Summary

City Council meeting summary

Saint PaulMay 27, 20263 min read

At a glance

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Council approved transportation and housing grants, adopted the Climate Action and Resilience Plan update, approved several labor agreements and appointments, and resolved multiple property assessment and nuisance items.

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Mixed-Use Redevelopment Ramsey County Economic Development Economic Development Legislative Hearing Fee Waiver Pilot Program Urban Development Afton Park Development

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City Council

Topics discussed

LaborTransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEnvironmentalHousing

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What this means

The council approved grants that fund the Lafayette Trail Connection and accepted $6.8 million in federal HOME-ARP housing funds, which will be added to the city’s 2026 federal grant budget to support local housing and redevelopment work. The council adopted an updated Climate Action and Resilience Plan and approved a grant to maintain a green roof at the fire station, signaling continued investment in environmental measures. Council action also included several labor agreements and wage adjustments, confirmation of two department director appointments, a pilot fee waiver for legislative hearings, and decisions on property tax/abatement appeals and one settlement payment.

Key decisions

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Authorized a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for Active Transportation funding for the Lafayette Trail Connection Project (RES 26-838).
Authorized acceptance of $6,800,061 in HOME-ARP funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and amended the 2026 federal grant budget to incorporate the funds (RES PH 26-126).
Adopted the Climate Action and Resilience Plan Update (RES PH 26-130).
Accepted a grant from the Capitol Region Watershed District to support maintenance of the green roof at Fire Department Headquarters/Station 1 and amended SPFD 2026 financing and spending plans (RES PH 26-122).
Approved multiple labor Memoranda of Agreement and wage/fringe adjustments, including agreements with Bricklayers Local 1 and Painters District Council 82, and amended Police Officer eligibility list length (RES 26-782; RES 26-811; RES 26-820).
Approved the Mayor’s appointment of Ia Xiong as Director of the Department of Safety and Inspections and Melanie McMahon as Director of Planning and Economic Development (RES 26-874; RES 26-791).
Approved a Legislative Hearing Fee Waiver Pilot Program for the remainder of 2026 (RES 26-812).
Approved five sound level variances for the Grand Avenue Business Association’s Grand Old Day event (RES PH 26-120).
Amended findings and imposed presumptive penalty and amended conditions on the Auto Repair Garage & Second Hand Dealer license for M F K Enterprise, Inc. d/b/a M F K Enterprise (RES 26-841).
Ratified and then deleted several appealed special tax assessments for property at 2170 Highwood Avenue and continued other nuisance abatement hearings to future dates (RLH TA and RLH SAO items).
Authorized payment of $12,818.89 in full and final settlement of the claim of Deborah Brisch-Cramer (RES 26-843).
Appointed and authorized execution of a Master Legal Services Agreement with Barnes & Thornburg LLP (RES 26-880).

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Meeting information

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City Council

May 27, 2026, 12:00 AMCouncil Chambers - 3rd Floorscheduled

Agenda

ROLL CALL
COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE
Authorizing the Police Department to reallocate activity budget to more accurately record grant awards from the Saint Paul Police Foundation.
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 a Legislative Hearing Fee Waiver Pilot Program for the remainder of 2026.
Authorizing the City to enter into a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for Active Transportation funding for the Lafayette Trail Connection Project.
Approving the Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Saint Paul and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 70, for the purpose of ensuring adequate staffing, training and operational continuity during a period of staffing shortages in the Saint Paul Regional Water Services Production Division.
Amending the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendation submitted by the Administrative Law Judge, and adopting them as amended, concerning the Auto Repair Garage & Second Hand Dealer - Motor Vehicle license held by M F K Enterprise Inc d/b/a M F K Enterprise (License ID #57957) for the premises located at 830 Robert Street South and imposing the presumptive matrix penalty and amending the license conditions. (Licensee will speak to Council on their own behalf).
Authorizing payment in the amount of $12,818.89 in full and final settlement of claim of Deborah Brisch-Cramer.
Approving Ordinance Permit 20240020403 for Storm Sewer Collection infrastructure installed by the Saint Paul Port Authority on The Heights project site.
Approving the Mayor's appointment of Ia Xiong to serve as the City’s Director of the Department of Safety and Inspections.
Appointing and Authorizing the Execution of a Master Legal Services Agreement with Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Exercising the City's Authority to Opt-in to, and Support, the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority (“EDA”). (Laid over from May 27, 2026)
Approving the Memorandum of Agreement for the 2026 Wage and Fringe Adjustment between the City of Saint Paul and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsworkers Local Union 1 Minnesota/North Dakota.
Approving the Mayor's appointment of Melanie McMahon to serve as the City's Director of Planning and Economic Development.
Approving the Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Saint Paul and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 82 for the May 2026 Wage and Fringe Adjustment.
Approving the Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Police Federation for the purpose of changing the length of the eligibility list for the classification of Police Officer.
PUBLIC HEARINGS Live testimony is limited to two minutes for each person. See below for optional ways to testify.
Approving five (5) applications of the Grand Avenue Business Association for sound level variances in order to present amplified sound for the Grand Old Day event on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 640 Grand Avenue, South of the intersection of Grand Avenue and Grotto Street S. and 791 Grand Avenue, 917 Grand Avenue, 1055 Grand Avenue, and 1549 Grand Avenue - Macalester College Parking Lot.
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 Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Redevelopment Grant for the benefit of Afton Park Development’s Mixed-Use Redevelopment at 841-857 Grand Avenue (District 16, Ward 2).
Amending the financing and spending plans in the Fire Department for the Capitol Region Watershed District Maintenance Grant for the green roof located at Fire Department Station 1/Headquaters building.
Authorizing the City to accept $6,800,061 in HOME-ARP funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and amending the 2026 budget to incorporate these funds into the federal grant budget.
Adopting the Climate Action and Resilience Plan Update
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.
Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1377 MINNEHAHA AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 26-19. (Public hearing continued to June 10, 2026)
Appeal of Melanie Baker to a Summary Abatement Order and Vehicle Abatement Order at 1884 MONTANA AVENUE EAST.
Appeal of Joseph Richardson to a Summary Abatement Order at 1875 NORTH PARK DRIVE.
Making finding on the appealed of Emmett Owens, Jr., to the nuisance abatement ordered for 233 BATES AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 26-28. (Public Hearing continued to June 3, 2026)
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2170 HIGHWOOD AVENUE. (File No. J2512E1, Assessment No. 258326) (Amend to delete)
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2170 HIGHWOOD AVENUE. (File No. J2511E1, Assessment No. 258325) (Amend to delete)
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2170 HIGHWOOD AVENUE. (File No. J2602E1, Assessment No. 268304) (Amend to delete)
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2170 HIGHWOOD AVENUE. (File No. J2601E1, Assessment No. 268302) (Amend to delete)
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

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