[0:01] . [0:22] >> GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME MY NAME IS AUMARINE CHOWDHURY AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE [0:29] INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE. AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO ON CALL TO OUR REGULAR MEETING FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH, [0:34] 2025. I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF AND THE PUBLIC [0:40] THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THESE BROADCASTS INCLUDE [0:46] REALTIME CAPTIONING AS A FURTHER METHOD TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY THEREFORE, ALL [0:52] PERIODS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE -- THEREFORE, ALL MEMBERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF [0:58] THEIR SPEED SO ALL COMMENTS WESTBOUND TRANSCRIBED FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THEIR SPEED FOR [1:06] CLARITY IN THEIR COMMENTS. I'LL NOW HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE [1:13] ROLL. (ROLL CALL.) [1:40] >> THERE ARE 8 MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM. I'LL ALSO [1:46] REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE'RE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT TODAY SO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BE SIGNED [1:52] IN. BEFORE WE MOVE ON OUR PUBLISHED AGENDA, THERE IS A PROPOSED ADDITION BEFORE YOU, [1:57] WHICH IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND [2:03] POLICY POSITIONS RELATED TO AMORTIZATION FOR NONFORMING INDUSTRIAL USE IN ENVIRONMENTAL [2:10] JUSTICE FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE AND MYSELF. WE'RE MAKING A MOTION TO ADD THIS ITEM TO THE [2:16] AGENDA AS ITEM NO. 2. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON [2:23] INCLUDING THIS ITEM? OKAY. SEEING NONE, COUNCIL [2:31] PRESIDENT PAYNE WHO REQUESTED THE AGENDA TO BE AGENDA. ALL [2:37] THOSE AYE. THE AGENDA IS AMENDED. WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR [2:43] POSTED AGENDA TODAY WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON FEDERAL AND STATE ACTIONS AFFECTING THE CITIES. [2:50] I'LL NOW INVITE DIRECTOR TOPANKA TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION ON WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT THE [2:57] STATE CAPITOL. CAPITAL. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE YOU [3:03] AN UPDATE. I WILL DIVE RIGHT INTO IT. [3:08] SO WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATIVE [3:13] SESSION AND AS OF MARCH 17TH THE HOUSE IS NOW TIED 67-67 AFTER [3:19] THE SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE ROSEVILLE AREA SO THE HOUSE IS NOW OPERATING UNDER A POWER [3:26] SHARING AGREEMENT WITH COCHAIRS OF ALL COMMITTEES SO THERE'S A DFL AND A GOP COCHAIR FOR EACH [3:32] COMMITTEE AND SO THEY'RE TAKING TURNS RUNNING COMMITTEE MEETING AND SETTING THE AGENDAS. [3:37] TYPICALLY ON DAYS THAT A GOP MEMBER IS CHAIRING THEY'RE HEARING MORE GOP DEALS AND THE [3:43] DAY DFL THEY'RE WE'LL HAVE MORE DFL BILLS. IT'S NOT UNIFORMED [3:48] KEYBOARD BUT THAT'S GENERAL HOW IT'S WORKING AND THEY'RE -- GENERALLY HOW IT'S WORKING AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR [3:55] COMMITTEE BUSINESS. IN THE SENATE THERE IS NOW A VACANCY AFTER THE RESIGNATION [4:00] OF A GLP COUPLE YOU'LL SEE THAT YOU SAW IN THE NEWS. THERE'S [4:08] 34DLP THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED FOR THAT SEAT. IT'S IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA BUT I [4:14] DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN YET BUT I THINK THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THERE WILL BE A NEW MEMBER PRIOR TO THE END OF SESSION BUT [4:21] PROBABLY EARLY MAY SOMETIME. SO JUST WITH ALSO