[0:12] >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD [0:18] OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2025. I'M STEVE BRANDT, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE [0:25] BOARD. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK TO READ THE REMINDER [0:31] REGARDING RATE OF SPEECH. >> BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS, STAFF AND THE PUBLIC THAT THESE [0:38] MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THESE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REAL-TIME CAPTIONING AS [0:44] A FURTHER METHOD TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ALL [0:50] SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT OUR CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY CAPTURE [0:55] AND TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. [1:01] >> AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL SO WE CAN VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. [1:10] >> MEMBER FREY IS ABSENT. ABENE. >> PRESENT. >> PAYNE. [1:16] >> PRESENT. >> CHUGHTAI IS ABSENT. VICE PRESIDENT [1:23] PREE-STINSON. >> PRESENT. >> PRESIDENT BRANDT. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD SHOW WE HAVE A [1:29] QUORUM PRESENT. I WILL NOW OFFER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE MEET TODAY ON LAND THAT WAS CLAIMED [1:39] BY THE DAKOTA AND PEOPLES. -- [1:48] AVAILABLE AT [1:54] LIMS.MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV. BOARD MEMBERS, THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING IS BEFORE US, MAY I HAVE [1:59] A MOTION TO ADOPT. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION BEFORE US. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR [2:05] SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED NAY. AYES HAVE IT. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. NEXT IS [2:12] THE ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 12, 2025, MEETING. MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO [2:17] ACCEPT THE MINUTES. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION BEFORE US. ANY DISCUSSION? [2:23] SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. OKAY. [2:29] THE AYES HAVE IT. AND THE MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED. ITEM 4 ON OUR AGENDA [2:34] TODAY IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WHILE WE HAVE [2:39] CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LEVY, IT'S BOARD STANDARD PRACTICE TO RECEIVE COMMENT ON [2:44] ANY OF OUR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS AND ANY MEETINGS AGENDA. THE CLERK INFORMED ME WE HAVE NO ONE [2:50] SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY TODAY. AND [2:56] I WILL THEN MOVE ON TO ITEM 5, AND THE ITEM IS THE EXECUTIVE [3:02] SECRETARY PAY DISCUSSION. I WILL ASK VICE CHAIR [3:09] PREE-STINSON TO LEAD ON THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. SO FROM OUR LAST MEETING WE HAD A COUPLE OF ITEMS [3:14] THAT WE SENT OUT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION WHICH WAS WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD PAY BACKPAY TO [3:19] OUR STAFFER, WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD MOVE HER UP A STEP IMMEDIATELY. WHICH WILL GO [3:25] EFFECTIVE THE FOLLOWING PAYCHECK FROM THE DECISION. AND THE THIRD ONE WAS IN RELATION MOVING UP TO [3:30] A STEP 3 AND WHETHER WE COULD DO THAT OR NOT. WHETHER IT BE JANUARY OR HER ANNIVERSARY DATE. [3:36] WE RECEIVED INFORMATION BACK. THANKFUL TO STAFF FOR BEING SWIFT ON THAT. IT IS ILLEGAL, [3:42] MEANING AGAINST THE LAW, IN ORDER TO BACK PAY. SO THAT IS OFF THE TABLE. WHAT IS ON THE [3:48] TABLE, YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE IS A MOTION. I'LL READ THAT IN A MOMENT. TO GO AHEAD AND INCREASE TO A STEP 2. [3:56] TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY, THE REASON WE DID THAT WAS THE [4:02] DISCUSSION ON WHAT STEP TO START [4:09] MS. KEIDERLING AT -- AT THE LAST MEETING I BELIEVE TO THAT SHE [4:15] SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTED AT A STEP 2 IN MY OPINION, AND WE HAD SOME AGREEMENT AROUND THAT. [4:20] THAT'S THE MOTION YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD PORTION THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO VOTE BUT [4:26] WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT SHE IS ELIGIBLE TO MOVE UP TO A STEP 3 [4:32] AT HER ANNIVERSARY DATE. >> ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE MADE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? [4:38] >> SECOND. >> OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. DOY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIO OR COMMENTS? [4:44] >> I WAS GOING TO READ IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. >> VERY GOOD. >> THE MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZING [4:50] A NEW EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CHRISTINA KEIDERLING TO INCREASE HER PAYRATE TO THE NEXT STEP IN [4:58] THE PAY PROGRESSION SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE WITH THE PAY PERIOD FOR WORK PERFORMED -- SUCH [5:06] AGREEMENT SHALL INCORPORATE ALL OTHER -- SUCH INCREASE SHALL NOT [5:12] AFFECT THE DATE OF SERVICE FOR FUTURE PROGRESSIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US AND IT HAS BEEN [5:19] SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER ABENE. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE VICE [5:25] PRESIDENT FOR WORKING ON THIS AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS PROBABLY A REALLY GOOD WAY TO [5:31] DO IT BECAUSE IT WON'T AFFECT THE STEP INCREASE THAT'S GOING TO COME IN APRIL. IT WON'T CHANGE THAT CYCLE. I THINK THIS [5:36] IS A REALLY GOOD WAY TO HANDLE THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. [5:42] >> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE WILL CALL THE QUESTION ON THE MOTION. ALL [5:49] THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT. THE [5:55] MOTION IS ADOPTED. THE NEXT ITEM IS A DISCUSSION OF REVENUE [6:01] PATHWAYS AND POSSIBILITIES. I'LL TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS DISCUSSION. WHAT I AM TRYING TO [6:08] DO HERE IS FOLLOW UP ON THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AT OUR OCTOBER 22ND MEETING, THE [6:14] PRESENTATION THAT WAS ALSO RECEIVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT POSSIBLE SOURCES OF REVENUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A [6:22] CITY COUNCIL DECISION. BUT SINCE THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED THE REPORT TO BE MADE BOTH TO THE [6:28] CITY COUNCIL AND THE BET, I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY [6:34] FEEDBACK FROM THE BET OR MEMBERS OF THE -- I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF [6:41] ANY CONSENSUS DEVELOPS OUT OF THIS GROUP THAT WE CAN USE TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL. SORT OF OUR INITIAL GLANCE. THIS IS A [6:48] VERY PRELIMINARY REPORT. WE NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS COMING IN A FEW [6:54] WEEKS. BUT NOT TRYING TO SUPPLANT THE CITY COUNCIL'S [7:00] DECISIONMAKING IN THIS AREA BUT MAINLY ACT IN ADVISORY CAPACITY. [7:06] SO I'LL LEAD ON THIS. THESE ARE IN RANK ORDER SINCE WE JUST GOT [7:11] DONE WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING. MY FIRST CHOICE IS ALREADY ON THE [7:19] TABLE, AND SO IT'S NOT REALLY AN [7:24] ADDITION TO THE DISCUSSION. ALTHOUGH I MIGHT ELABORATE ON SOME OF MY THOUGHTS. THAT IS EXPANDING THE DOWNTOWN TAXING [7:33] AREA FOR LIQUOR AND RESTAURANT -- LIQUOR [7:38] ESTABLISHMENTS AND RESTAURANTS THAT HAS BEEN BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE I BELIEVE TWICE. [7:44] EVIDENTLY THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO IT IN THE MINDS OF LEGISLATORS. MY ONLY [7:52] COMMENT ON THIS OTHER THAN TO INQUIRE IF ANY OF MY -- IF [8:01] COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE CAN ADVISE AT ALL ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THIS ONE AND WHY WE'RE RUNNING [8:07] INTO RESISTANCE IS THAT MAYBE WE'RE AIMING A LITTLE -- I WOULD [8:12] SUGGEST WE AIM A LITTLE BIT MORE AMBITIOUSLY ON THIS ONE. AND [8:19] SEEK AUTONOMY OVER THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR LIQUOR AND TAXING AREA AS A CITY, AS A HOME [8:25] RULE CITY. IT SEEMS TO ME WE KNOW THE CITY BEST. AND LEGISLATORS FROM ALL OVER THE [8:30] STATE DON'T. AND I WOULD LIKE TO [8:36] SEE PERHAPS THE COUNCIL CONSIDER AMENDING THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA [8:43] TO MAKE THIS ITEM AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO SET THE [8:50] LIQUOR AND RESTAURANT TAXING AREAS. NOW THEY'RE IN THE STATUTORY AND SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT OF STATUTE. [8:55] SO I'LL GET THAT ONE OUT OF THE WAY FIRST. BUT LOOKING AT THE NEW OPTIONS THAT WERE PLACED [9:02] BEFORE US TWO WEEKS AGO, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MY FIRST CHOICE [9:07] CONCEPTUALLY WOULD BE THE INCOME TAX ON HIGH EARNER