July 22, 2026 - City Council Meeting
St. Paul Council approves shelter funding, hears encampment concerns
Supportive Housing Zoning Appeals
Deputy City Clerk Position Classification
Elimination of Provisional Youth Minimum Wage
City Council Approval of Solid Waste Contracts
Emergency Shelter Facilities and Encampment Closures (Special Meeting Public Hearing)
Full Document Analysis
Votes (18)
Resolution 26-197 Recognizing Community Health Workers Day in the City of Saint Paul
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [CHW Day] · Seconded by Not specified
Councilmember Johnson introduced the resolution, emphasizing the vital role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in reaching diverse communities for healthcare access and support beyond traditional settings. Executive Director Sonny Aly and Board Chair Park Phillips of the Community Health Worker Alliance shared details of a statewide celebration at the Capitol and spoke about CHWs' impact on health equity and their efforts to leverage technology through the Community Health Innovation Platform.
BZA 25-3 Considering the appeal of Credit Union to a decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals denying a variance request to establish a 24-resident supportive housing facility on the property of 14 Sherborne Avenue
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [BZA 25-3] · Seconded by Not specified
Staff presented background on the appeal, noting the applicant sought to convert a 6-bedroom apartment building into a 24-resident supportive housing facility. The variance was denied due to the property being within 1020 feet of two other supportive housing facilities, violating zoning code separation requirements. Staff and the BZA found the request financially driven, lacking practical difficulty unique to the property, and likely to alter neighborhood character by creating a cluster.
BZA 25-5 Considering the appeal of Stronger Sober House to a decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals denying a variance request to establish an 11-resident supportive housing facility on the property at 5.19 Farrington Street
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [BZA 25-5] · Seconded by Not specified
Staff presented this appeal as similar to the previous one, where a variance was sought for an 11-resident supportive housing facility, exceeding the approved 7-person occupancy and violating distance requirements (736 feet from another facility). The Board of Zoning Appeals denied the variance, aligning with staff's recommendation, citing the financial motivation of the applicant rather than unique property hardships, and concerns about altering the essential character of the surrounding area by creating a cluster.
Resolution 26-1158 Authorizing the city to renew its lease with Metropolitan State University for the Danes Bluff Library
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [Metropolitan State Lease] · Seconded by Not specified
Councilmember Johnson presented a motion for approval, explaining that the resolution is necessary to ensure the Danes Bluff Library can continue leasing its space from Metropolitan State University. The item was brought under suspension of rules due to a slight staff error in processing, highlighting the need for quick action to maintain library services.
Resolution 26-1223 Authorizing the proper city officials to enter into a joint powers agreement with Ramsey County to exercise their common uncooperative powers to support the operation of emergency shelter facilities
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [Joint Powers Agreement] · Seconded by Council President [Joint Powers Agreement]
Councilmember Johnson introduced the resolution, highlighting its importance in supporting the city and Ramsey County's response to encampment issues, particularly the immediate need for emergency shelters. The agreement, valued at over $1 million from local affordable housing funding, facilitates additional beds and a partnership with Catholic Charities, with some funds allocated for direct provider support. The item was brought forward under suspension of rules due to its heightened sensitivity and urgency.
Ordinance 26-302 Amending Appendix C of the legislative code relating to Northern States Power dba Xcel Energy Electric franchise
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [Xcel Energy Electric Franchise] · Seconded by Not specified
This item was presented for final adoption, having undergone prior staff reports and public hearings. The Council President noted that questions raised in previous testimony regarding the need to update accompanying tables had been addressed by city attorneys, confirming that no updates were required.
Ordinance 26-33 Amending Appendix B of the Legislative code relating to Northern States Power dba Xcel Energy Gas franchise
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [Xcel Energy Gas Franchise] · Seconded by Not specified
This ordinance, related to the Xcel Energy Gas franchise, was brought forward for final adoption after having completed previous readings and public hearings, similar to the electric franchise ordinance.
Ordinance 26-27 Administrative ordinance placing a classification title Deputy City Clerk in the unclassified service pursuant to Section 12.3.2h of the Saint Paul City of Saint Paul Charter
Dissent: Coleman raised questions about the unclassified nature of the position.
