Budget Committee February 10, 2025   2/10/2025

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

Council Member Payne.

Present.

There are 12 council members present

I will recognize Council President Payne.

One of the recommendations was around embedding a social worker in 9-1-1 and it's really excited to see that come to fruition today, so thank you.

Thank you, and next I will recognize Councilmember Cashman.

because this is a pilot for the year 2025 or what the agreement is about this service continuing after 2025 or why is it just a one-time funding transfer?

I will look at, I know we are joined by Budget Director DeCenza and Commissioner Barnett and I'm looking to see if one of them can offer some clarity on this item.

I'm sorry, I was reading something, I didn't catch the question.

Council Member, will you repeat the question please?

and I see in the fiscal note online it just says it's $135,000 for 2025 but zero in the year subsequent is that because it's a one-year pilot or how is the agreement looking for whether this service would continue in 2026?

Welcome Commissioner Field begin by introducing yourself.

And try to get you an answer before this meeting ends.

We might have an answer right here Welcome director de sense.

I imagine it'll be up for renewal depending on satisfaction with the with the pilot itself and

okay good to be aware of that for you know budgeting for next year as well as we look at how pilots go so thank you wonderful and council member would you like to have that question noted for administrative follow-up from the Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center

Thank you.

This item is being brought forward to us by Councilmember Wansley, who I will first recognize to introduce the item.

Can we do a recess?

Thank you.

you stop being homophobic

And so, as a reminder, we are on item number four, which is violence prevention funding for Hennepin County.

I apologize for the disruption, but Councilmember Wansley, I will now recognize you to please introduce your item.

So with that, I stand for any questions and that's all.

Is there a second to Councilmember Wonsley's motion to approve this resolution?

Second.

I will first recognize Councilmember Vita.

So I'm trying to understand what did some council members learn that I haven't learned that happened in the process with the last RFP.

Okay, excellent.

That might be helpful, but I would encourage the Commissioner to speak to any details related to the RFP.

We'll welcome Commissioner Barnett from the Office of Community Safety to join us and if you could please address Councilmember Vitale's question.

So, just from August up until now, hopefully that gives you some timelines there.

Somebody just selected a group of people that it actually was a process that got put into practice.

So I just wanted to add that.

I really don't understand what's happened.

Thank you.

NNSC was also a part of the review process, and they were also a part of the negotiations that are currently happening.

So like were you all hearing things about like it's a bad idea to put an RFP out or like this process isn't like what was happening internally?

all the stakeholders, all the parties that are needed to ensure that we're asking for the right information, having the right criteria and following that GVI model to ensure that we're getting the right people to apply and that the selection process is fair but also gets the vendors who are capable of doing the work.

And then the last question for now is, so the process, the entire process of putting the RFP, who were all the partners that were a part of the process from the starting of writing the new RFP to getting it out?

Samantha, Laurie.

Can you name the agency and not use, like, the acronym, please?

We also work closely with the City Attorney's Office to ensure that there weren't any factors in the RFP that would limit participation, but also that we're adhering to the procurement policy, the city policy.

And then that's the group that was a part of the process.

Thank you.

Next I will recognize Vice Chair Koski.

Welcome back.

Um, for that, and then can you repeat please the second part?

So it's currently allocated in the city's budget through the general fund versus how much is contingent on securing grants or other external funding?

Currently none of it is through external funding or securing grants.

I don't have the notes in front of me, but I do know that it's a combination of both general funds and other grants, but it's a mixture because we really had to figure out how to pull money from places to really make up the funds for this program, for these two programs.

Up to the one point, just over one million dollars.

We can respond to the memo.

Okay, we can add that.

Correct.

Has anything for this budget year?

We can follow up as well.

And then, are there any existing GVI and YGVI contracts?

Yes, there is.

And would they be transferred, rebid, or renegotiated if we went through this process?

And so incumbent vendors, their contracts will end March 31, 2025.

and how would we do that transfer?

That would not happen if the funds were transferred.

okay they would not happen that we know of at the moment correct because we're on if the money is transferred okay and so that actually bodes into my next question about if the programs remain under the city administration when would they be fully operational

So there would be no interruption in service if the funds stay with NSD.

