OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Saint Paul City Council Meeting - January 14, 2026

Budget Committee — Wednesday, January 14, 2026
BodySt Paul, Minnesota
SessionBudget Committee
DateWednesday, January 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:28

Transcript — Verbatim
3:40

Here.

3:40

Coleman.

3:41

Here.

3:41

Johnson.

3:42

Joe's here.

3:44

Kim.

3:44

Here.

3:45

Yang.

3:46

Council President Acre.

3:47

Here.

3:47

Six present, one absent that being Councilmember Johnson, and she is excused.

3:51

Welcome everyone.

3:52

Thanks so much for taking time to join us for our city council meeting today.

3:54

We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

4:07

One nation under God.

4:10

Liberty and justice for all.

4:25

See none.

4:29

All in favor say aye.

4:30

Aye.

4:30

All opposed.

4:31

Six in favor, none opposed.

4:32

The consent agenda is adopted.

4:34

Item number fourteen is first reading of ordinance twenty-six-two.

4:39

Changing references in the legislative and administrative codes from animal control to animal services and correcting typographical errors.

4:46

And uh for those of you joining us or tuning in, um, we always have three readings of any ordinance.

4:51

The first reading we have a staff report, so folks know what the ordinance is about.

4:55

The second reading the next week is a public hearing, and then uh the third week is final adoption.

5:00

Sometimes we have a little more time between those if we need time for amendments or more consideration.

5:05

But you'll see that there's first readings, there's public hearings, and then uh this week we don't have anything for final adoption.

5:10

But the first reading of this ordinance, um, because it's the first reading, we'll have a staff report, so we welcome up director Angie Weesey from the Department of Safety Inspections.

5:17

Welcome.

5:18

Thank you very much, Council President, and good afternoon, Council members.

5:21

Uh, this is super straightforward but incredibly lengthy.

5:25

Uh but uh the term animal control is very outdated in the animal services world, and uh it comes from a time when animal care looked a lot different than it does now.

5:39

Uh one of the the drivers to make this change now is that we're preparing to move into a new space, and we want to brand that new space with animal services rather than the uh outdated term of animal control.

5:53

Um, and this is like probably the most fun presentation I will ever get to do in front of you.

5:58

And so I picked all of these lovely pictures that were sent to me from animal services over the last couple years.

6:05

And uh like the cat in the the cage at the bottom there was just left outside of animal services one day.

6:12

That's they arrived to, and she is not happy to see us.

6:16

Um the iguana was found at large and was reunited with fortunately with its very, very relieved owner.

6:26

Um that turtle there is uh native to the Sahara Desert, but is known to be a digger and got uh escaped from its enclosure.

6:36

We don't know where, and and oddly enough, its owner did not contact us uh to retrieve it, so it was rehomed with uh a foster family.

6:46

Um the goose is a name that I cannot pronounce, but it's a domestic goose, and those feathers being frilled like that is how they are.

6:54

Isn't she beautiful?

6:55

Uh so yeah, there's a story to all of these, and we we do a lot more than than dogs and cats.

7:02

Uh and we just we provide a number of services that uh that are more than just control of animals, and uh any animals that are not reunited with their original owner, we work really, really hard with uh nonprofits to do fostering and to re-home uh every animal that comes into our care.

7:27

So here I hit the button on my computer instead of this one.

7:31

Uh this is just a summary of the changes.

7:35

We uh uh one of the big ones that we've already taken care of is to change the name of the actual titles of the folks working here.

7:42

So they used to be called animal control officers, HR we worked with, and you all approved the name change some years ago to uh animal services officer and animal services manager.

7:52

Uh as we have found in some of our other very old ordinance language, there are um gendered language that we always remove every time we open up an ordinance, and then just some as noted typographical errors.

8:06

This is extremely long in ordinance because this term is used so often in our legislative chapters, and so these are all of the chapters that animal control is in, uh, and it has been changed everywhere.

8:19

So really straightforward, just quite long.

8:22

Uh and with that, I'll take any questions.

8:26

Kind of hoping for more pictures, but thanks so much, Director.

8:29

Um I appreciate it because it it's clear that this is maybe a it's a change in name, um, but it's reflecting a really substantive and important change that you're highlighting for us.

