City of Saint Paul, MN Council Meeting

In the same city council to order rll call, please home Johnson's yeah. Here comes PRESIDENT Maker here. 6 present one. Absent in Councilmember Johnson, she is excused. Thank you all so much for joining us. For city Council meetings day and welcome to our council chambers. It's really exciting to see some very young civic engage or here with us today. So welcome. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance I mean, I and to public which one under GOD.

Incentive end items to for 15 or before you for your consideration. I know we are taking items 13 15 for separate consideration. Is there anything else to be pulled from consent? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from Vice PRESIDENT Kim to approve the balance of the consent agenda. All in favor say Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The consent agenda is adopted as amended and you want 15 0st 15 years since their ok? You so I 13 is resolution. 26 dash. 58 amending appendix a to have the administrative code relating City Council committees and and this resolution. I'm gonna move a layover to FEBRUARY 11th that just needs a little bit more So. As my motion, any discussion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. I opposed 6 in favor. None oppose. The resolution is laid over to FEBRUARY 11 item number 15 is resolution. 26 dash one 79 proving the mayor's appointment of Internet intergovernmental relations director, director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety Record, the Office of Financial Empowerment co-directors of the Department of Human Resources.

So this is really exciting. We get officially approved some folks. We have been approved yet where the men we get to officially approve. Some folks who aren't here so we won't be swearing them in and we get to officially swear. And some folks we already approved. But we can handle it. We can. We can handle complexity of this body. So just because in a moment we're going to our officials come up and be sworn in all of the same time and all say their names at exactly the same time, which will make it difficult to hear their individual names. I will just clarify that we are approving the mayor's appointments of intergovernmental relations. Director General Rourke, director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety said Rick Baker, director of the Office of Financial Empowerment, Marcus Owens, interim coach, directors of the Department of Human Resources. Jason Schmidt added a and assistant mayors who have already been approved.

That will now be sworn-in Erica Schumacher, New Vang and linger. Really excited to do. This will will take the vote and then we will welcome you up for swearing in. So I will make the motion for approval. Is there any discussion of that motion? Seeing none all in favor say Aye. All post 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted. Welcome up. And please come up with your families. And congratulations. It's really get to 6 says to baby sport new to grand time. was. To please raise your students from If he actually I

State your name. Solis, where it's always to support the Constitution stations of the United States and of the state of Minnesota and the state of Minnesota into district faithfully discharge. Stay duties. Devolving upon all about me as state your time and city of Santa all to the best of my judgment and Congratulations. We're excited to continue working

With you. Might have in the queue to swearing and we've ever Item number 16 is final adoption of ordinance. 26 dash, 2 changing references in the legislative and administrative codes from animal control to animal services and correcting typographical errors. So for those of you who are joining us for the first time or one of our first time, millions of viewers at home. We have 3 readings for ordinances. So our first reading when it's first introduced, we have a staff report to tell everyone what we're considering our second reading the next week as a public hearing wen we can hear the public's comments on what we're proposing and our 3rd reading the final week is final adoption. Sometimes we have a couple extra weeks in there if we need more time to work on an ordinance. But that's the minimum. So you'll see here that we have some items today for final adoption. Those have already had 2 readings at least before some items for first reading in some ordinances ae here today for public hearings.

And we'll also have other items for public hearing. So this item is before us for final adoption. And I'll take a motion from believe to approve. There any discussion of that motion? Seeing none all in favor say Aye. Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The ordinance is adopted. Take a motion from vice PRESIDENT Came to suspend the rules to consider ordinance 26 Dash 6 all in favor say aye. I opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. Rules are suspended ordinance 26 Dash 6 adding chapters to to the legislative code to require law enforcement officers performing law enforcement duties to visibly display identification and the outermost layer of their uniform. Vice PRESIDENT Kim. staff report. Welcome, MR. Greenfield. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT Council, vice PRESIDENT And members of his point of a slideshow quick. As we discussed last week, the city council is taking a phased sequence approach to our policies and ordinances in response to the an action that our city is suffering the weight under.

And among those actions that the council committed itself will product second reading regarding access to city. Lots. But the item that I'm discussing today is that is introduced. 26 Dash 6, which requires law enforcement officers in the city of Saint Paul performing law enforcement duties to display visible identification. I'm just gonna pause one second, MR. Greenfield can are of folks media services make sure that we can see this. Also on the tv screen below, Greenfield, thank you. Get Spurs. So a brief overview of the odinance. It's relatively straightforward. It adds a new chapter to our legislative code and the intent and recognition behind this language is that transparency and accountability in law enforcement operations are essential to maintaining the public trust. And that same poll residents have the right to know and be aware of an officer's identity and agency affiliation to be able to discern various law enforcement officers that have the capacity to detain and arrest an individual in the city.

Without knowledge of the law enforcement agency. There is no way for a person to report or holding officers accountable for unprofessional behavior or misconduct. Even in instances of violence or illegal activity. And with the rising ubiquitous use of face coverings is a lack of visible names. Officer identification, identifying information of an officer's uniform. The failure to be clearly and conspicuously identifiable as law enforcement has raised significant concerns for public safety that are spelled out in the ordinance resolution and the whereas clauses of the resolution. But also our part of a recognition that the council shares and bringing this forward that it serves both the public interest and public safety officials to require this display of insignia as it makes clear to law enforcement itself who is legitimate and who isn't? So identification under the terms of the ordinance as I describe in the middle bullet point is the crux of the requirement that when alaw enforcement officers performing duties in the city, they are to visibly display their identification on the outermost layer of their uniform identification includes both the name of the playing the officer and either a name or a badge number or name and badge number that details identifying information of the officer.

Some other terms that are defined in the ordinance include law enforcement agencies. So this is a definition to capture all forms of law enforcement that with the authority to detect apprehend persons for violating federal, state or local laws. The definition of a law enforcement officer. And of importance. The definition of what constitutes law enforcement duties. We want to make sure that this requirement applies in very specific circumstances, including proactive patrols on foot Oran or in a vehicle when an officer is performing in detention or arrest of an individual or is deployed for crowd control purposes. And also the definition of visibly display is a classic lawyers definition of reasonably visible to a member of the public within the law enforcement officer interacts. There are some exemptions from the requirement that have been captured in when this idea has been for brought forth and other areas in other jurisdictions. So they're an initial set of exemptions that were hoping to work for Lutheran, carify if there are any additional ones that have been brought forth by our law enforcement partners.

But the existing language in 26 Dash 6 provides that a officer must display identification except under the following circumstances act of undercover operations are investigative activities, exigent circumstances, which has a lot more lengthy in the text of the ordinance when there is a specific, articulate bull and particular allies reason to believe that displaying it would be a significant danger to the officer itself when complying with applicable laws governing occupational health and reasonable accommodations. So some of those again are illegal terms of art that apply to specific situations. But I think in most situations that would apply where an officer would not just play identification would likely be in and under the first circumstance or the second persons. And then of course, the criminal penalty that's attached pursuant to our legislative code is provided by Section 1.5 that a law enforcement officer who willfully and knowingly violates ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor. Maybe sentenced to either and imprisonment a fine or both.

This will be effective. 30 days after passage signature by the mayor and publication in the city's newspaper. Great. Thanks so much, MR. Greenfield, I would look to my colleagues to see if there any questions about the vice PRESIDENT As Thank you, Council PRESIDENT. Thank you, MR. Greenfield, I do have a question about the exemption just because, you know, it's really important that we just have our ordinance have as much in force main and strengthen teeth as as possible for the one of the exemptions you had if particularly if there's threat or danger of the officer was like to cite that. Is that like is that exemption? Is that backed by like a state statue are is that is what type of ground do we have to actually include that as exemption? Is this something that city attorneys is recommending or is this something that we've been seeing in other cities are maybe at other agencies?

To have that level of exemption include ordinance. If we're talking about clauses 2, 3, I will say their specific in paragraph b, they are specific legal terms that have been brought forth in this draft from researching other jurisdictions in particular, California's legislation that was enacted and signed into law has a visible display of identification requirement that speaks to these exemptions. So believe that's the source of yeah, I want be specific. So it is item. Number 3, a class, 3 fr us as Pacific article. We put your cold reason to believe I'm sorry thing that is language has pulled from California. I believe so. Thank He's any other questions. Thanks much, MR. Greenfield, thank you. Don't go too far. And as I really appreciate it. So with the leadership of my colleagues council being house for Coleman. We are aggressively pushing out a scheduled in Sequential. Ordinances again, it's to remind folks that, you we put everything into the separation ordinance and realize that the parts that weren't ready, we're holding up the parts that we're ready.

And so this is responsive to can sicken sense of our constituents. We are utilizing every legislative power. And most importantly, we are bringing forward ordinances that can be enforceable. And I think more now more than ever. I think our our citizens are asking not just for, you know, something that is unenforceable and doesn't actually protect our residents. So please stay tuned. We're going to be rolling out many of these in the next following weeks. And of course, meeting with department heads and making sure that their concerns and their interactions with federal agents right now are also built into their ordinance policy or procedure. And a personal person out. This one responsive to this moment in time, but also responsive to the egregious assassination of our speaker emeritus Hartman. A man mask pretending to be an agent registered or as we all know. And so I think for me personally, I'm sure for a lot of folks here and the city of Minnesota, this is a great to our Speaker America son Lfg.

