Budget Committee June 10, 2024   6/10/2024

At this time, I'll ask the clerk to call the roll so we can verify the presence of a quorum.

Councilmember Payne.

Present.

Rainville.

Present.

Vita.

Present.

Osman.

Present.

Let the record reflect that we have a quorum.

Welcome Ms. Malmquist.

Thank you, Chair.

I'll first recognize Councilmember Rainville.

Is that?

Of the 17 properties that were appealing, the value of all those 17 properties total $120 million dollars.

Okay, and then how much were they was of that 120 million was reduced?

The total amount that was reduced from the original 120 million.

I know you had to cancel because you're busy but rather than bore the council with my questions I'll just pass and hopefully we can speak in person when your schedule allows.

Chair Chugtai and Council Member Rainville that's correct I apologize we were actually in hearings that went long I apologize.

Great, thank you.

Welcome, Ms. Miller.

And with that, I'm done with my presentation.

We'll now invite City Clerk Casey Carl.

Thank you.

I'll recognize Councilmember Ellison.

Thank you just you know happy to happy to support this and and everything I know it's not about a person right it's about a position but we do happen to have a city attorney that I really appreciate and I've been able to work with a lot of great city attorneys so just wanted to say that you know me personally I wouldn't mind if this was you know three hundred and thirty four thousand dollars maybe but I think for the step that we're you know looking at I think it's appropriate that's all Thank You councilmember any other discussion or questions?

Clerk Carl, Council President Payne and Vice Chair Koski, is there anything you would like to add to this summary?

on the body about this issue and about all of our budget proposals that were included and presented as part of our request for the legislative department's 2025-2026 budget.

Uh, I'll first recognize Council President Payne.

what does a legislative body need to support its work and so I'm really glad to be supporting this and like you said this is this is the starting point of a conversation not just amongst us on the dais on the legislative side but also with our colleagues in the administration on how we can better work together what resources are really needed to work more effectively under this new form of government so I'm very excited that we're doing this today so thank you.

I'll next recognize Councilmember Wonsley.

So I just wanted to provide that context and I'll be supporting these recommendations too.

Next, I'll recognize Councilmember Jenkins.

So just help me understand the hundreds versus the two.

and within council offices there were two new positions that were created one in the office of council vice president one in the office of council president so while the the legislative department itself has seen several new positions created over the last two years I just you know wanted to just offer that comparison across the board.

I mean those 125 positions are staff positions throughout the entire city to help make our city run.

Absolutely.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Osman.

So just want to put it out there and thank you Council Chair.

Next I'll recognize Council Member Wonsley.

Thank you.

So, thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair Koski.

So thank you so much.

And finally, I'll recognize Councilmember Palmisano.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Second.

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Walmsley?

Aye.

There are 12 ayes and 1 nay

I'll first ask if either author would like to be recognized to offer additional comments related to their proposal.

They do not want property tax raise.

Next I'll recognize Vice Chair Koski.

some of the new items that we know will propel and support our community but also really evaluate the things that we might need to let go of and so that's why this one in particular is very important to me too.

Council President Payne.

Seeing no further discussion, we will now move on to the next theme.

Um, Councilmember Jenkins.

Thank you.

I'll recognize Councilmember Chavez.

But that will be at the next cycle.

Go ahead.

So that's a commitment that I have as Chair of Climate Infrastructure Committee is not to use money from the general population but rather strategically generating revenue sources from pollution itself.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Chaudry.

I think that is a huge part of the just transition that we can be a part of as the largest city in the state of Minnesota.

I'll start with Council Member Wonsley.

So I will be bringing that in the next cycle but just wanted to offer some context of how Ward 3 it seems like also has set somewhat of a great standard of looking at a new safety strategy.

Next I'll recognize Vice Chair Koski.

and I'm grateful to see that here today and that's again I wasn't sure what that that's why it's left as TBD wasn't sure what that final amount would mean and if we were going to be utilizing one time or ongoing funding but I wanted to make sure that we put these forward as priorities.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Cashman.

