St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
City Department Director Appointments
Business License Enforcement and Conditions
Legislative Hearing Fee Waiver Pilot Program
Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) Update Adoption
Votes (10)
Resolution 26-874: Approving Mayor Appointment of IA Jang as City Director of Department of Safety and Inspections
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Naker [2:11] · Seconded by Not specified
The Council President expressed excitement about welcoming IA Jang to the new administration and Team St. Paul. The process involved a motion for approval, followed by a formal swearing-in ceremony.
Resolution 26-86886: Exercising the City's Authority to Opt into and Support the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Naker [3:03] · Seconded by Not specified
A request from Ramsey County led to a motion for a one-week layover of this item to honor their request, despite earlier discussions about a June 1st deadline.
Resolution 26-841: Amending Findings and Recommendations for MFK Enterprise Auto Repair Garage and Secondhand Dealer Motor Vehicle License
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Naker [11:15] · Seconded by Not specified
Assistant City Attorney Monica Schaefer presented on multiple violations at MFK Enterprise, including improper storage, site plan obstructions, and hazardous waste issues observed in October and November 2024. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing in December 2025 (likely 2024) found the city's recommended $1,000 penalty reasonable. The department requested amending the ALJ's findings and imposing specific license conditions. Mo Kio, the license holder, attributed some issues to a co-located business (Import Auto), requested separate inspections, and asked for a reduction in the penalty, claiming temporary issues and neighbor complaints. Council acknowledged the complexity but affirmed license holder responsibility for compliance, public safety, and neighbor enjoyment. The Council adopted the department's recommendations and requested a follow-up visit to the property to ensure understanding and compliance.
Resolution 26-812: Approving a Legislative Hearing Fee Waiver Pilot Program for the Remainder of 2026
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice President Yang [14:26] · Seconded by Not specified
Marcia Mormon presented the pilot program to waive the $25 appeal fee for legislative hearings until the end of 2026. The program aims to test the assumption that the fee ensures attendance and aligns with procedural justice principles, removing a barrier for residents. The Council President and Vice President Yang strongly supported the initiative, viewing it as a step towards equity and an example of a true pilot program testing assumptions.
Resolution 26-791: Approving the Mayor's Appointment of Melie McMahon as City Director of Planning and Economic Development
Dissent: Council Member Buoie
Moved by Council President Naker [15:43] · Seconded by Not specified
The Council President moved to approve Melie McMahon's appointment, expressing full confidence. Council Member Buoie voted 'no,' stating her decision was rooted in cultural and value considerations for Ward One and historically underinvested communities, not personal opposition to McMahon's abilities, and aimed to set clear expectations for partnership. Other council members, including Vice President Yang, Miss Jo, Miss Kim, and Miss Coleman, expressed strong support, highlighting McMahon's dedication, growth within the city (from legislative aid to director), leadership during crises, and accomplishments in driving development projects. Council Member Johnson explained her prior request for a layover, emphasizing the importance of vetting, dialogue, and due diligence for such a critical dual role (PED Director and HRA Executive Director), and outlined expectations for future partnership, East Side investment, and HRA work plan development. The discussion reflected a robust democratic process and commitment to accountability.
Resolution 26-120: Approving Grand Avenue Business Association Sound Level Variances for Grand Old Day
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Naker [42:04] · Seconded by Not specified
The Grand Avenue Business Association requested sound level variances for the 53rd annual Grand Old Day event on June 7th, 2026. Executive Director Kim O'Brien spoke, inviting the community, thanking the council for support (security credit, commercial corridor program), and promoting the event. Council members praised O'Brien's leadership and community efforts.
Resolution 26-121: Accepting DEED Redevelopment Grant for Afton Parks Development
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Buoie [44:31] · Seconded by Not specified
This item involved accepting a grant for a mixed-use redevelopment project at 841 to 851 Grand Avenue.
Resolution 26-122: Accepting Grant for St. Paul Fire Department Green Roof Maintenance
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Johnson [45:40] · Seconded by Not specified
The resolution concerned accepting a grant from the Capitol Region Watershed District to support the maintenance of the green roof at the St. Paul Fire Department headquarters (Station One building).
Resolution 26-126: Authorizing Acceptance of Home ARP Funds from HUD
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Coleman [46:58] · Seconded by Not specified
The item authorized the city to accept $6,800,061 in Home ARP funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and amended the 2026 budget to incorporate these funds.
