[0:14] Casey Carl: GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO ASSEMBLED FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS CASEY CARL, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS CLERK OF 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 2025 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION. CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION WERE PROVIDED TO ALL DECLARED WINNERS ON NOVEMBER 18, THOSE NEWLY ELECTED AND RE-ELECTED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WERE SWORN IN EARLIER TODAY AS PART OF THE CITY'S INAUGURATION CEREMONY. [0:56] Casey Carl: CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES, TODAY'S ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING MARKS THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2026-2029 TERM. WITH THAT, THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN ORDER. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL OF MEMBERS IN NUMERICAL ORDER BY WARD. [1:13] Casey Carl: PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. [1:28] Jason Chavez: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: PRESENT. >> Casey Carl: 13 MEMBERS PRESENT. >> A QUORUM IS PRESENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FIRST MEETING IS TO ORGANIZE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CONDUCT OF CITY BUSINESS. [1:46] Casey Carl: THIS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING IS CONVENED PURSUANT TO NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY LAW POSTED ON MONDAY, 22nd OF DECEMBER, 2025. PRINTED COPIES OF THE AGENDA HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE MEMBERS AND COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING FROM THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FROM THE CITY'S WEBSITE. COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS MORNING'S CEREMONY, MAYOR FREY OFFERED HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS FOR THE TERM. [2:13] Casey Carl: WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL DIRECT THE CLERK TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS AND HAVE IT SPREAD UPON THE JOURNAL. IT'S IN ORDER FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, AS PRINTED, AND DISTRIBUTED. I HAVE SUCH A MOTION, PLEASE. >> Elliott Payne: SO MOVED. >> Robin Wonsley: SECOND. >> Casey Carl: MOVED AND SECONDED. TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. [2:33] Casey Carl: THE AYES HAVE IT. THE AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. MEMBERS, THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE BODY. IN TERMS OF PROCEDURE. AND AS PROVIDED UNDER THE RULES, I WILL ADMINISTER THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. WE WILL TAKE UP THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND THEN PROCEED TO THE ELECTION OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. FOR EACH OFFICE, WE WILL FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS, WHICH I'LL NOW EXPLAIN. FIRST, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE. ANY MEMBER MAY NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR ANOTHER MEMBER. ANY MEMBER WHO IS SO NOMINATED MUST ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION TO BE CONSIDERED. ONCE NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, THE FLOOR WILL BE CLOSED. AT THAT POINT, WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL. WE'LL VOTE [3:19] Casey Carl: ON NOMINATIONS IN THE ORDER THEY WERE MADE AND ACCEPTED. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL IN NUMERICAL ORDER BY WARD. THE FIRST NOMINEE TO RECEIVE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF AFFIRMATIVE VOTES SHALL BE DECLARED THE PRESIDENT AS PROVIDED UNDER CITY CHARTER SECTION 4.3C1. THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY OF THE BODY. THERE MUST BE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST SEVEN MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE. AS I INDICATED, WE'LL CONDUCT THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT FIRST. [3:51] Casey Carl: AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS TO ELECT A VICE PRESIDENT. ONCE THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WE'LL BRIEFLY PAUSE THE PROCEEDINGS IN ORDER TO SEAT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE TAKING UP THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCEDURES FOR THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS AS I HAVE DESCRIBED THEM? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, THE FIRST OFFICE TO ELECT IS THAT OF PRESIDENT AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO NOMINATIONS. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? [4:24] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: THANK YOU, CLERK CARL. IT'S MY HONOR TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIOTT PAYNE TO THE SEAT AND OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL. IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I SAY A FEW WORDS? [4:44] Casey Carl: SURE. >> Aurin Chowdhury: SO WHERE TO BEGIN? COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIOTT PAYNE, OFTENTIMES, SHARES HIS STORY AND HOW HE ENDED UP BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I THINK IT'S ONE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS DAIS SEE THEMSELVES IN. HE WAS A SERVANT TO THIS CITY. WORKING IN PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION TIRELESSLY. TO ENSURE THAT WE GREW OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM. AND WE HAD JUSTICE IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM THROUGH THE CREATION OF THE BEHAVIORAL CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. RECEIVING HIGH REGARD EVEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND HE SHARES THAT NOT TO CLAIM CREDIT, BUT TO SHARE [5:30] Aurin Chowdhury: THAT THAT IS A NORTH STAR THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. THAT WE CAN DO HARD AND DIFFICULT THINGS. AND IN HARD AND DIFFICULT TIMES. WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. WE CAN BE A LEADER IN THIS NATION AND WE CAN BOTH PROVIDE JUSTICE BUT ALSO SERVICE. AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY. AND EVEN MORE SO, THE WORKING PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. AND HE HAS SERVED STEADFASTLY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND I HAVE REALLY GROWN TO APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP. BECAUSE HE DOES NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR HIMSELF. HE REALLY TRIES TO OPEN UP THIS BODY TO BE A PLACE WHERE ALL VOICES CAN FIND THEIR [6:16] Aurin Chowdhury: LEADERSHIP AND HE ALSO UNDERSTANDS HE'S NOT PERFECT. AND THAT HE'S MADE MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY. BUT HE'S TAKEN THOSE MISTAKES AND TURNED THEM INTO LESSONS. HE'S TRIED TO SEEK OUT FEEDBACK. NOT ONLY FOR THE MEMBERS HE'S ENTRUSTED TO SERVE, BUT FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP AND FILL OUR OFFICES AND CITY HALLS. [6:37] Aurin Chowdhury: TO CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. TO CALL FOR BETTER SERVICES. TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY THAT GET FORGOTTEN TOO OFTEN. I KNOW PAYNE WILL BE A LEADER THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. WORK WITH ALL OF US. TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BODY FUNCTIONS IN THE DIRECTION WHERE WE'RE SERVING WORKING PEOPLE. WE'RE SERVING OUR CITY. [7:02] Aurin Chowdhury: AND IN A TIME WHERE WE HAVE ATTACKS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL. MANY OF US HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES TODAY ABOUT THE ATTACKS FROM I.C.E. IN OUR COMMUNITY TAKING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HE KNOWS THAT. HE CAN COME TO US AND WORK WITH US TO ENSURE THAT THIS BODY IS STEADY AND READY TO COME TOGETHER. AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO SHOWN IN THE STRUCTURE THAT HE'S PUT FORWARD. GIVING US ALL A CHANCE TO LEAD AND GROW AND THAT'S THE HOPE THAT I HAVE FOR THIS BODY. ONE THING THAT'S REALLY CLEAR IS THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS REALLY ASKING US TO FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER. [7:38] Aurin Chowdhury: AND NOT DO THAT IN A WAY WHERE WE ARE COMPROMISING OUR SHARED VALUES. NOT DO THAT IN A WAY THAT WE'RE FORGETTING EACH OTHER. THAT WE'RE HOLDING ON TO EACH OTHER. AND WE'RE TAKING BIG, UNCOMFORTABLE STEPS. AND DOING THINGS THAT ARE HARD. AND STILL STAYING TRUE TO WHAT THE CITY IS. SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO NOMINATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR SERVING AS A PRESIDENT AND SHARING YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH ALL OF THE MEMBERS, AS YOU WERE ENTRUSTED TO SERVE. THANK YOU FOR EXHIBITING TO SHARE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS UPCOMING TERM. [8:11] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE, DO YOU ACCEPT THE NOMINATION? >> Elliott Payne: I ACCEPT. >> Casey Carl: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT? [8:32] Pearll Warren: I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE WITH A NOMINATION. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. [8:32] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN HAS NOMINATED COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO, DO YOU ACCEPT? >> Linea Palmisano: I DO. >> Casey Carl: ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT? ONE MORE TIME. [8:48] Casey Carl: ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT? SEEING NONE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PERIOD FOR NOMINATIONS IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL REMIND COUNCIL MEMBERS WE'LL PROCEED TO VOTE IN THE ORDER THAT THE NOMINATIONS WERE MADE. THUS, WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE REPRESENTING WARD 1 TO THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. [9:10] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: NO. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: NO. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: NO. >> Casey Carl: OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: NO. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. [9:26] Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: NO. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE EIGHT AYES AND FIVE NAYS. >> THAT MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT. CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. [9:49] [ APPLAUSE ] Casey Carl: WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT. ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT? I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI IS IN QUEUE. >> Aisha Chughtai: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN TO THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT. [10:12] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN REPRESENTING WARD 6 HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT. DO YOU ACCEPT? >> Jamal Osman: I ACCEPT. >> Casey Carl: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT? COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. [10:28] Jamison Whiting: YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. IF POSSIBLE, WOULD I BE ABLE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> Casey Carl: PLEASE PROCEED. >> Jamison Whiting: I THINK IT'S TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE CHOWDHURY, AS WELL. I THINK WE'VE SEEN EVERY PERSON IN THIS CHAMBER AND ACROSS OUR CITY HEARD A FAMILIAR MESSAGE FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. THEY ARE TIRED OF FACTIONAL POLITICS AT CITY HALL. AND WE HAVE TO COME TO THAT MOMENT TO MOVE PROGRESS. [11:01] Jamison Whiting: BECAUSE, AS MUCH AS CIVILITY AND DECORUM AND WORDS OF AFFIRMATION HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST COMMUNITIES TO STRUGGLE IN TERMS OF CRUELTY, SO DOES GRIDLOCK AND SO DOES DIVISION. [11:22] Jamison Whiting: AND SO DOES CONTINUED TOXICITY. AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS SEEN AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MOST OF THIS BODY, I HAVE SEEN AND HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS UNANIMOUS IN THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE TIRED OF THAT. WE WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO SEEING BALANCE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO HAS HAD 12 YEARS OF SERVICE ON THIS BODY, MUCH IN LEADERSHIP. [11:46] Jamison Whiting: SHE'S SPENT HER TIME SWEATING THE DETAILS AND ENSURING THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. AND FOR THAT AND FOR HER EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE, I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. THANK YOU. >> Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO, DO YOU ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION? >> Linea Palmisano: I ACCEPT. [12:03] Casey Carl: ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT FOR CITY COUNCIL? ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING NONE. THE PERIOD FOR NOMINATIONS IS NOW CLOSED. AND, AGAIN, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS I'LL REMIND YOU, WE'LL PROCEED TO VOTE ON THE NOMINATIONS IN THE ORDER THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. WE'LL BEGIN WITH A VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. [12:28] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: NO. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: NO. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: NO. >> Casey Carl: OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: NO. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. [12:43] Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: NO. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE SEVEN AYES AND SIX NAYS. >> THAT MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN HAS BEEN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT. [12:59] Casey Carl: CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND FOR THE AUDIENCE, WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS NOW AS WE RESEAT THE PRESIDENT. THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL STAY WHERE HE IS. THANK YOU. [13:21] [ BRIEF RECESS TO RESEAT THE PRESIDENT ] [14:28] Elliott Payne: BEFORE WE PROCEED, I WANT TO SHARE SINCERE THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES. I'M TRULY HUMBLED BY YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MY LEADERSHIP. I RECOGNIZE THIS POSITION IS ONE OF TRUST AND THAT I MUST REFLECT THE CONSENSUS OF THIS BODY, ESPECIALLY OUR FOUR NEW MEMBERS ON THIS BODY. I'M EXCITED ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW YOU ALL AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOU, AS WE PUT THE INTEREST OF THE CITY FIRST. I WANT TO THANK THE WORK OF MR. CARL. [15:00] Elliott Payne: TODAY YOUR TEAM AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, INCLUDING OUR NEW LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND OVERSIGHT TEAM HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF SHEPHERDING US INTO A NEW TERM. I THINK THIS IS ESPECIALLY UNIQUE IN THE CITY'S HISTORY OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH—THE TWO-YEAR TERMS, THE NEW STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT. [15:19] Elliott Payne: YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE ARRIVED HERE! I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN THE ROOM THAT TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY DAY TO MARK THIS OCCASION WITH US. TODAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY OF CELEBRATION. A DAY OF JOY. A DAY OF TRANSITION. AND A DAY OF RENEWAL. [15:42] Elliott Payne: AND THERE ARE, INDEED, MANY THINGS WE SHOULD CELEBRATE TODAY. THIS PAST TERM WAS ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE IN RECENT HISTORY. TOGETHER THIS BODY WORKED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE BY EXPANDING THE BEHAVIORAL CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, INVESTING IN ADDITIONAL VANS, STAFF, AND MAKING RESPONDERS AVAILABLE 24/7 IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY. [16:09] Elliott Payne: WE'VE INVESTED IN OUR CASE CLOSURE RATE AND MADE INVESTMENTS IN CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS. TO HELP MPD CLOSE THOSE CASES WHILE TAKING BURDEN OFF OF OUR SWORN OFFICERS. SHIFTING DEPARTMENTS TOWARD MORE CIVILIANIZATION AND PROVIDING JUSTICE TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE SECURED ONGOING FUNDING FOR WAGE THEFT ENFORCEMENT, RECOVERING OVER A MILLION IN STOLEN WAGES. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TRANSFORMING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM BY EXPANDING SERVICES LIKE SAFETY AMBASSADORS IN ALL OF OUR CULTURAL CORRIDORS AND FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE CONSENT DECREES. WE TOOK BOLD ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. [16:54] Elliott Payne: ESTABLISHING CARBON FEES FOR THE LARGEST POLLUTERS. WE'VE SECURED THE CITY'S FIRST DEDICATED FUNDING TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR $10 MILLION CLIMATE LEGACY INITIATIVE. WE'VE SECURED FUNDING FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, LITERALLY PAVING THE WAY FORWARD FOR A SAFER, MULTIMODAL FUTURE. WE'VE PRIORITIZED INVESTMENTS IN ZERO WASTE SO WE CAN SHUT DOWN THE HERC. WE'LL MAKE MINNEAPOLIS A BEACON OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE BY CREATING A NEW GREEN ECONOMY BY GOING BLOCK BY BLOCK TO RETROFIT EVERY HOME TO MEET OUR GOALS. WE'VE RESPONDED TO THE HOUSING CRISIS. WORKING TO CREATE A MORE HUMANE RESPONSE TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS THAT TREATS OUR UNSHELTERED NEIGHBORS [17:41] Elliott Payne: WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO TRANSITION THEM TO PERMANENT HOUSING. WE'VE EXPANDED RENTER PROTECTIONS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET DISPLACED IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE'VE BANNED THE USE OF ALGORITHMIC PRICE FIXING FOR RENTAL HOUSING. INVESTING IN STABLE HOMES AND STABLE SCHOOLS SO FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS CAN ALL THRIVE. WE'VE CREATED HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. [18:11] Elliott Payne: WE'VE FOUGHT TO PROTECT OUR MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. WE'RE EXPANDING PROTECTIONS IN OUR CIVIL RIGHTS ORDINANCE, ADDING HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND HOUSING STATUS AS PROTECTED CLASSES. WE HAVE CREATED A SIDEWALK CART AND STREET VENDOR PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WHILE PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH. [18:32] Elliott Payne: WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS PROVIDING DEDICATED SUPPORT AND OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. WE'VE PREVENTED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM FALLING INTO ADDICTION BY PASSING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR TOBACCO USE. AND SECURED MINIMUM WAGES, NOT JUST FOR UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS IN MINNEAPOLIS, BUT SOME OF THE STRONGEST DRIVER PROTECTIONS ACROSS THE NATION. THIS DISPLAY OF PROGRESS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE CELEBRATED. AND WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST COLLEAGUES AND THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS WHO HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR AMBITIOUS AGENDA. I'M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF A BODY FILLED WITH SUCH BOLD LEADERS. [19:16] Elliott Payne: LEADERS WILLING TO TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS, TRANSFORM PUBLIC SAFETY, EXPAND WORKER PROTECTIONS, AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH—REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ORGANIZED WITHIN A POLITICAL PARTY OR AS A MEMBER OF A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION. [19:33] Elliott Payne: AND IN THE WORDS OF THE NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR OF NEWARK... THOSE FLUENT IN THE GOOD GRAMMAR OF CIVILITY... I SAY LET US PUT OUR AGENDAS ON FULL DISPLAY. [19:48] Elliott Payne: AGENDAS OF CARE AND COMPASSION. AGENDAS OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE. AGENDAS THAT SHOW WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF AUTHORITARIANS. WE CELEBRATE TODAY. WE CELEBRATE OUR RETURN TO CITY HALL AND OUR NEWLY REMODELED CHAMBER. AND WE ESPECIALLY CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF FOUR-YEAR TERMS. [20:14] [ LAUGHTER ] Elliott Payne: AND WE HOPE TO CELEBRATE A RETURN TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY. BUT WE ARE CLEAR-EYED ABOUT THE DARK PATH THIS COUNTRY IS HEADING DOWN. WE ARE NOT AFRAID. WE ARE NOT AFRAID BECAUSE WE'RE STEADFAST AND WE ARE RESILIENT. WE'RE NOT AFRAID BECAUSE THE SAME GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS THAT PATROLLED OUR STREETS WHEN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FAILED OUR STREETS IN 2020 ARE PATROLLING OUR STREETS TODAY LOOKING OUT FOR NEIGHBORS AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LITERALLY ATTACKING OUR COMMUNITY NOW AS WE SPEAK. WE ARE NOT AFRAID BECAUSE OUR NETWORKS OF MUTUAL AID WHO HAVE CARED FOR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ARE THE SAME NETWORKS THAT ARE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS BY HOSTING FOOD DRIVES, AND HELPING TRANSPORT [21:01] Elliott Payne: KIDS AND FAMILIES TO WORK AND SCHOOL. NOTHING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS NORMAL. THIS MOMENT MUST MOVE US TO SHOW UP IN WAYS WE HAVE NEVER SHOWN UP BEFORE. AND MUST MOVE US TO GOVERN LIKE WE HAVE NEVER GOVERNED BEFORE. BECAUSE UNPRECEDENTED ATTACKS AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORS DESERVE AN UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT. TODAY LET US CELEBRATE. THEN LET'S GET BACK TO WORK. THANK YOU. [21:38] [ APPLAUSE ] Elliott Payne: THE REST OF OUR AGENDA INCLUDES THE ELECTION OF OUR MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS. I'M PROPOSING TO RESTORE THESE TWO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS TO EXPAND THE MEMBERS WHO SERVE AS PART OF CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP. [21:57] Elliott Payne: YEARS AGO, PRIOR TO THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE CHARTER AMENDMENT, THE COUNCIL HAD MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS. AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT EXPANDED LEADERSHIP TEAM BACK TO CITY COUNCIL AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE. IN CONSULTING WITH THE CITY CLERK, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING UNDER 2.2.D THERE'S A PROVISION FOR OTHER OFFICERS THAT THE COUNCIL REQUIRES TO ASSIST IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES AND PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES. [22:27] Elliott Payne: ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF PREPARING A ROUGH DIRECTION OF THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, WHICH I DIRECTED THE CITY CLERK TO INCLUDE IN THE AMENDED VERSION OF THE COUNCIL RULES, INCLUDED IN THE ITEM FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY. THE MAJORITY LEADER AND MINORITY LEADER WILL PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS MAY BE ASSIGNED OR DELEGATED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS WOULD FOLLOW BEHIND THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT IN THE SUCCESSION I'M PROPOSING AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY CHARTER. [22:58] Elliott Payne: WHICH IS ALSO AN ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. SO THESE POSITIONS WOULD SERVE AS PART OF AN EXPANDED CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP TEAM. I'M PROPOSING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF MAJORITY LEADER AND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF MINORITY LEADER. BEFORE THAT, I'LL PAUSE TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL. COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. [23:26] Michael Rainville: THANK YOU. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE? IS THE MINORITY LEADER A POLITICAL PARTY? MAJORITY LEADER POLITICAL? OR THIS IS JUST YOUR OPINION? [23:43] Elliott Payne: I'LL CALL ON THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> Kristyn Anderson: COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO THE OFFICES OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE NONPARTISAN OFFICES. SO THEY CAN'T BE ORGANIZED AROUND POLITICAL PARTIES. SO THIS WOULD NOT BE AFFILIATED WITH POLITICAL AFFILIATION. [24:05] Elliott Payne: AS I STATED IN MY REMARKS, I WANT TO EXPAND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND BE ABLE TO SHARE THE LOAD AND HAVE AN ABILITY FOR EACH MEMBER TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND HELP US BUILD A SHARED AGENDA, ULTIMATELY FOR THE BODY. I THINK THAT RECONSTITUTING THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER WILL HELP US IDENTIFY THOSE MEMBERS WHERE WE HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF VARIOUS POLICY AREAS. AND THERE MAY BE SOME PRIORITY POLICY AREAS THAT MAY NOT FIT WITHIN THE MAJORITY SUPPORT THAT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SHEPHERD THROUGH AT LEAST THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. I THINK THE MINORITY LEADER COULD SERVE IN THAT ROLE, AS WELL. [24:41] Michael Rainville: WELL I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS. I THINK THIS IS JUST KEEPING OUR COUNCIL OUT OF BALANCE. I SAW HOW THE VOTES WENT TODAY. WE'RE FAR FROM BEING IN A POSITION OF MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE GOING TO ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER LIKE WE DID FOR THE LAST TERM. SO I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS. THANK YOU. [24:59] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: THANK YOU. SO I CALLED YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE I WANTED MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THESE POSITIONS MEANT. I WAS INTERESTED MYSELF. SO I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT A MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER WOULD DO. AND YOU TOLD ME NOTHING YESTERDAY. [25:17] LaTrisha Vetaw: AND YOU'VE SAID NOTHING TODAY OF COURSE. SAYING THAT DUTIES ARE ASSIGNED MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME. WHAT ARE THOSE DUTIES? I WOULD LIKE—LIKE I ASKED YOU YESTERDAY—I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AT LEAST A BASELINE OF WHAT YOUR VISION FOR THESE POSITIONS COULD BE. BECAUSE YOU DECIDED WHO TO NOMINATE FOR THIS WITHOUT EVEN TELLING ME WHY OR HOW I SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THESE PEOPLE. IF IT'S NOT ABOUT A DIVISION OF PARTY LINES OR WHATEVER THIS—I MEAN, I REALLY GENUINELY CALLED YOU TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THESE POSITIONS WERE. BECAUSE SOME OTHER FOLKS HERE, WITH MUCH MORE SENIORITY, A LOT OF [26:03] LaTrisha Vetaw: EXPERIENCE COULD BE INTERESTED. AND SO I—NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS IS, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU DECIDED WHO AND WHERE THE PEOPLE YOU DECIDED ON ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HOW THEY'RE WORKING ACROSS THE BODY. [26:22] LaTrisha Vetaw: LIKE, WHERE DID THESE LIKE—YEAH. I DON'T GET IT. >> Elliott Payne: I'LL BRING THE REST OF THE ROOM INTO THAT CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT. AND START BY SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TRYING TO OUTLINE IS I TRULY BELIEVE THERE ARE AREAS OF AGREEMENT ON THIS BODY ACROSS EVERY MEMBER HERE. I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING. [26:48] Elliott Payne: THAT REPRESENT A MAJORITY POSITION OF THIS BODY. I WOULD LIKE THE MAJORITY LEADER TO WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH EACH ONE OF OUR MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IDENTIFYING AND BUILDING OUT AN AGENDA AROUND A SET OF PRIORITIES WE BELIEVE WOULD BE REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF THIS BODY. I ALSO BELIEVE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POLICY AREAS THAT MAYBE DON'T QUITE HAVE THAT MAJORITY SUPPORT. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T FORMALIZE A PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CARRYING THAT AGENDA THROUGH. [27:12] LaTrisha Vetaw: ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO END MY COMMENTS BY SAYING WHAT I'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND LEADING UP TO TODAY IS THAT THEY ARE SICK OF THE DISCOURSE ON THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL. THEY'RE SICK OF THE FIGHTING. THEY'RE SICK OF THE ARGUMENTS. [27:28] LaTrisha Vetaw: AND SO WHY I REACHED OUT TO YOU, IN HOPES YOU COULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ON A MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER, IS BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO COULD—IF THAT IS A PART OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THESE POSITIONS WILL DO, I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT. I THINK HOW YOU START OUT IN AN IMBALANCE IN THE WRONG WAY IS BY YOU PICKING THOSE PEOPLE BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN AND HOW IT SHOULD HAPPEN. AND I THINK THIS WAS SOMETHING I ASKED YOU TO DELAY TO A LATER MEETING. SO THAT WE HAD TIME TO TALK WITH THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS ABOUT THIS. SO WE COULD SEE WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE. I'M WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. I'M SEEING THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD [28:14] LaTrisha Vetaw: HERE HAPPENING TODAY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT WITH THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS. IT FEELS LIKE A TRADE FOR VOTES FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: THANK YOU. I THINK PART OF THE CONFUSION IS PEOPLE CAN NOMINATE SOMEBODY. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY MADE NOMINATIONS. IS THAT CORRECT? [28:33] Jason Chavez: SOMEONE SECONDED. OTHERWISE I'LL NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AS MAJORITY LEADER. >> Elliott Payne: IS THERE A SECOND? >> Aurin Chowdhury: I'LL SECOND IT. >> Elliott Payne: GREAT. >> Jason Chavez: I WANT TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AS MAJORITY LEADER OF THIS COUNCIL. I KNOW SHE CAN WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO GET STUFF DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. I KNOW THAT MY SISTER HERE IS SOMEONE THAT I CAME INTO THIS COUNCIL TOGETHER WITH. SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON ELECTED. [29:03] Jason Chavez: AND WE'RE HERE STILL YOUNG. I THINK SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PROUD OF HER FOR IS THE WAY SHE'S SHOWN UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE. THE WAY YOUNG PEOPLE SEE HER AS SOMEONE THEY CAN LOOK UP TO. YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE HAD SOMEONE THEY CAN LOOK AT FACE-TO-FACE AND KNOW THEY CAN BE REPRESENTED IN CITY GOVERNMENT. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THE CHANCE TO LEARN AND GROW. AND KNOW THAT ONE DAY THEY CAN ALSO BE IN THE SEATS TO CREATE CHANGE FOR OUR CITY. I'VE SEEN THE WAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI HAS TAKEN US THROUGH DIFFICULT MOMENTS AND MADE THEM SEEM EASY TO THE PUBLIC. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THEY WERE DIFFICULT. [29:39] Jason Chavez: WHETHER IT WAS WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES' PUBLIC SAFETY AID WASN'T STRIPPED FROM THEIR BACKS. MAKING SURE WE PRESERVED PUBLIC SAFETY AID AND WORKED WITH THE DOWNTOWN COUNCIL MEMBER TO SAVE THE CONVENTION CENTER. SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH BOTH. MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE CITY ASSETS AND NOT LOSE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY. [30:02] Jason Chavez: PARTICULARLY DIRECTED TO NEIGHBORS OF COLOR. I WAS PROUD THAT I COULD CALL AISHA AND SAY "I NEED HELP." ONE THING SHE DID IS STAND 10 TOES DOWN MAKING SURE SHE CAN WORK WITH THE BODY TO MAKE SURE IT GOT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. WHETHER IT WAS HER SUPPORT AS BUDGET CHAIR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, AS CITY COUNCIL, TOOK A STANCE OF SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW MORE SHELTERS TO BE CLOSED DOWN. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI LEAD US THROUGH. I GOT TO CALL HER, AND WHEN I WAS STRESSED OUT, I KNEW SHE SAID THIS IS MY JOB, TOO. BECAUSE IT'S MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SHE STOOD 10 TOES DOWN MAKING SURE WE CAN HELP OUR PEOPLE. WHETHER IT WAS HER SUPPORT THROUGH THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE. [30:48] Jason Chavez: I SAID OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK BY THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION. HOW CAN WE FIND MORE FUNDING FOR IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES? THIS FUNDING WE HAVE NOW IS NOT MEETING THE MOMENT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI SAID, LET ME LOOK FOR FUNDING. AND SHE FOUND MORE FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN INCREASE THAT. WHETHER IT WAS HER WORK TO SUPPORT THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. SHEPHERDING LABOR POLICY THROUGH THIS CITY ENTERPRISE AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE SEEING WORKING PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND AND CORPORATIONS GETTING WHATEVER THEY WANT. I GOT TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI SAY NO. OUR WORKING PEOPLE OF THE CITY DESERVE THE HELP OF THIS CITY. AND WORKING WITH THIS BODY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ATTEMPT TO PASS SOME POLICY. AND I CAN GO ON [31:36] Jason Chavez: AND ON. BUT WE CAN GO BACK TO INCREASING FUNDING FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY THIS PAST DECEMBER, SHE HELPED US LEAD THROUGH THAT. AND I THINK SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THAT HAVE DIFFERENT VARIOUS OPINIONS. WITH THAT, I'M PROUD TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. I KNOW SHE'LL WORK WITH EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET STUFF DONE FOR MINNEAPOLIS. [31:58] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: SORRY. GIVE ME A LITTLE PATIENCE HERE. ARE WE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITIONS THEMSELVES? >> Elliott Payne: YES. >> Jamison Whiting: MY FIRST QUESTION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I THINK IF WE ARE DEFINING THESE POSITIONS OUTSIDE OF PARTISAN ROLES, HOW ARE WE DEFINING MAJORITY AND MINORITY, IF THEY ARE NONPARTISAN? [32:30] Elliott Payne: MY VISION FOR THIS IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A CERTAIN SET OF POLICY AREAS THAT THIS BODY IS GOING TO WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT ARE GOING TO BE UNCONTROVERSIAL. THINGS WE LARGELY AGREE ON. THAT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT WOULD BE A MAJORITY POSITION OF A POLICY AREA. THERE'S GOING TO BE CERTAIN POLICY AREAS THAT MIGHT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PASS THE BODY BUT MAYBE DON'T QUITE HAVE THAT BROAD CONSENSUS. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE BUILDING AGENDAS THAT BOTH REFLECT THAT CONSENSUS VIEW, AND THAT VIEW WHERE MAYBE WE NEED TO DO SOME PERSUASION. RIGHT. AND SO JUST BECAUSE AN IDEA MAYBE DOESN'T, BY DEFAULT, HAVE SEVEN VOTES, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A WORTHY IDEA. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING JUST AS [33:16] Elliott Payne: MUCH LEGISLATIVE EFFORT BEHIND THOSE IDEAS AS THOSE BROAD CONSENSUS IDEAS. >> Jamison Whiting: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS ALSO HELPFUL... AS THESE—I MIGHT BE MISSING SOMETHING HERE. I APOLOGIZE IF IT'S THE CASE. AS THESE ROLES HAVE AUTHORITY THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE POSITIONS, I'M NOT SEEING THEM ASCRIBED AS DEFINED HERE. [33:41] Jamison Whiting: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE CASE. AND I AM—I WILL BE VOTING ON THE POSITIONS. NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS BUT THE POSITIONS THEMSELVES. I THINK IT REQUIRES SOME LEVEL OF LARGER DEFINITION AND POSITIONS THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF TALK THROUGH THE AUTHORITY OF THOSE POSITIONS. SO THANK YOU. [33:59] Elliott Payne: YEAH. I'LL SAY MAYBE YOU AS A FORMER MEMBER OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MAY APPRECIATE THIS ANSWER MORE THAN OTHER MEMBERS ON THE BODY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE KIND OF MOVED TO AS A THEME IS DEFINING LESS IN OUR FORMAL DOCUMENTS SO THAT IT PROVIDES MORE FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT INTERPRETATION TO BE REFINED OVER TIME WITHOUT US HAVING TO GO BACK AND REVISE, REVISE, AMEND THROUGH FORMAL COUNCIL ACTION. SO WE KEPT THE DESCRIPTION BROAD SO WE CAN DO THAT REFINEMENT TOGETHER AS A BODY. [34:32] Jamison Whiting: THANK YOU. I'M SAYING THE DEFINITIONS IN THERE, AS WELL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I'M CURIOUS AS TO—THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY WHERE IT PERTAINS TO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT WITHIN THESE POSITIONS, THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A MAJORITY OR MINORITY TO RULE OVER ANY SAID MOTIONS THAT COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. WHERE YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT DOESN'T NEED A SEVEN-PERSON VOTE TO BE DETERMINED OR TO BE RULED AS IMPORTANT. HOW DOES THIS POSITION—THESE TWO POSITIONS DIFFER FROM PRESIDENT AND VICE [35:18] Pearll Warren: PRESIDENT? AND IF IT'S BEING LEFT THAT OPEN AND BROAD, WHERE DOES ACCOUNTABILITY LIVE? >> Elliott Payne: ONE OF THE GOALS OF REINSTITUTING THESE POSITIONS IS TO CREATE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT IS NOT THAT WELL-DEFINED, ACTUALLY. WE ARE—ESSENTIALLY THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IS TO CHAIR THE MEETING. [35:39] Elliott Payne: THAT'S THE ONLY FORMAL DUTY. AND SET THE STRUCTURE. ULTIMATELY THE POWER IS THE POWER OF THE BODY. WE MOVE AS A BODY. SO WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DEFINE IS GOING TO BE DEFINED BY THE MAJORITY OF THIS BODY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. [35:55] Pearll Warren: IT DOES NOT. AND SO THEN IF WE MOVE WITH THE BODY AND YOU ARE THE HEAD OF THE BODY HERE AS WE ARE A LEGISLATIVE BODY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND REFLECTIVE OF THESE POSITIONS, THEN THAT MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD INSTRUMENT THAT LEADERSHIP AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION CLEAR AND CONCISE MOTIONS OR DECISIONS THAT COME BEFORE THIS BODY WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A MAJORITY OR A MINORITY BECAUSE THAT'S BEING LEFT TOO OPEN IN SPACE WHERE IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF BOUNDARIES WITH RESPECT TO WHATEVER MAY COME BEFORE THE BODY ITSELF. [36:33] Elliott Payne: FEEDBACK NOTED. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: THANK YOU. THANKS—I THINK COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED SOME ACTUAL REALLY GOOD, THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS. AND YOUR RESPONSE—A LITTLE BIT. BECAUSE WHILE I'M RE-PROCESSING... IT BASICALLY SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE MINORITY AND THE MAJORITY LEADERS ARE THE LEADERS OF IDEAS. AND IF WE MATCH UP WITH YOUR IDEA, THEN YOU'RE OUR LEADER. SO, LIKE, WHAT THE MINORITY—I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING SAID IT. LIKE, WHAT IS THE—IF IT'S NOT POLITICAL, THE MAJORITY OF WHAT? [37:17] LaTrisha Vetaw: THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE POLICE OR THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T? OR THE MAJORITY OF WHAT? I GUESS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. IS IT JUST A MAJORITY OF IDEAS? I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE UP HERE—WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK—WHAT OUR SHARED IDEAS AND VALUES ARE. SO THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY OF WHAT? [37:38] LaTrisha Vetaw: BESIDES WHAT I CAN GATHER IS YOU JUST SAID "IDEAS." >> Elliott Payne: I THINK THAT'S THE CORE OF THE WORK WE DO AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY IS BRING IDEAS INTO REALITY. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: SO COULD THAT SWITCH, THOUGH? COULD THE MAJORITY LEADER BE THE MINORITY TOMORROW IF WE FIND OUT AT THE END OF THE WEEK THAT WE HAVE MORE SHARED IDEAS WITH THE MINORITY LEADER WHO IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY? I'VE NEVER HEARD THE WORDS USED IN THIS TERM IN THIS WAY FOR NOTHING. I THINK THE PREVIOUS MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS, THERE WAS A GREEN PARTY MEMBER UP HERE. [38:09] LaTrisha Vetaw: THERE USED TO BE REPUBLICANS ON THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL. AND THAT'S WHAT THOSE TERMS WERE USED FOR. BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY TIED BY PARTY. THERE WERE DEMOCRATS. THERE WERE GREENS. THERE WERE REPUBLICANS. AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD—I CAN'T EVEN SAY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO ACT LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE BUT USE IT AS A REFERENCE BUT THEN SAY THAT'S NOT WHAT IT REALLY IS. I MEAN, I DON'T—I REALLY. WASN'T THAT—CLERKS? CAN SOMEBODY GIVE US HISTORY HERE WHY WE HAD MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS IN THE PAST? WASN'T IT POLITICAL PARTY DIVISION? [38:52] Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW INDICATED, YEARS AGO UNDER A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AMENDMENT FROM 1984 THERE WAS AN INDEPENDENT BODY CREATED, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. [39:09] Casey Carl: IT WAS CHAIRED BY THE MAYOR. IT WAS IN ONE BODY A UNIFICATION OF THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY OF THE MAYOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNCIL. THE PRIMARY DUTY WAS TO APPOINT THE 10 CHARTER DEPARTMENT HEADS. AND THAT THE MEMBERSHIP HAD TO INCLUDE A MINORITY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, ASSUMING ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WEREN'T FROM THE SAME PARTY. SO THERE WAS A NEED FOR A MINORITY LEADER. [39:35] Casey Carl: SO IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY AS A RESULT OF PARTY, PER SE. BUT SAYING IF THERE WAS ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL THAT—IF IT WAS THE SAME PARTY, THEN THE GROUPS OUT OF THE MAJORITY HAD THE RIGHT TO HAVE A SEAT ON THAT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPOINTING THE CHARTER DEPARTMENT HEADS AND APPROVING ENTERPRISE-WIDE POLICIES. SO IT IS TRUE THAT THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY A PROVISION FOR MAJORITY/MINORITY BECAUSE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS A PUBLIC VOTE TO AMEND THE CHARTER. I WILL INDICATE THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WAS REMOVED BASED ON THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN 2021. [40:20] LaTrisha Vetaw: OKAY. SO THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE THAT MINNEAPOLIS ELECTED TO HAVE, WE'RE NOW FOUR YEARS LATER, GOING TO SAY WE DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU DID, CITIZENS OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE UP OUR OWN STUFF. I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS VOTED FOR THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE. WE'RE CREATING A ROUNDABOUT FOR WHAT PRESIDENT PAYNE SAID HE WANTS TO SEE THIS. [40:42] LaTrisha Vetaw: SO WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS OUTSIDE OF WHAT PEOPLE ELECTED US TO DO. >> Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, I CERTAINLY—I CAN'T COMMENT ON THE INTENT. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: YOU DON'T NEED TO. [40:58] Casey Carl: I WILL SAY, IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT, I THINK THE UNDERLYING INTENT—AND I'M CERTAIN I'M NOT SAYING THIS AS WELL AS WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE, I'M NOT SURE I'M ADDING VALUE—BUT THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSAL WAS USING TITLES THAT EXISTED BEFORE. THERE'S A HISTORIC BASIS FOR THE TITLES. [41:15] Casey Carl: AND THAT USING THOSE TITLES WAS INTENDED TO BROADEN THE COUNCIL'S RECOGNIZED LEADERSHIP TEAM, IF YOU WILL. BEYOND THE TWO POSITIONS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED AND WHICH ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE CITY CHARTER. I THINK THAT THE INTENT, AND THE PRESIDENT CAN SPEAK TO THAT MORE THAN CAN I, WAS TO BROADEN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S ELECTED LEADERSHIP TEAM. THE RULES DO PROVIDE FOR IT. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE A USE OF HISTORIC TERMS. [41:50] Robin Wonsley: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I WANT TO OFFER SOME FURTHER CLARIFICATION TO WHAT YOU SHARED AS DEFINITIONS AS IT RELATES TO ACTUALLY ONE OF THE POSITIONS I'M RUNNING FOR AS THE MINORITY LEADER. THE MINORITY REPRESENTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER IS NOT REFERRING TO IDEAS THAT HAVE MINORITY SUPPORT. [42:11] Robin Wonsley: MY INTENTION, AND I BELIEVE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AND A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES HAS BEEN FOR THIS ROLE, AS IT DID IN PRIOR ITERATION, IS TO REFLECT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE POLITICAL DIVERSITY THAT DOES EXIST AMONGST THIS BODY. AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DO IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS. WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM. AND CITY ATTORNEY, I KNOW, JUST FLOATED THIS AROUND, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS IS NOT IN RELATIONSHIP TO POLITICAL PARTIES. DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY. SO I WANT TO NAME THAT. [42:44] Robin Wonsley: IT DOES NOT HAVE CORRELATIONS TOWARD A PARTISAN ORIENTATION. IT'S AROUND REFLECTING THE POLITICAL DIVERSITY THAT EXISTED IN THIS BODY AS IT DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN MY PREDECESSOR WHO WAS THE ONLY GREEN PARTY REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS BODY ALSO REFLECTED. THERE WAS POLITICAL DIVERSITY AMONGST OUR BODY THEN. [43:03] Robin Wonsley: THEY CREATED FORMAL RECOGNITION AND REPRESENTATION FOR THAT SPACE. WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THE SAME AND CODIFY THAT THROUGH OUR STRUCTURE, AS WELL, TODAY. AND THAT'S THE INTENT. >> Linea Palmisano: COUNCIL PRESIDENT, LET ME TRY TO HELP OUT HERE. I HEARD YOU SAY LET'S EXPAND THE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. [43:27] Linea Palmisano: LET'S MAKE IT BALANCED. I THINK THERE IS SOMEONE THAT VOTED THE LEAST WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI OR COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. I THINK IT'S ME. IF YOU LOOK AT PAST VOTES. BOTH COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AND COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, I BELIEVE, HAVE VOTED TOGETHER ALMOST ALWAYS. SO IF THE DESIRE IS POLITICAL DIVERSITY, WHICH I ALSO APPRECIATE, THIS IS NOT EXPANDING THE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE. I AGREE AND WANT TO WORK ON WAYS THAT WE CAN ALL, THIS TERM, FEEL LIKE WE ARE REPRESENTED AT A LEADERSHIP TABLE. I WOULD SUGGEST, GIVEN WHERE THE CONVERSATION HAS GONE, THAT WE COME BACK TO THIS. [44:11] Linea Palmisano: LET'S POSTPONE AND COME BACK TO IT. I THINK, FIRST OFF, THEY NEED BETTER TITLES. BUT IF WE WANT BALANCE, MAYBE BETTER TITLES MIGHT BE A SECOND AND THIRD VICE PRESIDENT. MAYBE BETTER TITLES MIGHT BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN MAJORITY AND MINORITY. BECAUSE WE SEEM TO BE GETTING LOST IN THE DETAILS THERE. AND I STILL CAN'T TELL YOU MAJORITY OF WHAT. [44:39] Pearll Warren: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. I'M JUST STILL CONFUSED AT THESE ROLES. BECAUSE ISN'T THAT THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THE ASSIGNMENT OF COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS? THAT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT BEFORE COMMITTEE, THERE WOULD NOT BE A MINORITY OR MAJORITY OF THINGS THAT DON'T FIT IN THE BUCKET OF THOSE ORGANIZED LEADERSHIPS. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. I JUST NEED SOME MORE CLARITY. AND I, LIKE A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES, THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY STICK A PIN IN THIS AND REVISIT THIS AT A LATER DATE. BECAUSE IT [45:24] Pearll Warren: DOES NOT LINE UP WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OR ACCOUNTABILITY LOOKS LIKE ON THE BEHAVIORS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. >> Linea Palmisano: COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MIGHT SUGGEST THAT'S A SECOND. [45:46] Michael Rainville: MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE DAYS OF PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING AHEAD OF US. IT WOULD MAKE COMMON SENSE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT WAS OVER AND REVISIT THAT DURING THAT TIME THAT WE HAVE SO WE CAN CLEAR THIS UP. YOU HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS THIS. IF THAT'S HOW YOU WANT TO DO THINGS, THEN KEEP FORCING AND ENFORCING THE VOTE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. LET'S TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. [46:11] Michael Rainville: LET'S TALK THIS OVER FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS AND COME TO CONSENSUS ON THIS. PLEASE. >> Elliott Payne: SEEING NO—COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT WAS, FROM ME, A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN IN SUPPORT. [46:30] Michael Rainville: SECOND. >> Elliott Payne: THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: YEAH. AS A NEW MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, PROCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SO I WOULD BE THRILLED TO THINK ABOUT THESE WITH A FLUSHED-OUT JOB DESCRIPTION. AND MORE DISCUSS WHAT THEIR ROLE WOULD BE IN CONSIDERATION WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROLE. [47:00] Elizabeth Shaffer: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT THE PUBLIC CANNOT POINT FINGERS AT. WE WANT A PROCESS THAT IS ABOVE BOARD. AND IS VERY CLEAR WITH THE PUBLIC THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. SO FOR THOSE POINTS, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING TO OUR NEXT FULL MEETING. [47:24] Michael Rainville: SECOND. >> Elliott Payne: ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, TO CLARIFY, ARE WE POSTPONING ITEM—THE ELECTION OF MAJORITY LEADER OR THE ELECTION OF MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS? [47:45] Elliott Payne: LET'S CONSIDER BOTH OF THESE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: NO. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. [48:01] Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: NO. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: NO. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. [48:17] Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: NO. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: NO. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE SIX AYES AND SEVEN NAYS. >> Elliott Payne: THAT ITEM FAILS. WE ARE BACK TO THE QUESTION OF THE ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI TO THE OFFICE OF MAJORITY LEADER. SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE. CALL THE ROLL, MR. CLERK. COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. [48:41] Pearll Warren [AWAY FROM MIC]: WE HAVE CURRENTLY, A NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR. >> Jason Chavez: SECOND. >> Elliott Payne: WE HAVE A NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AND THEN WE'LL TAKE IT UP NEXT. SO ON THE MOTION TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AS MAJORITY LEADER, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. [49:03] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: NO. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: NO. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: NO. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: NO. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: YES. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. [49:19] Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: NO. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: EIGHT AYES AND FIVE NAYS. >> Elliott Payne: THAT MOTION CARRIES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF MAJORITY LEADER. [49:37] Elliott Payne: CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT WE'LL TAKE UP THE ELECTION OF MINORITY LEADER. I'LL MOVE TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY TO THE OFFICE OF MINORITY LEADER. IS THERE A SECOND? >> Soren Stevenson: SECOND. >> Elliott Payne: ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: YOU BEAT ME TO THE SECOND. [49:54] Soren Stevenson: IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL SAY A FEW REMARKS. IT'S CLEAR IN THIS MOMENT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IS FAILING AMERICA. AND IT'S FAILING MINNEAPOLIS, AS WELL. IT'S FAILING WORKING AND MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A SURVIVOR OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND SOMEONE WHO WORKED IN HOMELESS OUTREACH, I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. I'VE SEEN IT IN UNACCOUNTABLE POLICING, IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NOT AS SAFE AS THEY CAN AND SHOULD BE, AND IN HAVING MANY, MANY NEIGHBORS SLEEPING OUTSIDE NIGHT AFTER NIGHT WITH LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARDS A SYSTEMIC SOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO KEEP EVERYONE IN OUR CITY SAFE, EVERYONE IN OUR CITY HOUSED, AND TREAT EVERYONE IN OUR CITY WITH [50:42] Soren Stevenson: DIGNITY AND RESPECT. WE NEED DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST LEADERSHIP TO FIGHT FOR THIS. WE NEED DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST LEADERSHIP TO FIGHT FOR PEOPLE OVER PROFITS. WE NEED IT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND WE NEED IT ON THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY IS AN INCREDIBLE LEADER AND HAS PRODUCED A LARGE BODY OF WORK TO NAME A FEW, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT EXHAUSTIVE. SHE HAS WORKED TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE VCR PROGRAM WHICH EVERYONE WANTS TO CLAIM BECAUSE OF HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS. SHE HAS LED ON OFF-DUTY REFORM, WHICH IS MUCH NEEDED IN THIS CITY. SHE'S LED ON CARBON FEES. SHE LED ON PROTECTIONS AND RAISES FOR UBER AND LYFT [51:28] Soren Stevenson: DRIVERS, WHICH HAS BEEN A NATIONAL SUCCESS. AND SHE HAS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE, WHICH IS OF FAMILIAR IMPORTANCE TO ME AND TO THE PEOPLE OF WARD 8 AND TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND SO YOU BEAT ME TO THE SECOND, BUT I WANT TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY AS THE MINORITY LEADER. [51:50] Soren Stevenson: BECAUSE SHE BRINGS THE TYPE OF WORK AND EXPERIENCE WE NEED IN THIS CITY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD ON CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE FACING BOTH US HERE IN THE CITY AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU. [52:08] Robin Wonsley: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS MOTION TO ELECT ME AS MINORITY LEADER AS MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL AND EXHIBIT FORMAL REPRESENTATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ON THIS BODY. [52:23] Robin Wonsley: DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM HAS BEEN A GROWING POLITICAL MOVEMENT NATIONWIDE, AS DEMONSTRATED RECENTLY BY THE ELECTION IN NEW YORK AND MAYOR KATIE WILSON IN SEATTLE AND HUNDREDS OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ELECTED TO LOCAL OFFICES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MINNEAPOLIS HAS A STRONG SOCIALIST TRADITION. [52:45] Robin Wonsley: RESIDENTS ELECTED A SOCIALIST MAYOR IN 1916, SHORTLY BEFORE MINNESOTA ELECTED A SOCIALIST GOVERNOR. AND 100 YEARS LATER IN 2016, 65% OF MINNEAPOLIS VOTERS SUPPORTED BERNIE SANDERS, A SOCIALIST, AS WELL, FOR PRESIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN WELL-FUNDED CAMPAIGNS TO DEMONIZE SOCIALISTS. PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS UNDERSTAND THAT DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IS A BELIEF THAT SOCIETY AND THE ECONOMY SHOULD BE STRUCTURED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE AND NOT TO CREATE PROFIT FOR THE WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATE INTERESTS. AND NEIGHBORS HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS SUPPORT AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER [53:23] Robin Wonsley: WHILE FIGHTING TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO. THAT'S WHAT MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS CITY. MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS TRULY BELIEVE THE PURPOSE OF CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TO SERVE THEM. AND WHEN