Public Meetings - St Paul, Minnesota

The Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission met on November 25, 2025, at 10:30 AM. No transcript or minutes were available for this meeting. The agenda listed two presentations from Public Works staff. Note: The agenda provided by the city indicates the meeting was scheduled for December 1, 2025, at 4:30 PM; the date and time used here are per the user's instruction. Discussion Items - Bikeway Corridor Concept Study – Jimmy Shoemaker (Public Works) presented a concept study for a bikeway corridor. No further discussion details are available. - Payne Avenue Pedestrian Intersection Improvements – Laura Krause (Public Works) presented proposed pedestrian intersection improvements on Payne Avenue. No further discussion details are available. Key Outcomes No outcomes or actions were recorded due to the absence of meeting minutes or transcript.

This meeting focused on extending developer timelines for four affordable housing projects, reviewing the progress and expansion of the State Promise Act Grant Program, and proposing a detailed framework for a new $5 million Downtown Vitality Fund to stimulate housing and retail development. The council received updates on the 2026 HRA budget proposals, discussing specific funding sources, departmental transfers, and program adjustments. Consent Calendar - No consent calendar items were presented or voted on during this transcript. Public Comments & Testimony - Shahir Ahmed (Neighborhood Development Center): Represented NDC, detailing the administration of the Promise Act Grants. He expressed that the first round was highly competitive (20% of applicants selected) but successful in supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs. He noted the program faced challenges with a "digital design divide" where many applicants struggled to upload required documents, necessitating significant technical assistance. He expressed support for the continued expansion of the program into Round 2 and requested council support in promoting the cycle. - Lakshmi Rao (Council Member/Community Member - Inferred Context): Expressed concern regarding the clarity of eligibility geography, specifically for the West Side, noting confusion among business owners. She advocated for better communication strategies to ensure eligible businesses are informed. She expressed support for the program but highlighted the need to identify alternative community hubs (like the Halley Q Brown library relocation) to replace the temporary loss of library computer labs used for application support. - Commissioner Yang: Expressed curiosity and support for seeing granular data breakdowns by ward (specifically Ward 6/East Side and University Avenue) to better encourage local applicants. She stated that the current communication efforts are insufficient and requested a breakdown of eligible applications by specific geography to aid in outreach. - Commissioner Naker: Expressed strong support for the business assistance aspects of the grant program and emphasized the importance of maintaining public spaces like libraries for applicant support. She advocated for facilitating follow-ups to ensure continuous access to resources during library redevelopment. Discussion Items - Extension Requests for Tentative Developer Status (TDS): Staff presented requests to extend TDS for four projects: The Hams Project, Gloryville, Face-to-Face, and the Rondo Community Land Trust (1036 Marshall). - Staff Position: The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) staff argued that the extensions are necessary because the primary barrier to completion is the competitive timeline of securing deferred funding from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). They stated that while developers are making significant progress on pre-development milestones (design, environmental, community engagement), the capital stack cannot be finalized without MHFA awards. - Commissioner Naker's Position: Expressed full support for the extensions but raised a concern regarding the lack of rigorous "checkpoints." She requested assurance that the board would implement stricter milestones after an extension to prevent indefinite delays, noting the difficulty of building in the current climate. - Director McBann/HRA Staff Response: Clarified that extensions are contingent on meeting specific benchmarks and that the current extensions (18 months for three projects, 12 for Rondo) are based on the expectation that MHFA funding awards in December will allow projects to close within the proposed timeframe. - Promise Act Grant Program (Round 1 & 2): Shahir Ahmed (NDC) provided a status update on the state grant program. - Staff Position: NDC reported that Round 1 awarded $9.5 million to 652 entrepreneurs (20% selection rate) and is currently in Round 2. They noted that new legal changes increased the threshold for ineligibility in Round 2, particularly regarding tax documentation. They proposed a self-check tool to filter applicants before they invest time in the portal. - Commissioner Bowie's Position: Asked for clarification on why South Minneapolis outperformed North Minneapolis in application numbers. She expressed support