City Council - August 27, 2025   8/27/2025

ROLL CALL

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

1. Authorizing the Police Department to reallocate budget to more accurately record expenditures for the department grant fund; Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET).

• Financial Analysis

2. Amending the 2025 spending budget in the Department of Public Works Administration Fund 730 Director's Office Accounting Unit 73031100 to finance consultation services for the city-owned storage facility located at Pierce Butler Route.

• financial analysis form - jls 8-14-25.pdf

3. Amending the 2025 spending and financing budgets in the Department of Public Works Traffic Warehouse Accounting Unit to fund the purchase of replacement a forklift.

• JCB TLT77-52D Quote.pdf
• AO 25-47 Forklift.pdf

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

4. Approving the City’s cost of providing Rubbish and Garbage Clean Up during June 11 to July 11, 2025, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for September 23, 2025 and City Council public hearing for January 7, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2601R, Assessment No. 268601)

• Report of Completion J2601R.268501
• Assessment Roll J2601R.268501

• Failed 7-0-0 Adopted

5. Approving the City’s cost of providing Tall Grass and Weed Removal services during June 12 to 24, 2025, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for September 23, 2025 and City Council public hearing for January 7, 2026 to consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2601TW, Assessment No. 268701)

• Report of Completion J2601TW.268500
• Assessment Roll J2601TW.268500

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

6. Establishing the rate of pay for the City Council Communications Lead, Non-Represented City Managers, Grade 010.

• Resolution-Financial Analysis City Council Communications Lead

7. Establishing the rate of pay for the Legislative Hearing Officer series, in EG 17, Non-Represented City Managers, Grades 010, 20C, and 25C, respectively.

• Legislative Hearing Officer Series

8. Authorizing the City to accept and record declarations related to certain grant agreements on the Hamline Midway and Hayden Heights libraries.

• Form of Declaration on Real Property -Hamline Midway
• Form of Declaration on Real Property -Hayden Heights

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

9. Approving Minnesota Session Laws 2025, 1st Special Session, Chapter 13 (H.F. No. 9), Article 5, Section 5 regarding the Ford Site Redevelopment Tax Increment Financing District.

• Certificate of Approval of Special Law

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

10. Directing the Department of Safety and Inspections to proceed with adverse action and the imposition of a $1000 matrix penalty against D & L Tobacco LLC d/b/a D & L Tobacco (License ID #20210002137) for the premises located at 626 Larpenteur Avenue West STE A.

• Exhibit # 1
• Exhibit # 2

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

11. Approving the Mayor’s appointment of Councilmember Molly Coleman to the Board of Water Commissioners for a term beginning on August 27, 2025.

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

12. Approving the Mayor's appointment of Molly Coleman to serve on the Visit Saint Paul Board of Directors for a term ending December 31, 2027.

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

13. Approving the appointment of Councilmember Molly Coleman as a member of the Audit Committee.

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

Final Adoption

14. Amending Title IV of the Administrative Code to add Chapter 92, titled Tree Preservation for City Sponsored Projects. (Laid over from February 26, 2025)

• Great River Greening letter of support
• Friends of the Mississippi River letter of support
• Ramsey Hill Assoc public comment
• Gary Todd public comment
• Jan 22 public comments
• Feb 26 public comments
• Final Version
• Amelie Gahagan public comment
• Payne Phalen Community Council letter
• Process map revised
• Ordinance Terms December 8 2025
• UPDATED Final Version
• 12.19.25 Council Presentation

• Passed 7-0-0 Laid Over to Final Adoption

15. Changing one block of Margaret Street between Arcade Street and East 7th Street from a one-way street westbound to a two-way street in accordance with Chapter 147 of the Legislative Code.

• Margaret Two-Way Map.pdf
• Margaret Council Presentation

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

First Reading

16. Amending Chapter 130 of the Legislative Code, Procedure for Vacating Streets and Other Public Grounds.

• Ch. 130 summary.08072025
• Impacts of Vacation ordinance (Ch. 130 Leg. Code) amendment.08072025
• Vacation Primer.08072025

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

17. Approving the request of Energy Park Utility Company to amend rates.

• Letter to Shari Moore, City Clerk
• Schedule A
• SPPA Board Memo
• SPPA Resolution No. 4817
• Financial Analysis

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

18. Approving the application of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Parish/School for a Nativity County Fair event on Friday, 09/12/2025, Saturday, 09/13/2025 and Sunday, 09/14/2025 for a sound level variance in order to present live amplified sound at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Parish/School, 1900 Wellesley Avenue.

• Application
• ENS
• Map
• Letter to Owners
• Owners List
• Letter to Applicant
• Julie Kaupa public comment
• Patrick Martin public comment
• Resident public comment

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

19. Approving the application of Lumen Christi Catholic Community for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound at the Lumen Christi Catholic Community - Block Party Event on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 1668 Montreal Avenue.

