St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
EV Car Share and EV Spot Network Update
District Councils Update and Funding Discussion
Votes (2)
EV Car Share and EV Spot Network Presentation
Director Barber introduced an update on the EVspot network, emphasizing the importance of transportation options. Erin Kaiser presented on the two components: EVspot charging and EV car share. St. Paul's network is nationally significant, with ongoing expansion planned for the East Side. Amanda Graange shared performance data, noting high usage by low-income and BIPOC communities and the program's role in reducing car ownership. A key focus was the shift in funding landscape, reduction in federal grants, and the need for stable local operating funds. The team detailed financial challenges like rising insurance costs and unexpected utility fees from Excel Energy, with a specific ask of ~$440,000 above base from the City of St. Paul. Council members questioned the Excel Energy minimum usage penalties, the commercial rates charged, and the overall funding strategy, including exploring municipal insurance options and wider city expansion.
District Councils Funding and Operations Update
Zoe Bourer, District Council Coordinator, presented an overview of St. Paul's 17 independent district councils, outlining their role in community engagement and their contractual responsibilities with the city. The presentation detailed the fiscal year 2026 budget changes, notably a total allocation of $1.7 million, including a significant general fund increase and a one-time $345,000 transfer from the HA parking fund to replace federal CDBG funding. This shift aims to alleviate administrative burdens previously associated with CDBG guidelines. The discussion included the city's support mechanisms, the long-standing funding formula (from 2005) that considers demographics like population and poverty, and ways for residents to engage. Council members inquired about the long-term sustainability of the one-time parking fund transfer and how district councils are expected to utilize increased funding to engage communities facing additional barriers, such as language access or childcare needs.
Notable Quotes (8)
I'm a big believer in having transportation options, um, that is how you actually have people get around, um, through communities, through neighborhoods. Um, and one of those very unique opport options that we have here in the city is EV car share.
if there's one thing that you take away from today, it's that the city of St. Paul owns and operates the largest public charging network in the country and that charging network supports the largest and only all share electric our all electric car share program.
That 66% say that car share has allowed them to sell or postpone the purchase of a vehicle.
I would really like to get more clarity on what specifically the team is doing to talk to u both Excel and the insurance provider. It seems that if we're the largest public charging network in the country that we shouldn't just be using public dollars to pay as much or more than private individuals would have to pay.
our district councils are independent nonprofit organizations that represent St. Paul's 17 planning districts. They are governed independently, hire their own staff, elect their own volunteer board of directors. Um, and we have our annual community engagement agreements that we provide.
the removal of the CDBG funding from the 2026 budget allocation, those comm our community engagement agreements are no longer subject to those federal cost allocation requirements, including the 15% indirect cost rate limitations.
again, the changes that we made last year. Um those contracts are in process and an implement implementation of a change. You'll hear me say this, you know, I'll continue to to repeat this. Those changes usually take at least a year and sometimes, you know, most often in my experience may take three years to see the results of the change.
I'm wondering if along with those the additional dollars, do we have specific expectations for then how district councils are supposed to be providing additional services to engage those residents? I'm thinking about things like translators and interpreters. I'm thinking about childare. I'm thinking about food which they're actually expressly not allowed to buy with our dollars.
Ordinances & Resolutions (30)
System composed of EVspot charging and EV car share programs.
Public charging network operated by the City of St. Paul.
All-electric car share program, part of the EVspot network.
Hub-based EV car share vehicles.
Funds used by the City of St. Paul for leasing EV car share vehicles.
Local funds from both St. Paul and Minneapolis matching grants for EV car share.
Reallocated American Rescue Plan funds used for EV car share vehicles.
Source of capital grants for EVspot network infrastructure.
Source of capital grants for EVspot network infrastructure from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Mechanism from the Met Council for CMAC funds.
City plan that the EV car share program supports.
Grant supporting annual user survey and pricing model for EV car share.
Lower-cost membership plan for low-income EV car share users.
Potential state grants to reduce EV spot network costs.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds for fleet expansion.
Body with whom negotiations are occurring regarding Excel Energy rates.
Ongoing discussions that could impact utility costs.
Annual agreements between the city and district councils.
Plans maintained by district councils, updated every 10 years.
City-wide plan updated every 10 years.
Being created to standardize management of district council agreements.
Primary city fund for district council support.
Federal funds previously used for district councils, now replaced.
One-time source for $345,000 to replace CDBG funds for district councils.
Federal funding from Housing and Urban Development related to CDBG.
Monthly meetings where district council feedback is discussed.
City position to help address language barriers.
City plan to ensure language accessibility.
Forms used by district councils to elaborate on barriers and increased engagement needs.
Reference for the overall funding allocation distribution for district councils.