St. Paul City Council Meeting (March 25, 2026)

The St. Paul City Council met on March 25, 2026, at 3:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included the adoption of a consent agenda, appointment of a new city clerk, recognitions, several ordinance readings and adoptions, public hearings, and legislative hearing consent agenda items. Key actions included extending the pre-eviction notice period from 30 to 60 days, introducing a new ordinance on immigration enforcement training and reporting, and adopting a resolution to impose penalties on a tobacco license holder.

Consent Agenda

• Items 5 through 13 were approved unanimously (7-0) with no separate discussion. These included approving clean-up and snow removal assessments, authorizing police grant applications for auto theft prevention and crisis response, approving a liquor license transfer, settling a lawsuit, accepting travel expenses for the city engineer, accepting a grant for the Pathways to Policing program, and adjusting the pay rate for the Assessment Supervisor classification.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public testimony was offered on any of the public hearing items (21-24) or the legislative hearing consent agenda items (25-31). The council was not aware of anyone present to testify on those items.

Discussion Items

• Appointment of City Clerk: The council suspended rules to consider Resolution 26-522, appointing Nicole Tillander as City Clerk. Council President Noecker noted this brings the city council department to full staffing capacity. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Recognition of Xia Xoua Vang: Vice President Yang introduced Resolution 26-502 recognizing Xia Xoua Vang, a Hmong veteran who served with the CIA during the Secret War in Laos and later resettled in St. Paul. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Recognition of Jack Byers: Vice President Yang introduced Resolution 26-503 recognizing District 5 Payne-Phalen Community Council Executive Director Jack Byers for his service and declaring Sunday, March 29, 2026, as Jack Byers Day in St. Paul. Councilmembers Johnson, Kim, Jost, and Noecker offered remarks thanking Byers for his community work. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Tobacco License Penalty: Resolution 26-412 concerned findings from an administrative law judge regarding White Bear Tobacco Market Place Inc. d/b/a White Bear Tobacco (1662 White Bear Avenue North). Assistant City Attorney Monica Schaefer presented the case, noting the store sold tobacco to an underage buyer for the second time in two years. The city attorney recommended a $1,000 matrix penalty and imposition of hearing fees. The licensee did not appear to testify. The council adopted the resolution unanimously (7-0).
• Fire Chief Minimum Qualifications (Ord 26-17): The ordinance was before the council for final adoption. Councilmember Coleman moved an amended version (version 2) that allows work experience to substitute for a bachelor's degree requirement on a year-for-year basis, and adds preferences for experience in high-volume EMS systems, unionized environments, and labor relations. The amendment was adopted unanimously (7-0), and the public hearing was reopened and continued to April 1, 2026, for final adoption.
• Pre-Eviction Notice Extension (Ord 26-18): Councilmember Kim moved an amendment (version 3) to exempt public housing agency (PHA) owned and managed properties from the 60-day pre-eviction notice requirement. Councilmember Johnson, Bowie, Kim, and Yang spoke against the exemption, citing concerns about protecting tenants and the risk of evictions for small amounts. Jost and Noecker voted in favor. The amendment failed (2-5). The original ordinance extending the pre-eviction notice from 30 to 60 days was then adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Immigration Enforcement Training and Reporting (Ord 26-19): Chief Policy Officer Tim Greenfield presented the first reading of an ordinance adding Chapter 44A to the Administrative Code. The ordinance requires training for general service and public safety employees on the city's separation ordinance, establishes reporting mechanisms for employee interactions with ICE, a public reporting system for alleged violations, and quarterly reporting to the council. Councilmember Coleman spoke on the need for transparency and preparedness. The ordinance was laid over to April 1, 2026, for a public hearing.
• Rental Application Fees (Ord 26-20): Lynn Burkenhoff from DSI presented the first reading of an ordinance deleting Chapter 54 of the Legislative Code, noting it is a housekeeping item since the scope is now covered by the tenant protections ordinance. Laid over to April 1, 2026, for a public hearing.
• Department of Safety and Inspections Updates (Ord 26-21): First reading of an ordinance updating Chapter 13 of the Administrative Code to authorize DSI to manage and enforce tenant protection laws. Laid over to April 1, 2026, for a public hearing.
• Public Hearings: The council conducted four public hearings and unanimously adopted the following items (all 7-0): additional funding for the Hayden Heights Library renovation (RES PH 26-68), sound level variances for White Squirrel Bar (RES PH 26-70), acceptance of a $500,000 donation from Como Friends for Como Zoo and Conservatory (RES PH 26-72), and acceptance of a $490,000 grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for the Office of Financial Empowerment (RES PH 26-73).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 5-13): Adopted unanimously.
• City Clerk Appointment (RES 26-522): Adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Recognition of Xia Xoua Vang (RES 26-502): Adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Recognition of Jack Byers (RES 26-503): Adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Tobacco License Penalty (RES 26-412): Adopted unanimously (7-0); $1,000 penalty and hearing costs imposed.
• Fire Chief Qualifications (Ord 26-17): Amendment adopted (7-0); public hearing continued to April 1, 2026.
• Pre-Eviction Notice Extension (Ord 26-18): Amendment to exempt PHA housing failed (2-5); original ordinance adopted (7-0).
• Immigration Enforcement Training (Ord 26-19): Laid over to April 1, 2026, for public hearing.
• Rental Application Fees (Ord 26-20): Laid over to April 1, 2026.
• DSI Updates (Ord 26-21): Laid over to April 1, 2026.
• Public Hearings (RES PH 26-68, 26-70, 26-72, 26-73): All adopted unanimously.
• Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda (Items 25-31): Adopted as amended with no separate discussion.

The meeting adjourned at 5:19 PM.