here. >> Jo >> here. >> Kim >> here. >> Yang. >> Council President Anchor >> here. >> Seven present, non-absentive. >> Welcome everyone to our St. Paul City Council meeting. We're so thrilled that you took time to join us today. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Consent agenda items 5 through 34 are before you for your consideration. >> And I know we are taking items 33 and 34 for separate consideration. Is there anything else to come off of consent? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Vice President Yang for the balance of the consent agenda. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The consent agenda is adopted as amended. Item 33 is resolution 26-969 establishing the rate of pay for the classification of GIS supervisor EG09 SPSO grade 19. >> There was just a small technical change that needed to be added to this in the form of a version two. So I will move version two. Uh any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I all opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted as amended. Item 34 is resolution 26-106, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Kumbaya, the Junth story and its enduring legacy of community, culture, freedom in the city of St. Paul. >> Miss Johnson. >> All right. Well, good afternoon colleagues. I get the pleasure of being able to introduce you today to Mrs. Mrs. Rose McGee. So, I'm going to welcome Miss McGee up at this time to join me. Um, and also uh we have Nyla Hever. Hello. And we have um Dwayne as well coming in to talk to you a little bit about this resolution. Um I had the chance to join them for the 30th anniversary of Kumbaya, the Junth story. And this resolution honors the legacy of this community, culture, and freedom that is here within our city. As a reminder, we did pass a resolution here at this body and with full support as well as a mayor's proclamation of Junth, but also um that something that's happened in partnership with the humanity center here in St. Paul has been Miss McGee's Kumbaya Junth story play. This is something that has um continued to have is an annual impact here right in here in the St. Paul area and at um St. Kate St. Kate's University. This is the 30th anniversary of the of the play. It was um proclaimed the Kumbaya Junth story day in the city of St. Paul on June 26. So this this resolution is our contribution to the work and honoring leaders like those that are behind me and aside me. So I with that I'm just going to um I'm going to have Miss McGee give us a couple minutes. I did share with folks it's two minutes um each and so I will come back in and just read the last two be it resolves clauses and uh we'll make a motion at that time. >> Welcome. >> Thank you councel. And I really do feel extremely honored um that you're acknowledging the 30th anniversary. I cannot believe it's been 30 years that um the Twin Cities um Junth Commission said, "Can you create something that will help educate our community?" At the time, we were doing um wonderful um parade and also a festival in the park, but people still didn't understand what Junth meant. So I was able to get started with um the artsus organization that was started by Tony Carter and at that time we created this wonderful program that involved these young people um mostly through storytelling. When we were done though, we asked the audience what did they want to see and they said more and then they said it should be something that would be accessible to students so that they can understand this history that has been omitted from our typical learning books and things, right? And so I began to really craft it out a little bit deeper. And later I had an opportunity to actually go to Ghana, West Africa, and learned more about the history of some things that I then began to incorporate into the play. So here we are 30 years later. We make it a little bit different every year. For three of those 30 years, I was actually working with the Minnesota Humanity Center in Omaha, Nebraska, and we were able to do the play in Omaha. So, it was quite a pleasure to see a bus of the folks from Omaha come last week to the play. So, I just say thank you for this. I really appreciate the Minnesota Humanities and certainly uh the city of St. Paul and these wonderful council members for acknowledging this event. And let me just go on to say if whatever we can do whatever we can do to uplift the power of freedom and now more than ever it seems especially more than ever in many of our lifetimes. It's important that our young people as well as our adults understand the history, understand how important it is that we can just stand together and and and work together and be in unity and understand truly what freedom is because um as Frederick Douglas says which is one of the lines in the play, if there is no what? Struggle there is no progress. Now, Kim Kevin Lindsay is going to come up here real quickly and he's going to say some words as well and then I will go sit down. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Welcome. Not to put you immediately on the spot. >> Uh Rose is accustomed to doing that, so it's all right. So, I do appreciate the council taking a moment out to recognize Rose. Uh it's a very important time in our nation's history to be able to talk about the time period right after the civil war and the issues that reverberated around the country I would say reverberate now. So I appreciate her wisdom. I appreciate her energy. I appreciate her passion 30 years ago for this play and creating it and then carrying it forward for the Minnesota Humanities Center. So again, thank you uh deeply from the Minnesota Humanity Center and especially to recognize Rose on this tremendous occasion of the 30th anniversary of the play. >> Thank you. >> Hey, good evening council. Um I the reason why I was here standing just in in support um of of the miraculous Rose McGee is because honestly I see you as as an additional mom, you know, in my family. When we think about the village and the call um of action that you have and rooted in your purpose and like the story behind even creating the Kumbaya play um is just very personal to me. It was part of my childhood. I remember being part of, you know, the field trips and seeing the Kumbaya play, even being asked to join the play. Um, um, being an honorary director, you know, a watcher of the play. Um, and I just wanted to say, um, it's just so, so, so important that we're commemorating a legacy, um, a milestone. 