Council orders full Guidehouse compensation study; administration disputes public release process
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Summary
The Minneapolis City Council voted to request the full enterprise-wide salary and compensation study produced by Guidehouse Inc.; council members said the charter gives them a legal right to the report, while administration and others raised confidentiality and handling concerns.
The Minneapolis City Council on Oct. 23 adopted a legislative directive requesting the city’s enterprise-wide salary and compensation study produced by Guidehouse Inc., prompting a contentious exchange over access to the unredacted report.
Council Member Emily Koski argued the council has a legal right under the city charter to receive the full study because workforce compensation accounts for a large portion of the city budget. “We have a legal right to have that study, not just a summary or briefing from staff,” Koski said, adding that the council needs the full data to carry out its budget and fiduciary duties.
Administration officials and some council members raised concerns about confidentiality and the potential release of private employee data. Council Member Palmisano noted the COO’s memo indicating portions of the study contain private data and that the administration has been providing regular updates. The city attorney clarified formal timelines for legislative directives (the mayor has five days after receipt to approve, not approve or return the directive) but said the council may weigh public interests against confidentiality protections.
Council members pressed the administration to provide the study; Koski proposed the council receive copies in secure, sealed, confidential envelopes and requested delivery by Oct. 27. Vice President Chaghtai said an updated motion clarified the request did not ask for publication of nonpublic data but for council access. After debate the council approved the directive by roll-call vote.
The directive does not publish the Guidehouse report to the public. The administration indicated earlier that some data in the report are private and cannot be publicly released, and the city attorney and COO noted ordinary procedures for handling sensitive materials. The record shows the council intends to exercise its authority to obtain the study for oversight purposes; the administration and council leadership said they would coordinate the safe transfer and briefings.