Public Meetings - St Paul, Minnesota

Date: October 2, 2026 (Agenda lists October 9, 2026 – date discrepancy noted) Scheduled Time: 8:30–11:00 a.m. This summary is based solely on the agenda, as no minutes or transcript are available. The meeting was convened with roll call, approval of prior minutes, and then proceeded through the listed items. Public Hearings - Minor Amendments to the Zoning Code: Public hearing and potential recommendation. Staff contact: Bill Dermody. Written testimony deadline was 4:00 p.m. on October 8, 2026. No details on testimony or recommendation are known. Old Business - 2516 Wabash Nonconforming Use & Variance: Proposal to relocate a nonconforming use (changing the angle of an existing billboard) and a variance to add illumination without full code conformance. Staff: Chris Hong. No outcome recorded. New Business - T District Updates: Presented by Valerie Quarles. No details provided. Site Plan Review - List of Current Applications: Staff: David Eide. Upcoming site plan review applications for future hearings were listed. No specifics given. Announcements - Remarks from the Planning Commission Chair and Planning Director. Key Outcomes - No decisions, votes, or directives are recorded. The meeting adjourned as scheduled, but any actions taken (e.g., approval of minutes, recommendations, deferrals) remain unknown due to lack of minutes or transcript.

The meeting on September 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM was created solely for video software testing and was not an actual meeting of the Saint Paul City Council. The agenda includes only a test file (RES 26-1684) and explicitly states 'THIS IS NOT A MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.' No official minutes were provided. The raw transcription contains unrelated content about recreation center incidents, which is likely part of the test data and not an actual discussion item.

The meeting was scheduled for 09:30 UTC on September 30, 2026. However, no agenda, minutes, or raw transcript were supplied. Therefore, no consent calendar, public comments, discussion items, or key outcomes can be summarized, as there is no available record of the proceedings.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no substantive summary can be produced.

The Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board of Commissioners met Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, with all seven commissioners present. The board adopted five resolutions by unanimous 7-0 votes, held public hearings on The Hamm Building and Village on Rivoli, and received a staff report on an HRA fund transfer to the Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity. The HRA recessed until 2:30 p.m.; Commissioner Saura Jost was absent at reconvening and arrived at 2:32 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 2:57 p.m. Discussion Items - RES 26-1536 – Tentative developer designation for 0 Jackson Street (District 6, Ward 5): Commissioner HwaJeong Kim moved approval to designate DC Commercial and JB Vang, or an affiliated entity controlled by them, as tentative developer of 0 Jackson Street. The resolution was adopted 7-0. - RES 26-1604 – 2027 maximum HRA property tax levy (citywide): Director McMahon reported that Minnesota law allows the HRA to levy up to 0.0185% of the city's total estimated market value. The 2026 levy was the maximum allowed; the 2027 action continues that maximum, resulting in a 1.2% HRA levy increase with a total dollar increase stated as approximately $77,000 (the transcript garbles the cents as '$27 and $21'). Commissioner Saura Jost moved approval; the resolution was adopted 7-0. - RES 26-1606 – Downtown Vitality Fund investment in Endicott Arcade (District 17, Ward 2): Chair Johnson said the item invests $2 million in downtown through economic development funds for the Endicott Arcade restoration and first-floor buildout and activation projects. Commissioner Rebecca Noecker expressed strong support and connected the investment to downtown momentum, including upcoming openings at Aldi, Stella, and Wabasha Park. Commissioner Molly Coleman also thanked staff and applicants. The resolution was adopted 7-0. Public Comments & Testimony - RES PH 26-270 – Conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds for The Hamm Building (408 St. Peter Street, District 17, Ward 2): Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. Joe Spencer, President of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, testified in support, calling the project a critical location and a signature building important to downtown St. Paul's population and housing goals. Commissioner Noecker also expressed