St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Welcome Week 2026 Recognition
Reinstatement of Honorary Street Naming Policy
Honorary Street Naming for Professor Mount Elkoti
Police Department Drone Program Grant Withdrawal
Salt Storage Regulations
Xcel Energy Franchise Agreements Renegotiation
Sound Exemption Permit for Blood Cancer United
Como Friends Donation to Parks & Recreation
Domino's Curb Cut Variance Appeal
Votes (9)
Resolution 26-1483, Recognition of City's participation in Welcome Week 2026
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Aker · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
Council member Leho introduced the resolution, emphasizing Welcoming America's goal to unite communities and acknowledge immigrant contributions. Michelle Rivero (Minneapolis OIRA Director) and Briana Proberg (Welcoming America Network Director) spoke about cross-city collaboration and the national organization's mission for inclusive communities. Council Member Yang expressed personal pride as a daughter of refugees and reiterated commitment to supporting immigrant and refugee communities in Saint Paul.
Resolution 26-1502, amending Resolution 17-1065 and reinstating Saint Paul's practice of honorary street naming
Dissent: Council Member Gil voted against the second version. Council Members Johnson, Gil, Coleman, and Council President Aker voted against the first version.
Moved by Council Member Buoi · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
Council Member Buoi advocated for reinstating and modernizing the honorary street naming practice, which was halted in 2017 due to unproven emergency response concerns. She proposed establishing clear criteria for future requests, including community support, safety, and funding. A procedural debate ensued regarding the introduction of a second version of the resolution, which included an exception for the next agenda item, and concerns about last-minute changes and the necessity of dual naming from Council Members Gil and Johnson. The first version failed, and the second version passed with one dissenting vote.
Resolution 26-1543, Honoring Professor Mount Elkoti through the co-naming of Milton Street and Eagleheart Avenue
Dissent: One unidentified member voted against.
Moved by Council Member Buoi · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
Council Member Buoi passionately championed the resolution, detailing Professor Mount Elkoti's six-decade legacy as an educator, historian, and mentor, particularly in African American studies and the Rondo community. She emphasized the importance of honoring elders while they are alive. The proposed street intersection was chosen at the request of his children, and the community committed to funding the honorary signage. Council Members Johnson and Kim shared personal reflections on Elkoti's profound impact and supported the motion.
Resolution 26-1399, authorizing Police Department to apply for 2026 U.S. Department of Justice Microgrant Program
Dissent: None
Moved by Not applicable · Seconded by Not applicable
Council President Aker announced the withdrawal of the resolution. The Council indicated that it does not support expanding the police department's drone program until various questions and concerns are addressed, and therefore, the grant application would not be permitted.
Ordinance 26-39, amending Legislative Code Chapter 63 regarding salt storage regulations
Dissent: None
Moved by Not applicable · Seconded by Not applicable
DSI staff, Josh Williams and Andrew Hogg, presented the ordinance as a mandatory requirement stemming from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's MS4 permit and the Clean Water Act. The purpose is to prevent surface water degradation by requiring bulk salt (one ton or more) to be covered. The ordinance will apply to both city operations and private entities storing large quantities of salt. Council President Aker clarified that it did not require Policy Committee review due to its direct legal mandate.
Ordinances 26-40, 26-41, 26-43, 26-44, amending legislative code related to Xcel Energy franchise agreements
Dissent: None
Moved by Not applicable · Seconded by Not applicable
Liz Boyer, Climate Action Coordinator, presented a summary of the renegotiated Xcel Energy franchise agreements (gas and electric), which were a year-and-a-half-long team effort. Key objectives included simplifying the complex existing agreements, maintaining revenue, alleviating the burden on residential ratepayers (particularly through a 50% discount for LIHEAP participants), and incentivizing a shift from natural gas to electricity. The new agreements also include fixed monthly rates and a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration on climate action goals. Council President Aker and Council Member Gil commended the team for achieving 'equitable charging' and aligning with the city's climate values.
Public Hearing Resolution 26-239, approving Blood Cancer United's request for a sound exemption permit for 'Light the Night' event
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Buoi [~01:10:00] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The public hearing was opened for Resolution 26-239, concerning a sound exemption permit for Blood Cancer United's event at Harriet Island Regional Park. No members of the public came forward to offer testimony.
Public Hearing Resolution 26-246, amending 2026 Parks & Recreation Grants & Aids Fund with $160,000 donation from Como Friends
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Kim [~01:10:45] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
A public hearing was conducted for Resolution 26-246, which proposed to accept a $160,000 donation from Como Friends to the Parks & Recreation Grants & Aids Fund, benefiting Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. No public testimony was received.