for the program and highlighted the community's need for these funds. - Commissioner Naker's Position: Inquired about the specific geographic boundaries of the West Side eligibility, noting constituent confusion. She expressed support for increasing communication to ensure eligible businesses apply. - Commissioner Yang's Position: Expressed support for the program but requested specific data on application rates by ward to improve targeted outreach efforts. - 2026 HRA Budget Proposal: Director McMahon presented the HRA budget recommendations and funding source changes. - Staff Position: Proposed shifting District Council funding from CDBG (federal source) to local HRA sources to reduce compliance burdens. Proposed reallocating LAHA funds for downtown office-to-housing conversions and increasing funding for commercial corridors. The staff indicated a desire to be realistic about 2026 spending on affordable housing subsidies, deferring significant acquisition to 2027. - Commissioner Naker's Position: Expressed strong support for the budget changes, particularly the removal of federal strings from District Council funding and the retention of full funding for commercial corridors. She commended the leadership for ensuring downtown housing dollars are tied to a specific program to ensure they are spent. - Commissioner Kim's Position: Expressed gratitude for the budget work, noting that her priorities were included and that he appreciated the teamwork in solving funding gaps. - Downtown Vitality Fund Proposal: Commissioner Naker proposed a specific program structure for the $5 million allocated to downtown vitality. - Commissioner Naker's Position: Proposed a program allocating $3 million for new housing development (at $10,000 per unit) and $2 million for street-level retail (structured as a forgivable loan). She argued that this approach is necessary to ensure the money is spent quickly and to catalyze both residential and commercial activity. She expressed flexibility, stating that if one pool is exhausted, funds could shift to the other to ensure the $5 million is utilized. - Commissioner Yang's Position: Expressed support for the proposal but raised a critical concern regarding LAHA restrictions, noting that only 1.25 million of the housing funds could be used for non-affordable (market-rate) units. She emphasized the need for coordination between the Downtown Alliance and the Planning and Economic Development (PED) team to avoid duplicating efforts and to ensure compliance. She supported the pilot nature of the fund. - Commissioner Bowie's Position: Expressed enthusiastic support for the

The Finance and Budget Committee convened to review the 2025 year-end financial projections and the Chair's proposed budget amendments for the upcoming 2026 fiscal cycle. Staff reported a projected one-time general fund deficit of $8.4 million driven primarily by a $7.5 million one-time lawsuit payment and $2.7 million in costs related to a recent cyber incident. Committee members discussed the implications of these extraordinary costs, the effectiveness of the current hiring and spending waiver, and the potential for state reimbursement. Consent Calendar - No explicit consent calendar items were listed in the transcript; the meeting proceeded directly to the presentation of financial projections. Public Comments & Testimony - Council President Maker: Expressed strong support for the unprecedented transparency and inclusivity of the current budget process, commending the Chair and staff for maintaining a timeline and allowing public deliberation on amendments. - Councilmember Johnson: Expressed concern regarding the treatment of recent budget variances as "one-off" anomalies, noting recurring overspending issues in public safety departments and calling for better planning for future litigation and emergency responses. - Councilmembers (General): No external public testimony was recorded from non-council members; all comments originated from committee members. Discussion Items - 2025 Financial Projections: Madeline Mitchell (Budget Manager, OFS) presented that the city faces an $8.4 million deficit. This includes a $1.5 million portion of the $2.7 million cyber incident costs in the general fund and a $7.5 million lawsuit payment. Mitchell noted that without these two items, the city would be budget balanced by $617,000. - Departmental Variances: - The General Government account is projected overspent by $6.3 million, primarily due to the lawsuit payment. - Parks is projected overspent by nearly $3 million, driven by copper wire theft repairs for street lighting, summer storms, and safety costs. - Police is projected overspent by $2.5 million (adjusted to $1.5 million after a pending amendment) due to supplies and ammunition. - Emergency Management is projected overspent due to extended operations during the cyber incident. - Councilmember Johnson stated that the recurring nature of these overspends suggests a systemic issue rather than an anomaly, while Mitchell argued the lawsuit and cyber incident were unprecedented one-time events. - Funding Solutions: - OFS indicated they are actively pursuing state reimbursement for up to 75% of cyber incident costs, expected