OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Business, Housing and Zoning Committee Meeting Summary: September 30, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, September 30, 2025
BodyMinneapolis, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 30, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:08:29

Transcript — Verbatim
0:34

Good afternoon.

0:35

Welcome.

0:37

I will call and order this meeting of the business housing and zoning committee for September 30th, 2025.

0:45

I'm Councilmember Jamal Osman and I'm the chair of this committee.

0:49

Before we begin the meeting, I want to remind everybody that these meetings are broadcasted live to enable greater public participation.

0:58

They include real-time captioning to increase the accessibility of our proceedings to the community.

1:04

Therefore, all speakers need to be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully transcribe all comments for the broadcast.

1:17

We'll be using uh speaker management, so please go ahead and sign up.

1:22

At this time, I'll ask City Clerk to call the role so we can verify a quorum.

1:27

Councilmember Vita.

1:29

Present.

1:30

Cashman.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Jenkins.

1:32

Present.

1:33

Chavez.

1:34

Present.

1:35

Vice Chair Chowry.

1:37

Present.

1:37

And Chair Osman.

1:39

Present.

1:40

There are six members present.

1:41

Let the record reflect we have a quorum.

1:44

Our agenda is front of us.

1:46

I will move to amend the agenda by making a rental license ordinance item number three instead of four.

1:55

With that, all those in favor say aye.

1:58

Aye.

1:58

Aye.

1:59

And those opposed say nay.

2:01

The ayes have it, and the motion is adopted.

2:05

All right.

2:06

Uh before we proceed to the public hearing, we will be first taking our consent agenda.

2:12

Item 6 through 11.

2:13

Item 6 is approving one liquor license.

2:16

Item 7 is approving 40 liquor license renewals.

2:20

Item 8 is accepting and authorizing the spring 2025 brownfield grants.

2:26

Item 9 is accepting a quality of live grant to update animal shelter housing.

2:33

Item 10 is accepting a modification to previously authored loan authorized loan for the Dreamland on 38th project.

2:45

And lastly, item one is setting a public hearing for October 14 to consider ordinance related to the permanent conibus cannabis event.

2:54

With that, do any of my colleagues have any comments.

3:01

See none, I'll move all items for approval.

3:04

All those in favor say aye.

3:06

Aye.

3:06

And those opposed say nay.

3:08

The ayes have it, and the motion carries.

3:12

Now we'll proceed to open the public hearing.

3:15

First we have a public hearing and presentation for liquor license and a sidewalk cafe license for Bellcor.

3:29

I welcome Max Cervantes from Business to give us that presentation.

3:36

Welcome.

3:37

Thank you, Chair Osman and Committee members.

3:39

I am District Supervisor Max Cervantes from Licenses and Consumer Services.

3:43

I'm presenting an application today from Bellicor Cafe LLC, DBA as Bellacour.

3:50

The business will be located at 107 3rd Avenue North Suite A, located in Ward 3.

3:56

Bellicour is applying for an on-sale liquor license with Sunday sales.

4:01

No entertainment and sidewalk cafe license.

4:04

There's currently no license at this location.

4:06

The building previously housed Muse Event Center.

4:10

Bellacourt proposes to be a contemporary French-inspired cafe and restaurant.

4:16

Bellacourt will operate out of the first story of a mixed-use building and will offer indoor and outdoor seating.

4:23

The premises will include 71 seats indoors and eight seats outdoors on a sidewalk cafe.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing███████████████████████████████31%
Land Use and Zoning██████████████████18%
Liquor Licensing█████████████████17%
Public Health████████8%
Public Safety████████8%
Public Works█████5%
Procedural████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Homelessness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Business, Housing and Zoning Committee Meeting Summary: September 30, 2025

