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Breaking: Judge Orders $15/Hour Mimimum Wage Measure Be Placed on November Ballot


Yesterday, Hennepin County Judge Susan Robiner issued an opinion in which she overruled the Minneapolis City Council who earlier this month had voted against placing a $15/hour minimum wage measure on the November ballot.  Readers might remember that the City Attorney, Susan Segal, had previously issued an advisory legal opinion in which she stated that only a limited number of issues could be considered charter amendments.  Consequently, other questions (such as the $15/hour minimum wage issue) required a vote by the City Council.  As a result, the City Council voted against placing the minimum wage measure on the ballot.

However, Judge Robiner disagreed with this reasoning and wrote in her opinion that the City Council's interpretation of the language in its own charter was too narrow.  According to the Judge, a minimum wage increase would amount to a matter of general health and welfare of the city and therefore should be considered part of the charter.

At this point, it appears the $15/hour minimum wage measure is headed for the November ballot.  The City can still choose to appeal...although it has until this Friday, August 26th, to do so.  Let's see how this one plays out.


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