City residents will likely have a chance to sound off on the mayor's Vikings stadium plan in the coming weeks, following a push for hearings at Friday's City Council meeting.

The last-minute agenda update, which appeared to catch Council president Barb Johnson by surprise, was introduced by the most vocal opponents of the mayor's plan to redirect existing hospitality taxes to stadium construction and operations: Gary Schiff and Lisa Goodman.

Schiff said because of the advance notice that is required, a hearing likely would not take place for at least two weeks.

"The City Council shouldn't make spending decisions with closed door meetings and signing form letters," said Schiff, referring to seven letters of support presented to the governor this week. "Today's Council action means we will have public hearings, and the public will finally have a chance to speak on the proposed Vikings stadium subsidies."

Goodman said determining whether the plan triggers a charter requirement to hold a citywide vote could be a crucial discussion point. The mayor's office argues it is not because the taxes are merely being reclaimed by the state.

"The important thing to know is that the public should have the right to comment to the City Council with regard to whether or not they think the use of sales tax in Minneapolis – that would need to be approved by the Minneapolis City Council – constitutes a Minneapolis tax under the charter," Goodman said. "And I would guess there would be some lawyers who perhaps would have legal opinions on that side of it as well."

The action Friday referred the discussion to three committees -- Community Development, Ways and Means, and Intergovernmental Relations -- but it remains unclear whether there would be three hearings or one.

IGR Chair Elizabeth Glidden, also an opponent of the plan, said the timing of the hearings depends on "if it's moving [at the Capitol] and it looks like there may be a hearing in one of the House committees."