support, saying the bond authorization means more people will live in downtown St. Paul and helps interweave residential, commercial, and entertainment uses. The board closed the hearing and adopted the resolution 7-0. - RES PH 26-271 – Sale/conveyance to Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services for Village on Rivoli (District 5, Ward 2): No public testimony was offered. The board closed the hearing and approved the property sale/conveyance and development agreement amendment 7-0. Chair Johnson thanked Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services for years of work on the project. Staff Report: HRA Fund Transfer to HREEO - SR 26-202 – Presentation on the HRA-to-HREEO transfer: Director Ledger presented on the recurring transfer supporting small business contracting with the city. She described procurement and contract compliance work, including prevailing wage, HUD Section 3, vendor outreach/subcontracting goals for small, minority, and women-owned businesses, affirmative action/equal economic opportunity compliance, CERT certification, and the B2G Now database. Past uses included a disparity study conducted with the state of Minnesota. - She reported that 61% of city contract dollars over the past seven years went to small businesses, totaling $1.42 billion; the vendor outreach program has a 25% subcontracting goal; and the number of CERT-certified firms grew by 40% in 2025. The transfer has existed since about 2009 and was discussed as roughly $539,000 per year, funding mostly personnel (3.25 FTE, partially) plus CERT dues and database expenses. - Chair Johnson questioned whether this is a city operations expense that should move to the general fund; Director Ledger said a significant portion of the work is HRA-related but could not exactly quantify the split. Deputy Director Green said most of the funding comes from the HRA general fund. - Commissioner Noecker asked about tracking St. Paul-based businesses. Director Ledger said state law prevents extra local preference on construction projects, but the city is exploring other options and can work on tracking/reporting. - Commissioner Bowie asked about metrics and program outcomes. Director Ledger said the coordinator role has been in place about eight months, the city has not reached its ceiling, and future options include sheltered market programs and state legislative changes. Chair Johnson requested a more detailed breakdown of the $539,000 and quarterly budget-to-actuals reporting; Director Ledger agreed to provide the breakdown and coordinate with Planning and Economic Development. Key Outcomes - All five resolutions (RES 26-1536, RES 26-1604, RES 26-1606, RES PH 26-270, and RES PH 26-271) were adopted unanimously, 7-0. - Staff report SR 26-202 was received and filed. - The next HRA meeting is scheduled for October 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.; there will be no meeting on September 30, 2026 because it is a fifth Wednesday. - The meeting recessed until 2:30 p.m., reconvened, and adjourned at 2:57 p.m.

The Saint Paul Public Safety Committee convened on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 12:30 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall, to review the city's Community-First Public Safety framework through a cross-departmental summer recap. The meeting featured presentations from Parks and Recreation, Fire and EMS, the Office of Neighborhood Safety, and the Police Department. Chair Anika Bowie led the meeting; six members were present (Bowie, Coleman, Jost, Kim, Noecker, Yang) and one absent (Cheniqua Johnson, excused). The meeting lasted approximately one hour, with discussions focused on youth engagement, safety interventions, and program impacts. Consent Calendar - Approval of minutes was listed on the agenda, but no minutes were available for review, and the transcript does not indicate a formal vote on minutes; the meeting proceeded directly to the main discussion item. Public Comments & Testimony - No formal public comments were made during this meeting; the session was dedicated to departmental presentations and councilmember questions. Discussion Items - Parks and Recreation – Director Andy Rodriguez - Provided an overview of safety approaches, highlighting partnerships with police, fire, ONS, Ramsey County Sheriff, and others. - Reported 184 recreation center incident reports from May 1 to September 4; 48% were public safety-related (fights, team takeovers, disruptive behavior), and 3% involved substance use. - Discussed "team takeovers" – youth gatherings promoted via social media, often drawing attendees from suburbs (Stillwater, Burnsville, Maplewood). Described a three-event week