to be $2 million to $2 million of the $2.7 million total. - Mitchell stated no formal budget amendments are currently requested from the council to close the gap, relying instead on administrative moves of expenses to grants and special funds. - Chair's 2026 Budget Amendments: Chair Cam presented a consensus amendment package totaling $4.1 million in uses and sources, aiming to restore frontline services including firefighters, rec centers, libraries, and district council funding. - Amendments Presented: Council members proposed various amendments to restore funding or add oversight, including: - Councilmember Yang: Proposed increasing funding for the Immigrant Defense Fund and New American Loan Program ($300k) and retaining parking enforcement officers (+6 officers). - Councilmember Coleman: Proposed hiring a community prosecutor for the City Attorney's office and funding an I-94 rethinking study ($50k). - Councilmember Joost & others: Proposed restoring funding for the Public Works robotic painter and mill/overlay funds. - Councilmember Bowie: Proposed oversight resolutions for the Rondo Library renovation, new funding for Ujama Place, and council oversight of Opioid Settlement Funds. - Councilmember Johnson: Expressed support for eliminating long-vacant positions and proposed lowering the levy further if unused dollars arise. Key Outcomes - Deficit Confirmation: The committee accepted the $8.4 million one-time general fund deficit projection for 2025. - Amendment Process: The Chair outlined the process for submitting resolutions to Legistar by the following week, requiring at least four supporting council members, with a final vote scheduled for December 3, 2025. - Consensus on Chair's Plan: The Chair's initial amendment package, balancing $4.1 million in uses and sources to restore critical services, was presented with broad consensus. - Next Steps: The committee will review all submitted amendments and prepare for the final budget and levy adoption on December 3rd. - Reporting Mechanisms: Councilmember Johnson proposed embedding quarterly budget-to-actual reporting requirements for the city and Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) into the final budget resolution.

The St. Paul City Council convened on November 19, 2025, with Council President Naker presiding. The meeting featured the adoption of various ordinances for the World Junior Hockey Championship, the banning of virtual currency kiosks, and significant public testimony regarding river corridor development and a fire-damaged mosque. Councilmember Nelson Yang, returning from maternity leave, was appointed to additional boards. A majority of routine items were passed unanimously, while key items regarding the Mississippi River Corridor, a vacant building, and the Port Authority budget were continued to December 3rd for further deliberation. Consent Calendar - Resolution 25-1752: Laid over until December 3rd (technical item). - Item 10: Withdrawn. - Ordinance 25-63: Adopted to allow garbage cart sharing at properties with two or more dwelling units. - Ordinance 25-66: Adopted to establish regulations for cannabis and hemp business registration. - Ordinance 25-67: Adopted to adjust park hours for the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship. - Ordinance 25-68: Adopted to allow items in the right-of-way for downtown entertainment district businesses during the championship. - Ordinance 25-69: Adopted to remove sound level variance requirements in the downtown entertainment district during the championship. - Ordinance 25-70: Adopted to allow extended alcohol service hours (until 2 a.m.) in the downtown entertainment district during the championship. - Ordinance 25-71: Adopted to simplify temporary structure permit requirements during the championship. - Resolution 25-232: Adopted to correct a bond proceeds transfer for fighter cardiac monitors. - Resolution 25-250: Adopted to amend the Parks and Recreation spending plan ($195,597.33) for Taylor Park improvements. - Resolution 25-251: Adopted to amend budgets for the Green Energy Program. - Resolution 25-256: Adopted to amend a joint powers agreement for hazardous materials response and the Fire Department spending plan. - Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda (Items 32-44): Adopted as amended. Public Comments & Testimony - Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) Hearing: - Capitol River Council, St. Paul Area Chamber, Ramsey County, and others: Expressed full support for exempting the urban core from height restrictions and conditional use permit (CUP) requirements. They argued that the current proposals would delay vital downtown redevelopment (specifically River's Edge) and hinder the city's economic goals. Position: "Downtown St. Paul needs to be a 'yes city' and should not reinvent the wheel by imposing restrictive language." - Sustained St. Paul: Opposed the Planning Commission's proposed setback height limits in the urban core, stating they are "unnecessarily baroque" and hard to calculate. They expressed support for aligning the ordinance with city staff's original recommendations to ensure development occurs without excessive regulatory barriers. - Friends of the