Saint Paul City Council Meeting – July 22, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 3:30 PM in Council Chambers. The agenda included consent agenda approvals, two appealed zoning variance decisions, first readings of ordinances on minimum wage and golf course amendments, public hearings on solid waste contracts and capital budget transfers, and multiple legislative hearing items. No transcript or minutes were available; the summary below is based solely on the published agenda.

Consent Calendar

• RES 26-1021: Approved the city’s cost for demolition of vacant, nuisance, and/or hazardous structures from June 2026, set a legislative hearing for August 25, 2026, and a City Council public hearing for September 23, 2026, to levy assessments.
• RES 26-1080: Established the pay rate for Accounting Director (Grade 028, EG 09, SPSO); laid over one week for adoption.
• RES 26-1084: Established pay for Public Works Supervisor II, Solid Waste (Group 10, Grade 038); laid over one week for adoption.
• RES 26-1094: Authorized an agreement with the Metropolitan Council and Ramsey County to replace traffic signal controllers along the Metro Green Line on University Avenue.
• RES 26-1139: Authorized Public Works to accept a grant from Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District for enhanced street sweeping.
• RES 26-1143: Approved an auto repair garage license for Discount Tire Company at 1350 University Ave W.
• RES 26-1144: Approved change of ownership for liquor, entertainment, and gambling licenses to Bear Down Holdings LLC d/b/a The Victorian at 859 Thomas Ave.
• RES 26-1146: Amended Council File RES 26-890 to add the MnDOT agreement number and update the grant amount.
• RES 26-1160: Approved Mayor’s appointments and reappointment to the Neighborhood STAR Board.
• RES 26-1179: Approved use of Ward 3 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program grant funds for Presbyterian Homes Foundation.
• RES 26-1197: Recognized Community Health Workers Day in Saint Paul.
• Ordinances for final adoption (Ord 26-32, Ord 26-33): Amended appendices relating to Xcel Energy electric and gas franchises.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments or testimony were recorded in the agenda; the meeting included written comment options for public hearing items.

Discussion Items

• ABZA 25-3 (Appeal of Dominic Carchedi): Consideration of an appeal of the Board of Zoning Appeals’ decision denying a variance to establish a 24-resident supportive housing facility at 418 Sherburne Avenue. The public hearing was closed and the item had been laid over from August 6, 2025. The agenda listed extensive attachments including a petition and staff reports.
• ABZA 25-5 (Appeal of Stronger Sober House): Appeal of the BZA’s denial of a variance to establish an 11-resident supportive housing facility at 519 Farrington Street. Also laid over from August 6, 2025.
• Suspension Items:
  • RES 26-1158: Authorized renewal of the Dayton’s Bluff Library lease with Metropolitan State University.
  • RES 26-1223: Authorized a Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County to support emergency shelter operations.
• First Reading of Ordinances:
  • Ord 26-27: Placed the classification of Deputy City Clerk in the unclassified service (must be approved by Civil Service Commission after Council adoption but before Mayor signature).
  • Ord 26-31: Amended Section 224.05(c) to eliminate the city’s provisional 90-day minimum wage rate for workers ages 14–17 (sponsored by Coleman, Yang, and Kim).

Public Hearings

• Ord 26-35: Amended Chapter 65 (golf courses) – included a public hearing; attachments showed planning commission and HDC resolutions.
• Ord 26-36: Added Chapter 86.13 to require City Council approval of Mixed Municipal Solid Waste contracts (received public comment from Fort Road Federation).
• RES PH 26-150: Amended financing/spending plans to transfer Municipal State Aid funding into the Wabasha Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
• RES PH 26-151: Amended capital budget for the University Avenue Street Reconstruction Project.
• RES PH 26-155: Approved a sound level variance for a National Night Out event on August 4, 2026, at Martin Luther King Recreation Center.
• RES PH 26-156: Approved a sound level variance for Dual Citizen Brewing Company’s Backyard Blues Fest on August 7–8, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda items were likely approved by a single motion (no discussion noted).
• The two zoning appeals (ABZA 25-3 and ABZA 25-5) remained under consideration; no final action is indicated in the agenda.
• Ordinances on first reading were introduced and laid over for future readings.
• Public hearing items were opened for testimony; written comments were accepted.
• Legislative hearing items (RLH TA 26-125, RLH VO 26-29, etc.) were either discussed or placed on consent; specific outcomes are not documented in the agenda.