City Council - Regular Meeting

the work and honoring leaders like those that are behind me and aside me. So with that, I'm just going to, I'm going to have Ms. McGee give us a couple minutes. I did share with folks that it's two minutes each. And so I will come back in and just read the last two Be It Resolves clauses and we'll make a motion at that time. Welcome.

Thank you, Council. And I really do feel extremely honored that you're acknowledging the 30th anniversary. I cannot believe it's been 30 years that the Twin Cities Juneteenth Commission said, can you create something that will help educate our community? At the time, we were doing a wonderful parade and also a festival in the park. But people still didn't understand what Juneteenth meant. I was able to get started with the organization that was started by Tony Carter. And at that time, we created this wonderful program that involved these young people, mostly through storytelling. When we were done, though, we asked the audience, what did they want to see? And they said, more. And then they said it should be something that would be accessible to students so that they can understand this history that has been omitted from our typical learning books and things, right? And so I began to really craft it out a little bit deeper. And later, I had an opportunity to actually go to Ghana, West Africa, and learned more about the history of some things that I then began to incorporate into the play. So here we are 30 years later. We make it a little bit different every year. For three of those 30 years, I was actually working with the Minnesota Humanities Center in Omaha, Nebraska. And we were able to do the play in Omaha. So it was quite a pleasure to see a bus of the folks from Omaha come last week to the play. So I just say thank you for this. I really appreciate the Minnesota Humanities. and certainly the city of St. Paul and these wonderful council members for acknowledging this event. And let me just go on to say, whatever we can do, whatever we can do to uplift the power of freedom, and now more than ever it seems, especially more than ever in many of our lifetimes, it's important that our young people as well as our adults understand the history understand how important it is that we can just stand together and and work together and be in unity and understand truly what freedom is because as Frederick Douglass says, which is one of the lines in the play, if there is no struggle, there is no progress. Now, Kevin Lindsay is going to come up here real quickly, and he's going to say some words as well, and then I will go sit down. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Welcome.

Not to put you immediately on the spot.

Rose is accustomed to doing that, so it's all right. So I do appreciate the Council taking a moment out to recognize Rose. It's a very important time in our nation's history to be able to talk about the time period right after the Civil War. And the issues that reverberated around the country, I would say, reverberate now. So I appreciate her wisdom. I appreciate her energy. I appreciate her passion. 30 years ago for this play and creating it and then carrying it forward for the Minnesota Humanities Center. So again, thank you deeply from the Minnesota Humanities Center and especially to recognize Rose on this tremendous occasion of the 30th anniversary of the play.

Hey, good evening, council. The reason why I was here standing just in support of the miraculous Rose McGee is because, honestly, I see you as an additional mom in my family. When we think about the village and the call of action that you have rooted in your purpose and the story behind even creating the Kumbaya play is just very personal to me. It was part of my childhood. I remember being part of the field trips and seeing the Kumbaya play, even being asked to join the play, being an honorary director, a watcher of the play. And I just wanted to say it's just so, so, so important that we're commemorating a legacy, a milestone. 30 years is not easy, especially when we think about just where support comes from and how there's always this changing in terms of whose stories matter. And I just want to say thank you so much for your tenacity. I also want to just recognize all the many hands that went into ensuring that this play is a footprint, a permanent footprint, and what community look forward to when it comes to Juneteenth. So again, thank you. There's so many leaders that can be here today and sing your praises, Ms. Rose, but I'm just so thankful, particularly for your leadership and how you have just modeled the importance of telling our story. Thank you.

Council members, good afternoon. I just wanted to briefly share some remarks as the board chair of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie We just continue to be so grateful for the leadership, the tenacity, the courage that I call her queen, Rose McGee, has expressed and demonstrated over the years. Even when there's been a lack of financial support or challenges with the ecosystem or the environment that she is hosting this event in, she has always showed up with the beauty that we know is really who we are as Minnesotans. And what Sweet Potato Comfort Pie offers even beyond the Kumbaya play, is an opportunity for cultural connection and bridge building and really being that place where people can find one another and find authenticity and being connected through togetherness. So, so hopeful that this play will continue to be a sustained part of Minnesota legacy and history because it's everyone's history. Thank you.