That is correct.

That could potentially be.

So if these programs were to be moved to the county would there be a gap in services during the transition and if so how long?

And I don't know what that would look like.

You mentioned one vendor, so I'm just wondering, have you talked to multiple vendors and what does that look like?

you know the criteria is in the RFP or individual challenges of course there was a bit of a segue talking about whether or not the city needs to fund additional things that might not necessarily fall under the public purpose doctrine but the bulk of the planning in terms of the criteria and other aspects we relied mostly on technical assistance provider to do so as well as our stakeholders our partners from Hennepin County

Anything else that they described with working with the city?

Well, it's a mixture of feedback, but I do know that the primary concern was around the public purpose doctrine.

So do we know if any of these vendors have worked with the county before some of our current vendors?

I've been in conversation with Dale Johnson when I started with NSD to have an understanding mostly around overlapping contracts but not necessarily the services that they're providing.

Do you know what the timeline would be for drafting, negotiating, and finalizing the MOU between the city and the county?

I don't think that process has begun at all, and I don't know who the players in that conversation would be, so I don't know what that timeline process would look like.

Again, I'm unsure if they answered that question.

Vice Chair Koski, would you like to see if Council Member Wonsley or perhaps Deputy City Attorney Nelson might have some additional thoughts to chime in with?

Again, we worked with the city attorneys to be able to factor into any agreement that essentially they would have to get in the room with Hennepin County staff as well as our department staff to hash out.

Can you just describe the differences and how perhaps the GBI program could be incorporated within the YGBI program at the county or if they would have to actually stand up an entirely new program for that work?

Honestly, there's a disconnect probably and I'll ask questions of our staff when we get to that part or for me to speak but I actually anticipate it won't be much of an issue for Hennepin County to get up a robust program should this funding be approved.

And then the funding is approved contingent on the MOU being addressed and approved.

It was very clear agreements, agreements, agreements, so agreement.

and then this agreement will this agreement come back forward to the council once this is step one and then we will have this agreement will come back through after the agreement is negotiated with the county and the city is that correct absolutely in part in the first sentence of part two of the motion it says any agreement with the county to administer the group violence intervention and youth

Group violence intervention programs in the city of Minneapolis for the duration of 2025 must be brought to the council for approval.

Appreciate it.

I will next recognize Councilmember Cashman followed by Councilmember Wansley followed by Councilmember Palmisano.

I know that there's many roles within the department but who really does oversee the YGBI and GBI work that the city, the contracts that the city has had this past year.

a business analyst in the Office of Community Safety who's also working on the referral process and then myself who is overseeing the prioritization of this work as well as the commissioner who's helping to support the work as well as the staff at NNSC who's working on supporting us in the hiring of a new position which is currently we're currently reviewing the resumes for that position at this time.

Why would moving GBI and YGBI money impact the other programs?

So we have a budget of a smaller number than 1.1, 1.2 million for that work and so moving that money over to Hennepin County would cut in to other programs.

Okay, and so then can you identify how much money was planned on being spent on GVI and YGVI this year that wouldn't cut into other programs?

Okay, thank you.

Just Councilmember Cashman if I may just as a quick follow-up, when did you know that you would be underspending the GVI and YGVI budget?

Can you define underspend?

When did you become aware that you would be spending less than $1,125,000 in 2025 on GVI and YGVI?

So there's no underspending because it was never, that amount of money was never budgeted for GVIYGVI Council Member Wonsley, where did you get this $1,125,000 number?

So I use figures that were basically provided by both staff and also by essentially because it took forever to get that information from staff, cobbling the contracts that has been approved through AO this past year and the budget that we approved for NSD to get what you have before you.

Going back to our queue, next I'll recognize Councilmember Wonsley followed by Councilmember Palmisano followed by Councilmember Rainville.

Can you let me know, when did you put the contract back in place with John Jay?

I think, again, I don't have the exact contract dates, but since I was with the department, I've worked with John Jay, so I'd have to.

Can you remind me when were you hired again?

