Update 9.8

archive/summary/summary_59NICPXTVUU.md

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+## Meeting Information
+
+- Date: September 5, 2024
+- Title: Regular Meeting of the Minneapolis City Council
+- Present: Payne, Wonsley, Rainville, Osman, Ellison, Cashman, Jenkins, Chavez, Chughtai, Koski, Chowdhury, Palmisano
+- Absent: Vetaw
+- Guests: David Herberholz (outgoing Director of Solid Waste and Recycling), Maryann Mori (Minneapolis Public Schools)
+- Votes: 13
+
+## Highlights
+
+- Extension of purchase agreement for East Phillips Urban Farm project
+- Approval of ShotSpotter independent evaluation
+- Recognition of David Herberholz's service as Director of Solid Waste and Recycling
+- Denial of variance appeal for 3505 Irving Avenue South
+- Approval of Xcel Energy franchise agreement extension
+
+## Discussion
+
+### Extension of purchase agreement for East Phillips Urban Farm project
+
+Council Member Chavez introduced a motion to extend the purchase agreement for the East Phillips Urban Farm project. The extension moves the closing deadline to September 15, 2025, and includes provisions for alternative funding if state funding is not secured. Council members expressed strong support for the community-led initiative, highlighting its importance for environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty.
+
+Council Member Palmisano provided historical context, noting the city's $18 million investment in the site without public benefit to date. She expressed concerns about the lack of a clear development plan but supported giving the project one more legislative session to secure funding.
+
+Council Member Wonsley emphasized the public benefit of the community's vision, stating, "The vision that East Phillips community members have rallied around absolutely embodies a public benefit."
+
+Council Member Chowdhury added, "This is a major generational shift of how we do work for our community and center the voices of community members in shaping what our city looks like."
+
+The motion passed unanimously with 11 ayes.
+
+### Approval of ShotSpotter independent evaluation
+
+Council Member Wonsley presented an amended motion for an independent evaluation of the ShotSpotter technology. The amendment removed a specific deadline for the request for proposals. 
+
+There was no discussion on this item, suggesting general agreement among council members on the need for an evaluation of the controversial technology.
+
+The motion passed unanimously with 11 ayes.
+
+### Recognition of David Herberholz's service as Director of Solid Waste and Recycling
+
+The council recognized David Herberholz for his 12 years of service as Director of Solid Waste and Recycling. Council members praised his leadership in implementing various waste management initiatives, including city-wide organics collection and the Zero Waste Plan.
+
+Council Member Palmisano stated, "Dave, I have not seen another, more steady public servant than you. There are many things not in the resolution that we've asked you to do."
+
+Herberholz expressed gratitude, saying, "It's been an honor to be the Director in Minneapolis. I'm a transplant. I love this city!"
+
+No formal vote was taken on this recognition.
+
+### Denial of variance appeal for 3505 Irving Avenue South
+
+Vice President Chughtai moved to deny the appeal for variances at 3505 Irving Avenue South. She explained that while she sympathized with the homeowner, the proposed changes did not meet the threshold set by city policies and codes.
+
+Council Member Rainville expressed support for the homeowner, stating the variance was "just a minor variation off the standard rules."
+
+Council Member Palmisano inquired about the possibility of using pervious surfaces to address the issue. Planning Director Meg McMann clarified that the city's definition of permeability excludes artificial materials, even if labeled as pervious.
+
+The motion to deny the appeal passed with 10 ayes and 1 nay (Rainville).
+
+### Approval of Xcel Energy franchise agreement extension
+
+Council Member Cashman introduced a six-month extension of the franchise agreement with Xcel Energy. This extension allows for continued negotiations between the city and Xcel.
+
+Cashman explained, "This six-month extension of our franchise agreement with Xcel will allow our city team, as well as the representatives, to keep working on the franchise agreement negotiations."
+
+The extension passed unanimously with 11 ayes.
+
+## Public Comments
+
+There were no public comments recorded in the transcript for this meeting.

