Call the meeting of the same power City Council to order.

Roll call, please.

Yang.

Here.

Here, Coleman.

Johnson, Just.

Kim.

Council President Naker.

Here.

Seven present, none absent.

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome.

Thank you for joining us at our city council meeting.

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.

Consent agenda items two.

Two through 27 are before you for your consideration.

Is there anything to be taken off of consent?

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The consent agenda.

Agenda is adopted.

Item 28, Resolution 26-997, honoring and recognizing the National Holiday, Juneteenth, 2026 as an annual celebration of black freedom, liberation, and the resilience and resilience in the city of St.

Paul.

This is a really special occasion.

We are honored to be passing this resolution, and I think also hearing a proclamation from the mayor.

So I will look to Miss Johnson.

Thank you.

A proclamation from the mayor.

Super exciting.

And we'll also have a resolution in front of us.

There's a couple of folks that I want to welcome up at this time.

So Assistant Mayor Baker, but also our lovely winners from the Mr.

and Mrs.

Miss Juneteenth pageant, as well as we also have Vanessa Weir from the uh 30,000 feet as well.

So we'll go through and um kind of go through an order from them, but at this time all of you guys can come up.

Um a couple things happening uh today.

Just we are taking a chance to recognize a national holiday.

June thing, Juneteenth, 2026, while not only also my birthday, is an incredible uh celebration where we have an opportunity to talk about black freedom, liberation, and resilience in the city of St.

Paul.

30,000 feet, Vanessa Young, um, Angel Jones from the Miss Juneteenth pageant, the proclamation that is signed that is signed today by the mayor's office and presented by our uh wonderful mayor, uh Mayor Herr and our assistant mayor Cedric Baker, um, the first African-American assistant mayor here in the city, is important because it's really going to highlight the fact that Juneteenth is a celebration and it's also a call to action.

It's a day to honor the resilience, the contributions, and the liberations of black Americans while reflecting on the unfinished work of building of our community, freedom, opportunity, and belonging in a truly accessible and necessity here in the city.

As we gather across St.

Paul for celebrations, cultural events, um, and taking time to spend with our families.

I really want to take this moment to encourage my colleagues and everyone in our meetings as well as the millions of viewers watching at home, that it's important to take time to learn about the history and the significance of Juneteenth and the generations that um of struggle, courage, and perseverance that has brought us to this moment.

We wouldn't have a federal holiday if it wasn't for the literal uh centuries long time of when at one point in our country, not everybody was free.

And so our collective freedom is deeply connected.

And when we invest in our children, when we strengthen our neighborhoods, when we remove barriers to opportunity and ensure every member of our community can thrive, we move closer to the promise for freedom for all.

Juneteenth reminds us that liberation is not only about looking back as how far we've come, but about committing ourselves to the work that still lies ahead.

Together through learning, understanding, and action, we can continue to build a St.

Paul where every person is valued, where every voice matters, and every neighborhood has the opportunity to flourish.

So with this time, I'm just gonna take a couple of minutes um to share with you all.

I have Angel Jones here as well as Vanessa Young.

We took the opportunity, as you all know.

Every Juneteenth resolution, we've taken the chance to highlight um black engines and black ecosystems, black businesses, black organizations, because Juneteenth isn't just uh a resolution to celebrate a fact that we have a national holiday, but we really truly have change builders right here in our community.

Um, so I'll start with uh with uh Angel from Miss Juneteenth and Mr.

Juneteenth as well, and I also have Vanessa Young here from 30,000 feet.

Thank you.

All right, good afternoon, council members, community leaders, and fellow residents.

My name is Vanessa Young.

I'm the co-founder and director of programs and policy for 30,000 feet.

Thank you for this resolution recognizing Juneteenth and honoring the organizations and individuals working to uplift our community.

Juneteenth is more than a commemoration of freedom delayed.

It is a call to continue the work of freedom realized.

It reminds us that liberation is not only about ending injustice, but about creating opportunity, access, and hope for future generations.

At 30,000 feet, we believe our ancestors' wildest dreams live through the young people we serve every day.

Through arts, technology, literacy, workforce development, and culturally responsive programming, we create spaces where black youth can dream boldly and build the future they deserve.

I would also like to give a special shout out to the Juneteenth Pageant and the young leaders that the organization represents.

Your excellence, your leadership, and your commitment to community reminds us that the future of St.

Paul is bright and in still capable hands.

This work is especially important here in St.

Paul, where our young people deserve to see themselves as innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

When we invest in youth, we invest in stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger city.

As we commemorate Juneteenth, let us remember that freedom is not simply something we celebrate, it is something we practice by ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

On behalf of 30,000 feet, thank you for recognizing this important day and for your commitment to advancing equity and opportunity in our community.

Thank you so much.

Good afternoon, everyone.

And it is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you today as the representative of and the of the newest division, Division 7, ambassador and first lady of Juneteenth, Minnesota, serving ages 40 and up, a seasoned ladies.

First, I would like to recognize the visionary behind the incredible movement, Mrs.

Angel Jones, founder and executive director of the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering, educating, and inspiring, reshaping the next generation of black leaders.

Our mission goes far beyond crowns and sashes and titles.

We are builders, we are building leaders through mentorship, scholarships, leadership development, mental health awareness, community service, and cultural empowerment.

We create opportunities that help youth and adults discover their purpose, overcome obstacles, and achieve their fullest potential.

As we continue to grow across Minnesota, we are proud to be one of the few pageant organizations where multiple generations can compete alongside loved ones, mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces.

In fact, I had the privilege of competing alongside my daughter and my granddaughter this year.

A powerful reminder that leadership, legacy, and excellence can be passed from one generation to the next.

This past year reminded us why our work matters so much.

Several of our contestants faced unimaginable hardships, including the detention and deportation of family members.

Yet they refused to let those circumstances define them.

One contestant dedicated her pageant journey to her father who was deported, and today proudly stands as our for our queen division four.

Her story is proof that resilience, faith, and community support can't overcome even the greatest of challenges.

That is why Miss Juneteenth and Mr.

Juneteenth, Minnesota is more than a pageant.

We are a family.

We are a support system.

We are reshaping our communities through mentorship, advocacy, education, leadership, and service.

We are committed to ensuring that every participant has access to opportunities, resources, and encouragement to succeed.

These remarkable young men and women represent leadership, character, resilience, and excellence.

They are not simply just title holders.

They are future public servants, future advocates, future business leaders, future policy makers, and future change makers.

Carrying forward the legacy of Juneteenth with pride, dignity, and purpose.

Together, we are preserving history, honoring our ancestors, uplifting our communities, and building a future where every young person and adult has the opportunity to lead, thrive, and leave a legging last leave a legging, a lasting legacy.

Speak Zena Dang.

Today is my great honor and privilege to introduce the 2026 Miss and Mr.

Juneteenth, Minnesota Royal Court, Asmara Constantino.

Hello, everyone, my name's Asmara Constantine.

Hello, my name is Esmara Constantino.

I am your little Miss Juneteenth, 2026 Minnesota State Pageant Winner.

I represent Division One, H.H.'s 6 to 9.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Winter Frost.

I'm Junior, Miss Juneteenth, Minnesota 2026 pageant winner.

Age range 10 to 13, Division 2.

Thank you.

Hello, everybody.

My name is Ala Rain Porter.

I am your teen, Miss Juneteenth, Minnesota, 2026, Division 3, ages 14 through 18.

And today we are missing Aaliy Murray, our Miss Juneteenth, Minnesota, Division 4, ages 19 through 24.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Ebony Wilson Singfield, and I am your Miss Juneteenth, State Pageant Winner of 2026, Division 5, ages 25 to 30.

Thank you.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Mariah Hutton, and I am your Madam Juneteenth, Minnesota 2026, Crown Queen.

And that is your Division 6, ages 31 to 39.

Thank you.

You're sick of hearing from me, Division 7.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Isaac Alberton.