Thanks. Vice PRESIDENT Thank you council PRESIDENT. While cause of ice PRESIDENT Everything that you share there. It's really been an honor working with you and also customer comment on and the important life-saving policies that we have here. I am I wanted to express a thank you to wonderful city attorneys who've been putting in so much time reviewing and supporting us with the language ante Un Teresa, have been in many meetings with us. Thank you. Also to our chief policy Officer. Tim, thank you again for for the wonderful presentation there. I and just very grateful to to the mayor's office for their collaboration with us. I really appreciate their willingness to these are responsive to the very aggressive timeline that you want to work on, knowing that it's constituents who are asking for these for us to take action right away. And that's exactly what we're doing. And so that when I just think about why this this legislation is so important is because they we are seeing it in real time.

The consequences of not having like the beat on these sort of policies where it you actually sure like who is that agent that you're seeing? Are they an officer? They with ice? Are they with Homeland security, the operations that back in NOVEMBER where operations to take place on Rose Avenue. There were many residents who came and testified in front of asking us like you know, who are these officers? We asked them for their badge number, but they didn't give it to us. And so we want accountability want transparency. So that's, you know, a clear example. I've been seeing so many videos and hearing so many stories about pople just being living in fear like wondering, who are these people just hopping out of cars, taking somebody violently, putting them in the car and that's driving off. I mean, this kidnapping. This is terrible. And so I feel so strongly about this. And so grateful for leadership.

This council who is so clear of all why this must be passed. Looking forward to the final vote and just another thing I wanted to share, too is I've also videos where like every agent that you see like in groups together like they have, they're wearing. That's that state police on And like we don't actually know what that means. And so it's causing so much confusion to our city here where people are contacting us thinking, okay, like are police officers and so it's really just creating confusion. There is really a disservice and and really just pulls us away from actually that he would to do the work that we want to do in supporting residents of protecting them. And so I think overall, this is just a very well rounded policy that makes sense and will provide clarity to everybody. So I'm very excited for that. Thank you as saying. Thank you, council PRESIDENT. Thank you, MR.

From Field for the excellent overview thanks to council Vice PRESIDENT Kamala Khan, some their partnership on this work. Just want to underscore thing that that come up when we introduced Hernandez. 26 5 last week and that came up several expected policy committee meeting from Deputy City attorney Ali hold about how there is a separation ordinance. And I think the work that we're doing as kind of an extension of the official Separation Israeli grounded in establishing public safety in public trust. Are seeing in this moment. A real dearth of public safety because of the actions of federal agents on our streets. But we're also seeing a fraying of public trust and that doesn't justified a federal to public trust in the federal government and federal law enforcement, but also to local government and local law enforcement. And I think it is one of the incredible harms that we are experiencing in this moment. So one thing that I just want to make very clear is that visible identification is already the policy for our Saint Paul Police Department, our law enforcement officers who work for the people of Saint Paul will always be identifiable when they're out in the community in any way.

This is standard operating procedure in our department. It is essential that it be how any law enforcement off officer operate in our city for all the reasons that my colleagues and Mr Greenfield have shared I is essential for people to know who they are, engaging with, what authority they have, what their jurisdiction is. It is also essential for accountability after the fact when there's misconduct, we have had numerous conversations in this room and out in community about how we don't have every tool that we want to have to hold. Ice and other federal agents accountable in this moment. But we know that there will ultimately be accountability and there will be a reckoning for the harm that has been inflicted on our community in order for that to happen. We need to know who is causing the harm. We need to know who these agents are and we need to have this record both for now and in the future.

So and of course, very supportive of this looking forward to the public hearing on the matter next week. Thanks so much was coming. And I want echo the thanks to add to all 3 of my colleagues. As well as to all of us to the city attorneys, the staff, we are moving at breakneck speed to introduce these policies it's because of the hard work, the dedication and the sense of urgency all of us are feeling from our constituents right nw. So so thank you for all the work that's gotten us to this point. Any other comments. Otherwise this item will over till next week for public hearing. We're gonna have a public hearing momentarily legislation introduced just last week related to federal agents in our public parking Thank you, council PRESIDENT. I do want to just echo everything that was Really appreciate the heartbreak of our staff are attorneys and our Fearless Council members who just really been.

Leading this work. I look to support this ordinance. I also look to strengthen it. I do want to just share some of the things particularly about like the devil in the details. And I share in this particularly around my values and how I want to approach anything that we passed regarding how we can make our residents are safe and also clarify the roles of our law enforcement. I have high level of of creating exemptions are even possible loopholes for any agency, especially our own to not conceal our to to, to conceal their identity. We have seen, particularly in the recent tragedy of the killing of Alex Pretti that, you know, a Border Patrol director and also the secretary have like just blatantly shared lies about their officers being threatened. I don't ever a loophole or anything subject of to an officer being are filling threat. And that is a reason why they cannot actually identify or display they're they're now identity, but like their badges.

So that is something that, you know, as we are looking at this ordinance and if it comes up in public hearing, I and I do feel real strongly of removing that language. Also look to our attorneys to just no gifts on like legal backing some more information around like how this actually like withstand in California. And, you know, are these like is a legal framework to protect us from potential lawsuits. Really want to know that information, but I think the spirit of this ordinance, I definitely support just having more clarity and more trust right? So able to identify like which level of police are which form of there on our streets. But I also wanted to just, you know, as someone who has like advocated around public police accountability, you know, whenever there polls, we have seen agencies like weaponize that. And I just don't want to give any grounds for any type of loopholes exemptions to take place that will further erode the trust between communities.

Thank you. Me. Just everyone is where this is one of those reasons why sometimes ordinances to take a little bit longer. If, for example. Council members want to introduce amendments to those ordinances so that to to refine what we've seen in first reading, if we have an amendment before the public hearing next week, then we will be able to hold a public hearing adopt it on schedule the next week. If the amendment comes in after next week's public hearing, if it's substantive, we would like they have to have another public hearing next week. So anyone who's interested bringing amendments and wants to do so before the public hearing next week, I think that will help us keep on track if it's afterwards. That's fine. We'll just tickled and so. Thanks everyone for the robust discussion. And this item item is laid over to FEBRUARY 4th for second reading public hearing item number 17 is ordinance 26 Dash 4 granting the application of violent company to rezone 4.

I one light industrial parcels to be 5 Central Business Service. So this brings us to the public hearing section of our agenda. First, 2 items are ordinances for public hearing and they've had a first reading last week when we heard what they're about for any of the public hearings. When we get to your number and I say this is a public hearing, is there anyone here to testify on this item? That'll be your cue to move out to the front pharma line. If there's a lot of folks, you can form a line of both sides. The 2 microphones right there don't need to be adjusted. They will pck you up just fine and you can stand up straight. You don't need to worry about leaninover towards them. And you'll have 2 minutes to testify. Please start with your name and where you're coming from. 2 minutes to go by quickly. And I unfortunately do need to keep you to the 2 minutes.

But there's lots of other ways to give us testimony, including online and in-person and offices. So want to make sure we keep everyone to the same amount of time and you can after you're done sign in on one of the 2 Senate seats, other side of the microphones. So with that, this is a public hearing for item 17. If you're here to testify, this is a public hearing. Come on up. Seeing none. I'll take a motion from MISS Coleman to close the public hearing. Ali, the matter over till FEBRUARY for us for final adoption. All in favor say Aye. Our post 6 in favor. None opposed the ordinance. Public hearing is closed. Ordinance is laid over to FEBRUARY 4th for final adoption. Item number 18 is ordinance 26 Dash 5 adding chapter to 68 to the legislative code to prohibit law enforcement staging operations on City Council on properties and limit access to nonpublic city spaces and before the public hearing.

I'm actually gonna move version at 2 of this item. This is an example of amending it before the public hearing. And at this is actually add and some properties that are controlled by the city but MAY not be owned by the city. So, for example, our housing and redevelopment Authority, our library agency in between last week and this week, we identified that we might want include some more parking lots in public spaces. So that's what that's what version to does. So move version. 2. And let's take a vote on that in the middle of the public hearing on version 2. So any discussion of the motion? On favor Persian to say aye opposed to 6 in favor. None oppose. The amendment is approved. All right. So this is a public There's anyone here to speak on this item. Please come on up. And if anyone else is here become the enemy, can just line up.

In the meantime, welcome. Mine and so live in track down. And I just want to say appreciate how quickly tat trying to get these ordinances through. Well. Ensuring tat they actually do the work that you want them to do I'm just here to say that I'm in support of the ordinance. So that ice can not use city controlled or owned tt do operations. People shouldn't have to be afraid to use our parks and libraries. Thank you very much for coming testify and thank you for sending in. So anyone else here to speak on this item. Seeing none. I'll take a motion from is common to close the public hearing in Lee the matter over to FEBRUARY 4th for final adoption. All in favor say Aye. Aye opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The ordinance is laid over to FEBRUARY 4th for final adoption item. Number 19 is resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 6 final order approving the 2020 16 Anthony Round or carry a millon overlay project.

This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his ability to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. I'll post. 6 in favor. None opposed.

