[0:01] Casey Carl: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TO ASSEMBLED FAMILY FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS CASEY CARL. I HAVE THE PRIVELEDGE AS SERVING AS CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY CHARTER AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THIS IS THE DAY FIXED FOR THE ASSEMBLING OF THE NEWLY INSTALLED CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING THE 2023 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION. AS CERTIFIED BY THE MUNICIPAL CANVASSING BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 2023. NEWLY ELECTED AND RE ELECTED MEMBERS WERE SWORN IN AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY CHARTER ON MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2024. [0:35] Casey Carl: TODAY'S ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING MARKS THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2024 2025 TERM. WITH THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL IS IN ORDER. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL BY ORDER OF WARDS. [ROLL CALL] THERE IS 13 MEMBERS PRESENT. THE RECORD WILL REFLECT THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT FOR THE MEETING. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE PURPOSE IS TO [1:20] Casey Carl: ORGANIZE THE COUNCIL FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE CITY BUSINESS CONVENED PURSUANT TO NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY LAW INCLUDED IN THE TRANSITION CALENDAR ADOPTED OCTOBER 5, PUBLISHED OCTOBER 13, 2023. MATTERS TO BE TRANSACTED ARE LISTED ON THE AGENDA WHICH WAS POSTED AND MADE PUBLIC ON JANUARY 3, 2024. PRINTED COPIES HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS AND COPIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC INCLUDING THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FROM THE CITY'S WEBSITE. [1:54] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBERS, BEFORE WE PROCEED TO BUSINESS, IT IS MY HONOR TO INVITE THE MAYOR TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THIS YEAR DUE TO THE LAW THAT AFFECTS THE ELECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOLLOWING THE FEDERAL CENSUS AND REDISTRICTING, THE COUNCIL IS ORGANIZING FOR A NEW TWO YEAR TERM THAT REPEATS EVERY 20 YEARS AND IT IS MORE COMMON FOLLOWING AN ELECTION FOR THE MAYOR TO OFFER AN INAUGURAL ADDRESS AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF A NEW TERM. [2:22] Casey Carl: THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR FOR AN ADDRESS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. MR. MAYOR? [2:39] Jacob Frey: THANK YOU, MR. CLERK, CASEY CARL. I APPRECIATE THE INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS. WE CANNOT WAIT TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU, CITY CLERK CARL FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS PAYNE, WONSLEY, RAINVILLE, VETAW, ELLISON, OSMAN, JENKINS, CHAVEZ, CHUGHTAI, AND PALMISANO; COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREA JENKINS, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON CHAVEZ, AISHA CHUGHTAI, LINEA PALMISANO, AND A BIG WELCOME AS WELL TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS CASHMAN AND CHOWDHURY. THIS DAY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER. [3:23] Jacob Frey: YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE TRUST FROM THE SHARED COMMUNITIES AND I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU WILL ENTER THESE DOORS IN CITY HALL AND AT THIS BUILDING WITH AN INTENTION TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH AND TO SERVE OUR COMMENTS. WE’VE HAD NO SHORTAGE OF MOMENTS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. TODAY, I’M GLAD TO COME TOGETHER WITH YOU TO MARK ANOTHER ONE IN OUR CITY’S HISTORY. [3:49] Jacob Frey: YOU HAVE FOUNDATIONAL WORK TO DO AT TODAY’S MEETING. THAT’S NOT LOST ON ME. AND I'M KEENLY AWARE OF HOW UNUSUAL TODAY IS – AFTER ALL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I CAN RECALL A MAYOR DELIVERING INAUGURAL REMARKS WITHOUT ACTUALLY BEING INAUGURATED. SO, THIS WILL BE BRIEF. MAYBE A BIT UNTRADITIONAL, JUST LIKE THIS MOMENT. [4:12] Jacob Frey: SHORT ON POLICY SUCCESSES FROM THE PAST YEAR – TRUST ME, I WILL TOUT THOSE UNAPOLOGETICALLY DURING THE STATE OF THE CITY AND BUDGET ADDRESSES – BUT A BIT LONGER ON REFLECTION. ABOUT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHERE WE CAN GO TOGETHER AS A BODY. WE ARE IN A PIVOTAL TIME OF RENEWAL. THAT IS TRUE OF EVERY NEW YEAR, AN ALL BUT GUARANTEED TIME YOU START OUT WITH AN INTENTION TO COLLABORATE AND TO SERVE AND A COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHAT WE ARE SERVING. [4:47] Jacob Frey: AT THE START OF A NEW YEAR, SLATES AREN’T WIPED CLEAN – WE ALL CARRY WITH US OUR HISTORIES – BUT YOU CAN START FRESH. SO LET'S START AFRESH, ASSUMING GOOD INTENTIONS IN ONE ANOTHER. [5:02] Jacob Frey: LET'S START AFRESH ASSUMING THAT EACH OF US WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS AT CITY HALL WITH THE INTENTION TO SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT NOT JUST THE BUILDING WE ARE IN NOW, BUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK ON THE SHARED PRIORITIES. [5:21] Jacob Frey: AND IN THIS NEW YEAR, THAT IS MY COMMITMENT TO YOU, THAT I WILL I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE BEST OF INTENTIONS TO WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY. I WILL BELIEVE THAT YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS JUST AS I DO, AND THAT WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE TOP LEVEL SERVICE THAT THEY DESERVE. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE PLENTY OF TIME FOR ARGUMENT ABOUT THE BEST STRATEGIES, BUT HAVING BEST INTENTIONS IS SOMEWHERE WE CAN ALL ALIGN RIGHT NOW FROM THE GITGO. [5:52] Jacob Frey: AND AS I’VE REFLECTED ON WHAT I’VE HEARD ACROSS MINNEAPOLIS THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR, I DECIDED TO TAKE THAT TO HEART TODAY AND TALK ABOUT THIS RENEWED COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. [6:08] Jacob Frey: A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO HAVING THE BEST INTENTIONS, TO OUR COMMON HUMANITY, AND, FINALLY, TO OUR COMMON CAUSE: WHICH IS QUITE SIMPLY, MAKING MINNEAPOLIS THE CITY PEOPLE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME. WHAT WILL THAT DEMAND OF US THIS TERM? A RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP PEOPLE AND MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE. [6:35] Jacob Frey: THAT SIGNING UP TO SERVE IS TO SAY “YES” TO BEING AN INSTRUMENT FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. WE ARE ALL HERE TO BUILD A CITY, A GREAT CITY, THAT WILL OUTLAST THE BORROWED TIME DURING WHICH WE WILL OCCUPY THESE SEATS. SO LET'S GOVERN WITH INTEGRITY. [6:55] Jacob Frey: LET'S DEBATE WITH HONESTY AND RELENTLESSLY PURSUE WHAT IS JUST, EQUITABLE IN OUR POLICYMAKING. IF THAT HITS YOU AS A BIT SIMPLISTIC OR UNBRIDLED IN THE OPTIMISM, IT'S FAIR. [7:10] Jacob Frey: SO LET'S TOUCH ON WHERE WE MAY STUMBLE. I AGREE WITH YOU ON CONSERVATIVELY 95% OF ALL THE ITEMS WE WORK ON, BUT THAT PERCENT OF DAYLIGHT WE FIND THAT 5% OF DAYLIGHT WE FIND, THAT SHINES A BRIGHT LIGHT SOME DAYS. WHY? WELL, TENSION SELLS WHETHER ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR IN THE NEWS, AND THAT TENSION AT TIMES IS IMPORTANT, BUT LET'S FOCUS ON THE 95% WHERE WE CAN UNITE, WHERE WE CAN GET TREMENDOUS WORK DONE ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY. [7:56] Jacob Frey: I'LL THROW OUT A COUPLE OF POINTS TO START OUT WITH. WHO HERE BELIEVES THAT CLIMATE CHANGE POSES AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR SPECIES AND THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN MINNEAPOLIS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN COMBATTING IT? I IMAGINE THAT'S BASICALLY EVERYBODY EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T RAISE YOUR HAND, I AM ASSUMING YOU'RE WITH ME HERE AND THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE OUR ADMINISTRATION THINKS THAT IS COLLECTIVELY IMPORTANT IN THE CITY. [8:32] Jacob Frey: WHO THINKS THAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS A ROLE TO PLAY AND PERHAPS LEAD THE STATE IN EFFECTIVELY AND EQUITABLY REGULATING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? TERRIFIC. WE SEE THIS YEAR'S INAUGURAL CANNABIS CONFERENCE THIS YEAR AS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY TO START TO CHART A PATH THROUGH WHICH WE CAN DO THAT HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS. [8:55] Jacob Frey: FINALLY, I DOUBT THAT ANYONE DISAGREES WE SHOULD CONTINUE FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT A RECORD SETTING PACE AND WE NEED TO BE DOING EVEN MORE TO MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS THE DIGNITY OF A HOME. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AS A CITY. [9:11] Jacob Frey: THOSE ARE VALUES NONE OF US ARE GOING TO BACK DOWN ON. AGAIN, BACK TO WHAT THIS NEW YEAR CAN BRING AND NEW COMMITMENTS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND OUR COMMON INTENTIONS. THE SUM OF OUR EFFORTS CAN IN THIS CASE BE GREATER THAN OUR INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS. WE'VE HEARD FROM JUDGES AND OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WORKING TOGETHER CAN BRING A SCENARIO THAT FAR SURPASSES AND WORKING TOGETHER DOES PRODUCE POSITIVE CHANGE. SO LET'S GOVERN WITH PURPOSE. [9:50] Jacob Frey: LET'S GOVERN WITH DEEP INTEGRITY AND LET'S GUARD AGAINST THE PRACTICAL OF THE COMMON PERSON. LET US NEVER FORGET WE ARE HERE TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE IN CITY HALL. [10:06] Jacob Frey: THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING HERE IN THE WAY IS OURSELVES, SO LET'S DO IT RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PERSON CONNECTED TO THE CITY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INAUGURAL POET LAUREATE, HEID E. ERDRICH. I KINDLY ASK HEID E. ERDRICH TO COME UP. [10:39] Jacob Frey: AS PART OF OUR BREAKFAST, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR BRIEFLY FROM HEIDI AND HER INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS A BIT ALREADY, BUT THIS PARTICULAR HOPE, THIS PARTICULAR TIME MARKS AN OCCASION, I BELIEVE, THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN EVER BEFORE. AND USING POETRY AND WORDS THIS REPRESENTS HOW LANGUAGE AND STORY CAN BE THE SYMBOL OF ALL THAT IS TRUE AND ALL THAT IS POWERFUL ABOUT OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE, ABOUT OUR DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR SHARED HISTORIES AND AMBITIONS, OUR COLLECTIVE WELL BEING, BOTH PAST AND FUTURE. WE HONOR MS. ERDRICH AND HER FAMILY, THE OJIBWE NATION, AND THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN CLAN AND ALL [11:29] Jacob Frey: OF THOSE THAT INFORMED AND INSPIRED HER TO ACHIEVE THIS RECOGNITION UPON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION. WE’RE GRATEFUL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS INVOLVED IN ENVISIONING THIS AWARD – AND WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE LOFT LITERARY CENTER FOR ADMINISTRATING THE SELECTION PROCESS. FINALLY, THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR BEN JOHNSON AND THE ARTS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT FOR CHAMPIONING THIS NEW INITIATIVE. IT IS LONG OVERDUE AND VERY WORTHWHILE. [12:03] Jacob Frey: OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE WITNESS TO MS. ERDRICH’S WORK OF BRINGING THE POWER OF WORDS AND POETRY TO OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, I AM GOING TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS – WHO IS A POET HERSELF AND WAS A HUGE HELP IN THE SELECTION PROCESS OF MS. ERDRICH – TO OFFER A BRIEF POEM: COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. [12:57] Andrea Jenkins: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR FREY. GOOD MORNING. HI. HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING MINNEAPOLIS' FIRST POET LAUREATE WHICH IS AN IDEA LONG IN THE MAKING. MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR THIS, AND I AM PROUD TO BRING IT FORWARD. I JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF ONE OF YOUR ORIGINAL POEMS THAT I THINK SPEAKS TO THIS MOMENT. [13:35] Andrea Jenkins: IF I HEARD THE WORDS YOU ONCE USED, IN OUR WILD PLACE ROUGH WITH SCRUB ROSES IN SAND IF YOUR WORDS CAME BACK GRAY AND KIND AS A MILD WINTER BELIEVE ME, I'LL STILL UNDERSTAND. OFFER MY OWN RED LANGUAGE MY TONGUE TO YOUR TONGUE SO WE RECALL WHAT WE ONCE SAID THAT MADE US LIVE MADE US CHOOSE TO LIVE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [14:42] Jacob Frey: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND NOW TO CLOSE AND BEFORE I TURN THINGS OVER TO OUR VERY FIRST POET LAUREATE EVER, WE'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THIS GREAT OCCASION. YOU'RE GOING TO BE HONORED ON A REGULAR BASIS HERE, SO I CAN TELL YOU'RE CERTAINLY COMFORTABLE IN POETRY, BUT MAYBE NOT AS COMFORTABLE GETTING A WHOLE LOT OF THANKS AND BEING HONORED, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, YOU DESERVE IT. [15:19] Jacob Frey: YOU'RE EMBLEMATIC OF WHERE WE WANT TO GO AS A CITY AND WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU. AND SO WHEREAS, THE LITERARY ARTS ENCOMPASS THE CORE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S IDENTITY AND VITALITY AND EXPRESS THE SOUL OF OUR PEOPLE, MAKING IT AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT IN CELEBRATING OUR CITY'S CULTURE. [15:44] Jacob Frey: AND WHEREAS, POETIC EXPRESSION IS AN HONORED LITERARY TRADITION THAT ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY, WITH FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, AND PERSPECTIVES THROUGH ARTISTIC NARRATIVES EMBRACING OUR JOYS, CELEBRATIONS, OUR PAINS, FEARS AND HOPES. AND WHEREAS, A POET LAUREATE IS THE SYMBOL OF HOW ARTISTIC AND LITERARY EXPRESSION ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SHARED EXPERIENCES AND REPRESENTS THE COLLECTIVE VOICES OF OUR WRITERS, POETS, AND GREATER CITIZENRY. [16:15] Jacob Frey: AND WHEREAS, A ROBUST LITERARY COMMUNITY REMAINS VITAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE STORY OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT WITH VISIONS FOR OUR FUTURE. AND WHEREAS, CAPTURING OUR STORY, OUR EXPERIENCES AND OUR IDENTITIES THROUGH POETRY ENABLES US TO DOCUMENT OUR COMMUNITY'S HISTORY. [16:31] Jacob Frey: AND WHEREAS, A LITERARY CITY EMPOWERS THE CITIZENS AND BY DOING SO FOSTERING A DYNAMIC, THRIVING CITY THAT IS BY, ABOUT, AND FOR THE PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS, THE INAUGURAL POET LAUREATE FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS WAS SELECTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LOFT LITERARY CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS ARTS COMMISSION AND THE ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. [17:00] Jacob Frey: AND WHEREAS, ON DECEMBER 19, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF HEID E. ERDRICH, EXCUSE ME, AS THE FIRST EVER POET LAUREATE IN RECOGNITION OF HER IMMENSE AND INFLUENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HER WORK AND LIFE EXPERIENCE. [17:19] Jacob Frey: AND WHEREAS, HEID E. ERDRICH BRINGS FORTH A UNIQUE AND NOTEWORTHY BACKGROUND AS A POET AND INDIVIDUAL, HAVING AUTHORED NUMEROUS COLLECTIONS INCLUDING LITTLE BIG BULLY, CURATOR OF THE EPHEMERA AT THE NEW MUSEUM FOR ARCHAIC MEDIA, AND THE FOURTH VERB ANIMATE, SHARED HER EXPERTISE IN A MULTITUDE OF EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS AND LED EFFORTS IN NATIVE ARTS ADVOCACY, COLLABORATION, AND CURATION. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS CONGRATULATES HEID E. ERDRICH ON HER APPOINTMENT TO THIS HISTORIC NEW ROLE. [17:57] Jacob Frey: AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, JACOB FREY, MAYOR OF CITY MINNEAPOLIS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 8, 2024, AS HEID E. ERDRICH DAY IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW AGAIN, IF YOU COULD GIVE A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR FIRST POET LAUREATE, HEID E. ERDRICH. [APPLAUSE] [18:47] Heid E. Erdrich: BEFORE I ACCEPT THIS CONSIDERABLE HONOR, I WANT TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART AS AN OJIBWE WOMAN AND SAY AS A SURVIVOR OF GENOCIDE AND AS A LOVER OF PALESTINIAN POETRY, I GREET YOU ALL TODAY. AND NOW THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR AND ACCEPT IT WITH ALL MY HEART AND WORK HARD FOR YOU TO FIND A ROLE FOR POETRY IN OUR CITY AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S DIVERSITY WHICH IS A TASK THAT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY. [19:41] Heid E. Erdrich: THE POEM I'M ABOUT TO READ IS A POEM THAT HAS JUST STARTED FOR ME. IT'S NOT BEEN A MONTH REALLY SINCE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO IN THIS ROLE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU IT'S GOING TO BE IN FOUR MORE PARTS AND IS A POEM FOR THE SEASONS FOR MINNEAPOLIS. PART ONE, WINTER. THIS IS THE CITY DREAMING IN ITS ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. [20:21] Heid E. Erdrich: DAKOTA HOME, MAPPED ON ASTRONOMICAL PLAINS, SO STREETS STILL CHART THE STARS, TELL US WHERE TO BE IN EACH SEASON. RIVER, SPRING EQUINOX, SUN UP AT FALL, LATE EQUINOX, SUNDOWN. THIS IS THE CITY DREAMING IN WINTER INTO THE SILENCE OF FROZEN SPACES IN THIS BARE YEAR. THE QUIET BROKEN BY WISHES. [20:49] Heid E. Erdrich: THE QUIET BROKEN BY CALLING DOWN THE SNOW. CALLING FOR HOME. THE CITY MAKES ITS OWN WAY HOME. MAKES ITS MANY WAYS HOME. THIS IS THE CITY DREAMING UNDER COLD AND DEEP SKIES, ON ICY STREETS MOVING WITH CARE. [21:08] Heid E. Erdrich: WINTER SWALLOWS BACKGROUND NOISE. AND MAKES THE PERFECT PLACE TO LISTEN, TO HEAR ONE ANOTHER. SNOW JUST