July 28, 2026 Committee of the Whole
Council divided over $300K police grant with immigration language
Mayor's nomination of Henrique Velasquez as director of regulatory services
FGNC appeal and rezoning/alley vacation for 3000 Minnehaha Ave (Democracy Center)
Affordable Housing Trust Fund and NOAH program changes
Climate and Infrastructure Committee report — 13 items
Southwest light rail subordinate funding agreement No. 14
Minneapolis Street Lighting Plan Amendment; Cedar Lake Road Bridge project
Green stormwater infrastructure, West Fulton neighborhood improvement
Enterprise Labor Relations Committee report — 10 items, legal settlements, bonds
Legislative process reform research and recommendations directive
Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee — 7 items
Mayor's nomination of Dr. Freeman as fire chief (no recommendation)
Police cadet program contract with Hennepin Technical College
911 quality assurance software contract amendment
Community trauma response services contracts
Neighborhood safety department contract management audit directive
Special law approval for food hall licenses (consent agenda)
DOJ 2026 NIBIN Modernization Program grant application ($300,000 over five years)
Council Divided Over Federal Gun-Tracing Grant Containing 'Illegal Aliens' Language
Ballistic evidence processing, crime gun intelligence, gun violence reduction
Full Document Analysis
Votes (2)
Adopt the agenda
Moved by Unidentified council member · Seconded by Unidentified council member
Approve the consent agenda (special law approval for food hall licenses)
Moved by Chair Orin Chowry · Seconded by Unidentified council member
Notable Quotes (11)
I want to be very clear to my community that this language is disrespectful. It is dehumanizing, and it is not in alignment with our values here in Minneapolis.
I do not accept the premise implicit or explicit in this or any federal instrument that immigrant residents are a threat to public safety requiring locating and apprehending.
I will not be supporting this program.
we have been seeing an increase in these terms since the beginning of the Trump administration and that is the reason that my office has set up a process for reviewing terms of all grants that the city is applying for.
while it does have problematic language in it, it has inappropriate language in it related to our undocumented neighbors, that language doesn't implicate actions of the city that would force us to not accept the grant.
I can both agree with Council Member Chavez that this is abhorrent language and also agree to get this machine's upkeep funded.
this team of restaurant employees lives in fear and has been waiting anxiously, eagerly to get those casings processed
Lieutenant Schroeder got like six hits while we were waiting... every one of those hits associated that gun with another crime that happened in Minneapolis.
all language for federal grants, we don't write them
we can't control what um our president says. Thank you.
the city isn't going to lose access to a system that is critical as a result of not submitting a proposal to receive this grant
People (18)
Orin ChowryCouncil Member, Chair of Committee of the WholeCalled meeting to order, gave Climate and Infrastructure report
Called meeting to order, gave Climate and Infrastructure report
ChugtaiCouncil Member, Vice Chair of Committee of the WholeWelcomed back to committee; questioned need for NIBIN grant
1 quote
Welcomed back to committee; questioned need for NIBIN grant
“the city isn't going to lose access to a system that is critical as a result of not submitting a proposal to receive this grant”
Questioning necessity of NIBIN grant
OsmanCouncil Vice President, Chair of Business Housing and Zoning CommitteePresented 20 BHZ items; questioned grant's immigration ties
2 quotes
Presented 20 BHZ items; questioned grant's immigration ties
“we can't control what our president says”
Supporting NIBIN grant despite federal language
“this grant helps our police officers capture the bad guys”
Support for NIBIN grant
ChavezCouncil Member, Chair of Public Health Safety and Equity CommitteeObjected to DOJ grant language on immigrants; will not support
3 quotes
Objected to DOJ grant language on immigrants; will not support
“I want to be very clear to my community that this language is disrespectful. It is dehumanizing, and it is not in alignment with our values here in Minneapolis.”
On DOJ notice of funding opportunity language
“I do not accept the idea that undocumented immigrants are quote aliens or quote illegal.”
NIBIN grant objection
“I will not be supporting this program.”
NIBIN grant
PalmisanoCouncil Member, Chair of Enterprise Labor Relations CommitteePresented 10 ELR items; supports NIBIN grant despite language
2 quotes
Presented 10 ELR items; supports NIBIN grant despite language
“I can both agree with Council Member Chavez that this is abhorrent language and also agree to get this machine's upkeep funded.”
NIBIN grant debate
“just yesterday I was speaking with a local Uptown restaurant owner who had shots fired into their restaurant last week”
Urgency of ballistics processing
Chris BrownCommander, Minneapolis Police DepartmentExplained ballistic imaging tech, grant terms, 2023 homicide case study
2 quotes
Explained ballistic imaging tech, grant terms, 2023 homicide case study
“Lieutenant Schroeder got like six hits while we were waiting... every one of those hits associated that gun with another crime that happened in Minneapolis.”
Value of NIBIN
“all language for federal grants, we don't write them”
Responding to immigration language concerns
Amy ShutLead Assistant City AttorneyReviewed NOFO for separation ordinance conflicts
2 quotes
Reviewed NOFO for separation ordinance conflicts
“we have been seeing an increase in these terms since the beginning of the Trump administration”
Grant review process
“while it does have problematic language in it... that language doesn't implicate actions of the city that would force us to not accept the grant.”
NIBIN grant legal review
Henrique VelasquezNominee, Director of Regulatory ServicesNomination to be considered Thursday
Nomination to be considered Thursday
Dr. FreemanNominee, Fire ChiefSent forward without recommendation
Sent forward without recommendation
PayneCouncil MemberPresent at roll call
Present at roll call
WsleyCouncil MemberAbsent at roll call
Absent at roll call
RainvilleCouncil MemberAbsent at roll call
Absent at roll call
VitaCouncil MemberPresent at roll call
Present at roll call
WarrenCouncil MemberPresent at roll call
Present at roll call
SchaeferCouncil MemberPresent at roll call
Present at roll call
StevensonCouncil MemberAbsent at roll call
Absent at roll call
WhitingCouncil MemberPresent at roll call
Present at roll call
SchroederLieutenant, MPDReceived six NIBIN hits while waiting to present
Received six NIBIN hits while waiting to present
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (7)
- Committee of the Whole regular meeting, July 28, 2026
- Thursday council meeting — committee items forwarded
- Dinner du Nord commercial block event permit, September 10, 2026
- Banana Ball games block event permit, August 7–9, 2026
- August 9, 2023 — North Minneapolis homicide case study
- 2014 — current brass tracks NIBIN equipment installed
- 2002 — MPD joined NIBIN program
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
FGNC appeal regarding 3000 Minnehaha Ave (Democracy Center); forwarded without recommendation
Rezoning and alley vacation for Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha; forwarded without recommendation
Amends 2029 license fee schedule for tow trucking services fee
Legislative process reform, research and recommendations directive
Indebtedness and bond issuance authorization for outstanding capital improvement bonds
Mayor's nomination of Dr. Freeman as fire chief; forwarded without recommendation
Legislative directive on neighborhood safety department contract management audit
Special law approval for food hall licenses, submitted by Intergovernmental Relations
Resolution rejecting use of 'illegal' and 'alien' language in federal grant, with added conditions