St. Paul City Council Meeting: February 4, 2026 – Immigration, Festivals, and Budget Actions

The St. Paul City Council met on February 4, 2026, from 3:30 PM to 7:35 PM, with six members present after two members arrived late. The meeting covered consent agenda items, suspension items, ordinance readings, public hearings on immigration enforcement ordinances, a public hearing on a grant extension for a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, and legislative hearing items.

Consent Calendar

• RES 26-120: Authorized the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for up to $800,000 in grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Cannabis Management’s CanRenew Community Restoration grant for Right Track, the City's Youth Employment Program for SFY 2027. Adopted unanimously (5-0, two absent).
• RES 26-122: Accepted a gift of travel expenses from the Knight Foundation for Library Director Maureen Hartman to attend the Knight Foundation Library Leaders Convening and Knight Media Forum in Miami, Florida, from February 10-13, 2026. Adopted unanimously.
• RES 26-149: Approved the use or non-use of a Project Labor Agreement on Department of Parks and Recreation construction projects for the first half of 2026. Adopted unanimously.
• RES 26-168: Supported the study of new passenger rail service between Saint Paul and Fargo/Moorhead and Saint Paul and Kansas City, Missouri. Adopted unanimously.
• RES 26-192: Approved the proposed issuance of conduit health care revenue bonds by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for the Episcopal Homes Obligated Group (The Willows Project), 80 Mackubin Street. Adopted unanimously.

Suspension Items (Discussion)

• RES 26-231: Approved the appointment of Kamaria Kassim as the Director of Human Resources, effective February 9, 2026. Ms. Kassim was sworn in after the vote. Adopted unanimously (5-0, two absent; later 6-0 with one absent).
• RES 26-253: Called on the State of Minnesota and Governor Walz to enact an energy and gas shutoff moratorium to protect families from disconnections during the ICE operation surge. Councilmember Yang sponsored the resolution, noting that the 55106 zip code already has the highest rates of utility shutoffs in Xcel Energy’s territory. Michael Hirabayashi (UNIDOS St. Paul) testified that struggling households owe an average of $464 in utility debt and that Xcel’s voluntary moratorium for Minneapolis and St. Paul is “kept secret from the public” with no timeline. Jean Comstock (Ward 7) supported the resolution. Councilmember Jost noted that Xcel had confirmed a suspension of disconnections in St. Paul as of last week, and that St. Paul Regional Water does not shut off water for nonpayment. Adopted as amended (6-0).

Ordinances (Final Adoption, First Reading)

• Ord 26-4: Rezoned four I1 light industrial parcels to B5 central business-service at 500 Broadway Street. Adopted unanimously (6-0).
• Ord 26-5: Added Chapter 268 to the Legislative Code to prohibit law enforcement staging operations on city-owned properties and limit access to non-public City spaces. Councilmember Yang expressed frustration that new ordinances take 30 days to take effect and called for charter changes. Councilmember Jost noted that existing charter language on emergency ordinances may allow faster action. Adopted unanimously (6-0).
• Ord 26-8: Amended Section 86.01(a) of the Administrative Code to authorize up to three assistants to the Mayor to execute certain contracts and increase the dollar value for contracts that may be executed by designees from $50,000 to $175,000. Staff report by Dan Gilchrist stated the change is to remove signature contract bottlenecks. Laid over for second reading on February 11, 2026.
• Ord 26-7: Added Chapter 268B to the Legislative Code to require law enforcement officers to conduct law enforcement operations without a mask or facial covering unless certain exceptions apply. Chief Policy Officer Tim Greenfield provided a staff report, explaining that the ordinance is based on historical state law against mask-wearing (originally aimed at the KKK) and that it applies to all law enforcement agencies. Exceptions include active undercover operations, tactical operations, use of eye protection, SWAT assignments, and health/safety use of N95 masks or surgical masks. Councilmember Yang called the ordinance “about transparency and accountability,” describing its intent to address the “authoritarian Trump regime” covering ICE agents’ faces. Councilmember Bowie linked the ordinance to her grandfather’s experience with Klan violence and said, “the biggest risk right now is making sure that our neighbors feel safe and that we aren't tolerating any inch... of legal risk.” Councilmember Coleman argued the ordinance is within the city’s constitutional power as a generally applicable law with only incidental effect on federal officers. Laid over for public hearing on February 11, 2026.

