>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR NOVEMBER 13, 2025. I'M KATIE CASHMAN, CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE CONVENE OUR MEETING, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF AN HONORARY RESOLUTION. OUR
RESOLUTION TODAY RECOGNIZES THE CITY STAFF AND THE CONTRACTORS WHO WORKED ON THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF HENNEPIN AVENUE SOUTH IN UPTOWN, WHICH JUST REOPENED. SO I'LL INVITE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW STREET, AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO JOIN ME TO
PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME. >> WELCOME, EVERYONE. SO OUR RESOLUTION TODAY RECOGNIZES CITY STAFF AND CONTRACTORS THAT WORKED ON THE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION OF HENNEPIN AVENUE SOUTH. WHEREAS THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS TO PLAN AND CONSTRUCT THE NEW HENNEPIN AVENUE CORRIDOR. AND WHEREAS THROUGH YEARS OF ROBUST
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS COLLABORATED TO FIND A DESIGN THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF AS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE, WHEREAS OVER 100 PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY WERE PART OF MAKING THIS REDESIGN POSSIBLE AND EACH ONE
DESERVES OUR GRATITUDE TODAY. AND WHEREAS IN ORDER TO ENSURE RELIABLE AND CONTINUOUS DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY SAFE DRINKING WATER AND PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION, STAFF FROM THE DIVISION OF WATER TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES RELOCATED
21 HYDRANTS AT IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND TRANSIT STOPS. REPLACED 25 LEAD SERVICE LINES, CLOSELY MANAGED WATER RELOCATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE ELECTRICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AT 15 INTERSECTIONS. REBUILT VINTAGE BRICK MAINTENANCE HOLES TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEW ROADWAY. AND REPLACED NINE WATERMAIN ISOLATION VALVES. AND
WHEREAS TO -- THE RECONSTRUCTION OF HENNEPIN AVENUE INCLUDED A NARROWER ROADWAY THAT WOULD PROMOTE SLOWER SPEEDS, TWO NEW SIGNALIZED PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, A TWO-WAY OFF STREET TO PROMOTE BIKE ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY.
DYNAMIC TRANSIT PRIORITY LANES, BRT STATIONS, AND TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY ALONG THE CORRIDOR. DYNAMIC -- OR DEDICATED LEFT-TURN LANES WITH FEWER CONFLICT POINTS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS
WITH ADA COMPLIANT RAMPS AND ACCESSIBLE PUSH BUTTONS. 100 NEW STREET LIGHTS, PLUS DECORATIVE LIGHTING. AND WHEREAS TO KEEP OUR SURFACE WATER AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING RAIN EVENTS,
PROJECT STAFF INSTALLED 11 BIO SWELLS, PLANTER BOXES, 23 TREE TRENCHES, 10 INFILTRATION BOX CULV CULVERTS, STORM WATER PIPE, AND A SMALL RAMP LEADING TO TREE
TRENCHES. WHEREAS TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF ROLLING, WALKING, BIKING, AND TRANSIT ON HENNEPIN AVENUE, THE PROJECT INCLUDES WIDER SIDEWALKS WITH ENHANCED LANDSCAPING, INCREASED SEPARATION FROM VEHICLE TRAFFIC. SHORTENED CROSSING DISTANCE AT CROSSWALKS, AND A RAISED MEDIAN
TO ALLOW FOR EASIER CROSSING. 1.1 MILES OF PROTECTED BIKEWAY. INCLUDING 26th AND 28th STREET, BRIAN AVENUE, MIDTOWN BIKEWAY.
MAKING ONE OF THE BUSIEST AREAS -- GOING TO A SHOW OR PASSING THROUGH. CREATING A ROADWAY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE METRO E LINE WHICH WILL BE OPEN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE. $64 MILLION INVESTMENT IN FAST
FREQUENT TRANSIT THAT WILL INCREASE BUS TRIPS AVAILABLE TO AND FROM UPTOWN BY 20 TO 30%, SUPPORTING THE CITY'S GOAL TO THREE OUT OF EVERY FIVE TRIPS TAKEN BY WALKING, BIKING OR TRANSIT. AND WHEREAS HENNEPIN
AVENUE IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF OWNED BUSINESSES TO MAKE UPTOWN UNIQUE IN OUR CITY. NOW WHERE I COME FROM, WE DON'T LET SOCIETY TELL US WHAT TO BE -- EVERYONE'S GOING UPTOWN, THAT'S WHERE I
WANT TO BE. FURTHER EMPHASIZING THE MAGIC AND IMPORTANCE OF HENNEPIN AVENUE AS A CULTURAL HUB FOR CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION. AND WHEREAS WE LOVE HENNEPIN AVENUE AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT IT'S BACK AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY FOR THE FULLEST. THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 13, 2025, AS HENNEPIN AVENUE DAY IN MINNEAPOLIS. [APPLAUSE] SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE. WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE OVER
100 CITY STAFF INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH, I WAS REALLY BLOWN AWAY. SO I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU, CELEBRATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING A HUGE GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR
NOT ONLY THE UPTOWN AREA BUT THE ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. KATHLEEN OR ANYONE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF REMARKS? ADAM, MAYBE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
DON ELWOOD, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. I'M GOING TO FACE THE TEAM. THANK YOU PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. SINCE 2018, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. THAT'S A LONG TIME. I REMEMBER COMING OUT OF 2018, YOU KEPT WORKING THROUGH THIS
PROJECT GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES. NOW WE'VE REACHED THE POINT, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION, IT CELEBRATES A MAJOR MILESTONE. A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT. I KNOW LOOKING AHEAD SOME OF US ARE GOING TO MISS GOING OUT DAY-TO-DAY WORKING ON
THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME LOOKING AHEAD. WHAT A GREAT CORRIDOR THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT FUNCTIONS BETTER. IT LOOKS NICE AND REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THIS ENTIRE CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID. I WISH
YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK WORKING WITH ME IN THE FUTURE ON THE NEXT BIG PROJECT BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM AS WELL. SO THANK YOU AGAIN PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. [APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, MOLLY WILL COME UP AND GRAB A QUICK PHOTO. GET BETWEEN THESE BLACK LINES HERE. >> WE MIGHT NEED TO DO TWO ROWS SO EVERYONE CAN FIT IN BETWEEN
THE TWO BLACK LINES HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO BEFORE WE CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS, STAFF AND THE PUBLIC THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THESE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REAL-TIME CAPTIONING TO INCREASE THE
ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS. SO WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND THE CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL TO VERIFY A QUORUM. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> VETAW. >> PRESENT.
>> OSMAN IS ABSENT. CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> PRESENT. >> CHAIR CASHMAN. >> PRESENT. >> WE HAVE FIVE PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE HAVE A QUORUM. AND FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP WITH CLERK MICHAEL, AND ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WE WILL BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT TODAY. SO WE'LL START WITH OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR. ITEM 1 IS AUTHORIZING SUBORDINATE FUNDING AGREEMENT
WITH THE MET COUNCIL FOR LOCAL WORK DESIGN AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLUE LINE EXTENSION PROJECT. ITEM 2 IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATION TO
AUTHORIZE THE CLOSURE AND APPROPRIATION PROGRAMS. ITEM 3 IS AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR CEDAR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. ITEM 4 IS AUTHORIZING A UTILITY EASEMENT WITH THE PARK BOARD FOR
STORM SEWER AND STORM WATER BASINS. JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE PARK BOARD RELATED TO PARKWAY PAVING, REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION. ITEM 6 IS A RESOLUTION UPDATING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING RATES AS PART
OF THE EV SPOT NETWORK PILOT PROJECT, AND INCORPORATING THESE FEES IN THE PARKING AND MOBILITY FEE SCHEDULE. COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THE MOTION CARRIES. SO OUR NEXT ITEMS ARE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO OUR FIRST PUBLIC
HEARING IS RELATED TO THE 1ST AVENUE SOUTH RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. I'LL INVITE STAFF TO BRIEFLY SPEAK TO THIS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS MOHAMMED OMAR. TODAY, I AM HERE PRESENTING FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 1ST AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION CITY PROJECT
2347. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL RECONSTRUCT APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE OF 1ST AVENUE SOUTH BETWEEN GRANT STREET AND FRANKLIN AVENUE. THE PROJECT IS A RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT INVOLVING THE ENTIRE RIGHT OF WAY AND WILL INCLUDE NEW
SIDEWALKS, PEDESTRIAN RAMPS BEHIND THE CURB BICYCLE ACCOMMODATIONS, AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS. SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW SIGNAGE, PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE TOTAL ANTICIPATED PROJECT COST IS $11,540,000. -- THAT IS BASED ON THE 2026 UNIFORM ASSESSMENT RATES AND INFLUENCE
AREA METHOD. THE RATES ARE $3.20 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NON-RENTAL PROPERTIES. $1.12 FOR PER SQUARE FOOT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. PAYABLE OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.
THE REST FUNDING SOURCES ARE MUNICIPAL STATE AID -- PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT. A VIRTUAL REASSESSMENT MEETING TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT, DISCUSS PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE ASSESSMENT METHOD AND PROCESS WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 6TH. TODAY,
PUBLIC WORKS IS ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO PASS RESOLUTION ORDERING THE WORK TO PROCEED, ADOPTING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, AUTHORIZING SALE OF THE BONDS, AND REMOVAL OF AREA WAYS IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROJECT. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'LL
STAND BY FOR ANY COMMENTS. >> GREAT. I'LL PROCEED TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. CLERK MICHAEL IS CORRECT, ALL OF THESE ARE FOR A DIFFERENT ITEM, CORRECT? >> CORRECT, MADAM CHAIR. THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR 1ST AVENUE PUBLIC HEARING. >> IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON
THE 1ST AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, ALSO WELCOME AND WILL NOTE OUR ATTENDANCE FOR THE RECORD AS
WELL. >> YEAH. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I KNOW THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE AND THE STREETS HAVE BEEN WRECKED. LIKE IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO GO
THROUGH. CARS. I DID SUBMIT AN EMAIL TO DIRECTOR. WHAT IS THE CONDITION RIGHT NOW? IS IT STILL THE SAME? BECAUSE THERE'S A CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS UNDONE THAT WAS JUST MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR FOLKS TO GET AROUND. I DO
HAVE PICTURES TOO THAT I SHARED WITH DIRECTOR. JUST WONDER WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS AREA RIGHT NOW. >> YEAH. I'M NOT SURE IF THE PART SOUTH OF FRANKLIN IS ALREADY COMPLETED. I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT. BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S FULLY DONE YET. >> TALKING ABOUT FRANKLIN.
