OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Minneapolis Super Committee of the Whole Meeting – March 3, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, March 3, 2026
BodyMinneapolis, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 7:25:21

Transcript — Verbatim
0:26

Good morning.

0:27

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Super Committee of the Whole.

0:30

My name is Orreen Chowdry, and I am the chair of this committee.

0:34

As we get started, I want to reiterate that the City Council has temporarily restructured into a single committee of the whole.

0:41

This means we've essentially consolidated all of our standing committees into a single body.

0:46

All items considered today will be forwarded to the full city council for its consideration at the meeting this Thursday, March 5th at 9 30 a.m.

0:56

As usual, these meetings will be broadcast and live streamed for our public access channels and the city's website to enhance public accessibility.

1:05

I also want to note we just have two supercows and council cycles remaining.

1:12

We will be returning to the adopted structure and schedule beginning on Monday, April 13th, with all of our standing committee meetings during a regular two-week cycle.

1:23

I know that all of us are very eager to get back into that structure.

1:28

And so there is an end to this temporary structure in the very near future, colleagues.

1:34

Having said that, I also want to express my appreciation to all of you for your patience over the past two months and all of the staff across the enterprise for their flexibility in adapting to this temporary structure.

1:49

With that, I will call this meeting to order and ask the clerk to call the role to verify a presence of a quorum.

1:56

Councilmember Payne.

1:58

Present.

1:58

Wandsley.

1:59

Present.

2:00

Rainville.

2:01

Present.

2:01

Vita.

2:02

Present.

2:03

Warren.

2:04

Present.

2:04

Osman is absent.

2:06

Schaefer.

2:07

Present.

2:08

Stevenson.

2:09

Here.

2:10

Chavez.

2:11

Here.

2:12

Whiting.

2:13

Present.

2:13

Palmasano.

2:14

Present.

2:15

Vice Chair Chiktai is absent and Chair Chowderry.

2:18

Present.

2:19

There are 11 members present.

2:21

Let the record reflect that we have a quorum.

2:24

Before we begin the meeting, let me offer a friendly reminder to everyone that these meetings are broadcast live to enable greater public participation.

2:33

The broadcasts include real-time captioning to increase accessibility for the entire community.

2:38

So it's important that all speakers be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully capture and transcribe all comments for the broadcast.

2:48

We ask all speakers to please moderate the speed and clarity of their comments.

2:54

Colleagues, you can see from the printed agenda that we have a significant number of items to address today.

4:44

However, in order to accept the grant, the action needs to be amended to correct the grant from 100,000 for one year for a one-year term to $300,000 for a three-year term.

4:55

I believe we can deal with this item on consent, so I will consider this item number 74B.

5:01

Second, we we have an item from Councilmember Palmasano, a staff directive requesting an analysis of the current community safety training needs and alignment with national best practices, the national landscape of similar facilities in comparable jurisdictions, as well as associated costs with those facilities.

5:21

I'll propose that we take up the direction from Councilmember Palmasano as item number 79 to be our last item following the report from our county attorney.

5:33

Is there any objection to adding the health department item to our consent agenda as item number 74 B and the item from Councilmember Palmasano to the end of discussion as item number 79?

5:46

All right, I'm not seeing any objection.

5:50

And then I will also recognize that um Vice Chair Chugtai has joined us.

5:58

In terms of the order of the meeting, Madam Chair, I'm sorry to interrupt.

6:02

I believe there's also a late breaking third item that was added to your agenda that you had instructed could be added to consent.

6:08

It should be at your desks.

6:10

This is an RCA cover page from the public works department.

6:13

It's addressed to the Climate and Infrastructure Committee.

6:16

Um this is the dropkick ice block event permit that we wanted to make sure was added on to the agenda.

6:23

It was a late one that was added late last night, and so it is at your um places here on the dais.

6:28

And I thought we were gonna add it.

6:29

So there's three additions.

