Council advances law‑enforcement ID rules, approves autonomous-vehicle study and other measures

On June 11 the Minneapolis City Council moved multiple policy items forward. Among the most substantive, the body advanced an ordinance limiting law-enforcement officers from concealing their identities while operating under city joint‑powers agreements, approved a staff directive to draft local licensing and regulatory options for commercial autonomous vehicles and adopted a resolution condemning a recent federal funding package for immigration enforcement.

Council Member Chowdhury, a sponsor of the law-enforcement ordinance, described it as a narrow step to increase transparency in joint-powers agreements and protect community trust. “When it comes to the future joint powers agreements, I think there is more that we need to do,” Chowdhury said; the proposal includes exceptions for cold weather and medical emergencies but would require identification (name and badge) to be shown when faces are covered under those narrow conditions.

Separately, Council Member Wonsley brought forward a staff directive to begin research and stakeholder engagement to regulate commercial autonomous vehicles (licensing, worker impacts and public-safety and climate implications). The council approved the directive and set an outline for a multi-month research and public‑engagement process.

Other council actions included approval to apply for FEMA SAFER grant funding for the Fire Department (three-year salary support up to roughly $2.2 million if awarded), a referral for mayoral nominations to hold public hearings and a one-time Meet Minneapolis seed funding allocation to support the return of the Uptown Art Fair.

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“This is one very narrow and small step that we’re taking forward,” Council Member Chowdhury said of the joint‑powers face‑covering ordinance, emphasizing transparency and accountability for agencies working in the city.

The council adopted the committee reports and staff directives with recorded roll calls; committee chairs noted some items had been vetted in committee and would proceed through required ordinance or grant-review steps.