a meeting in Saint Paul City Council to order Roll Call. Please week. Johnson toast. Him. Here comes PRESIDENT Maker here, 6 present one apps that being Councilmember Johnson and she is excused. Welcome everyone to our city council meeting. Thank you all so much for joining us here. We invite everyone to join us in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance one under GOD. Consent agenda items 2 through before you for your consideration. There anything to be taken for separate consideration? Seeing none. Take a motion from his yang for the consent agenda. Any discussion? All in favor say Aye. All 6 in favor. None opposed. The consent agenda is adopted item number 7 is
resolution. 26 dash one. 32 celebrating 140 years of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. And beyond. Thrilled to welcome Lisa Jcobson and all of the other members of her team who I don't know to join me up to accept does he need come of this? Yet to be present? As I read this resolution, I There's so much darkness going on in our community right now. And it is important to take a moment to celebrate all of the things that are wonderful, a better community and that in this case have been wonderful for 140 years. So I'm going read a little bit of this resolution, not all of it, but this is your copy to taken lead at home but really, from about my heart, I want to thank you, Lisa, for your leadership. I want to thank your entire team. This event was started as a way of saying that calls a special place and no time, could that be more important than this year? So thank you for everything you're doing. Whereas for 140 years, the
Saint Paul Wnter Carnival has served as a beloved community tradition and gathering place in the heart of Saint Paul celebrating winter threat kind events, parades, ice sculptures, cultural programming and family-friendly activities that have inspired and united millions of residents and visitors from around the world. Whereas the Saint Paul Winter Carnival is the nation's oldest and most renowned winter festival showcasing the creativity, resilience and spirit of Minnesota. Well, honoring Saint Paul's rich history, cultural heritage and commitment community celebration. And whereas the Saint Paul Winter Carnival has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to accessibility and inclusivity by offering free and low-cost defense welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds, removing
barriers to attending and reflecting the diversity of the communities. It serves through its programming partnerships and volunteer engagement. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we recognize and honor the Saint Paul Winter Carnival for its 140 years of service as a cultural civic and economic cornerstone of Saint Paul, enriching the city's identity and bringing people together in celebration of winter. Even when it's hard to do and be it further resolved that this resolution stands as a token deep appreciation for the Saint Paul Winter Carnival ad a celebration of its 140 year legacy as an anchor institution in Saint Paul and for the last and cultural social and economic impact. It continues to have our community. Thank you so much. Yours to keep traffic? I just want to take a moment as a former council member and city of Brooklyn Park and former
mayor. I appreciate all of you for the work that you do. Have then on the other side of the fence and I have a unique understanding of it. So thank you. I do want to also thank you Rebecca, for your work. I'm the council around for commuters. You and I have spoken about It doesn't go unnoticed on your work. As far as that goes. So I want to introduce our current board chair Christine Army and our Vice Chair, Tennessee. Again. I would just like to say thank you to the city for the engagement. Sarted 18 86 on FEBRUARY. 1st. So we're looking forward to another 140 years in partnership with the city. And thank you for being in the parade. Dress and we're gonna have some fun.
Appreciate it. And with that, I think we should take a motion. I also didn't realize that when a credible started on my birthday. So now I feel even not in 18, 86 but FEBRUARY FEBRUARY, 1st. Make the motion. Is there any discussion? Seeing none all in favor say Aye. I'll post. 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item number 8 is resolution. 25 dash 1914, outlining the city's 2026 legislative agenda. This was laid off from DECEMBER 17th. 2025. And this is going to be one of those meetings where we really go back and 4th between all kinds of different topics. So this is our city's legislative agenda, which for those of you who are familiar with that it's it's what the city will be lobbying the legislature for when we're at the Capitol this year. So there's some things that we can do as a city. There's many
things that we need our legislative partners to do. And this is the first time that the council is being able to see the nw administration's legislative agenda our brand-new assistant mayor. As of this meeting at next mulling are so welcome and for position. Thank you, council PRESIDENT. So for the record, my name is next to Milan or assistant mayor for housing, economic, vibrancy and infrastructure with mayor her. And my name is assistant mayor new thing. Staff and strategic partnerships with the office of calling her. And we are notably not the ig our director. Alright, you are so we'll get to tat in the slides here. But wanted to provide a good update and we appreciate you all working with us. So overview and timeline you've got in this presentation are version of this from the previous
administration on kind of the framing. Components. And then we'll go through some of the priorities here. So I will be relying a lot on the knowledge that I have my most recent role prior to being here at the city of Saint Paul was with the House dfl Caucus. And so when I talk about the dynamics the Legislature place of experience are there. So just wanted to note that. Ad legislative session will begin at noon on FEBRUARY 17th. So just about a month here and then we'll and on MAY 17th 2026. The legislative welcome back. Reception will be that following week and for folks who not have experience of the Capitol. This here is a policy year. Last year budgets were passed for many of the major departments, relevant component here isn't a thing must happen, which is
sometimes challenging at the legislature. So I get the not fun job of tempering expectations. I just want to address a few of the different areas of uncertainty, which is a kind way of saying it. Federal immigration enforcement, the impact it has on our residents. Businesses, the continued attention on fraud at the expense of other things fall out of the political assassination of Speaker Meira and the political violence on Senator Hoffman and his family. The reconciliation bill fallout, which I have huge impacts on Medicaid services and a lot of other elements state services and county services structural budget imbalance in the planning years, which I think that Eric Peterson a previously kind of detail for you all. And then a very close 34 33 dfl majority in the Senate, the time the House and then
