Minneapolis City Council Budget Committee Meeting Summary

Meeting Information

• Date: December 9, 2024
• Title: Budget Committee Meeting - Budget Markup Day 2
• Present: Elliot Payne, Robin Wonsley, Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw, Jeremiah Ellison, Jamal Osman, Katie Cashman, Andrea Jenkins, Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai (Chair), Emily Koski (Vice Chair), Aurin Chowdhury, Linea Palmisano
• Absent: Jenkins and Cashman initially absent but joined later
• Guests: Commissioner Barnett, Deputy Commissioner Richie, Director Sexton, Director Velazquez, Director Hanson, COO Anderson-Kelliher
• Votes: 23 roll call votes taken

Highlights

• Emergency Housing Vouchers ($1.8M) to house 50 families and 50 individuals experiencing homelessness
• Behavioral Crisis Response program transfer from Neighborhood Safety to Fire Department
• Multiple neighborhood-specific safety initiatives for areas including Little Earth, Midtown Phillips, and Hiawatha
• Public health response to unsheltered homelessness including portable toilets and storage
• $1.6M stabilization funding for Avivo Village shelter operations
• Debate over street lighting improvements in Dinkytown area
• Needle pickup and opioid response initiatives

Discussion

Emergency Housing Vouchers

Major debate over $1.8M allocation to fund emergency housing vouchers in partnership with MPHA and Hennepin County. Council Member Wonsley argued this could house up to 30% of currently unsheltered residents with 97% success rate. Administration opposed funding sources, with COO Anderson-Kelliher offering to work on alternative funding:

“This is not a great amendment because of the sources. It really damages other departments. And I guess coming with an olive branch to say we could work on a source together… there is a way forward.”

Council divided on whether to pass immediately or wait for compromise. Passed 9-4.

Behavioral Crisis Response Program Transfer

Discussion centered on moving BCR contract with Canopy Roots from Neighborhood Safety to Fire Department. Supporters argued it aligned better with emergency response services, while others worried about contract administration capacity. Commissioner Barnett noted:

“I just think it’s too early, that’s all. We haven’t planned it out.”

Passed 11-1.

Neighborhood Safety Initiatives

Multiple amendments for specific neighborhoods sparked debate about targeted vs. citywide approach. Palmisano argued:

“We can’t build community safety ecosystem with all these ward and neighborhood specific projects that don’t address community safety needs overall.”

Others like Osman countered that some areas face disproportionate challenges:

“We cannot be fair on resources, we have to be specific to the areas that are struggling.”

Various initiatives passed with divided votes.

Avivo Village Funding

Council Member Ellison proposed $1.6M to prevent closure of 100-bed shelter due to county funding cliff. While broadly supported, debate centered on city’s role in shelter operations and process concerns. Palmisano noted:

“We’ve got to stop this without thinking through the long-term plan for addressing the fiscal cliff that our partners are facing right now.”

Passed 11-2.

Public Comments

No public comments were recorded in this transcript.