30 years is not easy. um especially when we think about just uh where like support comes from and how there's always us changing in terms of whose stories matter. And I just want to say thank you so much for your tenacity. Um I also want to just recognize um all the many hands that went into ensuring that this play um is a footprint, a permanent footprint um and what um community look forward to when it comes to Junth. So again, thank you. There's so many um leaders that can be here today and sing your praises, Miss Rose, but I'm just so thankful particularly for your leadership and how you have just modeled the importance of telling our story. >> Council members, good afternoon. I just wanted to briefly share some remarks. as the board chair of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie. Uh we just continue to be so grateful for the leadership, the tenacity, the courage uh that I call her Queen Rose McGee um has expressed and demonstrated over the years. uh even when there's been a lack of financial support or challenges with the ecosystem or the environment that she is hosting this event in, she has always showed up with uh the beauty that we know uh is really who we are as motans. And what sweet potato comfort pie offers uh even beyond uh the kumbaya play is an opportunity for cultural connection uh and bridge building and really being that place where people can find one another and find authenticity uh and being connected through togetherness. Uh so so hopeful that this play will continue to be a sustained part of Minnesota legacy and history because it's everyone's history. Thank you. >> Thank you. such powerful words um from so many people that genuinely understand fully why it's so important to continue to um not only just see the work happen but Miss McGee also honor the work um so now you know uh the motion that I bring in front of you the resolution that I bring in front of you um does resolve that the St. Paul City Council recognizes and uplifts the tremendous contributions of artists. I would say artists, queen, phenomenon, everything. Um, Rose McGee, the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie organization, and the Minnesota Humanity Center for their commitment to preserving history, advancing community dialogue, and honoring the legacy of Junth through the transformative power of storytelling and the arts. And be it further resolved that the St. St. Paul City Council affirms the truthtelling, cultural expression, and artistic storytelling that are essential to building strong communities, deepening understanding across difference, and ensuring that the lessons of our shared history continue to inform our collective future. And be it finally resolved that the St. Paul City Council congratulates Kumbaya, the Junth story, on its 30th anniversary and expresses its gratitude for the play's enduring impact and uplifting black history, celebrating black resilience, and inspiring generations of St. Paul residents through education, reflection, and hope. And with that, colleagues, I move approval. >> Thank you so much, Miss Johnson. Thank you to everyone who is here with us today. This is a really momentous occasion, and we're honored uh to have you in our presence. So, thank you for your hard work and for your leadership and for being here. Um, there is a motion on the table for approval. I would look to my colleagues to see if there's any discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. You want to stand right here. I think they won right here. >> They're going away. >> Should we pick up the >> I think so. Do you mind if I pick you up for a second? >> The photos will be better. >> Is that all right? >> All right. >> You mind if I hold you just for now? >> I'll hold you up. >> Yeah, I much know. >> Okay. >> Okay. Everyone's window. There it goes. I want to be next to my sister. Thank you so much. >> Okay. >> So wonderful to see you. Thank you, Council Member Johnson. >> Yes, of course. Take great care, >> Nyla. >> Okay. Item number 35 is ordinance 26-32 amending appendix C of the legislative code relating to Northern states power DBA XL energy electric franchise. I >> believe we have a staff report on this item. We do. Mr. Youngs, welcome. And this will I think apply to both this item and the next one. For those of you who are uh just joining us for the first time and are not one of our regular millions of YouTube watchers at home or attendees here in chambers, all of our ordinances have at least three readings. The first reading is always a staff report to tell us what we're considering. The second reading, the next week is a public hearing where we hear from the public about what's being proposed. And the third reading is often the final adoption, the final vote. Sometimes we take more time if we have more amendments uh to consider. Um so in this case, this is the first reading of these two ordinances. So we will have a staff report. Welcome, Mr. Yans. >> Uh well, good afternoon. I'm Neil Johans, the city treasurer in office of financial services. So, I'm here to uh give a brief uh staff report on these two ordinances. As you mentioned, um so we are in the midst of negotiations right now with Excel for both our gas and electric franchises. Um our current franchise is set to expire August 31st of this year. Um and so we need a a brief extension of the life of our current franchise out to the end of the year to um accommodate kind of like the last phase of negotiations with Excel. um because they'll have to go through uh the public utilities commission uh to bring forward their rates which uh our franchise fee is part of that. Um so the new timeline lets them do that before the uh >> oh I was just reading the sign says do not adjust my >> now don't adjust them. Um but yeah, so the the new title lets them uh uh bring their items through the public utilities commission um and lets us finish out the rest of our contract or our current uh franchise. Um and we'll likely be back to you all here in the next uh month or two with kind of that last phase of negotiations wrapped up. So that's all I have for the staff report. >> Great questions? Doesn't look like it. Thanks so much. Uh so that's uh first reading. And this item will lay over till July 15th. >> Yep. The item is laid over till July 15th for second reading public hearing. Item number 35 is ordinance 26-33 or 36 is ordinance 26-33 amending appendix B of the legislative code relating to northern states power DBA XL Energy Gas franchise and this ordinance is laid over to to July 15th for second reading public hearing. Item 37 is resolution public hearing 26-146 approving the application of Rondo Community Coalition for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for 4th annual Rondo block party event on Saturday, August 1st at 820 Rondo Avenue, Rondo Commemorative Plaza. >> So we are now in our public hearing section of our agenda. So if you are here for any of our public hearing items, when your item is read and I call the public hearing, if you're here to testify, please come on up, stand in between the two microphones. you don't need to adjust them anymore. Um, you'll have two minutes to testify. We ask that you start with your name and where you're coming from. Um, and when you're done, and there's a timer in front of you, and two minutes do go by quickly, so uh, just please be be aware of that. And when you're done testifying, please sign in on either of the two signin sheets. So, with that, this is a public hearing on item 37. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Miss Buoie to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item 38 is resolution public hearing 26-147 approving the application of Sonia Castillo for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for Cho Fest event on Saturday, July 11th, 2026 at 235 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul Technical College. >> This this is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? >> Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Miss Buouie to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item number 39 is ordinance 25-4 amending title 4 of the St. Paul Administrative Code to add chapter 92 titled tree preservation for city sponsored construction projects. >> This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? I think maybe we'll have folks just line up on either side of the gold columns and come on up when it's your turn. Welcome. >> Hello. Well, hello. My name is Tom Darling. I'm a member of the board of the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association or SARPA. And I was on the public input group uh that worked on the tree preservation ordinance and the uh standard operating procedures. And I want to start by because I don't want to run out of time to say this by saying that we we all you we all owe a debt of gratitude to Megan Jacket. Uh from the beginning to the end, Megan has been a force to be reckoned with. Megan got this ordinance done and I admire her and thank her and we should all applaud her. And I hope I've got an extension of my two minutes for the applause. Um, now moving on, I and SARPA support the draft ordinance. Now, it's far from perfect. However, having said that, the draft ordinance and the SOPs, in my view, should yield the important result of giving trees a real and meaningful seat at the table when city construction projects are being considered and implemented. Now, it's crucial to emphasize that this is a tree preservation ordinance. It is not a tree replacement ordinance. Trees must be preserved. They cannot meaningfully be replaced. Mature trees once gone will not be replaced for decades and decades. When the when this city council passes this ordinance, you will be elevating tree preservation above replacement. And that's how it should be. Once this ordinance is passed, you as city council members must be diligent in making sure it is implemented consistent with its intent. Pre-preservation parks and public works must also work to implement it honestly and fairly. They must not only seek community input, they must listen to that community input and act upon it. It can't just be a feel-good pat yourself on the back exercise. Thank you so much. That is two minutes. I really appreciate your testimony. Make sure to sign in. >> Welcome up. >> Hi, my name is Gary Todd. I live in Ward 2. First, I want to say thank you. It's evident that a tremendous amount of work went into developing this ordinance. It's important to get it right so that it can be enforcable and comprehensive rather than just a token to preservation in name only. I have a couple questions. Will the ordinance be strong enough to force alternative designs and methods to be chosen, especially with discretionary elements of projects like bike trails where clear alternatives exist? Or will proposed project designs overrule alternatives and tree preservation will only occur if feasible or if it doesn't prohibit construction activity? Will the city be solely reliant on contractor reports or are there requirements for on-site review of ongoing construction to enforce this ordinance? St. Paul's tree canopy serves all residents and is a major attraction that draws people to our city. We want this ordinance to answer the question that people always ask when reading about another bunch of trees being removed for some construction project. How many lost trees are too many? I understand that tree loss occurs in construction, but alternative designs and techniques need to be chosen that reduce the number of trees lost rather than attempt to only attempt to preserve the ones that remain. Contractors will invariably choose the least expensive path. Tree replanting is important, but replanting is not preservation. It takes decades for a tree to grow back to the point where it can deliver the benefits that a mature tree delivers to us today. Uh, can you require periodic reporting to the city council on the effectiveness of this new ordinance? It would be interesting to see how designs were altered, alternatives chosen, and number of trees preserved based on the application of this ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in and welcome up. Hello, I am Bridget Allen Ellis and I was also on the tree input group and I wanted to call out Megan and Steve and um Steve Dodge and Mr. um Peterson back there and um Tom Hegel and Tim Greenfield and all the people that were uh coming to our meetings. It was great. So, I'll make this really quick because I agree with a lot of what has already been said, so I'll just echo it. But the way I see this is preserving trees is the lowest barrier with the highest value to preserve trees. Lowest barrier, high value for the entire city. You don't always come across that kind of a concept. So this is very good. Whether it be mental health, physical health, financial health. Just think when you read a description of a property, apartment for rent on a treeline street, duplex for rent on a treeline street, house for sale on a treeline street. It makes a difference for civic pride of St. Paul. Um, and then lastly, I'll just say since Omaha was brought up sooner, my daughter went to school in Omaha for college and every time she would come back, she's like, "Gosh, I forget how beautiful St. Paul is with all these trees." And now we loved Omaha for what it did for her and our little heart. We have a little piece of our heart in Omaha. But when your children start to realize what a value this is, it's wonderful. So, thanks for all the work and I support the ordinance. Thank you. Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in. Welcome up. >> I've been told the video feed died. So, we can still go. >> Oh, okay. Let's pause. >> Okay. I don't We will be in a state of anticipation for a final speaker for as long as it takes. >> Now we need the dramatic. >> So music needs to queue up. Yeah, for sure. Just know we're doing all this for you. >> And I appreciate the theatricality of it. So, >> okay. Welcome up. >> Thank you so much, uh, members of the council and council president. I'm Michael John Piece, the president and chief parks champion of the St. Paul Parks Conservancy. Um, personally, my stake in this beyond being a resident of St. all is my great-grandfather staked a tree claim in Nebraska 140ome years ago and in exchange for the land from the government at some insanely cheap price right it was to plant trees which are still there and have changed the ecology for the good in that area as in my role professionally I really want to we've already uh given a well-deserved shout out uh to Megan I want to also um give a shout out to the staff um of both public works and parks because they always have big work in front of them and they stayed at the table and the community stayed at the table when we had to delay some of the conversation so that staff could get their other work done in order to pay the right amount of attention uh to the SOPs and to the rolls up in this ordinance. Uh and the group that met uh meeting after meeting after meeting with Jacket was very diverse and very tenacious and we didn't always agree and I think that's what's made it the best ordinance it can be. It stated it's not perfect. It's a huge paradigm shift and I'm hoping that as it rolls out in the next 10 or 20 years, maybe it doesn't take that long. um we that launches us into a culture shift the way some other uh cities have around how they think of trees as infrastructure. But I'm really proud that we have acknowledged trees are public infrastructure and they're worth considering and sometimes they trump the other considerations. So, uh, it's been a great process and I really admire, uh, the work you all have put in to overlaying this and to, uh, keeping it going, uh, because this is the best work we could come up with all together. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in and thank you for your patience with us. Uh, is there anyone else here to speak to this item? All right. I will make a motion to close the public hearing and then make some comments. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed. >> Uh well, I we always have a bit of an anticlimactic process here because we have the first reading, as I mentioned, we have the public hearing when folks who really care about an ordinance typically actually come here, and then we don't take a final vote on the ordinance until the next week. So, um while people are here who took the time to testify, I just want to say I I'm so grateful to you for taking the time to be here and for the many, many hours, um of back and forth, of conversation, of input that you have given to this process. those of you who are on the public input group. Um it is what has made this ordinance so strong though not perfect. So thank you. Um I am not typically known for being a very patient person. So, if you had told me last February when we opened up the public hearing on the first version of this ordinance that we would not be passing it the next week, the next month, the next year, but 14 months later, 15 months later, we would be back looking at this ordinance again. I probably uh would not have thought that that was something I could handle. Um, but I am so glad that we took the time that we did. And I think it's actually I was saying to some of my colleagues earlier, I think it's been interesting to see um some of the framing of this process in some of the media um about how you know it took so long to get this ordinance done. And when when the council heard push back, they stopped and they took the time to engage their critics and and figure it out as though that's a negative thing. And I think that says so much about our politics today that taking the time to get it right and engaging the people who don't agree with you and trying to get to a point where you can all stand here as people did today and say it's not perfect but we're excited about it. Um that that's that's a ding on us somehow. I think that is what government should be. Um, we've had 19 public meetings, including the public input group meetings, including the mayor's advisory committee on disabilities, including the parks commission, including me or Jacket going in person to every one of our district councils. Um, we have had our parks and public works departments working together on this ordinance, which is not just process, but it's actually also the outcome because at the end of the day, the only way this ordinance works is when parks and public works work together and have the relationships in place to do that. And as a result of the last 16 months, they have developed those relationships so they'll be ready to hit the ground running implementing this ordinance on day one. Um, we don't just have an ordinance, we have standard operating procedures. That was something that we heard loud and clear from community members. We didn't just want the high level. The details are what matter and we need the details to be adapted to. And those details, by the way, to Mr. Todd's point, include a requirement to evaluate the ordinance annually to see how it's doing. Um, and I think that's something that we should include more often in our legislation. Um, and we did all of this process because trees matter deeply. We knew that before we started this, but if we have learned anything throughout this process, it is something that has become patently clear. They are they are deeply personal. The tree outside your house on your boulevard feels like in some cases a member of your family. Every single one of our wards has a project that we can point to where trees were not given a voice. Um, and where there have been sometimes devastating consequences that people remember for for years. Um, and