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Record of Proceedings

Saint Paul City Council Meeting - May 27, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, May 27, 2026
BodySt Paul, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, May 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:40:23

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:08

Let's see what the thing is.

6:22

Call city council to order roll call, please.

6:24

Kim.

6:25

Here.

6:25

Yang.

6:26

Here.

6:27

Bowie.

6:27

Here.

6:28

Coleman.

6:28

Kerr.

6:29

Johnson.

6:29

Here.

6:30

Jost.

6:30

Here.

6:31

Council President Acre.

6:32

Here.

6:33

Seven present.

6:34

None absent.

6:35

Good afternoon, everyone.

6:36

Welcome to our St.

6:37

Paul City Council meeting.

6:38

Thank you so much for joining us.

6:39

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

6:44

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible.

6:54

Liberty and justice for all.

7:04

I know that we are pulling items six and eight for separate consideration.

7:07

Is there anything else to be taken off of consent?

7:11

Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Vice President Yang for the balance of the consent agenda.

7:15

All in favor say aye.

7:16

Aye.

7:16

All opposed.

7:17

Seven in favor, none opposed.

7:18

The consent agenda is adopted as amended.

7:21

Item six, resolution twenty-six-eight seven four approving mayor's appointment of IJong to serve as the city's director of the Department of Safety and Inspections.

7:52

So I will make a motion for approval.

7:57

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

7:59

Aye.

8:00

All opposed?

8:01

Seven in favor, none opposed.

8:02

The resolution is adopted.

8:07

You can do it twice.

8:12

Do solemnly swear.

8:13

Do solemnly swear to support the constitutions.

8:18

Of the United States.

8:19

And of the state of Minnesota.

8:22

And to discharge faithfully.

8:40

Of the city of St.

8:41

Paul.

8:42

To the best of my judgment and ability.

8:59

Okay.

9:00

Item eight is resolution twenty-six eight-eight six eight eight six.

9:05

Exercising the city's authority to opt into and support the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority.

9:10

I'm going to move a one-week layover of this item.

9:12

Um we received a request from the county to do so and uh want to make sure to honor that.

9:17

So I'll move a one-week layover.

9:18

Any discussion of that motion?

9:20

Seeing none.

9:21

Well, something that's not adopted.

9:26

By June 1st.

9:27

They apparently do not need it done by June 1st.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Personnel Matters██████████████14%
Land Use Regulation████████████12%
Community Engagement████████8%
Economic Development████████8%
Public Safety██2%
Housing██2%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Saint Paul City Council Meeting - May 27, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council met on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 3:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 3:32 PM and adjourned at 5:06 PM. All seven council members were present. The agenda included consent items, discussion items, public hearings, and a legislative hearing consent agenda. Key actions included approval of several appointments, grant acceptances, a fee waiver pilot program, and adoption of the Climate Action and Resilience Plan update.

Communications & Receive/File

  • AO 26-32: Authorizing the Police Department to reallocate activity budget to record grant awards from the Saint Paul Police Foundation. Received and filed.

Consent Agenda

  • Adopted as amended (7-0). Items included:
    • RES 26-838: Grant agreement with MnDOT for Lafayette Trail Connection Project (adopted).
    • RES 26-840: Memorandum of Agreement with Operating Engineers Local 70 (laid over to June 3, 2026).
    • RES 26-843: Settlement payment of $12,818.89 to Deborah Brisch-Cramer (adopted).
    • RES 26-844: Storm sewer permit for The Heights project (adopted).
    • RES 26-880: Master Legal Services Agreement with Barnes & Thornburg LLP (adopted).
    • RES 26-782: 2026 Wage and Fringe Adjustment for Bricklayers Local Union 1 (adopted).
    • RES 26-811: Wage and Fringe Adjustment for Painters District Council 82 (adopted).
    • RES 26-820: Police Federation MOA on eligibility list length (adopted).

