§ 4.1 — Function

§ 4.1. - Function.

(a) Legislative body. The legislative body is the City Council, in which the City's general legislative, policymaking authority, and oversight resides. (b) Scope. The Council may act on the City's behalf in any matter, except where— (1) this charter reserves the action for a different board, commission, or committee, or for the Mayor or the administration for which article VII provides; or (2) the action is inconsistent with this charter or otherwise unlawful. (c) Council as statutory board. (1) Generally. Where the law provides for municipal action through a board or commission, and this charter does not reserve that authority to a board or commission other than the Council, the Council must either— (A) itself serve as the board or commission for which the law provides, even if the board or commission is a statutory rather than a municipal agency; or (B) provide by ordinance for the board or commission, in which case— (i) the board's or commission's membership may (but need not) consist partly or wholly of Council members, and (ii) the Council may (but need not) organize the board or commission as a municipal department. (2) Board of appeal and equalization. The Council may provide under this section 4.1(c) for a board of appeal and equalization, in which case it may also provide that any such board must return to the Council the assessment rolls that the board has revised, in which case the Council may confirm the board's revisions or return the rolls to the board for further revision. (d) Franchises. The Council may grant and regulate any lawful franchise. (e) Licenses. The Council may grant a license only if the license expires within one year. (f) Liquor licenses. Subject to any other applicable law, the Council may grant a license for the sale of liquor. (1) Zoning. The Council may grant a liquor license only in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use, not for residence or office use. (2) Wine licenses. The Council may grant a license for the on-sale of wine, which may include the on-sale of intoxicating malt beverages, to a restaurant which otherwise qualifies for the license under each applicable law or ordinance. (3) On-site consumption. The Council must by ordinance establish standards for a restaurant holding a liquor license. (4) Other limits. The Council may by ordinance impose additional limits on granting a liquor license. (5) Other laws and ordinances apply. All laws and ordinances that otherwise apply to a licensed site remain applicable after the Council has granted a liquor license. (g) Rent stabilization. (1) Council adoption. The Council may adopt a rent control ordinance or a rent stabilization ordinance to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis. (2) Submission to voters. The Council may submit a rent control or rent stabilization ballot question to qualified voters to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis. It must be submitted at a general or special election on a date allowed under Minnesota election law. If more than half of the votes cast on the ballot question are in favor of its adoption, the ordinance will take effect in 30 days from the date of the election or at such other time as is fixed in the ordinance.

(PLC-175, § 1, 11-4-14, eff. 1-16-15; Res. 2018R-253, 12-7-18, eff. 12-7-18; Ord. No. 2021-056, § 1, 11-19-2021, eff. 12-2-21; Ord. No. 2021-057, § 1, 11-19-2021, eff. 12-2-21)