Yeah. Um, this is a little different than the previous setup. We're all going to have to cluster kind of down here. So, go ahead and crowd in on me. That'll be great. Would you be willing to hold that? That would be wonderful. And I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to um ask if you >> Good morning everyone. My name is Elliot Payne. I'm the president of Minneapolis City Council. Before we be convene our meeting, we have the presentation of an honorary resolution honoring the life and memory of Fletcher Alexander Merkel. This resolution is being presented by Council Member Paul Misano and Whiting. >> Good morning everybody. Um, we're back here in this new chamber and we haven't done this yet, this cycle, this this term for for quite some time actually. Um, but it's really important that we we want to get together um and honor Fletcher Merkel. And we are so grateful to have his family here um to have people from Annunciation here with us today to have the Minneapolis Police Department here with us. Um, it healing is is a journey and yet every first with a loss like this, the sting will never go away. Um, and I'm just going to say that out loud because I think that that is what his family is feeling. Um, but this is a resolution honoring the life and memory of Fletcher Alexander Merkel. And if it's all right with you, I'll plan to read it and then um I'll hand it off to Principal Dbor to say a few words. All right. Whereas Fletcher Alexander Merkel was born on January 7th, 2017, embraced the world with his inquisitive nature and brought joy to everyone he met. And whereas he was a loyal friend, a funny companion, a beloved brother to Milo, Hazel, and Rory, and treasured son to Jesse and Molly. And whereas Fletcher was a little boy through and through who loved sports, the outdoors, adventure, making things of all varieties and trying anything new. And whereas there was no sport that Fletcher did not like and wasn't excited to play, try, celebrate, or learn more about. And whereas he loved collecting things and building something new, watching things grow, tenderly examining nature, and was passionate about the Green Bay Packers. And whereas Fletcher thoroughly explored and enjoyed nearby Grass Lake to the point where he had a favorite tree in his own fishing hole where he spent many happy hours with his dad. And whereas at Grass Lake, Fletcher chased butterflies, captured frogs, and successfully caught a fish even though everyone told him there weren't any fish in Grass Lake. And whereas his bright light was extinguished on August 27th, 2025 in the mass shooting at Annunciation School. And whereas the city of Minneapolis is forever changed because of Fletcher. And he remains a guiding light to us in how we approach our own lives and maintain a healthy passion for exploring. And whereas Fletcher's youthful energy and zest for life will live on through the new Merkel family puppy Xander, named in his honor and memory. And whereas Fletcher's family has turned his tragic death into a force for good through advocacy and endowment in his name, celebrating his life with friends, family, and community, and living life the way Fletcher did. Now therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council do hereby honor and celebrate Fletcher Alexander Merkel, whose spirit, creativity, and love continue to impact everyone who knew him and many who never had the chance. Be it further resolved that the mayor and city council hereby extend our deepest condolences to Fletcher's family, friends, neighbors, and school community who continue to love him dearly and hold up his memory now and always. Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> I think the best person to to say a few words would be Principal Dbor, the principal of Annunciation School. >> Thank you. Uh it's an honor to be standing here with all of you, although none of us want to be standing here today. Um, Molly and Jesse, thank you for your witness of love and for bringing Fletcher into our world and our lives. Um, you brought light into the world and Fletcher Fletcher's light will never go out. Um, so at the end, I'm just going to tell you right now, we're going to sing this little light of mine uh together. But um, Cornell West said, "Justice is what love looks like in public." And uh, you know, that means different things standing in this room than it does at recess. But you know, Fletcher, he was the glue of of the third grade boys. It's a class of 30 girls and then uh 10 boys. And so Fletcher, he was the referee. You know, if anybody's refed before, it's not an easy profession, but but Fletcher was the one who who could get everybody on the same page with the rules of the game. He could take a conflict and and bring light and bring peace and calm everybody down. And so, uh, while we we miss every day his physical presence, um, we know that his light is always shining upon us. Um, every time we we fish, every time we we think of the things Fletcher loved, the the buffalo, it it just we know he's with us. And so, it's hard every day. Um, but Fletcher was a light in his time on earth. And we are called to continue to be that light. And so as we um navigate this difficult road together, the next time you're doing some physical activity, um mess your hair up a little bit, let it fly in the wind, and uh and just think about Fletcher. The next time you're fishing, the next time you you see a piece of nature you haven't noticed in a while, know that that's that's Fletcher um pointing out that uh that there's always light. Um and so uh with that reminder, um it's good to sing, you heal when you sing. So one verse of this little light of mine. One, two, ready, sing. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. >> This little light of mine, >> I'm going to let it shine. Let me hear you. This [singing] little light of mine, >> I'm going to let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. [singing] Let it shine. >> Amen. I'm Sarah Slack. I was Fletcher's first grade teacher and Molly asked if I had any words to share and I haven't said much until today. Um, Fletcher was pure love and joy and mischief and curiosity. Um, he stole my heart the day I met him and he stole my nine-year-old daughter's heart as well. Um he is ever present in our lives at school and in my house. Um although I had him as a student for nine months, we created a really close bond and we remained close up until the days before 8:27, he made sure to come and see me every day in second grade and check in with me. and he always was great at admitting when he got a little too crazy at recess with my first grade boys. I will forever miss him. And I'm heartbroken that we don't get to see him grow. But through his light and his love and every gift that he gave to us, we get to grow stronger. And he will be forever missed and cherished. And he has an imprint in my heart always, as does your family. So, I love you, Molly and Jesse. Hey. Hey. I love you. And Fletcher, you're always in my heart. >> Thank you. Did anybody else want to say a few words? Something I wanted to mention is we have a lot of members here from the Minneapolis Police Department, including Inspector Novak, Lieutenant Zimmerman, um, Chief O'Hara is also here. Um, and I want to thank you for being with this family, being with Annunciation in their crisis time, and their time of need, and in all of the pieces and parts that come after that. Um, I know that they're extremely grateful for how you showed up that day and continue um to show up whenever there is a need. So, um, thank you from our hearts to yours. All right. Um, thank you. Um, we're going to go back out that door. At this time, I'm going to call this regular meeting of the city council for February 19th to order. The clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer, >> present. >> Council member Wanley, >> present. >> Council member Shaktai, >> present. >> Council member Whiting is absent. Council member Chowry, >> present. >> Council member Stevenson, >> present. >> Council member Rainville, >> present. >> Council member Vto, >> present. >> Council member Pomisano is absent. Council member Chavez, >> present. >> Council member Warren, >> present. >> Vice President Osman, >> present. [snorts] >> President Payne, >> present. >> There are 11 members present. >> Let the record reflect that we have a quorum. Before we begin the meeting, I want to offer a friendly reminder to all members and staff that this meeting is broadcast live to enable greater public participation. The broadcast includes real-time captioning as a further method to increase the accessibility of our proceedings to the community. Therefore, all speakers need to be mindful of the rate of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully capture and transcribe all comments for the broadcast. We ask all speakers to moderate the speed and clarity of their comments. With that, the agenda for today's meeting is before us. Are there any amendments? Council member Chuck. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. Um, I would like to make a motion to amend the agenda to include in under the order of new business consideration of a resolution accepting a donation from partnership for participatory international policy for uh myself to attend a conference. I'll ask for a second. >> Second. >> Council member Tuckai has moved to amend the agenda. It's been seconded. May I have a motion to adopt the agenda as amended? >> Oh, second. Uh, council member Chowry. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to amend the agenda to include a legislative directive that is related to the small business resiliency fund um that is before you with the attached RCA. >> Could I get a second on that as well? >> Second. Uh, council member Chowry has moved to amend the agenda [snorts] and that's also been seconded. Uh, is there any are there any other amendment? >> Seeing none, I'll [snorts] may have a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. >> So, second. >> The clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer. >> I. >> Council member Wanley. >> I. >> Council member Sheptai. >> I. >> Council member Whiting. >> I. Council member Chowry. >> Hi. >> Council member Stevenson. >> Hi. >> Council member Rainbow. >> I. >> Council member Vto. >> I. >> Council member Palomasano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> I. >> Council member Warren. >> I. >> Vice President Osman. >> I. >> President Payne. >> I. >> There are 13 eyes. >> That carries and the agenda is adopted. The next item is acceptance of minutes from our regular meeting of February 5th. May I have a motion to accept those minutes? >> So moved. Second. >> Second. The clerk will call the role. Council member Schaefer. >> I. >> Council member Wanley. >> Hi. >> Council member Shaktai. >> I. >> Council member Whiting >> is absent. Council member Shri. >> I. >> Council member Stevenson. >> I. >> Council member Rainbow. >> I. >> Council member Vita. >> I. >> Council member Pomisano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> Hi. >> Council member Warren. >> Hi. >> Vice President Osman. >> Hi. >> President Payne. >> I. >> There are 12 eyes. >> That carries and the minutes have been accepted. Also note that we've been joined by council member Paulano. Finally, we have the referral of petitions, communications, and reports to proper committees. May I have that motion, please? >> So move. >> Second. >> The clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer, >> I. >> Council member Wsley, >> I. >> Council member Shagtai, >> I. >> Council member Chowry, >> I. >> Council member Stevenson, >> I. >> Council member Rainbow. >> I. >> Council member Vita. >> I. >> Council member Pomisano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> I. >> Council member Warren. >> I. >> Vice President Osman. >> I. >> President Payne. >> I. There are 12 eyes. >> That carries and those matters have been referred. Colleagues, I'll note also I'll also note that we received yesterday the mayor's nominations reappointing Kristen Anderson, Todd Barnett, and Margaret Anderson Keller to the appointed positions of city attorney, community safety commissioner, and city operations officer, respectively. I will bring those nominations forward at our March 5th meeting to begin the council's formal consideration of those appointments. Um, and the next order of business is the presentation of reports from standing committees. As you know, due to Operation Metro Surge, we've been operating under a temporary structure that condensed all of our standing meetings into a single super committee of the whole. I'll ask Council Member Chowry, the chair of the Committee of the present that report. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The super committee of the whole is bringing forward 64 items for today's meeting. The first three items listed were all quasi judicial hearings. One is approving an interim use permit for Tokali. Two is granting a certificate of appropriateness appeal. Three is a variance appeal sent forward without recommendation. I will be moving this item for a later vote and discussion after consent is approved. Items 4 through 7 are settlements related to workers compensation claims. 8 through 10 are various contract amendments. 11 is a gift acceptance. Items 12 through 14 are liquor and gamble gambling license approvals and renewals. Item 15 are two Heritage Preservation Commission appointments. 16 through 19 are contract amendments, a gift acceptance, and a comprehensive plan amendment. 20 grants a waiver and authorizes an agreement for the Parkland dedication fee. 21 revises guidelines for the 2% loan program. 22 is a grant acceptance. 23 approves a project extension. And 24 approves additional funding for a project. Items 25 through 31 are various contract amendments and gift acceptances. 32 is a health education grant. 33 is a bid for yard maintenance. Item 34 is related to street resurfacing programs. 35 is a gift acceptance. 36 is a federal grant for our highway program. 37 through 42 are various bids and contracts. Items 43 through 50 are appointments to various special service district boards. I will note for the record that the committee of the whole considered the application of Michael Burke for appointment to the stadium village board, but they have since withdrawn their application for consideration. Therefore, I will be moving item 48.1 for deletion from the agenda due to the applicant withdrawing from their appointment. 48.2 can still be approved. Item 51 is a budget amendment for training services from Amy Moser Consulting. 52 adopts council calendars for 2027 to 2029 and 53 was sent forward without recommendation and will be pulled for a separate vote. This item considers considers council member appointments to various boards and commissions. President Payne has revised the proposal which is in front of us today. Item 54 was also sent without recommendation and considers the liquor license renewals for depot and canopy by Hilton. 55 is a resolution related to suspending procurement requirements. Um, we'll move that for a separate vote as well. And then 56 is a resolution related to small businesses impacted by immigration enforcement. Can take that as separate vote as well. Well, not the resolutions. My apologies. 