I'm 16 years old, and I'm your first Mr.

Juneteenth 2026, Minnesota State Pageant Winner for Division 1, ages 10 to 17.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Jordan Reading.

I'm your first day pageant winner for 2026, Mr.

Juneteenth, Minnesota.

Uh age ranges from 18 to 24.

That is your royal call.

Let's give it up again for all of our pageant winners and testants this year.

If you truly haven't seen the work of not only the group, this group, you will see them at Juneteenth events all across the city, because believe me, one thing I know about Angel, she has them already working, okay?

They were already out last weekend at the Juneteenth event in Roseville.

So I saw several of them there.

You'll probably see them in your wards this weekend as well at Juneteenth.

Um at this time, I just want folks to share with us that we do have a proclamation from the mayor's office today on your behalf, and so I'll hand it over to Assistant Mayor Cedric Baker.

Thank you.

First of all, I just want to say I'm just grateful for the ability to celebrate Juneteenth in the way that we are.

Um I really appreciative of the city's appreciation of the culture and uh I would like to say black excellence that exists, and just grateful to be surrounded by all of these individuals.

And with that, I'd like to read the proclamation.

It says, whereas on June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers led by General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War and proclamation, uh excuse me, proclaiming freedom from all enslaved African Americans, and whereas this historic day, now known as Juneteenth, stands as a powerful symbol of liberation, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of justice and equality in the United States.

And whereas Juneteenth provides an opportunity to honor and recognize the immeasurable contributions of African Americans to our nation's cultural, economic, educational, and political advancements.

And whereas the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant proudly upholds the legacy of Juneteenth by celebrating, educating and empowering the next generation of leaders within our community.

And whereas the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant Organization honors black women and men across generations, uplifts black queens and kings as change makers and leaders, and foster confidence and discipline through community service, cultural awareness, mentorship, and leadership workshops.

And whereas 2026 marks the third annual Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant and Celebration, which serves as the transformative cultural platform that highlights the excellence, strength, and achievement of black youth who are committed to leadership, service, and personal growth.

And whereas this organization provides a meaningful platform where young black women and men are encouraged to embrace their identity, celebrate their heritage, and contribute positively to their communities while preparing to lead future generations.

And lastly, whereas Juneteeth serves as a solemn reminder of the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs of African Americans in their ongoing pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality, offers an opportunity for us all to recommit to building a more just and inclusive future.

Now, therefore, I, Kali Her, Mayor of the City of St.

Paul, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 to be Miss Juneteenth State Pageant Day in the City of St.

Paul.

Thank you.

That is so exciting.

I will just simply close before making the motion, simply saying if you haven't had a chance to come out to 30,000 feet's new space, it is incredible, is remarkable and a dedication to their work as well as black leaders in our community.

And in addition to that, I would be remiss if I didn't invite you all to join their Juneteenth event from four to eight on June 19th.

Um so thank you.

And with that, I move approval.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Johnson.

Thank you to our guests.

This was an amazing opportunity to hear more about these two incredible organizations.

And I can't take my eyes off your crowns.

I know it's not just about the crowns, but you all look so beautiful.

So thank you so much for being here and gracing us with your presence.

We have a motion on the table for approval.

Is there any discussion of the motion?

Miss Bowie and then vice president.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you so much, Chair Johnson.

I just want to give it up to your leadership with celebrating Juneteenth.

I know Juneteenth as your birthday.

You know, you Juneteenth Freedom Baby, and you carry it proudly and beautifully.

Um I just want to say thank you again, Assistant Mayor, Cedric Baker, for stepping in and um giving the the proclamation and just like the hard work for all of the contestants and the honorees and the winners.

Um, the hard work and the vision and a dedication to dream of having a Juneteenth pageant in Minnesota in 2020, and just seeing the growth and the acceleration of this uh pageant has just been amazing.

Um, the reason why I'm here and not standing there is because I just wanted to see you.

I wanted to see you all, and it's just so beautiful.

Um I just want to give it up to um Angel Jones, the CEO and founder, uh also the previous winners who has held the title and the commitment to community.

Um, Council Johnson, Councilmember Johnson's right, you see, you see you everywhere.

Like you're you're you're everywhere all year round as well.

Um, and also I just want to recognize um award one Juneteenth ambassador and communion community champion Dwayne Martin, who's um in the crowd, humbly all the way in the back.

Um uh ambassador in so many ways, and I just want to just like recognize that he's always been uh not only a liaison but making sure that we have opportunities to recognize um your work and your presence.

And last but not least, 30,000 feet.

Um I remember when we were teaching artists at Gordon Parks and we were doing youth programming, so it's just uh an honor just to see the growth and the uh expansion.

I'm excited to also support the event, but again, um we are our ancestors' wildest dreams.

That's what I just took away from from this moment and so excited to be part of a council that recognizes and honors Juneteenth and does it in such a way that has that um speaks to the essence of how we carry the crown proudly.

And I'll just leave with this um quote that's my favorite quote by Maya Angelo that says our crowns have already been paid and bought for, all we have to do is wear it.

So thank you so much for wearing the crown.

Thank you, Council.

President, I want to say thank you to you, Councilmember Johnson for bringing forward the resolution.

I uh wholeheartedly supported and am very inspired by the powerful room of leaders that we have standing in front of the podium today.

A lot of what our speaker said earlier really resonates with me, which is that Juneteenth is more than a holiday.

It is a testament to our black community's sacrifice and unyielding fight for freedom from slavery, and it uh it's a movement that has really laid the important groundwork for major wins that we've had in the civil rights movement for full uh full citizenship and more that all of us in this country and even people internationally benefit from.

Uh Vanessa, you mentioned our future is in great hands, and I completely agree with you.

It's very, very inspiring and moving to see leaders from our black community who are across different age groups, um, and here are diverse amongst gender too.

And so I want to say thank you for um your continued commitment to justice and equity and liberation.

It is it really takes a huge heart, you know.

Um, work that comes from truly the deepest parts of of love and from you know being a human being to be able to do this work, and it's something that money cannot buy at all.

And so I truly commend you and all of the amazing leaders that we have out in the community doing this important work day in and day out.

So thank you all for your leadership.

Thank you, Vice President.

Is there any further discussion of the motion?

Seeing none, thank you all again.

We will take a vote.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Can we do that really quickly?

Thank you.

You want to go to the rest of the things.

Yeah, we'll see.

Yeah, you should be like, also, it's a mic.

So we should we pick her up.

What would be on our shoulders?

Come on.

We're gonna pick it up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So we get the turtles.

That's fine.

I don't know if we're on the challenge.

Okay, one, two, three.

None of us are cheerleaders.

That's great.

I mean, I thought I was like, Oh, I know.

But look, I wasn't.

Are you serious?

I was a baby.

Does she know that you know?

Well, congratulations.

Thank you for absolutely.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

I'm just like, okay.

I know.

It's almost like they practice.

We will now do a very hard pivot.

We'll take a motion from Ms.

Bowie to suspend the rules to consider.

Ordinance.

Resolution 26-1.

26.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'll take a motion from Ms.

Yang to consider resolution 26-1014.

All in favor of suspending the rules, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The rules are suspended.

Resolution 26-1014, approving the use of neighborhood star grant funds for a change in scope of work for Cook St.

Paul LLC.

Vice President.

Thank you, Council President.

I want to say thank you to my colleagues for bringing this under suspension.

I'm very supportive of this item.

The owner of Cook St.

Paul, they're undergoing major constructions for their restaurant.

It's really exciting plans.

But the owner is going to be out of the country in a couple of weeks.

So I wanted to bring this under for approval, wanted to bring this up for approval ASAP so that they can start working with the contractor before they leave for their trip.

Thanks, Vice President.

Very good reason, I think, to bring something under suspension to make sure a small business owner can get going.

Any further discussion of the motion?

Which is for approval.

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Take a motion to suspend the rules from Councilmember Bowie to consider resolution 10-26-1005.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The rules are suspended.