>> YOU'RE TALKING NORTH, THE NEW SECTION. >> 1ST AVENUE FRANKLIN ALL THE WAY TO GRANT. THAT AREA, THERE WAS -- DURING THE ENTIRE SUMMER, CONSTRUCTION WAS HAPPENING THERE. IT WAS LIKE UNFINISHED WORK. LET'S JUST SAY THAT. THAT
RESIDENTS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. I BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, WAS
THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT WAS OUT DOING LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENTS EARLIER THIS YEAR NORTH OF FRANKLIN. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I THINK THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE. IT HAS BEEN RESTORED OUT THERE. THERE WERE SOME BARRICADES OUT
WHEN THEY WERE DOING THAT WORK AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. >> IT SOUNDED LIKE IT LASTED FOR A WHILE. >> YEAH. >> FOR A LONG TIME. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WILL PARKING. HAS
THERE BEEN ANY PARKING THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AREA? DURING THE WINTER TIME, IT DOES GET A LITTLE BIT NARROW. I KNOW RIGHT NOW CARS ARE PARKING SOMEWHAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE THE BIKES ARE GOING ON THE SIDE OF IT. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGES IN THE CURRENT PARKING SITUATION OUT THERE. I BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER WORK THERE WAS SOME TEMPORARY PARKING THAT
WAS DISRUPTED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WORK. >> YEAH. NO, GREAT. I MOVE THIS ITEM FOR APPROVAL. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK RESIDENTS WILL BE RELEAVED RELIEVED TO SEE
THE WORK BEING DONE THERE. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION CARRIES. OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING
IS ON THE CEDAR AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. WE'LL INVITE STAFF FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS SPENCER EVERT. TODAY I'M HERE PRESENTING FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CEDAR AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, CITY PROJECT NUMBER 2370. THE
COUNTY-LED PROJECT CONSISTS OF RECONSTRUCTING THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE OF CEDAR AVENUE. ELEMENTS TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE FULL REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING ROADWAY, NEW
SIDEWALKS, PEDESTRIAN RAMPS, BOULEVARDS, NEW PAVEMENT, CURB AND GUTTER, STREET LIGHTING, SIGNAL UPGRADES, MEDIANS, RAIN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE NEW SIGNAGE AND NEW PAVEMENT MARKINGS. THE TOTAL ANTICIPATED
PROJECT COST IS $17,596,038, WITH APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION BEING THE CITY'S PORTION. THE TOTAL STREET RECONSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT IS $828,170.32. THIS
WAS CALCULATED BASED ON THE 2026 UNIFORM ASSESSMENT RATES AND THE INFLUENCE AREA METHOD. THIS METHOD OUTLINES $3.20 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. AND $1.12 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE PAYABLE
OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD. THE REST OF THE LOCAL FUNDING COMES FROM APPROXIMATELY 3 MIL$3,360,752 I BONDS. CITY AND COUNTY STAFF HAVE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS OUTREACH
ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE PROJECT. A VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT, DISCUSS PLANNED IMPROVEMENT WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025, WITH ZERO ATTENDEES. TODAY, PUBLIC WORKS
IS ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS RESOLUTIONS ORDERING THE WORK TO PROCEED ADOPTING THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, AUTHORIZING SALE OF ASSESSMENT BONDS, AND AUTHORIZING ABANDONMENT AND REMOVAL OF AREA WAYS IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROJECT. THAT CONCLUDES
MY PRESENTATION, AND I WILL STAND BY FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CHECK IF ANYONE'S SIGNED UP. I BELIEVE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THE CEDAR
AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND ASK IF THERE ARE ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS PROJECT. WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL. ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT
PUBLIC HEARING IS ON LOWRY AVENUE NORTHEAST RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. WELCOME STAFF TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS OLIVER MOHAMMI. >> CAN YOU PLEASE MOVE A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU. >> TODAY, I'M HERE TO PRESENT
THE LOWRY AVENUE PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CITY PROJECT, THE PROPOSED COUNTY LED PROJECT WILL REFLECT MILES OF -- BETWEEN MARSHALL STREET NORTHEAST AND WASHINGTON STREET NORTHEAST. THE WORK INCLUDES FULL REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING
ROADWAY, NEW ADA PEDESTRIAN RAMPS, SIDEWALKS, BIKE FACILITY, NEW PAVEMENT, WIDER BOULEVARDS, STREET LIGHTING, AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE NEW SIGNAGE AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS. THE TOTAL ANTICIPATED
PROJECT COST IS $14,388,000. WITH THE CITY COST PARTICIPATION ESTIMATED AT $2,421,000. -- THIS
IS BASED ON THE 2026 ASSESSMENT RATES. $3.26 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE PAYABLE OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD. THE REST OF THE FUNDING SOURCES ARE
BONDS. THE CITY AND COUNTY STAFF HAVE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH DURING PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE PROJECT. VIRTUAL PRE-ASSESSMENT MEETING WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 5TH, TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT, DISCUSS PLAN IMPROVEMENTS, AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS. TODAY, PUBLIC WORKS IS ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS RESOLUTION ORDERING THE WORK TO PROCEED ADOPTING THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THE ASSESSMENT BONDS AND
AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT AND REMOVAL IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROJECT. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'LL STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP? >> MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR THIS. >> ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE LOWRY AVENUE NORTHEAST PHASE 2 RECONSTRUCTION? PLEASE COME FORWARD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS SAYAD HABDI. I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF NUMBER OF ORGANIZATION CENTER. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE RECENT RECONSTRUCTION BETWEEN THE MARSHALL STREET AND THE
WASHINGTON. THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT HAVE PLACED HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON US. ONE THAT SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE SMALL NUMBER
DEDICATED FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PROGRAM THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE WHERE THE PEOPLE LIVE. BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER WAIVING THE CONSTRUCTION -- YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO WALK. AND WE DO EVERY DAY TO UPLIFT AND SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME YOU SERVE. WE REALLY CONSIDER TO LOOK THAT BORDER OF CONSTRUCTION. TO EVALUATE, REDUCE OR WAIVE FOR A NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATION. CONSIDER THAT WE CLOSE WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION START IN JANUARY IS SIMPLY MEANING THAT CENTER WILL BE CLOSED. ON TOP OF THAT, THE CONSTRUCTION COSTING US CLOSE TO
$100,000. AS WE SEE IN THIS DOCUMENTATION THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE MAIL. SO WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU THAT THE CENTER IS ALREADY HAVE DIFFICULTIES ON TOP OF THAT THAT
WE SEE THAT IT IS NOT IMPROVING THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE. NO ONE OWN IT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU CAN SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING TO THE CLERKS AS WELL. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO
SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND FIRST RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. SO IN RESPONSE TO THE LAST SPEAKER, IS THERE SOMEONE FROM STAFF THAT COULD
EXPLAIN? I HAVE TWO ISSUES. BUT COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN HOW THESE COSTS CAN BE MITIGATED? BECAUSE THEY CAN GO ON THE TAX BILL, RIGHT? AND BE YEARLY. THEY'RE NOT DUE ALL AT ONCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS PAUL KEATING, I'M ANALYST IN DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS WILL BE COLLECTED THROUGH THE TAXES OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD WITH INTEREST
SET BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE ONLY OPTION FOR DEFERMENT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO NON-RESIDENTIAL -- I MEAN, FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THERE'S NO OPTION FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN CONSTRUCTION WILL START AND BE FINISHED IN? I THOUGHT I HEARD JANUARY. IS THAT WHEN IT'S
GOING TO START IN THE WINTER? >> CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, I'M KELLY AUGUSTO, I'M A SENIOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH HENNEPIN WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF LOWRY AVENUE
PHASE 2. OUR CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE IS WE'RE STAGING IT OVER THE COURSE OF TWO CONSTRUCTION SEASONS. THE FIRST PORTION WILL BEGIN IN 2026, ABOUT APRIL OR MAY, WEATHER DEPENDENT BETWEEN 4TH AND WASHINGTON STREET. AND THE NEXT
STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION WILL BE IN 2027 BETWEEN MARSHALL AND 3RD. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> YEAH, JUST TO FOLLOW UP THE
LAST COMMENT OR SPEAKER. I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE DISTRIBUTE 20 YEARS, BUT IS IT $70,000 HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE BLOCK OR JUST THE BUILDING THAT HE'S REFERRING TO?
>> I'D HAVE TO REVIEW THE INDIVIDUAL PARCELS THAT WERE INCLUDED. IT MAY BE MULTIPLE PARCELS. I WOULD NEED TO CONSULT WITH OUR ASSESSMENT ROLES TO ANSWER THAT SPECIFICALLY. >> OKAY. YEAH, I COULD SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT COULD BE FOR A
NON-PROFIT TO PAY $70,000. DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU EXTEND IT. WITH INTEREST, THAT IS CHALLENGING FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU BRING THIS
KIND OF MAGNITUDE CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE AREA BUSINESSES CLOSE, AND BUSINESSES LOSE CUSTOMERS. SO I COULD SEE WHY THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS $871,000.
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY. OKAY. >> YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO NOTE THIS QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FOLLOW UP? >> YEAH. IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO KNOW IF ONE BUILDING IS RESPONSIBLE $70,000 OF CONSTRUCTION.
>> OKAY. WE'LL NOTE THAT FOR THE CLERK TO FOLLOW UP ON SO THAT WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT THAT THE SPEAKER IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS REFERRING TO. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, IF I MAY, THE UNIFORM ASSESSMENT RATE AND THE INFLUENCE AREA METHOD IS HOW ALL
OF THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE CALCULATED. SO HOWEVER LARGE THE PARCEL IS IS GOING TO DETERMINE HOW SUBSTANTIAL THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT IS. >> OKAY. >> SO IT'S GOING TO BE UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THROUGHOUT EVERY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WE DO.
>> AND YOU ALSO DID SAY THE RESIDENTS HAVE SOME KIND OF WAY OF -- BUT NOT THE NON-SIDENTS OR COMMERCIAL. >> THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. THERE'S A DEFERMENT OPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE HOMESTEADED
WITH OTHER SPECIFIC CERTAIN CRITERIA. BUT FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PARCELS, THERE IS NO DEFERMENT PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AS WELL EITHER FOR YOU OR FOR THE PROJECT STAFFER FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY. JUST LOOKING AT THE MAP OF CONSTRUCTION, THERE'S A
SECTION EAST OF THE RIVER, AND THEN OVER TO WASHINGTON, BUT THERE'S A GAP IN BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND 4TH STREET NORTHEAST. DID THAT WORK ALREADY GET DONE IN PHASE 1 AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT INCLUDED HERE IN PHASE 2?
>> CHAIR CASHMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, KELLY AUGUSTO WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY, THE REASON WHY THE GAP IS THAT A PORTION OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN MDOT'S UNIVERSITY AVENUE PROJECT,
INCLUDING A BLOCK ON LOWRY AVENUE INTERSECTION. >> OKAY. WHEN IS THAT MNDOT PROJECT SAID TO BE IN CONSTRUCTION. >> SET TO START IN 2027 AND LIKELY TO BE STAGED OVER MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION SEASONS.
COUNTY STAFF, CITY STAFF AND MNDOT STAFF ARE COORDINATING THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BE STAGED. >> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LOT FOR NORTHEAST. MANY, MANY PROJECTS WILL BE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME IN THIS AREA. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL
THAT THE WORK GROUP GET STOOD UP WITH THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE TO THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL
RIGHT. I WILL MOVE APPROVAL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION CARRIES. SO NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR LAST ITEM. OUR PUBLIC
HEARING ON GAS AND ELECTRIC FRANCHISE FEE ORDINANCES. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE I THINK OVER 50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP. AND SO NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE A TWO MINUTE CLOCK, BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT TO 60
SECONDS. SO ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER. IT WILL BE TOO DIFFI DIFFICULT -- I THINK IT'S OVER 50 AT THIS POINT. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. SO THE OTHER OPTION TOO IS IF YOUR COMMENTS DO GO OVER THAT YOU'LL BE MORE THAN WELCOME TO SUBMIT THEM IN
WRITING TO THE CLERK TO BE INCLUDED IN ENTIRETY IN THE PUBLIC RECORD. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACCOMMODATION ON THAT. SO AS WE ARE GETTING SETTLED IN
HERE, I WILL INVITE LUKE HOLLINGCAMP AND JOCELYN BREMER TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WELCOME. NOT SURE IF WE CAN HEAR
YOU. >> OKAY. IS IT WORKING NOW? >> YUP. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOCELYN BREMER AND I'M A SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I ALONG WITH CITY STAFF ARE PRESENTING TODAY AS CHAIR CASHMAN'S REQUEST ON
COUNCIL MEMBERS KOSKI AND CHUGHTAI COLLECTIVELY THE AUTHOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FRANCHISE FEE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH A BRIEF BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW OF THE UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS TO SET THE STAGE FOR THE FRANCHISE
FEE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS. THE CITY HAS LEGAL AUTHORITY UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTE 216B.36 TO ENTER INTO FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH ITS UTILITY PROVIDERS. THIS PERMITS CITIES TO CHARGE
FRANCHISE FEES TO RAISE REVENUE, DEFRAY MUNICIPAL COSTS AS A RESULT OF UTILITY OPERATIONS OR BOTH. THESE FRANCHISE FEES ARE CONSIDERED PATH THROUGH COSTS AS THE UTILITY PASS THE FEES TO CUSTOMERS. AS YOU MAY RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE CITY ADOPTED TWO NEW UTILITY
FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN CODIFIED IN ORDINANCE. APPENDIX C-1 IS THE CITY'S GAS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH ITS GAS PROVIDER CENTERPOINT ENERGY, AND APPENDIX D-1 IS THE CITY'S
ELECTRIC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH ITS ELECTRICITY PROVIDER XCEL ENERGY. IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE FRANCHISE FEES ARE SET FORTH FROM THE AGREEMENT ORDINANCES.
APPENDIX C-2 IS THE -- APPENDIX D-2 IS THE CITY'S ELECTRIC FRANCHISE FEE ORDINANCE WITH XCEL ENERGY. THESE ARE THE ORDINANCES THAT THE AUTHORING COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PROPOSED TO
AMEND. FROM 2019 TO 2023, THE FRANCHISE FEES GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $28 MILLION TO $30 MILLION ANNUALLY. THE AMOUNT GENERATED BY FRANCHISE FEES VARIES YEAR BY YEAR BECAUSE THE CITY HAS TRADITIONALLY SET THE
VALUE OF THE FRANCHISE FEES AS A PERCENTAGE OF -- RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMER CONSUMPTION. THE CITY LAST AMENDED THE ORDINANCES TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEES IN THE FALL OF 2023. THE INCREASE WAS ESTIMATED TO GENERATE
APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION TO $10 MILLION ANNUALLY, AGAIN, BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF GROSS -- RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMER CONSUMPTION. CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE WHICH SUPPORTS THE CITY'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN. MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS IS LINKED IN THE PRESENTATION WHICH IS UPLOADED TO THE LEGISLATIVE FILES ON THESE PROPOSED FRANCHISE FEE AMENDMENTS ON THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE LIMS. THIS FALL, THE AUTHORING COUNCIL
MEMBERS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE CURRENT EXISTING ELECTRIC AND GAS FRANCHISE FEE ORDINANCES. THE PROPOSED CHANGES INCLUDE UPDATING THE REFERENCES IN THE CURRENT FEE ORDINANCES TO ALIGN WITH THE NEW 2025 FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ORDINANCES. INCLUDING
NEW RATE CLASSES TO ALIGN WITH THE CUSTOMER CATEGORIES, THE UTILITY SUBMIT THEIR RATE BOOKS TO THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MANY OTHER MINNESOTA CITIES ALSO USE THE CUSTOMER CATEGORIES OUTLINED IN THE UTILITY RATE BOOKS. SO THIS
CHANGE WILL BRING THE CITY IN CLOSER ALIGNMENT WITH MANY OF ITS PEERS IN THIS ISSUE. INCREASING THE UTILITY FRANCHISE FEES ACROSS THE NEW CUSTOMER CATEGORIES WHICH SUSTAINABILITY WE'LL DISCUSS IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. THIS INCREASE IS ESTIMATED TO BRING IN AN
ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION ANNUALLY BASED ON 2024 DATA. AND IT IS STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AUTHORING COUNCIL MEMBERS' INTENT ON ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO BE DEDICATED TO THE INITIATIVE AND ITS PROGRAMMING. FINALLY, BECAUSE ORDINANCES ARE SUBJECT
TO APPROVAL BY THE MINNESOTA UTILITY COMMISSION, EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE NEW RATES AND CUSTOMER CATEGORIES AT 90 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE APPROVED ORDINANCES. I WILL NOW TURN THIS PRESENTATION OVER TO LUKE HOLLINGCAMP TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED FRANCHISE FEE RATE
INCREASES. >> GOOD OFTEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LUKE HOLLENKAMP. I WANT TO FIRST GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED CHANGES AS PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS. SO THIS IS A TABLE THAT SHOWS THE PROPOSED AND THEN THE CURRENT FRANCHISE FEE RATES IN THE CATEGORY OF THE GAS UTILITY. ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE ENERGY CUSTOMER TYPES. THESE ARE THE RATE CLASSES THAT JOCELYN JUST MENTIONED. I WILL
NOTE THAT WE IN OUR PREVIOUS FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS AND IN OUR PREVIOUS ORDINANCE HAD LISTED THREE CUSTOMER CLASSES WHICH CAPTURED ALL OF THESE CATEGORIES WITHIN THEM. AS JOCELYN MENTIONED, THROUGH THE NEW AGREEMENTS, WE CAN DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN THESE CUSTOMER CLASSES. AND ALSO, THE CUSTOMER CLASSES GENERALLY AS YOU LOOK AT THE SCREEN GO IN DESCENDING ORDER BY THE SMALLEST ENERGY USERS, SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL ON TOP DOWN TO THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENERGY USERS AT THE
BOTTOM, WHO NOT ONLY USE OFTEN THE MOST ENERGY, BUT THEY OFTEN HAVE THE MOST ENERGY EXPERTISE IN HOUSE. SO THE FRANCHISE FEES IN THE RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY FOR GAS ARE PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL AUTHORS TO GO FROM 6% TO 7%, 1%
INCREASE. AND THEN FOR THE CATEGORIES OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL A AND B, THOSE RATES WOULD INCREASE BY HALF A PERCENT UP TO 8.25%. FOR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL C, AND COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL DUAL FUEL A AND B,
THOSE RATES ARE PROPOSED TO INCREASE TO 8.75%. AND FINALLY, AGAIN, IN GENERAL, LARGEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED ENERGY USERS ARE IN THE LARGE VOLUME FIRM CATEGORY, THEY WOULD SEE A RATE
INCREASE OF 1% UP TO 9.5%. ON THE ELECTRICITY SIDE, THERE ARE A FEW FEWER CUSTOMER CLASSES. HOWEVER, AGAIN, THIS USED TO HAVE JUST THREE CUSTOMER CLASSES IN OUR OLD ORDINANCE. NOW DUE TO THE NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, WE
ARE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE FURTHER JUST LIKE ON THE GAS UTILITY. AND AGAIN, IN DESCENDING ORDER, GENERALLY THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY USAGE FROM THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, UP TO THE LARGEST
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS WHETHER AT PRIMARY OR HIGHER VOLTAGE OR SECONDARY VOLTAGE. THE PROPOSED INCREASES BY THE AUTHORS IS TO RAISE THE RESIDENTIAL RATES FROM 5.25% TO
5.5%, A .25% INCREASE. AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL -- OR THEN A HALF PERCENT INCREASE COMMERCIAL NON-DEMAND CUSTOMERS. ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO IS THE INCREASE TO SMALL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL
DEMAND WHICH WOULD GO UP TO 7.25%. HERE'S WHY I WANT TO STOP AND EXPLAIN WHY THAT -- THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF
GRANULAR DETAIL WE'RE LOOKING FOR A REVENUE STANDPOINT WHEN RATES ARE SET AT AN EQUIVALENT LEVEL ACROSS CATEGORIES. WE DIFFERENTIATED THEM JUST SLIGHTLY HERE TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE GRANULAR REVENUE REPORTING. AND THEN FINALLY,
THOSE LARGEST COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS. WHETHER PRIMARY OR HIGHER VOLTAGE OR SECONDARY VOLTAGE WOULD UNDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL AUTHORS, 7.75% AND 7.6%.