Mississippi River & St. Paul Bird Alliance: Expressed full support for restoring bird-safe glass language from the 2023 draft. They argued that the proposed study to replace this language is a delay tactic and expressed concern over the high rate of avian window strikes. - Jane Prince, Kathy Glover, Wendy Noor, Colleen O'Connor Toberman, Daniel Kennedy, Braden Holmes, Tom Diamond: Expressed support for strong environmental protections, bird-safe measures, and maintaining historic parkland views. Position: "We must not sell out the environment for overdevelopers." - Joe Byrle, John Fury: Expressed support for amendments enabling more housing and development downtown, stating the city needs more residents to be economically resilient. - John Perlich (Chamber of Commerce): Expressed strong opposition to height limits in the urban core, noting that they would undermine the city's goal of adding 20,000 residents and creating a tax base. - John Fury: Expressed support for the vision of the River's Edge development but noted concerns about the complexity of the regulatory process. - 430 Dale Street North (Tawhid Islamic Center) Hearing: - Amano Dube, Omar Robe (Property Owners/Representatives): Expressed a clear intent to restore the building but stated they are legally prohibited from making repairs due to ongoing insurance litigation regarding a 2023 fire. Position: "We ask for a layover until the court process concludes" to avoid undermining their legal claim for damages. - Jay Lanius (Care of Minnesota): Supported the property owners, arguing that the city should not use land use laws to harm a minority religious community still healing from a hate-motivated attack. - Anita Alexander (Camper Memorial United Methodist ChurchNeighbor): Expressed strong opposition to the current state of the property, stating that neighbors have been forced to perform cleanup tasks. Position: "We support the raising and removal of the property" because the owners have not maintained the site. - Malik Davis, Michael Wright, David Abdi: Mixed positions. Some expressed concern that demolition before insurance settlement is a financial loss, while others expressed support for abatement due to safety hazards (needles, human waste) and blight. Discussion Items - Virtual Currency Kiosk Ban (Ordinance 25-76): Council President Naker led the discussion, expressing support for the ban due to the predatory nature of the kiosks affecting low-income and senior communities. Ms. Coleman expressed support and thanked legislative aid Megan Jackett and community member Tim Plunkett. Ms. Joest expressed support, noting the kiosks serve no clear purpose for residents and are concentrated near seniors. Vice President Kim expressed support for the ban as a consumer protection measure. Councilmember Bowie expressed opposition to the ban as a sole measure, stating that criminal behavior would simply relocate to neighboring cities. Ms. Johnson expressed enthusiasm for the cross-city collaboration model. - Port Authority Budget Presentation: Todd Hurley presented the 2026 budget, requesting a $250,000 increase to the mandatory operating levy funded by returned Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue. Councilmembers Yang and Johnson expressed support for the request, highlighting the Port Authority's role as an economic engine and the necessity of the investment to maintain operations despite inflation. - Personnel Reporting Ordinance (25-78): Mr. Greenfield presented a first reading for quarterly vacancy and overtime reporting. Councilmembers Johnson and Yang raised concerns regarding the timeline of the reports (starting October 2027), noting it may be too late to influence future budget cycles. The council agreed to lay the item over for a public hearing and potential amendments. - Mississippi River Corridor (Ordinance 25-72): Heavy discussion regarding height limits in the urban core and the replacement of "bird-safe glass" language with a one-year study. Councilmember Johnson expressed distrust of a study initiated without immediate action, calling it a potential delay tactic. Councilmember Yang expressed empathy for the environmental concerns but noted the study is underway. The motion was made to continue the public hearing. - 430 Dale Street North (Raising/Removal): Discussion centered on the fire-damaged Tawhid Islamic Center. Councilmember Bowie moved to require an inspection, performance deposit, and nuisance abatement plan before demolition. Councilmembers Johnson, Vice President Kim, and Council President Naker expressed support for the layover to allow for a demonstration of good faith (inspections, maintenance) while acknowledging the ongoing insurance litigation. The final position was to grant a layover with specific contingencies. Key Outcomes - Adopted Ordinances: - Garbage cart sharing (25-63). - Cannabis/Hemp regulations (25-66). - Five ordinances facilitating the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship (25-67 through 25-71). - Banning virtual currency kiosks within the City (25-76) by a vote of 6-1 (Councilmember Bowie opposed). - Adopted legislative hearing consent agenda items as amended. - Laid Over / Continued: - Resolution 25-1752: Laid over