City Hall and Court House

15 West Kellogg Boulevard

Council Chambers - 3rd

Floor

City of Saint Paul

651-266-8560

Meeting Minutes

City Council

Council President Rebecca Noecker

Vice President HwaJeong Kim

Councilmember Anika Bowie

Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

Councilmember Saura Jost

Councilmember Nelsie Yang

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

3:30 PM

Council Chambers - 3rd Floor

Councilmember Saura Jost will be participating remotely at 5055 July St. (outside), San

Diego, CA 92110

ROLL CALL

Meeting started at 3:40 PM

6 -

Present

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Nelsie Yang,

Councilmember HwaJeong Kim, Councilmember Anika Bowie,

Councilmember Saura Jost and Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

Letter from the Department of Safety and Inspections declaring 1510 Laurel

Avenue a nuisance property. (For notification purposes only; public hearings

will be scheduled at a later date if necessary.)

CO 25-14

Received and Filed

Amending CDBG Project Budgets: An additional $51,750.00 of funding for

North End Neighborhood Organization (NENO) business investment and

revitalizing fund.

AO 25-17

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

Councilmember Johnson moved approval.

Consent Agenda adopted as amended

6 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

Approving a 5-year agreement between the City and the Capitol Region

Watershed District (CRWD) regarding the operation and maintenance of

select publicly-owned stormwater treatment systems at the Snelling-Midway

superblock.

RES 25-484

Adopted

Preliminary Order setting the date of Public Hearing for May 7, 2025, to

consider approval of the 2025 Mill and Overlay Program.

RES 25-489

RES 25-514

Adopted

Authorizing the Fire Department to enter into a joint powers agreement with

the State of Minnesota - Dept of Transportation to provide emergency fire

response and annual fire drills.

Adopted

Approving the Mayor's appointment of Michael Darrow, Daniel Featherstone,

Catherine Grilz, and Michael Rademaker and reappointment of Erin Hayes,

Shaval Webb, and Nancy Rodenborg to the Police Civilian Internal Affairs

Review Commission.

RES 25-518

Adopted

Approving the Mayor's appointment of Nelsie Yang to serve on the Ramsey

County Dispatch Policy Committee.

Adopted

Approving the Mayor's appointment of Rebecca Noecker to serve on the Joint

Property Tax Advisory Committee.

Adopted

Approving the Mayor’s appointment of HwaJeong Kim to the Workforce

Innovation Board of Ramsey County.

Adopted

Approving the Mayor’s appointment of HwaJeong Kim to the Minnesota

Landmarks Board.

Adopted

FOR DISCUSSION

Approving the Legislative Hearing Officer's recommendation for the

application submitted by Golden Thyme Holdings LLC (License ID#

20250000218), d/b/a Golden Thyme Restaurant & Bar, for Liquor On Sale -

100 seats or less, Liquor On Sale - Sunday, Liquor Outdoor Service Area

(Patio), and Entertainment (A) licenses, located at 934 Selby Avenue.

RES 25-471

Councilmember Bowie spoke in favor and moved approval.

Adopted

6 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

SUSPENSION ITEMS

RES 25-560

Appointing Lisa Nelson as the interim Ward 4 councilmember.

Council President Noecker moved to suspend the rules to take up the item. Needing

two-thirds of members present, the motion failed 3-3 (those opposed being

Councilmembers Bowie, Jost, and Johnson).

Recognizing the Youth and Families of the 2024-25 Saint Paul Parks and

Recreation Basketball League

RES 25-564

Shaina Abraham, Recreation Services Manager in the Department of Parks and

Recreation, gave a staff report.

Youth sports participants introduced themselves.

Council President Noecker read from the resolution.

Councilmember Kim spoke in support.

Councilmember Yang spoke in support.

Councilmember Johnson spoke in support.

Councilmember Bowie spoke in support.

Noecker spoke in support and moved approval.

