Minutes - City Council

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 Nelsie Yang

Councilmember Anika Bowie

Councilmember Molly Coleman

Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

Councilmember Saura Jost

Councilmember HwaJeong Kim

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

ROLL CALL

3:30 PM

Council Chambers - 3rd Floor

Meeting started at 3:32 PM

6 -

Present

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Nelsie Yang,

Councilmember HwaJeong Kim, Councilmember Anika Bowie,

Councilmember Saura Jost and Councilmember Molly Coleman

1 - Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson

Absent

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

AO 26-16

Authorizing the Department of Public Works to move $78,371 from a

transfer account to an expense account for general professional services

in the General Fund.

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 Noecker stated that Item 5 would be taken separately.

Councilmember Yang moved approval.

Consent Agenda adopted as amended

6 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Coleman

Nay:

1 - Councilmember Johnson

Absent:

Authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply

to the Metropolitan Council for grant proposals requesting approval for city

sponsorship to participate in Livable Communities Act (LCA) programs to

receive funding for site assessment, associated cleanup or remediation, other

predevelopment activities, and/or funding for new construction or

redevelopment from the LCA Round One of 2026.

RES 26-310

Adopted

Authorizing the City to enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota

Department of Transportation for work in the Trunk Highway 35E right of way

as part of the City’s University Avenue Project.

RES 26-420

RES 26-501

RES 26-530

Adopted

Accepting the donation of conference registration from CNU (Congress for the

New Urbanism) for up to three City staff to attend CNU 34 in Northwest

Arkansas from May 12-16, 2026.

Adopted

Approving the application for change of ownership to the Liquor Off Sale

license now held by R & B Five Angels LLC d/b/a East 7th Liquor (License ID

#DSIBLLOFS-000546-2026) for the premises located at 385 7th Street East.

Adopted

FOR DISCUSSION

Approving a Liquor On Sale, Liquor On Sale - Sunday, Liquor On Sale - 2 AM

Closing, and Entertainment (B) new location license application from Luxe

Event Planning and Decor LLC, d/b/a The Ivory (License ID

#DSIBLLIQ-000490-2025), for the premises located at 125 9th Street East,

Unit #127.

RES 26-505

Council President Noecker moved approval of Version 2, related to technical

corrections.

Adopted as amended

6 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost and Councilmember Coleman

1 - Councilmember Johnson

Absent:

ROLL CALL

7 -

Present

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Nelsie Yang,

Councilmember HwaJeong Kim, Councilmember Anika Bowie,

Councilmember Saura Jost, Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson and

Councilmember Molly Coleman

SUSPENSION ITEMS

Declaring April 7th as National Black Bookstore Day.

RES 26-535

Councilmember Bowie read from the resolution, spoke in favor, and moved approval.

Artika Tyner from Planting People Growing Justice gave remarks.

Councilmembers Johnson and Bowie spoke in favor.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

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.

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.

Ord 26-17

Councilmember Coleman moved to close the public hearing and lay over for two

weeks.

Laid over to April 15, 2026 for Final Adoption

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

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.

Ord 26-19

4 people spoke during the public hearing.

Councilmember Coleman moved to close the public hearing and lay over for two

weeks.

Laid over to April 15, 2026 for Final Adoption

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

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

Application Fees.

Ord 26-20

Councilmember Johnson moved to close the public hearing and lay over for two

weeks.

Laid over to April 15, 2026 for Final Adoption

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

Updating Chapter 13 of the Administrative Code (Title I) pertaining to

Department of Safety and Inspections.

Ord 26-21

Councilmember Johnson moved to close the public hearing and lay over for two

weeks.

Laid over to April 15, 2026 for Final Adoption

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

Accepting grant funds, authorizing execution of a grant agreement (with

indemnity obligations), and amending the operating budget for City

sponsorship of a Metropolitan Council TBRA Grant Program for the benefit of

Hamm’s Brewery West End at 680 and 694 Minnehaha Avenue East. (District

4, Ward 7).

RES PH 26-34

Councilmember Johnson moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

Nay:

Accepting grant funds, authorizing execution of a grant agreement (with

indemnity obligations), and amending the operating budget for City

sponsorship of a Metropolitan Council LCA’s SEED Grant for the benefit of

Rondo Revitalize at 708 Marshall Avenue. (District 8, Ward 1).

RES PH 26-35

Councilmember Bowie moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

Nay:

Approving the application of Twin Cities in Motion for a sound level variance in

order to present amplified sound for the Get in Gear event on Saturday, April

25, 2026, at 240 Summit Avenue - outside the James J. Hill House.

RES PH 26-74

Councilmember Bowie moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

Nay:

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.

Appeal of Mark Puchala II to a Summary Abatement Order at 2016 FREMONT

AVENUE.

RLH SAO 26-21

Councilmember Johnson moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Noecker, Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Kim,

Councilmember Bowie, Councilmember Jost, Councilmember Johnson and

Councilmember Coleman

Nay:

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting ended at 4:08 PM

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

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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.

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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.