at Frogtown and Oxford: Tuesday crowd grew to over 100 youth, with multiple fights and bear spray incidents; Thursday crowd remained below 50; Friday event was curtailed early due to flyer awareness. Staffing for Frogtown events reached 12–15 parks staff, plus ONS and Sheriff's support. - Highlighted success of aquatics team partnering with Fire Department to prevent teen takeovers at pools, resulting in significant reduction in severity and recurrence. - Announced creation of a new Parks manager position focused on youth violence prevention, public safety strategy, and the Awakenings program. - Councilmember Yang asked about timing of takeovers (often 3:30–9 PM); Councilmember Jost inquired about youth motivations, which Rodriguez attributed to social media, power in numbers, and need for redirection. - Fire and EMS – Assistant Chief Jeremiah Melquis and Deputy Chief Jamie Smith - Outlined objectives to increase fire safety awareness through public education, demonstrations, and free resources. - Described social media outreach, school visits (pre-K through 8th grade), fire drills for all schools, and Project Safe Haven – free installation of smoke alarms, CO detectors, and stovetop fire stops, prioritizing high-risk areas. - Noted that supplies for Safe Haven are funded through donations (Kiddie donated 500 smoke alarms; Red Cross provides ongoing donations) because grant funding was cut in 2026. - Discussed community events (Safe Summer Nights, National Night Out), live fire demonstrations, CPR training for city staff (completed with Public Works, Como Zoo; upcoming for Mayor's office), and EMS Academy for youth. - In response to Councilmember Kim's question about supply funding, confirmed supplies are not in city budget, relying on grants/donations. Council President Noecker asked about community-based medical education; they are offering EMR classes and CPR training. Councilmember Yang praised outreach and advocated for building these programs into the city budget, not just grant-funded projects. - Office of Neighborhood Safety – Director Toy Vixavong - Presented three divisions: Familiar Faces (outreach to unsheltered), Project Peace (youth intervention), and Neighborhood Safety Community Council. - Familiar Faces housed 7 unsheltered individuals in July and 6 in August, providing basic needs, case management, and warrant resolution. - Project Peace received 27 referrals since June 1 from Parks, Schools, Police, and Probation; works with juveniles and families, providing therapy, relocation services, and wrap-around support. Collaborating with County Attorney's office on new law (under-13 cannot be charged) since August 1. - Participated in Safe Summer Nights, teen takeover responses, street ball events; partnered with Police, Right Track, and Minnesota Trades Academy for an 8-week paid internship introducing at-risk youth to trades, with free drivers ed at completion. - Mentioned 26 applications for 2027 ONS partner grants (awarding $40,000 each); four recipients for 2026 included JK Movement and Face to Face (other two not recalled). - Councilmember Yang requested a summary of past ONS partnership results; Chair Bowie suggested annual memos for council updates. - Police Department – Commander Jeremy Ellison - Highlighted soccer programs at McDonough and Mount Air with 60 youth participating annually, building relationships. - National Night Out: over 400 events, 84,000 participants, donated over 3,000 pounds of food to Keystone Community Services. - Documented nearly 5,000 proactive contacts from June through August. - Walk to School events (11 in May, more in October), Stop For Me Pedestrian Safety campaign: over 2,500 traffic stops, but only 175 citations for fail-to-yield, focusing on education. - Child passenger safety: partnerships with Regions Hospital for quarterly car seat clinics; provides seats and education, allowing citation dismissal after training. - Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the department's community engagement and educational approach. Key Outcomes - The committee heard from all four departments and acknowledged the importance of cross-departmental collaboration. - Chair Bowie requested that ONS provide a follow-up memo summarizing past ONS partnership grants and results. - Councilmembers discussed building fire safety education programs into the city budget, rather than relying solely on grants/donations. - The committee will hold its final 2026 public safety meeting on the fourth Wednesday of October; members were invited to submit topics for 2027 to Chair Bowie or Councilmember Coleman. - The meeting adjourned after approximately one hour without formal votes or resolutions.

