Saint Paul City Council Meeting - September 23, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council met on September 23, 2026, at 3:31 p.m. in Council Chambers. Seven members were present. The Council approved the consent agenda, pulled RES 26-1616 for discussion, heard a tobacco-license adverse action, proclaimed September 25, 2026 as Dolly Parton Day, recessed to act as the Library Board for the 2027 library maximum levy, reconvened to approve the 2027 maximum property tax levies for the City and HRA, gave final adoption to four Xcel Energy franchise and franchise-fee ordinances, and acted on public hearings and legislative hearing consent items. The meeting recessed at 3:47 p.m., resumed at 3:57 p.m., and adjourned at 4:58 p.m.

Communications & Receive/File

• AO 26-65, amending the Citywide Capital Maintenance budget for the Fleet Services division in the Office of Financial Services, was received and filed.

Consent Calendar

• The Consent Agenda was adopted 7-0 as amended, with item 21 removed for discussion. Items adopted by consent included:
• RES 26-1352: authorized the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply to Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Act programs for Round Two 2026.
• RES 26-1365: approved miscellaneous abatement service costs for July-August 2026, with a legislative hearing set for October 20, 2026 and a City Council public hearing set for January 20, 2027.
• RES 26-1464: the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 70 off-shift differential pay pilot MOA was laid over to October 7, 2026.
• RES 26-1569: accepted $66,027.29 from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program for solar installation at the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility.
• RES 26-1576: accepted a Knight Foundation/Bloomberg Center for Cities travel and tuition gift for Mayor Kaohly Her for September 28-29, 2026.
• RES 26-1583: granted the appeals of Jon Knutson for Loucks and Carolyn Wolf for Tegra from the Board of Zoning Appeals denial of two variances for the hotel at United Village Block D, 1560 University Avenue West, where 43.1% window and door openings were proposed for facade length, a 6.9% variance below the 50% requirement, and 23.3% for facade area, a 6.7% variance below the 30% requirement.
• RES 26-1584: granted the appeal of Joe Bennett for a variance to convert an existing lit freestanding sign to dynamic display at 1305 7th Street West.
• RES 26-1586: set a November 4, 2026 public hearing date for 2027 water rates and water fees.
• RES 26-1589: accepted a Knight Foundation/Harvard University travel and tuition gift for Mary Xiong for September 29-30, 2026.
• RES 26-1592: approved settlement and payment of the employment-related claim of former Saint Paul Fire Department employee Jodie Carroll.
• RES 26-1595: the Saint Paul Police Federation accelerated-entry program MOA was laid over to October 7, 2026.
• RES 26-1597: approved a gambling location license for NS LLC d/b/a Pizza Maya at 1324 7th Street West.
• RES 26-1601: authorized the Fire Department to apply for the 2025 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant.
• RES 26-1602 and 26-1603: approved temporary Board of Commissioners appointments for Council President Noecker to the Port Authority and Councilmember Johnson to the Board of Water Commissioners, beginning September 24, 2026.
• RES 26-1607: approved a public hearing and related authorization for conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds for a project at 408 St. Peter Street.
• RES 26-1611 and 26-1612: approved appointments to the Truth-in-Sale of Housing Board and the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency.
• RES 26-1614: accepted a travel and lodging gift for two Parks and Recreation staff to attend the 2026 Bank On Leadership Training convening in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Discussion Items

• RES 26-1616 was adopted 7-0, approving the City Audit Committee's next two studies on the Department of Safety and Inspections Business Licensing Operations and Public Works Street Maintenance and Pothole Repair Operations, and authorizing Wilder Research to conduct the studies in 2026 and 2027. Council President Noecker pulled the item to raise awareness of the Audit Committee's work.
• RES 26-1553 was adopted 7-0, approving adverse action against the Tobacco Shop license held by Northern Tier Retail LLC d/b/a Speedway #4420 at 1125 7th Street West. An assistant city attorney for the Department of Safety and Inspections said the recommended penalty was $1,000, consistent with the licensing matrix, for a second violation. On June 16, 2026, a 19-year-old buyer was sold tobacco after presenting an ID showing age 19; the first violation occurred in May 2025 and resulted in a $500 penalty paid in October 2025. Brittany Standing, area leader for the business, spoke about corrective actions, including removing the employee 'over 30' button, requiring physical ID scans for all tobacco and alcohol sales, changing managers, and retraining employees. Noecker said she saw no reason to depart from the penalty matrix.
• RES 26-1588 was adopted 7-0, proclaiming September 25, 2026 as Dolly Parton Day in Saint Paul. Donna Valentine, MyTalk co-host of Donna and Steve, accepted the proclamation and spoke about Dolly Parton's legacy of generosity, kindness, and support for working people.

