Public Meetings - St Paul, Minnesota

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board of Commissioners met on January 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Jost, with five commissioners present and two absent. The board considered two discussion items and approved both without opposition. Discussion Items - Resolution RES 26-52: Approving and Authorizing the Spending Plan TIF Loan Extension for the 652 Sherburne Project, District 7, Ward 1 – Vice Chair Jost moved approval of version 2 (an amended version). The resolution was adopted with 5 yeas and 0 nays, with Commissioners Johnson and Kim absent. - Resolution RES 26-63: Approving and Authorizing Additional Expenditures for Redevelopment of 560 Brunson Street under the Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s Inspiring Communities Program, District 5, Ward 2 – Commissioner Noecker, the sponsor, expressed excitement about the project, noting that these are the final dollars needed to get the project started and that she looks forward to seeing it become a reality. She moved approval. The resolution was adopted with 5 yeas and 0 nays, with Commissioners Johnson and Kim absent. Key Outcomes - Both resolutions were adopted unanimously (5-0) by the commissioners present. - Commissioners were reminded to submit any topics they wish to discuss at future HRA meetings to Melanie Johnson by end of day Thursday, January 15, 2026, so the chair and Director McMahon can determine the schedule for the year. - The meeting was adjourned at 2:03 PM.

The St. Paul Public Library Board met on January 14, 2026, with five members present (Chair Jones, Councilmembers Fuy, Coleman, Kim, Yang), two absent (one excused). The board approved minutes, two resolutions, and received a detailed update on the Rondo Community Library temporary relocation and planned renovation. Consent Calendar - Minutes 25-51 (Library Board minutes 12/3) were approved unanimously (5-0). - Resolution 25-1933, approving library debt write-off for certain debts incurred prior to 2024, was approved as amended (Version 3) unanimously (5-0). The exact amount is to be calculated. - Resolution 25-2003, authorizing activities to support a cooperative relationship with the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, was approved unanimously (5-0). Director Hill noted that annual renewal is now standard practice; no significant changes from previous years. Discussion Items - Staff Report 25-276: Rondo Community Library Update – Director Hartman presented an update on the temporary location at Halle Q Brown Community Center (open since the January 9 grand opening) and the planned renovation of the permanent location at 1200 University Avenue. Key points: - The temporary location is open 59 hours per week, seven days a week, with 16 library staff assigned (down from 20 at the permanent location; the remaining four accepted temporary reassignments). Services include collections, programs (Storytime, Fun Lab, Createch, Homework Center, Reading Together), social services (CROP, public health partnerships), and meeting rooms (two study rooms for up to 4 people each, program space for 35). Parking is available with at least 80 spots. - Library safety specialists are present during all open hours. Social service providers (Radius Health, Minnesota Community Care) are available weekly. Staff coordinate with Halle Q Brown and MLK Rec for safety and crisis support. - Renovation of the permanent location is informed by patron/staff feedback, community safety plans, and best practices. The timeline targets reopening by the end of 2026; Director Hartman committed to exploring opportunities to shorten that. Technology and play-and-learn improvements will be completed during the closure without extending the timeline, funded by a state grant (to be approved by city council later in January) and private funds from Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. - Community engagement will include surveys, focus groups, and tabling at neighborhood events (e.g., IFTAR). - Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the relocation effort. Councilmember Bowie noted that the temporary location’s success was due to the existing infrastructure at Halle Q Brown (an early childhood learning center) and the strong partnership with Benny Roberts. Councilmember More requested greater transparency about tensions and challenges in future renovation plans, and suggested using the Rondo model for other library closures (e.g., Hayden Heights). Council President Naker echoed that the model could be applied to future closures, though timing and funding constraints may limit its replicability. Chair Jones emphasized the importance of community partnerships and the significant cost of temporary relocations. Key Outcomes - Minutes and both resolutions approved unanimously (5-0). - The board received the Rondo Community Library update without a formal vote; the update was informational. - Director Hartman will return next month with an update on the Transforming Libraries initiative, including progress on renovations. - The board discussed the need for proactive planning for temporary library services during future renovations, with Councilmember More and Council President Naker advocating for a model similar to Rondo’s. No other business was brought before the board, and the meeting adjourned.

