Here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker names added based on the context provided. [0:19] **Chris Meyer:** WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE ANNUAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CAPITAL LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. TODAY IS THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH, 2025, AND I'M CHRIS MEYER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND AFTER THAT WE'LL ALSO TURN THE CHAIR OVER TO THE CLIC COMMITTEE CHAIR TO CONVENE THEIR MEETING. [0:41] **Chris Meyer:** BUT FIRST THE PLANNING COMMISSION. CAN THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO VERIFY QUORUM. (ROLL CALL.) [1:11] **Clerk:** WE HAVE 5 MEMBERS PRESENT. [1:11] **Chris Meyer:** SO WE HAVE A QUORUM. A COUPLE QUICK HOUSEKEEPING NOTES. FIRST, ONLY FOUR OF THESE MACHINES CAN BE ON AT ONE TIME SO AFTER YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR MICS SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN TURN THEIRS ON AND SECOND THE DOORS LOCK AT 6:00 PM. KEN IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE TO LET PEOPLE IN AND OUT BUT JUST BE AWARE THAT THEY DO LOCK. [1:32] **Chris Meyer:** WITH THAT, I JUST HAVE THE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? ANY DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [1:49] **Planning Commission Members:** AYE. [1:49] **Chris Meyer:** OPPOSED, ABSTENTIONS. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JOHN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL LONG-RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE. [1:49] **John Bernstein:** I'M JOHN BERNSTEIN AND — I MEAN, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE CAPITAL LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AND I ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL SO WE MAY VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. [2:11] **Clerk:** (ROLL CALL.) WE HAVE 14 MEMBERS PRESENT. [2:50] **John Bernstein:** THANK YOU, WITH THAT WE WILL PROCEED — WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AND WITH THAT WE'LL PROCEED TO OUR AGENDA A COPY OF WHICH WAS PUBLISHED FOR CITY ACCESS TO THE CITY'S MANAGEMENT ACCESS SYSTEM WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV, AND WITH THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM THE MEMBERS OF CLIC TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. [3:09] **CLIC Member:** SO MOVED. [3:09] **CLIC Member:** SECONDED. [3:09] **John Bernstein:** IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? [3:09] **CLIC Member:** I JUST HAD ONE QUICK NOTE OUR PRINTED AGENDA HAS THE WRONG DATE AND TIME ON IT. [3:09] **John Bernstein:** MY APOLOGIES. IT'S NOT WHAT WAS POSTED ONLINE. IT'S JUST FOR REFERENCE FOR THIS MEETING SO THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME. [3:28] **John Bernstein:** THANK YOU, ANYTHING FURTHER BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. [3:28] **CLIC Members:** AYE. [3:28] **John Bernstein:** OPPOSED, THE MOTION CARRIES. [3:28] **John Bernstein:** ALL RIGHT. I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU, CHRIS. [3:28] **Chris Meyer:** GREAT. SO WE JUST HAVE OUR ONE AND ONLY DISCUSSION ITEM, A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE 2026-2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. [3:57] **Madel Mota:** GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS MADEL MOTA AND I'M WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE ITEM THAT IS BEING INTRODUCED IS A STATE LAW AND CHARTER REQUIRED JOINT PUBLIC HEARING BETWEEN THE CAPITAL LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS AS PART OF THE 2026-2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. [4:24] **Madel Mota:** ALL WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS AND A SUMMARY OF THIS MEETING WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL CLIC REPORT AND PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE OPEN FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK. ONCE TESTIMONY IS