Minneapolis City Council Committee of the Whole - September 29, 2026

The Minneapolis City Council Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with Chair Orreen Chowdhury presiding. The meeting opened with a continued public hearing on the 'Workers Drive Minneapolis' autonomous-vehicle ordinance, followed by council discussion and a vote. It then took up Brownfield grant awards and the Villanova NOAA housing loan release before considering a receive-and-file item on Minneapolis Police Department FY2025 spending. Standing committee reports were skipped and the meeting was adjourned after the final votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ricky Halgren spoke in support of the ordinance, describing big tech as a threat to immigrant workers and saying residents should decide the future of their streets.
• Jennifer Dunham, president of the National Federation of the Blind Minnesota Metro chapter, urged a no vote on the human-monitor mandate, saying AVs would provide independence and safer options for blind riders if the requirement were not imposed.
• A speaker listed as Smith said she supported Lyft and human drivers and asked the council to listen to residents who do not want driverless cars.
• Wade, a Ward 13 resident, supported the ordinance, saying drivers provide safety and care in winter and that Waymo's savings would go to shareholders rather than the community.
• Jim Hammond, a University of Minnesota student, opposed the ordinance, citing Uber sexual-assault claims, Waymo's safety record, and market-expansion data from other cities.
• Mike Bartos, a Ward 10 resident and SEIU Local 26 member, supported the ordinance and urged the council to side with 10,000 drivers and families rather than California tech companies.
• Mohammed Warsame, an Uber/Lyft driver with technology degrees, asked for drivers and community members to be included in AV decision-making and made safety a priority.
• Mohammed Aden, from Denver, opposed Waymo, describing accidents and unsafe experiences in Denver and urging Minneapolis not to bring Waymo in.
• Judy Sanders, a blind downtown Minneapolis resident, urged a no vote on the human-monitor version, citing her positive driverless ride in Austin and calling for independence for blind people.
• Abdekhan Ali, a rideshare driver and SEIU Local 26 organizer, supported the bill, saying AV profits would not stay in local restaurants, groceries, or entertainment and that drivers' income matters.
• Jack Brunel said job-loss fears were not supported by data, citing the growth of the rideshare market after taxis and the continued presence of Uber/Lyft drivers in San Francisco alongside Waymo.
• Alex Smith, father of a daughter with Angelman syndrome, urged a no vote, saying the human-monitor requirement would force vulnerable people to ride with strangers and reduce independence.
• Hamse Hussein, a SEIU Local 26 member and driver organizer, supported the ordinance, said AVs are not safe yet, and called for union recognition and driver training.
• Ayan, a wheelchair user speaking through an interpreter, supported the ordinance, saying Uber/Lyft drivers provide essential accessibility for her and other disabled community members.
• David Stigers, president of ATU Local 1005, supported passage, saying AV safety is overstated, human safety operators are vital, and AVs should pay fees for the infrastructure they use.
• Emma Cleveland, ATU state political coordinator, supported the bill, questioned AV industry job-replacement promises, and called for local safety operators and skepticism of Waymo's self-reported data.
• Abdi Rashad Mohammed, an SEIU Local 26 Uber/Lyft driver, supported the ordinance, describing help he gives elderly riders and saying drivers can be deactivated for canceling on riders with service animals.
• Ben Shermock, a Ward 3 resident, supported the bill, saying AVs are not ready for construction zones or snow and that oversight can create jobs.
• Jeff Whitman, a longtime Minneapolis resident, opposed the ordinance and asked the council not to limit his transportation options; he described his positive Waymo experience in San Francisco.
• Gavin Chibor, a Minneapolis resident and rideshare driver, opposed the bill, saying it protects existing rideshare companies and that more options would benefit passengers and drivers.
• Abdirahman, an Uber/Lyft driver speaking through an interpreter, supported the bill, citing winter weather, sensor limitations, and the need to keep drivers who support their communities.
• Marise Washington, a 12-year Uber/Lyft driver, asked that drivers not be left behind and that innovation move forward in a way that includes Minnesota drivers.