obviously midterm elections. So as I mentioned, so just last week, hard to believe just last week we announced that the mayor's office and higher General Roark from Ramsey County to be our intergovernmental relations director. And she starts in early FEBRUARY so she is given notice that the county. And so that's why I'm up here. Kind of going through our agenda and hiring for it are associate is currently underway. So move into the kind of top city priorities. We want to make sure and incorporate lot of the feedback from council members, city departments, partners such as the Port Authority, the Chamber, Downtown Alliance, Ramsey County number of organizations across the city and across the region. We've all gotten outreach from our staff to make sure that we incorporate your feedback. And that continues past today's presentation to and wanted to
share that some of the 2 goals that we have in building this agenda is both to maximize the economic impact that comes into the city, especially in the short challenging legislative session. And strategically position in the city's asks across a variety of areas. Folks, I know on the council and other places have had experience at the legislature and often takes a couple bites at the apple to get a lot of these big projects done. And so we're excited to be. At the beginning of that process. So we will go through. I know previous conversations of the council and also offline as well as kind of centered on how lengthy the legislative agenda is and how the variety different things that we can prioritize. What that looks like we
have stripped. We have attempted to consolidate as much as possible to have a one pager one and a half page or which is in your packets. And it's titled a preliminary 2026. Saint Paul Legislative Priorities. I couldn't quite get it down to one page. I got kind of So forgive me there. The tp component is the arena complex and surrounding entertainment district investments. And we have a policy statement in there talking about the different options that state assistance MAY take cash, finding capital bonding. And appropriations forgivable are interest free loans, local option, sales tax and then exemptions on sales tax related to construction. And I'll just note for this group here that the negotiations with the team are ongoing as we get an gotten up
to speed and project would include funding for Grand Casino River Center. Roy Wilkins is found calibration. The River Center parking ramp. And strive to include Social District authorization as well. The couple of the other components we're looking at that. We've done some work on the impacts of the cyber incident are obviously still reverberating. And we wanted to add to the legislative agenda, amending the definition of a natural disaster in state statute so that the costs incurred from the cyberattack could be 100% reimbursed from the state. Few states across the country are doing this as cyber attacks are becoming pretty likely to
continue. This would have that 100% reimbursement. And I'll just note here our county and southern Minnesota experienced a pretty crippling cyber attack last year in 2025. And so we're hopeful that there's some bipartisan attention to that. Another component is establishing and funding a reimbursement program for the law enforcement agencies that respond to protests and demonstrations at the Capitol complex in the governor's residence. We don't know exactly the mechanism that that culd take, but there is some interest and that reimbursement because folks don't necessarily know state Patrol in charge of the lawns capital on the governor's residence, sidewalks and beyond is usually asked ppd. And folks need assistance, fire and ems services as well. And so getting some of that reimbursement with kind of a
larger increase in First Amendment activity of protest and really positive things. I think for our our residents, we just want to make sure that there's some reimbursement acknowledgment that we love having the Capitol complex in the governor's residence here. But we'd love to get that reimbursement next is sate regional investments into the West 7th corridor. So folks have probably noticed that men that is leading a first of its kind partnership between the city, the county and Met Council on kind of a full. Combination of redesign and reconstruction from Kellogg to all the way through down Highway 5 to msp. And this will be likely a multi-year ask could take the form a couple different ways
in which we would ask for funding there. Another component that we expect to be a topic of conversation at the Legislature is making sure we establish reimbursements and supports for individuals, family, community organizations, businesses and local governments. For the costs that we're all seeing that they've incurred during this immigration Mahan with a lot of businesses over the last, I guess how many days has it 15 days that we've been here, the mayor's office, the impact that they're having businesses closing down, not having support for their staff or for other folks. We want to make sure we prioritize that the legislature and this is written in a way that we can kind of be nimble as far as we're looking for that reimbursement and then
incentivizing downtown redevelopment through some of the creative financing tools with tips to start tax credit expansions for conversions and then the cub credits a well. So those are the kind of top line priorities that we're looking at, that we're willing. We want to have feedback on and working wth us as we get up to speed. There are some other additional legislative items, capital investment projects. Like we said, this is a policy here, Andorra bonding year. And so we're hopeful there's a robust bonding bill at the Legislature this year. So the Mississippi River Learning Center face to the Como Big Cat ehibit Randolph Avenue Bridge Reconstruction and the historic one that steps on some other. All holdovers that I believe have been presented to a previously that we want
to make sure we keep parks and recreation. There's reinstating funding for regional parks which has not been fully funded components. Been in state statute estimate that we gathered was that Saint Paul's annually seeing about 5 million in lost revenue from that partnership that hasn't been funded. And then a number of supports for recreation centers and libraries. I'll let you read those. And then. Continuing on in the public safety area, repealing some of the local government. Preemption. It's common sense. Gun violence prevention measures making sure that the city has authority to prohibit handguns and weapons in a number of different city controlled and leased spaces, designating libraries and rec centers, a drug-free zones and making sure we add Saint Paul to the speed control camera pilot that I believe it's
mounds view Mendota Hights and Minneapolis participate in and then some of the other components reinstating some of the local next steps on the copper wire theft and scrap. Protections and changes there. And then a few items from hero and protection of labor standards. Complaints from complainants from retaliation and subpoena power. And then another component. We're in a really good spot with time. All the lead service line replacement. We do need that additional funding from the state to make sure we kind of come through that full 10 year vision from Saint Paul water. And then Iwill just note this is obviously a long laundry list. I had to use a lower a smaller size, fun site. Apologize for that. Previously. The platforms about 35 pages that document have in front of you is about 5 and a half pages. That's not because there are not things that we don't think are very
