Minneapolis City Council Budget Committee (Adjourned) — 2026 Budget Markup (Dec. 5, 2025)

On Friday, December 5, 2025, the City Council Budget Committee (Chair Aisha Chugtai) held an adjourned meeting to begin marking up revisions to Mayor Frey’s 2026 recommended budget. The committee planned to review 38 amendments “one by one,” with a hard stop at 5:00 p.m. due to captioning limits, and noted additional markup meetings scheduled for Mon., Dec. 8 (1:30 p.m.) and Tues. if needed. The chair also referenced three prior public hearings and a final public hearing scheduled for Tues., Dec. 9 at 6:05 p.m.

Attendance at roll call: 10 members present (quorum confirmed). The meeting later reflected participation up to 13 voting members on some items. No public testimony was taken during the excerpt.

Discussion Items

• Amendment 1 — Technical amendments (Finance staff)

  • Presenter: Jane DeCenza, Budget Director (Finance & Property Services).
  • Description: Corrections to low-level department allocations (e.g., Affordable Housing Trust Fund within CPED), and budget-neutral personnel/non-personnel shifts; expenditures and revenues “tie out evenly.”
  • Vote: Approved unanimously by voice vote.

• Amendment 2 — Mayor’s amendment (MnDOT grant / Street paving capital)

  • Presenter: Jane DeCenza.
  • Description: Recognition of additional MnDOT grant revenue and matching expenditure increase for the 4100 Street Fund (street paving capital program).
  • Process concern raised: Council Member Palmisano criticized the short review window (~48 hours) and late-arriving management response.
  • Vote: Approved (voice vote; no dissent recorded).

• Amendment 4 — Utility assistance via franchise fee/Climate Legacy Initiative (Council Member Vita)

  • Action: Set aside $150,000 one-time and $50,000 ongoing to support utility assistance; discussion included contingency language tied to potential franchise fee ordinances.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendment 3 — Zero waste project manager + community workgroup (Council Member Osman; co-authors added: Cashman, Chowdhury)

  • Action: Create a zero-waste project manager (full-time) in Public Works and $25,000 ongoing for a zero-waste workgroup; referenced state goal of 75% recycling rate by 2030.
  • Key discussion: Funding source (Solid Waste vs. Climate Legacy Initiative) and purpose/value of the workgroup.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendment 5 — Restore sidewalk plowing pilot funding (Council Member Wansley)

  • Action: Restore original council allocation for sidewalk plowing pilots cut in the mayor’s proposed budget.
  • Stats cited by author: Pilots cleared over 17 miles of sidewalks and supported over 900 addresses; city spent nearly $7 million to clear roadways in 2024.
  • Public Works input: Director Tim Sexton said neighborhood-organization grants were the most cost-effective approach; estimated about 3 Transportation Maintenance & Repair (TMR) staff would need reallocation, with potential service impacts.
  • Vote: Approved 8–4.

• Amendment 6 — Franchise fee revenue earmark for weatherization/retrofits (Council Member Cashman)

  • Action: Earmark an estimated $4 million (contingent on adoption of gas/electric franchise fee ordinances; prorated due to proposed April 1 start) toward weatherization/retrofits to reduce energy burden (Green Cost Share umbrella programs).
  • Stated estimate: New ordinances expected to bring in $5 million per year, prorated to $4 million.
  • Administration/Climate Equity input: Deputy Commissioner Hanlon described current targeting and stated about 60% of Climate Legacy Initiative funds go to an “environmental justice” definition (including Green Zones/low-income priorities).
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendment 7 — “Traffic Safety for All” (Council Member Wansley)

  • Action: Reduce $5.5 million (2026 allocation) from the Public Safety Wellness & Training Center capital project and reallocate to:
    • $700,000 to Protected Bikeways
    • $2.5 million to Traffic Safety Improvements (including neighborhood traffic calming)
    • $2.3 million to ADA Ramp Replacement (noted as funding ~100 deficient pedestrian ramps per year)
  • Key dispute: Whether the wellness/training center is required/strongly compelled by the MDHR settlement agreement/consent decree expectations; discussion included process through ALIFA approval of a facilities plan.
  • Project cost discussed: Deputy Commissioner Jared Jeffries referenced a state request of $19 million as “half” of an anticipated total $38 million cost; 2026–2028 city capital schedule discussed as $5.5M (2026), $8M (2027), $8M (2028).
  • CLIC note: Staff stated CLIC commented that neither the settlement agreement nor assessment “explicitly” addressed how a new wellness center would reduce misconduct, but the mayor included it due to legal interpretation.
  • Procedural vote: Motion to call the question approved 8–4.
  • Final vote: Amendment approved 7–5.