6:31

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████33%
Public Safety█████████████████████21%
Procedural███████████████15%
Land Use and Zoning███████7%
Homelessness████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Public Health███3%
Intergovernmental Relations███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Minneapolis Super Committee of the Whole Meeting – March 3, 2026

The Minneapolis City Council met as the Super Committee of the Whole on March 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Orreen Chowdry. The council approved a consent agenda, conducted quasi-judicial hearings, held a public hearing on an extended hours liquor license, and took public testimony on the proposed "Pause Evictions Save Lives" ordinance (to extend the pre-eviction notice from 30 to 60 days). The meeting also included a presentation from Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty on investigations into alleged misconduct by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge. The council adjourned to March 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda (items 5–74) was adopted with several items pulled for separate discussion. Pulled items included:
    • Items 36–39 (neighborhood safety contract amendments) – approved 12-0.
    • Item 46 (safe outdoor spaces referral) – approved 11-1 (Councilmember Warren dissenting).
    • Item 48 (drug paraphernalia ordinance referral) – approved 11-1 (Councilmember Warren dissenting).
    • Item 52 (Green Line extension operations and maintenance agreement) – approved 12-0.
    • Item 54 (Lowry Avenue Northeast reconstruction) – approved 12-0.
    • Item 55 (Hennepin Avenue improvements) – approved 12-0.
    • Item 59 (city comments on I-94 rethinking) – forwarded without recommendation, approved to full council 12-0.
    • Item 67 (shared bike and scooter program) – approved 11-0 (Councilmember Vita recorded as present but not voting, later changed to aye).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pause Evictions Save Lives ordinance (public hearing): Approximately 70 community members signed up to speak. Speakers overwhelmingly supported the ordinance, describing the fear and economic hardship caused by Operation Metro Surge. Many described raising mutual aid funds to cover rent for neighbors, but noted funds are exhausted and more time is needed to access assistance. Several affordable housing providers (PPL, CommonBond, Aion, Catholic Charities, RS Eden, Agate Housing) opposed the extension, arguing it would lead to larger rent debts and ultimately more evictions. A small number of landlords also spoke in opposition.
  • Joe's Market extended hours (public hearing): The applicant, Tufik Kabalan, spoke in favor. No public comments were made in opposition. Councilmember Rainville expressed support but noted concerns about safety.
  • Variance appeal (Hiawatha Church): The appellant, Tom Peterson, spoke in favor. Neighbor Peter Dugan spoke in opposition. Two additional speakers (Wayne Thompson and Chris Wachter, pastor) spoke in support. The council voted to forward the item without recommendation.