important advocate for or allow the idr director and associate to be able to talk through with other folks. It's that. We want to make sure that we're being strategic as we communicate with folks. We can build one pagers. We can do a lot of really wonderful things in talking through this work at the Capitol. And I think we will because Jen is a fantastic as a fantastic relationship with folks all legislature already. But we just want to make sure we are naming the things that our city priorities and values while also making sure the asks are strategic. So next steps I want, this looks like so. We would love to incorporate cuncilmember subject matter. Experts from across the departments in testimony and helping us write
letters of support as items come up in the legislature. So I'm sure there are some of these items that you are more or less enthusiastic about as they are across your warts. And we want your feedback. We want to be able to strategically use Team Saint Paul to the best most effective ability at the Capitol. It's not too far of a If it's nice outside and then we're happy to adjust these items items over the next couple weeks. And I believe now kind look to the council PRESIDENT For this final council vote amendments of the legislative agenda is well set up to happen before the session starts on the 4th or the 11th of FEBRUARY. Appreciate you bearing with me as obviously this is. Other
duties as assigned, which is I think I've been describing this presentation. A lot of things that have been happening in the last 15 days. But really happy to be here. And thank you for the time in the presentation here. Well, a system error is. Thank you so much. I was going to say, look forward to you, not Reggie our directors, not because you didn't do a fantastic job, but because I know how much else you have on your plate. Some in the last 15 days, the fact that you taking time to put this together is really it's really impressive. So thank you. And I also really appreciate the move towards fewer pages and specifically calling out. And we're not won yet. But there's always room for improvement. What really are the priorities? Rather than if everything's Perry, nothing a priority. And we've been saying that are on the table
for some of us for a very long time. So so thank to my colleagues for questions and comments. I will know my plan will be the latest over till FEBRUARY. 11th giving us time to work with the administration between now and then and anything you want to add to the very, very full chamber today. And so I do want to be mindful of that and our discussion can also continue with the administration in between this meeting and then if anyone has come as they want to make sure they say right now we should do it. Present just very quickly. Just really appreciate the ask for us to be included. Like we you've got 7 more spokes. People here that are willing to kind of go. A fight with the legislature go for the resources that we need. And certainly in partnership with the mayor's really looking forward to working with all the legislative Priorities Council, vice
PRESIDENT Council PRESIDENT Have been describing it as creative collaboration. That's I think the name of the game here. like both of those other any other comments. All right, seeing none. Thank yu both again, very much. And we will make a movement make a motion to lead. The Fed are over till. FEBRUARY, 11th all in favor say Aye. Will host 6in favor. None opposed. Item is laid over to FEBRUARY 11 item number 9 is resolution 26 dash one. 21 calling on Governor Walz to pass an eviction moratorium through executive order to support saint on keeping families in their homes and further protect them from ice. before we move discuss this, I want to move aversion to which isn't legistar at
with the council vice presidents supports. This comes out of a conversation that I had with some small business owners and also with assistant mayor stumbling or this morning about the issue that tenants who are small businesses are also facing risk of eviction. And often we focus on tenants who are residents only but a lot of our small businesses who don't own their buildings are also at risk. So the version to basically ads in businesses as those tenants who are in need of protection. So I will version 2 again with the authors blessing before we discuss it further, doing take a vote on that. If you can do it together or you can. just tke to the end, I can make a motion. As PRESIDENT. Thank you. I'm very sponsor. Its resolution is part of all my colleagues. You know, we're facing a crisis that deserves immediate action for close to you. In a federal agents have
flooded the Twin Cities, honorable in targeted communities and residents are not able to safely go to work. So their kids to school or childcare, even running errands, this is having a widespread effect on businesses, childcare centers, schools and No family should be forced to choose between risking arrest and attention and working to keep their health their home and their family housed. So we're calling on the governor to issue an eviction moratorium and it is a common sense, unprecedented action at the state has taken before and the covid-19 pandemic. The governor issued an eviction moratorium. These are not extenuating circumstances. If these are not extenuating circumstances, I'm not sure what is. So for months, neighbors and residents have hobbled together. And I were so here in support. In response to the military occupation, that's just been
unleashing violence in our communities. We've created now care, launched neighborhood patrols, become legal observers and help deliver groceries. Every residents of taking on the important role of public safety. The risk is too high for neighbors to leave their homes for work school practice space in order to keep our residents safe. They need the ability to shelter in place and we're going businesses need to stay open and continue to pay their workers. The impacts of an economic and housing crisis in this moment will extend beyond the current immigration operation. The precedent exists, the legal authority exists and what we are in desperate need of now is the will to meet the moment to do everything within our powers to protect our immigrant communities. So without mover aversion to end them. Without owners and version 2, thanks
so much as PRESIDENT For your leadership on There's a motion on the table. Is there discussion of the motion? Thank you. Council. PRESIDENT Council vice PRESIDENT Would like to say thank you to you for your full action and taking swift action to bring this up front of the council. I'm very supportive of this. I'm proud to be a sponsor and I want to give a shout out to organizations like local progress. Also, Minneapolis councilmember wrapping once the who I first heard about this resolution from who have been organizing bike, that officials to really come together to unite and really call for this eviction moratorium. It will be really on is it hurts to be here again. We were here during the pandemic and to call the governor issued an eviction moratorium during that time to
protect families who were on the verge of eviction during the pandemic. And as person of color as a woman of color, a council member representing part of our city that is deeply impoverished. And with the zip code, 5, 5, 1, 0, 6 and being the neighborhood that has experienced the highest rates of eviction in our entire city. It really hurts to be hre. But I know that I'm preaching the choir. When I say that I am amongst people who care deeply about working class community about our black and Brown committee members, immigrants, refugees are folks who are undocumented during this time to further protect them and to do everything that we can to champion them make sure that the continue staying here home with us in our communities us.
