City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Welcome, everybody. I'm Council Vice President Elsa Ying. I'll be chairing our council meeting today. It is my first council meeting that I'm chairing, so I'm very excited and grateful for the opportunity. We'll first start off with the Pledge of Allegiance. So if you are willing and able to join us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and a big thanks to Council Member Bui, who will be leading us in reciting it.

Thank you. Is there anything to be taken for a separate consideration from the consent agenda? OK, seeing no hands, then I'll take a motion from Council Member Coleman to approve the balance of the consent agenda. All in favor?

All right, so now we're in our ordinance section of the agenda. I do want to give a bit of context that for ordinances, usually it appears in front of the council for three readings. So the first week, it would be when we have a staff report. Second reading is when a public hearing happens. And then for the third week, we can either vote on it or lay it over for more discussion. So the only ordinance-related item that we have for today, it's under a public hearing. I want to open up the floor for the public hearing. If you are here to testify on this item, please come on up to the podium. Just

Okay, later. Yeah, that'll be later. We are at number 22 right now. OK, I don't see anybody else. So I do want to open up the floor for discussion amongst our colleagues or any questions that you have. I have a couple of quick comments to make. Council Member Johnson.

Just a quick comment on the overall process. Just want to say thank you and also it's been great to be a part of it as one of the council members that has been on this committee. One thing that I would just encourage and also share not to question some of the appointments in any way, but I think for the current chief within the Minneapolis Fire Department, I just want to confirm that that particular seat, I saw that, and just to share that we may need to just make sure that that fire chief will be seated for that position to make sure that they're We may want to confirm that as well. So that w

Just the comments that I wanted to make is I first wanted to express gratitude to Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Kim for being partners with me and leading the charge to assemble our slate here. I also wanted to just point out that the slate, whenever I look at it, I'm very, very proud of it. It's a very strong slate that represents a diverse group of St. Paul residents, community leaders, and our subject matter experts, especially in the fire field. It's a slate that is very diverse across race and age, gender, also experience too. I want to give a shout out to the many different partne

That sounds great. I appreciate it. I just want to also extend some gratitude to Council of our Vice President Yang for leading this process. I'm very supportive of the slate that was constructed, but specifically because I feel like it really represents folks that have not just sort of fire experience, but experience specifically with our fire department. We are unique in the way that we are staffed. We are unique in the way of what services we provide, specifically our paramedic services. So I really just appreciate the thoughtfulness of the approach and the input from all the different expe

Thank you. Just the last couple of things I wanted to share, too, is Councilmember Johnson, I did take note of what you shared earlier. My understanding is everybody on this slate, their participation and ability to participate overall has been confirmed. But I will make sure to have my staff double check with our HR department about that. And just a final thank you to all of the individuals on the slate itself. Every person who was contacted, they were very eager, interested, and just really excited about being able to give back to St. Paul in this way. So come on up to the mic. If you are he

Thank you so much. Motion from Council Member Kim to close the public hearing and lay this matter over until next week. All in favor? Hi.

This is a public hearing. If you're here to testify, come to the microphone. Are you seeing none? I'll take a motion from everything. OK, come on up. You get two minutes. Share your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in afterwards.

Thank you. All right. If anybody else is here to testify, come on to the front. All right. Seeing none, I will take a motion from Council Member Coleman to close the public hearing. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Six in favor, none opposed. Public hearing is closed. Any discussion on this? Questions? OK, seeing none, then motion from Council Member Coleman for approval.

This is a public hearing. If you're here to testify, come up to the microphone. Okay, seeing none, then I will take a motion from Council Member Jost to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor?

This is a public hearing. If you're here to testify, come on up to the microphone. Seeing none, I will take a motion from council. Okay, come on up. You get two minutes to share your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in afterwards.

Thank you for coming to share about that. It isn't about the topic here, though.

Do you bring that up? It's not directly related.

OK, anybody else here to testify on this item here?

Okay, anybody else here to testify on this item? Come on up.

The testimony is not about the items. I won't have you talk about that.

OK, I do want to let you on. I'm trying to move our meeting along, all right? So if I have to give out three warnings, and I will let you know when I give out a warning. If I have to get to three, then we're going to have to be forced to adjourn.

Okay, thank you all. Thank you all. All right, so... I don't see anybody else here for the public hearing, so I will take a motion from Council Member Kim to close the public hearing and approve the item. All in favor?

This is a public hearing. Anyone who is here to testify, come on to the mic.

Thank you. Make sure to sign it. Okay. Come on up to the mic if you're here to testify.

Thank you. If you're here to testify on this item, come on up to the front.

Council Vice President, I'd like to make a motion.