• Amendment 8 — Community Connections Conference (Council Members Chavez & Osman)

  • Action: Shifted from restoring funding to a zero-dollar package: a council resolution supporting reinstatement of the conference in 2027 and a legislative directive seeking information/response.
  • Attendance stats cited:
    • 2023: 942 attendees; 56% identified as people of color (of survey respondents)
    • 2024: 1,267 attendees; 54% identified as people of color (of survey respondents)
  • Vote: Approved 11–1 (Cashman no).

• Amendment 9 — Immigration legal services (Council Members Chavez & Wansley)

  • Action: Increase funding by $121,418 ongoing for immigration legal services.
  • Positions expressed: Authors and supporters described increased need due to federal immigration enforcement; multiple members urged support.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendment 10 — Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) staffing (Council President Payne; co-authors Chavez, Osman)

  • Action: Add 1 full-time staff for OIRA.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendments 11 & 12 — Restore Speak MPLS & cultural media support (Council Member Chowdhury; co-authors include Payne, Chugtai; co-authors added during meeting: Osman, Jenkins)

  • Action: Restored funding as one-time (instead of ongoing) following discussions with administration.
  • Operational impact discussed: Communications Director Adam Fletcher said the combined $25,000 would be about a 26% cut to a $70,000 discretionary communications budget (tools, equipment), but one-time nature could be absorbed partly through vacancy savings.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendment 13 — 4th Precinct mobile cameras for dumping (Council Member Vita)

  • Action: Withdrawn after the mayor’s letter/directive committing to an interim operational approach (including winter use/testing of mobile cameras).

• Amendment 14 — Crime prevention specialists (Council Members Vita & Rainville)

  • Action: Add two crime prevention specialists (1st and 4th Precinct).
  • Key discussion: Commissioner Todd Barnette said he intended to hire but preferred deployment “by need” rather than geography; questions raised about an unimplemented prior-year 5th Precinct specialist.
  • Vote: Failed 5–7.

• Amendment 15 — Restore mayor’s cuts to civilian investigators; terminate Zen City contract (Council Members Wansley, Cashman, Payne, Osman; resolution co-author added: Chavez)

  • Action: Restore 2 civilian investigator positions; reallocate funds by ending Zen City contract and reducing another MPD contractual line.
  • Key discussion: Some members argued Zen City supports settlement agreement-related surveying; others opposed Zen City based on concerns about the vendor and public feedback.
  • Contract term discrepancy noted: LIMS file cited one date while City Attorney cited another; City Attorney stated executed contract runs Nov. 9, 2023–Nov. 8, 2026 and is terminable without cause with 30 days’ notice.
  • MPD staffing stats stated: 29 civilian investigators (28 filled), 540 active sworn officers, 74 sworn investigators. Staff stated about $112,500 remained on the Zen City contract.
  • Vote: Approved 9–3.

• Amendment 16 — MPD off-duty fees (Council Members Wansley & Payne)

  • Action: Tabled to allow further work with administration; COO described a plan involving IT/MPD change-management funding ($200,000) aligned with implementation of a new MPD timekeeping system (UKG) expected by end of 2026.

• Amendment 17 — Non-fatal shooting task force investigators (Council Member Wansley)

  • Action: Earmark $1.7 million to fund 7–9 investigators for a non-fatal shooting task force.
  • Stats cited: Minneapolis non-fatal shooting clearance rate cited as 26% (2024); St. Paul cited as improving from 38% to 70% after a task force, plus reported 30% reduction in shots fired and 70% decrease in homicides.
  • Administration concern: Commissioner Barnette stated staffing constraints would impact other operations.
  • Procedural vote: Motion to call the question approved 9–3.
  • Final vote: Approved 8–4.

