OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Paul City Council Meeting Summary - November 5, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, November 5, 2025
BodySt Paul, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, November 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:56:59

Transcript — Verbatim
1:09

Call the meeting of the St.

1:10

Paul City Council to order.

1:11

Roll call, please.

1:12

Kim?

1:13

Here.

1:13

Yang.

1:14

Here.

1:14

Bowie.

1:15

Here.

1:15

Coleman.

1:16

Here.

1:16

Johnson.

1:17

Here.

1:17

Joast.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Council President Maker.

1:20

Here.

1:20

Seven present, no one absent.

1:22

Welcome everyone.

1:23

It is so exciting to see a packed house for our city council meeting.

1:26

It's like this every single week.

1:29

We invite you all to join us and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:35

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

1:39

And to our public, which is one individual.

1:46

Liberty is strong.

1:55

Consent agenda items three through 17 are before you for your consideration.

2:00

Is there anything to be taken for separate consideration?

2:02

Ms.

2:03

Johnson.

2:03

Yes, thank you, uh Council President.

2:05

I'd like to take item number 15, please.

2:07

15, Ms.

2:08

Coleman.

2:09

Thank you.

2:09

I'd like to take number 11.

2:10

11.

2:11

11 and 15.

2:12

Anything else?

2:14

Seeing that I'll take a motion from Ms.

2:15

Yang for the balance of the consent agenda.

2:17

All in favor say aye.

2:18

Aye.

2:18

All opposed?

2:19

Seven in favor, no one opposed.

2:21

The consent agenda is adopted as amended.

2:24

Item 11 is resolution 25-1677, approving the legislative hearing officers' recommendation with conditions for the application submitted by the University of St.

2:34

Thomas to add an entertainment B license and expand liquor service areas under the existing liquor on sale 291 or more seats license located at 2115 Summit Avenue.

2:47

Ms.

2:47

Coleman.

2:48

Thank you, Council President.

2:49

Um I would like to make a motion to approve the license application, and just wanted to open the discussion with a brief comment.

2:55

Um, when I first heard about this liquor license or liquor license application, I had not yet been elected to the city council.

3:02

Like many in the neighborhood, I or near the neighborhood, I was concerned that it was overly broad or that it might have negative consequences for the residents of the community.

3:19

In this quasi-judicial role, like my colleagues, I'm required to make a decision based solely upon the evidence in the record and without bias.

3:27

In this instance, and despite my earlier reservations, I'm confident that the record requires us to approve this license.

3:41

Despite some initial misconceptions, the record makes it clear that this license isn't about ensuring alcohol can be sold at the new arena, not willy-nilly across campus.

4:23

Perhaps most importantly, to my mind is the condition that the license and its conditions be reviewed on an annual basis.

4:29

If there are calls to UST security regarding patron behavior at campus events at which liquor is sold, those will be reviewed by the city each year and will be used to determine whether this license should remain in place.

4:39

Taken together, this information is sufficient to confirm that um to confirm that this liquor license should be approved.

4:44

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Land Use Regulation███████████████15%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Racial Equity██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Cannabis Regulation█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Paul City Council Meeting Summary - November 5, 2025

