St. Paul City Council Policy Committee Meeting: TOD Asset Scan and Tobacco Minimum Price Discussion, September 9, 2026

On September 9, 2026, at 19:00 UTC, the St. Paul City Council Policy Committee met to discuss two topics: a transit-oriented development (TOD) city/HRA asset scan and a proposed tobacco minimum price increase. Roll call showed six members present and one absent. No formal votes were taken; the meeting consisted of presentations, councilmember questions, and direction that could lead to future legislation. No agenda or minutes were available, so this summary is based solely on the raw transcript.

Discussion Item: Transit-Oriented Development City/HRA Asset Scan

• Bruce Engelbreck, from the Office of Financial Services Real Estate section, introduced the project. The city received a grant in late 2025 that funded the consultant for the project, HRNA Advisors, represented by partner Aaron Lonoff.
• Aaron Lonoff described the USDOT IFAC grant program, which aims to increase the use of publicly owned land in transit corridors, unlock asset value, reduce public redevelopment costs, and build local capacity. He also mentioned the CAPIA finance program through USDOT, noting that to date 99% of CAPIA work has been for infrastructure investment, but a coalition is working to support more private vertical development with low-cost financing.
• The asset scan covers a little over 800 city- and HRA-controlled sites across St. Paul. A plurality of sites are under one-eighth of an acre. There are 107 sites larger than five acres, but 92 of those 107 are parkland. HRA-controlled sites tend to be smaller, often single-family parcels, and are shown as red on the map. Many city assets, such as parks, libraries, fire stations, and city hall, are not realistic redevelopment opportunities and will be scrubbed from the redevelopment list.
• The process will narrow the 800 sites to approximately 10 priority sites, then to 3 sites for concept design and feasibility analysis. Because the grant is from USDOT, the final 3 sites must be transit-oriented development sites, though planned transit routes may count. The broader asset inventory can support a 10-year priority list beyond the transit-focused sites.
• Three guiding principles emerged from kickoff discussions in late June: using public land to strengthen the city's fiscal position, supporting equitable growth, and positioning the city as a proactive development partner.
• Lonoff outlined four kinds of value from development on city-owned land: direct land value from sale or ground lease; direct fiscal benefits such as property, sales, or business taxes; indirect benefits from new residents and workers spending in the city; and quality-of-life benefits from neighborhood transformation.
• Council President Naker asked how transit fits into site selection. Lonoff responded that all city-owned land is analyzed, but the detailed priority site analysis must be transit-oriented due to the grant; non-transit sites can be considered separately over a longer timeline.
• Councilmember Coleman asked about the timeline through March and suggested the three guiding principles could be layered rather than mutually exclusive. She identified strengthening the city's fiscal position as the top value, equity as a prioritization among comparable sites, and being a development partner as an umbrella concept.
• Councilmember Kim asked about the “W1” and “W2” items on the timeline. Lonoff clarified these meant Workshop 1 and Workshop 2, not Ward 1 and Ward 2. Councilmember Kim also asked about the scope of assets; Lonoff confirmed all city-owned assets are included in the 800-site inventory.
• Councilmember Johnson, representing Ward 7 on the East Side, raised concerns about transit inequity and the importance of planned transit routes. She urged the analysis to consider how long the city has owned sites, vacancy, whether structures are city-owned but unoperated, and the importance of geographic spread so all communities see investment. She cited the Hams Brewery redevelopment in Ward 7 as an example of HRA-owned land held for over 20 years.
• Councilmember Coleman agreed with Councilmember Johnson and emphasized the value of understanding how investment in a parcel could catalyze whole neighborhoods, especially in areas that have gone years without significant investment.
• The next update to the council was scheduled for May 27, with the year not specified in the transcript.

Discussion Item: Tobacco Minimum Price Increase

• Council Vice President Yang introduced the item and thanked the Association for Non-Smokers Minnesota (ANSER) for bringing the proposal forward. ANSER staff and youth advocates presented.
• Jeannie Wygum from ANSER provided history: St. Paul was among the first cities to prohibit tobacco vending machines, set a minimum price on little cigars, and enact smoke-free workplaces in 1986. During the COVID era, St. Paul set a minimum price on cigarettes and chewing tobacco, but did not set one for vapes or nicotine pouches.
• ANSER proposed raising the minimum price on cigarettes from $10 to $15, setting a $25 minimum price on vapes, and setting a $1 per pouch minimum price for nicotine pouches. This would make St. Paul the first city to set a minimum price on pouches. ANSER also proposed disallowing coupons and price promotions and supported indexing the minimum price to inflation.
• Volunteers and youth advocates found that almost no retailers actually sell cigarettes at St. Paul's current $10 minimum, and the average price is much higher. Nicotine pouches averaged about 65 cents per pouch.
• Youth leaders Shirley, a Ward 1 constituent, and Non, a Ward 5 constituent, represented ReTV, a youth tobacco advocacy group from Washington Technology Magnet School. They said the group collected over 109 postcards at summer community events and saw strong community support. They described nicotine pouches as a rapidly growing product among young people, marketed as harm reduction, and warned of health risks including effects on developing brains, gums, and addiction. They urged the $1 per pouch minimum price.
• Chris Smith, a Lower Town resident, noted that Minneapolis set a $25 minimum price for vapes in 2025 and concluded that St. Paul's $10 cigarette minimum was ineffective. St. Anthony Village was the first city to set a minimum price for vapes. Approximately 70% of Minneapolis retailers followed the ordinance, and most stopped redeeming coupons and reduced in-store promotions. More than 20 community and faith organizations support the proposed St. Paul ordinance.
• Councilmember Jost asked how coupons and promotions work under the Minneapolis ordinance. ANSER explained that buy-one-get-one-free offers and manufacturer coupons are not allowed. Councilmember Jost also asked about pegging the minimum price to inflation; ANSER supports this and has model language with a built-in inflator, which is already in Minneapolis' ordinance. She also asked about school education; ANSER said it works with schools and youth groups on outreach and alternative-to-suspension approaches.
• Councilmember Coleman asked about unintended consequences. Wygum said no local businesses testified against the 2020/2021 minimum price ordinance, and that the increased margin goes to the retailer rather than to the city because state law prohibits local tobacco taxes. She acknowledged cross-border purchasing concerns but noted St. Paul has often been a leader and other communities follow.
• Council Vice President Yang stated strong support for the proposal, said she was not concerned about having fewer tobacco or liquor stores, and cited public safety concerns related to crime and violence near such stores. She said she had asked city staff, including the Department of Safety and Inspections, to review ANSER's drafted ordinance language and expressed hope for approval as soon as possible.
• Council President Naker noted apparent consensus around the table and indicated that legislation may be forthcoming from the vice president's office.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the policy committee meeting.
• Councilmembers voiced broad support for advancing the tobacco minimum price ordinance, including increases for cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pouches.
• Vice President Yang's office, with the Department of Safety and Inspections, is expected to review the drafted ordinance language and move toward legislation.
• The TOD/HRA asset scan will continue, with the next council update on May 27 (year not specified in the transcript).