Discussion Items

  • Neighborhood Safety Contract Amendments (Items 36–39): Director Amanda Harrington explained the contracts (Community Safety Ambassadors, Violence Interrupters, Group Violence Intervention) are for one-year extensions using 2026 budget funding. Councilmembers asked about the need for increased amounts, funding sources, and the impact of lapse in trauma response contracts. The items were approved 12-0.
  • Safe Outdoor Spaces and Drug Paraphernalia Referrals (Items 46 & 48): Councilmember Chavez explained the referrals are to begin drafting ordinances, not final votes. The safe outdoor spaces ordinance would model a safe parking program similar to Duluth. The drug paraphernalia ordinance would align city code with state law decriminalizing possession of paraphernalia. Councilmember Warren expressed strong opposition, particularly to the drug paraphernalia referral, citing concerns about public safety. The items were approved 11-1.
  • I-94 Comments (Item 59): Councilmember Schaefer requested replacing language that "strongly opposes the repair or reconstruction of I-94 in its current form" to avoid confusion. Councilmember Wandsley moved to forward the item without recommendation, allowing further work on language. The motion passed 12-0.
  • Pause Evictions Save Lives Ordinance: The council spent over four hours on public testimony and debate. Councilmembers Wandsley, Chavez, Stevenson, and Osman spoke in support, emphasizing the ongoing trauma and economic disruption from Operation Metro Surge. Councilmembers Whiting, Warren, and Vita raised concerns about unintended consequences, including increased debt and higher eviction rates, citing testimony from nonprofit housing providers. The council voted 7-5 on a procedural motion (roll call not provided in full for the final vote on the ordinance itself – the transcript ends with the roll call on a procedural vote). The meeting recessed for lunch after the procedural vote.
  • Presentation by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty: Moriarty presented the Transparency and Accountability Project (TAP), which is investigating 17 incidents (15 in Minneapolis) of alleged misconduct by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge. She stated that no cases have been submitted by MPD, and formal collaboration with MPD has not been established. She confirmed that state law enforcement retains jurisdiction to investigate federal agents. Councilmembers asked about coordination with MPD, the role of the sheriff's office, and how the public can submit evidence.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote on Pause Evictions Save Lives: The council voted 7-5 on a procedural motion related to the ordinance (roll call not provided in full for the final vote). The item is expected to be considered by the full council on March 5, 2026.
  • Joe's Market Extended Hours License: Approved 12-0.
  • Variance Appeal (Hiawatha Church): Forwarded to full council without recommendation.
  • Consent Agenda Items: Approved as noted above.
  • Referral of Ordinances (Safe Outdoor Spaces and Drug Paraphernalia): Approved 11-1.
  • I-94 Comments: Forwarded to full council without recommendation.
  • Neighborhood Safety Contracts: Approved 12-0.
  • Transportation Projects (Items 52, 54, 55, 67): Approved.
  • County Attorney Presentation: Filed.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Super Committee of the Whole. My name is Orreen Chowdry, and I am the chair of this committee. As we get started, I want to reiterate that the City Council has temporarily restructured into a single committee of the whole. This means we've essentially consolidated all of our standing committees into a single body. All items considered today will be forwarded to the full city council for its consideration at the meeting this Thursday, March 5th at 9 30 a.m. As usual, these meetings will be broadcast and live streamed for our public access channels and the city's website to enhance public accessibility. I also want to note we just have two supercows and council cycles remaining. We will be returning to the adopted structure and schedule beginning on Monday, April 13th, with all of our standing committee meetings during a regular two-week cycle. I know that all of us are very eager to get back into that structure. And so there is an end to this temporary structure in the very near future, colleagues. Having said that, I also want to express my appreciation to all of you for your patience over the past two months and all of the staff across the enterprise for their flexibility in adapting to this temporary structure. With that, I will call this meeting to order and ask the clerk to call the role to verify a presence of a quorum. Councilmember Payne. Present. Wandsley. Present. Rainville. Present. Vita. Present. Warren. Present. Osman is absent. Schaefer. Present. Stevenson. Here. Chavez. Here. Whiting. Present. Palmasano. Present. Vice Chair Chiktai is absent and Chair Chowderry. Present. There are 11 members present. Let the record reflect that we have a quorum. Before we begin the meeting, let me offer a friendly reminder to everyone that these meetings are broadcast live to enable greater public participation. The broadcasts include real-time captioning to increase accessibility for the entire community. So it's important that all speakers be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully capture and transcribe all comments for the broadcast. We ask all speakers to please moderate the speed and clarity of their comments. Colleagues, you can see from the printed agenda that we have a significant number of items to address today. However, in order to accept the grant, the action needs to be amended to correct the grant from 100,000 for one year for a one-year term to $300,000 for a three-year term. I believe we can deal with this item on consent, so I will consider this item number 74B. Second, we we have an item from Councilmember Palmasano, a staff directive requesting an analysis of the current community safety training needs and alignment with national best practices, the national landscape of similar facilities in comparable jurisdictions, as well as associated costs with those facilities. I'll propose that we take up the direction from Councilmember Palmasano as item number 79 to be our last item following the report from our county attorney. Is there any objection to adding the health department item to our consent agenda as item number 74 B and the item from Councilmember Palmasano to the end of discussion as item number 79? All right, I'm not seeing any objection. And then I will also recognize that um Vice Chair Chugtai has joined us.

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