Minneapolis Council adopts ordinance to increase review of smaller professional contracts

The Minneapolis City Council on Oct. 23 adopted an ordinance that alters how the city reviews professional services contracts under the council-approval threshold.

Council Member Aisha Wansley, the ordinance author, told colleagues the change is intended to increase transparency and guard against fraud, waste and reputational damage after the council uncovered contracts awarded to vendors with questionable records or apparent conflicts of interest. “These contracts are on our agendas and require a vote ensuring opportunity for oversight by the council and public,” Wansley said during debate.

The ordinance responds to several issues raised earlier this term, including a contract awarded by the Neighborhood Safety Department where a staff member had a personal relationship with the vendor and disputed payments in contracts tied to a provider referenced in the city auditor’s review. Wansley said the change will give the council a fuller view of which departments are working with which vendors and allow corrective action when contracts raise “red flags.” Council Member Emily Koski added she would co-author the ordinance.

The motion passed on a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded ayes from Council Members Koski, Wansley, Jenkins, Palmisano, Choudhury, Cashman, Osman, Rainey, Chavez, Vitak, Ellison, Vice President Chaghtai and President Payne; the tally recorded 13 ayes.

The ordinance does not list an ordinance number in the agenda text and does not change contract dollar amounts specifically beyond the expanded reporting and approval processes described in the motion.

Proponents said the measure balances accountability with keeping procurement accessible to small businesses. Council members who spoke in favor described follow-up actions, including future policy work to prevent conflicts and to strengthen oversight. No speaker advocated for reverting to a higher threshold.

The ordinance now moves to administrative implementation and to any subsequent procedural steps required to collect and publish the expanded set of contract records.