I want to say thank you to everybody who is in deep solidarity. But this movement to call the governor to issue an eviction moratorium. Thanks. Missing. It's coming. this in strong support of it as well, one of the most challenging one challenging thing about the last few weeks is all the consequences of the Fed occupation and immigration enforcement that go beyond the families that are being apart. That goes beyond the people who are being detained central processing center, Texas, out of the state before their families can get to too fight for their legal rights. The number of consequences that go beyond that is unquantifiable. We are hearing these stories every day from people in our communities, people who can't get to work. People who can't
get to doctors, appointments, people who have whose life's are truly being torn apart, even with out detention by ice. But simply because they exist in the city that is experiencing this federal occupation, it is horrifying. And I think that we have all share the frustration of knowing that what we do at the municipal level. It's not going to be enough having that conversation with the housing attorneys trying to figure out is tere any way that we can do an eviction moratorium in the city of Saint Paul and getting their repeated answer that no, can't do that in Saint Paul and that this is truly going to take every single level of government City County state, acting the federal government, acting members of Congress acting 2 on to stop the harm that is currently Bean brought our community. So and pour the governor to act. I hope that
the action that we are taking that the Minneapolis City Council has taken that. I know, you know, local election officials across the state are calling for is because we're seeing this need desperately across our city. I hope the government, the governor will heed that call and swiftly to enact this eviction moratorium. Thanks. MISS Coleman thank you. Council PRESIDENT, thank you for bringing this I'll just echo what my my colleagues have been saying. Our city. Isn't the isn't a crisis right now. We're talking about our residents, not able to figure out how to meet their basic needs, how to get to work, how to make sure that they can provide roofs over their heads. How can kids get to school? We're probably going to find out in a few days here that a lot of kids in Saint Paul are going choose to stay home from school and
get their learning that way in his Coleman said, you know, it relies every level of government. There's only so many things that we can do here at the city level. And we're really relying on. Our elected officials in the state level, the county and especially Congress to be able to act. And so I think this is absolutely the right thing to do. And I also employed the governor to act on on this item to protect our residents. Thank you. Thank Justice. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT, I'm just really proud to stand before here and just support us with action and the cause of the governor. To do, you know, a tool, one of the strategies that he has in his tool box. Earlier today, I had the opportunity really to stand in solidarity with our same pa
delegation at the capitol inside of the press room where we stood and support it. As who was a Somali young girl, 23 years old who was kidnapped from ice and detained and I represent of some a cab. Spent spent days over around the clock trying to find her and get her home. And I just think about just how many other families who are in the process of trying to find their loved ones, whether been detained and brought to Texas. And I can only imagine. The midst of all of this crisis said they have to think about how you're going to pay rnt. We're also the in in the process of how are people going to file their taxes? How are people going to make sure their financial and safety and economic security blanket is is intact? So I think this is
a short term fix that least the governor can can propose at. And I think, you know, these emergency times call for us to utilize al of our emergency powers. So I'm happy to support this makes us believe. Thank you all. I echo everything that everyone has said and I want to again commend this council for the seriousness and the urgency with which we're taking action. This is one of a number of items that we're going to be introducing just today. And then I know that there are others coming in the few weeks because we are hearing loud and clear from our constituents. The need the pain and and the requirement that we act. So so thank you again, vice PRESIDENT For bringing this forward. We have a motion for version 2 all in favor say Aye. Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted as
amended. Take a motion from council vice PRESIDENT To suspend the rules to introduce a resolution about the day of truth and freedom all in favor suspending the rules say Aye all opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The rules are suspended resolution. 26, that's ash. 1, 6, 6, Recognizing Friday, JANUARY 23rd 2026 as Day of Truth and Freedom Council. Vice PRESIDENT. Thank you. Really appreciate very lates consideration. But certain process it isn't legistar their copies of for my colleagues be distributed it for the council meeting softly. Nevin has a chance to. To look at it. I will be very quickly reading through it just for the sake of transparency. And I also want to be clear, this resolution does not and is not encouraging or in. Plus, Anna City staff I mself will be
participating and encourage folks to decide for themselves. Saint Paul's grounded in valleys of dignity, fairness, community and a respectable law, Friesen, federal immigration enforcement actions have had a profound effects effects on our families and communities across the state. Praying for your disruption and uncertainty for many Minnesotans and the circumstance of made it difficult for many residents to carry on daily life as usual, particularly for workers, students, families and small businesses. Minnesota's have a longstanding tradition of engaging in peaceful nonviolent civic participation and reflection during moments of significant social concern, a broad coalition of labor organizations, faith communities, community-based organizations, student workers and small businesses have
called for a statewide day of truth and freedom as a voluntary opportunity for reflection, solidarity and peaceful expression. Participants in the stair exercising their constitutional rights to nonviolent action. Often a person or economic sacrifice in order to express concern for the well-being of their communities. Minnesota's faith leaders and community leaders have affirms their shared commitment to peace, safety and the restoration of trust within our neighborhoods and now therefore be resolve the city of Saint Paul Perkins Friday, 23rd 2026, a state of truth and freedom in Saint Paul. Make a motion to approve and appreciate the support from my colleagues. Thanks, Vice PRESIDENT. There's a motion on the table to approve. Is there any
discussion of the motion? Thank you, council PRESIDENT And Vice PRESIDENT. Thank you for bringing forward the resolution here. I fully endorse this resolution. Also the community action taking place on Friday and and plan and I will be there. There's so many like I love the buzz in the community from young people, people of all ages and backgrounds, entrepreneurs, people who are running clinics and they weren't were calling me and saying and healthy. I'm going to be closing Friday. Going to be joining you. And these are people who I know this is going to be there first, protests being out in committee in solidarity with the community and important issue that has been so personally important to them. And so I just really commend the and the entire committee,
everybody who's been out there. But that even out there being constitution, observers being out there, protecting your neighbors every way that you know, how like there's such deep bravery and courage in doing that. And I can't wait to see the turnout that we will have on Friday and again, it's definitely a moment for all of us to be speaking up. Thanks for staying. Any other discussion. This billion that's common. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT. I just want to reiterate I have 5, everyone. Who is just volunteering sacrificing their time. Their efforts energy and just like put it all out there to show up for the day of truth and freedom. You know, it's just really sad that we're here again. I just really thinking
about the time we are and during the pandemic and also with the aftermath of George Floyd and so many more where we've had so many truth. The reconciliations we have so many days of recognizing the pain and feel especially just hearing the scary new rules of the surge of the few federal surge and having additional 1502. We're now looking to the thousands of agents here in Minnesota. I just think this is opportunity for us to be No Times 100 in terms of how many people are going come out and show up for humanity. How many people are going to come now only for the truth and freedom, but making sure that supporting our neighbors and showing that here in Minnesota and North star State. This is
a refugee state like we are the melting pot and really just like reflecting but also showing that solidarity actions. So again, thank you for everyone. I've been really excited see businesses that, you know, I haven't really seen in this advocacy light really stepping out on faith in in joining the movement. Thanks, That's coming. I guess ill just echo every else aside and take this opportunity to provide a psa that for those who are planning to be at the action on Friday. It's going be a wind chill of negative. 45, so please get your hats and your mittens in advance. If you're planning to participate Peyton, the economic boycott on Friday by warm beverages in
Thanks, MISS Coming just thanks. Council ad, I'll just say that looking forward to this day. I think what gives me a lot of hope through very difficult times are the ways that our community is coming together. And, you know, folks of all ages, all of our businesses, I also have businesses and my word that are participating in this that again, maybe haven't haven't haven't, you know, having participated in this way in our community. And and I I do think that, you know, seeing how powerful we are together is what makes me feel very optimistic that we will get through this. And so I'm looking forward to Friday thanks to everyone fr in advance for your participation. Thank you all. Thanks, campus PRESIDENT. There's no other discussion is a motion on the table. All in
favor say Aye. Post 6 in favor. None oppose. The resolution is adopted item. Number 10 is staff report 26 dash 9 review of emergency management services. Early notification is Thank you so much. Council PRESIDENT As director, Rick is coming up. I just wanted to share with the council. So we really wanted to act and urgency. And I had a chance to talk with the director, particularly around the terrain of what our emergency powers are and what is under a definition. This is not a policy meeting. This is just simply jst the staff report. I do anticipate coming forward in the next couple weeks having director Rick come to our policy meeting in just have more chance for us.
