♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ council to order Roll call, Bowie. Coleman Johnson here just council president here, 7 president upset. Welcome to everyone. Thank you so much for joining us for City Council meeting. Stay just a quick point of business. We are holding our regular business meeting now. >> And immediately following this meeting, we will have a special meeting on the topic of the encampment closures. So if you're here for that topic, that will happen just following this meeting at 4.30, or soon as this meting is done, we invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. It >> And to one nation. >> Consent agenda items 3 through 13 before you for your consideration. I know we will be pulling item 13 for separate consideration. Is there anything else to come off of consent? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from vice president and for the balance of the consent agenda all in favor say Aye. I'll host 7 in favor. None opposed. The consent agenda is adopted as amended item. 13 resolution, 26 dash, 1, 9, 7, recognizing community health Workers day in the city of Saint Paul Johnson. >> well, it's like I have to have of the spotlight myself But public, thank you so much for >> Taking out that this time too recognize community health workers We are doing this in advance of committee hoping stay on the 28th but because we do have a council meeting, think this is the time. So I just wanted to share that when we talk about health care cities, it's important to talk about and focus on our hospitals, our clinics and our policies. But 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. It's in our place of worship. It's an community clinics. It's truly where you meet pople. even when people walked through the doors of the doctor's office. It's really the thing that keeps the plane back with. That's their compassion, their patients or their understanding. In most cases and an opportunity in time none of us are truly want to be there. Our times our lives where that can be really challenging. It's the community health workers that really can make or break that experience and often even deter people from coming back or encouraging them to continue and luckily here in Saint Paul, we are proud to have city that is of many cultures linger languages and traditions. 3 health workers help ensure that every resident feels scene heard and connects to the support that they deserve. And so for me, I wanted to take the time to be able to have. mean, today, executive director Sonny Aly and board Chair Park Phillips with me who we a little bit more about the bigger picture of the community health, how workers celebration it happened at the Capitol, but also just to share a little bit about what we're doing. So I asked him to come in and just share brief comments for both of them for about 2 minutes. for my time. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you so much. >> What an honor. Thank Council. President vice president and council members the going to be health worker Alliance is a statewide alliance to support and uplift the committee. Health worker Field. I got into Comey, health workers and the concept of them about 20 years ago. And 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. So it's been a passion of mine. Since then. >> We're holding a community health worker day celebration at the Capitol on the 28th between one and 04:00PM Bart has some. Spectacular low-cost science to share with everybody. We hope that you can join us. It'll convening of our state way partners, our stakeholders, our allies, and anybody who is supporting and and could support the cause. >> I kind of had similar words to say so well articulated. So thank you so much >> about that. But I think what I would love to really >> kind of hone in on is. 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. there's an enormous amount of barriers. So societal economic, cultural that individuals don't that create the difficulty for them. So I just want to thank you guys for from the city in your support for us at city and state wide level and appreciate your support. >> Yeah, like to echo my thanks for acknowledging the work that can help workers harm as board chair. One thing that I hadn't been for that might resonate with all you is make sure that it's committee health workers can be empowered as much as possible by all the data technology that exists in our society. And make sure that really, as we see these great innovations happening. all different industry sectors that the same innovation powering health workers. So as the first time we crew technology advisory committee representation across the state of Minnesota to join as a new committee within the alliance to help drive the development of the community. Health innovation platform. So 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. So just want to show that even for the trigger, some interest, we're we're just getting started with our work for shift South Community Health, innovation platform and again, thank you all for the time. thank you guys so much. I think if could see the river from your preview, literally. >> I would be able to speak or in I expect, you just to be honest, there's going to be a lot of celebration at the state Capitol that we eat. So if you are able to attend thanks to our office will be more formally presenting the resolution there along with the governor, who believe is also going to do is say I put the nation. >> But just so, you know that we have they have support for I'll just read the the therefore be it resolved. Cause of what we're doing today. So the Saint Paul City Council will recognize July. 28 2026 as for Crist and the City of Saint Paul and Courage is already residents to join in honoring the essential contributions of community health workers whose commitment, expertise and trusted relationships. Help build a healthier. >> More equitable and more connected. Saint Paul. This will be joined aso by a proclamation Mayor Cole with that, I'm approval rate. Thank you so Monson for bringing this issue to light excited for the opportunity to celebrate together on the 28. Thank you both for coming. >> There's a motion for approval in the tables. Any discussion. Seeing none all in favor say Aye. A post 7 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted item bza. 25 Dash 3 considering the appeal down credit you to a decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals denying a variance request to establish a 24 residents supportive housing facility on the property of 14 Sherborne Avenue. And I believe we have stepped forward and said. >> David, I had with safety inspections. That was not sure it would be a stuff before they came ready. I just always going slide show from year ago. on the W need a voice activated projector. Alright, 14 serving Avenue. So I was the easy a staff member at the time. And this came in front of council. So there was a zoning variance that I was tired. And the applicant at the time, the peel that onion peels that come the cty council. So and more ordinance, councils the power hear and decide appeals where there's an error, in fact, turning proceed, where the apparently that is that there's a So this property as a four-unit apartment building with 6 bedrooms. Any and the applicant was operating with 6 residents in each unit. But a silver houses not have services. >> So it's really just operate like a apartment building with 6 folks in each unit where they all want to live sober lives. But current services there and the applicant wanted to convert it into supportive housing facility. I believe it was to provide food and at the considered something that's supportive in nature. And that makes it's a different use category in the zoning code to be higher intensity. Use. And there are some >> supportive housing standards zoning code supportive housing need to be at least 1220 feet from other specified 100 living facilities zoning cde to have more than 6 at a residence. >> And property was in within that distance of 2 other. Supportive housing facility is and have from the next So 70 Western, which is a 7 residents supportive housing facility and 3.42 Fullerton, which is needed our resident supportive housing facility. So 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. So the 3 would mean that it does not pass and that the board agreed with the staff recommendation Frogtown. We didn't get a recommendation. I know people spoke. We didn't get any are know, people spoke and support. We got 2 people that spoke in opposition and one letter in opposition. One letter with concerns. So the board to deny based upon findings, 3, 4, 6, And 5 of the 5 members, the Board of Zoning Appeals members that were in attendance voted to deny. And then applicants submitted an appeal application on June 6, 2025. And I rode in hand the revised 15 99 date because there was a bridge resolution and I'm not completely involved in this. So I can't speak to most eloquently on everything that's happened since, but essentially 15 99 just paused and it continues after moratorium of the things, the bridges resolution at So now the new 15 99 gate that need to make decision by is August 15, 2026 are different. >> By 15 99. So this is just 6 findings that need to be found true to grant a zoning variance and the board and staff at that. >> There weren't any practical difficulty is so there and that there wasn't that There wasn't a play due to some unique circumstance that had something to do physically with the poperty itself. The applicant noted the regulatory landscape changing, but that's not necessarily something that is unique to the property. And then 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. Getting into that deeper kind of already. But for finding the board thought that the request is financially driven as their testimony, primarily focused on the funding stream. And there are a variety possible via viable uses that they uld establish on this to choose on property. Stephanie was no for. Regarding the plate of the landowner separation requirement affects other properties within a quarter mile of the other supportive housing facilities. In question. And the plate was not unique to this property or other its general to the surrounding area. And then finding 6 reading neighborhood character. The granting the request of result ad establishment to supportive housing facility. So the one closest to the facility in this one, this proposed one which would create a cluster and could undermine the goal of community integration, contribute and institutional character. That's not consistent of the surrounding area. So kind are back to where we were back last year where? It's up to the city council to decide if there was an error. In fact, finding the procedure. To allow a supportive housing facility within a quarter mile of to other facilities. The closer which is 513 feet. So if you grant the appeal and they could establish this, 24 residents supportive housing facility, deny it and they can continue to operate as they have been or find a different use that's allowed. On the property. And like I said, August 15 the deadline. Thank you, Mr. At are there questions. >> And can city attorney just give a quick synopsis of what has happened between last year and now and we created a much more and we've had some planning commission recommendations and how we got to this point seeing this again. >> So there was a possible Saudis for one year 2 particular. part of a separate resolution. more for you. So thank Issues game. where distance requirement. So I don't think there's anything new from the study that would change how we would analyze. The >> All right. Thanks spread into this is opportune out for us to hear from the appellants. Well, 5 minutes. So the opponents here hearings. Oh, I'm so sorry. can't close So ultimately. >> Appreciate the public hearing. But yeah, think you staff after fresh air on this as well as our attorney and mission of the study. I forward adopt the staff recommendation. year. think it's really important too. Explain want be around. >> The guy. >> The rationale seen in terms of the appeal Israeli Marcel. >> Funding related and >> I'm not in our jurisdiction, particularly to make decisions based off funding alone. >> That are at decision is based solely on our zoning laws. >> And what out of the study. We don't see changes with distance requirements. I it was m office took we request zoning study just because we know sober housing COVID living this type of supportive housing staff. It's pretty prominent and necessary when we think about the need. particularly in Fife town and around community. But just basic based off of all right. thing called today, I don't see any air. So I would be moving forward to it that the staff recommendation. Thank us for the so motion is to adopt staff's recommendations there. Further discussion of the motion. >> To it up. All right. And use caution, seeing none all in favor say opposed. >> 7 in favor not oppose. The staff recommendation is adopted to deny te appeal item bza. 25 Dash 5 considering the appeal of stronger sober house to a decisionof the Board of Zoning Appeals denying a variance request to establish and 11 resident supportive housing facility on the property at 5.19, Farrington Street. >> Thank you. David camera operated. The director. >> Voice of a voice activated since its actually not voice activated. It doesn't. I'm here for 5.19, Farrington Avenue, which is similar. If you see a 25 dash, 5, 61, 72 same as the last if someone that there was error, in fact, try new procedure that can appeal the decision. If you see a mix to city council's, that's why we're here. >> In this instance of 5.19, variants this one was hurt. It isn't. It is a sober house, which is that going into occupied by the more than 6 persons, all of whom are in recovery from chemical dependency. And then in this instance, well, residents they beside the safer than any services. So this one is approved for 7 people. And the point of says your exceeding the occupancy limit, which could be 6 adults, typically household and Saint Paul. S that 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. And in this instance, there's one too close to that is 736 feet away for a variance request of 5.84. >> you se that application May 2025. We have a map. The ♪ And here is a map and this isn't the legistar information. See, anyone can look at this. It. Showing where >> the 3 properties are there within 1010 or 20 feet. >> For variances that we just look at the closest and that's with a number differences from. Okay. So the Board of Zoning Appeals held the hearing on June 9th 2025. staff recommended denial of the variances based upon findings. 