The Saint Paul Budget Committee, chaired by Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson, met on September 23, 2026, in Council Chambers at City Hall to review the Department of Public Works proposed 2027 budget and initiative updates. Public Works Director Barber presented the budget, answered council questions, and committed to follow-up information. The committee took no formal votes. The transcript roll call is inconsistent: it states six members present with Councilmember Bowie absent, though Councilmember Bowie appears to participate later in the discussion. Discussion Items - General fund and special funds: Director Barber said the Public Works general fund is about 17% of the Public Works budget and special funds about 83%. The proposed 2027 Public Works general fund increase is 1.6%, below 3.4% inflation, reducing real purchasing power and compounding deferred maintenance. The overall special funds change is about 4%, with enterprise funds able to raise rates while non-revenue funds face cost pressure. The adopted spending summary shows a 3.68% change from 2026 to 2027; the recycling and solid waste fund was reorganized from fund 241 to enterprise fund 645, making some comparisons misleading. Director Barber gave two slightly different winter/summer street maintenance splits: $4.9 million/$5.3 million and later $4.8 million/$5.3 million. She also explained that a 2022 court decision affected property assessments and moved street maintenance expenses to the general fund, totaling $14.1 million. - Grants and outside funding: Public Works has applied for 18 regional solicitation grants. Recent awards include about $2 million in three grants for the Sycamore Building decarbonation plan, a $15.1 million Safe Streets for All grant, and an additional $25 million in grants awarded and programmed for 2027. Decreases in city grants and general government special projects reflect ARPA timing rather than reduced grant success. About $5.4 million in ARPA funds received by Public Works are expected to be fully expended by the end of 2026. - Proposed general fund changes: The 2027 proposal eliminates the $300,000 alley improvement program, reduces sidewalk support by $500,000 to $985,000, adds $300,000 in one-time support for EAMS billing and revenue collection, shifts two Gopher State One Call FTEs from fund 230 to the general fund, makes a $600,000 one-time municipal state aid shift to street maintenance, and updates a county maintenance agreement that has not been updated since 1991. The mill and overlay proposal restores a $318,000 one-time cut and includes no additional cut; the general fund covers 75-90% of mill and overlay costs. - Sidewalk program: The sidewalk program previously received $1.485 million annually. Less than 7% of streets or sidewalks are ADA compliant, with a 60-year compliance horizon, and the city is expected to reach only 50% compliance at current funding. Director Barber said a sidewalk improvement district modeled on Rochester is being studied for a possible pilot next year, but revenue and timing are not yet known. Councilmember Coleman asked how many fewer repairs the cut would mean; Council President Noecker questioned cutting sidewalk funds before the district plan is in place. Director Barber said the cut was paired with the district proposal but revenue is not yet reflected in the budget. - Alley program: The alley improvement program was $400,000 in 2024, reduced to $300,000 in 2025, with more than 2,600 alleys and about 330 miles of alleys. Three alley projects were completed in 2025 and 2026. The 2027 proposal eliminates the program. Councilmember Yang said she supports the cut but asked for public-facing communication; Director Barber said street maintenance will still respond to pothole patch and grading needs and that assessments have not been discussed as a replacement. - Street lighting and copper wire theft: No new street lighting funding is proposed for 2027. A $750,000 Shepherd lighting program is to be installed in 2027. Director Barber described overtime efforts to fix lights, coordination with Saint Paul Police on anti-theft patrols, and possible legislative changes or district financing. Councilmember Bowie asked whether the county and state should share more of the cost; Director Barber agreed and said the issue was raised with government relations. Other year-end priorities mentioned included a scaffolding solution to reopen the Bruce Vento regional trail tunnels, Wabasha gabion wall repairs, and asphalt plant burner replacement. - FTEs and vacancies: Public Works retention is 91.84%. Vacancies are concentrated in highly specialized and seasonal positions; some service-worker jobs are intentionally kept open because they turn over frequently. Director Barber said positions and people are needed along with materials and equipment. Chair Johnson requested a complete vacancy list, including positions open before January 2026, and Director Barber pointed to appendix vacancy reports. - Technology and billing: The budget shifts three GIS analyst positions from Public Works to OTC in a budget-neutral move. Residential parking permit enrollment in the poly system was taking 30-40 minutes per resident, so staff prioritized billing and paused enforcement until catch-up is complete. Public Works is trying to catch up on billing tied to the enterprise asset management system by the first quarter of next year. Councilmember Coleman asked for parking permit revenue and cost estimates; staff said they would provide follow-up. Public Works Initiative Updates - Common Scent