to December 3rd. - Ordinance 25-78 (Personnel Reporting): Laid over to December 3rd for public hearing. - Ordinance 25-72 (Mississippi River Corridor): Public hearing continued to December 3rd for final adoption. - Ordinance 25-77 (Garbage Rates): Public hearing closed, laid over to December 3rd for final adoption. - Resolution 25-250, 25-251, 25-256: Adopted. - 430 Dale Street North (Nuisance Abatement): Laid over until December 17th, conditional on the owner posting a performance deposit, obtaining an inspection, and submitting a nuisance abatement plan. (Vote: 7-0). - Appointments: - Councilmember Nelson Yang appointed to the St. Paul Port Authority Board (Resolution 25-1781) and Board of Water Commissioners (Resolution 25-1782) effective December 1, 2025. (Vote: 7-0). - Port Authority: The request for a $250,000 levy increase was noted and will continue through the budget process. The Port Authority budget presentation was suspended from the standard calendar and presented separately. - Good News: Council members shared updates on food pantries, community festivals, turkey giveaways, and cultural events.

The St. Paul City Council Audit Committee convened to finalize the scope of an upcoming data practices study, discuss the community engagement strategy for selecting next year's audit topics, and establish a timeline for appointing a new community advisor. The meeting began with technical difficulties regarding audio from Committee Member Dilworth but proceeded to address key agenda items involving scope refinement, stakeholder outreach, and administrative planning. Consent Calendar - No consent calendar items were discussed or approved during this session. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public provided testimony during this meeting as the agenda focused on internal committee deliberations and report updates. Discussion Items - Data Practices Study Scope of Work: Dr. Heather Brett presented a revised scope of work for an upcoming audit. The study will assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance of the City's data practices request processes, focusing on the GovQA management system and alignment with the Minnesota Data Practices Act. Key areas of inquiry include GovQA capabilities, reporting trends, resident portal user experience, staff training, and comparisons with other Minnesota jurisdictions (Hennepin, Ramsey, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Duluth). - Position: Committee Member McBay expressed the need for consultation with the State Auditor's Office. Councilmember Coleman expressed full support for the revised scope, noting it aligns well with committee goals and the need to support the new data team. Dr. Brett acknowledged feedback to include "Minnesotans for open government" in the stakeholder list and agreed to broaden the survey of frequent requesters beyond just the Department of Safety and Inspections. - Clarification: Committee member Dilworth and Councilmember Coleman discussed whether to limit stakeholder engagement to frequent requesters. McBay and Coleman suggested casting a broader net to understand the full user experience, to which Dr. Brett agreed to adjust the survey methodology. - Year-End Topic Selection (Harvest Phase): The committee discussed the strategy for soliciting audit topics from the community for 2026. Community Advisor McVeigh reported on outreach efforts to district councils, noting a lackluster response rate from several councils despite outreach, while organizations like St. Paul Strong and Insight St. Paul responded positively. McVeigh requested council member assistance in reaching unresponsive councils. - Position: Committee members agreed that council members should leverage their influence to engage unresponsive district councils. McVeigh proposed an "audit fair" concept modeled after Seattle to increase public engagement, which the committee agreed to consider adding to their list of ideas. - Timeline: The committee agreed to bring a list of topics back at the December 16th meeting to narrow down to four candidates for risk analysis. - Community Advisor Appointment: The committee discussed the timeline to fill the vacancy left by Ms. McVeigh (formerly Mr. Farnsworth). Staff proposed a two-week posting period ending December 3rd. - Position: Multiple members expressed concern that a two-week posting would be insufficient due to the upcoming holidays. Councilmember Coleman and the Chair supported extending the posting period to four or five weeks to ensure a qualified application pool and adequate review time. - Decision: The committee agreed to extend the application window, tentatively setting the due date to January 5th, with interviews scheduled for January 20th and a potential seating by March. It was also decided to combine the topic solicitation and advisor appointment posts for a single announcement. Key Outcomes - Scope Finalization: Dr. Brett to revise the scope document to explicitly include "Minnesotans for open government" as a stakeholder and broaden the survey targets beyond the Department of Safety and Inspections. The scope is approved for the next step. - Engagement Strategy: The committee will direct council members to assist in contacting unresponsive district councils regarding the 2026 topic selection. - Appointment Timeline: The committee voted to extend the community advisor application deadline to January 5th to account for the holiday season, with interviews planned for January 20th. A joint press release promoting both the topic selection survey and the open seat will be drafted to be released by the end of the week. - Reporting: The next meeting is scheduled for December 16th to review the harvested audit topics.