COMPLETE THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE CLOSED AND THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THE CAPITAL LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ABOUT THE PROCESS OR ABOUT ANY OF THEIR PROPOSALS. [4:52] **Madel Mota:** STAFF WILL RETURN TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR NEXT MEETING OF THE WHOLE ON JUNE 6TH FOR THE REVIEW OF THE 10 NEW PROJECTS FOR DETERMINATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. [5:09] **Madel Mota:** SOME OF THE BUDGET REQUESTS ARE PRESENT THIS EVENING AND MAY BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT CAN'T BE ANSWERED AT THIS MEETING, I WILL COLLECT QUESTIONS AND THEN FORWARD THOSE TO STAFF TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANSWERS. [5:26] **Chris Meyer:** THANK YOU, MADEL. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED 2026-2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECTS. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE PODIUM. [5:41] **Chris Meyer:** PLEASE TELL US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU MAY PROCEED. [5:41] **Ebony:** (SPEAKER NOT MIC'D.) [6:28] **Chris Meyer:** THERE YOU GO. [6:28] **Ebony:** OH? DO I NEED TO START — OH, MY GOD. DO I NEED TO START OVER. [6:28] **Chris Meyer:** YOU CAN IF YOU'D LIKE SO YOU CAN GET IT ALL ON VIDEO. [6:28] **Ebony:** OKAY. MY NAME IS EBONY. I LIVE AT 1605 NORTHEAST. I LIVE IN WARD 3. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF CLIC BEFORE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO BBP06 IT'S THE CALIFORNIA STREET LIGHT BIKE TRAIL. IT'S A CONNECTING PATH. [6:51] **Ebony:** IT KEEPS GETTING PUSHED OUT FURTHER AND FURTHER BECAUSE THE CITY HAS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE RAILROAD WHO IS NOTORIOUSLY BAD AT DOING THAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY HAVE STARTED A NEW STRATEGY AROUND THAT BECAUSE THERE'S MORE PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE THAT WORK TO BE DONE. SO THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR TAKING CLIC'S SUGGESTIONS INTO THOUGHT AND MOVING FORWARD ON THIS. IT WILL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT CONNECTING TRAIL FOR THE CITY. SO THANKS FOR ALL THAT WORK. [7:22] **Ebony:** DO YOU WANT ME TO KEEP GOING OR — [7:22] **Chris Meyer:** YES. [7:22] **Ebony:** OKAY. THE OTHER ONE THAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO IS PV189 WHICH IS THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THIS IS ALSO THE NICOLLET MALL PEDESTRIANIZATION PROJECT. THIS CAME FORWARD FROM A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE FROM THE MAYOR IN 2023. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ROUNDS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DONE AROUND IT. [7:48] **Ebony:** THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED BY PUBLIC WORKS IS ASKING FOR $20 MILLION, 10 MILLION OVER 2 YEARS. THERE'S NO INFORMATION IN THE PROJECT ABOUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS EXCEPT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BUSES TO ONE OF THESE 3 OPTIONS. [8:07] **Ebony:** IT BOTHERS ME THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING FORWARD A PROJECT FOR THIS BODY TO VOTE TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THAT IS $20 MILLION. THAT'S OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE. THAT MONEY COULD BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS. THERE'S NO CLEAR DEFINITION TO WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DONE. [8:27] **Ebony:** THE OTHER THING THAT IS FRUSTRATING ABOUT IT IS THE CITY HAS DONE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, TWO ROUNDS. I PARTICIPATED IN BOTH OF THEM. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO THOSE. I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC WORKS EFFORT AROUND THAT. IT'S BEEN DONE BETTER THAN SOME OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN. WHAT IS FRUSTRATING IS THAT IN THE CBR, IT'S NOTED THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS DONE. [8:55] **Ebony:** WHAT IS NOT NOTED IS THE RESULTS OF THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT — A LOT OF — THERE IS NO CLEAR SUPPORT FOR MOVING THE BUSES OFF OF NICOLLET MALL. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS EITHER HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT OR OPPOSE IT. IF PUBLIC WORKS PUTS FORWARD CBRS WHERE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS DONE AND THEY EXPECT CLIC TO REVIEW THAT CBR WITHOUT BEING TOLD WHAT THE ENGAGEMENT WAS, WHAT THE RESULTS OF IT WAS, FEELS WRONG AND NOT HOW A GOVERNMENT BODY SHOULD BE WORKING WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ESPECIALLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE BEING ASKED TO SCORE A PROJECT THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL USE TO INFORM THE CITY'S BUDGET. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT NICOLLET MALL PEDESTRIANIZATION, I'M DOWN TO ANSWER THEM BUT I'VE SPOKEN TO THE MATTER SO THANK YOU. [9:59] **Chris Meyer:** THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, EBONY. [9:59] **Ebony:** YEAH. [9:59] **Chris Meyer:** NEXT SPEAKER. DID ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TESTIFY? IF YOU DID RAISE YOUR HAND. WAS EBONY OUR ONLY SPEAKER TODAY? [10:16] **Chris Meyer:** HELLO, WELCOME. DID YOU WANT TO TESTIFY? YOU'RE NEXT. (LAUGH.) [10:16] **Melanie Mehee:** (SPEAKER NOT MIC'D.) [10:37] **Chris Meyer:** PLEASE TELL US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU MAY BEGIN. [10:37] **Melanie Mehee:** YES, I'M MELANIE MEHEE. THE ADDRESS OF MY BUSINESS IS 300 NICOLLET MALL, MINNEAPOLIS, 55401, INSIDE THE MINNEAPOLIS CENTRAL LIBRARY IS WHERE MY COFFEE SHOP IS AND I'M ALSO MOYA'S MARAIS BJORNBERG. THE REASON I'M HERE IS IN REGARDS TO THE WORK THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED OF REMOVING THE BUSES FROM NICOLLET MALL. [11:06] **Melanie Mehee:** I AM OPPOSED TO THAT. I'LL JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE UP FRONT AND JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR ME, I'M A NATIVE OF MINNEAPOLIS. I LOVE THIS CITY. I DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE BUT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT TAKES PLACE IN MY HOMETOWN. [11:24] **Melanie Mehee:** AND WITH THE NONPROFIT WORK THAT I'VE BEEN DOING SINCE THE '80S HAS BEEN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE. SO SINCE I WAS YOUNG I'VE BEEN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE AND I HAD A DESIRE TO HAVE A COFFEE SHOP TO MENTOR URBAN YOUTH AND SO I'M IN MY THIRD ITERATION OF DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE. I'VE BEEN DOING WORK IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS ALMOST OPEN THERE BUT SOMEONE WITH CASH BOUGHT THE PLACE SO JUST SOVEREIGNTY, I ENDED UP BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO BID FOR WHERE THE DUNN BROTHERS USED TO BE INSIDE THE LIBRARY. [12:04] **Melanie Mehee:** PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS A CARIBOU COFFEE. SO I WON THE BID. I'M VERY EXCITED. AND A WEEK LATER COVID HAPPENED. SO I WAS ABLE TO WAIT UNTIL JUNE 1ST OF '22 TO OPEN THE DOORS SO I'M COMING UP ON 3 YEARS OF BEING IN THAT LOCATION. [12:25] **Melanie Mehee:** IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING LOCATION FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. PEOPLE ARE STILL WORKING HYBRID. IT WORKS FOR THEM AND NOT SO MUCH FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND I KNOW FOR NICOLLET MALL I THINK THE DESIRE TO SEE IT AS A VIBRANT PLACE. [12:42] **Melanie Mehee:** WHEN I'VE PITCHED IT TO SUPPORTERS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING, I BELIEVE DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS CAN BLOSSOM AND I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT BLOSSOMING. BUT WHEN BUSES ARE BLOCKED FROM GOING DOWN NICOLLET, BUSINESSES HAVE TANKED AND I'VE HAD TO SEND TEAM MEMBERS HOME. IT'S VERY DEFINITE TIMES THEY WOULD CLOSE IT ON THURSDAYS FOR THE MINI FARMERS' MARKET