program: The program started in 2023; first projects were completed in 2025 on Grand Avenue, Fairview to Snelling, and Jackson Street, with University and Earl planned in 2026. Director Barber said a known funding source allows better planning. - Transportation Safety Action Plan: The plan is being updated, and the $15.1 million Safe Streets for All grant is tied to the high-injury network. Councilmember Kim noted eight pedestrian or bicyclist deaths in 2026, the most in 10 years, and asked whether a position or direct funding exists for traffic safety. Director Barber said there is no direct general fund line and safety work currently comes out of the street maintenance fund; the updated plan and grant implementation will come back for council discussion. - West 7th corridor: Public Works reconvened with MnDOT, Ramsey County, and Metro Transit and secured $13 million in state bonding for sewer utility work. MnDOT has done mill and overlay and temporary fixes, and the corridor remains a priority. - Snow operations and route optimization: The alternate-side parking research pilot report is expected by the end of 2026. The VRS snow route optimization software integration did not work as intended, but the GIS platform created for it may be used for an enterprise routing solution. Councilmember Bowie asked about technology challenges; Director Barber said the consultant is phasing out and OTC is helping vet software. Utility Rates and Enterprise Funds - Sewer utility: Proposed sewer rate changes would raise the annual bill by roughly $57 per year, though the transcript also contains the phrase "$457 dollars a year," creating a discrepancy. Council President Noecker questioned the roughly 10% increase and asked for a summary memo explaining the calculation; Director Barber said a sewer rate study and expert analysis produced the numbers. Met Council environmental services costs are a smaller factor than last year. - Solid waste and recycling: Proposed changes include new assessment fees for buildings with 5-11 units and 12 or more units. Collection costs are capped by contract at 3.5%, and Ramsey County disposal costs are proposed to rise 12%. Staff member Haas said the disposal increase is largely related to anaerobic digestion capacity at the RE facility, rates are approved through the Ramsey-Washington joint powers board, further increases are expected in 2028, and Minneapolis tipping fees are lower partly because Hennepin County gives haulers a discount. There is no change in the city's billing administration fee. The 645 fund would add FTEs for customer support, additional solid waste workers, and a public information officer. Key Outcomes - The committee received the Public Works 2027 budget presentation and initiative updates; no formal vote was taken. - Director Barber committed to follow-up emails covering council questions and to providing histories and analyses on Gopher State One Call funding, parking permit revenue and costs, sidewalk district feasibility, grant spending and underspending, vacancy details, and rate trend projections. - Council will receive future briefings on the Transportation Safety Action Plan, sewer rate changes, and solid waste and recycling rates. - The meeting adjourned after the presentation and discussion.

The Saint Paul City Council met on September 23, 2026, at 3:31 p.m. in Council Chambers. Seven members were present. The Council approved the consent agenda, pulled RES 26-1616 for discussion, heard a tobacco-license adverse action, proclaimed September 25, 2026 as Dolly Parton Day, recessed to act as the Library Board for the 2027 library maximum levy, reconvened to approve the 2027 maximum property tax levies for the City and HRA, gave final adoption to four Xcel Energy franchise and franchise-fee ordinances, and acted on public hearings and legislative hearing consent items. The meeting recessed at 3:47 p.m., resumed at 3:57 p.m., and adjourned at 4:58 p.m. Communications & Receive/File - AO 26-65, amending the Citywide Capital Maintenance budget for the Fleet Services division in the Office of Financial Services, was received and filed. Consent Calendar - The Consent Agenda was adopted 7-0 as amended, with item 21 removed for discussion. Items adopted by consent included: - RES 26-1352: authorized the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply to Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Act programs for Round Two 2026. - RES 26-1365: approved miscellaneous abatement service costs for July-August 2026, with a legislative hearing set for October 20, 2026 and a City Council public hearing set for January 20, 2027. - RES 26-1464: the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 70 off-shift differential pay pilot MOA was laid over to October 7, 2026. - RES 26-1569: accepted $66,027.29 from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program for solar installation at the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility. - RES 26-1576: accepted a Knight Foundation/Bloomberg Center for Cities travel and tuition gift for Mayor Kaohly Her for September 28-29, 2026. - RES 26-1583: granted the appeals of Jon Knutson for Loucks and Carolyn Wolf for Tegra from the Board of Zoning Appeals denial of two variances for the hotel at United Village Block D, 1560 University Avenue West, where 43.1% window and door openings were proposed for facade length, a 6.9% variance below the 50% requirement, and 23.3% for facade area, a 6.7% variance below the 30% requirement. - RES 26-1584: granted the appeal of Joe Bennett for a variance to convert