The resolution I adopted item number Twenty's resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 5 final order approving the Wheelock Grado face 2 area paving in lighting in mill and overlay project. This is a public hearing. It looks like we have a staff, of course. Well, then then we'll get right to our public. Council PRESIDENT Council, I'm Steve, that assistant city engineer for f Street engineering construction for public works and up MAY please use the voice activated. The fact that the voice activated project. You all are welcome to take a cease-fire, waiting might just be a couple minutes right to the public hearing. Sometimes the voice activation. Takes a minute. What we're waiting for that I'm filling in for project manager by Bartman this is we are going school or real propery flee the U. S. The We like Ronald Phase 2, it's reconstruction project with and someone or landing. And now that we have the have up on the screen, the is east of Lake Como. Don't buy Maryland Avenue. Dale and Arlington. And what is in Is it streets to be reconstructed and what hash is overly areas which orange and Gretel. The general. Project had 3 open

Houses between OCTOBER and JANUARY with the residents. And that included the website updates on the Emmys and notices. In general, streets in this area are poor. There. Oil Bay streets with a curved in cases 1982. Is the last time any of the any of the streets have been paved and pavement condition index. Is there below 36 the ratings 200. So what we get 33, it's pretty much Ed streets in disrepair and the we're

Talking about 2 miles of new pavement this will include new curb and gutter as we did in phase one last year. 53,000 Square Feet of sidewalk replacement in feel. And the utilities will be centuries sewer and water main replacement. The some of the storms mean is in good shape. So want to be doing laterals from short. And 3 infiltration patients to te project to meet water quality standards. For trees that are 311 existing trees. We've worked very close to forestry and the construction practices and we're able to keep the tree was down to about 53 plus trees out of the 311. We feel that's a pretty significant meant we are doing. We are moving sidewalks to go up along occur, bind to say country where doing mechanisms we can to make sure that green infrastructure is treated, as importantly is great infrastructure like sewers. Just reminder because we've got other projects coming behind us for tonight.

That all projects will have to remove trees by MARCH 31st. Ahead of the project. And that is to meet a long year endangered Species Act so that when the bats started nesting, we're not and we're not distribute them. And then as far as the cost, this is an 15 0.5 million dollar project. And 3 million dollars of that the sewer and water and the other 12,000 or 12 million, 500. By street reconstruction bonds with a portion of that. 2 million, 350,000 before assessments for both the reconstruction overlay area. That is the general staff report. I have. Any questions before you. Any questions from council? Looking around to see if there any questions. At seeing any. Thank you so much for

Having put things in context. Appreciate reference to the green infrastructure. In addition to the great infrastructure and our Tree Preservation ordinance in effect yet. But already see. Taking into account and that way to thank you. All right. So with that, this is a public hearing. So if you're here to speak on this item again, please come on up lineup, start. Your name are coming from and you'll have 2 minutes. One is first time one who just bought a home in, though we look around. There are 2 simple, several weeks ago. My wife and I were shocked and dismayed to be sent proposed special assessments. We look, Grover Street Reconstruction project totaling nearly $14,200. This is a huge cost for us as new homeowners and for neighbors. We do want to do our part, but Id also like to us to consider sharing more of this cost of of the worst project with the entire community benefits.

Greta Street, especially is highly trafficked and not just ue but residents of the streets also. Other streets to come through and or slow traffic and process improvement should be should more broadly by the broader community of particular. Concern to me is the fact that the components of this project been assessed separately for the Midland over late portion and the street replace a portion the effect of this is there are 2 streets addition to our house and despite went to the same overall project, we've been hit with 2 different assessments. For the same overall move into project. And that means the cost Bill to us was nearly 50% more than the special benefit cap as a state of Minnesota construction inspector understand that road maintenance needs to be done from time to time that these are complex projects agree that homeowners on these roads should contribute to improvements done on streets just into their homes. What the $9,193 special benefit cap exists for a reason and treating these 2 different aspects of the same roadway project as separate assessment Stosur convinced a special benefit cap melts even though it is meant limit assessments to the total possible.

So value movements brought to the property. Given to us that the council consider levying only one assessments are in regards to the entire overall we look open for project, not separate ones for different aspects of the same project that happened to occur on different streets. This practice unfairly disadvantages corner corner what homeowners and forces them into total assessments that are artificially hires in the special kept. This is something that my wife and I along with any other young families were looking t become first-time Homeowners establish roots in this wonderful neighborhood cannot afford. Thank you for your time. Thank you so much. Make sure to sign welcome up. if it ends from the area or 5 same kind of thing and kind of had a but a shock getting a $10,000 Bill, which is about 3 times, And you will. Real estate taxes. And

At that level. To do refinancing tool that into mortgage. It's going to cost as much 5 to $10,000 just refinance Tualatin it's just a lot of money to come up without other options. I'm just curious, given the bond rating Tripoli where double plus. With Saint Paul. There isn't a reason that Saint Paul couldn't eat, take a higher percentage in the bond offering and that it could just be rolled into property taxes. Thank Thank you very the Senate. Well, come up. Hi, good afternoon. M name is Molly happens and I'm a homeowner and the North Como neighborhood being impacted by the will of GOD owes these 2. Assessments. So I stand before you today as a disabled combat veteran. And as a resident of the North Como neighborhood, my home is in the Cuomo of the Common Subdivision and it is being impacted by both of the assessments, the paving and the lighting and the mill overlay.

When I came home from my military service, I was thrilled to be able to purchase a home with maybe a home on my military service taught me the importance of working in service. And so today I work for the Veterans of Freign War and I'm also a service disown veteran-owned business, small business owner, providing creative arts based help them honest services. The justice impacted ago incarcerated adults and end of life. Services to those experiencing grief loss end of life. As a single parent and disabled veteran, the proposed assessments to my subdivision would be a complete hardship for me. And so today I'm asking you to cap the amount a payment responsible by homeowners and taxpayers and to consider offering a scholarship or for the night financial assistance for these assessments for low income families. Adding the assessment to the property payable at a future date or a time of sale for individuals or families is not an acceptable solution, especially for veterans like myself spent years pledging our life to defend our country against enemies, both foreign and domestic home ownership is an investment and builds our community and very positive way. It lowers crime rates.

And so I am respectfully requesting you to consider my request so that we can keep homeowners in their homes and improve the neighborhood. Thank you. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign in. Good afternoon. My name's Aaron. I live in the Como Park neighborhood as well. Obviously. that are as of the city for 37 years. I've run a bike shop on Grand That being said, spend more time travel in our streets. Probably the most people and kind of more intimate level, you know, on top of te costs that we've talked about I see a lot of need throughout the city for a replacement of our roads. Appreciate what the city has done for road instruction. Cycling infrastructure. I was in favor of the tax increase and 24 to help pay for those things. We did have 2 inches of snow and ice on roads I could present to. What are our streets look like in that neighborhood?

Well, there's a certainly on Maryland raw dough. Some of the artery streets, orange and particulars on for assessment. Remarkably good shape. Contrary to was being said here. There's no potholes or snow large Yeah. The bike world. We like to fix things when we can versus replacement. And I think there's opportunities here to bring that cost for myself our neighbors to look at what options are there. To possibly repair these roads instead of completely replacing when it's appropriate. Also point out to street doesn't have a sidewalk and it's we have come a high school nearby elementary school. It's a high traffic area for pedestrians going to the lake. And there really isn't a safe way. My kids walk down the street every day. So that is not part of this project. But I would much other seat my tax dollars going towards pedestrian safety and infrastructure for them. Thank you very much. And make sure to sign Is there anyone else here to speak on this item?

Seeing none. I'm gonna take a motion from come to close the public hearing and then we will have some conversations. Much of can pose a public hearing. All in favor say Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The public hearing is closed as PRESIDENT Thank you. Steph. Some questions. Yeah, perfect. Thank you. Yes, thank you for the assessment staff to be present. Well, come up well. Good afternoon. And then Office of Financial Services and just I wanted to let you know, we're early in the process. The final order before you today is for the construction. We're still working on the assessment piece. That's why an estimated assessment. So what will happen is if you had a project, you're on the corner and a project went through on your other street, we do reduce your assessment by the amount you're paying on that one. If it is less than the current assessment. So if you pay $500 for Millen overlay here and now we're doing street reconstruction, your assessment will be reduced by $500 for just working on that.

Now, that's why this is an estimated assessment. Appreciate that. Follow-up question because they believe they heard some I have like qualifying factors for a different type of repayment plan. Can you talk about some of the options that residents can you're about to reach out to the assessment office? Sure what we have available is hardship deferral program. But there are certain - criteria. So it's over 65 homestead. The property permanently disabled, active military. They come to for the assessment. It doesn't forgive it. It just delays it. So we don't send anything over to be collected with property taxes. When it's no longer eligible, then it needs to be paid, made current or paid off at that time. Great. And then at this point, being here when we applied sort of that special special benefits assessment like? Has that been applied? So far like at this point in the process for folks receiving nothing in them now has the special benefits up process and plicy that apply to the estimates and maybe and maybe say something about what that what that is.

Yes, the anything to So. And I'm just going to read my little formal thing that I say each time. So the assessments were calculated following are approved special assessment policy. We begin with the city costs at 75% and the acessible cost at 25%. Once the assessment amount is calculated, that amount is compared to the special benefit assessment. And the final assessment as the lower of those 2. S if you can see my screen I can zoom in at all. But fr each of the projects, I give are 25% that we start with. And then on highway, Voice activated project. So you can't see it yet. Okay. I'll read it to you. How how for example on that, we lack the amount we're actually assessing is 18.6, 7%. And we like Fred of the mill and overlay it is 21.6%. Earl is 6.3 2% is the actual assessment. And Pelham is 10.4. And that's based on the special benefit Cat.

So just make sure I'm clear because folks were asking about sort of how much is paid for by everyone's property taxes, which is the general fund versus how much is assessed to the individual property owners adjacent to the street in question the maximum that would be assessed to the individual property owners is 25% of the cost. 3 quarters of that would be covered by everyone. In this case, you you always do a special benefit assessment to make sure that that's justifiable. And in this case, it's lower than 25% of the cost for all of these streets. That will be considering today. Her ex Council member council PRESIDENT Maker. They kept is based on the estimated market value. So what the special pen, if it does is if your property value is. A 500,000. Then, if the special benefits says that the estimated increase in market value is 2.0, 2, 5%, then that's the maximum that we can based on your estimated market value.