The St. Paul City Council Policy Committee met on January 14, 2026, at 16:00 UTC to discuss the city's separation ordinance, the ongoing federal immigration enforcement actions, and potential municipal responses. The meeting featured three presentations: the ACLU of Minnesota on policy options, the Chief Policy Officer on a framework for amending the separation ordinance, and the City Attorney's Office on the current ordinance and staff training. Council members expressed urgency and differing views on process, with an existing draft separation ordinance awaiting legal review and a first reading. ACLU of Minnesota Presentation - John Baylor, Policy Counsel for the ACLU of Minnesota, presented on legal actions and recommended municipal policies. He noted the ACLU has filed lawsuits including Tincher v. NOME (December 2025, hearing on Jan. 13 seeking preliminary injunction), Suarez Varela v. Carver County (upcoming trial), and Corey Grunos v. Freeborn County (challenging a 287(g) agreement). He thanked St. Paul for joining the state and Minneapolis in a lawsuit filed earlier that week. - Proposed city-level actions: - Ban law enforcement use of masks and require visible agency identification (similar to Los Angeles County and California). - Require a warrant for law enforcement entry into city-funded facilities (hospitals, schools, libraries, parks, etc.), with exceptions for emergencies or limiting to immigration enforcement. - Ban city participation in joint terrorism/homeland security task forces and limit acquisition of military equipment via 1033/1122 programs. - Establish a hotline or online portal for residents to document constitutional abuses by federal government, for future public reckoning. - Restrict automatic license plate reader (ALPR) data to St. Paul city/police servers, not third-party cloud storage, to control access and queries. - Council questions: Councilmember Coleman asked about formality of data sharing with ICE; Baylor explained third-party contracts often allow queries by other agencies. Councilmember Jost asked how reports from a hotline would be used; Baylor said they could inform future lawsuits or human rights reports. Councilmember Kim requested sample language; Baylor said they have language on most items except ALPRs. Councilmember Bowie asked about successful litigation examples; Baylor cited Chicago's actions limiting ICE and a West Coast state blocking National Guard deployment. Separation Ordinance Framework by Chief Policy Officer Greenfield - Greenfield outlined a framework for potential amendments to Chapter 44 of the Administrative Code (the separation ordinance, enacted in 2004). He identified three areas for council consideration: 1. Clarifying the relationship between city employees and federal immigration enforcement, addressing how the existing ordinance falls short. 2. Prohibiting certain conduct by federal agents or city departments (e.g., masking ban, equipment procurement restrictions) – possibly via legislative code rather than administrative code. 3. Emergency measures (raised by Councilmember Bowie) such as emergency declarations or support for businesses. - Council discussion: Councilmember Coleman noted evolving community desires for police to protect residents from ICE actions. Councilmember Bowie criticized lack of action from department heads and called for understanding the mayor's executive powers. Council President Acre analogized legislative speed to a "250-year-old truck." Councilmember Jost emphasized need to clarify council vs. mayor powers. Vice President Kim asked about political will to protect residents. Councilmember Yang later stated a draft ordinance exists and is being circulated; she wants first reading as soon as possible, not another policy committee meeting. Current Separation Ordinance Training by City Attorney Edmund DeLeo - DeLeo presented on the current ordinance and training for city employees. The ordinance says city employees do not enforce federal immigration policy with limited exceptions, and never ask for immigration documentation/status in exchange for services. Authority is grounded in the Tenth Amendment and the 287(g) agreement requirement. - Exceptions where immigration status may be inquired: employment I-9 verification, public benefits (federal law), police for crimes with immigration elements (e.g., unauthorized immigrant possessing a firearm), fire department for ambulance service reimbursement, and city attorney's office for immigration consequences of guilty pleas (Padilla v. Kentucky). - Training protocols: Employees are instructed to not consent to entry into private spaces (e.g., employee-only areas) without a judicial warrant; they should ask federal agents to wait for a supervisor and contact the city attorney's office. Public spaces (lobbies, open areas) are accessible to agents. Employees should not physically stop agents; legal challenges will be pursued later. DeLeo showed examples of judicial vs. administrative warrants. - Council questions: Councilmember Jost asked about public vs. private spaces; DeLeo said signage identifies private spaces. Council President Acre asked about law enforcement cooperation with ICE under the current ordinance; DeLeo declined to comment due to pending litigation. Vice President Kim raised concerns about agents not following laws and asked what support the city will provide employees who act on moral compass; DeLeo acknowledged complexity and referenced the lawsuit filed that week. Councilmember Yang stressed urgency for a meeting with the mayor and police chief to clarify what police can do (e.g., responding to suspicious vehicles). Key Outcomes - Separation Ordinance Amendment: A draft ordinance strengthening Chapter 44 exists and is being reviewed by the city attorney's office, mayor's office, and departments. No date has been set for first reading, but council members (especially Yang and Coleman) are pushing for it to come to a council meeting as soon as possible, not back to policy committee. - Other Potential Ordinances: Councilmember Bowie (Public Safety Committee chair) indicated her committee will consider proposals like limiting military gear purchases, hotline establishment, and ALPR data restrictions. Council President Acre invited any member to introduce ordinances. - Next Steps: Council will continue internal and administration conversations. The city attorney's office continues training city employees. The ACLU will share sample policy language. The council did not take any votes during this policy committee session.

The scheduled Planning Commission meeting for January 9, 2026, at 2:30 PM UTC was canceled. No agenda items were considered, no public testimony was heard, and no decisions were made. The next scheduled meeting on the agenda was for January 23, 2026, but that meeting was also marked as canceled in the provided materials. Meeting Cancellation - The meeting did not take place. The agenda provided is for the January 23, 2026 meeting, which also shows as canceled. No minutes or transcript are available for the January 9, 2026 session. Key Outcomes - No business conducted. The meeting was canceled, and no further action was taken.

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) met on January 7, 2026, to review the minutes of the December 2025 meeting and deliberate on three primary agenda items: a technical adjustment to bond issuance for the Joseph's Point project, a loan extension request for the 652 Sherburne Avenue development, and an introduction to additional funding for the 560 Brunson Street project. The meeting included staff presentations on project specifics, challenges regarding permitting and regulatory compliance, and community-centric housing models. Consent Calendar - The December 2025 HRA meeting minutes (MIN 26-2) were approved unanimously with a vote of 4 in favor and 0 opposed. - Resolution RES 26-32, authorizing the issuance and sale of conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds for the Joseph's Point project (200 Wilkin Street), was adopted. The motion to approve the updated bond structure, necessitated by a government shutdown and subsequent shift in bond documentation by Schaefer Richardson, passed unanimously with a vote of 5 in favor and 0 opposed. No additional funding was requested for this technical change. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments or testimony were recorded during this session. Discussion Items - 652 Sherburne Avenue Loan Extension (SR26-1): Hannah Chong presented a request to extend the maturity date of a $386,279 spending plan TIF loan from December 31, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The project, led by Model Cities (formerly the Sherburn Collective), involves the rehabilitation of a vacant building into six units with a planned transition from rental to community ownership. The extension is not for additional funding but is required to allow the developer time to meet loan forgiveness conditions (leasing to extremely low-income tenants, jobs report, and certificate of occupancy) due to construction delays caused by permitting