EVENTS THAT THEY WOULD DO FARTHER WEST ON NICOLLET MALL IMPACTED ME THERE. [13:13] **Melanie Mehee:** WHEN I OPENED, IMMEDIATELY PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY FOUND ME BECAUSE THEY GOT OFF THEIR BUS THERE. OR THEY GOT ON THEIR BUS THERE AND SINCE THEN, PEOPLE WILL WAIT SOMETIMES INSIDE THE LIBRARY OR SOMETIMES IN MY COFFEE SHOP EITHER WHEN THEY'RE COMMUTING AFTER SCHOOL. ONE OF MY INTERNS WAS IN TRAINING AND THAT'S HOW SHE FOUND US. [13:45] **Melanie Mehee:** SO I WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION BUT TAKING THE BUSES OFF IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE SOLUTION. IT MIGHT HELP THE LARGER RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE PATIO SEATING BUT IT WILL NOT HELP OTHER BUSINESSES. [14:01] **Melanie Mehee:** AND I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE DOWNTOWN AND THEY ARE ALSO OPPOSED TO IT. MANY OF THE SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE HAVE STATED THE SAME THING AND I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH AND READ THROUGH THOSE AND PEOPLE SAY THIS WON'T HELP ME. THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GUARANTEES, WHETHER IT'S VISUALLY OR OTHER PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS USE THE PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT GOES DOWN NICOLLET MALL. [14:27] **Melanie Mehee:** SO I'M A PERSON THAT IF I'M OPPOSED, I WILL TRY AND COME UP WITH ANOTHER SOLUTION RATHER THAN JUST SAY I DON'T LIKE IT. SO IF FOR SOME REASON THERE'S AN UNWILLINGNESS TO LEAVE THE BUSES THERE, MAYBE HYBRID THAT AND LEAVE THE BUSES ON FROM WASHINGTON THROUGH 6TH STREET BECAUSE THEN THAT WAY IT CAN AT LEAST CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE TRAIN. [14:52] **Melanie Mehee:** SO IT'S A WIN-WIN IN THAT REGARD EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T HELP PEOPLE I KNOW THAT LIVE AND COMMUTE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE EASTERN PART OF NICOLLET MALL. I HAVE REACHED OUT WITH EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND THROUGH PORTALS TO THE MAYOR, TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO THE MET COUNCIL — I'VE TALKED TO MY OWN COMMISSIONER. HE'S DONE HIS RESEARCH AND SAYS THE DECISION IS TO BE MADE BY THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THEY'RE HANDS OFF EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE BUSES. SO I'M APPEALING TO YOU TO LEAVE THE BUSES ON NICOLLET MALL. [15:31] **Melanie Mehee:** IN THE '80S AND IN THE OTTS, I WORKED IN CORPORATE AMERICA DOWNTOWN. NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH BUSES. THERE WERE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THERE AND NO ONE WAS GETTING INJURED BY BUSES ON NICOLLET MALL AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A FREE-FLOWING ACTIVITY IN COMMUTING THROUGH THAT AND I COULD SAY A LOT MORE BUT I'M BEING SENSITIVE TO YOUR TIME. [16:00] **Melanie Mehee:** IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM BUT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORK I'M DOING TO MENTOR URBAN YOUTH THROUGH COFFEE. IF I IMPACT ONE YOUTH, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IMAGINE REPEATING THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND THIS IS A SUSTAINABLE MODEL THAT I'M ATTEMPTING TO PUT IN PLACE BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE WITHIN JUST 6 MONTHS, 9 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS BUT A 10-YEAR TRACK BECAUSE IT REALLY TAKES THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE AND WATCH THEM GO THROUGH TRIUMPHS AND TRIALS AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THIS IS MY HELP THAT I'M ASKING FOR YOU IS TO PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING THE BUSES THERE. ANY QUESTIONS OR — IS THAT SUFFICIENT? [16:46] **Chris Meyer:** THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. [16:46] **Melanie Mehee:** THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. [16:46] **Chris Meyer:** DID ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK? I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE SO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. [17:03] **Chris Meyer:** COMMISSIONERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON OUR ONE AGENDA ITEM? ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY, DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? [17:19] **Aurin Chowdhury:** YES. (SPEAKER NOT MIC'D.) [17:44] **Aurin Chowdhury:** WHAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON IS MORE OF, I GUESS, A QUESTION FOR OUR FRIENDS HERE ON THE CLIC. I WANTED TO JUST HEAR FROM YOU INITIALLY IF YOU HAD SOME THOUGHTS, EITHER ON WHAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY OR THE OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING OR JUST MAYBE AN APPROACH THAT YOU'RE KIND OF GOING INTO THIS NEXT YEAR. [18:14] **Aurin Chowdhury:** I KNOW THAT WE GOT A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION LAST YEAR TO THE COUNCIL. THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME RECEIVING IT AND A GOAL OF MINE IN BEING HERE TODAY IS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR BODY AND COMMUNICATING WITH CLIC AND BEING MORE PROACTIVE IN JUST OUR BUDGETING 'CAUSE WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR SO, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO OPEN UP THIS FOR DISCUSSION AND JUST SEE WHAT YOU ALL ARE THINKING LOOKING INTO THIS BUDGET CYCLE. [18:43] **Chris Meyer:** THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CHAIR BERNSTEIN. IS THERE A QUESTION? I'M SORRY I WAS UNCLEAR. [18:43] **Aurin Chowdhury:** YEAH, IT WAS LIKE A QUESTION AND AN OPENING FOR DISCUSSION. SO COMMENTS AROUND THAT GENERAL THEME — THE QUESTION IS JUST WHAT ARE FOLKS ON THE CLIC THINKING ABOUT THE PROJECT'S APPROACH, ANYTHING — [18:43] **Aurin Chowdhury:** ANYTHING IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. [19:13] **John Bernstein:** WE'RE STILL IN PROCESS WITH THAT SO I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR PEOPLE TO — MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO GIVE OPINIONS ABOUT PROJECTS BECAUSE IT'S THE BODY'S VIEW OF THAT AND WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF VOTING TO DO AND DELIBERATING TO DO OVER THE NEXT 6 OR 7 WEEKS OR SO. SO I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO COMMENT ON THAT. [19:45] **Aurin Chowdhury:** SO IT MIGHT NOT BE THE TIME FOR THEM TO COMMENT, BUT IT'S THE ONLY TIME THAT THE COMMISSIONERS LISTEN TO. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF MAYBE FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR SOME OF US JUST THE PROCESS AFTER THIS. WE HAVE THIS MEETING. WE HEAR SOME POWERFUL TESTIMONY ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN THE PLAN. WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AFTER THIS? [20:16] **Chris Meyer:** I'M GOING TO ASK MADEL TO SPEAK TO THAT. (SPEAKER NOT MIC'D.) [20:36] **Madel Mota:** OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? SO NEXT STEPS FOR THE CITY'S PLANNING COMMISSION: ON JUNE 6TH, MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE JOHN, WILL BE COMING BACK AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING ANOTHER REVIEW FOR YOU. SO ALL THE PROJECTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH LOCATION AND DESIGN REVIEW. AND THOSE, LIKE WE JUST CHECKED THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS 2040 PLAN. ONCE WE PRESENT TO YOU, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO VOTE TO APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE, OR TO MOVE ITEMS AT THE NEXT CBR MEETING WHICH IS ON JUNE 16TH. [21:21] **Aurin Chowdhury:** AND THEN CAN YOU TELL US WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE? LIKE WHAT'S THE WHOLE PROCESS FOR IT TO BE APPROVED? [21:21] **Madel Mota:** OKAY, BASICALLY THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT EVERY SINGLE PROJECT THAT GOES THROUGH BUDGET REQUESTS NEEDS TO BE APPROVED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING. SO AFTER