so this time that we put in was, I think, in honor of the importance of what we're doing. And, um, I'm really grateful that we that we took it. And I just want to finally extend my thanks to the public input group, to our parks and public works staff, and to the incredible Megan Jacket, without whom absolutely we would not be here. Um, so thank you to uh, everyone. And with that, we are not going to do anything right now. Um although I would welcome anybody else who would like to make any comments while we have folks here to testify, including our attorney. >> I'm being told that I think some of the first speakers to this item, the video was cut out. So maybe we would offer them the opportunity to speak again because it wasn't part of the public record >> or like we open the public hearing. Yeah, I mean at least offer them the opportunity. >> Um, so apparently the video feed was not working for the first couple of speakers. So if people would like to repeat their comments alternately, we could still accept written comments. >> You could accept written comments that I guess >> well I I mean I wrote I wrote mine down. I can read read them. I'll skip the part about Megan. >> All right. So, I'm going to make a motion to reopen the public hearing. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is reopened. >> One opposed. Um, welcome back. >> Oh, thank you very much. >> I mean, welcome up. We're pretending like this never happened. Sorry. Cool. >> Um, my name's Tom Darling. I'm a member of the board of the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association or SARPA. I was on the public input group that worked on the ordinance and the SOPs. And I want to start by saying that we all owe a debt of gratitude to Megan Jacket from beginning to end. Megan has been a force to be reckoned with. Megan Megan got the ordinance done. Uh I admire her greatly. I thank her sincerely and we should all applaud her. So now moving on, I I and SARPA support the draft ordinance. It is far from perfect. However, that said, the draft ordinance and the SOPs, in my view, should yield the important result of giving trees a real and meaningful seat at the table. When city construction projects are being considered and implemented, it is crucial to emphasize that this is a tree preservation ordinance. It is not a tree replacement ordinance. Trees must be preserved. They cannot meaningfully be replaced. Mature trees once gone will not be replaced for decades and decades. When this city council passes this ordinance, you will be elevating tree preservation above replacement. And that's how it should be. Once this ordinance is passed, you as a city council members must be diligent in making sure that is that it is being implemented consistent with its intent. Parks and public works must also work to implement it honestly and fairly. They must not only seek community input, they must listen to it and act upon that input. This ordinance cannot just be a feel-good exercise where we which we use to proclaim our love of trees and to pat ourselves on the back. It must work. And for it to work, a tree preservation ethos must be real. Both and both the spirit and the words of the ordinance must be honored. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. We got we got the whole testimony. So, thank you and make sure to sign it. With that, is there anyone else who wishes to testify on this item? Not seeing any. I uh will move to close the public hearing. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed. >> Any other comments from my colleagues? Miss Johnson. >> Um I would just share just kind of what I have witnessed over the last year and um I guess what 15 you said 15 months. So, I'll just share that I think when anytime uh community members share the feedback that an ordinance is not perfect, that is when I feel like the process itself must have been incredibly credible. Um because sometimes ordinances and laws are, you know, they're not perfect. They don't cover everything in order to get to the place where we all agree may be the most common good. And so in so many of the spaces and I think just even when this was first introduced, I remember when this was first introduced and I also remembered our inboxes after um followed by just where we are now with um even the testifiers and the testimony today. Just want to say um super uh supportive of not only this ordinance, but I think just the overall intentionality that went into crafting it because the reality is that this ordinance does touch everywhere across the city. Um and you know each council member I'm sure has heard if if they're have heard what I've heard a significant uh growing interest in preserving our tree canopy here on especially on the east side. We have some of the greatest climate action disparities when it comes to just all of the things. And often it is related to the the amount of trees we do not have in my community and in so many of the spaces that I think that ordinances ordinances like this that really just take the time to um try to gather input on all different uh sides no matter where folks were coming from from this but also educate community members along the way. If that took a year um and a half so be it. I think it's just really important that what we got to this point and so I do also appreciate uh the work of the war two office. I um know that the praises have been sang for uh from for Megan Jacket on the record and I think that that's super important. I also think the work of director Rodriguez and our park staff that and our park parks uh team are very notable as well. Um and then I think for every community member who decided that this was important enough to invest the ample amount of time in which you have on this ordinance. I also think that that's just truly what makes the process important and credible and I think it'll be really important to some of the questions raised today on the record. Um you know that that it's very clear that in the future ordinances as well so as their enforcement mechanisms as well so as their investments. Um this is going to take a lot of effort in the forefront to continue to have that. There is a price tag affiliated with it. um as with any policy that we put forward or ordinance that we put forward and at the same time it'll be important to that accountability piece to watch it over time because the good part is that we have to start somewhere and I think that we have a solid starting ground. So just want to share that um our office will be joining in as a co-sponsor. I don't