So, for example, in the world project, every property was capped by the benefit. And so this this amount represents the estimate that they've received. All right. Sounds Idon't know if I have any other questions, but i think just to reiterate to systems that come out to testify, that this is an estimate, a starting point. A special benefit has already been applied, but it sounds like there's a lot of options reaching out to the assessment office. And so, you know, reach out to our office are happy to connect. But this is very early on. So we have that that's sort of the good news. And then we have time to figure what's the best option for all of you moving forward and what asistance the city can further provide in terms of repayment plans or qualifying doctors. Thanks, PRESIDENT. And just to be clear, what's in front of us today is the final order approving the they will later on.

Once those once the work has been done. But out once we actually know the cost more specifically, we will. Then have a final order approving the assessment. Roll. So property owners will receive a public hearing. Notice in the fall when work is complete or near completion. And that will be to ratify the assessments. So then that's where they will get what their final assessment would be. We'll have another public hearing and then after that is when we would send an invoice and then the first installment which it's a 20 year assessment street Reconstruction, 10 years from Illinois overlay that would be nice and property taxes beginning in 2027. So a $10,000 bill is not due in the fall. It's $10,000 over 20 years over 20 years. Okay. Thank you so Thank you. Vice PRESIDENT, I think these are really important questions. And I will just say to the folks who came today, we've had a lot of conversations about our street reconstruction assessment policy and I think one of and there's basically 2 options.

But there's a lot of options. But the actions that we've talked about have included. Putting everything on property taxes, essentially all of us paying for all of the streets that we do in the city all the time, which would basically mean that instead of large bill when your street is done, you are receiving a bill every year for whatever street being done, but it's much smaller. The difference is and the reason why I've supported this policy over time is that when we do this kind of assessment, we can actually assess properties that normally wouldn't pay property taxes. So all of those tax exempt properties in the city of Saint Paul, if we put everything on property taxes wouldn't be paying in. So our cost actually would be higher individually over time. So. There's no find a way to do this. And there's joy for any of us in getting these kinds of bills. But I do want to just take a moment why you're here to thank you for being here and explain that that some of the reasoning that's into this process to date.

We are a policy-making body. And so we are always able reconsider policies and have discussions about that in our policy committee. So afterwards, if you contact your council member's office and on us to think that through a little bit more, there are opportunities to do that. But that's how we've landed where we're at now as he was I just wanted to counsel present Thank you so much for for a kind explaining the policy making in the q 2, and your staff. I think also add that. If we did require everyone to share the cost of repairing streets to property taxes that wouldn't be equitable because there are properties. You know, there's an increasing your property value when your street is is being repaired. And they're a wide range of property values of our homes in the city. And so that that wouldn't be as evenly distributed in terms of how much people are paying. If you live, you know, in an area where the housing values are this high you you're paying a larger proportion for values of homes that lighter.

So there's a lot of factors. I think that point that go into this policy that we've created, you it's not necessarily perfect, but best shot. But the council PRESIDENT Said were, you know, open to suggestions and considerations. Thank you. MRS. And further discussion. Otherwise motion PRESIDENT To prove the final order for the street reconstruction and then assessments will considered in the fall. All in favor say Aye. I post 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted. And number 21, resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 4 final order approving the 20 20th Earl Street, Maryland to many high street paving and lighting project. And I believe we have a staff report from MR. Great Point get the right. grab one. Okay. Sorry about that. Everlasting. That's impossible try. Maybe just move it little bit I've got a map here to come easy. Maybe they can out. Low council PRESIDENT Maker and council members. My name is Brian Graff and I'm the transportation planning lead for the Earl Street Reconstruction Project.

Today, I'm going to briefly tell you about the purpose of the project, its design and its timeline both before today and moving forward. The project is a full street reconstruction of Earl from Maryland on the North side down to Minnehaha. You can see dark red and the immature next year. We plan to reconstruct are all from Minnehaha down to burns as part of a separate but related project. And the project is funded by our common sense sales tax and assessments. So the primary purpose of the project is to improve the pavement condition of the street. That said a full full street reconstruction also gives us the opportunity to make improvements to things like traffic, safety, bicycle facilities and pedestrian mobility. So with that in mind, the project includes in street bike lanes in line with the adopted city bike plan ada curb ramp upgrades and median islands at locations with lots of bike and pedestrian crossings to try to make those safer for people on foot bike.

We've also chosen and designed that limits tree impacts as much as possible as we heard at the Open house that that was a strong value for unity, open house is plural, I should say we did a planning and design on this project throughout 2025. And early. 26 including hosting 5 community meetings between AUGUST and just recently in early JANUARY. We'll start construction this spring and I and my colleagues are happy to answer any questions you have about the project. All right. Thanks so much MR. Graph one. Any questions from anybody putting missing? All right. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to the side? The long walk. It never done before. So you're gonna be great. Hi. My name is Hannah. I live on the east side I've lived there for 14 years. We've been a strong presence. We worked the inner city non-profit for about 10 years that closed during covid.

And I'm just come boy seeing concerns regarding the assessment. I would consider the east side a lower-income neighborhood. My husband and I a both have full-time jobs and I feel like the taxes since they've lived in that neighborhood have up a lot. I only pulled up from 2021 to 2025 for the House that we're in right now 3 about 3,600 dollars in 2021. And now it's 5 $1300. So that's pretty significant. And as someone who is very familiar with the neighborhood, I have family who live in like Egan and Wilmington. And unlike what I would call very ritzy neighborhoods in my taxes are as much as there's all right now. And it's a low income neighborhood. So totally understand that work needs to be done. And I won't pretend to understand how to pay for things. And the pediatric nurse and not a professional with road work or taxes or things like that. But I just know that.

It's a lot of money. It's already couple $1000. Even if you spread it out over 20 years, that's $500 more per year. Plus, whatever increases are going to be on top of that. And I just don't feel like it's sustainable. I know that my income is more state red state, much more stable than the majority of my neighbors. I know neighbors too I had bit more of a minority on my street. I know they can't fix their outside of their homes like with different things that have happened. I see that they can't afford to fix that. And so even though it's not a lump sum, I find even the 500 plus per year is going to extreme hardship for that East Siders. And that is a little over 2 minutes. Are you ok? Well, if you're closing, thank Thank you very much. You did and thank you for sending in. Is there anyone else here to speak to this item?

All right, seeing none. I'll take a motion from his game to close the public hearing all in favor say Aye. Opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The public hearing is closed. As thank you. Cause a PRESIDENT. Well, first, I want to see thank you to our want to face a PRESIDENT For coming and testifying. It really needs I have you here. And I know that you're here. Speaking up on behalf of neighbors who are being impacted too, really feel that those tax burden impacts and I do want to share with everybody that this is a council who it I have been so power to just be able work with who really understands that those financial burdens that many of our family said. Let do, whether it's the East Sider, in other words, like we all are hearing that over and why this is a council that has been very committed to making sure that we do keep our lobby as little as possible because we do know that many families are hurting.

And I really appreciate the presentation just from earlier in your Ward Council, vice PRESIDENT, because it's a really helpful refresher for me when it comes to just a breakdown of the assessments that the monthly installments over 20 years. This is a reconstruction project. And I want to give a shout out to the public works. Team done a phenomenal job, keeping in touch with me and also accounts for Johnson's office. She represents 47 where the next phase of this project will be taking place. Also incredible work that the continuing to engage our residents because we have heard from you said residents like many questions around. Was this a project that should happen in the first place? There's a little overly on Earl Street in recent years. So why is this happening now and how can we make sure we have the least impact on our trees, especially amateur trees. If we're going to be removing any trees will be make sure that there's any new trees that are planted.

And it just again make the most part of the it comes really back down to back to the financial impact of our residents. And one thing I want to uplift that I learned from our public works team is that this is such a opportunity for this reconstruction project to take place and it is happening because of the one percent sales tax that was passed by voters back in 2023. And so without revenue coming in, there would be such huge delays in that the road infrastructure improvements that we actually want to see happen all across our city here. Very grateful excited about the opportunity for us to just even expand our break. That work out in the east side here knowing tat it is an area where we do watches, be able to support more families and getting to wherever they need to weather. It's walking or biking. So that's a huge plus. And then I I'm just grateful to our staffing is so attentive to the interest who was just preserving our trees and in the the presentation, I didn't get a chance to or if there's website where folks can look at the entire project over you want to get more details and the number of cheese, the proposed for removal is actually less than well.

There will be some removal, Spain, terms of trees that planted. There would be more of that. It exceeds number of trees getting removed. And so I do think that the proposal recommended by our staff, it really is a great resolve to the different concerns and just questions and interest that people want to see for the future of our on the east side community here and I just wanting to like one of the things that I learned in the presentation is that there's going to be another opportunity for us to even expanded the bike lanes on to frank. And so while there were some folks who are interested the off the separated bike lanes that are ill, there's a lot of great work that's going to come the future for Frank, which I think is also another really great, win for our committee in the East side. So that being said, like I am very supportive of the the recommendation on from the staff here and would like to move forward with that.