8:38

So thank you.

8:39

Questions from my colleagues.

8:42

Um, Ms.

8:42

Bowie.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Immigration Policy███████████████████19%
Land Use Regulation██████████████14%
Public Works████████████12%
Animal Welfare████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Saint Paul City Council Meeting - January 14, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council met on January 14, 2026, at 3:31 PM. Six members were present (Noecker, Yang, Kim, Bowie, Jost, Coleman); Councilmember Johnson was absent. The meeting covered consent agenda items, first reading of an ordinance, multiple public hearings, legislative hearing appeals, and a discussion on immigration-related actions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the Consent Agenda (6-0) including:
    • Collective Bargaining Agreement with International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 9 (Jan 2026-Dec 2027).
    • Memorandum of Agreement for Sprinkler Fitters Local 417 wage and fringe adjustment.
    • Payment of $12,325 in settlement of Adam Branstner's claim.
    • Sanitary sewer service line repair assessment and public hearing date (February 18, 2026).
    • Appointment of Campbell Knutson as special counsel for Saint Paul Regional Water Services.
    • Preliminary approval of 2026 general obligation and revenue bonds.
    • 10-day license suspension for Club Milton (334 Milton Street North).
    • Parking ramp license for Montcalm Apartments (535 Lexington Pkwy S).
    • Auto repair and body shop licenses for Tesla (2475 Doswell Ave).
    • Up to $450 for council staff appreciation event.
    • Appointment of Interim Fire Chief.
    • $500 grant application to St. Clements Faith Action Team.
    • Various property assessments and nuisance abatement findings (items 20, 22-30, 32-35 as adopted).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • 2350 Bayless Place (Item 21): Seth Richardson, the property owner, appealed a summary abatement order requiring plant height reduction in a rain garden. He argued the garden is a delicate ecosystem, supported by city funds, and that a 24-inch height limit would destroy it. Pat Thompson from St. Anthony Park Community Council supported flexibility, noting the boulevard's depth (25-45 feet) and value for climate resilience.
  • 1079 Western Avenue North (Item 31): Miguel Neely, the property owner, testified that tires had been removed but pallets remained due to disposal issues. He requested an extension to arrange pickup.
  • No public testimony was offered for other public hearing items (Ordinance 26-1, RES PH 26-6, RES PH 26-5, RES PH 26-2, RES PH 26-1, or the legislative hearing consent agenda).

Discussion Items

  • First Reading of Ordinance 26-2: Changing code references from "Animal Control" to "Animal Services" and correcting typos. Director Angie Weesey presented, noting the term is outdated and the change aligns with branding for a new facility. Councilmember Bowie asked about distinguishing animal service officers from ICE agents; Weesey said officers wear uniforms and IDs, and the city is developing communications to help the public identify city personnel. Laid over to January 21 for second reading.
  • Public Hearing on Ordinance 26-1: Modifying council staff positions in Administrative Code Chapter 16. No public testimony; laid over to January 21 for final adoption (6-0).
  • Public Hearing on RES PH 26-6 (St. Anthony/Rondo Mill and Overlay Project): Project cost $4.5 million. Staff requested continuation because some residents did not receive assessment notices. Councilmember Bowie moved to continue to January 28 (6-0).
  • Public Hearing on RES PH 26-5 (Wheelock/Grotto Phase II Paving and Lighting): Notices were delayed; continued to January 28 (6-0).
  • Public Hearing on RES PH 26-2 (Rondo Community Land Trust Homeownership Grant): Accepting Metropolitan Council grant for 642 Selby Avenue. Adopted (6-0).
  • Public Hearing on RES PH 26-1 (Amani Construction Serenity Townhomes Grant): Accepting grant for 0 Bush Avenue. Adopted (6-0).
  • Legislative Hearing Discussion - Item 21 (2350 Bayless Place): The legislative hearing officer recommended a variance allowing plants up to 24 inches in a 15% area near the intersection and up to 5 feet elsewhere, citing safety and sight lines. Councilmember Coleman supported the recommendation, noting the need to apply current law while committing to review boulevard garden ordinances. The resolution was adopted (6-0).
  • Legislative Hearing Discussion - Item 31 (1079 Western Avenue North): The owner failed to remove pallets and tires by the December 31 deadline. Vice President Kim moved to lay over for one week (to January 21) to help the owner dispose of items, with a warning that city cleanup would follow if unresolved. Adopted (6-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Adopted (6-0).
  • Ord 26-2 (First Reading): Laid over to January 21, 2026.
  • Ord 26-1: Laid over to January 21, 2026 for final adoption (6-0).
  • RES PH 26-6 (St. Anthony/Rondo): Public hearing continued to January 28, 2026 (6-0).
  • RES PH 26-5 (Wheelock/Grotto): Public hearing continued to January 28, 2026 (6-0).
  • RES PH 26-2 (Rondo CLT Grant): Adopted (6-0).
  • RES PH 26-1 (Amani Serenity Townhomes Grant): Adopted (6-0).
  • Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda: Adopted as amended (6-0), including the Bayless Place and Western Avenue items as modified.
  • Suspension of Rules Motion: Failed (3-3, four needed) to introduce a separation ordinance regarding immigration enforcement. Councilmember Bowie argued for urgency; Councilmembers Coleman, Jost, and Noecker opposed due to lack of city attorney review and incomplete copies. Councilmembers Yang and Kim supported. The council committed to having a first reading by January 21, 2026.