see ourselves listed so I want to fix that before next week. um but truly supportive of the effort that has went into it and I know that there is a lot of folks watching it and it you know for people who couldn't give up their um the amount of time that some of you have um we thank you on behalf of the city. Thanks. >> Thank you, Miss Johnson. Other discussion, Miss Buoie. >> Thank you, Council President. I also just want to u reiterate what was said. Um I really appreciate the um testifiers coming here and um uh sharing what the progress was. Um and just even as a council member um seeing the evolution um of this ordinance of it being truly communitydriven and this was a grassroots as it gets in terms of how do we preserve uh and create ordinances and policies to to do something that the the city just you know inherently wasn't doing automatically. Um, so we don't take any of that for granted. I also just think um I want to highlight that this is truly a model of like what it looks like for um community accountability. Um and I know for for me particularly in my ward um especially you know this has been a great concern in terms of um the tree canopy the development how um infrastructure positive good infrastructure that we want. It also was in alignment with preserving um our tree assets. I appreciate hearing too that uh trees should be treated as public infrastructure. that was so so telling um in terms of like what are the assets that we preserve and what are you know what are what's compromised in the process um I also just wanted to say kudos um to ensuring that community staying at the table I know sometimes with government services we try not to get too much into the weeds but it seems like this body was all into the weeds and all part of the um the process um I know that's u that's usually not the case. Um, but I think this is a great opportunity um, for us to get to the root of like what community engagement actually looks like and the outcome and a byproduct of that community engagement. Um, and I just want to just say to um, you know, I think it's really important good policy is built at the speed of trust. And this obviously took a lot of time because we needed to build that relationship. We need to build that trust and we can only build that trust by having these conversations, by making these commitments and making sure it's really clear and tangible in terms of what the standard that we're holding not only the city to, but also the um the accountability to our neighbors and the people that we serve every day. So, um you know, I think uh push back is always good, tension's always good, um collaboration is always good. Um, so I'm just happy to just get one step closer to actually approving this. >> Thank you, Miss Buoie. Any other discussion? Seeing none, this will lay over. >> The item is laid over to July 15th for final adoption. Legislative hearing consent agenda items 40 through 49 are before you for your consideration. >> Missy, who had to not do my automatic. Welcome. Good afternoon, council members, council president, and council members. Um, we have one item, I believe, to be pulled for separate consideration. That is item number 43, um, related to 683 Kansas. >> Item number 43, RLHFCO26-51, appeal of Mckenzie, tenant of unit 5 to a fire certificate of occupancy correction notice at 683 Kansas Avenue. Missing >> Council President, council members, this is an appeal of a fire correction order dated June 9th. It had a handful of items on it, mostly related to some plumbing issues, holes throughout, some walls that needed to be repainted. Some repairs are significant, but they didn't rise to the level of needing to be condemned and vacated. Um the appellant did indicate in the hearing um some continued frustrations with the landlord HUD um reports to Department of Safety and Inspections. Uh I did want to flag according to our research there was no historic records of complaints or allegations for this property. All that is in front of you today is those current orders from June 9th and the recommendation is to grant until August 7th for compliance with these orders. I do believe the appellant has um pursued other avenues court with other jurisdictions that the city does not have any jurisdiction over. >> Thank you, Miss Em. Um, and just before we open up the public hearing, can you clarify what those orders are? >> Yep. >> What needs to be corrected by August 7th? >> Yep. I can show you some pictures, but the um the report given by um supervisor Keith Demerest. Um the findings included kitchen drain line dripping, upstairs bathtub overflowing through the ceiling, heat deflector shield removed from heater in the kitchen. There were a couple smoke alarms that were removed. Those are obviously the biggest issues at the this time. They were in the kitchen and the basement. Some repairs and holes in the vanity upstairs. There's some bubbling in the ceiling upstairs. Again, the repainting and and um throughout basically condensation with kind of causing dirt on the walls that needs to be cleaned and likely repainted on a new vent fan upstairs. >> And these, to be clear, are um orders to the tenant or to the property owner? >> The property owner is ultimately responsible for these repairs. >> And so the appeal of the tenant in a case where we're not there's no vacate order. I'm trying to understand. >> The the tenant um has continued frustrations with the landlord not addressing some of these issues. This did start in February. So, there was multiple visits to the property, orders issued, nothing done. I believe that was February 18th, March 5th. April 9th, new orders, nothing done. May 8th, new orders, nothing done. So that leads us to here. >> So the tenant is appealing the orders to the property owner. >> He's appealing the orders. >> Okay. Okay. because he disagrees with I think perhaps the time given which again is to August 7th a month out I speak responsibilities on the property owner to make the repairs >> correct >> okay thank you so much >> yes >> I think don't go too far uh this is a public hearing welcome up you'll have two minutes make sure you start with your >> that wasn't really correct so do I >> sir I'm so sorry can you start with your name and where you're coming from and then you'll have two minutes and make sure you focus on what your ask is of us >> okay I'm Mckenzie do I use my time to correct what she did. >> You have two minutes to make your ask of us. >> Okay. Well, that's incorrect. That isn't why I'm here. Um, I'll let this kind of read itself. >> Two, St. Paul