Discussion Items

  • RES 26-874: Appointment of Ia Xiong as Director of Safety and Inspections. Adopted (7-0). Xiong was sworn in.
  • RES 26-886: Opt-in to Ramsey County Economic Development Authority. Laid over one week at the request of the county (7-0).
  • RES 26-841: Auto Repair Garage & Second Hand Dealer license for M F K Enterprise (830 Robert Street). After testimony from licensee Mo Kia and staff, the council adopted the department's recommendation for a $1,000 matrix penalty and amended license conditions (7-0). Council President Noecker directed the department to visit the property within two weeks to clarify conditions and ownership.
  • RES 26-812: Legislative Hearing Fee Waiver Pilot Program for remainder of 2026. Staff reported that the $25 appeal fee would be automatically waived to test assumptions and improve procedural justice. Adopted (7-0).
  • RES 26-791: Appointment of Melanie McMahon as Director of Planning and Economic Development. After extensive discussion, adopted (6-1). Councilmember Bowie voted no, citing concerns about process and prioritization of historically underinvested communities. Councilmember Johnson explained her request for a two-week layover was to allow due diligence.

Public Hearings

  • RES PH 26-120: Sound level variances for Grand Old Day (June 7, 2026) at five locations. Kim O'Brien, Executive Director of Grand Avenue Business Association, testified in support. Adopted (7-0).
  • RES PH 26-121: Acceptance of DEED Redevelopment Grant for Afton Park Development (841-857 Grand Avenue). No testimony. Adopted (7-0).
  • RES PH 26-122: Capitol Region Watershed District grant for green roof maintenance at Fire Station 1. No testimony. Adopted (7-0).
  • RES PH 26-126: Acceptance of $6,800,061 in HOME-ARP funds from HUD. No testimony. Adopted (7-0).
  • RES PH 26-130: Adoption of the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) Update. Staff report by Climate Action Coordinator Liz Boyer highlighted a five-year action plan with 25 priority items, integration of hazard vulnerability mapping, and community engagement. Four public testimonies in support: Kristen Dawkins (Railroad Island) praised the geothermal thermal energy plan; Catherine Dugarm (Ward 3) supported thermal energy networks and solar access; Lachelle Cunningham (Frogtown Farm Executive Director) commended food security language and urged implementation; Celeste Masillas (Frogtown Farm farmer) emphasized climate justice and urban farming. Council members expressed strong support, noting the plan's equity focus and need for funding. Adopted (7-0).

Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda

  • Items 20-27 were adopted as amended with the recommendations of the Legislative Hearing Officer (7-0). Highlights:
    • RLH SAO 26-45: 233 Bates Avenue nuisance abatement appeal – continued to June 3, 2026.
    • RLH TA 25-422, 25-404, 26-49, 26-38: Special tax assessments for 2170 Highwood Avenue – all adopted as amended (assessments deleted).
    • RLH SAO 26-27: 1377 Minnehaha Avenue East nuisance abatement – continued to June 10, 2026.
    • RLH SAO 26-39: Appeal of Melanie Baker for 1884 Montana Avenue East – adopted.
    • RLH SAO 26-44: Appeal of Joseph Richardson for 1875 North Park Drive – adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes: All actions passed with 7-0 votes except the McMahon appointment (6-1) and consent items adopted as amended.
  • Appointments: Ia Xiong confirmed as DSI Director; Melanie McMahon confirmed as PED Director.
  • Policy Pilot: Legislative hearing fee waiver pilot approved for 2026, with follow-up ordinance planned.
  • Grant Acceptance: $6.8 million HOME-ARP funds accepted for affordable housing; DEED redevelopment grant accepted for Grand Avenue project.
  • Climate Plan: CARP update adopted, including a five-year action plan and vulnerability mapping.
  • License Action: MFK Enterprise license amended with $1,000 penalty and new conditions; department to conduct site visit within two weeks.
  • Layovers: Operating Engineers MOA laid over to June 3; Ramsey County EDA opt-in laid over one week.
  • Next Steps: City staff to implement fee waiver pilot and follow up on license conditions; HRA work plan development anticipated.

Meeting Transcript

Let's see what the thing is. Call city council to order roll call, please. Kim. Here. Yang. Here. Bowie. Here. Coleman. Kerr. Johnson. Here. Jost. Here. Council President Acre. Here. Seven present. None absent. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our St. Paul City Council meeting. Thank you so much for joining us. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible. Liberty and justice for all. I know that we are pulling items six and eight for separate consideration. Is there anything else to be taken off of consent? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Vice President Yang 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 six, resolution twenty-six-eight seven four approving mayor's appointment of IJong to serve as the city's director of the Department of Safety and Inspections. So I will make a motion for approval. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. You can do it twice. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear to support the constitutions. Of the United States. And of the state of Minnesota. And to discharge faithfully. Of the city of St. Paul. To the best of my judgment and ability. Okay.

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