Other Business

  • Council President Noecker acknowledged child care providers present to express concerns about immigration actions. A meeting with the police chief, mayor's office, and council was planned.
  • Councilmembers reported on community events, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, constitutional observer training, and a student walkout protesting ICE actions.

Meeting Transcript

Here. Coleman. Here. Johnson. Joe's here. Kim. Here. Yang. Council President Acre. Here. Six present, one absent that being Councilmember Johnson, and she is excused. Welcome everyone. Thanks so much for taking time to join us for our city council meeting today. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God. Liberty and justice for all. See none. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Six in favor, none opposed. The consent agenda is adopted. Item number fourteen is first reading of ordinance twenty-six-two. Changing references in the legislative and administrative codes from animal control to animal services and correcting typographical errors. And uh for those of you joining us or tuning in, um, we always have three readings of any ordinance. The first reading we have a staff report, so folks know what the ordinance is about. The second reading the next week is a public hearing, and then uh the third week is final adoption. Sometimes we have a little more time between those if we need time for amendments or more consideration. But you'll see that there's first readings, there's public hearings, and then uh this week we don't have anything for final adoption. But the first reading of this ordinance, um, because it's the first reading, we'll have a staff report, so we welcome up director Angie Weesey from the Department of Safety Inspections. Welcome. Thank you very much, Council President, and good afternoon, Council members. Uh, this is super straightforward but incredibly lengthy. Uh but uh the term animal control is very outdated in the animal services world, and uh it comes from a time when animal care looked a lot different than it does now. Uh one of the the drivers to make this change now is that we're preparing to move into a new space, and we want to brand that new space with animal services rather than the uh outdated term of animal control. Um, and this is like probably the most fun presentation I will ever get to do in front of you. And so I picked all of these lovely pictures that were sent to me from animal services over the last couple years. And uh like the cat in the the cage at the bottom there was just left outside of animal services one day. That's they arrived to, and she is not happy to see us. Um the iguana was found at large and was reunited with fortunately with its very, very relieved owner. Um that turtle there is uh native to the Sahara Desert, but is known to be a digger and got uh escaped from its enclosure. We don't know where, and and oddly enough, its owner did not contact us uh to retrieve it, so it was rehomed with uh a foster family. Um the goose is a name that I cannot pronounce, but it's a domestic goose, and those feathers being frilled like that is how they are. Isn't she beautiful? Uh so yeah, there's a story to all of these, and we we do a lot more than than dogs and cats. Uh and we just we provide a number of services that uh that are more than just control of animals, and uh any animals that are not reunited with their original owner, we work really, really hard with uh nonprofits to do fostering and to re-home uh every animal that comes into our care. So here I hit the button on my computer instead of this one. Uh this is just a summary of the changes. We uh uh one of the big ones that we've already taken care of is to change the name of the actual titles of the folks working here. So they used to be called animal control officers, HR we worked with, and you all approved the name change some years ago to uh animal services officer and animal services manager.

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