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Record of Proceedings

Saint Paul City Council Meeting Summary - February 25, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, February 25, 2026
BodySt Paul, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, February 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:13:09

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
2:58

Meeting of the St.

2:59

Paul City Council to order.

3:00

Roll call, please.

3:01

Coleman.

3:02

Here.

3:03

Johnson.

3:04

Here.

3:04

Joe?

3:05

Here.

3:06

Kim?

3:06

Here.

3:06

Yang.

3:07

Here.

3:08

Bowie?

3:08

Here.

3:08

Council President Naker.

3:10

Here.

3:10

Seven present, zero absent.

3:12

Welcome everyone to our chambers for our city council meeting.

3:15

It is wonderful to see our chambers at standing room only and beyond capacity.

3:20

Uh, so thank you all for being here.

3:22

We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:28

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

3:38

Liberty and justice.

3:48

I understand that we are going to be taking items ten and thirteen for separate consideration.

3:53

Is there anything else to come off of consent?

3:56

Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms.

3:58

Bowie for the balance of the consent agenda.

4:00

All in favor say aye.

4:01

Aye.

4:01

All opposed.

4:02

Seven in favor, none opposed.

4:03

The consent agenda is adopted as amended.

4:06

Item number ten is resolution twenty-six-three eleven supporting the designation of the West Seventh Corridor as the future Metro J Line.

4:13

And I wanted to just pull this item off of consent because this is a really big deal, as many of you know.

4:18

Um, the West Seventh Corridor that uh both Councilmember Jost and I represent has been waiting for decades for transit improvements as well as for improvements to the streetscape, the sidewalks, the tree holes, um, and and all of the pedestrian safety enhancements that we know the area needs.

4:34

Um, I'm so grateful to our city staff to Director Kershaw and his team for stepping up when the county's Riverview Corridor plan uh had to be paused and um working out a plan with Mindot and with Metro Transit to reconstruct West 7th Street, um, hopefully in twenty twenty-nine and bring enhanced bus rapid transit to the corridor uh with the Metro J Line and uh grateful to Metro Transit for that investment as well.

4:58

So this is just supporting that designation.

5:00

So this is just supporting that designation and it's it's a critical next step in this progress toward a better West 7th.

5:05

And I would look to Ms.

5:06

Joe to see if she wants to add anything as the other council member responsible for the area.

5:11

Thank you.

5:12

Yes, this is such a critical issue to my ward and to our West 7th neighborhood.

5:18

You know, I when I joined the council, we were nearing the end of the Riverview Corridor process, and I'm just so grateful to everyone that stepped up, you know, when uh when that process ended to be able to see through a vision for West 7th that is going to invest in the infrastructure of the street while looking to the future with transit-oriented development and investment.

5:42

I also want to thank our former chief resiliency officer, Russ Stark, who really took the lead on that process and and championed it to where it is at today.

5:52

Great.

5:54

So I will uh take that as a motion for approval from Councilmember Jost.

5:58

Is there any further discussion of the motion?

6:00

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

6:02

All opposed?

6:03

Seven in favor, none opposed.

6:04

The resolution is adopted.

6:06

Item number 13 is resolution 26-330, restoring Ford's area C.

6:10

Ms.

6:11

Jost.

6:12

Uh thank you, and thanks to my colleagues for um for uh listening to this resolution.

6:18

Um this is uh an issue that's really important to the folks in my community in ward three.

6:24

A little bit of background area C is owned by the Ford Motor Company.

6:28

It is located in Highland Park near Highland Bridge on the river bluff.

6:32

It is currently capped and operating primarily as a parking lot.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Pending Litigation███████████11%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Public Safety████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Public Engagement███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Youth Programs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Meeting - February 25, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council met on February 25, 2026, at 3:30 PM in Council Chambers, adjourning at 7:42 PM. The meeting covered a wide range of items including resolutions, ordinances, public hearings, and a special recognition. Key actions included adoption of a resolution supporting the METRO J Line, a resolution urging comprehensive cleanup of Ford's Area C, recognition of longtime city attorney Portia Hampton Flowers, approval of mayor's appointments, and a contentious debate over writing off police staffing costs for cultural festivals. The council also adopted a festival security credit program and added funding for emergency rental assistance.