NOTE THAT THERE ARE COMMITTEE DEADLINES [4:30] COMING UP SOON. THE FIRST ONE FRIDAY APRIL 4TH AND THAT DEADLINE IS FOR BILLS TO PASS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. [4:37] THIS IS FOR POLICY BILLS TO BE PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE BY APRIL 4TH. FOR THEM TO CONTINUE [4:43] MOVING FORWARD. THE APRIL 11TH DEADLINE IS FOR ALL BILLS A FISCAL COMPONENT [4:50] TO BE OUT OF OUR HOUSES WAYS AND MEANS A SENATE FINANCE [4:55] COMMITTEE. THAT REALLY WILL BE THE BUDGET BILLS THAT WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES. THEY HAVE TO BE THROUGH COMMITTEE BY APRIL 11TH. [5:01] SO THOSE ARE COMING UP QUICKLY. I'LL GET INTO THE FEBRUARY FORECAST IN A MOMENT BUT BUDGET [5:08] TARGETS ARE GOING TO REALLY SET THE PARAMETERS FOR HOW THOSE [5:13] BUDGET BILLS COME TOGETHER. THOSE ARE NOT RELEASED YET. BUT WE EXPECT THEY WILL BE SOON [5:20] POTENTIALLY NEXT WEEK. THERE ARE A COUPLE BREAKS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND. THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE BREAK FOR HE'D AND [5:28] APRIL 11TH-21st IS THE EASTER PASSOVER AND THEN THE SESSION ENDS MAY 25TH, 2025. [5:35] SO AS I MENTIONED THE FEBRUARY FORECAST WAS RELEASED IN EARLY MARCH AND THE STATE DID [5:42] ADJUST ADJUST -- SAY THE OFFICE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT DID ADJUST THE FORECAST DOWNWARD AMID SOME [5:51] SIGNIFICANT NEAR TERM ECONOMIC FISCAL UNCERTAINTY I THINK PARTICULARLY SOME OF THE ACTIVITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AT CREATING UNCERTAINTY. [5:57] AND SO THE PROJECTED SURPLUS IS $160 MILLION LOWER THAN IT HAD BEEN IN THE NOVEMBER [6:03] FORECAST, SO THE SURPLUS FOR THE UPCOMING BIENNIUM IS $456 MILLION BUT THEN THERE IS [6:14] PROJ PROJECTED SHORTFALL OF ALMOST $6 BILLION AND THAT DID WORSEN FROM THE NOVEMBER FORECAST AS WELL. [6:20] SO AS I MENTIONED, PRETTY SOON I THINK WE'RE EXPECTING LIKELY NEXT WEEK THE DIFFERENT [6:26] BUDGET COMMITTEES AT THE LEGISLATURE WILL GET THEIR TARGETS, WHICH DETERMINES HOW MUCH MONEY THEY GOT TO, YOU [6:33] KNOW, SPEND FOR THIS BIENNIUM AND GIVEN THIS FORECAST, I THINK [6:39] PEOPLE ARE ANTICIPATING VERY LOW, IF ANY, TARGET FOR NEW [6:44] SPENDING. IN THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES. THE GOVERNOR DID RELEASE A [6:49] REVISED BUDGET LATE LAST WEEK BASED ON THE FEBRUARY FORECAST SO HIS BUDGET REVISION INCLUDES [6:57] AN ADDITIONAL $250 MILLION IN CUTS FOR THIS UPCOMING BIENNIUM AND IN FUTURE BUDGETS. [7:03] HE DID PROPOSE SOME SMALL ONE TIME INVESTMENTS FOR AVIAN [7:09] FLU RESPONSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AND THEN HIS BUDGET LEAVES 2 BILLION DOLLARS ON THE BOTTOM LINE PRESUMABLY TO TRY TO [7:17] ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE FISCAL UNCERTAINTY WE'RE FACING. AND THEN WE DID GO OVER THE [7:22] GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WHICH WE HAVE PRESENTED IN JANUARY SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE UNCHANGED [7:27] FROM THAT PROPOSAL ARE REDUCING GROWTH IN THE DISABILITY WAIVER SERVICES AND THAT DOES PASS SOME OF THOSE COSTS DOWN TO THE [7:34] COUNTIES, WHICH THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS ON DURING SESSION ABOUT THAT. IT [7:41] ALSO GLOOIRNLTS TAX FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH 1% WOULD COME TO CITIES. WE HAVE BEEN [7:49] DISCUSSING WITH MEMBERS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT TEXT PRESERVED TO HELP WITH PUBLIC [7:55] HEALTH-RELATED RELATED NEEDS HERE IN THE CITY. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET [8:03] REDUCES THE BUDGET EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION SCOMBLOIRJSD THE STATEWIDE SALES TAX RATE BUT [8:09] BROUGHT IN TO THE BASE. SO THAT BILL WAS HEARD LAST WEEK -- [8:20] THERE WAS LIFESTYLE DISCUSSION WHEN PIF -- [8:26] (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.) >> THE GOVERNMENT SET SO I LIKED $40 MILLION WITHOUT EAR MARKING [8:32] ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS. SO WITH THAT I'LL JUST THEN GO THROUGH AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE [8:37] ON CITY PRIORITIES AND KIND OF WHERE THINGS STAND TO IT CLOSE OUT THE STATE UPDATE. SO LISTED HERE ARE NOT ALL [8:46] OF OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENT PRIORITIES BUT SORT OF THE 3 THAT HAVE BEEN IN QUEUE FOR THE LONGEST THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON [8:52] WHEN WE'RE HAVING OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH DELEGATION MEMBERS WHICH INCLUDES $2 MILLION FOR THE NICOLLET AVENUE [8:57] BRIDGE, $5.7 MILLION FOR THE WATER YARD PROJECT AND THEN [9:03] 12.36 MILLION FOR THE 36" WITH ANY. WE ARE TALKING WITH [9:09] DELEGATION MOBS ■ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS -- DELEGATION MEMBERS ABOUT THOSE PROPULSIONS. W-- [9:48] CAPITAL PROJECT DEFINITE ( -- IS DEAD NEED THAT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PASS A BOVENGD BILL. THEN MOVING TO PRIORITIES [9:55] AROUND ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND RECOVERY, SO ONE OF THE PROPOSALS WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WITH ALL OF YOU IS THE CUB [10:03] CREDIT THAT'S CONVERT UNDERUTILIZING BUILDINGS THAT WOULD BE A TAX CREDIT TO HELP [10:09] INCENTIVIZE TURNING VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACES INTO RESIDENTIAL OR OTHER USES. THAT BILL HAS A REPUBLICAN AUTHOR IN [10:17] THE HOUSE AND THEN THE [10:22] SENATOR FROM MINNEAPOLIS IS CARRYING IT ON THE SENATE SIDE. IT'S BEEN HEARD ON THE HOUSE -- [10:28] EXCUSE ME, HOUSING AND TAX COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE. IT DOES HAVE A HEARING THIS WEEK IN [10:33] THE SENATE TAX COMMITTEE AND SO THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR IT. THE CHALLENGE, [10:39] OF COURSE, AS I ALREADY MENTIONED IS THE BUDGET TARGETS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOES HAVE A COST [10:45] TO IT AND SO ANYTHING THAT HAS A COST MAY BE CHALLENGING TO GET [10:51] ACROSS THE SFLOOIJS. -- THIS SESSION. BUT IT HAS ZBUGSD SO [10:59] FAR. WE ALSO HAVE INTRODUCED A ACTIVE TIF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO [11:05] CREATE A SPECIFIC TIF DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONVERTING [11:11] UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN AND SENATOR MOHAMMED IS CARRYING [11:17] REALLY CARING THAT ON WHICH WOULD GIVE THE CITY ANOTHER TOOL [11:22] TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WE ALSO HAVE THE DOWNTOWN TAXING BOUNDARY BILL THAT WE'VE [11:28] BEEN WORKING ON. LAST WEEK THE HOUSE TAX COMMITTEE DID HEAR A [11:34] VERSION OF IT IS ON HIM BUSINESS -- OMNIBUS TAX BUSINESS [11:40] THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN TAXING PROPOSAL AS PART OF IT SO THAT TECHNICALLY HAD ITS HEARING [11:46] IN HOUSE TAXES LAST WEEK AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS TO SEE IF THERE'S A PATHWAY FORWARD FOR [11:52] THAT THIS SESSION AS WELL. AS A REMINDER THAT'S A PROPOSAL TO ADD THE NORTH LOOP [11:58] INTO THE DOWNTOWN TAXING BOUNDARY WHICH CURRENTLY INCLUDES DOWNTOWN BUT NOT THE [12:03] NORTH LOOP, AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR LIQUOR AND RESTAURANT TAXES. [12:09] ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE, I THINK WE ARE FOCUSED [12:16] ON THE BRIDGE TO SHELTER BILL WHICH IS A BILL THAT IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE SHELTER FISCAL [12:21] CLIFF. THAT BILL HAD A HEARING TWO WEEKS' AGO IN THE SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, [12:28] MAYOR