Public Comments and Testimony

• No members of the public testified on the public hearing items, including the salt storage ordinance, assessments, and grant authorizations.
• Written comments and exhibits on the Xcel energy franchise and franchise-fee ordinances were submitted by John Purdy, SPAC, and District Energy St. Paul and were included in the record.
• Councilmember Johnson acknowledged Ward 7 resident Murphy Dawkins and John Purdy for testifying during the franchise fee public comment process.
• Thomas Turbes testified on the pulled legislative hearing item RLH SAO 26-66, requesting a two-week extension for nuisance-abatement compliance at 2203 Selby Avenue.

Library Board Recess

• The City Council recessed at 3:47 p.m. and convened as the Library Board, chaired by Councilmember Jost. The Library Board adopted RES 26-1594, requesting that the City levy property taxes for the Saint Paul Public Library Agency, by a 7-0 vote. Councilmember Johnson said the mayor's supplemental budget restored funding for Dayton's Bluff Library and Highwood Hills Rec Center and found $564,000 not previously in the proposal; she moved approval of version one, the mayor's proposed levy with no additional library levy increase. Councilmember Coleman said budget decisions must match the city's stated values and that closing libraries should not be an acceptable option. The Library Board adjourned and the Council reconvened at 3:57 p.m.

Budget Items

• RES 26-1605 was adopted 7-0, approving the 2027 maximum property tax levy for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Councilmember Johnson said it passed unanimously at the HRA board earlier that day.
• RES 26-1599 was adopted 7-0, approving version one of the 2027 maximum property tax levy for the City. The maximum levy reflects the mayor's proposed 6.8% increase, which Councilmember Jost described as a $14 million to $15 million increase over the prior year and, in the context of a $26 million deficit, effectively a cut. Noecker said the city would receive $70 million more if it received the local government aid it was entitled to. Several members described the maximum levy as a ceiling, not a floor, and committed to working to reduce it before final budget adoption. Councilmember Bowie called the 6.8% increase a ceiling, not the floor, and committed to stronger performance metrics; Councilmember Kim said she was supporting the levy because failing to fund core services undermines the value residents receive; Councilmember Jost said she would have supported a higher levy before the supplemental budget restored park and library cuts, and cited regional context including Minneapolis at 11.3%, Carver County at 16.8%, and Shoreview at 10.7%; Councilmember Johnson stressed the importance of transparency about supplemental budget decisions and council-administration alignment; Vice President Yang said she would have preferred a 3% to 5% increase and wants to reduce overtime costs and close TIF districts; Councilmember Coleman called tax increases an economic justice issue and said the council must be responsible stewards of resident dollars.

Ordinances

• Final adoption: Ord 26-40, Ord 26-41, Ord 26-43, and Ord 26-44 were each adopted 7-0. These ordinances amend the Xcel Energy gas and electric franchises and add new gas and electric franchise fee appendices. Councilmember Jost said the agreement includes a progressive franchise fee that provides an additional 50% discount on Xcel bills for residents enrolled in the energy assistance program, including renters. Councilmember Noecker noted the agreement allows more frequent renegotiation, including on an annual basis, rather than waiting 20 years, and includes an equitable assessment policy described as a first-of-its-kind approach.
• First reading: Ord 26-46 was laid over to October 7, 2026 for second reading and public hearing. Staff explained that the amendment would create a streamlined process to convey city-owned property used by Saint Paul Regional Water Services to the Board of Water Commissioners for less than fair market value when the City Council determines the property will further SPRWS's mission. The change was prompted by an Anoka County roadway easement request involving a city-owned parcel in Anoka County.

