City Council - Regular Meeting

🎵 🎵 Thank you. Thank you.

City Council to order. Roll call, please.

Yang. Here. Bui. Here. Coleman. Here. Johnson. Here. Jost. Here. Kim. Here. And Council President Nacre. Here.

Seven present, none absent. Welcome, everyone, to our City Council meeting. Thanks for joining us. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty

Consent agenda items 2 through 12 are before you for your consideration.

I know we are going to poll number 2 for separate consideration. Is there anything else to come up with consent? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Vice President Yang to approve the balance of the consent agenda. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed.

The consent agenda is adopted as amended. Item two, resolution 26-775, authorizing the city on behalf of the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department to accept a donation in the amount of $32,000 from the Midway Men's Club to support recreation services programming.

So I wanted to pull this item off consent not only because we are very grateful to the Midway Men's Club for this generous donation, but also because we happen to have in our midst a member of the Midway Men's Club, our city attorney, Dan Staley, and so we wanted to give him an opportunity to speak a little bit to the club and this generous donation. Welcome.

Thank you, Council President, members of the City Council. Yeah, the Midway Men's Club is an organization that's been based in St. Paul since 1960. We own a stand at the State Fair where we raise our money that goes, all the proceeds go to the City of St. Paul. So it's a great place to go during the State Fair to We have a beer. We serve sliders that are pretty popular, too. It's the cheapest place you can buy beer at the State Fair. I think we were grandfathered into, and we'll always kind of have that, I guess, benefit, because all of our proceeds go to charity. You can get more information at midwaymensclub.com. Become a member. I think pretty soon they'll be looking for volunteers. You don't have to be a member to volunteer, so anyone can show up to volunteer, sign up in advance. And it's located near Dan Patch and Underwood, behind the Hamlin Dining Hall at the State Fair. So we enjoy the donations, and it's a worthwhile organization, so if anybody wants to look into it, I'd recommend that. Thank you.

Thanks so much, Mr. Staley, to the Men's Club and to you personally for your involvement in so many different parts of civic life. I will move approval. Is there any discussion of that motion? Ms. Jost.

Thank you, Council President. I have a quick comment. I stopped by the Midway Men's Club stand last year at the fair, and my son loved the cheeseburger and the snacks, and so he ate the whole thing. So that was a big success in my mind.

So thanks to the Midway Men's Club. Thanks, Ms. Jost. Any other discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item 13, Resolution 26.8. exercising the city's authority to opt into and support the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority.

And I will move version two of this item. We discussed this a bit at our HRA meeting earlier today. Appreciate having the time to make sure that the policy makers here would be fully informed and included in deciding how the dollars from this economic development agency will be spent in the city of St. Paul. And excited to see this move forward. So I'll move version two. Is there any discussion of the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye. All opposed. Seven in favor, none opposed. The version 2 resolution is adopted as amended. Item 14, ordinance 26-28, granting the application of all mayor development group to rezone property at 213 Bates Avenue from H2 residential to T1 traditional neighborhood and amending chapter 60 of the legislative code pertaining to the zoning map.

And for those of you joining us for the first time or joining us on YouTube for the first time, for any of our ordinances, we have three readings. Our first reading, we have a staff report introducing us and the public to what is before us. Our second reading the next week, we have a public hearing where we can take testimony on the item and learn more about what the public thinks about it. And then the next week, or sometimes subsequent weeks if we need more time, the item is before us to finally vote on and adopt. So today, since this is a first reading, we will have a staff report. Welcome.

Stefan Duarte- Council President, council members, good afternoon. My name is Stefan Duarte-Breen. I'm a planner with the Planning and Economic Development Department. here to present on this zoning application for a rezoning of property at 213 Bates Avenue from H2 residential to T1 traditional neighborhood. The property proposed to be rezoned is located at 213 Bates Avenue in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood and Ward 7. Surrounding land use in the area includes a mix of single family, multi-family, residential, and commercial uses in the area. So again, the application is to rezone 213 Bates Avenue from H2 residential to T1 traditional neighborhood. And a few findings here that the proposed T1 zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan designates the parcel as urban neighborhood, which calls for primarily residential areas, as well as limited neighborhood serving commercial. And the T1 zoning allows for a mix of housing types and neighborhood serving commercial. Additionally, the following policies from the 2040 Comprehensive Plan apply policy LU6 to foster equitable and sustainable economic growth by facilitating business creation, attraction, retention, and expansion. Policy LU7, use land use and zoning flexibility to respond to social, economic, technological, market, and environmental changes, conditions, and opportunities. as well as policy LU 36, promoting neighborhood serving commercial businesses within urban neighborhoods that are compatible with the character and scale of the existing residential development, and policy HP 15, from the historic preservation chapter, utilize historic and cultural resources to foster economic development, prevent or minimize displacement of area residents and businesses. And the rezoning contributes to orderly and predictable development. The T1 traditional neighborhood zoning district permits a range of residential and low-intensity commercial uses, such as barbers and beauty shops, bakeries, coffee shops without drive-throughs, artist studios, general retail under 5,000 square feet, and general office that are complementary to the mix of multifamily residential and single-family residential in the area. as well as the nearby commercial uses. Some of the nearby commercial uses include a home goods store across the street, an auto service garage down the block, and a bakery and convenience store within three blocks. Based on the findings, staff recommends approval of the rezoning of 213 Bates Avenue from H2 Residential to T1 Traditional Neighborhood. And some history with the zoning case, the District 4 Planning Council did not submit a letter of recommendation. We received two letters in support of the rezoning and zero letters of concern and opposition. And at Planning Commission, they voted to recommend approval 7-0 to send to this body and one person's book in favor. Happy to take any questions.

