Summary

City Council (Action Only) — March 4, 2026

Saint PaulMar 4, 20263 min read

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Seven councilmembers present (Councilmember Johnson remote). Meeting ran 3:31 PM–5:12 PM. Consent and legislative hearing consent agendas adopted with amendments. Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances including demolition assessment actions, a master contract for the Right Track youth program, geothermal franchise adoption, Port Authority bond authorization, new Transportation Network Company fees, and transmitted support for the Bronze Line LPA. Several special tax assessment and nuisance-abatement items were ratified, deleted, or continued. AFSCME contract adoption was laid over to March 11.

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Consent Agenda adopted as amended.
RES 26-145 and RES 26-146 adopted — approved City demolition costs (Sept. and Nov. 2025) and set legislative/public hearing dates for assessments.
RES 26-303 adopted — authorized entering a master contract with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to receive/administer state funds for Right Track (youth employment/training).
RES 26-307 (AFSCME collective bargaining agreements) laid over one week to March 11, 2026 for adoption.
RES 26-344 adopted — approved roadway/sidewalk ordinance permits for Highland Bridge (Ford site).
Grant applications authorized — RES 26-328 (apply for $40,000 from Midway Men's Club) and RES 26-366 (apply for up to $50,000 from the Saint Paul Foundation for Right Track) adopted.
Ord 26-9 adopted — geothermal energy franchise by The Heights Community Energy, Inc.
Ord 26-11 adopted — authorized Port Authority to issue/sell bonds (~$6,000,000) related to redevelopment of part of the St. Joseph’s hospital site.
Ord 26-12 adopted — amended code to create new fee categories/license fees for Transportation Network Companies.
Ord 26-18 (pre-eviction notice period extension from 30 to 60 days) laid over to March 11, 2026 for second reading.
RES PH 26-64 adopted — transmitted the City's support for the Bronze Line Locally Preferred Alternative to the Metropolitan Council and Ramsey County.
ABZA 26-2 appeal — motion of intent granted to allow conversion of a freestanding sign to a dynamic display at 1305 7th Street West.
Multiple RLH actions — various ratifications, deletions, and findings on special tax assessments and nuisance abatements were adopted, deleted, or referred/continued per the legislative hearing consent agenda.
RES 26-365 adopted as amended — elected City Council and related board/committee officers; Audit Committee appointments.

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City Council

Mar 4, 2026, 12:00 AMCouncil Chambers - 3rd Floorscheduled

Councilmember Johnson will be participating remotely.