• Amendment 18 — Stevens Square Safety Initiative (Council Member Osman)

  • Action: Fund neighborhood safety strategies for Stevens Square (noted “18th and Nicollet” corridor).
  • Vote: Approved 11–0 (Wansley absent).

• Amendment 19 — Public housing tenant organizing/public safety (Council Members Wansley & Osman)

  • Action: $50,000 ongoing (revised down from $100,000; moved to CPED) to support tenant organizing (Project Lookout) in MPHA high-rises.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0.

• Amendment 20 — Tiny Homes Big Dream Study (Council Member Chavez)

  • Action: $15,000 one-time in CPED to study viability of a city-owned and/or city-funded tiny home village.
  • Vote: Approved 13–0.

• Amendment 21 — Emergency shelter operations (Council Member Chowdhury; co-authors Payne, Chavez, Kosky)

  • Action: $1 million one-time from Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) to support shelter operations via the joint powers agreement with Hennepin County.
  • Concerns raised: Members cautioned against using long-term affordable housing resources for short-term shelter operations; Finance noted ~$17 million in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for 2026 and warned of future TIF-related declines.
  • Vote: Approved 10–3.

• Amendment 22 — Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) reinstatement + Stable Homes Stable Schools + reporting (Council Members Wansley, Osman, Chavez, Chugtai, Chowdhury)

  • Action (multi-part):
    • Restore 2026 EHV ongoing funding (described as funding 100 vouchers for 2026).
    • 2025 reallocation: shift $1.4 million from EHV start-up funds to address a cited $3.2 million Stable Homes Stable Schools gap, leaving $400,000 for EHV start-up.
    • Add a legislative directive for implementation updates.
  • Key disputes: Implementation barriers (including legal/public-purpose limits) and funding sources (including reductions to positions in the Mayor’s Office and City Attorney’s Office, plus MPD Public Safety Services; also discussion of MPD off-duty fees as a potential offset).
  • Votes (as read into record):
    • 22A & 22B: Approved 8–5.
    • 22C: Approved 7–6.
  • Outcome: Amendment 22 package passed.

• Amendment 23 — Underserved South Minneapolis communities opioid response (Council Member Osman; co-author added: Chavez)

  • Action: Opioid settlement-funded public health response programming; discussion referenced prior-year appropriations and implementation history.
  • Vote: Approved 13–0.

• Amendment 24 — Autism & water safety public awareness (Council Member Osman)

  • Action: Health Department program to develop and disseminate water safety materials for children with autism.
  • Vote: Approved 13–0.

• Amendment 25 — Labor Standards Co-Enforcement funding (Council President Payne; co-authors Chugtai, Cashman, Chowdhury, Kosky)

  • Action: Restore/maintain co-enforcement funding; revised sources included reductions to school-based clinics ($70,000), performance management ($200,000), and the Clerk’s Office (contractual services; corrected line-item), with a remaining one-time component to be revisited in 2027.
  • Vote: Approved 13–0.

• Amendment 26 — Street vendor grant & compliance program (Council Members Chavez & Chowdhury)

  • Action: Continue vendor compliance education/permit support; moved administration to CPED (from Health), and designed to potentially work through multiple organizations for language/cultural access.
  • Vote: Approved 12–0 (Osman initially absent; later requested vote reflected as aye).

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Amendments 1–12 (except 13 withdrawn; 14 failed), plus 15, 17–21, 22, 23–26 (as covered in the transcript).
• Withdrawn: Amendment 13 (4th Precinct mobile cameras) following an interim commitment described in a mayoral letter.
• Failed: Amendment 14 (crime prevention specialists for 1st and 4th Precincts), 5–7.
• Tabled: Amendment 16 (MPD off-duty fees) to allow further work; administration described a UKG-linked implementation timeline through end of 2026.
• Notable contested decision: Reallocated $5.5 million from a planned Public Safety Wellness & Training Center capital project to traffic safety/ADA/protected bikeway investments (Amendment 7, approved 7–5).
• Adjournment/Next meeting: Meeting adjourned with 25 amendments completed; next meeting scheduled Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.