Moved by Not specified · Seconded by Not specified
Director of Council Operations Jay Wellness presented the first reading of an ordinance to formalize the Deputy City Clerk position within the unclassified service. He explained the role's long history, statutory authorization (1965), and its importance for ensuring uninterrupted legal authority, especially during the City Clerk's absence. The unclassified status aligns it with other key executive positions within the council structure. Councilmember Coleman raised concerns about the unclassified aspect compared to a union position.
Ordinance 26-31 Amending section 2.24.5 C of the legislative code to eliminate the city's provisional 90 day minimum wage rate in the city of Saint Paul for workers between the ages of 14 17
Dissent: None
Moved by Not specified · Seconded by Not specified
Stephanie Bammer, Human Rights and Labor Standards Manager, presented the first reading of an ordinance to eliminate the 90-day provisional youth wage. This change would ensure that employees aged 14-17 receive the full city minimum wage from day one, rather than 85% of the small business rate for their first 90 days. The youth-focused training program rate would remain. Councilmembers inquired about the financial impact and outreach efforts to affected youth and businesses, noting positive feedback so far.
Ordinance 26-35 Amending chapter 65 of the Legislative Co Pertain to Golf course us
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [Golf Course Use] · Seconded by Not specified
A public hearing was held on an ordinance to amend regulations concerning golf course use, specifically clarifying language regarding outdoor lighting. A motion was made to consider Version 2 of the ordinance, which aimed to specify that golf courses equipped with lighting for night use shall not operate such outdoor lighting after 10 o'clock, focusing the restriction solely on lighting operations.
Ordinance 26-36 Adding Chapter 86.13 to the administrative code requires City council approval of mixed municipal solid waste contracts
Dissent: John (Saint Paul, West Side) expressed concerns about the council's input timing.
Moved by Not specified · Seconded by Not specified
During the public hearing, John (from Saint Paul, West Side) expressed concerns about the timing and depth of the City Council's involvement in solid waste contracts. He argued that the council's authority should extend to the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage, enabling front-end decision-making rather than merely approving a pre-negotiated contract. The City Attorney indicated they would respond to the query.
Resolution 26-150 Amending the financing and spending plans in the Department of Public Works Capital budget to transfer municipal State aid funding into the Water Shepherd's Rehabilitation Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [Public Works Capital Budget] · Seconded by Not specified
A public hearing was held regarding amendments to the Public Works Capital Budget, specifically concerning the transfer of municipal State aid funding to the Water Shepherd's Rehabilitation Project. No public testimony was received.
Resolution 26-151 Amending the financing and spending plans and the Department of Public Works Capital Budget for the University Avenue Street Reconstruction Reconstruction Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [Public Works Capital Budget] · Seconded by Not specified
This item involved a public hearing for amending the Department of Public Works Capital Budget to address financing and spending plans for the University Avenue Street Reconstruction Project. No public testimony was received.
Resolution 26-155 Approving the application of the Department of Parks and Rec for a sound of a very uncertain present amplified sound for a national night out event Tuesday, August 4th as to 71 McEwen Street Martin Luther King junior Martin Luther King Records center
Dissent: None (one member absent)
Moved by Ms. Kim [Parks and Rec Application] · Seconded by Not specified
A public hearing was held to consider the Department of Parks and Recreation's application for a sound variance to permit amplified sound at a National Night Out event. No public testimony was received on this item.
Resolution public hearing approving the application of Dual Citizen Brewing Company for some of the variance in order to present and provide sound for a backyard Blues Fest event on Friday out of 7 Saturday, August 8th at and Dual citizen right
Dissent: None (one member absent)
Moved by Ms. Kim [Dual Citizen Brewing Company] · Seconded by Not specified
A public hearing was held to consider Dual Citizen Brewing Company's application for a sound variance to present amplified sound for their Backyard Blues Fest event. No public testimony was received.
RLHTA 26-125 Ratifying the peeled Special Tax Assessment for property at 7.20 Cottage Avenue East
Dissent: None (one member absent)
Moved by Ms. Kim [Special Tax Assessment] · Seconded by Not specified
This item, a ratification of an appealed Special Tax Assessment, was continued from the previous week. No new staff report or public hearing was conducted, as the public hearing was previously closed. The council proceeded directly to a vote on the legislative hearing officer's recommendation.
LHS 26-50 Making finding on the appeal of Gary Graham's to a nuisance abatement order for 3.14 Wyoming Street Houston Council a 26 46 this month
Dissent: None
Moved by Ms. Kim [Nuisance Abatement Order] · Seconded by Not specified
The item concerned an appeal to a nuisance abatement order regarding a vehicle and trailer at 3.14 Wyoming Street. Staff reported that one vehicle remained outstanding. Gary Grimes, the appellant, requested an additional three weeks to remove the vehicle, citing personal difficulties. The council discussed whether to grant an extension or enforce the abatement.