5658 are resolutions calling on various levels of government to secure funding for small businesses impacted by enforcement to repeal the Lake and Riley Act and oppose funding from for immigration enforcement and calling for a moratorum on um gas electric shut off. I will also note for the record by approving these resolutions, we're also authorizing our intergovernmental relations department to transmit those resolutions to the proper government bodies and entities described in those resolutions. Um, I'll note for item number 58, opposing immigration enforcement funding. Um, I'm making a motion to move it uh with the uh amendment uh by council member Whiting that's before us for approval. Um just so colleagues are aware if we can pull if we want to pull that for discussion after I'll leave that up to uh members. 60 is a resolution denouncing the federal administration's attack on gender affirming care for youth. 61 approves appointed position with the auditor's department. 62 directs the clerk to expire all directives and ordinances undisposed of from the last term. 63 approves a legislative directive related to the city's data practices and unlawful actions by federal agents. And our last item 64 authorizes a lease non-disturbance and consent agreement. Okay. With all of that, I will move the items I shared for approval. Move the items that I have pulled for a separate vote. Uh and move to delete 48.1 from the agenda. This is a very long agenda. members. So, I'm going to rely on you to ensure that the items that you want to pull for discussion are pulled for discussion. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Council member Chowry has moved approval of the report minus items 50 uh minus items 3, 53, 54, 55, 57, including the deletion of item 48.1. Is there any discussion on the remainder of the items or any items that want to be pulled for a separate voter discussion? and I'll call on council member Schaefer. >> Thank you, President Payne. Um, just clarifying that uh 53 has discussion and a vote. >> We will take that up item se that item up separately. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Council member Wanley. >> Thank you, President. Uh, I would like to pull item five and six for a separate vote. >> Okay. The clerks note that. Okay. Council member Chuck Tai. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I'm in quue for myself first and then for council member Chowry second. Um, [clears throat] I would like to pull item number 55 for uh separate discussion uh motion and vote. >> Okay, got that noted. Uh, Council Member Chowry, >> I just had a very quick question just between committee and the last day wasn't able to check in for the uh expired ordinances, the ones listed under my name, firearms regulations and restricted racial uh restrictions on covenants. Am I uh going to take up those ordinances into the next term? And if not, I would like to the ones that are listed in my name. >> Uh Mr. Clerk, I believe you have noted that. Correct. >> Mr. President, you should have two items that say Cal item 62 expired ordinances and directive. One by Chowry and one by Shugtai, which reclaim uh matters that were on the list to be expired. And so for Council Member Chowry, that's item 12 and item 16. For Council Member Shugai, that's item three and 17 from the full report. I'm assuming that the motion forwarding the item 62 expired ordinances would include those four items from those council members as part of the uh action to reintroduce those items. >> Okay, great. Thank you for the clarification. >> Council member Chavez. >> Uh thank you, Council President Ping. Can you can the clerks just re reread what is being pulled out for discussion? >> Mr. President for the body from the Cal report or committee of the whole report we're removing items 3 56 53 54 55 57 item 48.1 is being deleted from the agenda and item 58 is moving approval of the whiting amendment that should be at your desk. I can read that again if anyone needs it. >> Great. I mean, I was just going to have a recommendation that 55 unless people want to pull it out for some discussion. I didn't intend to speak on this item again. I did agree with the amendment being brought forward. So, I would prefer that to just be voted on, but if folks want to pull it out for discussion, they can. >> It's pulled out. Yep. >> Sorry, I meant 50. >> Yeah, >> that's pulled for a separate discussion. >> 58. 58. >> Uh, this one was moved with the Whiting amendment. Yep. Okay. >> Okay. Uh, Council Member Schaefer. >> Yes. I was just wondering if Clerk Carl, you could repeat all of the ones that are pulled, then we can all kind of get them straight. >> Certainly. Happy to do so. So looking at the uh agenda in front of you, the items that are being pulled for separate votes include item three. Jump to item 53, 54, 55, item 57. I'm sorry I didn't catch from uh council member Robin Wley. I should have mentioned five and six on page one. So 3, five, and six. 53, 54, 55, and 57. On item 48.1, which is an appointment, that single appointment is being deleted from the agenda. On on 58, we are moving that resolution forward with the amendment from council member Whiting at your desk. >> Thank you, clerk. >> And I I I will repeat to the previous question, Mr. President. On item 63, the expired ordinance list, we are including the four two total each from council members Shug Tai and Chowry as part of that approval. So those are included in this motion as well. All right. Seeing no one else left in queue, I will ask the clerk to call the role on the consent items. >> Council member Schaefer, >> I. >> Council member Wanssley, >> I. >> Council member Shaktai, >> I. >> Council member Whiting, >> I. >> Council member Chowry, >> I. >> Council member Stevenson, >> I. >> Council member Rainville, >> I. >> Council member Vto, >> I. Council member Palmisano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> Hi. >> Council member Warren. >> I. >> Vice President Osman. >> I. >> President Payne. >> I. >> There are 13 eyes. >> Those items pass. And And then just clarifying, Council Member Chowry. Uh, we're taking up item three last. Correct. >> Yeah, that's fine. In whatever order. >> Oh, okay. If order doesn't matter. We'll start with item number three. Okay. Uh, next we will take up item number three and I will recognize council member Chowry. >> I think I'm going to rely on I'm rely on a couple of my colleagues that are >> Mr. President, may I help a bit here? >> This this was the quasi judicial issue where it was forwarded without a recommendation. Um, this had to do with fence heights and I know that there are staff here in the chamber who might be able to address any questions or remaining issues that needed to be addressed. Uh, there might have been a motion. I don't have anything in front of me to move this forward. So, it came forward without a recommendation and needs a motion either to uh grant uh the issue the appeal or to deny. >> Yes. And thank you, Clerk Carl. I think the expectation was for the members that wanted to create a motion at this point would work with our uh city staff and attorneys to see if there's something to bring forward. Um as I remember from committee of the whole was moved without recommendation. So I will uh get out of queue now and let my colleagues take the floor. >> I will recognize council member Chuck Tai. [snorts] >> Um thank you Mr. President. Um on item number three which is a quasi judicial matter considered by uh the committee of the whole earlier this week um for a variance appeal. Um I would like to move to um deny the appeal submitted by uh the applicant listed on the agenda and um uphold the decision of the zoning board of adjustment. Um and with that I'll ask for a second. Second. >> Council member Chagai has moved uh a motion to deny the appeal. It's been seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Um council president, if I may, uh if the motion could be amended to adopt the finding the the staff findings as well. >> The motion is to adopt the staff findings. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Uh Council Member Palmo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I want to thank Mr. Hargarten city staff and and all of you actually for a really good discussion about this at the committee of the whole. It it is just a fence issue but we took it up with wholesome um with all of ourselves and our thinking on Tuesday. Um I have appreciation and sympathy for the corner or double front yard properties with no backyards and how people get a semblance of privacy. Um, unfortunately, there's really nothing in this application that rises to the level of overriding the decision of the zoning board of adjustments. There are just no legal findings that we have to vote to uphold the variance denial. Uh, we we we will have to vote, sorry, let me start again. We don't have legal findings for the appeal. I will have to vote to uphold the variance denial. Uh, this all brings up a consideration that we need to keep working on. I have some other kinds of issues that have come up with properties in my ward in regard to fences that I'm discussing with zoning staff. Um, and I [clears throat] promise to also get involved with this height issue as well. So, thank you for the discussion on Tuesday. I think we're ready to move forward. >> Council member Chowry. >> Yeah, I just wanted to get in quick. Thank you, uh, Mr. President. Um, I seconded this motion. And I think it this is a really good example for quasi judicials ahead for the next um our next four years together as a council. And uh it's just really important that we as we take up quasi judicials, we take a look at what are the ordinances and the codes that we have in place and we make decisions based off of that. Um and that's what we're doing here today. um we can't make legislative fixes through quasi judicial uh appeals. That really has to come that the the ordinance portion and I'm grateful to my colleagues that are taking that up. Um there are moments in time where like you may disagree with staff recommendation or um there just might be differing opinions where you'll have to work with city attorneys and staff to come up with specific findings that are also dictated by state law and code and what types of parameters um you'll have to set. And so if we ever cross that bridge, which we will, um, I'm here, council member Osman's here, Council Member Palmasano, Council Member Chug Thai are all here to be a support of that, as is our city attorneys team and our uh, amazing staff in planning. That's been a really valuable resource to me in my first term. Seeing no one else left in Q on the motion to uphold the staff findings, I will ask the clerk to call the role. >> Council member Schaefer. >> Yes. I'd like to clarify this is upholding the staff findings, not denying the appeal. >> Both. >> It's both matters. We're denying and adopting the findings from staff. >> Okay. Thank you. I >> Council Member Wanley. >> I. >> Council member Shugtai. >> I. >> Council member Whiting. >> I. >> Council member Chowry. I >> council member Stevenson. >> I, >> Council Member Rainbow. >> I, >> Council Member Vita. >> I, >> Council Member Palmisano. >> I, >> Council Member Chavez. >> I, >> Council Member Warren, >> I, >> Vice President Osman, >> I, >> President Payne, >> I. >> There are 13 eyes. >> That motion carries. Next, we will take up items five. >> President, Y, >> I'm sorry to interrupt. Um, I made a mistake on the expired ordinance list. Um, Council Member Rainville had a few items from the list that he also wished to claim and reintroduce and that wasn't included on the vote that we took on the entire consent agenda. I think the easiest way for me to address that is to say if there's no objection to the listed items from the report being reintroduced in this term, we can simply do that by unanimous consent. >> Yeah. Uh, without objection, seeing none, >> thank you. I'm sorry, Council Member Brainville. >> Thank you. Next, we will take up items five and six together. And seeing no one in queue, I will ask the clerk to call the role on items number five and six. >> Council member Schaefer, >> I. >> Council member Wanssley, >> I. >> Council member Shtai, >> nay. >> Council member Whiting, >> I. Council member Chowry. >> Hi. >> Council member Stevenson. >> Hey. >> Council member Rainville. >> Hi. >> Council member Vita. >> Hi. >> Council member Palmisano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> No. >> Council member Warren. >> Hi. >> Vice President Osman. >> I. >> Council member Wsley. >> Nay. >> Thank you. >> President Payne. >> I. I have nine eyes and four names. >> Those items carry. [snorts] Uh next we will take up item number 53 and this is the appointments to outside boards. Uh is there any discussion on this item? >> President Payne, before there's discussion, just to clarify, there were several um versions of this that flew around that I sent out. So I just want to clarify. At the desk, you should have a version in front of you and it should say revised two at the top highlighted in green. And so the version you have at your desk for item 53 on the committee of the whole agenda that says revised number two in green uh dated February 19, 2026 is the version that council president is putting in front of the body now. Council member Chowry. >> Uh Mr. President, uh Council Member Whiting and I we we share a lot of the work of the airport together. Uh however, there's only one seat available. And so I want to give the honor of being on the airport working group to my new colleague. >> Thank you. >> And so we'd like to make that friendly amendment and change. >> Without objection, I think we can note that. Don't worry, I'll be on the meeting soon. >> Uh, Council Member Schaefer, >> thank you. Um, when the new revised version came out last night at 6 o'clock, I was surprised to see myself taken off the meet Minneapolis executive board or executive committee. Um, Ward 7 has had a long-standing tradition um for over decades of the Ward 7 representative sitting on the meet Minneapolis executive committee. The reason for this tradition is fairly clear. Both Lisa Goodman served in this capacity as well as Katie Kman. The reason is clear. Many of the assets in my downtown represent representation are clearly affected by the work of the executive committee. This includes the convention center. This includes PV Plaza. This includes the Target Center and Cowell Center most recently. So, I was surprised to see this. Glad that I noticed it so that I could bring it up today to my colleagues. For me to not be on this committee really um diminishes my ability to represent my constituents because I am the leader of Ward 7 and I'm left off this committee. The ideas of my constituents will not be able to be brought forward to this decision-making body in a proper and immediate way. I appreciate being left on the meet Minneapolis board, but that is more of a cursorary um broader group where the decision-making happens at the executive committee. So, I would like the input of Ward 7 to still be represented on that board. Um, so I would appreciate that my colleagues would consider a motion or amendment to replace myself, council member Schaefer, the representative for Ward 7 and the most majority of the downtown corridor for the meet Minneapolis executive board in place of council member Wansley. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Second. Uh, council member Wanzi, are you amendable to that? >> No. >> Okay, we have a motion in front of us with a second. Mr. Clerk, the proper motion. All right, I see a few people in queue right now. Um, but on this motion, is there any discussion? Council member Wanzley. >> Thank you, President Payne. the reason why I'm not supporting this and why I was actually proud of the fact that um as council member Schaefer highlighted uh for the time I've been on this council and it seems like also preceding um our time there has been over representation of downtown on the executive committee and meet Minneapolis um overall board or commission and we have not always had actual diverse representation amongst this board and as someone who has championed um throughout my four years millions of dollars to make sure that we're activating cultural corridor so that we're making investments in not only just downtown but also um areas in which we have diverse businesses also helping generate needed tax revenue um into our communities to stabilize our city. I've also championed resources to make sure that we're focusing on those communities as well and offering par um in addition to a lot of conversations and a lot of mobilizations of resources that's constantly concentrated on downtown. I was also part of the efforts last term to make sure that we had the establishment of a tourism improvement district that will help stabilize hospitality or hotels um especially as someone who has the largest concentration of hotels outside of or outside of the downtown core. Um, so as someone who's also spent a great deal of their uh time on council making sure that we protect um commercial interests, especially those that are located in some of our most diverse and culturally rich um corners of our city. I think it's important that we also have those voices and that representation uh be reflected in spaces like Meet Minneapolis. that shapes a lot of our conversations and shapes a lot of how we approach uh resource allocation um in terms of again how are we stabilizing the city's overall finances but making sure that once again which has been the president with this not having over representation of downtown is not the only um aspect or engine of our local economy and we're having that discussion even more so now in light of how we're going to approach recovery efforts in an equitable way coming out of occupation Metro Surge. Those conversations are going to need to be um further intensified as we approach recovery um actions and efforts. And as someone who's also over the past two weeks have supported my colleagues to bring recovery efforts in the form of rental assistance of small business recovery, it makes sense to also have that leadership reflected in this space. So my track record has shown that my ward also along with the wards that do not live in downtown uh deserve representation and and to be reflected in these spaces where key decisions are being made about how tax revenue or how um our city's economic engine is going to be maintained and preserved and expanded. Um, so I absolutely feel justified and credible and and again my work speaks for itself of why I'm deserving to also be on this board and have leadership reflected in this space. >> Council member PMano, >> Mr. President, I just need to point out how information flows around here. Um, council president, you have yet to speak with me or, it turns out, many of us about any of these appointments. You have all of these leaders at your disposal, and yet we've had zero conversation about it. Many of us have been removed, in my case, from one appointment, and that's fine. But if other council members are particularly interested in a position, that's great. I am here to be a team player but discussion by you or one of your leaders was absolutely warranted as to how we sort all of these out. Absent that absent that this document is nothing to be proud of. It is a continuation of the committee structure and the leadership structure that you have put in place which overemphasizes only seven members of this body and literally blocks out other parts of our city from having a balance of participation. Vice President Osman. >> Um, oh, thank you. Uh, I think I I do have a few questions. First of all, uh the the main work for Mid Minneapolis is to attract people to our city to spend uh their money here and um as I appreciate council member Schaefer, uh War 7 has always been a member of that and a member of that especially the former council members. Um I don't know if we're thinking about uh the membership when it comes is is it is it boundaries? Uh um I know downtown has the most um um hotels and and attraction places that people come visit and uh it does really make sense to have uh folks that are from downtown to be member here. I see council member Rainville is here. I'm also representative of downtown. I could be in there too. Um but also I think also makes perfect sense uh good argument from council member Wley how we should uh have uh other representatives especially when we're trying to promote cultural corridors uh you know see the riverside is just across the street from uh across the uh convention center uh I'm sorry the US Bank Stadium and that is a place that definitely need um people to experience a different uh vibe of the city and and and visit. So it really does make sense um having someone from cultural corridor to be part of it. I say council council president is also part of it. So we in in in my opinion I think it could go both ways but um we'll see what um um argument or cases uh we make uh during this conversation. But I'm here to listen and and based on that I will uh vote on who I think should be the right fit. Thank you, >> Council Member Chowry. >> Yeah, thank you, President Payne. [clears throat] Um I think like we've all been through a lot the last couple of months. I don't think outside appointments are really top of mind. And I I just want to give some grace to our leadership, too. Like you've had to lead through a horrific time in our city. And I mean I think communication within this body can certainly be improved but like I mean I know council president has been out there on the streets every single day. Um so I do want to give grace to that cuz I honestly was not even thinking about outside appointments until this very second. I think I had like half a second to think about it and then I saw that I was on airport working group and I was like I need to give it to my colleague in port 11 um and partner in that. But I I think I mean communication is not a singular direction. You got to communicate one way or another. You got to be proactive. And I'm not making any assumptions on anyone, but I've been in this body enough to know that like if you want something, you got to reach out for it. You got to have the conversations and ask about it. And like that's that's something that we need to be better at practicing in this body. It's not on one person or one leader to communicate. You got to reach out. You got to have the conversations. There needs to be a two-way flow of communication. Uh, with that, I This is called Meet Minneapolis. As far as I'm concerned, Minneapolis is not just downtown, right? We put millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars, a huge large contract to Minneapolis to promote our city. I think it makes sense for us to have council members, especially on this executive committee, to be able to make decisions about the direction of those millions of dollars in the promotion of our city and offer perspective. I didn't put myself up to the table to to run for this right now, but I very well could be a very good candidate for the executive committee, as could anyone else. And I I don't think being in downtown is a qualifier. I think it's important to have a downtown seat and that's why I'm happy to see that council member Rainville's there, but I don't think any ward is entitled to this one way or another. It's called meet Minneapolis, not meet downtown. And I just want to make that clear. And and now is our opportunity to have a conversation about all of these appointments. And I'm I'm listening just like council vice president Osman. It sounds like there's two members who are vying for this. So may the best woman win. Council member Vita. >> So I I totally get that we have had other things going on in the city but I think it's contradictory for council leadership to say on the dis if you want to talk to me about the appointments then you can I'm available for conversation and then not have conversations with people. I think that's where um there's a disconnect at. And then also I had conversations about an appointment I wanted and was told you can have it. I'm not going to change anything. And then had a second conversation and was told I've decided to move you off of it. It doesn't matter to me. It's it's nothing to discuss. The person who he appointed to it can have the seat, but it's just the pettiness of it all and how certain conversations happen with certain people and not others. I you can you can say you didn't have time or whatever, but if you had time to put this together and if seats were moved around, if it's not exactly like it was before, that means there's been conversations had that means somebody said, "I want to be on this versus that." And it and again, it looks like there were certain conversations had with certain people and certain things taken into consideration and not with everyone. That's what this document looks like. This is not the exact same document from last year. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having a conversation about who's on um meet Minneapolis executive team or not a and some of these other conversations going back and forth. So, I think it's just another way that um council president's pettiness shows up with speaking to some people and not to others or saying things to some people and then changing his mind and not talking to people in advance and saying, "I'm not going to be doing this anymore. I'm changing this around or whatever and then avoiding it when the conversation comes up. Council member Schaefer can say whatever she want to say about her feelings towards this. Um, and so can council member Wansley, but like a true leader sticks up for the decision they make and say what they're going to do, whether it's a parody around where you're at in the city or not. I mean, I I'm always in the advantage of that. The north side isn't represented on this, nor do I want this seat. Like I want to support Schaper in having this seat because she feels like it's a tradition that she wasn't talked to in advance about being broken. But if we want to talk about boards and commissions and all of these things and parody matters from from what direction you're in or not, then council member Warren and I should be on everything. It should be split for the north side. We should be on every single board and commission split down the middle so that there's parody to the city. Or we could take our North to Henipin fellow over here, Council Member Rainville, too. He could he could be on those with us. But I'm saying that's not a legitimate reason just to say like where you are is the parody of these boards and commissions because it's just not truthful. It's not it's not right. It really is about what our experience is. I've had extensive conversations with council member Warren about this. She's been stressed over what do these boards and commissions really look like? How does this look for me as a north side council member? What should I be on? What matters to the north side? Those are conversations that I literally asked her to have with the council president. He should have been the one talking to her and saying, "This is what former northsiders had. This is in your war." But I took the time out of my busy schedule to do that with her and to make sure that she understood what each one of these committees meant and what it meant to the north side and and like that. If you're not ready, say you're not ready to to vote on boards and commissions and take the time when the time is right for people to be put on the right committees and and the things that they're interested in. We all come from these amazing backgrounds and we have interest in things and our constituents have interest in things and I think it's only fair to do that to put people on boards and commissions that they're going to show up to, that they're going to be proud to show up to and that they can go back to their community and say this is what I'm spending four hours a day on. Um, and this is how it benefits us in whatever ward you represent. So, I think it's kind of a um Yeah, I just I think it's it's petty to not like talk to people in advance when you say you can come to me and talk to me about these boards and commissions and I'll take in cons I'll take into consideration your um your thoughts that I mean that literally was just said on Tuesday and sounds like people didn't have the opportunity some people didn't have that opportunity. Council member Schaefer. >> Yeah. I just would like to clarify um in regards to some of the comments that council member Chowder had said around um you know reaching out and sticking up for what you want to participate in. Um these two boards were the you know on the meet Minneapolis were the first two choices that I had when I first met with President Payne in last December um after the election. Um he was very considerate and took time to ask. I know that we have all these outside boards and commissions. What are you interested in? And I listed Meet Minneapolis um both boards, the executive committee and the regular board as my top two interests and really everything else secondary. Since that time, in all consecutive drafts that have been released around the list of names for all the various boards and commissions, my name was always listed in both of those categories, both for the executive uh committee and the other. Um it was not until I'll say it again, it was not until last night at 6:00 that I saw it was taken off. I was not notified of any change. Um I reached out to President Payne and talked briefly with him this morning. um um to no avail. So that's why I am bringing this amendment forward. I believe this is for the benefit of my constituents so that I can say to them that I fought for this. The convention center is in my area, target center. I wanted to be able to say to them that this mattered enough to me to talk to my colleagues about it and to bring this motion forward. So I appreciate your consideration of my leadership on this committee and would love to have your endorsement. Thank you. >> I added myself to Q just to address some of the things coming up in this conversation. Uh so last term I joined the meet Minneapolis board but I did not appoint myself to the uh executive committee. I had the total authority to point myself to the executive committee, but I actually wanted to go and learn about the body and understand what types of decisions were being made. Uh, as a member of the board, nothing that the executive committee decided on passed without the full board approval. So, I felt very empowered to be as in the know as anybody else on the executive committee. And in fact, had a great partner in governance in council member Rainville. we would have lots of uh extensive conversations about pretty substantial decisions that were going in front of the executive committee like the bylaws, amendments, and things of that nature. Um I think that any concern about a role being diminished is really more of a governance conversation