ANOTHER NOTE HERE IS THERE ARE A FEW MORE CUSTOMER CLASSES FOR MUNICIPAL PUMPING AND PUBLIC STREET LIGHTING. THOSE CLASSES ARE NOT SHOWN HERE BECAUSE THE COUNCIL AUTHORS HAVE PROPOSED THAT THOSE REMAIN UNCHANGED. THIS IS A SLIDE THAT SOME OF YOU
MAY REMEMBER FROM PREVIOUS FRANCHISE FEE INCREASES. WE WANT TO PRESENT THIS TODAY WITH AN UPDATE TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO SHOW THE ESTIMATED IMPACT FOR THE COUNCIL AUTHOR PROPOSED INCREASES. SO TOTAL
ENERGY COSTS HERE FOR AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IN 2024 ARE 1 THOU $753. I WILL NOTE THIS IS ACTUALLY A DECREASE FROM THE SLIDE YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY SEEN WHERE THAT WAS IN 2022, $2,037.
THE REASON FOR THAT DECREASE WAS MULTIPLE FACTORS, BUT PRIMARY AMONGST THEM WAS 2024 WAS A WARMER YEAR. SO THERE WAS LESS HEATING DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND THUS, THEIR BILLS WERE LOWER. AS WELL AS GAS
PRICES IN 2024, WHICH FLUCTUATE DUE TO MARKET CONDITIONS WERE CHEAPER THAN THEY WERE IN 2022. SO THAT EXPLAINS THAT DECREASE OVER TIME. THAT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS I THINK THE VARIABILITY OF
ENERGY PRICES. 2024 TOTAL ENERGY COST FOR TYPICAL AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD. THE FRANCHISE FEES AS PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL AUTHORS WOULD IMPACT BILLS BY AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $10 A YEAR. AND THEN BORROWING FROM
SOME INFORMATION THAT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PATRICK HANLON PROVIDED TO THIS COMMITTEE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF UTILITY, OF CITY PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY GREEN COST SHARE WHICH HELP RESIDENTS REDUCE ENERGY COSTS. THE FRANCHISE FEES
WHICH ARE GOING TO THE CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE, I SHOULD SAY THE INCREMENTAL FEES THAT GO INTO THE INITIATIVE HELP FUND THE PROGRAM. A PROJECT THAT IS WEATHERIZATION PROJECT WITH SOME AIR SEALING INCLUDED IN A
TYPICAL HOUSEHOLD, AS SHOWN BY GREEN COST SHARE NUMBERS SAVES ROUGHLY $225 A YEAR PER HOUSE HOLD. AND A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT THAT GREEN COST SHARE SOMETIMES FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDES
HVAC REPLACEMENT AND UPGRADES AS WELL, CAN SAVE UPWARDS OF $550 ANNUALLY. THESE NUMBERS ARE BASED ON 2024 VALUES, AND 2024 WEATHER, AND 2024 ENERGY PRICES.
SO THESE ALL MAY FLUCTUATE A BIT. GOING INTO THE FUTURE, THEY MAY FLUCTUATE AS WELL. BUT IF ALL WERE TO REMAIN CONSTANT, THESE ARE THE EXPECTED IMPACTS THAT WE WOULD SEE. NEXT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO JOCELYN
BREMER. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE C & I COMMITTEE. THIS FINAL SLIDES CONTAINS LINKS ON LIMS UTILITY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS AND FEES AS WELL AS
LINKS TO THE CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE. THESE LINKS ARE TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS IN CASE THERE ARE NEED FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT IS MISSING FROM THIS PRESENTATION. WE WILL NOW STAND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I
THINK WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST AND HEAR FROM COMMUNITY, AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS. SO PLEASE STICK AROUND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE OVER 50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP. SO WE DO HAVE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR EACH PERSON.
BUT WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE ALL HERE. AND GOING TO PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW. SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SUSAN MURPHY FROM WARD 12 AND XCEL ENERGY. >> HELLO, CHAIR CASHMAN AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUZANNE MURPHY AND I'M THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER FOR XCEL ENERGY IN MINNEAPOLIS. WE ENJOY COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WHERE FOR OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF
THE CITY'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN. IN 2003, WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY'S FRANCHISE FEES PROPOSAL. AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF, WE ASKED THE CITY AT THAT TIME TO RIGHT SIZE THE INCREASE SO
THAT IT WOULD NOT HAVE TO REGULARLY REOPENED. THIS YEAR NOBODY HAS REACHED OUT FOR SO MUCH OF A CONVERSATION. WE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN -- UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. THE CITY RECEIVES ABOUT $29 MILLION IN ELECTRIC
FRANCHISE FEES ALONE. IT IS A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF MONEY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE, AND SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO MEET YOUR NEEDS. WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND ASK YOU NOT TO VOTE IN FAVOR. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEVEN SMITH FROM WARD 9. >> HI. MY NAME IS STEVEN SMITH.
AND I LIVE IN WARD 9. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING EVERYONE'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. MORE FUNDING FOR CLIMATE EQUITY PROGRAM IS NECESSARY TO REACH OUR CLIMATE ENERGY GOALS, MAKING LIFE BETTER
FOR EVERYONE IN MINNEAPOLIS. UNTIL THE EARLY '70s, WHEN YOU DROVE UP TO MINNEAPOLIS FROM OUT STATE, YOU SAW HAZE OVER THE CITY. BUT NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND LOCAL LEGISLATION MAINLY THE
CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1970, WE FIXED THAT PROBLEM. WE MADE THAT HAZE GO AWAY. 40 YEARS AGO, THE OZONE LAYER ABOVE THE ATMOSPHERE THAT PREVENTS HARMFUL WAVELENGTH OF
ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT WAS -- LED THE WHOLE WORLD TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. >> THANK YOU. >> IN SPITE OF HAVING CONSERVATIVE RONALD REAGAN AS PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. SO THE ONE MINUTE IS UP. SO THE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU CAN SUBMIT IN WRITING OVER AT THE CLERKS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN RECORD. THANK YOU. >> [ OFF-MIC COMMENTS ]. >> YEAH, YOU CAN BRING THEM OVER TO THE CLERK. ALL RIGHT. NEXT
WE'RE GOING TO ASK MARSHA MAYS FROM THE TERRELL MAYS GARDEN. >> WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO TOGETHER BECAUSE I'M ON THE LIST TOO BUT I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE HER. MARSHA MAYS. SHE CAME ALL THE WAY UP HERE. Y'ALL, IT'S NOT
EASY TO COME UP HERE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THE BUILDING AND THE OVERFLOWS. NEXT TIME, PLEASE DON'T PUT THIS AT THE END BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY GOT IT LIKE THAT TO BE HERE FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS. MY NAME IS
ROXANNE, THIS IS MARSHA MAYS. I WANT TO SAY THIS MONEY IS SUPPORTIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF A NARRATIVE GOING AROUND THAT POOR NORTHS NORTHSIDERS, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS INCREASE IF WE
INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEES. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEES. THIS WORK HAS BEEN HELPFUL. IT HAS SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITY. WE BUILT THE FIRST SOLAR MOSQUE ON NORTHSIDE ON LYNDALE. WE PUT SOLAR ON TOP. WE
GOT A BATTERY SO THAT IF, YOU KNOW, IF THE LIGHTS GO OUT THAT THERE'LL STILL BE ABOUT 13 HOURS THAT THE CENTER COULD USE TO FEED PEOPLE AND DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS WITH. SO THIS MONEY IS HELPFUL. I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON TO MARSHA.
>> TERRELL'S GARDEN HAS BEEN THE -- FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS. IT DOES HAVE SOLAR ON IT. IT ALSO HAS TREES NOW. FRUIT TREES. WE
DO NEED TO RAISE THOSE FEES. LISTEN, XCEL KILLS US POCKETS. THEY RAISED THE FEES ON US. WHY WE CAN'T RAISE THE FEES ON THEM? THINK ABOUT IT. >> THEY'RE A MONOPOLY.
>> ALL RIGHT. LOVE YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE WILL WELCOME CHRISTIAN FROM WARD 12.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CHRISTIAN CORAB, A LOW INCOME HOMEOWNER IN WARD 12 WHO WAS OUTRIGHT GIVEN A SOLAR SYSTEM VIA OUR SYSTEM HERE. THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING
PROOF OF CONCEPT, I QUESTION THE MUNICIPAL FINANCE IS JUST. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST. THE MONOPOLY NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED FROM A CORRUPTING ASSUMPTION THAT BARGAINS WITH CORPORATE RAPISTS CAN BE
JUSTIFIED. MINNEAPOLIS, AGAIN, FACES A MORAL MIRROR. IT IS VERY RELUCTANT TO SEE ITSELF IN. BUT OUR CENTRIST HABITS MAY CLOUD
OUR NORTH STAR. LET'S FUND A SUSTAINABLE POWER FOR EVERYONE IN ALL OF ITS DIMENSIONS. DON'T LET THE MONOPOLISTS TRICKLE DOWN ON US. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE'LL RECOGNIZE MICHAEL WALKER FROM WARD 13. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, VICE CHAIR KOSKI, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS MICHAEL
WALKER AND I LIVE IN WARD 13. I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO IMPROVE THE INCREASE TO THE FRANCHISE FEE. INCREASING THIS FEE IS A VITAL WAY TO MAKE AS THE MIRROR
ADVOCATED FOR THIS SUMMER SERIOUS PROGRESS TOWARD OUR CLIMATE GOALS. I WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT PRIORITIZES HEALTHY AIR, LOWER ENERGY BILLS AND PEOPLE OVER PROFIT. HAVING ATTENDED SEVERAL MEETINGS, I'VE
OBSERVED THAT XCEL AND CENTERPOINT ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PROFIT. -- THEY HAVE PROVEN THEY WILL NOT. IF WE WANT TO SEE THE BLOCK BY BLOCK NETWORK OF GEOTHERMAL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE WAS EXCITED ABOUT IN OCTOBER, WE
NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING. $10 A YEAR UTILITY INCREASE OF THE HOMEOWNER TO DOUBLE IS WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT. I DO WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK CHAIR CASHMAN AND VICE CHAIR KOSKI FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS, AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN THE CITY. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL RECOGNIZE LESLIE JACKSON. WELCOME UP, LESLIE JACKSON. >> GOOD MORNING. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, I'M
LESLIE JACKSON. A PROUD NATIVE NORTHSIDER AND A STRONG VOICE FOR OUR GREEN ZONES. OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN DESIGNED FOR THE GREEN ZONES AS MINNEAPOLIS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. THIS DESIGNATION COMES FROM A CRITICAL PROMISE.