Special Meeting: Public Hearing on Encampment Closures
Dissent: A significant majority of public speakers voiced strong opposition to the encampment sweeps.
Moved by Not specified · Seconded by Not specified
Following the regular meeting, a special session was dedicated to a public hearing on the city's plans for encampment closures. Numerous residents, advocates, and unhoused individuals testified, overwhelmingly opposing the sweeps. Common themes included the lack of adequate shelter, the destruction of community and trust, increased risks of overdose and violence, the financial waste of sweeps compared to housing investments, and the dehumanizing effect of displacement. Speakers urged the council to prioritize long-term, compassionate housing solutions and to listen to the lived experiences of those affected.
Notable Quotes (35)
So much of what we create. And work towards is help the communities that happened here or on a kitchen tables or neighborhood events or schools. This is the work of our community, health workers.
I saw that going through a health care crisis is a financial crisis is it was a social crises and saying that community health wrkers were that courage to the crises to bring those people who can help themselves for last connected to the resources and the care.
It's about equity. And it's about giving everybody an equitable chance to the same level of care, support and resources. And so the community, health workers, hope those who don't typically have that equitable access.
This is going to be a technology platform that connects key data sources and other tools to empower the key health workers to do even more work in the trees. Uplift of the folks that do need the most support.
The Board Zoning Appeals held their public hearing on 5/27/2025. staff recommends denial of the requested variance is based on findings. 3, 4, 6, all all 6 findings need to be grant a zoning variance.
The essential character aspect. The actually can get into these in the next stages. But essentially essential character zoning code is written this way to prevent like cluster from farming. So it's intended you know, spread these folks out in the community.
Our decision is based solely on our zoning laws. And what out of the study. We don't see changes with distance requirements.
This applicant wanted to convert to supportive housing facility with 11 residents, which is a higher intensity use. So as you saw in the last case, there are some distance is it is unsurprising of 1010 or 20 feet.
Regarding practical difficulty intent. Is that the hardships? Not a South can not utilize the property in a reasonable way. Everrequest staff and the board from request was financially driven as their testimony, primarily focused on the funding stream.
I'm looking forward to deny the. Motions to deny the appeal in for similar reasons to the previous item.
This is essentially just to ensure that they can fibers able to lease its pace of mental State University and keep her alive so.
I believe it was due to a slight staff error and process that and get into Eastern time. So we're taking this under suspension.
This comes pretty heightened a very sensitive and time, which is why I want to make a motion today to suspend those rules.
This is the city's attempts to for their help, the county in making sure that we are providing shelter to. All of our neighbors. This is over a million dollars ad sort of emergency funding to help open up additional beds.
The amount in the contract that agreement million, 80 is local, affordable housing funding. So funding.
Yu'll notice that their items for final adoption for first reading and for public hearing. And that's because all of our ordinances, all of our laws in the city have to go through at least 3 readings for the first reading.
I do want to note that there some questions raised in testimony last week about need to update the tables that accompany the this item. And we did follow up on that question with their city attorneys. I believe the answer is that we did not need to update the tables.
I will make a mtion for motion is for approval as any discussion of the motion.
Notably this ordinance doesn't create a new role which is kind of counterintuitive to what's before you today. But actually deputy city clerk with the assistant city clerk is existed then conceived of for for well over a century.
It would be designated by the council on the recommendation of the city clerk and exercise the clerk's legal authority. and so during the clerk's absence or, you know, if the cleric clerk leaves the city, the deputy shall have the same powers and duties as the simpler so similar to appointments. This is a, you know, a confidence based appointment and should serve at the pleasure of city clerk.
I'm concerned about the unclassified aspect of it. And I guess in this case be that a little bit more. my question for Mr. Seeley about their legal and Pat abilities. Anderson, there will be differences in the rule. To some extent, if we were to make it a union position. But I'm wondering if there would be served from fundamental and compatibility.
The first is the 90 day youth wage. This applies to any employees are between the ages of 14 17 instead receiving that city rate they're receiving 85% of what the small business minimum wage rate is at. They're receiving that lower rate for the first 90 days after higher. then after the 90 days aren't ten receiving the full minimum wage rate based on the size of the employer.