Ask questions and get a deeper understanding around how we want to utilize our emergency powers in the city. So welcome up, directorship. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT Maker home sponsor Councilmember Boy and other council members and The staff report before. Our start out public information and warnings is a very broad topic. Many systems, a lot of technical jargon and I'm not trying to I want to give a broad understanding here to the group, to to the to the council members and all those watching, you on the broadcast, my goal here is to explain how decisions are made in the city Saint Paul and tools are used. Why trust central to it all? I want to start with trust because that's really the foundation of a public warning. People only take protective action if if they trust the information
trusted source. And believe the message, that's the situation. Every decision we make about and the space is really a trust decision. All of are made decided on in the city of Saint Paul. Look, decisions follow our city's emergency operations plan. You know, I want to scale before we get into that. It emanates out of the executive authority at the federal level. And then it comes down to the state with our state ceck statue chapter 12 word establishes Emergency Management Department and emergency management functions and then into our city ordinance Administrative Code of Chapter 11, is the emergency management department and all those emergency mnagement functions. Armour's men are emergency operations plan is, you know, both to of all hazards. We call it and there's emergency support
function that really brings bear functional expertise of all of our departments help us all problems. And in te city. And specifically emergency support function to an emergency support function, 15 to being communications and 15 being public information. All those that really identify the roles and responsibilities to public coloring and then public warnings. Also, there's clear roles and rules and responsibilities establish an emergency operations plan. And different situations require different tools, different functional expertise discipline relative learning overuse or using consistently people stop paying attention. And that's real risk is is generated. Move on to our first system. This is I pause or the integrated alert and warning system. This is a female owned and operated system and it's also governed
by the fcc that works with the the solar providers. This includes, you know, what's called a wireless emergency ak Amber Alert that we're all familiar with that shake. Rosen rules. Your cell phone when they go off the emergency alert system that's broadcast tv radio, even cable television. Our our Civil warning sirens tat year for Sunday, our first Wednesday of every month. At 1 o'clock. As well as noaa weather radios. But specifically that we're that we're most familiar with that Amber Alert. This is the Lotus, a learning tool available. It reaches everyone's phone in a geographic area indiscriminately on that used only for immediate life-saving threats. These alerts are sent on by Ramsey County, even though they're generated by a functional expert in the field
for that situation, they're sent by Ramsey County, specifically it a trained and authorized ecc or emergency Communications Center supervisor. At the request of incident commander generally speaking for a functional expert in the field. So tere you sparingly on purpose. When people hear this alert, they should know it means something serious. Believe many of us have experienced what's called overshoot or your order the area. And you're like, why am I getting this alert? And that's part of thing that we they work very hard. And I just want to avoid that situation. But again, the ipaws nobody in the city can can can send We can generate language to San Juan, but its ascent by Orange Cunty out of the 9-1-1, dispatch center by supervisor. Moving on next
system. It's called every bridge. And interestingly enough, this is the entry point in time. Pass for te Ramsey County. So that message is actually sent through everbridge up to our cause. But we also use average on this tools used one dangerous is still real, but it's localized. Was alerts to focus on specific neighborhoods often using what's called Polygon job during the geographic circle. Groups instead of everyone rains, county issues, this public alert using a the system again, ucc Supervisor, 9, supervisor as the only one that can send a community alert using every bridge. The city used it for internal on alert and in the in the workplace, in coordination. Again, Committee alerts through this tool are limited
to interest to life. It's there. The data is is a database of of of residents reverse 9, 1, data as really the source or we can establish often databases offer things such as sow emergencies or other other often alerts within the community. It's a precision tool now to work on around for emergency lurch. A few other systems worth a mention here. Not all information in this space should come to our emergency alert system, social media civic notices, for instance, in public information channels. We're also used. You can see photos on the slide there. Our that managed by the city clerk for those a straight legislative notice is that the caught 2 residents as they often. We have our social media channels in the city and the departments and then that
centers that center pictures of Co-operative with tpg Public Broadcasting and that's called tpg. Now. And these tools inform the public. But they don't order people to take immediate action. Very useful building preparedness and also au response and recovery information. Keeping these tools separate complimentary avoids confusion. What does this mean for for the council? I wanted to express today that there's clear roles and awe and get some clarity. This clear boundaries around who issues the alerts when that separation intentional, it protects credibility, avoids desensitization and ensures that went alerts are issued. The public takes seriously. That concludes my my staff report possibly take your questions. Thanks so much, director. Really appreciate
though. This point. Thank you so much, council PRESIDENT. Thank you so much, Rick, for being here and just getting this ready in such a try timeline here. Like I said, I definitely want to expand if people are interested to see how use this tool. I have a quick question, particularly and if you could touch a little bit more on the customize ation of the alert system. The early notification systems, one of things that was really curious about where you're saying, how like the district councils have the powers to also issue alerts are a lot councilmember has the power to issue alerts. Is there like a mechanism to where I want to alert. Ward wine or Councilmember Coleman wants lure her word like, do we have that flexibility with this tool? With the early think concerned. And further question with early notification system managed by
the city clerk. We can establish often alerts. They can be specific to, you know, award. They can be specific to a district for District Council. We do have sms credits what's called and that system. We do. You know, if you receive a Gov delivery especially personal emergencies. We've used use of all of ems for snow emergencies. And that is also on the cellular phone as an sms. So an ot-in. So that would be administered process on by the Council or District Council to seek access to that system and a bill that learning to be actually did. You know when that one officials to find and Matt? Thanks, director. And other questions that think we will be getting a longer potentially report in