And if folks continue to have questions about this assessment. I would encourage them to continue connecting with their staff about that. Thanks. Thanks so much. Just what you 7 think testifiers so much for taking the time to come and your work your day I. think that question about affordability is huge. Hearing it a lot. And while there isn't much we can do to affect the cost of road there is a lot that we can and have been doing to try to bring down costs, net access and other ways. If you've watched any of her, our budget process throughout the years, we are always pushing to try to find efficiencies, tried to bring down costs and try to bring down taxes. And I will just say to everyone who's here, one of the things that is a big driver tax increases in the city of Saint Paul is the fact that we don't get we get the lowest share compared to how much we should get of local government aid from the state of Minnesota year-over-year.

So we all pay taxes to the state. There's a formula that says how much we should be getting back as a city to support us safe. No city gets what it should be getting. Saint Paul gets the least of what it should be getting so were about to embark on another legislative And I would just encourage anybody who feel strongly about this to to help help us bring in more local government by advocating to legislators because that does help us bring down taxes overall. I also was asked by come comes member Johnson, who is one of the 4 council members who represent the east side but is on maternity leave to read a brief statement. So I'm just going to do that. Councilmember Johnson represents Ward 7, says I want to begin by thanking public works. Staff director Kershaw assessments are community members, district councils and community partners, especially those who participated in the open houses.

And those here today to speak to this project. There was a concerted effort to ensure that this work reflected unintentional collaboration between the city and the community. Our office began working with the project team early last year, even before formal engagement started to emphasize the importance of centering quayside voices, particularly residents and businesses along Earl Street in shaping the - design. Although this project will not be in my word until 2027, the design process, an engagement timeline were shared. And it was important to me that the same care and attention be applied throughout. I greatly appreciate the project teams responsiveness to community-centered engagement strategies including partnering the district councils prioritizing door, knocking in face-to-face conversations with all state residents. Ensuring materials were accessible, multiple languages and working to reduce barriers to participation. These efforts made a real difference through this process. He said community members were clear about their priorities project cost, preserving parking, improving safety for people.

Biking and protecting the mature trees along Street. As with any reconstruction project, there's no single design that can fully address every concern. What mattered most, however, was the team's willingness to listen, adapt and adjust recommendations. Well, continuing to support residents throughout the process for these reasons. I support the approval of street paving and lighting project. Also look forward to the project team continuing to stay connected, communicative and responsive to the broader community. Street has been some businesses throughout construction and be out. Thank you, council PRESIDENT, come I just wanted to add mentioned that there isn't anything that we can do to impact the custom reconstruction. I do think that there are a few things we could do. I mean, you mentioned local government aid that would certainly help. Additionally, you know, the the longer time it takes to get to a project that needs to be done, the more it's going to cost. And in the worst condition, the poor condition that the street is especially first Street Reconstruction project.

The more it's going to cost. So, you know, the more that we can prioritize our infrastructure and try to get more funding for these projects, that is something that we can do. I stand corrected by a structural at think that is those are extra points. All Thank you. I just have a couple points they wanted to make one of the things I said earlier is that one of the main concerns we heard from or residences, they were wondering this is a project that has to happen reside in the little really. And so what I learned from our public works staff is that sooner or later we're going have a conversation again, a street if we actually don't do the reconstruction just because those millon overlays, the just do not last very long in or sustainable in Seoul. Thank you, Ed Director Chris Child fr correcting. It's actually for street where we will see the expansion for network.

And I think in so thanks to the public works you all in the back and just again, really grateful for your work leadership and the east side. Thank you again, missing. One just to staff. This is the final order again approving project assessments will be. Later with this one as well. Yes, okay. Al right. So with that, I will take a motion from close to approve. Any further discussion. All in favor say Aye. I almost 6 in favor not oppose. The resolution is adopted at a number. 22 is resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 3. Final order approving the 2026. Pelham Franklin, the Mississippi River Boulevard Street paving and lighting project and we have staff report come Thank you. Council PRESIDENT Acre and council members. Name is Jerry the project manager for the town full of art Reconstruction Project. I would like to use the voice activated projector. that were safe and they left it on And it is saying is a project begins at Mississippi River Boulevard towards the west end of the city here.

And runs for about a mile to the north ending at Franklin Avenue. The the street was constructed many segments in the 60's. An 80's with the last project from 1987 snce there. And since then, there has not been any significant pavement repair. So as you can imagine, the pavement condition as very poor out there. And so we are proposing a full reconstruction from beginning to ed with the exception of the bridge over 94. With that, we will bring a new pen bike infrastructures, lighting utility and stormwater treatment. Driver for this project is grand round implementation plans. Recent projects to have completed that are we locked Johnson Parkway and Cuomo. We are proposing a design that is consistent with these recent projects that calls for reducing the street down to 24 feet wide and relocating the on-street bike lane that currently there today to an off-street trail. We will aso be making traffic control and safety the addition of all the way.

Staff at Saint Anthony and another one at Beverly due to these intersections been more appropriate for this type of traffic control based on their volume and the connection to the network that does call for removal of knows they're staying. Always stop at dawn. We acknowledge that don't is an important crossing into the park know your park. At the corner of Pelham and on with that, we are prepared to add a full meeting refuge island provide safer crossing across Pelham. Feature of this project is we are planning to meander the road to calm traffic and reduce speed and that also allows us to shift the road too not impacts. And if a country's so tree preservation is big goal of this project. We've been working closely with our parks Department to date. We estimate that save about 75% of the existing canopy with the current design. And then for community engagement got 2 large meetings, one in SEPTEMBER of 24 and are open House last JULY.

Have attendance? We over 100 participants. Aside from that, we had smaller meetings that we all stood with, 5 neighbors and stakeholders alike. I'll take the time to think that the Neuer Park Improvement Association for their involvement on this project and helping us organize these events, getting the word out. So all said and done. We're looking at a project estimate of 18.5 million dollars, 90% of which is funded by the city. 10% is funded and assessment. So we asked the city council to approve this hearing. So weakened that the project this spring. Thank Thanks so much, MISTER Lee. And are there any questions? It's not like All right. Thanks. Much took effect. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Please come on up and maybe formed 2 lines, one on ether side. Just as a reminder, you don't need to adjust the mikes and to start with your name where you're coming from.

2 minutes come up. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT Council members. My name is Jacob Steen with Larkin half men and we represent to related entities that own the properties at the southeast corner of Pelham and University Avenue. At this time. We do oppose this project under its current design. But we specifically oppose the proposed combined special assessments of $115,000 at to our properties. This project would eliminate on-street parking in and be detrimental to our tenants. As this council knows, a special assessment must confer a special benefit to a property in the assessment cannot exceed that benefit, which means at $150,000. Special assessment we would need to see at least $150,000 and in improvements to our property values. That's just simply not the case. Here. Part, it's due to the fact that the on-street parking on the eastern side adjacent to our properties will be eliminated. And again, that is detrimental to our our tenants and to our property.

And while this project MAY absolutely have public benefits general benefits to the public, they're exactly that they are public benefits and they are general in nature and they do not confer and actually increase in value to our property for. So for those reasons, object to the project as it's currently proposed. And unfortunately, if it maintains this current projected assessment, we will have to appeal those moving forward. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign in. Well, come up. Before I start my 2 minutes, I want to the assessments over 20 years also includes interest every year. So we so need you to actually just start your testimony. So starting I tested when everybody unclear. Adding all that interest is just. Way too much. Good evening. My name Renee Veracruz. I live at 309 Boulevard. And I have lived there my entire life. 66 years. I raise my family there. This is not just property me.

It's my home. My history in my neighborhood. I'm here because the project take something away from residents and then asks us to pay for that loss. Under Minnesota statutes chapter 4.29. And the city's special assessment policies and assessment is lawful. Only if the property receives a special benefit. The assessment does not exceed the benefit and its uniform by property class. If any one of those fails, the assessment is unlawful. The project fails the first requirement special benefit, a special benefit means an increase in market value. The design does the opposite. It removes approximately 14 feet of the boulevard in front of my home, which they called meandering for my next door neighbor. It's not meandering there. It moves the roadway. Closer increases, noise and visual exposure and brings pedestrians closer to traffic. These are recognize negative factors in residential valuation. So my question is simple. How this moving a road? 14 feet closer to a home increase is value.

Parking was already removed in 2017 for the bike lane. The project, 3 stories, nothing instead. Comp homes that lost by removing buffering in increasing exposure. The assessment also violate city policy. It does not reflect a special benefit. It exceeds any reasonable benefit and is not uniform because some properties those boulevards in buffering while others do not. They also receive no benefit from utilities hookup as my utilities come from. Otis not pill. Finally, Palin Boulevard is also a state funded street. Yet those funds are being used for other projects. Not this project. The Grand Round bike trail has no funding you need and the just being shifted into an adjacent home owners create undue hardship. That's your 2 minutes. Thank you so much. Make sure to sign in. If anyone runs out of time and has e-mails or something printed out that they want to share, you can definitely leave that with us. I know 2 minutes short.

Well, come up. Hi, my name is Theresa and I own and reside at the 5.28. Pound our property. If the tears since around 2003, we're raising a family in the state it and have engaged in discussions regarding the improvements to the boulevard since 2013. We object to the proposed design for Palm Boulevard reconstruction into the proposed special assessment of 10,008, $811 against or property. I'd like to see the council's look at policy when developing the bike lanes off street on street. Some places have both. Connected to the ground round any other bikeways plan that you start to look at. How do we add funding to Because in some ways these bike plans come with that funding and I will. I support. The addition of bike lanes and in making. Are making room for more ways to to traverse the city. I think when you when you do that on certain places. We haven't figured out a funding stream for that.