HOUSEHOLDS. I [9:13] SAY THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS CONCERN FROM THE VOTERS I SPOKE WITH [9:20] ABOUT WHETHER THIS WOULD CAUSE TAX FLIGHT FROM THE CITY. AND I THINK THAT'S A VALID CONCERN. I [9:27] THINK WE SHOULD ASK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESEARCHING THIS AREA TO [9:35] RESEARCH THE EXPERIENCE OF CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED A LOCAL INCOME TAX IN A LARGE [9:42] METRO AREA ON SOLELY THE CENTRAL CITY SO THAT WE CAN SEE, AND [9:48] IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO THAT I BELIEVE USING CENSUS DATA, WHICH STRATIFY INCOMES WHETHER THERE [9:55] IS INDEED VALIDITY TO THAT CONCERN. I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT WE MAY BE LOSING PEOPLE TO [10:01] THE PROPERTY TAX, HIGH PROPERTY TAX NOW AMONG THOSE HIGH EARNS. [10:08] I FOUND THE PROPERTY TAX FIGURES SHOW AN INCREASED DEPENDENCE ON [10:14] THE PROPERTY TAX IN GOING OUT THROUGH 2031 TO BE VERY [10:28] ILLUMINATING. AND CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT WOULD DRIVE POTENTIALLY SOME RESIDENTS OUT OF THE CITY WHO ARE PAYING HIGH [10:34] PROPERTY TAXES. SO THERE ARE QUESTIONS TO PURSUE AS WE [10:40] EVALUATE THAT POTENTIAL STRATEGY. I THINK MY SECOND [10:48] PRIORITY WOULD BE THE LAND TRANSFER TAX. AND I SAY THAT [10:54] BECAUSE THERE IS STATE AND COUNTY PRECEDENT FOR A LAND TRANSFER TAX. THE STATE WOULD [11:05] CHARGE US ABOUT $825 ON A [11:11] $250,000 HOME. AND HENNEPIN COUNTY CHARGES ABOUT $25. STATE [11:19] IS $1.65 -- THE COUNTY PORTION [11:28] IS .25, 25 CENTS ON EVERY $500. [11:35] AND IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A REFERENDUM MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET [11:43] FURTHER INFORMATION ON THAT ONCE GETS TO POTENTIALLY TO THE CITY [11:49] ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO WE CAN CLARIFY THAT. THE THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT HITS [11:55] PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY WHEN THEY'RE FLUSH WITH CASH, AND THAT IS AT THE TIME OF SALE OF A HOUSE. AND [12:02] THEREFORE, IT SHOULDN'T PRESENT THE SAME HARDSHIP AS SOME OTHER POTENTIAL TAXES. WE MIGHT [12:09] EXPLORE WHETHER THERE'S LOGICAL USE FOR THAT TAX THAT WOULD FIT WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. SUCH AS [12:19] RE-DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES AND SO ON. SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A LOGICAL USE OF THAT REVENUE. AND [12:27] THE THIRD PRIORITY I HAVE AMONG THE NEW POTENTIAL SOURCES OF [12:35] REVENUE IS THE VOLUNTARY PILOT. INSTITUTIONS ARE REQUESTED TO [12:41] MAKE A PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT FULL OR PARTIAL THAT REPRESENTS THE VALUE OF THE CITY SERVICES THAT [12:47] THEY RECEIVE. THE FACT THAT THEY'RE SERVED BY POLICE, FIRE, [12:53] STREET PLOWING. I KNOW THAT MY CHURCH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WOULD BE TAX EXEMPT HAS BENEFITED FROM [13:01] FIRE SERVICES WHICH KEPT THE SMALL FIRE FROM GETTING MUCH LARGER. AND ALSO HAS USED [13:08] SECURITY RECENTLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED AT ANNUNCIATION CHURCH. THE OTHER THING I LIKE [13:17] ABOUT THE BOSTON ONE, WHICH BASED ON THEIR PER CAPITA YIELD [13:24] COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO YIELD 40.2 MILLION JUST BASED ON [13:29] OUR POPULATION, IS THAT THEY PUBLISH A LIST OF WHO HAS PAID AND WHO HASN'T PAID. SO THERE'S [13:36] A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IMPLIED PEER PRESSURE TO AT LEAST PAY SOMETHING. AND IN BOSTON, IT [13:41] APPLIES TO MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN [13:48] TOTAL PROPERTY. SO THAT HITS THE BIG PLAYERS NOT THE SMALL SOCIAL [13:53] SERVICE AGENCIES THAT ARE OUT THERE. SO THAT'S MY INPUT. AND I [14:00] WILL NOW BE QUIET AND LISTEN TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE. [14:07] COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> I WOULD SAY THAT JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, TAXES NO MATTER WHO WE TAKE THEM FROM [14:13] DON'T DO US ANY GOOD IF WE'RE NOT SMART ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THEM. THAT'S JUST THE FIRST [14:18] THOUGHT IN MY HEAD. WHEN I THINK ABOUT TAXING THE RICH, WHAT I'M REALLY THINKING ABOUT IS PEOPLE [14:24] PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. WE HAVE MILLIONAIRES IN OUR CITY. MANY OF THEM MOVED FROM OUTER SUBURBS [14:31] TO PLACES LIKE THE MAIL DISTRICT AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT. WHAT THEY SEEMED TO FEEL WAS LESS WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH TAXES THEY [14:38] WERE PAYING. MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEIR DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATION THERE. I HEAR THE [14:48] CONVERSATION A LOT. IT'S CALLED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. FLIGHT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. [14:53] PEOPLE HAVE USED THE TERM WHITE FLIGHT. THE TERM IS THERE IS NO FINANCIAL SANCTUARY CITY IN THIS [15:00] CITY. WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES. WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE'S SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS. WE RELY ON 80% [15:06] OF OUR TAXES IN THIS CITY IN ORDER TO KEEP IT GOING. AND [15:11] CERTAINLY, WE ARE NOT A MAJORITY OF MILLIONAIRES. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SPEAK TO ME SINCE [15:16] YOU USED RANK CHOICE VOTING, I'LL FOLLOW SUIT. I DO LOVE THE IDEA OF EXPANDING THE DOWNTOWN [15:22] TAXING. THAT IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BIGGER LIFT THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT MORE, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO RELY ON [15:29] RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AS WELL. AS WE TALK TO FOLKS THAT NORMALLY WE DON'T TALK TO. I [15:34] LIKE TO HAVE A BIGGER PICTURE GOAL THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK TO GET THERE. BUT ALSO [15:39] TWO THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE LOWER HANGING FRUIT. BUT CERTAINLY THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO [15:45] OPERATE OUTSIDE OF OUR GOVERNMENT FOR, WHICH IS PAYROLL TAXES FROM CORPORATE ENTITIES WE [15:52] HAVE IN OUR CITY. AS WELL AS LUXURY TAX FROM CAPITAL INVESTMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE [15:58] THAT DONE. ANOTHER THING, I KNOW I SAID I WAS GOING TO STICK TO THREE. BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER [16:04] COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT I THINK WILL COME OUT WHEN WE GET INTO THE WEEDS OF THE PRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTANT, ARE SOME [16:10] THINGS LIKE INCREASING THE FEE FOR PEOPLE KEEPING THEIR PROPERTIES VACANT WHETHER [16:17] THEY'RE COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. IT'S SET WAY, WAY TOO LOW. AND PERHAPS THERE CAN BE OTHER GREAT POLICY [16:23] THAT COMES OUT OF THAT. LIKE A FUND THAT GOES INTO REMODELING A LOT OF THESE HOMES. AND I SAY [16:30] THAT BECAUSE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING ON A CAMPAIGN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, FOR ABOUT TWO [16:39] YEARS, THAT FOCUSED ON THE PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS THAT COME IN AND BUY UP LARGE SWATHS [16:44] OF OUR CITY IN AREAS OF OUR CITY THAT ARE UNDER SERVED BOTH HISTORICALLY AND PRESENT DAY. [16:50] AND THEY OFTEN SUCK THE LIFE'S BLOOD OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN LEAVE IT AND LEAVE [16:58] DESTITUTE PROPERTIES FOR WHICH US TO DEAL WITH. THOSE MAKE SENSE TO ME AS WELL EXPOUNDING [17:05] PO UPON IT AND THINK ABOUT SMART POLICY DECISIONS THAT CAN -- CHANGES NOT JUST ABOUT WHERE THE [17:10] MONEY GOES BUT ALSO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ENFORCEABLE POLICY TO START MOVING SOME OF THESE [17:18] DOLLARS AND MAKING BETTER DECISIONS. WE ARE A CITY THAT IS VERY TOP HEAVY. OUR GOVERNMENT [17:24] IS PRETTY BIG. HAS A LOT OF DIVISIONS. A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS. [17:29] WHILE WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB RESTRUCTURING, I THINK THERE'S A [17:38] AREA. THANK YOU. NE IN THIS >> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER [17:45] PREE-STINSON, THANK YOU. PAYNE OR COMMISSIONER ABENE. COMMISSIONER PAYNE. [17:50] >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BRANDT. I THINK AS YOU OUTLINED, WHAT WE PURSUE IS GOING TO REQUIRE [17:55] CHANGES AT THE CAPITAL. WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON OUR PRIORITY. [18:06] I'LL BE TAKING THIS FEEDBACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IN GENERAL, MY APPROACH TO THIS ENTIRE TOPIC IS [18:12] THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN HOW DOWNTOWNS WORK ACROSS THE [18:18] COUNTRY. IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO MINNEAPOLIS. WE NEED A STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN HOW WE