Votes at a glance: St. Paul council adopts grants, permits and code updates; several items laid over

The St. Paul City Council took action on multiple consent and legislative items. Key adopted measures, and items laid over for final adoption, are listed below.

Adopted or approved (votes noted where recorded)

- Consent Agenda (items 2 through 15): adopted as amended (5-0). - Resolution setting a special election date of August 12, 2025 to fill the Ward 4 council vacancy (Item 8): adopted (5-0). The council noted interviews were held earlier for interim appointment and encouraged Ward 4 residents to consider candidacy. - Resolution approving updated rules and regulations for the Department of Parks and Recreation (Item 16): adopted (5-0). The updates require sign-in for drop-in activities (with listed exceptions), standardize conduct definitions and disciplinary framework, and will be implemented across 26 rec centers with staff training and on-site posting, per Director Andy Rodriguez. - Under suspension, resolution authorizing the city to apply for $7,500,000 from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for the Mississippi River Learning Center Peninsula Restoration Project: adopted (5-0). - Resolution accepting a $125,000 Met Council fishing pier grant for Parks and Rec and amending relevant financing plans (Item 22): adopted (5-0). - Resolution amending Department of Parks and Public Works capital budgets for the Randolph Bridge project: adopted (5-0). - Resolution granting Skinner's Pub a sound-level variance for amplified sound on specified Tuesdays, June' through Sept. 23, 2025 at 919 Randolph Avenue (Item 24): adopted (5-0). - Resolution authorizing the city sponsorship and grant agreement for contamination cleanup funds benefiting YMCA of the North at 530 North Wheeler Street (Item 25): adopted (5-0). - Resolution accepting a $215 anonymous donation to the city general fund (Item 26): adopted (5-0). - Multiple legislative hearing items (vacant-building and special tax assessments, abatement matters) were considered under the legislative hearing process; the council adopted the Legislative Hearing Officer's recommendations on remaining items after separate public hearings (roll calls recorded in the transcript; council adopted individual recommendations 5-0 where noted).

Laid over or continued for final adoption

- Ordinance 25-23, rezoning application for property at 10 River Park Plaza (Item 18): public hearing held; the council closed the hearing and laid the ordinance over to March 26, 2025 for final adoption. - Ordinance 25-24, amendments to Chapter 427 to add infrared-heated sauna fitness studios and other licensing updates (Item 19): public hearing held; ordinance laid over to March 26, 2025 for final adoption. - Ordinance 25-25, repeal of Chapter 440 (energy benchmarking) (Item 20): public hearing closed and item laid over to March 26 for final adoption. - Ordinance 20528, Truth in Sale of Housing Board evaluator rules (Item 21): public hearing closed and item laid over to March 26 for final adoption. - Several other public-hearing items were continued or laid over to March 26 for final action where staff or additional materials were expected.

Procedural notes

- The council suspended the rules to consider the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant application to meet external deadlines. - Several items were pulled from consent for separate consideration so council members could recognize staff work or hear public testimony; the council repeatedly instructed staff to return with materials attached to Legistar where appropriate.

Ending: The council completed a wide-ranging agenda, approving several grant applications and budget amendments while delaying final votes on several code and rezoning items for next week's meeting so staff can provide additional materials and members can consider amendments.