Thank you, and finally I'll recognize Councilmember Vita.

items that I'm going to be getting more information on and talking to council about but hoping that we can make some of the same investments that were made on the south side on the north side with safety centers and updating our fourth precinct.

I'll now open it up to discussion from all colleagues related to the community safety theme and first recognize Councilmember Osman.

So that's just a question for those that are listening.

I'll next recognize Councilmember Wonsley.

So I'm really glad, at least for number five, we get to hold off on that conversation for another two weeks to figure out, hopefully, well for the administration to figure out other ways in which they can start supporting us as we're championing and making appropriations for broader safety solutions in our respective wards.

I'll recognize Councilmember Chowdhury.

Thank you.

I'll recognize Council Member Wansley.

I'm so really excited about this and wanted to offer a little bit more context than it just saying emergency housing and also to provide some context of what the 1.6 million dollars would essentially guarantee financially.

Councilmember Jenkins.

Is this over and beyond the work that we currently do fund with the county to place people in housing?

Council Member Wanza, would you like to address the question?

But as of now, this is not duplicative effort and actually CPED has also been activated as part of these conversations too.

So it's over and beyond what we are currently doing.

In what way?

Is that, am I, did I hear you correctly?

We are funding a staff person to oversee a task force.

It would be in addition to in addition to yes, over and beyond in addition to I mean, I mean, I'd say different implications, but sure.

I hope they answer your question.

Thank you.

Next, I'll recognize Council Member Ellison.

And I'm currently having some very very early conversations with staff about what that could look like.

Next, I'll recognize Councilmember Chavez.

Thank you and finally I'll recognize Councilmember Wansley

So we'll love to have further conversations around what that could look like.

Councilmember Ellison, would you like to address that question?

the number of units that we're building overall and continue that conversation to make sure that they're supported in having the tools they need to keep this level up.

I'll recognize Councilmember, Vice Chair Koski.

Thank you.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Wonsley.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Chowdhury.

passed away due to fatalities and I think this is an opportunity this budget to think about what are the what are the ways that we can approach this in a multi-prong way where we can get more projects out and create more safety at a lower cost so I'm looking forward to working with all the council members that are listed here that are interested in leading and thinking about how this will show up and everyone else on this body as well so thank you.

Thank you, and finally I'll recognize Councilmember Cashman.

Dangerous also noisy and then parkways like around the lakes, Bodei Makaska People drive extremely fast on parkways and so hope we can work together across jurisdictions on this on this initiative Thank you Next I'll recognize councilmember Jenkins

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Council Member Osman.

Thank you.

Thank you Council Vice President.

So I just wanted to let you know also, you know, this is being taken up very seriously in our respective committee and PHS Thank you so much councilmember Thank you, and and finally I'll recognize councilmember Ellison

So that's why I'm working on seeing if we can keep those funding levels at least regular, if not necessarily at the level that they were.

I'll recognize Councilmember Wonsley.

So again, legislative department, I see this as part of that $1.4 million allocation that we're going to have ongoing conversations around.

I'll first recognize Council President Payne.

And I think there's other ways that we can support youth programming and MPS and enriching programming for young people.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Chaved.

They help a lot of immigrants in the area in general too, so it's a really good project that's going to be happening on Lake Street.

Council Member Wonsley.

But assuming we do have an actual winter, this is still going to move forward.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Osman.

Thank you.

Thank you, and next I'll recognize Councilmember Cashman.

And I'll just add that for residents that live downtown who have disabilities, the Skyway network is especially useful for them during the winter months to stay safe.

Council President Payne.

I want to also thank the leadership of Vice Chair Koski who was chairing this committee last term and I really wanted to do this the last time around and I think it was wise to do it on this timeline so appreciate this process.

Can I get a second?

Second.

That motion carries and with that we have concluded all business to come before the committee today and without objection we stand adjourned.