Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting (Nov 18, 2025)

The Intergovernmental Relations Committee met on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (regular meeting; broadcast live with real-time captioning). Chair Aurene Chowdhury convened the meeting with a quorum present (8 members at roll call). The committee received and filed two informational items—(1) a preview of 2026 legislative policy position recommendations (no formal action taken; action planned in the new year ahead of the February legislative session) and (2) a federal update, including the end of a 43-day federal shutdown on Nov. 12 and federal changes affecting hemp-derived THC.

Attendance

• Present at roll call (8): Chair Aurene Chowdhury; Vice Chair Rainville; Council Members Payne, Wansley, Vita, Chavez, Chughtai, Palmisano
• Absent at roll call: Ellison, Osman, Cashman, Jenkins, Koski
• Joined later: Council Members Osman and Cashman

Discussion Items

• 2026 Legislative Policy Positions — Policy Liaison Team (PLT) recommendations (10 items)

  • Presenters:
    • Aurene Chowdhury (Chair)
    • Intergovernmental Relations (IGR): Director Katie Topinka; Government Relations Representative Indiria Filana; Senior Government Relations Representatives Steve Huser and Lauren Olson
    • CPED: Sarah Milner, Policy Research & Outreach Manager (on linkage between sign ordinance and legislative authority)
  • PLT process overview (Filana): annual interdepartmental review of departmental proposals (policy/technical/language) for potential inclusion in the City’s legislative policy positions and agenda.
  • New policy position recommendations presented (with key context/requests):
    1. Elections (City Clerk/Elections Office): seek state statutory clarification for municipal candidate filing and campaign finance responsibilities shifted from Hennepin County to Minneapolis in 2022.
    2. CPED—Entertainment districts/digital signage revenue: seek special legislation to allow revenue capture/fees tied to permitting newly authorized digital outdoor signage in an entertainment district (not currently allowed under state law), with example earmarks described as public art, public safety, or similar improvements.
    3. Health Department (Sustainability team)—Energy code enforcement support: request $500,000 in additional ongoing funding for building science/new technology experts embedded in local jurisdictions to support enforcement of updated building/energy codes (building code updates effective 2020; energy code updates effective 2024; new codes adopted every six years in Minnesota).
    4. CPED—Cannabis policy updates (four areas): (a) express support for restoring local cannabis aid removed from the last state budget bill; (b) support legislative streamlining for local/state process issues (including local site approval, building/fire code enforcement, and the 30-day deadline tied to sign-off with the state/Office of Cannabis Management); (c) address impacts of license transfers/sales; (d) support changes to employment restrictions to allow more employer discretion based on offense/job relevance.
    5. Neighborhood Safety—Data Practices (Chapter 13): seek state changes so certain violence prevention program data (Minneapolis Group Violence Intervention and Youth GVI participant/volunteer information) would be non-public, to increase participant confidence and participation.
    6. Public Works—Low-income water affordability program: support a statewide affordability program funded via a statewide fee on drinking water/wastewater service connections to help offset drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater bills for qualifying low-income households; proposal included an opt-out concept for jurisdictions with a local program.
    7. Public Works—Municipal State Aid (MSA) street design flexibility: propose more specific support for using alternative design standards (e.g., MnDOT design guide or NACTO standards) and improvements to the variance process, including an appeals option.
    8. Public Works (Solid Waste & Recycling)—C&D debris: note construction and demolition debris is more than twice the amount of municipal solid waste but does not factor into municipal solid waste goals; seek funding and workforce development for reuse, recycling, and deconstruction, referencing an MPCA task force (2019) recommendation.
    9. Public Works (Solid Waste & Recycling)—Statewide food disposal ban: support a statewide ban on disposal of food from landfills and waste-to-energy for large generators (e.g., restaurants, grocery stores), requiring organics recycling; described as long advocated by Hennepin County and anticipated as a returning MPCA initiative.
    10. Civil Rights—Expand Minnesota Human Rights Act: add protected classes consistent with a recent Minneapolis ordinance: justice-impacted status, housing status, and height and weight; described as improving statewide consistency and strengthening legal protection.