THE FEDERAL JUSTICE 40 COMMITMENT. GUARANTEEING 40% OF OVERALL INVESTMENTS FLOW DIRECTLY INTO THESE COMMUNITIES MARGINALIZED BY UNDER INVESTMENTS AND OVER BURDEN POPULATION. IN 2023, THE COUNCIL
COMMITTED TO 40% REINVESTMENT. AGAIN, IN 2023, THE COUNCIL COMMITTED TO 40% REINVESTED. SIMULTANEOUSLY, YOU INCREASED FRANCHISE FEES COLLECTING CRITICAL REVENUE DIRECTLY FROM THE GREEN ZONE RESIDENTS. YET,
THE REALITY OF THE PAST TWO YEARS SHOWN A PROFOUND FAILURE TO HONOR THAT COMMITMENT. YOU PROMISED 40%. YOU DELIVERED 11%. THE 40% WAS COMMITTED TO
JUSTICE. THE 11% IS A CRISIS OF CONSCIO CONSCIOUSNESS. -- IT IS A WILLFUL ACT OF MUNICIPAL NEGLECT THAT DENIES OUR RESIDENTS AND THE RESOURCES PROMISES FOR THE HEALTH AND STABILITY.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE -- >> I SIGNED UP TWICE. WHEN THE DISPARITY IS DISMISSED AS $1 FOR HOUSEHOLD. I REMIND YOU, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WORDS, AS AN
INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS AN INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE. AN INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS AN INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU ASKED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. AND THEN YOU POCKET THE CHANGE. THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT ABOUT THE
DOLLAR, IT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BREACH OF TRUST. >> OUT OF FAIRNESS, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO SUBMIT. >> AND I DID. I SUBMITTED MY SPEECH AND MY LETTER. PLEASE, LET ME FINISH. >> I'M SORRY. >> OKAY. FIX THE PROBLEM AND ONLY CONSIDER INCREASING OUR BURDEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE GREEN ZONE AND GIVING THEM THE JUSTICE THEY DESERVE AND IT'S OVERDUE. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL RECOGNIZE BRUCE O'BRIEN FROM WARD 13.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, COUNCIL COMMITTEE FOR HAVING US SPEAK. I LIVE IN WARD 13 MINNEAPOLIS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLIMATE, WHICH I CONSIDER A FUNDAMENTALLY A
GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS. AND OF COURSE THAT IS AFFECTING SOME COMMUNITIES MORE THAN OTHERS LIKE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND POOR WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING A MUCH GREATER PRICE. WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THE CLIMATE BEING TORN
APART. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT. THIS IS A CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN MEANING EQUALITY. IT IS THINKING GLOBALLY, ACTING LOCALLY. AND IT'S A PRESCRIPTION FOR THIS MOMENT IN OUR LIVES. IT TAKES
VISION FOR CLEAN ENERGY HOMES. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE CLIMATE EQUITY FUNDING. IT TAKES COURAGE TO BRAVELY STEP OUT OF THE EASY WAY, THE COMFORTABLE WAY AND TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL
RECOGNIZE SOLVIG NEILSON FROM WARD 8. >> MY NAME IS SOLVAI NEILSON, I'M A CITIZEN OF WARD 8. I WOULD LIKE TO CUT TO THE CHASE SO I CAN GET IN MY MAIN POINT. WHEN I
HEARD ABOUT THE CLEAN ENERGY HOME UPGRADES THAT WOULD RESULT IN SAVINGS ON MY MONTHLY ENERGY BILL, I DECIDED TO APPLY. I APPLIED AND I GOT A FREE HOME ENERGY AUDIT AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS. WHICH WAS A GREAT THING BECAUSE I FOUND OUT
FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD NO INSULATION IN MY WALLS. I FOUND OUT ALSO THAT I WAS ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE. BUT BEFORE I GOT THE FORMAL NOTIFICATION OF THAT, AND
I WAITED FOR THAT AND HOPED AND WAS HOPEFUL BECAUSE THEY SAID I QUALIFIED. THEN I RECEIVED A MESSAGE SAYING THAT THEY WERE OUT OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR. AND I APPLIED AGAIN THIS YEAR. AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. OUT OF
FUS FOR THE PROGRAM. VERY DISHEARTENING. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE CYNICAL ABOUT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. IF YOU DON'T FUND THEM, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE DOING NOTHING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL
RECOGNIZE KEN ENGELHART FROM WARD 12. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FEE. I REVIEWED
THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN THIS MORNING, AND I NOTICED THAT IN DECEMBER OF 2021, THIS COUNCIL, THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR PASSED A RESOLUTION DECLARING THAT WE HAVE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY. WHEN WE HAVE AN
EMERGENCY, I THINK WE NEED TO STEP UP AND MEET THE DEMANDS THAT THAT EMERGENCY CALLS FOR. 2024 WAS THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD GLOBALLY. AND WE'VE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF THAT. WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA, THE TRAGIC FLOODING OF THE GIRLS' CAMP IN
TEXAS. CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF DROUGHT IN MINNESOTA, FLOODING IN MINNESOTA, AND OUR DISAPPEARING WINTER. AND EVEN A HURRICANE AFFECTING ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. WE NEED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THIS EMERGENCY. AND I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP IS MICHELLE HENSLY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WHEN THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL PASSED THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN OVER TWO YEARS AGO,
PART OF ME KNEW THAT IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. PART OF ME WORRIED THAT CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PERHAPS THE MAYOR WOULD SUCCUMB TO INTENSE LOBBYING FROM THE BIGGEST POLLUTERS, AND WOULD MAKE UP
SOME KIND OF PALATABLE COVER STORY TO COVER THEIR CHANGE OF HEART. WELL THAT SEEMS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. THE EXCUSE NOW BEING PRESENTED IS THAT INCREASING FEES, FRANCHISE FEES BY AS MUCH AS $10 A YEAR
WOULD BE TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN FOR POOR RESIDENTS, WHICH IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE A BIG BURDEN. BUT IT IGNORES THE FACT THAT THE FEES PAID BY THE LARGEST POLLUTERS WOULD GIVE THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF SAVINGS
EVERY YEAR BY INSULATING HOMES AND ELECTRIFYING HEAT SOURCES. WE ARE EXHAUSTED BY POLITICIANS SPEAKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THEIR MOUTH. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE. I THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO TRULY SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, AND I ASK EVERYONE
ELSE TO DIG DEEPER INTO YOUR CONSCIENCE AND ASK THE BIG POLLUTERS TO DIG DEEPER INTO THEIR POCKETS. THANK YOU. >> NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE JILL WAITE FOLLOWED BY ANNE HOGAN.
>> I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO UP THE FRANCHISE FEE BECAUSE THIS IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL. IT'S A MATTER OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL. IT'S A MATTER OF POLITICAL SURVIVAL AND IT'S A MATTER OF PHYSICAL SURVIVAL. WHAT COULD BE
MORE IMPORTANT? IT'S A MATTER OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL BECAUSE WE HAVE FREE ENERGY UNDER GROUND THAT WE CAN TAB INTO WITH HEAT PUMPS THAT ARE FIVE TIMES MORE EFFICIENT THAN NATURAL GAS. WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO DO THAT?
SAVES US MONEY. IT SAVES US POLITICALLY BECAUSE IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD. RIGHT NOW PEOPLE LIKE MY BROTHER WHO 20 YEARS AGO INVESTED IN GEO THERMAL CAN SAVE MONEY BY DOING THAT. BUT PEOPLE LIKE OTHERS WHO
DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY HAVE TO GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE AND STAY WITH NATURAL GAS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE INITIAL COST OF GEOTHERMAL. WE CAN LEVEL THAT PLAYING FIELD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANNE HOGAN, FIFTH WARD. JORDAN NEIGHBORHOOD. ANNE. ANNE HOGAN.
ALL RIGHT. IF ANNE COMES, WE'LL ADD YOU LATER IN THE LIST. NEXT IS DOUG JOHNSON FROM WARD 4. >> I THINK SHE'S COMING. >> ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANKS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME'S ANNE HOGAN, I LIVE IN 5th WARD IN THE GREEN ZONE, AND I ALSO WORK IN THE 5th WARD AT ST.
OLAF LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND WE DO QUITE A BIT OF COMMUNITY WORK THERE AT ST. OLAF. WHAT I'M GETTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN HOMES THAT NEEDS REPAIR. THEY HAVE QUITE WEATHERIZATION NEEDS TO BE
DONE. THE UTILITY BILLS ARE VERY HIGH. AND SAME AS ANOTHER PERSON SPOKE. WHEN YOU SIGN UP THERE'S NO FUNDS. I HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS OF GETTING A HEALTHY
HOME THROUGH MY DAUGHTER WHO GOT HER HOME DONE. HER ASTHMA WENT DOWN AND ALL THESE BREATHING DISEASES THAT'S IN OUR COMMUNITIES DUE TO NOT HAVING HEALTHY HOMES. A LOT OF THEM
HAVE MOLD IN THE BASEMENTS. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO APPROVE THIS FRANCHISE FEE FOR ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE WHO JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR THESE THINGS. >> THANK YOU.
>> LIKE I SAID ON A DAILY BASIS I SPEAK TO MY COMMUNITY IN THE FIFTH WARD AND THE MOST THINGS THEY NEED IS JUST TO WEATHERIZE THEIR HOMES AND MAKE THEM LIVABLE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. NEXT IS DOUG
JOHNSON FOLLOWED BY AARON THOMPSON. >> MADAM CHAIR AND HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS DOUG
JOHNSON, I LIVE IN THE 4TH WARD. I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF INCREASING THE FRANCHISE FEE. EXCUSE ME. AND HERE'S WHY. MY HOME WAS BUILT IN 1938. SOME
YEARS BACK I DECIDED TO UPGRADE MY WALL INSULATION WITH SOME POPULAR, AT THE TIME, FORMALDEHYDE INSULATION. YEARS
LATER, PEOPLE GOT SICK FROM THIS INSULATION. NOT WANTING TO EXPOSE MY FAMILY TO THE POSSIBLE DANGERS, I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE INSULATION MYSELF. I HAD TO REMOVE THE SIDING AND THE SHEATHING TO GET AT THE INSULATION. WHEN I GOT THE
INSULATION REMOVED, I FOUND OUT THAT ONE INCH OF NEWSPAPER WAS THE INSULATION IN MY HOUSE. AND OF COURSE THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO USE NEWSPAPERS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THEM. BUT BACK THEM, THAT'S ALL
THEY HAD. NOW THAT'S A VERY BAD WAY TO INSULATE A HOUSE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, DOUG. UNFORTUNATELY, THE MINUTE IS UP. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT A LOT OF HOUSES NOW IN THE GREEN ZONE DON'T EVEN HAVE INSULATION. SO THERE'S A DANGER OF PEOPLE
USING SPACE HEATERS TO MAKE THEIR HOMES COMFORTABLE. AND THE DANGER IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE ELECTRICAL FIRE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME AARON THOMPSON, FOLLOWED BY
MEGAN REICH AND THEN MICHELLE SHAW. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ERIN THOMPSON, WARD 11. I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEE TO AT LEAST $15 MILLION THIS YEAR. WE NEED TO BE BOLD, TAKE RISKS AND TO THINK ABUNDANTLY INSTEAD OF OUT
OF SCARCITY. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE HISTORIES IN OUR CITY ABOUT RACISM, ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, AND INEQUALITY. WE KNOW THAT IN OUR LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THE RATES OF ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ARE
STAGGERING. A STANFORD UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER HAS STUDIED THE WAYS -- TOXIC AIR PARTICLES MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE BLOOD STREAM AFFECTING A DEVELOPING FETUS. THEY ALSO CAN AFFECT BOTH MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS, ALTERING
GENETICS AND AFFECT FUTURE GENERATIONS ONGOINGLY. THIS IS HAPPENING TO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE NEAR INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION. ENABLING HOME ENERGY UPGRADES AND ACROSS THE CITY IS THE FIRST STEP. WE NEED TO KEEP THE FRANCHISE FEE INCREASES MOVING
UPWARD TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS DOING THE BEST IT CAN RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MEGAN REICH FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE SHAW AND CARTER DAVIS. >> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS MEGAN REICH AND I LIVE
IN WARD 2. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT TO -- EXPAND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS STARTING IN MINNEAPOLIS GREEN ZONES. I'M SPEAKING TODAY FOR -- MY GENERATION AND THOSE YOUNGER THAN ME LARGELY CANNOT AFFORD TO DECARBONIZE OUR HOMES. MANY OF
US WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND SOME ARE CHOOSING NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN AT ALL BECAUSE OF WHERE THE CLIMATE IS HEADING. CLIMATE ACTION HAS TO START -- FUNDING AS OTHERS SAID RUNS OUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE
YEAR EVEN AS RESIDENT DEMAND CONTINUES TO GROW. WEATHERIZATION MEANS LOWER ENERGY BILLS. IT MEANS THAT FAMILIES CAN LIVE IN COMFORT AND DIGNITY WHILE ALSO PROTECTING OUR SHARED -- PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT A
WAY TO CONTRIBUTE. WE KNOW CITY LEADERS ARE BEING PRESSURED BY -- TO INCREASE FUNDING. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, OUR POLLUTERS OR PEOPLE? LET'S GIVE THE NEXT GENERATION SOMETHING TO STAND ON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MICHELLE
SHAW, FOLLOWED BY CARTER DAVIS AND THEN TODD BARTHOLOMEW. >> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MICHELLE SHAW WARD 1. I'M ALL FOR FUNDING THIS PROGRAM. HOWEVER, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS
ARE RECEIVING THE FUNDING AS THERE IS MISINFORMATION OUT THERE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MONEY IS RUNNING OUT IN AUGUST AND HOW THE PROGRAM IS BEING RUN. SHOULD PEOPLE -- WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS LIKE PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES, STUDENTS, RECENT GRADS AND YOUNG FAMILIES. IF THOSE ON THE CITY ADVISORY COUNCILS LIKE THE GREEN ZONES ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS FRANCHISE FEE, PLEASE LISTEN AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. >> WONDERFUL. NEXT IS CARTER DAVIS FOLLOWED BY TODD BARTHO BARTHOLOMEW. >> HI. MY NAME IS CARTER DAVIS. I LIVE IN WARD 2. I'M 30 YEARS OLD AND EVERYONE AROUND MY AGE
TALKS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE LIKE IT'S AN IMMINENT, UNAVOIDABLE APOCA APOCALYPSE. -- IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY. WE ONLY HAVE FIVE YEARS TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE OUR RELIANCE
ON CARBON TO AVOID ECOLOGICAL COLLAPSE. AND OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS IDEOLOGICALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING IT WORSE. EVERY WAY WE CAN REDUCE OUR CARBON EMISSIONS WILL MAKE IT MORE LIVABLE FOR GENERATIONS. WE
HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND JOIN THE REST OF THE WORLD IN TACKLING THIS EXISTENTIAL THREAT. THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT RAISING THE FRANCHISE FEE SO WE CAN MEET THE GOAL OF
2040 PLAN AND ENSURE A FUTURE EQUITABLE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM TODD BARTHOLOMEW FOLLOWED BY LISA HAMILTON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TODD BARTHOLOMEW WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. WE HAVE NIGHTLY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PRESERVATION. I'M ALSO A