an existing lit freestanding sign to dynamic display at 1305 7th Street West. - RES 26-1586: set a November 4, 2026 public hearing date for 2027 water rates and water fees. - RES 26-1589: accepted a Knight Foundation/Harvard University travel and tuition gift for Mary Xiong for September 29-30, 2026. - RES 26-1592: approved settlement and payment of the employment-related claim of former Saint Paul Fire Department employee Jodie Carroll. - RES 26-1595: the Saint Paul Police Federation accelerated-entry program MOA was laid over to October 7, 2026. - RES 26-1597: approved a gambling location license for NS LLC d/b/a Pizza Maya at 1324 7th Street West. - RES 26-1601: authorized the Fire Department to apply for the 2025 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant. - RES 26-1602 and 26-1603: approved temporary Board of Commissioners appointments for Council President Noecker to the Port Authority and Councilmember Johnson to the Board of Water Commissioners, beginning September 24, 2026. - RES 26-1607: approved a public hearing and related authorization for conduit multifamily housing revenue bonds for a project at 408 St. Peter Street. - RES 26-1611 and 26-1612: approved appointments to the Truth-in-Sale of Housing Board and the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency. - RES 26-1614: accepted a travel and lodging gift for two Parks and Recreation staff to attend the 2026 Bank On Leadership Training convening in Charlotte, North Carolina. Discussion Items - RES 26-1616 was adopted 7-0, approving the City Audit Committee's next two studies on the Department of Safety and Inspections Business Licensing Operations and Public Works Street Maintenance and Pothole Repair Operations, and authorizing Wilder Research to conduct the studies in 2026 and 2027. Council President Noecker pulled the item to raise awareness of the Audit Committee's work. - RES 26-1553 was adopted 7-0, approving adverse action against the Tobacco Shop license held by Northern Tier Retail LLC d/b/a Speedway 4420 at 1125 7th Street West. An assistant city attorney for the Department of Safety and Inspections said the recommended penalty was $1,000, consistent with the licensing matrix, for a second violation. On June 16, 2026, a 19-year-old buyer was sold tobacco after presenting an ID showing age 19; the first violation occurred in May 2025 and resulted in a $500 penalty paid in October 2025. Brittany Standing, area leader for the business, spoke about corrective actions, including removing the employee 'over 30' button, requiring physical ID scans for all tobacco and alcohol sales, changing managers, and retraining employees. Noecker said she saw no reason to depart from the penalty matrix. - RES 26-1588 was adopted 7-0, proclaiming September 25, 2026 as Dolly Parton Day in Saint Paul. Donna Valentine, MyTalk co-host of Donna and Steve, accepted the proclamation and spoke about Dolly Parton's legacy of generosity, kindness, and support for working people. Public Comments and Testimony - No members of the public testified on the public hearing items, including the salt storage ordinance, assessments, and grant authorizations. - Written comments and exhibits on the Xcel energy franchise and franchise-fee ordinances were submitted by John Purdy, SPAC, and District Energy St. Paul and were included in the record. - Councilmember Johnson acknowledged Ward 7 resident Murphy Dawkins and John Purdy for testifying during the franchise fee public comment process. - Thomas Turbes testified on the pulled legislative hearing item RLH SAO 26-66, requesting a two-week extension for nuisance-abatement compliance at 2203 Selby Avenue. Library Board Recess - The City Council recessed at 3:47 p.m. and convened as the Library Board, chaired by Councilmember Jost. The Library Board adopted RES 26-1594, requesting that the City levy property taxes for the Saint Paul Public Library Agency, by a 7-0 vote. Councilmember Johnson said the mayor's supplemental budget restored funding for Dayton's Bluff Library and Highwood Hills Rec Center and found $564,000 not previously in the proposal; she moved approval of version one, the mayor's proposed levy with no additional library levy increase. Councilmember Coleman said budget decisions must match the city's stated values and that closing libraries should not be an acceptable option. The Library Board adjourned and the Council reconvened at 3:57 p.m. Budget Items - RES 26-1605 was adopted 7-0, approving the 2027 maximum property tax levy for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Councilmember Johnson said it passed unanimously at the HRA board earlier that day. - RES 26-1599 was adopted 7-0, approving version one of the 2027 maximum property tax levy for the City. The maximum levy reflects the mayor's proposed 6.8% increase, which Councilmember Jost described as a $14 million to $15 million increase over the prior year and, in the context of a $26 million deficit, effectively a cut. Noecker said the city would receive $70 million more if it received the local government aid it was entitled to. Several members described the maximum levy as a ceiling, not a floor, and committed to working to reduce it before final budget adoption. Councilmember Bowie called the 6.8% increase a ceiling, not the floor, and committed to stronger performance metrics; Councilmember Kim said she was supporting the levy because failing to fund core services undermines the value residents receive; Councilmember Jost said she would have supported a higher levy before the supplemental budget restored park and library