Such powerful words from so many people that genuinely understand fully why it's so important to continue to not only just see the work happen, but Ms. McGee also honor the work. So now the motion that I bring in front of you, the resolution that I bring in front of you, does resolve that the St. Paul City Council recognizes and uplifts the tremendous contributions of artists, I would say artists, Queen, Phenomenon, everything, Rose McGee, the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie organization, and the Minnesota Humanities Center for their commitment to preserving history. advancing community dialogue, and honoring the legacy of Juneteenth through the transformative power of storytelling and the arts. And be it further resolved that the St. Paul City Council affirms the truth-telling, cultural expression, and artistic storytelling that are essential to building strong communities, deepening understanding across difference, and ensuring that the lessons of our shared history continue to inform our collective future. And be it finally resolved that the St. Paul City Council congratulates Kumbaya, the Juneteenth story, on its 30th anniversary and expresses its gratitude for the play's enduring impact in uplifting black history, celebrating black resilience, and inspiring generations of St. Paul residents through education, reflection, and hope. And with that, colleagues, I move approval.

Thank you so much, Ms. Johnson. Thank you to everyone who is here with us today. This is a really momentous occasion, and we're honored to have you in our presence. So thank you for your hard work and for your leadership and for being here. There is a motion on the table for approval. I would look to my colleagues to see if there's any discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted.

Thank you.

Do you want to stand right in front of the camera? I think they want Grandma right here. I think they're going a ways. Should we probably pick up? I think so. Do you mind if I pick you up for a second?

The photos will be better. Is that all right? All right.

Just for a second. Do you mind if I?

Thank you.

Director reports or are there requirements for on-site review of ongoing construction to enforce this ordinance? St. Paul's tree canopy serves all residents and is a major attraction that draws people to our city. We want this ordinance to answer the question that people always ask when reading about another bunch of trees being removed for some construction project. How many lost trees are too many? I understand that tree loss occurs in construction, but alternative designs and techniques need to be chosen that reduce the number of trees lost rather than only attempt to preserve the ones that remain. Contractors will invariably choose the least expensive path. Tree replanting is important, but replanting is not preservation. It takes decades for a tree to grow back to the point where it can deliver the benefits that a mature tree delivers to us today. Can you require periodic reporting to the City Council on the effectiveness of this new ordinance? It would be interesting to see how designs were altered, alternatives chosen, and number of trees preserved based on the application of this ordinance. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in and welcome up.

Hello, I am Bridget Allen-Alice, and I was also on the Tree Input group. And I wanted to call up Megan and Steve and Steve Dodge and Mr. Peterson back there. Tom Hagel and Tim Greenfield and all the people that were coming to our meetings. It was great. So I'll make this really quick because I agree with a lot of what has already been said, so I'll just echo it. But the way I see this is preserving trees is the lowest barrier with the highest value to preserve trees. Lowest barrier, high value for the entire city. You don't always come across that kind of a concept. So this is very good, whether it be mental health, physical health, financial health. Just think, when you read a description of a property, apartment for rent on a tree-lined street, duplex for rent on a tree-lined street. house for sale on a tree-lined street. It makes a difference for civic pride of St. Paul. And then lastly, I'll just say, since Omaha was brought up sooner, my daughter went to school in Omaha for college. And every time she would come back, she's like, gosh, I forget how beautiful St. Paul is with all these trees. And now we loved Omaha for what it did for her. little heart we have a little piece of our heart in Omaha but when your children start to realize what a value this is it's wonderful so thanks for all the work and I support the ordinance thank you thank you so much make sure to sign in welcome up okay let's pause

It will be in a state of anticipation for a final speaker for as long as it takes. Now we need the dramatic music. The music needs to queue up. Yeah, for sure. Let's just give it a second.

