Super Committee of the Whole Meeting – February 17, 2026

The Minneapolis City Council met as the Super Committee of the Whole on February 17, 2026, from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CDT. The meeting addressed a wide range of items, including three quasi-judicial hearings, public testimony on liquor license renewals for two hotels allegedly housing ICE agents, emergency procurement authority for Operation Metro Surge, a $7 million small business resiliency fund, and several resolutions responding to federal immigration enforcement and other issues. The meeting was broadcast live with captioning.

Consent Calendar

• Approved consent agenda items 4–56 (excluding items 21, 25, 49, 4, 5, and 6 that were pulled) by voice vote. This included routine approvals for contracts, grants, license renewals, appointments, and other administrative matters. A correction was noted that a rescheduled hearing (item 53) will be moved to March 24 instead of March 17.
• Items 4, 5, and 6 (settlements) were voted on separately: Item 4 passed 13-0; Items 5 and 6 passed 10-3 (with Councilmembers Wandsley, Chavez, and Vice Chair Chugtek voting no).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Liquor License Renewals (Canopy Hilton and Depot Renaissance Hotel – Item 57): Ten speakers registered. Key testimony:
  • Joan Soholt (hotel worker, Unite Here Local 17): Urged renewal, stating ICE activity is not limited to these hotels and that targeting them harms workers; called for rejection of punitive actions without legal cause.
  • John Eric Haynes (attorney for Unite Here): Argued that liquor licenses are a privilege, not a right, and that the city has broad discretion to deny renewal if the general welfare is threatened. He stated that housing ICE agents could be a rational basis for non-renewal.
  • Jeffrey Packett (internal organizing director, Unite Here): Read a statement from an anonymous worker at the Depot describing ICE presence, covering of windows, and safety measures that limited worker movement.
  • Uriel Perez Espinoza (Unite Here): Shared worker accounts of ICE agents staying at the hotels, wearing camouflage, and arriving/leaving at specific times.
  • Wade Luneburg (Ward 3 resident): Requested that hotel operators deny lodging to ICE; cited safety risks to workers and guests.
  • Shelley Stein (Restaurant Opportunity Center): Stated workers fear ICE presence and that businesses have the right to refuse service to ICE.
  • Additional speakers raised concerns about due process, public safety, and the impact on workers and community.
• Note: A speaker from Arizona Taco Company mistakenly addressed the committee; he was informed his item was not on the docket.

Discussion Items

• Item 21 – 2% Loan Program Revision: Director Eric Hansen (CPED) explained the program's cap would be raised from $75,000 to $125,000 to meet modern business needs. The program has had $2.2 million annually for 15 years. Councilmember Schaefer requested a detailed memo on program history. Passed 13-0.
• Item 49 – Stadium Village Special Service District Advisory Board Appointments: Councilmember Wandsley moved to deny the appointment of Michael Burke (Graduate Hotel general manager) due to the hotel's alleged housing of ICE agents and its response to protests. After debate, the motion to deny 49.1 passed 8-4-1. The appointment of Amy Campbell (49.2) was approved 12-1.
• Quasi-Judicial Hearings:
  • Item 1 – Interim Use Permit for Parking Lot at 1901 East Lake Street (Tocali): Applicant sought a five-year surface parking lot for La Alborada Market. Staff recommended approval. No public testimony. Council approved 13-0, adopting findings of fact.
  • Item 2 – Appeal of Certificate of Appropriateness for 201 Franklin Avenue East: Property owner Nicholas Bates appealed two conditions requiring removal of newly installed vinyl siding. The HPC had required fiber cement or composite wood siding. Council Vice Chair Chugtek moved to strike conditions 1 and 2, citing economic hardship and improved appearance. Approved 13-0.
  • Item 3 – Variance Appeal for Fence Height at 3906 York Avenue South: Applicant Patrick Hargarten sought a variance to allow a six-foot fence on a corner side yard. Staff recommended denial, citing lack of unique circumstances. Councilmember Vita and others noted ongoing ordinance work. Motion to approve variance failed; motion to recommend without approval passed 13-0.
• Item 58 – Suspension of Procurement Policies (Emergency Operations): Director Rachel Sayer requested authority to bypass procurement rules for catastrophic emergencies during Operation Metro Surge. After extensive debate, an amendment was adopted with reporting requirements and a March 26 expiration. Passed 13-0.
• Item 59 – Small Business Resiliency Fund (Downtown Assets Fund): Councilmember Chavez moved to allocate $5 million from the downtown assets fund to support businesses impacted by the ICE occupation. Councilmembers Chowdhury and others amended to increase to $7 million. Despite concerns about fund depletion and program design, the motion passed 11-2 (Rainville and Schaefer opposed).
• Items 60–63 – Resolutions:
  • Item 60: Supporting Small Business and calling on federal/state/county aid. Passed 13-0.
  • Item 61: Opposing immigration enforcement funding and asking Congress to act. After debate on language, passed 8-4-1 (Rainville, Vita, Warren, Schaefer opposed; Whiting abstained).
  • Item 62: Electric and gas shutoff moratorium. Passed 13-0.
  • Item 63: Denouncing attacks on gender-affirming care for youth. Passed 13-0.
• Item 64 – City Auditor Position (Director of Special Review and Advisory Services): Presentation by Brenda Miller and Tartha Paudell. Context provided by Council President Payne. Approved by voice vote.
• Item 25 – Eviction Moratorium Referral: Councilmember Schaefer sought clarity on the process. Staff explained the standard legislative procedure. Motion to approve referral passed.
• Expired Actions Report: Clerk Casey Carl presented a list of 44 expiring items from the 2024–2025 term. Council approved 15 claims for reintroduction; remaining items will expire if not claimed by Thursday.
• Council Tracking Report: Clerk Carl presented the final report of official acts (2,940 actions) from the past term. Andrew Hawkins (Legislative Research and Oversight) previewed enhanced tracking dashboards.
• Walk-On Items: Councilmember Wandsley introduced a legislative directive regarding preservation of evidence related to ICE misconduct – approved. Councilmember Vita introduced a lease non-disturbance agreement for 1500 44th Avenue North – approved.
• El Cerrito Resolution: Council received and filed a resolution of solidarity from El Cerrito, California.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved (items 4–56) with pulled items voted separately.
• Quasi-judicial hearings: Parking lot permited, siding appeal granted, fence variance denied.
• Liquor license renewals for Canopy Hilton and Depot Renaissance moved without recommendation to full council (motion to refer to staff failed 6-7).
• Emergency procurement authority approved with amendments (expires March 26, 2026).
• $7 million small business resiliency fund approved (from downtown assets fund).
• Four resolutions passed (items 60–63) with varying vote tallies.
• City auditor position approved.
• Expired actions report accepted; 15 items reclaimed.
• Walk-on legislative directive and lease agreement approved.
• All items forwarded to the full council for final action on February 19, 2026.