FREY CAME AND TO TESTIFY AND THERE WAS A LETTER SIGNED BY SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN SUPPORT AS WELL. IT HAD A GOOD [12:35] HEARING. THE BILL ADDRESSES CRITICAL FUNDING GAPS IN [12:42] HOMELESS SERVICES AND IT CREATES A COUNTY TO COUNTY CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM BETWEEN GREATER MINNESOTA AND [12:48] THE METRO SO SOME OF THE PROVIDERS CAN HELP PROVIDE [12:54] TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUILD SHELTER CAPACITY THERE AS WELL SO IT IS INTENDED TO BE A STATEWIDE PROPOSAL. AGAIN, I'M [13:02] SORT OF REPEATING MYSELF BUT WE, YOU KNOW, HAD A GOOD HEARING BUT [13:07] THE BUDGET TARGET MAY MAKE IT CHALLENGING TO MOVE THAT FORWARD BUT WE ARE -- WE ARE CONTINUING [13:14] TO REITERATE THAT AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CITY AS WE'RE TALKING TO DELEGATION MEMBERS AND OTHERS AT THE CAPITAL. [13:20] FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY SPECIFICALLY THE BILL WOULD FUND OPERATIONS AND SERVICES AT THE [13:25] MINNEAPOLIS LOW BARRIER SHELTERS LIKE AVIVO VILLAGE AND HOMEWARD BOUND IT WOULD PROVIDE THE 24/7 [13:34] SHELTERS AND HOUSING-FOCUSED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. [13:40] AND THEN MOVING TO CLIMATE ACTION. THERE'S A COUPLE OF [13:46] BILLS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON AROUND THE CITIES 0 WASTE PRIORITIES. ONE IS THE SCORE [13:52] BILL AND THAT'S A BILL THAT WOULD GRADUALLY INCREASE THE [13:58] FUNDS FROM THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT TAX THAT IS DIST INDICATED TO -- IT'S -- THAT IS [14:04] DEDICATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND SO IT WOULD INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT TAX THAT'S COMING BACK TO COUNTIES AND IN [14:11] OUR CASE THAT GETS PASSED DOWN TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND RECYCLING AND OTHER [14:19] ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE OUR RECYCLING EFFORTS. [14:25] WE ALSO * TLONG TRANQ WASTE [14:30] BILL FOR DISPOSING OFS IT NEED [14:39] REPLACE THE MINNESOTA RECYCLING ACT AND IT IS DESIGNED FOR THE INTENTION TO ELIMINATE THE [14:44] DISPOSAL OF THESE PRODUCTS THROUGH THE CURBSIDE WASTE AND HELP KEEP THOSE PRODUCTS OUT OF [14:52] LANDFILLS. SO THOSE ARE THE COUPLE OF BILLS THAT OUR TEAM THAT HAVE HAD HEARINGS AND SOME MOVEMENT [14:57] THIS SESSION THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON ADVOCATING FOR AROUND OUR ZERO WASTE GOALS. [15:03] ON TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE [15:09] MURRAH AND SENATOR FATEH ON A TRAFFIC-CALMING BILL. IT WAS HEARD IN THE SENATE [15:14] TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS SESSION AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THIS [15:19] WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TRAFFIC CALMING NEEDS AROUND THE CITY. [15:25] WE ARE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE AUTHORS. WE ARE ANTICIPATING A HEARING IN THE HOUSE [15:31] TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AHEAD OF DEADLINE AND WE'RE JUST WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THE LANGUAGE IN A PLACE [15:36] WHERE IT'S MOST LIKELY TO BE ADOPTED. SO THAT'S BEEN GOING [15:42] PRETTY WELL. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DARNGS A FUNDING -- ADA FUNDING [15:49] BILL THAT'S BEEN INTRODUCED AND WE'RE CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS [15:54] AROUND THAT BILL, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED IN TRANSPORTATION WITH [16:00] SENATOR SCOTT TIM BELIEVE IN THE CHAIR AND CHAT AND IN THE HOUSE WE HAVE BOTH TWO REPRESENTATIVES [16:06] ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. AND THEN I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH COMMUNITY SAFETY ON THE. [16:12] ON THE SLIDE, YOU KNOW, ARE A COUPLE OF PRIORITIES IN THE [16:18] UPCOMING SESSIONS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPORTIVE INITIATIVES TALKING TO THE CHAIRS AND THE COMMITTEE [16:26] MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AGAIN WAITING ON BUDGET TARGETS TO SEE IF THEY'LL HAVE ANY ROOM FOR SPENDING ON ITEMS AROUND YOUTH [16:33] INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND PEACE OFFICER RECRUITMENTS AND WE ARE [16:39] GLAD THAT WE NOW HAVE TWO MINNEAPOLIS MEMBERS ON PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES REPRESENTATIVE EMMA GREENMAN IN THE HOUSE AND [16:44] SENATOR DOREN CLARK IN THE SENATE. LAST BIENNIUM WE DID [16:49] NOT HAVE ANY MINNEAPOLIS MEMBERS ON PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES SO THAT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL. [16:55] SO WITH THAT I WILL PAUSE BECAUSE THAT WRAPS UP THE STATE UPDATE. WE DO HAVE A FEDERAL UPDATE BUT I'LL PAUSE HERE TO [17:01] SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS? >> YEAH, MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE STATE PORTION? [17:08] I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. [17:14] I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THE STATUS OF THE METRO AREA SALES TAX FOR TRANSCRIT PROCESS [17:21] BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO CLAW BACK THAT FROM [17:27] TRANSPORTATION AND THAT EX MINNEAPOLIS CLOTS * PROCESS -- [17:36] PROCESS RIGHT NOW. [17:57] AND I THINK IT WAS TO SUPPORT TRANSIT PRODUCTS. BUT TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION IN WANT TO DOUBLE-CHECK TO SEE IF [18:05] THERE WAS ANYTHING PROPOSED IN THE REVISED BUDGET LAST WEEK. I DO KNOW -- YOU KNOW, I THINK [18:11] GIVEN THE TIGHT BUDGET SITUATION, THERE ARE, YOU KN KNOW, -- LIKE THEY'RE LOOKING [18:17] INTO LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES [18:22] FOR SFWROOIJTSING -- TRANSIT SALES TAX WAS A PRIORITY FOR THE [18:27] TRANSPORTATION CHAIRS. LAST SESSION, I THINK, THEY'LL BE LOOKING TO PROTECT THAT BUT I [18:32] WILL -- I WILL FOLLOW UP -- WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE COMMITTEE ON MORE DETAILS ON WHAT'S [18:44] SNOOIFLTHSSTSTSTST --ES NTSB [18:49] REL* >> ON THE REDUCTION ON THE METRO AREA SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATIO [18:58] TRANSPORTATION. MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL QUICK ASK A QUESTION WHILE OTHERS -- IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO [19:03] GET INTO QUEUE. THANK YOU DIRECTOR TOPENKA FOR YOUR [19:10] PARTICIPATION. CAN YOU MAYBE EXPLAIN THE WHY TO THE PROPOSAL [19:15] AROUND ELIMINATING 2% OF THE CANNABIS TAX FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN [19:21] HEARING AND WHAT'S KIND OF OUR APPROACH BEEN AT THE CAPITAL AROUND THIS? [19:27] >> YES, CHAIR CHOWDHURY, YES, GOING BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S [19:33] REVISED BUDGET AND HIS INITIAL BUDGET HE DID PROPOSE ELIMINATING THE 2% SHARE OF THE [19:39] CANNABIS TAX THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. I THINK IT'S A SOMEWHAT A FACTOR [19:45] OF -- THERE WERE QUESTIONS -- YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD IS THAT THE STATE HANDLES LICENSING AND HANDLES A [19:52] LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK AROUND CANNABIS AND SO SOME FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH DO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REALLY [19:59] NEED. IF THAT'S BEING HANDLED BY THE STATES AND WE ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE A REGISTRATION FEE FOR [20:07] CANNABIS BUSINESSES. YOU KNOW, OUR PERSPECTIVE IS THAT THAT REGISTRATION FEE ISN'T BE GOING [20:12] TO COVER ALL OF