THAT, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT, LIKE, WHO THAT GOES BACK TO BUT I CAN HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER FOR YOU. [21:58] **Aurin Chowdhury:** WELL, I JUST MEANT IN TERMS OF THE CLIC. WHAT DOES THE CLIC DO AFTER WE'VE MADE OUR APPROVALS. [21:58] **John Bernstein:** WHY DON'T I ANSWER THAT. SO — I'LL JUST START FROM THE BEGINNING OF OUR PROCESS. WE RECEIVE 130 CBRS, CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. WE GET PRESENTATIONS FROM ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THOSE CBRS ORIGINATE FROM, IN PERSON. THAT'S BASICALLY TWO EIGHT-HOUR DAYS THAT THIS COMMITTEE SITS IN PRESENTATION OF. [22:31] **John Bernstein:** AND THEN THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS WHICH PROJECTS WE FEEL THERE'S A COMMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE AND SO THERE'S A PROCESS AROUND WHICH WE DEVELOP THOSE COMMENTS AND VOTE ON THEM AND APPROVE THEM FOR THE FINAL REPORT. ADDITIONALLY EACH MEMBER OF CLIC VOTES — EXCUSE ME, YEAH, VOTES AND RATES ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE SEE AND WE HAVE A CLEAR SYSTEM THAT WE USE FOR THAT THAT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AND ACTUALLY TOMORROW IS THE DAY THAT THOSE RANKINGS AND SCORINGS ARE DUE FROM EACH OF THE MEMBERS. [23:05] **John Bernstein:** NEXT IT WILL BE AGGREGATED SO THAT WE COULD SEE AS A COMMITTEE HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE 130 PROJECTS AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS FROM THERE WILL BE TO TRY TO TAKE THE COMMENTS WE'VE MADE, THE SCORES THAT WE COME UP WITH AND THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE AND COME UP WITH THE BEST MATCH AND PUT FORWARD A CAPITAL BUDGET PLAN FOR THE NEXT 6 YEARS THAT WILL BE BASED ON THESE THREE THINGS IN PARTICULAR. [23:32] **John Bernstein:** AND THEN WE DO THAT FOR THE BUDGET; WE ALSO DO IT FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. THAT'S FOR THE SEWER FUND AND THE WATER FUND. AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D UNDERSCORE IS EVERYTHING WE DO IS ADVISORY; RIGHT? THE ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN CHOOSE TO IGNORE EVERYTHING WE RECOMMEND OR THEY COULD CHOOSE TO ACCEPT EVERYTHING WE RECOMMEND. AND I WOULD SAY OVER THE TIME I'VE BEEN ON CLIC, THE GENERAL RULE IS THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN THE ADVICE OF CLIC AT A VERY HIGH RATE, PROBABLY IN THE 80 TO 90% RANGE DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOLLARS OR PROJECTS OR WHATEVER. [24:17] **John Bernstein:** SO THAT'S THE PROCESS. THE FORMAL REPORT COMES OUT IN JULY THAT WILL REFLECT EVERYTHING THAT I JUST SAID. [24:17] **Aurin Chowdhury:** AND FROM THERE IT GOES TO THE COUNCIL AND IT GOES TO THEIR PLAN. THANK YOU. [24:33] **Chris Meyer:** ANY OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY? [24:33] **Aurin Chowdhury:** I'LL JUST — I KNOW SOME OF THE TESTIFIERS BROUGHT FORWARD CONCERNS AROUND NICOLLET AVENUE PEDESTRIANIZATION. I'LL SHARE WE'VE GOTTEN PRESENTATIONS IN THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ON NICOLLET AVENUE FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM. [24:59] **Aurin Chowdhury:** THERE ARE CONCERNS AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS ON WHAT THE ACTUAL PLAN WILL BE FOR TRANSIT USERS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE THE MOST IMPACTED WITH BUSES BEING TAKEN OFF. THAT'S BEEN A PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE FELT HASN'T BEEN CENTERED AND THE WORKGROUP THAT'S BEEN IN PEDESTRIANIZATIONS LOOKS LIKE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEN A LARGE AMOUNT OF DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS WHICH IS FINE BUT IT IS LACKING IN THE VOICES OF TRANSIT USERS AND THEN ALSO THE LEGISLATIVE BODY ON THE CITY COUNCIL. [25:45] **Aurin Chowdhury:** SO I ALSO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE OF A 20 MILLION DOLLAR REQUEST COMING TO THE CAPITAL LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR TRANSIT AND