[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6082212,"mediaKeyId","2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8","parentId",2939069,"title","Committee authorizes $871,500 design contract for Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave","audioSeconds",988,"startMs",1630000,"endMs",2618000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8&start=1630&end=2618","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8/thumbnail_1630000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6082212/Minneapolis-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Committee-authorizes-871500-design-contract-for-Minneapolis-Democracy-Center-at-3000-Minnehaha-Ave","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082212-844e49d6638dc2b86eb77b96bf9071a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162288&Signature=gyZMECx~3wLv33dTcxCYMm8fV15u4qiuYawQUpdzv2kDpZa1TtVcDstlbd6izDBX6wrHxR1FOgAzq4qLrXmlOCLyDe7nrCdyrCORlDoWoDrY5wmGtJPtAc8oxq9zwmT3s1ktAiiKzpTOVFVuu2rZtzk6FSzFCQwNagtM-8QFeBxWIrjN3y5gGPwRubdOEd-k3C-o1JFHUeqmevTDdzfrHHaxjMXgdRBs1TdLwLmt9yAmZb~2egNF0aPS02IGyPeRYtkXLBiXxxw34QP4olb~QTwFMBTsx2Pf1slwKkt7mdqoBuTbaHLetFL2BliC3EapLsI2m3U6ckPVUQjIcHO9~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Minneapolis, MN","date","2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee on April 7 authorized a contract with LSE Architects for architectural and engineering design services to convert the city-owned building at 3000 Minnehaha Avenue into the Minneapolis Democracy Center, which will house the Elections and Voter Services division.

Clerk Casey Carl told the committee the contract would be \"in an amount not to exceed $871,500\" to cover architectural and engineering design, construction administration and cost estimating services for the project. The committee approved the contract by voice vote; Council Member Ellison moved approval and Council Member Vitale seconded.

The democracy center is intended to consolidate the city’s election operations, which are currently spread across leased space, into a single, city-owned facility said Carl. The project includes space reserved for an 8,000-square-foot ground-level area intended for a community partner. Carl said the contract would be paid from reallocation of unspent 2023 election-year budget savings as included in resolution 2024 R 418.

Barbara O’Brien, director of Property Services, described the procurement and schedule: the city issued an RFP in December 2024, received eight proposals, shortlisted four firms and conducted interviews. Property Services plans a design kickoff in May; staff and the architect will return to elected leaders in August with a schematic design presentation and then continue to construction documents through December 2025, with construction bidding anticipated in January 2026.

Mohammed Lawal, chief executive officer and principal architect for Lawal Scott Erickson (LSE) Architects, said his firm will focus on programming and schematic design that repurposes and transforms the existing building at Minnehaha and Lake Street. \"This would be one of the highest honors for us as a firm to work with the city of Minneapolis and your property services on the Minneapolis Democracy Center,\" Lawal said.

Committee members noted the project’s history and community interest. Ellison said he had changed his view after colleagues explained community concerns and praised the firm’s community experience; Vitale seconded the motion and thanked the firm for applying.

Staff emphasized the contract contains an explicit feedback point: after initial schematic work, staff and LSE will present proposed layouts and design concepts to the council so elected leaders can provide input at a stage when changes can still be incorporated. No construction contract was approved at this meeting; the action authorized design services only.

The committee recorded the approval by voice vote; no roll-call tally identifying individual yes/no votes was read into the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 7, 2025 Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee on April 7 authorized a contract with LSE Architects for architectural and engineering design services to convert the city-owned building at 3000 Minnehaha Avenue into the Minneapolis Democracy Center, which will house the Elections and Voter Services division.","taxTitle","Minneapolis City, Hennepin County, Minnesota","taxId",3498,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6082202,"Committee forwards consent agenda to full council; downtown storefronts contract discussed",601,199000,800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8&start=199&end=800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8/thumbnail_199000.jpg","/articles/6082202/Minneapolis-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Committee-forwards-consent-agenda-to-full-council-downtown-storefronts-contract-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082202-1506333270b015668bede2c9faca908d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162288&Signature=i7WeQbBaw9zxfs4BmRNbTdsTpmHIGV2L-oqN7PaYRRgk8f0cNvmX0YRxFydd3qGEuMucCbeTwWzebdHM~4~cIV8XSWJ6t~Wa3FV-iv1d7Epf3DBvOtJMCM7P2hs4PofY8h0vYFH65YA3Aid8zMWTJzX9~rKAo5jUDR5Phm1J~6y-Fseo~49-ljmSoAvMeyq1qaOHCcguQWdax1loBk5R~x7JGSgxlJK52~rodF-4mmIKj5--Ep-WvV1lJN7vq6Yhc9yGF1KF2VOUigM44Tsm42VkWqJfnulbCKMorOQmm5qZd5pNPDkCizT7218Oat19DMeL9Wep2Eu~-mE56Q1woQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vice Chair Linnae Palmisano read into the record 11 items on the consent agenda and moved the package with a recommendation for approval to the full City Council. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The consent package included (numbers correspond to staff read list): 1) a gift acceptance from the National Public Safety Partnership to cover travel and lodging expenses for Chief O’Hara; 2) a gift acceptance from the Minnesota section of the American Water Works Association; 3) a contract amendment with Carpool Computer Systems for case management software—an increase of $27,000, bringing the contract to a total not to exceed $664,650; 4) a $250,000 contract amendment with Pillsbury United Communities for their LEAD program services through the end of next year; 5) contracts with Metro Youth Diversion for East Lake Street and East Franklin Community Safety Ambassador Programs; 6) a contract amendment with the State of Minnesota for air-quality monitoring stations on city property; 7) a contract amendment with Kramer North America for First Avenue bridge reconstruction (Bridal reconstruction referenced in staff remarks); 8) contract extensions with various vendors for violence prevention services (extensions of 2024 contracts); 9) a contract with the Downtown Council for the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts initiative in the amount of $460,000 through March 1, 2026, with an option to extend two additional years subject to availability of funds; 10) a lease amendment with Coco for facility and meeting room space; and 11) a bid award for overlay and existing lane markings.