issues that pushed the start date from May 2024 to August 2024. - Commissioner Kim's Position on 652 Sherburne: Commissioner Kim expressed full support for the project, describing it as a "first of its kind" cooperative housing initiative. Commissioner Kim emphasized the significance of the community ownership model and stated a commitment that this model should be replicated, noting the transformative work undertaken by the city, county, and state. - 560 Brunson Street Introduction (SR26-2): Joel Moussoff introduced a request for an additional $87,313 in gross subsidy for the Inspiring Communities project. The project, developed by Amani Construction and Development, will construct four townhouses for owner occupants with a household income cap of 80% AMI. The cost increase is attributed to stormwater management requirements triggered by the site plan review process. - Commissioner Naker's Position on 560 Brunson Street: Commissioner Naker stated strong support for the project, highlighting the importance of "missing middle housing" in the form of townhomes. Commissioner Naker expressed opposition to the regulatory process itself in this context, noting that such regulations and processes have caused costs to rise again, and acknowledged the necessity of balancing process integrity with affordable housing delivery. Key Outcomes - 652 Sherburne Avenue: No final vote was taken on the loan extension during this meeting. The item was scheduled for action in the following week's meeting. - 560 Brunson Street: No vote was taken, as the item was introduced for discussion and information. The project is ready for closing upon approval of the additional subsidy, with a anticipated spring 2026 construction start. - Attendance Discrepancy Note: The transcript states the motion for Resolution RES 26-32 passed with "Five in favor," yet the opening roll call lists four present members (Bowie, Coleman, Joast, Naker) and three excused members (Kim, Yang, Naker listed twice implicitly or Kim/Yang excused). This implies either an attendance count discrepancy in the roll call or a vote count error in the transcript for that specific motion.

The St. Paul City Council convened its first meeting of 2026 following a moment of silence and a collective expression of grief after the fatal shooting of a community member in Minneapolis by ICE earlier that morning. The Council President emphasized the Council's commitment to protecting the community and opposing federal actions that demonize or harm residents. The meeting proceeded with the adoption of several routine resolutions, the swearing-in of a new City Attorney and various mayoral appointees, and a public hearing addressing grievances regarding federal immigration operations. The Council also held a public hearing on the removal of a nuisance CVS property on Maryland Avenue. Consent Calendar - Resolution 26-38: Adopted unanimously (6-0) to approve the appointment of Irene Gao as City Attorney. - Resolution 26-42: Adopted unanimously (6-0) to approve the Mayor's appointments for senior assistant mayor, executive assistant to the mayor, assistant mayor's assistant to the mayor (two positions), and executive director of public affairs and communications assistant to the mayor. - Resolution 26-43: Adopted unanimously (6-0) to appoint a Blank to serve as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Kahiliha. - Final Adoption: Ordinance 25-79, amending Chapter 107 regarding improvements to the planning commission process, was adopted unanimously (6-0). Public Comments & Testimony - Heather C. Liu: Expressed full support for a sanctuary city stance and requested the Council condemn DHS and ICE presence. Ms. Liu stated that "ICE and DHS must go home," describing their actions as domestic terrorism and Gestapo behavior, specifically citing reports of ICE knocking on Hmong and Asian American doors. - Guillaume: Expressed strong support for protecting St. Paul as a welcoming city and proposed four specific restrictions: no city property usage for immigration enforcement, no SPPD involvement in crowd control for ICE, no unidentified law enforcement activities, and a requirement for the Mayor to authorize any SPPD deployment in riot gear for these activities. - Barbara Sibley: Urged the Council to take swift action to upgrade the separation ordinance, specifically recommending prohibiting the St. Paul Police Department from providing security or crowd control during immigration enforcement and citing the use of chemical agents on November 11th as a reason for urgency. - Nancy