Adopted

6 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

Appointing Matt Privratsky as the interim Ward 4 councilmember.

RES 25-556

Councilmember Jost moved to suspend the rules to take up the item. Needing

two-thirds of members present, the motion failed 2-4 (those opposed being

Councilmembers Bowie, Noecker, Kim, and Yang).

Affirming the extension of Declaration of Local Emergency with an effective

date of April 1, 2025 by Mayor Melvin Carter III.

RES 25-559

Councilmember Yang spoke in support and moved approval.

Council President Noecker spoke in support.

Adopted

6 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

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.

First Reading

Granting the application of Central Internal Medicine Associates PA to rezone

property at 635 Cleveland Avenue South (southwest corner at Bayard Avenue)

from OS office-service to T2 traditional neighborhood and amending Chapter

60 of the Legislative Code pertaining to the zoning map.

Ord 25-21

Kady Dadlez, City Planner, gave a staff report.

Laid over to April 9, 2025 for Second Reading

Amending Chapter 193A.08 of the Legislative Code pertaining to rent

stabilization.

Ord 25-29

Laid over to April 9, 2025 for Second Reading

Creating Chapter 193 of the Legislative Code (Title XIX) pertaining to Tenant

Protections.

Ord 25-31

Laid over to April 9, 2025 for Second Reading

PUBLIC HEARINGS

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

to testify.

Approving the application of Allianz Field + Minnesota United FC for a sound

level variance in order to present live amplified sound for the Great Lawn

Concert event on May 9, 2025 outside of Allianz Field - 400 Snelling Ave. N.

(To be withdrawn due to the event cancellation.)

RES PH 25-58

Withdrawn

Approving the application of University of St. Thomas, Erin Whipkey, Assistant

Director of Campus Life for a sound level variance in order to present

amplified sound on May 16, 2025 at 2115 Summit Avenue, University of St.

Thomas, Lower Quad.

RES PH 25-59

Council President Noecker moved approval.

Adopted

6 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Amending the 2025 spending budget in the Department of Public Works

Traffic Warehouse accounting unit to account for additional Capital Projects,

Local Option Sales Tax work, Signage for Rondo neighborhood renaming

expenditures and wire theft replacement in the accumulative amount of

$1,714,622.

RES PH 25-60

Councilmember Bowie moved Version 2. Approved 6-0.

John Purdy, resident, spoke during the public hearing.

Council President Noecker asked staff for clarification.

Sean Kershaw, Director of Public Works, addressed Noecker's question.

Councilmember Johnson moved approval.

Adopted as amended

6 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

RECESS

Council President Noecker moved to recess. Approved 6-0.

Meeting recessed at 4:16 PM

ROLL CALL

Meeting resumed at 5:00 PM

5 -

Present

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Nelsie Yang,

Councilmember HwaJeong Kim, Councilmember Saura Jost and

Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

1 - Councilmember Anika Bowie

Absent

LEGISLATIVE HEARING DISCUSSION ITEMS

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

RLH TA 25-30

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2502E2, Assessment No. 258317)

Assessment ratified and made payable over 3 years.

Trieu Tran, owner, appeared in person with an interpreter

Marcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer: Items 32-37 are all assessments for

bills related to excessive consumption of code enforcement services at this property.

On January 4, 2024, an order was written related to a parking surface and where a

vehicle was parked. Two weeks later, the order was rewritten and clarified, per the

owner's request. The deadline from that order was not met when the inspector revisited,

and an excessive consumption bill was generated. The first was generated on February

27, 2024. Others followed on March 12, March 29, April 12, April 29. Then, a vehicle

abatement order was issued for many vehicles as well, and so excessive consumption

bills started to come for both violations. 8 more excessive consumption fees followed

and they were turned into the assessments before you today. They are billed for a time

period, so some are for $169 or $303. If it's $303, it's because there were two visits

during that billing period. The amount is based on visits. There was compliance at the

end of the year when the City cleaned up the property. It is now taken care of. If it's

helpful, a photo is on the screen that gives an idea of what's going on.