ANOTHER SIGN FOR HOME. WE CAN LAUGH AT IT TOGETHER WHETHER WE HARK ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. TO FIND OUR STREET OR FIND IT RESTRICTED. WE PLOW ON THROUGH. WE ARE IN IT TOGETHER. [21:29] Heid E. Erdrich: WHEN THE CITY DREAMS IN WINTER, WHAT DOES IT LEARN? LISTEN TO THE CITY DREAMING, CALLING US HOME, CALLING FOR A HOME IN MANY LANGUAGES. LISTEN TO THE CITY DREAMING, MOVING TOWARD A CHORUS, LEARNING ITS MULTIPLE AND SINGULAR VOICE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [22:19] Casey Carl: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU TO THE POET LAUREATE FOR THOSE WORDS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL DIRECT THE RECEIVE AND IT IS NOW IN ORDER FOR THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED. MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? [22:35] Elliott Payne: SO MOVED. [22:35] Jamal Osman: SECOND. [22:35] Aurin Chowdhury: I WANT TO MOVE THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE UNDER THE ORDER OF NEW BUSINESS SUPPORTING A CEASE FIRE AND PREVENTION OF FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKETS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY. [23:12] Casey Carl: THERE IS A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THE AMENDMENT CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE AS A NEW ORDER OF BUSINESS, PLEASE SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. [23:19] Council Members (Various): NO. [23:19] Casey Carl: IN MY OPINION, THE AYE'S HAVE IT AND THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WITH THAT AMENDMENT ADDED TO THE AGENDA, I WILL ASK FOR I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN TO APPROVE THAT AGENDA AS AMENDED. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED, PLEASE SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. [23:51] Casey Carl: THE AYE'S HAVE IT AND THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED. MEMBERS, THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THIS BODY. IN TERMS OF PROCEDURE, I INTEND TO ADMINISTER THE ELECTION FOR BOTH OFFICERS, THAT IS FOR PRESIDENT AND THEN VICE PRESIDENT. WE WILL CONDUCT THE ELECTION IN ORDER AS SHOWN ON THE AGENDA. FIRST WITH PRESIDENT AND THEN WITH VICE PRESIDENT. FOR EACH ELECTION, WE WILL BEGIN BY OPENING THE FLOOR TO NOMINATIONS. AFTER ALL NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, WE WILL PROCEED TO TAKE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL. WE WILL VOTE ON NOMINATIONS IN THE ORDER THEY ARE MADE AND ACCEPTED. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLE IN NUMERICAL ORDER BY WARDS. ONCE THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WE WILL BRIEFLY PAUSE THE PROCEEDINGS TO SEAT THE NEW OFFICERS BEFORE TAKING UP THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES I [24:39] Casey Carl: HAVE OUTLINED FOR THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS? SEEING NO QUESTIONS, I WILL PROCEED TO THE ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, WHICH IS THE FIRST OFFICE TO BE ELECTED TODAY. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO NOMINATIONS. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT? COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN? COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN HAS NOMINATED COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE REPRESENTING WARD ONE TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. ARE THERE OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT? ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL PROCEED TO THE VOTE. [25:27] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. [25:27] Elliott Payne: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: WONSLEY. [25:27] Robin Wonsley: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. [25:27] Michael Rainville: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: VETAW. [25:27] LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: ELLISON. [25:27] Jeremiah Ellison: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: CASHMAN. [25:27] Katie Cashman: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: JENKINS. [25:27] Andrea Jenkins: NAY. [25:27] Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. [25:27] Jason Chavez: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. [25:27] Aisha Chughtai: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: KOSKI. [25:27] Emily Koski: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. [25:27] Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. [25:27] Casey Carl: PALMISANO. [25:27] Linea Palmisano: NO. [25:44] Casey Carl: THERE ARE 10 AYE'S AND THREE NAYS. THAT MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. [APPLAUSE] COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT? I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. [26:22] Linea Palmisano: THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW FOR THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THIS TERM. I FEEL STRONGLY WE NEED A BALANCED COUNCIL AND WE NEED COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW'S VOICE IN LEADERSHIP CONVERSATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW HAS SIX YEARS OF ELECTED OFFICE UNDER HER BELT. SHE HAS EXPERIENCE AND HAS DEMONSTRATED HER ABILITY TO FOCUS ON AND ADDRESS OUR CITY'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS. WE ALL KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW HAS A PERSONALITY THAT CUTS THROUGH THE FOG IN THIS FISH BOWL OF POLICYMAKING. AND COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW IS DIRECT AND LEADS WITH HER HEART. I THINK SHE WOULD BE A GREAT LEADER IN THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. [26:58] Casey Carl: ARE THERE FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT? COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. [27:18] Aurin Chowdhury: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER AISHA CHUGHTAI TO BE OUR NEXT COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT. I HAVE KNOWN COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVE KNOWN HER AS AN ORGANIZER DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADER AND HARDWORKING COUNCIL MEMBER TO BOTH THE CONSTITUENTS SHE REPRESENTS AND THE COLLEAGUES AND STAFF THAT SHE WORKS WITH. SHE'S A DEDICATED SERVANT LEADER. SHE IS SOMEONE YOU CAN CALL ON FOR HELP AND NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE ISSUE YOU STAND ON OR WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT PART OF THE CITY YOU ARE FROM, SHE WILL DO HER BEST TO SUPPORT YOU. [28:02] Aurin Chowdhury: SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT SHE IS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WILL PUT THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND OFTEN TIMES THE NEEDS OF THIS BODY OVER HER OWN. SHE HAS DONE WORK WITHOUT COMPRISING HER VALUES WHICH IS THE BEST THAT WE CAN ASK FOR OUR LEADERSHIP. SHE IS AN UNRELENTING VOICE FOR PEOPLE, BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS. OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED AND NEED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO SHOW UP FOR THEM MORE THAN EVER. [28:19] Aurin Chowdhury: I AM SO EXCITED AS ONE OF THE MANY COUNCIL MEMBER OF WOMEN AND I FEEL STRONGLY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI WILL WORK FAITHFULLY FOR US, ALL 13 COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO ACHIEVE AN AGENDA THAT WILL DELIVER FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENCIES HERE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. [APPLAUSE] [28:59] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT? I WILL ASK ONCE AGAIN, JUST IN CASE I AM MISSING ANYONE, NOMINATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT? HEARING NO OTHER NOMINATIONS THE PERIOD FOR NOMINATIONS IS CLOSED. AS NOTED, WE WILL TAKE THE VOTE IN THE ORDER THAT THE NOMINATIONS WERE MADE. THE CLERK WILL FIRST CALL THE ROLL ON THE NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW REPRESENTING THE FOURTH WARD TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT. [29:22] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. [29:22] Elliott Payne: NAY. [29:22] Casey Carl: WONSLEY. [29:22] Robin Wonsley: NAY. [29:22] Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. [29:22] Michael Rainville: AYE. [29:22] Casey Carl: VETAW. [29:22] LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. [29:22] Casey Carl: ELLISON. [29:22] Jeremiah Ellison: NAY. [29:22] Casey Carl: OSMAN. [29:22] Jamal Osman: NAY. [29:22] Casey Carl: CASHMAN. [29:22] Katie Cashman: NAY. [29:37] Casey Carl: JENKINS. [29:37] Andrea Jenkins: AYE. [29:37] Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. [29:37] Jason Chavez: NAY. [29:37] Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. [29:37] Aisha Chughtai: NAY. [29:37] Casey Carl: KOSKI. [29:37] Emily Koski: AYE. [29:37] Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. [29:37] Aurin