time to discuss this and time. Looks like Thank you so much. Really appreciate the timely information. And Thanksgiving is going. Item number 11 is ordinance 26 dash, one final for modifying and establishing certain city council staff positions in Chapter 16 of the administrative code. And for those of you who don't tune in to us every single week of the way that we adopt legislation in this body is through 3 readings. First reading is the first time we ever hear about piece of legislation or will become ordinance. And we have a staff report at that time explaining what it is. There will be one of those today. Then we have a second reading. We have a public hearing. We hear people's thoughts on that ordinance and then we have a 3rd reading where we adopt the Anything that you're seeing here final adoption already had at least 2 hearings before hand. And then you'll see we
have some items today for first reading and some for public hearing. So this is before us for final adoption. I'll take a motion from Vice PRESIDENT Kim to approve any discussion of the motion. Seeing none all in favor say Aye. I post 6 in favor. None opposed. The ordinance is adopted and number 12, its first reading of ordinance, 26 dash for granting the application of by a lawn company to rezone 4. I one light industrial parcels to be 5 central business service. And since this is a first reading, we will have a staff report. council PRESIDENT Council members skews me like ready. Take your 10. Getting the cep. My name is Stephen to our Kate Green. I'm city planner for the Department of Planning
Economic Development. Okay, before you is in application to rezone 4. I one light industrial parcels. To be 5 Central business at 500 Broadway Street. The property is located at 500 Broadway Street. It's four-part parcels comprising the 500 block of Broadway Street in the neighborhood or 2. Just north and east of downtown across from Interstate 84. Land use and zoning in the area includes a multi-family residence to the north, which is zoned b, 5 warehouse uses to the East and South Zones. I one light industrial. And the interstate highway to the West and again, the zoning application is to
be zoned for I one light industrial parcels to be 5 Central Business service districts. The findings are that the post be 5 zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan the 24 you comprehensive plan designates future land use of sight as mixed use. And the main distinguishing characteristics is. In the mixed use. District is a balance of jobs and housing within walking distance of one another. B, 5 zoning districts. The proposed be 5 zoning district permits a mix of uses that are compatible with future land. Does the commission? And the second findings that the rezoning contributes to orderly and predictable development to be 5 Central Business Service district from its a range of uses in proximity to the Central Business district, including
wholesaling and certain manufacturing that are compatible with the surrounding multifamily housing office and warehouse. Medical Office and Park in Eustis. The proximity to dense areas of housing, employment to the Central Business district. It could be 5 zoning district appropriate for the property proposed to be rezoned. The staff recommendation is approval of rezoning of the 4 parcels from I one light industrial to be 5 Central Business service. And at Zoning Committee. The committee recommended approval. And course, your folks and planning Commission. Approvals recommended with a unanimous voice vote. District for Planning Council has not submitted a letter of recommendation and there were no letters in support and of concern session. The Senate, my presentation to the fda taking Thank you so much for the presentation. Any
questions? Does look like it. Thanks so much. This will be laid over 4. Secondly. If item is laid over to JANUARY 28th for second reading public hearing. Take a motion from Present him to suspend the rules to introduce first reading of an ordinance to prohibit law enforcement staging operations on city-owned properties and limit access to nonpublic city spaces on favor suspending the rules. Please say Aye. Post 6 in favor not oppose. The rules are suspended ordinance 26 Dash 5 ending chapter to 68 to the legislative code to prohibit law enforcement staging operations in city-owned properties and limit access to nonpublic city space. And since this is a first reading as well, we will have a staff of come up. Thank you. Council members council PRESIDENT For the opportunity to speak today. These are times that try our
souls as the city. It's important that we highlight the efforts that the council is taking today on the individual ordinance, but also discuss the steps that we intend to take as a council moving forward. So part of my presentation will also discuss our ongoing legislative strategy to respond to the ongoing federal actions. That our city is currently suffering from. As the legislative body of the city. The city cuncil's empowered to create and make changes to our city's loss. This includes our city charter, which dictates the structure of our city's government in a straight up code, which dictates which what actions are city staff can take and our legislative code which applies to the public living and working in our city limits. The council is committed to meeting the needs
of our People including updates to the city's existing separation ordinance. However, the council's approach recognizes the board approached, unveiled today, beginning with this ordinance, recognizes the urgency to act expedient Lee and with the necessity to build thermal protections that provide clarity to residents and that can withstand legal challenges. The council acknowledges that since the events of DECEMBER 25th 2025 everyone knows things have changed the dynamics of the federal escalation. Show that are and the actions of federal immigration agencies changed and continue to change, which means that the residents of the city cannot wait for one comprehensive change to the city's existing separation ordinance, which is located in
the administrative code and only binds the conduct of its employees. Work is also underway to create additional changes to other parts of our city's legislative code. Moving forward with a multi part approach to allow for swifter action and greater legal durability for ordinance changes. The goal is to respond rapidly to the needs of our communities, ensuring that the changes will serve as a resilient defense against crisis situations. Yet to come. The changes before you today are the first in a series of bills. Proposed changes will be walking through the ordinance 26 Dash 5. That's a brief high-level summary of the ordinance is that it has chapter 68 to the legislative code as a legislative ordinance. It prohibits law enforcement staging on city-owned properties and limits access to non city public space. Nonpublic city spaces as you
get that order, correct. Clarifies that city employees MAY not permit any access to city owned or city controlled property except when required by a sign war. There are 2 key defining federal immigration laws is an expansive definition is beyond. It is is meant to include and capture the reality that the federal government is using an expanded definition of immigration process on a criminal basis to justify the way that they conduct the seizures of people. And conduct their operations. So this definition is to be expansive of the reality rather than rely on existing definitions and to find staging area as an area used to assemble, mobilize, coordinate and the play vehicles, equipment or materials. And later personnel for carrying operations for the enforcement of federal