The Business, Housing and Zoning Committee met on September 30, 2025, to consider multiple items, including liquor license approvals, a major rental license ordinance, an alcohol licensing code amendment, and a license revocation hearing. The meeting included public testimony and council debate, with several votes taken.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved items 6 through 11 unanimously, including:
    • One liquor license (Item 6)
    • 40 liquor license renewals (Item 7)
    • Acceptance of spring 2025 brownfield grants (Item 8)
    • Quality of life grant for animal shelter housing (Item 9)
    • Modification of a loan for the Dreamland on 38th project (Item 10)
    • Setting a public hearing for October 14 on a cannabis event ordinance (Item 11)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bellcor Cafe (Liquor License): Gavin, the applicant, described the business as a French bistro and bakery. No opposition.
  • Classics Kitchen and Cocktails (Liquor License Upgrade): Gerard, the owner, stated they wanted to add limited entertainment after two years of operation. No opposition.
  • Rental License Ordinance (Slum Lord Tier Oversight and Protection):
    • Support: Vanessa (tenant, spoke about abusive landlord experience), Will Luther (Undergrad Student Government, urged support for student protections), Joe Hesla (Ward 9 resident, called it long overdue), Linnea Cabot (tenant union, described mold and human excrement issues), Daniel Saador (former tenant attorney, said tier system lacks enforcement), Andrew Follestrom (described roach infestation in tier three building), Emory Brush (tenant, said 311 calls failed), Cynthia (NAACP, called it a good start), Karina (Ward 6 resident, supported but urged more action), Amina Ray Baravon (renter, said 311 calls go unanswered), Peter R (called for stronger enforcement), Mark Safranos (tenant, described flooding and mold), Ashley Worth Patrick (renter and small landlord, supported).
    • Opposition: Cathy Bennett (Twin Cities Housing Alliance, warned of displacement and administrative burden), Will O'Keefe (Housing Advisory Committee, said it overstretches staff), Cecil Smith (Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, cited risk of displacement and due process issues).
  • Alcohol License Ordinance Amendment: Sir Johnson from Gay 90s requested grandfathering language for 18+ events, warning the new limits could be crippling.

Discussion Items

  • Rental License Ordinance: Presented by Councilmembers Osman, Cashman, Chowdhury, and Wansley. The ordinance requires high-risk (tier three) rental properties to come before the City Council for license renewal, adding oversight and accountability. The effective date is January 1, 2027, allowing landlords time to improve. Councilmembers debated the potential for revocation, displacement, and administrative burden. Councilmember Vita argued it was a management issue, not legislative, and worried about eviction court. Councilmember Jenkins expressed concern about unintended consequences. Supporters (Cashman, Chavez, Chowdhury, Wansley) emphasized the need for accountability and noted that revocation is a last resort, with other tools available.
  • Alcohol License Ordinance Amendment: Presented by Manager Amy Lingo. The amendment modernizes alcohol licensing, including gender-neutral language, raising the ownership threshold for financial disclosure from 10% to 15%, allowing 18+ events up to 12 per year, and removing the 300-foot distance requirement from places of worship for new liquor stores. Councilmember Jenkins questioned the limit on 18+ events, calling it “prohibition-like.” Councilmember Cashman supported the modernizations. Councilmember Chavez sought time to discuss grandfathering with Councilmember Rainville. The item was moved without recommendation and passed.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
  • Bellcor Cafe Liquor License: Approved unanimously.
  • Classics Kitchen and Cocktails Liquor License Upgrade: Approved unanimously.
  • Rental License Ordinance (Slum Lord Tier Oversight and Protection): Passed 5-1 (Councilmember Vita opposed; Councilmembers Cashman, Jenkins, Chavez, Chowdhury, Osman in favor).
  • Alcohol License Ordinance Amendment: Approved without recommendation by a voice vote (moved by Councilmember Jenkins).
  • Camden Social and Gig Garden License Revocation (Tax Non-Payment): Forwarded without recommendation to the full City Council after staff indicated taxes had been paid.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Welcome. I will call and order this meeting of the business housing and zoning committee for September 30th, 2025. I'm Councilmember Jamal Osman and I'm the chair of this committee. Before we begin the meeting, I want to remind everybody that these meetings are broadcasted live to enable greater public participation. They include real-time captioning to increase the accessibility of our proceedings to the community. Therefore, all speakers need to be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully transcribe all comments for the broadcast. We'll be using uh speaker management, so please go ahead and sign up. At this time, I'll ask City Clerk to call the role so we can verify a quorum. Councilmember Vita. Present. Cashman. Present. Jenkins. Present. Chavez. Present. Vice Chair Chowry. Present. And Chair Osman. Present. There are six members present. Let the record reflect we have a quorum. Our agenda is front of us. I will move to amend the agenda by making a rental license ordinance item number three instead of four. With that, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. And those opposed say nay. The ayes have it, and the motion is adopted. All right. Uh before we proceed to the public hearing, we will be first taking our consent agenda. Item 6 through 11. Item 6 is approving one liquor license. Item 7 is approving 40 liquor license renewals. Item 8 is accepting and authorizing the spring 2025 brownfield grants. Item 9 is accepting a quality of live grant to update animal shelter housing. Item 10 is accepting a modification to previously authored loan authorized loan for the Dreamland on 38th project. And lastly, item one is setting a public hearing for October 14 to consider ordinance related to the permanent conibus cannabis event. With that, do any of my colleagues have any comments. See none, I'll move all items for approval. All those in favor say aye. Aye. And those opposed say nay. The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Now we'll proceed to open the public hearing. First we have a public hearing and presentation for liquor license and a sidewalk cafe license for Bellcor. I welcome Max Cervantes from Business to give us that presentation. Welcome. Thank you, Chair Osman and Committee members.

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