Oh, you're a couple of call the meeting of the St.

Paul City Council to order.

Roll call, please.

Coleman.

Here.

Kim.

Here.

Yang.

Here.

Bowie.

Here.

Jost.

Here.

Johnson?

Here.

President naked.

Here.

I'm so sorry.

Uh seven.

Seven present times.

Seven present, none absent.

Welcome everyone to our uh St.

Paul City Council meeting.

Thank you all so much for joining us.

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

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

Liberty and justice for all.

And I start with consent.

Yep.

Okay.

Consent agenda items three through twenty-four are before you for your consideration.

Is there anything to be taken for separate consideration?

Doesn't look like it.

I do want to acknowledge, by the way, that Miss Tillender is reading for the very first time is our brand new city clerk.

And we have not rehearsed, so if you see any snags along the way, that is just us getting into our rhythm.

Um but welcome, very excited.

Uh seeing that there is nothing to be taken for separate consideration, I'll take a motion from Ms.

Johnson for the balance of the consent agenda.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The consent agenda is adopted.

So next item is item number twenty-five.

Resolution twenty-six-six sixty-two.

Approving the mayor's appointment of Deb Barber to serve as the city's director of public works.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

And we will welcome Ms.

Barbara and family up for this, or just Miss Barbara.

Anyone?

Let's wearing it.

Okay.

If you could raise your right hand.

And repeat after me.

I state your name.

Hi, Deb Barber.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

To support the constitutions.

To support the constitutions.

Of the United States.

Of the United States.

And of the state of Minnesota.

And to just discharge faithfully.

And to discharge faithfully.

The duties devolving upon me.

The duties developing upon me.

As the director of public works.

As the director of public works.

Of the city of St.

Paul.

Of the city of St.

Paul.

To the best of my judgment and ability.

To the best of my judgment and ability.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Next item is item 26, resolution 26-663, approving the mayor's appointment of Joe Harney to serve as the city's Office of Financial Services Director.

All right, I will take a motion from Ms.

Kim for approval.

Is there any discussion of the motion?

See none.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Welcome up, Mr.

Harney and or family for the swearing in.

Please raise your right hand.

Repeat after me.

I state your name.

I Joe Arney.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

To support the constitutions.

To support the constitutions.

Of the United States.

Of the United States.

And the state of Minnesota.

And the state of Minnesota.

And to discharge faithfully.

And to discharge faithfully.

The duties devolving upon me.

The duties devolving upon me.

As the as the director of the Office of Financial Services.

Of the office of the City of St.

Paul.

To the best of my judgment and ability.

To the best of my judgment and ability.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item number 27 is resolution 26-667.

Approving the mayor's appointment of Kevin Yuang as communications manager, assistant to the mayor one.

I will take a motion for approval from Ms.

Bowie.

Is there any discussion of the motion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Welcome up.

And any family or guests or anyone for the swearing in.

Welcome.

I didn't recognize family last time, and I felt really bad about it.

So if you can tell, I'm trying to make up for the last time.

Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I state your name.

I, Kevin Young.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

To support the constitutions.

To support the constitutions.

Of the United States.

Of the United States.

And of the state of Minnesota.

And of the state of Minnesota.

And to discharge faithfully.

And to discharge faithfully.

The duties devolving upon me.

The duties devolving upon me.

As the communications manager, assistant to the mayor, one.

As the communications manager, assistant to the mayor, one.

Of the city of St.

Paul.

Of the city of St.

Paul.

To the best of my judgment and ability.

To the best of my judgment and ability.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And actually, I am going to um move 29 to the next item just because we have a lot of folks here for that item, and I want to take that one first.

So item 29 is resolution 26-672, honoring the legacy of Yusuf M.

Jeannie in the city of St.

Paul.

Welcome, Ms.

Bowie.

Good afternoon, colleagues and everyone here.

If you are here to honor the life and legacy of Yusuf and Guinea, can you please join me at the podium?

We welcome everyone.

If you are able to join us, we will love to have you here with us.

So as we're getting started, I just want to just pause to just honor the life and legacy of Yusuf M.

Guinea.

And this resolution is deeply personal to me.

I know this body has brought forth resolutions to recognize many leaders in our community.

And when I think about the life and legacy of Yusuf, uh he was a mentor, a trusted leader in so many ways, and a steady source of wisdom for many of us, whether we were elected officials, our the uh chief of police, our uh a staffer here in the city of St.

Paul.

Um, and if you ever found yourself in his presence, you didn't leave empty-handed.

Uh he was just a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, and every single time uh I had a chance to be with him.

Uh I always love with golden nuggets.

Um, and that was the type of leadership uh that I seek to continue, and I know we all take that charge um seriously.

Yusuf was also a walking encyclopedia.

So you can only imagine um the challenge I had going um through different iterations of a resolution.

And um I also just want to uh recognize my my staff uh Pierre Folford as he understands the seriousness of like we have to do more, we have to source this, we should cite that, or I just found out Yusuf worked here, or he had an impact in Minneapolis, or he made an impact in in this organization, and we just tried really hard to get everything in here.

So uh if uh as I read the resolution, and if there's something that's missing, please charge it to my head and not my heart.

Um when I just think about just like the the leadership and the guidance that he grounded me with, um, it was these powerful set of questions that I still carry on with my work every day.

And uh I was just thinking through like my first week in the ward one's office and just thinking about all the council members and all the uh Ronda leaders that helped pave the way for me to be there and being on the phone with him and receiving that guidance and those three questions that really you know stick with um how I you know make decisions were who benefits, who pays the costs, and is it the right thing to do?

And those three questions really is the compass around how you are able to govern with uh truth and transparency.

Uh and you know, with that, um, I will move to read this resolution.

Um, it's pretty lengthy resolution, and we have some speakers here as well that will uh represent organizations and use of impact in the community.

We also will have joining us um either um uh uh the first assistant mayor, Erica Schumacher, or if the mayor is able to make it, she will be providing her proclamation as well.

So it begins, or actually, I'm not gonna read from here because I don't have the glasses for that.

Um here it starts, the honoring the life and legacy of Yusuf Mgeny.

Whereas Yusuf Mgini, a devoted husband, father, historian, journalist, community educator, and civil rights leader, passed away on April 7th, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that will echo through generations.

Whereas born Charles Anderson and raised in the historic Rondo community to Charles Crane Anderson and Teresa Agnes Baker Anderson, he was shaped by a family deeply engaged in civic religious and cultural life, including St.

Peter Claver Catholic Church and the Hallecue Brown Community Center.

Whereas he carried forward a multi-generational legacy of civil rights leadership as the grandnephew of Frederick L.

McGee, one of Minnesota's first black attorneys and co-founder of the Niagara movement, founder of the Minnesota's first NAACP chapter, and the co-founder of the St.

Paul uh Peter, St.

Or excuse me, St.

Peter Claver Catholic Church.

Whereas his early intellectual foundation was shaped by his grandmother, Constant Connie Anderson, who's instilled in him a lifelong discipline of reading, study, and critical thought, rooted in the works of Richard Wright and Carter G.

Woodson.

Whereas as a student of the St.

Paul Central High School, woo-woo, he goes central, he witnessed defining moments of the civil rights movement, including hearing the Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

and learning of organizing efforts led by a Philip Randolph here at the Union Depot.

Whereas in 1972, he formally took an African Yoruba name, Yusuf Mgeny, reflecting his commitment to heritage, dignity, and purpose, and graduated from the Metro State University in 1974 with a degree in journalism.

Whereas he began producing programming at uh at KUOM radio in 1973 and contributed to the Malcolm X Pan-African Institute, using media as a tool to educate and inform community voices.

Whereas he helped organize Minnesota's participation in the 1995 million man march, demonstrating his commitment to civic engagement and national movement building.

Whereas he founded Yusuf M.

Guinea and Associates, LLC, and served as a director of the Office of Educational Equity for St.

Paul Public Schools from 2006 to 2012, advancing equity in education and opportunity for students.

Whereas he led St.

Paul Strong from 2013 to 2016, advocating for transparency, accountability, and representative government in City Hall.

Whereas he served as an active member of the St.

Paul branch of NWACP since 1988, later rising to serve as the vice president of also the Minnesota chapter, whereas he provided steady leadership on issues of public safety and civil rights, including helping to negotiate St.

Paul's police body camera policy with SPPD.

Whereas, through that leadership, he played a critical role in establishing the 2001 groundbreaking community policing, a community police covenant agreement between the St.

Paul Police and the St.

Paul NAACP.

This was a landmark agreement in response to a long-standing community concerns and advocacy regarding police brutality and excess use of force, which strengthened accountability, improved community trust, and contributed to sustained reductions in excess excess uh forest practices, excessive, excuse me, forest practices.

Whereas Yusuf Mgeny dedicated his life to preserving and advancing the history of black Minnesotans and maintaining a vast and valuable archive of speeches, books, articles, photographs, and primary source materials that documented generations of black leadership, resilience, and community life.

Whereas through his work with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota spokesman recorder, Yusuf Mgeny served as a trusted voice and historical authority, documenting, interpreting, and preserving the lived experience of the black lived experiences of black Minnesotans, ensuring that the stories of our community were told with truth, depth, and dignity.