THE COSTS THAT WE WILL INCUR AND WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, AS A CITY THAT HAS A [20:17] PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, HAS PLANS FOR PUBLIC [20:22] HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES AS IT RELATES TO CANNABIS LEGALIZATION. SO THAT'S BEEN THE CONVERSATION. WE ARE -- WE'VE [20:28] BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF TO PULL TOGETHER MORE DETAILED LIST OF [20:34] WHAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE SPENDING THAT REVENUE ON SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH MEMBERS [20:40] AS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE ANTICIPATED COSTS WE THINK WE'LL HAVE AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BUT I THINK IT'S A QUESTION OF JUST [20:46] SORT OF PERHAPS A DIFFERENT -- DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON HOW [20:51] MUCH COSTS WILL BE PASSED DOWN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO CANNABIS LEGALIZATION. [20:59] >> THANK YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'LL JUST QUICK MAKE A NOTE -- I KNOW MOBS -- MEMBERS A [21:07] LOT OF US ARE IN TOUCH OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT REPRESENT EACH OF OUR WARDS. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TIME IF YOU'RE [21:17] HAVING CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND REACH OUT TO DIRECTOR TOPINKA [21:24] FOR TALKING POINTS AS YOU'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS IN SESSION. I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER [21:30] QUESTIONS SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FEDERAL PORTION. [21:37] >> GREAT, THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. ALL RIGHT. SO JUST I WANTED TO START -- THIS IS A [21:43] PICTURE OF THE GROUP OF US FROM MINNEAPOLIS WHO WERE OUT IN WASHINGTON FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE A [21:49] COUPLE WEEKS AGO. INCLUDING SOME COUNCIL AIDES AND IGR STAFF AND SEVERAL OF YOU AND SO WE [21:55] WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH ALL THREE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION [22:00] MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVE OMAR, SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR AND TINA SMITH WHILE WE WERE THERE AND [22:05] ALSO ENGAGE WITH OTHER CITIES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW CITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO EFFECTIVELY [22:12] TRY TO NAVIGATE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD [22:18] OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE DELEGATION FOR WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING TO SUPPORT IMPORTANT [22:25] EARMARKS AND GRANT APPLICATIONS FROM THE CITY INCLUDING THE CONNECTING CAMDEN PROJECT, THE [22:31] NICOLLET AVENUE BRIDGE AND THE RAISE -- OR THE BUILD GRANT, EXCUSE ME, FOR FIRST AVENUE. [22:37] AND SO -- AND THEN WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ASK QUESTIONS AND EXPRESS CONCERNS [22:42] ABOUT HOW CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE BEING FELT ON THE GROUND IN MINNEAPOLIS SO CONCERNS FROM OUR IMMIGRANT AND [22:51] REFUGEE COMMUNITIES, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING AND POTENTIAL CUTS AND WHAT THAT WOULD -- OR HOW THAT WOULD [22:56] IMPACT THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. SO IT FELT LIKE PRODUCTIVE [23:03] TIME WE HAD OUT THERE EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN MANY WAYS A CHALLENGING TIME TO BE IN [23:10] WASHINGTON. AND WE WERE THERE THE WEEK THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID [23:17] PASS THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER, SO [23:24] THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE ON MARCH 14TH [23:30] BY A NARROW VOTE AND IT WAS NOT A CLEAN CONTINUING RESOLUTION. [23:36] MEANING IT DID NOT EXTEND LAST YEAR'S FUNDING. THEY DID END UP MAKING CUTS TO NONDIFFERENT [23:42] SPENDING BY APPROXIMATELY 13 MILLION DOLLARS AND THEN INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING BY [23:47] ABOUT $6 BILLION. AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE -- THEY [23:52] DID STRIP ALL EARMARKS OUT OF THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION SO OUR TWO EARMARKS THAT HAD BEEN UNDER [23:59] CONSIDERATION, THE FIRE ALERTING SYSTEM AND THEN ADA UPGRADES WERE NOT INCLUDED. NO EARMARKS [24:07] WERE INCLUDED ACROSS-THE-BOARD. SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY CONCERNS I THINK FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVES ABOUT THE CUTS 'CAUSE IT WAS INTOX-- IT WAS TH [24:17] TO MEDICAID AND HOUSING SYSTEMS SO THINGS OUR RESIDENTS REALLY RELY ON. AND, OF COURSE, [24:22] OBVIOUSLY, DISAPPOINTING TO NOT HAVE THOSE EARMARKS MOVE [24:28] FORWARD. I SHOULD JUST SHOAT THAT ALL THREE MEMBERS -- I SHOULD [24:33] MENTION ALL MEMBERS ALL THREE MEMBERS VOTED AGAINST THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION. [24:40] SO NOW THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED. THEY MOVE INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE [24:45] FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE PROPOSING [24:50] ITS BUDGET SOMETIME THIS SPRING. THE LATEST I SAW IT WILL BE [24:55] EITHER APRIL OR MAY, AND THE GOP HAS SAID THEY'RE CONSIDERING [25:03] SPENDING CUTS 2.5 TO $3 TRILLION FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. AND SO THE HOUSE HAS IDENTIFIED SOME [25:09] AREAS WHERE THEY MAY BE CONSIDERING CUTS INCLUDING MEDICAID, STUDENT LOANS, FOOD [25:14] ASSISTANCE, AMONG OTHERS, AND SO THE WORK IS STARTING NOW TO [25:21] IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE CUTS MAY COME FROM. BUT WE EXPECT THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROCESS TO [25:27] HAPPEN IN THE FALL WHERE THEY ADOPT THE FY26 BUDGET. [25:33] THERE IS NOT CLARITY AROUND EARMARKS AT THIS POINT FOR 2026. [25:39] BUT THERE IS STILL POTENTIAL FOR EARMARKS. NO ONE HAS RELEASED -- NONE OF THE [25:48] APPROP APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES HAVE RELEASED CRITERIA BUT TWO OF OUR OFFICES HAVE SET DEADLINES TO SUBMIT PROJECTS AND THEY ARE [25:56] ENCOURAGING US TO REAPPLY WITH OUR 2025 PROJECTS SO OUR STAFF [26:01] IS IN CONTACT WITH THE RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS [26:07] JUST TO GET UP TO SPEED AND GET THOSE RESUBMITTED. [26:12] WE ALSO ARE WORKING WITH STAFF ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO DEVELOP SOME PROJECTS THAT COULD [26:18] BE GOOD -- A GOOD FIT IF THERE IS A 2026 PROCESS USING THE [26:24] HOUSE CRITERIA FROM 2025. THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE GOP WAS IN THIS WHAT OF THE HOUSE LAST [26:30] YEAR. THEY SET PRETTY NARROW CRITERIA FOR WHAT WAS POEFKSD [26:37] CONS -- COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR EARMARKS WHICH IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND [26:43] NOT HHS-RELATED THINGS SO WE'RE USING THOSE CRITERIA TO DEVELOP [26:48] LISTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY FIT ONCE WE KNOW THE CRITERIA THAT ARE OUT THERE TO OUR [26:54] CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION NOW. AND SO WE'LL LEARN MORE AS [27:01] THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES COME OUT WITH MORE CRITERIA. BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BE READY IF [27:07] THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR EARMARKS BUT AGAIN RIGHT NOW IT'S A LITTLE UNCERTAIN. [27:14] SO I THINK -- YES, THAT WAS ALL WE HAD