Resolution 26-1005 commemorating the historic 30th annual community peace celebration and declaring a day of peace and unity.

Thank you for everyone's consideration.

This is just a resolution I wanted to have available by this Saturday.

There's gonna be a 30th year anniversary of the community peace celebration taking place, like I said, this Saturday, June 20th from 2 to 6 p.m.

at the People's Park, which we know officially as Cardi Park.

705 Eigelheart Avenue.

It's a free event, all ages, community led.

And we're gonna be honoring three decades of peace and work and legacy of the founder, the late great elder Melvin Jou.

So uh we welcome all of you all to celebrate not only Juneteenth, but you know, this um incredible work and also uh if you are interested, we're gonna have the firefighters there.

We'll have the Moby, the mobile library mobile, um, um, bus there as well.

So, but this resolution is just celebrating that effort that I'll be able to give or present at the at the community peace celebration.

Thank you, Ms.

Bowie, and glad we could get this in in time for that event.

Uh any discussion of the motion for approval.

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 29, ordinance 26-28, granting the application of all mayor development group to rezone property at 213 Bates Avenue from H2 residential to T1 traditional neighborhood and amending chapter 60 of the legislative code pertaining to the zoning map.

And for those of you joining us in person or on YouTube for the first time, um, we have three readings at least of our ordinances.

Anything here for final adoption, like this item 29 will have already been read at least twice.

Um, an ordinance starts with a first reading, which we don't have any of today, um, where we have a staff report giving us basic information about what's being proposed.

The next week we have a public hearing where we take public testimony on what the public thinks about that ordinance, and then the next week or in subsequent weeks, if we have changes to be made, um we take up an ordinance for final adoption.

So this ordinance has already been read twice before.

I'll look to Ms.

Johnson for a motion.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, and thank you just for kind of bringing folks up to speed on this item at this time and uh especially uh what we've heard and what we've been able to review in the public record.

I don't have any uh reservations, and with that I'd make a motion to approve.

Thank you.

So the motion is for approval.

Is there any discussion of the motion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, seven in favor, none opposed.

Ordinance is adopted.

Item 30, resolution public hearing 26-113, ratifying the assessment for repair of sanitary sewer line on private properties.

So this brings us to the public hearing section of our agenda.

If you are here to testify on an item, when your item is called, we'll invite you to come up to the front, stand in between the two microphones.

You don't need to adjust them, you can just stand between them and they'll pick you up just fine.

You'll have two minutes to testify, which go by quickly.

Uh, we ask that you start with your name and where you're coming from and then sign in when you're done.

So this is a public hearing on item 30.

If you're here to testify on this item, please come on up.

Welcome up.

I'm gonna come a little closer to the PA here because I couldn't hardly hear any of you.

I guess it's my age.

My name is John Dreeland.

I've been a homeowner here in St.

Paul since 1976, 29 years in uh Battle Creek area and board seven.

Uh in March, I had trouble flushing the toilet, had to call rotor rooter.

Rotaro informed me that the tree the city planted the new tree over my sewer line.

And of course, the roots grew into the sewer line at a cost of ten thousand dollars.

I would suggest I'm not gonna win anything here, but I would like for uh the technology that we have today.

When the city plants trees, make sure they don't plant it on a sewer line and cost us citizens ten thousand dollars, and also the representative of the city wrote a router, explained to me that I would get a low interest loan.

I feel low is one or two or three percent.

The loan is six percent.

It's not low.

So I don't think I'm gonna win anything here, but my idea is to inform the city council of what happened to me, and I'm not sure I'm not the only one that had a tree planted on their sewer line.

So with the technology today, I'd like uh the parks, whoever plants the trees to uh make sure they're not planting a tree over a sewer line, and uh I don't think you can do anything for me if you can find otherwise I'm just airing my grievance.

$10,000 is a lot of money.

So that's my story.

Thank you very much, sir.

Make sure to sign in uh on one of the two, make sure to sign in on one of the two sign-in sheets.

Thank you for being here.

We appreciate your testimony.

Is there anyone else here to testify on this item?

All right, seeing none, I will uh take a motion.

I will make a motion to close the public hearing and then we can discuss.

All in favor, say aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

Public hearing is closed.

Uh all right, sir.

I want to thank you for coming out to uh testify today.

Um, as you mentioned, the the assessment policy is unlikely to change as a result of what you described, but I really appreciate you bringing it to our attention.

You mentioned that you live in ward seven, and your council members council member Johnson, who's right here.

Um, and so I I think your question and concern about where we plant trees is duly noted.

It's actually great timing.

We're about to take up a tree planting and preservation ordinance next week.

Um, and I think Councilmember Johnson, um, who does excellent constituent service could follow up with you to talk more about exactly what happened and figure out whether there are policy implications for how we do this work in the future.

So I appreciate you you bringing this to our attention here.

Um I'd look to my colleagues to see if there are other discussion of the motion or motion.

Ms.

Johnson.

Well, Council President, I think you'll lead it out very well.

I just would take the opportunity to also um uh share that my legislative debate is here today, sir, as well.

Um and we welcome just being able to be connected with you to learn more about the specific situation.

Um, uh we'll make sure that he gets connected through that as well.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

Thank you again for coming.

Um I'll move approval.

Is there any discussion, further discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 31, resolution public hearing 26-118.

Approving a subdivision by registered land survey for Highland Bridge property owner LLC at 2200 Ford Parkway to create four F5 Ford Business Mixed District Tracks.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak on this item?

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

Joe's to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed, seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 32, resolution public hearing 26-119, approving the Highland Bridge Row Homes eighth edition final plat.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak on this item?

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

Jose to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 33, resolution public hearing 26-136, approving the application of mini festivals LLC for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for Minnesota Country Club event on Friday, July 10th and Saturday 11th at 200 Dr.

Justice O'Hage Boulevard Harriet Island Park.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

Seeing none, I will make a motion to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

Item 34, resolution public hearing 26-137, approving the application of mini festivals LLC for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for Minnesota Yacht Club event on Friday, July 17, 1819 at 200 Dr.

Justice O'Hage Boulevard at Harriet Island Park.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

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

Coleman to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed.

Oh sorry.

Sorry.

Legislative hearing consent.

Agenda items 35 through 57 are before you for your consideration.

Ms.

Mormond.

Council President, could item 53 be read into the record?

Yep.

Item 53.

Ratifying the R L H A R 26-37.

Ratifying the assessment for the city's cost of providing collection of delinquent garbage bills for services during October to December 2025.

Ms.

Mormond.

I ask that amendment be made to refer 865 Dealton Street back to legislative hearing on July 21st.

I will make that motion.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor of the amended version say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Oh, do we need to hold public hearing?

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

I will make that uh motion in a moment.

Um first.

Uh this is a public hearing on item 53.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

Seeing none, I will move to close the public hearing and approve the item as amended.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Uh seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted as amended.

Is there anything else to come before us, Ms.

Mormond?

Item 55 should be read into the record as well.

Thank you.

Item 55, R L H A R 26-39.

Ratifying the assessment for the city's cost of providing collection of delinquent garbage bills for services during October to December 2025.

Ms.

Mormond.

For this item, I ask that H60 East Rows be referred to legislative hearing July 21st.

I will take that as a motion from Vice President Yang.

Um, and we'll hold a public hearing.

Uh this is a public hearing on item 55.

Is there anyone here to speak to this item?

Seeing none, the motion from Ms.

Yang will be to close the public hearing and uh amend the item as mentioned by the legislative hearing officer.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted as amended.

Anything else, Ms.

Mormond?

Well, the president, I'm not aware of anyone else to testify on a legislative hearing item.

All right.

So if you are here to testify on any one of our legislative hearing items, this is your public hearing.

Please come on up.

Seeing none, I will take a motion from Ms.

Kim to close the public hearings and approve the items as amended and recommended by the legislative hearing officer.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended.

That brings us to the end of our agenda for our business meeting.