Great. Thanks so much. Are there any questions for staff? Doesn't look like it. Thank you so much. Thank you. And this item will lay over till June 10th for public hearing.

Item 15, resolution public hearing authorizing the Department of Parks and Rec to accept grant funding in the amount of $146,301.16 from the state of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and to establish a budget in the grant fund to reflect said funds to support tree planting at the Como Zoo.

So this is the public hearing section of our agenda. So for all the items in this section, if you're here to testify on this item, when you hear your item read out and when I call for the public hearing, please just come on up. Stand in between those two microphones. You don't need to adjust them or touch them at all. They should pick you up just fine. You'll have two minutes to testify. We ask that you start with your name and where you're coming from. There's a timer in the front, and I also help you keep time. And then at the end, please make sure to sign in on one of the two sign-in sheets on either side. So with that, this is a public hearing on number 15. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms. Kim to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item 16, resolution public hearing 26-124, approving the application of Hot Summer Jazz Festival for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for a Twin Cities Jazz Festival event on June 19 and 20 at 221 East 5th Street, Mears Park. This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms. Jost to close the public hearing and approve.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed. Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item 17, resolution public hearing 26-127, approving the application of the United Hmong Family Inc. for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for a Hmong International Freedom Festival event June 26, 2728 at 1151 Wynn Avenue, Como Regional Park.

This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Welcome up. Welcome.

Hello.

Hi, everyone. Since we're on a timer here, we'll just quickly do intros. My name is Kanong. I'm the executive director from the United Hmong family. And this is Vee, our stage coordinator, and Jerry, our board chair, our board vice president. Sorry, my mistake. Yeah, so we are here to request 120 DBA sound variance. The reason for that is because our event is happening at McMurray Fields on June 27th and 28th. We are requesting this because during announcements, the sound is projected only halfway through the field. So for public safety, And for, you know, announcement for performances that are going on at other stages, we'd like to be able to reach, you know, the parents whose children have parted away from them or people who have lost their items and we're making those announcements. Sometimes we aren't able to reach them or announce, you know, when there are ongoing performances to celebrate our heritage and our culture. So we'd request this to further less delay times when we are having these announcements.

Still have a minute and six seconds if anyone else wants to say anything. Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in. Is there anyone else here to speak on this item? You can feel free to sign in and sit down.

Thank you.

All right. I will take a motion from Ms. Coleman to close the public hearing and then maybe make... We want to make some comments. All in favor of closing the public hearing, please say aye. Aye. All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. Public hearing is closed. Is there any discussion? Ms. Coleman.

I'll just say quickly, we're really, really excited to have this event once again in Ward 4 this summer. I think it makes very good sense to have announcements that people can hear. And I do think we talk a lot about what does public safety look like and how do we make sure that we're keeping all of our festivals and our events over the summer safe. And sometimes that's as easy as just making sure our sound is loud enough that people can hear. So really appreciate the forward thinking there and really looking forward to attending.

Thanks, Ms. Coleman. Ms. Yang. Thanks, Council President. I wanted to first share I'm very supportive of this. I want to thank the representatives from the United Hmong family who are here testifying. And really just wanted to commend you for all of the work that you're doing, you along with your broad base of volunteers, your board. how you all put this event together and also the annual mung new year at the river center i don't know but it really you know just speaks to the how powerful your organization is in bringing communities together bringing leaders volunteers together And I love attending the Hmong International Freedom Festival here every single year. It's such a beautiful opportunity for people from all walks of life to come and learn about the Hmong culture. Also to compete in sports, too, from flag football, soccer, and a lot more. And also to boost up entrepreneurship in our city, too. And so I want to say thank you for continuing to choose St. Paul for your event every single year.

And again, I look forward to it. Thank you, Vice President. Any other discussion of the motion? I'll echo my colleagues' thanks to you so much for coming out. It really means a lot when organizers take the time to attend the meeting when their sound level variance is being heard, and also just to represent the organization and tell us a bit more about what's going to be going on. So thank you for being here. With that, we have a motion for approval. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item 18, resolution public hearing 26-131, approving the application of Minnesota United Football Club for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for a great long concert series event on the Saturdays of June 13, August 15, at 400 Snelling Avenue North, outside of Allianz Field.