Whereas his leadership extended across influential community institutions, including Sibathany Community Center, KMOJ Radio, the Urban Coalition, Halley Q.

Brown, and so many more, where he contributed contributed to efforts that strengthened Black institutions rooted in service and collective progress.

Whereas in 2024, his expertise as a historian informed the St.

Paul Heritage Preservation Commission in the City Council's decision to permanently restore Rondo Avenue, ensuring that the work was grounded in historical accuracy and repair.

Whereas widely recognized as a keeper of our stories, Yusuf Mgeny mentored generations of elected officials, leaders, strengthened the cultural and civic fabric of St.

Paul.

And last but not least, therefore, be it resolved that the St.

Paul City Council hereby honors the life and legacy of Yusuf Mgeny and expresses its deep gratitude for his decades of service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to truth, community, and justice, and be it further resolved that the city of St.

Paul calls on all residents, institutions, and leaders to carry forward Yusuf and Guinea's legacy by championing the spirit of his name, Yusuf, one who seeks wisdom to benefit others.

That was his legacy.

Ensuring that his purpose and impact continues to live through the actions we take as a city.

Thank you so much.

We're gonna have here uh the speaker have the uh state uh president of the uh Minnesota and Regional Um Reverend uh Reverend Uh Richard Pittman speaking, and we'll have two two minutes and I'll um transition to the next speaker as well.

Good afternoon.

Afternoon.

Um they're all here, the president of the St.

Paul branch, Mother Keita uh Jim.

Are you good there?

Uh we we worked closely with Yusuf over the last several years at uh meeting uh with the chief and uh working on uh the agreement between the NAACP and St.

Paul Police Department, use of uh instrument in this activity, and these these are members of the St.

Paul branch NAACP uh that are represented here today.

Um stand here as the State Conference, Dakota and Minnesota branch.

Yusuf is heavily missed.

On behalf of the NAACP, I stand today not just to honor a man, but to recognize a movement that lived in a man.

Yusuf M.

Jenny was more than a name in the Ronda community.

He was a living bridge between the past, our present, and our future.

He understands that history is not just something you study, it is something you carry.

And he carried the story of Rondo with dignity, with truth, and with responsibility.

As a longtime servant of the NAACP and as the vice president within our state conference, Yusuf did not simply hold a title, he fulfilled an assignment.

He showed up, he stood firm, he spoke when it mattered, and he worked quietly, consistently, and faithfully for justice and for the people.

As an educator, he didn't just teach lessons, he shaped minds.

As a historian, he didn't just preserve fact, he preserved identity.

As a community, community liaison, he didn't just connect systems, he connected people.

And in a time where communities are often divided, Yusuf was a unifier, respected in the streets, respected in the institutions, and trusted by those who knew that his words meant something.

But beyond all of his accomplishments, he was a husband, a father, a man of character, and his servant leader who believed that legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you build into others.

The round of community is stronger because he walked among us.

The NAACP is better because he served among us.

And this city is richer because he gave himself to it.

So today, this proclamation is not just recognition, it is confirmation.

Confirmation that a life well lived will always speak.

Confirmation that service still matters, and confirmation that use of M.

Jenny impacted impact will outlive us all.

May we not only remember him, but may we continue to work.

He so faithfully carried.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we're gonna have speak um next is uh King Demetrius, who is a family member, also representing the journalism community, and then we'll have um after that the uh see here, uh a representative from Hallecue Brown.

I don't think I see it.

Okay, okay.

And then uh, or Halle K Brown and or the um African American Leadership Council.

Hello, everybody.

Um first of all, I just want to let you all know that my heart is really heavy from um this gut-wrenching um experience.

Uh we know death is no one know the time nor the hour.

Um, like Anika Bowie indicated, my uncle Youself M.

Jeanie was a walk in encyclopedia when she said that she said a mouthful.

My uncle's last text messages that he sent me was there are always at least two ways of spreading the light.

You can be the candle or you can be the mirror that reflects it.

When I asked him why did he pick this certain author, he told me that this woman was so amazing, and I was just perplexed about finding out the type of work that she did.

She wrote 40 books in 40 years.

Ethan Ellis.

I really appreciate the knowledge that he basically had gifted me, and along with my children as well.

Um, the month of February, myself and my children sat on the floor of his home and just listened to him as he was able to speak power to truth.

I'm just so overwhelmed with grief right now as well.

It says whenever an elder die, we lose a library.

Youself was definitely a library.

He was not a lie.

He was a gentleman and a scholar.

He was a gentle giant.

He also taught me it's better to ask for permission than it is to ask for forgiveness.

So I just want to thank you all and the NAACP and all the people that's right here that knew my uncle Youssef and will continue his legacy.

The last words that he told me when he was in the hospital, he said, you know what it's like getting old.

I said, no, Uncle.

And he said, it's when the doctor comes in your room and he tells you that there's nothing else we can do for you.

He said, I hope whoever that I breathed on and whoever I communicated with, they can water the seed and watch it grow.

I want them to do me one favor, bury the man and continue the plan.

All right.

Good afternoon, President of the Council, Council members.

My name is Tyrone Terrell, president of the African American Leadership Council, and I have some of my members uh standing here with me, including Councilmember Bowie.

But um, my work with Brother Youssef goes way back, and he is always in my first 25 years out in Minneapolis, and Youth F was one of the few brothers that would have to come over and work with me and Brother Spike Moss and many others on we believe there was no river, that the work to impact the black community, and my whether you were in St.

Cloud, Rochester, Moorhead, you impact all people in the black community.

So Brother Youssef always stood up.

Um he was in the room the night that we named the men of March that took 2,500 black men to the Million Man March in 1995.

Uh he was in the room we did the agreement in 2001 with T.

Finney for the agreement between the NAACP and other black organizations in St.

Paul.

So he's physically gone, but Youssef will live in all of us.

Yes, in all of us that truly believe in because the work is not done.

Um I tell people all the time, and I know the council president, I've had this good conversation.

When we still talk about DEI in 2026, there's something wrong with us.

There shouldn't be a time that we have to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2026.

It should be part of the air we breathe, what we do every day, and that's what Yusuf was about.

You said it was about doing this work, and so long as an AALC and NAACP, and I also speak for Black Minister Alliance, who's not here.

He was also a partner with the Alliance, and so all of us stand unified in remembering Brother Youssef.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Oh Jesus.

And uh my apologies, but also on that list is uh Elder Frank White, who's uh his historian and a great friend.

You probably remember um Elder Frank White from some years ago or maybe last year when we were uh recognizing his contributions to Africa documenting African American history, and also we have the mayor here as well.

If you don't mind joining us, uh, but we'll have uh a few words from um Frank White and then the mayor's office, and then I'll just recognize all the organizations that's here, and then I'll just move for adoption.

Thank you.

Is it my turn?

Uh good afternoon, and I so many things could be said about Youssef, and uh they've all some of them have already been said.

I I will share this.

Uh we are working on a community celebration that will be set together after the funeral.

I I didn't want to complicate the funeral and family ahead of time.

Uh Jeannie could not be here today because she's still in shock.

She's still going through some things.

Youssef and I again have known each other for a long time.

Over the last couple years, we probably talked every day, counseling each other, sharing stories, and and I could tell you many, many stories that all of us could.

Youssef was a very special person.

In addition to that, many people don't know, I just shared with his nephew.

So we also, in addition to our friendship, we're almost like family.

Um we had we had done many things, we have done a number of things together.

One of the most recent was sharing information about changing the name Concordia back to Rondo and working with the former councilmember Russell, and then also with Councilmember Bowie to make sure that it was done correctly, and not necessarily going along Concordia Avenue.

Which at Western and Concordia, you're really at Western and Carol.

So let me just share this again.

So many things have been said, and I could talk until we go to dinner, but I won't.

So in addition to being a former referee and being yelled at by some people behind the dice, people have considered me the baseball guy.

So let me share a quote from Jackie Robinson.

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.

Truly.

Truly, Yusuf has accomplished that.

So I'll see Council President, it would be okay if I said a couple words before I read the proclamation.

Please, Mayor.

Um, so I when when Councilmember Bowie asked me if I would participate today, it was a resounding yes that I was absolutely um necessary for me to be here.

Because I don't think I've ever told this story to anyone before, but when I ran for office in 2018 as a state representative, I didn't know anybody, and I didn't know anything about the political process.

And one of the first people that I spoke to was Yusuf, and I didn't know who he was.

I didn't know anything about him, but he was a 64A resident, and I was running to be the state representative for 64A.

And um, I didn't know anything about the caucus process or how to call delegates or what to do.

And and Yusuf talked to me, and he had coffee with me, and he walked me through the process and that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for those first early conversations.

And so I am forever uh indebted to his willingness to share his social, his culture, and his political capital with me.

As a refugee kid, I had none of that.

Uh, all the only people I knew lived at Mount Airy are McDonough Homes, and those people have no political capital.

