St. Paul City Council Meeting - November 19, 2025

The St. Paul City Council convened on November 19, 2025, with Council President Naker presiding. The meeting featured the adoption of various ordinances for the World Junior Hockey Championship, the banning of virtual currency kiosks, and significant public testimony regarding river corridor development and a fire-damaged mosque. Councilmember Nelson Yang, returning from maternity leave, was appointed to additional boards. A majority of routine items were passed unanimously, while key items regarding the Mississippi River Corridor, a vacant building, and the Port Authority budget were continued to December 3rd for further deliberation.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 25-1752: Laid over until December 3rd (technical item).
• Item 10: Withdrawn.
• Ordinance 25-63: Adopted to allow garbage cart sharing at properties with two or more dwelling units.
• Ordinance 25-66: Adopted to establish regulations for cannabis and hemp business registration.
• Ordinance 25-67: Adopted to adjust park hours for the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship.
• Ordinance 25-68: Adopted to allow items in the right-of-way for downtown entertainment district businesses during the championship.
• Ordinance 25-69: Adopted to remove sound level variance requirements in the downtown entertainment district during the championship.
• Ordinance 25-70: Adopted to allow extended alcohol service hours (until 2 a.m.) in the downtown entertainment district during the championship.
• Ordinance 25-71: Adopted to simplify temporary structure permit requirements during the championship.
• Resolution 25-232: Adopted to correct a bond proceeds transfer for fighter cardiac monitors.
• Resolution 25-250: Adopted to amend the Parks and Recreation spending plan ($195,597.33) for Taylor Park improvements.
• Resolution 25-251: Adopted to amend budgets for the Green Energy Program.
• Resolution 25-256: Adopted to amend a joint powers agreement for hazardous materials response and the Fire Department spending plan.
• Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda (Items 32-44): Adopted as amended.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) Hearing:

  • Capitol River Council, St. Paul Area Chamber, Ramsey County, and others: Expressed full support for exempting the urban core from height restrictions and conditional use permit (CUP) requirements. They argued that the current proposals would delay vital downtown redevelopment (specifically River's Edge) and hinder the city's economic goals. Position: "Downtown St. Paul needs to be a 'yes city' and should not reinvent the wheel by imposing restrictive language."
  • Sustained St. Paul: Opposed the Planning Commission's proposed setback height limits in the urban core, stating they are "unnecessarily baroque" and hard to calculate. They expressed support for aligning the ordinance with city staff's original recommendations to ensure development occurs without excessive regulatory barriers.
  • Friends of the Mississippi River & St. Paul Bird Alliance: Expressed full support for restoring bird-safe glass language from the 2023 draft. They argued that the proposed study to replace this language is a delay tactic and expressed concern over the high rate of avian window strikes.
  • Jane Prince, Kathy Glover, Wendy Noor, Colleen O'Connor Toberman, Daniel Kennedy, Braden Holmes, Tom Diamond: Expressed support for strong environmental protections, bird-safe measures, and maintaining historic parkland views. Position: "We must not sell out the environment for overdevelopers."
  • Joe Byrle, John Fury: Expressed support for amendments enabling more housing and development downtown, stating the city needs more residents to be economically resilient.
  • John Perlich (Chamber of Commerce): Expressed strong opposition to height limits in the urban core, noting that they would undermine the city's goal of adding 20,000 residents and creating a tax base.
  • John Fury: Expressed support for the vision of the River's Edge development but noted concerns about the complexity of the regulatory process.

• 430 Dale Street North (Tawhid Islamic Center) Hearing:

  • Amano Dube, Omar Robe (Property Owners/Representatives): Expressed a clear intent to restore the building but stated they are legally prohibited from making repairs due to ongoing insurance litigation regarding a 2023 fire. Position: "We ask for a layover until the court process concludes" to avoid undermining their legal claim for damages.
  • Jay Lanius (Care of Minnesota): Supported the property owners, arguing that the city should not use land use laws to harm a minority religious community still healing from a hate-motivated attack.
  • Anita Alexander (Camper Memorial United Methodist ChurchNeighbor): Expressed strong opposition to the current state of the property, stating that neighbors have been forced to perform cleanup tasks. Position: "We support the raising and removal of the property" because the owners have not maintained the site.
  • Malik Davis, Michael Wright, David Abdi: Mixed positions. Some expressed concern that demolition before insurance settlement is a financial loss, while others expressed support for abatement due to safety hazards (needles, human waste) and blight.