Council Member Cashman asked to hear more about item 9, the downtown storefronts contract. Staff explained the Downtown Council work began in 2023 with an initial $75,000 contract, continued with $400,000 in 2024, and that the 2025 contract expands technical assistance, cohorts with NEON, a downtown retail inventory tool and a GIS-based dashboard to analyze vacancies and square footage. Lisa Midagg, introduced as the Downtown Council senior director for economic development, said the downtown retail inventory dashboard is available on the Downtown Council website and that the office has engaged a broker with a list of prospects.

Cashman asked for vacancy counts and a goal for spaces to be filled; staff said they would follow up and a staff memo would be prepared. Earlier in the meeting Council Member Ellison explained to visiting students the purpose of a consent agenda and noted items placed there avoid debate.

Palmasano moved the full consent package to council with approval recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.","The committee moved 11 consent items to the full council with a recommendation for approval, including a $460,000 contract with the Downtown Council for the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts initiative. Council Member Cashman asked staff for a follow-up memo on downtown retail vacancy counts and program fill goals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":80,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6082207,"Committee approves 2025 Open Streets grants: $50,000 each for four events and $50,000 reserve for hard costs",821,1621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8&start=800&end=1621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939069-b6ff38bd87425c75bded874eb67e4ff8/thumbnail_800000.jpg","/articles/6082207/Minneapolis-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Committee-approves-2025-Open-Streets-grants-50000-each-for-four-events-and-50000-reserve-for-hard-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082207-178c9f625515eb5695e7771e765cdf14/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162288&Signature=B2ZU37N~BOLxOO9~9~VQWTqeRSjLUQ78H5P1eDIYgYXTL4Eb1O1zDsFp75ZlGlAyyyKQauBfVpUxHEjl-QZ1JZ78nsA6veOS-uMougf0oT5zRTspPdC0dJjEBIjIFyJbC8UfyUCxuaU4ZL0TE0q6rYtpnGArtHm2klR9aw7J3WUEq5jRyhaM6E~ewYUGWw74m4dDDA0sVYVOxTAGTjpGOytamxi8-RzwscRfUmU71DidhYHQ8KIb9XdOs-aEWLO~KACpnbT-2dKAgCEfUYawck5RWnxZEjvatVsVwOFiz9kYqds65SdrGR13-Swh3VzaQzeUmdzPTvBK8M1Gv~1IZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee on April 7 approved contracts and funding support for Open Streets Minneapolis 2025, allocating $50,000 in cash reimbursements to each of four event organizers and a $50,000 reserve for hard expenses.

Andrew Ballard, enterprise events manager in the Office of Public Service, said last year was the first year the office led procurement and planning for Open Streets; organizers reported roughly 75,000 attendees across three 2024 events. For 2025 the city selected four event locations and organizers: Central Avenue on Aug. 2 (Audubon Neighborhood Association); Cedar Avenue/Riverside on Aug. 17 (West Bank Business Association); West Broadway on Sept. 6 (West Broadway Business Coalition); and Hennepin Avenue in Uptown (Uptown Association).

Ballard said each organizer will be reimbursed up to $50,000 after invoicing allowable expenses; the city also provides in-kind services (public safety, public works, sanitation and other department support) and waives permit fees. Staff estimated the value of in-kind services at roughly $65,000–$75,000 per event, making the city’s combined cash plus in-kind contribution approximately $100,000–$125,000 per event. Event organizers also raise private sponsorships; Ballard said organizers brought in an additional $35,000–$50,000 per event in 2024.

Ballard estimated total event budgets (including city in-kind, cash grants and organizer-raised funds) were in the range of $150,000 to $175,000 per event. He said the city will reimburse organizers after they reconcile expenses with invoices and receipts.

Council members praised placing an Open Streets event on Hennepin Avenue to highlight recent streetscape work and support Uptown businesses. Council Member Cashman asked about retail vacancy data downtown; staff said a downtown retail inventory dashboard and vacancy tool has been developed and is publicly available, and Council Member Cashman requested a staff memo follow-up with vacancy counts and the number of spaces the city hopes to fill through this initiative.

Council Member Palmisano moved approval; Council Member Allison seconded. The committee approved the contracts by voice vote.","The committee approved contracts supporting four Open Streets Minneapolis events in 2025, providing $50,000 reimbursements per event organizer plus a $50,000 reserve for hard costs; staff reported last year’s three events drew about 75,000 attendees and that per-event city cost (cash + in-kind) is about $100,000–$125,000.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee authorizes $871,500 design contract for Minneapolis Democracy Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave

Committee forwards consent agenda to full council; downtown storefronts contract discussed

Committee approves 2025 Open Streets grants: $50,000 each for four events and $50,000 reserve for hard costs