Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Ordinance for Safe Outdoor Spaces
Revised License Fee Schedule
Dissolution and Reconstitution of the Minneapolis Development Finance Committee (DFC)
Metro Blue Line Extension Station Area Planning Services Contract
Removal of Business License Conditions for Driftwood
License Settlement Recommendation for Los Andes Latin Beastro
Fall 2026 Brownfield Grant Applications
Modification of Affordability Levels for 14 Avenue Town Homes
TIF District Descertification and Modification
Emergency Housing Voucher Program Quarterly Update
Votes (10)
Consent Agenda Items 1-8 and 18
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Osman [0:04:12] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated, but implied by unanimous 'I'
The committee moved to approve liquor and gambling licenses (Items 1-3), accept gifts for travel (Items 4-6), file the 2025 TIF disclosure statement (Item 7), set a public hearing for October 20, 2026, for an ordinance on safe outdoor spaces (Item 8), and refer Item 18 to the Committee of the Whole on October 13, 2026.
Discussion Item 9: Revised License Fee Schedule
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Chavis [0:05:30] · Seconded by Unknown [0:05:43]
Council member Chavez moved to postpone the item to the next Housing and Zoning Committee meeting to allow staff to finalize figures related to the revised license fee schedule.
Discussion Item 10: Dissolving the Minneapolis Development Finance Committee
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice Chair Chowry [0:19:10] · Seconded by Unknown [0:19:15]
Miles Mercer presented the proposal to dissolve the existing DFC, which has advised the city for over 25 years on financial assistance packages, and create a new internal advisory structure. This is due to the DFC not fitting new administrative reforms for appointed boards. Concerns were raised by Council member Chavez about the City Council's role and potential loss of oversight, requesting a follow-up memo. Vice Chair Chowry inquired about the composition of the new advisory group, emphasizing the value of external experts.
Discussion Item 11: Contract for Metro Blue Line Extension Planning Services
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Osman [0:39:57] · Seconded by Unknown [0:40:00]
Director McMahon presented on the 13.4-mile Metro Blue Line Extension and the critical need for station area planning, which is federally required and focuses on community engagement, economic development, and anti-displacement strategies. The discussion clarified that while the project is proposed as LRT, the planning funds are not mode-conditional. Council members emphasized the importance of city leadership in this planning and the value of the consultant team's Northside experience. Questions also arose regarding funding specifics and project timelines.
Discussion Item 12: Taking Away Business License Operation Condition for Driftwood
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Osman [0:44:48] · Seconded by Unknown [0:44:50]
Manager Lingo explained the request to remove 2009 license conditions for Driftwood, which had been procedurally, but not officially, removed earlier. Vice Chair Chowry questioned the revocation of a speed bump requirement, with Lingo explaining that the responsibility for speed bumps in a now multi-use alley should not solely fall on one business.
Discussion Item 13: Approves Business License Operating Condition and Recommendation for Los Andes Latin Beastro
Dissent: Vice Chair Chowry, Council member Chuktai (implied opposition to the settlement terms, leading to forwarding without recommendation)
Moved by Vice Chair Chowry [0:48:40] · Seconded by Unknown [0:48:47]
City Attorney Doazi presented a settlement recommendation for Los Andes Latin Beastro following criminal sexual assault charges against a former owner. The proposed penalties include a suspension and fine. Vice Chair Chowry and Council member Chuktai expressed strong concerns about the severity of the former owner's actions and the perceived inadequacy of the settlement, with Council member Chuktai advocating for denial of the license. The committee ultimately decided to forward the item to the full council without a recommendation.
Discussion Item 14: Approves Fall 2026 Brownfield Grant Application
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice Chair Chowry [0:59:30] · Seconded by Unknown [0:59:35]
Kevin Carroll presented 14 applications for Brownfield grants for seven diverse projects, most of which include housing. He detailed the rigorous screening process by city staff to ensure projects are ready for funding. Concerns about tight deadlines for Met Council applications were raised by Council member Chavez, who requested an early mayoral signature.
Discussion Item 15: Authorized a Contract Amendment with Trio Development to Modify an Affordability Level (14 Avenue Town Homes)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Chavis [1:23:40] · Seconded by Unknown [1:23:44]
Sherry Shokquist presented a request to increase the affordability level for 10 townhome units from 60% to 80% AMI due to challenging market conditions like rising interest rates and stricter mortgage requirements. Council member Chavez, whose ward hosts the project, vehemently opposed the change, citing the existing high levels of poverty and unaffordability in Midtown Phillips and expressing concern that such changes undermine initial affordability commitments. Other council members acknowledged market realities but also emphasized the need to balance developer viability with affordability goals. The item was delayed for further discussion.
Discussion Item 16: Approves Certification for Several TIF Districts
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Osman [1:27:50] · Seconded by Unknown [1:27:53]
Matthew Hendricks presented on the descertification of five TIF districts and modification of one, explaining that this process occurs when TIF loans are repaid or after 26 years, as required by state statute. He noted that this action would add approximately $3.2 million to the city's tax capacity in 2027.
Receive and File: Legislative Directive Requesting Quarterly Updates on Emergency Housing Voucher Program
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Osman [1:42:05] · Seconded by Not applicable (receive and file)
Jamie Riddle provided an update on the Minneapolis Emergency Housing Voucher (MEHV) program, outlining its goal to house 100 households experiencing homelessness. She reported on milestones, initial placements, and program finances. A key program change noted was Hennepin County's pivot on supportive services for individuals due to state funding cuts. Questions from council members clarified funding dispersal, lease terms, and the process for resident referrals.