1, 3, 4, and 6. And there was a recommendation from District 7. Regarding people and support. We received one letter in support and one letter that. Was in support for them. They through it and then for opposition, one person spoke and then you see him to transcribe voice mail. And then the board denied this fund findings. 1, 3, 4, 6, which is in line with the staff recommendation. And then 5 of 5 members in attendance voted to deny. And then the applicant, which is they have submitted an appeal applications. Why 23rd 2025? and similar to last case of the 15. I and I was paused during that moratorium. And the new deadline September second 2026. In this instance, there are 4 findings that were found not be true, that it was an army of the general purpose and intent that there were not practical difficulties, that there was not a plate and that it would it would alter central character. So finding one. Regarding the variance needing to be in her new for general purposes and intent of the zoning code country to the intent. This would create a cluster which could create an institutional environment so that found not to be true. And not to be Regarding practical difficulty intent. Is that the hardships? Not a South can not utilize the property in a reasonable way. Everquest staff and the board from request was financially driven as their testimony, primarily focused on the funding stream and the property zone dates to its probe does permit multiple units and it's a viable. applicants with. The House has been improved in ways that. The typical is not typically see. And then finding for that. The plight of the landowners due to circumstance the property create a byline owner. This finding are part of the quest be due to hardship related the property itself as the prior case. as we saw with the prior case, the request of variance arises not from unique circumstances related to the land, but applicants status doesn't support housing facility. Because the separation requirements, 92 this property, it does affect everyone else within area. And then finding 6. Was also falling off the map that would alter the essential. Character of the surrounding as it could create a cluster. And we're back to the beginning where that's up to the council facing Aaron Fact training your procedure. And grant they could. You can grant if you are denied the appeal that line is September. 2nd, thank thank you so much. Questions for staff. >> Seeing none. Thanks, Mr. look to his plea for mission. >> think like we rewind. Thank for giving us and I'm looking forward to deny the. >> Motions to deny the appeal in for similar reasons to the previous item. Is there discussion of the motion? Seeing none all in favor say aye. all post 7 in favor. None opposed recommendation. Staff has adopted. The appeal is denied. Emotions Johnson. shows to suspend the rules to consider. Resolution 26 dash 1, 1, 5, 8, Actually, that would be a favors. Suspending the rules, say. 7 in favor oppose that rules are suspended resolution 26 dash, 1, 5, 8, authorizing the city to renew its lease with Metropolitan State University for the Danes Bluff Library. Mrs. Yes, Council president, thank you so much. This is essentially just to ensure that they can fibers able to lease its pace of mental State University and keep her alive so. With that, I'd move. >> Approval of that motion. Thanks the shots. And 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. Any discussion of the motion? Seeing none all in favor say Aye. Opposed. 75 in an oppose. The resolution is adopted. Johnson will again move to suspend the rules all in favor say that. All toast 7 in favor. None opposing rules are suspended resolution 26 dash 1, 2, to 3 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 Johnson. Thank you, council president. Earlier we had presentation with the Public Safety Committee and a discussion at about the encampment response. And it you heard County manager Baker. >> Eckert mentioned that she had the Ramsey County into a contract with Catholic Charities. You also heard her mention that there would be an application pull forward sell to providers and the city would like to to enter into a joint powers agreement. This comes pretty heightened a very sensitive and time, which is why I want to make a motion today to suspend those rules. And just for clarification on the same council agenda as an administrative order already moving the financing. This is just establishing the agreement and that's the resolution to approve the agreement itself between the county and the city. And so with that, I'll so motion to approve Joint Powers Agreement. Thank you a sense. I will support the motion and just high-level. This >> 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. And I'm glad that we're able to bring forward quickly and we'll be talking more about that later today. And we've also talked about that already today as Johnson. And just to clarify that, you $180,000 that we've already reserved for emergency shelter providers, this resource. But here at the city and they've been working to trying to put out the door. Now the county folks that they can move that forward and application process or to open as of 880,000 is a part of that in the initial 200,000 us, going to go alongside the contract Catholic Charities. So there's a motion for approval of the memorandum of understanding. Is there any discussion of the motion? >> Thank you, council president and thank you so much. Eric Johnson want ensure that we have clarity particularly around So you're saying this free man initiative orders for the budget amendment. you could just schools in terms funding sources are. I know the start of it. >> Yeah. So the amount in the contract that agreement million, 80 is local, affordable housing funding. So funding. >> Other discussion of the motion. Seeing none all in favor say Aye. post 7 in favor. None oppose. The resolution is adopted. Item. 16 ordinance 26 Dash 30 to amending Appendix C of the legislative code relating to know the state's power dba Xcel Energy Electric franchise. So for those following along and are millions of viewers at home, we are now at the ordinance section of our agenda. 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. We have a staff report where we hear what the actual ordinance is about the second reading the next week as a public hearing where we hear testimony on that ordinance and we get input from the public. And the 3rd reading is final adoption. Sometimes we take more time. We might lay an item over longer, but at least 3 weeks in a row and item has to be heard before can be adopted. So you'll see here today, the 2 items for final adoption have already had a staff report and a public hearing. And even though so they'll be quickly here today, but they've already had a great deal of conversation and then you'll see other items at the other stages. So with that item, 16 is before us for final adoption. I would look to is just for a motion. think it council president just want to all of our staff for their for their at efforts on This this item in the next one, a noble. >> Thanks. just and 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. That's that's my understanding, correct? Okay. Thank you reminding us Yeah. I folks to know that followed up on that that question and we can share after its as well. So the items before us the most is for approval. Any discussion of the motion. Seing none all in favor say Aye. Aye, all opposed 7 in favor. None opposed. The ordinance is adopted item. 17 ordinance 26 dash. 33 amending Appendix B of the Legislative code relating to northern States power dba Xcel Energy Gas franchise Mrs. >> I will make a mtion for motion is for approval as any discussion of the motion. Seeing none all in favor say Aye. all opposed 7 in favor. None opposed. The ordinance is adopted item. 18 ordinance, 26 dash, 27 administrative ordinance placing a assification title. Deputy city clerk in the unclassified service pursuant to Section 12. 3 dot to h of the Saint Paul City of Saint Paul Charter. Must be approved by Civil Service Commission. So this is a first reading of this items. We will have staff report. Welcome of Mister Wells. Thank you. Council president council members. My name is Jay Wellness, director of council operations. so today is the first rading of an ordinance that establishes. >> The deputy city clerk classification in the unclassified 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. And so one of the earliest versions of your city charter established this role and the legislature formally authorize the deputy city clerk position in 1965 and that it was approved by the city and contained within our charter. So the question before the council, essentially how that statutory position should fit within the city's personnel system. you know, should we create a classification to be able to assign employee to that position and compensate them appropriately and give them a, you know, the authority. Under the law. >> the charter of the city of Saint Paul, 4th edition 9 to 11, the first charter was 1900 but through amendments, kind of a piecemeal approach and essentially r codified and revised significantly in the 1911, other and section 7 of that, section 6 identified the need for a city clerk, but it was actually an elected member of the council. this is was identified as someone that would be appointed and serves at the pleasure of the clerk assist the city clerk have the same responsibilities and assignments that the clerk fast forward to you know, different conception of the charter. But essentially the 1965 special law passed, basically granting approval from the legislature that the council could. >> Higher is a deputy city clerk and allow them to perform. Public officer like statutory functions fulfill legal requirements that existing state law so essentially created the statutory deputy city clerk. 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. >> So why why establish a city clerk position? And I think there's a few reasons as contain on the slide. And so essentially it formalizes the role that the city has recognized as being necessary, provides a dedicated appointment. >> That can be recruited, selected and compensated based on its statutory responsibilities. So as opposed to having, you know, one title or classification individual within it and then have them working in the role. But, you know, perhaps not compensating them or hving you know, container and under which you can recruit a position notably Deputy city clerk positions are not unique and not unique to Saint Paul and many other high cities around the metro in the country, higher for this type of role. And notably, as in the case you know, absence through illness or retirements insurers uninterrupted legal authority when the city clerk is absent available. And then finally as discussed the lines, the authority, authority, te accountability and compensation within a single position. One of the questions that's come up is you know why unclassified? And I think, you know, think the key thing is that, you know, the structure indicates in and makes the case for appointed position and, you know, importantly, I think when the special law was passed, you know, it didn't merely extra duties to the clerk, but it created a statutory deputy and it gves the the deputy the authority to act in the clerk's absence and fulfill express requirements under the law. So essentially, you know, this aligns what we have history with the position with what's in that 1965 law with their personnel structure and also one of the key benefits is that it's a consistent approach. Also within our organizational You know, a lot of our key executive positions within te council such as the chief policy officer o the chief hearing officer, which was passed by the council previously have pools beneath that that actually, you know, lead into those positions. So this is a similar approach to what has been done for policy analysts and also for hearing Officer series. So in short and summary, it's an unclassified appointment consistently charter authorization provides the opportunity have a separate compensation reflecting the duties of authority allows for a seamless delegated legal authority for people to fulfill those requirements and would be appointed by the council upon recommendation of the clerk and also close by saying