City Attorney. >> Let's get this right. >> Lindsay Olsen and Minnesota attorney. >> I'll just read it. Um, this to the St. Paul uh is kind of reaccated. And you're Rebecca Noker. So, my issue was um you had already visited our property. This is the property with the $3.8 million worth of damages. Um that's that was in April of last year, 2025. So, this is just like Heritage Park over North Minneapolis. So, my issue is with also the maintenance property solutions. I have a video of them stealing some of the materials I took from my house, St. Paul, to North Minneapolis Heritage Park. These guys targeted us, went in the garage and stole from us. They also stole from me at my home, which is how I knew they steal. They come in, they say they're going to repair, let's say, the exhaust fan. The exhaust fan is still missing. The exhaust fan was took out in July. I moved in in June. I was coached out of my place in April when the check from Doge for that property was denied 3.8 million worth of damages. They knew that when they caught me, a vulnerable adult with a vulnerable child to this property with that fraud housing company and this uh this this company that Vista um so they used us to pay all this money but won't repair nothing. So my daughter failed during Zoom court. The judge hurried up and dismissed my case because this was caught on camera. Dismissed it with prejudice just cuz I couldn't see or he couldn't hear me on Zoom. So now my case is in the trash. I'm here because I feel like MPA when they told us at the Heritage Park meeting that they don't pay for properties with this type of damage yet and still we're all black and they're paying for it. So how does that work? You know what I mean? So like when it comes to the law, I got laws I bring up. Nothing's being respected. None and nobody from the property wants to come here come to court because the way I'm getting retaliated on every violation after that April when I filed a ETR to ask the court to stop them from coming in my house stealing from me. I got video. I got proof. Um >> sir, I'm sorry you're at time. Can you tell us what your ask is of us? What is your ask of us? >> Um well I don't really know what my ask is, but I'm still fighting is what I'm saying. I'm going keep fighting and I'm trying to figure out where I go from here. So, I came to the city of St. Paul to find out where where do I go from here? And the other people that are afraid to come here that don't want to go in no courtrooms or anything like that, where do they go from here? Cuz we spent a whole winter with no heat, no hot water, leaking ceiling, my daughter bedroom, just, you know, the hole in the ceiling that you're talking about, that's a leak. But the inspector too, >> there's other things still wrong with the property he will not address. He's covering it up for them. The electrical outlets that are popping from the uh space heaters we had to use all winter. >> I need you to wrap up now, but I heard you ask loud and clear. So, you can take a seat. We'll talk about what you just shared. Make sure you sign in. Thank you so much. Is there anyone else here to testify on this item? >> See none, I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. All in favor say I. >> All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed. >> All right. And we will take uh Looks like there are a couple of questions or comments. Miss Buoie. Yeah, I just have uh just for the correction of the record um because the applet it says Ambi McKenzie. He had mentioned David McKenzie. I'm just wondering if he is the actual appellant or if this is a he's testifying. >> I'm Mackenzie. >> Oh, excuse me. B. Okay. I just wanted to make sure we heard that correctly. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Miss B. Miss. Johnson. >> Okay. And along that vein, is Mr. McKenzie the owner of 683. So the >> occupant >> So he Okay. So you're a tenant >> within 683 Kansas. >> Okay. >> Oh. >> Okay. Um >> so I'm happy to make and then maybe >> Yeah, I Yeah, you can make the motion, but I do have a question for clarification. >> Okay. So it what it sounds to me like is that there are issues within the property that need to be corrected and there is some dispute as to how those issues got there as to the payment for those issues um and as to the amount of time it's taken to get those issues corrected. Um my inclination and my motion will be to approve um deny the appeal and approve the legislative hearing officer's recommendation to grant until August 7th for compliance because I want the property owner to make these repairs and that is what this is ordering to be done. What I am hearing Mr. McKenzie say is that you're not going to stop fighting and you need help with the situation with your landlord and with other things that are going on. >> They won't have in there even with you doing that. you're basically telling us, >> "Thank you, sir. We can't we're not going to have any more testimony. But what I'm going to do is talk to you after this meeting so we can figure out how my office can be of help to you. Um, but I don't think a way to help is to is to remove this responsibility from the property owner. I think we want this issue corrected and the city needs to stand with you um in getting that issue corrected." So, that will be my motion. Um, and I don't know is if that's denying the appeal. >> Denying the appeal. >> Denying the appeal and Okay. So, that's my motion. Is there discussion of the motion, Miss Johnson? >> Okay. Yeah, I appreciate that motion. I I'll be supportive of that motion. I think in part because I guess what I'm I'm wondering how does we get to the appeal process in which an an occupant of a property has to appeal in order to get some of the concerns looked at. So I am curious about like what happens afterwards because this is is a unique situation in which the pelant is not actually the tenant which mean the owner he's a tenant. >> Yeah. >> Seems like they're not actually in opposition to the to the piece here but is mentioning more and more things that is wrong with the property. >> Right. >> And then I heard you say that there has been no prior history of complaints on the property. So what about now and like what happens afterwards? So when the August 7th date comes, they will reinspect. If these items aren't done, then it's upon the department to take further action. How they choose to do that, it's kind of up to them. They could condemn it. They could order it vacated. >> Okay. >> Okay, Miss Kim. >> Yeah, that was a line along the lines of my