Saint Paul City Council Meeting: October 28, 2026 – Mobile Saunas, Garbage Rates, and Major Zoning Appeal

The Saint Paul City Council met on October 28, 2026, at 3:30 PM in Council Chambers. Six members were present (Council Vice President Yang was excused). The meeting included first readings of ordinances, public hearings on several items, and a lengthy quasi-judicial appeal regarding a proposed triplex at 2094 Goodrich Avenue. Key actions included approval of a new mobile sauna ordinance on first reading, adoption of a commercial development district for liquor licenses near University and Snelling, and denial of an appeal against the triplex development.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3 through 13 were approved unanimously by roll call vote (6-0). These included: accepting a donation from Responsive Cities Network for employee travel (RES 26-1654); approving assessments for securing/emergency boarding services (RES 26-1671); approving liquor license additions and changes for Habanero Tacos, Barrel Theory Beer Company, Mexifino Boxing Studio, and Aldossari Auto Sales (RES 26-1748, 26-1750, 26-1751, 26-1752); accepting a conference registration gift for Fire District Chief Sam Breckenridge (RES 26-1768); authorizing amended joint powers agreements with Ramsey County for Computer Aided Dispatch and Mobile Data (RES 26-1774) and Radio Subscriber (RES 26-1775); extending a lease agreement with Twin Cities Public Media Commons (RES 26-1788); and approving the naming of Koom Siab Park (RES 26-1782).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 17 (University/Snelling Liquor District): John Purdy (West Side resident) testified, urging the council to consider broader community engagement and cautioned against limiting future public hearings by creating a district that could be amended only by a four-vote majority.
• Item 18 (Prevailing Wage for Carpenters): Bert Johnson (General Counsel, Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters) testified in strong support, arguing the amendment would allow federal residential wage rates for qualifying wood frame projects, aligning with state law and negotiated union rates, and would not reduce contractor compliance.
• Item 20 (Salvation Army Tree of Lights Sound Variance): Jeff Bark Walsh (Landmark Tower resident) supported the version two modifications (lower decibels, reduced bass, redirected speakers) to balance holiday vibrancy with residential quality of life. Dan Furry (Salvation Army) expressed concerns that 80 decibels and cutting off bass at 80 Hz would degrade sound quality, and proposed a compromise of reducing sound at 9 PM every night instead of 8 PM on weekdays.
• Item 21 (2094 Goodrich Avenue Appeal): 18 members of the public testified, nearly all in support of granting the appeal. Speakers included neighbors, an acoustical engineer, an architect, and local residents who described the proposed 18-bedroom, four-story building as a "partyplex" incompatible with the single-family neighborhood. They argued the zoning administrator erred by classifying it as a triplex without proper site plan review, citing building code discrepancies (e.g., a 2,484 sq ft fourth-floor gathering space with a calculated occupancy of 166, yet submitted as 49), lack of sound/privacy buffers, and concerns about long-term housing stability. The appellant, Joe Galante (adjacent property owner), detailed how the building's physical capacity and design exceeded triplex standards and should trigger site plan review under Section 61.402.
• Item 24-31 (Legislative Hearing Consent): No public testimony was offered.