And I think in this case I'd like to see it removed from the homeowner assessment. In this case we have less than 35. Homeowners, small home owners. That are being assessed for something that the entire city is going to take part which is the Grand just happens to be a street that's on, you know, documents from long ago. That's a bike lane will go here. So think it's something to look at policy was how do you pay for the bike lanes? We know roads we know sooner. So you those are all part of normal reconstruction projects, bike lanes. Can we figure out how to pay for them? Thank you. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign in. come up. MADAM PRESIDENT, members of the council, I'm Jerry gets a wife and I have lived it to an 85 Boulevard for about 51 years. Know. Spaces on the intersection. And then go to speak against.

Proposals, part of the reconstruction project to move the lower part of Pelham Boulevard over about 15 feet to the West. I'm going to talk about the negative impacts, but that proposal and then talk about the proposal itself. I have time. The negative impacts, the proposal are several. Of course, we've talked about expense and environmental impacts enough to talk about that. We talk about the impact to our property. It's uique. I host face is that the intersection and access to the house depended driveway. That's going be substantially affected by this proposal. It MAY even be wiped out. I can't really tell. So there's that. It is a notable. I've also talk about negative impacts to the safety at the intersection as well, focusing on and are particular unique. Problem our driveway with the whole space time. Tell that their driveway faces than to order So. Moved over to just move for its going to go right in the direction of our driveway.

It would go about to where the stop sign there now. So for us to drive out of the driveway and make a right turn to get into the intersection of witches. 95% of what we we don't get down notice the other way. As stands right now. So close to the intersection that I can even turn the car completely until I have a couple feet beyond the stop So if move, the intersection to the stop which is I think about where it's going to be I don't know how we're going to do this. Make making right turns to getting into the intersection. And also the survey is the It's gonna make it almost impossible. And then with the stop sign back on the driveway, that is 2 minutes or so need you to staff there. Thank you very much. Thank you. Make sure to sign in. Good afternoon. My name is Marie to and I live on Pelham Boulevard.

For 40 years. City of Staff, Saint Paul City staff members met with Tenure Park residents JANUARY. 12th to answer questions about this design. In that meeting. Staff member Randy Newton stated that reducing cut through traffic on Pelham was not a goal of the project or the project. Designers. This statement is significant for several reasons. It was the first tme after more than a decade of engaging the neighborhood in discussions about this proposed project. That the project leaders provide it excuse me, provided this vital information about the project's purpose. From the earliest conversations, neighborhood residents identified safety concerns and conditions generated by the combination of presence of trucks. The high volume of traffic due to cut through traffic, inability to safely cross an access problem from intersections and driveways, the noise and air pollution and the absence of traffic regulation to counter these problems today. Every one of these concerns remain. The neighborhood engaged in good faith.

We were denied vital information which placed us at a disadvantage. Now to add insult t injury, the city has just issued special assessments to homeowners in Pelham to pay for for this cut road and a bike lane and sidewalk of questionable value. So where does that leave the neighborhood in the city council? I think we can agree that it is inconceivable that this council would agree to take a vote after learning that the city failed from the outset to provide crucial information. Neighbors are just learning about this failure. It is an uncomfortable truth that planners, the city council, the city and the neighborhood must reckon with We need t take account of our circumstances. Here's what's clear. The pans for reconstructing Pelham have been driven by the plan to install the aaf street bike lane and sidewalk as part of the grand round. The design 2 minutes I am ad need you to - step their feel free submit your testimony if you have a rundown so we can meet the rest of it.

Thank you very much. Make sure to send in. Whether Donald Trump wants. Council PRESIDENT And council members. My name is Joshua Kodak. I'm representing the Sierra Club, Minnesota, North star chapter offices. Happens to be about 2 blocks off Apollo. Palin Boulevard as part of as you well know, with the Saint Paul grand round. It is a local road. And in its residents use it to access their homes. It's also going green space. I happen to drive or bike this road multiple times a week. My way to work. As you've heard from residents speeding on this road and local streets across the city is ramp and ages and unchecked. A major part of the problem is that we are over building our streets and we're going to do it again. Design that you saw earlier didn't go into the detail, but I'm gonna get in the weeds for The lanes on this route the same with as traffic lanes on interstate.

I-94, they're 12 feet wide. You're haring from residents in you're in the neighborhood of the assessments. If we shrink the street with traffic with to 10 feet. But you'd be much safer com strict com traffic. And as more adequate for a local neighborhood. We'd save That's a lot of asphalt. The reason we're doing this is problem. Is that ms a route? It's a municipal state, a drought, meaning that it's bound by state design standards that are intended for roads like interstate highways, like I-94 for vehicles traveling at 55 65 for faster miles per hour. So the vehicle lanes. I'm being 12 foot wide. Just like I-94 is problematic. Why? Because and standards are mandated. Is a perfect example of why you need to advocate for local control? So I'm asking you to write this number down its Senate file 2, 1, 6, 2, Council PRESIDENT Brought up by legislative session coming up. I just encourage you to advocate for local control of state aid, engineering and science standards. So we came streets neighborhood level

Interstate level. Thank you. so much. Make sure to sign it. And if there's anyone else here to testify on this item, this is a sort of less call South Atlanta. Hi, thank you. Nice to see all of you. I'm here today. My name is Rebecca. I'm resident of to nowhere park. I'm here today to voice my concerns about the pollen Boulevard redesign plan. I also speak from my sister who was lupus and cannot be here today due to her ongoing health struggles. My sister is one of the people whose health will be jeopardized by the current pollen Boulevard redesign plan. To vote for the current plan is to vote for the street to be moved 14 feet closer to house us. We know due to extensive data that respiratory disease cancer talking to function, problems, pre-term births, blood pressure and hypertension, diabetes, allergies and sensitization coronary heart disease dementia and stroke are all associated with exposure to traffic-related air pollution.

In the meeting that we had with planners in DECEMBER o 2025, we were told that the reason for moving the street, 14 feet closer to houses is to accommodate the addition of a second sdewalk on the east side of Pollen boulevard for the span of little more than one block. Also for snow removal. There's no need for a second sidewalk, especially if the existing sidewalk on the west side of the street is properly maintained so that it can be used as intended. Addition of a second unnecessary sidewalk is not worth knowingly creating health problems for residents of Saint Paul. These residents include children, the elderly and people with pre-existing medical issues. These residents include my sister, her family, my parents and neighbors. Why care about? Please look and listen deeply. When you consider the pollen Boulevard redesign the current redesign plan contains elements that are not healthy for our planet environment or human health. The redesigned Home Boulevard. It's a long-awaited opportunity for something wonderful for the city which we all need right now. And it should be safe and healthy for our community. Thank Thank you very much.

Make sure to sign in. doesn't look like there's anyone else here to testify on this item. So I will take a motion from is coming to close the public hearing all in favor say Aye. I post 6 in favor. None opposed. The public hearing is closed as common. A couple of assessment, specific questions. If that's okay. Thank you. And thank council meetings that having PRESIDENT Comes it questions I think helped and was very clarifying around much of this. Just a couple of the early speakers spoke about the determination of a special benefit and sort of how and curious if you get a little bit more about how public works. Thinks about what constitutes a special benefit, how and what that wing, which means in in application when we're thinking about assessment and say public works in the city as a whole. And that. Look, question, if you could touch on that a little bit. I can try to do that.

The special benefit analysis that's done by the third-party appraiser. I wouldn't even then sure figure out how they do that. The report was with that preliminary order he does provide a summary ad I did bring enough copies if you needed a fresh copy of that. But he could. He does go into details about what he's looking at when he he prepares that and it's different for each area within the city. So a single family property in one area of the city could have a maximum support of a benefit of 2.0, 2, 5%, and then another area. And in Saint Paul could be 3%. So it's not it's based on the area. Thank you. That's up from just just that answer. Yes, Monday's news is that 3rd parties a certain order determine that is quite helpful. Thank you. Okay. She Well, I've been the question as well. And then again, it started asking questions after sit down.

But these assessments will also be later on the actual assessments. And there's a way for folks to appeal a special benefit. When they get that later at. I think you're nodding is good. I'm seeing not impose. Yes, okay. And one of the things I would say to my colleagues as well into those who are here, if we would like think it would be an option for us to have that 3rd party someone who knows more about this coming and actually talk to us about how that assessment is done. I would certainly benefit from learning about that. That would be something that would be, you know, on the record evergreen for folks to look at because we do get questions about this a lot. Ithink it's important for all of us to be on the same page about that. Going to have motion on item. Yeah, move to approve the a final order and have a few comments to make on with that.

First, I just want to extend my appreciation gratitude to the public works. Team. As I was saying to a couple folks earlier today, this is one of the first topics I was when I came into this role in late August and the ongoing communication with our public works. Director Sean Porsche with Jimmy it with Jerry with Randy with neck with a whole host of people who have been thinking about this project for far longer than I have been in this building. It is incredibly appreciate it. And I know that immense amount of thought has gone into this work. I also want to extend a significant amount gratitude to the community in the neighbors who have taken 10 and it should be here today or to be an earlier conversations about this project. We've had some of those were mentioned by MR. Are. The meetings over the last couple of months that I have been a part of also the spike meetings at the emails, the extensive conversation that has gone back and know that this is a community that cares very deeply about Rhodes, about infrastructure, about cohesiveness, about access to their beautiful public park.