archive/summary/summary_YmroxVgwXz0.md

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+## Meeting Information
+
+- Date: September 3, 2024
+- Title: Regular Budget Committee Meeting
+- Present: Elliot Payne, Robin Wonsley, Michael Rainville, Jeremiah Ellison, Jason Chavez, Emily Koski (Vice Chair), Aisha Chughtai (Chair), Andrea Jenkins, Aurin Chowdhury
+- Absent: LaTrisha Vetaw, Jamal Osman, Katie Cashman
+- Guests: Deb Krueger (Director of HR Operations)
+- Votes: 0
+
+## Highlights
+
+- Review of Mayor Frey's 2025 Recommended Budget timeline
+- Presentation of Biannual Personnel Report
+- Discussion on vacancy savings and long-term vacant positions
+- Request for additional information on department hiring plans
+
+## Discussion
+
+### Mayor Frey's 2025 Recommended Budget Timeline
+
+Vice Chair Koski provided an overview of the budget adoption process timeline. Key dates include:
+- September 9: Budget Director's overview of the 2025 Recommended Budget
+- September 23 and a date in November: Public hearings on the proposed budget
+- December 6 and 9: Budget amendment considerations
+- December 5: Final public hearing and potential budget adoption
+
+Council Member Palmisano inquired about the Board of Estimation and Taxation's levy-setting process, which was clarified to have a public hearing on September 11.
+
+### Biannual Personnel Report Presentation
+
+Deb Krueger presented the Biannual Personnel Report, highlighting:
+- 4,195 City Council-approved and funded FTEs in 2024
+- 89% of regular positions are filled
+- 133 full-time, permanent, general-funded positions are vacant and not in an active hiring process
+- $19.7 million budgeted for overtime expenses in 2024, with $10.3 million spent through July 31
+
+Council members expressed concerns about long-term vacancies and the use of vacancy savings. Council Member Wonsley stated:
+
+"For far too long it felt as if the Mayor's administration did not provide it to Council to have that information. So this legislative directive really puts us in a place to basically examine, you know, where there's gaps, where there's discrepancies around staffing changes."
+
+### Vacancy Savings and Long-term Vacant Positions
+
+Council President Payne raised concerns about the use of vacancy savings:
+
+"I'm curious if you could give an insight into how departments are leveraging vacancy savings. Are they doing it in a consistent way across departments? Is there something that we should be looking at from a policy perspective around vacancy savings to have how they're used in practice to align with the goals of the institution?"
+
+The discussion revealed that departments use vacancy savings in various ways, including hiring temporary workers, contractors, or reallocating funds to different projects. The committee requested more detailed information on positions vacant for one year or longer and how the vacancy savings were utilized.
+
+### Request for Additional Information on Department Hiring Plans
+
+Vice Chair Koski requested more information on the 60 roles that have been vacant for a year or longer with no documented hiring plans. She expressed concern about reconciling these vacancies with the Mayor's request for 75 new FTEs in the upcoming budget:
+
+"I think as we go through our process and kind of figure out what we need to do in -- as we move forward here, how do we reconcile the fact we have 60 FTEs with no plan and that's what we see but we want 75 new roles."
+
+The committee agreed to request more detailed information from departments during their budget presentations and to receive a memo from HR with additional details on long-term vacancies and hiring plans.
+
+## Public Comments
+
+There were no public comments during this meeting.

archive/summary/summary_u9dyVcwJcJo.md

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+## Meeting Information
+
+- Date: September 3, 2024
+- Title: Committee of the Whole Meeting
+- Present: Elliot Payne, Michael Rainville, Jeremiah Ellison, Jamal Osman, Katie Cashman, Emily Koski, Linea Palmisano, Aurin Chowdhury, Jason Chavez
+- Absent: Robin Wonsley, LaTrisha Vetaw, Andrea Jenkins, Aisha Chughtai
+- Guests: Keith (Director of Operations for Walker Art Center)
+- Votes: 1
+
+## Highlights
+
+- Approval of amplified sound permit extension for Walker Art Center's Avant Garden Gala
+- Update on potential Roof Depot site and Urban Farm Project proposal
+- Reports from standing committees on matters for full Council consideration
+
+## Discussion
+
+### Walker Art Center Amplified Sound Permit Extension
+
+Council Member Cashman presented a request from the Walker Art Center to extend their amplified sound permit for the Avant Garden Gala 2024 event until midnight, two hours beyond the normally permitted time. Cashman highlighted the importance of the event, which is expected to raise $750,000 to $1 million and attract close to 2,000 attendees. The Walker has implemented measures to minimize noise disruption, including sound-absorbing drapery and conducting their own sound testing.
+
+The City Attorney clarified that the extension does not violate state law, correcting a typo in the agenda and RCA. 
+
+Vice Chair Chowdhury seconded the motion, expressing gratitude to Cashman's office and acknowledging the Walker Art Center's contributions to the arts and culture community.
+
+The motion passed unanimously.
+
+### Potential Roof Depot Site and Urban Farm Project Proposal
+
+Chair Chavez announced that work is ongoing to bring forward a proposal related to the Roof Depot site and the Urban Farm Project for the full Council meeting on Thursday. He mentioned that meetings are still taking place between residents and CPED (Community Planning and Economic Development). Chavez emphasized that the item currently in LIMS (Legislative Information Management System) is not the final action for full Council consideration.
+
+Council Member Palmisano requested more information about the potential proposal. Chavez explained that they are working to keep the community project alive and collaborate with the state legislature, but details are not yet finalized.
+
+No vote was taken on this item as it was an informational update.
+
+## Public Comments
+
+There were no public comments recorded in the provided transcript.

