OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Paul Planning Commission Meeting - June 18, 2026

Planning Commission — Thursday, June 18, 2026
BodySt Paul, Minnesota
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, June 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:47
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay.

0:01

Now call the June 26, 2026 meeting of the St.

0:04

Paul Planning Commission to order.

0:06

First order business is roll call.

0:08

Commissioner Grill, present.

0:10

Commissioner Hackey?

0:12

Present.

0:12

Commissioner Holtz?

0:13

Here.

0:14

Commissioner Johnson Becker.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Commissioner Martinson.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Commissioner Presley.

0:22

Commissioner Riley.

0:24

Commissioner Starling.

0:25

Here.

0:26

Commissioner Taggyov.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Commissioner Thomas.

0:29

Here.

0:35

Wonderful.

0:36

Thank you.

0:36

It looks like then we have roll call completed.

0:40

Next up is approval of the May 29th, 2026 plan and commission meeting minutes.

0:44

Do you have a motion on the minutes?

0:46

So moved.

0:47

Motion by Commissioner Holtz.

0:48

Do I have a second?

0:49

Seconded by Commissioner Taggyaf.

0:51

Is there any discussion on the minutes?

0:54

Alright, seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote.

0:56

All those in favor?

0:57

Aye.

0:57

Aye.

0:58

All those opposed.

1:00

Any abstentions?

1:01

Alright, the minutes pass.

1:04

First up today, we don't have any public hearings.

1:08

So next up would be old business.

1:10

That's the planning commission bylaws update.

1:13

And I believe Chris Hong is here.

1:19

Good morning, everyone.

1:22

I am here to present the um planning commission bylaws updates since the February 20th vote.

1:31

Um so the vast majority of these changes are all formatting that uh formatting changes that were needed because it was converted from like a typewriter or something like that.

1:44

Um and so um the the first copy of the bylaws that are in your packets is with all of the red lines, and that includes like weird spacing issues, and then the second version has the more like uh substantive um changes, and I thought I'd just uh go over them quickly because there aren't too many of them.

2:05

Um so the first in articles two and three, we um updated language so that the position of the second vice chair was removed because we'll only have seven commissioners, so it felt um unnecessary.

2:18

So we just have a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary.

2:24

Um in article four.

2:27

Uh we remove the information about the um the date and time of meetings in case we decide to take a vote to um change the meeting date and time, and then we don't have to also update the bylaws at the same time.

2:39

Um and since we had um previously voted back in February to remove the uh um uh the requirement that the annual report be completed in January.

2:53

I also remove the requirement that the um that the report be submitted to the mayor and the city council by March 15th, since it might be March 15th when we uh when we uh get the annual report.

3:04

Hopefully not, but um in article four, oh we're still talking about article four, in um article four section four on quorum, um remove the language of equivalent number to one or two because we're only ever gonna have up to two alternates.

3:27

So if three members are missing, we're not gonna have three alternates because we're only gonna have two alternates.

3:34

Um in uh section five.

3:39

Um we um updated it so instead of saying uh six or more excused absences, it's six or more um absences.

3:48

So excused or unexcused, obviously.

3:52

Um, and um section six just update to say um uh any member of the commission can call for a roll call vote, um, which is um what we've been uh doing anyway.

4:06

So um well it's been suggested to the chair to call for uh a roll call vote and um and um also in section six um will even though we just voted this uh last sentence in to include a um um a stipulation that uh commissioners need to uh state the reasoning reasoning for abstaining from a vote.

4:35

Uh we're removing that sentence because it's already in the Roberts rules of order, and so it is still required, but we're not putting it in the bylaws.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Land Use Regulation███████████████████████████████████████39%
Parks and Recreation██████████████14%
Racial Equity██2%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Paul Planning Commission Meeting - June 18, 2026

Note: The raw transcript indicates the meeting was called for June 26, 2026, but the provided instructions specify the meeting date as June 18, 2026. This summary follows the instructed date, with the discrepancy noted.