We will have a special meeting in just a moment, but I'm looking around to see if there's good news from the wards or any news at all.

Ms.

Johnson.

Preferably good.

Yes.

Perfectly good.

I can deliver on that.

We have several different um events happening, but I'll take the first to share that before we get into Juneteenth pieces.

I do want to let folks know about the mayoral budget engagement events that are happening throughout the city.

For folks that don't know who are watching, I have the luxury of being able and honor to serve as the council's budget chair.

And so it's just really important for me that folks who are watching know that on the 22nd and the 26th, we will be having two budget events that are held on the east side.

The one on the 22nd is in ward seven and at the Sunray Library.

Um, and the one on the 26th is in Arlington Hills and Ward 6.

It's at the community center.

And it's from 4 to 5:30.

And then we will wrap up that series on July 1st at Neighborhood House in Ward 2.

And so all of those events are open to the public.

They're 4 to 5 30.

I would encourage folks to go.

Some council members will be at each one.

And I just think it's really important for folks to engage with the process now that we are in the midst of budget season.

Again, just there are many Juneteenth events that are happening all across the city and the region.

So if you are having a free time at all and want to participate, there's a it's a great way to support black vendors, support black businesses and organizations here in the Twin Cities, and also just to participate and you know, spend your dollar here locally.

A great example of that will be at 30,000 feet from four to eight on Friday.

It's a uh 1351 Arcade Street, which is essentially just their office space.

So it's a great opportunity in their uh to get out and see some Eastside businesses and community partners.

Great.

Thanks so much, Ms.

Johnson.

Uh, other news from the wards.

Ms.

Bowie.

Okay.

Uh, like I had mentioned earlier, um, with the agenda, there has we have um from the ward on Saturday, June 20th, the 30th annual community peace celebration at Cardi Park.

On Friday, the actual Juneteenth, um, there is a Juneteenth celebration at the Rondo Plaza, uh, where uh Mr.

Marvin Anderson and also uh many of Rondo um families and leaders will be honored and uh receiving awards there um for their commitments to community service.

Um I also will be speaking there.

I believe the governor um and um Senator Amy Kloboshar also will be there.

So it's a lot of um leadership that will be present.

So that's between 12 to 5 p.m.

on Friday.

Uh there's also a free Juneteenth celebration taking place on Saturday um from 11 to 6 p.m., the Anika Foundation, not to be mistaken for me.

You know, I used to be a chair of the board, but uh we are all ambassadors.

Um but um at the Capitol, uh it's going to be a Juneteenth celebration.

Uh amazing local artists, national headliners, um, tons of vendors and uh resources there as well.

And then uh last but not least, um in ward two, I won't steal your thunder, but um super excited for the Twin Cities Jazz Fest.

Um it's gonna be on two days, I believe, right?

Saturday and Sunday.

Uh so it's gonna be a free event um at Mirrors Park.

We'll plan on being there as well.

Thanks so much, Ms.

Bowie.

There's so much good stuff going on.

Any other news from the wards?

And feel free to steal away.

I'll always happy to share the good news from ward two.

Yes, vice president.

Thank you, Council President.

I just wanted to share another Juneteenth event in my ward this Friday, June 19th from 5 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

There's an art exhibit happening at 967 Payne Avenue.

Um, the St.

Paul artists featured as Ron Brown and just a bit about them across Canvas, handcrafted wood furniture and wearable art.

Ron has built a remarkable Afrocentric hip-hop rooted body of work and the studio is bringing together two decades of it for the first time.

So we encourage folks to go and check it out.

Great.

Ms.

Johnson.

I forgot to mention um uh and I would be remiss if I didn't.

So my uh in-laws are here today, just participating all the way from Acra Ghana.

So I just wanted to um say welcome formally to Sylvester Annan and Charlotte Annan.

Um this is their first time experiencing a council meeting.

Um they were really excited to come out.

They were uh they watched our inauguration virtually, so it was really cool to kind of match uh the names and the faces that they saw.

Um, and then my son is also here, Isaiah Annan, who um this is his first council meeting as well.

You might hear him in the background.

Apologies in advance for how you may act during the Black S the Black Music Month special.

I think I heard him testifying at one of our public hearings.

Welcome, thank you so much for being here.

It's an honor.

All right.

With that, we are going to adjourn our regular business meeting and we will convene our special oh meeting.

I was gonna say if we just get a quick little second.

Um, I'm not sure.

The special city council meeting to order roll call, please.

Yang.

Bowie.

Here.

Coleman.

Johnson.

Joest.

Kim.

Council President Naker.

Here.

We have one item.

Item one resolution twenty six dash nine nine six.

Recognizing June twenty twenty-six as Black Music Month in the city of St.

Paul and honoring the third annual Black Music Month honorees.

Ms.

Bowie.

Oh, I think we have a video first.

Song first, right?

Yeah.

Yep, I think it's going there.

Thank you.

Oh.

Fall to strikes the tension.

Trapped in party.

Generations of injustice.

And inequality.

Answers change the world.

And though the came and changed, and you the straight and hold.

Descendants of kings and queens.

Royal blood flows through your things.

Children of the dream.

Hold your head up.

Hold your head up.

Keep me back.

No matter what.

And over you can sing it.

No one had your mother taking your royalty.

Children of the tree.

If you've never been told, time for you to go.

Never tell you.

Don't stop till you reach the top.

Hold your head up high.

No matter what, no way you can take it, no doubt about it, no one.

You want to know the tree.

You've never been told, time for you to know your boy.

My brother, my brother, your children of the tree.

If you've never been told, you know, yeah.

Got this message on spreading the most high.

Upon my kings and queens of all time.

Blessed metal color, original king ruler, slave that made the way metaphorically.

Welcome to the other show above.

Children of the tree.

If you've never been told, time for you to know your hood.

You've never been told, time for you to know your good.

Your royalty, you never been told.

Time for you to know your good.

If you've never been told, time for you to know your good.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Welcome.

What you just heard earlier was from Sounds of Blackness featuring the high school for recording art students.

Especially if you live anywhere.

Okay.

Thank you, OTC.

From uh Sounds of Blackness featuring High School for Recording Arts students and faculty.

Myself, and also uh Pierre Fulford had the pleasure and honor uh to not only royalty, uh, you know, contributing not only mentality and the culture and the arts um and the growth and development for our city.

Uh also I want to recognize uh Sounds of Blackness was our second annual Black Music Month honorees.

Uh so you know it's a really amazing opportunity to keep uplifting um so many artists in our community.

Uh this is the third annual Black Music Month celebration.

And I just want to thank my colleagues for being president in full attendance on this day.

This uh year we are actually hosting it as a special meeting just so we can have more time and be able to recognize our amazing artists.

Uh it's also important that we celebrate Juneteenth and honor not only the talents but the major contributions of our neighbors who are committed to growing the art, culture, and legacy of black music.

Music is a universal language, and the power of art is the greatest unifier.

And as this country is currently celebrating its 250th year anniversary and reckoning with the question on who belongs and who can be called an American and whose history matters.

It's important that we.

I'm gonna invite uh some of the staff here.

We have Andy, Rockwood, and Shayna here from the Get Down program to speak a little bit about the program and as well as some of the exciting events coming up, and then we have a video uh from director Andy Racingis.

Good afternoon.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Council Bowie.

Thank you, council members, for this opportunity.

My name is Shayna Abraham.

Um I have the privilege of being the Rec Services Manager for St.

Paul Parks and Recreation.

Um, the Get Down is one of our newest programs and uh a spectacular way for young people to get mentorship and support in finding their voice through music.

We have a lot of team members who are very passionate about music on our team.

Um so it's also a great way for us to give our team opportunities to tap into their passions while they work.

Um I am gonna turn it over to Andy, who is gonna talk on behalf of the young people who we couldn't get to join us today because they actually have their first meeting in about a half hour.

So um thank you for joining me, Andy.

Hi everyone.

Uh it's an honor to be here.

