Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Story
Council advances George Floyd Square project amid assessment concerns
George Floyd Square Reconstruction Project and Special Assessments
Free Community Storage Program Lease Renewal
Connecting Camden Railroad Grade Separation Project Grant Acceptance
Votes (7)
Consent Agenda Items (3-17)
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanley [~00:03:30] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated, but implied as motion carried.
Council Member Chowry requested to pull items 15 (Big Honking Truck Parade permit) and 16 (612 days block event permit) for quick discussion. Chair Wanley also requested to pull item 17 (Highway 280 resolution) for separate discussion and motion. The remaining consent agenda items were approved without further comment.
Resolution related to the redesign of Highway 280 (Item 17)
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanley [~00:04:30] · Seconded by Unknown [~00:05:00]
Chair Wanley, the primary mover of this item, proposed postponing it. She explained that public works leadership met with her office and reported that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) would like to present to the committee and answer questions related to the project. The postponement was to the June 18th Climate and Infrastructure meeting, and was agreed upon by city staff and Council Member Rainville, the lead author.
Big Honking Truck Parade (Item 15) and 612 Days Block Event (Item 16) Permits
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanley [~00:10:45] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated, but implied as motion carried.
Council Member Chowry raised questions about deviations from standard operating hours for block events and parades, noting the Big Honking Truck Parade requested a 5 PM start instead of 6 PM on Nicollet Mall. Staff clarified that these are standard deviations for these types of events and discussed transit detours and Metrotransit's communication plan for the parade. Chowry also inquired about the financial impact and ownership of the Big Honking Truck Parade, with staff confirming it is organized by Lisa Goodman with city support for barricades and a request for a follow-up memo on financial details.
Public Hearing for the Loring Park Resurfacing Project (Item 1)
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanley [~00:10:45] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated, but implied as motion carried.
This public hearing was a continuation from a previous meeting to allow ample time for testimony. However, no members of the public or overflow attendees signed up to testify on the Loring Park Resurfacing Project. Following a final call for speakers, the public hearing was closed without any discussion from committee members.
Public Hearing for the 38th Street and Chicago Avenue Reconstruction Project (Item 2)
Dissent: None, unanimous support to forward without recommendation.
Moved by Vice Chair Stevenson [~00:43:45] · Seconded by Chair Wanley [~00:48:00]
Public Works presented the $15.1 million George Floyd Square reconstruction project, funded partly by special assessments ($636,000 or 4% of total cost) on adjacent properties. Numerous community members testified passionately against these assessments, arguing that the project, stemming from the murder of George Floyd by a city employee, should not financially burden residents who have already suffered significant trauma, disinvestment, and economic hardship. Speakers emphasized that the city framed the project as a 'gift' or 'reparations,' making the assessment feel like 'salt in the wound' and a form of displacement. Council members expressed strong support for the community's concerns, acknowledging the unique circumstances and committing to finding a creative alternative solution to the assessments before the full council vote.
Authorizing a Lease Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for Downtown Community Storage at 516 2nd Avenue North (Item 18)
Dissent: None
Moved by Chair Wanley [~01:06:45] · Seconded by Vice Chair Stevenson [~01:07:00]
The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID) presented on its Free Community Storage Program, operating out of Ramp B since October 2021. The program offers secure, climate-controlled storage for unsheltered individuals, emphasizing low barriers, privacy, and accessibility near public transit and shelters. Outcomes include serving over 3,000 clients, storing 12,000+ pounds of belongings, and noting that 43% of clients retrieve items due to securing housing. Council members praised the program for meeting a critical need identified by the unhoused community and its vital role in the continuum of care.
Passage of various resolutions tied to the acceptance of grant and gift funding for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant (Item 19)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Vita [~01:15:30] · Seconded by Chair Wanley [~01:15:30]
Public Works presented the 'Connecting Camden Railroad Grade Separation Project,' which aims to address significant delays and safety risks at three at-grade railroad crossings in North Minneapolis near the Humboldt rail yard. The project, which has caused over 600 delays of 15+ minutes annually and impacted emergency response times, seeks to implement an overpass or underpass. The current action authorizes acceptance of a federal grant for a detailed planning study and preliminary engineering, with a goal of construction by 2031-2032. Council Member Vita championed the project, acknowledging decades of advocacy and praising the collaborative efforts with federal officials like Senator Klobuchar and Canadian Pacific Railroad for making this critical public safety and connectivity project a reality.