The November 17, 2025, City Council meeting focused on approving two Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) from the Zoning Committee, addressing procedural improvements for future decision-making, and introducing a new digital permit tracking system. While routine announcements were brief and the Consent Calendar was skipped, the session included substantive deliberation on zoning recommendations, a motion to reopen the public record to admit a District Council letter, and a major proposal to restructure the Planning Commission. Consent Calendar - No items were approved; the minute from November 14 was skipped and added to a future agenda. Public Comments & Testimony - District Council Letter: Commissioner Riley moved to open the public record specifically to read a letter from the Payneval and Community Council into the record. The Board of Directors of the Council expressed enthusiastic support for the CUP application for 1003 Arcade Street and expressed gratitude for the applicant's resourcefulness in creating shared parking agreements. - Commissioner Martinson: Expressed concern that the land use strategies of the Arcade Street Small Area Plan were irrelevant to the parcel and noted that other comprehensive plan policies (Policy 35 regarding multifamily housing) appeared inconsistent with the proposed use. - Commissioner Riley: Stated a position that the committee should have considered the Comprehensive Plan's goals for additional housing along Arcade Street more broadly, though expressed no desire to hold up the small business owner. - Commissioner Tagyef: Clarified that while the zoning analysis cited economic development strategies appropriately, the land use strategies were not encompassing of the property under consideration. Discussion Items - 1003 Arcade Street CUP: Commissioners discussed the maximum occupancy (anticipated to be 150 vs. 100), with the Director noting that a Fire Marshal ruling would supersede Council decisions if they differed. Commissioner Martinson questioned the reliance on policies that did not explicitly align with the zoning analysis. A motion was made to reopen the record to admit a letter from the District Council supporting the project. - 226 Summit Avenue CUP: Commissioner Tagyef proposed amending the findings in the staff report to rebase the comprehensive plan justification from Policy LU-26 (downtown designation) to Policy LU-7 (zoning flexibility for unique structures). The amendment was supported as it better reflected the property's unique status as the former Archbishop's residence. - Planning Commission Restructuring: The Director presented a proposal to reduce the Planning Commission from 21 members to 7 (one per ward) plus two at-large alternates and to eliminate subcommittees (Zoning and CNPC), merging their functions into the full commission to improve efficiency and transparency. Commissioners expressed strong support for the reduction in commissioner numbers, citing the impracticality of a large body, the benefit of hearing testimony directly without translation, and the increased accessibility for individuals with time constraints or family obligations. Commissioner Martinson raised the question of relocating the Transportation Committee to Public Works, which the Director noted was currently staffed by Planning but could be a future discussion. - Polly System: The Director demonstrated the new "Polly" online platform for searching permits, licenses, and inspections, generally supporting it as a tool for greater public transparency and tracking of application status. Key Outcomes - 1003 Arcade Street CUP: The record was opened to admit the District Council letter; the public record was then closed. The council approved the motion to adopt the zoning committee's recommendation, granting a CUP for a rental hall and event center subject to conditions regarding a parking/transportation plan and accessible parking. - 226 Summit Avenue CUP: The staff report's finding (Finding B) was amended to cite Policy LU-7 regarding zoning flexibility. The council approved the motion to grant a CUP for the reuse of the structure for "Leaflet Missal," a religious goods retailer, subject to signage limits and specific delivery vehicle routing. - Planning Commission Restructuring: The proposal was reviewed and supported by the council as a concept to be moved to City Council for legislative action, with an anticipated first reading on the upcoming Wednesday (November 19) and a public hearing scheduled subsequently, with a final decision targeted for January 7. - System Implementation: The Director confirmed the "Polly" system is live at St. Paul.gov/Polly, with full staff implementation led by GSI.