And so the fact that somebody who has been a stalwart of the neighborhood and been there for generations was willing to share his political capital with me meant a great deal for me to be able to actually get to where I am today.

So I just wanted to make sure that that was noted for the record of like me being here in this office is a direct uh connection to him as well.

So, with that, I wanted to share today the proclamation uh that the city of St.

Paul put together to honor Yusuf.

So it says, whereas Yusuf M.

Jenny, who's passing on April 7th, 2026, has left a hole in the civic fabric of our city, was an educator, historian, community organizer, advocate, and much appreciated member of community in St.

Paul.

And whereas the work of Yusuf M.

Jenny has touched every life in the city of St.

Paul, from changing the way our schools teach black and ethnic history to the groundbreaking community-based model strengthening community relations with the St.

Paul police in 2020 uh 2001, and his leadership at the NAACP St.

Paul chapter has made the city more equitable and fair.

And whereas through his work with the Sabbath uh Sabathy Community Center, contributing and supporting various independent media and helping to establish KMOJ radio to ensure the voices of black Minnesotans are heard.

Yusuf M.

Jenny has lifted the legacy and presence of black communities in St.

Paul and neighboring cities, and whereas Yusuf M.

Jenny has advocated for and continuously stood beside the Rondo neighborhood against the systemic discrimination and barriers faced by black Minnesotans and residents of St.

Paul, including eviction, criminal justice, education, health care, and housing.

And whereas the record and histori of black Minnesotans preserved by Yusuf M.

Jenny has included oral history, written work, and photography, providing a unique primary source for the community voice and experience of black Minnesotans.

And whereas the city of St.

Paul recognizes and honors Yusuf M.

Jenny for his contribution as a community role model and leader through his lifelong legacy of advocacy and commitment to serving others, and will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his fellow St.

Paul residents.

Now, therefore, I, Kali Her, Mayor of the City of St.

Paul, do hereby proclaim April 27, 2026 to be Yusuf M.

Gemini Day in the city of St.

Paul.

Thank you so much, Mayor, for sharing that really moving story.

I just think about just not only the political capital, but just like so much wealth.

We all are so much better because of knowing Yusuf.

So thank you for making ways to be here.

I understand your schedule as a mayor is very hectic and um is really it's a demonstration of your character for you to be here today.

Uh I just want to just recognize um before I move to a motion for discussion and adoption, and then uh join us for a historic photo.

But I just want to recognize um the movement behind the giant that we're all talking about.

Uh we have here uh Keith Baker, who's part of Reconnect Rondo, uh representing the Rondo Round Table.

We have um the president of the Twin Cities Urban League, Marquita Stevenson's here.

We have Halle Q Brown, we have the Chief of Police, um, Alex Henry here as well, uh the deputy director of St.

Paul Fire, uh Jamie Smith.

We have the the body from the uh African American Leadership Council, um, uh representatives from the St.

Paul Heritage Preservation, uh Check Your Self-Health and Wellness Center, woo-boo.

I used to work there, so I'm so happy to see you.

Um, and just the overall um community at large that's here to celebrate.

Uh, just wanted to say just thank you again.

Uh, we will continue to carry on the legacy.

I will also share with the good news um uh the funeral and also uh look for um updates on the community celebration that's gonna take place.

Uh and with that, I'm going to motion for discussion.

I do see council member Chair Johnson here as well.

If you want to share some words, part of your discussion, so you don't have to go here.

I mean, you're welcome to join if you want.

So we'll wait for the motion.

So there's a motion for approval.

Um and is there any discussion of that motion?

Ms.

Johnson.

Stand on ceremony.

Uh well, yes, it's like what procedure, hello.

And you so would be like, you gotta stand right here, you gotta speak your part.

So I just want to say um really appreciate the time that we put we that we put in for this as well as a body.

I think there are times and there are moments where it feels like business as usual, and then there are times that deserve um not only our space and our opportunity and our voice, but also the voice of the community.

And when we lose an elder, um of the matitude of service and dedication and passion and accountability and intentionality that was embedded in Yusuf and everything that he did and how he operated in our community, I think it's important for us to spend that space and time.

And so, as I was listening to the comments today, and as we've been able to just talk about legacy and as we've been thinking about people who are always thinking through of what black leadership looks like generationally, um, after them, their impact that goes well beyond the years that we have on this earth, but that exceeds that and touches so many leaders.

Um, I think that Yusuf is a primary example of what it takes to not only lead with your heart and your passion, but to do so in a way that ensures that people who know him are forever changed.

And so, as somebody who, you know, did not grow up in Rondo, but moved to the Twin Cities.

Um, there are many leaders that are standing alongside me, behind me that were on a short list of folks that I just had to know because you would hear it from your elders, you would hear it from your grandma's cousin, you would hear it from your friend, telling you people that you had to know in Yusuf, those individuals.

And so um really excited that we were able to do this.

I am a firm believer sometimes that we have to honor our community members and our elders while they're still here.

Um, but you know, uh Yusuf passed on my mother's birthday, and I remember just being able to talk to her about the full circle moment that is in existence of why that was you know, uh such a big deal and why community members will forever miss Yusuf.

And I think that that we've been able to do that here eloquently, and so I'm thrilled to be able to be a voting member on this body, you know.

Behind us, we literally have council member, uh, former council member Debbie Montgomery, and I must all three of us, you know, it's not dead on me that that is the weight of how many council members, female black female council members that we've had here in the city of St.

Paul.

Um, and so to be able to be in your presence, Mr.

Montgomery.

Um, you know, I just think about the legacy and the giants that we hold, and Yusuf was one of them.

So I uh look forward to approving the resolution.

Thank you, Ms.

Johnson.

Is there other discussion of the motion?

Ms.

Kim.

Yeah, I'll just be very brief.

I just really appreciate this resolution, and I was just so appreciative of the way that folks spoke about this person, and I just um I never met Yusuf, but I definitely knew of him, and I'm even thinking in my own ways, how can I help carry on his legacy?

And I'm even thinking in my own ways, how can I help carry on his legacy?

Because when I look at all of you and see the ways that he's touched your lives, and I'm assuming multitudes of people more, right?

That you've all been in connection with that sort of sentiment and how you carry on his light is sort of that legacy.

And so um count me in, and I'm so sorry for your loss.

And also um I'll be looking forward to to celebrate uh his life and also kind of what he leaves behind, which um I I believe is all of you.

I see all of your smiling faces in the way that your face lights up when when when we've been speaking about him.

So thank you for being here today.

Thank you, Ms.

Kim.

Is there any that any other discussion of the motion?

I will just say it's very hard to add to what's already been said.

Um we have obviously lost a leading light in our community, and I will say that every time I saw Yusuf here, and he was here so many times because he cared about so many different issues.

And I think that that says something about the kind of person he was too.

Whenever I saw him here, um, I knew we were in for a treat because I knew when he got up to speak he was gonna say something truly profound and something truly um wise.

And so I I agree with Ms.

Kim.

I think just looking at, I know you can't see yourselves, but we can see you looking at this group that is standing here.

I think your legacy is also often who you're remembered by and the community and the relationships that you've built, and just looking at this group, it is truly remarkable.

So he will be so missed, and I'm so glad that we have had this opportunity today, thanks to you, Ms.

Bowie and Ms.

Johnson to um to honor him.

So with that, there's a motion for approval.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted as amended.

All right, so phone part of the last point.

Here you are.

Here you go, bro.

Right here?

Okay, good.

I got windows.

Everyone up here was like one, two, I'm gonna go.

We are good.

Okay, other camera.

And then up.

I'll send it to them.

Okay.

And here we're gonna do the maybe's office.

Okay, yeah.

So we're gonna send it to the right.

Okay.

One, two, three.

We're good.

We're good.

Okay.

One more we oh, sorry.

I'm sorry.

Those moments.

Yeah.

Everybody quiet.

All right.

Is that it?

Oh, I'm not all.

Oh, okay.

All right.

Wow, thank you.

How are you doing, sweetie?

Good to see you.

And a different flight.

We talked.

That's great.

I wasn't proactive.

Let's just go for a minute.

Thank you all.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you all again so much.

We are gonna do what Councilmember Kim calls a hard pivot as we move on.

I didn't know I was going to see you today.

With our agenda.

We've got a resume.

Just wait over to you.

All right, here we go.

Okay.

Item 28 is resolution 26-619, urging European financial institutions to divest from companies that enabled the United States Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and supporting the delegation of Twin Cities residents advocating for this divestment.

Ms.

Kemp.

Awesome.

Yeah, I really appreciate this.

This resolution is in support of a delegation of residents that are currently in Europe who are meeting with human rights organizations to crash air resources, sharing what happened here in the Twin Cities in the Twin Cities and building the transatlantic relationships that this political moment demands.

It calls in European financial institutions to examine what their capital is funding and how any investments in these corporations can have caused real harm.

In the weeks and months since Operation Metro Surge put St.

Paul in the international spotlight, civil and human rights organizations across the world have reached out to local organizations here, sharing strategies, amplifying calls for accountability, and standing in solidarity with communities facing state violence.

That connection is not accidental.

