St. Paul City Council Meeting: July 22, 2026 - Appeals, Ordinances, and Emergency Shelter Agreement
St. Paul City Council Meeting – July 22, 2026
The St. Paul City Council met on July 22, 2026, at 3:31 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, two appeals of Board of Zoning Appeals decisions that were both denied, suspension items for a library lease renewal and a joint powers agreement with Ramsey County for emergency shelter funding (totaling $1,080,000 in local affordable housing aid), final adoption of Xcel Energy franchise ordinances, first readings on a Deputy City Clerk classification and the elimination of the 90-day youth minimum wage rate, public hearings on golf course lighting and solid waste contract approval, budget transfers for the Wabasha Bridge and University Avenue projects, and several property-related legislative hearing items. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Consent Agenda
- Approved as amended (7-0). Items included: demolition cost approval for June 2026 (RES 26-1021), traffic signal controller agreement for Metro Green Line (RES 26-1094), street sweeping grant with Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RES 26-1139), Discount Tire license at 1350 University Ave W (RES 26-1143), liquor license ownership change for The Victorian at 859 Thomas Ave (RES 26-1144), MnDOT grant amendment (RES 26-1146), appointments to the Neighborhood STAR Board (RES 26-1160), and Ward 3 Neighborhood STAR grant for Presbyterian Homes Foundation (RES 26-1179). RES 26-1080 (Accounting Director pay rate) and RES 26-1084 (Public Works Supervisor II pay rate) were laid over to August 5, 2026.
Discussion Items
- RES 26-1197 – Community Health Workers Day: Councilmember Johnson introduced the resolution recognizing July 28, 2026, as Community Health Workers Day in Saint Paul. Speakers Sunny Ailey (Executive Director) and Bart Phillips (Board Chair) of the Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance testified in support, describing the role of community health workers in bridging healthcare access and noted the creation of a technology advisory committee. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).
For Discussion – Zoning Appeals
- ABZA 25-3 – 418 Sherburne Avenue (Dominic Carchedi): Staff reported the property operated as a sober house with 24 residents, and the applicant sought a variance to convert it to a supportive housing facility. The Board of Zoning Appeals denied the variance on May 27, 2025 (5-0) based on findings 3, 4, and 6. Staff recommended denial of the appeal, citing the proposed use would create a cluster of supportive housing facilities within a quarter mile, conflicting with zoning distance requirements. The Council voted to deny the appeal (7-0), noting no error in fact finding.
- ABZA 25-5 – 519 Farrington Street (Stronger Sober House): Staff reported the property sought a variance to expand from a sober house to an 11-resident supportive housing facility. The Board of Zoning Appeals denied the variance on June 9, 2025 (5-0) based on findings 1, 3, 4, and 6. Councilmember Bowie moved to deny the appeal for similar reasons—the request was financially driven, not unique to the property, and would alter neighborhood character. The Council voted to deny the appeal (7-0).
Suspension Items
- RES 26-1158 – Dayton's Bluff Library Lease Renewal: Authorized the city to renew its lease with Metropolitan State University. Adopted (7-0).
- RES 26-1223 – Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County for Emergency Shelters: Authorized a joint powers agreement to support emergency shelter facilities, using $1,080,000 in local affordable housing aid (LAHA) funding. Councilmember Johnson noted $880,000 is reserved for shelter providers and an additional $200,000 will support a contract with Catholic Charities. Adopted (7-0).
Ordinances – Final Adoption
- Ord 26-32 – Xcel Energy Electric Franchise: Amended Appendix C of the Legislative Code. Adopted (7-0).
- Ord 26-33 – Xcel Energy Gas Franchise: Amended Appendix B of the Legislative Code. Adopted (7-0).
Ordinances – First Reading
- Ord 26-27 – Deputy City Clerk Classification: Staff report by Director Jay Welms proposed placing the Deputy City Clerk in the unclassified service, consistent with a 1965 state law and city charter. Councilmember Coleman expressed concerns about the unclassified classification; staff noted it is an appointed, confidence-based role. Laid over to August 5, 2026 for second reading.
- Ord 26-31 – Youth Minimum Wage Repeal: Staff report by Stephanie Baymer proposed eliminating the 90-day provisional minimum wage rate for workers aged 14-17. Currently, youth receive 85% of the small business minimum wage for the first 90 days. Councilmember Kim suggested outreach to youth advisory groups like SPICE and Youth on Boards. Laid over to August 5, 2026 for public hearing.
Public Hearings
- Ord 26-35 – Golf Course Lighting: Councilmember Jost moved Version 2, which clarified that lighting on golf courses equipped for night use must not operate after 10 PM. No public testimony. Closed and laid over for final adoption August 5, 2026.
