Summary

City of Saint Paul — City Council Minutes (Action Only), March 18, 2026

Saint PaulMar 18, 20263 min read

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Council met March 18, 2026 (3:31–4:52 PM). The Consent Agenda was adopted. Council approved multiple property-related assessments and enforcement actions, a cooperative agreement for Jackson Street, appointments of special counsel, park easements, and personnel pay and classification actions (one pay change laid over). The Council adopted a rezoning for 325 Commercial St (Ord 26-16), approved an Allianz Field sound variance and a police training grant, and handled several legislative hearing appeals (some adopted, some continued or referred).

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Snelling-Midway Redevelopment

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Key decisions

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Consent Agenda adopted, including resolutions approving city costs/assessments for securing/emergency boarding and demolition activities (RES 26-176, RES 26-298, RES 26-321, RES 26-322, RES 26-323).
Authorized cooperative agreement with Ramsey County for Jackson Street project (RES 26-306).
Accepted Parks & Recreation sponsorship from Metro Transit for Right Track event (RES 26-402).
Accepted gift of travel expenses for Assistant Chief Jeramiah Melquist from Dallas Fire Department (RES 26-417).
Appointed Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as special counsel for Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson in Jon Berry v. City of Saint Paul (RES 26-423).
Approved engagement of Brian T. Grogan / Cozen O’Connor as special counsel for Comcast franchise negotiations (RES 26-425).
Authorized temporary and permanent easements for Osborn Plaza renovation (RES 26-436).
Changed rate of pay for Assessment Supervisor classification laid over one week for adoption (RES 26-421, laid over to March 25, 2026).
Adopted rezoning application by Xcel Energy for 325 Commercial St from H1 Residential to I1 Light Industrial (Ord 26-16, final adoption).
Temporarily extended pre-eviction notice period ordinance amendment (Ord 26-18) laid over to March 25, 2026 for final adoption.
Laid over Administrative Ordinance establishing minimum qualifications for Fire Chief vacancy to March 25, 2026 (Ord 26-17).
Approved sound level variance for Allianz Field Great Lawn Concert Series (RES PH 26-66).
Authorized Police Department to accept the 2026 ICPOET grant and amended the 2026 grant budget (RES PH 26-67).
Closed public hearing on grievances about federal immigration operations (PH 26-4).
Legislative hearing actions on property enforcement and appeals: multiple items adopted (e.g., RLH SAO 26-20; RLH FCO 26-20 adopted as amended; RLH SAO 26-15; RLH VBR 26-1; RLH AR 26-7; RLH SAO 26-23); some matters continued or referred (RLH TA 25-357 continued to Oct 7, 2026; RLH VO 26-15 continued to March 25, 2026; RLH RR 26-3 referred to April 28, 2026 Legislative Hearing).

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City Council

Mar 18, 2026, 12:00 AMCouncil Chambers - 3rd Floorscheduled

Councilmember Kim may 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 of providing Securing and/or Emergency Boarding of a Structure on Private Property during the month of June 2025, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 14, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 20, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2602B, Assessment No. 268108)
Approving the City’s cost of providing Demolition of Vacant, Nuisance and/or Hazardous Structure from the month of January 2026, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 14, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 20, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2604C, Assessment No. 262003)
Authorizing the City to enter into a cooperative agreement with Ramsey County for their project on Jackson Street from Rose Avenue to Wheelock Parkway.
Approving the City’s cost of providing Securing and/or Emergency Boarding services during July 2025 for 845 7th Street East, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 14, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 20, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2603B3, Assessment No. 268112)
Approving the City’s cost of providing Securing and/or Emergency Boarding services during June 2025 for 712 Snelling Avenue North, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 14, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 20, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2602B1, Assessment No. 268108)
Approving the City’s cost of providing Securing and/or Emergency Boarding services during September 2025 for 1566 Grotto Street North, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 14, 2026 and City Council public hearing for May 20, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2605B1, Assessment No. 268113)
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to accept a sponsorship valued at $1,000 from Metro Transit to support Right Track’s Career Exploration Day.
Accepting the gift of airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel expenses from the Dallas Fire Department for Assistant Chief Jeramiah Melquist to participate as an assessor for the Dallas Fire Captain test.
Changing the rate of pay for the classification of Assessment Supervisor (formerly Real Estate and Assessment Supervisor), EG 09.
Appointing Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as Special Counsel for Purposes of Providing Legal Advice, Counsel, and Representation for Council Member Cheniqua Johnson in the lawsuit captioned: Jon Berry v. the City of Saint Paul, et. al.
Approving the Engagement Letter between the City and Brian T. Grogan and his firm Cozen O’Connor as special counsel representing the City for its ongoing Comcast cable-franchise negotiations.
Approving Ordinance Permit 20240030601 for Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure installed by Snelling-Midway Redevelopment, LLC at the following locations on the United Village Project Site as defined in the “Development Agreement By and Between Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Snelling-Midway Redevelopment, LLC”: on Spruce Tree Avenue from Simpson Street to Pascal Street.
Extending the appointment of Iverson Reuvers as Special Counsel for Purposes of Providing Legal Advice, Counsel, and Representation in Civil Lawsuits Involving the City
Authorize and accept temporary and permanent easements from property owners for the renovation of Osborn Plaza.
Establishing the rate of pay for Water Control Systems Information Analyst, Grade 046, Employee Group 02.
FOR DISCUSSION
Recognizing the 2026 Eid al-Fitr and all Saint Paul residents who are celebrating the holiday.
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
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.
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.
PUBLIC HEARINGS Live testimony is limited to two minutes for each person. See below for optional ways to testify.
Administrative Ordinance establishing the minimum qualifications for the vacancy for the position of Fire Chief pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.12.1 of the City Charter.
Approving the application of Allianz Field for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for the Great Lawn Concert Series event on the Fridays of May 29, July 24, July 31, August 14, and September 18, 2026, at 400 Snelling Avenue North - Outside of Allianz Field.
Authorizing the Police Department to accept the 2026 Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training 2026 (ICPOET) from the State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs; authorizing the execution of the grant agreement and amending the 2026 grant budget and adding activity budget.
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 724 CASE AVENUE. (File No. J2512E2, Assessment No. 258327) (Public hearing continued to October 7, 2026)
Appeal of Hannah Larson to a Summary Abatement Order at 760 COTTAGE AVENUE EAST.
Appeal of Kali Terry to a Fire Inspection Report at 392 EDMUND AVENUE.
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 120 FLANDRAU PLACE in Council File RLH SAO 26-5.
Appeal of Elizabeth Sibet, Sibet Renovations, LLC, to a Notice of Condemnation and Order to Vacate at 227 FULLER AVENUE.
Appeal of Raim Abdurakhimov to a Vacant Building Registration Notice and a Notice of Condemnation and Order to Vacate at 935 GERANIUM AVENUE EAST.
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 118 MANITOBA AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the March 18, 2026, City Council Public Hearing. (Refer to April 28, 2026 Legislative Hearing)
Ratifying the assessment for Removal of Diseased and/or Dangerous Tree(s) at 837 PEDERSEN STREET. (File No. 2602T, Assessment No. 269001)
Amending Council File RLH SAO 26-11, adopted March 4, 2026, to grant Negil Neely an additional extension for property at 1079 WESTERN AVENUE NORTH.
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.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
Approval of the Consent Agenda
ROLL CALL

City of Saint Paul — City Council Minutes (Action Only), March 18, 2026

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