Discussion Items

• Item 14 – Mobile Saunas (Ordinance 26-53, First Reading): Director Andy Rodriguez (Parks) and Deputy Director Dan Nanjali (DSI) presented the pilot program for mobile wood saunas on park property, initially at Como Regional Park. The ordinance creates a new license class (Class R) with an annual fee of $106, aimed at cost recovery. Councilmember Kim, the sponsor, asked about implementation timelines and future expansion to lakes/rivers. The item was laid over for a public hearing and second reading.
• Item 15 – Rezoning 1201 Rice Street (Ordinance 26-55, First Reading): Chris Hong (PED) reported the applicant seeks to rezone from T2 to B3 to allow auto sales and repair. The District Council recommended denial; public comment was mixed. Laid over for public hearing.
• Item 16 – Garbage Rate Changes (Ordinance 26-56, First Reading): Lydia Haas (Garbage Program Manager) presented proposed 2027 rates with a 3.5% collection cost increase and 12% disposal increase (set by Ramsey County), resulting in overall bill increases of 5-7.5% depending on cart size. Key operational changes include aligning collection and disposal rate increases to January 1, clarifying cart cleanliness responsibilities, adjusting yard waste collection dates for weather flexibility, and allowing mixed-use dwellings to opt into coordinated collection. The presentation also highlighted service improvements. Laid over for public hearing.
• Item 17 – University/Snelling Commercial Development District (Ordinance 26-49): Councilmember Coleman moved approval of version two, citing extensive community engagement and responsiveness to concerns about safety and neighborhood character. Councilmember Bowie supported the motion, emphasizing that version two addresses public feedback and that community engagement will continue. The ordinance passed unanimously (6-0).
• Item 18 – Prevailing Wage for Carpenters (Ordinance 26-51, Public Hearing): Director Ledger explained the narrow amendment allowing federal residential carpenter rates (about 15% lower than commercial) for certain city-financed wood frame projects, consistent with 2025 state law for low-income housing. No additional discussion. Public hearing closed, ordinance laid over for final adoption.
• Item 20 – Salvation Army Sound Variance (Resolution 26-291): Council President Noecker introduced version two, lowering the decibel limit from 90 to 80 dB at 8 PM Monday-Thursday, prohibiting bass below 80 Hz, and requiring speakers to be directed away from eastern residences. The council adopted version two (6-0) over Salvation Army’s compromise suggestion of a 9 PM reduction.
• Item 21 – 2094 Goodrich Avenue Appeal (ABZA 26-5): The council sat as a quasi-judicial body. After public testimony, Councilmember Coleman moved to deny the appeal, stating that under current law the building qualifies as a triplex (three dwelling units) and is exempt from site plan review. Council President Noecker and Ms. Jost supported the motion, noting that building code and enforcement issues are separate processes. Ms. Bowie voted no, citing unresolved legal interpretations and complexity. The appeal was denied (5-1).
• Items 22-23 – Police Grants (Resolutions 26-293 and 26-294): Staff presented two grants: $22,000 from the Saint Paul Police Foundation for the Women’s Leadership Conference and Honor Guard, and $508,350 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for traffic enforcement (Toward Zero Death). Both were approved unanimously with no public hearing.
• Items 24-31 – Legislative Hearing Consent: Items regarding fire inspection appeals, nuisance abatement appeals, and tax assessments were approved as recommended by the legislative hearing officer.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 3-13): Approved 6-0.
• Item 14 (Mobile Saunas): First reading approved; public hearing scheduled for next week.
• Item 15 (1201 Rice Rezoning): First reading approved; public hearing scheduled for next week.
• Item 16 (Garbage Rates): First reading approved; public hearing scheduled for next week.
• Item 17 (University/Snelling Liquor District): Ordinance adopted 6-0, creating a commercial development district with three liquor licenses distributed among four quadrants.
• Item 18 (Prevailing Wage for Carpenters): Public hearing closed; final adoption scheduled for next week.
• Item 19 (Aragon Grant): Resolution adopted 6-0.
• Item 20 (Salvation Army Sound Variance): Version two resolution adopted 6-0, with modified limits (80 dB after 8 PM weekdays, bass below 80 Hz prohibited, speakers directed away from residences).
• Item 21 (2094 Goodrich Appeal): Appeal denied 5-1; Councilmember Bowie dissented. The council affirmed the zoning administrator’s and BZA’s classification of the project as a triplex, making site plan review inapplicable.
• Items 22-23 (Police Grants): Resolutions adopted 6-0.
• Items 24-31 (Legislative Hearing Consent): Adopted 6-0 as recommended.