City Hall and Court House

15 West Kellogg Boulevard

Council Chambers - 3rd

Floor

City of Saint Paul

651-266-8560

Meeting Minutes - Action Only

City Council

Council President Mitra Jalali

Vice President HwaJeong Kim

Councilmember Anika Bowie

Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

Councilmember Saura Jost

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker

Councilmember Nelsie Yang

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

ROLL CALL

3:30 PM

Council Chambers - 3rd Floor

Meeting started at 3:30 PM

6 - Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Mitra Jalali,

Councilmember Nelsie Yang, Councilmember Anika Bowie,

Councilmember Saura Jost and Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

Present

1 - Councilmember HwaJeong Kim

Absent

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

Letters from the Department of Safety and Inspections declaring 41 Miller

CO 24-17

Crest Lane and 2117 Mohawk Avenue nuisance properties. (For notification

purposes only; public hearings will be scheduled at a later date if necessary.)

Received and Filed

Amending the 2024 spending budget in the Public Works General Fund to

align the costs in spending for the Rondo Renaming Project.

AO 24-23

AO 24-26

Received and Filed

Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to reallocate $15,000

from the CIB Contingency Funds for Community Proposals to the Parks

Community Proposal Budget for Path Lighting between Maryland and

Iowa, therefore providing the necessary funding for Parks to secure a bid

for Path Lighting in Prosperity Heights.

Received and Filed

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.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Council President Jalali stated that Items 16 and 17 would be taken separately.

Councilmember Jost moved approval.

Consent Agenda adopted as amended

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Approving precinct boundary changes for Ward 2 for the upcoming 2024

elections.

RES 24-360

RES 24-385

RES 24-408

Adopted

Authorizing the City to enter into a subrecipient agreement with American

Lung Association for the expansion of the Electric Vehicle Spot Network on

the East Side of Saint Paul, and rescinding Council Resolution RES 24-145.

Adopted

Acknowledging a public purpose of community participation in the co-design

of City services and technical solutions and granting permission to the Office

of Technology and Communication to spend city funds on behalf of the City

to incentivize and compensate residents, business owners, and other

community stakeholders who participate in design research and usability

testing.

Adopted

Approving the Liquor On-Sale 100 seats or less, Liquor On-Sale Sunday,

Gambling Location, and Liquor outdoor Service Area (Sidewalk) licenses for

Pauly’s of St. Paul d/b/a Pauly’s (License ID# 2023002257) for the premises

located at 1668 Selby Ave.

RES 24-410

Adopted

Approving EPA grant applications to decarbonize downtown.

RES 24-428

RES 24-431

Adopted

Approving an EPA grant application to expand the EV Spot Network and Evie

Carshare.

Adopted

Approving the City as a coalition partner in the Minnesota Pollution Control

Agency’s application to EPA for Equitable Residential Decarbonization.

RES 24-432

RES 24-453

Adopted

Approving the application for change of ownership to the Auto Repair Garage

license now held by Al’s Garage LLC d/b/a Al’s Garage (License ID

#20240000043) for the premises located at 977 Front Avenue.

Adopted

Approving a Wine on Sale, Malt on Sale (Strong) and Entertainment (A)

license to Pallch Inc. d/b/a Chimborazo Restaurant (License ID

20240000209) for the premises located at 508 Lexington Parkway South.

Adopted

Approving the application for change of ownership to the Parking Ramp

license now held by Allied Parking Inc d/b/a Allied Parking Inc (License ID

#20240000191) for the premises located at 59 Kellogg Boulevard West.

Adopted

Approving the City being a coalition partner in an application led by the City

of Minneapolis to the USEPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program for

a business decarbonization grant program.

Adopted

Authorizing the City to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement with the State of

Minnesota to participate in the Multijurisdictional Disparity Study.

Adopted

FOR DISCUSSION

Commemorating the observance of Ramadan 2024 and the significance to

Muslims in Saint Paul.

RES 24-478

Councilmember Johnson gave an introduction.

Imam Hassan from the Darul Uloom Mosque gave remarks.

Abdisamad Loyan, community leader and member of Darul Uloom, gave remarks.

Johnson read from the resolution, with Somali translation provided by Abdulahi

Farah, Lead Organizer with ISAIAH. Johnson then moved approval.

Councilmember Yang spoke in support.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Recognizing Brittney Baker for her historical promotion to Captain in the

Saint Paul Fire Department.

RES 24-481

Councilmember Johnson gave an introduction.

Butch Inks, Fire Chief, gave remarks.

Johnson read from the resolution alongside Brittney Baker's daughter, Naaziah.