The meeting was called to order with roll call. Commissioners present: Grill, Hackey, Holtz, Johnson Becker, Martinson, Presley, Riley, Starling, Taggyov, Thomas. The minutes from May 29, 2026 were approved unanimously. No public hearings were held.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the May 29, 2026 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Motion by Commissioner Holtz, seconded by Commissioner Taggyov. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Planning Commission Bylaws Update (Old Business): Chris Hong presented formatting and substantive changes to the bylaws since the February 20 vote. Key proposed changes include removal of the second vice chair position (due to reduction to seven commissioners), removal of specific meeting date/time from the bylaws, removal of the March 15 annual report deadline, quorum language adjustments, and updates to absence and roll-call vote provisions.
    • Commissioners raised concerns:
      • Commissioner Taggyov questioned whether the special meeting notice requirement (three days) conflicts with state open meeting law and recommended aligning language.
      • Commissioner Starling proposed that amendment notification should include public posting, not just email/mail to commissioners.
      • Commissioner Holtz suggested a two-step amendment process (first reading, then vote at next meeting) and a two-thirds supermajority for bylaw changes.
      • Commissioner Martinson proposed broader changes: including commissioner numbers and alternates in Article I, allowing any commissioner to place items on the agenda, defining removal-for-cause standards (beyond just absences), codifying public participation procedures, and requiring a two-thirds vote for bylaw amendments.
      • Commissioner Riley noted that commissioner numbers are set by city code and removal authority rests with the mayor. She also requested inclusion of relevant city code and charter references, as well as the League of Minnesota Cities handbook for planning commissioners.
    • Staff agreed to research and bring back options. A motion to lay over the item until staff can propose amendments in response to the discussion was made by Commissioner Taggyov, seconded by Commissioner Riley. The motion passed.
  • Golf Course Zoning Text Amendments (Recommendation to City Council): Nelly Jerome presented proposed amendments to Chapter 65.230, initiated by city council upon request from Parks and Rec for the Highland Golf Course driving range. The amendments: (C) remove restriction on mini golf (pitch and putt); (D) replace “prohibits lighting for night use” with “golf courses that are equipped with lighting for night use shall not operate after 10 p.m.” An alternative version proposed by the city attorney added “outdoor activities” to clarify.
    • Discussion centered on the scope of (D): concerns about limiting indoor uses (e.g., clubhouse), applicability to non-lighted courses, and consistency with other park facilities. Commissioner Holtz noted that unlighted courses would have no restriction, creating inequity. Commissioner Riley suggested allowing lights but limiting outdoor activities. Commissioner Starling proposed striking (D) entirely, arguing that lighting and noise are already regulated by city codes and zoning should treat golf courses like other recreational facilities.
    • A letter from the Highland District Council was acknowledged; it supported the original proposal including (D).
    • Motion by Commissioner Starling, seconded by Commissioner Riley, to recommend approval of the amendments but to delete subsection (D) entirely. After debate, the motion passed (voice vote; no abstentions noted). The recommendation will be forwarded to city council with a summary of the commission’s reasoning.

Key Outcomes

  • Bylaws Update: Laid over for further staff research and presentation at a future meeting. No vote on final language.
  • Golf Course Text Amendments: Commission voted to recommend approval with subsection (D) struck. The recommendation will go to city council with an explanatory memo.
  • Site Plan Review: The June 23, 2026 committee meeting was canceled; items for June 30 include 2400 Childs Road (addition/expansion/demolition) and 209 Page Street West (restroom/storage facility).
  • Announcements: None.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Now call the June 26, 2026 meeting of the St. Paul Planning Commission to order. First order business is roll call. Commissioner Grill, present. Commissioner Hackey? Present. Commissioner Holtz? Here. Commissioner Johnson Becker. Here. Commissioner Martinson. Here. Commissioner Presley. Commissioner Riley. Commissioner Starling. Here. Commissioner Taggyov. Here. Commissioner Thomas. Here. Wonderful. Thank you. It looks like then we have roll call completed. Next up is approval of the May 29th, 2026 plan and commission meeting minutes. Do you have a motion on the minutes? So moved. Motion by Commissioner Holtz. Do I have a second? Seconded by Commissioner Taggyaf. Is there any discussion on the minutes? Alright, seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those opposed. Any abstentions? Alright, the minutes pass. First up today, we don't have any public hearings. So next up would be old business. That's the planning commission bylaws update. And I believe Chris Hong is here. Good morning, everyone. I am here to present the um planning commission bylaws updates since the February 20th vote. Um so the vast majority of these changes are all formatting that uh formatting changes that were needed because it was converted from like a typewriter or something like that. Um and so um the the first copy of the bylaws that are in your packets is with all of the red lines, and that includes like weird spacing issues, and then the second version has the more like uh substantive um changes, and I thought I'd just uh go over them quickly because there aren't too many of them. Um so the first in articles two and three, we um updated language so that the position of the second vice chair was removed because we'll only have seven commissioners, so it felt um unnecessary. So we just have a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary. Um in article four. Uh we remove the information about the um the date and time of meetings in case we decide to take a vote to um change the meeting date and time, and then we don't have to also update the bylaws at the same time.

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