Minneapolis City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting – September 15, 2026

The Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:35 PM CT, with Vice Chair Aisha Chuktai presiding. The meeting included reports from five standing committees, a settlement agreement subcommittee item on a contract for internal affairs supervisory review, and a discussion on the Minneapolis Police Department's (MPD) budget overspend. Seven council members were present, constituting a quorum.

Standing Committee Reports

• Budget Committee (presented by Councilmember Schaefer): Approved a legislative directive on city contracts. The committee has begun reviewing the mayor's 2027 recommended budget, including presentations from the budget director, city auditor, and department heads.
• Business, Housing & Zoning Committee (presented by Vice Chair Chuktai): Advanced 15 items to the Thursday council meeting, including liquor and gambling licenses, contract amendments for the convention center, changes to the access down payment assistance program, bonds for senior living, a public art agreement, brownfield grants, partial financing forgiveness, master contracts for planning consulting, and an ordinance on fence regulations.
• Climate & Infrastructure Committee (presented by Councilmember Stevenson): Advanced 9 items, including special service district resolutions, a gift acceptance, contract amendments for street reconstruction and intersection safety, ADA ramp installation bids, green stormwater infrastructure, catch basin repairs, and a legislative directive to repeal commercial and multifamily energy disclosure. A public hearing on the repeal was set for September 24, 2026.
• Enterprise & Labor Relations Committee (presented by Councilmember Palmasano): Advanced 5 items: contracts for cybersecurity evaluation, employee engagement survey, and laboratory information management system, plus two legal settlements (Thermospray – $162,000; Jason Anderson workers' comp – $150,000).
• Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee (presented by Councilmember Chavez): Advanced 10 items, including an ordinance on neighborhood revitalization program elections, grants from Subaru Loves PETS and Gary Sinise Foundation, amendments for a cannabis substance use prevention grant, firefighter training reimbursements, donations, advisory committee appointments, and a residency waiver.

Settlement Agreement Subcommittee — Contract with Grant Thornton Advisors

Deputy Chief Troy Schoenberger presented a request to authorize a contract with Grant Thornton Advisors for up to $2.03 million over two years (with a possible one-year extension) to assist with the supervisory review of internal affairs (IA) investigations. The contract addresses a backlog of 266 cases awaiting supervisory review: 55 historical backlog (since March 2024), 203 non-compliant cases (exceeding the 180-day deadline), and 8 current cases. The scope includes supervisory review and, if needed, completing investigations for both administrative investigations and expedited disposition cases.

Discussion:

• Councilmember Chavez expressed grave concerns about the backlog, calling 258 late cases “damning” and stating it means a “lack of justice for victims of police brutality.” He supported the contract but demanded urgency.
• Councilmember Stevenson welcomed the contract, noting concerns about retaliation and conflicts of interest among sworn officers investigating peers.
• Councilmember Vita thanked Deputy Chief Schoenberger for his leadership and asked about IA staffing (19 total, with vacancies). She sought assurance that cases wouldn't stall at the chief's desk; Schoenberger confirmed the flow will move to the panel and chief.
• Councilmember Schaefer clarified that 61% of the original backlog has been cleared; the remaining 39% is stuck due to lack of supervisory capacity. The contract aims to clear the backlog within one to two years, prioritizing the most significant cases.
• Councilmember Chuktai asked about staff composition and the cause of the backlog. Schoenberger explained the supervisory review requirement was implemented in March 2024, and subsequent staffing changes left only one civilian supervisor, who is now on other projects. A lieutenant was moved in August 2026 to handle new cases but cannot address the historical backlog.
• Council President Payne asked whether the expense was budgeted; Deputy Commissioner Jared Jeffries confirmed it was unbudgeted for 2026 and partially budgeted for 2027. Expenditures this year are expected to be minimal, drawing from contingency funds.

Vote: The motion to approve the contract passed unanimously (7-0).

MDHR Update (Filed)

Councilmember Stevenson had questions saved from the August 25, 2026 meeting but left notes behind; no questions were asked. The update was filed by the clerk.

Receive and File: MPD Budget Overspend Memo

Vice Chair Chuktai introduced a memo from MPD in response to Legislative Directive 2026-00495 on the department's $21 million overspend in 2025 (approximately three levy points). No representatives from MPD or the Office of Community Safety were present. Councilmembers expressed strong disappointment and frustration.

Discussion:

• Councilmember Chavez noted that MPD overspent in 29 of 30 expense categories, including unbudgeted items like license plate readers and an armored Suburban. He said the overspend forces cuts to housing inspections, violence prevention, and other city services.
• Councilmember Stevenson stated the administration told the council it cannot compel MPD presentations; he argued extra oversight is warranted because other departments do not have a pattern of racial discrimination or a history of murder causing billions in damage.
• Vice Chair Chuktai revealed that MPD representatives were ready to present but were explicitly told by the mayor's office not to appear.
• Councilmember Vita said her office had worked for over a year on the directive and expected follow-up questions. She cited items like four motorcycles and a Toyota Corolla in the ledger that needed explanation.
• Councilmember Warren called the situation frustrating, noting North Minneapolis faces an 11–18% tax increase and that overspending shows a lack of fiscal responsibility. She requested that Mayor Fry attend the next meeting to provide answers.
• Councilmember Palmasano noted that some overages (overtime and settlement costs) are being better budgeted next year but criticized broad overspending across many categories, damaging trust.
• Council President Payne pointed to $129,000 unbudgeted spending on contractual services for the mounted patrol, which the council had previously defunded. He said the overspend reflects a “failure of government” and that the department lacks basic administrative competency.
• Councilmember Schaefer requested a breakdown of overtime spending by category (e.g., shift coverage, special events) to inform future budgeting.
• Vice Chair Chuktai added several follow-up questions, including justification for 125 take-home vehicles, unbudgeted fringe benefits, overspend on the largest food and beverage budget ($50,000), IT contractual services, and other unbudgeted contractual costs.

Outcome: A motion to continue the item and request Mayor Fry to join the next Committee of the Whole meeting to answer questions directly passed by voice vote (no dissent noted).

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Contract with Grant Thornton Advisors for up to $2.03 million to clear the IA supervisory review backlog (unanimous).
• Filed: MDHR update from August 25, 2026.
• Continued: MPD budget overspend memo; the item will be taken up again at a future meeting with Mayor Fry requested to attend.