GRANDFATHER. I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE URGENTLY AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS MOMENT BY PASSING IT. THE EXCELLENT PLAN WE ESTABLISHED IN 2023 IS NOTHING IF NOT EXECUTED. THE $10 MILLION FUND AS YOU'VE HEARD
HAS RUN OUT MID-YEAR SO FAR LEAVING THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS WAITING FOR WEATHERIZATION. THE ORDINANCE IS AFFORDABLE. WHAT'S NOT AFFORDABLE IS ABANDONING OUR PATH ON THE CLEAN ENERGY GOAL. THE COST OF GAS AND ELECTRIC,
AND THE EXISTENTIAL COST TO OUR PLANET MAKES INVESTMENT ALMOST INCONSEQUENTIAL BY COMPARISON. I IMPLORE YOU DEAR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, TO STEP UP THIS MOMENT AND PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE LISE HAMILTON, FOLLOWED BY -- >> YEAH. CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THE MESSAGE FROM COMMUNITY POWER HAS BEEN
CLEAR INCONSISTENCE ALL ALONG. -- PATHWAY TO AFFORDABILITY. AND AS A SUPPLEMENT TO OUR ORGANIZATIONAL COMMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUE WILL SUBMIT TO THE CLERK, I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL GRAPH TO REFERENCE THAT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF CITY
BACKED WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS SUDDENLY TRIPLED, INDICATING A STRONG CORRELATION. IT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT THE PROPOSALS GET APPROVED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER YEAR OF FUNDING RUNNING
OUT IN AUGUST AT THE SAME LEVEL OF DEMAND. AND THE CHART ALSO SHOWS THAT 54% OF THE FUNDS ARE GOING TOWARD THOSE IN NEED AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE INITIATIVE ROUNDTABLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT'S THE CASE. I DO WANT TO LASTLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR OCTOBER 22ND STAR TRIBUNE COMMENTARY ON THE IDEAS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HAVE LORENZO FOLLOWED BY ARLENE AND
THEN KAT KNUDSON. >> HELLO, I'M LORENZO FROM WARD 12. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE RAISING OF THE FRANCHISE FEES. EARLIER THIS YEAR I WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH THE FOSTER
GRANDPARENT PROGRAM. THEY WERE EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A DAY AT THE RIVERVIEW THEATER A BLOCK AWAY BECAUSE THE AIR QUALITY WAS SO BAD THAT DAY IT GOT CANCELED AND IT WAS NOT
REINSTITUTED. I WOULD LIKE OUR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THINGS AND NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HAVE ARLENE MATHISON. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ARLENE
MATHISON, I LIVE IN WARD 11. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COUNCIL MEMBER VICE CHAIR KOSKI AND CHAIR CASHMAN. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THESE TWO FRANCHISE FEES ORDINANCES. -- BESIDES THE
ESSENTIAL AND URGENT BENEFIT OF REDUCING EMISSIONS, CLEAN ENERGY HOME UPGRADES PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SAVINGS FOR RESIDENTS. AS YOU'VE HEARD THEY INCLUDE LOCAL JOBS AND IMPROVE RESIDENTS' HEAL HEALTH. -- RESULTED IN
$380 MILLION IN LIFETIME SAVINGS. WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO DO THIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL WELCOME KAT KNUDSON FROM CENTERPOINT, FOLLOWED BY ADAM DONE DUNNING AND JUSTICE JONES
FROM WARD 7. >> HI, I'M KAT WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY. CENTERPOINT PROVIDES THE CITY'S HOMES, BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS, NON-PROFITS AND OTHERS WITH SAFE, RELIABLE COST EFFECTIVE ENERGY. FRANCHISE FEES ARE PAID 100% BY OUR CUSTOMERS
WHO ARE THE CITY'S RESIDENTS AND STANDALONE HOMES, MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, BUSINESSES, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP TO NAME JUST A FEW. TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE CITY INCREASED FEES, IT DID SO AFTER
A DEAD-DRIVEN MONTHS LONG PROCESS THAT -- CONSIDERATION OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. THAT PROCESS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED THIS YEAR. BECAUSE OF THIS, CENTERPOINT CANNOT SUPPORT
THIS GAS FRANCHISE FEE INCREASE. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME ADAM DUNNING FROM DOWNTOWN COUNCIL. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT,
WE'LL RECOGNIZE OR WELCOME JUSTICE JONES FROM WARD 7 FOLLOWED BY JAY LEIBERMAN, FOLLOWED BY KATHERINE GILBERTSON. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JUSTICE
JONES, AND AS SHE SAID, I'M FROM WARD 7. AND -- WELL I'M NOT FROM WARD 7, I LIVE IN WARD 7 BUT I'M FROM THE NORTHSIDE. I WORK FOR -- COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS. MY
PREVIOUS MENTOR ROXANNE O'BRIEN ALWAYS TOLD ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, YOU NEED TO ASK AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE. INITIALLY, I BELIEVE THAT INCREASING THESE FRANCHISE FEES WOULD SERVE AS A STEPPING STONE TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EVERY CENT OF THESE FEES WOULD
BE SPENT ON WEATHERIZATION OF HOMES. HOWEVER, WHEN I ARRIVED HERE TODAY, I WAS SHOWN DATA THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OTHERS FROM ED HARMIEL THAT SHOWS THESE FEES AREN'T BEING USED APPROPRIATELY
OR WITHIN TRUE ENERGY BURDENED COMMUNITIES. I WAS ALSO SHOWN -- AT THE MOST GREEN ZONE MEETING THAT SAYS THE MONEY IS BEING USED CORRECTLY. I FIND IT DEEPLY CONCERNING THAT CITY STAFF AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE SHARING CONTRADICTING INFORMATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT IS A CLEAR
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE LIVE IN. AND IF WE CHOOSE TO INCREASE THESE FRANCHISE FEES, I URGE YOU TO GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER. IT IS YOUR JOB TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY FROM THESE FEES GOES DIRECTLY INTO WEATHERIZATION, GREEN ZONES, AND THE INITIATIVES
ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES FOOTING THE BILL. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HAVE JAY LEIBERMAN FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE GILLBERSON AND JOE HESLA. >> JAY LEIBERMAN, WARD 12.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE FRANCHISE FEE INCREASE. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE EXTENDED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DOZENS OF NEIGHBORS ABOUT DOING CLEAN ENERGY UPGRADES IN THEIR HOMES. AND THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE RUN INTO LIKE WHAT
IS THE BEST THING FOR ME TO DO FOR THE HOME, WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS OR PROCESS DO I NEED, WHO SHOULD I HIRE TO DO THAT WORK, AND HOW DO I PAY FOR IT ARE COMMON TO EVERYBODY. THE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE PROVIDE THE ANSWERS. PEOPLE WHO CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEY PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL AID THAT'S CRITICAL. GRANTS AND LOANS THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO THE PEOPLE
THAT NEED THAT FUNDING THE MOST. THIS INCREASE WHILE RELATIVELY SMALL WILL FUND HUNDREDS OF PRODUCTS IN PEOPLE'S HOMES. SO I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE IT. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE CATHERINE AND JOE AND BONNIE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CATHERINE GILBERTSON. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIDAN
DOWNTOWN. IT'S BEEN ENLIGHTENING SITTING HERE. I HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ITEMS BEING SHOWN TODAY AND WONDER WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING. BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE INCREASE IN FRANCHISE FEES THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT THE COMPANIES THAT I
WORK FOR, AND YET, YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY EACH YEAR. A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING. I KNOW THAT WE'VE SPENT $336,000 ON UTILITIES ALONE THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S WITH BEING CLOSED FROM JANUARY 1ST THROUGH MAY 20TH. SO UTILITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT OUT
OF CONTROL AT THIS POINT. WE ARE A LARGER OPERATION AND WE CAN ABSORB THE COST, HOWEVER, SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE HIT HARD AS THEY OPERATE WITH LESS FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY AND CANNOT EASILY PASS THE ADDED EXPENSES ALONG WITHOUT LOSING COMPETITIVENESS.
I SEE THIS BEING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO GET SOME SHORT-TERM REVENUE GAINS WITH LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> OKAY. NEXT WE'LL HAVE JOE HESLA FOLLOWED BY BONNIE, AND
THEN CATHERINE RINGHAM. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS ASTHMA IS ON THE RISE IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHY IS THAT? ONE REASON IS GAS STOVES AND GAS FURNACES. GAS STOVES
CAUSE ASTHMA AT A SIMILAR RATE TO SECOND-HAND SMOKE. THAT'S JUST GAS STOVES. ASTHMA IS PREVENTABLE. WE CAN PUT ELECTRIC STOVES IN EVERYONE'S HOMES STARTING WITH THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS WILL COST MONEY, AND YES, THAT MONEY
SHOULD COME FROM ALL OF US. BUT THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION SHOULD COME FROM THE BIGGEST ENERGY USERS AND BIGGEST POLLUTERS. THAT'S ONLY FAIR. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO RAISE THE FRANCHISE FEE TO $15 MILLION. THE MAYOR WILL TELL YOU THAT WE CAN'T BURDEN OUR BIG
CORPORATIONS LIKE THAT OR INCONVENIENCE OUR ENERGY MONOPOLIES, XCEL AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE CAN'T BURDEN OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND VIBRANT HEALTH OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIKE THAT. PARTICULARLY OUR LOWEST INCOME
NEIGHBORS. I CANNOT THINK OF A MORALLY DEFENSIBLE REASON NOT TO DO THIS. PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS INCREASE. >> NEXT, WE'LL WELCOME BONNIE HECKEL, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE
RINGHAM AND THEN MADDIE FISHER. >> THAT'S BONNIE BECKEL. >> APOLOGIE APOLOGIES. >> I WANT YOU TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEES TO CONTINUE TO HELP RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LOW INCOMES AND WHO LIVE IN THE GREEN ZONES TO GET THEIR HOMES
MADE ENERGY EFFICIENT. WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE CLIMATE CRISIS, I LEARNED THAT IT ALONG WITH HABITAT LOSS HAS CAUSED THE EXTINCTION OF HUNDREDS OF ANIMAL
SPECIES. SO AND ALSO THAT THE POPULATIONS OF THOUSANDS MORE SPECIES ARE PLUMMETING. IT STRUCK ME OF THE EPITOME OF THE ARROGANCE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES THAT WE THINK WE ARE SO MUCH
MORE IMPORTANT THAT IT'S OKAY TO DESTROY THE VERY EXISTENCE OF OTHER CREATURES WE SHARE THIS PLANET WITH. WE KNOW THE GREED OF THIS CAPITALIST SYSTEM IS KILLING HUMAN BEINGS ALSO. SO WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS
RIGHT HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS. ABOUT THIS UPSIDE DOWN WORLD. WE CAN BRING DOWN THE CARBON POLLUTION FROM OUR HOMES AND BUILDINGS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BONNIE. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME CATHERINE RINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY MADDIE FISHER, AND
THEN ALICE MADDON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CASHMAN CHAIR AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CATHERINE RINGHAM, I LIVE IN WARD 13. CURRENT LEADER OF ELDERS CLIMATE ACTION IN THE
TWIN CITIES AND A UNIDOS CHAMPION. WE LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS RAISING CHILDREN AND NOW I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO WATCH OUR GRANDCHILDREN GROW UP HERE TOO. I AM WONDERING WHAT KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD WE'RE LEAVING THEM
NOT JUST THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE BUT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO INCREASE THE FUNDING. WE KNOW THESE PROGRAMS REALLY WORK BY CUTTING ENERGY BILLS. THEY MAKE HOMES WARMER IN THE WINTER, COOLER IN THE SUMMER AND SAFER TO BREATHE IN. WHAT I
LOVE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT'S SUPPORTED MAINLY FROM FEES BY BIG POLLUTERS. IT'S A FAIR WAY TO TURN THE DAMAGE OF POLLUTION INTO SOMETHING HEALTHIER. HEALTHY HOMES, AND A STRONGER
RESILIENT COMMUNITY. KEEP MOVING FORWARD. STRENGTHEN THE CLIMATE FUND. -- THAT WOULD BE A LEGACY WORTH LEAVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING AND FOR ALL OF YOUR GOOD LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL
RECOGNIZE MADDIE FISHER, FOLLOWED BY ALICE MADDEN, AND THEN JARED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MADDIE FISHER AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE
MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE FRANCHISE FEE ORDINANCES. OF THE CHAMBER -- MANY OF THEM ARE BASED HERE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AS AN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESSES, WE'RE
DISAPPOINTED TO SEE A TAX BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE AGAIN. WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S NEED TO ADDRESS BUDGET SHORTFALLS DURING THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY. BUT ANY INCREASE SHOULD COME WITH A GREATER DEGREE OF TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC INPUT. IT IS UNFAIR
FOR THE COMPANIES WHO ARE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND TO ASK THEM TO PAY THE BIGGEST PRICE. -- WE HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER LEAVING FRANCHISE FEES WHERE THEY ARE AND NOT INCREASING THEM FOR A SECOND TIME IN AS MANY YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS ALICE MADDEN FROM COMMUNITY POWER. >> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALICE MADDEN. I WORK WITH COMMUNITY POWER, BUT I'M ALSO ON
THE CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE ROUNDTABLE WHICH IS THE CLIMATE ADVISORY BOARD TO THE CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE. OF ALL OF OUR GLOBAL PEERS, WE HAVE THE BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY TO
ADDRESS THIS CLIMATE CRISIS. WHILE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT ATTENDING THE PARIS CLIMATE CONVENINGS RIGHT NOW, MAYORS AND GOVERNORS ARE. IT IS THE LOCAL THAT IS HOLDING THE ISSUE RIGHT
NOW. WE HAVE TO KEEP IT THERE. THE COST OF CLIMATE CHANGE WILL AFFECT ROADS. IT WILL AFFECT INSURANCE COSTS FOR PEOPLE'S HOMES. THOSE COSTS ARE BEING ABSORBED. RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE PAYING THEM. AND THE CLIMATE INITIATIVE IS
AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE. THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS FOUR TO NINE. $9 IS FOR BUSINESSES. REACH OUT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. I JUST WANT TO CLOSE MY COMMENTS HERE BY SAYING IF UTILITIES CARE ABOUT COST INCREASES, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ASKING FOR 20% RATE INCREASES OR
RAISES TO THEIR 10% RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND PLEASE, YOU HAVE LOTS OF LOBBYING TIME OTHER PLACES. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, PLEASE DO IT THERE. >> THANK YOU. >> AND LASTLY, THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE FEES SHOULD COME FROM CITY
STAFF BECAUSE IT CAN'T COME FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES. IT'S REALLY GOTTA COME FROM THE STAFF WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CIRCLEATING FROM GREEN ZONES.