And approve. Yes. Thank you. We are getting there. I don't see anybody here, so I am comfortable with taking your motion. So motion from Council Member Johnson to close the public hearing, and then we'll do discussion. We'll do discussion. Yeah. So let me do the motion first. So all in favor of closing the public hearing? Aye. All opposed? Six in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed. Thank you. And Council Member Buoy, I did see your hand up. Thank you.

I do and I am in favor of people having their public comments heard and then using their voice everything that we do here is related to the budget everything that we do here is related to public safety so I do see that we can have an avenue in which that people can provide their public comment just not on these items I would like to motion and that's why I didn't want to close this and have this conversation on another item but I would like to motion to for us to suspend the rules and to provide a public comment for the people who are here just so they can have their public record because righ

Is there, thank you so much for that, Attorney Stanley, is there, we do a motion to put a, I guess, a public input, which is not a public hearing, but for people to provide public comment on a, say, a resolution of a staff report, particularly around our safety investments.

OK, I think that's fair. I just want to just conclude with I think it's really important for us to have these conversations. As elected officials, we're all available to take people's comments and concerns. We have heard this through the emails. This has been a widely known and discussed topic that as a public safety chair and also the vice chair of public safety here to my right, this is an issue that we anticipate on reviewing and also hearing from community. I just wanted to say for everyone here, there are people here to do business and have hearing items. And there's certain votes on this

All right, thank you, Council Member Bui, for sharing your thoughts there. I want to say thank you for being somebody who is really attentive and aware of our audience and the chambers here. They're here with very real concerns that they're here to share with us about. And while I hear you on the questions that you're asking, my suggestion would be to do something really similar to what Council Member Kim and I did in the past during the Operation Metro Surge. I had initiated having us open up public hearings and having folks come and testify to us about Operation Metro Surge. We had it on the

I just wanted to reiterate, Council Vice President, I did make a motion to approve. Oh, OK, thank you. I made a motion to close the public hearing and approve, and we have yet to vote on that item. So I just want to be able to bring us back to the motion was to close the public hearing and approve, but you chose to separate the public hearing from closing. So I'm just going to once again make a motion to approve to move us along.

Great. Thanks, Chair Johnson. I hear you on that. So motion from Chair Johnson to approve this agenda item. All in favor? Aye.

This is a public hearing. If you're here to testify, come on up to the mic. OK, seeing no one, then I will take a motion from Council Member Coleman to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor? Aye. All opposed?

This is a public hearing. If you're here to testify, come on up to the mic. Welcome. Share your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in afterwards.

All right. Thank you so much for that invitation there. It's always great to see a face to the name of our event organizers. Anyone else here to testify? OK, seeing none, then I will take a motion from Council Member Jones to close the public hearing and approve. All in favor?

This is a public hearing. Anyone who is here to testify, come on up to the front. OK, seeing no one, then I will take a motion from Council Member Bui to continue the public hearing to October 7. All in favor? Aye. All opposed?

All right, Ms. Mormoran, is there anything to be taken for a separate consideration?

Thank you. Before we move on to the public hearing, I want to see if there's any questions for Ms. Moorman first. Council Member Coleman.

Thank you, Vice President. Thank you, Ms. Moorman. Just a quick question. In the record, the police department followed our standard policy. There's no allegation that they did not follow the policy?

All right, thank you. We'll hold the public hearing for this. If you're here to testify, come on up to the microphone, show your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in.

That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anybody else here to testify? If yes, come on up. Seeing none, then I will take a motion from Council Member Coleman to close the public hearing. All in favor? All opposed? Six in favor, none opposed. Public hearing is closed. Council Member Coleman.

Yeah, thank you. And thank you so much for being here to testify. I also want to, I guess, make space if other people have questions for Ms. Mormond. I will say I will move to approve our legislative hearing officer's recommendation in this case. This has come up a couple of times in the last few months where people have felt frustrated by our emergency boarding procedures, and I completely understand that. And unfortunately, the at the moment of a legislative hearing is not the moment to revise those policies and to think through how long do we want a police officer to spend making calls or k

Thank you. Any other discussion on this item? If not, I will take that motion from Council Member Coleman for approval. All in favor? Aye. All opposed?

Thank you for that staff report. Any questions for Ms. Moorman before we go to the public hearing?

If I may, what is the legislative hearing officer's recommendation?

I may have a few questions afterwards, but I appreciate it. Yep.

This is a public hearing. Come on up if you're here to testify. You get two minutes, so show your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in afterwards.

Thank you for coming here to testify. Make sure you sign in. Anybody else here to testify? Seeing none, I will take a motion from Council Member Kim to close the public hearing. All in favor? Aye. All opposed?

Yeah, has there been any conversation around a payment plan? I don't personally see how or why. I mean, record of a police call is entirely pertinent. I understand that there are people on call, but also the work was completed. So I'm just wondering, has the company reached out on a payment plan for the $479 that they owe for the work?