Um I did not know I would be speaking so or earlier today, though I did wear the get-down shirt.

Um forgive me if I'm a little ill-prepared.

Um, like Shana was saying, the get down um began two years ago as uh youth uh focused hip hop concert series.

Um we've since expanded that into a concert series and weekly mentorship program, um, collaborating with local artists um such as TJ Big Mike and Terrell X, um, city staff that are artistically inclined, including myself.

Um, it's been a real one of my greatest uh joys working with this program uh with the parts department.

Um, seeing kids really come into their own as artists, build confidence.

Um I always live for that moment uh when they get off stage and have this that glow on their face.

Um, and it really feels like we're creating lifelong artists.

Um a lot of them have returned and done it again or are coming back now as instructors themselves, and I see them out in the world collaborating and making music together on their own.

So it really feels like we're we're literally building a music scene in St.

Paul, which is just a beautiful, amazing thing.

Um just amazing experience that came to mind.

Um we culminated the second year with a show at Harriet Island.

Um D, the rapper was our headliner, and one of my kids came up to me and was like, hey, can can I talk to him?

And I was like, This is also your show.

Yes, you can go talk to him.

Um, but they also get to have their music played on Frogtown Radio.

Um they have access to a recording studio now.

Um, and it's just an awesome thing to see them get these opportunities.

I'll go quickly through um the list of shows that we have this summer.

Um they've played at uh places like 825 Arts, done the big festival show down at Harriet Island.

Um, this year we have a show on July 9th at Arlington Hills on July 30th at Dayton's Bluff Rec Center, uh, August 4th at MLK, and then our big all-day kind of music fest is on August 29th at Raspberry Island.

All that's on Saint Paul.gov if you don't remember it.

But uh honored to be here.

Thank you for letting us talk.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Paul Get Down is an opportunity for up and coming young artists who have had some experience with music but want to get their chops a little sharper.

They get the opportunity to write, record, own their own music, and perform at different venues all over St.

Paul.

I am a facilitator who's coming in to talk to them about live performances, how to get their merch game right, how to be the best collaborators.

I've been part of the St.

Paul Get Down for two years.

I think music is really a big thing when it comes to connections.

I got to meet a lot of cool people, being able to help them with beat making, rapping, and have them being able to perform it too.

It's just uh amazing honor of life.

A lot of youth this age, they have talent, but they're also in these streets.

And hopefully they can come to a program like this and say to themselves, you know what?

I don't have to be in the streets.

I can invest in the talent that I have and turn that into something that allows me to live a better life.

So I feel really privileged to work with these youth, and I've learned so much working with them.

So we take the writing aspect to a very great level.

We're able to listen to everyone's emotions, feelings and be able to express that not only outside of their home, but also on the stage for me as an artist.

I'm able to vent more on the stage, on the microphone with people like the same podcast.

You want to come.

Just to give young people an opportunity to play on a stage that epic and with professional sound equipment, professional lighting.

Everything that happened for like a manifestation to be on that moment to be on that stage.

It just felt right.

I've learned how to really focus on your craft, your stage presence and all of that.

It was very life-changing.

I think that the age range 14 to 24 is lacking programming.

So to have this space not only to have artists, but then encourage their friends and their fans to gather in a positive space.

It's like so many times we see young people at that age group gathering, and people get concerned about it, and it's like they just want a place to belong.

Families and people of all ages need to experience positive hip hop because it gets such a negative rap, no pun intended.

Music knows no age, it knows no community, it knows no color.

It just connects people.

I just I just love it.

Next year we're gonna make it bigger and better.

I can't wait to do it again.

Yes, I think we need some of the young people to get down to help us with our professional sound.

Yes, yes.

Well, now you see it, you see it.

Um, the Get Down program is one of my favorites.

I know myself and Council President Naker had a chance to go last year.

It was so much energy.

Um, even the year before last, I believe um, Brother Ali was one of the headliners, international artists, so right here in the Twin City.

So if you have a chance, please go out and support our young artists and um also, you know, support support our artists not only in our programs but outside uh when they go to, you know, if they're in Minneapolis or some of them are performing outside of the state of Minnesota as well.

So uh we're now getting into the meat and potatoes of our uh honorees here.

I'm going to just begin by reading our resolution that just lays out the groundwork in the background on why this black music month is important.

Uh, and also I'm gonna go into reading out our categories.

And then after I read the categories, we're going to honor um uh or recognize some of the honorees, and I'll be reading the bios and passing it over to uh some of the honorees or their designees to present.

Uh so we're gonna just get into it.

The 2026 annual black music month honorees.

In June of 1979, President Jimmy Carter established the Black Music Month alongside advocates as Kenny Gamble, Diana Williams, Ed Wright, and the Black Music Association to recognize, celebrate, and strengthen the contributions of black artists and the black music industry.

The city of St.

Paul has been enriched by generations of black musicians, composers, vocalists, producers, educators, DJs, promoters, and cultural institutions whose contributions have strengthened neighborhoods, activated commercial corridors, and enhance public life.

On June 24th, or excuse me, on June 2024, the City of St.

Paul established an annual Black Music Month recognition.

This year marks the third annual St.

Paul City Council Black Music Month celebration to recognize the talent and contributions of individuals and organizations whose artistic expression enriches the cultural vitality of St.

Paul.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the St.

Paul City Council hereby proclaims June 26th as Black Music Month celebration.

The St.

Paul City Council acknowledges the recipients and categories.

So the categories that we have this year actually were derived by our former uh honorees who had seven different categories that encompasses the wide range of impact that many of the artists and organizations have on St.

Paul, which are the Next Verse Award, which recognizes an emerging youth artist whose talent, creativity, impact represents the future of black music.

The second award is the Vibe Alchemist Award, which recognizes a musician, producer, composer, vocalist, band leader, or DJ whose artistry transforms sound into culture and connection.

The third award is the Stage Builder Award, recognizing a curator, venue, promoter, producer, or organizer who creates space where black music and artists can thrive.

The community harmony award, recognizing an individual or group that uses music to heal, unite, inspire, and strengthen community.

The 651 Sound Award, recognizing an artist whose work authentically represents St.

Paul, elevates its neighborhoods, and carries the city's culture of identity to broader audience.

In the rhythm and roots award, recognizing an organization, educator, mentor, historian, our culture keeper, who's dedicated to preserving, teaching, and advancing black musical traditions.

And last but not least, we have the Living Legacy Award, who recognizes an individual who has decades of contributions have left in our enduring impact on Black music, culture, and community.

So those are the seven awards that we have.

And when we think about just how it started as just a resolution and now it's growing into not only, you know, a selection committee of people who are excited and looking forward every year in June for these awards.

So I'm super excited.

I just want to say thank you for everyone who's nominated artists.

Thank you for everyone who are who you know is here, and thank you for everyone who's just been promoting this great opportunity.

So, I wish we kind of had like a drum roll, like some dramatic effect going on.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

So we're gonna get started here.

So the next verse award, we are recognizing Yevrah Brantley.

And I'm gonna just read his bio real quickly, and then we'll have the applause after.

Yevra is a genre blending artist who crafts a bold immersive world where raw emotion meets unapologetic self-expression, fusing elements of hip hop, trap, and alternative RB, his sound is both infectious and unpredictable.

Originally from East St.

Louis, East St.

Louis, and now performing out of the twin cities, he represents the Midwest sound with a raw, unfiltered edge.

His music resonates with fans of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Smino, and Mac Miller.

Let's give it up to Yevra Brantley for the next birth award.

And as Yevra's coming up, I had a pleasure to work with Yevra.

He and um and I uh started off doing voter registration back in 2020.

So he's very active when it comes to the civic organizing.

So Yevra, congratulations.

Oh, thank y'all.

Thank y'all so much.

I'm not gonna lie.

My heart is running like crazy right now.

Um I was gonna go off the top, but I'm a little uh jet lagged, actually.

Just came back into the city last night, so I had written something.

Um, here it goes.