Resolution 26-130: Adopting the Climate Action and Resilience Plan Update
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Jo [1:00:52] · Seconded by Not specified
Liz Boyer, Climate Action Coordinator, presented the updated CARP, highlighting its five-year action plan, new categories, and integrated approach to addressing hazards and vulnerabilities in communities. Public speakers, including Kristen Dawkins (Murf), Katherine Dugar, Lelle Cunningham, and Celestee Mas, praised the plan's focus on geothermal energy, solar access for low-income households, and the recognition of urban farms like Frogtown Farm in climate resilience and food security. Council members universally expressed strong support, emphasizing the plan's importance as an economic, racial, and social justice tool, its comprehensive nature, and the commitment to securing funding for its implementation. They lauded staff and community partners for their vision and dedication.
Notable Quotes (15)
This is a wonderful occasion. We are excited to welcome another member of our new administration. Uh, Miss Jeang, I haven't gotten the opportunity to meet you yet. Um, but really excited to get to meet you, get to work with you, and grateful to you for joining us uh on team St. Paul.
So this is really consistent. They are not overly burdensome. They are reasonable. Um and they are justified by public um public safety concerns here.
I requested last time it's two different business with two different license we are paying two different fees please when they come inspection do inspection and um whatever is for MFK separate that from import auto.
But that said, as you mentioned, you are responsible for making sure that the entire business and the lot regardless of who is responsible, regardless of the ownership, complies with the conditions of your license.
Having a barrier of a fee could diminish our ability to deliver on procedural justice, and we'd like to explore that a little bit further.
I just never want to see a fee be the reason why somebody would choose to not come to city hall here to appeal their case, especially with this being a government where we don't want to to um you know, it's we're not here for profit at all.
But my vote for my office and on behalf of my constituents is more rooted in the culture and the values that I deeply believe that should be guiding the decision of the future of the economic development here in St. Paul moving forward.
I think the ability to vote on appointments is truly meaningful only if there's room for questions, for vetting, for dialogue, and for due diligence. Otherwise, to me, that process feels more like a rubber stamp than an intentional exercise of governance that our community expects from us.
The the pathway in which she her leadership has grown here in the city from being in LA to now being a director is just phenomenal. It is very inspiring.
I think that we are seeing so much momentum moving forward in our city. So many affordable housing projects in, you know, in Midway where I live and part of um W 4. We're seeing market rate housing moving forward. We're seeing affordable housing projects moving forward, supportive housing projects moving forward. We're seeing new commercial development.
Somehow despite so many barriers and obstacles, the community continues to come together to support this uh celebration of St. Paul and celebration of our community.
instead of having like an equity chapter or you know having that be the only place that hazards and vulnerabilities are discussed we instead highlight for each of the hazards so extreme heat severe storms flooding and water damage air quality for each of these kind of known hazards we then talk about the vulnerable populations the vulnerable geographies.
It's much cheaper and cleaner as well to use geothermal wherever you can. And that is that is time. So I'm gonna have to Okay. I just wanted to say that the the the geothermal parts of your plans here are excellent.
The inclusion of community- based initiatives that strengthen local food systems and community resilience is significant. It creates a framework that recognizes the work organizations like ours are already doing, not just growing food, but building community infrastructure and capacity that makes neighborhoods more resilient in the face of climate uh disruption.
Like we genuinely are creating a framework to undo you know over a century of harm that has been done in certain communities in some spaces. Like if you look at what kind of really grounded within the CARP plan and where it stemmed from, including the reports that really just led up to our response as a collective, you know, there's no way to really have this CARP plan without addressing some of the equity concerns that has genuinely been embedded in our city.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
Approving Mayor's appointment of IA Jang as City Director of Department of Safety and Inspections.
Exercising City's authority to opt into and support the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority.
Amending findings and recommendations for MFK Enterprise auto repair garage and secondhand dealer motor vehicle license, imposing penalty and amending license conditions.
Governs legislative hearings and allows the council to waive fees.
Approving a legislative hearing fee waiver pilot program for the remainder of 2026.
Approving the Mayor's appointment of Melie McMahon to serve as the city's Director of Planning and Economic Development.
Approving five applications of the Grand Avenue Business Association for sound level variances for the Grand Old Day event on Sunday, June 7th, 2026.
Accepting grant funds and amending the operating budget for a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Redevelopment Grant for Afton Parks Development.
Accepting a grant from the Capitol Region Watershed District for St. Paul Fire Department green roof maintenance and amending SPFD's 2026 financing and spending plans.
Authorizing the city to accept Home ARP funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and amending the 2026 budget.
Adopting the Climate Action and Resilience Plan update.
City plan, originally adopted in 2019, updated to include new categories and a five-year action plan.