than an appointment conversation because just like this body, nothing that happens in committee is official until it passes the full council. Uh it might feel a little differently right now because the committee of the whole feels like the full council but typically speaking those decisions are passed forward to the full body for consideration. Same function on the meet Minneapolis board. Uh as for the process of g arriving here, I made every effort that I could to reach out to people uh especially post-election to try to understand interests, you know, priorities, areas of concern that would be able to be reflected within both the committee structure and these outside boards and commissions. And the the practical reality of it is that it's actually very hard to get people on the phone at all times. Not everybody is equally available and not everybody is fully prepared to talk about the tree advisory board, right? Like when you're campaigning, you don't typically think about those things. But I did make every one of those efforts. And frankly, I'm just going to keep it real. Half of these boards have a hard time making quorum because people do not prioritize these outside appointments in their roles. That just happens. Um and so as we get into this term, people will find their groove. they will find the things that are most important to them, their priorities. And um the practical reality is that there's actually more work to do than there is our time. And so uh that's just part of the practical reality of this and my role is to balance a lot of members competing priorities and often times those priorities are in conflict with each other. So, uh, this is always a bit of a compromise to get to a place and, uh, I support council member Wanzley, uh, bringing a new perspective to the executive committee. After spending two years as a member of the board, I saw the value of more citywide representation on Meet Minneapolis and the decision-m that happens there. And, uh, I'll be supporting council member Wanzi, so I won't be supporting this amendment, but uh, we have a few more folks left in queue. I'll recognize council member Pommano. Council President, yes indeed, you have appointed yourself to a great many things on this body, and I don't see these choices as being magnanimous in any way. Um, I simply need to point out that Meet Minneapolis does a lot of things, but it is the sales and marketing entity for the convention center that is uniquely Ward 7. The convention center and its surroundings are uniquely entirely in Ward 7. >> Council member Chavez. >> Uh, thank you, Council President P. I just want to in case the public is confused, council member Schaefer will still be a part of Meet Minneapolis. The discussion is about the executive board. So, I just want to be clear, downtown will be represented in Minneapolis. We have Council Member Rainville. We have council member Schaefer represented in meet Minneapolis. That is an appointment we are making as well. And then the discussion here is about the meet Minneapolis executive committee. You know, the reality is is that Meet Minneapolis isn't just downtown. We need to make sure that there's a reflection across the city. I will be supporting the appointment of council Wii here. I think the reality is that there is a lot of hotels in war 2. That discussion is very prevalent in meet Minneapolis about the recovery about uh the way hotels are done in the city of Minneapolis. But I just want to be very clear uh council Schaefer will still be in meet Minneapolis. >> Uh Vice President Osman, everyone take their name off there. Um um yeah, I think it's a it's a it's a tough one. I I do recall um having a conversation with Council Member Schaefer um during um in her ward uh somewhere in um uh December, sometime in December. And one of the things that she mentioned, I believe, was being part of the uh Mid Minneapolis. Uh now I'm learning there's I guess two Mid Minneapolis. Um but um [clears throat] I think that just uh I get the point that's being made uh as leaders. First of all, I don't really have anyone who came to me and say um they want to be this, they want to be that. Council president was leading that. Uh but the word I heard is compromise. If we could find a way to um compromise and and maybe recircle back this item at the end of the agenda, uh that's something I can suggest. Uh we can we can have that conversation offline and see what ways we can um support. I I think both council members deserve and can be uh beneficial having both of them here. Uh but um thinking about that I might be the different different maker here. I would suggest that we maybe circle back and have outside conversation. Uh I'll just note that I did discuss holding this a cycle after introducing it uh to CO with the clerk and he advised that we move forward this cycle cuz actually a number of these outside bodies are actually statutoily established bodies and they definitely are needing to get these appointments is they've been pretty significantly delayed by this metro surge. So that >> Yep. I'm not suggesting we delay it. I'm suggesting maybe put it at the end of the agenda today. Uh, Council Member Chowry, >> I was just going to say if Council Member Osman is making a motion to table this, I would support that. I think we have a lot of business to get to um and through and I'm happy to continue this conversation, but I I would prefer it at the end of the agenda. So, I would make that motion if there's a proper motion to be made to table this until the end of the agenda. >> I mean, without objection, we can certainly take this up at the end of the agenda. Is there any objection to that? Seeing no objection, let's move on to item number 54. >> Council President, I'll just suggest this was also an item as the body is well aware that came out of committee the whole without a recommendation. And so I know that the body had asked staff to come back with any findings and staff are here in the chamber. So, if you'd like to begin perhaps with an update from the staff, from the community uh and economic development department, that might help set the tone for what actions might be taken next. >> Miss Lingo, would you like to speak to the work that you've been doing over the last 24 or so hours? >> Uh, thank you, Council President Payne. I do have a presentation if you would like, >> please. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Good morning, council president and council members. I'm Amy Lingo, manager for licenses and consumer services within CPED. More formally, I'm also the licensing official as defined by Minneapolis Code of Ordinances 25910. I'm here to review the investigation process for the on sale liquor licenses for the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District and the Depot Minneapolis a Renaissance Hotel. The standard renewal process for all licenses includes a general review of concerns as well as paperwork provide required per Minneapolis ordinances and relevant state statutes. For the benefit of new council members, I've broken down theformational specifics. Um, I will not go over that in detail now, but it's on this record for you. I also do have a liquor license presentation that I can send out to anyone who needs to know more information about how those work. For the extended investigation process, my team and I began the extended investigation review process on January 28th, 2026, as soon as the conversation began about pulling these items from the consent agenda. So we did not do this within 48 hours. As soon as that conversation started, we began the deeper dives. The final two days of this week were spent compiling those results as well as reviewing the public testimony from Tuesday. This process entailed reviewing and analyzing 311 history, reviewing and reaching out to the other Minneapolis city departments, reviewing the security plans, reviewing the public comments. Um, all of these impact were impacted licenses are on sale liquor licenses. So, that is the lens and the code with which we reviewed all of these conversations. We'll start off with the canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District. Just the brief summary, they renew paid their renewal on December 16th, 2025. It was certified to the state December 23rd. There is no business licensing code enforcement history for this establishment. They did pass their youth alcohol compliance check in November 25. There are no outstanding or recent code enforcement cases for any other division as well. There are also no civil rights, labor standards, history concerns. The depot Minneapolis or Renaissance Hotel paid their renewal November 24th, 25. They were certified November 25th, 2025. There is also no business licensing code enforcement history. They did have a failure for the youth alcohol compliance check in February 25 and then they passed their recheck March 2025. This is not an uncommon occurrence. It's uh so it's one thing to fail on the first try as long as you get it right the second try. They have no other previous history of failures. There are no outstanding or recent code enforcement cases from any of the other divisions. There is no civil rights labor standards history other than 2021 where they had some issues with the right to recall ordinance. However, the depot did cooperate fully and are considered to be in good standing. the 311 911 review. Um, we did specific, we did the block area as well as to the specific address, the 311 history for both location. So, no extraordinary safety reviews or concern. In 20, we did a specific type for December 25 to current. There was no uptick in 311s. In fact, there was one per location. The Canopy had a request for service for snow and ice in the bike lane and the depot had two uh one for snow and ice in the sidewalk and to the street. They were both the same. There was a health complaint, but it was about a different establishment. There have been no uptick in 911s due to operation for the on sale or safety concerns from within the establishment. The public comment review period. Um, in reviewing the public comments, there were 10 that were opposed to the denial and 10 that were in favor of denying the renewal. Those in opposition cited concerns about the legality of the denial of the review renewal as well as the negative impact for the loss of the on sale licenses. Those in favor of the denial discussed hotel staff's fear, anxiety, and concern for their personal safety. In the feedback received, there were claims of over service, weapons out in the open in the hotel rooms, and rude behavior towards staff. However, none of these claims were specific to either hotel being discussed. Most were either in general or specific to other metro locations. We have received lists of vehicles that were thought to belong to ICE agents parking at the Canby and the depot as well. However, that is not related to the liquor license. In reviewing the concerns and feedback as well as relevant Minneapolis liquor code and Minneapolis Minnesota liquor state statutes, there is not good cause to deny these renewals and I am unable to recommend any conditions to be placed on the on sale licenses as well. The relevant liquor codes are specific in use and scope and the concerns that have been brought before me are tied to hotel occupancy more so than they are to the actual liquor license. While hotels are one of the business types that are permitted to have an on sale license, it is not required and they are separate license types. Hotel licenses review or renew in November. Business licensing will continue to monitor complaints and concerns around the operation of hotels and on-sale licenses using their relevant and pertinent codes and our existing enforcement practices. It is my recommendation that the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District and the Depot Minneapolis, a Renaissance Hotel on sale liquor licenses be approved for renewal without conditions. >> Thank you. And I stand for any questions. >> Are there any questions? Council member Chowry. >> Um, thank you so much, President Payne, and thank you so much, Miss Lingo, and just everyone um that participated in this in the CPED department. I think that doing an investigation and having due process here is really important. Um, I don't think it's right for us to uh have so many constituents reach out about safety concerns regarding these two hotels and for us to just proceed as business as usual. It felt really important to me that we use mechanisms that we have used in the past um to do further investigation. A question that I do have um based off of the testimony that we received two days ago is there were uh workers that testified on behalf of other workers that were too afraid to come and testify because yeah, you could lose your job for speaking out. Um and they shared a concern about workers having to like cover the windows um or the the window yeah the windows uh that showed back of house staff in in one of the hotels and like just this general concern about moving freely. I just wondered if uh you had a discussion with the hotels about that if you followed up with the workers that presented that information. For me, that was really deeply concerning to hear that there were workers in the workplace that felt unsafe to move around fe freely to the point of needing to cover where workers are >> through the chair um council member Chowry. Uh I did have conversations with both the depot and the canopy around some of their practices and some of the concerns. Um the conversation we had did revolve around how they were helping to the attempts were to help mitigate anxiety and concerns by keeping the staff separate from the clientele because the the staff was nervous um as was understandable. Um, that doesn't really relate to the liquor license per se, but it did the conversation that we had sound like they were trying to do their best to maintain business as usual while trying to assuage fears and concerns. >> Thank you. I appreciate that clarification. And then the other question that I had was um I know that there were general concerns that were brought up about hotels uh with ICE agents that have been housed in them throughout the metro. I know a concern that was chiefly brought up to me was unsecured weapons in rooms that need to be cleaned. Was this found in these hotels and did that come up in discussion? >> Thank you for that question. Um, so I did have some claims where I saw about the but that is about the hotel license itself, not about the liquor license. We did have conversations with both of those health units about unsecured weapons in common areas and in the restaurant space because that is what's covered under the liquor license. There is an expectation of privacy in the hotel rooms. I did receive the the concern about I believe the quote was that the agents would occasionally forget to put their do not disturb on the door and then the house cleaning staff would go in and there would be unsecured weapons when they would go into the to the room and then that caused them anxiety and stress. Again, fair. I don't know the relevance or what I can do about that. As far as the liquor code, it's not related to the liquor code. This would be a conversation for the hotel code. Um, and those how they're going to deal with that. I didn't really get too ind depth with it because it is a separate situation than what was brought before today. >> Absolutely. Totally