Brittney Baker, Fire Captain, gave remarks.

Councilmember Bowie spoke in support.

Councilmember Noecker spoke in support.

Councilmember Yang spoke in support.

Councilmember Jost spoke in support.

Councilmember Jalali spoke in support.

Johnson moved approval.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

First Reading

Amending Chapter 63 of the Legislative Code pertaining to electric vehicle

charging infrastructure in surface parking lots.

Ord 24-5

Bill Dermody, City Planner, gave a staff report and answered councilmember

questions.

Laid over to April 3, 2024 for Second Reading

PUBLIC HEARINGS

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

to testify.

Amending the 2024 budget by adding a $9,000 donation to the Police

Department (“SPPD”) from the Saint Paul Police Foundation (“SPPF”).

RES PH 24-60

Councilmember Yang moved approval.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Amending the 2024 budget by adding a $25,000 donation to the Police

Department (“SPPD”) from the Saint Paul Police Foundation (“SPPF”), made

possible by a grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.

RES PH 24-61

Councilmember Bowie moved approval.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Yea:

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Authorizing the Police Department to amend the 2024 Grant Fund for the

sub-grant received from Ramsey County for the Violent Crime Enforcement

Team (VCET).

RES PH 24-62

RES PH 24-63

RES PH 24-65

Councilmember Noecker moved approval.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Approving the application of White Squirrel Bar for a sound level variance in

order to present amplified sound on Saturdays, June 1 - August 31, 2024 at

974 Seventh Street West - the White Squirrel Bar patio.

Councilmember Jost moved approval.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Amending the financing and spending plan in the Department of Parks and

Recreation in the amount of $1,211,812 by increasing spending in Parkland

Dedication, through the use of fund balance and increasing spending for the

Como Shuttle and Great River Passage budgets to reflect funding received

from legacy grants.

Councilmember Johnson moved approval.

Adopted

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

LEGISLATIVE HEARING DISCUSSION ITEMS

Appeal of Marlene Barrett to a Vacant Building Registration Requirement at

1297 SEVENTH STREET WEST.

RLH VBR 24-18

Public hearing closed and laid over to June 26, 2024

Also in attendance: Marlene Barrett, appellant (remote attendance)

Marcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer: This is an appeal of a Vacant Building

Registration status. It went into the program on January 29, 2020. The City Council

had an appeal on this property in 2021 for unpaid Vacant Building Fee assessment.

The owner wanted it either brought down from a Category 2 Vacant Building to a

Category 1, or have it removed from the program entirely. They also wanted the

assessment removed. The outcome of that appeal was that it remained a Category 2

Vacant Building and the assessment was to be paid. It fit all of the requirements for

being a Category 2 building. Water was shut off in 2017. Water hadn’t been running

since 2013. However, it didn’t come to the Vacant Building Program’s attention until

2020 when an inspector was called out due to exterior code violations, and then the

inspector sent it to Vacant Buiding program. This doesn’t automatically mean

conditions inside are bad. In that circumstance, sometimes getting the water turned

on can be enough. For the previous appeal, I recommended treating it as "Category

2-lite," requiring only a Building Conditions Code Compliance Inspection Report

(CCIR), rather than one with all 4 trades inspectors. The application for that report

was made almost at the same time as the Council meeting that approved that

recommendation. However, the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) never

scheduled an inspection and the owner never followed up. This was all 3 years ago

for the 2021 appeal. Now, we are here today, and the inspection has still never

happened. The same things that were true then are true now. The water is still off.

Exterior conditions are not great but not horrible. My recommendation is still to keep it

in the Vacant Building Program and get that Building CCIR to maybe bump this down

to a Category 1 Vacant Building. I’m not an inspector and can’t look at a photo and

make determinations about building code. The eyes of a professional are needed. I

am also recommending waiving the fee for 90 days to get that inspection done. I

know the owner has talked about selling the property, which may be a good idea as it

is currently not providing housing or rental income.

Marlene Barrett: This is the home my siblings and I grew up in. This should not be

Vacant Building at all, but if it is one, it should be a Category 1 at very worst. I want to

sell it to a family, but since it's listed as a Category 2, I have only been contacted by

investors wanting to flip it and pay half of its value. I go through the house every

week to make decisions on donate, selling, or recycling items. I've also been cleaning

and painting, but it takes me longer to do them because I have a disability. All utilities

are functioning. Coffee and food is made at the home. The COVID pandemic was

also an issue regarding household projects and getting it out of the Vacant Building

Program. I would like Council to credit me for all of the past Vacant Building Fees,

which would allow me to get current on back taxes by May 15. If you have questions,

I can answer them or have my realtor answer them. I did resent the building

inspection form to the inspector, so hopefully we can get them in as quickly as

possible.

