Mpls. City Council Blocks Minimum Wage, Police Insurance Amendments
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Two big and controversial decisions were made at Friday morning's Minneapolis City Council meeting.
The first issue is that of minimum wage. The city council considered a citizen petition that would have put the issue of a $15-an-hour minimum wage up for a vote on the November ballot, but a majority of the council members voted "no."
But officials voted on Wednesday for staff to develop a city minimum wage ordinance to be presented in early 2017.
The second decision dealt with professional liability insurance for police officers, and that is when protesters stepped in and spoke up.
The group, Committee for Professional Policing, asked the council to approve a measure that would allow voters to decide whether police should carry professional liability insurance.
If placed on the ballot and approved, the group says it would demand accountability.
As the city council discussed minimum wage, supporters of Philando Castile interrupted with a silent, peaceful protest.
When a majority of council voted "no" and said the issue would not pass to move to the ballot, the group stormed out and threatened a lawsuit to make sure voters have the final say in November.
In the hallway, they refused to leave despite several requests from officers.
CPP says it collected more than 15,000 signatures for the issue to be placed on the ballot, and they will continue fighting.
"Our measure would require police officers to carry professional liability insurance. It would allow the city to pay for that insurance, but it would not allow the city to pay for any increased premiums based on police misconduct," said Michelle Gross of CPP. "That money would come from those officers themselves, giving them a huge incentive not to engage in that misconduct and giving them a consequence when they do."
The group also says its actions are part of the democratic process and defending the rights of voters to make decisions their community.
Friday's push is the latest demonstration from supporters of Philando Castile, the St. Paul man shot and killed by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez.
The BCA is investigating. Yanez remains on paid leave