Saint Paul City Council Policy Committee Discusses Street Co-Naming Standard Operating Procedures, October 22, 2026

The Saint Paul City Council Policy Committee convened on October 22, 2026, for a workshop on the potential resumption of the city's honorary street co-naming practice. The meeting reviewed the history of existing co-named streets, considered two council proposals for new standard operating procedures (SOPs), and debated administrative logistics, funding responsibilities, and volume controls.

Discussion Items

History, Existing Locations, and Costs: Public Works official Randy Newton presented findings on current co-named streets, identifying 13 known locations but only 8 corresponding council resolutions (adopted between 2012 and 2017). He estimated one-time installation costs at approximately $775 for a set of four signs, with a recurring 15-year replacement cycle for maintenance. The department recommended limiting co-namings to continuous street segments, a maximum of four signed intersections, and avoiding county or state roadways.

Policy Frameworks: Chief Policy Officer Tim Greenfield outlined the legislative pathway, emphasizing that no new co-namings can proceed until a resolution adopting SOPs is passed. He detailed two approaches: Councilmember Bowie's proposal routing applications through the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC), and a resolution from Councilmember Johnson that left the reviewing body undetermined, introduced a 10-year sunset for designations, and required conflict review with emergency services.

Councilmember and Administration Positions:

• Councilmember Bowie (Ward 1) argued for housing the process under the HPC, citing its existing role in street name changes and the simplicity of the application. She framed co-naming as a low-cost, direct response to community requests.
• Councilmember Johnson (Ward 7) expressed conditional support but opposed the HPC as the reviewing body. She emphasized the need for a sunset provision, public safety vetting, and incorporating feedback from emergency dispatch and the fire department.
• Councilmember Jost stated her categorical opposition to restarting co-naming, arguing it does not serve a critical public purpose and diverts limited public works resources from essential infrastructure needs like pedestrian safety, street lighting, and pavement markings.
• Chair Noecker stressed the need for a neutral third-party review body to remove political pressure from decisions, and suggested a cap of one designation per calendar year to manage staff workload.
• Assistant Mayor Stu Mullinger and PED Director Melanie McMahon recommended against routing co-naming through the HPC, distinguishing the commemorative act from the comprehensive preservation review required for official street renaming. They committed to collaborating with the council on an alternative process.
• Councilmember Kim clarified that both proposals were purely commemorative and did not alter official legal street names, an important distinction from the formal renaming process.

Key Outcomes

No formal vote or official action was taken during the workshop. Councilmember Bowie stated she would collect feedback from council members and administration officials and draft a formal resolution establishing standard operating procedures. The resolution must be adopted by the full City Council before any new honorary street co-naming requests can be accepted.