Treiu Tran: I want to explain why I have so many tickets. There are three reasons. One

is a language barrier. There are many times I called due to the tickets and wanted to

show the inspector that what they wrote is not correct. He never answered and never

returned my call. On March 20, 2024 police enforcement came by and I spoke to him.

He agreed to give me one year to clean the house. I didn't say all that to the inspector,

but he didn't agree. Then, I don't know where to look for the information and I don't

know the rules or laws of the City or state about where to put things. That's why I let

him keep giving me tickets. At the end of the year, I called the Department of Safety

and Inspections (DSI). The manager explained the rules to me. After that, I cleaned up

all of it. I am asking to dismiss all the tickets because they keep repeating. Some of

the tickets are already sent to property taxes. Can I make a complaint on that?

Councilmember Kim moved to close the public hearing. Approved 5-0.

Kim: Could we make these all payable over time?

Moermond: Per your instruction, I amended all of the resolutions to ratify the

assessments and make them payable over three years.

Kim moved approval as amended.

Adopted as amended (assessment made payable over 3 years)

5 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Bowie

Absent:

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2503E1, Assessment No. 258312)

RLH TA 25-31

Assessment ratified and made payable over 3 years.

(see minutes from RLH TA 25-30)

Councilmember Kim moved approval as amended.

Adopted as amended (assessment made payable over 3 years)

5 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Bowie

Absent:

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2504E3, Assessment No. 258315)

RLH TA 25-32

Assessment ratified and made payable over 3 years.

(see minutes from RLH TA 25-30)

Councilmember Kim moved approval as amended.

Adopted as amended (assessment made payable over 3 years)

5 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Bowie

Absent:

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2505E2, Assessment No. 258317)

RLH TA 25-33

RLH TA 25-34

RLH TA 25-64

Assessment ratified and made payable over 3 years.

(see minutes from RLH TA 25-30)

Councilmember Kim moved approval as amended.

Adopted as amended (assessment made payable over 3 years)

5 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Bowie

Absent:

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2501E1, Assessment No. 258309)

Assessment ratified and made payable over 3 years.

(see minutes from RLH TA 25-30)

Councilmember Kim moved approval as amended.

Adopted as amended (assessment made payable over 3 years)

5 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Bowie

Absent:

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2506E2, Assessment No. 258320)

Assessment ratified and made payable over 3 years.

(see minutes from RLH TA 25-30)

Councilmember Kim moved approval as amended.

Adopted as amended (assessment made payable over 3 years)

5 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

1 - Councilmember Bowie

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

5 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Johnson

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Bowie

Absent:

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1106

ALBEMARLE STREET. (File No. J2510T, Assessment No. 258520)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1467

ASHLAND AVENUE. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Appeal of Matthew Ellenberger to a Summary Abatement Order at 983 AVON

STREET NORTH.

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 810 BUFFALO

STREET. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 864 CASE

AVENUE. (File No. J2512R, Assessment No. 258522)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1826

CHARLES AVENUE. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519) (April 1,

2025 Legislative Hearing)

Adopted as amended (assessment deleted)

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 273

COTTAGE AVENUE WEST. (File No. VB2505D, Assessment No. 258820)

RLH TA 25-167

RLH TA 25-141

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 776 DESOTO

STREET. (File No. J2504R1, Assessment No. 258542)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 836

ENGLEWOOD AVENUE. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

RLH TA 25-87

RLH TA 25-156

RLH TA 25-116

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 901 EUCLID

STREET. (File No. J2510T, Assessment No. 258520)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2060 FOURTH

STREET EAST (2060 4TH STREET EAST). (File No. J2511R, Assessment

No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 605 FRONT

AVENUE (Vacant Lot). (File No. J2510T, Assessment No. 258520)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1319 GALTIER