Agenda

ROLL CALL
CONSENT AGENDA Items listed under the Consent Agenda will be enacted by one motion with no separate discussion. If discussion on an item is desired, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration.
Approving the City’s cost for Demolition of Vacant, Nuisance and/or Hazardous Structure from the month of September 2025 and setting date of Legislative Hearing for March 31, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 6, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2602C, Assessment No. 262001)
Approving the City’s cost for Demolition of Vacant, Nuisance and/or Hazardous Structure from the month of November 2025 and setting date of Legislative Hearing for March 31, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 6, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2603C, Assessment No. 262002)
Authorizing the City to enter into a master contract with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to allow the City to receive and administer state funds for the operation of Right Track.
Approving the Collective Bargaining Agreements (January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028) and Memorandums of Agreement between the City of Saint Paul and AFSCME Council 5, Clerical - Local 2508 and Technical - Local 1842.
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for grant funds of $40,000 from Midway Men’s Club.
Approving Ordinance Permits 20220010212, 20220010214, 20230010216, 20240010217 - 20240010219, 20250010220, 20250010221 for Roadway - Sidewalk Infrastructure installed by Project Paul, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ryan Companies US, Inc.) (“Ryan”) on the Ford (Highland Bridge) Site, for roadway sidewalks in various locations on Highland Bridge (District 15, Ward 3).
Approving the application for change of ownership to the Auto Repair Garage license now held by Dale Transmission Auto Repair LLC d/b/a Dale Transmission Auto Repair (License ID #DSIBLAUTO-00123-2025) for the premises located at 965 Pierce Butler Route.
Authorizing the Fire Department to donate rope rescue equipment to the Department of the Air Force 133rd Air Lift Wing.
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for funds, in an amount of up to $50,000, from the Saint Paul Foundation for Right Track, the City’s Youth Employment and Training Program for program year 2026.
Accepting the gift of airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel expenses from the Austin Fire Department for Deputy Chief Brittney Baker to participate as an assessor for the EMS process.
Approving the application for change of ownership of the Liquor Off Sale and Tobacco Shop license now held by B’s Liquors LLC d/b/a B’s Liquors (License ID #DSIBLLOFS-000473-2025 and #DSIBLTOBAC-000475-2025) for the premises located at 1047 Hudson Rd.
Authorizing the City Council to expend up to $450.00 for food and refreshments at a Ward 6 Community Engagement Event in March 2026.
Electing the officers of the City Council, Council committees, and appointing Council Members to the Audit Committee.
ORDINANCES An ordinance is a city law enacted by the City Council. It is read at three separate council meetings and becomes effective after passage by the Council and 30 days after publication in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Public hearings on ordinances are generally held at the second reading.
Final Adoption
Adopting the geothermal energy franchise by The Heights Community Energy, Inc.
Granting authority to the Port Authority to issue and sell bonds in the principal amount of approximately $6,000,000, and any bonds to refund such bonds, to secure such bonds with a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of the City (the “City”) and to use the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds to pay the cost and expense necessarily to be incurred by said Port Authority for a portion of the cost of the redevelopment of part of the St. Joseph’s hospital site.
Amending section 310.01 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code to create new fee categories and associated license fees for Transportation Network Companies.
First Reading
SUSPENSION ITEM
Amending Section 193.04 of the Legislative Code (Title XIX) to temporarily extend the pre-eviction notice period in Section 193.04 from 30-days to 60-days.
Granting the application of Xcel Energy to rezone property at 325 Commercial St from H1 Residential to I1 Light Industrial and amending Chapter 60 of the Legislative Code pertaining to the Zoning Map.
PUBLIC HEARINGS Live testimony is limited to two minutes for each person. See below for optional ways to testify.
Amending Chapters 65 and 66 of the Legislative Code pertaining to drive-through sales and services and walk-up service windows.
Accepting grant funds, authorizing execution of a grant agreement (with indemnity obligations and other documents related thereto), and amending the operating budget with respect to the City's sponsorship of a Metropolitan Council TBRA Grant Application for the benefit of Face to Face at 1170 N. Arcade Street (District 5, Ward 6).
Transmitting the City's support for the Bronze Line Locally Preferred Alternative to the Metropolitan Council and Ramsey County.
Considering the appeal of a decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals denying a variance request to convert an existing lit, freestanding sign to a dynamic display sign at 1305 7th Street West.
Public hearing on grievances about federal immigration operations.
LEGISLATIVE HEARING CONSENT AGENDA Items listed under the Consent Agenda will receive a combined public hearing and be enacted by one motion with no separate discussion. Items may be removed from the Consent Agenda for a separate public hearing and discussion if desired.
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1160 CLARENCE STREET. (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1728 CONCORDIA AVENUE (1724 CONCORDIA AVENUE). (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 384 EARL STREET. (File No. J2513TW1, Assessment No. 258595)
Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1556 GROTTO STREET NORTH. (File No. J2605B, Assessment No. 268104)
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 692 HAMLINE AVENUE NORTH AKA 1339 VAN BUREN AVENUE. (File No. VB2512B, Assessment No. 258835) (Amend and public hearing continued to March 4, 2026)
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 708 HAWTHORNE AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 26-8.
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1201 JACKSON STREET. (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1377 MINNEHAHA AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 26-9.
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1814 PINEHURST AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 847 SEVENTH STREET WEST. (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 273 (275) SHERBURNE AVENUE. (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Appeal of Susan K. Smith to a Summary Abatement Order at 1496 UPPER AFTON ROAD.
Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1079 WESTERN AVENUE NORTH in Council File RLH SAO 25-71.
Appeal of Faustin Grant Felmlee to a Correction Notice at 222 WINIFRED STREET EAST.
Ratifying the assessment for Securing and/or Emergency Boarding services during July 2025. (File No. J2603B, Assessment No. 268102)
Ratifying the assessment for Securing and/or Emergency Boarding services during September 2025. (File No. J2605B, Assessment No. 268104)
ADJOURNMENT
City Council meetings are open for in person attendance, but the public may also comment on public hearing items in writing. Any comments and materials submitted by 12:00 pm of the day before the meeting will be attached to the public record and available for review by the City Council. Comments may be submitted as follows: Written public comment on public hearing items can be submitted to Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us or CouncilHearing@ci.stpaul.mn.us. Live testimony will be taken in person in the Council Chambers. Council Meeting Information The City Council is paperless which saves the environment and reduces expenses. The agendas and Council files are all available on the Web (see below). Council members use mobile devices to review the files during the meeting. Using a mobile device greatly reduces costs since most agendas, including the documents attached to files, are over 1000 pages when printed. Web Meetings are available on the Council's website. Email notification and web feeds (RSS) of newly released minutes, agendas, and meetings are available by subscription. Visit www.stpaul.gov/council for meeting videos and updated copies of the agendas, minutes, and supporting documents. Cable Meetings are live on St Paul Channel 18 and replayed at various times. Check your local listings.
FOR DISCUSSION
Approval of the Consent Agenda
Approval of the Consent Agenda
LEGISLATIVE HEARING DISCUSSION ITEM

City Council (Action Only) — March 4, 2026

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