blog/content/posts/budget-committee-2024-09-03.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
++++
+title = "Budget Committee"
+date = 2024-09-03
+ generated = true
+[params]
+  author = "Claude.ai"
++++
+
+## Meeting Information
+
+- Date: September 3, 2024
+- Title: Regular Budget Committee Meeting
+- Present: Elliot Payne, Robin Wonsley, Michael Rainville, Jeremiah Ellison, Jason Chavez, Emily Koski (Vice Chair), Aisha Chughtai (Chair), Andrea Jenkins, Aurin Chowdhury
+- Absent: LaTrisha Vetaw, Jamal Osman, Katie Cashman
+- Guests: Deb Krueger (Director of HR Operations)
+- Votes: 0
+
+## Highlights
+
+- Review of Mayor Frey's 2025 Recommended Budget timeline
+- Presentation of Biannual Personnel Report
+- Discussion on vacancy savings and long-term vacant positions
+- Request for additional information on department hiring plans
+
+## Discussion
+
+### Mayor Frey's 2025 Recommended Budget Timeline
+
+Vice Chair Koski provided an overview of the budget adoption process timeline. Key dates include:
+- September 9: Budget Director's overview of the 2025 Recommended Budget
+- September 23 and a date in November: Public hearings on the proposed budget
+- December 6 and 9: Budget amendment considerations
+- December 5: Final public hearing and potential budget adoption
+
+Council Member Palmisano inquired about the Board of Estimation and Taxation's levy-setting process, which was clarified to have a public hearing on September 11.
+
+### Biannual Personnel Report Presentation
+
+Deb Krueger presented the Biannual Personnel Report, highlighting:
+- 4,195 City Council-approved and funded FTEs in 2024
+- 89% of regular positions are filled
+- 133 full-time, permanent, general-funded positions are vacant and not in an active hiring process
+- $19.7 million budgeted for overtime expenses in 2024, with $10.3 million spent through July 31
+
+Council members expressed concerns about long-term vacancies and the use of vacancy savings. Council Member Wonsley stated:
+
+"For far too long it felt as if the Mayor's administration did not provide it to Council to have that information. So this legislative directive really puts us in a place to basically examine, you know, where there's gaps, where there's discrepancies around staffing changes."
+
+### Vacancy Savings and Long-term Vacant Positions
+
+Council President Payne raised concerns about the use of vacancy savings:
+
+"I'm curious if you could give an insight into how departments are leveraging vacancy savings. Are they doing it in a consistent way across departments? Is there something that we should be looking at from a policy perspective around vacancy savings to have how they're used in practice to align with the goals of the institution?"
+
+The discussion revealed that departments use vacancy savings in various ways, including hiring temporary workers, contractors, or reallocating funds to different projects. The committee requested more detailed information on positions vacant for one year or longer and how the vacancy savings were utilized.
+
+### Request for Additional Information on Department Hiring Plans
+
+Vice Chair Koski requested more information on the 60 roles that have been vacant for a year or longer with no documented hiring plans. She expressed concern about reconciling these vacancies with the Mayor's request for 75 new FTEs in the upcoming budget:
+
+"I think as we go through our process and kind of figure out what we need to do in -- as we move forward here, how do we reconcile the fact we have 60 FTEs with no plan and that's what we see but we want 75 new roles."
+
+The committee agreed to request more detailed information from departments during their budget presentations and to receive a memo from HR with additional details on long-term vacancies and hiring plans.
+
+## Public Comments
+
+There were no public comments during this meeting.