And it is appreciated and heard. And I think that there has been I have seen the way in which community feedback has shaped how the public works. Team is thinking about this, how it's been counted are taken into consideration. I think that there are a couple of points of storm came in here. And one of these was mentioned in our staff report. But this is a row that does need to be reconstructed. It's a project that people have known. It was coming for quite some time. I do think that that has led to some of the frustration, a feeling that this is something that was talked about for years and years and years and now things are moving and sort of the representing the road in a very real, real way. But think that that shared need for understanding the need for reconstruction important to note. Also have heard repeatedly from both our city staff and our neighbors about the need to prioritize for folks who are in the neighborhood for folks are passing through the neighborhood that street safety, pedestrian safety for the children in the neighborhood is paramount and we're just I think something that Nick said at Park Improvement Association meeting.

A couple of weeks ago last month, sometime in last couple months. Is that that is a priority that is shared and felt very, deeply by every single person who is looking at this weather from the neighborhood perspective or the city perspective. We all want safer streets. It is the conversation that I have more often than any other conversation in this role is that people want their streets to be safe. They want their sidewalks to be safe. They want their bike lanes to be safe for every single person. And then finally, I would just note that the the works to complete the grand round is something that's a priority that I know is shared across worked for and that. So when we get into the block by block decision-making is what I can get incredibly challenging. But that importance of having this connected cohesive safe, accessible by crowd is something that is is largely shared priority for many people in the community?

I recognize that there ongoing conversations be had as we can complete the design process and work towards actually implementing letting the project I trust that the public wrks team will continue to work with our offices, that we will continue to be in communication with the neighborhood about what exactly that will look like. Timelines, cetera. I appreciate the conversations that have to thus far. And I think everything had to say. All right. Thank you so much coming comment of motions for approval. Any further discussion Thank you. Council. PRESIDENT Of comments really helped to hear your thoughts on this because I'm not familiar with this neighborhood since is. And I what I was just curious about just some of the things that I heard from the testimony and was wondering our public works staff, they can just come in like make some of their the plans that more explicit like in terms of the logic behind it, we're heading back to back the construction projects here.

Some so now just process, even like the things I heard from council vice presidents, the project in her ward and also my and this one, too. And so I'm just there's just one thing. And wondering our staff to can talk a bit a bit more so just the what I heard from a few of the residences that this piece around after the project and then the streets going to be 14 feet closer to the houses to you just reiterate, like, why is it that that why that's a part of the the plan. Welcome back, MR. Li it's definitely tough. I would say, like from from the project in my word and also the council vice presidents because we. I mean, the biggest concern was around like, hey, why is happening? Trees and everything so I'm very curious about that. council, PRESIDENT Council member, we heard a lot those in the room there today. And think their time coming here.

I'll start off with the first question being. Why are we shifting the road? 14 feet. That was part of the meandering of the roadway to calm traffic and also to save trees that ae game has significant buyer forestry staff. I want to make clear that even though we are shifting the road, 14 feet element as a parkway with honored and 20 feet right of way, which is wider any rolled most roads in the city here and we are still even after the shift able to maintain a boulevard that's 20 feet or more. And with after that shift, which is a lot more than a street like Earl that we saw today that only has 6 feet of boulevard. So this 14 feet should be taken into context of overall right of way with. And then there was another question about msa funding is not being used on this road. It true comes as the state 100 classified as a municipal stated ropes.

The funding that we get is very little and not enough for us rms. A systems make improvements on the entire system without the comments and funding while we would not have this project and soap would just be in the queue fr if we were to use msa funds. Another question why not?

Proposed 10 foot lanes. We did look at We are proposing 12 foot lane for driving lanes, which on the feet pavement. Plus one feet of water. And the reason for that because it's consistent with the rest of grand round found Comeau Johnson and Wheelock. They all have that same typical section. We looked at what reducing the road would do. And even by reducing it to 10 we're not seeing a whole lot of gains in terms of per serving the trees that are on this corridor. Most of the trees that are, in fact, that mainly because of the shift in the roadway. But then to do the shift, we saving more significant trees that we would otherwise be impacting. And then another thing I heard was amount of cut through traffic on column. Palin is a major collector that provides connections to a regional destination. We but knowledge that there is higher volume, higher volume. But the volumes that we are seeing tell them is. Equivalent to streets of same classification. And we some of that from the a lack of connection from Highway 2.80, down to cross the river. And so we are working with men this on the rethinking 94 project. I think that was But

Everything I heard. Thank you. I have it just another follow-up question because the I heard concerns around basically health impacts with the streets being closer to the homes. And so I'm wondering, is that something tat you ought to be looking to you whenever you do have to sort of projects and there's your proposing the streets to be closer to to homes. You know, basically they maybe kids are playing out in the in the yard. It's not something I've heard about. But I'm very curious where our department said on that. Council PRESIDENT Council member, I think the concern with the the public health with this project for we shift and he comes from the PRESIDENT Of the golf course on this project. We are not changing how storm water runoff, pattern and this project will and pack the adjacent properties believe there was a or has a question if there was if there is a yes, mental.

Statement for this project, we have not done. Yeah, yes, because we are not required last project that we had. Yeah, yes, was probably when we studied, I know road connection 94 resulting in permanent. Destruction of neighborhoods. I know a few years ago there was a request to have a uaw on Avenue that was also trned down by the Environmental Quality Board because it did not beat those crime. And so we don't see us in a position having to do and toll study for that. A proposal of talent here. Thank you. I appreciate the response. Isn't do want to share that for come I'm very supportive of your motion. I I just want to mean that the testimonies today have super thought provoking for me where really pushes me to think about just the history of where. We as a city have been in terms who we builders, streets and roads for wear. Used to be very car centric.

And then now, you I disparities around. How can we make sure that streets are safe for pedestrians and bikers and putting them for some fun. Just I'm interested in how how? Things would be different to if we were to really like center, even like health impacts and your public health overall into the conversation as wll. And so that's just something that thinking about and love to connect more with down with director Kershaw about that and Soul. I appreciate the all of the information and not for me really digging into this because I'm thinking like, what if one day, this is a project in my word as well. You know that that's likely you know, it's possible that could happen in Seoul. Just some appreciate the insights that you're sharing to us. Thanks, MISS Yang and thanks, MR. Lee and these are projects that take place throughout throughout all of her words. And so I think that taking it is really important.

All right. With that, we have a motion on the table approval all in favor say Aye. I post 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item number, 23 is resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 15 ending the financing and spending plan and Department of Safety and Inspection team out. $75,000 for the 2026 building official training from the Minnesota Department of Labor. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from just to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. I oppose 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is staffed and I am number. 24 is resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 19 authorizing the police department to accept the 2025 community Policing Development. Micro Grant. From the U. S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services authorizing the execution of the grant agreement. Amending the 2026 grant budget and activity.

But this is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his plea to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted item number. 25 resolution public hearing. 26 dash 27 accepting funds in amending the Department of Safety Inspections operating budget for the administration of legislative coach after one 93, this is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? Seeing none. I'll take motion from his yang to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say aye. I opposed to 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted. I remember 26 public hearing. 26 dash for public hearing on grievances about federal immigration operations. And this is a standing public hearing that we put on the agenda to hear general grievances or thoughts about federal immigration operations.

If you're here for that item, this is public hearing. Please come on up. And again, just remember those 2 minutes. Hate cutting people off. There's a clock right in front of So help me help you help us. And Ted, Start with your name and where you're coming from. Welcome that. Good morning or good afternoon. I Sarah Gardner here again for you. I live in Ward 7. And I do want to acknowledge the council for actions you've already taken with regards to enhancing the city separation or done ordinance a special thank you to cost of everything. For continuing to show up with powerful an infectious enthusiasm not only in Ward 6, but also in Ward, 7 in Councilmember leave. Recent events in the Twin Cities, including the fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis over the weekend have continue to deepen community concerned about how federal enforcement activity is occurring in our state and agree to the degree to which it affects public safety in public.

Trust That's continuing to ask for clear public clarification of Saint Paul separation ordinance and how Saint Paul Police Department engages with federal agents. Residents deserve to understand exactly what cooperation does and does not look like so that the trust in our public safety institutions can be preserved. I want to ask for clarity on an urgent concern. If Saint Paul resident calls Saint Paul Police Department help at a scene. We're federal immigration agents are present. How is that handled? People need to know that when they seek emergency assistance from the local police say police will respond to protect and de-escalate regardless of who is PRESIDENT. I'm also asking the council to continue to address transparency and accountability in the ordinance. What transparency and reporting requirements govern contact between city departments and federal immigration agents, timely public discourse. Unclear. Council oversight are critical, especially in serious incidents like this. And if there are violations of the separation ordinance.

What is the process for reporting and review and what consequences exist to ensure these policies are meaningfully enforced rather than just symbolic. Finally, I want to acknowledge the real economic impact. These operations are continuing to have in our city. I appreciate the steps this council has taken and urge you to consist continue acting with clarity, accountability and urgency to uphold the safety, dignity and rule of law here. Thank you. very much. Make sure to sign in. Well, come up. Greetings Council. I'm Lindsay Award. One resident, a parent and a neighbor doing her darndest to stabilize an entire community. Regarding right now, the ice occupation in Minnesota is creating conditions of fear that are displacing daily like that are disrupting daily life. People are afraid to go to work, to travel, to show up and that instability very quickly becomes a housing crisis. Minnesota has faced this kind of emergency before during covid the state paused evictions because people cannot freely and because displacement would have compounded an already serious public crisis.

That moratorium is not charity. It was a public safety measure. The cars today is different, but the conditions are the same. Federal occupation is leading directly to local housing fallout when evictions are forced under the circumstances. It is Minnesota communities that absorb the harm. We are asking for a targeted pause on evictions, consistent with precedent. So fear and disruption do not spiral into mass displacement. We are asking I'm also asking that Xcel Energy, forgive Pass, too. Resident energy balances during this period. Neighbors are losing work, limiting movement out of fear and relying on one another to keep households and entire community stable. On Minnesota's cold weather rule prevents shut offs. That does not forgive debt right now. These accumulated balances are not just delay bills, their long-term financial harm that will follow families well beyond this crisis. Minnesota has done this before. Extraordinary. Dish conditions require extraordinary protections. Xcel has both the capacity and precedent to forgive her ears.

