City of Saint Paul — City Council action minutes (March 25, 2026)

ROLL CALL

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

Letter from the Department of Safety and Inspections declaring 594-596 Reaney Avenue a nuisance property. (For notification purposes only; public hearings will be scheduled at a later date if necessary.)

Authorizing the Police Department to reallocated budget for the 2023 BYRNE (JAG) grant for the approved budget modification received from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Amending the 2026 Public Works Engineering Fund Survey Section budget to reallocate budgeted amounts within spending accounts for the maintenance and upgrade of the public website in order to better align with actual spending needs, in the amount of $20,000.

Amending CDBG Project Budgets: $62,000 of funding for Nancy's Beauty Salon (1324 Rice Street) for CDBG subgrantee NENO's Business Investment program.

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 Equipment and Labor for Clean Up services during September to November 2025, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 21, 2026 and City Council public hearing for June 3, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2601A, Assessment No. 268501)

Approving the City’s cost of providing Snow and Ice Removal from the public Sidewalk during the month of January 2026, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 21, 2026 and City Council public hearing for June 3, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2601S, Assessment No. 268502)

Authorizing the Police Department to submit an application for funds under a Request for Proposals for the Auto Theft Prevention Grants, issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Approving the application for change of ownership to the Liquor On Sale - 291 or more seats, Liquor On Sale - Sunday & Entertainment (A) license now held by Lucky Golden Dragon LLC d/b/a White Dragon Hall (License ID #20240001032) for the premises located at 1600 White Bear Avenue North.

Authorizing the Police Department (SPPD) to submit an application for funds under a Request for Proposals for 2026-28 Crisis Response Grants, issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Authorizing approval of settlement and payment in full and final settlement of the lawsuit, Margarita Davison, individually and as parent and natural guardian of J.T., a minor v. Exavir Dwayne Binford, Jr., the City of St. Paul, Trenton Henspeter, Thao Vue and Eric Thompson.

Accepting the gift of travel expenses from the Global Philanthropy Partnership, McKnight Foundation, TransitCenter Foundation as well as other funders for City Engineer Nick Peterson to attend the Proximity, Affordability, & Livability Study Tour from April 27-May 2 in the Netherlands.

Authorizing the Police Department to accept the grant contract amendment for the Community Crime Intervention and Prevention 2024 (Pathways to Policing) grant from the State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety; authorizing the execution of the grant contract agreement amendment and amending the 2026 grant and grant activity budget.

Changing the rate of pay for the classification of Assessment Supervisor (formerly Real Estate and Assessment Supervisor), EG 09.

FOR DISCUSSION

SUSPENSION ITEM

Appointing Nicole Tillander as City Clerk.

Recognizing the contribution of Xia Xoua Vang.

Recognizing District 5 Payne-Phalen Community Council’s Executive Director Jack Byers for his service in the East Side of Saint Paul and declaring Sunday, March 29, 2026 as Jack Byers Day in the City of Saint Paul.

Adopting the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendation submitted by the Administrative Law Judge, with exceptions, concerning the Tobacco Products Shop license (License ID #140001994) held by White Bear Tobacco Market Place Inc d/b/a White Bear Tobacco for the premises located at 1662 White Bear Avenue North and imposing the recommended presumptive matrix penalty and the costs of the contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge. (Licensee will speak to Council on their own behalf.)

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

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.

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.

First Reading

SUSPENSION ITEM

Adding Ch. 44A to the Administrative Code to institute training, reporting, and programming related to the City’s relationship with civil immigration laws and enforcement practices under Administrative Code Chapter 44.

Deleting Chapter 54 of the Legislative Code (Title VI) pertaining to Rental Application Fees.

Updating Chapter 13 of the Administrative Code (Title I) pertaining to Department of Safety and Inspections.

PUBLIC HEARINGS Live testimony is limited to two minutes for each person. See below for optional ways to testify.

Amending capital fund budgets to provide additional funding for the Hayden Heights Library renovation project.

Approving the applications of White Squirrel Bar for two sound level variances in order to present amplified sound for a Saturday Patio Music Series and a Sunday Patio Music Series, every Saturday and Sunday, May 30 - September 27, 2026, at 974 7th Street West - the White Squirrel Bar patio.

To amend the Parks and Recreation 2026 Grant and Aid Fund for a $500,000 donation from Como Friends, a non-profit to promote, support, preserve and enhance the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

Authorizing the Office of Financial Empowerment to accept a grant in the amount of $490,000 from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and to amend the 2026 Office of Financial Empowerment budget, in the amount of $390,000.

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.

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 935 CASE AVENUE. (File No. J2601R5, Assessment No. 268606)

Appeal of Elizabeth Sibet, Sibet Renovations, LLC, to a Notice of Condemnation and Order to Vacate at 227 FULLER AVENUE.

Second Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for 925 MAGNOLIA AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH RR 25-25.

Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1377 MINNEHAHA AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 26-9.

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 932 PAYNE AVENUE (643 SIMS AVENUE). (File No. J2513B1, Assessment No. 258119)

Appeal of Bernetta Miller to a Fire Inspection Correction Notice, which includes condemnation, at 998 SEVENTH STREET EAST.

Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1496 UPPER AFTON ROAD in Council File RLH SAO 26-14.

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