It reflects an understanding that the fight for immigrant dignity for the right to live free from fear and surveillance surveillance don't happen in vacuums.

So I really appreciate the council's consideration.

I strongly appreciate your support for this resolution.

Okay.

And Ms.

Kim, is there version two that needs to be moved?

I'm sorry.

That was for the that oh nope, that was for the resolution.

Not that I'm aware of, so it sounds like that sounds like we're we're in our dance.

Perfect.

Dancing away, I make a I'll make a motion to approve.

Okay, motion to approve.

Is there any discussion of the motion?

Ms.

Bowie.

Um thank you, Council President.

Um I I also I just want to just give I don't feel comfortable supporting this, but I just want to just have on record just in transparency and respect for your leadership of bringing this forward.

Um I would need more information um for this.

I I think um when I think about my responsibility um as a council member, really prioritizing and focusing on local.

Um, you know, I'm I guess I'm missing just kind of the piece around just like how this action today is gonna have impacts, and there's a lot of like um um impacts that I'm not even really feel like uh confident or specialize in our expertise on like foreign policy or even just the specific or the specificity excuse me of um the context of the resolution.

So um if I was to vote on it today, I think I will be a no, but I just wanted to just have on record just sharing that with you, Councilmember Kim.

Thanks, Ms.

Bowie.

Is there any other discussion of the motion?

Ms.

Johnson.

Uh yeah, I have a couple questions.

I guess just um Councilmember Kim, can you share a little bit about you know I did have a chance to review the version that's in Legistar.

And I guess I to that point of Councilmember Bowie's remarks, you know.

I whenever we make a stance on something or take a stance on something, even if it's a resolution, I think that that's important, like it's important for us to also understand the impacts of the decision that we make.

And so can you just say two more things about what this resolution does, why this is being brought to the council, and just kind of what your thoughts are around the overall impact that this, if it were to pass today, does have.

And I'm sorry to put you on the spot.

I just um prior to last week didn't actually know this was coming, and so I didn't really also get a chance to fully understand just what the thoughts were.

So uh transparently I feel a little put on the spot, so I do want to ask you to kind of share a little bit more.

Yep, absolutely.

So the background on this, so uh Minneapolis passed uh the same resolution.

There are local leaders that are right now in Europe on a tour, kind of trading information, swapping strategies, getting getting a better understanding of how all of these systems are connected, and part of that tour is urging European financial institutions to invest from companies that enable our uh DHS and ICE um to wreak havoc across the country.

And so it's a little bit about tracking money and urging them to divest from those um from those investments and also supporting our delegation that's from the Twin Cities that's sharing, yeah, sharing our on-the-ground strategies and learnings from um fighting fascists in our streets.

Yep.

Thanks, Ms.

Cameron.

Does that answer your question, Councilmember Johnson?

Yeah, I think uh so I think it does.

I think when it comes to just how involved we are, you know, I guess I would I'm wondering just like the individuals that are there.

Can you just share a little bit about who they are?

Um the one that approached me was um I just I kind of wonder how comfortable um they feel about it.

But one of them is uh Jeanette who comes, she's a Word 4 resident, and she comes and has been very vocal around our city's divestment from uh funds and funds and resources that are directed towards ICE.

And the others I don't know personally, so I don't want to speak on their behalf, but um Jeanette was the one that approached me personally to pass this resolution in coordination with Minneapolis and then in coordination with their tour.

Okay.

Any further discussion of the motion.

I I appreciate the questions.

I will just say I I also feel a little bit uncomfortable supporting a delegation of folks that we we don't know who is part of the delegation and haven't met with them or spoken with them before they went out and sort of putting our cities in premature um behind them given that they're already there and speaking and we're not sure who they are or what they're what they're saying.

I think that I would I would want to have met with them and spoken with them before um being asked to support their efforts.

Um sounds like perhaps we should take a roll call vote.

Um is there any further discussion before we do that?

I just want to clarify that I know who they are, but I don't know how public they want to make their identities known.

So that's my only hesitancy on the record.

I understand.

Um Ms.

Johnson and Ms.

Booby.

Yeah, I appreciate that, Councilmember Kim.

I um yeah, and I don't want to force you to have to disclose anyone's identity, especially without that preface of a conversation.

I think when we are thinking about resolutions and the impact, and I did have a chance to review, um, and if you haven't, I I watched how the city of Minneapolis communicated about this, and um I think one of the things that's just really important for us as a council, like I see uniformity, and I think whenever we are taking stances, especially ones that have international impact or foreign affairs related impact, especially if we're uh essentially telling another uh European financial institution to divest that we also need to make sure that our home is clean.

And so, like I just I don't necessarily fully understand what this would do.

Um, and so and it's definitely not because I you know have issues maybe with the overall sentiment, but I also just without that information, it's really hard to kind of move forward.

And so um I'll be voting no today as well.

Thanks, Ms.

Johnson.

I saw Miss Booy.

Thank you.

And um also, Councilmember Kim, thank you for um you know just providing more context.

And I do think, you know, in respect to confidentiality, and you know, um there is some you know hesitation, it seems like to disclose the names.

And no, I don't think it's worth the re you know uh having a uh a public institution like the city of St.

Paul, like a government agency.

It's like very heavy-weighted to for us to put our name and endorsement, our in power, our um take a public stance in solidarity if we're not even able to really know who we're standing behind.

Um, so that's why you know I am at a no.

Um, and I also just think about just you know, the the purpose and tools of the resolution.

Um, you know, as someone who's uh served as a as a frontliner um in many movements, you know, I definitely would have wanted to actually build that authentic relationship or at least hear from you know some of those um leaders who are making these efforts across the um across the United States, or not United States, but in Europe, um, just the fact that like there has not been, you know, there hasn't been that connection, a collaboration, and I take that very, very seriously, especially whatever you know, as a council member and putting my name behind.

I would just want to be more informed.

Um, so I just share with you just kind of from a council member to another council member, you know, as we're moving forward and bringing things to this body that like we do our due diligence to inform the other council members of because I do think it's the opportunity to earn my support or earn our support, but I also um I just want to get provide context of uh I I don't feel comfortable uh uh taking a stance in such a public manner uh with the organization or group of people that have not, you know, you know, built the relationship or even educated uh my office on on this matter.

Ms.

Yang.

Thanks, Council President.

Well, Councilmember Kim, I want to thank you for bringing this forward.

I want to need that from me.

I I have a lot of trust in the leadership of our Minneapolis council members who have voted to support a resolution like this and also in your leadership too.

And I really appreciate our residents um who are willing to who have the courage to approach you, I'm sure because they trust you and also have been very active in um in opposing Operation Metro Surge and the federal immigration operations that have happened um all across our our city and our country, really.

And so I'm prepared to vote in support of this.

I'm wondering though, based on the the um feedback from the council members, if you are not in a rush to approve this, if you would be open to layover, I think that that would be very appropriate um given that it seems folks who want to want more education and really information and a chance to be able to meet the delegation directly.

Um so the delegation is there presently.

Um I believe that our office had attempted to have this come to the agenda last week.

Um, and then we have our fifth Wednesday, and I'm not here the next two Wednesdays.

So I'm I'm certainly happy to do that, and then this council can take it on when I'm not present.

Um, so that's certainly an option.

Um, but in order for folks to meet with the delegation, they'll be returning from this trip.

So happy to make that happen.

Um, and then I I don't know the value truthfully of getting this passed, but still happy to bring it forward.

Um I appreciate the suggestion, Ms.

Yang.

I look to you, Ms.

Kim.

There's a motion.

You you've made a motion for approval if you want to withdraw your motion and move a layover or keep the motion to you.

Um I think that I am happy to address concerns of my colleagues to um see this pass, and then also um it'll just happen when I'm not here, then potentially, or the vote will happen when I'm not here.

So um I'm happy to lay this over for we don't have a meeting next week, Wednesday.

So I'm happy to lay this over to May 6th.

Okay.

So the motion is to lay the matter over until May 6th.

Is there any discussion of the motion?

Ms.

Jost.

Um thank you.

I I agree with the sentiments at the table.

I um I for a layover, I mean, and more time, that means that we'll be spending more time on this for education.

And I guess I it's still not clear to me um I what outcome that this produces.

I would prefer to put our my own effort into you know what are more tangible things I can do to support in and change outcomes, you know, from the impacts of operation metro surge or the impacts of ice related to this issue, rather than putting time into understanding the resolution, and so that would be my preference.

So I won't be in support of a layover.

Okay.

Any further discussion of the motion.

All right.

Um, I guess we should do a roll call vote.

Uh all in favor of a sorry, roll call, yes, for a layover.

Yes, for a layover.

Uh Coleman.

Yes.

Kim.

Yes.

Yang.

Yes.

Bowie.

No.

Uh Joast?

No.

Johnson.

Aye.

Okay, so five in favor.

Sorry.

I'm so sorry, President Baker.

I would vote aye.

Aye.

Five in favor, two opposed.

Uh the lay the resolution is laid over to May 6th.

If I may, just really Ms.

Kim.

Council President.

Um, I am hearing the concerns uh here at the dais.

