St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Community Recognition and Cultural Heritage
LGBTQIA2S+ Rights and Inclusivity
Urban Tree Canopy Preservation and Management
Permit Approvals and Sound Level Variances
Votes (8)
Resolution 26-1011, supporting the recommendations to the governor for ranking of eligible census tracks for designation as opportunity zones.
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Ner [0:01:21]
This item was pulled from the consent agenda due to a 'slight technical change' that needed to be made, resulting in a 'version two' being presented for separate consideration and vote.
Resolution 26-1028, recognizing the life of Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ku Blesing Vang for his contributions to St. Paul and proclaiming July 11th through the 13th as Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ku Blesing Vang memorial days in the city of St. Paul.
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice President Yang [0:16:15]
Vice President Yang introduced the resolution, honoring Dr. Vang as a significant Hmong community leader and family dentist. The resolution detailed his life, including service in the Vietnam War, experience as a POW, immigration to the US, becoming the first Hmong DDS from the University of Minnesota, and 20 years of service in the Minnesota Air National Guard. His ownership of Vang Dental Clinic, service to low-income patients, and extensive community involvement were highlighted. A family member, Pete, spoke about Dr. Vang's love for St. Paul and his work ethic.
Resolution 26-1010, celebrating the 91st birthday of his holiness the 14th Daly Lama and recognizing the contributions of St. Paul's Tibetan community.
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Ner [0:26:40]
Council President Ner introduced the resolution, highlighting the Dalai Lama's global influence on peace and compassion. Guests from the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group and the Tibetan-American Foundation of Minnesota spoke. Tenzen Chosang discussed the Dalai Lama's spiritual leadership and the role of the Tibetan Community Center in St. Paul. Tenzen Tamo brought attention to ongoing transnational repression against Tibetans by the Chinese consulate and discussed two significant bills: the US-proposed 'Assuring the Future of Tibet Act of 2026' and the Chinese 'Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress' law, which threatens Tibetan cultural identity. Council members expressed appreciation and solidarity, drawing parallels to other marginalized communities.
Resolution 26-1022, celebrating the 2026 LGBTQIA2S+ pride month.
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Kim [0:40:48]
Council Member Kim introduced the resolution, outlining the history of LGBTQIA2S+ rights, from the Stonewall uprising led by Black and Brown trans activists to Minnesota's and St. Paul's pioneering legal protections. The resolution called for city departments to enhance engagement, provide inclusive facilities (like gender-inclusive restrooms), and maintain inclusive employment. Community leaders from Outfront Minnesota and Gender Justice spoke, emphasizing Pride as an act of defiance, recognizing the ongoing threats of violence, and advocating for an Equal Rights Amendment in Minnesota. Council members expressed solidarity and noted significant generational shifts in acceptance.
Ordinance 25-4, amending title four of the St. Paul administrative code to add chapter 92 titled tree preservation for city sponsored construction projects.
Dissent: None
Director Rodriguez and staff from Parks and Rec (Tom Hegel) and Public Works (Sean Kershaw) presented an overview of the ordinance, which resulted from 18 months of cross-departmental and community engagement. The ordinance aims to protect St. Paul's urban tree canopy during city construction by requiring tree inventories, certified arborists, formal preservation plans, and defines tree protection zones. It also establishes restitution for damages and mandates long-term canopy restoration. Council members questioned the budget implications for increased project costs and staffing needs, particularly for urban foresters, with recognition that annual reviews of the ordinance's effectiveness and costs are built-in.
Resolution 26-141, approving the application of District Energy St. Paul for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for a district energy boiler testing event on June 29th through July 3rd and July 6th through July 10 with the potential addition of July 11 and 17th, 2026 at 125 Shepard Road.
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Coleman [1:02:59]
This was a public hearing item concerning a request for a sound level variance. No one from the public came forward to speak on the application.
Resolution 26-142, authorizing the police department to amend the financing and spending plans in the police department grant fund.
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Jo [1:03:59]
This was a public hearing item regarding an amendment to the police department's grant fund financing and spending plans. There were no public speakers for this item.
Resolution 26-143, approving the application of Rondo A, Inc. for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for Rondo Days Festival, Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 271 North Met Cuban Street outside Martin Luther King Rec Center.
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Kim [1:04:44]
This public hearing item addressed a sound level variance application for the Rondo Days Festival. No public testimony was offered.
Notable Quotes (15)
He is a very well-known and just um very significant leader in our own community. Um also a family dentist to so many of us.
Dr. Kubain made such a huge difference in the impact um in our community from our economics um to really improving the lives of folks especially those who were low income.
My dad loved St. Paul. Uh, he loved coming to work. Uh, he loved going to uh, uh, fortunately at the Air National Guard.
Whereas the Daly Lama has traveled extensively throughout the world including Minnesota, fostering greater understanding, tolerance, harmony, and compassion among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
For Tibetans around the world, the Dalai Lama is our spiritual leader. But his message extends far beyond Tibet and Buddhism. For decades, he has encouraged people of all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs to practice compassion, kindness, and respect for our shared humanity.
For Tibetans, language, faith and cultural identity are not simply tradition. They are the foundation of who we are as a people. We believe that gen genuine unity is achieved through respect for diversity and not through the erosion of cultural differences.
Thank you again for reminding us that compassion is not just a personal value, but a civic act.
The month of June is recognized and observed as Pride Month in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York where black and brown LGBTQIA2S plus people resisted police violence and ignited a movement for human rights.
And to recognize that when we talk about mourning here in the month of Pride. Um it is something that is very present and real for those of us here in Minnesota. It's not an abstract mourning. It's not about just those who we lost in the HIV AIDS crisis who we do remember. Um but it is about the very real threats of violence that our communities face every day and the way in which violence against LGBTQ people and bodies is intertwined with violence on race, violence on all sorts of issues of identity um that we all experience here.
It's critical that St. Paul proudly declare so every community member knows that you belong here and you are welcome here.
Pride Month is a requirement of a society with narrow minds and closed hearts. Pride is a reminder that we need every day that justice is unfinished, safety is situational, and inclusion is the bare minimum.
St. Paul cares deeply about his tree canopy and I believe that is recognized in the ordinance that we're going to discuss today.
This ordinance also aligns with the reconstruction efforts with the goals and policies of the 2040 comprehensive plan as well as the climate action and resilience plan with a long-term goal of creating a proactive, accountable, and transparent system to protect and expand the St. Paul's urban tree canopy.
This is one of the biggest changes because it defines um it sets up third-party arborists to come in and do weekly inspections uh immediate correction of violations, continuous coordination between contractors, public works and forestry.
this ordinance uniquely I think builds in an annual review of the ordinance itself and its costs and its effectiveness.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Supporting recommendations to the governor for ranking eligible census tracks for Opportunity Zone designation.
Recognizing the life of Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ku Blesing Vang and proclaiming memorial days.
Celebrating the 91st birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama and recognizing the Tibetan community.
Celebrating the 2026 LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month in St. Paul.
Amending the St. Paul Administrative Code to add Chapter 92: Tree Preservation for city sponsored construction projects.
Approving a sound level variance for District Energy St. Paul's boiler testing event.
Authorizing the Police Department to amend financing and spending plans in its grant fund.
Approving a sound level variance for the Rondo Days Festival.
City plan aligning with tree preservation efforts.
City plan aligning with tree preservation efforts.
New chapter to be added for tree preservation during city construction.
State law adding protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
State law adopted to legalize same-sex marriage.
New US bill to strengthen support for Tibetan identity and democratic governance.
Chinese law raising concerns about forced assimilation of Tibetan culture.