Committee of the Whole Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Committee of the Whole met on June 23, 2026, with 11 members present (Chair Orreen Chowdry presiding). The meeting included adoption of an amended agenda, reports from four standing committees, a consent item approving a World Cup watch party permit, a brief discussion and referral of a resolution on council member commitments, a legislative directive on Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) oversight that passed unanimously, and a presentation on tenants' right to organize which was received and filed.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda amendment and adoption: The agenda was amended to add a consent item for a block party events permit and then adopted.
• World Cup watch party permit: A block party events permit for Minnesota United and Brits Pub for World Cup watch parties was approved.

Committee Reports

• Enterprise Labor Relations Committee (Chair Palmasano): Six items, including legal settlements (Federal Insurance Co. vs. Fournier Network Solutions; John Clausen vs. City of Minneapolis), election judge and deputy city clerk appointments for the state primary, gift acceptance from Local Progress, workplace advisory committee appointments, and a contract with Guidehouse for ERP system implementation services.
• Business Housing and Zoning Committee (Chair Osman): 27 items, including approvals for an extended hours/rental hall license, a land sale at 3726 Logan Avenue North, tailgating and adult bath house ordinances, a moratorium on data centers, liquor licenses and renewals, gambling renewals, business license operating conditions for Wondercycle Pedal Cars and Urban East, various board and commission appointments (Minneapolis Workforce Development Board, Advisory Committee on Housing, Art Commission, Ballpark Authority), grants, contract amendments, rezoning, and a contract extension with the Theatre for 20 years.
• Climate and Infrastructure Committee (Chair Wandsley): 20 items, including Van White Memorial Boulevard resurfacing, West Fulton Neighborhood improvements, appointment of the Public Works director, flood mitigation projects (35th Avenue North, Oliver Avenue South), cooperative agreements for stormwater management, bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee appointments, utility and easement agreements, bids for pump station and flood mitigation projects, contracts for vehicle auction services, and a resolution on public engagement for Highway 280 redesign.
• Public Health Safety Equity Committee (Chair Chavez): 24 items, including approval of the mayor's nomination of Rachel Sayer as Emergency Management director, ordinances on adult bath houses, and gender/welcoming city ordinances, a revenue contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves for bomb detection security, grants from the FDA, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and others, appointments to advisory committees (People with Disabilities, Public Health, Aging, Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, Community Commission on Police Oversight, Safe and Thriving Communities), a memorandum of understanding with the University of Minnesota, legislative directives on off-duty police regulation and management, gun range facility, and organizational structures for public safety, a gender equity ordinance update, a call to the state legislature on restroom access, a contract amendment for a gunshot location system (Sound Thinking Inc.), and an after-action review contract with Emergency Management Services International.

Discussion Items

• Resolution on City Council Member Commitments (Item 2): Councilmember Warren introduced a resolution regarding commitments of council members, originally from the National League of Cities. After brief discussion, the item was referred back to the author for inclusion in upcoming strategic planning. Chair Chowdry expressed appreciation and noted it would be taken up during strategic planning. The motion passed without opposition.
• Legislative Directive on MPD Changes and Interim Chief (Item 1): Councilmember Wandsley presented a legislative directive in response to former Chief Brian O'Hara's resignation. The directive seeks information on MPD's organizational structure, promotion policies, oversight by the Office of Community Safety, off-duty scheduling and management, paid administrative leave policies, and internal affairs processes. Councilmember Wandsley highlighted concerns about leadership instability, off-duty work abuse allegations, and the lack of clear policies on administrative leave. Councilmember Chavez expressed support and asked to be added as a co-author, noting community questions about accountability. The directive passed unanimously.

Presentation: Tenants' Right to Organize

• Sarah Renner from the Legislative and Research Oversight division presented a report following a staff direction from the previous term, reissued in March 2026. The report explores options to strengthen enforcement of Minnesota's tenant right to organize law (effective January 2025). Key points:
  • The state law provides tenants an affirmative right to organize (distribute information, convene meetings) and prohibits landlord retaliation (e.g., filing legal actions, contacting immigration, raising rents) within 90 days of protected activity.
  • Enforcement currently relies on private right of action; the City can issue citations for retaliation but lacks a dedicated investigative mechanism.
  • Examples from other cities (Seattle, Los Angeles, Madison, San Francisco) show that enforcement is often hampered by lack of investigative capacity and reluctance to adjudicate behavioral complaints.
  • Recommendations include adopting a mirror ordinance, developing clear enforcement protocols, dedicating investigative staff (estimated one or two FTEs based on scaled LA resources), using the civil rights framework (as in Madison), or creating meet-and-confer obligations (as in San Francisco/Berkeley).
  • The City's housing liaison team has processed 37 landlord retaliation cases in the past 10 months. Education and outreach on the new law are planned with Regulatory Services.
• Councilmembers discussed the underreporting of retaliation, the power of the rent escrow tool, the need for meet-and-confer obligations, and the importance of community building. Councilmember Chavez announced intent to introduce an ordinance mirroring state law. Vice Chair Chittag expressed interest in a meet-and-confer obligation policy and will consult with the City Attorney's office. The report was received and filed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Item Approved: Block party permit for Minnesota United and Brits Pub for World Cup watch parties.
• Resolution Referred Back: Councilmember Warren's resolution on council member commitments referred back to author for strategic planning.
• MPD Legislative Directive Approved (unanimous): Directs the administration to provide information on MPD leadership, promotion policies, off-duty work, administrative leave, and internal affairs.
• Tenants' Right to Organize Report Received & Filed: Presentation accepted; council members indicated future ordinance work on enforcement and meet-and-confer obligations.