Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Saint Paul public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
29 issues with medium priority
Wabasha/St. Peter street reconstruction and bikeway extension
The council moved Municipal State Aid money into the Wabasha Bridge rehab project and updated financing for the University Avenue reconstruction.
2026 Third Quarter Budget to Actual
A quarterly check on how the HRA's 2026 spending stacks up against its budget. Carried over from the October 28 meeting.
Sale of HRA-owned 515 Lafond to the Church of St. Agnes
The HRA owns property at 515 Lafond and will hear a presentation on selling it to the Church of St. Agnes. The sale could return a publicly held parcel to active use in Ward 1.
UNREAL LLC economic development project near 400 Snelling Avenue N
Two measures would support UNREAL LLC's proposed project in the United Village development: adopting findings for a state Job Creation Fund application and sponsoring a Minnesota Investment Fund application — state tools aimed at bringing jobs to the Ward 1 site.
1201 Rice Street rezone
Rice Holding Co LLC is seeking to rezone 1201 Rice Street from traditional neighborhood to general business district — first reading only, with a final vote ahead.
HREEO 2027 Budget
The Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity is presenting its 2027 budget request. What the city funds here shapes civil rights enforcement and economic opportunity programs for residents.
Ramsey County Tax Valuation Trends
The committee will review how property valuations are trending across Ramsey County. Rising valuations can mean shifting property tax burdens for homeowners and businesses.
Lawson Parking Ramp parking use agreement
The HRA is considering a parking use agreement with Hamm Building Commercial, LLC for spaces in the Lawson Parking Ramp downtown. These arrangements keep parking available for downtown businesses, workers, and visitors.
Nuisance abatement order appeals
Eight property owners appealed city nuisance abatement orders; several had their nuisances declared abated, and the Selby Avenue appellant got two extra weeks to comply.
Finest Pour liquor license application
A new license application from Finest Pour LLC is headed for a licensing hearing, with both objections and district council support already on file. The outcome will determine whether the business can operate under the license at its Saint Paul location.
Police grants and donations
The police department accepted $22,000 from the Saint Paul Police Foundation plus a 2027 traffic-safety enforcement grant to fund crash-prevention overtime.
Maryland Park property sale and loan assumption
The city gave a first look at selling the Maryland Park property with a loan assumption attached. No decision yet — just an introduction to what a sale would look like.
Goodrich Avenue zoning appeal
A resident challenged a Board of Zoning Appeals ruling on a building permit at 2094 Goodrich Avenue; the Council denied the appeal, letting the permit approval stand.
Capital City Bikeway easement at Smith Avenue ramp
The bikeway project needs temporary access to the Smith Avenue Parking Ramp and Transit Center site, and District Heat needs a permanent easement there to keep service running. Clearing these easements keeps the downtown bikeway build moving.
2027 Office of Neighborhood Safety budget
The Office of Neighborhood Safety presented its proposed 2027 budget. The office runs violence-prevention and community safety programming across Saint Paul.
Vacant building assessments and payment relief
Several owners appealed vacant-building and boarding assessments. Two properties got five-year payment plans recommended, while two others were delayed to allow proof of payment or evidence of repair work.
Merriam Park skate park expansion
The council accepted roughly $1 million in grants and donations for parks: $500,000 for the Merriam Park skatepark, $250,000 for Sackett Park trails, $200,000 for the Point Douglas Regional Trail, and $50,000 for Dousman Park.
Street Co-Naming Procedures
The city is considering a formal set of standard operating procedures for honorary street co-namings and reviewing how street naming currently works under Sec. 73.04. This affects how residents and organizations can propose honoring individuals on city streets.
Office of Technology and Communications 2027 budget
The city's tech and communications department presented its proposed 2027 budget. This covers the digital services and systems residents use to interact with city government, and it's now part of the record as the 2027 budget takes shape.
Street sweeping and water quality grants
Public Works got added federal and state grant money for the Safe Streets For All road safety project, plus watershed district grant funds for extra street sweeping.
Autonomous vehicle labor and community protections
The city is starting to learn about self-driving and connected vehicle technology before it has to regulate it. This presentation lays the groundwork for any future policies on autonomous vehicles operating on Saint Paul streets.
HOME housing budget amendments
The city's federal HOME housing dollars were updated to reflect $1.29 million in program income and about $2.65 million in 2026 spending.
Sewer Revenue Bonds Series 2026D (Green Bonds)
The council authorized green sewer revenue bonds to fund sewer utility work.
2027 Debt Proposal
The city's plan for borrowing in 2027 was presented. Debt service affects how much of the budget goes to paying off bonds rather than direct services.
Newcomer Services
A staff report on how the library serves immigrants and newcomers was referred for more consideration, returning October 7, 2026.
Early TIF District Decertification
The HRA learned what steps it would need to take to end tax increment financing districts early — a move that returns leftover TIF dollars but can carry legal and financial conditions.
Solar and tree-planting grants
The city accepted $108,080 in state grant money to install solar panels at Hayden Heights Library, trimming energy costs at a well-used public building.
City-funded legal counsel in Mayor Her lawsuit
The council extended one special counsel and hired Greene Espel to decide whether Mayor Kaohly Her gets city-paid defense in a lawsuit brought by Axel Henry. It's a question of who pays when the mayor is personally sued.
Department of Human Resources 2027 Budget
Human Resources outlined its 2027 budget, covering staffing and personnel services for city operations. The presentation was accepted into the record without action.