St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Story
St. Paul Council Votes to End Surveillance Camera Contracts
Surveillance Technology and Public Trust (Flock Safety)
Fire Chief Selection Process
Residential Permit Parking Expansion (Area 23)
Vacant Building Registration Fee Appeal
Community Events and Initiatives Updates
Votes (18)
Consent Agenda Items 5-23 (as amended)
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice President Yang [Approx. 3m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
Items 5-23 were considered as a consent agenda, with item 21 pulled for separate consideration. The remaining items were adopted.
Resolution 26-404: Approving Grant Funds for United Church of God in Christ (Ward 1)
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Buoie [Approx. 7m] (implied from her presentation and Council President's acknowledgment) · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
Council Member Buoie highlighted the United Church of God in Christ's 25th anniversary, their recent move into the ward, and their commitment to expanding the Frogtown Recovery Cafe and renovating a basketball gym, underscoring the positive community impact of the grant.
Resolution 26-1479: Neighborhood House Use Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Akre [Approx. 11m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The council suspended rules to consider this item due to its urgent timing. The resolution approves a use agreement between Parks and Recreation and Neighborhood House for the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center, terminating a prior lease. This action was crucial to resolve a funding snag and ensure continued services for residents.
Resolution 26-1421: Ending Contracts with Flock Safety
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Akre [Approx. 31m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution, co-sponsored by Council President Akre and Council Member Jo, calls for ending contracts with Flock Safety due to concerns over data sharing, federal overreach (Operation Metro Surge), and erosion of public trust. Council members universally supported the resolution, viewing it as a critical first step in protecting resident privacy and rebuilding trust, while also calling for broader discussions on surveillance technology and stronger city oversight.
Ordinance 26-38: Establishing Fire Chief Qualifications and Examining Committee
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice President Yang [Approx. 35m] (implied from her comments) · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
This ordinance, for final adoption, formalizes the committee responsible for reviewing fire chief applications and recommending candidates to the mayor. Council members praised Vice President Yang's leadership in forming a slate that combines professional expertise with strong community voices, emphasizing the importance of St. Paul residents in the selection process.
Resolution 26-175: Modifying Residential Permit Parking Area 23 Boundaries
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Coleman [Approx. 54m] (motion to deny application) · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
A request to expand permit parking near the University of St. Thomas was presented, citing resident concerns and parking demand. Despite a staff report showing some parking pressure and a resident petition, the council ultimately denied the application. Key arguments for denial focused on inadequate enforcement of existing permits, the inequity of privatizing public right-of-way, and the need for comprehensive solutions rather than incremental boundary expansions.
Resolution 26-190: Green City's Accord Grant for Tree Planting
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Akre [Approx. 57m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
This resolution authorized the Department of Parks and Recreation to accept a grant from Green City's Accord. This program allows organizations to offset carbon by funding tree planting in St. Paul, which was noted as beneficial for the city and climate.
Resolution 26-191: Approving Final Plat at 500 Broadway Street
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Buoie [Approx. 58m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
No discussion took place during the public hearing. The resolution was moved for approval.
Resolution 26-195: Dr. Justice Oage Memorial Restoration Project Donation
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Johnson [Approx. 59m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution approved amending the Department of Parks and Recreation's budget to reflect a donation from the St. Paul Parks Conservancy for a memorial restoration project.
Resolution 26-196: Energy Park Utility Company Rate Amendment
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Coleman [Approx. 59m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution approved a request from Energy Park Utility Company to amend its rates.
Resolution 26-199: Parks and Trails Legacy Funds Acceptance
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice President Yang [Approx. 1h 0m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution authorized the Department of Parks and Recreation to accept over $2 million in Parks and Trails Legacy funds, a significant investment for the department.
Resolution 26-205: University of St. Thomas Sound Level Variance
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Coleman [Approx. 1h 1m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution approved a sound level variance for the University of St. Thomas for amplified sound during Cre and Durham Hall football events in September and October 2026.
Resolution 26-206: Waldman Brewery Sound Level Variance
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Kim [Approx. 1h 2m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution approved a sound level variance for Stone Saloon SBC DBA Waldman Brewery for amplified sound during their October Fest event in September 2026.
Resolution 26-207: Church of Blooming Christie Sound Level Variance
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Jo [Approx. 1h 3m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution approved a sound level variance for Church of Blooming Christie for amplified sound during their Black Party event in September 2026.
Resolution 26-212: Police Department Homeland Security Grant Acceptance
Dissent: None
Moved by Miss Coleman [Approx. 1h 4m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The resolution authorized the Police Department to accept the 2025 state homeland security program grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
RHSAO26-50: Appeal of Gary Grimes to Nuisance Abatement Order
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Akre [Approx. 1h 5m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
The appeal regarding a nuisance abatement order for 314 Wyoming Street East was laid over from the previous week. Miss Mormon reported that the nuisance had been abated through cooperation between the owner and tenant, rendering further action unnecessary.
LHVBR 26-15: Appeal of Paul Mohei to Vacant Building Registration Renewal Notice
Dissent: None
Moved by Council President Akre [Approx. 1h 11m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
Paul Mohei appealed a late vacant building registration renewal notice for 272 Richmond Street, explaining significant rehabilitation efforts after inheriting a damaged property and requesting the fee be waived or reduced. Staff recommended denying the appeal at this stage but advised the owner to appeal the assessment later, which would allow for consideration of proration upon completion of work and given the delayed billing cycle.
Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda Items 37-39, 41-46 (as amended)
Dissent: None
Moved by Vice President Yang [Approx. 1h 12m] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated
With item 40 pulled for separate consideration, the remaining items on the legislative hearing consent agenda were approved.
Notable Quotes (12)
They're celebrating their 25th year anniversary and they just moved into the ward... and in this church, they're also agreeing to maintain and expand the Frogtown Recovery Cafe, which is a a a grassroots recovery peer-led organization that provides supports, wraparound supports to people in the neighborhood, as well as a basketball gym that I'm super excited to get renovated.
being able to approve this today as opposed to a week from now um really matters in terms of the timing for this agreement for neighborhood house. So I wanted to be able to bring this forward uh today. So, um, and this will allow them to to get through this, um, funding snag that they've been dealing with and continue to provide great services for our neighbors.
I want to be really clear that this is not about public safety technology or using technology in the furtherance of public safety. It is about a specific third-party company and its access to our data... this resolution is about the dozens of other departments with whom we are sharing and have been sharing our residents data. many of whom do not follow the same standards as our police department and some of whom knowingly violated our trust and shared our residents data with the federal government.
I do think uh that an ordinance is the next best step. Uh flock is one piece of the mass surveillance pie in many ways and there are other worst actors out there. So having more of a uh one-size-fits-all resolution or ordinance that just bans any kind of surveillance that is related to this type of data... is going to be the next best step.
I think that one of thing that has been really hard to see is just how broken trust has been and how people feel, you know, learned about this technology, learned that the city had it, had so many questions, did not have, you know, feel reassured by the answers that they received. And I want to make sure that when we, as we move forward as a city, we are thinking about how do we build that trust into the process of decision-m around policing in our community.
the slate it has a stellar representation of St. Paul residents, community leaders and professionals in emer in emergency services and I have full confidence in their leadership experience and ability.
I genuinely shared with my colleagues just how, you know, there are so few opportunities to select and publicly be able to lead um in a committee search of any kind really. But when you're looking at the chief of police and the fire chief um and some of these positions within the city to actually be able to weigh in, I can't say more than enough of how important I think it is to have um folks who live here be able to choose their next uh chief of the fire department.
the only evidence that was presented at all about this petition... was the uh count of the neighbors uh that requires 75% of the face blocks. uh they had 85% voting in favor of granting um of creating permit parking on those three blocks.
What I don't agree with is that uh permit parking alone is the solution to the problems that we see around um you know lack of parking enforcement, lack of adequate sweet street sweeping or plowing, sort of the general quality of life issues that can come from living next to a university like the University of St. Thomas... I think the biggest thing for me is something that was raised in the transportation committee meeting which is that we need to have a really good reason to take public right ofway and turn it into private storage. To me it's a very very high bar to expand a permit parking area.
What I am recommending that the council do is to go ahead and deny the appeal. This is just the appeal about whether it should be build and continue to be in the vacant building registration program. If the bill remains unpaid, it will go to a proposed assessment at which point it's appealable again and I talked to Mr. Mohei about appealing it at that juncture so we have a better idea if it's coming close to completion and if there's any action the council would want to take based on that.
My my sister was my partner, but she died last year and she'd left me with like over $100,000 in damage... And I just got the notice in July that the fee was going to be assessed in February. And I thought I wasn't hearing anything in February because I've done so much to improve the property.
I am going to to not wave to deny the appeal today at Miss Mormon's recommendation but encourage you to follow her advice in waiting on paying the fee. Do the work on the house that you are doing. Do not let this stop you. Make as much progress as you possibly can. Get this done. get the code compliance inspection complete and then once that's done and once the actual assessment comes um we will have a conversation back here via appeal about how to handle exactly what you've just talked about.
Ordinances & Resolutions (17)
Approving use of grant funds for the United Church of God in Christ.
Approving a use agreement between the Department of Parks and Recreation and Neighborhood House for the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center and terminating a prior lease.
Calling upon the city of St. Paul and Ramsey County to end their contracts with Flock Safety.
Establishing a qualifications and examining committee for the position of fire chief.
Modifying residential permit parking area 23 boundaries.
Defines the permit parking program in St. Paul.
Authorizing acceptance of grant funding from Green City's Accord for the St. Paul's tree planting program.
Approving the final plat at 500 Broadway Street.
Amending Parks and Recreation spending plan to reflect a donation for the Dr. Justice Oage Memorial Restoration Project.
Approving the request of Energy Park Utility Company to amend rates.
Authorizing acceptance of Parks and Trails Legacy funds and amending the Department of Parks and Recreation financing and spending plan.
Approving sound level variance for University of St. Thomas football events.
Approving sound level variance for Waldman October Fest event.
Approving sound level variance for Church of Blooming Christie Black Party event.
Authorizing the police department to accept the 2025 state homeland security program grant.
Making findings on the appeal of Gary Grimes to a nuisance abatement order.
Appeal of Paul Mohei to a vacant building registration renewal notice.