blog/content/posts/city-council-2024-09-05.md

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
++++
+title = "City Council"
+date = 2024-09-05
+ generated = true
+[params]
+  author = "Claude.ai"
++++
+
+## Meeting Information
+
+- Date: September 5, 2024
+- Title: Regular Meeting of the Minneapolis City Council
+- Present: Payne, Wonsley, Rainville, Osman, Ellison, Cashman, Jenkins, Chavez, Chughtai, Koski, Chowdhury, Palmisano
+- Absent: Vetaw
+- Guests: David Herberholz (outgoing Director of Solid Waste and Recycling), Maryann Mori (Minneapolis Public Schools)
+- Votes: 13
+
+## Highlights
+
+- Extension of purchase agreement for East Phillips Urban Farm project
+- Approval of ShotSpotter independent evaluation
+- Recognition of David Herberholz's service as Director of Solid Waste and Recycling
+- Denial of variance appeal for 3505 Irving Avenue South
+- Approval of Xcel Energy franchise agreement extension
+
+## Discussion
+
+### Extension of purchase agreement for East Phillips Urban Farm project
+
+Council Member Chavez introduced a motion to extend the purchase agreement for the East Phillips Urban Farm project. The extension moves the closing deadline to September 15, 2025, and includes provisions for alternative funding if state funding is not secured. Council members expressed strong support for the community-led initiative, highlighting its importance for environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty.
+
+Council Member Palmisano provided historical context, noting the city's $18 million investment in the site without public benefit to date. She expressed concerns about the lack of a clear development plan but supported giving the project one more legislative session to secure funding.
+
+Council Member Wonsley emphasized the public benefit of the community's vision, stating, "The vision that East Phillips community members have rallied around absolutely embodies a public benefit."
+
+Council Member Chowdhury added, "This is a major generational shift of how we do work for our community and center the voices of community members in shaping what our city looks like."
+
+The motion passed unanimously with 11 ayes.
+
+### Approval of ShotSpotter independent evaluation
+
+Council Member Wonsley presented an amended motion for an independent evaluation of the ShotSpotter technology. The amendment removed a specific deadline for the request for proposals. 
+
+There was no discussion on this item, suggesting general agreement among council members on the need for an evaluation of the controversial technology.
+
+The motion passed unanimously with 11 ayes.
+
+### Recognition of David Herberholz's service as Director of Solid Waste and Recycling
+
+The council recognized David Herberholz for his 12 years of service as Director of Solid Waste and Recycling. Council members praised his leadership in implementing various waste management initiatives, including city-wide organics collection and the Zero Waste Plan.
+
+Council Member Palmisano stated, "Dave, I have not seen another, more steady public servant than you. There are many things not in the resolution that we've asked you to do."
+
+Herberholz expressed gratitude, saying, "It's been an honor to be the Director in Minneapolis. I'm a transplant. I love this city!"
+
+No formal vote was taken on this recognition.
+
+### Denial of variance appeal for 3505 Irving Avenue South
+
+Vice President Chughtai moved to deny the appeal for variances at 3505 Irving Avenue South. She explained that while she sympathized with the homeowner, the proposed changes did not meet the threshold set by city policies and codes.
+
+Council Member Rainville expressed support for the homeowner, stating the variance was "just a minor variation off the standard rules."
+
+Council Member Palmisano inquired about the possibility of using pervious surfaces to address the issue. Planning Director Meg McMann clarified that the city's definition of permeability excludes artificial materials, even if labeled as pervious.
+
+The motion to deny the appeal passed with 10 ayes and 1 nay (Rainville).
+
+### Approval of Xcel Energy franchise agreement extension
+
+Council Member Cashman introduced a six-month extension of the franchise agreement with Xcel Energy. This extension allows for continued negotiations between the city and Xcel.
+
+Cashman explained, "This six-month extension of our franchise agreement with Xcel will allow our city team, as well as the representatives, to keep working on the franchise agreement negotiations."
+
+The extension passed unanimously with 11 ayes.
+
+## Public Comments
+
+There were no public comments recorded in the transcript for this meeting.