>> NEXT WE'LL WELCOME JARED, BILL, AND AARON. >> MY NAME IS JARRA, I AM A WARD 5 RESIDENT. I'M ALSO A RECIPIENT OF SOME OF THESE GRANTS AND
LOANS THAT THIS ORDINANCE OR FRANCHISE FEE PAYS FOR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADVOCATE THAT THE PROCESS TO GET THESE GRANTS AND FEES IS VERY HARD. PEOPLE HAVE DROPPED THE BALL. IT TOOK ME THREE YEARS TO GET IN FOR THE SERVICES. AND WHAT I WAS ALLOWED
TO HAVE AS FAR AS LIKE INSULATION WASN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST CHOICE FOR MY HOME. FOR INSTANCE, I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN RADIANT BARRIER INSULATION VERSUS THE SPRAY FOAM INSULATION THAT I GOT THAT NOW IS VOIDING
MY HOMEOWNERS POLICY BECAUSE THAT TYPE OF INSULATION MAKES IT SO YOU CAN'T SEE THE FLOOR JOISTS AND LOWERS YOUR PROPERTY VALUE. ALSO, I WAS NOT APPROVED TO GET A NEW AC UNIT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE CENTRAL AIR AND WAS TOLD TO USE THREE AIR CONDITIONERS TO KEEP MY HOME
COOL IN THE SUMMER TIME, WHICH IS A GREATER COST FROM $300 TO $600 A MONTH IN UTILITY COSTS. SO MY UTILITIES HAVE NOT GONE DOWN BECAUSE OF THESE PROGRAMS. SO I WOULD LIKE THE HOMEOWNERS TO HAVE BETTER CHOICES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR HOMES MORE
EFFICIENT. AND THE NORTHSIDE RESIDENTS ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS FRANCHISE TAX DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOW INCOME. WE STILL NEED THIS. OUR COMMUNITY WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THESE RESOURCES. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE INSIGHTS AND FEEDBACK. NEXT WE'LL HAVE
ADAM -- SORRY, BILL ADAMSKI FOLLOWED BY -- ABBY GUFMAN. >> MY NAME IS BILL OF WARD 8. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I URGE YOU TO APPROVE
THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FEES WHICH ARE STILL WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR FUNDING. WHICH IS DECREASED EFFICIENCY RENEWABLES AND REDUCED EMISSIONS
AND AFFORDABILITY. THE NECESSARY HOME UPGRADES ARE TOO COSTLY FOR MOST RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN THE GREEN ZONES. WE NEED TO PUT PEOPLE AHEAD OF PROFITS AND STRIVING TO MEET THE CLI OBJECTIVES. LET'S HAVE THE POLLUTER PAY FOR MOST OF THE
HOME ENERGY UPGRADES. THANK YOU. >> THANKS. NEXT IS AARON BECKS FROM WARD 7. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
AARON BACKS FROM WARD 7. I VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS FUNDING INCREASE. I'VE BEEN CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS IN CONTEXT OF THE SNAP FOOD AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT HAS AFFECTED MANY FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY. AS A FORMER SNAP ENROLLEE AND
SOMEBODY THAT HAS HELPED MANY MINNESOTANS, THERE'S A COMMON THREAD. ENERGY ASSISTANCE IS A POWERFUL TOOL TO MAKE ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE, IT CANNOT CHANGE ANY OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ENERGY UNAFFORDABLE TO BEGIN WITH. IT'S A PROGRAM THAT
REQUIRES A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. HOME WEATHERIZATION IS AN UPSTREAM SOLUTION. IT ENABLES PARTICIPANTS TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR ON THEIR ENERGY BILL BECAUSE THE CHEAPEST KILOWATT HOUR IS ONE THAT IS NEVER USED. SAFETY AND COMFORT
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOME. WEATHERIZATION IS THE ONLY TOOL THAT CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BEDROOM ISN'T WINDY EVEN WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED. -- SAVINGS WILL NEVER BE DELAYED BY
TWO MONTHS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUTDOWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ABBY GUFMAN FOLLOWED BY LAUREN DAVIS AND BYRON RICHARD. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS DR. ABBY GUFMAN, I LIVE IN WARD 6. I AM
AN EKCOLOGICAL RESEARCH -- I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE OF THE IDEA OF SOCIAL COSTS OF CARBON. THINGS LIKE COSTS AND DAMAGES TO HUMAN SOCIETY AND TO HUMAN HEALTH. INCREASED HEAT
STRESS. INCREASE IN TROPICAL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. 2022 NATURE ARTICLE ESTIMATED ABOUT $185 OF A COST PER METRIC TON OF CARBON ADMITTED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. A MORE RECENT
ARTICLE ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION ESTIMATED ABOUT $520. THAT IS COSTS THAT WE INCUR. WHAT WE ARE ASKING CURRENTLY WITH THIS FRANCHISE FEE IS ABOUT $5.
THAT'S ABOUT 1% OF WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY SOCIETIES. THIS IS NOT A RADICAL THING WE'RE ASKING FOR. IT'S NOT EVEN MODERATE. FRANKLY, IT'S MILD. AND GOSH, DO I WISH WE HAD STARTED 50 YEARS AGO. BUT WE CAN START TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL WELCOME UP LAUREN DAVIS FOLLOWED BY BYRON RICHARD. >> HI, MY NAME IS LAUREN DAVIS, I LIVE IN WARD 2. I GUESS I JUST
WANT TO SAY AFTER HEARING EVERYBODY THAT I'M COMING HERE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND A CITIZEN, AND I JUST URGE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TALKED AND NOT THE CORPORATE INTEREST THAT IS IN THE ROOM. I WOULD LIKE THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEE, WHICH WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY HOMES FOR NEIGHBORS WHO NEED THE MOST SUPPORT. LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS IN THE GREEN ZONE. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF FIRES TO PUT OUT IN THIS CURRENT MOMENT. BUT INCREASING
THE FRANCHISE FEE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HOMES SAFER AND HEALTHIER FOR OUR MOST IN NEED NEIGHBORS AND LET THAT WORK BE FUNDED BY THE POLLUTERS IN THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE MINNEAPOLIS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF A CITY THAT TAKES CLIMATE CRISIS
REALLY SERIOUSLY, EVEN THOUGH THIS CLIMATE FEELS VERY HARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE BYRON FOLLOWED BY MIKE. >> [ OFF-MIC COMMENTS ].
>> OKAY. WE'LL HAVE -- MIKE AND AMY. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MIKE ROLLIN, I LIVE IN WARD 8. THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN 2023, THE 13-0 VOTE TO START THE CLIMATE LEGACY FUNDING. AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY ABOUT HOW ARE WE DOING. THAT WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS EVERY YEAR. THAT WE'VE REDUCED OUR GOALS
FROM HOW MANY HOMES WE WANT TO WEATHERIZE IN THE CITY FROM 100% TO 25%. ALL THAT WITH OUR ELECTRICITY RATES ARE STILL GOING UP. OUR WEATHER IS STILL GETTING MORE EXTREME. AND THE DEMAND IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.
AND SO THIS IS NO TIME TO PULL BACK ON OUR CLIMATE OR OUR EQUITY GOALS. SO I URGE YOU TO VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FEE SO THAT EVERYONE IN MINNEAPOLIS CAN HAVE CLEAN AIR, MORE AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY NO MATTER OUR INCOME, OUR RACE OR OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MARK SCHULZE FOLLOWED BY AMY. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS MARK SCHULZE. I LIVE IN POWDERHORN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE WITH
UNIDOS TODAY. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO PASS THIS INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN. AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED, WE ARE STILL IN, IN FACT, WE ARE IN A WORSENING CLIMATE CRISIS.
NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO DELAY OR GIVE IT SHORT SHRIFT. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU ALL TO PASS THIS. IN ADDITION TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND AND THEIR TWO YOUNG GIRLS ALSO LIVE IN POWDERHORN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THEM. STRONG
ACTION IS NEEDED TO CLIMATE. AND OUR CITY CAN DO IT. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUED RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS ON MANY FRONTS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOCATE $20 MILLION THIS YEAR. FOCUS ON
THE WORK IN THE DESIGNATED GREEN ZONES, AND TACKLE THIS AS THE REAL SOLUTION IT IS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AMY. NEXT IS AMY. >> WHAT MARK SAID. HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM AMY
BLOOMENSHINE, I WILL MAKE THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE SHOULD SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, AND LISTEN AND HEED THE SMOKE ALARMS GOING OFF. 40 YEARS AGO I RECALL BEING URGED TO MINIMIZE OUR FOSSIL FUEL USE BY WEATHERIZING OUR HOME. THE ARGUMENT, WHICH STILL HAS MERIT
TODAY, IS TO KEEP THE MONEY THAT WE USE TO HEAT OUR HOMES AS LOCAL AS POSSIBLE CIRCULATING AND BOOSTING LOCALLY. ALL THE MONEY WE PAY LEAKS AWAY TO OTHER PLACES. OTHER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCILS HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE
NEED BUT NEVER INVESTED SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO MAKE IMPACT. WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER. YOU CAN STOP KICKING THE GAS CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I URGE YOU TO PLUG THE LEAKS AND PLUG IN THE GREEN ELECTRICITY. YOU'VE ALREADY
HEARD OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, IN GENERATED ENERGY AND NON-ENERGY BENEFITED. I'LL BE SUBMITTING A STUDY. AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, GLOBAL CLIMATE. AS WE SAY IN THIRD ACT,
NO TIME TO WASTE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS DALE HOWY, FOLLOWED BY ABDI FUTA ABDI, AND RANDALL SMITH. >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK. MY NAME IS DALE HOWIE, AKA
CRAZY GREEN LANDLORD. -- I AM SO DONE WITH FOSSIL FUELS. WE PUT UP A QUARTER MILLION WATTS OF SOLAR. WE HAVE 12 LOCATIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS. I RUN 185 UNITS
BECAUSE I'M TOO CHEAP TO PAY A MANAGER. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE DURING THE 2000 ELECTION, AND I'VE BEEN BUSTING MY TAIL EVER SINCE. IF BUSINESSES WANT TO RETAIN THEIR PROFITS THEN PUT UP SOLAR PANELS. IF YOU WANT TO
HARDEN YOURSELF AND BE RESILIENT AGAINST FUTURE INCREASES IN UTILITY COSTS, PUT SOLAR PANELS ON YOUR ROOF. I'M INVOLVED WITH THE 4D PROGRAM IN MINNEAPOLIS. AND YEAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. >> NEXT IS ABDI FATTA ABDI. I THINK HE WAS HERE FOR ONE OF THE PRIOR PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO NEXT WE'LL HAVE RANDALL SMITH, MARY,
AND ROBERT REID. >> RANDAL SMITH WARD 2. NICE TO MEET YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. NICE TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH YOU. I RISE TO ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FEES.
WEATHERIZATION IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF REDUCING ENERGY USE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS INCREASED AFFORDABILITY AND REDUCE PRESSURE ON CLIMATE CHANGE. I THINK WE'VE HEARD
TODAY THAT THERE IS SOME IMPERFECTION IN IMPLEMENTATION. WE'VE ALSO HEARD I THIS I IN SPADES THAT IT'S EQUALLY OBVIOUS THAT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY IN THE PROGRAM, AND THAT'S THE PRIMARY PROBLEM WITH IMPLEMENTATION. LET'S FUND THE
PROGRAM AT THE BEST LEVEL WE CAN. THIS INCREASE IN FRANCHISE FEES AT LEAST A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. >> THANKS, RANDAL. NEXT IS MARY KOSSIF FOLLOWED BY ROBERT REID AND MITCHELL HANSEN.
>> HELLO, MARY, WARD 8. PLEASE RAISE THE FRANCHISE FEE. IN 2004, I RENTED A -- SO SMALL, YET I WAS PAYING $30 A MONTH FOR ELECTRICITY. I CALLED THE ELECTRIC COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE,
AND THEY WERE LIKE DO YOU OWN HYDROPONICS GARDEN? DO YOU HAVE A HEATED FISH TANK? I DID NOT HAVE A TV, MICROWAVE, A COFFEE MAKER, AND MY STOVE WAS GAS. THE FRIDGE WAS VERY OLD. I TOLD THE
MANAGER ABOUT THAT AND THEY IGNORED ME. I DID AN EXPERIMENT. I UNPLUGGED EVERYTHING. MY BILL WENT DOWN TO $5. I SPOKE TO MANAGEMENT AND THEY BOUGHT ME A
NEW REFRIGERATOR. WE NEED EFFICIENCY. THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS ROBERT REID, FOLLOWED BY MITCHELL HANSEN AND THEN ADAM SNYDER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ROBERT REID.
I LIVE IN WARD 11. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR FORESIGHT IN PASSING THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IN 2023. IT BOTH REDUCES FOSSIL FUEL USE AND
ADDRESSES HISTORIC INEQUITIES. YES, WE NEED TO RAISE THE FRANCHISE FEES. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK BEYOND THAT. OTHER CITIES ARE USING TOOLS SUCH AS GREEN BONDS. SAIRNT PAUL HAS BEEN USING THEM SINCE 2015. PAY
AS YOU SAVE PROGRAMS, AND MAKING LARGER UTILITY COMPANIES PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. MINNEAPOLIS HAS A HISTORY OF VISIONARY LEADERS. WE OWE OUR AMAZING PARK SYSTEM TO THE FORESIGHT OF LEADERS WHO KNEW THE VALUE OF
GREEN SPACES. WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ABANDONED US. SO STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF ARE THE FRONTLINES WE HAVE. LEADERS
ARE KNOWN BY THE DIFFICULT CHOICES THEY MAKE. NOT THE EASY ONES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE THE VISIONARY LEADERS THAT MAKE TOUGH CHOICES THAT PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS JUST AS OUR CITY LEADERS DID IN 1883. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM MITCHELL FROM WARD 4, FOLLOWED ADAM SNYDER, AND THEN JOSHUA.