Chowdhury: NAY. [29:37] Casey Carl: PALMISANO. [29:37] Linea Palmisano: AYE. [29:53] Casey Carl: THERE ARE SIX AYE'S AND SEVEN NAY'S. THAT NOMINATION FAILS. WE WILL PROCEED TO THE SECOND NOMINATION WHICH WAS THE NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI REPRESENTING THE 10TH WARD TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. PAYNE. [29:53] Elliott Payne: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: WONSLEY. [30:10] Robin Wonsley: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. [30:10] Michael Rainville: NAY. [30:10] Casey Carl: VETAW. [30:10] LaTrisha Vetaw: NO. [30:10] Casey Carl: ELLISON. [30:10] Jeremiah Ellison: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: OSMAN. [30:10] Jamal Osman: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: CASHMAN. [30:10] Katie Cashman: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: JENKINS. [30:10] Andrea Jenkins: NAY. [30:10] Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. [30:10] Jason Chavez: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. [30:10] Aisha Chughtai: AYE. [30:10] Casey Carl: KOSKI. [30:10] Emily Koski: NAY. [30:28] Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. [30:28] Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. [30:28] Casey Carl: PALMISANO. [30:28] Linea Palmisano: NAY. [30:28] Casey Carl: THERE ARE EIGHT AYE'S AND FIVE NAYS. THAT MOTION PASSES. [APPLAUSE] ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, CONGRATULATIONS TO ELLIOTT PAYNE FROM WARD ONE AND AISHA CHUGHTAI FROM WARD 10 ON THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND TO FAMILY AND FRIEND AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, I WILL ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR GUESTS FOR THEIR INDULGENCE FOR A SLIGHT RECESS AS WE SEAT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE TAKING UP THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA. [37:20] Elliott Payne: ALL RIGHT. THANKS, EVERYONE. WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED. AND BEFORE WE PROCEED, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MY LEADERSHIP. AND I RECOGNIZE THIS POSITION IS ONE OF TRUST AND THAT THE PRIMARY DUTY IS TO REFLECT THE CONSENSUS OF THIS BODY AS IT SERVES OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. [37:44] Elliott Payne: I WANT TO SHARE MY SINCERE THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES. I AM HUMBLED BY YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND I WANT TO THANK THE WORK OF MR. CARL AND YOUR TEAM. NOTHING WORKS WITHOUT THE CLERKS. [APPLAUSE] I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY DAY TO MARK THIS OCCASION WITH US. [38:08] Elliott Payne: I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE SOME REMARKS ABOUT THIS COLLECTIVE DECISION, BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THIS LAND AND EVERY LAND. [APPLAUSE] WE MUST GO BEYOND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE ON DAKOTA LAND. WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE STOLE THIS LAND THROUGH THE GENOCIDE AND DISPLACEMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. [38:43] Elliott Payne: [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE A DUTY AS STEWARDS OF THIS LAND TO TAKE ACTION TO REVERSE THESE HARMS. ONE DIRECT ACTION WE CAN TAKE THIS YEAR IS THE CREATION OF AN NENOOKAASI HEALING CENTER [APPLAUSE] [39:01] Elliott Payne: AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS INITIATIVE. I WANT TO SAY HOW EXCITED I AM TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU ALL THIS TERM. THE MAJORITY OF US HERE TODAY WERE ELECTED AS NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN 2021. WE ALL CAME INTO OFFICE DURING SOME OF THE DARKEST MOMENTS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. [39:16] Elliott Payne: THE CITY HAS BURNED AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNDER TWO ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND WE WERE STILL UNDER AN ACTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WHEN WE WERE SWORN. IN FACT, WE CONDUCTED THIS VERY MEETING VIRTUALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST TERM WITH COVID HITTING PEAK CASES IN JANUARY OF 2022. [40:00] Elliott Payne: IT ALSO FEELS LIKE TWO DIFFERENT CITIES COMPARED TO NOW, TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS. BUT SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE BEGUN TO IMAGINE A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES. THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON'S LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE CREATED AND EXPANDED OUR BEHAVIORAL CRISIS RESPONSE, THE BEGINNING OF AN ENTIRELY NEW MODEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NEW GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, WHERE WE HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR EXPANDING THIS NEW MODEL IN OUR OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY, A PLACE WHERE WE CAN BUILD OUT A COMPREHENSIVE AND LAYERED [40:23] Elliott Payne: APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR SAFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE'S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATIVE SAFETY PROGRAMS HAS BROUGHT US WAREHOUSE DISTRICT LIVE, PROVIDING FREE ACTIVITIES AND A REDUCTION IN CRIME DOWNTOWN. [40:40] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER KOSKI HAS RECOGNIZED THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MAKING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN EXPANDING OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN HAS BEEN A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR STRENGTHENING OUR RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. HE'S PAVED THE WAY FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE TREATMENT OPTIONS AND OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. [41:05] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WHEN SHE WAS SWORN IN EARLY AT THE END OF THE LAST TERM. IN THE SHORT TIME IN OFFICE, SHE'S ALREADY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY BY AUTHORING A NUMBER OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY, LIKE CREATING IN AN INTERIM SAFETY CENTER ON LAKE STREET, INVESTING IN HATE CRIME PREVENTION AND TRANSIT SAFETY COORDINATORS. COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW IS A STEADFAST CHAMPION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND HAS CONSISTENTLY LED ON RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES ACROSS ALL AREAS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. [41:52] Elliott Payne: AND THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS, WE HAVE OVERHAULED OUR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI'S PARTNERSHIP, WE SECURED ONGOING FUNDING FOR OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN TO ACHIEVE THE AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS OF BECOMING CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2050 THROUGH DIRECT INVESTMENT IN OUR GREEN ZONES. [42:15] Elliott Payne: WE HAVE ALSO MADE HISTORICAL INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING THROUGH $18 MILLION OF COMMITMENTS TO CREATE OR PRESERVE 876 UNITS OF HOUSING THROUGH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND, HELPING COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ SECURE $2.5 MILLION FOR LITTLE EARTH HOUSING REHABILITATION AND PRESERVATION. THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, WE HAVE IMPROVED THE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS THROUGH CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND OUR PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK AND HER ADVOCACY. [42:30] Elliott Payne: I AM OVERJOYED BY THE ADDITION OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN TO CITY COUNCIL. I AM EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU ON CLIMATE ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES AND IMPLEMENTING YOUR INNOVATIVE IDEAS ABOUT REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN. THE UNENDING OPTIMISM AND PASSION FOR BUILDING A BETTER MINNEAPOLIS IS TRULY CONTAGIOUS. [42:55] Elliott Payne: UNDER OUR NEW GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, THE ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL HAS SHIFTED AND EVOLVED. IT IS MY INTENTION AS PRESIDENT TO MAKE SURE WE EVOLVE AS A COUNCIL THAT ACTS AS A STRONG COUNTERWEIGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATION AS A CO EQUAL BRANCH OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THAT WE UNIFY CITY COUNCIL TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CHECK AND BALANCE TO THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION WITH INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT AND EVALUATION TO ENSURE RESIDENTS RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY, TIMELY AND