There's no black culture without a black future to build it.

In the culture, we come from a lot of pain and violence that we ain't asked for.

The art that's being made is to liberate that, to evolve where we came from.

This is what I do it for.

I do it for the legacy.

I feel like as an artist, I have an obligation to share culture with the world, to share the different faces of humanity.

Art is one of the purest forms of education for humanity.

And true art must be recognized and protected for the power that it holds in community.

This is bigger than me.

And I got one thing to say from Miss Badu.

If we were made in his image, then call us by our names.

Most intellectual not believing God, but they fear us just the same.

Come on, y'all know this song.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Amazing, amazing.

I love when Erica Badu is just in the present.

So, you know, in the midst.

Thank you for bringing that.

So our second award is the Vibe Alchemist, which goes to Drumroll.

DJ Mickey Breeze.

So DJ Mickey Brees was nominated several times by uh great demand.

DJ Mickey Brees is a DJ producer, artist, and educator who represents a generation of truly exceptional musical talent hailing from the city of St.

Paul with over 15 years of experience in this industry.

He has comprised an impressive impressive list of accomplishments, including DJing at both local and national events, such as South by Southwest, woo-hoo, sound sets, we've been sound sets in Twin Cities Pride, as well as instructing at the electronic musical school, Slam Academy, and DJing for the Minnesota Timberwoods.

Let's go!

So DJs is great.

Hello, everybody.

Hello.

I'm sure a few of you, especially family members, may be wondering what the hell I'm wearing.

Uh and your thoughts are not unwarranted, but I would like to take a couple minutes to illustrate a little bit about how my attire is representative of what uh the Vibe Alchemist Award and honor truly means to me.

My understanding is that Vibe Alchemy is putting out the vibe or the energy that you want to see in the venues you're playing, or that you want to see in the world that you inhabit.

Since a young age, I've wanted to express myself in the only way I knew how.

And through music, I found a lot of people who truly show me the cultural benefit of what it means to support someone who has any desire to create something for themselves.

As I grew older, I learned the value of being able to share my light with others and bearing witness to the amazing things that can happen when encouraging other people to explore their creativity and self-expression.

The way I present myself, perform my music, and teach others to create is all a result of my community truly seeing and nurturing the potential in myself, that I try to see in the youth and other amazing minds like mine who find ways to express themselves through their art form and create a vibe.

Whether it be music, fashion, physical or digital arts or education, I want to continue to encourage those who seek to positively express themselves in the hopes that it will inspire more amazing people to do the same.

And most importantly, all of my artistry, all of my efforts, including writing this speech, were not generated by AI.

Lastly, and this is this is the long run.

I would like to thank my mom, Richard Moody, Amber Cleveland, my grandfather, and the Walker West Music Academy, the Minnesota Dandies for getting my style up to point, uh Roxanne Anderson, Rare Productions, True Heads Clothing, the Omega Zulu Minnesota chapter, hip hop history and the arts program, mobile jazz, experience jazz, high school for recording arts, slip mats crew, urban lights, huge music, slam academy, Generation Now Entertainment, my wonderful, soon-to-be wife of nine years.

Trinity, Trinity C is a seasoned event producer, former dance hall and reggae artist and cultural promoter who founded Trinity Productions in 1979.

Nine at seven.

Sorry, I flip that over here.

She has led major Afro-Caribbean music and cultural events across the Midwest, Canada, Jamaica, and collaborating with leading venues and industry partners.

Deeply rooted in the community.

She serves on multiple cultural and nonprofit boards and amplifies local talent through media and live events.

Through her work, Marina, or excuse me, Marie, yep, Marina continues to bridge music and community, creating platforms that uplift Afro-Caribbean heritage and bring diverse audience together.

Let's give it up to Trinity King.

This is uh thank you for the honor.

It's a little emotional because um a couple years ago, after my aunt and cousin lost their lives to domestic violence, I was gonna stop.

I took a big break, but um my auntie Kami was one of my biggest supporters, and so I continue.

I every time I take the stage, I have to big them up, Camelita Diliana and Calita Schamberg because I continue to do what I do in honor of those beautiful women in Trinidad and Tobago that lost their lives.

So on that note, thank you to council member Anika Bowie, who does amazing things in our Rondo community and the St.

Paul City Council for allowing me to be part of this historic moment.

I'm deeply humbled and honored to receive the Stage Builder Award today.

Not only is it Black Music Month, but it's also Caribbean Heritage Month.

Um, so this makes this as a Trinidadian Canadian moment even more special for me to be celebrating this achievement.

I've had the honor to curate events for over two decades.

Not three, but two, whether I'm involved as a promoter, a radio host for KMOJ, on stage MC, project manager, community member, a board member, such as for Rondo Days or Caribbean Disaster Relief.

I take great pride in being able to bring joy to people's lives through music and entertainment.

I'm truly I'm truly passionate about bridging music and community while creating platforms that uplift our beautiful Rondo community, our West Indian communities, and our Afro-Caribbean heritage.

I know God placed me on this earth to be a joymaker and bring diverse audiences together to create unforgettable moments.

I pray I'm blessed to continue to the amazing work of organizing events for a couple more decades, as we as well as be able to mentor and educate those who are interested in doing similar work and to pass the tools to build our younger generation.

Me being here in front of all of you amazing humans wouldn't be possible without my beautiful mother Idris, who's in Canada, my amazing sons, Cecil and Justin, as well as my bonus children, Darren, Keely, Ashley, Bryden, and Yashi, my beautiful cousin Christy May, special big ups to Aunt Cammy and Claita.

And if it wasn't for all of you, I wouldn't be able to find the motivation each and every day, especially my sons to keep going hard.

To my chosen family members like Annie, Mary Lou, Jaton, Chrissy, Tasha Okoy, Rich Gail, Ola, Ola, Trevor, and many more.

Thanks for your lifting me always in answering the call over the years as being a woman in this industry is not easy.

And finally, to my supporters who have attended to the events over the years, those who I serve on the board with as like JMO, Rondo Days, as well as Caribbean Disaster Relief, the DJs, the musicians, the artists, the AV, the sound men, the amazing volunteers, the amazing videos, the city department personnel, the city council, the community partners, security, our amazing law enforcement.

There would be no events without all of you.

Whether private in the venues or in the beautiful parks, Massi Boku.

Happy Juneteenth weekend, and I hope to see you all at Rondo Days, July 18th, and Carrie Fest, July 25th.

Amazing.

See you at Rondo Days.

And we have the next honoree here for the Community Harmony Award.

Drum roll, please.

So Georgia Ford and the Power 104.7 FM Radio.

And we have the whole crew.

Yes.

Let's get that.

Thank you so much.

I don't do this work alone, so I asked our team to join us.

They worked so hard behind the scenes.

Thank you.

I will keep my remarks short so we can also hear a few words from our vice president Harry Colbert.

I am Georgia Ford, an independent journalist.

I also serve as the president of Center for Broadcast Journalism and Power 104.7 FM.

Our mission is to mobilize the next generation to advance representation in media.

Power 104.7 symbolizes a reclamation of power.

After all our community has been through, we are a reminder that power belongs to the people.

As a St.

Paul native, our vision has always been for Power 1047 to center our music, our culture, and to keep our community informed by amplifying community-centered news.

So to receive recognition from the city of St.

Paul for doing that work, it is truly an honor.

A huge thank you to the many people who helped our nonprofit CBJ assume stewardship of the station.

Lyssa Jones, Eric Zidlicki, Miss Brenda, the entire board of directors at Dayton's Bluff Community Council, Indigenous Roots, and the countless staff, our board of directors, who volunteer month after month, year after year to make sure we can keep the lights on, and to our volunteers and our staff who keep us on air every day.

People like Glow, Pharrell, Serenity, Naya Harris, our amazing morning show, Sharday, and DJ Intense, and so many others.

We want to dedicate this award to our beloved community, to the brave men and women of Minnesota, and in St.