Yeah. I appreciate that. Yeah, at this point I just don't feel the need to have a police, like validation that the police were or were not called at this point. I think the fee is fairly nominal given the broken glass and the safety for the building, so I'm going to approve the recommendation of the legislative hearing officer.

There is a motion on the table. Is there any discussion or questions about that? Seeing none, I will take that motion for approval of the recommendation. All in favor? Aye.

Thank you. Does anyone have any questions for Ms. Moorman before we open up the public hearing? Council Member Bowie?

Thank you. Vice President Yang, I have just a question out of just clarity, because I, again, I just wanted to say out loud that I plan to support the recommendation from the council member, Johnson, which this represents. But this is the first time as a council member I've heard of a motley abatement or a monthly, I don't know how to call it, like assessment on it. give some context particularly? I'm familiar with just like our vacancy building fee for $5,000 each year that they have to post, right? But can you just give some context around why on the monthly and if that monthly fee is what w

Thank you. I just want to clarify, we don't have a motion on the table yet for this item. Anybody else have questions before we go into the public hearing? OK, if not, we'll open up the public hearing. If you're here to testify, come on up to the microphone. You get two minutes, so show your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in afterwards.

That is time. I just want to make sure we hear what ask you have.

Thank you. Thank you so much for clarifying that. OK, this is public hearing on item number 39. Is anybody else here to testify on this? Seeing none, I will take a motion from Council Member Johnson to close the public hearing. All in favor? All opposed? Six in favor, none opposed. Public hearing is closed. OK, any discussion or questions? Council Member Johnson?

Yes, thank you. Yeah, I have a couple questions for Ms. Moorman. And I just want to go back to I had a chance to review the record, had a chance to review the matter, and just some of the things that have been submitted. And I wanted to get clarity. The latest communication I have in the record From mr. Mitchell included a time frame. I think it was back in July of just that There would be within a one month a structural engineer report and completed recommended repairs have we received that here in the city and

OK. And then also, I would say that just from the timeline that was dated in July, so just looking at us now being here in mid-August, some of the things that were outlined at the schedule that were given was within a six-month time period. I will share that just for history and for my colleagues who are looking at this matter, we took that action as a council December 10th to give 180 days of 2025. So, Mr. Mitchell, that would have been after our cyber attack incident, but also during that timeframe in December when we would have issued that 180 days that would have been, you know, you're gon

Okay, and just for clarification, the total amount, right, is $15,000?

OK, I actually would withdraw that previous motion and just simply share that I would be amenable to the two-week layover and that matter for that. So I'll make a motion for a two-week layover of this item. And Ms. Moorman, I would appreciate being able to be updated on the schedule of whether realistically I'd like to have the inspector be able to go back out to the property. And so just want to make sure that that's a realistic timeline. OK, thank you.

Thank you both. There's a motion on the table for a two-week layover from Council Member Johnson. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed?

Thank you. Are there any questions before we go into the public hearing? Ms. Malmreich, I do have a quick question. Can you let us know what is the proposed date on when the abatement has to occur by then?

OK, thank you. All right, this is a public hearing, so go ahead and testify. You get two minutes. Share your name, where you're coming from, and then sign in afterwards.

Thank you. Thank you for coming and testifying. Anybody else here to testify? If yes, come on up to the mic. Okay, seeing none, then I will move to close the public hearing. All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed? Public hearing is closed. Okay. Oh, gosh, I'm sorry.

I actually had a question I wanted to get for clarification.

Yeah, the testifier. Can you just clarify, like, how it sounds like you're wanting more time. How much time are you asking for?

Thank you. I did get the answer for that, so I appreciate you sharing that. OK, any discussion or questions at all at this point? OK, well, I will make a couple of comments. I know typically we lean onto the council member in the ward here to weigh in on this. I haven't gotten a judge. Sometimes these items, they come up. We don't know who comes and testifies. But I do want to share that, based on the testimony today, I feel comfortable with doing a one-week layover for this. And it sounds like Tuesday is the day that the you're you're hoping to have that car be removed from the property And s

All right. Any other items, Ms. Moorman?

Thank you. Are there any questions at this time for Ms. Mormont? OK, seeing none, we will hold the public hearing for item number 36. So come on up and testify. You get two minutes. Share your name, where you're coming from, and please sign in afterwards.

Thank you. Thank you for testifying. Is there anybody else here to testify? All right, seeing none, I will take a motion from you, Council Member Kim, to close the public hearing. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Six in favor, none opposed.