I would just really appreciate if folks would um just let me know if there's anything additional so that we can address it ahead of the next potential vote.

Um, we only heard concerns from one office prior to, and I apologize, Councilman Ruby.

I know you'd messaged me.

Um, but we just would love to hear these ahead of the dais so that we can address them accordingly and make adjustments as needed.

Um, so just very open, send an email, shoot me a call, or send me a text, by happy to engage in this content moving forward.

Thank you.

Thanks, Ms.

Kim.

Uh item number 30 is the first reading of ordinance 26-25, amending chapter 66 of the legislative code to correct a scrivener's error related to allowing additional lot coverage for providing functional green roof space.

Uh, so this brings us to the ordinance section of our agenda.

So for those who don't follow us every week religiously or what is one of our millions of viewers at home, um, we have three readings at least for every ordinance.

We start with the first reading where we usually get a staff report or some basic background information on what we're considering.

Then the ordinance the next week has a public hearing where we hear from the public and get feedback, and then uh either the next week it comes to us for final adoption, or sometimes if we have more amendments more work to do, we might lay it over for longer than that.

So the ordinances that you're seeing in front of us right now for their first reading, we will either have a council member say something about them, or we might have staff come up and just let folks know what they're all about, and then those ordinances will have their public hearing next week.

Um, so I think for this one, I'm looking to Ms.

Joseph for a council member report instead of a staff report.

I'll keep it very brief.

This is basically a scrivener's error to um modify the percentage required.

Um, and it is because the the master plan that this is related to was older than another change that was made, and so we need to update this to to be consistent, and that's basically what this is for.

Got it.

Uh any questions for Ms.

Joost.

Otherwise, this will lay over.

I think we need it.

Well, take a motion from Ms.

Jost to I don't think you have to.

I don't think we need to.

You should say it's laid over to next week.

Oh, I'm sorry, the ordinance is laid over to May 6th for second reading public hearing.

Two weeks until May 6th.

Item 31, ordinance 26-26, updating chapter 310 of the legislative code pertaining to uniform license procedures to extend payment of license renewal fees owed in calendar year 2026.

I want to welcome up Director Angie Weezy with the Department of Safety Inspections.

I want to just say before she presents that this is one of those items that in response to operation metro surge we heard loud and clear from small business owners in particular that they were suffering loss of revenue, loss of clientele, and that anything the city could do not only to direct financial assistance their way, but also to remove any financial burdens that we were placing on them, we should do.

And in this case, um one of the key financial levers that the city has to remove a burden is to not require that license renewals or license fees that would normally have to be paid at the beginning of this year, be paid at the beginning of this year to give people that businesses that extra time.

So it's taken us just a minute to get this ready, but I'm really pleased that Director We see and her team have worked so hard on this and um excited to hear more from you now.

And I just want to say to our media services folks on our screen down here, we keep seeing some random slide from a previous presentation, um, maybe HRA.

So we might need to change that when Director We see speaks or later.

Welcome.

Thank you, Council President, and uh yes, thank you for your leadership with this ordinance change in particular, uh bringing together the chamber and downtown alliance and business owners to in the mayor's office to come up with something that uh is useful and valid and helpful to businesses.

It's just one sliver of what these businesses need for support for recovering from Operation Metro Surge, but it is something tangible that we can do to help.

And uh I put all it applies really only to Class N licenses, and so not that you I expect you to read this, but I wanted it part of the record.

So these are all the licenses.

That was part of this presentation.

Okay, sorry.

The slide we were looking at turns out was relevant to this presentation.

You you can bring it back up now.

Sorry, it's just a slide.

That's it.

Right.

It was just sitting there the whole time, and I thought it was a leftover.

Sorry.

They were just so ready and on the ball.

And now we can't see anything.

Okay, keep going, please.

Sorry.

Uh it only applies to Class N licenses, and though these do tend to be the higher price licenses that um that is with the city.

And it does require an ordinance change because without this change, the department has no flexibility in when we accept licenses when uh licenses are not like a gym membership.

When you when you don't pay your gym membership, you don't have a gym membership.

Um, but for licenses, we actually have to take adverse action if you don't pay your license fee.

That seems like adding insult to injury, especially with what these businesses have gone through this year.

So uh really we we need this ordinance change to give the department this flexibility during this year to have latitude for accepting class license and license fees uh late.

It also includes some of the 2025 ones, and that's because of the cyber attack when we didn't have invoicing happening for a portion of the year.

Uh those again, if we said you get a break, you know, some leeway on your 26 fee, but oh, by the way, here's a bill for 25.

That also seems like we're not meeting the goal of what we're trying to accomplish here.

So essentially, if you're invoiced for a business license for a class N license in 2026, you have 2026 to pay it.

As long as you pay it by the end of this year, you're good.

You know, in in short terms, uh simple and easy.

Uh and again, it's only applicable to this year, so um next year it the the same condition doesn't apply.

And and again, you know, having the city attorneys review this, it's really because council grants the department what authorities that they can and cannot do, and latitude with when things are paid is just not something that has been given to uh the department, except for if this passes in the year 2026.

Thank you so much, Director.

And I notice I appreciate the note about the average cost being a thousand ninety-six dollars.

Um I know that's the average, but licenses can often be much higher than that, and even that alone is as a big burden.

So appreciate um not only the department's work, but also I think maybe originally there was some conversation about how long the um grace period should be four or three months, six months, and I think that the 12 months that we landed on really does give businesses that needed breathing room.

So appreciate um that we got there.

And I assume that we have not been charging any late fees up until this point for anything that hasn't come in yet this year.

Uh I can't say that for certain because I haven't asked, but I would try to highly unlikely that we charged a late fee to date.

This was in progress.

Yes.

And you can see some of the licenses here.

Uh many of many of our licensees actually have multiple licenses at the same location.

So it's not just a single like on sale liquor license.

It's the additional of uh with entertainment with Sunday with you know a gambling license.

Now you're looking at a lot of um costs stacked on top of each other.

So it it really can add up, and this is uh hopefully will provide some relief.

Any uh questions for Director Weesey.

Otherwise, thank you so much again.

Uh, and this will lay over till May 6th for a public hearing.

Thank you.

Item 32, ordinance 26-19, adding chapter 44A to the administrative code to institute training, reporting, and programming related to the city's relationship with civil immigration laws and enforcement practices under administrative code chapter 44.

Ms.

Coleman.

Public hearing.

I'm so sorry.

Uh so this one doesn't follow the very neat uh framework that I laid out earlier.

This is an ordinance that is is before us for final adoption, but because of additional information that was part of the record last week, we actually reopened the public hearing um to give people another opportunity to comment.

So actually, we will hold a public hearing on this item before we uh consider it.

So this is a public hearing.

If you're here to testify when I call for your your number, um we ask that you come to the front, stand in between the two microphones.

You don't need to adjust them, they will pick you up just fine.

You also don't need to bend over towards them.

Um and you'll have two minutes.

We ask that you start with your name and where you're coming from, and then when you're done testifying, please sign in on either of the two clipboards.

Um, and with that, if you're here to testify on item 32, this is your public hearing, please come on up.

Don't all jump at once.

Sorry, did you say like if we call your number?

Sorry, what yes, item 32.

Oh, okay.

I thought it was like, I don't remember taking the number.

Um, council members.

My name is Laurel St.

Marie Jerusalem, and I live in Ward 7 of St.

Paul, and I'm a leader with Unidos, Minnesota, also known as Monarca.

Unidos and myself are in strong support of ordinance 26 2619 because it offers better training, increased scrutiny, transparency, public reporting options, and accountability for city officials, particularly the St.

Paul police department.

If we want to reestablish trust between city officials and residents, we will need to strengthen our existing separation ordinance to ensure residents are protected from ICE agents who do not respect their constitutional rights.

It is essential that our city officials are properly trained to know under what circumstances they can or cannot interact with ice.

After seeing what happened on November 25th, 2025, and Mayor Hur's refusal to do an independent investigation into the matter.

I do not have any confidence that the mayor or department heads will institute this kind of training or scrutiny.

This is why Unidos and myself support this ordinance in its original form.

Thank you, Council members.

Thank you so much.

Make sure to sign in.

Welcome up.

Hello, good evening, counselors.

Um my name is Lauren Allen.

I'm in 55107, and I would like to speak very strongly in favor of adopting this ordinance.

Um I'm so sorry, can you pause just a minute?

We just make need to make sure we get the timer right.

There we go.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Uh I read the statement that the city attorney has written regarding this ordinance, and it seems like the crux of it is that the mayor will get her stores, her toes stepped on by you following this ordinance.

Uh the mayor with respect is very resilient, and she can tolerate having her toes stepped on.

In the meantime, we need action now.

We need action yesterday, and this will actually go a long way towards addressing the problems that the citizens are seeing the residents are seeing in the city.

Okay.

Uh there's other Fed agencies that you'll probably have to deal with through ordinance in the future.

And uh I just want to emphasize do not betray the residents of St.

Paul by not taking action to hold police and city actors accountable to due process law and the wishes of the people of St.

Paul.

This is a necessary start to the healing of the relationship between the city and the residents.