• Application
• ENS
• Map
• Letter to Owners
• Owners List
• Letter to Applicant

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

LEGISLATIVE HEARING DISCUSSION ITEM

26. Amending Council File RLH AR 24-25 to reduce the assessment Collection of Vacant Building Registration fees billed during April 5 to October 20, 2023 at 1350 HAGUE AVENUE. (File No. VB2407, Assessment No. 248806) (Public hearing closed and laid over from August 27, 2025)

• 1350 Hague Ave.email chain 5-13-25.pdf
• 1350 Hague Ave.contested email 5-19-25.pdf
• 1350 Hague Ave.Reg Notice 9-27-23.pdf
• 1350 Hague Ave.Warning Ltr 10-27-23.pdf
• 1350 Hague Ave.Minutes.pdf
• 1350 Hague Ave.Union Park District Council Letter 8-26-25.pdf
• 1350 Hague Ave.Bowie email 8.27.25
• 1350 Hague Ave.Alison Schaub email 8.28.25
• 1350 Hague Ave.Timeline of Events 8.28.25

• Passed 6-1-0 Laid Over

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

20. Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 427 AURORA AVENUE. (File No. J2522R4, Assessment No. 258582)

• 427 Aurora Ave.SAO.3-19-25
• 427 Aurora Ave.recheck photo.3-26-25
• 427 Aurora Ave.contractor photos.4-7-25
• 427 Aurora Ave.Zimny email chain.6-18-25
• 427 Aurora Ave.STAMP inquiry 7-21-25.pdf
• 427 Aurora Ave.Vendor Invoice Abatements.pdf
• 427 Aurora Ave.Zimny email.7-30-25

21. Appeal of Edward Albrecht to a Correction Order at 1462 BROMPTON STREET.

• 1462 Brompton St.appeal 7-18-25
• 1462 Brompton St.photos 7-14-25
• 1462 Brompton St.Albrecht Ltr.8-14-25

• Failed 7-0-0 Adopted

22. Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 263 CURTICE STREET WEST. (File No. J2507T1, Assessment No. 258537)

• 263 Curtice St W.TGW 7-11-24.pdf
• 263 Curtice St W.SA Ltr +photo 7-11-24.pdf
• 263 Curtice St W.Photos 7-11-24.pdf
• 263 Curtice St W.Photo 7-26-24.pdf
• 263 Curtice St W.Contractor photos 8-14-24.pdf
• 8-14-2024 Warners Invoice (1).pdf
• 263 Curtice St W.Vang email 10-22-25.pdf

23. Appeal of James Marshall, tenant, to a Fire Correction Notice, which includes Condemnation and Order to Vacate at 740 DAYTON AVENUE, UNIT B-4.

• 740 Dayton Ave.appeal 7-21-25
• 740 Dayton Ave.photos 7-8-25
• 740 Dayton Ave.correction notice.3-31-25
• 740 Dayton Ave.photos 4-3-25
• 740 Dayton Ave.Marshall Ltr.7-25-25
• 740 Dayton Ave Updated Photos 8-8-25.pdf
• 740 Dayton Ave.Marshall Brown Ltr.8-15-25

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

24. Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1762 ENGLEWOOD AVENUE. (File No. VB2510A, Assessment No. 258833)

• 1762 Englewood Ave.Reg Notice 11-27-24.pdf
• 1762 Englewood Ave.Warning Ltr 12-27-24.pdf
• 1762 Englewood Ave.Mortimer Ltr.6-12-25
• 1762 Englewood WP 7-11-25
• 1762 Englewood Ave.Zimny Eggen email chain.7-14-25
• 1762 Englewood Ave.Vang email 1-21-26.pdf

25. Appeal of Yia Jef Yang to a Fire Certificate of Occupancy Correction Notice at 337 FULLER AVENUE.

• 337 Fuller Ave.appeal 4-15-2025
• 337 Fuller Ave.Yang email 4-16-25.pdf
• 337 Fuller Ave.Yang Ltr.4-25-25
• 337 Fuller Ave.Yang Ltr.7-18-25

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

27. Appeal of Kathryn Weigelt to a Summary Abatement Order at 1593 MARGARET STREET.

• 1593 Margaret St.appeal.7-25-25.pdf
• 1593 Margaret St.photos 7-22-25.pdf
• 1593 Margaret St.Weigelt Ltr.8-15-25

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

28. Appeal of Geoff Lindback to a Vacant Building Registration Renewal Notice at 1980 STANFORD AVENUE.

• 1980 Stanford Ave.appeal.7-25-25.pdf
• 1980 Stanford Ave. condemnation order 6-4-25.pdf
• 1980 Stanford Ave.condemnation notice 8-6-24.pdf
• 1980 Stanford Ave.photos 8-6-24.pdf
• 1980 Stanford Ave.Lindback Ltr.8-15-25

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

29. Appeal of Jay Cherner to an Emergency Summary Abatement Order at 1603 and 1605 UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST.

• 1603-1605 University Ave W.appeal 8-11-25.pdf
• 1603-1605 University Ave W.Photos 8-11-25.pdf
• 1603-1605 University Ave W.Sullivan email 8-18-25.pdf
• 1603-1605 University Ave W.Impact Statement-Spruce Tree 8-18-25.pdf
• 1603-1605 University Ave W.Graffiti Billboards 8-18-25.pdf
• 1603 1605 University Ave.Cherner Ltr.8-22-25
• 1603 1605 University.Cherner contesting letter.8-23-25

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

30. Appeal of Soua Lee, tenant, to a Rent Stabilization Determination at 1430 YORK AVENUE, APT. 309.

• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309 Appeal 5-30-25
• 1430 York Ave Apt. 309- MNOI 6-11-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Increase Form 5-7-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Request for Exception Notice 5-12-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Rent Roll 6-3-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Garage 6-3-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Kitchen Carpet Repair 6-3-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Soua Lee Supplemental Appeal Letter 6-24-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- Amberwood Apartment Google review 6-25-25
• 1430 York Ave Apt. 309-REVISED Soua Lee Letter 6-24-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt. 309- REVISED Krishan Jain Letter 6-24-25
• 1430 York Ave. Apt 309. Soua Lee Testimony 8-19-25
• 1430 York Ave Apt. 309- Email chain between Vang and Lee 8-19-25
• 1430 York Ave Apt. 309- Email to Ms. Jain 8-20-25

• Passed 7-0-0 Adopted

ADJOURNMENT

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 by phone is not available at this time. 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