Public Hearings

• Ord 26-6: Required law enforcement officers to visibly display identification on the outermost layer of their uniform. Public testimony included concerns from Silas (Frogtown) and Sarah Gartner (Ward 7) about loopholes, particularly exempting mobile field force operations. John Benda (ICOM) criticized the council for taking too long and requested a stronger separation ordinance, a public apology from St. Paul Police for their cooperation with ICE on November 4, 2025, and a commitment to arrest ICE agents if they break the law. Heather Liu (Ward 6) urged protection for youth being abducted by ICE. An amendment adding a severability clause was adopted, and the matter was laid over to February 11, 2026, for final adoption.
• RES PH 26-28: Accepted a $500,000 state grant for technology-rich space improvements at the Rondo Community Library. Councilmember Jost noted this is part of a citywide library renovation project. Adopted unanimously (6-0).
• RES PH 26-13: Ratified the assessment for repair of sanitary sewer line on private properties. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-14: Ratified the assessment for replacement of lead water service line on private properties. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-16: Amended the Parks and Recreation Grant Fund by $35,000 to reflect a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board for the St. Paul Get Down program. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-18: Approved the 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Budget Committee Capital Maintenance Funding recommendations. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-21: Authorized a one-year extension for ForwardEdge ASIC LLC (a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin) to fulfill its job creation requirement of 113 jobs (currently at 83 jobs) under a $800,000 Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) forgivable loan. Daniela Lorenz (PED) explained that if the extension is not granted, the award would be reduced pro rata (up to ~$200,000). Over two dozen members of the public testified in opposition, many arguing that Lockheed Martin produces weapons used in Palestine and other conflicts, and that the company has contracts with ICE. Several speakers noted that ForwardEdge has not met its contractual obligation. A motion by Councilmember Coleman to lay over for a week was withdrawn after Councilmember Yang and others stated they had enough information and would vote no. Councilmember Yang apologized for voting for the original grant in 2023, saying she “would not have voted for it” knowing then what she knows now. Councilmember Bowie gave an emotional statement linking the vote to her personal experience of being “violently awakened by military guns” and the “weaponization of our department of defense” against her husband. Councilmember Kim argued the company failed to meet its contractual obligation. The resolution was denied (6-0).
• RES PH 26-22: Authorized the Police Department to amend the 2026 Grant Fund for the sub-grant from Ramsey County for the Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET). Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-29: Amended Fire Department financing and spending plans by $20,000 for a grant from Ramsey County Public Health to purchase a LUCAS device. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-30: Amended Fire Department financing and spending plans by $115,393 for a contribution from the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education for firefighter training. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-31: Authorized the Office of Financial Empowerment to apply for and accept a $165,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation for its shared ownership initiative. Adopted unanimously.
• RES PH 26-37: Established the Festivals and Events Security Credit. Councilmember Noecker introduced version two, which uses $155,000 in ongoing funding to provide up to $7,000 in credits to festivals meeting six objective criteria (e.g., free, open to the public, located in areas of concentrated poverty). Councilmember Bowie presented a version three that would give the council direct authority to allocate funds to specific listed organizations. Public testimony was divided: Bob Cruz (West Side Boosters) said he was “promised around $20,000” for Cinco de Mayo, which never arrived, and criticized routing funds through police; Kale Vang (United Hmong Family) said security costs for Hmong festivals had increased 40% and urged the council to act. Other speakers, including Celeste Finn and others, argued that communities should not have to pay police for security and that police charging fees is a barrier to community events. Councilmember Noecker defended version two as “ready to go,” while Councilmember Bowie argued the police department has not been trusted by communities and called for a “failed process” to be changed. The public hearing was closed, and the resolution was laid over to February 11, 2026, for a vote.
• PH 26-4: Public hearing on grievances about federal immigration operations. Over a dozen speakers expressed anger and urgency regarding ICE operations. Sarah Gartner asked for an ordinance preventing the city from employing individuals who previously worked for ICE. Others demanded a comprehensive separation ordinance, safe zones at schools, daycares, and hospitals, and criticized the council’s pace as too slow. Councilmember Noecker acknowledged the urgency and noted new ideas such as vehicle identification requirements. The hearing was continued to February 11, 2026, with a unanimous vote (6-0).

Legislative Hearings

• RLH VO 26-7: Appeal of Minister Scarlet Rose to a fire inspection report at 787 Howell Street North. Legislative Hearing Officer Mormont recommended allowing temporary occupancy pending an inspection the next morning, due to extreme hazards including a 500-pound propane tank. Underlying hazardous conditions were cited: a 500-pound propane tank and two generators operating for electricity; Excel gas and electric was re-established yesterday. Unanimously adopted (6-0).
• Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda (Items 22-32): Included multiple appealed special tax assessments, property rehabilitation/razing orders, and abatement orders. Item 25 (430 Dale Street North) was separately considered; the owner requested demolition within 15 days, and council member Neely Alexander (Cranford Memorial United Methodist Church) thanked the hearing officer. The consent agenda was adopted as amended (6-0).

Key Outcomes

• Approved Kamaria Kassim as Director of Human Resources (RES 26-231).
• Adopted RES 26-253 calling for a utility shutoff moratorium.
• Adopted Ord 26-5 prohibiting law enforcement staging on city property.
• Introduced Ord 26-7 requiring unmasking of law enforcement officers.
• Denied grant extension for ForwardEdge ASIC LLC (RES PH 26-21) by unanimous vote, effectively requiring the company to repay up to ~$200,000 of the $800,000 loan.
• Laid over several items to February 11, 2026: Ord 26-8 (first reading), Ord 26-7 (first reading), Ord 26-6 (final adoption), RES PH 26-37 (festivals security credit), and PH 26-4 (immigration grievances).
• Adopted RLH VO 26-7 allowing temporary occupancy at 787 Howell Street North with next-day inspection.