Yeah, I just really appreciate you coming down to speak. I know it's hard to come downtown and juggle all the things, and so your time and attention means a lot to me. I've been briefed on this with the legislative hearing officer. It is an incredibly difficult case. I am interested in the recommendation, but the thing that I'm a little nervous about, to be honest, is I don't know how strict or how proactive the cold weather rule kicks in. So I'm actually inclined to extend that a little bit to make sure that if there's anything that we would need to do to assist Bambi, that we'd be able to do

So just to follow up, can you clarify that the cold weather protection period does start October 1st through ExxonRG? That's the start date?

I'm inclined to give just a little more flexibility of time, but also because I think I'd like my office, mainly me, to engage a little bit more. I think there are resources and people that would be interested. So just for the sake of both my involvement and capacity, but also I think there's interest. I'm going to give myself and you a little extra time, so I'll make it to October 15th, and let's see what we can't pull together for a plan. So I will... I'm trying to think of what my motion is. I move to amend the recommendation of the hearing officer to extend the notice... What are the words

Thank you. That would so that Thank You legislative Harris officer. That is my motion. I appreciate the support from my colleagues Thank You councilmember Kim.

There's a motion on the table Is there any discussion or questions from council members? I

Council Member Bowie? I just want to have a comment. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you, Council Member Kim, for just making that motion. I really also appreciate you being vulnerable and being courageous to share that story for someone who definitely has been impacted by some of these orders and have had my constituents and live in a neighborhood with really old homes and old furnaces and have seen some of my own relatives navigate this. I just want to just amend that. I also just wanted to share, as well, there are resources. And like Councilmember Kim had mentioned, You know, Energy

I also want to echo the gratitude from both my colleagues. Thank you for coming to City Hall and testifying. You shared some very vulnerable experiences here and I'm sure it's very hard. I just really commend you for continuing to be resilient and it sounds like you're going through a lot so take care of yourself too. I'm really glad you're here and letting us know what sort of support you need from the city. I encourage you to stay in close communication with Council Member Kim. I want to speak to how stellar and caring she is, and that she's really well connected with community organizations

Thank you, Ms. Moorman. We will hold a public hearing on the remaining items on the legislative hearing consent agenda. If you are here to speak, come on up to the microphone. Councilor Buoy?

Yeah, I would like to pull item 35. I don't think anyone's here to speak, but I just want to get a point of clarification from Ms. Norman.

Okay, Councilor Buoy is requesting that we pull number 35 from the consent agenda, from the legislative hearing consent agenda.

Yes. A staff report. And just my question, I just wanted to confirm, it has referred to September 15th in a recommendation if it has met those conditions.

Thank you so much for that clarity, Ms. Moorman. Yeah, I just wanted to adopt the recommendation from the hearing officer. I just wanted to make sure that we had that record that she did post those deposits.

Yep. Thank you. Great. There's a motion for approval from Council Member Bui. Any discussion? Probably should, yeah. Okay, we'll open up the public hearing for this item. If you're here to testify, please come on up to the microphone. All right, seeing none, then a motion from Council Member Bowie to continue the public hearing to September 15th.

Yes, September 15th. Thank you. Continuing the public hearing to September 15th. All in favor?

I think it was refer, but refer the matter to .

We're going to, I already opened up the, should I do it again? Yeah, okay. We'll hold a public hearing on the remaining balance of the legislative hearing consent agenda. Anybody here to testify? If yes, come on up to the microphone. Okay, seeing none, then I will take a motion from Council Member Jones to approve the balance of the legislative hearing consent agenda. All in favor? and close the public hearings. All in favor?

Well, I think it's been a while since we've had that many items pulled off of the agenda. legislative hearing consent agenda item. So I did just want to commend you, Ms. Moorman, for being able to do a staff reports on the fly. That was really great. So that brings us to the end of our agenda. I'm wondering if council members have any good news to share from their ward. Council Member Johnson.

Thank you. I just wanted to share a little bit about our, we had a budget event this past week and it went really well with folks that are coming out. I know that with the city council budget that's coming up, there'll be a lot of discussions and a lot of opportunities for those that I look forward to doing at the budget committee. I would invite, just from the previous conversation, you know, and just to share my bit at the end, I do appreciate when folks are able to come out to our council meetings and to i would encourage for the dialogue especially around some of the topics that were given

Yeah, I was going to respond to that. I think it's really important and genuine to share with people what we have reviewed. As public safety chair for the committee, we have had conversations. We've had this as an item, agenda item. We have also invited SPPD to present. We have also invited our Ramsey County Sheriff's to present. I think, you know, with the limited time that we have for a public safety committee, there's always opportunities to have an agenda item or if people want to lend their voice there and have a public hearing. But I do think, you know, what I've heard in testimony is it

If not, then that brings us to the end of our meeting here. I'll take a motion from Council Member Bowie to adjourn. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Six in favor, none opposed.