And I appreciate the theatricality of it. OK. Welcome up.

Thank you so much, members of the council and council president. I'm Michael John Pease, the president and chief parks champion of the St. Paul Parks Conservancy. Personally, my stake in this, beyond being a resident of St. Paul, is my great grandfather staked a tree claim in Nebraska. 140-some years ago. And in exchange for the land from the government at some insanely cheap price, it was to plant trees, which are still there and have changed the ecology for the good in that area. As in my role professionally, I really want to, we've already given a well-deserved shout-out to Megan. I want to also give a shout-out to the staff of both Public Works and Parks. because they always have big work in front of them. And they stayed at the table. And the community stayed at the table when we had to delay some of the conversation so that staff could get their other work done in order to pay the right amount of attention to the SOPs and to the rules up in this ordinance. And the group that met meeting after meeting after meeting with Jeket, was very diverse and very tenacious. And we didn't always agree, and I think that's what's made it the best ordinance it can be. As stated, it's not perfect. It's a huge paradigm shift. And I'm hoping that as it rolls out in the next 10 or 20 years, maybe it doesn't take that long, that launches us into a culture shift the way some other cities have around culture. how they think of trees as infrastructure. But I'm really proud that we have acknowledged trees are public infrastructure and they're worth considering and sometimes they trump the other considerations. So it's been a great process and I really admire the work you all have put in to overlaying this and to keeping it going because this is the best work we could come up with all together. So thank you.

Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in. Thank you for your patience with us. Is there anyone else here to speak to this item? All right. I will make a motion to close the public hearing and then make some comments. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed.

Well, we always have a bit of an anticlimactic process here because we have the first reading, as I mentioned. We have the public hearing when folks who really care about an ordinance typically actually come here. And then we don't take a final vote on the ordinance until the next week. Um, while people are here who took the time to testify, I just want to say, I am so grateful to you for taking the time to be here and for the many, many hours, um, of back and forth of conversation of input that you have given to this process. Those of you who are on the public input group, um, it has, what has made this ordinance so strong though, not perfect. So thank you. Um, I am not typically known for being a very patient person. So if you had told me last February when we opened up the public hearing on the first version of this ordinance that we would not be passing it the next week, the next month, the next year, but 14 months later, 15 months later, we would be back looking at this ordinance again, I probably would not have thought that that was something I could handle. But I am so glad that we took the time that we did. And I think it's actually, I was saying to some of my colleagues earlier, I think it's been interesting to see some of the framing of this process in some of the media about how it took so long to get this ordinance done. And when the council heard pushback, they stopped and they took the time to engage their critics and figure it out as though that's a negative thing. And I think that says so much about our politics today that taking the time to get it right and engaging the people who don't agree with you and trying to get to a point where you can all stand here, as people did today, and say, it's not perfect, but we're excited about it, that that's a ding on us somehow. I think that is what government should be. We've had 19 public meetings, including the public input group meetings, including the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Disabilities, including the Parks Commission, including me or Jacket going in person to every one of our district councils. We have had our parks and public works departments working together on this ordinance, which is not just process, but it's actually also the outcome. Because at the end of the day, the only way this ordinance works is when parks and public works work together and have the relationships in place to do that. And as a result of the last 16 months, they have developed those relationships. So they'll be ready to hit the ground running implementing this ordinance on day one. We don't just have an ordinance. We have standard operating procedures. That was something that we heard loud and clear from community members. We didn't just want the high level. The details are what matter, and we need the details to be adapted to. And those details, by the way, to Mr. Todd's point, include a requirement to evaluate the ordinance annually to see how it's doing. And I think that's something that we should include more often in our legislation. And we did all of this process because trees matter deeply. We knew that before we started this, but if we have learned anything throughout this process, it is something that has become patently clear. They are deeply personal. The tree outside your house on your boulevard feels like, in some cases, a member of your family. Every single one of our wards has a project that we can point to where trees were not given a voice. and where there have been sometimes devastating consequences that people remember for years. And so this time that we put in was, I think, in honor of the importance of what we're doing. And I'm really grateful that we took it. And I just want to finally extend my thanks to the public input group, to our Parks and Public Works staff, and to the incredible Megan Jeckett, without whom absolutely we would not be here. So thank you to everyone. And with that, we are not going to do anything right now. Although, I would welcome anybody else who would like to make any comments while we have folks here to testify, including our attorney.