Kafka: Asked factual questions regarding the deployment of the National Guard, Home Field usage, and city authority over ICE activities near the Minnesota Army National Guard Station, noting observations of tactical gear and unmarked vehicles. - Jamie Daniels: Expressing full opposition to federal agents endangering the community, called on the Council to immediately hold the police force accountable for allowing police assistance with federal agents. Ms. Daniels characterized any delay as an "act on the side of fascism." - Rebecca Church: Expressed concern for the safety of immigrant families in the community and asked what active measures the city would take to protect residents from ICE actions, citing the tragedy in Minneapolis. - Betsy Werwine: As a non-violent observer, provided testimony regarding an HSI vehicle spotted at a separate St. Paul Police incident and questioned why St. Paul is utilizing Homeland Security Investigation agents. Ms. Werwine submitted written documentation and stated that police officers made false statements to observers. - Steve Smith: Expressed support for stronger municipal protections beyond the current ordinance, urging the adoption of measures including prohibiting city cooperation absent a judicial warrant, banning massed or unidentified enforcement, cutting funding for detention, and directing the City Attorney to investigate applicable city laws regardless of the actor. - Mark Schneider (Unidos): Confirmed that Unidos is urging the Council to adopt a separation ordinance with four key elements: no use of city properties/data, no SPPD crowd control for ICE, no unidentified enforcement, and a requirement for the Mayor to authorize riot gear deployment. - Council Members' Response to Public Comments: - Council Vice President Kim: Expressed solidarity with the community, stating that ICE's presence creates chaos and is not solving a problem. She acknowledged the "murder of our constitutional observer" as a common occurrence for community observers and noted an active DOJ investigation regarding a previous HSI shooting. - Councilmember Yang: Expressed deep gratitude for the testimony and the bravery shown by residents. She characterized the public hearing as an unconventional but necessary step to create a space for those most affected. She confirmed the work on the separation ordinance is proceeding with urgency. - Councilmember Coleman: Expressed gratitude for the community's resistance and the collective work of the Council. She noted that the separation ordinance is "step one" and emphasized the need for swift action and the continuation of mutual aid efforts. - Councilmember Bowie: Echoed remarks on the necessity of the public hearing and shared her office's plan to review police oversight policies with the P.A.R.C. and Minnesota Post Board to strengthen accountability and create a safety plan. - Councilmember Joast: Expressed full support for the Council's unified stance that ICE is not welcome and is not adding to the community. She noted the Council's commitment to doing everything within city power despite federal jurisdiction limits. - Council President Acre: Expressed gratitude for the shared feelings of loss and courage, noting that staff were working on the separation ordinance draft even on New Year's Eve. Discussion Items - Resolution 26-50 (Reconsidered): The Council reconsidered and ultimately adopted (6-0) Resolution 26-50, declaring January 10, 2026, as "Dr. Puijong Day" in the City of St. Paul to celebrate the 25+ years of service of Dr. Puijong and the St. Paul Family Medical Center. Dr. Puijong, who is a first Hmong woman physician in the U.S., gave remarks about her 30-year residence in St. Paul and her commitment to community health. She invited the public to a celebration on Saturday, January 10, from 12 to 5 PM. - Ordinance 26-1 (First Reading): Staff Director Jay Wilms reported on a proposal to codify the position of Director of Operations within the Office of the City Council. Director Wilms stated that "de facto authority" is being turned into "accountable authority" to clarify operational decision-making, policy authority, and budget authority without granting political authority or overriding legislative judgment. Councilmember Bowie requested clarification on the definition of "approval" regarding legislative aid personnel. The motion was supported by Councilmembers who noted it formalizes existing work. The item was laid over to January 14th for second reading. - Resolution 26-8 (Public Hearing): The Council adopted (6-0) a resolution to vacate public right-of-way in and around Miriam Park. - Resolution RLHRR25-33 (Legislative Hearing): The Council held a public hearing on the order to remove or raise and remove a CVS property at 810 Maryland Avenue East. - Representative for CVS (Adam Niblick): Requested 120 days (until May 7, 2026) to coordinate the lease termination and demolition with a new tenant (potentially McDonald's). He argued that a 15-day order would frustrate the transaction. He stated the building is currently fenced and maintained. - Community Testimony (Face to Face Health, Payne Failing Community Council): Community members expressed support for demolition but raised concerns about the timeline, safety of removal, and future development. They questioned the need for a four-month extension and emphasized the loss of opportunity for affordable housing at the site. - Legislative Hearing Officer Recommendation: Originally recommended a 15-day order. However, after hearing from the community and the property owner's plan, Councilmember Yang proposed an amendment to grant until March 1, 2026, as a compromise to allow the transaction to proceed while maintaining urgency. Councilmember Coleman supported the amendment, noting frustration that this is the second CVS nuisance case involving significant harm to the city. Councilmember Bowie supported the amendment, emphasizing the potential for future development if the transaction is successful. - Outcome: The Council adopted (6-0) the resolution as amended, requiring the raising or removal of the structure by March 1, 2026. Councilmember Coleman expressed hope that this is the last time the Council must deal with a CVS property as a nuisance. Key Outcomes - Separation Ordinance Update: The Council unanimously agreed on the urgency of strengthening the separation ordinance regarding ICE. A formal discussion and presentation are scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 10:00 AM in the Policy Committee. A public community hearing on the separation ordinance is scheduled for Thursday, January 8, at 6:00 PM at the Indigenous Roots Cultural Center. - New Appointments: Irene Gao was sworn in as City Attorney. Several additional mayoral appointees (Senior Assistant Mayor, Executive Assistant, and others) were also approved. - Dr. Puijong Day: The Council officially declared January 10, 2026, as Dr. Puijong Day to honor her service to the Hmong and East Side communities. - Nuisance Abatement: The CVS property at 810 Maryland Avenue East is ordered to be raised or removed by March 1, 2026. - Legislative Layover: Ordinance 26-1 (codifying the Director of Operations role) is laid over to January 14 for second reading. - Good News: The Halle Sue Brown Library temporary location soft opened on January 3, with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Friday. The Groveland ice rink is operational but currently closed due to warm weather.

This summary is based solely on the agenda for a meeting that, according to the agenda, was scheduled for February 2, 2026. Per instructions, the date used here is December 31, 2025, creating a discrepancy. No transcript or minutes were provided, so only the items listed on the agenda can be reported. No decisions, testimony, or discussion outcomes are available. Agenda Items (as listed) - Bronze Line Locally Preferred Alternative – Presented by Craig Lamothe (Metro Transit) and Bill Dermody (Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development). - Larpenteur Avenue MCARE Project – Presented by Alan Maxwell (Ramsey County). - Earl Street Recommendation – No presenter listed. Note No public comments, discussion, or votes are documented. The meeting time on the agenda was 4:30–6:00 p.m., while the required date/time for this summary is 10:30 a.m. on December 31, 2025. All details are unconfirmed beyond the agenda.

December 31, 2025 This meeting was convened on the date provided, though the agenda lists the meeting as scheduled for Monday, January 5, 2026 (4:30–6:00 p.m.). No minutes or transcript are available; only the agenda is supplied. The following items were on the agenda: Discussion Items - Department of Public Works Five Year Capital Plan – Presented by Anne Weber (Public Works). No additional details are recorded. - Earl Street Recommendation Letter – No additional details are recorded. Key Outcomes No decisions, votes, or outcomes are documented due to the absence of minutes or a transcript. The next Transportation Committee meetings are noted as February 2 (year not specified) and a future date left blank.

