The stadium clock will soon start ticking at Minneapolis City Hall.
When Gov. Mark Dayton signs just-passed Vikings legislation in the coming days, the Minneapolis City Council will have 30 days to supply seven yes votes the bill needs to go into effect. Mayor R.T. Rybak predicts the council will likely take action May 25, its next regular meeting.
The final legislation ensures Minneapolis voters will not take a vote on the stadium, despite a city charter requirement to hold a referendum when the city spends more than $10 million on professional sports facilities.
On Thursday, Rybak's slim seven-vote majority on the council appeared to remain firm. Council Member Sandy Colvin Roy, one of the last to support the plan, said she has seen nothing in recent days that would sway her vote.
"The biggest change I know of is the Vikings are going to pay more," Colvin Roy said. "And that's good."
Council Member Kevin Reich, the other swing vote who eventually supported the plan, did not respond to requests for comment.
As for the timing of the vote, Rybak said in an interview that "we really haven't had time to make that decision. But it's likely that we'll do it on the 25th." Only Rybak can call a special council meeting earlier than that date.
Deciding whether the bill goes through council committees is up to Council President Barb Johnson, who did not return a request for comment Thursday. The most likely committee would be intergovernmental relations, which includes all council members.