The St. Paul City Council convened on November 5, 2025, to address a diverse agenda ranging from liquor licensing and reparations processes to infrastructure updates and public safety measures. Key moments included the honoring of City Clerk Sherry Moore's retirement, significant deliberation on a controversial reparations study committee resolution, and robust public testimony regarding gun violence prevention and the demolition of a long-neglected CVS building on North Snelling Avenue.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 3 through 17 were adopted as amended. Items 11 (University of St. Thomas liquor license) and 15 (Reparations Harm Study RFP Review Committee) were pulled for separate consideration and discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Reparations Study Committee: Council Member Johnson expressed strong support for Version 2 of the resolution which reaffirms the authority of the St. Paul Reparations Commission (ADOS members). She noted concern that the initial draft was introduced without her office's coordination, excluding the Commission from the process. Council Member Bowie voiced strong opposition to Version 2 and requested discussion on Version 1, arguing the original process was transparent and guided by legal counsel. Community members testified that Version 2 better aligned with the Commission's framework.
  • Reparations Outreach: Council Member Bowie expressed concern regarding the lack of community engagement, stating opposition to a process where impacted organizations (e.g., African American Leadership Council, Aurora St. Anthony Development Corporation) were unaware of the RFP. She argued that public dollars were being spent on a study without input from the community it serves.
  • Robert Street Reconstruction: Council Member Coleman expressed full support for the MOU with MnDOT, highlighting commitment to a Task Force and low-impact construction strategies requested by the West Side community.
  • Sherry Moore Retirement: Council members Yang, Johnson, Coleman, Bowie, Joast, Vice President Kim, and Acting Director Williams expressed deep gratitude and admiration. They described Moore as the "steady hand," "heart of the office," and a "legend," noting her wisdom, kindness, and role in modernizing city operations.
  • Gun Violence Prevention (Resolution 25-65):
    • Supporters: Residents, parents, teachers, and youth activists (including Gretchen Damon of Moms Demand Action, Dr. Sheldon Berkowitz of the AAP, and youth Eli Voss and Kadar Greer) expressed full support and urgency. They stated that libraries and rec centers must be bullet-free spaces to protect children, citing trauma from recent shootings at Annunciation Church and local parks.
    • Opponents: Residents Mark Connor, Ash Sharpleg, and legal counsel Rob Doer expressed opposition. They argued the ordinance is unconstitutional due to state preemption (Minnesota Statute 471.633), stated they would be illegalized for owning legally owned firearms, and contended the city should lobby the state legislature rather than pass unenforceable laws.
  • Gun Violence Public Safety (Resolution 25-65): Nate Castle, a rec center staff member, expressed fear for youth safety, stating that staff work daily in an environment where gun violence is a constant threat. Community members urged the council to leverage state connections to lift preemption.
  • Traditional Neighborhood Districts (T Districts):
    • Supporters: Jacob Hooper, Cody Fisher (small-scale developer), Paul Fiesel, and Rick Varco (SCIU Healthcare) expressed strong support. They argued the changes are essential for creating walkable neighborhoods, increasing the tax base, and addressing the affordability crisis by allowing mixed-use development.
    • Concerns: No specific opposition was recorded during testimony; the focus was on ensuring the changes move forward quickly.
  • CVS on North Snelling (Item 47):
    • Appellants (CVS Tenant and Owner): Legal representatives requested a 120-day pause on demolition, stating there are active offers to purchase the property for redevelopment. They proposed immediate maintenance improvements (painting, removing plywood) if granted time.
    • Opponents (Neighbors/Coalitions): Jerry Rantliff, Carter Bell, Pete McCauley, Jacob Hooper, Lisa Nelson, and Mike Hom expressed strong support for the legislative hearing officer's recommendation to remove the building immediately. They stated the property has been a source of extreme blight and crime for years, argued that owners have shown no good-faith efforts, and contended a pause is a "hail mary" tactic. They advocated for the property to be cleared to allow for local investment or community development.
  • Water/Sewer Rates: John Purdy expressed opposition to the right-of-way recovery fee, requesting it be laid over pending legal clarity on statutory authority, to save customers $2 million.