this is just the initial step. There are additional steps in the process. This would need to pass the Civil Service Commission. >> And then be signed by the mayor after that, we would need to post for the position. Have a merit based open screening process. you know, select someone in partnership with the clerk who would recommend that and then we would pass the resolution dire. >> Thank you so much for the staff report. Are there any questions for Mister Oz? As Colin and then stops? Thanks. Comes percent at and shared some these in our send it to good sense to me to have a deputy 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. So deputy city clerk no longer a viable position. It be impossible. >> Yeah, I think, you know, there's there's couple people I think that answer the question all, you kow, take the first shot at a council president and council member Coleman. I think, you know, one of the key things is under the classified service. You know, it's it's exist to have stable employment and really has certain, you know, protections you know, essentially it is not a like confidence appointment as we call them. And I think, you know what's reflected in the 1965 indicates that, you know, it may serve at the pleasure of the clerk. And I think in some ways that, you know, incompatible with, you know, classified service and how that's conceived it. I'm not sure. can follow. >> Thanks supplement and we do a time since will have public hearing. Final adoption in a few weeks. So the shots. guess I just have one question director Williams. And it was just around budgeting for the position won't specify. So >> Is that within those councils operations budget at this time to hire staffers, this a fiscal year, 27? >> Yeah. Councilmember accounts, president maker elsewhere, we typically will have an amount of a natural budget savings through attrition, vacancies, cetera. You know, we occasionally have people working out of title to fill certain roles and in certain cases when they're placed out of title, they can make additional salary. So, you know, we would have a posting for the position and prior to that posting, do you know insists that the budget to see if we could account for it within our current budget or make a request to hire for that. But oftentimes, you know, it can either be done within year or more often. You know, at the start of the next fiscal year. >> OK, thank you. Thank you. Are there any further questions of staff? Could you just share look at the is the clerk position classified? >> The clerk is an unclassified, physician. And you know, a lot of these key positions, you kow, such as mine and classified city attorney city clerk, a lot of these more executive roles has been consistently and OK? And so this would be an appointed position well. thank you. >> The other >> Thanks much Mr. Thomson said it Yep, this item will be laid over item 19 ordinance, 26 dash. 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. And this is also for streets also have staff reports. Thank you. Council president council members by name is Stephanie Bammer. I am the human rights and labor standards manager. >> Within the city of Saint Paul, human rights, Opportunity Department. >> And Is this. >> So our labor standards, division and forces a number of ordinances for the city, including the city's minimum wage ordinance. And this ordinance a minimum wage rate specifically for individuals who are employees or performing work within the city of Saint Paul. >> And so explain chart. There's a lot on here, but essentially >> you'll see in the top row. There is a city rate that is set for the employees that work in farm work in the city of Saint Paul. Currently it's at 16. 37. >> the >> since it was. >> Put in place in 2018, there's been a phased approach based on business size. So within the next 2 years, the city rate for all businesses, regardless of number of employees will reach that city rate, which crrently is at 16. 37. So in those first 3 rows, that's why there's some differentiation there for that different faces of those sizes employers are at. And then just explain to for Todd. Right corner, the to be determined. Right we effective January first, 2027. The city minimum wage rate is adjusted annually for inflation. So that's what that reflects. And then specifically for today to speak more about the repeal on the EU. 3 that's being proposed are brought forward bottom row and hears but indicates with the youth rate is which I will expand upon. So there's 2 exceptions that applied to use employees in regard to the minimum wage. 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. The second exception that is currently within minimum wage ordinances. The youth focused training program rates. That one is for any city approved, use, focused training or apprenticeship program. So those are specific types of programs that usually have different other than the employment itself have different training job job readiness, type aspects to those programs. Those would apply to any employees that are under the age of 20 and this rate applies for there throughout the participation in that program isn't just limited to the first 90 days. And again, it's the same rate as for the 90 was 85% of the small business minimum wage rate that employees are receiving. Just for comparison are too, as a reference otherwise in the state of Minnesota fr the use, focused training programs for the state of Minnesota. They have a similar carve out as well as for the city of Minneapolis. They have a similar car out for those types of programs when it comes to the 90 day youth rate wage exception, the state of Minnesota also has a similar 90 days wage. The city of Minneapolis that. Any questions for me? Any questions for Johnson? I just food. >> And what asked as a follow-up? I think it would be really helpful to the 2 for this consideration for me to really understand the financial piece of it. So the scuffle needed when it goes into implement what isn't when it is implemented? What's the estimated like? Costco. But before that, we just that would be now back at the Max, I guess, Max of the the Mac city of level. >> So if the and again, my Anderson. So the proposal us of these 2 just as the wage with the >> removed from the ordinance is what's being proposed. So going back to this chart here so in the Middle column right now, >> any of for most in players at this point 6 of employees or more the city rate of 16. 37, my crew, employers with fire 5 or fewer employees right now are at 14. 25. So those are what the what the rates would then be. If we her to not have that youth anyone regardless of age instead of that difference between that 13 95 and then for micro business is that difference between 13 95 in the 14? 25 or and then for the other side businesses between 13 and if 16, 37 and it would just be for the first 90 days after higher. But regardless after 90 days from higher, even at this point, they go up to those regular OK, thank you. 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. >> Thank you. Ms Kehm. Yes. And with the exception, if they're in a train I just signed engagement question. >> So we've got some really great like he's groups are connected to the cities like Spacey's on boards feel separate track students that are like. right track right now. I'm wondering, you know, have was sort outreach and engagement efforts have been made to specifically cheese regarding the changes to the youth minimum wage ordinance. that a little bit? Thanks to the questions. Really good one. So we are a conversations individual. >> Young people are employed. 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. So recently focus All positive feedback at this point, including the influx of connected with. But that's a great suggestion of potentially other folks who could bring. And I do the other conversations that we've had. But I think folks here where but I think that training wage, you know, we've had a number of conversations with had some conversations with folks and right track that there's a variety of perspectives on consensus from the conversations we've had is that. Let's focus on youth minimum wage for now. But the training which would be worth revisiting, particularly in a broader conversation around right track in terms how we do training programs like that in the city. Skating just to follow. I know because the president was just that. You found words for sending its just there right now. And I think they would obviously love to fed put in probably a lot of support for the ordinance. I think if you just a great opportunity, so I'm happy to make some connections. But I can only imagine the money to lift the moist in support of this. >> doesn't have a whole 2 weeks left a note itself. >> Any further questions before we leave matter over top of current. Tammy, thank you so much. As an The ordinance is laid over item 20 ordinance, 26 Dash. 35 amending chapter 65 of the Legislative Co Pertain to Golf course us. So this brings us to the public hearing section of our agenda. I just want to once again for those who are here at the very beginning, recognize that I know a number of folks are here to speak about the encampment closures. We're having a special meeting and public hearing about that starting as soon as this meeting is over, hopefully as close to four-thirty as possible. So there that is when we will be speaking about that issue for the next few items will ask folks to come up only if you're speaking on this item and there are 2 minutes to testify. We ask that you start with your name where you're coming from. You'll have 2 minutes. And then pease sign in on either of the 2 sign in sheets. When you're done. So this is a public hearing I'm so sorry before we this public we promise not to forget there's a motion from been council president. like to make to make a motion to version 2 for this item. 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. And so I wanted to make sure version 2 before the public. >> Great. Thank you so much. So this is a public hearing. If you're on item 20, please come up with by vote on it. First, we will take a motion from is version 2 of them. All the public hearing all in favor of version. 2, please say aye opposed 7 in favor. None opposed. First 2 will be considered. So this is now a public hearing on the recently amended item 20. If you're here on that item, this is Republican. Alright, that all that. Yes, there's plenty of room and the side say that earlier as well. So feel free if you need space out. Seeing none. I will take a motion from MS just to the public hearing. And this matter will lay over tell final adoption all in favor say Aye. Aye opposed 7 in favor. None opposing ordinances. Les Tupper for final adoption item. 21 ordinance 26 dash. 36 adding Chapter 86.13 to the administrative code requires City council approval of mixed municipal solid waste contracts. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Thank you. Council president council members, John, 30 from Saint Paul, West side. >> Just having read this, I had a few questions the first one, if we can turn that on you can see it better. We go yet. It'll be honest. just give me a few seconds of my time clock. We need the voice activated projector. there okay? So just where you can see my pen. That screen that screen doesn't show me what I want to But I was so there's a bill to you get it saying, elected legislative battle. So that's you all. the previous couple items on the agenda were quasi-judicial having to do with we go down further one confuses because further down in the session to the ordinance is talking about ways additional as being applicable to year. You're decisions over. Garbage calling Bill Cosby in contract. So I'm trying to figure out what your authority Ashley is getting at here. That's my question. Just moving to the actual contracted to effect today. It reads a lot like the bill you Where is the city has spawned and determined that the public health and safety the city will be promoted and preserved by establishing an arrangement for the collection, transportation and disposal of municipal solid waste. >> That's the way the contractor today. The contract wasn't signed by the city council. The city council didn't have a lot of input into it. 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. You got to have your input ahead of that. A lot of I done with my time already know that that that you there was a lot of time to get used up Just let just let me conclude by Aye couple of seconds. Thank you. Yeah, but you didn't get the right away here is your 4. 43.18. That's your lot authority that allows you to take this authority for yourselves and it's yours to take. But it reads all. But the city council has the authority. You have to have a 3 quarter vote to determine the I just all came up. You're going and it came to me for this meeting. So I'm just here because I didn't get a good City attorney wants to give it a D let's not there. I really appreciate it. I did get that question via email and I will make sure to respond before we consider this furthers. All right. So much. >> Thank And thank you for educating in front of colleagues as well. Is there anyone else here to testify on item? Seeing none. I will move close the public hearing this federally over to August all in favor say Aye. I'll post 7 in favor. None opposing earns is slated for final adoption. >> 22 resolution public hearing 26 dash, one, 50 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. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his comment to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say all opposed 7 in favor, not oppose. The resolution is adopted item. 23 resolution public hearing 26 dash one. 51 amending the financing and spending plans and the Department of Public Works Capital Budget for the University Avenue Street Reconstruction Reconstruction Project. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here speak to this item? Seeing none. take a motion from his ability to close the public hearing all in favor, say aye almost 7 in favor not oppose. The resolution is adopted item. 24 resolution public hearing 26 dash one. 55 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. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his ability to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. post 6 and they were not oppose. The resolution is adopted item. 25 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? This is a public hearing. anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his comment to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. post 6 in favor not oppose. The resolution is adopted item. 26 Rl Hta 26 dash one. 25 ratifying the peeled Special Tax Assessment for property at 7.20 Cottage Avenue East this Morning Council president, this is an item that was continued from last week. >> To make sure that the council's vote recorded. You didn't receive the staff report. The public hearing was closed. Look to miss Kim from Ocean. Moving legislative hearing officer's recommendation. Is there discussion of the motion? All in favor say Aye. I post 6 in favor not oppose. The resolution is adopted legislative hearing consent agenda items. 33, 36 or before you for your consideration this morning president item number 34 we have the owner here to testify. Item. 34 Lhs 26 dash 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. Good afternoon. Council president. What we have in this case is a vehicle that pavement order. The orders were originally issued early for the. >> Remove all of had 2 vehicles and trailer. We are down to having one vehicle. At this time that is left and Mr. Grimes with like a further extension because we're past the early July extension. And this is a follow-up. From council gives extension follow up and find out if it's done or not. >> It isn't done And so the recommendation and in front of you is to make a finding that it is not done. And authorize the department to take action to complete the abatement. Thank you, moment. And any questions for staff. >> Seeing none will now hold a public hearing on this item. Please come on up, surreal of 2 minutes. Make sure to start with your name and where you're coming from. And make sure to focus on your ask for the council because 2 minutes to go by quickly. my name is Gary Crimes. kind progress toward a matter of 3.14, Wying Street 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. try to get this card she's got a vehicle. There's I mean, I got pictures of the 2 And how much more time do you need? 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. They're more. This makes it easier for me. other testimony, hers no action make sure to sign in. Okay. Was anyone else here to testify on this item? Seeing none. I will move to close the public hearing all in favor say all opposed. 75 another public hearing is closed. >> It's warm and I would like to move to grant an additional 3 weeks for that vehicle to be removed. So that would take us to August. 12th. >> can I ask for. The council to continue the public hearing, then 2 August 19th and we can have a finding about whether or not the deadline was not. Were you at that time? Yes, I advise my motion accordingly. And please make sure to communicate with Mr. Graham's about plan. All right. So that's my that's my motion. Any discussion. Seeing none all in favor say Aye. All opposed. >> 7 in favor. None oppose the public areas continue to August 19th. That brings us to. Is there anything else for separate consideration? Not that I'm aware right. And then we will hold a public hearing on all the remaining legislative hearing items. >> There's ayone here to speak to any of these legislative hearing items. This is your public hearing. Seeing none. I'll take motion from vice president close the public hearing all of and approved the recommendations in nation much that pairing up certain all the items all in favor say Aye. Aye opposed. >> 7 in favor. None of those legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended. >> So we were going to adjourn in just a moment. And then we're going to reconvene our special We're going to get folks just aminute. If they're only here for this meeting to be able to exit. And we're going to get folks a minute if they're still in the hallway and they're here for the next meeting to come in and then we will get started. we are adjourned. d to go for t dope dealers instead of going after the people on the streets who I have no home and then the amount of money it's going to cost to destroy this encampment, right? Not only destroy what they have. You're talking about it over. I looked into what we say about $300,000 to move these encampments. Won't you take that money and invest it in some type housing, whether you like it, they get high or not. That doesn't matter. Their peak. People drugs. These are people have been use. These are people who to choose between a car or a home and they're choosing their car because then they can still get to work. You have people that want jobs. They can't get a job. Why? Because they're convicted felon. Thank you very And we gotta thank you. >> don't it. been there for about a year and a half. Men is the >> Understand judge coming this to destroying the heart with the city coming in constantly thank to place in us. just want to come back downtown. Do you want their and these crimes, >> lot of these, you know, those are different stores closing, having a refurbish everything. Just property damage is like. >> was cast. As you know, it was one. It is a Was there downtown it's going expand more and more. come back in just a stones because home delayed. We live >> We got that he would have his accent. You know. As our free doughnuts are right. You know, we had nowhere else to go. >> why we do you have to doing. >> Because >> My name is is for president Saint Paul. Ramsey County. >> As years. >> I Yeah, I know that we're not going nowhere. we've got just more trains and other wanted vent holes. And we ended up Larry. ready, set up and got minute We got ages and come walk down right when come down and what we've got, how Cecil destruction workers to now to build that were very built up and get real nice. some steals. ♪ Applause. The people to come down here field. You're not going nowhere at >> Got the gun. What on a roll? Yes, we're going down the road again. >> We're right Come meet us where? ♪ ♪ >> Hi, my name is Jack. Some of resident in Saint Paul over Mounds Park Board. 7 I'm also educator. >> But I came because >> this is just fun. My heart and I 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. This so-called plan isn't addressing safety. It's spreading out individuals in an effort to make safety concerns invisible to make our unhoused neighbors invisible. Making our unhoused neighbors invisible does not respect the humanity does not create safety and is not how I want our city to create to treat our community members. Aside from the lack of safety in the plan, this plan will only create a cycle of destruction and pushing people around repeatedly wasting resources, resources that could be better used to improve access to resources, right, and to housing. So as a resident of Ward 7, I would much rather see resources put into outreach and housing stock clearing of the encampments and let our neighbors live. ♪ >> the council, president members of the council, my name is out fears of a person who has personal experience homelessness over 10 years ago. to in sociology and psychology and work to behavior health and substance use services for nearly a decade throughout career, working people not getting help instability, poverty, trauma, chaotic substance, use untreated mental health conditions and bears the health care. Those are some of the social determinants of health. And today I'm asking to look public health plans with me because we're talking about people. If people forgot about me, I wouldn't be standing here today. This is a budget meeting, a meeting about parks, recreation. Does that mean about people? And as you say, their health safety and dignity, the city's own data shows heart health. Always 75 total people in 2023, what find? Average of 150 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness every week. And those numbers are probably tripled today. They tell rest those numbers. Ultimately we're solving homelessness that asking overwhelmed system to do the impossible. And that's proving community health, safety or dignity. The city also says Hart connects people to critical health and housing services. 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. We already know the better option. Seattle, tiny home villages help 63% of residents move into permanent housing Austin's community. First village of Beit Hanun 88% housing retention rate. These communities invested instability instead of displacement, a victim, hundreds of people who is a campus without a plan separates him from medications, identification case managers and the hours workers. I don't see many city workers, but many of outreach workers are sitting here today. Is that months or years, building that trust. So we think reason stability make people harder to reach and will increase the risk of overdose and death. This means a lot to me because I know what it's like to have nowhere safe to go. But also feels like when one person leaves are still worth helping. Tonight a mask. You have the courage to tell mayor her. The public health doesn't begin to the border. It begins on side. Every person deserves a chance to have their own set of A couch, a hot seller in a safe place to sleep at night. Because 6 months from now there's a chemical be the question, the question of the that they're still alive think. >> I know my name is Guadalupe and I'm homeless. I'd been on the since March. mean, my husband, we were became homeless because of the fraud situation. I believe somebody county school having now, I know and there's crimes committed. There's a recitation. What is a visitation to the all the people that are being caught in between the cracks of the fraud situation there the would have been accountable, that people just get shut down, change an agent on and they can't all I find and we end up in the streets. The man has been have been. There's as much okay. We have all the resources that to be division is a great community holds and stability. The plan. Well, guys, workers for prayer for franchising, who's reading and help create a plan for those get we compassion it with opportunity and their diligence but never people to stable housing connection is important. We need that. There's no reason why we need to be out here. Not everybody is on drugs. you want to live in tent. I watch myself or the bottled water every day, OK, it's not my home well as we have everything we are at the surviving of a fraught situation and not fair. You know. If they just out today, it's so dangerous. You don't know any bait take and I have my husband. But what about those who don't have you don't have somebody Please think and consider it humanity. it. >> A quick reminder to folks to please make sure you sign it after you're done. Testifying will come up. >> So winds at home and here in the chamber, please turn your iPhone and smartphones to Isaiah Chapter 5 verse 20. And while I asked the council members a question very pointedly, the American Public Health Association, the oldest and lrgest organization of public health officials in the world. What data has Assistant Mayor Baker shown you that contradicts their evidence that te sweets are in affected their deadly and they don't do what the intended plan is for the city of Saint Paul. >> What evidence have you seen from the system, mayor or mere for that suggest the oldest and most life organization public health is raw. What day to actually win into this discussion affect how many people are actually talked to? >> How many residents of the cameras were talked on July at the newest member to the county. Why call? I was floored to see the front line workers of this county had no god idea that these camps are going to close. >> It >> there That's right. >> There's some of the best people on the front lines here in the city after we saw what happened Upper Metro surge. And I would like to remind you all that they have not West. >> Ice is still here. It's going to cut. SNAP benefits is going to cut Medicaid. It is going to rsult in more of our friends and our neighbors falling into situation. I didn't see nothing from the presentation to that. Mr. Central figure. I didn't see anything that actually so the semblance of a coordinated plant. You can put paint on this and say whatever he wants. But I say if I-20 says to those who call evil, good and good evil to put darkness for light and life or darkness who put bitter first week and sweet for better. This plan is against science. This plan is to get the people of Saint Paul who want to show up or not the tble. And better we should do better. And I say unto you such maker. want to marry her. I say, go on every council member who supports as well as our county commissioners and the mayor of Saint Paul, who is not in this well. >> I come here in love. I come here peace and I love every single person in this >> I'm 17 years old. And I recently graduated from School of recording Arts. ♪ I'm currently has been in this type of program. boards. I'm speaking to you the same to you for day from work for paying to strict 12 was previously experienced, a lack of stable housing when it place. Regarding the issue. I thought it was fake. It shocked me that this was the chosen solution over a long-term resolution. If you truly want to solve the issue of homelessness in our city. We wouldn't be talking you today. I would suggest that the city of Saint Paul invest in the long-term situation solution rooted in in compassion, a solution that is safe, effective, sustainable and accessible. Something like educating the $00,000 to renovating the many abandoned buildings to provide to our unhoused neighbors. >> I've met many of you personally. I saw the last week. And I discussed with some of you about difficult it is to engage the community in for issues. Well, we are here and what we want is clear. It's not all of us, but it's enough. So I trust you. I chose I put my full chosen due to advocate for the unhoused youth, especially they may not be living in a home, but they are living their living. Human beings. And to the spectators and speakers here today. I urge you to do what you can how you can. I personally leave. I keep snacks and water bottles in my car. So every time I drive by and I see someone industry, I give it to them. I give it to them. And that's everyone's thing. But being here speaking today can be your thing. And that's important. It's important. They show up. And to the elected officials present. Please remember that you serve the people of Saint Paul, including the unhoused winds. And even with this. Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. ♪ ♪ >> My name is Kenny Smith and I'm a professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health at the University, Minnesota. Today. I speak on bhalf of myself, not the university. The same poll officials are streaming the planned closure of these encampments around public health. The concerns that they cite like fire overdose. These are very real threats. However, the proposal to use closure as a solution to them does not make any logical sense. It doesn't take having a issue know that sweeps to not put out fires sweeps. Do not reverse overdoses sweeps. Do not create selter. That's when we're interviewing encampment residents. They have really logical and effective solutions. They want things like first English years, reliable emergency response. Pretty parties. Handwashing stations, even without the services. The residents and outreach workers have done an amazing job of managing a lot of these risks on their own. But using swps to address public health is not only a logical it is covering up the real detriment of sweeps to public health. We know that when these things happen, that people whose ID they medications, daily survival gear. does critical progress that medical in housing teams make when they can reliably locate where their clients are a region or says have told me that their case load has doubled now that they can actually find that their their patients in these camps and that they spend most of their time actually treating them. The scariest thing of all this research that my team has uncovered, showing that Swedes can actually take the manageable health public health risks that we face in these camps and turn them into ftal ones. We have found that 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. Arc. Our statistical models can't tell us why. But people with lived experience can tell us why they talk about severed medical access in the community network that keeps people life being broken apart. I implore the city to hold these closures in the name of public health. If the city wants to base their decisions in public health evidence, we have plenty for you. And we do want to ask these. Thank you very much. Thank you. And to stop treating our neighbors as a visibility problem and to start investing in the systems of care that you can She >> My name is Melissa Kennedy. I'm a mother. I'm a grandmother. Most people are 2 paychecks away from being where I'm at. I've only in the camp for about a week and a half. Experience the camp for about 3 years. never thought that I'd be there. But here I am. And I've had more help. From people who have absolutely nothing talk for. Who offer their last bottled water. And I don't understand. How we got to this, but I know that it's going to take everyone to fix it. Just pushing it around to another space are separating us is not going to it. And may I say. 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. Coming into it. That most of us were taxpayers vters. And we will be again. >> So I ask that you help us don't hurt us. Thank you. Thank you. to be a Berks Michaelson and I live in Ward one. Other folks have Spokane about the reality on the ground more eloquently than I can. So I'm going to take a different approach. And a public policy student at the Humphrey school. >> And I have to say, I would be scared to submit the mayor's plan. And one of my classes my professors would >> What's the end game People will form new encampments no matter how many sweets you conduct unless they have a meaningful path out of that cycle. >> This plan will just create more deaths in the short term and more encampments in the long term. Another question asks. Is what the research sets studies in Seattle and LA Show that a large majority of displaced people remain unsheltered after sweeps. Burrow has calculated that overdose deaths rise by 71%. Meyer and found that there's a higher risk of violence in the aftermath of sweets. And that's all before the psychological cost. I know encampments aren't exactly perfect, but the research almost universally agrees that sweeps all the wrong answer. There's something I think a lot about in class. When businesses leave town vote with their feet. We asked why and we try to find a policy solution. The same is true for homeowners. But I think we often forget to do the same for struggling social services. Folks often avoid shelters for a reason. 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. Thank you. Thank you. >> I'm sure Lopez I've been homeless about 5 years. I've been in some of the dark record for 2 years. The bathrooms filled with feces for weekends at a time. People being kicked out for lice and allegations from the property management. That's that's. That's our shelter. >> I'm going to bathroom fixtures cent of the time outside anyways. just is not off in the bathroom. Or there's feces in the bathroom. chancellor's Princeton massive diarrhea. How it has that right? it much. The tractor roaches. That that you're a bedroom and it looks like in stuck my hand through the door approach us. There is no dolar roach. Us. Covering the door. stick my head to it. That's that's that's our shelter. Field of From our property management. But it's being taken because we don't have enough room just or our staff and our breaks. you don't have a friend over for so so long, we get 7 overnights a month. should be told when I can have an order can have friends over. That's one of our rights. Our rights are being taken away because of lice. neglect. For people actually look into the things that people are say. I feel more home outside in these encampments, but I do it in a shelter. That's not right. Should not feel threatened in a shelter. My people that are higher than me and no more people. Just because they can go to the court, says it all. He did his rent because you find somewhere else. >> Thank you very much. sure sign in. My name is Rebecca homered and I am a resident of Ward 7. I have owned and lived in my home and it blocked for 2 years and I can represent represented by Councilmember Johnson the whole time. I am vehemently against the mayor's encampment plan. Other folks have explained thorough detail why this why the slant plan of us of a plan and more of a crisis in the making. >> I want to call in our city council and specifically mine Councilmember Johnson. I expect an elected official to represent all of their residents of their word, including those at the Fish Hatchery, encampment. I'm really disappointed that you're not. Every human deserves shelter, access to clean water and culturally sensitive and safe. Support, community and shelter. With this plan. Many, many people will not have access to any of those things there. have really tenuous grasp on any on all of these resources. So why are we taking that away from that? Why now in the heat of the summer? Why now? With so few extra shelter beds available Exactly. The Public Safety Committee reported that there are only an additional less than 50 beds for more 49 beds for an estimated an estimated. >> About 200 residents of these encampments which we've heard from several people who are active in the community, that that's just not true. So why now with no advance notice for real and strategic planning to occur across the city and the county white also is city Council proposing to expand their salaries to 70% of the mayor's pay? >> When our medium income in the city less than half of that. >> Many make people are just 2 paychecks away from losing their homes. We all have family and friends have either experience homelessness are extremely close to various homelessness for our homeless. >> We need time and we need a real plan. Thank you very much. Thank you. A sign in sheet and many of the people in this room don't have an address. Thank you. Welcome. ♪ >> It states that the >> the least dignified thing is sorry. Can you just start with your name and where you're coming Michael? My name is Mike. >> I just think that the most or the least dignified thing >> is have to. >> Let let you guys tell us that we failed in that. You should tell us where to go. >> We since week you guys out. >> That's how I thought America So. >> And that. >> And it comes to go, that's a a ♪ ♪ my You could name any Ward and I've probably live there. What about to say is all connected and is inspired by black after indigenous and indigenous as understanding the interconnectedness we have living beings have with each other in the land. Despite what different councils. Representatives companies, departments wards. Or any other Anglo-Saxon or colonial embodiment tries to force people onto. We do not live in a alienated or separated world. And the smog in the air is proof of that. And the lead coming out of a northern iron. Police blockades. Drone usage. The criminalization of youth with terms like he games. For the Protesters being called political terrorist. Or disable journalists being attacked by St PD. And now we're talking about is encampment sweeps. These are all examples and reminders that colonialism is an ongoing project. An example of internal colonies being attacked. And historically like in Haiti when the subject gated through struggle, take back their air, their land, their food and their homes. And reject the heinous labels thrown onto them for labels of their own, such human, such as liberate are revolutionary or ally. That is when see things change. That's just descriptive. And I don't deal with dogmatic prophecies. But I can't help but ask the historical question to everyone here. What is it going to be? >> Thank you very much. Interested a land back. nation. >> My nme is next area. I live in the frogtown area. Good afternoon. Members of City Council everyone here today. I stand before you as someone who is live this life. I know that what addiction feels like looks like I know what homeless this feels like. I know what feels like to be to believe that no one sees you anymore today. Also stand before you as someone who spends nearly every day do with these encampments not to judge people but to build relationships with them. Over the past several months, I have helped connect many individuals into detox treatment program and recovery programs and other services that success to because I forced anyone into recovery happen because tust was built. First. That trust takes time. Understand the concerns about the encampments. I seen the fires. I seen overdoses. I seen the violence. I watch people struggling with severe mental illness and addiction. No one is saying these conditions are acceptable but close in a cameras without housing treatment beds are long-term support. Doesn't estan doesn't eliminate those problems. It changes where they happen. My concern is that people will scattered throughout the city. Outreach workers will lose contact with many of them relationships that took months to build may disappear overnight. Some people will become even harder to reach some overdose alone. That is what keeps many us, many of us awake at night. I'm not here to just point the finger or point the problems that people are masking to us to work together and manager a coordinated 6 months 6 stabilization effort before displacement wrap-around services on site medical professionals, mental health service. >> Help support available regularly. Peer recovery specialist building relationships, everyday housing navigator, navigators, helping people obtain a defecation benefits and housing Affleck applications, law enforcement to focus on reducing violence and drug trafficking while working alongside outreach groups, not against them. Daily transportation to detox. Thank you alters Make sure you sign >> folks may