Public Hearings

• Ord 26-39, amending Chapter 63 regarding salt storage regulation, was considered as version two. No one testified. The Council voted 7-0 to amend and lay the ordinance over to October 7, 2026 for final adoption.
• RES PH 26-182 and RES PH 26-183 were adopted 7-0, ratifying Seventh Place Mall operation and maintenance assessments for 2025 and 2026.
• RES PH 26-193 was adopted 7-0, ratifying Grand/Snelling parking lot operation and maintenance assessments for 2027.
• RES PH 26-201 was adopted 7-0, amending the 2026 Public Works Street Lighting Maintenance budget by $450,000 for electrician support for the Saint Paul Regional Water Services Lead Replacement Project.
• RES PH 26-244 was adopted 7-0, accepting a DEED Contamination Cleanup grant for the LSBD St. Paul Broadway II LLC project known as Ember on Pine at 500 Broadway Street.
• RES PH 26-250 was adopted 7-0, accepting $2,926,000 in State of Minnesota grant funding for arts and cultural heritage at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.
• RES PH 26-268 was adopted 7-0, increasing the 2026 Saint Paul Regional Water Services budget by $53,000 for a Metropolitan Council grant.

Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda

• RLH SAO 26-66, the appeal of Thomas Turbes for 2203 Selby Avenue, was pulled for discussion. DSI staff recommended finding the nuisance not abated and authorizing abatement. Turbes testified that he had lived on the block his whole life, had health issues, and had arranged for a salvage company to remove a travel trailer, requesting a two-week extension. Councilmember Coleman noted a factual dispute about whether inspectors observed improvement and moved to grant a two-week extension as a final deadline rather than a layover. The item was adopted 7-0 as amended: if compliance is not completed by October 7, 2026, DSI may proceed with abatement.
• The remaining legislative hearing consent items were adopted as amended: RLH SAO 26-90 for 2348 Buford Avenue, Rich C. Nelson; RLH SAO 26-94 for 1552 Canfield Avenue, Barbara Clark, with nuisance abated; RLH SAO 26-92 for 1045 Charles Avenue, Mary Roach; RLH SAO 26-96 for 1597 Charles Avenue, Liam Magistad, second appeal, with nuisance abated; RLH SAO 26-63 for 1521 Hague Avenue, Jane Myers, with nuisance abated; RLH SAO 26-80 for 444 Johnson Parkway, Kinnell Tacket; RLH SAO 26-93 for 449 Van Dyke Street, Barry Campbell; and RLH AR 26-62, ratifying June 2026 demolition assessments for vacant, nuisance, and hazardous structures.

Key Outcomes

• All recorded votes were 7-0.
• The Consent Agenda was adopted as amended; RES 26-1464 and RES 26-1595 were laid over to October 7, 2026.
• The Library Board adopted RES 26-1594, and the City Council adopted the HRA and City 2027 maximum property tax levies.
• The four Xcel Energy franchise and franchise-fee ordinances were adopted on final reading.
• Ord 26-39 and Ord 26-46 were laid over to October 7, 2026.
• RLH SAO 26-66 was granted a two-week extension, with abatement authorized if compliance is not complete by October 7, 2026.

Ward Updates and Announcements

• Councilmember Johnson reminded residents of a Dayton's Bluff Library community conversation on September 24, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Metro State University.
• Councilmember Kim invited residents to the Ward 5 budget engagement on October 8, 2026 at 6 p.m. at the North End Community Center.
• Vice President Yang announced Meet Us on Arcade Street on September 27, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Urban Village, 1082 Arcade Street, and said she would begin parental leave on September 24 with a tentative return date of January 11, 2027.
• Councilmember Jost recapped the Highland Golf Course night driving range event and the Nativity Fair.
• Council President Noecker promoted Selby Days on September 26, the Marydale Festival, and the downtown Aldi grand opening on September 24.