understand the nexus point of it. Just so I feel really clear, the the businesses that hold the license for these hotels that you had conversations with did speak to you about worker anxieties of unsecured weapons when there's not a do not disturb sign. >> We did not discuss um the hotel aspect of the license. So, we did not discuss um whether weapons were out in the rooms that the staff was going in without the do not disturb signs. >> Okay. >> Because I was addressing the liquor list, >> right? But there was I just I'm trying to understand >> I had a comment from a third party speaking on behalf of someone else about that. That is correct. Okay. >> But uh that was not brought up in the conversation because that is related to hotel occupancy, not related to the liquor license. >> Okay. So then there wasn't a conversation had about weapons correct on the premises with hotels, >> right? We discussed weapons in the common area, unsecure weapons in the common area and in the restaurant space, not the hotel rooms themselves. >> Okay. But there were conversations in the common area. >> Yes. >> Did they share that there were instances of unsecured weapons in common areas or >> the two hotels that I spoke with have reported no incidences. They had no reports that came to their management, nor were there any 911 calls. We also discussed what their procedure would be if there was a report of an unsecured weapon in any of the common areas and how they would address that situation. They both had the same answer of if a server or staff saw an unsecured weapon in a common area, they would take it to their manager and more than likely they would reach out to 911 or if they had offduty on site, they would go to them directly. But there were no complaints or logged in about unsecured weapons in either of these locations. >> Yes. Okay. Well, thank you so much. Um I'll just finish making my comments then. So, one thing that I'll share about like 911 and 311 that I think we're all very familiar with is that there was very unclear direction to our community on are you supposed to call 911 if there's an ICE agent? What's the response going to be or where do I report things? That was something that I routinely got from community members. And I I wish hindsight is 2020. I wish that there would have been better communication from us as a city in terms of like how you're supposed to call in ICE activity and activity that makes you feel unsafe. And I think that um that's unfortunate because I feel like there would have been data points. I'm not saying specifically for these hotels, but that I think that's an issue with the data. Um I'm I only have about a minute here. Um I might come back into Q. I think the thing that feels really clear to me is that we got very clear testimony about workers that felt unsafe due to uh an ICE presence that they alleged and then also several vehicles being parked there due that they alleged through um license plates that were brought here. And I think there is a greater conversation about hotel licensing. And I think there's also a civil rights component because if workers can't move around freely in their workplace and windows need to be covered up that just feels like a a real issue with labor standards and workplace safety that I am absolutely not okay with. Um and I also think workers hearing our conversations right now are saying they're having to take great risk um testify through others. they're afraid to come out and say themselves what they're seeing. Um, I just want to say to them, I hear you. I understand your fears and I will come back in to comment if I see necessary, but thank you again for the presentation. >> There is no one else left in queue. Uh, we will need a motion. Uh uh vice president Osman >> second. So moves sec. What are we doing? >> Hold on. >> Oh, okay. All right. Uh first of all, I want to really thank our staff for uh uh doing a wonderful job. I don't know if you had 48 hours or so to prepare this presentation, but really appreciate it. And we had a lot of discussion on this item. Uh I just want to clearly say that what happened in this hotels in our city was unsafe. Um workers told us uh they were harassed. They told us they were you know insecure guns. Uh they told us that they did not feel safe at work and that's not acceptable our city. you know, uh the federal operations brought protest tension and 911 calls and this created a lot of uh challenges, not just the staff but the guest and the neighbors that are staying in that area. Uh I have a friend who uh lives um you know apartment right next to it and she was not able to get in her apartment until 2:00 a.m. cuz the roads were closed. you know, uh it was really really uh challenging for many people and uh serving alcohol in a place where armed federal agencies are staying is it creates a lot of risk and you can tell the how residents have been speaking and continue to speak that [clears throat] uh we as a city should be held accountable and I'm so glad all the emails and the calls that we my office have received. Uh but one thing I will definitely say that uh is that we have a laws to follow in the city of Minneapolis. Uh and I would like to make the motion to approve and I will vote for this. Uh second, >> I'll vote for this uh because uh we must follow legal process in our city even though it's very uncomfortable to um to uh uh you know to feel comfortable uncomfortable to have ICE agency in our city. ICE who have murdered our neighbors, who had uh targeted uh certain communities, who had uh cost our city millions and millions of dollars. But we have to show that we're we're doing the right thing. We are the one who actually following the laws that we set. Um they're not following the constitution. They actually breaking the law. But uh we have to be the bigger person. We also have to appreciate the businesses in our community. They are the one who really makes our city better. We're functioning today because of the small businesses and the larger businesses we have in this area. And uh you know we cannot p punish them based on other people's action but I would definitely uh encourage uh people that are doing our business in our city to really you know uh careful who they who they are hosting in in in our city uh you know we want to we don't want to create a chaos where you have to now deal with the consequences of that. So, um, again, uh, thank you my colleagues and I will, uh, move, uh, I'll make that motion. I got the second, so, so, thank you so much. >> Council member Osman has moved, or I'm sorry, Vice President Osman has moved approval of the item. It's been seconded. I'll recognize council member Palomas. >> Thank you, Mr. President. A really important piece here is what Miss Lingo had said earlier, which is this is not part of the liquor code. Um, all of our businesses are watching how the city council is acting here. So, I appreciate council member Osman's actions. Under our law, a due process procedure, um, an applicant has a right to a neutral decision maker, and I'd suggest that the recorded proceedings of this body demonstrate potential hostility by the council toward these businesses. This isn't about the issue of a liquor license, and it never was. Let's not conflate due process. Um due process isn't the format of liquor liquor licensing here. Um when we have safety issues and concerns in our hotels, our highly capable REGGG services staff investigates. I've been along for routine check-ins with our REGG services staff when I was working on changes um to operating uh standards for adult entertainment back in the day. Um, but there are some very serious allegations that I've heard over the past two weeks. Those specific instances should be investigated and if there is merit to those that were brought forward, we should work on that and bring them forward to the operating conditions of a hotel license. Absent that, again, this was never about a liquor license. I would much rather talk about our efforts to spur economic activity in our downtown core and beyond and not hamper it. Thank you, >> Council Member Wansley. >> Thank you, President Payne. Um, first I just want to say that while experiencing an occupation and seeing businesses who are allegedly um allowing ICE agents that have wre havoc in our communities to potentially stay there and for workers and for residents to be concerned about that. Uh those concerns are justified. I believe council member Chadri amplified that and it is incumbent upon us um to do our due diligence and figure out what are the ways in which we can responsibly make sure that we're keeping our residents safe and keeping the welfare of or well-being of even the customers that are patronizing those businesses or are visiting our communities. How to make sure that they are uh protected as best as we can offer them while ICE agents are in their vicinity. And it would have been negligent on us to just rubber stamp um liquor licenses without examining um what ways in which we could potentially pursue conditions in light of hearing the justifiable concerns from our residents. And the idea that some people felt comfortable proceeding with just rubber stamping. I wouldn't I that actually s sends a more dangerous signal to the Trump administration around well Minneapolis is already ready to just go back to business as usual and businesses are fine with giving housing giving shelter to the very domestic terrorists who have brought harm to our communities trauma have brought a 200 million dollar plus deficit to our finances and that is unacceptable and I'm grateful that there is a number of us who said no We do not want to rubber stamp. We don't want to just proceed with business as usual. We want to use our authority and figure out the ways in which we can make sure accountability is held in this moment. And I did have a follow-up question for uh Miss Amy Lingo here. Then some of the things that you raised, you you repeatedly highlighted while there might not be related to the liquor licenses themselves, you did mention something around the overall hotel licenses. So I wanted clarification on that. Um essentially there is there a separate license then that hotels have to seek um separate from Blicker licenses to be in operation? >> Miss Lingo >> through the chair council member Wy. That is correct. There is a hotel license that is required to um enable for people to stay in establishments temporarily. Um and so these establishments have multiple licenses. There's the on-sale liquor license that allows them to sell liquor and for on-site consumption and then there is the hotel license. They are >> neither one of required for the other. Hotels are one of the uses that can have an on- sale liquor license per state statute. Um so yes, there is a hotel license that is required for all of these establishments and those are due in uh they come for renewal in November >> in November of this year. So they're also up for annual uh review. Every license is annually reviewed. >> Awesome. And again, I think that offers a a little bit more clarity around some of the concerns around public safety or even the police powers, things of that nature. Um, thinking of worker welfare, that might be again for some of our colleagues to look at, you know, that particular pathway to to figure out again how to make sure that the things that we heard from our residents are not repeated and that the workers are not having to fear coming into their places of employment. um and not feeling safe and if they are of you know immigrant background or status not worrying okay if a ICE agent is here what does that mean for my safety so I thank you for offering that clarity I just want to make sure I heard that correctly so I just want to say thank you council member Chowy also uh council member um Chuck Thai for again pushing this body to use the fullest extent of our authority um to make sure that players ers who are complicit, be it intentionally or unintentionally, um are put on notice around that complicity and the effects of that. And for making sure that we did what we can to make sure that our residents were safe and let them know that their council members do not just say that they support them and stand with them in words, in symbolic gestures, but we also use our legislative authority to also reinforce the ways in which we show solidarity and extend protection to our neighbors. So, that's why I wanted to share. Thank you, >> Council [clears throat] Member Chuck Tai. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I just wanted to um as we're as we're coming to a conclusion of this this long discussion um around these two uh hotels and their liquor licenses. Um, I want to I want to thank uh staff within our business licensing department and in in our community planning and economic development department um for their diligent work on um on on these investigations on these two licenses and making sure um that uh every aspect was considered including um public testimony and public comment. I know you were available to meet with uh with people and address concerns um privately too uh that that that haven't been a part of the the public conversation here and and I'm really grateful for your diligence. Um thank you. Um and then you know what I want to I want to thank sincerely um the the very courageous and brave um hotel workers who brought this issue to our attention actually first um people who for whom um bringing the the real things that they were seeing in their workplace the fears the like dangerous public health and public safety concerns um that they witnessed and knowing that it could cost them their job. Um knowing that they they didn't have the resources to hire uh fancy legal representation to bail them out or get them their job back. Um [clears throat] it takes a tremendous amount of courage and bravery um to do that and I want to thank you um and it has been it it's been such an honor and privilege to work with you um to to figure out a path forward so that your city and your um your workplace can be a safe and welcoming and nurturing environment and not one where you go to work and and um the cost of cleaning someone's room and doing your job means that you could be detained, kidnapped, torn apart from your family. Um, those are not that that's not that's not the type of city we should live in. That's not the type of city I know we want to live in. um and we have a lot of work to do but um didn't want as we are coming to the end of of of this uh this journey I didn't want to I wanted to make sure that um the courage and the bravery of of the impacted hotel workers in particular was uplifted thank you >> council member Chowri >> thank you Mr. President, I I've really appreciated this conversation and this dialogue over the last two weeks. Time is a little bit hard to track for me at this juncture, but I've appreciated every single thing that council members um with varying perspectives have brought to the table. Um I think it was a very useful conversation for us to have and I appreciate the work of our staff. Again, I will say without this process, which for me it is about due process. I don't care what anyone has to say about what my intentions are, I'm very clear in it. I'll stand 10 tones down on it. It is there. There deserves to be a process that isn't a rubber stamp. And I have no regrets for going through this process. Not a single single one. Because without it, our constituents would not