FOR A FEDERAL UPDATE AS WELL. SO THEY WERE OUT OF [27:19] SESSION LAST WEEK. I THINK THEY'RE BACK THIS WEEK AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR [27:26] CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS COMING [27:31] ACROSS OUR DESKS, SO THAT IS ALL I HAD. BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE [27:38] ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY. >> MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? I'M [27:44] NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR TOPANKA, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION [27:49] AND ALL OF YOUR TEAMS' WORKS. I [27:59] SEE COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS KIN. >> K-I DID JUST WANT TO THANK [28:04] DIRECTOR TOPINKA AND HER STAFF FOR US IN WASHINGTON, DC. A [28:12] VISIT WITH OUR LEGISLATORS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO -- TO PULL THAT [28:19] TRIP TOGETHER AND SCHEDULE ALL THOSE MEETINGS AND HELP US [28:26] UNDERSTAND THE LOGISTICS AND PRIORITIES. SO I JUST WANT TO [28:32] SAY THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, IS THERE ANYBODY [28:39] ELSE? YEAH, I'LL ECHO THAT THANKS. IT WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE TO BE OUT OF IN IT [28:45] WASHINGTON, DC, IT WAS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT TONE THAN IT WAS THE LAST TIMES AROUND, [28:51] AND IT WAS ALSO KIND OF AN [28:59] INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND I'M PROUD OF OUR SENATORS AND OUR CONGRESSWOMAN FOR VOTING AGAINST [29:05] THAT AND LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA. AND JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE [29:10] TAKING ON AND LAUREN ESPECIALLY ON THE FEDERAL SIDE. HER WORK HAS REALLY CHANGED. SO I [29:19] APPRECIATE IT. AND I WILL ASK THE CLERKS TO RECEIVE AND FILE [29:25] THAT PRESENTATION. [29:31] ALL RIGHT. OUR ADDENDUM ITEM IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO [29:36] THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND POLICY POSITIONS RELATED TO [29:42] AMORTIZATION FOR NONCONFORMING INDUSTRIAL USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE AND [29:47] MYSELF. COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS [29:53] ITEM? >> YEAH, THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. THIS IS A PROPOSAL I'M BRINGING FORWARD JUST TO STATE [30:00] OUR SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO PHASE [30:08] OUT NONCONFORMING USES AND IT'S NARROWLY DEFINED WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS SO [30:13] THIS WOULD BE HEAVY INDUSTRY THAT'S IN AN AREA THAT IS NOT ZONED FOR THAT ANYMORE. GIVING US THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO [30:21] REALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE -- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES. WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I HEAR A LOT [30:28] OF IT IN WARD 1 IN NORTHEAST KIND OF AN OLD INDUSTRIAL AREA. [30:33] A LOT OF THOSE AREAS ARE NO LONGER HEAVY INDUSTRY BUT THERE'S JUST SOME LEFT OVER FROM [30:40] A PRIOR ERA AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE THE TOOLS TO, LIKE, PLAN TO PHASE THOSE HEAVY USES [30:45] OUT. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THAT ITEM FOR APPROVAL? [30:51] >> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS AMENDMENT TO OUR [30:56] LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. >> GREAT, AND I WILL SECOND THAT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM MEMBERS? I'M NOT SEEING [31:06] ANY SO ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. [31:14] THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. MEMBERS, WITH [31:19] THAT WE'VE CONCLUDED ALL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.