cuts, and cited regional context including Minneapolis at 11.3%, Carver County at 16.8%, and Shoreview at 10.7%; Councilmember Johnson stressed the importance of transparency about supplemental budget decisions and council-administration alignment; Vice President Yang said she would have preferred a 3% to 5% increase and wants to reduce overtime costs and close TIF districts; Councilmember Coleman called tax increases an economic justice issue and said the council must be responsible stewards of resident dollars. Ordinances - Final adoption: Ord 26-40, Ord 26-41, Ord 26-43, and Ord 26-44 were each adopted 7-0. These ordinances amend the Xcel Energy gas and electric franchises and add new gas and electric franchise fee appendices. Councilmember Jost said the agreement includes a progressive franchise fee that provides an additional 50% discount on Xcel bills for residents enrolled in the energy assistance program, including renters. Councilmember Noecker noted the agreement allows more frequent renegotiation, including on an annual basis, rather than waiting 20 years, and includes an equitable assessment policy described as a first-of-its-kind approach. - First reading: Ord 26-46 was laid over to October 7, 2026 for second reading and public hearing. Staff explained that the amendment would create a streamlined process to convey city-owned property used by Saint Paul Regional Water Services to the Board of Water Commissioners for less than fair market value when the City Council determines the property will further SPRWS's mission. The change was prompted by an Anoka County roadway easement request involving a city-owned parcel in Anoka County. Public Hearings - Ord 26-39, amending Chapter 63 regarding salt storage regulation, was considered as version two. No one testified. The Council voted 7-0 to amend and lay the ordinance over to October 7, 2026 for final adoption. - RES PH 26-182 and RES PH 26-183 were adopted 7-0, ratifying Seventh Place Mall operation and maintenance assessments for 2025 and 2026. - RES PH 26-193 was adopted 7-0, ratifying Grand/Snelling parking lot operation and maintenance assessments for 2027. - RES PH 26-201 was adopted 7-0, amending the 2026 Public Works Street Lighting Maintenance budget by $450,000 for electrician support for the Saint Paul Regional Water Services Lead Replacement Project. - RES PH 26-244 was adopted 7-0, accepting a DEED Contamination Cleanup grant for the LSBD St. Paul Broadway II LLC project known as Ember on Pine at 500 Broadway Street. - RES PH 26-250 was adopted 7-0, accepting $2,926,000 in State of Minnesota grant funding for arts and cultural heritage at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. - RES PH 26-268 was adopted 7-0, increasing the 2026 Saint Paul Regional Water Services budget by $53,000 for a Metropolitan Council grant. Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda - RLH SAO 26-66, the appeal of Thomas Turbes for 2203 Selby Avenue, was pulled for discussion. DSI staff recommended finding the nuisance not abated and authorizing abatement. Turbes testified that he had lived on the block his whole life, had health issues, and had arranged for a salvage company to remove a travel trailer, requesting a two-week extension. Councilmember Coleman noted a factual dispute about whether inspectors observed improvement and moved to grant a two-week extension as a final deadline rather than a layover. The item was adopted 7-0 as amended: if compliance is not completed by October 7, 2026, DSI may proceed with abatement. - The remaining legislative hearing consent items were adopted as amended: RLH SAO 26-90 for 2348 Buford Avenue, Rich C. Nelson; RLH SAO 26-94 for 1552 Canfield Avenue, Barbara Clark, with nuisance abated; RLH SAO 26-92 for 1045 Charles Avenue, Mary Roach; RLH SAO 26-96 for 1597 Charles Avenue, Liam Magistad, second appeal, with nuisance abated; RLH SAO 26-63 for 1521 Hague Avenue, Jane Myers, with nuisance abated; RLH SAO 26-80 for 444 Johnson Parkway, Kinnell Tacket; RLH SAO 26-93 for 449 Van Dyke Street, Barry Campbell; and RLH AR 26-62, ratifying June 2026 demolition assessments for vacant, nuisance, and hazardous structures. Key Outcomes - All recorded votes were 7-0. - The Consent Agenda was adopted as amended; RES 26-1464 and RES 26-1595 were laid over to October 7, 2026. - The Library Board adopted RES 26-1594, and the City Council adopted the HRA and City 2027 maximum property tax levies. - The four Xcel Energy franchise and franchise-fee ordinances were adopted on final reading. - Ord 26-39 and Ord 26-46 were laid over to October 7, 2026. - RLH SAO 26-66 was granted a two-week extension, with abatement authorized if compliance is not complete by October 7, 2026. Ward Updates and Announcements - Councilmember Johnson reminded residents of a Dayton's Bluff Library community conversation on September 24, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Metro State University. - Councilmember Kim invited residents to the Ward 5 budget engagement on October 8, 2026 at 6 p.m. at the North End Community Center. - Vice President Yang announced Meet Us on Arcade Street on September 27, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Urban Village, 1082 Arcade Street, and said she would begin parental leave on September 24 with a tentative return date of January 11, 2027. - Councilmember Jost recapped the Highland Golf Course night driving range event and the Nativity Fair. - Council President Noecker promoted Selby Days on September 26, the Marydale Festival, and the downtown Aldi grand opening on September 24.