FUND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S NOT GOING [18:24] TO BE PEOPLE DRIVING IN FROM THE SUBURBS TO WORK DOWNTOWN AND THAT DRIVING ALL OF OUR TAX [18:31] REVENUE. SO A LOT OF WHAT I'LL BE LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S [18:37] EXPANDING OUR AUTHORITY AROUND ENTERTAINMENT TAXES, LIQUOR TAXES, OR, YOU KNOW, LAND VALUE [18:43] TAXES. JUST A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND LOCAL CONTROL, I WOULD SAY, AS A KIND OF BROAD [18:49] THEME OF HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS. BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO [18:57] US -- US TO GET A POINT WHERE EVERY PLACE IS AN ATTRACTIVE [19:02] PLACE TO WORK. STILL HAVE THEM DRIVING DOWNTOWN AND TODAY, IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY DOWNTOWN [19:09] AT LUNCH. YOU KNOW THOSE MONDAYs AND FRIDAYs WHERE YOU MIGHT BE WORKING FROM HOME. OR YOU MAY [19:15] EVEN HAVE A CO-WORKING SPACE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU ARE STILL GENERATING THAT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BUT IT'S JUST NOT [19:22] CAPTURED IN OUR FRAMEWORK FOR TAXING. SO I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY ON THIS BODY OF BET, [19:28] WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAX LEVIES AS KIND OF OUR MAIN [19:35] P PURVIEW, IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER FOR US TO ADOPT LOWER AND LOWER PROPERTY TAXES IF WE HAD [19:40] THOSE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE. I THINK HOW WE FOCUS AND PRIORITIZE FOR THOSE [19:46] CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE CAPITAL IS GOING TO BE REALLY KEY HERE. THE OTHER THING I'M THINKING ABOUT AS WELL IS AROUND [19:52] THE FACT BECAUSE I THINK ESPECIALLY WE TALK ABOUT WEALTH TAXING PEOPLE. OH, YOU CAN JUST [19:57] GO ACROSS THE BORDER 15 MINUTES AND GET AWAY FROM A WEALTH TAX IN MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK A LOT OF [20:04] OUR SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS HAVE HAD ARTIFICIALLY LOW TAXES OVER THE [20:09] LAST 50 YEARS. AND AS THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS COMING TO END OF LIFE, THEY'RE GOING TO START [20:15] GETTING HIT WITH INCREASING LEVELS OF PROPERTY TAXES JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR [20:21] INFRASTRUCTURE AT A STATUS QUO LEVEL. AND SO I ABSOLUTELY AGREE [20:27] WITH VICE PRESIDENT STINSON THAT THIS CONCEPT, THE FLIGHT OUT OF THE CITY. THERE ISN'T GOING TO [20:32] BE SOME SAFE PLACE TO LAND WHERE THERE ISN'T A JURISDICTION THAT [20:38] ISN'T IN SOME SORT OF STRUCTURAL CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THEY'RE RAISING REVENUE TO KEEP THEIR CITY ALIVE. SO I THINK [20:48] THIS IS ABOUT REALLY REORIENTING THE ENTIRE MODEL OF HOW [20:55] GOVERNMENT IS FUNDED. >> COMMISSIONER ABENE. >> VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION. I THINK THE ONLY THING I'LL [21:02] COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, TRY TO THINK ABOUT PARKS. BECAUSE I'M THE PARK COMMISSIONER HERE. BUT [21:08] THE ENTERTAINMENT TAX I THINK HAS SOME MERIT. SO THE PARK BOARD, ESPECIALLY IF, YOU KNOW, [21:14] I'M THINKING ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH REVENUES COULD FLOW TO THE PARKS [21:19] EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM MAYBE SOME NEW REVENUE SOURCES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. [21:26] MAYBE THE PARK BOARD STILL IS A PROPERTY TAX DEPENDENT ENTITY. BUT THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN THAT [21:31] THE CITY HAS IS RELIEVED BY SOME OTHER MECHANISMS. THE [21:38] ENTERTAINMENT TAX. THE PARK BOARD IS A HUGE DRIVER OF VISITS TO THE CITY. THE CHAIN OF LAKES [21:44] ARE THE SECOND BIGGEST ATTRACTION IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BEHIND THE MALL OF AMERICA. AND MANY, MANY OF THE [21:50] VISITORS, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBERS, BUT MILLIONS OF VISITORS COME FROM OUTSIDE THE [21:56] CITY. TALK ABOUT SERVICES, THE CITY SUPPLIES, WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CITY, AND ALL OF THAT. I [22:02] THINK WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ALL THAT IS WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THE SAME PAYERS. SO I WOULD JUST PUT [22:07] MY VOTE IN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. I WOULD FOLLOW UP [22:17] ON THAT. THE FEW COMMENTS. I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON [22:24] SMART CITY SPENDING. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED BY ALMOST EVERYBODY I MET WHEN I [22:31] TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL INCOME TAX IDEA WHILE OUT [22:37] CAMPAINING IN THE, FOR THE ELECTION LAST WEEK. AND I HOPE [22:42] TO TALK TO COMMISSIONER PAYNE FURTHER ABOUT THAT. SO THAT PERHAPS WE COULD FIGURE OUT A [22:49] WAY FORWARD ON THAT. THERE ARE [22:56] SORT OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON THE VACANCY ISSUE. ONE IS THE SAN FRANCISCO [23:03] APPROACH WHICH IMPOSES A CERTAIN FEE ON HOMES THAT ARE VACANT FOR [23:10] MORE THAN 160 SOME DAYS A YEAR, WHATEVER HALF A YEAR IS. AND I [23:16] DISCOVERED IN LOOKING UP A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT THAT IT'S BEEN UNFORTUNATELY RULED [23:25] UNCONSTITUTIONAL I BELIEVE BY A FEDERAL COURT ON BOTH STATE AND [23:31] CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS IN SAN FRANCISCO. I HAVEN'T READ IN DETAIL ABOUT THAT. THEN THE OTHER APPROACH IS THERE IS A [23:39] VACANT AND BOARDED BUILDING FEE IN MINNEAPOLIS. MY RECOLLECTION [23:46] IS THAT HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE CITY'S COST OF ESSENTIALLY TENDING TO THOSE BUILDINGS THAT [23:52] WE CAN'T CHARGE A HIGHER FEE THEN WE CAN JUSTIFY BY DOING AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO [23:58] MONITOR THEM. OTHERWISE, I'D BE WITH YOU ON THAT, COMMISSIONER [24:07] PREE-STINSON. >> [ OFF-MIC COMMENTS ]. >> RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A FEE BUT [24:12] IT'S COSTED ON WHAT THE CITY CAN JUSTIFY IN TERMS OF STAFF TIME AND EFFORT. AND I THINK WE'VE [24:19] BEEN TOLD PRETTY FIRMLY BY THE COURTS THAT IT HAS TO -- WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY ANY FEE [24:25] THAT WE CHARGE IN THAT REGARD. I [24:36] AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ABENE THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIND A WAY TO MILK SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE MANY, MANY [24:43] VISITORS WHO COME TO PLACES LIKE THE CHAIN OF LAKES. I CAN'T TELL [24:48] YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I RAN INTO WHILE OUT LOOKING FOR MINNEAPOLIS VOTERS THIS SUMMER [24:54] AT THE LAKES WERE FROM SAINT PAUL OR FROM THE SUBURBS. WE ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE PARK SYSTEM. WE [25:01] DO HAVE A CHARGE FOR PARKING AT THE PARKING LOTS AT THE CHAIN OF LAKES. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT [25:07] EXPANDED TO THE PARKING BAYS THAT GO AROUND THE LAKE AS WELL. [25:14] I BELIEVE THAT STARTED -- I THINK I SAW ONE ON THE WEST SIDE [25:22] OF BDE MAKASCA. THAT'S A PROMISING WAY. SO WE'VE GOT SOME [25:28] VIEWS OUT ON THE TABLE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CONSENSUS. [25:34] BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU -- EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> I WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND [25:39] SINCE WE DON'T HAVE EVERYONE TODAY, AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING A BRIEFING BEFORE THE [25:45] END OF THE YEAR BY A CONSULTANT. PERHAPS THAT WILL BE TIME TO TAKE UP THE CONVERSATION AND [25:51] MEMO WITH SOME CONSENSUS OF INFORMATION. AND HAVE A SUMMARY OF HOW DIFFERENT MEMBERS FELT [25:56] TOO. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHERE WE ALL AGREED. THERE COULD BE OTHER IDEAS IN THERE. I FEEL [26:02] LIKE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PREMATURE TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE. BUT I THINK DISCUSSION IS GOOD. [26:10] IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE TO ME WE SEND A MEMO AFTER WE GET THAT [26:17] PRESENTATION. JUST A SUGGESTION. >> I AGREE. I THINK THERE IS A [26:24] NEED TO GIVE SOME FEEDBACK EVEN IF IT'S JUST INDIVIDUALLY TO THE [26:32] STAFF BECAUSE I THINK OUR SUPPORT FOR ANY NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS WILL DEPEND ON WHAT WE CAN [26:41] FIND OUT ABOUT HOW THINGS HAVE PLAYED OUT ELSEWHERE. AND I [26:48] THINK I WILL PROBABLY TAKE THE INITIATIVE JUST SPEAKING PERSONALLY OF SENDING A MEMO TO [26:59] DIRECTOR HAWKINS TO POINT OUT SOME AREAS WHERE IT WOULD BE [27:04] HELPFUL TO HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU AS WELL. AND I'D BE GLAD TO MENTION THAT [27:10] WE DISCUSSED IT. WE DON'T HAVE A CONSENSUS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING FOR MORE [27:18] INFORMATION. BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE A KNOWLEDGEABLE DECISION [27:23] THAT