The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) convened a meeting to address administrative budget amendments for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, approve a loan extension for Ramsey Hill Apartments, and introduce a temporary TIF spending plan amendment. The meeting also featured an announcement regarding the launch of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. Commissioner Kim was absent. Consent Calendar - Resolution 25-1725: The HRA unanimously approved an administrative amendment to the budget for the Osceola Park TIF District plan. The amendment aligns the HRA budget with actual spending on pledged tax increments, noting that more funds must be allocated to interest payments than originally projected due to lower-than-expected tax increment collections, while the principal remains outstanding per the limited pledge note obligations. - Resolution 25-1726: The HRA unanimously approved a similar administrative amendment for the Shepard-Davern Senior Rental Housing District (Housing TIF District 3). This amendment increases the interest budget allocation by $160,000 to align with 90% of the collected increments being sent to the note holder. - Resolution 25-1749: The HRA unanimously approved authorizing the extension of the CDBG loan term and affordability requirements for the Ramsey Hill Apartments project through the end of 2031. Public Comments & Testimony - Chair Johnson: Stated the opening remarks of the meeting, facilitating the request for plain language explanations regarding TIF district underperformance to ensure public understanding. (Note: Public comments were not provided by external attendees; the

The City Council Budget and Finance Committee convened to review the Public Works Five Year Capital Plan (2026-2030), presented by Nick Peterson and Sean Kershaw. The presentation detailed funding sources, including street reconstruction bonds, Municipal State Aid (MSA), the Common Sense local sales tax, and external partnerships with Metro Transit and MnDOT. The committee focused heavily on the 20-year Common Sense program, the complexities of downtown utility reconstruction, and recent performance gaps in Metro Delivery Fee (TAA) revenue. Consent Calendar - No items were explicitly listed or acted upon under a consent calendar; the meeting proceeded directly to the committee presentation and discussion. Public Comments & Testimony - No separate public comment session was recorded in the transcript; the discussion focused on Council Member questions and public works staff responses. Discussion Items - Funding Sources and Strategies: - Street Reconstruction Bonds: Identified as a primary source, providing $3.15 million annually for residential mill and overlay, totaling $15.5 million over the five-year period, with funds judiciously carried over. - Municipal State Aid (MSA): Primarily funded by state gas tax and license tab renewals. Staff confirmed MSA funds must adhere to specific routes and standards based on municipality size and infrastructure needs. - Common Sense (Local Option Sales Tax): A 0.75% tax approved in 2023 for a 20-year program. Staff explained that while the goal is one mile per project per season, staff capacity limits delivery to approximately three projects annually. Council Member Jones expressed strong support for building internal staff capacity to reduce reliance on consultants, to which Council Vice President Kershaw agreed, noting a "sprint" phase requires consultants but long-term strategy aims for in-house expertise. - Transportation Advancement Account (TAA): Council Member Johnson raised concerns about TAA revenue performance. Staff confirmed the program is not meeting expectations, with anticipated $740,000 revenue projected to be only around $400,000 this year. Staff attributed this to conservative budgeting and acknowledged the shortfall hinders leveragable federal funding. - Project Specifics and Challenges: - Downtown Reconstruction: Nick Peterson described downtown reconstruction (e.g., Robert Street) as exceptionally complex due to aging, undocumented utilities. Staff member Ann Weber confirmed Ground Penetrating Radar and potholing are utilized to map these utilities before excavation. - Metro Transit Collaboration: A unique partnership was highlighted for Selby Avenue between