Okay, of last year.

That said, can you also let me know last year when did the Cure Violence contract get re-initiated?

So currently we're in the evaluation phase for that formal RFP that we were instructed to release and we anticipate having a selection by the week of the 17th.

Just to loop back on that because I believe Deputy Director Lakes, at our last presentation, I think it was clarified that we currently are seeking an RFP for a Cure Violence provider also.

So before the expiration we want to enter a new contract so we have that continuation.

Is that RFP up for a Cure Violence partner?

So I just wanted to correct that.

the very organization that guides organizations across the country and how to implement it correctly there's a chance that we might not enter into a contract with that organization.

And if that person or that organization is the best, that's who we'll select.

Again, in any other capacity, how we were not to do that for Cure Violence for the very organization that guides the best practices around this model for this particular program.

And so the information that we provided was not adequate for them to approve that, and so we had to go through the formal process.

And the information you provided, the department provided inaccurate information for the single source process to move forward.

That's fine.

To clarify, we did apply for the sole source and were denied by procurement, so went through the RFP process.

Can you let me know who specifically within your department again are going to those weekly meetings with our county providers?

Councilmember Wonsley, can you remind me what restored context, restored from when?

You're supposed to have weekly by weekly meetings with law enforcement agencies, changes contacts and the city was supposed to be there and we were told we were there so who it sounds like someone from the city was there

That position title is a program assistant.

And previously who was the...?

Previously it was the program public health specialist and they left and now we are in the process of hiring a replacement and so in the meantime we have the program assistant holding those meetings while we hired the next person.

And can you name how long was the previous program manager for YGBI, NGBI in that position for?

I don't know the answer to that question.

In terms of our national stakeholders, can you also highlight what is our current relationship with the National Office of Violence Prevention?

Okay, thank you.

the NICJR team in order to proceed with a contract with them.

You mentioned two separate ones.

So National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform, NICJR, that's the name that they go by, and then they're responsible for NOVPN, so the National Office of Violence Prevention Network, which is the network that all the OVP offices are a part of, so NICJR is the proper way to refer to them.

Got it.

So I know our last meeting it wasn't clear if we actually had status update on that.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

However, those who were not selected have received their letters.

I see.

I'm curious, what is the point?

Council Member Wonsley, do you want to address that?

Like apparently that's how things happen here based off of our rescue model.

That's exactly it.

So that's the goal of this motion.

Any further questions, Council Member Palmesano?

No Madam Chair, my point was that this will have to go through all the rework and all of the process of the rigor of the Coppola lawsuit and perhaps others so we'll be reinventing the wheel across the street to come back and be approved by this body and that makes no sense to me.

I will now recognize Councilmember Rainville followed by Councilmember Vito.

It seems like some of these vendors are not getting paid because there were issues and maybe you could explain that so we understand what the public purpose doctrine is.

That's not for public purpose, but I return to our city attorney for a more thorough definition of it.

and yes, as the Commissioner noted, there are some situations in an emergency situation defined broadly where expenditures may be okay in that context on an individualized basis but would not be generally or otherwise.

what the city enterprise is set up to do.

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Are they not newer than ours?

I know the city has had it for a long time because of my prior employment of being involved with GVI.

And also, this is a county question, does Eden Prairie or Brooklyn Park pay the county for GVI services in their districts?

I'm not aware of the county having a relationship with those cities.

They're doing the work, they work late at night, they're very responsive, and I thank them for all the work they've done on Nicollet Mall and in the Warehouse District Live.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Vito followed by Councilmember Osman and then I think we'll be ready to consider the motion on this question.

Is something different happening?

So just the way I understand it, it's to move these programs over to the county, which to be administered through a public and competitive process.

But we did that, is what I'm saying.

of the city of

Specifically, let's just speak to YGVI because I think that's who I heard from was YGVI people that they did not... Can I make one quick correction?

I was corrected that they are actually in negotiation.

So what's going to happen when somebody's friend doesn't get selected for Violence Interrupters Group because there's a solid process in place to select.

To select.

I didn't say anybody's name.