The St. Paul Planning Commission convened on January 9, 2026, to approve past minutes, honor the outgoing service of Commissioner Risberg, and process zoning requests for 42 Water Street and 500 Broadway. The primary focus of the meeting was a comprehensive presentation by the Planning Director regarding a major structural reform reducing the commission from 21 members to 7 regular members plus 2 alternates, eliminating standing subcommittees (Zoning and Neighborhood Planning Committee), and moving meetings to Council Chambers to improve accessibility. Commissioners expressed strong support for the efficiency gains and transparency of the new structure but voiced significant concerns regarding the potential loss of diverse representation, the reduction of community exposure to city government, and the need for intentional outreach to maintain diversity. Consent Calendar - The minutes from the November 14th and November 5th, 2025 meetings were moved by Commissioner Holt, seconded by Commissioner Riley, and approved unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments or testimony were recorded in the transcript for this section. Discussion Items - Honorary Resolution for Commissioner Risberg: Chair Grill proposed an honorary resolution thanking Commissioner Risberg for his service since 2017, noting his instrumental role as chair of the Transportation Committee and his efforts to empower fellow commissioners. Commissioner Risberg accepted the resolution, expressing gratitude and pride in the commission's direction. Commissioner Holt moved to approve the resolution, which was seconded by Commissioner Starling and passed unanimously despite one abstention noted by the Chair during the vote count process. - Zoning Committee Report: Commissioner Holt noted the next meeting is January 15th. Commissioner Riley requested information on the disposition of the Earl/Forest discussion; the Director clarified that a resolution was planned but the final outcome was not yet known. Chair Grill suggested that the Bronze Line (formerly the Purple Line/Red Line) update and the Earl/Forest resolution should formally come to the full commission at a future meeting. - Planning Director's Structural Reform Announcement: The Director outlined a unanimous ordinance change passed by City Council to modernize the commission. Key proposals included: - Reducing membership from 21 to 7 regular members (plus 2 alternates) to be achieved through attrition. - Eliminating the Neighborhood Planning Committee (CNPC) and Zoning Committee, merging their business directly into the full commission to prevent sequestered discussions. - Moving all meetings to Council Chambers starting February 20th to improve audio/visual accessibility and public participation. - Shifting appointment authority from the Commission Chair to the Mayor's Office for standardization. - Implementing one-page public hearing lists to improve transparency over the current Granicus matrix. - Commissioner Holly expressed concern that the reduction to 7 members might lead to a loss of diversity and suggested tapping District Councils for ad-hoc committees to maintain diverse voices. - Commissioner Ruth agreed, emphasizing the loss of the "stepping stone" opportunity for civic engagement and the need to ensure varied backgrounds are represented. - Commissioner Riley suggested separating public hearings from votes on complex items to allow for reflection and noted the low hourly remuneration ($8/hr) might need review. - Commissioner Hall endorsed the idea of assuming all hearings take two meetings to ensure residents feel heard and supported. - The Director agreed to explore a 3:30 PM Thursday time slot, potentially moving from the current 8:30 AM Friday schedule to improve accessibility for working parents, though the current date remains fixed for the immediate next meeting. - Open Meeting Laws: Commissioner Holly raised questions about the legality of virtual briefings and ad-hoc committees under Minnesota Open Meeting Laws. The Director confirmed that 1-on-1 calls do not violate the law, but ad-hoc committees cannot exceed 3 commissioners in number to avoid forming an unlawful quorum, and all staff will consult the City Attorney as needed. Key Outcomes - Approval of Minutes: Minutes for Nov 5 and Nov 14, 2025, were approved unanimously. - Honorary Resolution: Passed unanimously (with one abstention noted in the vote count) to honor Commissioner Risberg. - Action Items: - The Planning Commission will transition to a 7+2 member structure effective via attrition, with new bylaws under review by the City Attorney. - A move to Council Chambers is targeted for February 20th. - The Director will consult with the new Assistant Mayor (Nick Dumoulin) regarding the Mayor's Office appointment structure. - The Transportation Committee will continue with reduced membership and will forward the Bronze Line update and potentially an Earl/Forest resolution to the full commission. - The Director will contact commissioners regarding term expirations and will coordinate with District Councils to improve the ecosystem of community engagement.