Snelling and Summit, where Metro Transit will perform mill and overlay work using special funding deadlines, while the city handles concrete work in 2027 to align with transit routes. - Solar Lighting Pilot: The Pleasant Avenue project was identified as a pilot for solar lighting, funded by a partnership with a university and the Local Road Research Board to test scalability. - Railroad Crossings: The Cleveland Railroad crossing project was cited as a success story for Capital Improvement Bonds (CIB), taking approximately 10 years of funding accumulation to complete. - Business Impact Mitigation: Council Member Johnson expressed support for coordination efforts following concerns about business displacement on Grand Avenue. Staff emphasized that long-term planning, business workshops, and daily onsite coordinators (like on Grand Avenue) are critical tools more effective than financial mitigation alone. - Common Sense Program Staging: - Ruben Collins outlined the 20-year Common Sense program divided into four stages. Stage 1 (2024-2029) includes projects already prioritized or in advanced design. Stages 2-4 prioritize projects based on technical scores (35% pavement condition) but are subject to coordination with partners (MnDOT, Metro Transit) to avoid simultaneous construction on parallel detour routes. - Project Scheduling Changes: Council President and Council Member Johnson inquired about changes from the previous year's plan. Staff confirmed the primary changes include the addition of 2030 data, minor shifts of county/MnDOT projects (e.g., West 7th) to later dates, and the inclusion of pre-construction (design) funding, particularly visible in the Common Sense column. Key Outcomes - Plan Review: The committee received and discussed the draft Five-Year Capital Plan (2026-2030); the plan is scheduled for final approval by the full City Council on December 3rd. - TAA Revenue Gap: Staff confirmed a significant shortfall in Metro Delivery Fee revenue ($340,000 less than anticipated), prompting a more conservative approach to programming federal matching funds. - Strategic Agreement: The committee and staff reached a consensus on the need to balance the immediate "sprint" of using consultants for the Common Sense sprint phase with a long-term goal of increasing internal staff capacity to reduce outsourcing. - Coordination Protocols: The committee noted the department's active strategy to coordinate with MnDOT, Metro Transit, and Ramsey County to minimize construction conflicts and business disruption, with future updates on budget-to-actuals to be provided via a status report. - Pre-Construction Funding: Clarification was provided that pre-construction (soft) costs are funded within project-specific buckets (e.g., Common Sense) or internal state aid pots, though Common Sense explicitly highlights these for transparency due to the scale of consultant engagement.

This scheduled meeting, listed in the agenda as November 17, 2025, but noted by source as occurring on November 12, 2025, was a regular session of the Transportation Committee. No meeting minutes or transcript were available; the summary is based solely on the agenda. The committee considered two agenda items: a resurfacing project on St. Anthony/Rondo Avenue and an update on the Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Plan. Discussion Items - St. Anthony/Rondo Ave Resurfacing – Bryan Graveline (Public Works) presented an update on the project. No further details or discussion are available due to the absence of a transcript or minutes. - Arterial BRT Plan Update – Kyle Burrows (Metro Transit) and Anton Jerve (Planning and Economic Development) provided an update on the Arterial BRT Plan. No further details or committee deliberation are documented. Key Outcomes No votes, decisions, or formal actions were recorded. The agenda noted upcoming Transportation Committee meetings on December 1 and December 15 (the latter covering a Purple Line Update and Earl Street Reconstruction). Note: A date discrepancy was identified: the agenda lists the meeting as Monday, November 17, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., while the source material states the meeting took place on November 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. (UTC-0). This summary uses the source-provided date.