Council Member, I don't think we should insinuate at all.

Period.

Finally I'll recognize Councilmember Osman.

Go ahead.

How long do we expect this move to last?

Thank you Council Member Ellison for the duration of 2025.

which you know Council Member Rainville you talked about our need to help this department develop you know I still believe in that but I think I support this move because we're talking about a limited scope a limited timeline and I do have a few other questions for the authors because it came up during discussion but is the intention here to make sure that we do not interrupt continuity of service because I know it came up as a concern from other council members?

So, ideally, that information can be reflected in any agreement that's brought forward to Council for approval.

the discussion, but I think this move is reasonable and I don't think we should make it bigger than what it feels like to me.

Next I'll recognize Councilmember Palmisano followed by Councilmember Osman.

Commissioner Barnett, can you help us understand how long after this whole system was rebuilt, how long did it take to do the RFP and negotiate contracts with these vendors, like an approximation of months

finalize negotiations and Execute the contracts by April 1st 2025 Thank you.

To the other point I would say I got this resolution after noon today so if people want to rebuild a bridge or establish one in the first place it's about building relationships trusted relationships and that feels pretty basic in terms of communication

I will recognize Council Member Osman.

I would like to hear from the department before Thursday if the Violent Interruptors Program will be impacted and what number would it not impact.

We are narrowly speaking about GVI and why GVI in this topic.

So because we only have X amount of money, moving so much of that to Hennepin County will mean it will impact the violence interruption services which are completely different but the pot of money is going to be impacted so those services will need to be reduced significantly.

So if that amount before Thursday, the author comes up a number that will not, would you be able to give us a number that this will not impact those violent interpreters?

So I can't share those numbers per city rules in procurement.

Thank you.

Next I will recognize Vice Chair Koski.

Is there a way that we could have our city attorney help us understand?

So while they're still in negotiations, most of the information is non-public.

And so how much longer do we feel negotiations is going to go on?

So it should be done then.

and then I do too, I know Council Member Choudry had to leave to go to the Capitol and due to some of this unknown information I would like to make a motion to approve without recommendation today.

Clerk, I see... go ahead.

So it's not appropriate to make a motion to send forward without recommendation until and unless that motion were to fail.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council Member Vitale, then Council Member Chavez.

Like, internally, what are the proven failures that's happened that has, that has rung this bill that we need to move it?

Would you like her to address the question?

I recognize it's short on time so I won't go into every specific thing that's highlighted in that almost seven page memo.

I'll find it and I'll ask more questions up until Thursday.

And then finally, I'll recognize Councilmember Chavez.

When we approve funding, there's funding for everything.

So in during contract negotiations, we cannot share the amount of money being negotiated.

Or what?

There's an amount of money that we have to decide what goes where based off of the needs of the city.

And that's why I'm asking those questions because it is concerning that there isn't a specific amount of money that is being used for YGVI or GVI in the city's budget.

I cannot share that information.

I'm just confused why there isn't a number for this.

Chair Choctaw, Councilmember Chavez, after the contract negotiation is done, we can tell you how much is budgeted.

And I think that we need to structurally change the way we do budgeting in Minneapolis so residents know what they're paying for and what they're getting out of it.

It's not a line item in your budget to mark, if that makes sense.

That is it.

Councilmember Wonsley, then Councilmember Vita.

So with that I do recognize it's timely for us to basically wrap this up and we'll call to question.

I'm not hearing one.

I'm trying to find out what has happened, what can this administration, meaning the staff who works here, like what has happened that shows something is wrong.

Clerk please call the roll.

Council Member Payne Aye Wonsley Aye Rainville No Vita No Ellison Aye Osman Aye Cashman No Jenkins Nay Chavez Aye Chaudry is absent, Palmisano

No.

There are six ayes and six nays.

If that motion fails I will recognize Vice Chair Koski to make the next motion.

Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to move this for approval without recommendation.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Council member Payne?

Aye.

Rainville?

No.

Ellison?

Aye.

There are seven ayes and five nays.

With that, colleagues, we've completed all business to come before this committee today and without objection we stand adjourned.