be good a little bit closer to the gold columns so we can make more room for folks who are in line. if you aren't yet in line, it would be great to just get a sense of how many more folks we have to speak. We have about 50 minutes left. Well, come out. >> Want to add to the Robert a emotional moment as we I just came thank doesn't matter where the people going up in the back side of the road. We are part of on site. You get up to the way lined up again. I know don't want to. >> It was everybody go way back to Because that's the first thing I do have a we kept going to go back in day, in fact, history and you where came from. Don't John and I just got my my was sparse 20,000 mark his bat, my wife Dr tape, he's at Why? A lot that you just minutes over I just we just lost. A different name 1000 wanted some trail, British. I'm over by. >> The holiday over bridge that goes it like it's good for played football with him and like. I came to talk about it. But you don't think just using desk going to it missed and with the rest people becoming. I said they need. They need your help and guidance instruction in 20 in terms strain, help. >> Hurt me Gallagher want Yeah, that much to so that you get last promise you last use. >> First in motion >> you want? ae I just it's a rights. They were just trying to And of the doing right? >> When you housing, people that done this discretion huge. And judge >> Just ahead of the to mop up the loose issue in homes. Just thank you very much. The Commonwealth. >> And if a show that 8 or at things I can't wait. I've been living in the area since 2012. those woods by myself. So 2016, when so we decided to. A shutdown. So I went to shelters. I came from and I want it was freedom. no place to go did speak to family. next best is to use isolate yourself you know, to Ad that's what the day. People have to understand and are not like us. Is it? We are survivors. You survived harshest. The weather's. We have survived the harshest conditions. And for 2 years survived each other. One thing about these encampments, it you realize is that it gives us an opportunity to feel safe. gives the opportunity to to the next step, which is housing. Anything of it. 2 tear down. These encampments is it's a say. We don't care what happens to you. You know, care. murdered, raped. I have loss. friends out here. Who I consider family more than my. And as functional as we are. We are family. kept in. These encampments are are or unique because all right. And I ran through them. So I know they are uni because it gives us opportunity to feel. That we get so she others like ourselves. The good is to set me when I read the news about. >> Thank you report and says I wasn't that interview story that is time, please. Mister >> Thank you. ♪ ♪ >> Hello Council. My name scout. I work and mutual aid in Saint Paul. I also helped run. We are seeing which is a magazine are in writing from residents at the pig's Eye encampment. we are has been doing mutual aid in creative or with residents of the encampment for a year. We visit weekly. We've cultivated very close friendships with many of the community members. Yesterday we took a survey asking for their thoughts and concerns around the eviction as we would like to share the perspective of those who could not attend the meeting today want their voices to be heard. The mayor's office has said that the that living at the park is not safer. Dignified, that the residents should go to shelters. A group resident housing. But we all know between the waitlist for availability and trying to get access to require documents. These processes take months and years, not 3 weeks. city is creating arbitrary deadline and leaving residents and resource providers scrambling. Those have actually experienced living at the camera and the shelters have experienced the living conditions at the shelters have expressed the living conditions of the shelters. They've been to are not livable or sanitary. They said there was, quote, a lot of drugs that it is, quote, difficult to avoid violence and that it felt, quote, more like a prison they cited anything July's 08:30PM, curfew for grown adults and being in constant fear getting kicked out of their housing for any misstep or any inadvertent broll breaking, especially for many individuals who don't speak English and are given adequate access to translators. For years. I house people in the Twin Cities have been displaced and told to move to this specific encampment. Residents expressed frustration of the decision to send people here and the kick them out from where they were sent. The city pushed hundreds 100's of people to the camp and now they want to push them out all at once. The resident 6 presence will flood already scarce shelter availability saying quote, hundreds of people have nowhere to go and that this will cause, quote, total chaos along with more arrests and overdoses. The residents have largely said this decision will kill people. you have the opportunity, I would suggest you have a conversation with 2 of the other gentleman who just were here to the greatest people know. they have incredible stories to tell Thank you. Make sure to sign it. >> Hi, my name is Aaron. I live in Ward same Paul. I'm also a founding member of we are easy I wanted to continue off some of the points Scott made from the survey we took at One resident said they feel Minnesota is, quote, setting the field to make being homeless illegal and have has been targeting myself and other unhoused individuals stocking and charging us with minor and major infractions to further displace us from getting adequate employment and housing. Another resident said that they believe that the point of this decision is to disappear and house people to incarceration abduction by eyes death. One of the reasons the city has given for the encampment, closure is drug use and overdose. The residents believe the evictions would make these issues worse, which is backed up by numerous studies saying that the camp they're able to look out for each oher, have a higher likelihood of having Narcan around in somebody's able to administer using alone, kills. 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. >> Quote, We have people that take a lot every night checking in making sure everyone is safe. Quote, people actually her and listen to us and care about all of us here. If you go through with these evictions, you'll be targeted. Targeting the most vulnerable population of the city. And taking them away from one of the mst essential parts of Lee community. ♪ >> Hi, my name is and then and I live in Ward 4 of Saint Paul instructor at the University of Minnesota. I do not and would not speak for the university. And with the founding editor of We are seeing and to conclude our discussion of the survey results when asked what they would like the city to do instead of the current plan, the residents said delegate one of the many and the residential or business buildings to provide adequate shelter and personal hygiene capabilities. Well, gt more time at the least a 3 week. Notice just isn't enough time. Hotel vouchers until quote, age i available. They have said that the encampment is willing to work with the city to accomplish the changes they want to see, but to blindside them with a short notice. Eviction is the humanizing. >> They suggested they've suggested using the exorbitant funds required to destroy the camp to instead install heating running water, many houses, handwashing stations or more acceptable restrooms. One resident says the city should, quote, You City council pay raise for the homeless instead. ♪ President stated well, why would you pat yourself on the back and ask for a pay raise at this time? Shame close. >> problem and you are still the problem and well, please don't force us to leave. I'm here for each councilmember. A summary of the survey results, some scanned copies of selected surveys and copies of the scene. The first issue that came out in October of 2025. In the second issue that came on the May of this year. >> These scenes contain the artwork writing and lived experience of these talented, intelligent, caring, beautiful art ♪ It's the I believe you all should here. We are not animals and we deserve to get treated like human beings. I don't know what we're going to do. A lot of don't have family to help us. We are struggling, but we lived together. Lt us live know the actions on stolen land. Please don't take away our home. Thank you very much. >> I'll be speaking behalf of 2 people residing at Fish. Hatchery were unable to come today but left with their words. The first person is status. >> This is an actual community of individuals faced with daily struggles that Rusty we deal with is already stressful enough. Now we have to struggle with being displaced from I-4 separate times since May 2023 removed from our homes. We vote with our bare hand and now to watch it all be destroyed by the city. >> Well, I know that doesn't apply to every city and or law enforcement official that comes to our community to do their weekly visit in quotations. >> It doesn't, however, it does, however, applied to the ones who display displayed some sort of personal prejudice, eyewitness, tense people, those for no reason leaving it in my eyes and justifies unjustified. They bulldoze one of my tense during the wnter with 8 fulper pain takes and it when can we be looked a as a community of individual human beings instead of homeless people? >> That was by >> The >> second one on this person remained unnamed for this meeting I just want to know what are plans after August 5th? Where's everyone going to be placed and what is it going to change for the homeless across the city? Because when we get put out is going to be the same. If we are here or not here, we just want a plan. After August 5th, there's not that many housing for everybody. Please come up with a plan for the homeless. >> Thank you very much. Make sure to sign it. >> Thank you for your time tonight. my were one. You guys are elected officials. You got a really tough job. Ling very sensitive topic in front y. I think we know 2 realities to be sure. is we know they can shut down. It happens every year. Every few years. just goes along like they continue to talk about. I think the bigger question is then what? I love my city. I can see myself living any of the city but same pod because I think we're a for thinking C. And with that being what are the solutions? What are the alternatives like? What are the conversations that are banned had maybe they're being had outside public guys. You guys do have a plan behind the scenes. But one thought is total time. He's a huge lot the there. If you have wrap-around services have ability to do to pull up a truck for people to wash your clothes if they can't wash inside. Tis parking deck center on news that we could use the house and have a safe place because as the encampments, it's not all you know. From the outside. Looking in a moment. First responder. Some places it can be extremely unsafe, just predator and prey. But more importantly, it's a community for a lot of people. It's a situation we could imagine living in, but they're making it work. And I think the other biggest reality is encampments are a media ease for right now. There's no the solution for immediate has right now. And I think if we could create some kind of environment ae ecosystem that is a and potentially a candidate. I don't know if there's any other in the country. They were the first. Maybe we start something amazing. But the idea that they go from one place to the next like my brother id over here. They could be in our backyard. They could be in a neighbor's backyard. They could be in your backyard or more important. Like you say to your front door. Because they move with. Now they have frustration and as a tough conversations of a very tough conversation. You guys think I can answer that decision. Thank you. Make sure to sign appreciate Welcome. >> My name is Lou said and I come from the West Side or 2. I am also the housing justice program manager at East Side Freedom Library. With a name loose. allow me to make some things very clear. >> Encampment sweeps are the opposite of housing justice. They are active cruelty, housing justice is many things, but ultimately it is about respect and dignity and finding solutions that center. Those concepts as the Unitarian Universalist, I believe in the inherent worth and dignity every person sweeps in the face of that very notion. This decision is arrogant and cruel. I want to make clear that if our neighbors could be housed in less than a month, the residents and organizers here would already done that. If you mainly any argument that services and resources will be provided and all residents housed is simply a lie. The privilege of never worrying where I would sleep at night. And I am strongly aware that it i not because I better than anyone, but because of a look. I think anyone who supports the sweeps have not will not stand by as my h. I - neighbors are punished for their lot. I will stand on the side of human dignity as Unitarian say, emboldened by think we dare proclaim. We are standing on the side of love and to those who stand with I >> Nikki idigent because I'm not going to do it. nominees are guy going and doing buy. So I'm Nikki and I am boys for ban. also lead and run a native foundation. I'm not here representing that foundation. I also on active member of the Metro natural herb in Indian directors. It covers over 30 nonprofits in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Also