IF THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S FEASIBLE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, QUESTIONS AROUND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE DAYS WHEN THERE AREN'T PLANNED ACTIVITIES ON NICOLLET AVENUE; RIGHT? I PERSONALLY HAVE A HARD TIME WRAPPING MY HEAD AROUND THE IDEA OF HAVING ACTIVITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR PEAK TIMES AND WHAT THE IMPACT MIGHT BE IF AN AREA THAT'S SO LARGE IS LEFT VACANT SO I DID WANT TO SHARE THAT. [26:26] **Chris Meyer:** THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY. ANYONE ELSE? I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO DO THAT. [26:46] **John Bernstein:** SO WITH THAT WE'VE COMPLETED THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING BUT BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I'LL ASK IF THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO RAISE? LET'S GO OWEN AND THEN PATRICK. [27:07] **Owen:** MINE WAS SIMPLY A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I'LL ASK AT THE END OF THE LIST. [27:07] **John Bernstein:** OKAY. GO AHEAD, PATRICK. [27:07] **Patrick:** I JUST HAD ONE QUICK COMMENT. I WANTED TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT JOHN SAID ABOUT OUR PROCESS. THE ONE THING I JUST WANT TO ADD AND JOHN KNOWS THIS: WE ALL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AS PART OF OUR INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS AS WELL AS HOW WE INCORPORATE OUR COMMENTS AND ALL OF OUR AGGREGATE DECISIONS. WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS AS WELL AS THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND WE FACTOR THOSE INTO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. [27:49] **CLIC Member:** AND I JUST WANTED TO ANSWER THE COUNCIL MEMBER SLIGHTLY. I'M ONE OF THE NEWEST CLIC MEMBERS SO I CAN. WE HAVE TWO SUBCOMMITTEES AND I'M ASTONISHED ABOUT TWO THINGS ABOUT THE CLIC: ONE, HOW MUCH WORK IT IS, HOW MANY MEETINGS THERE ARE AND HOW INTERESTING IT IS; AND HOW THOUGHTFUL THE DISCUSSION AMONG THE MEMBERS IS. THERE ARE TWO SUBCOMMITTEES. THEY DO THEIR SESSIONS AND THEN TAKE THIS INTO THE BIGGER ROOM AND THEN THE COMMENTS COME OUT. SO WE DEFINITELY TAKE THESE KINDS OF COMMENTS SERIOUSLY AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD DISCUSSION GOING ON ABOUT IT AND WE'RE ALSO IN OUR GRADING PROCESS SO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE WHITE SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE CHIMNEY. (LAUGH.) [28:32] **John Bernstein:** I WOULD JUST CLARIFY ONE THING YOU SAID BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S WHAT YOU MEANT — THERE ARE NO PRIVATE MEETINGS. THE TWO WORKING GROUPS MEET INDIVIDUALLY BUT WE ABIDE BY ALL OPEN MEETING LAWS. [28:47] **CLIC Member:** INDIVIDUALLY — [28:47] **John Bernstein:** YES. [28:47] **Owen:** YES, THE POINT OF CLARIFICATION I WANTED TO ASK WAS IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR A PERSONAL COMMENT 'CAUSE WHILE UNDERSTANDING WE CANNOT SPEAK FOR CLIC, I THINK AS INDIVIDUALS ON THE MEMBERSHIP BOARD OF CLIC. YES OR NO? [29:11] **John Bernstein:** I GUESS THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE FORUM FOR THIS TODAY. [29:11] **Owen:** UNDERSTOOD. [29:27] **Chris Meyer:** ALL RIGHT. SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, I WILL DECLARE THE PLANNING COMMISSION... THE SCRIPT HAS OUR SIDE ADJOURNING FIRST. SO GO AHEAD. [29:43] **Chris Meyer:** ALL RIGHT. SO THAT WAS OUR ONE AND ONLY AGENDA ITEM AND I'LL DIRECT THE CLERK TO SUBMIT THAT. OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS JUNE 2ND AND OUR NEXT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IS JUNE 5TH, 2025. WERE THERE ANY UPDATES FROM COMMITTEE OR STAFF? SEEING NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO... [29:43] **John Bernstein:** SO AGAIN, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FROM THE CLIC SIDE I WILL DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS JUNE 21ST. THANK YOU. [30:26] **Chris Meyer:** THANK YOU, EVERYONE.