WOULD BE BOLSTERED BY WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HE COULD PROVIDE FOR US. AND SO ANYMORE [27:34] QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. WE HAVE NONE. SO I GUESS WE HAVE [27:40] NOTHING TO RECEIVE AND FILE. BUT THANK YOU FOR A ROBUST DISCUSSION. THE LAST ITEM FOR [27:47] DISCUSSION IS THE BET DASHBOARD DEMONSTRATION WHICH WILL BE [27:53] PRESENTED BY BE STAFFER CHRISTINA KEIDERLING TO LEAD ON [27:59] THIS ITEM. WELCOME. [28:40] >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. JUST BEAR WITH ME ONE MOMENT AS I GET [28:46] SIGNED IN HERE. WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY. ALL [29:00] RIGHTY, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD EVENING. AS YOU ALL KNOW MY NAME IS CHRISTINA KEIDERLING. I JUST [29:09] WANT TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE. SINCE LAST TIME WE SPOKE A BET WITH DASHBOARD WAS SET UP. THERE [29:16] ARE TWO OUTSTANDING ITEMS I'M STILL WORKING WITH I.T. ON. THOSE ARE FIRST OF ALL, THE [29:22] DASHBOARD IS NOT BEING UPDATED IN REAL TIME. BUT THAT SHOULD OCCUR IN THE NEXT ONE TO TWO [29:29] WEEKS. WE'RE WORKING WITH I.T. THAT WHEN I PUSH UPDATES ON MY SOFTWARE, IT WILL -- THE OTHER [29:35] THING THAT THEY ARE SETTING UP TO DO IS IMBEDDING THIS [29:41] DASHBOARD ON TO YOUR PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE. SO RIGHT HERE I HAVE YOUR INTERNAL SHAREPOINT [29:46] PULLED UP JUST SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD. IF YOU GO [29:53] TO QUICK LINKS, IT'S GOING TO PULL UP THE DASHBOARD FOR YOU. I [29:58] DID A FEW THINGS HERE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS IS THAT IT'S TAKING THE WORK PLAN YOU [30:03] GAVE ME ALONG WITH ANY KIND OF ADMINISTRATIVE DELIVERABLES THAT YOU HAVE TASKED ME WITH DURING [30:09] THE BET MEETINGS AND IT'S GIVING YOU A PLACE TO SEE WHAT THE REQUEST STATUS OF THOSE ARE. BET [30:18] 25003, IT WILL ACTUALLY LINK YOU TO THE BET MEETING WHERE YOU BROUGHT UP THAT ISSUE OR YOU DISCUSSED IT OR YOU TOLD ME TO [30:24] GO TAKE ACTION ON IT. IT'S A WAY TO GIVE US A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAKING SURE I [30:31] AM MAKING PROGRESS HOW YOU WANT TO SEE IT AND YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN PROGRESS FOR THE BET. WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE HOUSED ON YOUR WEBSITE, [30:38] YOUR PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE, THE CITY WEBSITE, I IMAGINE WILL BE [30:46] RIGHT DOWN HERE NEXT TO THE BYLAWS. I THINK THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO PUT A RADIO [30:51] BUTTON. LIKE I SAID, ONE TO TWO WEEKS. FAR AND ABOVE MY IT [30:59] SKILLS. SO WE DO NEED TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT. FINALLY, JUST SO YOU HAVE A REFERENCE POINT AND YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF [31:05] MAYBE WHAT SOME OTHER DASHBOARDS LOOKS LIKE. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THE POLICY AND [31:11] RESEARCH DASHBOARD IS WHAT IT WAS CALLED. THEY'RE NOW LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND [31:16] OVERSIGHT. IT'S HOUSED IN DATA SOURCE. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE WHAT [31:22] WE'RE TRYING TO DO BY GIVING THE BET A DASHBOARD. MANY IF NOT ALMOST ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE [31:27] A DASHBOARD SO YOU CAN GO IN AND SEE WHAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE WORKING ON. OR DOING THE EXACT [31:34] SAME THING NOW FOR THE BET. WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT IS THE BET [31:41] USING THEIR LEVIED FUNDS TO EXPLORE. WE'RE FOLLOWING WELL SET PRECEDENT. THERE'S NOT AS [31:47] MUCH ON OUR DASHBOARD YET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AS BUILT OUT. I THINK ONE DAY WE'LL PROBABLY [31:53] LOOK A LITTLE MORE LIKE POLICY AND RESEARCH HERE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR [31:58] MULTIPLE QUARTERS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. FOR NOW, WE JUST HAVE THE SMALL DASHBOARD THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH BASED ON THE [32:04] CURRENT WORK PLAN YOU'VE GIVEN ME. I EXPECT US TO BUILD THIS OUT OVER THE END OF THE YEAR, AND CERTAINLY INTO NEXT YEAR. [32:11] IT'S GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE EVOLVING. IF THERE'S ANYTHING [32:17] ELSE YOU ENVISION OR WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH ME WITH, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. BUT I JUST [32:22] WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE TO LET YOU KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A DASHBOARD CREATED. WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET [32:29] IT INTO DATA SOURCE WHERE IT HAS TO BE HOUSED, AND IMBEDDED ON TO THE PUBLIC FACING BET WEBSITE. [32:34] SO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THAT, JUST LET ME KNOW. BUT IT WAS MOSTLY A STATUS UPDATE FOR YOU. [32:42] >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. COMMISSIONER ABENE. >> THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT [32:47] WORK. DID IT SAY YOU BET-CHA? ROLL THAT DOWN. IT'S REALLY [32:53] IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SEE THAT. >> SURE. THIS IS YOUR INTERNAL [32:59] SHAREPOINT. >> YEAH. I WANT TO KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THAT? IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW. [33:04] >> IT WAS ME, MA'AM. >> THAT'S IT. LET'S GO BACK AND MOVE HER TO STEP 3. [33:10] [LAUGHTER] >> OKAY. >> YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. [33:15] >> IF YOU DON'T FOR ANY REASON, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. >> I HAVEN'T TRIED BUT I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO USE MY CITY OF [33:21] MINNEAPOLIS LOGIN. >> YOU DO, MA'AM. >> IT'S SOME WHAT RELATED, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SHAKE THE [33:27] CITIZENS AND SAY PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE BET IS DOING. SO THIS IS GREAT. YOU HAD [33:34] ALSO PREVIOUSLY, IT'S A LITTLE DIVERSION FROM THE TOPIC. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA GETTING DUSTED OFF AS WELL. THE [33:40] BET SOCIAL MEDIA. HAS THAT HAPPENED? LIKE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE I'LL TOTALLY FOLLOW IT. [33:46] >> I SO APPRECIATE IT. THE LAST UPDATE ON THAT, THERE ARE TWO CURRENTLY EXISTING SOCIAL MEDIA [33:51] SITES. AND ONE IS FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT AND ONE IS FOR THE [33:57] PRESIDENT FOR THE ELECTED POSITIONS. WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ONE JUST FOR THE BET. OUR [34:03] SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM WAS THINKING WE DID. BUT AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN [34:09] ABLE TO FIND ONE. AS OF NOW, WE HAVE TWO SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES FOR THE PRESIDENT AND VICE [34:14] PRESIDENT. THEY PLAN TO HAVE THEM RESET SO WHOMEVER TAKES [34:20] OVER THOSE ROLES WILL HAVE NEW LOGIN CREDENTIALS. STAFF [34:28] DIRECTION TO HAVE A THIRD BOARD SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, IF THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU, IT'S JUST NOT [34:34] IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY. VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE THIS ATTEMPT TO BE PUBLIC [34:40] FACING. AND THAT'S ANOTHER MECHANISM WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY OTHER [34:47] QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. >> JUST QUICK FEEDBACK THAT WE DO HAVE COMMS AND IT DOES WORK [34:52] WHEN WE PUSH THINGS OUT. WE DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB DOING THAT FOR THE LAST CHARTER REQUIRED [34:58] MEETING, I BELIEVE. BUT WE COULD USE IT MORE OFTEN AND FOR OTHER MEETINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE BROKEN [35:03] THE RECORD FOR PUBLIC ATTENDANCE OF THIS MEETING BEFORE. AND PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WHEN THEY'RE [35:09] ENGAGED. AND IT'S OUR JOB TO ENGAGE THEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO DO [35:15] THAT BECAUSE THE DATA DOES SHOW THAT WHEN WE DO, PEOPLE DO SHOW UP. AND WHEN WE DON'T, THEY DON'T. >> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER [35:24] DISCUSSION, UNLESS YOU HAVE A FURTHER PRESENTATION. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO UPDATES AND [35:31] ANNOUNCEMENTS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO IMPART FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD? ALL [35:41] RIGHT. I NOTE THAT ALL THOSE WHO SOUGHT REELECTION ON THE BOARD [35:47] WERE REELECTED. SO WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT GREAT [35:54] TURNOVER. AND WE'LL BE JOINED OF COURSE BY A NEW PUBLIC MEMBER, [36:00] REPLACING COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON. ALTHOUGH THERE'S CERTAINLY NO REPLACING COMMISSIONER PREE-STINSON, AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR. ALL [36:07] RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED.