Minneapolis Business, Housing & Zoning Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026
Minneapolis Business, Housing and Zoning Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026
On September 8, 2026, the Minneapolis Business, Housing and Zoning Committee met with six members present (quorum established) to consider consent agenda items, hold public hearings, and discuss several regulatory changes. The meeting featured votes to approve a liquor license, delay the 2027 license fee schedule, adopt a new event center license ordinance, and amend fence regulations.
Consent Calendar
- Items 4-16 were approved unanimously, including liquor license approvals and renewals, gambling licenses, contract amendments, grant authorizations, and a public hearing date setting. Councilmember Rainville asked about Item 13 (grants) and received details on a $1 million grant for the 250 Fremont project, a $410,000 grant for Dreamland on 38th, and authorization to apply for up to $300,000 in pre-development funding for the New Nicollet Phase One and Penn Lowry projects. No other items were pulled.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tropico Liquor License (Public Hearing): Amy, co-owner of Tropico Colombian Street Food, testified in support of the license, explaining the relocation and business expansion. No opposition was voiced.
- 2027 License Fee Schedule (Public Hearing): No public comments were received.
- Event Center License Ordinance (Public Hearing): Keenan Shanahan, co-owner of Mugan Entertainment, testified in strong support, noting the ordinance would provide a clearer path for small venues to host public events and help his organization establish a permanent home. No opposition.
- Fence Regulation Ordinance: Previous public hearings were held at the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment with no public comment; no additional testimony was taken at this meeting.
Discussion Items
- Tropico Liquor License: Presented by Max Cervantes (Licenses and Consumer Services). The applicant requested an on-sale liquor, limited entertainment, and Sunday sales license at 10 5th Street South. The location had 78 interior seats, no exterior seats, with hours Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Notices were sent and one supportive comment received. Councilmember Schaefer (Ward 7) moved approval. The item was approved unanimously.
- 2027 License Fee Schedule: Ben Zimmerman (Budget) and Jane DeSenza (Deputy CFO) presented. The recommendation was to keep fees flat for 2027, pending completion of a comprehensive fee study mandated by a 2024 legislative directive. The study, initially due August 1, 2025, was delayed due to difficulty finding a vendor and the volume of work. Draft findings indicated an aggregate cost recovery rate of 94%. Councilmember Chavez raised concerns about the rental license fee recovery rate (noted as 64% in a prior staff analysis) and suggested a minimum increase to avoid layoffs in Regulatory Services. He moved to delay the item to the September 22 committee meeting to allow review of the final fee study. After discussion, the motion carried unanimously (6-0).
- Event Center License Ordinance: Amy Lingo (Licenses and Consumer Services) presented the ordinance amending Chapter 266 to allow rental halls to host both private and public events under a single license. Key features: public events do not require an alcohol license; alcohol remains prohibited unless a temporary license or caterer is used; a public hearing is required for each event center endorsement; a security review by Business Licensing and the Minneapolis Police Department is required. The change was supported by Councilmembers Schaefer and Chavez. Approved unanimously.
- Fence Regulation Ordinance: Sarah Roman (CPED Planning) presented three proposed amendments to the fence code: (1) allowing six-foot tall fences at the front corner of corner lots (open/decorative or a mix), (2) restoring the allowance for three-foot opaque fences in front yards (reversing a 2023 change), and (3) requiring a three-foot minimum setback from existing side doors on interior side yards for safety. The Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment had expressed support. Councilmember Warren asked clarifying questions about measuring fence height above retaining walls. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Tropico Liquor License: Approved unanimously.
- 2027 License Fee Schedule: Delayed to the September 22, 2026 Business, Housing and Zoning Committee meeting to await the final comprehensive fee study report.
- Event Center License Ordinance: Approved unanimously, establishing a new streamlined license for rental halls to host both private and public events.
- Fence Regulation Ordinance: Approved unanimously, allowing greater flexibility for corner lot and front yard fences and adding a safety setback for side doors.
- Committee adjourned without further business.
Meeting Transcript
Before we begin, a reminder for folks this meeting are broadcast live to enable greater public participation. They include real-time captioning to increase the accessibility of our proceeding to the community. Therefore, all speakers need to be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners can fully transcribe all comments for the broadcast. We ask all speakers to moderate the speed and clarity of their comments. We'll be using speaker management, so please sign up. At this time, um I will ask Clerk to call the roll so we can verify a quorum. Councilmember Rainville. Present. Warren. Present. Schaefer, present. Chavez. Present. Chick Tai, present. Vice Chair Chowdry is absent. And Chair Osman. Present. There are six members present. Ladderranca reflect we have a quorum. If you want to speak during this during any of the public hearing for today, please sign up with the clerk. Our agenda is in front of us, and there are uh any are there any amendments to make for this agenda. Seeing none, we will move to our consent agenda. Item four through 16. Item 4 approves two liquor license approvals. Item five, approve seven liquor license renewals. Item six approves two gambling license approvals. Item seven approves three gambling license renewals. Item eight authorized a contract amendment to the Minneapolis for the Convention Center Mill City Bizeria. Item nine, authorize a contract amendment for the conventional center kitchen concession 134 remodel. Item 10 authorized the changes for Minneapolis Homes Access Down Payment Assistant Program. Item 11 authorize the resolution for Mini Haha Senior Leaving for host approval regarding bonds. Item 12 authorized an agreement with Sherman Associate for public art project. Item 13, accept the 2026 Ring Metro Council Livability Community Grant and Authorized Applications for Fall of 2026 grants. Item 14 approves an authorized financing for 30 3631 Ben Avenue North. Item 15 authorizes 20 master contract with various vendors for the 2026 through 2029 planning consulting pool. And lastly, item 6. 16 is setting a public hearing for September 22nd, 2026 for ordinance related to the town oh Miss Anonymous. Oh, what am I saying? Um regulations. With that, do any of my colleagues have any items to pull for discussion or questions. Councilmember Rainville. Thank you, Chair. I'm wondering if I'm just curious. Uh I have a question about item number 13. I just, if someone from the staff, I would just want to know how much money these grants are. Item number one does say uh the amount for items two, three. Uh there's no uh dollar marks. Can someone tell me or can maybe maybe they can tell me later? Someone knows now. Yes.
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