Votes at a glance: key St. Paul City Council actions of July 22, 2025

The St. Paul City Council took a slate of actions and votes at its July 22 meeting. Below are the key items, formal outcomes and vote tallies recorded during the session.

Consent and donations - Consent agenda (Items 1–24) was adopted as amended after items 15 and 18 were pulled for separate consideration; roll call recorded 6 in favor, 1 absent. - Resolution 25-1138 (Item 15): City acceptance of a $32,000 donation from the Midway Men’s Club to the Parks and Recreation Department to support recreation programming. Vote: adopted (roll call, 6–0 as recorded).

Personnel and ceremonial resolutions - Resolution 25-1160 (Item 18): Reappointment of Butch Inks as chief of the Saint Paul Fire Department. Vote: adopted (roll call, 6–0). (Separate, longer discussion occurred and is reported separately.) - Resolution 25-1192 (suspension item): Recognizing Captain Chia Kuo Vang and Sai Ying Vang and proclaiming a recognition day. Vote: adopted (roll call recorded 6 in favor; one council member recorded as opposed on the roll call for that item). - Resolution 25-1203 (suspension item): Resolution honoring Melvin “Mr. Bubbles” Giles (adopted unanimous 6–0 for the recorded vote).

Bonds, capital and finance actions - Item 21 – Resolution supplementing the general resolution relating to sewer revenue bonds and authorizing issuance of Sewer Revenue Bonds Series 2025C: Staff reported a competitive sale with eight bidders and a reported true interest cost of 4.18% to the successful bidder; council voted to adopt the resolution as amended (roll call recorded 6–0). The resolution was adopted recognizing final sale numbers would be inserted. - Item 30 – Capital budget amendments related to GEO Capital Improvement Bonds Series 2025A and Street Reconstruction Bonds Series 2025B: Public hearing closed and the council adopted the related resolution (roll call recorded 6–0).

Ordinances and land-use items - Item 22 – Final adoption, amendment to Chapter 375 (pedicab / petty cab licensing rules): Ordinance adopted on final reading (roll call recorded 6–0). - Item 24 – First reading, amendment to expand the Energy Park Commercial Development District to allow an on-sale liquor license for an indoor dog park (Saint Park). The council approved a corrected version (version 2) and laid the ordinance over to the August 6 public hearing and second reading (roll call recorded 6–0). The public hearing will be at 595 Aldine Street.

Public hearings and other actions laid over - Item 31 – Final combined plat for 391 McKnight Road South (create three parcels): Council closed the public hearing but laid the final decision over to August 6 to allow follow-up with neighbors; council noted the 60-day administrative deadline and agreed staff could request an extension if necessary. - Item 34 – Rezoning application for the Hamm’s Brewery site: Council adopted a motion of intent to pursue the rezoning ordinance (6–0), starting the formal ordinance process; this is a multi-step matter with further readings and public hearings required. - Item 35 – Appeal (ABZA 25-5) of a Board of Zoning Appeals denial of a variance for a proposed supportive-housing facility at 519 Farrington Street: Council laid the appeal over to August 6 to allow staff study and further consideration.

Other routine actions - Multiple other public hearings for capital plan amendments, grant acceptances (including a $49,000 MPCA Local Climate Action grant for fleet decarbonization), and public-event sound variances were closed and associated resolutions were adopted, generally by recorded roll-call votes as shown in the meeting minutes (most were recorded 6–0 with one absent).

How to find full votes: The council’s roll-call tallies and agenda item IDs appear in the meeting record and public packet; items with follow-up or layover status were specifically noted for additional hearings on August 6 or subsequent council meetings.