Discussion Items

• Virtual Currency Kiosk Ban (Ordinance 25-76): Council President Naker led the discussion, expressing support for the ban due to the predatory nature of the kiosks affecting low-income and senior communities. Ms. Coleman expressed support and thanked legislative aid Megan Jackett and community member Tim Plunkett. Ms. Joest expressed support, noting the kiosks serve no clear purpose for residents and are concentrated near seniors. Vice President Kim expressed support for the ban as a consumer protection measure. Councilmember Bowie expressed opposition to the ban as a sole measure, stating that criminal behavior would simply relocate to neighboring cities. Ms. Johnson expressed enthusiasm for the cross-city collaboration model.
• Port Authority Budget Presentation: Todd Hurley presented the 2026 budget, requesting a $250,000 increase to the mandatory operating levy funded by returned Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue. Councilmembers Yang and Johnson expressed support for the request, highlighting the Port Authority's role as an economic engine and the necessity of the investment to maintain operations despite inflation.
• Personnel Reporting Ordinance (25-78): Mr. Greenfield presented a first reading for quarterly vacancy and overtime reporting. Councilmembers Johnson and Yang raised concerns regarding the timeline of the reports (starting October 2027), noting it may be too late to influence future budget cycles. The council agreed to lay the item over for a public hearing and potential amendments.
• Mississippi River Corridor (Ordinance 25-72): Heavy discussion regarding height limits in the urban core and the replacement of "bird-safe glass" language with a one-year study. Councilmember Johnson expressed distrust of a study initiated without immediate action, calling it a potential delay tactic. Councilmember Yang expressed empathy for the environmental concerns but noted the study is underway. The motion was made to continue the public hearing.
• 430 Dale Street North (Raising/Removal): Discussion centered on the fire-damaged Tawhid Islamic Center. Councilmember Bowie moved to require an inspection, performance deposit, and nuisance abatement plan before demolition. Councilmembers Johnson, Vice President Kim, and Council President Naker expressed support for the layover to allow for a demonstration of good faith (inspections, maintenance) while acknowledging the ongoing insurance litigation. The final position was to grant a layover with specific contingencies.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Ordinances:
  • Garbage cart sharing (25-63).
  • Cannabis/Hemp regulations (25-66).
  • Five ordinances facilitating the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship (25-67 through 25-71).
  • Banning virtual currency kiosks within the City (25-76) by a vote of 6-1 (Councilmember Bowie opposed).
  • Adopted legislative hearing consent agenda items as amended.
• Laid Over / Continued:
  • Resolution 25-1752: Laid over to December 3rd.
  • Ordinance 25-78 (Personnel Reporting): Laid over to December 3rd for public hearing.
  • Ordinance 25-72 (Mississippi River Corridor): Public hearing continued to December 3rd for final adoption.
  • Ordinance 25-77 (Garbage Rates): Public hearing closed, laid over to December 3rd for final adoption.
  • Resolution 25-250, 25-251, 25-256: Adopted.
  • 430 Dale Street North (Nuisance Abatement): Laid over until December 17th, conditional on the owner posting a performance deposit, obtaining an inspection, and submitting a nuisance abatement plan. (Vote: 7-0).
• Appointments:
  • Councilmember Nelson Yang appointed to the St. Paul Port Authority Board (Resolution 25-1781) and Board of Water Commissioners (Resolution 25-1782) effective December 1, 2025. (Vote: 7-0).
• Port Authority: The request for a $250,000 levy increase was noted and will continue through the budget process. The Port Authority budget presentation was suspended from the standard calendar and presented separately.
• Good News: Council members shared updates on food pantries, community festivals, turkey giveaways, and cultural events.