STREET. (File No. J2512R, Assessment No. 258522)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 940

GOODRICH AVENUE. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1112

KINGSFORD STREET. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 714 LAFOND

AVENUE. (File No. J2504T3, Assessment No. 258545)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 900 LAUREL

AVENUE. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519) (Public hearing

continued to October 1, 2025)

Public hearing continued to October 1, 2025

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 686

LEXINGTON PARKWAY SOUTH. (File No. J2512R, Assessment No. 258522)

RLH TA 25-107

RLH TA 25-82

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1114

MARGARET STREET. (File No. J2511T, Assessment No. 258523)

Adopted

Amending Council File RLH TA 24-475 to delete the assessment for

Collection of Vacant Building Registration fees billed during May 2, 2023 to

February 19, 2024 at 233 MARYLAND AVENUE WEST. (File No. VB2411,

Assessment No. 248817)

RLH TA 25-183

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1540

MINNEHAHA AVENUE EAST. (File No. VB2506A, Assessment No. 258822)

(Public hearing continued to April 2, 2025)

RLH TA 25-53

RLH TA 25-96

Public hearing continued to April 16, 2025

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1155 REANEY

AVENUE. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519) (Public hearing

continued to September 10, 2025)

Public hearing continued to September 10, 2025

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 193 ROBERT

STREET SOUTH. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 304 RYAN

AVENUE. (File No. J2510T, Assessment No. 258520)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 304 RYAN

AVENUE. (File No. J2512R, Assessment No. 258522)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 42 ST ALBANS

STREET SOUTH, UNIT 1B. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 42 ST ALBANS

STREET SOUTH, UNIT 2B. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 42 ST ALBANS

STREET SOUTH, UNIT 3B. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 42 ST ALBANS

STREET SOUTH, UNIT 4B. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 42 ST ALBANS

STREET SOUTH, UNIT 5B. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 42 ST ALBANS

STREET SOUTH, UNIT 6B. (File No. J2511R, Assessment No. 258519)

RLH TA 25-127

RLH TA 25-108

RLH TA 25-76

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 502 THOMAS

AVENUE. (File No. J2512R, Assessment No. 258522)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1141

UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST. (File No. VB2506, Assessment No. 258805)

(Continued public hearing to April 2, 2025)

Amended and public hearing continued to April 9, 2025

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 125 WINTER

STREET. (File No. J2512R, Assessment No. 258522)

ROLL CALL

Adopted

Ratifying the assessment for Rubbish and Garbage Clean Up services during

October 7 to 23, 2024. (File No. J2511R Assessment No. 258519)

Adopted

Ratifying the assessment for Tall Grass and Weed Removal services during

October 14 to 22, 2024. (File No. J2510T Assessment No. 258520)

Adopted

Ratifying the assessment for Rubbish and Garbage Clean Up services during

October 28 to November 8, 2024. (File No. J2512R Assessment No. 258522)

Adopted

Ratifying the assessment for Tall Grass and Weed Removal services during

October 24 to November 6, 2024. (File No. J2511T Assessment No. 258523)

Adopted

6 -

Present

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Nelsie Yang,

Councilmember HwaJeong Kim, Councilmember Anika Bowie,

Councilmember Saura Jost and Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

Appointing Lisa Nelson as the interim Ward 4 councilmember.

RES 25-560

Councilmember Kim moved to reconsider the motion to suspend the rules to take up

the item.

Councilmember Johnson gave remarks.

Councilmember Jost gave remarks.

Councilmember Bowie gave remarks.

Councilmember Yang gave remarks.

Council President Noecker gave remarks.

Kim renewed her motion to reconsider suspending the rules to take up the item.

Needing two-thirds of members present, the motion failed 3-3 (those opposed being

Councilmembers Bowie, Jost, and Johnson).

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting ended at 5:31 PM

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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

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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

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