This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none, I'll take a motion from Ms. Bui to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted. Legislative hearing consent agenda items 19 through 24 are before you for your consideration.

Welcome, Ms. Moorman. I was trying to buy you some time.

Council President, Council Members, sorry for the delay. There is one person here to testify, but I believe that we have come to a conclusion on the item. That's number 22.

So should I read it? Resolution, sorry, item 22, RLHSAO, appeal of Gary Grimes to a vehicle abatement order at 314 Wyoming Street East.

Ms. Warmond. Council President, I would ask the City Council grant an additional five weeks for compliance. I believe compliance is mid-June, and we'll put it in there for end of July. And I'll get a specific date into the resolution for you.

I will make that motion. Is there any discussion? All right. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed. The item is laid over for five weeks.

Okay.

Actually, if I may, the council could simply grant an extension now for five additional weeks for compliance, and it won't have to come back. That was the intent of my motion.

Sorry. OK. How do I state that?

We're extending the compliance date by five weeks.

Extending the compliance date by five weeks.

Is there anything else to come before us that you know of, Ms. Moorman? All right. In that case, we will hold a public hearing on items 19 through 24. If you're here... to speak on any of those items besides 22, which we just addressed. This is your public hearing. Please come on up. Seeing none, I will take a motion from Ms. Johnson to close the public hearings and approve all the items with the amendations and recommendations of the legislative hearing officer. All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed. The legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended.

That brings us to the end of our agenda, and I'm curious to hear if there's any good news from the wards, including maybe any announcements about a soapbox derby. Ms. Kim.

There are good announcements. So some of us attended, Council Member Coleman, Council Member Jost, and myself, and Director Jay, and I thought I saw Tim attend as well. We cheered on all of the St. Paul and Minneapolis soapbox kiddos as they raced down Hidden Hills Drive. Admittedly, I thought they would start a little bit higher than they But then I had to remember they're like tiny kids because it's a very steep hill. And so we were neck and neck until the last race. It was Bottineau versus Northwest Como, which, as you remember, one of my last updates, Northwest Como had three kids. Two of them had broken arms. So the fact that they came in second is kind of wild to me. So we came in second this year. Minneapolis took the title. But we did make the best competition. cart design that went to Frogtown. I may or may not be working on having some of them come report back to us at a future council meeting this month to talk about that experience and how much fun it was and to share some pictures from the day. So Minneapolis, we concede to you this year. And congrats to all the St. Paul teams that competed this year.

Thank you, Ms. Kim. And thank you again for making this such a well-publicized piece of good news from the warts. Other news, Vice President.

Thanks, Council President. I wanted to share about a series of events happening in June. I do first want to share about the Bear LARP District, though. And for folks who are hearing about this for the first time, it's the new identity for the historic White Bear Avenue corridor, a place where St. Paul's Greater East Side roots meet its next era of growth. as the gateway to St. Paul. Bayer and LARP supports local businesses, welcomes new investment, and celebrates the diversity, creativity, and resilience that define this community. So you all will definitely hear me talking about the Bayer and LARP district. From here on out, it was launched by the Greater East Side Community Council, along with many community partnership organizations. And they are launching a series of summer events for June. It's every Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. on Idaho Avenue between White Bear Avenue and Gary Place. So for this upcoming Saturday, they're having DJ Hunter Quinn there. There will be community tables, crafts, music activities, food trucks. And it's an event for everybody. So you can go on to the bearlarpdistrict.com website for more information about it.

Thanks, Vice President. Other news, Ms. Coleman?

Thank you. I will share about this again as it gets closer, but the official opening date for, as we heard, library board today for the Hamlin Midway Library has been announced. It's July 18th. It's going to be super fun. There will be lots of folks there. There will be some events throughout the day, some opportunities to learn more about the new building and sustainability efforts and what it means for the neighborhood. So put it on your calendar, July 18th, 10 o'clock to 5 o'clock.

The library will be open from 10 to 5.30 that day, but the events go until maybe 2. But there will still be lots to do and see.

But the party never ends. We believe in our libraries.

Thanks, Ms. Coleman. Good news, Ms. Just.

This is in multiple words, but Grand Ole Day is this Sunday with the 5K race kicking off at 8, 8.30? I don't know what time. I should figure that out. I'm running in it. So that's happening. And then also the parade is at 9.30. And then, you know, festivities throughout the day, I think it ends usually like at vibe or something. It changes every year, but it's a great event and encourage folks to come out and celebrate Grand Avenue. Ditto.

Other news from the awards. Doesn't look like it. I will just share that tomorrow evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mancini's, there is a West 7th Community Fundraiser for the new Dousman Park Playground. Dousman Park is A much beloved but long underinvested in part of the West 7th neighborhood and the community is coming together to try to raise funds to complement whatever might come from the city to help support this area. So if you want to stop by and get a great stake and also invest in a neighborhood park tomorrow from 5 to 7. That brings us to the very end of our agenda. It's been a busy day. Sorry again for personally making it busier. With that, we are adjourned.