Discussion Items

• Autonomous-vehicle ordinance: Councilmember Robin Wansley presented the 'Workers Drive Minneapolis' ordinance, explaining it would require commercial autonomous-vehicle operators to employ, contract with, or retain a human safety monitor and meet baseline local regulations before obtaining a Minneapolis license. She said it is not a ban, would not take effect until October 2027, and is intended as an interim protection while the council uses 2027 to develop broader AV rules on traffic management, safety, liability, fees, surveillance, and data. She cited a Minnesota Department of Labor estimate of up to 10,000 metro rideshare drivers, with 90 percent living in the Twin Cities metro, and said the ordinance responds to big tech companies testing AVs in Minneapolis without state regulation. Wansley moved substitute language changing 'employed or retained' to 'employ, contract, or retain' and changing 'human monitor' to 'human safety monitor'; it was seconded. Councilmembers debated process, data, worker protections, disability access, and consumer choice. Schaefer objected that the council was voting before receiving a staff report requested in June; Palmasano and Vita said they needed more data and saw the issue as about options; Warren defended personal choice and AV benefits for some riders; Stevenson, Chavez, Osman, and Wansley emphasized worker displacement risk, the lack of state regulation, and prior failures to regulate Uber and Lyft. The chair later warned members to focus on the issue and avoid personal attacks.
• Spring 2026 Brownfield grants: Kevin Carroll, CPED principal project coordinator, presented seven grants totaling $3,789,602 for five projects, including 250 Fremont Avenue, the Grain Exchange building, Seven Points at Lake and Hennepin, Inner-City Tennis, and Minnesota Brownfields investigation grants. Total development value was about $311 million. Vice Chair Chughtai asked about soil and vapor mitigation at Seven Points; Carroll explained Minneapolis's industrial legacy, MPCA oversight, and vapor-mitigation systems. The motion to approve carried by voice vote.
• Villanova NOAA project: David McKunza, CPED residential finance supervisor, presented a proposal to release the city's $4.5 million zero-interest deferred NOAA loan and affordability restrictions for Aeon's 16-building scattered-site portfolio. The portfolio has faced COVID impacts, civil unrest, Operation Metro Surge, high vacancies, security costs, and depleted reserves. Key Bank, as special servicer, holds a roughly $15.5 million first mortgage; a broker's opinion of value was about $17.54 million, and staff said foreclosure would wipe out the city's subordinate loan. Under the negotiated terms, the city would receive $100,000 upfront, possible excess proceeds after Key Bank is paid, and a commitment to double renter-protection notice and relocation-assistance periods from three to six months. Rachel Robinson, Aeon president and CEO, answered questions about buyer vetting, vacancy, security costs, and tenant transition. Councilmembers expressed concern about the loss of affordability protections and the broader NOAA market outlook. The motion to approve carried by voice vote.
• Minneapolis Police Department FY2025 spending: Chair Chowdhury moved to refer the receive-and-file item to the October 5 budget committee meeting; the motion was seconded. Councilmember Chavez announced she intends to request a city auditor audit of MPD overtime management controls. Councilmembers differed on whether moving the item would resolve the lack of MPD and mayoral attendance. The council voted 6-3 to call the question and then 6-3 to refer the item to the Budget Committee.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda was adopted by voice vote.
• The autonomous-vehicle ordinance was approved as amended, with the chair announcing a roll-call tally of seven ayes and four nays.
• The Brownfield grant package was approved by voice vote.
• The Villanova NOAA loan release and associated terms were approved by voice vote.
• The MPD FY2025 spending item was referred to the Budget Committee on October 5 by a 6-3 roll-call vote; a preceding motion to call the question also carried 6-3.
• Standing committee reports were not taken up because of the length of the meeting, and the meeting was adjourned.