Just be clear, the proposal is to eliminate the youth minimum wage for 9 to the first 90 days. other words, some people make the same amount as older people from the get-go.
We have reached out to board's has come an official organization have also done outreach to the business, small business community just to make sure that we're not unduly having a negative impact on our see businesses, especially since we know so many of them are in a high place this year in particular.
There's a recommendation to clarify some of the language from the city attorney's office basically. To specify it says golf courses that are equipped with lighting for night use shall not operate such outdoor lighting after 10 o'clock. So to make sure it's specific to the lighting and not to any other operations at the golf course.
The most important part of that would come before the actual signing of the contract. It would come where you read letter B, whereas the city released a request for proposals RFP. That's where the decision-making process comes. It you have to get into it on the front end, you can't just be given a contract. It's already been all for quote and now it's ready to sign.
I just need a little bit more time on at that particular car and then work or any other vehicle got out of there. And this one here, doing it for my next year, which I've been. I said kind of hard to done at our house lot help America's yes coils associate such a bad back.
have 3, 3, more weeks, ast. that's possible. not. I'm gonna try try hopefully within the next 2 Just get to my house. I can finish working on it.
The city says they want safety. But the city also says the ship's shelters don't have enough space, which they don't. So tell me how is it safe for our neighbors to be without their tents and their belongings? How is it safe? Our unhoused neighbors have no community and nowhere to go.
I am grateful for the hard work, but to him for many of you who have never interacted with a person living on the streets, those relationships take weeks or months, the building we can destroy that trust in one single morning.
Our data shows that overdose rate consistently spikes in the week of a sweep up up to 2 weeks after. I'll say that again, the overdose risks of not just in Kevin Residences of everybody spikes in the 2 weeks following a sweep.
I feel like having us in the encampment. We at least can ban together. Fight for what we need. If you separate us all. We wn't be able to even have a say. Because we're scattered. Were community.
Encampments are a form of people voting with their feet just as much as anything else. I ask you to work with are in camps, neighbors to find real long-term solutions.
The city says encampments are unsafe. Professionals say encampment sweeps are deadly. The residents of pigs, I say, quote, We have a community and neighbors working together thrive. Quote, We look out for each other. Quote, It's all love throughout here.
That is not a plan. That is an approach. And there are so many easily identifiable gaps in the first in 3 approaches that I just listed.
Ordinances & Resolutions (20)
Recognizing Community Health Workers Day in the City of Saint Paul.
Appeal of a Board of Zoning Appeals decision denying a variance request to establish a 24-resident supportive housing facility at 14 Sherborne Avenue.
Appeal of a Board of Zoning Appeals decision denying a variance request to establish an 11-resident supportive housing facility at 5.19 Farrington Street.
Authorizing the city to renew its lease with Metropolitan State University for the Danes Bluff Library.
Authorizing city officials to enter into a joint powers agreement with Ramsey County to support emergency shelter facilities.
Agreement between the city and Ramsey County to support emergency shelter facilities.
Amending Appendix C of the legislative code relating to Xcel Energy Electric franchise.
Amending Appendix B of the Legislative code relating to Xcel Energy Gas franchise.
Administrative ordinance placing the classification title Deputy City Clerk in the unclassified service pursuant to Section 12.3.2h of the Saint Paul City Charter.
Section of the city charter pertaining to the unclassified service for the Deputy City Clerk.
Amending section 2.24.5 C of the legislative code to eliminate the city's provisional 90-day minimum wage rate for workers aged 14-17.
Amending chapter 65 of the Legislative Code pertaining to Golf course use.
Adding Chapter 86.13 to the administrative code requiring City Council approval of mixed municipal solid waste contracts.
Process for determining solid waste contracts, discussed in the context of city council input.
Amending the financing and spending plans in the Department of Public Works Capital budget to transfer municipal State aid funding into the Water Shepherd's Rehabilitation Project.
Amending the financing and spending plans in the Department of Public Works Capital Budget for the University Avenue Street Reconstruction Project.
Approving the application of the Department of Parks and Rec for a sound variance for a National Night Out event.
Approving the application of Dual Citizen Brewing Company for a sound variance for a Backyard Blues Fest event.
Ratifying the appeal of a Special Tax Assessment for property at 7.20 Cottage Avenue East.
Making a finding on the appeal of Gary Graham's to a nuisance abatement order for 3.14 Wyoming Street.