ABZA 26-4, Appeal of Zoning Board of Appeals decision regarding a curb cut variance for Domino's at 649 Snelling Avenue North
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Coleman [~01:28:00] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
DSI staff presented the Zoning Board of Appeals' denial of Domino's request to retain a curb cut on Blair Avenue, and their own recommendation for approval based on practical difficulties and improved safety with proposed modifications. Erik Studer from Domino's argued the curb cut would facilitate safer traffic flow by separating employee/delivery vehicles from customer access, preventing residential cut-throughs. Residents Bonita Stepa and Julie Heileck opposed, citing general safety concerns and questioning the need for an exception. Council Member Coleman moved to accept the appeal, emphasizing the need for property-specific traffic management for public safety, supported by Council President Aker, who noted the environmental and safety benefits of efficient traffic flow.
Notable Quotes (16)
Welcoming Week, nationally sponsored by Welcoming America, brings communities together to bridge differences, affirm the contributions of immigrants, refugees, new Americans and long-time residents.
As a daughter of refugees, I'm really proud that the Hmong community here in St. Paul has chosen this place to call home. We are the urban city that has the highest density of those individuals, and that is something I'm very proud of.
What I'm asking us to do today is not simply go back to the old system or our old process, but I'm asking us to restore and modernize this practice, and commit to that modernization.
I don't think that the work of dual naming and tasking our departments or our policy committee with this work at this time is vital to the work of our city... Even if there weren't past emergency incidents, that doesn't mean there aren't imminent incidents or just safety concerns.
I want to be clear that the second iteration that was moved is not the second iteration that was recommended by the City Attorney's office... The City Attorney's recommendation was to establish standard operating procedures and that is included. They did not put an exemption.
I believe it's really important that we have an opportunity to honor him while he is still with us, and that we provide our elders with recognition when they're able to hear it and see it and feel it.
There are many Black elders in our community, but there are few when they speak, the entire room listens... They can address multiple generations.
I feel sometimes we get too wrapped up in process, and we make things more complicated for process only. And for me personally, when we're talking about honoring our community elders and the wisdom that they impart to us, it's a no-brainer for me.
This item is being withdrawn because this Council does not support the expansion of our drone program until a number of questions and concerns are addressed, and we will not be allowing this grant application.
The language is pretty straightforward and the goal is to prevent further degradation of surface waters... it simply requires salt to be covered so that water does not leech into the storm drains when it rains or snows.
Overall, we were able to lower residential rates, which were disproportionately high in the expiring agreements for reasons that nobody currently involved understands, and raise commercial and industrial rates, which were disproportionately low.
We were able to identify a mechanism and negotiate with Xcel to implement, to provide a 50% discount on the fees paid by households that participate in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
When we said as a Council that we wanted equitable charging, that was something that was still unheard of... but those were our values and we stuck to them. And what we see today is this 50% discount for low-income households that you found a way to deliver on.
Our ability to have that egress allows us to keep 100% of our team members in the back of the building, and 100% of the customers in the front of the building... that allows us to create a traffic pattern that is far safer than having everything go in and out of Snelling Avenue.
The appeal's assertion that retaining the Blair Avenue curb cut provides a direct and logical route and reduces unnecessary movement points more to expediting delivery drivers rather than improving safety.
I'm taking very seriously the recommendations of our DSI team about how best to manage the flow of traffic there, recognizing it's at the intersection of a residential neighborhood and a commercial corridor.
Ordinances & Resolutions (20)
Recognition of City's participation in Welcome Week 2026.
Amending Resolution 17-1065 to reinstate and modernize Saint Paul's practice of honorary street naming.
Previous resolution that halted the practice of honorary street naming in 2017.
Honoring Professor Mount Elkoti through the co-naming of Milton Street and Eagleheart Avenue.
Authorizing the Police Department to apply for a 2026 U.S. Department of Justice Microgrant Program (for drone program).
Amending Legislative Code Chapter 63 regarding salt storage regulations.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Federal law that mandates pollution control regulations.
Part of the Saint Paul legislative code pertaining to zoning and regulations.
Amending Appendix B of Legislative Code regarding Xcel Energy gas franchise.
Amending Appendix C of Legislative Code regarding Xcel Energy electricity franchise.
Adding a new Appendix B2 to Legislative Code regarding Xcel Energy gas franchise fees.
Adding a new Appendix C2 to Legislative Code regarding Xcel Energy electricity franchise fees.
Agreement with Xcel Energy outlining shared partnership in energy efficiency and emissions reduction programs.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, providing energy assistance to income-qualified households.
City plan outlining shared goals for emissions reduction.
Approval of sound exemption permit for Blood Cancer United's 'Light the Night' event.
Amending 2026 Parks & Recreation Grants & Aids Fund with a donation from Como Friends.
Appeal of Zoning Board of Appeals decision regarding a curb cut variance for Domino's at 649 Snelling Avenue North.
Zoning code section pertaining to vehicle entry/exit points for restaurants and fast-food establishments.