not here on their behalf. But what I'm saying and I have been a student of public policy. University of Chicago have lived and worked in other cities that have had coordinated response. And one thing I just want to name is. I run a community foundation. Technically I I should just be living in philanthropy, right? But what I do with my free time and there's others here who have spoken and I a child of God and I love creator and I do his work. Whether it's in my job title or not. So that's an invitation. I spend my free time in Kansas with faith-based efforts in these other cities in just recently been pig's eye a couple of times and what I want to caution is being from the other side of the river. I was on the other side 3 years ago thinking right with camps with 9 Inc Heise. This isn't healthy hearing. All the concerns from our elders from our other community members. But in reality, what I learned and what we learned through years of those 3 years of lived experiences. It is not better now. And so now I'm really good friends with Nicole who used to run that encampment and who did it very humanely, including so I'm not saying And she's not saying that encampments are the solution. But what we know is what is happening isn't working. Millions of dollars are circling the drain in Minneapolis. You don't want to see that happen here with the sweeps. So I really just want to bring up is it is a situation bad enough yet, right that we could think radically different. I spend my free time with individuals to understand lots of addiction and my family relatives in the spaces as well. But I mean, unless you are, you are losing things in translation from the people that are communicating You need very muggy out there signed on with camera. Thank yous. Welcome. I I'm saying like here I and work at Catholic Charities. do not represent today. >> But I've been in that but ran 10 years. >> And like I got a >> housing is cheaper than emergency services. How many ambulance rides you think our people get? How much cheaper would it be if they just were able to have a house to go to, to go to the doctor like that's where our taxpayers are going. It really is about to rob us and the people that use of them. First, take a look at yourself. Probably all use drug, take some claim. Maybe it's alcohol. Maybe cannabis. That being said, if it is about the site of drug if it is about drug use your help to prevent people from overdosing. Why are we not investing in safe consumption sites where people can go and use their drugs? >> Used a truck safely test their drugs and we can bring them back to overdose. population of who is homeless. We're seeing different demographics are seeing elders more than ever. >> let me tell the option that they're gonna go to shelter. It's not the answer. Not everybody is going to shelter their reasons. I bet you a lot of people over there have restrictions that shelter. I bet you a lot of those people have bad information like have had bad experiences are traumatized or maybe just the fact of staying inside stuff and they feel constricted. What would you do if this was your family? Like what would you do if your mom or dad or brother sister right down encampment? Because the way world's going one of your kids probably was going to go to one wave with the place we go. What I'll say is this. also got a look at the workers. If Ask the experts as the people in the camp. I could point to multiple people in this community who do direct service work. have the answers and have done this for years. We like that strong people out. Thank you. It's just not going to wear. Thank you, It well come up. >> I just want to do a quick time check. As I mentioned at the beginning, we do need to end the meeting at 6.30, because council members need to leave. So I want to make sure as I'm looking around, I'm not sure if we're going to get through every one 6.30, we will recess. We will reconvene at another time to hear from those we haven't heard from tonight. But I do want to ask if you're in line and you are a resident of an encampment followed by a resident of Saint Paul. If we can prioritize those folks to speak tonight, I really appreciate them being able to come to the front. Well, coming up. >> Council member is Cedric >> office of the mayor. It is wind. I reside in Ward. One and I know you're loking really tired. You want to go home? I get it. But we have to listen to your office blow about things that you don't know anything about I just want to call out how brave it is for our unhoused neighbors and residents to come here >> I talked to one of my friends of encampment on Danish effort and she said she overheard sdpd officer laugh when they found a dead man in this tent. Frozen saying he turned into a popsicle. I've also seen videos its peers Smishing wheelchairs that were being used disabled residents. heard folks jarek seen videos of these so-called, you know, outreach workers from the county from the sea come t the site with mayor her with cameras standing at the front of the camp and just kind battling around not handing out any resources are talking to a single resident literally so much that they have to go through. And they've been told over and over by the city, we don't actually care about you with your actions. You may use nice words may say, oh, this is dignity. This is empathy, but it is not that not that okay. What is And listening to the folks that took the time out of their evenings of struggle and survival to come here and tell you to your face. We are dying and we need help and you're trying to kill us with the sweet sweeps are not be answer. As people have cited site study after study by actual health, like institutions. We see the overdoses go app people die. And so if you want people to die, go ahead with the sweets. But stop kissing, honest in saying it's raining. Thank you. >> Before I say my name, I want you to picture a person sitting in a tent tonight, a mother who escaped violence, a person in recovery fighting for a second chance. A veteran who served our country, a child who deserves a safe place to sleep. We don't choose this life. >> We are people who'll. >> Have been dealt difficult cards and hrd situations have you as elected officials ever walked into the shelters. Do you know that there are about 40 people sleep in a cast? >> It's a feat. >> This is not the way of our democracy. >> We need to make a change and we need to put our people before our systems and we need not to push people who have been vetted there live can't. It it? It may be something that they only and we take it away were sweeping and then we get rid of our sober housing. Has anyone ever experienced addiction? Housing is number one, people, places and things is what is taught. And in ABC has It is not something that is trying to the star economy or world is so we need the 40 million dollars that was just invested for rental assistance to be invested in those people in those encampments. And if they only got 30 day, we should have 3 days to make sure they have somewhere to go because we have and we will not be silent. And actually lost family to this type of situation. We can't bully our people. We have stand with him. It doesn't matter about money and power systems. project, we have to stand with the people and that's all I want all to know. Freedom is and you >> And we want Please stand with And I am that have been running for state Senate and is this >> dictionary help us. Are start with your name make think you. >> Addiction, mental health, that spiritual, spiritual nature love conquers all. >> Our world is clearly a appoint a transformation. And I believe it's of spiritual nature. The Minnesota, the land of 10,000 to centers were broken. Spirits come to him, they and there's land with many natives that have been here. >> And know a lot about our land. You won't break They can't break us as they've seen like the country has seen. And I think we can do something very different as a state starting wth stuff like this, choosing to help ech other versus choosing worse comes to worse, the system breaks and we stop paying your taxes and put it to the money but the money to where we believe that you go, if that's what we have today. >> Castor boils very in prk. I am an assistant professor of public health, but I cannot speak and have my institution. And just as a Paul human camp today, I want to first check of the comments that people have made about the community and the encampments and how that can allow for support and help from within and from without. and want to echo many of comments were said today. And to the stated interest of public health to reduce injury, illness and death in the encampments that have been stated by mayor's Public Health Solutions must be the complex and wicked problems that our society creates this. This is not random and it is the result of humid conditions and inequities. A sweet might look like a quick fix public Health's. Real solution is going further upstream to prevent an encampment from being the only option that a person has to live in the city of Saint Paul. In addition to the lack of thorough and transparent plans to support those currently living unsheltered egrets, the mayor and the council to thoughtfully integrated prevention into their stated agenda in 2020, the U.S. Government Accounting Office found that when controlling for other factors, $100 increase in the median rent of an area was associated with about a 9% increase in the rate of homelessness without adequately addressing the affordable housing crisis in our city and in many other places sweeping the encampment strain city funds and inflicts harm and residents. Researchers in LA have also demonstrated the temporary housing strategies are largely unsuccessful in the long term because many people return to being unsheltered. She if the city does not move even further upstream to prevent the next generations from becoming Unhoused, a future council sitting year will be asked to conduct another sweet will be asking to this week. As of 2025. 5 1% of Saint Paul public school students answering the Minnesota student survey have reported home system last year. 15 1% of the survey respondents reported 2 or more adverse childhood experiences which to increase likelihood of homelessness in the future. >> So please at thank you very much >> hello, I'm Amanda I >> have ben homeless according to the state of Minnesota July of last year. >> But I moved project. >> They didn't have reliable heat. >> Didn't really have reliable. Air-conditioning. Didn't have reliable appliances. And I moved in there because I could no longer live with my. >> Mother who >> was suffering dementia and was becoming violent toward me. And my dad. I have lived in a shelter. >> Since January. >> I have been kicked out 3 times for different reasons to avoid choice bug infestation. >> This last time I was kicked out because I had T-shirt and shorts. PJ out that one that you buy from target actually, because it was spposedly inappropriate clothing for But we do not have. >> At the shelter where idol? >> Any clothing except. >> Socksnd underwear. Sometimes if it's available. >> We sometimes get a sack lunch. When we leave the door. It's only supposed to be asleep just a place to sleep. >> That is almost as what I was living my hood. >> Whole hide apartment. >> Because that's basically all I could do. Except I had my service animal S. >> Before I went into the ER in December. >> I know the HUD program did not work. There was fraud. There was payments that I saw under the table in my own apartment. Thank you. Thank you very much, please. then welcome. Welcome. >> I'm Valerie Jarvis from Ward 4. And since we can all get to speak today, can people raise their hands if they're not in support of the encampment sweeps? >> That's >> a majority of people. Yeah, you do with week to happen Thank you. Anyway, this proves my point that this. >> Why should we listen to the people who will come here to stand behind their opinions? >> If they're not here to speak their mind. >> here today and we're going out of our way and taking time out of our day, they should have to 2. >> A lot of us voted for mayor her. And probably some lets you stream also didn't because we felt that she was going to be more progressive. Difference, right? But this is more of the same. And this is aggressive. And in this time we need strong leadership and community. >> More than ever because we have a target on our backs at the federal level. We have to protect our cmmunity as best as we And that includes all of our unhoused neighbors because if they come for the weakest of come fr all of us. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> So little nervous safer. I workers a paramedic. I was on the drug addict and experience A few times. the last time was last February. It was at the encampment And I was welcomed. There's open arms. I feel like if I didn't run into those people, I don't know where I'd be today and that some really amazing people. I want to read to my friend And I ended up getting the treatment Minnesota House know so I mean, yes, understand the safety concerns and stuff. But I believe as at the most the best thing you can do is have community taking that away from people is going to cause I overdosed twice there. And if I wasn't around people probably not be here. So that's where say. Steve took their Ward >> I've been hearing from all the speakers today about the insanity of this plan. Why would the mayor do something so stupid? And so cruel? It's the same reason that Mayor Frey adicts, every encampment Minneapolis shortly after its founder. Mayor Frey is brought by the city is bought by the city's landlords. And I suspect that mayor, her is as well. Landlords love nothing more than the renters looking at homeless people. Desperate for shelter. Those renters will think twice about complaining about there should apartments or try to organize with their neighbors. Just like employers love precarious workers. Landlords love precarious renters. ♪ >> Hello. My name is Corey Cole and I am a public health scientist and violence prevention worker. However, I'm speaking here today only in my capacity as a Ward. 7 resident, the people living in the fish hatchery in camp and far my neighbors. I appreciate and echo the words of everyone who has come up here and cited the consistent and clear public health literature saying that there will be lives on city officials hands if this plan goes through. >> To pretend otherwise betrays a disdain for the facts that is just qualifying of the city official or a belief that people who live in encampments are not human. Also disqualifying for city official, whether overdose spike is only one of the things that will happen if this plan goes through. The press, release a FAQ websites from the city paint a very friendly picture of how an encampment eviction looks states everyone will get to keep your belongings, everyone will get connected and housing. All serious. People know that this is not the case. All of us have seen evictions take place in Minneapolis and Saint Paul and across the country. We know that this will result in people having belongings taken their medications taken their support of devices destroyed. Many of whom have disabilities, substance use disorders and physical and mental health conditions that make them extremely dependent on stability and kindness of others for survival. You see 7 people from the mutual aid organizations and communities that have done more for them than the bleeding. And in may see a safety net that the city only served to him. will only serve cruelty and deaths. even though the city people may have their best intentions and maybe talking about this in a way that is very enticing to the public. There is no humane way to remove people from their homes via force. There is no polite way. There's no dignified way. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everyone. >> My name is Sam Robertson. My pronouns, are they them? And I work for women's advocates. A domestic violence shelter in Saint Paul. As our domestic violence priority list manager for Ramsey COC. Wow. This is a comparatively new role to to this COC. >> I've also touched the coordinated entry system as an assessor for almost 10 years. So this is a system I know I'm familiar with. But I also want to be clear that as move forward here today, my statements do not reflect the opinions of Ramsey County, the housing Stability Department or women's advocates. >> some people mentioned earlier there's a meet weekly meeting on Wednesday. Mornings for sheltered and unsheltered service providers. That meeting on July 8th when the U.S. is that Mayor Baker joined and share the upcoming in Tampa closures and the approach the city would be taking. We were told that the approach would be one. Persistent helpfulness. Using the coordinated entry system. And 3 working to expand shelter capacity. And I want him to look you all in the eyes. As I say, this. >> 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. But the one that I really want to specifically talk about is the second-leading on coordinated entry. >> If you talk to anyone that's done coordinated entry, that's been an assessor that's been a priority list manager. >> Or you take the time to sit in on assessment. One of the very first things you'll hear them saying that you'll hear me say. Is that coordinated entry is not quick. It's not a guarantee. According to entries, a tool, it is a tool. It's not the be all end all and should never keep somebody plan a. This isn't a surprise. There's a lot of people know this before I talk with them. But when I'm doing an assessment. >> The city still choosing to lean on. That is the plan. >> Thank you very much. Please make sure to sign in. Tom by me. >> lifelong resident Saint Paul. >> More than one thing can be a tool. I think in this case with testimonials, there's a lot of truth all. But there's also truth in that the city has played a role in causing problem. And what not saying it to be accusatory, but just that's a fact. >> What we need as a way out of for the people training Addiction efforts. >> What like to say about is 2 are ready to city's regulations. the park. You cannot be in the parks between 11 at night draw. You cannot have possession of alcohol. You cannot have position of weapons. You cannot have possession dry You Cannot be in possession of weapons or >> If those are all true and the city's enforcement. If the city would enforce that would be a big step in the right direction. Instead, what we're having is needles being and it supplies being provided and what has hppened is is there's been a significant increase in crime. Let alone. This is a park and the park visitors have been harassed, intimidated, threatened. Those 2 things don't bode well together. There are only a matter of time until somebody gets service or there's real problem that we're so getting help to those who are today and rules of him conditions. So thank you very much for his major design. welcome up. >> in this >> a idea outreach jobs in this Saint Paul Minneapolis. The first and let you do second with Sam. So I also Manatee County assessor. And the first thing I tell people is if you need housing should get an assessment. And also you'll be really lucky if you hear anything within 3, 4 months, don't make this your first plan. So we need assessments less than a ridiculous. And then when second would make, you said things ae not better in Minneapolis after When I was working in Minneapolis had relationship. think it was a bunch of people lost. Its pay. What you taking months to get to talk to me. And after this beep. And, you I can find you the 3 months I found her again, she's another camp and at the same needs as these are communities, people look out for each other and on that campus lft and last month and when 100 and she at the scene. is these are communities and people each other. And then when I last heard and I couldn't fight. That's second Whatever >> Thank you very much. >> My time is running out get more than 53 0nd. we've okay. Hi. My name is Senator I am a longtime resident of Saint Paul. I actually bought the house that I grew up in. So I have lived in your ward. Molly, word for for 35 years. >> I am assist street outreach worker and I spent much of my time working on the streets in the Snelling University Avenue corridor. >> I am also a therapist and I work in addiction medicine right now. I also sit on the Ramsey County Steering Committee, right? The heading from Iran steering committee Johnson is is the vice chair of the governing board. There on that steering committee. I chair the youth advocacy work group. And this call that Sam talked about the provider call. was the first time I heard about this plan right? I sit on the board. >> Andres, you county that is supposed to oversee things like this. And I did not hear about this plan until that. >> I have real concerns yet. >> Last week at a meeting with my partners, I worked both sides of the river. Partners with Hennepin County COC and Minneapolis providers. They said what's going on in Saint Paul? I told them I said, are you going to come and help? They said nobody has asked us to us. Nobody has asked Yeah. I have real concerns about what we're talking about when we're talking about a collaborative. And partnership because I have not seen that in my experience nw with my work in Minneapolis and that was my work on the steering committee. System. Mayor Baker, I heard you earlier say we want to look at creative sotions. I am so and so in. For creative solutions, those come before we do camp closure. I just want to stress that to you. Thank you very much. At 10 for about 3 more speakers. I am sorry to have to end at 6.30, but look at as many as we can and will come up. >> Hi, my name is Julian Schaaf. We're kind of living working 3, 4, and want to share a particular story. And this winter, a friend, I know told me that so of us knew in the camps had had a miscarriage. And,Brooke, this information because she knew that I had the numbers of 3 midwives in the neighborhood and we were able to provide this person unity in the camp Midwest care within hours suspected she had a miscarriage. We provided pads to companion ship and laughter as well as confirmation that she had not lost a pregnancy and we offer to follow-up care with her in a few She told us that if she had gotten this information, is she still have the pregnancy? She would started using again and she could stay sober because of the baby. This care was timely. It was friendly. It was in a private place and was on her own terms of that requires expectations. She cannot go to a hospital the time because largely because of the fear that the city would interfere with her shelter and her belongings while she was getting medical care. How will the city provide care of this quality? And if the city can't do it. How are neighbors going to provide this care when a trusting relationship destroyed and we can't find each other. I also want to point out that on how to use are disproportionately LGBTQ+. And when you have a plan, you need to guarantee the trans folks will be respected and housing healthcare. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Members of the City Council. >> My name is Award. One resident I will not pretend to speak to encampment. Residents experience is not the mayoral office. >> But what I will say, what I will ask directly is after hearing all of this testimony who among buy a show of hands right now. >> Staff wants to stop the mayor's sweeps. This is not a qna for us to testified. know him. ♪ >> I will tell you about 2 worlds. 2 worlds that diverge right after this session at. >> There is a world. >> Where you all leave. >> Put on the agenda as soon as possible. A moratorium for the mayor's office is disastrous plan. If happy to pressure in the same way I get the color in a bad position with funding. Worked with the county to pursue innovative strategies like the those tiny homes, right, pursue these grants right? We will continue to fight for the dignity and justice for unhoused neighbors and those who support us. I will remember that till the day I die the other world, the other world is where you all take a recess, maybe do another opportunity for us to vent to get our public comments out there and then do nothing to publicly oppose or stop the mayor's sweet. People will die. My fiends and neighbors will die. I will lose contact with many of them. But you know what? This is not flash in the pan right here. All of us. We will continue to fight for the dignity and justice of all of us, including our uhoused neighbors. And for those who continue to support or do not speak out against the mayor sweeps, I will remember that until that day that I die at the ballot box. I deal with the city and how I remember each and every one of you. >> I wll remember that for and I'm not the only one. Thank you. Thank you. >> I think you're going to be our last speaker. So welcome Thank you. >> I do not deserve to afterward. Last words here today. My name is Ben aims. I'm a resident of Ward. One. At a public defender here in Saint Paul. Ramsey County for several years. I speak on behalf of myself, not anyone in my office. See a lot of familiar faces around here tonight. A lot of people that I've had. The unfortunate pleasure of having to represent protect their rights. People representative for unfortunately. Committing the crime of having nowhere that they can legally be. being victims of having the only disease of addiction that we decide to put people in cages for. >> It makes no sense that we are going to criminalize encampments here in this city. Tell you what faces I don't see here today. I do not any prosecutors from the city attorney's office. They don't getting prosecutors from Ramsey County prosecutor. >> I do not see and judges and the only police that I see here over here for control and not care, compassion are sure to listen. 8th Amendment of the Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment. Unfortunately, this plan isn't unusual. Other cities do it, but you cannot convince me that it's not cool. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ For coming out. >> We have really appreciated the courage that it took to be here tonight. We want to encourage people. We'll have another meeting. We are recessing tonight, but we will have an opportunity for people. did not get to be heard tonight to come back. We also want to remind folks, especially if you spoke tonight. We appreciate people speaking only for 2 minutes. I know that was tough for a lot of folks. There was so much more to say. >> Please email us meet with U.S.. Call us or other ways to reach us. We will let you know when we scheduled the next opportunity. I asked my colleagues and we all decided that rather than cutting the public testimony short and speaking ourselves, the purpose of tonight was to hear from you. I know we would all have a lot to say, but you've given us a lot to think about. And that's a lot of questions. So thank you all very much. And we are now in recess.