Uh short of this action.

What?

There is nothing else that uh that people are seeing that you're doing.

Uh at the moment, residents cannot trust police or the process.

We're seeing police disobey the law left and right, working with federal agencies, and they need to be uh trained on how to do that properly or how not to do that properly.

Okay.

Um without that, there is no civil contract.

Without that, there is no social contract.

So uh I would argue very strongly that you guys adopt this proposal.

If the mayor decides to veto it, please override that veto.

Um thank you for your time.

Thank you very much.

Make sure to sign in and welcome up.

Uh good afternoon, Council President, Council members.

Uh, my name's Benjamin Goodman, Ward 3, lifelong St.

Paul resident.

Um yeah, Parks and Rec employee.

I'm here to speak in favor of the ordinance.

Um the guidance around interaction with immigration enforcement that we received on the ground from the mayor was crucial, but unfortunately inadequate.

Um, a little bit too little and a little bit too late.

Uh general service employees of the city didn't have the contact information and relevant procedures uh for reporting when it would have mattered the most.

I can share with you in January.

Um I encountered ICE at Arlington Ark Right Ballfields, and they went straight to abduct a father and two children from their home uh at a nearby house.

I realized on my way home that I didn't know who to report this to or if it was something that I needed to report, obviously off the clock, but still um I pride myself on being an involved and informed civil servant.

I'm a steward of my labor union, which is Layuna, and I strive to be a helpful source of information for my union siblings.

Uh I found myself that night as I often do without an answer to provide to them.

And my colleagues asked me time and time again throughout the surge what they should do if they encountered ICE.

They asked me, as is often the case with questions I'm asked as a steward because of a lack of a clear answer from the department or city administration.

Training program is urgently needed.

I'm skeptical it'll be established and rolled out in time for the midterms when many of our recreation centers become polling places and therefore targets.

Um, but I would ask you to support this resolution.

Um we need training.

We do.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Make sure to sign in.

So anyone else here to speak on this item.

Seeing none, I will take a motion from Ms.

Coleman to close the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, seven in favor, none opposed.

The public hearing is closed.

Ms.

Coleman.

Thank you, Council President.

I uh um we'll try to keep this short.

I went back and looked at what I said when we first introduced this, and I talked for a really long time then.

So I'll keep it shorter today.

I really want to thank everybody who came today, particularly to our last testifier.

I um that was just a very moving story.

Thank you for sharing it.

And I think it echoes so much of what we've been hearing for months from our city employees about how they are looking for clarification, they are looking for guidance, they want this training, how crucial clear reporting mechanisms are, how essential it is to the points of our other testifiers that we have those mechanisms for public oversight and public accountability.

These are, I think, very common sense steps that we can take to ensure that our separation ordinance is something that people can have faith in, can rely on, can ensure that it's actually being implemented in the way that it was intended when it was passed over 20 years ago.

Really, the only other things that I have to say, I just have a couple of thank yous.

Um I want to say a huge, huge thank you to the council staff team that worked on this, in particular Tim Greenfield and Jenny Nelson.

It has been many, many months of meetings with city departments, with the mayor's office, with the city attorney's office, with community partners, with everybody sitting at this table.

There has been so much work that has gone into this, so many different opinions and perspectives that we have taken into account, and I think um just an incredible testament, particularly to the work of Tim and Jenny.

So I want to say a huge thank you to them.

I want to say a huge thank you to Everby at this table to all my colleagues on the council.

Again, this has just been these have been ongoing conversations since November, December.

Certainly they you know picked up an intensity in January and February.

Um I think that the care that everybody has taken to make sure that we are reflecting what we are hearing from the community and making sure that that is enshrined in ordinance so that it is not something that can be changed when new council members are elected or when a new mayor is elected, but really saying that this is a bedrock of how we operate as a city.

Um that is you know, to the extent that this ordinance is able to do that, it is a reflection of the work that has been done by folks on this council.

And then finally, again, I will just thank everybody who has been here week in and week out, month in and month out at this point to speak about the impact of occupation or um operation metro surge on our community to umidos in particular.

I was thinking about the meetings that we were having in the winter where we were going to MAMAs on Snelling and having to go in, not able to get in unless you were able to knock and make eye contact with an employee because our businesses were locked, people were not able to move freely about our city.

But Unidos and so many other community organizations and community partners continued to show up and make sure that we felt the pressure and we felt the urgency, but we also took the time to get this right and to take the lessons that we've learned over the last six months to um to strengthen our city's approach to civil immigration enforcement to responding when federal agents are in town and to really support to supporting every single member of our community, most importantly, our immigrant community.

So that's all I have.

I look forward to the discussion at the table.

And um, I don't know if I need to make a motion, but I would move approval.

Thank you, Ms.

Coleman.

There's a motion for approval.

Uh, is there any discussion of that motion?

I see Ms.

Johnson and then Ms.

Joest.

Thank you so much, uh, Council President.

Thank you, uh, Councilmember Coleman as well.

I think one of the things that I just wanted to be able to share, especially um, you know, I do appreciate all of my constituents that have come out over the last um several months um to speak specifically about some of the changes that they want us to see.

And even today, you know, just with um with Laurel uh St.

Marie, you've you've been in contact with their office multiple times around the issue, and I know that it takes time to come out here during a Wednesday, during midday, and so your dedication to that is is noted in something that is really important to me.

And I also really do enjoy operating out of you know transparency, especially surrounding explaining some of the votes and where I have stood on the issues, especially because some of the ordinances that have been put forward, you know, I wasn't here for some of the votes.

Um, for the votes that I have been able to be here because I was on maternity leave, and now that I'm back, you know, one of the things that I think is really important is that upon reviewing a lot of the public testimony and the public record, we heard time and time again about what our community members wanted to see and needed to see to feel like they could trust not only this body but also our city and overall just like what our stances were, especially because the separation ordinance has been in place for years.

And that came from multiple times from multiple space, multiple time and experience with an ordinance that was already in place.

And so, to me, this change or this this attempt to strengthen the requirement for trainings and the requirements that are needed really isn't uh you know meant to interfere with anyone's ability to run the city, especially not the mayor's.

I think it does not dictate how staffing and operations and resources are utilized, but it does ensure that an existing city policy is implemented consistently, clearly, and transparently across all departments, which I think is going to be really important to not only you know passing policy, but also uplifting our responsibility for ensuring that the policy is actually followed.

And so sometimes without clear expectations for training and reporting, we risk inconsistency, we risk confusion, and ultimately a breakdown in trust.

And I think that that's where what has been at the center of this, you know, we can have policies in place, but if we don't have trainings, if we don't allow staff to know how to interpret them, and if we aren't clear, especially as policymakers about what the intent is 20 years from now, 30 years from now, folks back the question.

And so I hope that folks, when they are looking at this particular policy, but also all the ordinances that council this particular council has passed during this time frame, that they recognize not only the intent has been made clear, but also the purpose in which they exist or has as well.

And so for me, this has been about being clear as a policymaker, and it's about making sure that we have accountability, and it's about making sure that our policy means something, and it's not just on paper, it's not just something that we put and pass together, but that we actually anticipate being implemented.

And so I just want to say thank you to all the community members and to the city for you know the partnership when it comes to just trying to meet the moment that we are in.

I think some of these things get glossed over because they're not as substantial, but really truly training and reporting are basic things that we should have the ability to ask.

And so um, you know, I was the last council member to join out as a co-sponsor, and that was because I wanted to see and wanted to fully understand you know, with respect to all of the record, including the memo that was attached.

And we can look at the same policies and see them and interpret them differently.

And I think in this case we are, but I'm really um you know excited to support that and to support this uh ordinance change and also see it as really a part of the package that we have been working endlessly on as a council to continue to keep our word to the residents that we that truly elected us, but also more importantly, that experienced uh very traumatic event, especially on the east side of St.

Paul.

And so just want to say thank you, uh, Councilmember Coleman and to our city uh chief policy officer, Mr.

Greenfield, to Ward Force, the legislative aid, you know, Jenny Nelson, and also just to um many people who have been able to show up over the last few months.

These type of policies don't happen without you.

And so I hope that this is a primary example of what it looks like when community members are asking for something clearly, we have to respond.

And it doesn't matter who you know is the person requesting it here at the city, we're all policymakers, and the goal is to have a plan.

And so folks can know exactly what they're learning.

City staffers can know how to interpret it, and more importantly, community members can know how to hold it accountable if broken.

Thanks, Ms.

Johnson.

Ms.

Joest.

Thank you, Council President.

I also want to thank Councilmember Coleman for bringing this forward.

I really appreciate all of your effort and uh especially the effort of your staff, Jenny Nelson and our chief policy officer, Mr.

Greenfield.

I I think Chapter 44A is very reasonable and pragmatic.

Uh in the it mostly just provides training information and reporting information, like everyone has been saying.

Um, and as someone that is an engineer and that is used to operating within codes and policy or requirements and so many things, I really appreciate that for the problem here that we're trying to solve.

Uh without any clear information um about what that training should entail or what uh the transparency around the reporting, we don't have a baseline to measure any accountability.

We don't have anything that we can point to where we can say, you know, this is something we need to improve, or this is something that we need to change.

And if we don't have that, we can't expect things to change.

And our community members have said that that is not acceptable to them, it's not acceptable to me, and so I'll be voting yes today.

Thanks, Ms.

Jost.

Other discussion of the motion, Ms.

Bowie.

Thank you.

I just want to echo, excuse me, everything that was said um earlier.

Um, so council member um Coleman and your leadership on this and your staff, and just uh how we have listened and learned um, you know, over the months.

And I just want to also just say thank you to council member um Yanger, um, Vice Chair Yang, uh, excuse me, um having those weekly public hearings and you know, ensuring that we have accountability built into our processes, and as we are thinking through of what are the best ways to move forward, and when I think about just good leadership, um, good leadership acts not when there's pressure, but when there is uh collaboration.

And I also want to just share, you know, I I really value your approach, and um, you know, uh there's no such thing as overcommunicating when it comes to policy making, and I know we've seen versions of this and the evolution of it.

So I appreciate the consistency um that we've seen from this body, and um I'm just thinking of too um, like council member Joe's had mentioned like this is really pragmatic and reasonable um steps for to not only more transparency but having a plan that we understand um that is um that is simple um and is able to be implemented.

Um I just think about my time when I was a vice president for the uh Minneapolis NOACP and like how it was like groundbreaking work, like I believe it took nearly a decade just to get police body cameras implemented into our cities and the training um that went into it and like the fights on the federal, the state, the county, and local level, and you know, just today we were able to honor um um elder use of guinea.

I'm just thinking of how far we came to be able to accelerate and streamline these type of changes that we shouldn't normalize processes that um demand community members to beg and plead and take time out of their lives to you know for us to take action.

So I really appreciate the urgency, even when the intensity is no longer in the room, but we are still committed to this change.

So I'm excited to um cross the finish line with you all.

And you know, thank you so much again, Councilmember Coleman, for uh for your your steady leadership on this.

Thank you, Ms.

Bowie.

Vice President Yang.

Thank you, Council President.

I'd like to echo everything that's been shared at the table here by my colleagues.

Thank you to you, Councilmember Coleman, for leading the policy here, and also thank you to our testifiers.

Um, many of you have been here week after week, and everything that you shared at the podium, it was spot on with why I believe this is a very important ordinance for us to pass.

What we experienced during Operation Metro Surge was unlawful, it was unjust, and I want to bring into perspective how real it is.

It could be again that we live through a moment like that.

We are still living under um under the Trump Trump administration, and so at the a dictatorship and also authoritarian uh government is still right here with us, and so we have to be ready, we have to take action and also be prepared to be proactive as much as possible.

And so that's why it's very urgent and important for us to pass this ordinance.

I also want to extend a thank you to our council staff, especially Tim, our chief policy officer who put in so much work around this, also our attorneys, and really appreciate the conversations had um between Councilmember Coleman's office, especially and also the mayor's office, too.

And what I um I'm holding at heart is really the the rage that was brought into City Hall here, the the fire in our bellies to fight back and to resist.

And what we saw during Operation Metro Surge was that it really brought to light the need, brought to light the need for consistent city staff training and reporting whenever federal immigration operations occur in our city.

And this is an important ordinance because it does set this expectation to ensure that we deliver on our promises to all of our residents, to our city staff, everybody who comes to St.

Paul to visit, to work to play, that our employee resources and our city employees and resources won't be used to carry out federal immigration operations and that we continue being a welcoming city to all.

Also, um I have high hopes that this will pass unanimously today.

Um and if and when this is vetoed, I want to make it really clear that I will be here at the table ready to override that.

Thank you so much, Vice President.

Any other discussion of the motion uh I will just it's hard to go after so much eloquence.

I will also just again say thank you to Ms.

Coleman to the staff.

Um I agree with so much of what my colleagues have said, especially about the fact that this council still feels that same passion and urgency, um, despite the fact that we may not have um a room full of people demanding it.

We know we have people demanding it who may not be here today.

Um I also want to thank everyone who came out to testify.

I want to echo what was said about this being fully within the authority of the council.

I know this has been well researched, this has been well thought through, um, and I believe that if we can have a chapter 44, we can have a chapter 44A.

Um, and then I I would echo what you said, Ms.

Bowie, about the overcommunication, the intense collaboration that um Ms.

Coleman has had with the rest of us along the way, and that has really helped us understand what we're getting here today to do.

Um I just also want to be really clear that one of the key questions we got from constituents um in November in January, in February throughout what I would agree is occupation, Metro Surge, um, was this question about what's the council's oversight function?

You have the separation ordinance, but how does the council take responsibility?

And I found myself unable to answer that question.

I knew we had an extremely strong separation ordinance.

I didn't know how we how we had accountability for it.

Um and what I think 44A does, in addition to what my colleagues have said is it really ensures that we have that oversight.

It has that training, it has that reporting mechanism spelled out, codified.

Um, so we will be getting that insight into what's going on in the future in a way that we haven't been to this point.

And so we can respond to our constituents who ask us for accountability in the affirmative.

Um, and so I'm excited about that.

So, with that, I think uh it sounds like we've got some support around the table.

The motion is for approval.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The ordinance is adopted.

Item number 33 is resolution public hearing 26-80, authorizing the Department of Public Works to accept the donation of $4,416 from the St.

Paul Parks Conservancy to support a variety of projects and programs, including employee development initiatives and to amend the 2026 budget to support the appropriations.

Hard pivot.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms.

Joe's to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 34, resolution public hearing 26-90, approving the application of XL Energy for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for XL Energy Infrastructure slash utility work on the CP Railroad crossing at Eagle Parkway and Shepherd Road from Thursday, May 7th to Thursday, May 21st, 2026, on Eagle Parkway from Shepherd Road to North Chestnut Street.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak on this item?

Come on up.

Greetings, Council President.

Council members, thank you so much.

My name is Alicia Rasmussen.

I'm the senior manager of community relations with Excel Energy.

I'm here with my colleague Sean.

Um we really appreciate the opportunity to um share more details regarding the requested sound variants.

We're making significant upgrades to our electric infrastructure infrastructure.

Um this particular project happens to be underneath the CP railroad.

I'm here with um Sean, who is an expert in the field and um is gonna just share a few more details regarding the why behind this request.

Welcome.

Uh my name is Sean Peterson.

Um, I'm a general foreman for the construction crewers for the East Metro with Excel Energy.

Um, like Alicia stated that uh trying to keep our our infrastructure um well and and secure.

It is going to make some noise overnight.

Probably 85 decibels at the pit where the machine's gonna be running.

And then it'll be a couple other pieces of equipment to run during the night.

Um to do other um scopes of the project.

So we just wanted to be here to answer any questions that individuals may have in regards to the why behind the 24 hour a day project running requested between May 7th through the 21st.

Um do we expect that it will be 24 hours a day for each of those days, or is this just to give you the opportunity and the option?

Uh no, it will be uh around the clock for those okay which we read the show.

I'm really glad you're here.

Thank you.

Um other discussion or questions, Ms.

Bowie.

Thank you, Council President, and thank you so much for being here as well for this information.

I actually live pretty close um to that um um construction site there.

I'm just curious.

Um, you know, this might be a very technical question, but what is like the distance in terms of when a person can actually hear?

Like, I mean, of course, like if you're within blocks, but if they're if there's like a range, like how far um, like what is the distance, particularly of when you actually you know will hear it at that that range of 80 decimals.

Um, the one machine be running inside of a pit.

Um so being up out of the pit and away from the pit.

Um, we'll drop down about 60 decibels.

Um, some of the machines are running part-time overnight.

Um, will be a little bit louder than that, um, but won't be at the peak 85 as the machine doing the board.

So okay.

Um doesn't look like we have other questions.

Thank you all so much.

Um, and it sounds like important work and our infrastructure needs to be maintained, and sometimes that comes along with sound.

So I will certainly be moving in support of this motion.

Um further discussion of the motion.

Uh so I'm moving to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 35, resolution public hearing 26-92, amending the financing and spending plans in the fire department in the amount of 20,594 dollars and 31 cents for the Minnesota Task Force 1 reimbursement from the city of Edina.

And as we always say, it's a great day in St.

Paul when we're taking money from the city of V Dinah.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms.

Kim to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

I'm sorry, I have a point.

Do I say six?

Do I do we no?

Do we uh yes?

I would say six in favor.

Okay.

Um six in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 36, resolution public hearing 26-94, amending the financing and spending plans in the fire department in the amount of four thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents for the donations from the St.

Paul Fire Foundation and Firefighters Union Local 21 to support the fire explorers program.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

See none, I'll take a motion from Vice President Yang to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Six in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 37, resolution public hearing 26-95, amending the financing and spending plans in the fire department in the amount of $5,812.5 cents for the reimbursement from the Minnesota Professional Firefighters Association for Firefighter Helmets for Fire Ops 101 training.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms.

Johnson to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Six in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

This brings us to the legislative hearing agenda section, legislative hearing section of our agenda.

Legislative hearing consent agenda items 38 through 53 are before you for your consideration.

Welcome, Ms.

Mormond.

Good afternoon, Council President, Council members.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no one here to testify.

Okay, so we will hold a public hearing on items 38 through 53.

Through 53.

So if you are here for any one of those items, please let us know.

Items 38 to 53.

Okay.

Doesn't look like there is anyone here to testify, so I will take a motion from Ms.

Bowie to close the public hearing and approve the items with the amendations and recommendations of the legislative hearing officer.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Six in favor, none opposed.

The legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended.

That brings us to the end of our agenda and one of our favorite times of the week.

News from the wards.

Any news from the wards?

Ms.

Kim.

Kim mine is really far in the future but I may or may not have sent it to all of your um wards already um but our uh rec center soapbox derby kids have started their builds and so you may or may not have seen an invite from my office June 2nd they race down Hidden Falls drive um staff members apparently yank kids off a soapbox before they crash but like maybe like see what rec like reach out to your record your recenter might have a team um and so I keep it on your calendar I will send more details as it comes but um the soapbox derby oh sorry the last part which you saw in my invite the reason why this one feels particularly important even though they've hosted it a few years in a row is this year Minneapolis is competing yes so please reach out to your rec groups see who's competing and let's get some St.

Paul winners across the finish line this year.

Love it thank you Ms.

Kim other good news from the wards Ms.

Johnson Ms.

Jost and then Ms.

Coleman okay so I have a couple of events um that are taking place I think April 24th and 25th are just busy days um throughout the city but uh for sure in uh on the east side we have just our um resilience and bloom events it's a group exhibition of paintings photographs prints textiles cultures um it's at art at 967 pain um from five to nine I also have two cleanups that I have aware of especially just from the east side community cleanups taking place this weekend um one is on pain as well uh but you know it's just really cool to kind of see that folks are gonna be joining out from community it's from 8 30 to 1 30 p.m so truly all throughout the day they're different locations one's at Cadence uh records and coffee and that's in the morning at 8 30 at 9 and then the cleanup area is gonna be from Payne Avenue to arcade and so they said lunch is provided you know and that's incentivizing for me we can go through and uh spend some time cleaning up and then also our um office and myself has been have been invited to the Parkway Little League opening day um that is taking place on Saturday and so there will be two nakers playing okay I'm looking forward to seeing some of the nakers play and the best concessions okay I'm sorry yes you're no I um I am looking forward to it I I had you in mind when I said yes so I uh we'll be planning to come over there in the morning to uh cheer on the Little Leagues because I pass by there all the time and honestly it's always it's it's just really cute to see them play and separately I'm looking forward to being a part of it this year.

Best news I've heard all week um it's Joseph and Ms.

Coleman.

Um thank you council president I just want to recognize that today is Earth Day which is why I'm wearing this this shirt um and uh it's it's uh such an important day to you know recognize how important it is that we we take care of our planet you know this is a council that's committed to climate action um and it's just such an important such an important issue and so with that I've got a couple of citywide cleanup events that are happening in my ward Saturday is very very busy um like Councilmember Johnson said so Hidden Falls Regional Park the Mississippi Park Connection is hosting a cleanup from 12 to 3 and at the edgecombe rec center the McAllister Girl and community council is hosting a cleanup from 10 to 12 and then also I also I want to add um uh my support for the soapbox derby event in at Hidden Falls Regional Park I will do my best to be there it's such a cool event and it's in ward three so I hope people can join us and I really want to make sure that we beat Minneapolis.

You're here Miss Coleman thank you I didn't process that all of these trash cleanups were happening because it was Earth Day so this is making a lot more sense now I also have a trash cleanup to share but I will say if you are listening to this and deciding which of the many trash cleanups to go to this one builds a trash mountain so really excited share about the Hamlin Midway Coalition big old trash party uh cleanup starts at 10 there are four different locations you can sign up online and then at 130 the after party starts at Blackheart where we will build a trash mountain last time it was very impressive so pick up some trash and then head out and support one of our local businesses and I think the loons play at 330 so it's gonna be a great Saturday in midway and then the one other thing that I wanted to share is this Sunday after you spend all weekend picking up garbage really want to encourage folks to go to Rebel Loon of Minnesota keep on shining it's a benefit concert uh taking place at Celtic Junction also in word four um five o'clock to 10 o'clock Sunday night it is a benefit concert raising money for a couple of organizations that are continuing to provide really essential support in the wake of Operation Metro Surge um including two indigenous roots and Zion Community Commons.

It is a benefit concert raising money for a couple of organizations that are continuing to provide really essential support in the wake of Operation Metro Surge, including two Indigenous Roots and Zion Community Commons.

So I'm really looking forward to that.

It's gonna be a great night of music and community and a chance to support really essential ongoing efforts to help folks recover.

Thank you, Miss Coleman.

I will just share that, and this is next Thursday, but kind of as Ms.

Kim said we're not gonna meet next Wednesday.

I want to make sure people have plenty of notice.

Um there will be a ground breaking next Thursday from 2:30 to 30 3:30 for the new downtown Aldi.

Um the ground won't really be broken because there is an existing store there.

So I really hope we're not breaking the ground.

But uh, we will be celebrating the fact that a new Aldi will be coming in.

Um and I'm very proud of myself for saying I'll D and uh LDs, because I've been made fun of that for that before.

So uh it's very exciting for not just downtown, but the entire community invite people to come help us uh break the ground.

Um Ms.

Bowie and then Ms.

Johnson.

Uh thank you, Council President.

So I have quite a few here, but um I'll go with the ones that's all taking place at Halley Q Brown.

They're having a really lively week here, actually today for our million viewers who are watching.

Um, if you want to go to Halikue Brown at 6 p.m.

just in a few minutes, uh, they're in partnership with the Minnesota Opera.

Um, and also having uh a circus and an opera performance uh by Regrero Luyan Cavaliello, gripping tragedy pagliasi.

Hopefully, my Italian is not that good.

So I tried my best.

Um it's an evening of circus aerial performances by local business owners and performers.

Um is going to be a music um set of opera, um, um guests, artists who's not only from Minnesota, um, but also there will be a panel conversation that's going to intertwine the past and the future of the Rondo community through opera.

Um so that sounds really exciting.

Uh and then this Friday, April 24th at the uh state capital is going to be the African Heritage Day on the Hill, hosted by the Council of Minnesota of African Heritage.

Uh, we'll have some of the partners there, the links, um, and I believe some of the Divine Nine uh fraternity sororities will be there as well.

Um, and then in ward one, uh next Saturday, because I believe we we will be meeting after that, um, May 2nd from noon to 3.

There's gonna be a really exciting fashion show.

So it's uh hosted by the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, uh, their sister organization, a sister spokesman, um, will be having their annual fashion show.

Um, and hopefully you might see someone you that's familiar in that fashion show.

Um and then last but not least, uh tomorrow is the last day of the of Halley Q Brown's Partners and Prevention Community Clinic.

So that's where they have um a partnering of different clinics, uh, Metro State uh will be there uh inside of the canteen room.

That is Thursday, April 23rd from 11 to 2 p.m.

So you get to get uh a free screenings, free cardiac screens, pre-diabetes.

You have a health coach there, uh free hand massages and dental screenings as well.

And uh yeah, I believe that's it.

Tons of cleanups in ward one as well.

Uh we have Frogtown Farm, as we know, one of the largest community-owned uh city-owned um um farming land.

They're gonna have uh a cleanup uh at Western Sculpture Garden as well.

This uh Saturday is a community cleanup, so but yeah, tons, tons of things to do.

Man, we are not gonna get bored in St.

Paul over the next couple weeks.

Uh, I think Miss Johnson's gonna close us up.

Yes, I forgot to mention before and uh wanted to mention this because our next council meeting will be a day before the um event is being placed.

So tenant protections goes into effect next month on May on May 14th.

We're already at that part where I have to talk about May, which is kind of crazy.

Um, the world is going so fast.

But um, we are doing a tenant protections uh event, a community conversation that can just talk a little bit more about the ordinance about what's included, what's not included, how the how to best prepare, especially for landlords and renters.

That's gonna be at the Northern Community Center on May 7th.

So we're working on finalizing it.

It's going to be from 6 to 7:30.

I am working with the uh fair housing coordinator with the Department of Safety and Inspections, the mayor's office, and um the Office of Financial Empowerment to really get a citywide discussion.

And so we're working on finalizing the flyer.

It'll go live most likely before the end of the week.

But wanted to give folks at least two weeks' notice, and then when we get back and have another council meeting, it'll be the day before.

And then when we get back and have another council meeting, it'll be the day before.

And so that just isn't the adequate notice that I want to provide you all as well as the millions of viewers that is watching at home, and especially for people who have been really advocating for the policy, we'll do a uh community conversation on that the week before it goes into effect.

And I'm very excited about that.

So definitely go there before you go to there's something happening after that was the fashion show.

The fashion show.

Right.

I was thinking to myself, I can go to Cinco and then the fashion show.

All right.

With that, I think we've taken more time with our good news than with our meeting.