Councilmember Noecker moved to close the public hearing. Approved 6-0.

Noecker: Looking at photos, we can’t make determination based on them. This

situation does warrant an inspection to gauge if it should be in the Vacant Building

Program, or what category it should be. I'm disappointed to hear that nothing was

done on this by DSI since Moermond's recommendation 3 years ago. I will move

90-day layover of this item to give DSI time to fulfill their obligation and to give time

for figuring out what happened.

Public hearing closed and laid over to June 26, 2024

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Fourth Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for

595 PARK STREET in Council File RLH RR 23-12. (Public hearing

continued to July 10, 2024)

RLH RR 23-43

Public hearing continued to April 10, 2024.

Councilmember Bowie: Could we pull Item 37 from the Legislative Hearing Consent

Agenda to get more information?

Council President Jalali: We could also lay this over for a week or two.

Marcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer: I would welcome a 2-3 week

continuation of the public hearing.

Bowie: Two weeks is fine. So moved.

Public hearing continued to April 10, 2024

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

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.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Councilmember Jost moved approval.

Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda adopted as amended

6 - Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember Yang,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember

Johnson

Yea:

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Kim

Absent:

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 87 ACKER

STREET EAST. (File No. J2405E, Assessment No. 248304)

RLH TA 24-74

RLH TA 24-94

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1003

ARCADE STREET. (File No. J2405B, Assessment No. 248104)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 32 BENHILL

ROAD. (File No. VB2405, Assessment No. 248804)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 712

DELAWARE AVENUE. (File No. CRT2404, Assessment No. 248203)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 839

EDMUND AVENUE. (File No. VB2405, Assessment No. 248804)

Adopted

Second Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for

733 FAIRVIEW AVENUE NORTH in Council File RLH RR 23-11.

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 355

GERANIUM AVENUE EAST. (File No. J2405E, Assessment No. 248304)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1157

HERBERT STREET. (File No. J2405E, Assessment No. 248304) (Public

hearing continued to October 16, 2024)

Public hearing continued to October 16, 2024

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 823 JUNO

AVENUE. (File No. 2403T, Assessment No. 249002)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 384

LAWSON AVENUE EAST. (File No. J2411A1, Assessment No. 248528)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 384

LAWSON AVENUE EAST. (File No. CG2303A2, Assessment No. 230113)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 384

LAWSON AVENUE EAST. (File No. CG2304A2, Assessment No. 230115)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 126 NINTH

STREET EAST. (File No. J2405B, Assessment No. 248104)

Adopted

Appeal of Tianna Verdega, Tenant, dba Clubhouse Entertainment, to a Fire

Certificate of Occupancy Correction Notice, including Condemnation, at 220

ROBERT STREET SOUTH. (Refer back to May 14, 2024 Legislative

Hearing)

RLH VO 24-7

RLH TA 24-64

Referred to May 14, 2024 Legislative Hearing

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1617 UPPER

AFTON ROAD. (File No. J2405E, Assessment No. 248304) (Public hearing

continued to September 18, 2024)

Public hearing continued to September 18, 2024

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 747

WINSLOW AVENUE. (File No. J2405E, Assessment No. 248304)

RLH TA 24-115

RLH AR 24-9

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Collection of Vacant Building Registration fees

billed during May 9 to August 14, 2023. (File No. VB2405, Assessment No.

248804)

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Securing and/or Emergency Boarding services

during September 2023. (File No. J2405B, Assessment No. 248104)

RLH AR 24-10

RLH AR 24-11

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Collection of Fire Certificate of Occupancy

fees billed during August 28 to September 19, 2023. (File No. CRT2404,

Assessment No. 248203)

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Excessive Use of Inspection or Abatement

services billed during July 24 to August 21, 2023. (File No. J2405E,

Assessment No. 248304)

RLH AR 24-12

RLH AR 24-13

ADJOURNMENT

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Removal of Diseased and/or Dangerous

Tree(s) services during October 2023. (File No. 2403T, Assessment No.

249002)

Adopted

Meeting ended at 4:51 PM

City Council meetings are open for in person attendance, but the public may also

comment on public hearing items in writing or via voicemail. 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:

The public may comment on public hearing items in writing or via voicemail. 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, CouncilHearing@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or by voicemail at

651-266-6805. Live testimony will be taken in person in the Council Chambers, and by

telephone by registering to speak by noon on the day before the meeting. The

registration link is located on the City Council website at www.stpaul.gov/council or

https://forms.office.com/g/TD3xN7WHy5.

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.