Consent Calendar

  • AO 26-14 (Amending LAHA Project Budgets: $500,000 for Emergency Rental Assistance) was received and filed.
  • RES 26-65 (Emergency Management costs), RES 26-92 (Police refreshments), RES 26-232 (Parks grant application for $25,000), RES 26-263 (Winter grooming grant up to $175,000), RES 26-271 (Cooperative agreement with Ramsey County), RES 26-272 (Police assessor costs), RES 26-275 (Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Unit expenses), RES 26-276 (Variance for 10-foot lanes on Arlington Avenue), RES 26-314 (Ordinance permits for Highland Bridge signage), RES 26-325 (Mississippi River Learning Center grant application up to $3,000,000) were adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 22 (Black History Month resolution): Representatives from Minnesota HBCU Alumni, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Iota Phi Theta, and The Links Incorporated spoke, expressing gratitude and highlighting their community service, scholarships, and mentorship programs.
  • Item 24 (Write-off of police costs for festivals): Multiple festival organizers and supporters testified, including Harry Colbert Jr. (Power 104.7), Marina Neil (Rondo Days), Adrian Perryman (Rondo Block Party), Bob Cruz (Synchronomia/Mexican Independence Day), and Clint Roberts (Lowertown Sounds). They described financial burdens and the importance of free cultural events. Some also requested systemic changes to reduce security costs.
  • Item 18 (Drive-through zoning amendments): Jacob Hooper (Sustained St. Paul) supported the ordinance, citing tax value data. Brian Holmes (Sustained St. Paul) presented visual examples of tax value per acre. Joe Burkholz (McDonald's owner/operator) requested clarification on stacking and setback requirements. John Perlich (St. Paul Area Chamber) expressed concerns about the 660-foot transit buffer and stacking requirements. Michelle Molstead (Sustained St. Paul) supported the ordinance.
  • Item 29 (Alley vacation): Petitioner Mary Ann McEvoy spoke in support of vacating the alley right-of-way abutting 2105 Scudder Street.
  • Item 31 (Immigration grievances): Two residents spoke, urging safe zones around schools and hospitals, and better communication about emergency rental assistance.

