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Votes at a glance: Saint Paul council adopts street change, approves event sound variances and several routine resolutions
Summary
At its meeting the council adopted an ordinance converting a block of Margaret Street to two-way, approved sound variances for two community events, adopted a utility rate resolution, and approved the legislative hearing consent items; several items were adopted by roll call with unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
The Saint Paul City Council at its Aug. 29 meeting approved a set of routine and single-item measures, including a street conversion, multiple event sound variances, a utility rate amendment and the legislative hearing consent agenda.
Key outcomes:
- Ordinance 25-45 (Item 15): The council adopted an ordinance changing one block of Margaret Street (between Arcade Street and East Seventh Street) from one-way westbound to two-way traffic under Chapter 147 of the Legislative Code. The motion to adopt passed by roll call. Council members who spoke in favor described the change as improving neighborhood traffic flow; no dissenting speakers were recorded in the discussion.
- Resolution 205-168 (Item 17): The council closed the public hearing and adopted a resolution approving a rate amendment request from Energy Park Utility Company. No public testimony was offered on the item and the council adopted the resolution.
- Sound variance approvals (Items 18 and 19): The council held public hearings and adopted resolutions granting sound variances for two community events: Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Parish’s county fair (Sept. 12–14 at 1900 Wellesley Ave.) and Lumen Christi Catholic Community’s event (Sept. 6 at 1668 Montreal Ave.). Michael Reif, representing the Nativity fair steering committee, described the fair as “more than just a parish fair” and said the application includes an outdoor mass and children’s activities.
- Legislative hearing consent agenda (Items 20–30): The council closed the public hearing and adopted the legislative hearing consent items as recommended by the hearing officer, with no speakers present for the balance of those items.
Votes: Where recorded on the audio, many consent and routine votes show unanimous or near-unanimous outcomes (the meeting record repeatedly notes “7 in favor, no 1 opposed” for several roll calls). The council also adopted the consent agenda (items 4–13) earlier in the meeting by voice vote.
Other action notes: Item 16 (first reading of an amendment to Chapter 130 governing vacation of streets and public grounds) was presented by Bruce Engelbrecht of the Office of Financial Services; staff said the amendment clarifies and streamlines the vacation process and allows the city to proceed if utilities do not timely respond. That ordinance was set for a public hearing the following week, per staff.
The council adjourned after a brief “good news” announcements section, including a Ward movie night announcement for Aug. 29.
