Saint Paul City Council Meeting - September 16, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council met on September 16, 2026 at 3:30 PM in the Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting covered consent agenda items, a discussion of a federal Safe Streets for All grant, a budget presentation from the St. Paul Port Authority, public hearings on a salt storage ordinance and multiple Xcel Energy franchise fee ordinances, and numerous other resolutions and assessments. The meeting adjourned at 4:29 PM.

Consent Agenda

• Items 2 through 15 (except Item 6, which was pulled for separate discussion) were approved by unanimous vote (7-0). Key actions included: approving a labor agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (RES 26-1364), authorizing various agreements for police, fire, and safety inspections (RES 26-1377, RES 26-1546, RES 26-1548, RES 26-1555), approving a tobacco shop license change of ownership (RES 26-1542), directing adverse action against a tobacco license with a $500 penalty (RES 26-1566), accepting a travel scholarship from the Knight Foundation (RES 26-1568), approving meeting minutes (Min 26-1), and approving reimbursement for the Ward 6 Budget Event (RES 26-1582). All were adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Murph Dawkins (Ward 7, representing RONITOS) testified in favor of the four Xcel Energy franchise fee ordinances (Ord 26-40, 26-41, 26-43, 26-44). He stated that the new fees are more equitable because they return 50% of the franchise fee to low-income residents on the LIHEAP program, and also shift a greater share of the fee burden from residential to commercial customers.
• John Purdy (West Side resident) testified on Ord 26-40 and Ord 26-43 (gas franchise fee). He argued that the discount for low-income residents would not benefit renters in legacy apartment buildings (318 identified buildings) where tenants do not pay gas bills directly because the building has a single gas meter (and Xcel classifies those accounts as commercial). He claimed this creates a 5% gap between low-income homeowners and low-income renters. He submitted a list of properties.

Discussion Items

• Item 6 – Safe Streets for All Grant (RES 26-1460): The council pulled this from consent. David Peterson (Transportation Planner, Public Works) presented the grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration. The grant totals approximately $18.1 million ($14 million federal + $4 million state match). Funds will be used for low-cost safety improvements (high-visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, traffic circles, median refuges, beacons, reflective signal back plates) along about 40 miles of the city's high-injury network. The project has a five-year timeline: preliminary design (2027), final design (2028), construction (2029-2030), and closeout (2031). The council asked about specific intersection lists and public engagement; staff noted those will be developed during year one. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Item 16 – St. Paul Port Authority 2027 Budget Presentation (SR 26-185): CFO Mike Solomon presented. He highlighted the Port's role as an economic engine, its barge terminal infrastructure projects (e.g., $18M dockwall rehab at Barge Terminal 2, $8M phase one and $10M phase two at Barge Terminal 1, and a $38M federal grant application for grade separation at South Port Terminal). The Port's 2026 operating budget is 35% supported by property tax levy. For 2027, the mayor proposed a $75,000 increase in the operating levy to cover inflationary costs, but the Port still projects a $125,000 gap which it will address internally. The Port's mandatory levy is capped at 0.01813% of the city's market value; the proposed levy would use less than 50% of that capacity. The Port also plans to decertify three TIF districts early (Great Northern North and South, Energy Lane) returning about $66 million in tax base. The presentation was received and filed.

Key Outcomes

• Salt Storage Ordinance (Ord 26-39): Public hearing was held; no testimony. The hearing was continued to September 23, 2026 for final adoption. Unanimous (7-0).
• Xcel Energy Franchise Fee Ordinances (Ord 26-40, 26-41, 26-43, 26-44): Public hearings were held and closed. All four ordinances were laid over to September 23, 2026 for final adoption. Unanimous (7-0).
• Fire Department Resolutions:
  • RES PH 26-123: Accepted $1,250,000 federal earmark for Burn Building Restoration. Adopted.
  • RES PH 26-255: Accepted $5,467 from scrap metal recycling. Adopted.
  • RES PH 26-256: Accepted $30,000 state grant for apprenticeship program. Adopted.
• Assessment Ratifications:
  • RES PH 26-176: Ratified assessment for sanitary sewer line repair. Adopted.
  • RES PH 26-180/181: Approved Seventh Place Mall O&M assessments for 2025 and 2026. Adopted.
  • RES PH 26-192: Approved Grand/Snelling parking lot O&M assessment for 2027. Adopted.
• Sound Level Variances: Approved for University of St. Thomas football games (RES PH 26-248), Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (RES PH 26-251), Get Your Rear in Gear Twin Cities (RES PH 26-252), and Xcel Energy infrastructure project at Eagle Parkway (RES PH 26-253). All adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda (Items 33–69): Approved as amended with unanimous vote (7-0). Notable amendments:
  • Item 40 (Appeal of Richard Schoolmeesters at 1111 Fourth Street East): Granted compliance extension to October 16, 2026.
  • Item 62 (RLH AR 26-54): Referred to October 6, 2026 Legislative Hearing.
  • Item 64 (RLH AR 26-56): Deleted 1166 Colette Place for separate consideration, referred to September 22, 2026 Legislative Hearing.
  • Item 65 (RLH AR 26-57): Deleted 1101 Hoyt Avenue West and 1431 Arundel Street for separate consideration, referred back to September 22, 2026 Legislative Hearing.