Discussion Items

  • Item 10 (RES 26-311 – METRO J Line): Council President Noecker and Councilmember Jost spoke in favor, noting the long-awaited transit improvements on West 7th Street. The resolution was adopted 7-0.
  • Item 13 (RES 26-330 – Restoring Ford's Area C): Councilmember Jost detailed the cleanup options for the contaminated site on the river bluff, urging support for the most comprehensive alternative (Option 6). She noted that MPCA is the regulatory body. The resolution was adopted 7-0.
  • Item 14 (RES 26-343 – Recognizing Portia Hampton Flowers): All councilmembers gave remarks thanking her for over 20 years of service as a city attorney. The resolution was adopted 7-0, and February 25, 2026 was declared Portia Hampton Flowers Day.
  • Item 15 (RES 26-326 – Mayor's appointments): The council approved and swore in new policy aides, constituent services associates, and a director of public engagement. Adopted 7-0.
  • Item 16 (RES 26-341 – Wizards Auto Repair penalty): City attorney Monica Schaefer presented evidence of license violations. Licensee Mohammed Mohammed spoke, requesting probation instead of a $1,000 fine. The council voted to impose the matrix penalty, 7-0.
  • Item 24 (RES PH 26-59 – Write-off of police costs): Councilmember Bowie proposed writing off $75,000 in unpaid police bills for seven festivals. City attorney memo indicated it could be an illegal gift. Debate ensued over fairness and funding source. Councilmember Bowie motioned for a two-week layover; passed 5-2 (Noecker and Jost opposed).
  • Item 17 (RES PH 26-37 – Festivals and Events Security Credit): Council President Noecker moved version two, providing up to $7,000 or 50% of police security costs for qualifying festivals. Deputy Chief Holstrom explained the process. Adopted 7-0.
  • Item 18 (Ord 24-26 – Drive-through regulations): Councilmember Jost introduced version three, increasing the transit buffer from 300 to 660 feet. Public hearing held; continued to March 4 for final adoption.
  • Item 23 (RES PH 26-62 – Emergency Rental Assistance staffing): Councilmember Johnson moved approval of $1.4 million total ($500,000 from LAHA and $926,000 from HRA) for staffing and program expansion. Adopted 7-0.
  • Item 31 (PH 26-4 – Immigration grievances): Public hearing continued to March 4.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted: RES 26-311 (METRO J Line), RES 26-330 (Ford Area C), RES 26-343 (Portia Hampton Flowers recognition), RES 26-326 (mayor's appointments), RES PH 26-58 (Black History Month), RES 26-341 (Wizards Auto Repair penalty), RES PH 26-37 (festival security credit), RES PH 26-62 (emergency rental assistance staffing), RES PH 26-42 (Dale Street roof replacement), RES PH 26-38 (historical grant), RES PH 26-55 (Como Zoo grant), RES PH 26-52 (sound variance), RES PH 26-51 and 26-53 (alley vacations), RLH TA 26-11 (Edmund Avenue assessment), and legislative hearing consent agenda items.
  • Laid over: RES PH 26-59 (police cost write-off) to March 11; Ord 24-26 (drive-throughs) to March 4; Ord 26-9 (geothermal franchise), Ord 26-11 (St. Joseph's hospital bonds), Ord 26-12 (TNC fees) to March 4; PH 26-4 (immigration grievances) to March 4; RLH TA 25-420 (Hamline Avenue assessment) to March 4.
  • Consent agenda adopted as amended.
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Meeting of the St. Paul City Council to order. Roll call, please. Coleman. Here. Johnson. Here. Joe? Here. Kim? Here. Yang. Here. Bowie? Here. Council President Naker. Here. Seven present, zero absent. Welcome everyone to our chambers for our city council meeting. It is wonderful to see our chambers at standing room only and beyond capacity. Uh, so thank you all for being here. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States to America. Liberty and justice. I understand that we are going to be taking items ten and thirteen for separate consideration. Is there anything else to come off of consent? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms. Bowie for the balance of the consent agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Seven in favor, none opposed. The consent agenda is adopted as amended. Item number ten is resolution twenty-six-three eleven supporting the designation of the West Seventh Corridor as the future Metro J Line. And I wanted to just pull this item off of consent because this is a really big deal, as many of you know. Um, the West Seventh Corridor that uh both Councilmember Jost and I represent has been waiting for decades for transit improvements as well as for improvements to the streetscape, the sidewalks, the tree holes, um, and and all of the pedestrian safety enhancements that we know the area needs. Um, I'm so grateful to our city staff to Director Kershaw and his team for stepping up when the county's Riverview Corridor plan uh had to be paused and um working out a plan with Mindot and with Metro Transit to reconstruct West 7th Street, um, hopefully in twenty twenty-nine and bring enhanced bus rapid transit to the corridor uh with the Metro J Line and uh grateful to Metro Transit for that investment as well. So this is just supporting that designation. So this is just supporting that designation and it's it's a critical next step in this progress toward a better West 7th. And I would look to Ms. Joe to see if she wants to add anything as the other council member responsible for the area. Thank you. Yes, this is such a critical issue to my ward and to our West 7th neighborhood. You know, I when I joined the council, we were nearing the end of the Riverview Corridor process, and I'm just so grateful to everyone that stepped up, you know, when uh when that process ended to be able to see through a vision for West 7th that is going to invest in the infrastructure of the street while looking to the future with transit-oriented development and investment. I also want to thank our former chief resiliency officer, Russ Stark, who really took the lead on that process and and championed it to where it is at today. Great. So I will uh take that as a motion for approval from Councilmember Jost. Is there any further discussion of the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. All opposed?

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