EQUITABLE CITY SERVICES. AND TO PASS PROGRESSIVE, COMMON SENSE POLICY AND A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES. [43:30] Elliott Payne: EVEN WHEN OUR VOTE IS DIVIDED, WE REMAIN UNITED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE MINNEAPOLIS A BETTER CITY FOR EVERYONE. YOU SENT US TO CITY HALL WITH A CLEAR MANDATE TO DELIVER A PEOPLE FIRST AGENDA. WE MUST ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS FACING MINNEAPOLIS. WE MUST CREATE A PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. WE MUST CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING. [43:56] Elliott Payne: WE MUST CONTINUE THE WORK OF IMPLEMENTING AND FUNDING OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, AND BUILDING A CLIMATE RESILIENT CITY. AND WE MUST INVEST IN OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS TO REVITALIZE EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY. I'M EXCITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL TO GET TO WORK ON THESE SHARED PRIORITIES. I'M COMMITTED TO BEING A PRESIDENT WHO CAN BRING THIS COUNCIL TOGETHER, PRIORITIZE MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS OVER POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY AND WORK WITH MAYOR FREY ON OUR SHARED PROMISE OF MAKING MINNEAPOLIS A BETTER CITY FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [44:30] Elliott Payne: COLLEAGUES, WE ARE NOW READY TO PROCEED TO THE NEW BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA. I'VE ASKED THE CLERK TO PREPARE A PACKET OF THE DRAFT PAPER WORK FOR EACH OF THESE ITEMS WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE AT YOUR DESKS. EACH OF THESE ITEMS IS NUMBERED TO CORRESPOND TO THE AGENDA TO HELP FACILITATE OUR ACTION ON THESE MATTERS. THERE ARE SIX ITEMS WHICH ARE NUMBERED IN YOUR PACKETS NB1 THROUGH NB6 FOLLOWED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF THREE ORDINANCES SHOWN ON THE AGENDA. [45:01] Elliott Payne: THE FIRST ITEM IS A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING LINES OF SUCCESSION TO THE OFFICES OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY CHARTER AND OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES. THE DRAFT BEFORE YOU IDENTIFIES THOSE WHO ARE IN LINE AND IN WHAT ORDER TO ASSUME THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND AS NECESSARY, THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. [45:19] Linea Palmisano: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I SEE NOW BASED ON THE FOLLOWING REVISION FOR THE STANDING COMMITTEES AND MEMBERSHIP THAT THE TITLES NO LONGER MATCH THE NAMES ON THAT, SO SHOULD WE PRESUME THAT THIS LINE OF SUCCESSION GOES BY WAY OF TITLES OF THESE? I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU INTENDED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE. [45:54] Elliott Payne: THAT'S CORRECT. CLERK, CAN YOU MAKE NOTE OF THAT? [45:54] Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE WAS A CLERICAL ERROR I WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO ON THE SECOND BUSINESS ITEM WHICH MAKES THE ERRORS ON NUMBER ONE, SO FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE A REVISED COPY FOR NEW BUSINESS NUMBER TWO, AND THAT EXPLAINS MORE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS THAT WERE IN ERROR ON NEW BUSINESS NUMBER ONE. THE CLERKS WILL CORRECT THAT AT YOUR DIRECTION, MR. CHAIR, AFTER THE VOTE. [46:21] Elliott Payne: THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. THE QUESTION IS ON THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SUCCESSION PLAN. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. [46:38] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. [46:38] Robin Wonsley: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. [46:38] Michael Rainville: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: VETAW. [46:38] LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: ELLISON. [46:38] Jeremiah Ellison: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: OSMAN. [46:38] Jamal Osman: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: CASHMAN. [46:38] Katie Cashman: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: JENKINS. [46:38] Andrea Jenkins: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. [46:38] Jason Chavez: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: KOSKI. [46:38] Emily Koski: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. [46:38] Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: PALMISANO. [46:38] Linea Palmisano: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI. [46:38] Aisha Chughtai: AYE. [46:38] Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. [46:38] Elliott Payne: AYE. [46:56] Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYE'S. [46:56] Elliott Payne: THAT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE LINES OF SUCCESSION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AS REQUIRED BY OUR CITY CHARTER AND OUR MUNICIPAL CODE. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS THE REVISED PACKET THAT MR. CARL WAS REFERRING TO. THE PACKET INCLUDES THE NAMES OFFERED ON THE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP, QUORUM, AND THE DATES FOR REGULAR MEETINGS. [47:30] Elliott Payne: I AM PROPOSING SIX STANDING COMMITTEES AND ONE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE RETAINING LONG STANDING ELEMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE FROM PRIOR TERMS BUT INTRODUCES A NEW CHANGES I THINK WILL HELP US CONCENTRATE OUR COLLECTIVE ATTENTION ON CRITICAL ISSUES. THE FORMER POLICY AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS NOW THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. [47:43] Elliott Payne: AND THE FORMER PUBLIC WORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE HAS TRANSITIONED INTO THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE EMPHASIZING A FOCUS ON THE CITY'S WORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAINABILITY AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT. THIS PLAN ALSO ESTABLISHES THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AS A REGULAR STANDING COMMITTEE THAT MEETS EACH CYCLE TO REFLECT THIS BODY'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THE FISCAL HEALTH AND LONG TERM STABILITY OF THE CITY FINANCIAL POLICIES. [48:08] Elliott Payne: I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP AND AGREED TO LEAD THESE COMMITTEES AND THE IMPORTANT WORK WE KNOW THE CITY WILL BE TACKLING IN THE NEXT TWO TERMS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. [48:24] Andrea Jenkins: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M CURIOUS, THE CHANGE TO THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. WILL THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS THAT COULD BE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS? AND SO I JUST WANT TO GET A RESPONSE FROM STAFF OR SOMEONE WHO MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE. [48:58] Elliott Payne: WE'RE KEEPING THE SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THAT COMMITTEE. THAT'S CORRECT. [48:58] Andrea Jenkins: SO IN MANY CASES, THERE ARE SPECIFIC RESOURCES THAT ARE DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS. SO I AM JUST WANTING TO BE REAL CLEAR THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE USING WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS OR LEAST APPLY FOR THOSE RESOURCES. [49:15] Elliott Payne: I WILL NOTE THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH A RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDES THE DESCRIPTORS OF THESE COMMITTEES WHICH WILL ALSO INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS. [49:44] Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT? PERHAPS I CAN ADD MORE TO THE INQUIRY. THE NAMING OF THE COMMITTEES DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF THE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION OF THIS COMMITTEE AND WOULD HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF THE CITY FOR AND ON BEHALF OF ITS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR OR TO RECEIVE GRANTED FUNDING. [50:04] Andrea Jenkins: THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. AND THEN MY SECOND INQUIRY IS RELATED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT AND HOW THAT WORKS. HISTORICALLY THAT DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE. IS THAT FUNCTION GOING AWAY THEN? [50:27] Elliott Payne: THAT BODY OF WORK WILL REPORT TO THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, BUT THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPONENT THAT WILL REMAIN AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE. [50:27] Andrea Jenkins: THAT DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY REPORT TO TWO COMMITTEES? [50:40] Elliott Payne: THE MAIN SHIFT HERE IS TO HAVE THE FOCUS OF OUR COMMITTEES BE AROUND SPHERES OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT, MORE SO THAN HIERARCHAL DEPARTMENT REPORTING. AND SO IT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT POLICY WORK WILL BE HAPPENING AND WE'LL HAVE TO TAP INTO THE RESOURCES OF THE BROADER ADMINISTRATION. [51:00] Andrea Jenkins: THANK YOU. [51:10] Elliott Payne: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION? THEN THE QUESTION ON THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEES. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. [51:18] Casey Carl: WONSLEY, AYE. RAINVILLE AYE. VETAW AYE. ELLISON AYE. OSMAN AYE. CASHMAN AYE. JENKINS AYE. CHAVEZ AYE. KOSKI AYE. CHOWDHURY AYE. PALMISANO AYE. VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI, AYE. PRESIDENT PAYNE, AYE. [51:34] Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYES. [51:34] Elliott Payne: THE NEXT ITEM IS ADOPTION OF THE 2024 2025 CALENDAR OF REGULAR MEETINGS OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEES WHICH SATISFIES THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR NOTICE OF SUCH MEETINGS THROUGHOUT OUR TWO YEAR TERM. THIS ACTION ALSO INCLUDES A DIRECTION TO THE CLERK TO PUBLISH AND POST THAT ADOPTED CALENDAR AND TO UPDATE IT AS NECESSARY TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THE COUNCIL. A COPY OF THE DRAFT CALENDAR IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. [52:11] Katie Cashman: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT JANUARY 18 ON THE CALENDAR HAS BOTH ADMINISTRATION AND ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT AS WELL AS CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IF I AM ON BOTH COMMITTEES CAN YOU ADDRESS THE CONFLICT THERE IN THE SCHEDULE. [52:11] Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS THAT? YOU WILL NOTE THAT NEXT MONDAY IS THE OBSERVATION OF THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY, AND SO WE WILL HAVE NO PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT DAY. AND TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TRY TO KEEP THE COMMITTEES WITHIN THE SAME WEEK OF THE CYCLE. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS MOVE THE COMMITTEES WHERE THEIR DATES HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE MORNING SESSION, 10:00 A.M., AND SO THIS WOULD HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AT 10:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY THE 18TH AND THE MEETING OF THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AT THE REGULAR TIME AT 1:30 THE SAME DAY. [53:08] Katie Cashman: OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. [53:08] Jamal Osman: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY CLERK. LAST YEAR WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. AND ONE OF THE ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS FELL UNDER THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THERE WAS A HUGE ITEM THAT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE MUSLIM WERE CELEBRATING AND WE HAD THE COUNCIL MEETING AT THAT TIME. I AM LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR RIGHT NOW AND APRIL 9 IS THE FIRST EID. AND I AM NOT SURE THAT IS THE DAY BECAUSE ISLAMIC USES ANOTHER CALENDAR. HOW WOULD THE CITY CLERK GO ABOUT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS FOR SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE CELEBRATING DOES NOT FALL ON A DAY OF COUNCIL MEETING. [54:04] Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, IN PUTTING THE CALENDAR TOGETHER, WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI, WE HAVE PUT INTO OUR NOTES ON APRIL 1 AND 2 TO CHECK ON THE DAYS, 10 DAYS BEFORE, AND I KNOW THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL HOLD THE CLERK'S OFFICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. SO THAT AS AND IF THAT HOLIDAY ADJUSTS, WE WILL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME WITHIN STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS TO RESCHEDULE AND PROVIDE PUBLIC NOTICE OF ANY CHANGES IN THE COUNCIL'S CALENDAR. [54:36] Aisha Chughtai: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION, MR. CLERK. I KNOW THIS WAS A POINT OF A LOT OF DISCUSSION AS WE WERE SETTING THE CALENDAR. COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, I WILL ALSO NOTE THE FIRST EID OF THIS YEAR BEGINS ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 9, AND SO IT WILL BE APRIL 10 THAT WILL BE THE DAY THAT WE'LL ALL WANT TO NOT BE AT WORK. BUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT DATE, AGAIN, WE WILL DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU. [55:10] Elliott Payne: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. [55:13] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, AYE. RAINVILLE AYE. VETAW AYE. ELLISON AYE. OSMAN AYE. CASHMAN AYE. JENKINS AYE. CHAVEZ AYE. KOSKI AYE. CHOWDHURY AYE. PALMISANO AYE. VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI, AYE. PAYNE, AYE. [55:29] Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYE'S. [55:29] Elliott Payne: THAT IS ADOPTED. AND OUR CALENDAR IS APPROVED. THE CITY CLERK IS DIRECTED TO POST AND PUBLISH THAT CALENDAR AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND TO MAINTAIN THE CALENDAR THROUGHOUT THE COMING TWO YEAR TERM. FOR MY COLLEAGUES IN THE PUBLIC, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THE FIRST CYCLE WILL COMMENCE THE WEEK OF JANUARY 15 FOLLOWING THE RECOGNITION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY. AND DUE TO TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER THE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN THE NEW CHAMBER IN ROOM 350 ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING. [56:05] Elliott Payne: THE PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER IS AT 250 SOUTH FOURTH STREET AND DETAILS ABOUT THE SCHEDULE OF REGULAR MEETINGS INCLUDING DATES, TIMES AND THE AGENDAS CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FROM THE CITY WEBSITE. NEXT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE COUNCIL RULES OF ORDER. THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE RULES WAS ADOPTED IN 2022 PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER SECTION 4.4A1, AND THOSE RULES REMAIN IN EFFECT. THE CITY CLERK WILL NEED TO UPDATE SOME OF THE RULES TO REFLECT THE NEW COMMITTEE SYSTEM, AND THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK FOR OUR FORMAL CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? MAY I HAVE a MOTION PLEASE? [56:48] Council Member (Various): SO MOVED. [56:48] Council Member (Various): SECOND. [56:48] Elliott Payne: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [57:04] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, AYE. RAINVILLE, AYE. VETAW AYE. ELLISON AYE. OSMAN AYE. CASHMAN AYE. JENKINS AYE. CHAVEZ AYE. KOSKI AYE. CHOWDHURY AYE. PALMISANO, AYE. VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI, AYE. PRESIDENT PAYNE, AYE. [57:24] Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYE'S. [57:24] Elliott Payne: THAT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE RULES HAVE BEEN FORMALLY ADOPTED. THE CITY CLERK IS DIRECTED TO UPDATE THE RULES TO REFLECT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES MADE TODAY AND TO BRING THE AMENDED RULES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS AN INDEPENDENT DECISION MAKING BODY ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CITY CHARTER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY'S INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT AND SUPERVISION OF THE CITY AUDITOR. [58:05] Elliott Payne: AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 8.140B1 AND C1, THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, ONE OF WHOM IS DESIGNATED AS THE COMMITTEE'S CHAIR. PURSUANT TO THAT PROVISION OF THE CITY CODE, I HEREBY NAME MYSELF AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI AS THE SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? NO FORMAL ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENTS. THEREFORE, I WILL DIRECT THE CLERK TO RECEIVE AND FILE THOSE APPOINTMENTS AND UPDATE THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ROSTER ACCORDINGLY. [58:42] Elliott Payne: THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A RESOLUTION THAT APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND GROUPS AS REPRESENTATIVES OF CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE POSTPONING THIS ITEM TO OUR FIRST REGULAR MEETING. I'VE CONSULTED WITH THE CITY CLERK AND WANT TO REVIEW THE NUMBER OF AGENCIES TO WHICH APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE TO BE SURE WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST. [59:02] Elliott Payne: WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO ALL MEMBERS TO VERIFY THESE APPOINTMENTS AND ANTICIPATE BRINGING FORWARD THIS ACTION AT THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 25. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING, COLLEAGUES. I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT I HAVE DIRECTED THE CITY CLERK TO PREPARE TO HAVE THE REVISION TO OUR RULES READY IN TIME FOR FORMAL ACTION AT THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL. [59:24] Elliott Payne: THIS CONSIDERATION OF EXPIRED ORDINANCES AND OTHER ACTIONS FROM THE PRIOR TERM. WE WILL BE CONSIDERING THESE EXTERNAL ASSIGNMENTS AS WELL AS FORMAL RULES REVISIONS TO REFLECT OUR NEW STRUCTURE AND THOSE PROPOSALS FROM THE PRIOR TERM THAT WOULD OTHERWISE EXPIRE. WITH THAT, WE WILL PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS. [59:45] Elliott Payne: FINALLY, WE HAVE A SERIES OF ORDINANCE INTRODUCTIONS TO BE REFERRED TO THE PROPER COMMITTEES. THESE ARE ROUTINE ACTIONS INCLUDED IN EVERY ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING AS A MEANS OF EXPEDITING THE NOTICING AND REFERRAL OF SUCH MATTER DURING THE COMING TWO YEAR TERM. THE INTRODUCTION ESSENTIALLY OPENS THE CHAPTERS TO ROUTINE, RECURRING ACTIONS. [1:00:02] Elliott Payne: IN YOUR PACKET ARE THREE MOTIONS THAT ACCOMPLISH THESE REFERRALS. THESE REFERRALS INCLUDE THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL OF AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 2, CHAPTER 20, RELATED TO THE WAGES AND SALARIES, TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL OF AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 18, CHAPTER 478, RELATED TO TRAFFIC CONTROL, TO THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. [1:00:26] Elliott Payne: AND THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL OF AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 20, CHAPTER 530, RELATED TO ZONING CODE TEXT, TO THE BUSINESS, INSPECTIONS HOUSING AND ZONING COMMITTEE. COLLEAGUES, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ONE VOTE ON ALL THREE REFERRALS. THEREFORE, I WILL ASK FIRST IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE THREE REFERRALS? AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION? [1:00:46] Council Member (Various): SO MOVED. [1:00:46] Council Member (Various): SECOND. [1:00:46] Elliott Payne: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [1:01:02] Casey Carl: WONSLEY, AYE. RAINVILLE, AYE. VETAW AYE. ELLISON AYE. OSMAN AYE. CASHMAN AYE. JENKINS AYE. CHAVEZ AYE. KOSKI AYE. CHOWDHURY AYE. PALMISANO, AYE. VICE PRESIDENT CHUGHTAI, AYE. PRESIDENT PAYNE, AYE. [1:01:17] Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYES. [1:01:17] Elliott Payne: THE MOTION CARRIES AND ALL THREE OF THOSE SUBJECT MATTER INTRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN MOVED AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEES AS INDICATED. COLLEAGUES, WE'LL NOW TAKE UP THE RESOLUTION ADDED BY AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA. THIS IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A CEASE FIRE. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. [1:01:33] Aurin Chowdhury: MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO BE CONSIDERED AT ITS REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 23 FOLLOWING THE STANDARD LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AND I ALONG WITH MANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED TO ENSURE GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS IN CONVERSATION AND CONSULTATION WITH CONSTITUENTS, OUR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE COALITION THAT WAS A PART OF THE PROPOSAL OF THIS RESOLUTION. [1:02:08] Aurin Chowdhury: I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS RESOLUTION TO HELP MAKE OUR EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR CEASE FIRE AS STRONG AS IT CAN BE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS INPUT, AND TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR MANY CONSTITUENTS. THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD AVOID IT. INSTEAD, I AM GLAD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THIS DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX AND VERY NUANCED ISSUE. AT ROOT, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE ATROCITIES OF THIS MUST BE REJECTED. OUR SHARED VALUES PUT AN EMPHASIS ON HUMAN LIFE AND THAT IS WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT AT ITS CORE. [1:02:48] Aurin Chowdhury: OUR STANDARD LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WILL ENSURE WE GET FULL INPUT ON THIS RESOLUTION THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS. WE KNOW OUR COMMITTEES DO THE BULK OF THE LEGISLATIVE WORK, AND THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT REFERRING THIS TO COMMITTEE. THAT WILL GIVE US ANOTHER WEEK TO DISCUSS THIS PROPOSAL WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. I THINK ADDITIONAL TIME WILL ONLY HELP STRENGTHEN OUR COLLECTIVE RESOLVE. FOLLOWING OUR STANDARD PROCESS MEANS THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER WEEK TO COLLABORATE BEFORE ITS FINAL VERSION IS DUE TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. [1:03:19] Aurin Chowdhury: THE AGENDA PACKET FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WILL BE POSTED FOR PUBLIC ACCESS IN LIMS, WHICH IS THE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SERVICE, TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO MEETING. SO THE PACKET WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BY JANUARY 19. THE CONSTITUENTS WILL HAVE A FULL WEEKEND TO REVIEW THE REVISED DRAFT OF THE RESOLUTION, AND WE WILL TAKE THEIR FEEDBACK BEFORE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND CONSIDER THE DRAFT. AMENDMENT CAN BE MADE AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL BEFORE THE FINAL CONSIDERATION AND ACT BY THE FULL COUNCIL AT THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING ON JANUARY 25. [1:04:14] Aurin Chowdhury: I AGAIN WANT TO SAY THAT THIS REQUEST CAME AT THE REQUEST OF MANY CONSTITUENTS AND TO ADVOCATE TO OUR FEDERAL LEADERS. THIS ISSUE IS NOT AN EASY ONE AND WE THANK YOU, ALL, FOR STANDING HERE AND IN THIS DIFFICULTY. MY HOPE IS THAT WE WORK IN GOOD FAITH WITH OUR MAYOR, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER, AND COMMUNITY TO DELIVER LANGUAGE THAT CAN SPEAK TO THIS CALL. AND THIS CALL FOR PEACE AND UPLIFT HUMANITY, SELF DETERMINATION, AND SELF REMEDY OF PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS AND ALL THOSE IMPACTED AT HOME, AND UNEQUIVOCALLY STAND AGAINST HATE CRIMES AND FIND PROACTIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AT HOME AND ENSURE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY OUR JEWISH AND MUSLIM CONSTITUENCY. [1:04:50] Aurin Chowdhury: ONE LAST TIME, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE HAD. THIS RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT FOREIGN POLICY IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BODY, I BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPRESS THE COLLECTIVE VALUES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THIS RESOLUTION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WORK TO REFLECT THOSE SHARED VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [1:05:16] Elliott Payne: IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO REFER THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AS THE FIRST MEETING WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 23. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. [1:05:35] Robin Wonsley: I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SPOKEN CONSISTENTLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT BRINGING A RESOLUTION FORWARD TO BE VOTED ON BY CITY COUNCIL WITH THE INTENT OF MINNEAPOLIS JOINING THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT AND STANDING AGAINST THE GENOCIDE TAKING PLACE IN PALESTINE. [APPLAUSE] [1:06:06] Robin Wonsley: AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME THAT BECAUSE FOR DECADES WE'VE SEEN PALESTINE PLACED UNDER OCCUPATION AND BE FORCED TO LIVE UNDER APARTHEID CONDITIONS. AND AS OTHERS HAVE SHARED, WE ARE NOT VOTING ON A RESOLUTION TODAY, AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT PIECE BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I COMMITTED TO PUBLICLY THAT WE WOULD BE VOTING ON TODAY. BUT I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU ALL IF YOU LOOK AT THE DRAFT, MY NAME IS NOT ON IT. I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR WHY THAT IS SO. [1:06:40] Robin Wonsley: BUT FIRST I WANT TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT WORKING CLASS PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALL HAVE POURED INTO EVEN GETTING US INTO THIS POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE EVEN GET TO CONSIDER A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION. I WOULD NAME THAT AFTER OCTOBER 11 MY OFFICE PUT OUT A STATEMENT, AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I RECEIVED SO MUCH INPUT FROM OUR RESIDENTS AROUND HOW THEY WERE PROCESSING THE IMMENSE TRAUMAS ACTIVATED IN OUR COMMUNITY