>> THANK YOU. I'M A GRAT-- YOU MONEY TO SAVE MONEY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SOLAR. I THINK THE PEOPLE AT THE DEPARTMENT ARE GOOD. BUT HONESTLY, THEY'RE BASICALLY THROWING THEIR HANDS UP SAYING THE MONEY IS GONE. I'M URGING YOU TO LOOK DEEPER INTO
YOUR BUDGET AND SCRUTINIZE WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING. -- SO SHE COULD MAKE ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY FIXES TO HER HOME. SHE JUST SOLD HERE LIFE INSURANCE
POLICY IN ORDER -- CATASTROPHIC FINANCIAL SITUATION. THOSE THAT NEED THE MONEY THE MOST AND SUPPORT ARE BEING LEFT IN THE DUST. -- TOO BIG TO FILL AFFORDABLE-ISH -- CELEBRATE THEM
SLABBING A FEW LEDs, ENERGY STAR HOPPER WINDOWS, AND A SMART ENERGY THERMOSTAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ONE THING -- I REALLY APPRECIATE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
NEXT IS ADAM SNYDER FROM WARD 10 FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA K. FROM WARD 8. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
FRANCHISE FEE INCREASE. -- STATE SANCTIONED PROFITS. SO THESE CORPORATIONS MUST BE BETTER PARTNERS WITH THE CITY AND WE MUST HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE. AT A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, CENTERPOINT HAD NO PROJECTION TO BECOME CARBON
NEUTRAL BY 2050, WHICH IS BEAR MINIMAL. -- ON THE CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WITHOUT PROVIDING US WITH A REASON. WE NEED TO DEMAND MORE FROM THESE MASSIVE CORPORATIONS. AS WE HAVE A
BACKLOG OF WEATHERIZATION WORK, INCREASED DEMAND IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE GREEN ZONES DEMANDING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT, WE CANNOT BE TOO AMBITIOUS IN OUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
NEXT IS JOSHUA K. FROM WARD 8 FOLLOWED BY JAY ADAMS. >> MY NAME IS JOSH KIRK, I LIVE IN WARD 8. I'M A LIFE LONG MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT AND LOVE THIS CITY IMMENSELY. I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF INCREASING
THE FRANCHISE FEE. SPECIFICALLY I SEE THE URGENT NEED TO DECARBONIZE IN THE FACE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. I'M DEEPLY TROUBLED. INCREASING THE FRANCHISE FEE IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS MEETING THESE GOALS. MOST IMPORTANTLY
ACHIEVING CARBON NEUTRALITY. -- SOLUTIONS ARE IMPOSSIBLE. FOR ME, THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT PROVOKES THAT FEAR AND SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS. THESE ORDINANCES ARE REAL TANGIBLE WAY THAT WE CAN PUSH BACK AND ACHIEVE SOMETHING TOGETHER AS A CITY TO
UNDERMINE THAT FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS. I WANT TO SAY TO NOT PURSUE THIS INCREASE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO BOTH THE CLIMATE AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISES. THEREFORE, I IMPLORE ALL TO APPROVE THE INCREASE OF THESE FEES. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, JOSH. NEXT IS JAY ADAMS FOLLOWED BY MAGGIE R. >> THANKS FOR HAVING THIS PUBLIC
HEARING LETTING FOLKS TALK. I ENJOY THIS NICE WARM NOVEMBER DAY THANKS TO CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT MY FRIEND UP IN BRINTON, MINNESOTA, A FIRE RIPPED THROUGH THE PROPERTY. HIS NEIGHBORS WEREN'T
SO LUCKY. A LOT LOST THEIR HOMES. -- ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FEEL HELPLESS? WELL WE GOT SOMETHING HERE WE CAN DO RATHER THAN TEAR THINGS DOWN, WE CAN BUILD THEM UP. AND I SUGGEST DIFFERENT REASONS TO SUPPORT
INCREASING THE FRANCHISE FEE DEPENDING ON YOUR PHILOSOPHY. MAYBE FOR SOME IT'S TO HELP LOW INCOME PEOPLE PAY THEIR BILLS. OTHERS TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES. AND FOR SOME, LOOK AT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IF
YOU'RE MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL. WHEN YOU VOTE, PICTURE THE PROUD MOM OR DAD PROVIDING FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, JAY. NEXT IS
MAGGIE. MAGGIE R. FROM WARD 9. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME SATISH FROM WARD 8.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SATISH FROM WARD 8. WHEN I REFLECT HOW I SPENT THIS PAST SUMMER, I'M REALLY STRUCK BY HOW LITTLE TIME I SPENT OUTSIDE. THAT WAS BECAUSE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IT WAS EITHER BRUTALLY HOT
OR POURING RAIN OR EVEN WORSE, IT WAS SO SMOKEY, I GOT A HEADACHE AS SOON AS I CAME OUTSIDE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE TYPICAL OF SUMMERS. AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO PUT
CLIMATE POLICY IN REVERSE, CITIES LIKE MINNEAPOLIS NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD AND SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW. BOLD CLIMATE ACTION WOULD HAVE OTHER BENEFITS BESIDES THAT, CLIMATE ACTION, OF COURSE. AS ENERGY PRICES SKYROCKET, IT WOULD KEEP
OUR ENERGY BILLS AFFORDABLE. REDUCING ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE AND SO MANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. OF COURSE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY. I THINK THERE WAS A STAR TRIBUNE ARTICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. I'M URGING YOU TO SUPPORT THE FRANCHISE FEE AGREEMENT.
>> THANKS. FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE 10 SPEAKERS LEFT. WE HAVE ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES LEFT OF THE ROOM. SO WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER THAT. AND WE'LL RECOGNIZE
CASAMIRA Z. FROM WARD 7. >> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CASAMIRA. I LIVE IN WARD 7. AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FEE. I PERSONALLY KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO STRUGGLE
AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE IN THESE GREEN ZONES DESERVE BETTER. I HAVE FAMILY IN WARDS 4 AND WARDS 5. ONE OF THEM HAS WEATHERIZED THEIR HOME AND THEIR ENERGY COST IS ZERO. WHEREAS THE
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LIVE IN WARD 4, THEY PAY ON AVERAGE $200 TO $300 A MONTH, AND THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
NEXT IS AKISHA EVERETT. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS AKISHA EVERETT. I'M A HOMEOWNER IN HAWTHORNE NEIGHBORHOOD, 5th
WARD, GREEN ZONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF -- 1200 PLYMOUTH AVENUE NORTH. I DON'T KNOW MOST OF YOU. BUT BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T DO POLITICS. BUT THIS COMING TO KNOWLEDGE HAS IMPACTED
ME. MY HOME HAS RECEIVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPDATES AND RET RETROGRADES. MY ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO RECEIVED DOLLARS THAT PROVIDE CLEAN CAREER WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR RESIDENTS. MORE THAN 200 HAVE WENT THROUGH OUR
SOLAR PV TRAINING THIS YEAR. WHILE PROVIDING STIPENDS AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES. WE'VE ADDED SOLAR PANELS TO THE TRAINING CENTER AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDENS FOR LOW INCOME ENERGY SUBSCRIBERS. SO I NOTICED A LOT
OF THE MANIPULATION THAT THE UTILITIES ARE DOING WITH THE DATA. I WOULD JUST URGE YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT THIS FRANCHISE FEE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT, WE'LL RECOGNIZE SEAN. I'M
SORRY, I CAN'T PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME. >> SEAN FROM WARD 9. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ACROSS THE CITY TO HELP MORE PEOPLE USE THE COST SHARE FUNDS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE GREEN
COST SHARE FUNDS GOING ALL YEAR. AND THAT WENT OUT IN AUGUST. IF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT RATE INCREASES, LET'S WORK WITH OUR NEW LOBBYIST TO PUSH BACK AGAINST XCEL TRYING TO INCREASE THE RATE SO MUCH. THERE'S KEY
THINGS WE CAN ALSO DO. COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE WOULD LIKE TO USE SOME OF THE FRANCHISE FEE DOLLARS TO ACTUALLY PAY THE DEBT ON BONDS BECAUSE WE COULD GET SOME OTHER BONDS. WE NEED $100,000 A YEAR TO GET THIS WORK
DONE. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH NEIGHBORS TO GET HOME RETROFITS. VERY CRITICAL WHEN IT'S HOT OUT. I'M WORKING WITH HIAWATHA LAKE. AND MULTI-FAMILY EFFICIENCY IS ALSO A GREAT PROGRAM. IT GETS UP
TO $10 MILLION TO $15 MILLION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT IS ULA. >> HI, MY NAME IS ULA NEILSON.
I'M GOING TO READ A STATEMENT. IN FAVOR OF THE FRANCHISE FEE, SHE SAYS I'M HERE IN FAVOR OF THE FRANCHISE FEE INCREASE AND URGE THE CITY TO ALLOCATE ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO CLEAN ENERGY HOMES PROGRAMS WITH A PRIORITY FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. I RECENTLY LEARNED
THAT THE MAYOR'S STAFF HAS BEEN NAMING JORDAN NEIGHBORHOOD AS A REASON NOT TO INCREASE FUNDING. THEY ARE SAYING THAT BECAUSE JORDAN IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE HIGHEST ENERGY BURDEN WHERE PEOPLE PAY THE HIGHEST ENERGY BILLS, THE FRANCHISE FEE WILL HURT THE RESIDENTS. NOTHING CAN
BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. THE BURDEN WE'RE FACING IS ALREADY HERE. MY NEIGHBORS AND I PAY VERY HIGH BILLS RIGHT NOW. WE NEED THESE PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THEM. I DON'T HAVE MONEY SITTING AROUND TO -- I CAN ONLY MAKE THE
IMPROVEMENTS TO LOWER MY ENERGY BILLS WITH PROGRAMS THAT DON'T REQUIRE ANY MONEY DOWN. THE MAYOR'S TEAM IS ALSO SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT RAISE THE FRANCHISE FEE BECAUSE GREEN ZONES ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUNDING. THE CITY IS NOT PUTTING ENOUGH EFFORT INTO LETTING
PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. THE SUSTAINABLE HOMES PROGRAM IS NOT EVEN ON THEIR WEBSITE. INSTEAD, THEY ARE SPENDING THEIR ENERGY TRYING TO TURN THE PEOPLE WHO CAN BENEFIT MOST FROM THIS INVESTMENT AGAINST IT. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS. NEXT WE'LL
WELCOME MARK FOLLOWED BY LISA RUDOLPH, AND THEN KEN FRITZMEAD. >> HELLO. I AM MARK GARNERSON. I LIVE IN WARD 6. DURING THIS PAST YEAR I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN FUNDED
BY THE FRANCHISE FEE ON CARBON USAGE. I WAS IMPRESSED BY A GOOD PIECE OF POLICY. A POLICY CRAFTED TO DECREASE RESIDENTS ENERGY USE COSTS. SO AT OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT GATHERING LAST AUGUST, I SHARED
THE SMART POLICY WITH MY NEIGHBORS. I INFORMED THEM OF THIS CLEAN ENERGY HOMES PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO THEM TO MAKE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENTS IN WEATHERIZING THEIR HOMES AND OTHER STRATEGIES TO USE LESS CARBON. AND THEN MY NEIGHBOR SHARED MY ENTHUSIASM. MANY, MANY
NEIGHBORS CONTINUED THIS CONVERSATION OVER THIS LAST FALL. HOWEVER, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO ACTUALLY ACT I HAD TO SHARE WITH THEM THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE YEAR WAS ALREADY EXHAUSTED. I COULD FEEL THE FRUSTRATION ALMOST MIXED WITH A LITTLE CYNICISM. IT'S LIKE, OKAY, IT'S GOOD POLICY BUT IT'S NOT
ACTUALLY FUNDED IN A WAY TO BE USEFUL TO MEET THE INTEREST AND DEMAND OF OUR CITIES. SO AS YOU MAKE CHOICES FOR NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING FOR THIS INITIATIVE, KNOW THAT THE CITY'S RESIDENTS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN DECREASING THEIR CAR BEEN USE EJ
AND IN SAVING MONEY. THERE IS DEMAND FOR THIS PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME LISA RUDOLPH FOLLOWED BY KEN AND MARIE. >> HI. WELCOME. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER WHO IS 95, AND SHE LIVES IN A SENIOR COMPLEX NEAR ELLIOT PARK. AND THEY HAVE NO CHANCE WHERE THEY ARE WITH THE LAST THREE OWNERS OF MAKING ANY CLEAN ENERGY
UPGRADES AS A RENTER, IN A FIXED INCOME IN A GINORMOUS COMPLEX WITH FOUR OR FIVE BUILDINGS. SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MOST RECENT OWNERS ABOUT POSSIBILITIES FOR THE GREEN COST SHARE PROGRAM. SIMPLE THINGS, INSULATION, WINDOWS, AIR QUALITY, OUTDATED ELECTRICAL.
AND SHE WAS HOPEFUL. AND THEY WERE HOPEFUL. BUT AGAIN, AS YOU HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, OUT OF FUNDING IN BIG RED LETTERS HERE. SO I'M ENCOURAGING YOU ALL TO BE ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES, FOR
SENIORS. YOUR VOTE ON DECEMBER 11th ALONG WITH THOSE OF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE A POSITIVE VOTE TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEE FOR EVERYBODY IN MINNEAPOLIS. >> THANKS FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
LISA. SO WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS LEFT. KEN, MARIE, LISA, AND CARLA. >> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. KEN FRITZMEAD, WARD 2. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF INCREASING THE FRANCHISE FEES. CLEARLY, AS
YOU'VE BEEN HEARING AND IF YOU PAY ANY ATTENTION TO MEDIA, WE'RE IN A HUGE CLIMATE CRISIS. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MOTIVATED TO COMMIT SOME RESOURCE TO THAT IN THE PAST. CLEARLY, TOO, THIS IS AN
EQUITY ISSUE. PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED TO THOSE HAVING FEWER RESOURCES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. THIS INVOLVES LOWER INCOME, OLDER HOMES, AND MANY OF THEM ARE RENTERS. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE TO CONTINUE AN INCREASE
WORK FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE AND WELLBEING. REDUCE UTILITY BILLS, INCREASE COMFORT, AND DECARBONIZE HOMES IN PARTICULAR WITH ELECTRIC PUMPS AND STOVES. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO COUNTER THE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM CENTERPOINT. THEY HAVE BEEN SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS UPGRADING METERS AND LINES INTO THE HOMES. THEY'VE TORN UP STREETS IN SEWARD NEIGHBORHOOD OVER IN WARD 10 AND IN SOUTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS. >> THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU CAN SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING. >> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT, WE'LL WELCOME MARY FOLLOWED BY LISA, AND CARLA IRWIN, AND THEN PETER JORDAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY
NAME IS MARIE AND I'M FROM WARD 11. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PASSING THE FRANCHISE FEE AND CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATE PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN ROLLED OUT BY THE CITY. AND ESPECIALLY WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN AND KOSKI
FOR YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP IN MOVING THIS FORWARD. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO SUPPORT THE $15 MILLION FRANCHISE FEE INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR. AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE IN FUTURE YEARS TO GET TO ALL THE HOMES IN MINNEAPOLIS.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FUNDS BE TARGETED IN THE GREEN ZONES AND CLEAN ENERGY HOMES THAT REALLY BENEFIT LOW INCOME HOMES THE MOST. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I LOVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS AND MINNESOTA AND
THE WORLD AND BIO DIVERSITY OF THIS PLANET. AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS DESTROYING ALL OF THAT. WE'RE SEEING ALL RECORD TEMPERATURES. SO WE CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT IN MINNEAPOLIS AND BE A LEADER. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FEE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS LISA FRANCHET. CARLA AND PETER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THE
ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEES. I CAME DOWNTOWN TODAY BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW THE CLIMATE CRISIS WILL AFFECT MY CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. NOT TO MENTION ANIMALS AND PLANTS WHO AREN'T HERE TO
EXPRESS THEIR NEEDS TODAY. MY CONCERN ABOUT THE CLIMATE CRISIS MOTIVATED ME TO HAVE PANELS, SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED ON MY ROOF. FINANCIALLY, I WAS IN A SITUATION THAT ENABLED ME TO DO THAT. I CURRENTLY HAVE NEGATIVE ELECTRIC BILLS. AND WE RECEIVE
MONEY BACK FROM XCEL FOR MANY MONTHS. I ALSO HAD MY HOUSE WEATHERIZED AND I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED HOW LONG IT CAN RETAIN THE TEMPERATURE REGARDLESS OF THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE. MANY DO
NOT HAVE THE MEANS FOR UPGRADES. >> THANKS SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS BEING SUBMITTED TOO. AND THEN WE'LL WELCOME CARLA IRWIN FROM WARD 9, FOLLOWED BY PETER FROM JORDAN.