- Ord 26-36 – Solid Waste Contract Approval: John Purdy testified, questioning the council’s authority and urging input before RFP issuance. Council President Noecker committed to respond. Closed and laid over for final adoption August 5, 2026.
- RES PH 26-150 – Wabasha Bridge Rehabilitation: Amended financing to transfer Municipal State Aid (MSA) funding. Closed and adopted (7-0).
- RES PH 26-151 – University Avenue Reconstruction: Closed and adopted (7-0).
- RES PH 26-155 – National Night Out Sound Variance (August 4, 2026, at MLK Recreation Center): Closed and adopted (7-0).
- RES PH 26-156 – Backyard Blues Fest Sound Variance (August 7-8, 2026, at Dual Citizen Brewing): Closed and adopted (7-0).
Legislative Hearing Items
- RLH TA 26-125 – 720 Cottage Avenue East Special Tax Assessment: Ratified. Adopted (7-0).
- RLH SAO 26-50 – Gary Grimes Vehicle Abatement at 314 Wyoming Street East: Owner requested additional time to remove one remaining vehicle. Council granted a three-week extension to August 12, 2026, and continued the public hearing to August 19, 2026 for a compliance finding. Adopted (7-0).
- Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda: Adopted as amended (7-0). Items included: RLH VO 26-29 (342 Bates Ave, Unit 2), RLH SAO 26-55 (1547 Carroll Ave), RLH SAO 26-57 (2177 Fairmount Ave), RLH SAO 26-54 (1312 Scheffer Ave – continued to August 5, 2026), RLH SAO 26-56 (2203 Selby Ave), RLH VBR 26-12 (838 Third St E), and RLH VBR 26-13 (2051 Third St E).
Key Outcomes
- Appeals Denied: Both zoning appeals (ABZA 25-3 and ABZA 25-5) were denied unanimously (7-0), upholding the Board of Zoning Appeals decisions.
- Emergency Shelter Agreement Approved: The city entered into a Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County, committing $1,080,000 in LAHA funding for emergency shelter operations.
- Community Health Workers Day Recognized: July 28, 2026, was officially recognized in Saint Paul (unanimous).
- Youth Minimum Wage Repeal Advanced: First reading held; public hearing set for August 5, 2026.
- Deputy City Clerk Classification Advanced: First reading held; second reading and public hearing set for August 5, 2026.
- Golf Course Lighting Ordinance Amended: Version 2 adopted, limiting lighting operations to before 10 PM; final adoption expected August 5, 2026.
- Solid Waste Contract Approval Ordinance: Public hearing held; final adoption set for August 5, 2026.
- Budget Transfers Approved: Wabasha Bridge ($MSA funding) and University Avenue Reconstruction projects received financing amendments.
- Sound Variances Approved: National Night Out (August 4) and Backyard Blues Fest (August 7-8) granted.
- Vehicle Abatement Extension: Gary Grimes granted a three-week extension; public hearing continued to August 19, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting in the St. Paul City Council to order. Roll call, please. Bowie. Here. Coleman. Here. Johnson. Here. Joast. Kim. Here. Yang. Here. Council President Anchor. Here. Seven present, none absent. Welcome to everyone. Thank you so much for joining us for our city council meeting today. Just a quick point of business. We are holding our regular business meeting now. And immediately following this meeting, we will have a special meeting on the topic of the encampment closure. So if you're here for that topic, that will happen just following this meeting at 4 30 or as soon as this meeting is done. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Consent agenda items three through 13 are before you for your consideration. I know we will be pulling item 13 for separate consideration. Is there anything else to come 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 13, resolution 26-1197, recognizing community health workers' day in the city of St. Paul. Ms. Johnson. All right. Well, yeah, come on up. Come on up. Come on up. It's okay. I don't have to have all the spotlight to myself here. Well, colleagues, thank you so much for just taking up this time to recognize Community Health Workers' Day. Um we are doing this in advance of Community Health Workers' Day on the 28th, but because we don't have a council meeting next week, this is the time. So I just wanted to share that when we talk about healthier cities, it's important to talk about and focus on our hospitals, our clinics, and our policies. But so much of what we create and work towards is healthy communities that happens here around our kitchen tables, our neighborhood events, or our schools. This is the work of our community health workers. It's in our place of worship, it's in our uh community clinics, it's truly where you meet people. Uh even when people walk through the doors of the doctor's office, it's truly the thing that keeps them going back, whether that's their compassion, their patience, or their understanding in most cases, and an opportunity in time when none of us truly want to be there.
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