SINCE OCTOBER 7 HAPPENED. [1:06:55] Robin Wonsley: MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT THE PAST THREE MONTHS WORKING WITH MY OFFICE NOT ONLY ON A RESOLUTION, BUT ORGANIZED MARCHES, ORGANIZED RALLIES AND PHONE BANKS TO LEGISLATORS. YOU ALL HAVE SHOWN UP FOR THIS MOMENT. [APPLAUSE] AND I WANT TO NAME YOU'VE DONE THIS IN SPITE OF THIS CRUSHING GRIEF THAT I THINK WE'RE COLLECTIVELY EXPERIENCING. [1:07:49] Robin Wonsley: I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IN THIS MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO STAND UP FOR PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS. [APPLAUSE] JUST LIKE IT TAKES COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR THE VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY, JUST LIKE IT TAKES COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. AND TRANSFORMATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY WOULD NOT HAVE COME ABOUT WITHOUT PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIKE OURSELVES DECIDING TO TAKE TO HEART MORALLY CORRECT STANCES. [1:08:15] Robin Wonsley: I CAN NAME I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE SPEAKING BEFORE YOU TODAY HAD NOT THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT THAT FORMED IN THE 1800S FORCED PEOPLE TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST AN INHUMANE SYSTEM OF CHATTEL SLAVERY. [APPLAUSE] I ALSO WOULD NOT BE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TODAY THAT FORCED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO TAKE PUBLIC STANCES AGAINST A SYSTEM OF RACIAL SEGREGATION. SO WE ALL KNOW THIS [APPLAUSE] AND ALL THE STRUGGLE AGAINST OPPRESSION AND THERE IS PRESSURE TO SANITIZE AND WEAKEN THE LANGUAGE DESCRIBING THE REALITIES OF THOSE WHO ARE BEING OPPRESSED. THERE IS ALWAYS PRESSURE TO ADVANCE THE NARRATIVES THAT SHIELD AN OPPRESSOR TO NOT SPEAK FORCEFULLY ABOUT THE TRUTH. [1:09:25] Robin Wonsley: THERE IS THIS PRESSURE HONESTLY AND IT CAN BE CRUSHING. AND IT CAN BE TERRIFYING AND REQUIRES COURAGE AND MORAL CLARITY TO RESIST THIS PRESSURE. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHAT I SEE IN GAZA IS ISRAEL COMMITTING A GENOCIDE. [EXTENDED APPLAUSE] COMRADES, COMRADES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHOW OF FORCE. I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY TO NAME THIS AND I WISH IT WAS NOT THE TRUTH, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS BELIEVE IT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS BELIEVE IT, ACADEMIC HISTORIANS, DOCTORS, JOURNALISTS, AND DIVERSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE BELIEVE THIS. [1:10:45] Robin Wonsley: NOT CALLING THIS A GENOCIDE, NOT RECOGNIZING THE ETHNIC CLEANSING SANITIZES THE HORROR BEING EXPERIENCED BY PALESTINIANS. AND IT ERASES THEIR HUMANITY. STAYING SILENT IS NOT AN OPTION AND NEITHER IS USING LANGUAGE THAT MISCONSTRUES THE REALITY THAT THE RELATIVES IN GAZA ARE EXPERIENCING. SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT LASTLY, AGAIN, YOU HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR WEEKS TO WORK ON A RESOLUTION THAT NAMES THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE IN A WAY THAT ACCURATELY DESCRIBES IT. [1:11:44] Robin Wonsley: AND THAT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE DEPTH AND TRAUMA EXPERIENCED BY BOTH ISRAELIS, JEWISH, AND ALL PEOPLE. THE DRAFT IN FRONT OF THIS INCLUDES A LOT OF AMENDMENTS TO REFLECT THE ACCURACY OF THIS MOMENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM MY COLLEAGUES FOR A PERMANENT AND IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE AND AN END TO THE U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALL, FOR BEING HERE. [1:13:02] Elliott Payne: THANK YOU. [MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE SPEAKING] [GAVEL] THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE IN QUEUE TO SPEAK. I AM ASKING EVERYBODY TO GIVE TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. [1:15:15] Linea Palmisano: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE MOTION, WHICH IS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND TO HAMMER OUT LANGUAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN EARLIER VERSIONS OF THIS. IT'S BEEN CHANGING OVER TIME. AND THEY'RE FEARFUL. PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THIS WILL INFLAME BOTH ANTI SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE NEED ALL OF OUR ENERGY TO SPEND TIME ON ISSUES THAT WE CAN EFFECT HERE IN OUR CITY. [1:16:03] Linea Palmisano: THAT IS HOW I WOULD LIKE TO START THIS YEAR IS GETTING TO WORK ON THINGS WHERE WE CAN EFFECT CHANGE. AND NOT ON THINGS THAT HEIGHTEN FEAR AND ALARM IN OUR CONSTITUENTS. THE LOSS OF PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI LIVES IS AWFUL AND TRAGIC. AMERICAN HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN TAKEN, SOME KILLED, OTHERS MISSING. FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RIPPED APART. AND SITTING HERE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, WE ALL MOURN AND WE ARE ALL ANGRY. WE SEE YOU WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE TODAY. WE SEE YOU WHO HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT. WE SEE HOW PERSONAL THIS IS. WAR IS HELL. WE HAVE BEEN FLOODED WITH FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND WE— [1:17:00] Linea Palmisano: HEY, HEY, PLEASE. MR. PRESIDENT— [AUDIENCE MEMBERS SHOUTING] [GAVEL] [1:17:06] Elliott Payne: PLEASE. PLEASE, EVERYONE. [1:17:32] Linea Palmisano: IT'S CLEAR THAT RESIDENTS SHARE OUR GRIEF. THEY SHARE OUR ANGER. AND THEY ARE DIVIDED IN THEIR OPINIONS. THERE ARE WAYS TO BE HERE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS IN OUR CITY WITHOUT FANNING FLAMES OF DIVISION. LET'S NOT FURTHER DIVIDE OUR CITY THAT WE REPRESENT BY OUR ACTIONS. MY CONCERN OVER SPENDING MORE TIME ON THIS IS IT WILL FUEL DEBATE AND NOT BE A PLACE OF HOLDING EVERYONE TOGETHER, SO LET'S PROVE THAT CONCERN WRONG. WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS. WE CAN COME TOGETHER ALL WHILE NOT TRYING TO GET ONLY THE PERFECT WORDS ON A PAGE. [1:18:05] Linea Palmisano: I URGE US TO STICK TO OUR PURVIEW. I WANT US TO ASK ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, HOW OUR MUSLIM AND JEWISH RESIDENTS ARE COPING WITH THIS MOMENT. I WANT US TO LOOK TO EDUCATE ONE ANOTHER IN WAYS THAT GROW EMPATHY. I WANT US TO HEAR IMPORTANT STORIES OF PEOPLE'S FAMILIES, THEIR BACKGROUNDS, AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE DUELLING PRESS CONFERENCES. THAT IS NOT GROWING OUR HUMANITY IN THESE MOMENTS. I WAS MOVED BY THE COMMENTS FROM OUR MAYOR LAST WEEK, AND I AGREE THAT PEACE NEEDS TO BE OUR GOAL. RATHER THAN CHOOSING WHAT STORIES WE'LL TELL AND WHAT THINGS WE'LL UPLIFT, LET'S COME TOGETHER ON A STATEMENT ACCORDINGLY. [1:18:54] Linea Palmisano: PEACE— PEACE, DECENCY, AND LOVE NEED TO BE THE PRIORITY HERE. [1:19:09] Elliott Payne: CAN WE PLEASE LET THE COUNCIL MEMBER FINISH HER STATEMENT. THANK YOU, ALL. [1:19:09] Linea Palmisano: THAT IS BEST DONE WITHOUT SLICING AND DICING OF POLICY POSITIONS IN THIS MOMENT. I SUGGEST THAT WE SPEND THIS TIME ON A BRIEF STATEMENT THAT RECOGNIZES HUMANITY AND COMPLEXITY AND DRAWS PEOPLE IN TO MOMENTS OF BRAVE SHARING ABOUT LIVES WITH ONE ANOTHER. I HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND THEN LET'S GET BACK TO FOCUSSING ON MATTERS WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS AS A CITY. WE CAN AND SHOULD CALL FOR PEACE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. [1:20:09] Elliott Payne: I'M GOING TO ASK THE AUDIENCE TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SPEAK. COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. [1:20:09] Aurin Chowdhury: THANK YOU, ALL, FOR BEING IN THIS ROOM. OBVIOUSLY TENSIONS ARE HIGH AND I THINK EVERYONE HAS THEIR REASONS FOR THAT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE US A MOMENT FOR US TO FINISH THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE WILL BE TAKING UP A VOTE ON REFERRING THIS TO COMMITTEE. WE'LL GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS. THERE IS A LOT OF SPACE FOR YOU TO REACH OUT TO US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS BY PHONE CALL AND EMAIL. AND ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I KNOW I HAVE HUNDREDS OF EMAILS IN MY INBOX AT THIS POINT, A LOT FROM CONSTITUENTS AND PLAN ON RESPONDING BACK TO THEM. [1:21:11] Aurin Chowdhury: LET US GET THROUGH THESE PROCEEDINGS. I PROMISE YOU WE WILL TAKE THE TIME FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TOGETHER AND FIGURE THIS OUT IN A WAY THAT LIFTS UP HUMANITY. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF PAIN IN THIS ROOM, AND I KNOW WORDS CAN ONLY GO SO FAR. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION WHEN IT COMES FORWARD ON JANUARY 25. THANK YOU. [1:21:33] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. [COMMENTING FROM AUDIENCE]