Climate and Infrastructure Committee Regular Meeting - August 20, 2026
Climate and Infrastructure Committee Regular Meeting - August 20, 2026
The Climate and Infrastructure Committee of the Minneapolis City Council held a regular meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 6:33 PM CT, chaired by Vice Chair Soren Stevenson. The meeting covered consent items, a public hearing on the Central Avenue/TH 65 reconstruction project, and discussions on the Vision Zero Action Plan, climate equity funding, sidewalk snow and ice clearing pilots, and a thermal energy potential study. Key decisions included approval of the consent agenda, adoption of the Central Avenue concept layout, approval of the Vision Zero Action Plan, and receipt and filing of several reports.
Consent Calendar
- Approved a walk-on item for a block event permit for the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety welcome back event on September 9, 2026.
- Approved 11 routine consent items, including construction easements for the Northside Greenway Phase 2 and Grand Avenue Bridge, returning Nicolette Avenue public restroom funding from the general fund to the value capture fund, contract amendments for Washburn Tower rehabilitation, Cedar Lake Trail water main, pond land care, lead service line replacement, Nicolette Avenue Bridge rehabilitation, graffiti abatement, and North Transfer Station revitalization.
- Discussion on the Nicolette Avenue public restroom funding item: Councilmember Chowdry inquired about the timeline and assurance that funds would be used for restrooms. Public Works staff explained the administrative change preserves funding for the intended use. The item was approved as part of the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing on Central Avenue/TH 65 (Trunk Highway 65) Municipal Consent
- John Daniluk (representing Ideal Diner) expressed support for the project and appreciation for collaboration with the project team, emphasizing the need to maintain access to the business.
- Paul Minard (representing businesses between 7th and 8th Streets) opposed the elimination of 14 essential on-street parking spaces, citing negative impacts on customer access and citing a prior 50% membership drop at a local cooperative due to parking reductions. He requested the council direct Metro Transit to reconsider and preserve parking.
- Nancy Sineken (representing Syndican Investments, a commercial property owner at 726 Central Avenue) opposed the design, stating it would diminish property values, asset visibility, and customer access, with particular concern about one-way perpendicular streets making navigation difficult.
Discussion Items
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Central Avenue/TH 65 Municipal Consent (Item 1)
- Peter Bennett (Transportation Planner, Public Works) presented the project: a full reconstruction from the Mississippi River to 37th Avenue NE, incorporating a four-to-three lane conversion with a bus lane for Metro Transit's F Line BRT, protected bike lanes, upgraded pedestrian facilities, and improved safety. The project is led by MnDOT and requires municipal consent. Construction is planned for 2029-2030. The public hearing was held; no further discussion occurred after testimony. The committee approved the resolution and concept layout.
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2026-2030 Vision Zero Action Plan (Item 2)
- Antonio Rossell (Vision Zero Program Coordinator) presented the plan update, noting 74 traffic fatalities and over 1,600 serious injuries in Minneapolis from 2022-2025. Key priorities: safety improvements on high-injury streets (10% of streets account for 60% of severe crashes), reducing dangerous speeds through physical street design, and continuing the traffic safety camera pilot (launched fall 2025). Public engagement showed strong support. Councilmembers Chowdry and Warren discussed data privacy and surveillance concerns; Ethan Foley (Transportation Planning Manager) clarified camera data is not shared with law enforcement, cameras are not constant recorders, and data is anonymized. The committee approved the plan.
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Climate Equity Action Plan Background and Overview (Item 3)
- Patrick Hanlin (Deputy Commissioner, Health Department) updated on climate funding sources: franchise fees (2018, 2024, 2026) generating ~$21 million in total revenue, with program spending of ~$18.7 million. Specific questions from Councilmember Stevenson about the 2026 budget noted a proposed cut of ~$3.6-3.7 million in climate spending, potentially breaking a promise to use franchise fee increases for weatherization to offset utility costs. The report was received and filed.
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Sidewalk Snow and Ice Pilot Programs Update (Item 4)
- Ethan Van Offelen (Project Coordinator) reported on the second season of four pilots: Snow Ambassador (enforcement), Neighborhood Snow Patrol (assistance for seniors/disabled), Mobile Team (contractor clearing priority routes), and Snow Caseworker (outreach and coordination). Key findings: 96% citywide compliance; 13% of parcels in Snow Ambassador route had violations; repeat violators are common. Costs to date: $288,000 of a $595,000 budget. Chair Stevenson questioned enforcement timelines (up to 7 days) and requested follow-up on speeding up interventions. Councilmember Warren praised the Harrison neighborhood pilot. The report was received and filed.
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Thermal Potential Study Overview (Item 5)
- Megan Hoy (Director of Climate Equity Action) and Luke Hollenkamp (Sustainability Program Manager) presented on the study, which aims to guide development of thermal energy networks (district-scale geothermal systems). Phase 1 (technology review and geographic analysis) is largely complete; Phase 2 (stakeholder engagement and implementation pathways) is underway. The study does not include single-family homes but focuses on commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings. Final deliverables expected summer 2027. The report was received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the consent agenda (including the walk-on event permit and all routine items) by voice vote, with no opposition.
- Approved the Central Avenue/TH 65 concept layout and resolution for municipal consent by voice vote, following the public hearing.
- Approved the 2026-2030 Vision Zero Action Plan and resolution adopting its policy goals and priorities by voice vote.
- Received and filed the climate equity funding update (filed as report).
- Received and filed the sidewalk snow and ice pilots update (filed as report).
- Received and filed the thermal potential study update (filed as report).
- Adjourned after completing all business.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome. My name is Soren Stevenson. I am the vice chair of the Climate and Infrastructure Committee. I'm going to be chairing today's meeting. I'm going to call to order our regular meeting for Thursday, August 20th, 2026. Before we begin the meeting, I want to offer a friendly reminder to all committee members, staff, and the public that these meetings are broadcast live to enable greater public participation. These broadcasts include real-time captioning as a further method to increase the accessibility of our proceedings to the community. Therefore, all speakers need to 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 moderate the speed and clarity of their comments. I'll now have the clerk call the roll. Councilmember Vital. Present. Warren? Present. Present. Chandry. Present. Paul Massano is absent. Chair Wandsley is absent. Vice Chair Stevenson. Present. We have five present. Let the record reflect we have a quorum. I'll remind my colleagues we'll be using speaker management today, so please make sure you're signed up. For members of the public that are here for the public hearing, if you wish to address the committee, we ask you to register with the clerks to my right. Colleagues, our agenda is in front of us. Staff have a walk on related to an event permit for the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety welcome back event. Printed copies of the request and the map are available, and staff are here for any questions. Is there any discussion? Seeing none. Aye. Those opposed. That motion carries. We'll start with our consent items, which I'll read for the record. Passage of resolution designated designating the Northside Greenway Phase 2 project and authorizing temporary construction easements for said project. Number three. Number four, authorizing acquisition of temporary construction easements for the Grand Avenue Bridge over the Midtown Greenway. Five, passage of resolution returning Nicolette Av public restroom funding for the uh from the general fund to the value capture fund. Six authorizing a contract amendment with advanced masonry restoration for the Washburn Tower Rehabilitation Project. Seven, accepting a low bid for the Cedar Lake Trail 40-inch water main construction project. Eight, authorizing a contract amendment for pond land care vegetation management. Nine, authorizing a contract amendment with M and B services LLC for lead service line replacement year three. 10 authorizing a contract amendment with Kramer North America LLC for construction of the Nicolette Av Bridge over Mini Haha Creek Rehabilitation Project. 11 authorizing a contract with MJV Services LLC for uh photographing graffiti on private property and abatement of graffiti from sensitive surfaces, elevated locations and other locations and services. 12 authorizing a contract amendment with Stan Tech Consulting Services Inc. for North Transfer Station Revitalization Project. Our last consent item is our walk-on item contained in RCA 2026 00952, which is approving the block event permit for the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety welcome back event on September 9th. Colleagues, is there any discussion or there are any items that anyone would like to pull for further discussion? Go for it. The Nick Avenue Public Restroom Funding.
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