Discussion Items

  • Item 11 (UST Liquor License): Council Member Coleman expressed confidence that the record supports approval, noting the annual review condition as a safeguard against negative community consequences. The Council agreed to approve the license.
  • Item 15 (Reparations Study): A debate occurred over Version 1 (original) vs. Version 2 (Commission-led). Council Member Johnson moved for Version 2. Council Member Bowie fought for Version 1. The Council voted to adopt Version 2, rejecting Version 1 by a 6-1 margin (Bowie opposed). The Council emphasized that Version 2 aligns with legal guidance and protects the Commission's leadership.
  • Item 18 & 19 (Robert Street MOU and Consent): The Council approved the MOU with MnDOT and granted consent for reconstruction, highlighting the formation of an accountability task force and community-driven design features.
  • Item 31 (Firearms Ordinance): The Council discussed the potential for the ordinance to be voided by state preemption but proceeded with the public hearing and laid it over to November 12th for final adoption, noting the intent to signal support for gun violence prevention.
  • Item 37 & 38 & 39 (Water/Sewer Rates): The Council discussed the justification for the 14% sewer rate increase and the water rate increase, reviewed financial metrics (debt coverage, MBES fees), and laid over all three resolutions to December 3rd to address legal questions regarding the right-of-way fee.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 11 (Resolution 25-1677): Adopted (7-0). Approving the University of St. Thomas liquor license with an annual review condition.
  • Item 15 (Resolution 25-1728): Adopted as Version 2 (6-1, Council Member Bowie opposed). Establishing the RFP review committee with the Reparations Commission maintaining authority.
  • Item 18 (Resolution 25-1701): Adopted (6-1, Council Member Bowie opposed). Authorizing MOU with MnDOT for Robert Street.
  • Item 19 (Resolution 25-1702): Adopted (7-0). Granting consent for Robert Street reconstruction.
  • Item 20 (Resolution 25-1679): Adopted (7-0). Honoring St. Paul Veterans on November 11, 2025.
  • Item 21 (Resolution 25-1717): Adopted (7-0). Proclaiming November 5, 2025, as "Sherry Moore Day" and honoring her 40 years of service.
  • Item 22 (Ordinance 25-61): Adopted (7-0). Designating Theater Ham Brewing Company as a Heritage Preservation District.
  • Item 23 (Ordinance 25-66): Laid over to November 12 for second reading. Regulations for cannabis/hemp registration and events.
  • Items 24-28 (Ordinances 25-67 to 25-71): Laid over to November 12 for second reading. Temporary ordinance changes for the World Junior Hockey Championship (Green Light District).
  • Item 29 (Ordinance 25-76): Laid over to November 12 for second reading. Prohibiting virtual currency kiosks.
  • Item 30 (Ordinance 25-59): Laid over to November 12 for final adoption. Zoning study for Traditional Neighborhood Districts.
  • Item 31 (Ordinance 25-65): Laid over to November 12 for final adoption. Firearms regulations (assault weapons, binary triggers).
  • Items 32-36: Adopted (7-0). Ratification of assessments for various mill and overlay programs and parking lot costs.
  • Items 37-39 (Water/Sewer Rates): Laid over to December 3rd. Resolutions establishing 2026 rates and charges.
  • Item 40 (Resolution 25-241): Adopted (6-0). Approving sound level variance for the Salvation Army Tree of Lights.
  • Items 41-46: Adopted (7-0). Various budget amendments, property vacations, and fire department funding agreements.
  • Item 47 (Resolution RLH SAO 25-55): Adopted (7-0). Ordering the removal of the vacant CVS building at 499 Snelling Avenue within 15 days. The Council rejected the request for a 120-day pause, finding the property a nuisance with no viable redevelopment plans.
  • Items 48-50: Adopted (7-0). Legislative hearing consent agenda items closed.

Meeting Transcript

Call the meeting of the St. Paul City Council to order. Roll call, please. Kim? Here. Yang. Here. Bowie. Here. Coleman. Here. Johnson. Here. Joast. Here. Council President Maker. Here. Seven present, no one absent. Welcome everyone. It is so exciting to see a packed house for our city council meeting. It's like this every single week. We invite you all to join us and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States America. And to our public, which is one individual. Liberty is strong. Consent agenda items three through 17 are before you for your consideration. Is there anything to be taken for separate consideration? Ms. Johnson. Yes, thank you, uh Council President. I'd like to take item number 15, please. 15, Ms. Coleman. Thank you. I'd like to take number 11. 11. 11 and 15. Anything else? Seeing that I'll take a motion from Ms. Yang for the balance of the consent agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Seven in favor, no one opposed. The consent agenda is adopted as amended. Item 11 is resolution 25-1677, approving the legislative hearing officers' recommendation with conditions for the application submitted by the University of St. Thomas to add an entertainment B license and expand liquor service areas under the existing liquor on sale 291 or more seats license located at 2115 Summit Avenue. Ms. Coleman. Thank you, Council President.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com