I'm being told that I think some of the first speakers to this item, the video was cut out. So maybe we would offer them the opportunity to speak again because it wasn't part of the public record.

So apparently the video feed was not working for the first couple of speakers, so if people would like to repeat their comments. Alternately, we could still accept written comments.

We could accept written comments.

I mean, I wrote mine down. I can read them. I'll skip the part about Megan.

All right. So I'm going to make a motion to reopen the public hearing. All in favor, say aye. Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is reopened.

One opposed. Welcome back.

Thank you very much. I mean, welcome up. We're pretending like this never happened. Sorry.

my name's tom darling i'm a member of the board of the summit avenue residential preservation association or sarpa i was on the public input group that worked on the ordinance and the sops and i want to start by saying that we all owe a debt of gratitude to megan jackett From beginning to end, Megan has been a force to be reckoned with. Megan got the ordinance done. I admire her greatly. I thank her sincerely, and we should all applaud her. Now, moving on, I and SARPA support the draft ordinance. It is far from perfect. However, that said, the draft ordinance and the SOPs, in my view, should yield the important result of giving trees a real and meaningful seat at the table when city construction projects are being considered and implemented. It is crucial to emphasize that this is a tree preservation ordinance. It is not a tree replacement ordinance. Trees must be preserved. They cannot meaningfully be replaced. Mature trees, once gone, will not be replaced for decades and decades. When this city council passes this ordinance, you will be elevating tree preservation above replacement, and that's how it should be. Once this ordinance is passed, you as the City Council members must be diligent in making sure that it is being implemented consistent with its intent. Parks and Public Works must also work to implement it honestly and fairly. They must not only seek community input, they must listen to it and act upon that input. This ordinance cannot just be a feel-good exercise which we use to proclaim our love of trees and to pat ourselves on the back. It must work, and for it to work, a tree preservation ethos must be real, and both the spirit and the words of the ordinance must be honored. Thank you.

Thank you so much. We got the whole testimony. So thank you, and make sure to sign it. With that, is there anyone else who wishes to testify on this item? I'll see any. I will move to close the public hearing. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed. Any other comments from my colleagues? Ms. Johnson.

I would just share just kind of what I have witnessed over the last year and, I guess, what, 15, you said 15 months. So I'll just share that I think when any time community members share the feedback that an ordinance is not perfect, that is when I feel like the process itself must have been incredibly credible because sometimes ordinances and laws are, you know, they're not perfect. They don't cover everything in order to get to the place where we all agree may be the most common good. And so in so many of the spaces, and I think just even when this was first introduced, I remember when this was first introduced, and I also remember our inboxes after, followed by just where we are now with even the testifiers and the testimony today, just want to say I'm super supportive of not only this ordinance but i think just the overall intentionality that went into crafting it because the reality is that this ordinance does touch everywhere across the city and you know each council member i'm sure has heard if they have heard what i've heard a significant uh growing interest in preserving our tree canopy here on especially on the east side we have some of the greatest climate action disparities when it comes to just all of the things And often it is related to the amount of trees we do not have in my community. And in so many of the spaces, I think that ordinances like this that really just take the time to try to gather input on all different sides, no matter where folks were coming from from this, but also educate community members along the way, If that took a year and a half, so be it. I think it's just really important what we got to this point. And so I do also appreciate the work of the War II office. I know that the praises I've been saying for Megan Jeckin on the record, and I think that that's super important. I also think the work of Director Rodriguez and our parks staff and our parks team are very notable as well. And then I think for every community member who decided that this was important enough to invest the ample amount of time in which you have on this ordinance, I also think that that's just truly what makes the process important and credible. And I think it'll be really important to some of the questions raised today on the record that it's very clear that in the future ordinances, as well as their enforcement mechanisms, as well as their investments, This is going to take a lot of effort in the forefront to continue to have that. There is a price tag affiliated with it, as with any policy that we put forward or ordinance that we put forward. And at the same time, it'll be important to that accountability piece to watch it over time. Because the good part is that we have to start somewhere. And I think that we have a solid starting ground. So just want to share that. Our office will be joining in as a co-sponsor. I don't see ourselves listed. So I want to fix that before next week. but truly supportive of the effort that has went into it. And I know that there is a lot of folks watching it, and for people who couldn't give up the amount of time that some of you have, we thank you on behalf of the city. Thanks.

Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Other discussion? Ms. Bowie.

Thank you, Council President. I also just want to reiterate what was said. I really appreciate the testifiers coming here and sharing what the progress was. And just even as a council member, seeing the evolution of this ordinance, of it being truly community driven, and this was the grassroots as it gets in terms of how do we preserve and create ordinances and policies to do something that the city just inherently wasn't doing automatically. So we don't take any of that for granted. I also just think I want to highlight that this is truly a model of what it looks like for community accountability. And I know for me, particularly in my ward, especially this has been a great concern in terms of the tree canopy, the development, how infrastructure, positive, good infrastructure that we want, so it's in alignment with preserving our tree assets. I appreciate hearing too that trees should be treated as public infrastructure. That was so, so telling in terms of what are the assets that we preserve and what's compromised in the process. I also just wanted to say kudos to ensuring that community is staying at the table. I know sometimes with government services we try not to get too much into the weeds, but it seems like this body was all into the weeds and all part of the process. I know that's usually not the case, but I think this is a great opportunity for us to get to the root of what community engagement actually looks like and the outcome and the byproduct of that community engagement. And I just want to just say to, you know, I think it's really important. Good policy is built at the speed of trust. And this obviously took a lot of time because we needed to build that relationship. We needed to build that trust. And we can only build that trust by having these conversations, by making these commitments and making sure it's really clear and tangible. in terms of what the standard that we're holding not only the city to, but also the accountability to our neighbors and people that we serve every day. So I think pushback is always good. Tension is always good. Collaboration is always good. So I'm just happy to just get one step closer to actually approving this.

Thank you, Ms. Bui. Any other discussion? Seeing none, this will lay over to.

The item is laid over to July 15th for final adoption. Legislative hearing consent agenda items 40 through 49 are before you for your consideration.

Ms. Zimney. Oh, had to not do my automatic performance. Welcome. Good afternoon, council members.

Council President and Council Members. We have one item, I believe, to be pulled for separate consideration. That is item number 43, related to 683 Kansas.

Item number 43, RLH FCO 26-51, appeal of Ambe McKenzie, tenant of Unit 5, to a fire certificate of occupancy correction notice at 683 Kansas Avenue.

Ms. Zimney. Council President, Council Members, this is an appeal of a fire correction order dated June 9th. It had a handful of items on it, mostly related to some plumbing issues, holes throughout, some walls that needed to be repainted. Some repairs are significant, but they didn't rise to the level of needing to be condemned and vacated. The appellant did indicate in the hearing some continued frustrations with the landlord hood Reports the Department of Safety and inspections. I did want to flag According to our research. There was no historic records of complaints or allegations for this property All that is in front of you today is those current orders from June 9th and the recommendation is to grant until August 7th for compliance with these orders and I do believe the appellant has pursued other avenues, court with other jurisdictions, that the city does not have any jurisdiction over.

Thank you, Ms. Emne. And just before we open up the public hearing, can you clarify what those orders are?

Yep.