immigration laws. And so where where access is prohibited is city-owned or city control parking. Lots ramps faking lots and garages that are not owned to the general are that are not open to the general public. No federal state or local government entity or personnel MAY use ceo under city control parking lots or any other similar used for enforcing federal immigration laws. And city officials MAY not consent o authorize any access to city-owned or city control property except when required a judicial warrant. Non-public city spaces include areas like bathrooms, restricted areas requiring badge access, workstations, breakroom storage closets, and employee only areas access to these nonpublic city spaces are not open for purposes of
enforcing federal immigration laws. City employees do not have the legal authority to consent or permit access to the spaces in situations where would otherwise be required. So I happy to detail specific questions about the ordinance, but I have a lot more like to discuss. So I hppy to say for questions to the end as well. With that, I'm going backslide. In the 5 weeks that have occurred since the city Council adopted resolution 25, 1980, a team of council offices at work with myself to collect feedback from all council offices and the public, including 3 public hearings in council chambers and one community event has 2 perspectives on the separation ordinance and the current operations of ice in our city. And doing this collection. We've heard a number of perspectives and received a long list of priorities that require us to engage thoughtfully about the the
road ahead. So after moving forward and having those conversations, we are at agreed to a phase and sequential rollout of comprehensive legislative reforms of policy changes. This is designed to address the rapidly evolving situation. This response, this approach is also responsive to meet feedback provided from a variety of stakeholders that will be responsible for implementing these protections. And we are also committed to working with our partners in the mayor's ofice and using every tool possible, including policy legislation, process and procedure to protect the residents of Saint Paul. In the short term and just JANUARY 28th 2026. The council intends introduce to legislative ordinances that would build on existing state
law to limit the use of masks and other identity concealing mechanisms by law enforcement officers operating inner city and require clear visible to display of insignia of those said officers. We also must in the short term and in the medium term, engage on a question of what the separation ordinances to be. We have to recognize that there are too tensions at play with our separation ordinance, which has been in effect for 20 years, which is which is with health legal challenge and has been challenged in court. We are to the defendants in litigation for our separation ordinance against the federal government. With those contextual factors in play. We have to reconcile whether the separation ordinance which currently already clearly provides that city resources are not to be used for the
purposes of enforcing federal immigration laws, whether that we need to further clarify that the city's policies not to assist ice or unemployed crowd control tactics during those immigration operations or clarify that in that ordinance, whether anything is intended to prevent public safety officials from responding to calls for aid from Saint Paul residents who are in the presence of ice. These are tensions that we need to work together as a council and as a community to resolve because we know that moving forward any insufficient or non durable solution contained within an administrative code is only a
simple one short shot solution to a broader problem that is going to continue to evolve. And so while we are closely while our conversations and our additional policy actions in the weeks ahead are to occur. We are closely commit. We are committed to monitoring those activities, responding to what citizens are seeing on the ground and having a new public conversation using the Public Safety Committee, the policy Committee and all other resources to engage in a conversation about public safety resources, training and policies that will require stand-alone actions beyond the context immigration enforcement. The other piece that I think I want to emphasize most plainly to the people listening at home.
We're concerned, scared and terrified that the full array of policy response is needed from the council at a time of this crisis, the Federal Authority, federal government's tip their hand at how they intend 2 conduct operations into the future. And w need to be clear eyed and have resilient csa Council and our policy making process. And that means committing ourselves to moving through the process that we have agreed to. In terms of moving items under suspension, working with the city attorney's office on ensuring that they receive proper legal review. And at the same time that we when we are responsive to community concerns that we work with al partners and engaging and engaging those conversations and at the same time using
this council space to provide those updates. Finally, all identify one final piece of information. You know, it as part of the one big beautiful bill that was enacted in the summer ice. The base budget is expected to exceed 28 billion dollars in the next 4 years. There is a clear eye resiliency that is needed from the city to identify are. Public spaces that are most at risk are communities that are most vulnerable. And our democratic resources and values that are most at risk. And that requires coordination across different governing partners like our county in our state resources. That also requires thoughtful, deliberative action as body here and then also requires hearing from the mayor's office Ways that they see ways
we can advance. Protections for the city and also at the same time, you know, much like the eviction moratorium was speaking to repair te economic damage that has been done to the city caused by the federal Immigration Enforcement action so doing this face sequential approach. Durability is our best defense. Our resilience is based in our capacity to move as a legislative body. And I appreciate the thoughtfulness that's gone into getting to this point in the work in the energy that's got to this point. But the work has to continue and so many more ways and so many more reality is that we haven't yet confronted as a city. So I appreciate the time and the ability to kind of conclude on that somewhat darker message. I think we're off write and resolute and
what's ahead. I stand for questions. Thank you so much for the staff Are there any questions? All right. Thank you so much. Also want to thank my colleagues council Vice PRESIDENT Kim Councilmember Yang, Councilmember Coleman in the lead authors on this. And I really appreciate the fact that we're moving forward with urgency and the phased approach to spring forward different pieces each week and I heard MR. Greenfield say we've got one in front of us now. We'll see others in front of us coming forward. I also appreciate the fact that you've clearly delineated between actions that direct others like federal agents and actions that direct our own staff. We need both of those. But we've been hearing loud and clear that we in particular want to see those actions directed at the federal agents as well. So I'm glad that we are starting with this piece to the author's first to her comments. Space