The St. Paul City Council Policy Committee met on September 16, 2026, to discuss two agenda items: a proposed dust mitigation ordinance for the Southport industrial area and an analysis of options for establishing an independent city council attorney. Presentations were given by residents, advocates, the Port Authority, and council staff, followed by discussion and next steps. Public Comments & Testimony - Samantha Sanchez, a resident of the Southport area, shared that her son has required daily nebulizer treatments since four months old due to respiratory issues, and that she and her family are moving out of the neighborhood because of the health impacts. She expressed full support for the dust mitigation ordinance, stating it should have been implemented years ago. - Miguel (Westsiders for Environmental Justice Campaign) provided context: the Southport neighborhood is 87% people of color, 46% of households are below 200% of the federal poverty level, and residents have documented excessive dust, odors, and health problems. He argued that unpaved surfaces in the industrial area are preventable sources of dust. - Ashlyn Kenzior, staff attorney at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, presented the proposed ordinance modeled on a Detroit ordinance. It would require facilities in covered areas (active commercial/industrial with unpaved roads) to submit fugitive dust plans, with enforcement through complaints and fines that could be directed to community improvements. - Todd Hurley, President/CEO of the St. Paul Port Authority, stated that the roads in Southport are city-owned, that tenants currently sweep roads at least weekly, and that tenants are expected to comply with MPCA regulations. He noted that if an ordinance is adopted, the Port Authority would work with tenants to comply. Discussion Items - Dust Mitigation Ordinance Proposal: Council members expressed broad support. Council President Naker thanked the presenters and noted the city already has a wage theft ordinance as a precedent for local enforcement. Councilmember Bowie praised the grassroots organizing and asked about industry standards for truck covers. Councilmember Coleman shared personal ties to the 55107 zip code. Councilmember Joost highlighted the asthma statistics and her own son's asthma. Councilmember Johnson asked about the geographic scope, and the presenters recommended a citywide ordinance covering unpaved roads. Vice President (name not stated) expressed support and asked about next steps for drafting language. Council President Naker indicated they would work with the city attorney's office on language. A community tour was announced for October 9th. - City Council Legislative Attorney Analysis: Councilmember Johnson introduced the item as a budget priority. Mr. Greenfield presented research: the city charter does not currently allow an independent council attorney without a charter change. He reviewed a survey of 70 cities, finding few with independent legislative attorneys, and described three models (Seattle, New Orleans, Jacksonville). He outlined two pathways without charter change (increasing staffing within the city attorney's office or adjusting the administrative code) and two requiring charter change. Councilmembers discussed the need to address capacity issues and power imbalances with the mayor. Councilmember Coleman emphasized identifying specific obstacles before choosing a solution. Key Outcomes - No formal votes were taken on either item. - For the dust mitigation ordinance, the council president's office will work with the city attorney's office to draft ordinance language, with continued community engagement. - For the independent council attorney, the discussion will continue, with potential exploration of budget amendments to increase council staff capacity and possible referral to the charter commission for structural changes.