What needs to be corrected by August 7th?

Yep. I can show you some pictures, but the... The report given by Supervisor Keith Demarest, the findings included kitchen drain line dripping, upstairs bathtub overflowing through the ceiling, heat deflector shield removed from heater in the kitchen. There were a couple smoke alarms that were removed. Those are obviously the biggest issues at this time. They were in the kitchen and the basement. Some repairs and holes in the vanity upstairs. There's some bubbling in the ceiling upstairs. Again, the repainting and throughout, basically. Condensation causing dirt on the walls that needs to be cleaned and likely repainted on a new vent fan upstairs.

And these, to be clear, are orders to the tenant or to the property owner? The property owner is ultimately responsible for these repairs. And so the appeal of the tenant in a case where there's no vacate order, I'm trying to understand.

No, the tenant has continued frustrations with the landlord not addressing some of these issues. This did start in February. So there was multiple visits to the property, orders issued, nothing done. I believe that was February 18th. March 5th, April 9th, new orders, nothing done. May 8th, new orders, nothing done. So that leads us to here.

So the tenant is appealing the orders to the property owner.

He's appealing the orders because he disagrees with, I think, perhaps the time given Which, again, is to August 7th of the month.

I will let him speak. Responsibilities on the property owner to make the repairs. Correct. Okay. Thank you so much. Ultimately, yes. I think don't go too far. This is a public hearing. Welcome up. Hello. You'll have two minutes. Make sure you start with your.

That wasn't really correct.

Sir, I'm so sorry. Can you start with your name and where you're coming from? And then you'll have two minutes and make sure you focus on what your ask is of us.

Okay. I'm Bay McKenzie. Do I use my time to correct what she did?

You have two minutes to make your ask of us.

Okay. Well, that's incorrect. That isn't why I'm here. I'll let this kind of read itself.

To St. Paul City Attorney. Lindsay Olson and Minnesota Attorney General.

Well, I'll just read it. This is to the St. Paul... Shit, it's kind of re-escalated. And you're Rebecca Nolker. So my issue was... You had already visited our property. This is a property with $3.8 million worth of damages. That was in April of last year, 2025. So this is just like Heritage Park over in North Minneapolis. So my issue is with also the maintenance property solutions. I have a video of them stealing some of the materials I took from my house. St. Paul to North Minneapolis Heritage Park. These guys targeted us, went in the garage, and stole from us. They also stole from me at my home, which is how I knew they steal. They come in. They say they're going to repair, let's say, the exhaust fan. The exhaust fan is still missing. The exhaust fan was took out in July. I moved in in June. I was coached out of my place in April when the check from Doge for that property was denied, $3.8 million worth of damages. They knew that when they called me a vulnerable adult with a vulnerable child to this property with that fraud housing company and this company, that VISTA. So they used us to pay all this money but won't repair nothing. So my daughter failed during Zoom court. The judge hurried up and dismissed my case because this was caught on camera. Dismissed it with prejudice just because I couldn't see or he couldn't hear me on Zoom. So now my case is in the trash. I'm here because I feel like MPHA, when they told us at the Heritage Park meeting that they don't pay for properties with this type of damage. Yet and still, we're all black and they're paying for it. So how does that work? You know what I mean? So when it comes to the law, I got laws I've brung up. Nothing's being respected. None and nobody from the property wants to come here, come to court, because the way I'm getting retaliated on every violation after that April when I filed an ETRA to ask the court to stop them from coming in my house, stealing from me. I got video. I got proof.

Sir, I'm sorry. You're out of time. Can you tell us what your ask is of us? What is your ask of us?

Well, I don't really know what my ask is, but I'm still fighting is what I'm saying. I'm going to keep fighting, and I'm trying to figure out where I go from here. So I came to the city of St. Paul to find out where do I go from here. Any other people that are afraid to come here that don't want to go in no courtrooms or anything like that, where do they go from here? Because we spent the whole winter with no heat, no hot water, leaking ceiling. My daughter bedroom, just the hole in the ceiling that you're talking about, that's a leak. But the inspector too. There's other things still wrong with the property he will not address. He's covering it up for them. The electrical outlets that are popping from the space heaters we had to use all winter.

I need you to wrap up now, but I heard your ask loud and clear. So you can take a seat. We'll talk about what you just shared. Make sure you sign in. Thank you so much. Is there anyone else here to testify on this item? Seeing none, I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. All in favor, say aye. Aye.

All opposed? Seven in favor, none opposed. The public hearing is closed. All right.

And we will take, it looks like there are a couple of questions or comments. Ms. Bowie?

Yeah, I just have, just for the correction of the record, because the appellate, it says Ambie McKenzie. He had mentioned David McKenzie. I'm just wondering if he is the actual appellant or if this is a, he's testifying. I don't know.

Ambie McKenzie. Oh, excuse me. OK.

I just wanted to make sure we heard that correctly. OK. Thank you. Thanks, Ms. Billy.

Ms. Johnson? OK. And along that vein, is Mr. McKenzie the owner of 683?

So the- Occupant.

OK. So you're a tenant within 683 Kansas. OK.

I'll have the blanket on.

OK. So I'm happy to make the motion and then maybe. Yeah, you can make the motion, but I do have a question for clarification.

So what it sounds to me like is that there are issues within the property that need to be corrected. And there is some dispute as to how those issues got there, as to the payment for those issues. and as to the amount of time it's taken to get those issues corrected. My inclination and my motion will be to approve, deny the appeal, and approve the legislative hearing officer's recommendation to grant until August 7th for compliance because I want the property owner to make these repairs. And that is what this is ordering to be done. But I am hearing Mr. McKenzie say, is that you're not going to stop fighting, and you need help with the situation with your landlord and with other things that are going on. Thank you, sir. We're not going to have any more testimony, but what I'm going to do is talk to you after this meeting so we can figure out how my office can be of help to you. But I don't think a way to help is to remove this responsibility from the property owner. I think we want this issue corrected, and the city needs to stand with you in getting that issue corrected. So that will be my motion. And I don't know if that's denying the appeal.

Denying the appeal.

Denying the appeal. OK. So that's my motion. Is there discussion of the motion? Ms. Johnson.

OK. I appreciate that motion. I'll be supportive of that motion, I think in part because I guess what I'm wondering, how do we get to the appeal process in which an occupant of a property has to appeal in order to get some of the concerns looked at? So I am curious about what happens afterwards. Because this is a unique situation in which the appellant is not actually the owner. He's a tenant. Seems like they're not actually in opposition to the piece here, but is mentioning more and more things that is wrong with the property. And then I heard you say that there has been no prior history of complaints on the property. So what about now? And what happens afterwards?

So when the August 7th date comes, they will re-inspect. If these items aren't done, then it's upon the department to take further action how they choose to do that. It's kind of up to them. They could condemn it. They could order it vacated. OK.

Yeah, that was a line along the lines of my curiosity as well because we want both the Property owner to be responsible to fix the issues and I'm seeing it's a fire certificate of occupancy. So that means that If it is condemned or whatever the city chooses to take afterwards. I'm not saying that's the end results, but I That would then mean if a unit doesn't have a certificate of occupancy that means they cannot be occupied So I think like I'm supportive of this motion and I'm looking forward to sort of the follow-up from our departments to ensure that they stick to this timeline because I wrote down you know, February 18th, March 5th, April 9th, May 8th, you know, I think what I'm hearing from the testifier and the tenant is, like, what is the means to the end here? So looking forward to support the motion, but just recognizing that without a certificate of occupancy, this unit can't be occupied, and that means that someone needs housing. So I'm supportive of the motion.

Sorry, I see your hand. We're not going to take public testimony. I will come talk to you as soon as we're done, though, and hear your further comments. Any further comments on this item from colleagues? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed?