IT DOESN'T, THEY ORGANIZE. AND IN 2020, FOLLOWING GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER BY THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ORGANIZED ONE OF THE LARGEST SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN U.S. [53:49] Robin Wonsley: HISTORY TO DEMAND AN END TO RACIST AND VIOLENT POLICING. NOW THOUSANDS ARE PROTECTING THEIR NEIGHBORS FROM I.C.E. MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS LOVE EACH OTHER AND BELIEVE EVERYONE DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET. AND THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IS ABOUT. [54:04] Robin Wonsley: AND IT'S WHY DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IS A HUGE AND GROWING MOVEMENT HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS. VOTERS FIRST ELECTED DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS TO CITY COUNCIL IN 2021, MYSELF BEING ONE OF THEM. AND THIS PAST NOVEMBER, OVER 65,000, IN FACT, MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS VOTED FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST MAYOR. [54:23] Robin Wonsley: AND GOING INTO THIS TERM, NEARLY A THIRD OF OUR CITY COUNCIL IDENTIFIES AS DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST COLLECTIVELY REPRESENTING OVER 120,000 MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS THAT HAVE HELD SEATS ON THIS BODY HAVE WON SIGNIFICANT POLICIES THAT HAVE IMPROVED THE LIVES OF WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE. WE HAVE PASSED POLICIES TO PROTECT THE MAJORITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FAMILIES WHO ARE RENTERS. WE CLOSED THE MINIMUM WAGE LOOPHOLE FOR RIDESHARE DRIVERS, LEADING TO A STATE-WIDE INCREASE FOR OVER 10,000 WORKERS WHO ARE MOSTLY IMMIGRANT AND WORKERS OF COLOR. [54:59] Robin Wonsley: WE EXPANDED CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS WHO MAY BE TARGETED BY DISCRIMINATION. AND WE WERE AMONG THE FIRST CITIES TO PASS THE CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THE GENOCIDE TAKING PLACE IN GAZA. WE WORKED HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ON OUR CITY COUNCIL. [55:17] Robin Wonsley: AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE ARE GOING TO NEED DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST LEADERSHIP AND A STRONG AND ORGANIZED MOVEMENT. WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED DARK TIMES. AND THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS, PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, AND RESPOND TO MULTIPLE CRISES SIMULTANEOUSLY. [55:36] Robin Wonsley: MOST IMMEDIATELY THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS UNABLE TO SAFELY GO TO WORK WHILE I.C.E. IS TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES. ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO BE EVICTED BECAUSE I.C.E. HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO MAKE RENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND I PLAN TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS BODY TO PREVENT EVICTIONS. AS TECH COMPANIES EXPAND THEIR REACH, OUR CITY WILL BE FACED WITH SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT AUTOMATION, SURVEILLANCE AND CORPORATE CONTROL. AND WE NEED TO APPROACH THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO LABOR, COMMUNITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. BECAUSE NEW TECHNOLOGY IN OUR CITY MUST SERVE THE WORKING-CLASS AND NOT OUT-OF-STATE BILLIONAIRES. THIS COUNCIL WILL FACE MONUMENTAL DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THE UPCOMING FISCAL CLIFF. AND [56:23] Robin Wonsley: AUSTERITY AND SOCIAL CUTS WILL BE CATASTROPHIC FOR OUR WORKING-CLASS RESIDENTS UNLESS WE PUT THEM FIRST. AND WE CAN'T KEEP ASKING WORKING-CLASS HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS TO PAY EVER-INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES TO WEATHER THESE FINANCIALLY CHALLENGING TIMES. WE ARE GOING TO NEED EVERYONE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. WE HAVE TO GENERATE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THOUSANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS LACK ACCESS TO FRESH AND AFFORDABLE GROCERIES. ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS FACE INSECURITY. I KNOW OTHER AREAS WHERE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS RECOGNIZE THAT SINCE THE PRIVATE MARKET AND PHILANTHROPY AREN'T DELIVERING FOOD ACCESS EQUITABLY, [57:08] Robin Wonsley: GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP IN. AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS HAVE CHAMPIONED A VISION TO PROTECT ALL OF US. OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES TOWARD MAKING THIS VISION A REALITY WITH EMBEDDED SOCIAL WORKERS, VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES, AND MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS. IN THE TERM AHEAD, WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THE EFFORTS TO EXTEND SAFETY TO ALL RESIDENTS AND REJECT THE STATUS QUO, ESPECIALLY THE MOST RECENT PROPOSAL TO GIVE $50 MILLION TO THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BUILD THEIR OWN VERSION OF A COP CITY. [57:38] Robin Wonsley: THESE WILL BE MY TOP PRIORITIES AS A MINORITY LEADER FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ON THIS BODY. AND I HOPE TO USE THIS POSITION TO REPRESENT ALL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EVER SUPPORTED A SOCIALIST CANDIDATE OR A SOCIAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGN. I ALSO HOPE TO REPRESENT RESIDENTS WHO DON'T IDENTIFY AS SOCIALISTS BUT WANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO UTILIZE ALL THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO MAKE LIVES EASIER FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE. WITH THAT COLLEAGUES, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE TODAY AS MY MINORITY LEADER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS THAT DO EXIST ON THIS BODY. WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE POLITICAL DIVERSITY. FOR A MINORITY LEADER IS A VOTE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DIVERSITY, NO MATTER HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF IN RELATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST MOVEMENT. AND I LOOK [58:24] Robin Wonsley: FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE AND MAKE MINNEAPOLIS A BEACON OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION FOR THIS COUNTRY. >> Pearll Warren: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, FOR THE HISTORY LESSON WE RECEIVED. I WON'T ALLOW US TO PLAY IN THE FACE OF MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS. WHEN WE STATED IN YOUR VERY BLEAK DEFINITIONS OF MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER THAT THESE WERE NONPARTISAN POSITIONS AND YOU JUST MADE IT COMPLETELY ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY. [59:03] Pearll Warren: WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR TO THE RESIDENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS OR THE MEMBERS SITTING ON THIS CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: THANK YOU. LET ME JUST SAY, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY, SHE SAYS WHAT SHE'S COMING TO DO. AND SHE SAID WHAT THE DEFINITION MEANT. I SHOULD HAVE CALLED YOU YESTERDAY AND ASKED YOU WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WERE GOING TO BE. YOU LAID IT OUT CLEAR ON WHAT THE MINORITY LEADER IS. [59:33] LaTrisha Vetaw: INSTEAD I GOT THE NOW NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT. I KNOW FOR A FACT YOU TOLD HIM WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO BASED OFF WHAT YOU JUST TOLD EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING AND WHAT YOU JUST SAID UP HERE. YOU MADE IT CLEAR ON WHAT YOU SAW THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE MINORITY LEADER. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. [59:53] LaTrisha Vetaw: I RESPECT THAT. THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT VERY CLEAR. I AM—I AM JUST—THE WORK. IT'S JUST ESCAPING ME ON HOW I FEEL WE'VE BEEN LIED TO. IT'S CLEAR THIS IS ABOUT PARTIES. WE JUST—NOT ONLY DID WE HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY TALK ABOUT THE PARTY. WE HEARD THE PERSON WHO NOMINATED HER TALK ABOUT WHY HE WAS NOMINATING HER AND IT WAS ABOUT THE PARTY. AND SO ALL OF THIS, AGAIN, ALL WE NEEDED WAS TIME TO DEFINE WHAT THESE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES COULD BE. AND MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI. BUT FROM WHAT I KNOW ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI, SHE'S LISTED AS A SOCIALIST, TOO. IT'S NOT LISTED AS DEMOCRAT BUT A DEMOCRATIC [1:00:42] LaTrisha Vetaw: SOCIALIST. IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME AGENDA. THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU SAID YOU WANTED, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. NEWLY-ELECTED COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. THE OPPOSITE IS BEFORE US, AGAIN. THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. EVERYTHING WAS "THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES." THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS. [1:01:05] LaTrisha Vetaw: AND THE NOMINATION AND THE ACTUAL CANDIDATE SAID NOTHING BUT THIS IS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY. GAVE US A WONDERFUL HISTORY LESSON IN MINNEAPOLIS IN SOCIALISM FROM 19 WHATEVER TO UP TO HER. SO I MEAN, LIKE, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU. BECAUSE YOU DO THAT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SUGAR COAT IT AND MAKE US THINK, LIKE, IT'S WHAT'S TO COME AIN'T COMING. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT. I KNEW THAT THIS WAS ABOUT PARTIES. AND I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS TO HAVE JUST SAT UP HERE AND BEEN RE-ELECTED AND SAY HOW YOU WORK WITH EVERYBODY AND—WHATEVER. IT JUST—IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. IT JUST [1:01:53] LaTrisha Vetaw: DOESN'T. >> Jamison Whiting: THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND TO MY COLLEAGUE, AS WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. I THINK WE'RE ALSO IN—FIRST, LET ME WALK IT BACK A LITTLE BIT, FIRST. CAN I NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW FOR THE ROLE OF MINORITY CHAIR? [1:02:16] LaTrisha Vetaw: I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. ARE WE BACK—I DON'T KNOW. >> Jamison Whiting: SINCE WE CAN DEFINE IT. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: I DO NOT ACCEPT. [ LAUGHTER ] I HAVE NEVER TAKEN A JOB WITHOUT A DESCRIPTION. >> Jamison Whiting: EXACTLY RIGHT. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: I APPRECIATE YOU! BUT IT'S NOT MY— >> Jamison Whiting: RIGHT. AND THE NOMINATION IS PURELY BASED ON IF WE ARE DEFINING WHAT IS MAJORITY AND WHAT IS MINORITY, LET'S JUST NAME IT. RIGHT. THIS CITY HAS DONE, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND THE LAST TWO YEARS EXPLICITLY, FACTIONS OF COUNCIL. [1:02:55] Jamison Whiting: AND IF WE ARE PURELY TALKING ABOUT FACTIONS ON THIS COUNCIL, I THINK EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN MINNEAPOLIS, THIS BODY, AND CHAMBER ACROSS OUR ENTERPRISE AND ACROSS THIS ADMINISTRATION NO LONGER WANT TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE WE WANT PROGRESS. IF WE'RE PURELY TALKING ABOUT THAT, THEN, SURE! LET'S USE THAT AS A MINORITY. RIGHT. IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT FACTIONS, I THINK WE SAW VOTES ALONG SOME OF THOSE LINES. RIGHT. SO THEN WOULD IT PUT A CERTAIN FACTION IN THE MINORITY? AND THAT IS WHY—WELL, MAYBE THAT'S A MINORITY VOTE TO PUT COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW ON THERE. MAYBE YOU'LL RETHINK IT, COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE WE HAVE TO DEFINE THE VERSIONS OF WHAT THE DEFINITION OF MAJORITY AND MINORITY. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S [1:03:42] Jamison Whiting: A NO TO THAT. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: THANK YOU. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. BUT, AGAIN, NOT MY—THANK YOU. >> Aurin Chowdhury: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. JUST, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD, I THINK. [1:03:58] Aurin Chowdhury: THE DSA, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA ARE NOT A PARTY. LIKE, WE JUST NEED TO SAY THAT. EVEN WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA, THERE'S A DEBATE. LIKE, A BIG DIVIDE. IS IT PARTY BUILDING INTO THE FUTURE OR NO LONGER A PARTY. SO, REALLY, LOOKING AT THE NONPARTISAN NATURE OF WHAT MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER ARE, AS OUR CITY ATTORNEY LAID OUT. DSA DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A PARTY. THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT IDENTIFY WITH THAT POLITICAL BELIEF AND SYSTEM, AND THAT'S APPARENT IN OUR CITY, AS YOU SAID. WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUSHING THAT AGENDA. [1:04:36] Aurin Chowdhury: WORKING TOWARD IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE A MAYOR IN NEW YORK, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, THAT IS A DSA MEMBER AND A DSA-ELECTED PRIOR TO BECOMING MAYOR. RIGHT. THAT'S THE FUTURE. WE'RE HERE. RIGHT. [1:04:52] Aurin Chowdhury: WELCOME TO 2026. AND IT'S A GROWING, GROWING MOVEMENT. AND IT IS REALLY ROOTED IN ADDRESSING THE MATERIAL NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE. BECAUSE ENTRENCHED POWER AND ESTABLISHED PARTIES—DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN—HAS OFTENTIMES LEFT PEOPLE BEHIND TO THE POINT OF THE LARGEST PARTY IN OUR COUNTRY BEING THE BLOCK OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T VOTE IN ANY ELECTION. [1:05:16] Aurin Chowdhury: BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SO LEFT SO BEHIND. BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE, UNABLE TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE, OR RECEIVE IT, OR GET BASIC CITY SERVICES. WE'RE LUCKY IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS WE HAVE QUALITY SERVICES. OTHER CITIES ARE HURTING FOR IT. WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER CONVERSATION, I THINK I WANT TO JUST PUT THIS OUT THERE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT AND THE PUBLIC TO THINK ABOUT. THE ROLE OF MAJORITY LEADER, AS IN OUR CONVERSATION, AND AS DEFINED HERE, AS ASSIGNED AND DELEGATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL, IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY ONEROUS ROLE. BECAUSE YOUR JOB IS TO PUT ASIDE WHAT YOUR PERSONAL AGENDA, WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED [1:06:02] Aurin Chowdhury: FOR, WHAT YOU EXPAINED ON, ASIDE. THAT CAN'T BE YOUR JOB. YOU CAN'T JUST SINGULARLY LOOK AT YOUR OWN AGENDA. IT HAS TO BE THE AGENDA OF THE ENTIRE BODY, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING IN THIS NEXT WEEK. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE AGENDA WE'RE RUNNING TOWARDS. CREATING MORE HOUSING. WE ALL HAVE A SAY IN DEFINING HOW WE WANT TO CREATE THAT TYPE OF HOUSING. AND THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI HAS TO TAKE UP, EVEN IF SHE HAS A DISAGREEMENT WITH IT. SHE HAS TO TRY TO MOVE THOSE THINGS THROUGH. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT. RIGHT. [1:06:41] Aurin Chowdhury: THERE ARE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE NOT PASSED IN THIS BODY. THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IT THROUGH. FOR A SECOND THERE, IN THE LAST TERM, PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT MY BOULEVARDS ORDINANCE. THEY WERE LIKE, THIS IS TOO—OUR BOULEVARDS ORDINANCE. RIGHT. PEOPLE WERE LIKE THIS IS TOO IN THE WEEDS. [1:07:02] Aurin Chowdhury: PUN INTENDED. THIS IS UNNECESSARY. THAT WAS A MINORITY ITEM. AND PERHAPS COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE THOSE THINGS UP, TOO. BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A MINORITY OPINION. RIGHT. AND THERE ARE LITTLE CITY-SPECIFIC THINGS THAT ARE PARKS AND REC IN NATURE. THAT SAME THING GOES IF YOU ARE THE MAJORITY. THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO TAKE UP THE ROLE OF PUTTING ASIDE THEIR OWN SINGULAR PERSONAL AGENDA AND ARTICULATING SOMETHING FOR OUR COLLECTIVE PEOPLE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI'S IS A BIG ONE. [1:07:37] Aurin Chowdhury: THERE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS IN THIS BODY THAT WE HAVE A 13-0 SUPPORT FOR AND MAYBE IT'S, LIKE, 8-5. MAYBE IT'S 12-1. MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD TAKE UP IN DECIDING, BECAUSE CLEARLY TODAY WE SAW A 7-6 SPLIT. MAYBE A MAJORITY ISN'T DEFINED AS 7-6. MAYBE IT'S BIGGER. ONE THING I WILL SAY SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND, ALSO, BEING A POLICY AIDE, IS ONE OF OUR STRONG SUITS IS HAVING THESE REALLY, REALLY GREAT IDEAS AND PUTTING THEM FORWARD. BUT ONE OF OUR WEAKNESSES IS ARTICULATING IT INTO A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY AND [1:08:23] Aurin Chowdhury: AGENDA FOR US TO ACHIEVE ON THE OFFENSIVE. RIGHT. WE'RE OFTENTIMES REACTING TO THINGS. SO HAVING A LEADER LIKE THIS CAN HELP US FOCUS IN. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO NOT THINK THAT ALL IS LOST IN THIS ROLE AND ACTUALLY USE IT AS A TOOL TO FURTHER THE GOALS. >> Linea Palmisano: COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, YOU JUST SAID THE MINORITY NEEDS MORE REPRESENTATION AND THEN YOU VOTED AGAINST MORE TIME TO UNDERSTAND AND FIGURE HOW WE MIGHT WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER IN AN EXPANDED LEADERSHIP CIRCLE. I THINK THESE LAST VOTES, PARTICULARLY THE UNWILLINGNESS TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATION, HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THERE IS NO LISTENING TO THE MINORITY OF THIS COUNCIL. I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE MIXING THE TERMS DSA AND MINORITY. NOT ON THIS COUNCIL. AND NEXT IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN OUR SUCCESSION PLAN. IRONICALLY, AS BOTH THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS. [1:09:32] Linea Palmisano: THIS ABSOLUTELY SIGNALS TO ME THAT MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL LEADERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS, ONLY TO FURTHER ENTRENCH OUR DIVISION. >> Jamison Whiting: THANK YOU, CHAIR PAYNE. I THINK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE CHOWDHURY RAISES THE THING I THINK I'M MOST CONFUSED ABOUT HERE. SHE MENTIONS THAT IF OUR MAJORITY LEADER, WHO WAS JUST ELECTED, HAS TO PUT ASIDE THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS FOR A MAJORITY OPINION OR MAJORITY POLICY, AH, I THINK THE SAME CONFUSIONS ARISE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MINORITY LEADERS. PARTICULARLY AROUND THE CONVERSATION THAT MY [1:10:18] Jamison Whiting: COUNCIL COLLEAGUE ROBIN WONSLEY ALSO JUST RAISED. IF THERE IS A POSITION WE CAN ALL FORESEE THAT IS ACTIVELY AGAINST THE DSA POLICY—OR DSA PLATFORM AND IT'S A MINORITY OF THIS BODY, WILL COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY HAVE TO PUT ASIDE THOSE DSA PLATFORMS BECAUSE THAT POLICY IS WITHIN THE MINORITY OF THIS BODY? I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION, FOR ME, MOST LIES IN THIS. [1:10:52] Robin Wonsley: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING. I'LL REITERATE IT'S REFLECTING THE POLITICAL DIVERSITY. IT'S NOT A MINORITY OF IDEAS. IT'S GOING TO CONSTANTLY SHIFT. AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR FOUR YEARS AND HAVE BEEN CLEAR IN THEIR REPRESENTATION AS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST, I ALSO, AS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT AMONGST THE BODY AND WHO HAS, IN THEIR OFFICE, PRODUCED THE LARGEST QUANTITY OF ORDINANCES THAT HAVE GARNERED SUPPORT BY A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES... NEW OR EXISTING—WELL, EXISTING. I HAVE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF OUR ENTIRE CITY TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO GET TO A COMMON GOAL. BEING VERY FIRM ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BE RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF EVERY [1:11:37] Robin Wonsley: DAY PEOPLE. SO THAT IS THE DIVERSITY. IT'S NOT ABOUT COMMITTING TO THE MINORITY ROLE THAT MIGHT CONSTANTLY SHIFT AMONGST THIS BODY. >> Jamison Whiting: THANK YOU. I THINK MY CONFUSION IS NOT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. I THINK IT'S WITH THE DEFINITIONS, AGAIN. I THINK WHAT OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT TWINED THOSE POSITIONS OF ACTUAL POLICY... THESE DEFINITIONS IN POLICY POSITIONS. AND I THINK WE ARE SEEING THAT ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW KIND OF PLAY OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD DEFINITION BETWEEN ALL 13 OF US OF WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE. I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE ROLES ACTUALLY MEAN. [1:12:21] Jamison Whiting: AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE CONFUSION LIES. JUST LIKE I THINK CONGRESSWOMAN VETAW, YOU COME WITH WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE DEFINITIONS WITHIN WHAT THESE THINGS ACTUALLY MEAN—THESE POSITIONS THEMSELVES, NOT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SIT IN THE POSITIONS, BUT THE POSITIONS THEMSELVES—I THINK ARE NEEDING A FULL UNDERSTANDING AND I THINK DEEPER SUBSTITUTION. [1:12:50] Jamison Whiting: DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. >> Elliott Payne: ON THE QUESTION... OH. OKAY. ON THE QUESTION TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY TO MINORITY LEADER, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. [1:13:06] Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: NO. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: NO. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: NO. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: NO. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. [1:13:22] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: NO. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE SEVEN AYES AND SIX NAYS. >> Elliott Payne: THAT CARRIES AND COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF MINORITY LEADER. CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. [1:13:37] [ APPLAUSE ] Elliott Payne: I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED FOR FOUR DIFFERENT COUNCIL BODIES, IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO SERVE MY RESIDENTS AND SERVE RESIDENTS OF WARD SIX. [1:14:03] Jamal Osman: AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AND VOTE TODAY. I'M COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING OUR CITY AND CONTINUING TO REALLY BRING US ALL TOGETHER. WE'LL TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE—TO BE A COOPERATION. IT CAN'T BE LIKE, YOU KNOW... AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE BEEN. AND THAT'S WHAT I CONTINUE TO BE. AND, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL FOR ME IS TO REALLY BUILD EVERYBODY'S RELATIONSHIP. [1:14:33] Jamal Osman: AND EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN. YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEY GOING THROUGH. WHAT IS THEIR DIFFICULTY, THE CHALLENGES IN THEIR WARD. AND I UNDERSTAND, FOR US, IT'S TO COME HERE AND DEBATE AND REALLY MAKE A BIGGER DECISION. BUT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, IT HAS EFFECTS ON SOMEONE'S LIFE. AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. [1:14:57] Jamal Osman: AND MY OFFICE IS OPEN. MY PHONE IS OPEN. AND I WOULD LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU COLLABORATE AND BE THE LEADER YOU HAVE COME TO. AND HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOBAST TERM. AND I KNOW WE'LL DEFINITELY ACCOMPLISH A LOT IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [1:15:20] Elliott Payne: THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES THE ELECTION OF COUNCIL OFFICERS. WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO THE ORDER OF NEW BUSINESS, AS REFLECTED ON OUR AGENDA. I'VE ASKED THE CLERK TO PREPARE A PACKET OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ACTIONS FOR ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE AT YOUR DESKS. EACH OF THESE ITEMS IS NUMBERED TO CORRESPOND TO THE AGENDA TO FACILITATE OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE MATTERS. THERE ARE SIX ITEMS WHICH ARE NUMBERED IN YOUR PACKET. YOUR PACKETS AS NB1 THROUGH NB6 FOLLOWED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO ORDINANCES SHOWN ON THE AGENDA. [1:15:52] Elliott Payne: FIRST ITEM IS A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING LINES OF SUCCESSION TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY CHARTER AND CODE OF ORDINANCES. [1:16:11] Elliott Payne: THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS THE FIRST IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR AND THE VICE PRESIDENT IS THE FIRST IN LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THE SECOND IN LINE TO SUCCEED THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. BEYOND THAT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE THIRD SUCCESSION IS THE MAJORITY LEADER FOLLOWED BY MINORITY LEADER AND ORDER SET FORTH IN THE RESOLUTION AS NEEDED. ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS? I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. [1:16:40] Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. [1:16:55] Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: 13 AYES. >> Elliott Payne: THAT ITEM CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE DRAFT IN YOUR PACKET REFLECTS THE PROPOSAL I AM OFFERING INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF COMMITTEES, COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP, AND FOR REGULAR MEETINGS. AND COLLEAGUES RETURNING FROM THE LAST TERM WILL SEE I'VE LARGELY RETAINED THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE STRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES A TOTAL OF SIX STANDING COMMITTEES AND ONE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. I POINT OUT THAT THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION AND ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN REFORMED AS THE ENTERPRISE AND LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE. [1:17:35] Elliott Payne: GIVING THIS COMMITTEE A STRONGER EMPHASIS ON THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE CITY'S LABOR RELATIONS AND WORK FORCE. AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO REFLECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND EQUITY TO REFLECT THE SHIFTING OF ADMINISTRATION AND ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. FOUR OF THE STANDING POLICY COMMITTEES WILL MEET IN THE FIRST WEEK OF A REGULAR TWO-WEEK CYCLE. THAT INCLUDES THE REFORMED ENTERPRISE AND LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON MONDAYS. THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE ON TUESDAYS. THE RENAMED PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAYS. AND THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ON THURSDAYS. ALL REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE FOUR STANDING COMMITTEES WILL BE PROGRAMMED AT 1:30 P.M. UNDER RESPECTIVE ASSIGNED DAYS IN THE [1:18:21] Elliott Payne: FIRST WEEK CYCLE. THE ONE MAJOR CHANGE I'M PROPOSING IS THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES BE INCREASED FROM SIX TO SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND IN THE SECOND WEEK OF THE CYCLE, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET AT 1:30 ON MONDAYS AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AT 1:30 ON TUESDAYS. BOTH OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, WILL CONSIST OF ALL 13 COUNCIL MEMBERS. REGULAR MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:30 A.M. ON THURSDAYS. IN TERMS OF COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP, I'M PLEASED TO SUBMIT MY PROPOSALS THAT THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD LEAD THESE. [1:19:03] Elliott Payne: PALMISANO WILL BE THE CHAIR AND WILL BE ASSISTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING AS VICE CHAIR. FOR THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE OUR VICE PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN WILL RESUME HIS LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR AND BE ASSISTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY AS VICE CHAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ WILL CONTINUE LEADING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE ASSISTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON AS THE VICE CHAIR. OUR MINORITY LEADER COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY WILL TAKE ON LEADERSHIP OF THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON AS VICE CHAIR. OUR MAJORITY LEADER, COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI, WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP OF OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH THE ABLE ASSISTANCE OF COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN AS HER VICE CHAIR. [1:19:41] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY WILL LEAD OUR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AS VICE CHAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING WILL TAKE LEADERSHIP OF OUR STANDING SETTLEMENT UNDER THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND I'LL BE ASSISTING AS VICE CHAIR. [1:19:57] Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY WILL CONTINUE WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE AS VICE CHAIR. I WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO STEPPED UP TO LEAD THE COMMITTEES. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE STRUCTURE? COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. [1:20:20] Pearll Warren: I NEVER ASKED TO BE THE VICE CHAIR OF BUDGET. [1:20:37] Elliott Payne: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. I MOVE THE RESOLUTION. COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN? >> Pearll Warren: I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY UNFAIR THAT THE SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBERS... AS WE HAVE FOUR NEW MEMBERS WHO HAVE TAKEN A ROLE AND HAVE BEEN SEATED AND HAVE STOOD UP IN REPRESENTATION OF THEIR WARDS AND ALL OF THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE BEHIND THE BACKS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP. [1:21:07] Pearll Warren: YOU'RE PICKING MAJORITY, YOU'RE PICKING MINORITY. YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO BE WITHOUT ASKING ANYONE ANYTHING. YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW ANYONE TO SEE WHAT THEIR STRENGTHS ARE, WHO NEEDS TO BE WHERE OR WHAT ANYONE WANTS TO DO. I THINK IT'S INCONSIDERATE AND UNFAIR TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF OUR WARDS AND TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY THAT WE REPRESENT. [1:21:30] Pearll Warren: I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. I JUST DON'T. >> Elliott Payne: ANYONE ELSE IN QUEUE? SEEING NONE. I HAVE MOVED THE RESOLUTION. COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO. [1:21:48] Linea Palmisano: MR. PRESIDENT, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. IS NOW THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR COMMENTS? >> Elliott Payne: GO AHEAD. >> Linea Palmisano: I'D LIKE TO GROUND MY COMMENTS IN THINGS WE HEARD TODAY AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY. BISHOP HOWELL CALLED US TO VALUE UNITY OVER DIVISION. [1:22:09] Linea Palmisano: THEY IMPLORED US IN THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING WITH ENGAGEMENT OVER DISTANCE, INCLUSION OVER EXCLUSION, AND PARTNERSHIP OVER SILENCE. RABBI ZIMMERMAN ENCOURAGED US TO BUILD BRIDGES OVER DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOWARD A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF EVERYBODY IN MINNEAPOLIS. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT SEE THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US HONORING THE CHARGE WE WERE GIVEN THIS MORNING. COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, IN YOUR E-MAIL LAST EVENING, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME SEVERAL OF US SAW THE STRUCTURE, YOU STATED WE SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WEEKS TALKNG ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE NEXT TERM. AND YOU SAID I HAVE TRIED TO INCORPORATE ALL MEMBER FEEDBACK [1:22:56] Linea Palmisano: TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THIS EFFORT. WHO IS "WE?" I CERTAINLY WASN'T INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE COUNCIL THIS TERM. IS THIS REALLY HOW YOU WANT TO LEAD AGAIN? COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, YOU PUT THE FOUR DSA-ASCRIBED MEMBERS ON EVERYTHING. [1:23:20] Linea Palmisano: THIS IS OVER-REPRESENTATION. THE BRAND NEW MEMBERS OF THIS BODY PUT OUT A JOINT STATEMENT. THEY CHALLENGED US TO BE FAIR, BALANCED, AND COLLABORATIVE. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT CHALLENGE! LET'S JOIN THEM. LET'S TRY TO BE BALANCED AND FAIR AND COLLABORATIVE. THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT KIND OF STRUCTURE TO ME. THIS JUST FEELS LIKE A CONTINUATION OF LAST TERM. SO TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES, DO YOU FEEL VALUED AND HEARD? THAT YOUR CHALLENGE FOR US TO COLLABORATE WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY? DO YOU FEEL TREATED FAIRLY? I THINK THIS IS A REALLY POOR START AND IT SHOWS A LACK OF LEADERSHIP. WE CAN DO [1:24:05] Linea Palmisano: BETTER THAN THIS. AND WE MUST DO BETTER THAN THIS. PRESIDENT PAYNE DOESN'T GET TO MAKE THESE APPOINTMENTS. HE PROPOSES THEM. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS STRUCTURE AND SUGGEST SOME AMENDMENTS. AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THEM. [1:24:28] Elliott Payne: SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE FOUR NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE DID NOT SPECIFY "BALANCED" AS SOMETHING IN OUR STATEMENT. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND TREATING EACH OTHER AS FULLY HUMAN. I THINK THAT WAS THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET AT WITH THE STATEMENT. [1:24:54] Elliott Payne: THE QUESTION ON THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE STANDING COMMITTEES, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: YES. I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED BEFORE OR AFTER WE—OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT... SO, LIKE, COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN HAS CLEARLY SHARED THAT BUDGET WASN'T HER INTEREST. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER WAS INTERESTED IN BUDGET. AND, LIKE, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI ABOUT IT. [1:25:30] LaTrisha Vetaw: MAJORITY LEADER CHUGHTAI ABOUT THIS. AND I'M JUST WONDERING, AT WHAT PART OF THIS PROCESS DO WE GET TO MAYBE AMEND OR SUGGEST THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN—THAT EXCHANGE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER INSTEAD, MAYBE. [1:25:49] Elliott Payne: ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? >> LaTrisha Vetaw: YES. >> Linea Palmisano: I'D SECOND THAT. >> Elliott Payne: ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: MY SPIRIT IN JOINING THIS BOARD WAS TO SERVE. PUBLIC SERVICE. AND SO I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MY FRESHMAN COLLEAGUES HAVE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, EXCEPT FOR MYSELF. THAT'S FINE. [1:26:18] Elizabeth Shaffer: I CAME TO SERVE. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE VICE CHAIR OF BUDGET, IF THIS BODY SO CHOSE. I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH MY UPTOWN COLLEAGUE, CHAIR CHUGHTAI, IF THIS BODY SO CHOSE. I HAVE BEEN CHAIR OF THE ADMIN FINANCE OF THE PARK BOARD AT VARIOUS TIMES, HAVE ALWAYS PARTICIPATED IN GREAT DETAIL IN THE PARK BOARD BUDGET, BRINGING FORWARD AMENDMENTS ALMOST EVERY YEAR. SOME SUCCESSFUL, SOME NOT SUCCESSFUL. SO, YES. IF THIS BODY SO CHOSE, IT WOULD BE A PRIVILEGE TO TAKE THIS ROLE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT TO THE GREATER GROUP. AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE. I KNOW [1:27:03] Elizabeth Shaffer: WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A ROCKY START HERE TODAY, BUT WE'RE BIGGER, WE'RE BETTER, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THIS NARRATIVE SHIFT ON ONE MEETING. SO, YES, I WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS VICE CHAIR OF BUDGET. [1:27:21] Jason Chavez: THANK YOU. IF THERE'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION, I WILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT IT. I THINK THAT THE RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE PRESIDENT IS PERFECTLY FINE AND I SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING MOTION. I WON'T BE SUPPORTING AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP OF BUDGET. [1:27:39] Jason Chavez: SO THAT IS MY POSITION. >> Elliott Payne: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LEFT IN QUEUE? ON THE AMENDMENT TO REMOVE COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN AS VICE CHAIR OF BUDGET AND REPLACE THAT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. [1:28:00] Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: NO. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: YES. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. [1:28:15] Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: 11 AYES AND TWO NAYS. >> Elliott Payne: THAT CARRIES. AND THE UNDERLYING MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED IS BEFORE US. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? [1:28:39] LaTrisha Vetaw: I HAVE ANOTHER ONE. IT MIGHT BE A LONG SHOT. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN DID SHOW GREAT INTEREST IN C & I. SHE GAVE US A COMPELLING ARGUMENT THAT CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE WAS A BIG DEAL TO NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. [1:28:56] LaTrisha Vetaw: SHE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPERATIVE SHE LEARN THAT DEPARTMENT, THAT SHE LEARNED THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND THAT SHE LEARNED HOW THINGS WERE OPERATED. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE HEARD FROM HER CONSTITUENTS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. WAS THE SERVICES OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE IS WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE THE CITY DO BETTER FOR THEM. THEY WANTED HER TO COME DOWN HERE AND BE A MASTER AT IT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO AMEND THIS TO REMOVE COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON FROM VICE CHAIR—WHICH WOULD BE SECOND CHAIR. HE'S LISTED AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND, SO, OF C & I—AND ADD COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN TO C & I AS THE VICE CHAIR, PLEASE. [1:29:41] Michael Rainville: I WOULD SECOND THAT. >> Elliott Payne: COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW HAS MOVED TO REMOVE COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON AS VICE CHAIR OF CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S BEEN SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: I WANTED TO BRING UP... I WAS ALSO ELECTED ON A MANDATE FOR THE WORK THAT GOES THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE. GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE, 3/4 OF IT, IS IN WARD 8. THAT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO ME. [1:30:07] Soren Stevenson: IT'S OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THIS CITY. I THINK THAT I SHOULD BE THE VICE CHAIR OF CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR MANY REASONS, THAT BEING ONE OF THEM. MANY MORE BEING WARD 8 IS FULL OF CLIMATE LEADERS. WHETHER IT'S THE 100% CAMPAIGN, FAITH IN MINNESOTA, TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY, MANY MORE. IT'S OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO WARD 8. MANY OF THE LEADERS ON CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES LIVE IN WARD 8 AND HAVE ELECTED ME WITH A MANDATE ON THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT VICE CHAIRSHIP. [1:30:40] LaTrisha Vetaw: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT WHEN WE SPEAK OF DISPARITIES, WHEN WE SPEAK OF ALL THE THINGS, THE RESOURCES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T RECEIVE, THAT IS THE COMMUNITY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN REPRESENTS. AND SO WHEN WE THINK OF CLIMATE AND INEQUITIES, ALL THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL, THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AROUND CLIMATE INEQUITIES... THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO DO BETTER AT, THEY ARE ALMOST ALWAYS IN THE WARD SHE REPRESENTS. AND IF HER CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING FOR HER TO COME HERE AND FIGURE THINGS OUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, I THINK WE SHOULD SET HER UP TO [1:31:27] LaTrisha Vetaw: REPRESENT THE NORTH SIDE! I MEAN, THIS MEANS A LOT TO THIS COMMUNITY. THE NORTH SIDE WANTS TO SEE IT HAPPEN. I'M NOT SAYING THE SOUTH SIDE DOESN'T HAVE THE, YOU KNOW—THEY DON'T HAVE THE CHOPS TO GET IT DONE. WHAT I KNOW IS WHEN I SEE ADVOCATES SHOWING UP ON BEHALF OF CLIMATE ISSUES AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS, WHERE I SEE LITTLE PARTICIPATION IS FROM THE NORTH SIDE. AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN, IN THIS POSITION, COULD CHANGE THAT. [1:31:59] LaTrisha Vetaw: NOT ONLY WHO WE SEE SHOW UP TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO BRING A LEVEL OF EDUCATION TO THESE COMMUNITIES THAT THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED ALWAYS. I CAN'T EVEN SAY DECADES. ALWAYS UNDERSERVED WITH CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US SET HER UP TO SUCCEED AND TAKE THIS BACK TO HER COMMUNITY AS A BIG WIN AND DO SOME BIG THINGS WITH THIS FOR NORTH MINNEAPOLIS [1:32:27] LaTrisha Vetaw: AND ALL UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THIS CITY. >> Elliott Payne: ANYONE ELSE IN QUEUE? I'LL JUST MAKE A POINT HERE THAT I MEANT WHAT I SAID. I DID MY BEST EFFORT TO BALANCE A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS. [1:32:47] Elliott Payne: ONE OF THE PRIORITIES WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE NORTH SIDE WAS REPRESENTED IN SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL DECISIONS MADE. THAT'S WHY I WANTED COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN TO TAKE ON THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE OF BUDGET. I ALSO KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THE FUTURE OF GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE WAS TO COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON [1:33:03] Elliott Payne: AND HIS PERSONAL STORY CONNECTED TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND HOW HE WANTED TO SHOW UP IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHY HE WANTED TO BE THE VICE CHAIR OF PHS. AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THERE'S A FUTURE FOR GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE THAT REFLECTED THE VALUES OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND SO MY ATTEMPT AT BALANCING THOSE TWO COMPETING PRIORITIES... BECAUSE I HAD HEARD AN INTEREST THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN WANTED TO HAVE THAT ROLE OF THE VICE CHAIR OF CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE... I FELT THAT HAVING OUR LEADERSHIP ROLE ON BUDGET WOULD GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MOVE THE RESOURCES OF THIS INSTITUTION AND REALLY MOVE THOSE RESOURCES IN A WAY TO SERVE THE NORTH SIDE. BUT IT'S ABOUT THE WILL OF THE BODY. I'M NOT GOING [1:33:48] Elliott Payne: TO BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENSON. COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. IN YOUR STATEMENT, YOU ARE FREQUENTLY REFERENCING WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD. [1:34:07] Pearll Warren: BECAUSE YOU NEGLECTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ME. AS I STATED TO YOU ON YESTERDAY WHEN YOU REACHED OUT TO ME AND TOLD ME WHAT OTHERS HAD DECIDED ON MY BEHALF, YOU HAD NOT HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ME ABOUT WHAT MY DESIRES WERE, WHAT WERE THINGS WITHIN MY COMMUNITY AND WITHIN MY WARD THAT ELECTED ME INTO THIS BODY AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FAIR AND JUST THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. MY COMMUNITY IS JUST AS MARGINALIZED AND DISENFRANCHISED, IF NOT MORE, THAN WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN WARD 8. AND THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO MY WARD. THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FELLOW [1:34:52] Pearll Warren: WITH THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, EJCC FOR OVER—FOR TWO TERMS—AND STILL DO OTHER WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE SERVICE THAT IS HAPPENING IN MY WARD NEEDS SOME CHANGE. IT NEEDS TO BE EFFECTIVE. WE NEED SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT DEFINITELY IN THE FIFTH WARD. [1:35:18] Pearll Warren: SO I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU KNOW, PREEMPTIVELY THINKING OR HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, YOU DREW YOUR CONCLUSION. BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS FAIR YOU DID NOT COME AND HAVE A SIT-DOWN CONVERSATION WITH ME AFTER YOU STATED YOU WOULD, BUT MADE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF ME WITHOUT MY CONSENT. [1:35:43] Pearll Warren: AND I EXPRESSED INTEREST IN CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND BIZ. NOT IN BUDGET. >> Jason Chavez: I'M JUST READY TO VOTE. >> Elliott Payne: SEEING NO ONE LEFT IN QUEUE. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDHURY. [1:36:01] Aurin Chowdhury: IT'S OKAY. WE'RE GETTING USED TO THE DAIS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. THANK YOU. SO I THINK I WANT TO JUST, LIKE, GROUND US IN THE FACT THAT—OH. BEING A MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE MEANS TAKING A VOTE ON A LOT OF WORK. BEING A MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE MEANS YOU WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN SHAPING THE AGENDA. AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS ON THE BODY THAT ARE CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS SHOULD LISTEN TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND GET THEIR ITEMS AND WORK ON THE AGENDA. [1:36:38] Aurin Chowdhury: AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE. BECAUSE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO DO THE WORK OF REPRESENTING THEIR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY HAVE A GAVEL OR NOT. THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE PLACE WHERE I STARTED. I GOT INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATION COMMITTEES, WHICH WASN'T A COMMITTEE DOING A LOT. [1:37:03] Aurin Chowdhury: I TRIED TO WORK ON MAKING IT INTO SOMETHING. THAT'S STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS IN MY FIRST TERM. I SERVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH THE CHAIR THAT WAS VERY HANDS-ON. AND, HONESTLY, IT WAS KIND OF NICE TO BE ABLE TO BE A MEMBER THAT KIND OF GOT TO JUST FOCUS IN ON UNDERSTANDING WHAT EACH—WHAT EACH CITY COUNCIL DOES, WHAT EACH CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE DOES. [1:37:24] Aurin Chowdhury: AND SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO NOTE TO EVERYONE. LIKE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECTIVELY DO THE WORK ON THE COMMITTEES. I THINK EXPANDING TO A SEVEN-PERSON BODY ENSURES ALL GET TO HELP SHAPE THE WORK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP. [1:37:49] Elliott Payne: SEEING NO ONE LEFT IN QUEUE. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDMENT TO ADD COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN AS VICE CHAIR OF THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. >> Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: NO. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. [1:38:04] Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: NO. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: ABSTAIN. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: NO. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. [1:38:21] Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: NO. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: NO. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE FIVE AYES, SEVEN NAYS, AND ONE ABSTENTION. >> Elliott Payne: THAT FAILS. WE'LL TAKE UP THE UNDERLYING RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER AS VICE CHAIR OF BUDGET. [1:38:41] Elliott Payne: AND THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> Casey Carl: COUNCIL MEMBER WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. [1:38:57] Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: NO. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: 12 AYES AND ONE NAY. >> Elliott Payne: THAT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. [1:39:15] Elliott Payne: AND OUR NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE IS HEREBY APPROVED. THE NEXT ITEM IS ADOPTION OF THE 2026 CALENDAR OF REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES, WHICH SATISFIES THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR NOTICE OF SUCH MEETINGS. THIS ACTION ALSO INCLUDES A DIRECTION TO THE CLERK TO PUBLISH AND POST THE CALENDAR AND UPDATE, AS NECESSARY, TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THE COUNCIL. A COPY OF THE DRAFT CALENDAR IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS. FOR MY COLLEAGUES IN THE PUBLIC, I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE FIRST CYCLE COMMENCES THE WEEK OF JANUARY 26th. ALSO, I'LL POINT OUT THAT AS ADOPTED BY THE LAST COUNCIL, OUR JANUARY SCHEDULE ALREADY INCLUDES TWO TENTATIVE ONE-WEEK CYCLES TO ADDRESS ANY TIME-SENSITIVE MATTERS PENDING THE START OF REGULAR MEETINGS. THOSE ONE-WEEK CYCLES ARE FOR THE [1:40:01] Elliott Payne: WEEKS OF JANUARY 12 AND JANUARY 19. BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CLERK, IT SEEMS IT'S LIKELY WE MAY NEED TO USE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE INTERIM CYCLES TO ADDRESS TIME-SENSITIVE BUSINESS. THE NEED FOR THE MEETINGS OR THE DECISION TO CANCEL THEM WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS VIA E-MAIL AS WELL AS TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE LIMS. I'LL NOTE IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR COUNCIL TO ADOPT A CALENDAR FOR THE ENTIRE TERM AT THIS TIME. THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS CONFIRMING LEGAL HOLIDAYS, DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE, AND OTHER MATTERS IN YEARS 2027, 2028, AND 2029. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL BRING FORWARD A DRAFT CALENDAR FOR THOSE OUTYEARS AT A FUTURE MEETING. [1:40:41] Elliott Payne: ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE 2026 CALENDAR? SEEING NONE. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2026 CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> Aurin Chowdhury: SECOND. >> Elliott Payne: THE CLERK—THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THESE MEETINGS. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THESE MEETINGS. [1:41:05] Elliott Payne: I'M SORRY. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL ON THE QUESTION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 CALENDAR. >> Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. [1:41:21] Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYES. >> Elliott Payne: THAT MOTION 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 AS NEEDED. NEXT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE COUNCIL RULES. THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE RULES WAS ADOPTED IN 2024 PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER 4.481 AND THOSE RULES REMAIN IN EFFECT. YOU'LL NOTE THAT THE COPY IN YOUR PACKET IS MARKED AS THE 2026 VERSION AND ALREADY INCORPORATES BOTH THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER POSITIONS IN THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? I'LL MOVE THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2026 RULES. [1:42:10] Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. >> LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: NO. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. [1:42:26] Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: 12 AYES AND ONE NAY. THAT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE 2026 RULES HAVE BEEN FORMALLY ADOPTED. THE NEXT ITEM IS DESIGNATING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. [1:42:46] Elliott Payne: AN INDEPENDENT DECISION-MAKING BODY ESTABLISHED BY CITY CHARTER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY'S AUDIT FUNCTION, INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT AND SUPERVISION OF THE CITY AUDITOR. IT'S PROVIDED IN SECTION 8.140 AND C1 THAT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. [1:43:04] Elliott Payne: ONE OF WHOM IS DESIGNATED AS THE CHAIR. PURSUANT TO THE VERSION OF THE CITY CODE, I NAME MYSELF AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI AS THE SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE NEXT TERM. [1:43:21] Elliott Payne: ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL. >> Casey Carl: MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS NO VOTE ON THE ITEM. IT'S A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IT'S NOTED AND ON FILE WITH THE CLERK. >> Elliott Payne: NOTED. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A RESOLUTION THAT APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND GROUPS AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. COLLEAGUES, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM. IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CLERK, WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVIEW, FINALIZE, AND UPDATE THE LIST OF THE EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS TO ENSURE WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST. WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO ALL MEMBERS TO VERIFY THE APPOINTMENTS AND ANTICIPATE BRINGING IT BACK AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE WHOLE. [1:44:05] Elliott Payne: WE HAVE COMPLETED THE NEW BUSINESS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. FINALLY, TWO ORDINANCE INTRODUCTIONS TO REFER TO PROPER COMMITTEES. THESE ARE ROUTINE ACTIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN EVERY ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO EXPEDITE THE NOTICE AND REFERRAL OF THESE MATTERS DURING THE COMING TERM. THE INTRODUCTION ENTRIES ARE FOR ROUTINE REOCCURRING ACTIONS. [1:44:22] Elliott Payne: IN YOUR PACKET ARE TWO MOTIONS THAT ACCOMPLISH THESE REFERRALS INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL OF AMENDMENTS TO TITLE II, CHAPTER 120 RELATED TO WAGES AND SALARIES, WHICH WE'LL REFER TO THE ENTERPRISE AND LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE. THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL OF AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 20 CHAPTER 530 RELATED TO REZONING, REFERRING TO THE BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE. [1:44:45] Elliott Payne: COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REFERRALS? SEEING NONE. I'LL MOVE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL OF THESE MATTERS. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? >> Aurin Chowdhury: SECOND. >> Elliott Payne: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> Casey Carl: WONSLEY. >> Robin Wonsley: AYE. >> Casey Carl: RAINVILLE. >> Michael Rainville: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VETAW. [1:45:01] LaTrisha Vetaw: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WARREN. >> Pearll Warren: AYE. >> Casey Carl: SHAFFER. >> Elizabeth Shaffer: AYE. >> Casey Carl: STEVENSON. >> Soren Stevenson: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHAVEZ. >> Jason Chavez: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHUGHTAI. >> Aisha Chughtai: AYE. >> Casey Carl: WHITING. >> Jamison Whiting: AYE. >> Casey Carl: CHOWDHURY. >> Aurin Chowdhury: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PALMISANO. >> Linea Palmisano: AYE. >> Casey Carl: VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN. >> Jamal Osman: AYE. >> Casey Carl: PRESIDENT PAYNE. [1:45:16] Elliott Payne: AYE. >> Casey Carl: THERE ARE 13 AYES. >> Elliott Payne: THAT MOTION CARRIES. AND THOSE SUBJECT MATTER INTRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEES AS INDICATED. COLLEAGUES, THAT COMPLETES ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. WITH THAT, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS COMPLETED ITS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR THE 2026-2029 TERM. I WANT TO, AGAIN, REPEAT MY THANKS AND REITERATE I'M EXCITED TO GET STARTED ON THE WORK WE'LL ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. WITH THAT, WE'VE COMPLETED ALL BUSINESS AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED.