Joe.

Kim.

Here.

Yang.

Comes President Anchor.

Here.

Seven present, non-absent.

Welcome everyone to our St.

Paul City Council meeting.

We're so thrilled that you took time to join us today.

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

United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, invisible liberty and justice.

Consent agenda items five through four through 34 before you for your consideration.

And I know we are taking items 33 and 34 for separate consideration.

Is there anything else to come off of consent?

See none, I'll take a motion from Vice President Yang for the balance of the consent agenda.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, non opposed.

The consent agenda is adopted as amended.

Item 33 is resolution 26-969 establishing the rate of pay for the classification of GIS supervisor EG 09, SPSO, grade 19.

There was just a small technical change that needed to be added to this in the form of a version two.

So I will move version two.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye, aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted as amended.

Item 34 is resolution 26-1106 celebrating the 30th anniversary of Kumbaya, the Juneteenth story and its enduring legacy of community culture, freedom in the city of St.

Paul.

All right.

Well, good afternoon, colleagues.

I get the pleasure of being able to introduce you today to Mrs.

Mrs.

Rose McGee.

So I'm gonna welcome Miss McGee up at this time to join me.

And also uh we have Nyla Heavert, hello, and we have um Dwayne as well coming in to talk to you a little bit about this resolution.

Um I had the chance to join them for the 30th anniversary of Kumbaya, the Juneteenth story.

And this resolution honors the legacy of this community culture and freedom that is here within our city.

As a reminder, we did pass a resolution here at this body and with full support as well so as a year's proclamation of Juneteenth, but also um that it uh something that's happened in partnership with the humanity center here in St.

Paul has been Miss McGee's Kumbaya Juneteenth story play.

This is something that has um continued to have an annual impact here, right in here in the St.

Paul area and at um St.

Kate's St.

Kate's University.

This is the 30th anniversary of the play.

It was um proclaimed the Kumbaya Juneteenth Story Day in the city of St.

Paul on June 26th.

So this pres this resolution is our contribution to the work and honoring leaders like those that are behind me and aside me.

So I with that I'm just going to um I'm gonna have Miss McGee give us a couple minutes.

I did share with folks that it's two minutes um each, and so I will come back in and just read the last two be it resolves clauses and uh we'll make a motion at that time.

Welcome.

Thank you, council, and I really do feel extremely honored um that you're acknowledging the 30th anniversary.

I cannot believe it's been 30 years, that um the twin cities, um Juneteenth Commission said, Can you create something that will help educate our community?

At the time we were doing um wonderful um parade and also a festival in the park, but people still didn't understand what Juneteenth meant.

So I was able to get started with um the Arts Us organization that was started by Tony Carter, and at that time we created this wonderful program that involved these young people, mostly through storytelling.

When we were done though, we asked the audience what did they want to see?

And they said more.

And then they said it should be something that would be accessible to students so that they can understand this history that has been omitted from our typical learning books and things, right?

And so I began to really craft it out a little bit deeper, and later I had an opportunity to actually go to Ghana, West Africa, and learned more about the history of some things that I then began to incorporate into the play.

So here we are, 30 years later.

We make it a little bit different every year.

For three of those 30 years, I was actually working with the Minnesota Humanities Center in Omaha, Nebraska, and we were able to do the play in Omaha.

So it was quite a pleasure to see a bus of the folks from Omaha come last week to the play.

So I just say thank you for this.

I really appreciate the Minnesota Humanities and certainly uh the city of St.

Paul and these wonderful council members for acknowledging this event.

And let me just go on to say if whatever we can do, whatever we can do to uplift the power of freedom, and now more than ever, it seems, especially more than ever in many of our lifetimes, it's important that our young people as well as our adults understand the history, understand how important it is that we can just stand together and and work together and be in unity and understand truly what freedom is because Frederick Douglass says, which is one of the lines in the play.

If there is no what?

Struggle, there is no progress.

Now, Kevin Lindsay is gonna come up here real quickly, and he's going to say some words as well, and then I will go sit down.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Not to put you immediately on the spot.

Rose is accustomed to doing that, so it's all right.

So I do appreciate the council taking a moment out to recognize Rose.

Uh it's a very important time in our nation's history to be able to talk about the time period right after the civil war and uh issues that reverberated around the country, I would say reverberate now.

So I appreciate her wisdom.

I appreciate her energy and appreciate her passion 30 years ago for this play and creating it and then carrying it forward for the Minnesota Humanities Center.

So again, thank you uh deeply from the Minnesota Humanity Center and especially to recognize Rose on this tremendous occasion of the 30th anniversary of the play.

Thank you.

Hey, good evening, Council.

Um, I the reason why I was here standing just in support uh of the miraculous Rose McGee is because honestly, I see you as an additional mom, you know, in my family when we think about the village and the call of action that you have and rooted in your purpose and like the story behind even creating the Kumbaya play, is just very personal to me.

It was part of my childhood.

I remember being part of, you know, the field trips and seeing the Kumbaya play, even being asked to join the play, um, being an honorary director, you know, a watcher of the play.

Um, and I just want to say um it's just so so important that we're commemorating a legacy, um, a milestone 30 years is not easy, um, especially when we think about just uh where like support comes from and how there's always us changing in terms of whose stories matter.

And I just want to say thank you so much for your tenacity.

Um I also want to just recognize um all the many hands that went into ensuring that this play um is a footprint, a permanent footprint and what um community look forward to when it comes to Juneteenth.

So again, thank you.

There's so many um leaders that can be here today and sing your praises, Miss Rose, but I'm just so thankful, particularly for your leadership and how you have just modeled the importance of telling our story.

Thank you.

Council members, good afternoon.

I just wanted to briefly share some remarks as the board chair, sweet potato comfort pie.

Uh, we just continue to be so grateful for the leadership, the tenacity, the courage uh that I call her queen, Rose McGee has expressed and demonstrated over the years, uh, even when there's been a lack of financial support or challenges with the ecosystem or the environment that she is hosting this event in.

She has always showed up with uh the beauty that we know uh is really who we are as Minnesotans and what Sweet Potato Comfort Pie offers uh even beyond uh the Kumbaya play is an opportunity for cultural connection, uh a bridge building, and really being that place where people can find one another and find authenticity uh and being connected through togetherness.

Uh so hopeful that this play will continue to be a sustained part of Minnesota legacy and history because it's everyone's history.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Such powerful words from so many people that genuinely understand fully why it's so important to continue to um not only just see the work happen, but Miss McGee also honor the work.

Um so now, you know, uh the motion that I bring in front of you, the resolution that I bring in front of you does resolve that the St.

Paul City Council recognizes and uplifts the tremendous contributions of artists.

I would say artists, queen, phenomenon, everything.

Um, Rose McGee, the sweet potato comfort pie organization, and the Minnesota Humanities Center for their commitment to preserving history, advancing community dialogue, and honoring the legacy of Juneteenth through the transformative power of storytelling and the arts.

And be it further resolved that the St.

Paul City Council affirms the truth-telling, cultural expression, and artistic storytelling that are essential to building strong communities, deepening understanding across difference, and ensuring that the lessons of our shared history continue to inform our collective future, and be it finally resolved that the St.

Paul City Council congratulates Kumbaya, the Juneteenth story on its 30th anniversary and expresses its gratitude for the play's enduring impact and uplifting black history, celebrating black resilience, and inspiring generations of St.

Paul residents through education, reflection, and hope.

And with that, colleagues, I move approval.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Johnson.

Thank you to everyone who is here with us today.

This is a really momentous occasion, and we're honored uh to have you in our presence.

So thank you for your hard work and for your leadership and for being here.

Um there is a motion on the table for approval.

I would look to my colleagues to see if there's any discussion.

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Can I pull you instead of the two?

Okay.

Oh, have a lot of problems.

You want to stay right in front of us.

Thank you.

I think they want their own right here.

This is fine.

I think they're going away.

I think so.

I pick you up for a second.

The photos will be better.

All right.

You might hold you just one.

I'll help you.

Yeah, I usually didn't make.

She knows that.

Okay.

Everyone, windows.

There you go.

So I want to be next to my systems.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate it.

Okay.

So wonderful to see you.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Yes, of course.

And I love it.

Okay.

Okay.

Item number 35 is ordinance 26-32, amending appendix C of the legislative code relating to Northern States Power, DBA, XL Energy, Electric Franchise.

I believe we have a staff report on this item.

We do.

Mr.

Youngins, welcome.

And this will, I think, apply to both this item and the next one.

For those of you who are just joining us for the first time and are not one of our regular millions of YouTube watchers at home or attendees here in chambers.

All of our ordinances have at least three readings.

The first reading is always a staff report to tell us what we're considering.

The second reading the next week is a public hearing where we hear from the public about what's being proposed.

And the third reading is often the final adoption, the final vote.

Sometimes we take more time if we have more amendments to consider.

So in this case, this is the first reading of these two ordinances, so we will have a staff report.

Welcome, Mr.

Youngman's.

Well, good afternoon.

I'm Neil Yohans, the city treasurer in Office of Financial Services.

So I'm here to give a brief uh staff report on these two ordinances, as you mentioned.

So we are in the midst of negotiations right now with Excel for both our gas and electric franchises.

Um our current franchise is set to expire August 31st of this year.

Um and so we need a uh a brief extension of the life of our current franchise out to the end of the year to um accommodate kind of like the last phase of negotiations with Excel.

Um, they'll have to go through uh the public utilities commission uh to bring forward their rates, which uh our franchise fee is part of that.

Um so the new timeline last lets them do that before the uh, oh excuse me.

I was just reading the signs.

Do not adjust my now, don't adjust them.

Um yeah, so the the new time lets them uh uh bring their items through the public utilities commission um and lets us finish out the rest of our contract or our current uh franchise.

Um and we'll likely be back to you all here in the next uh month or two with kind of that last phase of negotiations wrapped up.

So that's all I have for the staff report.

Great questions?

Doesn't look like it.

Thanks so much.

Uh so that's uh first reading.

This item will lay over till July 15th.

Yep, the item is laid over till July 15th for second reading public hearing.

Item number 35 is ordinance 26-33 or 36 is ordinance 26-33, amending appendix B of the legislative code relating to Northern States Power, DBA XL Energy, Gas Franchise, and this ordinance is laid over to Jeff to July 15th for second reading public hearing.

Item 37 is resolution public hearing 26-146, approving the application of Rondo Community Coalition for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for fourth annual Rondo Block Party event on Saturday, August 1st at 820 Rondo Avenue, Rondo Commemorative Plaza.

So we are now on our public hearing section of our agenda.

So if you are here for any of our public hearing items, when your item is read and I call the public hearing, if you're here to testify, please come on up, stand in between the two microphones.

You don't need to adjust them anymore.

Um you'll have two minutes to testify.

We ask that you start with your name and where you're coming from.

Um and when you're done, and there's a timer in front of you, and two minutes do go by quickly, so uh just please be be aware of that.

And when you're done testifying, please sign in on either of the two sign-in sheets.

So, with that, this is a public hearing on item 37.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

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

Bowie 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 38 is resolution public hearing 26-147, approving the application of Sonia Castillo for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for Chicano Fest event on Saturday, July 11th, 2026 at 235 Marshall Avenue St.

Paul Technical College.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

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

Bowie 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 number 39 is ordinance 25-4, amending title four of the St.

Paul Administrative Code to add chapter 92 titled Tree Preservation for City Sponsored Construction Projects.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

I think maybe we'll have folks just line up on either side of the gold columns and come on up when it's your turn.

Welcome.

Hello.

Well, hello.

My name is Tom Darling.

I'm uh member of the board of the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association or SARPA.

And I was on the public input group that worked on the tree preservation ordinance and the uh standard operating procedures.

And I want to start by, because I don't want to run out of time to say this, by saying that we all we all, you we all owe a debt of gratitude to Megan Jackett.

Uh from the beginning to the end, Megan has been a force to be reckoned with.

Megan got this ordinance done.

And I admire her and thank her, and we should all applaud her.

And I hope I've got an extension of my two minutes for the applause.

Now, moving on.

I and SARPA support the draft ordinance.

Now it's far from perfect.

However, having said that, the draft ordinance and the SOPs, in my view, should yield the important result of giving trees a real and meaningful seat at the table when city construction projects are being considered and implemented.

Now it's crucial to emphasize that this is a tree preservation ordinance.

It is not a tree replacement ordinance.

Trees must be preserved.

They cannot meaningfully be replaced.

Mature trees once gone will not be replaced for decades and decades.

When this city council passes this ordinance, you will be elevating tree preservation above replacement, and that's how it should be.

Once this ordinance is passed, you as city council members must be diligent in making sure it is implemented consistent with its intent, tree preservation.

Parks and public works must also work to implement it honestly and fairly.

Thank you so much.

That is two minutes.

I really appreciate your testimony.

Make sure to sign in.

Welcome up.

Hi, my name's Gary Todd.

I live in Ward II.

First, I want to say thank you.

It's evident that a tremendous amount of work went into developing this ordinance.

It's important to get it right so that it can be enforceable and comprehensive rather than just a token to preservation in name only.

I have a couple questions.

Will the ordinance be strong enough to force alternative designs and methods to be chosen, especially with discretionary elements of projects like bike trails, where clear alternatives exist, or will proposed project designs overrule alternatives and tree preservation will only occur if feasible or if it doesn't prohibit construction activity.

Will the city be solely reliant on contractor reports, or are there requirements for on-site review of ongoing construction to enforce this ordinance?

St.

Paul's tree canopy serves all residents and is a major attraction that draws people to our city.

We want this ordinance to answer the question that people always ask when reading about another bunch of trees being removed for some construction project.

How many lost trees are too many?

I understand that tree loss occurs in construction, but alternative designs and techniques need to be chosen that reduce the number of trees lost rather than attempt to only attempt to preserve the ones that remain.

Contractors will invariably choose the least expensive path.

Tree replanting is important, but replanting is not preservation.

It takes decades for a tree to grow back to the point where it can deliver the benefits that a mature tree delivered to us today.

Can you require periodic reporting to the city council on the effectiveness of this new ordinance?

It would be interesting to see how designs were altered, alternatives chosen, and number of trees preserved based on the application of this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Make sure to sign in and welcome up.

Hello, I am Bridget Allen Alice, and I was also on the tree input group, and I wanted to call out Megan and Steve, and um Steve Dodge and Mr.

Peterson back there, and Tom Hagel and Tim Greenfield and all the people that were uh coming to our meetings.

It was great.

So I'll make this really quick because I agree with a lot of what has already been said, so I'll just echo it.

But the way I see this is preserving trees is the lowest barrier with the highest value to preserve trees.

Lowest barrier, high value for the entire city.

You don't always come across that kind of a concept.

So this is very good, whether it be mental health, physical health, financial health.

Just think, when you read a description of a property, apartment for rent on a tree line street, duplex for rent on a tree line street, house for sale on a tree line street.

It makes a difference for Civic Pride of St.

Paul.

Um, and then lastly, I'll just say since Omaha was brought up sooner.

My daughter went to school in Omaha for college, and every time she would come back, she's like, gosh, I forget how beautiful St.

Paul is with all these trees.

And now we loved Omaha for what it did for her and our little heart.

We have a little piece of our heart in Omaha, but when your children start to realize what a value this is, it's wonderful.

So thanks for all the work and I support the ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Make sure to sign in.

Welcome up.

I've been told the video feed died.

So I'm confirming it's still going.

Okay, let's pause.

Okay.

I don't know.

So it's the line.

We will be in a state of anticipation for a final speaker for as long as it takes.

Now we need the dramatic.

The music means a cue.

Yeah, for sure.

That's right.

Let's just get this up and take a meters.

I just know we're doing all this for you.

And I appreciate the theatricality of it.

Okay.

Welcome up.

Thank you so much, members of the council and council president.

I'm Michael John Peace, the president and chief parks champion of the St.

Paul Parks Conservancy.

Personally, my stake in this beyond being a resident of St.

Paul is my great-grandfather's take to tree claim in Nebraska 140 some years ago.

And in exchange for the land from the government at some insanely cheap price, right?

It was to plant trees, which are still there and have changed the ecology for the good in that area.

As in my role professionally, I really want to, we've already uh given a well-deserved shout out to Megan.

I want to also give a shout out to the staff of both public works and parks because they always have big work in front of them, and they stayed at the table, and the community stayed at the table when we had to delay some of the conversation so that staff could get their other work done in order to pay the right amount of attention to the SOPs and to the what rolls up in this ordinance.

And the group that met meeting after meeting after meeting with Jackett was very diverse and very tenacious, and we didn't always agree, and I think that's what's made it the best ordinance it can be.

A stated it's not perfect, it's a huge paradigm shift.

And I'm hoping that as it rolls out in the next 10 or 20 years, maybe it doesn't take that long.

Um we that launches us into a culture shift the way some other uh cities have around how they think of trees as infrastructure.

But I'm really proud that we have acknowledged trees are public infrastructure, and they're worth considering, and sometimes they trump the other considerations.

So it's been a great process, and I really admire uh the work you all have put in to overlaying this and to uh keeping it going, because this is the best work we could come up with all together.

So thank you.

Thank you so much.

Make sure to sign in, and thank you for your patience with us.

Uh, is there anyone else here to speak to this item?

Alright, I will make a motion to close the public hearing and then make some comments.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The public hearing is closed.

Uh well, I we always have a bit of an anticlimactic process here because we have the first reading, as I mentioned, we have the public hearing when folks who really care about an ordinance typically actually come here, and then we don't take a final vote on the ordinance until the next week.

So while people are here who took the time to testify, I just want to say I am so grateful to you for taking the time to be here and for the many many hours of back and forth of conversation of input that you have given to this process.

Those of you who are on the public input group, it is what has made this ordinance so strong, though not perfect.

So thank you.

I am not typically known for being a very patient person.

So if you had told me last February when we opened up the public hearing on the first version of this ordinance that we would not be passing it the next week, the next month, the next year, but 14 months later, 15 months later, we would be back looking at this ordinance again.

I probably uh would not have thought that that was something I could handle.

Um I am so glad that we took the time that we did.

And I think it's actually, I was saying to some of my colleagues earlier, I think it's been interesting to see some of the framing of this process in some of the media about how you know it took so long to get this ordinance done, and when when the council heard pushback, they stopped and they took the time to engage their critics and and figure it out as though that's a negative thing.

And I think that says so much about our politics today that taking the time to get it right and engaging the people who don't agree with you and trying to get to a point where you can all stand here as people did today and say it's not perfect, but we're excited about it.

Um, that that's a that's a ding on us somehow.

I think that is what government should be.

Um, we've had 19 public meetings, including the public input group meetings, including the mayor's advisory committee on disabilities, including the parks commission, including me or Jackett going in person to every one of our district councils.

Um, we have had our parks and public works departments working together on this ordinance, which is not just process, but it's actually also the outcome.

Because at the end of the day, the only way this ordinance works is when parks and public works work together and have the relationships in place to do that.

And as a result of the last 16 months, they have developed those relationships.

So they'll be ready to hit the ground running implementing this ordinance on day one.

Um we don't just have an ordinance, we have standard operating procedures.

That was something that we heard loud and clear from community members.

We didn't just want the high level, the details are what matter, and we need the details to be adapted to.

And those details, by the way, to Mr.

Todd's point, include a requirement to evaluate the ordinance annually to see how it's doing.

Um, and I think that's something that we should include more often in our legislation.

Um, and we did all of this process because trees matter deeply.

We knew that before we started this, but if we have learned anything throughout this process, it is something that has become patently clear.

They are they are deeply personal.

The tree outside your house on your boulevard feels like in some cases a member of your family.

Every single one of our wards has a project that we can point to where trees were not given a voice, um, and where there have been sometimes devastating consequences that people remember for for years.

Um, and so this time that we put in was I think in honor of the importance of what we're doing, and um I'm really grateful that we that we took it.

And I just want to finally extend my thanks to the public input group, to our parks and public works staff, and to the incredible Megan Jackett, without whom absolutely we would not be here.

Um, so thank you to uh everyone.

And with that, we are not gonna do anything right now.

Um I would welcome anybody else who would like to make any comments while we have folks here to testify, including our attorney.

I'm being told that I think some of the first speakers to the slide on the video was cut out, so maybe we would offer them the opportunity to speak again because it wasn't part of the public recording.

Or wasn't the podcast like we open the public hearing?

Yeah, I mean, at least maybe often the opportunity.

Um, so apparently the video feed was not working for the first couple of speakers.

So if people would like to repeat their comments, alternately we could still accept written comments.

We could accept written comments, I guess.

Well, I mean, I wrote I wrote mine down.

I can read them, I'll skip the part of Megan.

I was gonna say I want that out.

All right.

So I'm gonna make a motion to reopen the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, non-opposed.

The public hearing is reopened.

One opposed.

Um, welcome back.

Well, thank you very much.

I mean, welcome up.

We're pretending like this never happened.

Sorry.

My name's Tom Darling.

I'm a member of the board of the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association or SARPA.

I was on the public input group that worked on the ordinance and the SOPs.

And I want to start by saying that we all owe a debt of gratitude to Megan Jacket.

From beginning, Dan, Megan has been a force to be reckoned with.

Megan Megan got the ordinance done.

I admire her greatly.

I thank her sincerely, and we should all applaud her.

So uh now moving on.

Uh I and Sarpa support the draft ordinance.

It is far from perfect.

However, that said, the draft ordinance and the SOPs, in my view, should yield the important result of giving trees a real and meaningful seat at the table when city construction projects are being considered and implemented.

It is crucial to emphasize that this is a tree preservation ordinance.

It is not a tree replacement ordinance.

Trees must be preserved, they cannot meaningfully be replaced.

Mature trees once gone will not be replaced for decades and decades.

When this city council passes this ordinance, you will be elevating tree preservation above replacement, and that's how it should be.

Once this ordinance is passed, you as a city council members must be diligent in making sure that it's that it is being implemented consistent with its intent.

Parks and public works must also work to implement it honestly and fairly.

Thank you so much.

We got we got the whole testimony.

So thank you.

And make sure to sign it.

With that, is there anyone else who wishes to testify on this item?

I don't see any.

I uh will move to close the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The public hearing is closed.

Any other comments from my colleagues?

Ms.

Johnson.

Um, I would just share just kind of what I have witnessed over the last year, and um, I guess what, 15, you said 15 months.

So I'll just share that.

I think when any time uh community members share the feedback that an ordinance is not perfect, that is when I feel like the process itself must have been incredibly credible because sometimes ordinances and laws are, you know, they're not perfect, they don't cover everything in order to get to the place where we all agree may be the most common good.

And so in so many of the spaces, and I think just even when this was first introduced, I remember when this was first introduced, and I also remembered our inboxes after, um, followed by just where we are now with um even the testifiers and the testimony today.

Just want to say um super uh supportive of not only this ordinance, but I think just the overall intentionality that went into crafting it, because the reality is that this ordinance does touch everywhere across the city.

Um, and you know, each council member I'm sure has heard.

I've heard what I've heard, a significant uh growing interest in preserving our tree canopy here on especially on the east side.

We have some of the greatest climate action disparities when it comes to just all of the things, and often it is related to the uh the amount of trees we do not have in my community, and in so many of the spaces that I think the ordinances ordinances like this that really just take the time to um try to gather input on all different uh sides, no matter where folks were coming from from this, but also educate community members along the way if that took a year um and a half, so be it.

I think it's just really important that what we got to this point.

And so I do also appreciate uh the work of the Word 2 office.

I um know that the praises I've been saying for uh from for Megan Jackin on the record, and I think that that's super important.

I also think the work of Director Rodriguez and our park staff that and our parks uh team are very notable as well um and then I think for every community member who decided that this was important enough to invest the ample amount of time in which you have on this ordinance I also think that that's just truly what makes the process important and credible and I think it'll be really important to some of the questions raised today on the record.

You know that that it's very clear that in the future ordinances as well so as their enforcement mechanisms as well so as their investments this is gonna take a lot of effort in the forefront to continue to have that there is a price tag affiliated with it as with any policy that we put forward or ordinance that we put forward and at the same time it'll be important to the accountability piece to watch it over time because the good part is that we have to start somewhere and I think that we have a solid starting ground so just want to share that um our office will be joining in as a co-sponsor I don't see ourselves listed so I want to fix that before next week but truly supportive of the effort that has gone into it and I know that there is a lot of folks watching it and it you know for people who couldn't give up their um the amount of time that some of you have we thank you on behalf of the city thanks.

Thank you Ms.

Johnson other discussion Ms.

Bowie thank you council president I also just want to um reiterate what was said um I really appreciate the um testifiers coming here and um uh sharing what the progress was um and just even as a council member um seeing the evolution um of this ordinance of it being truly community driven and this was a grassroots as it gets in terms of how do we preserve uh and create ordinances and policies to to do something that the the city just you know inherently wasn't doing automatically um so we don't take any of that for granted I also just think um I want to highlight that this is truly a model of like what it looks like for community accountability um and I know for for me particularly in my ward um especially you know this has been a great concern in terms of um the tree canopy the development how um infrastructure positive good infrastructure that we want also is in alignment with preserving um our tree assets I appreciate hearing too that uh trees should be treated as public infrastructure that was so so telling um in terms of like what are the assets that we preserve and what are you know what are what's compromised in the process um I also just want to say kudos um to ensuring that community staying at the table I know sometimes with government services we try not to get too much into the weeds but it seems like this body was all into the weeds and all part of the um the process um I know that's um that's usually not the case um but I think this is a great opportunity um for us to get to the root of like what community engagement actually looks like in the outcome and the byproduct of that community engagement um and I just want to just say to um you know I think it's really important good policy is built at the speed of trust and this obviously took a lot of time because we needed to build that relationship we need to build that trust and we can only build that trust by having these conversations by making these commitments and making sure it's really clear and tangible in terms of what the standard that we're holding not only the city to but also the um the accountability to our neighbors and people that we serve every day.

So you know I think uh pushback is always good tensions always good um collaboration it's always good um so I'm just happy to just get one step closer to actually approving this thank you Ms.

Bowie any other discussion seeing none this will lay over the item is laid over to July 15th for final adoption legislative hearing consent agenda items 40 through 49 are before you for your consideration.

Ms Zimney.

Oh, had to not do my automatic this morning.

Welcome.

Good afternoon, council members.

Council president and council members um we have one item, I believe, to be pulled for separate consideration.

That is item number 43 um related to 683 Kansas.

Item number 43, RLH FCO 26-51, appeal of Ambe McKenzie, tenant of unit five to a fire certificate of occupancy correction notice at 683 Kansas Avenue.

Ms.

Council President, Council members, this is an appeal of a fire correction order dated June 9th that had a handful of items on it, mostly related to some plumbing issues, holes throughout, some walls that needed to be repainted.

Some repairs are significant, but they didn't rise to the level of needing to be condemned and vacated.

The appellant did indicate in the hearing some continued frustrations with the landlord hood.

Reports to Department of Safety and Inspections.

According to our research, there was no historic records of complaints or allegations for this property.

All that is in front of you today is those current orders from June 9th.

And the recommendation is to grant till August 7th for compliance with these orders.

Court with other jurisdictions that the city does not have any jurisdiction over.

Thank you, Ms.

Emney.

And just before we open up the public hearing, can you clarify what those orders are?

Yep, what needs to be corrected by Augustine?

Yeah, I can show you some pictures, but the uh um the report given by um supervisor Keith Demerest.

Um the findings included kitchen drain line dripping, upstairs bathtub overflowing through the ceiling, heat deflector shield removed from heater in the kitchen.

There were a couple smoke alarms that were removed.

Those are obviously the biggest issues at the this time.

They were in the kitchen in the basement.

Some repairs and holes in the vanity upstairs.

There's some bubbling in the ceiling upstairs, again the repainting and um throughout, basically condensation with kind of causing dirt on the walls that needs to be cleaned and likely repainted on a new vent fan upstairs.

And these to be clear are um orders to the tenant or to the property owner.

The property owner is ultimately responsible for these repairs.

And so the appeal of the tenant in a case where we're not, there's no vacate order.

I'm trying to understand.

The tenant um has continued frustrations with the landlord not addressing some of these issues.

This did start in February.

So there was multiple visits to the property, orders issued, nothing done.

I believe that was February 18th, March 5th, April 9th, new orders, nothing done.

May 8th, new orders, nothing done.

So that leads us to here.

So the tenant is appealing the orders to the property owner.

He's appealing the orders.

Okay, okay, because he disagrees with I think perhaps the time given, which again is to August 7th, the month.

I'll let him speak.

Responsibilities on the property owner to make the repairs.

Correct.

Okay, thank you so much.

Yes.

I think don't go too far.

Uh, this is a public hearing.

Welcome up.

Hello.

You'll have two minutes.

Make sure you start with your.

I wouldn't really correct, so do I.

Sorry, I'm so sorry.

Can you start with your name and where you're coming from?

And then you'll have two minutes and make sure you focus on what your ask is of us.

Okay, Ambe McKinsey.

Do I use my time to correct what she did?

You have two minutes to make your ask of us.

Okay.

Well, that's incorrect.

That isn't why I'm here.

Um, I'll let this kind of read itself.

Two, St.

Paul City attorney.

Um Lindsay Olsen and Minnesota attorney.

Well, I'll just read it.

Um, this to the St.

Paul.

Uh she is kind of re-escalated.

And you're Rebecca Noker.

So my issue was um, you had already visited our property.

This is a property with 3.8 million dollars worth of damages.

That was in April of last year, 2025.

So this is just like Heritage Park over North Minneapolis.

So my issue is with also the maintenance property solutions.

I have a video of them stealing some of the materials I took from my house, St.

Paul, to North Minneapolis Heritage Park.

These guys targeted us, went in the garage, and stole from us.

They also stole from me at my home, which is how I knew they steal.

They come in, they say they're gonna repair, let's say the exhaust fan.

The exhaust fan is still missing.

The exhaust fan was took out in July.

I moved in in June.

I was coached out of my place in April when the check from Doge for that property was denied 3.8 million worth of damages.

They knew that when they called me a vulnerable adult with a vulnerable child to this property with the fraud housing company and this uh just this company that Vista.

Um so they used us to pay all this money, but won't repair nothing.

So my daughter failed during Zoom court.

The judge hurried up and dismissed my case, because this is caught on camera.

Dismissed it with prejudice just because I couldn't see or he couldn't hear me on Zoom.

So now my case is in the trash.

I'm here because I feel like MPHA when they told us at the Heritage Park meeting that they don't pay for properties with this type of damage, yet and still we're all black and they're paying for it.

So how does that work?

You know what I mean?

So, like when it comes to the law, I got laws I bring up, nothing's being respected, none of nobody from the property wants to come here, come to court because the way I'm getting retaliated on every violation after that April when I filed an ETRA to ask the court to stop them from coming in my house stealing from me, I got video, I got proof.

Um, sir, I'm sorry, you're at time.

Can you tell us what your ask is of us?

What is your ask of us?

Um, well, I don't really know what my ask is, but I'm still fighting is what I'm saying.

And I'm gonna keep fighting, and I'm trying to figure out where I go from here.

So I came to the city of St.

Paul to find out where where do I go from here?

Any other people that are afraid to come here that don't want to go in no courtrooms or anything like that.

Where do they go from here?

As we spent the whole winter with no heat, no hot water, leaking sealing my daughter's bedroom, just you know, the hole in the ceiling that you're talking about, that's a leak.

But the inspector, too.

There's other things still wrong with the property he will not address.

He's covering it up for them.

The electrical outlets that are popping from the uh space heaters we had to use all winter.

I need you to wrap up now, but I hope you're asked loud and clear.

So you can take a seat.

We'll talk about what you just shared.

Make sure you sign in.

Thank you so much.

Is there anyone else here to testify on this item?

Seeing that I'll make a motion to close the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The public hearing is closed.

All right, and we will take uh looks like there are a couple of questions or comments.

Miss Bowie.

Yeah, I just have uh just for the correction of the record, uh, because the pillet says Andy McKenzie, he mentioned David McKenzie.

I'm just wondering if he is the actual appellant or if this is uh he was testifying.

I'm being McKinsey.

Um, excuse me.

Okay, I just wanted to make sure we heard that correctly.

Okay, thank you.

Thanks, Ms.

Bowie.

Ms.

Johnson.

Okay, and I won't let me.

Is Mr.

McKenzie the owner of 683?

So the uh Kate Penn.

So he okay.

So you're a tenant within 683, Kansas.

Okay.

I was complaining.

Okay.

Okay, um, I'm happy to make some and then maybe you can make the motion, but I do have a question for clarification.

So, what it sounds to me like is that there are issues within the property that need to be corrected, and there is some dispute as to how those issues got there, as to the payment for those issues, um, and as to the amount of time it's taken to get those issues corrected.

Um, my inclination and my motion will be to approve um deny the appeal and approve the legislative hearing officer's recommendation to grant until August 7th for compliance because I want the property owner to make these repairs, and that is what this is ordering to be done.

What I am hearing Mr.

McKenzie say is that you're not going to stop fighting and you need help with the situation with your landlord and with other things that are going on.

They won't add any area.

Would you do on that?

You're basically telling us.

Thank you, sir.

We can't, we're not gonna have any more testimony, but what I'm gonna do is talk to you after this meeting so we can figure out how my office can be of help to you.

Um, but I don't think a way to help is to is to remove this responsibility from the property owner.

I think we want this issue corrected, and the city needs to stand with you in getting that issue corrected.

So that will be my motion.

Um, and I don't know is that if that's denying the appeal, denying the appeal.

Denying the appeal and okay.

So that's my motion.

Is there discussion of the motion?

Ms.

Johnson, okay.

Yeah, I appreciate that motion.

I'll be supportive of that motion, I think, in part because I guess what I'm I'm wondering, how do we get to the appeal process in which an occupant of a property has to appeal in order to get some of the concerns looked at?

So I am curious about like what happens afterwards, because this is a is a unique situation in which the appellant is not actually the tenant, which the owner, he's a tenant, yeah.

Seems like they're not actually in opposition to the to the piece here, but it's mentioning more and more things that is wrong with the property.

Right.

And then I heard you say that there has been no prior history of complaints on the property.

So what about now?

And like what happens afterwards.

So if when the August 7th date comes, they will reinspect.

If these items aren't done, then it's upon the department to take further action.

How they choose to do that.

It's kind of up to them.

They could condemn it, they could order it vacated.

Okay.

Okay.

Ms.

Kim.

Yeah, that was a line along the lines of my curiosity as well.

Um, because we want both the property owner to be responsible to fix the issues, and I'm seeing it's a fire certificate of occupancy, so that means that if it is condemned or whatever the city chooses to take afterwards, I'm not saying that's the end results, but um that would then mean if a unit doesn't have a certificate of occupancy, that means they cannot be occupied.

So I think like I'm supportive of this motion, um, and I'm looking forward to sort of the follow-up from our departments to ensure that they stick to this timeline.

Because I wrote down, you know, February 18th, um, March 5th, April 9th, May 8th.

You know, I think um what I'm hearing from the testifier and the tenant is like what is the means to the end here.

So looking forward to support the motion, but just recognizing that without a certificate of occupation, see this unit can't be occupied, and that means that someone needs housing, so um, supportive of the of the motion.

Sorry, I see your hand.

We're not gonna take public testimony.

I will come talk to you as soon as we're done though and hear your further comments.

Okay, any further comments on this item from colleagues.

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye, all opposed, seven in favor, non-opposed.

The resolution is adopted as amended, Ms.

Is there anything else to come before us for separate consideration?

I don't believe that there's anything else.

Okay, is there in that case we will hold an a public hearing on all of legislative hearing items that we have not yet held a public hearing on?

40 through 49.

If there is anyone else here to testify on any of the other items, this is your public hearing.

Please come on up.

Not seeing anyone, I will take a motion from Ms.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, non oppose the legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended.

That brings us to the end of our agenda.

I'm looking to my colleagues to see if there's any good news or news from the wards.

Sorry, Vice President.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, this is in two weeks, however, I still wanted to share it ahead of the get ahead ahead of the game and sharing it.

I'm doing a word budget event.

It's gonna be on Tuesday, July 21st from 6 p.m.

to 7:30 p.m.

at the He's a Park Recreation Center.

It's an opportunity for um award six residents and neighbors to attend this community conversation with me to learn about our city's budget, understand the opportunities and challenges ahead, and share their priorities for our St.

Paul's future.

Also, the second thing I wanted to share is that as you all know Hayden Heights Library is getting renovated right now.

The St.

Paul Public Libraries is they just put out a call for artists so that uh we can um start taking in applications from artists who want to share that they qualify for this project so that they can do a mural in the library.

So it's going to be really exciting.

You can check out the St.

Paul Public Libraries website for more information.

Thank you so much.

Other good news or news, Miss Just.

Thank you, Council President.

I'll just share again that the Hamlin Midway Library is opening on Saturday, July 18th.

Uh, the opening celebration is 10 30 to 2 30.

So it starts with the story time.

I hope everyone can come stop by.

Um, and the library actually opens at 10 a.m.

that day, so you can come even earlier if you want.

Um, so I hope to see everybody there.

Uh it's really exciting uh to see this finally, you know, coming to completion for the community.

Thanks, Ms.

Just.

Uh Ms.

Johnson.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, the Southeast Community Organization, or CECO as we call it on the East Side, is doing a housing forum on Monday night, 6:30 to 8.

I'll be joining uh Commissioner Mai Chong Zhang uh to talk a little bit about just quite a few different housing uh initiatives that are happening both at the city and at the county.

Um, and so we do this.

We have done this, I think both years in the past, and this is our third time around, but it's always great, it's always a full room with people who are talking, renters, homeowners, everyone can come.

Um, it's open to the public.

It's at the sequel office, so 25, 2105, half road, uh half old Hudson Road.

It's so in sunway, it's like in the sun race shopping center area.

So you can come out and um they usually always have food, so you know if they don't this time you can blame me, but I'll take you out.

But you should be able to come out, it's open and it's from 6 30 again to 8 on Monday.

Thanks, Ms.

Johnson, Miss Coleman.

Two quick things.

Uh really excited to share that we have the ribbon cutting today at the South St.

Anthony Park Park, which is uh 890 Cromwell Avenue.

It's amazing.

I'm very excited to take my toddler there this weekend.

Recommend checking it out.

It's a really great new park and really excited and grateful for all of the parks department work to make that happen.

And the other item is that this Friday, the Como Community Council D10 is having their ice cream social, it's technically right across the border in ward five at the streetcar station.

That's Friday evening.

So it should be a lot of fun and a good way to cool down on a very, very hot weekend.

Yes.

Awesome.

There's so much going on.

Any last good news?

Ms.

Bowie.

Um, this is uh a last uh news, not from the wards, actually a ward two downtown, but uh we excited, I think this is our first meeting or maybe our second meeting where we have um came from the Osbourne 370 um building, but on the fourth floor, um the there will be a AI magic night St.

Paul Summer Edition.

Um is actually hosted by this uh consulting group that is at the Osborne 370, and it was a group of young guys who were super eager and excited to invite us.

I said probably will not have the time to actually make it, but it's today at 5 30 to 9, fourth floor.

Um it's an experience where they're going to be demonstrating their AI products.

Um, and people can work and interact with their AI products between 5 30 to 9 p.m.

and they have it on a quarterly basis.

So I think it's kind of cool to, you know, advertise what's going on at the Osborne.

I thought you were gonna say there's a fizzy machine, but that would not really be news.

That's just on the fourth floor.

Um, all right.

Thank you all so much for the great news and for the productive day.

With that, we are adjourned.