Notable Quotes (17)
So, we're working closely with staff on the figures that we requested last cycle, and we're still finalizing those numbers. So that is the reason for this delay and hoping that we get it figured out next week and that is my expectation to then send to full counsel.
after consulting with the city attorney's office, with the city clerk's office, we'd like to dissolve the Minneapolis Development Finance Committee in its current incarnation um, but resurrect it and in a different um, form because it does add value to CPED and finance staff as we put together these deals, put together the negotiate these terms of this financing assistance.
I mean, for me, I I would just like a follow-up memo in writing just so I can sit down and look specifically at what it currently does, what role the city council has, what the expectation will be for the next iteration of this, and if anything is going to be lost, and what authority the city council has within that.
The stationary planning is the opportunity to really think about the impact of that station within the context of the neighborhood that it's in. How are people going to get to that station safely? How are they going to get from that station safely? Um what are the impacts on development going to be? How do we maximize the transit investment with high quality highdensity um development?
It's really good to have our city planners leading this effort instead of the county planning. No offense at the county planners, but city planners we have more authority over. And personally, I think they're a lot sharper than the county planners.
This doesn't necessarily mean that a train is coming. This is the study around stationary planning and all of those different things that are being done in support of the community because there's still a funding gap with the light rail as it current stands.
The reason why we have are agreeing to remove that condition is if you look at the in the public works it states that block clubs can be the ones to require conditions and this block is no longer that alley isn't used just by that business at this point. Um the the b the uh that intersection is increasing in all of its business activity. So putting the onus for the price of those speed bumps on just this one business didn't feel appropriate at this time.
I share the sentiment of business licensing and licensing official Amy Lingo that this settlement and penalty is appropriate in that it establishes that license misconduct occurred, positions the matter for progressive adverse license action if needed at any point in the future, and imposes substantial sanctions, yet does not put any employees out of work, and recognizes that the new license ownership group has been cooperative and has successfully run the business without any subsequent violations or issues for uh for many months now.
I I just I can't support this and I I appreciate the amount of work that's been done here. I appreciate that these are conditions that are the harshest they could possibly be outside of revocation or denial. Um, but I I just cannot support a license uh the the renewal of a liquor license when um when the applicant has lied to us, when the applicant has in has had employees assaulted um on the job.
The reason they emphasize that so much is because they don't want to find themselves in a situation where they pick one project over another and they award a money to that project and that project doesn't go forward because then it ties up the other project and then they regret having awarded that money. So they look to us to screen them pretty rigorously which we do.
Fanny May and Freddy Mack and the state of Minnesota have made very stringent rules about town homes that require replacement reserves that will mean for condominiums and town homes that they will be much better maintained in the future. But the amount of reserves that need to come from people's mortgage payments are much higher than they ever used to be. Which means there is less money left over for mortgage payments, which means over time multifamily buildings will be much better maintained. But what it means is that there's less money for lower income people to have available for their mortgage payments.
I mean, for me, I I would just like a follow-up memo in writing just so I can sit down and look specifically at what it currently does, what role the city council has, what the expectation will be for the next iteration of this, and if anything is going to be lost, and what authority the city council has within that. You explained a little bit about that, but I would love to get into more details because before we vote on this at full council, I'd want to make sure that we aren't unintentionally losing something unintentionally giving our authority away as a city council by accident without fully knowing exactly those particular details.
The biggest barriers that a majority of low to moderate income families have an issue with when it's time to qualify for purchase or getting into pre-purchase programs is DTI, not AMI. So, you guys are doing a fantastic job. And we know that it takes anywhere between 60 to 120 days to get someone what's called mortgage application ready, which means that they're meeting the DTI requirements, which is the debt to income ratio requirements with their income in order to be able to pre-qualify for a home.
We have to balance not only this desire to have affordability, which I share with you, but we have uh developers in the city of Lake Land Trust now in this project with capital tied up with their investment tied up. And if they can't sell it, that's going to send a message to other developers and to the city of Lakes Land Trust to not invest in this neighborhood. And soon that neighborhood will only it won't have new owner occupied housing. it will just have new rental housing.
With each descertification, the real estate value that was dedicated to supporting the individual development now goes back to the general tax base. This additional tax base does not directly impact the city's budget. However, it provides additional tax capacity to bear the property tax levy.
Henipin County notified the city and MPHA that they could not guarantee availability of supportive services for individual households due to the cancellation of programs and funding at the state level. Based on this, Henipin County has pivoted its approach for individual households and is working to provide referrals from coordinated entry to the um voucher program for households that may have lower case management needs.
Because we don't know if they're living there. Their circumstances could change. Their rents could adjust. So, we there there's a we don't pay the 100% rent. It's a 30, you know, it's based on your income. And if you have a zero income, then you pay zero rent. But if you have some income, you pay some rent. And let's say today you don't have any income, but tomorrow you get a job. There'll be an adjustment of what we owe versus what the the person who is receiving the benefit owes.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
Received and filed by the committee, providing a high-level summary of TIF district finances.
Public hearing set for October 20, 2026, to consider this ordinance.
Discussion item discontinued and postponed for further staff work.
Request for Proposals issued in April 2026 to seek a consultant team for station area planning.
Agreement related to the federal funding for the Blue Line planning services.
Details the proposed penalties and sanctions for Los Andes Latin Beastro.
Multiple applications being submitted to various state and county grantors for brownfield projects.
Proposed amendment to modify affordability levels for the 14 Avenue townhomes project.
The basis for the quarterly update presentation on the Minneapolis Emergency Housing Voucher Program.