Notable Quotes (15)
I am going to make the motion to postpone this item. Um earlier this week, uh my office met with uh public works leadership, uh where we learned that the Minnesota Department of Transportation would like to actually come to our committee to give, uh presentation and answer any questions, uh related to this project.
My first question is just it's regarding both of them. So, just wanted to check for deviations. Is that only the outside of hours of operation deviation? And then could you just articulate um what is the standard within our code of ordinance that we're deviating from?
The big truck parade has a time frame that typically wouldn't allow a parade in downtown Minneapolis starting before 6:00 p.m. We're just asking for the time frame to be moved to 5:00 p.m. to allow this since it's on Nicollet Mall.
Is this a cityowned parade event or is it who who is like the owner of this?
The total cost of the reconstruction project is 15.1 million. The project is funded through multiple sources, including city funds, state aid funds, and special assessments to adjacent property owners. ... Special assessments will cover approximately 4% of the total project cost.
This tax assessment of $636,000 um is going to harm our neighborhood and harm the local businesses. it's probably going to make my rent go up. Um it's going to cause people to get displaced, to be disconnected from the beautiful community that has been built.
If the reason for the project is in fact the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department, I would ask that the special assessments instead be deducted did from the budget of the Minneapolis Police Department and not the residents of the square. They have plenty of money.
We are here because of the actions of the city of Minneapolis. ... When a special assessment was folks were notified of a special assessment they thought what do you we're paying for the gift that you were giving us? ... this special assessment is just salt in the wound. It's kicking someone while they're down. Um it's it's not right.
This this case has what I believe to be very unique and exigent circumstances and I won't lay those out because you have laid that out very very well and council member Stevenson has laid that out... There has to be a way for us to come up with another solution.
This is one aspect or one project that I do sense collaborative agreement amongst our body of figuring out how we do u move forward a option and a plan that takes in light the relief and assistance needed amongst regular workingclass people in this um intersection who will be impacted by the u the assessment and this goal of also making sure we're pouring permanent invest ment dollars into this intersection as well.
Many of the clients say that they're retrieving their belongings because housing was the reason. That's huge. And 65% of the clients hear about the program from somebody else in the community.
Something that has always come up as an ask from individuals is storage and how valuable and integral it is for them to move through continuum of care and get to permanent housing.
Over a year we have um almost 600 uh delay events of 15 minutes or more. And you know you see here 11 that were an hour or more of delays um which is very significant impact for the community.
This is one of the public safety issues in North Minneapolis. A lot of times when we talk about public safety, we talk about policing and unarmed policing, but this is truly a public safety issue in North Minneapolis.
I just also wanted to thank um the Canadian Pacific Railroad because they've been tremendous partners in this work. It's not a traditional relationship, but we've managed to work with them in a extraordinary way where they believe in the project too. They're putting money forward on this project.
Ordinances & Resolutions (21)
Authorizing submittal of grant applications for transportation and active transportation funding.
Authorizing an agreement for the next phase of Safe Routes to School projects.
Accepting the low bid for planting and maintenance services.
Accepting various bids for heavy equipment rental including operators.
Accepting various bids for heavy equipment rental without operators.
Accepting the low bid for a restoration project.
Accepting the low bid for a sanitary sewer reconstruction project.
Authorizing an amendment for sewer improvements.
Authorizing an amendment for security improvements to a parking ramp.
Authorizing an amendment for engineering and design services for a bikeway project.
Authorizing an amendment for a butterfly vab installation project.
Setting a public hearing to consider a director nomination.
Approval of a permit for a parade event.
Approval of a permit for a block event.
Resolution concerning public engagement for Highway 280 redesign.
Public hearing for a resurfacing project.
Public hearing for a major street reconstruction project at George Floyd Square.
Community-built plan for the corridor's revitalization, with a $1.22 million investment.
A resolution developed by community members related to justice for George Floyd Square.
Authorizing a lease for a free community storage program for unhoused individuals.
Acceptance of grant funding for a major infrastructure project to separate railroad and road crossings.