Paul, to the east side, the best side.

We are powerful.

Thank you.

Hey.

Good afternoon, and thank you, Council, for this wonderful award.

And most importantly, thank you, Georgia, for bringing me on this past November and truly changing my life.

I cannot say what it means to be in this powerful, I use that word specifically position.

It's been an amazing two days for us.

Georgia yesterday was honored with the Peter Popovich Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

And one of our students, Lizzie Nweke, was also given a $2,000, not given, awarded, earned a $2,000 scholarship from the Society of Professional Journalists.

So this has been this has been an amazing couple of days for us, but it's not a couple of days of recognition.

It's about the five years of work that Georgia and the entire staff has put in in making Power 104.7 what it is.

Understanding that we are your home, the twin cities home for Minnesota music.

We made that abundantly clear this past April 21st when we celebrated our beloved brother, Prince Rogers Nelson.

And having a full day of Minnesota programming.

And we made it clear again this past uh Friday on June the 6th, numerically June 6th, or excuse me, June the 12th.

Numerically June 12th is 612.

I promise you, if numerically there was a 651 on the calendar, we'd have that day too.

But we played nothing but Minnesota music, and a lot of that music is homegrown right here in St.

Paul.

We are so appreciative of this award, and we want to remind you that on August 8th, we will be celebrating our love with you as we have 7th Street Live on the corner of 7th Street and Hope, and we invite you all out to this free event.

And also, because we're continuing with our mission of uplifting youth and transforming the next generation, we're teaching journalism.

I have a cohort that will start July the 6th.

Applications are still open on our website, Power1047.fm.

And that's where you can also listen to this amazing lineup of music and talented host.

Thank you.

Okay.

So amazing.

Also, I want to shout out the 7th Street Live Festival is returning to the east side this Saturday, or not this Saturday, excuse me, Saturday, August 9th, 2026.

So we'll just make sure we'll hear some good news from Ward 7 around August.

So moving accordingly, there's so much energy in the room.

So our next uh honoree goes to the 651 Sound Award.

Uh so this person again has the 6'5 Sound Award and drum roll, please.

Alan Kingdom.

Alan Kingdom.

Alan Kingdom is a three times Grammy nominated St.

Paul bass rapper.

Can we say that again?

Three times Grammy nominated.

St.

Paul based rapper, singer, producer with South African and Tanzanesian roots.

We he gained international acclaim in 2015 with his feature on Kanye's All Day, alongside Paul McCartney.

He has released a claim projects, including Future Memoirs, Northern Lights, and Alisteen.

Did I say that right?

Alan Alistein.

Thank you.

He found Yibo Life, a nonprofit focused on arts and culture to uplift communities through creative initiatives in the Twin Cities.

Looking ahead, his music and leadership continues to enrich St.

Paul's vibrant cultural landscape.

And you probably remember him here, testifying and support of supporting the Ujama place as well, where he is leading there as well, mentoring our young people.

Let's give it up to Alan Kingham.

Thanks everyone.

I didn't prepare a speech.

I'm just going to speak from the heart.

One thing that came to me when I learned that I was receiving this award was that even Jesus Christ was not honored in his own hometown.

No matter what your religious background is, so I don't take this lightly, and I know for a lot of artists, it means a lot to be honored and to be recognized.

That's one of the things we do it for, especially when you start your journey.

You know, the finances aren't there.

Even the support isn't there.

You have to be your own biggest fan.

So to be able to use art to open these doors for me in community and entrepreneurship means a lot to me.

And uh personally, I feel like the 651 sound award was very fitting of my goal from the beginning.

My goal was always to take St.

Paul and the community I grew up in, this beautiful little city, and present that to the world.

That was that was always the vision, this is this is so cool, and I have my community here, but I want to do some bigger things.

So to be able to present that to the world and come back here and be honored in this way means a lot to me.

To be able to be at organizations like Walker West Music Academy to be on the board there, to be able to give back and serve at Ujama Place at High School Recording Arts, it means a lot to me.

And to start my own organization as well, Yebo Life and mentor youth and young adults means a lot to me as well.

So I just want to say, I want to thank you guys and commend you for giving artists this space because we are the voice that's unfiltered, right?

We don't have to be political.

We don't have to, we don't have to be filtered.

We can say exactly what's on our heart, and we don't have to think about all of the I guess bureaucracy and all of that.

But to be honored in a space like this still means a lot to us.

So I want to thank you for doing that, and much love.

Thank you very much.

Wonderful.

We're down to our last honorees, our last two honorees here.

We have, excuse me, the Rhythm and Roots Award.

And just for a reminder, this is recognizing an educator, a culture keeper who's dedicated to preserving and teaching and advancing black musical tradition.

So with drum roll, please.

The rhythm and roots award goes to Elder Mahmoud El Khati.

Elder Mahmoud Elkati.

I'm going.

Yes.

So we have uh Sister Riquette here to receive this award.

Uh, but before then, I'm just going to read Elder Mahmoud Elkati, who's just been my life lifelong mentor.

Uh, he has just contributed endless amounts of value when it comes to not only St.

Paul, but just our community globally.

So, Dr.

Mahmoud Elkati is a lecturer, author, and commentator on the African-American experience.

El Khati is a professor of history at McAllister College in St.

Paul.

Professor Elkati is the author of several books, such as The Myth of Race and The Reality of Racism, Critical Essays.

And also, I want to include the Hip Hop Dictionary.

That was the first book, Hiptionary, which I read.

Um, it actually inspired me to attend Hamlin University.

Uh, my first time even seeing his um lectures was at Hamlin University.

I went there, it was in uh in the student um hall, and that's when I decided that I was going to go to Hamlin.

Didn't know that he actually was teaching at uh McAllister, so but um his uh his current work includes being an instructor for the new School of African American Thought, a monthly community forum held every fourth Friday of the month at high school for recording arts.

You can stay in touch with Elder via his Facebook page at Dr.

Mahmoud El Kati Books Events and Speaking Engagements.

And we have here Miss Sister Riquette with us to give some remarks.

Thank you.

Actually, I am not Elder Mahmoud.

I thought y'all, y'all thought he was here, right?

But he said, do not accept anything unless I say what he wrote.

So I have to read verbatim.

But thank you, Raket CSR.

I'm actually the director for In Black Inc.

have worked with as a mentee of Elder Mahmoud for years, over 30 years actually.

So it's an honor.

Um Elder Mahmoud, through the words of one of America's greatest heroes, Frederick Douglass, would like to address the plight of African people that have been here in the United States of America since 1619.

In 1853, in a letter to Harriet Beachum Stowe, Douglas wrote and answered this question about whether or not African people should return to Africa after they obtain their freedom.

Douglas wrote, individuals immigrate, nations never.

African people in the United States are a nation within a nation.

We are here before this republic was ever even an idea.

We have grown up in this republic, and I see nothing in her character, or even in the character of American people as yet, which compels the belief that we must leave the United States.

So here we are, and here we are likely to be.

To imagine that we shall be eradicated is absurd and ridiculous.

We can be changed, modified, or even assimilated, but never extinguished.

We therefore repeat that we are here, that this is our country too.

We shall neither die out nor shall we be driven away.

But we shall, with you, either be a testimony against her or be as evidence in her favor throughout the generations.

Thank you all very much for this recognition.

Just amazing.

Thank you so much, Rickette, for that remarks.

Recognizing an individual who've contributed 30 plus years to the impact of black music culture in the community.

Drum roll, please.

David T.C.

Ellis, founder.

Mr.

Ellis, Mr.

Ellis is not with us today, but he wanted us to send his sister, my mentor, my old boss, or actually my forever boss, I should say, an award one, Sonny the LS, known as Mama Shy.

I will have you give some words, but also I'll read his bio real shortly.

David Ellis is a founder and director of high school for recording arts, also known as Hip Hop High, was born and raised in St.

Paul and graduated at St.

Paul Open School.

He's also raised in Rondo as well.

Mr.