curiosity as well. um because we want both the the property owner to be responsible to fix the issues and I'm seeing it's a fire certificate of occupancy. So that means that if it is condemned or whatever the city chooses to take afterwards. I'm not saying that's the end result, but um that would then mean if a unit doesn't have a certificate of occupancy that means they cannot be occupied. So, correct. >> I think like I'm supportive of this motion um and I'm looking forward to sort of the followup from our departments to ensure that they stick to this timeline because I wrote down, you know, February 18th um March 5th, April 9th, May 8th, you know, I think um what I'm hearing from the testifier and the tenant is like what is the means to the end here? So, looking forward to support the motion, but just recognizing that without a certificate of occupancy, this unit can't be occupied and that means that someone needs housing. also >> um am supportive of the of the motion. >> Sir, I see your hand. We're not going to take public testimony. I will come talk to you soon as we're done though and hear your further comments. Okay. Any further comments on this item from colleagues? >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted as amended. >> Miss Zimney, is there anything else to come before us for separate consideration? >> I don't believe that there's anything else. >> Okay. Is there in that case we will hold an a public hearing on all of the legislative hearing items that we have not yet held a public hearing on 40 through 49. If there is anyone else here to testify on any of the other items, this is your public hearing. Please come on up. Not seeing anyone, I will take a motion from Miss Kim to close the public hearings and approve the legislative hearing items with the amendations and recommendations of the legislative hearing officer. All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. >> Seven in favor, none opposed. The legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended. >> That brings us to the end of our agenda. I'm looking to my colleagues to see if there's any good news or news from the warts. >> Sorry, Vice President. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, this is in two weeks. However, I still wanted to share it ahead of the get ahead of the game in sharing it. I'm doing a word budget event. It's going to be on Tuesday, July 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hees Park Recreation Center. It's an opportunity for um W six residents and neighbors to attend this community conversation with me to learn about our city's budget, understand the opportunities and challenges ahead and share their priorities for our St. Paul's future. Also, the second thing I wanted to share is that as you all know, Hayden Heights Library is getting renovated right now. The St. Paul public libraries is um they just put out a call for artists so that we can um start taking in applications um from artists who want to share that they qualify for this project so that they can do a mural in the library. So it's going to be really exciting. You can check out the St. Paul Public Libraries website for more information. Thank you so much. Other good news or news? Miss Jo. >> Um thank you council president. I'll just share again that the Hamlin Midway Library is opening. on Saturday, July 18th. Uh the opening celebration is 10:30 to 2:30, so it starts with a story time. I hope everyone can come stop by. Um and the library actually opens at 10 a.m. that day. So you can come even earlier if you want. Um so hope to see everybody there. Uh it's really exciting um to to see this finally, you know, coming to completion for the community. >> Thanks, Miss Justin. Uh Miss Johnson. >> Thank you, Council President. Um the Southeast Community Organization or SECO as we call it on the east side is doing a housing forum um on Monday night 6:30 to 8. I'll be joining uh Commissioner My Chong Jang uh to talk a little bit about just quite a few different housing uh initiatives that are happening both at the city and at the county. Um and so we do this we have done this I think both years in the past and this is our third time around. But it's always great. It's always a full room with people who are talking, renters, homeowners, everyone can come. Um, it's open to the public. It's at the SECO office, so 25 21105 Half Road uh have Old Hudson Road. It's so in Sunray. It's like in the Sunray shopping center area. So, you can come out and um they usually always have food. So, you know, if they don't this time, you can blame me, but I'll take you out. But, you should be able to come out. It's open and it's from 6:30 again to 8 on Monday. >> Thanks, Miss Johnson. Miss Coleman, >> two quick things. Uh really excited to share that we have the ribbon cutting today at the South St. Anthony Park, which is uh 890 Cromwell Avenue. It's amazing. I'm very excited to take my toddler there this weekend. Recommend checking it out. It's a really great new park and really excited and grateful for all of the parks department work to make that happen. And the other item is that this Friday, the KOMO community council D10 is having their ice cream social. It's technically right across the border in Ward 5 at the street car station. That's Friday evening. So, it should be a lot of fun and a good way to cool down on a very, very hot weekend. >> Yes. Awesome. There's so much going on. Any last good news, Miss Buoie? >> Um, this is a a last uh news not from the ward. is actually in war 2 downtown but uh we excited I think this is our first meeting or maybe our second meeting where we have um um came from the Osborne 370 um building but on the fourth floor um the there will be a AI magic night St. Paul summer edition. Um it's actually hosted by this uh consulting group that is at the Osborne 370 and it was a group of young guys who were super eager and excited to invite us. I said probably will not have the time to actually make it but it's today at 5:30 to 9 fourth floor. Um it's experience where they're going to be demonstrating their AI products. Um, and people can work and interact with their AI products between 5:30 to 900 pm and they have it on a quarterly basis. So, I think it's kind of cool to, you know, advertise what's going on at the Osborne. >> Thought you were going to say there's a fizzy machine, but that would not really be news. That's just on the fourth floor. That would be fun. Um, all right. Thank you all so much for the great news and for the productive day. With that, we are George. Water.