have felt heard. Because without it, these important conversations with workers and their representatives would not have happened. We would not have a greater understanding of the scope of our liquor licenses. We would not have gotten that powerful testimony that many took with with the fear of vulnerability. There were several who wanted to speak but told me the night before or the morning of no, they're too afraid. They're afraid of retaliation. and they don't have the protection necessary and they have to think about their livelihoods. If we didn't have this due process, how how else would we have navigated a moment that is so unprecedented we could have never imagined happened? Hotels in our own cities throughout the metro booking ICE agents, the ones who are killing our residents, bring them into corridors. Right? That's the that's that larger piece. And for us in this testimony, we have people that are working within these two hotels that are making clear allegations that this has happened and that they have not been able to move freely um in their in their place of work. And without this process, we wouldn't have this articulated path that business licensing has shared that we're discussing about hotel licensing more broadly is like that's the the better place. This is important information to me. And the last thing I will just say is thank you to the courageous workers and the courageous people who brought this forward to us and asked us to take a deeper look and to act. Um ICE agents, CBB agents are not protected class. That's come up several times about discrimination just broadly. They're not a protected class. And this idea that somehow we're going into going us going through a process is uh the reason the nexus of costing uh hotels their their bottom line to me is is entirely preposterous because it's the consumers are making the decisions based off of what they're hearing and seeing. What we are doing is going through through this process and I think hotels whether they have housed ICE agents or not they have an enormous amount of power and privilege especially if they're a franchisee of Marriott and Hilton to join the workers across this nation and advocate and say no change your policy. This is impacting our business. This is impacting our workers and we do not want to see this happen again. If these business interests lined up with the workers right now that are lobbying in Washington DC to change the way in which these large corporations act, that could make a huge difference. This is our moment to make that change and I would love to see that coalition form. Um, thank you again to uh my colleagues and thank you again to staff, >> Council Member Randell. Thank you. And I I really want to thank you, Director Lingo, for this extra work and the great information you brought back. Uh and uh I know that uh there's a lot of other staff that helped do with this, so please pass on my thanks. Uh clearly we do not have legal basis to deny this license and clearly we all want ICE out of here. In fact, I want to give Council Member Whiting uh credit for this resolution that you helped manage all of us with and uh I predict uh a 130 vote on that because we're we're unanimous on that. We want ICE out of here. We want this occupation to end. And that's why we just have to keep our oath of office, which is to abide by the law. The law says that we should approve these liquor licenses and continue to support the business community. We're going to have many conversations in the next month uh about how we bring back our businesses whether it's the cultural corridors or downtown and this will be a great start to show that we do support business even though we disagree over the customers that they have in there. So, thank you. I'll be voting for this today. And I also want to compliment both hotels. I spent a lot of time over there uh starting with the damage that was done uh by the protesters. And I've observed how how well they treat their staff and how kind they are to their staff. And that that really impressed upon me that both the depot and Canopies care very much for their staff. So I I want to give a shout out to both those hotels and the way they treat their employees. >> Council member Whiting. >> Thank you. Uh Council President Payne. Um, I just wanted to note quickly as as it sounds like we are concluding on this process. Uh, and I appreciate uh my council colleague, council uh member Wanley speaking to that we do have a responsibility uh not to to rubber stamp this process that we do have a responsibility uh to be creative in this work. Uh, and that's why I was someone at at the previous junction that voted to uh have this this due process and this delay. Uh and I think we also have a responsibility as as a body to also uh ensure that and communicate with our residents across this city that we did do that due process that uh our staff at CEPD um manager Amy Lingo uh did a process has done a thorough process and came back uh with again zero recommendation to to pull or remove these licenses. And I think that is something that we also have to say. And I and I appreciate the creativity of my colleagues and my council members uh up here to figure out ways in which we can combat uh this occupation of ICE agents in our city. Uh and we'll continue and hope to urge that we are creative in these avenues to to continue to do that. And right, I know there's ways that, you know, while ICE [snorts] agents are here and we may not be able to revoke a a liquor license uh for cause uh and have no cause to do so, uh we do have tools at our belt. Uh and I encourage us to look through those and and join in a in a spirit of collaboration to do that. Uh I know we've looked at how other cities um have ensured that while ISIS is here, uh we have to make it as uncomfortable as possible. Um whether that be uh right if if you're staying at our hotels, maybe you're not allowed to park. Uh if you're staying in our city, maybe you can't have uh a face covering. If you're staying in our city, uh you can't have these policies uh in areas and avenues that we do control uh as a city. And I think we are looking to and I know uh the the mayor's administration and others are looking at avenues that are creative to ensure that uh we are making it as uncomfortable for ICE to be in the city. And I think um spending our effort uh within the purview and the jurisdiction that uh our city does have is is fruitful and will be fruitful uh in not just the months but years to come as well. And so I appreciate all the work that we are doing to to try to figure out those creative avenues. Thank you. >> Seeing no one else left in queue, I will ask the clerk to call the role on the approval of uh item number 54. Council member Schaefer. >> I. >> Council member Wanssley. >> Hi. >> Council member Shugai. >> Nay. >> Council member Whiting. >> Hi. >> Council member Chowry. >> I. >> Council member Stevenson. >> I. >> Council member Rainville. >> I. >> Council member Vita. >> I. >> Council member Palmisano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> No. >> Council member Warren. >> I. >> Vice President Osman. >> I. President Payne. >> Nay. >> There are 10 eyes's and three nays. >> The item. >> President, >> I thought this was I I mix up the votes in my head. Can I switch my vote today? I meant to vote nay. >> Sure. Uh clerks without objection. >> Sure. >> Same. Council president. >> Um and council member Wanley, does that >> change the vote outcome? >> Council member Wanley voting nay. Council member Chowry voting nay. [snorts] The result is eight I's and five nays. >> That item passes and we will now take up item number 55 which is suspending procurement requirements for operation metro search. Is there any discussion on this item? Council member Chuck Tai. >> Thank you Mr. President. [clears throat] Um, I want to I'd start by first thanking um staff in our um in our emergency management department um in particular, Director Rachel Ser um who has um who has been managing this this ongoing crisis um for for month for for weeks months now. Um, thank you for all of your work and um and for for bringing this item forward. Uh, I've I've since had the opportunity um since this item first um came up on on this agenda to have conversations with staff um and with our attorneys um and I think the and some of the most transformative ones actually with my colleagues um around um how how we move forward and and walking in eyes wide open about the ask before us and the implications known and unknown. um of of delegating this type of authority. Um and and the the lessons we can learn from the history of our city and the crises that we've been through, including in 2020, um when when we lived through multiple compounding crises that included uh an emergency uh declaration that included um similar types of delegation of of authority and waiverss of of um city processes um as as a part of managing that that uh that crisis. Um, and I think based on cumulatively all of those uh conversations and further um understanding, I um am going to make a motion to to deny um this uh this item and uh delete it from our agenda. Um, and I am going to ask for a second and happy to further speak to that or or see if if colleagues have an interest in in further discussion. I know we talked about this pretty extensively up in Cal. So, um hopefully um hopefully we can um move move this move this item along. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Uh Council Member Chai has moved to deny this item and delete it from the agenda. It's been properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Not seeing anyone in Q. I'll put myself in Q. Um I I I support I support this motion. I just genuinely feel that, you know, if there is an real urgent crisis, life safety is on the line. Um the mechanism for emergency management is to declare a state of emergency. I feel like those mechanisms are are in place. I think that the mayor can call a special meeting. We can adjourn to another meeting. I think there's ways for us to accommodate. Um and but I'm also interested in a continued conversation around if our current structures are actually not responsive enough. We should actually just structurally change our emergency management protocols as a global uh topic. But in this moment, I I I I support this motion. And seeing no one else left in Q. Uh Mr. report. >> Mr. President, I just want to clarify the intent of the motion with the maker, and that is there were two words used, a denial and a delete from the agenda, which are two different things and not necessarily related. The motion to delete from the agenda is to uh remove from council's consideration with no dispositive action. A denial is still technically an action and would need to be packaged as an official act to the council or to the mayor. So, I'm understanding what you're doing is deleting this from the agenda. That's correct, sir. Thank you. >> Uh, Vice President Osman, >> sorry, I was trying to get clarification. Um, the presentation we have received and the request from the director of emergency, um, we're denying that item. Okay. >> Seeing no one else after Q, I'll ask the clerk to call the role on the motion to delete the item from the agenda. Council member Schaefer, >> no. >> Council member Wansley, >> I. >> Council member Shtai, >> I. >> Council member Whiting, >> no. >> Council member Chowry, >> I. >> Council member Stevenson, >> I. >> Council member Rainville, >> no. >> Council member Vita, >> no. >> Council member Pomisano, >> I. >> Council member Chavez, >> hi. >> Council member Warren, >> no. >> Vice President Osman, >> no. >> President Payne, >> I'm sorry, Mr. President I >> there are seven eyes's and six nays. >> That motion passes and that item will be deleted from the agenda. >> Uh next we have item number 57 support for small business resolution and clarify is it 56 or [clears throat] 57 that we're taking up. >> I'm sorry Mr. President. What item are we on now? Are you asking me what item we're on? >> Because that's a question. >> Yeah. Number 56 is the Minneapolis Small Business Resiliency Fund. This is a resolution to amend the budget um to redistribute downtown asset funds. >> All right. >> Okay. Was it 57 that was pulled out? Okay. 57 was pulled out, which is the resolution, not the budget amendment. Uh okay. Uh, Council Member Chavez, did you want to speak to this? >> I didn't pull it out. >> Did somebody pull it out? >> Well, >> well, let's just go ahead and call the role. I got nobody in queue. >> Point of question, council member. Uh, council president, could you just explain what's before us? I'm sorry. Sorry, I feel confused. >> I had in my notes to pull out item number 57, which is the resolution uh for uh >> calling for support for small businesses from other layers of government. >> So, okay. So, that means we voted on 56. >> We already voted on 56 as part of the consent. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um let's just go ahead and call the role just to make sure. Oh, council member Schaefer. Did you you pulled this? >> I didn't pull it. >> No. Okay. Well, then go ahead. Council member Schaefer. >> I I would like to understand how the if someone could speak to how the legislative directive dovetales with this if those are two separate motions. Um or is this the regular resolution? I'm sorry. Let me just pull it up quick. >> This is the regular resolution. So, the legislative directive will be taken up under new business. It is related, but >> Okay. So, so [snorts] we already passed 56 by unanimous. Okay. Thank you. Um, that's fine. I I was going to support it anyways, but I just really appreciate you clarifying that. And I think there's no reason to discuss this one. >> Okay. Um, just to be sure, let's call the role on this item. >> Okay. Item number 57. >> Item 57, >> which is a support small business resolution. I mean clearly somebody pulled the wrong one but >> council member Schaefer >> I council member Wsley >> I >> council member Shaktai >> I >> council member Whiting >> I council member Chowry >> I council member Stevenson >> hi >> council member Rainbow >> hi >> council member Vita >> hi >> council member pomano >> hi >> council member Chavez >> hi >> council member Warren >> hi >> vice president Osman >> I >> president I >> there are 13 eyes >> that carries uh now we will take up item number 53 which is the uh appointment uh for various boards and commissions. Uh Vice President Osman, did you want to speak to this? Um I had a conversation uh both council members um really completely understand why each one want to serve um this role and I'm still trying to find a way to compromise and I really respect uh the history and and and W seven being part of it uh downtown uh being a big part of mid Minneapolis um at the same time cultural corridors and having council member Wley and her work uh continue to advocate um other part of the city. Uh that is something that I I wanted to u have that conversation. Uh but I I see two other members in there and I see council me uh council president um Payne and also I see council member Rainville. Are any of them willing to uh free that space to have one of the council both of the council members get in? Is that some conversation we can have? Pay council me council president. >> Uh I'd like to continue on in that role. >> Okay. All right. I guess we already checked the vote then. >> Council member Rainville, >> what are you asking me to do? What I what I'm asking is that both council members have shown me the willingness and and and the how important it is for them to serve this committee. [cough] >> I'm asking you is this something you will consider having um >> unappoint yourself or like I guess you know step down to show the interest. >> Okay. I I understand now. Thank you. So, Council Member Osman, I worked for that organization for 35 years. I know it in and out more than any other employee there and I think [clears throat] my knowledge would be very valuable to this. So I am not willing to step aside. >> And I appreciate you saying that. No. >> Okay. Um, and just for the for clarity, where we last left off on this item before we tabled it was a motion by council member Schaefer to uh amend the membership of the executive committee of meet Minneapolis to add herself and remove council member Wanley. That's where we're going to pick up on. So for those folks in Q, that's what we're discussing. Council member V. Oh, Council Member Palms. if useful. I've heard you say, council president, that there's generally an issue with council members being able to prioritize their outside appointments um and to make quorum on some of these committees. So, it does seem like a perfect reason to appoint someone who doesn't have a bunch of other leadership roles in committees right now. And seeing no one else left in queue on the amendment for the meet Minneapolis executive committee, I will ask the clerk to call the role. >> Amendment two to the amendment to replace council member Wanley with council member Schaefer for the executive committee of meet Minneapolis. The clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer >> I. >> Council member Wanley, >> nay. >> Council member Shugtai. >> Nay. >> Council member Whiting. >> I. >> Council member Chowry. >> No. Council member Stevenson, >> nay. >> Council member Rainville, >> I. >> Council member Vita, >> I. >> Council member Palmisano, >> I. >> Council member Chavez, >> no. >> Council member Warren, >> I. >> Vice President Osman, >> I. >> President Payne, >> nay. >> There are seven eyes's and six nays. >> That carries and that amendment will be adopted. Uh are there any other discussions on the rest of these? Uh Council Member Vita. Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to pass the baton to Council Member uh Chuck Thai for the NBC. I got to serve on the NBC for two years. I did ask to be reappointed. The president lied to me and told me he would. He didn't. But I'm okay with that. I'm happy that you're going to be serving on this board. At first, I was upset about it, but when I reflected, I thought this might be a great opportunity for someone new to come in with fresh eyes, fresh ideas, and work towards the goal of protecting our workers. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to be on that board. Um, the staff at the NBC asked me to be on that board and not certain staff, all staff from every department on the NBC. And I have not had any progress with the county commissioners on that board. Every time I've come to them and asked them to do something in protection of our workers, I've hit a brick wall. So, I'm hoping you can go on that board. I'm I'm sure you have a better relationship with them than I do. So, I'm hoping you can go on that board. It's a fourperson board. It's myself, it's the mayor, and it's two county commissioners. And I I haven't had any success with getting them to um help protect our workers. they actually do a lot of deflecting and um to to the point about quorum actually one of them tried to change quorum and that's that's not acceptable at the state level. So I'm you know I'm really hoping that you can go on there and do some creative things, protect our workers, get people to show up, maybe they'll be more excited to see you there and and they'll show up on time and and show up at all so that we can have a quorum at a 8:30 meeting in the morning. So, I I'm looking forward to checking in with you on a regular basis to see how how the NBC board is going. One of the things that I wanted to make sure I saw through too by sitting on that board was our restack program and and the the um the way the offices have been changed around. Not completely excited about what the end result was with uh with our new office space, but I made some changes that I'm happy with in my office. And so, um, happy to pass the baton. I have an actual baton in my office that I'm going to hand to you at some point. Um, happy to pass the baton to you. Hope that you love it. And I know that you'll stand up for our workers on that on that board. And I I really do hope that, um, you can kind of break the glass ceiling of getting the county on board. I it's always been challenging for me because we're in this building and they're not and they have a whole lot of authority of what we get to do in our in our building. So, um this is how you make uh lemonade out of lemons, right? Like I was upset, but I'm not cuz I have full faith in your abilities to go on here on this board and make some really good strong I like strong lemonade, not not weak lemonade. So, I have um I have full belief that you are going to go on here and really do some things and our workers are going to feel protected and our building is going to be under our authority at some point and not the county making security decisions and all these things for us that you know the average person doesn't understand like they have a lot of authority over how we're secured in this building and that meant something to me. A lot of you on this dis know there's incidents that's happened in this building behind the scenes that people don't know about and it meant a great deal to me to be able to sit in those rooms and say this is how I think we should be protected. So I'm looking forward to checking in with you regularly um on how things are going at the NBC. >> Council member Stevenson. Um this feels a little silly to bring up but um firstly I wanted to say thank you to uh you president for putting this together. I took it upon myself to reach out to you multiple times about which boards and commissions I wanted to be on and uh thank you for uh listening to me on that. I am a little worried about my ability to make all of the meetings on all these boards and I want to ask if anyone else wants to be on the Midtown Bridges working group. Um, I am happy to give that one up if somebody wants it. Uh, I'm I just want to make sure that I can actually make all the meetings that I'm supposed to be in. >> Is there anybody interested on being on the Midtown Bridges? >> Your calendar. [laughter] >> It doesn't exist. Council member Chavez, >> I've been on there for years and doesn't even >> It never meets. >> Let's think. >> All right. All right. [laughter] Thank you. Thank you for clarifying. I'm on [clears throat] a commission that doesn't meet. >> Uh, Vice President, Vice President Dosman. >> All right. Uh, thank you, Council President, uh, for also putting putting this together. I did ask a while back, uh, um, that I want to be part of, uh, [clears throat] heading heading home Henipin, and I was a member of that, uh, for many years. And now I see um I'm not on the list, but if that is something that members, especially Council Member Chowry and uh Stevenson can can consider uh I'll take that. If not, then no problem. >> Council members Chowry or Stevenson are interested in rolling off of Heading Home Henipin. [laughter] >> I can do a tradeoff for heavy zone. >> What is that? I don't want to be on anything with Hendrick County. >> Um, uh, Commissioner, uh, Angela Connelly specifically asked for me to be on this given my work with, uh, homeless folks in this city. So, I don't want to block you from this, but I I would like to see how, uh, the other council member feels. >> Yeah. The reason why council vice president I wanted to be on this committee was because I was on it last year. Council member Allison was on it with me and the thing that I want to pursue is our joint IGR agenda on homelessness at the capital and that is like one of the tables where we are able to have more robust discussions. So that's why I wanted to continue to remain on it. >> Thank you. I think both of you will be perfect that committee. Council member Chuck. >> Um, thank you, Mr. President. I uh I wanted to I wanted to thank um Council Member Vita for her very kind words and her um her service to the Municipal Building Commission, the NBC, last term. Um she followed in the foots in the footsteps of of council member, former council member Lisa Goodman, who was on the NBC board for a long long time. And um I think I am I'm I'm really excited to um to to take this role on this term. Um and I you know I think that um I I hope to at least um continue in the legacy of of these um two brilliant women who you know I I I think there's a lot that sets us apart from each other. But a couple things that all three of us have in common is being uh first um fiercely unapologetic um in in our position um and standing 10 toes down on the things that we feel um are the is what needs to happen, what needs to get done. And um and so in that way I think the the council representation on the municipal building commission will continue. Um and then um and and so thank you very much and uh excited to talk to you very regularly about this among other things. Thank you Mr. President. >> Council member Chowry. >> Thank you Mr. President. So I do not want to be added to anything but I did want to just uh speak to my colleagues on the Minihaha Creek wershed policy steering committee. Council member Pomisano and Council Member Whiting. I believe that there is an available seat there for the 12th ward. I think we changed that so there could be. I did not v for it because I do not have the capacity to do it. I however do have several constituents who are interested in this matter and would really appreciate if you would just work with me to get updates from the committee. and uh when the committee dates come up um I would just like to know just so if there's a staff member from my office that could attend. But honestly like just checking in about what's moving forward would be greatly appreciated. >> Seeing no one else left in queue, I will ask the clerk to call the role on item number 53 as amended. >> Council member Schaefer. >> I. Council member Wanssley. >> I. >> Council member Sheptai. >> I. >> Council member Whiting. >> I. >> Council member Chowry. >> I. >> Council member Stevenson. >> I. >> Council member Rainbow. >> I. >> Council member Vita. >> I. >> Council member Palmisano. >> I. >> Council member Chavez. >> I. >> Council member Warren. >> I. >> Vice President Osman. >> I. >> President Payne. >> I. >> There are 13 eyes. >> That carries. And that completes our agenda on those items. The next order of business is notice of ordinance introductions. We have two notices today. First, council member Chavez Chowry and Chug Tai give notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting uh the city of the city council the subject matter of two ordinances that propose to codify the city's status as a city that welcomes and protects people of all genders. Second, council members Chavez, Chowry, and Chaktai, and Osman give notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting of the city council the subject matter of an ordinance amending the housing code, prohibiting inquiries into immigration status during the rental screening process, and creating protections for tenants against retaliation based on immigration status. Are there any questions about those notices? Those notices are hereby given and no further action is required at this time. The next order of business is the introduction and referral calendar. We have 35 items on the agenda today. First, pursuant to notice, council members Chavez, Chowry, Wansley Payne, and Stevenson move to introduce the subject matter of an ordinance amending the health and sanitation code for first reading and referral to the public health safety and equity committee decriminalizing the possession of drug paraphernalia. Second, pursuant to notice, council members Wanley, Osman, Stevenson, Chavez, and Chowry move to introduce an ordinance amending the housing code for first reading and referral to the committee of the whole for a public hearing to be held March 3rd, temporarily extending the length of the required pre-eviction notice. Third, pursuant to notice, council me council vice president Osman moves to introduce the subject matter of an ordinance amending title 13, chapter 319 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to the licenses and business regulations code for first reading and referral to the business housing and zoning committee amending the regulation of alcohol on licensed parking lot premises. Fourth, pursuant to notice, council member Chuck Tai moves to introduce the subject matter of an ordinance amending the housing code for first reading and referral to the business housing and zoning committee amending section 244.285 to add regulations regarding owner entry into a rented dwelling unit. Item five. Items five through 35 are various ordinances, legislative directives, and staff directives that were not dispensed with in the 2024 2025 council term and are being proposed to for reintroduction by the council members listed on the agenda. The ordinances items 5 through 16 are being proposed for reintroduction and referral to the committees as listed on the agenda continue the drafting process in our current council term. I'll also note that council member Chowry added two additional item uh two additional ordinances not listed on the agenda related to restrictive covenants removal and firearm regulations. And council member Chuck Thai added two ordinances related to tenant protections and earned safe and six time modifications. >> And Mr. President, you'll remember that I added three from council member Rainville that also will be reintroduced. I'm sorry that I didn't catch that earlier. >> Yep, that's correct. Uh the legislative directives items 17 through 28 are before us to consider reapproval. If the council approves them, they will be resubmitted to the mayor for approval, then directed to the committees listed on the expired directives report for report back in future council cycles. The staff directives, items 29 through 35 are also before us to rec to consider reapproval. If approved by council today, these items will be directed to the committee listed on the expired directives report for reports back in future council cycles from the legislative department and the city attorney's office. May I have a motion to approve these introductions including uh the four plus three from council members Chug Tai, Chowry, and Rainville. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh council member Chavez. Yeah. Uh, Council President P, maybe the clerks can help us with this. There is a lot of these notice introductions and list objectives that previously had more than one author. So, if it's allowable, either I can go through them or if I can make a motion that would then give authority to the clerk to add authors that were previously added to these notice of intents or legislative directives. There's just authors that have been missing on this because of the way it was proposed. >> Uh, Mr. president and to council member Chavez. Happy to add them back when they're at committee level. We should be bringing those forward in a formal meeting like this, not to avoid uh to avoid quorum issues. The just so everyone's clear, we don't track anybody but a primary author, which is why we pull this directly from limbs. We don't track co-authors. So happy to add them back in for purposes of uh awareness, but this was simply expedited to bring it forward and we only track the official primary author. So that's why it's only the primary author, but happy to add back other um >> co-authors when we get to the committee level at the next meeting. >> Would you recommend that we submit that so it's ahead of time or >> perhaps the easiest thing is for the clerks to go ahead and look into the record for council members who are still with this body since some have changed from the last add them back in where it's appropriate and then if they wish to be removed they can do that or if other new co-authors want to be added they can do that too. >> Perfect. Thank you. All right, the clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer, >> I. >> Council member Wsley, >> I. >> Council member Shaktai, >> I. >> Council member Whiting, >> I. >> Council member Chowry, >> I. >> Council member Stevenson, >> I. >> Council member Rainville, >> I. >> Council member Vita, >> I. >> Council member Pomosano, >> I. >> Council member Chavez, >> I. >> Council member Warren, >> I. >> Vice President Osman, >> I. >> President Payne, >> I. >> There are 13 eyes. >> That carries. And those matters are referred to the committees listed on the agenda. Uh, Council Member Wanzie, I see you in queue. >> Yep. I had to or wanted to speak to one of the items that we just passed. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Thanks. Uh, so I just want to amplify that the public hearing for Paul's eviction save lives is going to be on March 3rd. Many of us are fully aware that mutual aid efforts that sustain thousands of families are already seeing a significant decline in fundraising efforts, which means more people will be vulnerable to facing a eviction um come next month. While I'm disappointed that this body um opted to not expedite this process further um so that we could have had this protection in place by March 1st um I do feel confident that there will be um support to move it forward even uh to make it a protection after March 1st um so that we can make sure that residents do have one way of um receiving housing stability and allow them to get access to rental assistance efforts that's being moved at all governmental levels. Um, so I look forward to further conversation about this matter next cycle. Um, and ideally seeing this be uh passed as quickly as possible. Well, that's all. The next order of business is resolutions. We have two resolutions today as listed on the agenda. Do council members have any comments to add? May I have a motion to adopt these resolutions? >> Second. >> The clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer. I >> council member Wanssley >> I >> council member Shaktai >> I >> council member Whiting >> I >> council member Chowry >> I >> council member Stevenson >> I >> council member Rainville >> I >> council member Vita >> I >> council member Pomisano >> I >> council member Chavez >> I >> council member Warren >> I >> vice president Osman >> I >> President Payne >> I >> there are 13 eyes's >> that carries and those resolutions are adopted the next order of business is new business we have one item today which is a gift well we actually have two items the gift acceptance and the legislative directive. Um, we will be take up the gift acceptance for council member Chuck Tai. May I have a motion >> to adopt this item? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh, the clerk will call the role. >> Council member Schaefer. >> I. >> Council member Wanssley. >> Hi. >> Council member Shtai. >> I. >> Council member Whiting. >> Hi. >> Council member Chowry. >> Hi. >> Council member Stevenson. >> I. >> Council member Rainville. >> Hi. >> Council member Vita. >> I. >> Council member Palisano. I, >> Council Member Chavez. >> I, >> Council Member Warren, >> I, >> Vice President Osman, >> I, >> President Payne, >> I, >> there are 13 eyes. >> That item carries. Uh, next, we will take up item number two under new business, which is a legislative directive by council members Chowri, Chuck, Thai, Whiting, and Chavez. Uh, council member Chowry, did you want to speak to this? >> Yes, I can start. And I certainly welcome my co-authors taking some time to speak to this as well. This is truly a team effort. So this is an accompaniment legislative directive to the small business resiliency fund before you. Just for the uh the sake of understanding for our new colleagues, I wanted to actually ask the city clerk if it's all right, could you please explain uh what a legislative directive is and what it does? >> Mr. Clerk, >> Mr. President, to council member Chowry, and to all members, a legislative directive is a formal act of the city council passed by a majority vote, which is a request to the mayor formally under our government structure for some level of information, assistance, or support from the administration at the mayor's direction to uh contribute to the formal official legislative policymaking and oversight functions of the city council. assuming that it passes with the vote required of the body, it goes to the mayor and with the mayor's approval then commits the administration to following up on that requested information, assistance or level of support. >> Thank you so much. And usually a rule of thumb for legislative directives has been if it's more than 5 hours of work, you should request a legislative directive. Um, and also when we've had different ordinances or budget resolutions in the past, they have been accompanied by a legislative directive. We felt that this was a good mechanism to really memorialize the conversations that we've had as council members in this entire body of details that should be further fleshed out as desires for this council to set as considerations and parameters for CPED as they're the department, the home department, um should our uh small business resiliency fund receive a signature or just pass through the process. um they're the ones that will take that up and they have expressed that uh they're going to come back they're they have a very strong willingness to come back to the city council and share what that program will be. They are interested in having a working group process as well and to move immediately. I thank uh director Hansen um and uh director Linham for their efforts and conversations with us and their work on this so far. And uh in this we also have uh apart from information that should be included about about the programming a section that says share any potential opportunities and challenges with program implementation and execution. So that is the legislative directive before us and I hope to earn everyone's support today. >> Council member Whiting. >> Yes. Thank you uh President Payne. The only thing I would add here and thank you council member Chowry uh is the kind of language here wanted to try to give a a a broad picture of of ways that these funds could be used to help support our small uh businesses. And particularly uh I think what we are noting that this includes language that says this may include but not is not limited to the information that we see here. And so I think as council members have questions for CPED uh and as this kind of goes forward to reach out um to CPED as well if if you would like to kind of see some of those processes or ideas um float in the air. And so I think trying to give some level of both flexibility um and and guide rails to uh what this work and and funds are going to be used for. and so uh fully support uh this legislative directive going forward as well. Thank you, >> Council Member Schaefer. >> Yes. I just want to say thank you to my colleagues for bringing this forward. I'm excited to support this today. Um I would really encourage us. I'm I'm looking forward to the aspects that staff will bring forward. I think that I know everyone has learned a lot through the COVID ex experience that we all had about ways to most impactfully help our small businesses um versus just maybe performatively do that. So I am excited to hear what the staff report would be and I would hope that we as a body would take that expertise seriously when it comes back and move forward quickly um in support of whatever um best use case scenario that they present to us. But thank you for the extended effort that I know this will be for staff and I appreciate uh the opportunity to lean into your expertise as we hear that report. But thank you again to my colleagues Seeing no one else left in queue, I will ask the clerk to call the role on the small business resiliency fund of legislative directive. >> Council member Schaefer, >> I. >> Council member Wsley, >> I. >> Council member Shugtai, >> I. >> Council member Whiting, >> I. >> Council member Chowry, >> I. >> Council member Stevenson, >> I. >> Council member Rainville, >> I. >> Council member Vita, >> hi. >> Council member Palisano, >> hi. >> Council member Chavez, >> hi. >> Council member Warren, >> I. >> Vice President Osman, >> I. >> President, [clears throat] I. There are 13 eyes. >> That carries. And that completes all of our business today. Our next order of business is announcements. Are there any announcements from council members? Council member Rainville. >> Thank you. So, I just want to inform the body here that today is a very special day in Minneapolis. It is Diane Mua Day. So, Dian's Place. How many of you have been to Dian's Place restaurant? Well, someday I hope to see every hand up because she's expanding. But why why today is so special is because Good Morning America was featuring 50 cities in 50 days. And when they go into a city, uh they honor a small business and we all agree that the business community is good. So, I got up at 5 this morning to shower and shave and be at Dian's place with uh the proclamation that this was her special day. And it was just so uh great to see the welcoming community in Northeast and the Mung community and and Diane is so spectacular. She's won uh two James Beard awards, been nominated for five and just last month, Food and Wine magazine voted her the best restaurant in the United States. And that restaurant is right here in our city in Minneapolis, Minnesota. So, I just uh was so joy to do that. And if I get a little tired this afternoon, poke me and wake me up. Vice President Osman. >> Uh, thank you, Council President. Um, yesterday was the first day of Ramadan, so I wanted to take a moment to wish um uh Eid Mubarak to uh our Muslim residents in Minneapolis, Raalan Mubarak, um to all Muslims in city Minneapolis and around the world. So, it's a wonderful holiday. It's a it's a joy, family time. and I'm fasting and some of my colleagues I'm fire fasting. So yeah, thank you >> council member Warren. >> Thank you council president. I'm just speaking in this announcement because I want to address the um misrepresentation and belief that the statement that I made with respect to a song from 1958 by Sheb Wooie that's on YouTube um about the purple people eaters was not to offend my council colleague in any way. I am not on this body to be offensive to my council colleagues in any way. It was a silly song. It was a um um I felt that the request that was being made at the time of um council discussion was silly. So I made reference to a silly song. I've ran for city council to uplift and empower not only the residents of W 5, but residents throughout this entire city. So if there's ever any offense that anyone on this body feels, my door is always open. My phone always answers and you are more than welcome to speak with me. But I did want to address Saurin directly because it was said by other council members that it was offensive to him. Have a lot of respect for you, brother. It did not I was not intending to offend you or any other members of this body in any way. >> Council member Chowry. >> Thank you, President Payne. I also wanted to say Ramadan Mubarak um to the Muslim community in Minneapolis, but also uh the community members who are not Muslim because I just appreciate the way that this city always shows up for it Muslim neighbors and comes to ears with us. Um the support for the Muslim community, our immigrant communities, everything is really tied together in this moment. We have seen record levels of xenophobia and islam is Islamophobia in our country and that's not changing anytime soon. And I just wanted to say like you the folks that are standing up and like showing a lot of joy and standing in solidarity with one another like you are the absolute antidote to that. So just thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm so proud to be Muslim. I'm so proud to be on a body that has such a big Muslim caucus on it. like it gives me so much joy all the time to be a part of it. Um I did fast yesterday. I got a little too ahead of myself and I had major brain fog and I struggled. So I was not feeling well this morning. So I'm not fasting. But throughout this month of Ramadan, if you see your Muslim colleagues expressing brain fog, um not remembering the items before them, just give us a little bit of grace. We will definitely need the assist. Council member Stevenson. >> Yeah. Um firstly I wanted to say uh uh Council Member Warren I was not offended by the comments I happen to uh when someone says purple people eat lead Eaters I think of the Vikings Dline. Um and I would be honored to be a part of that. Um but in a total uh gear shift here I I missed it when we were uh asking about comment on resolutions. Um when I was in college, um my sophomore year, there was a shooting at my college and it killed one of the students uh and injured others. Um the student who died was a friend of my roommates. Um and so I was really touched by the resolution honoring uh Fletcher this morning. Um the date that is burned in my memory is June 5th. Um and this date is burned in their memory. Um sorry. Um, so I just wanted to to highlight that this is something that is uh it's afflicted our country for a long time and I'm I'm horrified that it's here in Minneapolis and that uh I was a child who grew up um you know doing active shooter drills and now I'm an adult who is uh doing resolutions for children who were murdered in school. And so may we all commit ourselves to a world where children don't get murdered in school and college students don't get murdered in college. Thank you >> Mr. Clerk. >> Uh with the council's indulgence uh a little history to add to today's meeting. Today was the date of the first election ever held in the city of Minneapolis after its incorporation. So it was the first election held for city officials in the city of Minneapolis. At that time, Doris Morrison was elected first mayor of the city of Minneapolis. There were only four wards at that time, but each ward had three council members. So, we had a 12 member body, three council members per ward, plus Mr. Morrison is the first mayor. And I just wanted to since it was a council day, bring a little bit of that history forward to share with the body. >> Thank you for that history lesson. I'm not seeing anyone else in queue. So with that, we've completed our business today and with nothing further to come before the council and without objection, this meeting is hereby adjourned. >> All right.