Ellis established himself in the music business in the mid-80s as the first rap recording artist to release a record in Minnesota called The Twin City Rap.

After a couple of independent record releases with regional success, he was recruited by Prince in Warner Brothers to record and produce records at Paisley Park.

Eventually, Mr.

Ellis started his own production company called Studio Ford here in St.

Paul, where a number of young black artists who had dropped out of high school soon became a permanent presence, guiding them through the creative and business process of the recording industry.

Mr.

Ellis was struck by the way the youth naturally embraced academic subjects that supported their pursuit of a musical career.

With that realization, and after a two-year pilot program, the high school for recording arts was born.

It received a charter from the Minnesota Department of Education and emerging as the only public school of its kind in the United States, which also has a site in LA as well.

So we're going to hand it over.

Let's give it up for Mr.

Ellis getting the Living Legacy Award, and we're gonna hand it over.

Well, as you can see, I'm not him, like she said.

He was sick because he really wanted to be here.

I mean, not sick physically, but he was away at a conference.

And so I'm supposed to read exactly what he wrote as well.

So he says, dear members of St.

Paul City Council.

Anika, we are so proud of you.

That's in three, I'm supposed to say that.

We are so proud of you.

And the esteemed guests, I am deeply honored to receive this living legacy award presented by the St.

Paul City Council for Music and Education, honoring my contributions to our community and to the advancement of music education and media pathways.

As the founder of High School for Recording Arts, we also call it HSRA, and the Diverse Media Institute, that's DMI, my work has centered on empowering young people to pursue creative and technical careers in music, production, engineering, live sound, and audiovisual storytelling.

HSRA was the launch pad for DMI, a post-secondary program that extends more career pathways and opportunities for our youth addressing the cost and debt barriers that too often limit students' futures in this industry.

While I am not available today to personally accept this living legacy award, I'm sending my sister, and I'm honored to have five remarkable DMI graduates from our community accompanying me to the Infocom Conference.

That's where he's at now.

This trip embodies our mission to connect students with industry professionals and real world opportunities.

Thank you again to the St.

Paul City Council for this prestigious recognition.

It validates the hard work of students, instructors, mentors, partners, family who help open doors and create lasting impact.

I am grateful for your trust in HSRA and DMI and myself to nurture creativity, resilience, and professional excellence in the next generation of music and media professionals in our community.

I look forward to celebrating with you upon my return and continuing to advance opportunities within St.

Paul's vibrant arts and media community.

With gratitude and respect, David T.

C.

Ellis, founder high school for recording arts, HSRA.

Okay.

You guys, these are all HSRA.

This is family.

I can't say HS.

Thank you.

Net Mama, I need to see you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Whoa, there we have it.

Can we just give it up for all of our honorees?

Also want to, I also want to recognize some of our former honorees.

We have Chadwick now's here.

We have also Paviel here, who was honored, was the first our inaugural honoree.

And we have so many people.

I see uh Kimberly here as well.

Thank you for being here.

And we have our our uh principal from Central High School.

In the building, Dr.

Cherith Ayers.

So thank you for everyone who's here.

Um I also just want to to recognize uh that the fact there's been a lot of um conversations around just like what is the city council doing, what is the stance that we're taking when we're um talking about like the hate that we're seeing all across the globe, particularly around communities of color, and particularly um also in the black community.

And it's really important that when we take a stance against black hate crimes, and we're having conversations around how we are committed and dedicated to that work, that we drive out hate with love.

And I can't think of a most more powerful love language than music.

And then we're here recognizing our artists, recognizing the people that use their gifts and their talents to drive out that hate, and also committed not only just symbolically, but committed to the policy and committed to building those relationships and making sure that everything that we do here, every policy, every engagement, every practice, every vote that we take, we're thinking about you, right?

You are here um sharing your truth, sharing your your talents, and also sharing your love for humanity and the contributions that you have here in the city of St.

Paul.

But with that, I just want to say, I want to open it up for uh discussion, uh, but I also just want to end with the words of my favorite black artist, uh Beyoncé.

Um, and I don't want to, I can't I don't want to share the uh um video because we are YouTube lighting, so we may get it pulled down, but uh just closing out with freedom, freedom, I can't move, freedom cut me loose.

Singing freedom, freedom, where are you?

Because I need freedom too.

I break chains all by myself.

Well, won't let my freedom rot in hell.

Hey, I'm gonna keep running because a winner don't quit on themselves.

And what we heard here today is people who did not quit on themselves.

They did not quit on their community.

They did not quit on us.

They did not quit on City St.

Paul.

And we're gonna keep on striving and keep on going and making sure we're uplifting what the value and the legacy of freedom is.

So thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Councilmember Bowie, for your leadership.

And thank you all and congratulations to all of our honorees.

We have a motion on the table uh for a resolution that makes this official.

The Council Member Bowie read earlier.

Um, but I would first look to see if there is discussion of the motion uh from my colleagues.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, Councilmember Bowie, I want to say thank you so much for putting together this um wonderful event during the special meeting here.

I want to extend my gratitude to all of the incredible leaders, our black leaders who are recognized today.

Um, with the work that you do, it does not go unnoticed.

You truly make our city a better place to be.

Um you are a building block of our city, and so I want to say thank you to you.

And I know the work that you do, it comes with an entire team behind you.

Um, and so I want to extend the my gratitude to all the folks who um are in your corner continuing to um support you and your leadership.

And so again, congrats uh congrats to all of you.

And it's really special to be able to to um to just really do the recognition in a place like this where we know that this is the people's home.

However, it was never built to work for our marginalized communities.

And so day after day, it is truly up to everyone, you know, those of us uh who are a part of this community to continue changing um our systems to make it work for us, and you all are truly a testament to that very important work.

Thank you, Vice President.

Ms.

Johnson.

Well, I just want to say this has been the best council meeting that I've had in my tenure, so um check.

No, but I really I really enjoy all of it.

I think just I want to say congratulations to folks that were honored today, um, to those who uh rallied the troops.

I think um DJ DJ Breeze, you definitely had quite a few uh uh nominations, but also just quite a few folks today uh that came to support you.

I honestly had a front row seat to also watching how much this meant to your mom too in the space, and um I just want to share how beautiful I think that this is.

Um, Councilmember Bowie, thank you for putting together.

I mean, we had a program.

We have folks coming through.

Like, I felt like I was at the Grammys.

About this is probably the closest I'll get to the Grammy.

So I appreciate you.

Um I don't want the meeting to like I don't wanna, you know, all of you guys, I just want to say congratulations.

Uh, but Georgia Fort, can you please stand for me?

Yes.

Yes.

Um, you know, East Side is the best side.

Um, um, but also like you guys like when we watch our queens get attacked on purpose.

I think it's important that we take some time and just share with our community and let our uh queens know that they're not fighting alone.

And so um, I want to just share with you that I fully support you being able to do your role and to do your job.

I fully support you being able to be the mother that you are to your kids and and truly the advocate that you are to our community.

St.

Paul would not be the same without you, and I'm really glad that of your talents and your tools, you've chosen to remain in St.

Paul.

Um, and you've chosen to invest here, you've chosen to, you know, really truly like bring continue to have your family um invest in business, both you and your husband on the east side.

I want you to know that um I have your back, and I want to continue to support the work and uplift the work that you all do not only um with the Power One oh four point seven FM team, but I just want to let you know we see you.

So thank you.

Seeing none, I want to thank everyone again.

I want to echo Vice President Yang's words of congratulations, and also how important it is that we are doing this in this official space.

Um, we hope that you will not just feel welcome here today, but that you will feel welcome here every day.

Um, and even though we may be politicians, we we really welcome truth telling and unvarnished truth telling here in the space um at our public hearings and in our offices.

That's how we get good work done.

So thank you for the work that you do telling that truth outside of here, and we hope you will continue to do it here as well.

Um, congratulations.

And with that, we will take a vote on the motion.

All in favor say aye.

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The resolution is adopted.

And our special.