• Member questions and discussion on 2026 items

  • Council President Payne asked about the impact of a federal ban/change affecting hemp-derived THC and whether state lawmakers were discussing responsive changes. Steve Huser said the development was recent; noted Minnesota’s low-dose hemp law is tied to the former federal definition and may require legislative review; also stated the federal change reportedly has a one-year runway before taking effect.
  • Council Member Wansley previewed priorities she planned to bring forward in early January:
    • Expressed support for investing in a non-fatal shooting task force model; referenced Ramsey County/St. Paul implementation and stated Ramsey County increased clearance rates (she cited “up to 75%”).
    • Sought extension of the University of Minnesota Good Neighbor Fund for another 20 years, with a new focus on food security and grocery stores; stated the fund was chartered by the legislature in 2007 and is scheduled to sunset after 20 years.
    • Advocated for “Dinky After Dark” Phase 2 pedestrian lighting; referenced the City’s $500,000 investment in Phase 1 and requested additional state participation.
  • Chair Chowdhury encouraged members to begin sharing legislative priorities with IGR staff earlier in the cycle.
  • Chair Chowdhury asked about how the signs ordinance work underway in the Business, Housing & Zoning Committee relates to the proposed entertainment district legislative authority. Director Topinka explained the City would need state authorization to charge a fee/create an overlay mechanism akin to an improvement district; Sarah Milner (CPED) offered additional briefings.
  • Chair Chowdhury expressed a position that the City should prioritize the revenue authority request and suggested considering broader uses of potential revenue (not limited to arts/safety), including more equitable distribution supporting underinvested areas and commercial corridors.

• Federal update (Olson/Huser)

  • Presenter: Lauren Olson (Senior Government Relations Representative), with additional detail from Steve Huser.
  • Federal shutdown: Olson reported the 43-day shutdown ended Nov. 12, 2025 (described as the longest in U.S. history). She said funding was extended through Jan. 30 for parts of government, while some areas were funded through Sept. 30, 2026. She said nine appropriations bills still needed action by Jan. 30 or another shutdown could occur.
  • Program funding details: Olson stated the USDA appropriations (“ag bill”) included SNAP and WIC funded at 2025 enacted levels, and that VA/Military Construction and legislative branch funding were among bills funded.
  • Operational directives/impacts: She described commitments to reimburse states for federal program expenditures during the shutdown (generally presumed to include SNAP), reverse shutdown layoffs, provide furloughed employee back pay, and prohibit other mass layoffs through year-end. She flagged concerns about layoffs in Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs, which supports programming connected to school-based clinics.
  • Affordable Care Act tax credits: Olson said enhanced ACA tax credits were not extended in the shutdown resolution; Senate Majority Leader Thune committed to a vote in December.
  • Hemp-derived THC change (Huser): Huser described a federal change lowering allowable THC levels in hemp products, impacting manufacturing and interstate commerce, with a one-year window before full implementation. He said Minnesota’s state cannabis law would remain in place for Minnesota-legal products, but interstate sales and access to banking/finance for hemp-derived THC businesses would be affected.
  • Congressional item mentioned: Olson noted an expected House vote (around 2:00 PM that day) related to the “Epstein files,” describing a discharge petition process and noting it would still require Senate passage and presidential signature.
  • Earmark noted: Olson reported the City’s surviving earmark request at that point was $250,000 for the Logan Park rail crossing safety project (she noted the City had requested about $1.8 million).

Key Outcomes

• Quorum established: 8 members present at roll call.
• Item 1 (2026 legislative policy positions update): Received and filed (no formal action on positions; formal action planned for early 2026).
• Item 2 (federal update): Received and filed.
• Next steps: Members were encouraged to share legislative priorities with IGR ahead of the February session; Council Member Wansley indicated she would bring forward specific priorities in early January.
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned after completion of business (no objections noted).