PROCESS. RESIDENTS ARE EXHAUSTED. THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE AND RIGHTFULLY SO. THE LACK OF TRUST BOTH IN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND IN THIS PROCESS HAS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH A BALANCED, WORKABLE SOLUTION, WITHOUT REAL
ASSURANCE FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE. MANY DON'T BELIEVE THE MAYOR OR THE ADMINISTRATION WILL FOLLOW THROUGH ON A PEDESTRIAN PLAZA OR MALL. AND GIVEN THE MIXED SIGNALS, CALLING IT A FLEXIBLE MODEL, WHILE AT SAME TIME -- I UNDERSTAND WHY. AND TO THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I WANT TO BE CLEAR REGARDLESS OF TODAY'S OUTCOME, I AM FULLY COMMITTED TO PILOTING THESE MODELS, ENSURIN THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE COMMUNITY'S EXPERIENCES AND ASPIRATIONS, AND OFFERING THEM A
CLEAR PICTURE OF THE SPACE'S POTEIAL. THE REALITY IS THAT THE PATH TO THIS MOMENT HAS BEEN SHAPED BY YEA OF INACTION, AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY WITH THE COMMUNITY. FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, THIS PROJECTAS REMAINED STALLED UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION. IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST YEAR THAT WORK ON THE PROCT TRULY BEGAN. AND ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO WAS ANYTHING PROPOSED. BUT NOW THERE'S FRUSTRATION OVER TIMING. THAT FRUSTTION SHOULD BE
DIRECTED AT THE FACT THAT FOR YEARS THIS PROJECT WASN' MADE A PRIORITY. THE STALLED TIMELINE, LACK OF COORDINATION UNWILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE ABSENCE OF A CLEAR VISION. THAT IS WHY WE FIND OURSELVES AT THIS JUNCTURE TODAY. I HONESTLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT AT OUR CORE, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING. A FUTURE FOR GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE THAT REFLECTS THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY AND HONORS ITS
SIGNIFICANCE. THIS IS NOT JUST AN INFRASTRUCTURE OJECT. IT IS A DEEPLY MEANINGFUL SPACE THAT REQUIRES THOHTFUL PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING. GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE DESERVES A PLAN THAT PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED GROWTH, REFLECTION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. I AM COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SPACE FULFILLS ITS POTENTIAL AND WE SHOULD ALL COMMIT TO MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER, EMBRACING THE WORK AHEAD. NO MATTER THE OUTCOME TODAY, THIS IS A SPACE FOR ALLF US TO SHAPE, AND THE
WORK IN ENGAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE AS WE BUILD TOWARD A FUTURE. I S THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS. F A PROJECT AS SIGNIFICANT AS GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE, THE COMMUNITY DESERVES CLEAR ANSWERS ON DECISIONS MADE, HOWONEY HAS BEEN SPENT AND WHAT COMES NEXT. FIRS I'M REQUESTING A FULL REVIEW OF THIS PROJECT STARTING WHEN GEORGE FL
THIS SHOULD INCLUDE KEY DATES, ACTION POINTS, AND DECISION MAKING MILESTONES. I'M ASKING FOR A FULL LINE ITEM BRKDOWN OF WHERE THAT MONEY HAS GONE. THE COMMUNITY DESERVES TO KNOW EXACTL HOW THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, WHETHER IT'S FOR PLANNING, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENGAGEMENT OR OTHER EXPENSES. AND THIRD, WE NEED CLARITY ON HOW THIS INTEGRATES WI THE FRQ PROCESS FOR THE PEOPLE'S WAY. WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE WITHOUT CONSIDERING WHO THAT FUTURE INCLUDES, WHO IS AT T TABLE? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE PROCESS? WHEN WILL THE COMMUNITY GET TO SEE AND EVALUATE THE APPLICANTS PROPOSALS? WHAT'S THE PLAN. I'M REQUESTING ALL OF THIS VIA RESPONSE MEMO. THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED FROM THE START. IF WE WANT TO REBUILD TRUST, IT STARTS WITH TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. >> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR KOSKI. NOTING THAT FOR OUR CLERK FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FOLLOW-UP. VICE CHAIR CAN SEND OVER QUESTIONS IN WRITING AS WELL. NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. THANKS FOR JOINING THE COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN. I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF AS TO WHAT THIS DELAY WILL DO TO THE PROJECT. I MEAN, I HEAR MOVING FORWARD. BUT THE
MOTION IS ACTUALLY TAKING A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AND SO CAN SOMEONE FROM STAFF ANSWER WHAT THIS DELAY WILL MEAN. >> DIRECTOR SEXTON. >> YEAH, THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER. AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR SOME TIME NOW THAT RECOMMENDED LAYOUT STILL GAVE US A CHANCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALLF
THIS YEAR. THIS ADDITIONAL ASK, WE ARE STILL EVALUATING HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO COMPLETE THE PEDESTRIAN MALL ORDINANCE IS NEW. THERE'S FACTS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE US TO DESIGN AND RESPOND TO THOSE REQUIREMENTS IN STATUTE. BY NEXT WEEK. BUT ANY DELAY AT THIS POINT WILL MAKE IT NOT POSSIBLE
TO START CONSTRUCTION IN 2025. >> THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY I'M REALLY DISGUSTED BY THIS POLITICAL GAME THAT'S BEING PLAYED. THERE HAS BEEN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF MEANINGFUL, AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITYMEMBERS. COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE CONSIDERED A PEDESTRIAN MALL, AND HAVE SAID THAT IS NOT WHAT IS DESED. WE ARE LITERALLY SAYING TO HUNDREDS AN HUNDREDS OF CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE SHOWED UP OVER HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OVER MANY YEARS THAT WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK. WE KNOW BETTER. WE KNOW
BETTER THAN THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES THERE. AND TO PLAY GAMES ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S RIDICULOUS. THIS PROCESS HAS BEENELD UP BY THE COMMUNITY. AND SO YOU KNOW, THIS DELAY WILL MEAN THAT MY COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN, THAT I REPRESENT, THAT I'VE BEEN PAYG TAXES IN FOR THE PAST 45 YEARS WILL CONTINUE
TO LOOK LIKE BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER. >> NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER AVEZ. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN. I AM HAPPY TO SUPRT THIS MOTION. I DO WANT IT SAY, THOUGH, THERE IS NO POLITICAL GAMES BEING PLAYED HERE. BACK IN DECEMBER, WE VOTED TO SUPPORT AND WE SAID
WE WANTED TO SEE A PEDESTRIAN MALL CONCEPT PLAN HERE AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE. LAST WEEK THERE WAS A NOTICE OF INTRODUCTION TO CREATE A PEDESTRIAN MALL AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE. I WT TO BE CLEAR HERE, WE HAVE SAID WHAT WE WANT. WE HAVE SAID HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE GIVEN DIRECTION ON A PATHWAY TO GET TS DONE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE CONVERSATION AUT DELAY, DELAY, DELAY. IT'S NOT A DELAY. WE ARE CHOOSING A PATHWAY FORWARD. I
HAVE MET DIRECTLY BRING FORWARD A PLAN FOR PEDESTRIAN MALL. AND THE ANSWER -- I THINK THE OTHER COMPONENT HERE IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND I KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE THIS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WANT TO SANITIZE AND WANT TO FORGET WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, AND I'M GOING TO KEEP ON SAYING IT, AND IT'S AT THE
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS BROKE TRUST WITH RESIDENTS. THEY MURDERED GEORGE FLOYD IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY NOW HAVE ALMOST TWO CONSENT DECREES. AND THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF INVESTMENT IN THIS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS 38th STREET AND GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE. WE HAVE SAID WE
WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. WE ARE EXTENDING AN OLIVE BRANCH SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE HEARING WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING. RECOGNIZE THIS HAS BEEN, STILL IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE A PROTEST ZONE AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE. SO WE'RE SAYING LET'S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS. WE WANT TO ROGNIZE WHAT HAPPENED HERE. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO STOP CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE SAYING IF
WE MOVE FORWARD A PEDESTRIAN MALL PLAN AND WE WOR TOGETHER, WE CAN GET THIS DONE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. SEEING NO ONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, I'LL ASK THE CLE TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION. >> COUNCIL MEMBERVETAW. >> NO. >> OSMAN. >> AYE. >> CHAVEZ. >> AYE.
>> CHOWDHURY. >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> NO. >> CHAIR CASHMAN. >> AYE. >> THERE ARE FOUR AYES AND TWO NAYS. >> THE AYES HAVE IT. THAT MOTION CARRIES. AND SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE STANADJOURNED. THANK YOU.