>> HELLO. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. I GAVE UP WORK AT PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE THEY REALLY NEED ME. AND I CAME DOWN HERE. GAVE UP PAY BECAUSE I HAVE IMPORTANT THINGS TO SAY. I'M GLAD THAT THEY PASSED THE BILL TO HELP PEOPLE.
AND I KNOW PEOPLE FROM UNIDOS WHO HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS OF THAT. BUT I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY HELP. I'M LOW INCOME. I DON'T SUB ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I'M ALSO THE CARETAKER FOR MY WONDERFUL PARENTS. AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE BROKEN WINDOWS. AND I
HAVE NEW PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR REDOING CEDAR AVENUE. ONE OF THE REASONS I WORK SO HARD IS TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. AND SO I REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT THE FRANCHISE FEE. BUT
ALSO ASK THAT POLLUTERS PAY AND THAT THE CORPORATIONS DON'T GET THESE BIG CUTS BECAUSE IF THEY LOOK WITHIN THEMSELVES, WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN EVERYONE DOES BETTER. AND SO I MADE THESE SIGNS. HAVE TO GO. IT SAYS
RELEASE THE RED ROOF DEPOT TO -- BECAUSE I THOUGHT ON THAT SINCE 2008. >> THANK YOU. >> AND ALSO, GIVE THE FUNDING NEEDED TO UNIDOS GOALS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY. SO OUR LAST SPEAKER IS PETER FROM
JORDAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. FIRST OF ALL, ANY TYPE OF -- I RELATE IT AS A
TAX. I FULLY SUPPORT FUNDING FOR SOLAR PANEL. SOLAR ENERGY IS CLEAN, RENEWABLE AND REDUCES OUR DEPENDENCE, AUTHORIZATION IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
MINNEAPOLIS ENCOURAGING -- SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'M OFF SCRIPT. ANYWAY, SOLAR PANELS REDUCES BILLS. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD
PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOFS BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THE ROOFS AREN'T DOING ANYTHING. AND FOR THE SCHOOLS TO REDUCE THEIR ELECTRICAL BILLS WILL REDUCE OUR TAXES AS CITIZENS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, WHO CAME TO SPEAK TODAY. I'LL DO A LAST CALL IF ANYONE DID NOT SIGN UP BUT WISHES TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND JUST THANK EVERYONE FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY
TO COME AND COMMUNICATE AND SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE ORDINANCES, BUT ALSO THE ROLL OUT OF THESE PROGRAMS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU, YOUR FEEDBACK ON HOW TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS, OUR DATA COLLECTION, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS, OUR PROGRESS
TOWARDS OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN. SO YOUR VOICE IN THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AND I WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CITY STAFF. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO COME UP AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT A FEW OF THE
PIECES OF INFORMATION WE HEARD ABOUT. SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE MONEY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WE ARE DEDICATING OVER 40% TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS
WHICH ENCOMPASSES GREEN ZONES BUT ALSO LOW INCOME PROPERTIES AND ELIGIBLE NONPROFITS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING
TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HANLON TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON THAT. >> WELCOME, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HANLON. WE MAY HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO HELP ILLUSTRATE. >> THAT'S GREAT. WE HAVE HEARD
SOME UPDATES ABOUT THIS IN THIS COMMITTEE IN THE LAST FEW SESSIONS. I KNOW THERE'S THE CIAK, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
HEARD THIS INFORMATION. >> SURE. CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, LUKE IS GOING TO HELP ME LOAD UP A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE THAT I'M JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR PROGRAM RESULTS THAT WE HAD IN OUR Q3 UPDATES THAT WE BROUGHT TO
COUNCIL. THIS WAS A -- SORRY, IF I DIDN'T INTRODUCE MYSELF. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER -- MAYOR -- NOT MAYOR TODAY. THIS IS THE 2025 YEAR-TO-DATE. THESE ARE THE
RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENTS. THIS WAS A SNAPSHOT ON 10-16. IN THIS MAP WHERE IT SHOWS THE INVESTMENTS IN MAINLY IN WARD 4
AND 5 AND ALSO WARD 8 IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS. IF WE RUN THE NUMBERS FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS OR USING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, THIS MAP LOOKS THE SAME. AND THAT MAP LOOKS THAT WAY BECAUSE THE INTENTIONAL
INVESTMENTS INCENTIVES THAT WE HAVE IN THE GREEN ZONES. -- NONPROFITS SERVING FOLKS IN LOW INCOME SITUATIONS. AND SO IT WAS 218 PROJECTS IN GREEN ZONES OR LOW INCOME QUALIFIED PROPERTIES.
AT THAT POINT, IT WAS ABOUT 54% OF FUNDING. I THINK WE'RE UP A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THAT. IF YOU ADD IN MULTI-FAMILY ON THIS SLIDE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT MAP LOOKS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. IF I WERE TO ADD COMMERCIAL, IT WOULD LIKE SIMILAR. A LOT OF IT
HAS TO DO NOT ONLY WITH THE INCENTIVES -- WE ARE FAR FROM PERFECT IN BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THIS. BUT THAT IS THE PRIORITY THAT WE PUT IS ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, ON INCENTIVES AND
MAKING IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INVESTMENTS. AND AGAIN, FROM THE BEGINNING OF WHEN WE STARTED THOSE PROGRAMMING, WE DEFINED THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES AS NORTH SIDE GREEN ZONES --
CAME FROM THE GREEN ZONES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS DESIGNED TO EXAMINE THIS ISSUE IS TO INCLUDE LOW INCOME. THERE'S FOLKS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THOSE GREEN ZONE AREAS THAT ALSO NEED HELP. AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT CAME UP HERE OR SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU
HEARD FROM. PROJECT YEAR-TO-DATE IS 268 OF THE DOLLARS THAT WENT TO EJ PROJECTS ARE AROUND $1.8 MILLION. THE PERCENTAGE THAT GO TO EJ PROJECTS ARE 60%. THIS IS WHERE YOU MAY SEE SOME
OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INVESTMENTS. 13% WENT TO THE NORTHSIDE GREEN ZONE. JUST TO SAY AGAIN I THINK I SAID THIS IN THE Q3 UPDATE, THE NORTHSIDE
GREEN ZONE IS -- THOSE PROPERTIES ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE FUNDING AT 13%. 8% IN THE SOUTH SIDE GREEN ZONES. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IMPROVE. SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT
WE'RE DEVELOPING FOR 2026 WITH CORPORATIVE ENERGY FEATURES IS NO UPFRONT COST IN FINANCING. SO TO BE ABLE FOR THEM TO DELIVER PROJECTS AND FOLKS DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY UPFRONT TO LIMIT THOSE BARRIERS.
RELATIONSHIPS WE BUILT IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE GREEN ZONES TO DELIVER THOSE PROJECTS. 38% OR ALMOST 40% HAS BEEN TO LOW INCOME PROPERTIES. BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025, WE'VE HAD 2,464 LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BENEFIT FROM THESE PROGRAMS. AND I WANT TO ALSO JUST CLARIFY, I KNOW TODAY IS ON THE FRANCHISE FEES, AND I'M UP HERE JUST CLARIFYING INFORMATION. THIS IS NOT A BUDGET ASK. WE ARE CLARIFYING
THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT OUT. WE ALSO HAVE AN EMAIL THAT WE SENT TO OUR NORTH SIDE GREEN ZONE. THERE WAS A COMMENT UP HERE ABOUT SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND THEY THOUGHT OUR
INFORMATION WAS DIFFERENT. THE EMAIL PUTS INTO CONTEXT THAT WE'RE BOTH SAYING THE SAME THING FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. JUST TO VERIFY THAT COMMENT THAT WAS MADE. I CAN STAND FOR QUESTIONS AFTER ALL THAT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I WANT TO ADD THAT SEVEN OF THE 10 MOST ENERGY BURDENED NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T ACTUALLY IN THE GREEN ZONES. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE FALWELL, HARRISON. THERE'S MAYBE A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD TO COVER MORE NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL NEED TO THE OTHER COMMITTEES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DO REPRESENT THAT AREA. SO I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.
>> THANK YOU. SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T EXPECT THE ANSWER TODAY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT WILL INFLUENCE MY VOTE. I'M CURIOUS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THIS INCREASE WILL GIVE TO
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS AS WELL AS HOW MUCH THIS PROPOSED INCREASE WOULD BE WITH THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL VERSUS THE RESIDENTIAL. I'M TRYING TO LOOK FOR WHO IS PAYING WHAT.
>> DO YOU WANT AN ANSWER NOW OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A FOLLOW UP FOR THAT? >> I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS ON ME. >> AND I DON'T EXPECT IT. I'M ASKING FOR THIS INFORMATION BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL VOTE. >> I THINK WE'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT. THAT IS PROVIDED
IN A MEMO THAT HAS BEEN I THINK UPLOADED TO NOT THIS LEGISLATIVE FILE BUT THE LAST LEGISLATIVE FILE. I BELIEVE THE NUMBERS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS IN THAT MEMO.
>> I'LL ASK CLERK MICHAEL TO NOTE THAT. IF IT'S ALREADY IN THE MEMO, LET'S DISTRIBUTE THAT TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS. >> UNDERSTOOD. I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I JUST
GOT IN QUEUE AS WELL TO SHARE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING WITH THIS FUNDING. ONE OF MY BUDGET AMENDMENTS THIS YEAR ASSUMING THAT WE PASS THIS INCREASE WILL BE TO DEDICATE THE ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION THAT WE'RE EXPECTING FROM IT TOWARDS THE SUSTAINABLE
HOMES PROGRAMS. SO THAT IT'S ALL GOING TOWARDS THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST DEMAND THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS HERE TODAY IS THE BEST WAY TO LOWER THEIR ENERGY BILLS. AND SO THAT IS WHERE I'M INTENDING FOR THIS MONEY TO GO SO THAT NEXT YEAR WE CAN DELIVER EVEN MORE OF
THESE UPGRADES TO THE FAMILIES WHO NEED IT. AND LIKE WE HEARD, THAT MONEY RAN OUT THIS YEAR IN AUGUST. AND THERE IS HIGH DEMAND. SO I BELIEVE THAT THESE ORDINANCES ARE A MATTER OF CLIMATE DENIAL OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CLIMATE
CRISIS. SO IF WE REALLY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN, WE NEED TO BE FUNDING THE WORK THAT IT WILL TAKE TO MANAGE IT AND TO LIVE THROUGH IT. SO WE WILL BE CONTINUING THIS ITEM FOR THE
SAKE OF HONORING THE TIMELINES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE UTILITIES. WE WILL NOT BE TAKING A VOTE ON THIS IN COMMITTEE TODAY. BUT RATHER, AT THE CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 4TH. AND THEN THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 11th. SO WITH THAT -- OH, I'LL
RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND JUST WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO SHOWED UP AND REALLY SPEAK TRUTH ON WHAT'S HAPPENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO EDUCATE US AND TO BE THE VOICE THAT REALLY RAISED THIS AND MADE
THIS POSSIBLE, THIS ORDINANCE. I DO SUPPORT THIS. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, INVESTING, YOU KNOW, GREEN FRIENDLY SO PEOPLE'S
LIVES CAN BE SAVED. I LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOODS IN MINNESOTA, WHICH IS PHILLIPS AREA. AND THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT IS MUCH NEEDED. AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR COMING TO MY COMMUNITY AND
HOSTING THAT INFORMATION SESSION WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET IN THAT PROGRAM. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU RESIDENTS OF WARD 6. I SEE LISA THERE AND MANY OTHERS WHO CONTINUE TO COME AND ADVOCATE AND SPEAK TODAY. YOU DEFINITELY
SPOKE THE TRUTH AND I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE ARE LISTENING, INCLUDING THE ENERGY PROVIDERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THANKS A LOT. I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. >> WE'RE NOT TAKING ACTION TODAY. >> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> NEXT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CASHMAN. I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME AND TESTIFIED AND SUPPORT BOTH OF THESE ORDINANCES, PARTICULARLY THE WARD 9 RESIDENTS WHO ALWAYS SHOW UP TO ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE
JUSTICE TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM THAT IMPACTS THE GREEN ZONES HERE, AND FOLKS THAT LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS. SO I CAN'T WAIT TO VOTE FOR THIS NEXT CYCLE. I'M EXCITED TO VOTE FOR IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WITH THAT, I WILL ASK DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT EMAIL WITH THE COUNCIL, OR
AT LEAST WITH ME TO SHARE OUT WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABOUT THE NORTH SIDE GREEN ZONE. WITH THAT, WE'LL CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO DECEMBER 4TH. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE -- WHAT'S THAT? >> YOU HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION. >> DO WE NEED TO VOTE TO
CONTINUE IT? >> YOU CAN DO A VOICE VOTE FOR A ROLL CALL. >> ON THE MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS TO DECEMBER 4TH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED A NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'VE CONCLUDED ALL BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.