Seven in favor, none opposed. The resolution is adopted as amended.

Ms. Zimney, is there anything else to come before us for separate consideration?

I don't believe that there's anything else.

In that case, we will hold. A public hearing on all of the legislative hearing items that we have not yet held a public hearing on, 40 through 49. If there is anyone else here to testify on any of the other items, this is your public hearing. Please come on up. Not seeing anyone, I will take a motion from Ms. Kim to close the public hearings and approve the legislative hearing 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. I'm looking to my colleagues to see if there's any good news or news from the wards. Sorry, Vice President.

Thank you, Council President. This is in two weeks. However, I still wanted to get ahead of the game in sharing it. I'm doing an award budget event. It's going to be on Tuesday, July 21, from 6 PM to 7.30 PM at the Hazel Park Recreation Center. It's an opportunity for board six residents neighbors to attend this community conversation with me to learn about our city's budget Understand the opportunities and challenges have ahead and share their priorities for our st Paul's future Also, the second thing I wanted to share is that as you all know Hayden Heights library is getting renovated right now the same public libraries is they just put out a call for artists so that we can start taking in applications from artists who want to share that they qualify for this project so that they can do a mural in the library. So it's going to be really exciting. You can check out the St. Paul Public Library's website for more information. Thank you so much.

Other good news or news? Ms. Just. Thank you, Council President. I'll just share again that the Hamlin Midway Library is opening on Saturday, July 18th. The opening celebration is 10.30 to 2.30, so it starts with a story time. I hope everyone can come stop by. And the library actually opens at 10 a.m. that day, so you can come even earlier if you want. So I hope to see everybody there. It's really exciting to see this finally coming to completion for the community. Thanks, Ms. Just. Ms. Johnson.

Thank you, Council President. The Southeast Community Organization, or SECO as we call it on the east side, is doing a housing forum on Monday night, 6.30 to 8. I'll be joining Commissioner Mai Chong-Jung to talk a little bit about just quite a few different housing initiatives that are happening both at the city and at the county. And so we do this, we have done this, I think, both years in the past, and this is our third time around, but It's always great. It's always a full room with people who are talking, renters, homeowners. Everyone can come. It's open to the public. It's at the Seco office, so 2105 Half Old Hudson Road in Sunray. It's in the Sunray Shopping Center area. So you can come out. And they usually always have food. So if they don't this time, you can blame me. But I'll take you out. But you should be able to come out. It's open. And it's from 6.30 again to 8 on Monday. Thanks, Ms. Johnson. Ms. Coleman.

Two quick things. Really excited to share that we have the ribbon cutting today at the South St. Anthony Park Park, which is 890 Cromwell Avenue. It's amazing. I'm very excited to take my toddler there this weekend. I recommend checking it out. It's a really great new park. I'm really excited and grateful for all of the Parks Department work to make that happen. And the other item is that this Friday, the Commonwealth Community Council D10 is having their ice cream social. It's technically right across the border in Ward 5 at the streetcar station. That's Friday evening. So it should be a lot of fun and a good way to cool down on a very, very hot weekend. Yes.

Awesome. There's so much going on. Any last good news?

This is a last news not from the war is actually a word to downtown, but we excited I think this is our first meeting or maybe our second meeting where we have came from the Osborne 370 building but on the fourth floor the there will be a AI Magic Night, St. Paul Summer Edition. It's actually hosted by this consulting group that is at the Osborne 370. And it was a group of young guys who were super eager and excited to invite us. I said, probably will not have the time to actually make it, but it's today. at 5.30 to 9, fourth floor. It's an experience where they're going to be demonstrating their AI products. And people can work and interact with their AI products between 5.30 to 9 PM. And they have it on a quarterly basis. So I think it's kind of cool to advertise what's going on at the Osborne.

I thought you were going to say there's a fizzy machine, but that would not really be news. That's just on the fourth floor. All right. Thank you all so much for the great news and for the productive day. With that, we are adjourned.