We are asking for leadership to prioritize community stability over penalties. Because history will remember who acted and who did not. I appreciate your actions on this urgent matter. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign unwelcome Council members, my name is Alex. And I mean from town has had a constant ice presence with agents often sticking out the same spots on the same streets day after day with no coat, clear goal or plan the sides drumming up fear and paranoia. We have vehicles fll of armed agents sticking out. Some of our bus stops on Sunday was a nearly daily basis. It's creating a population of shut in people unable to go to work, unable to. Get food for their families. Local community centers and churches are delivering hundreds of grocery boxes every single day. Really speaking to like the magnitude of the scale of what people are in need of going to echo a lot of points that were just made.

I think that the eviction moratorium resolution was a great start, but it is an urgent need Xcel Energy does also have total ability to forgive energy dbt bills racked up during this time so that families are not trying to navigate longstanding debt after this crisis come to pass. Individuals unable to live their lves normally should not be expected to keep up economically while ice maintains their presence city. Thank Thank you very much. Make sure site and will come up. And I just want kind of a last call. Anyone else is here to speak on this item. Please line up to. So we have a sense of who else is here to Hi, good afternoon. I'm here today. I'm my name is Adam. I'm from Moore. 7 universities. I'm here today in response to isis crackdown in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, like many others, I'm sickened by what our communities are experiencing under Operation Metro Search. According to reporting there are 3,000 federal agents now on our streets.

And we are already seeing serious allegations of rights violations every day. It is responsibility, the city and this council to do everything its power to dter this targeting of vulnerable populations. I'm aware of efforts that MAY 2 have faced changes to the city, a separation ordinance and I applaud them. I would also ask you to explore if we can reduce dhs and ice is ability to leverage local booking systems, specifically, I wish for you to examine if we can blunt the impacts of dhs, the secure communities program. Secure communities is a federal biometric pipeline.

When someone is booked and fingerprinted, those fingerprints are then routed through federal systems that are checked against dhs. Because it's federal system unaware that we can opt out, but we can reduce how often it's triggered minimizing custodial arrests and jail bookings for low-level offenses. This might involve expanding cite and release and other alternatives where public safety allows because no booking means no fingerprints and fewer opportunities for this pipeline to be leveraged and weaponized against our community. Even before the current administration, the aclu, Warren secure communities has disastrous and widespread impacts and civil liberties because it targets people not at the time of arrest, not conviction sweeping and people that are not that have never been charged, including victims, witnesses and those that have been wrongly arrested. The aclu also warned it drives a wedge between law enforcement and the communities they serve. To turn reporting and undermining community safety. I hope you'll consider these steps as part of your broader efforts to protect our communities.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign an unwelcome up. Last but not least. Again, I was here last week and Nancy, the 38 year resident of City of Saint Paul then several of the awards. Last week, there was a lot of interest and discussion about since the separation ordinance, 0, 4, 3, 1, 6, that you're working on tightening. Forgive me. My my naive. But hey, I'm coming up to speed on how things work realize the city attorney is charged with reviewing that. Would like GOD continuing to move that forward. Quickly. What I want to say, it a little more deeply as personal experience. I'm blessed. Lucky to have a lot of immigrant friends, former clients of mine and friends. And they've been asking me this is true. Nancy. What do we do if ice shows up at our door. I know I have to ask them to show a warrant so they know a little bit.

Nancy, if we get harassed by ice on our way to and from work. So on and in and around the Twin cities, not to say people. Can I call 9-1-1 and we'll let the police come. To help us. And the first I said, yeah, I think so. I know they are mandated to do so. But there's so much confusion around this. And I didn't know when good faith in good conscience. They say yeah, you call 9-1-1, and the city at least of Saint Paul. They live in Saint Paul. Welcome. S please got getting that ordinance tightened. Thank you for all of your work on this. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign in. Thank you to everyone who came to testify. I will make a motion to close the public hearing and then. I want to start a question to contain a public hearing till next week, FEBRUARY 4th. And what we can have some comments on favor say Aye opposed 6 in favor.

None opposed to public hearings continued to FEBRUARY just want to thank everyone for being here. I do want to say that, to the point about our phased approach, one of the benefits of having you come out and share these ideas with us is it gives us ideas and their many folks around this table who are listening. I know avidly to what you're saying and are interested in pursuing. The idea is that you're raising here so you can get, but you know, you can do by phone, but you can also do it here. And we appreciate that. Just one quick note, I do want to make sure I address this and police chief has been really clear about this. I know it's difficult to be clear because some of this does depend a bit on on the contacts. Bt and if anyone in our community is feeling unsafe or afraid call 9-1-1, police officers will response if there's something that is urgent and emergent and I have to go to that first, they MAY go to that first day.

I was triaged, but they will respond. They're not able to keep federal agents from performing their lawful duties. And that's where sometimes in the moment they need to make that call when they arrive. But they will come. They will interact federal agents on your behalf. If you're free to do that, they will. They will turn on their body-worn cameras. So I think the main mssage and again, there's this is an unprecedented situation and there's a lot of complexity here. But we want people to know that they should call 9-1-1 if they feel afraid credit. S please take that back with you. Please continue to share these great ideas with us. You can see that this council is dedicated to taking action. Any other comments from my colleagues before 2 legislative hearings? All right. Thank you all this time as we start at just real brief comments as want to say on some of my word when residents came out.

Just thank you so much. I want to think that do want to just touch on. Briefly is just like the economic impact that we're starting to see and like the damages, not even economically, but is even damages around like certain people, staff members aren't feeling safe to come just earlier this morning, a volunteer from Halak you Brown Community Center, a volunteer that helps with their food shelf. It was detained by ice. And I just think about just how ice is really impacting the fabric of our community. And these are the people who show up volunteer, who are teachers, who are nurses. And you know how impacting our organizations. And I really and they're compelled and thankful for these public hearings because I think as we are looking at, you know, rapid response is showing up for community and creating a network of care. Also think it will be really beneficial for us. Also assess what damage just look like kuz.

That's going to also impact our budgeting process and how we're looking at remaining a resilient city. So just want to say thank you for everyone, but also just the PRESIDENT, the type of perspective and framework approach, you know, we should be looking into going to the future. Thank you. Ms Bay. All right. With that brings us to the left that hearing section of our agenda. About this moment? Council PRESIDENT Council members, if we could read item number. 28 into the record. Number 20 early 25 Dash 3, 9, ratifying the field special Texas Senate, 5, 8, 6, Purges Street as moment. In the previously circulated list with a suggested amendments I forgot to put in this one. I this is listed as needing amendment. The actual want it needs to approve. So simple no one is here to testify. This is a result office ready. So we just men to approve the U. S. A 7 to previous.

Take a motion from Israeli to do just that. Since I first will hold a public hearing as anyone here to testify on item 20. It. Seeing none. I'll take motion from his way to close public hearing and approve with the addition of legislative hearing. Officer all in favor say all host 6 in favor, not oppose. The resolution is adopted. I don't believe there's anyone else here testify. All right. So if you are here for any of the legislative hearing items 27 34. This is your public hearing. Please come on up. If you're here to testify any of those lineups. Seeing none. I'll take motion from is common to close the public hearings and approve the item as amended lets the hearing officer on favor say Aye. Opposed 6 in favor. None opposed the legislative hearing. Consent agenda is adopted as amended. Thank you, Month that brings us to the end of our agendas news from around the words, good or the sorry.

I'm this Friday, there's going to be a national general straight. That's happening and their organizations here in the Twin Cities that are leading in asking for this to happen. Some of those include. Black student associations and the Minnesota Smalley Buxton groups. So they're calling for a nationwide general strike this Friday, JANUARY 30th, thanks PRESIDENT Thank you. Council PRESIDENT Just wanted make a big ask for people to continue supporting our local restaurants and small businesses. The are tuly hurting right now. But also still selling still showing up so strong with big hearts and that being the ones to organize food drives mutual aid and taking donations that they have gotten from their ptrons to donate to integrate Defense networks. And it's just is so incredible. The community on that we have their and their leadership. And so when it to continue having urging folks to go and support our local businesses. Thank you. Missing. That's Thank you.

Council PRESIDENT Has have a really fun event to share the winter Carnival's around all night. Is open for everyone and you don't have to be from around or liderando. But it's a display of our artists and businesses organizations. It's going to get the lndmark center tomorrow. 5.30, to 8.30, and also Metro Transit is offering free right to free passes on day or excuse me on tomorrow from 02:00pm to midnight. So if you want to get a free ride use our public transportation to get there, you can do so. So again, thank you. I'll be there as well to and also former Councilmember wrestle Ballenger. Thank you. It's just. Just a reminder. This is. Sorry, COUNCILMAN, technically word for But make ounce Lincoln DECEMBER it's a It's the Macau struggling Community Council wich is where 3, 4, simple parks and rec and growing tap, which is in my word. But it's the for us. Best at the girl in ice rink was rescheduled for this weekend from 2 to 4. There will be ice skating, of course, chocolate. And I think there's from the girl won't but it's a great ice rink.

They have tons skates for rental. If you don't have them and it's free. And so come Seeing none. Thank you all for a very productive meeting. And