By: Nick Ehrenberg
Those who followed the endless debate over the Vikings stadium bill knew that one final step was necessary before the law could be implemented. The Minneapolis City Council needed to approve their city's portion of the funding mechanism within 30 days after the bill was signed.
Friday morning, the council voted 7-6 to approve the measure, clearing the final hurdle in the new law's labyrinthine journey. The vote reaffirms the council's slim majority in approval of the stadium plan, which will call for a $150 million shift in city taxes from the Minneapolis Convention Center to the new stadium.
Mayor R.T. Rybak championed the bill throughout its journey, and defended it to councilmembers in a committee meeting Thursday afternoon.
