St. Paul Policy Committee Legislative Agenda and Administrative Citations Update - February 4, 2026

The Policy Committee met on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, with four members present and three excused. The meeting covered two major items: a review of the city’s 2026 legislative agenda in advance of the state session starting February 17, and an update on the implementation of administrative citations, a new civil enforcement tool approved by voters in November 2025.

Discussion Items

Legislative Agenda Review

• Director General Rourke (newly appointed, day three in role) and Tim Heinfeld presented a streamlined five-page legislative agenda. They distinguished between top priorities (where the city would introduce bills), additional priorities (bonding requests and policy items where the city would support but not lead), and support items (partner-driven efforts).
• Councilmember Yang asked about the proposed state reimbursement program for law enforcement costs during Operation Metro Surge, seeking specifics on scope and likelihood. Director Rourke agreed to provide a memo before next week’s council vote.
• Councilmember Coleman requested adding a land value tax pilot for the Midway/University Avenue area, similar to a proposal for Minneapolis’s Lake Street, to incentivize development without direct city spending. She also urged flexibility in STAR dollars to aid small businesses affected by immigration enforcement. The council supported adding the land value tax item.
• Councilmember Jost highlighted the importance of the West Seventh Corridor, lead service line replacement funding, and climate action priorities.
• Councilmember Yang expressed interest in partnering on specific priorities (e.g., the Duluth and Case Community Rec Center, Heights housing).
• The chair noted that amendments to the legislative agenda should be submitted before next week’s full council meeting for adoption.

Administrative Citations Update

• Director Jay Welms and colleagues (Tim Greenfield, Marshall Moorman, Kamud Verkmah) provided a history and overview of design considerations. Key dates: voters approved administrative citations 68%-32% in November 2025; a legislative advisory committee was delayed until June 30, 2026 due to transition and federal immigration response.
• Policy design choices include: types of violations (property, licensing, parking; severity and frequency), fine amounts (balancing deterrence and equity), enforcement and dispute resolution (cure opportunities, quasi-judicial review), and fiscal implementation (cost neutrality, payment options, revenue disposition).
• Councilmember Yang urged prioritizing enforcement against large corporate bad actors (e.g., wage theft, vacant storefronts) rather than individual residents. She supported moving quickly and noted the existing legislative hearing system works well for individuals.
• Councilmember Jost agreed, emphasizing a clear delineation between the advisory committee’s scope and immediate action on major violations. She suggested creating a working group rather than passing a separate resolution, and recommended looking at models from Minneapolis and other Minnesota cities.
• Councilmember Coleman raised concerns about the council’s potential quasi-judicial role, urging study of best practices.
• Director Welms proposed forming an internal working group with administration, with a substantive work plan to be presented in one to two months.

Key Outcomes

• Legislation Agenda: Council members provided feedback and requested additions (land value tax). Amendments are due before next week’s full council meeting, where the agenda is expected to be adopted.
• Administrative Citations: The committee agreed to establish an internal working group with city administration to develop a work plan, prioritizing enforcement against large-scale bad actors while respecting the legislative advisory committee’s future role. A follow-up update with a detailed work plan is anticipated in one to two months.