present camp. Yes, thank you. this has extended gratitude to my colleagues who spent an enormous amount of our time. I'm pulling together last-minute meetings and keeping the trains running on time, but also to the city staff that have worked tirelessly over the weekend. Some, you know, not withstanding our own attorney here at the table. Dan, thank you so much. For the time they put into this. I know the staff have been incredibly exhausted trying to move at the speed of community. I'm really proud to bring this forward for multitude of reasons. But the first one is there's I think every took a step in, right? We need to meet the urgency of this moment and passing something altogether allowing the pieces that still need time to hang up. Things that are ready wasn't meeting the moment. So we all took one big step in to say what are things that we
can move on now. And that was, I think, through a process by nation, creative problem solving both with the mayor's office in the city attorney's office. And so that faced in sequential is important. And again, it's the things that are rady now we're going to move on. We're not going away the things that will take time. You'll see us roll out a multitude of different things coming to the council moving forward. The durability language is really important, right? Part of the all in one versus separating them out helps us make sure that, you know, it's one thing. You know, I hate to say it was sort of our tenant protections. The first first time we took it try it right. Issuing a state can impact the entire ordinance. First, how do we separate things to make
sure protecting the parts that are good in the conversation? We talked about policy process and procedure and ordinance and working through. What are those pieces that we can implement as a city and I think like a lot of residents love to see a spring forward and legit bring forward legislation here at the table and often tense. Just a really strong good reminder. It's not the only tool that we have. And so it'll be things that the council work on that you'll see a policy committee. That's that's about policy or working with city departments where you might see a press release that we're improving our processes and procedures. So just know, even if you don't see it come to the table, it doesn't mean that the council isn't looking at a much more comprehensive approach across all the city departments. And also it
allows us to work with each individual department to dig really deep to look at the ways that they're working, how things are working, how things are not working within their processes, policies and procedures. And so I'm just very proud to bring this and see my colleagues started Van have a much have united front around both process policy and also those things meeting their urgency of this moment. So I will looks my other co-sponsors. See if they have any additional thanks like 10. I see MISS Yang in this coming. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT. I. yeah, I echo what you said council vice PRESIDENT About. I'm just giving a shout out to all of the people, the organization's the staff who who came together and and really make that we had language ready to go for
today. I I want to say thank you to you, are incredible. Chief policy officer for your presentation. Earlier it was stellar and I jst want you to know that I was very proud about the te message and how you delivered and conveyed the values of the council here and that the deep injustices that our communities have experience after day left to right. And it feels like it's the end, isn't stopping. But I know that. We are a committee that is resilient and and we will persevere in prevail and we will win and we will get ice out. I do have comments I want to make, but, you know, I just thinking about about 10 what you said in the beginning about how we are living in trying times and we definitely
are. I I mean, and just before we came into the council meeting here, I had a conversation with my staff share that They detained 2 teenagers in Minneapolis. Also yesterday, right after I was done with the meeting, I got video, a message that had a video where a shopping cart, a shopping cart attendant has on the world and our Kate Street in my word, they got detained. And I went there right away and got to the in solidarity with a handful of constitutional observers who are there. And we're there for entire time that the store is open all the way until the closed and employees were able to walk all safely and the entire time that we were there, there was a nice vehicle part across the street at most. A couple and kept coming back and harassing people. And wth that.
You, Sharon, in the beginning really capture how feel. During the My 3 year-old I that he said to my husband and recently. I still wake up in yet. I just killed a woman. Renee Nicole k. My children should not living a world in a country like this. With where that is, what they remember. We deserve better and we all deserve better. Thank you. And I am. I just want to thank everybody for you're giving best piece to share that. And it's really have the only heard. And I know that we're all going through a lot. And we're here and and all of the input that we have heard from everybody, whether it was in the council chambers. Here are the e-mails, the phone calls messages that you have sent to
us I see it over and over. It wasn't anything. I want you to know that you're hard at every day and I am. I really commend in a plot of this entire council and also want to really recognize my colleagues who sometimes, you know, it's not easy to 10 have follow the process of Park. Have really put yourself out there for the community. So council members on Bullying Council vice PRESIDENT Was he thank you for your bold leadership doing that in. Thank You know, this is not a moment for us to to point fingers at each other blame anybody for anything at all. Like talking with those of us at the table here. But it's it's really a moment of unity. And for everybody, all the council House colleagues who have really utilize your voice, your power, the seats that people
like to you in to to really pushing forward the timeline expediting as soon as possible. Want to say thank you because we have a first rate reading and it's because of your leadership. And so everybody here. Thank you. And thank you to everybody in the committee who has really been pushing the council on this. I angry power sponsor the language that we have here for the first rading in recent months, ice has wreaked havoc in our city and cast probable harm. 2 committee members through their dehumanizing tactics racial profiling, intimidation and lawlessness. Federal agents have repeatedly parking you cty property like parking lots that are beloved libraries and recreational centers. As a staging area. This is unacceptable. We saw this over in my board in NOVEMBER. Many conversations around a separation ordinance spurred and and thank you.
Thank you to the many people their bodies on the line from committee members, elected officials, you as council, vice PRESIDENT, even GOD. Spray down by the chemical irritants and it's okay what's happening. Our library when a to shut down. Kids families were still inside and they were terrified and they had to make a choice about whether they were going to leave a space that we know to be. He's a sanctuary that is welcoming and that safe. City properties are safe and welcoming spaces, values that are violated by ice and authoritarian Trump reaching. And I do not stand for that at all. I stand in solidarity in solidarity with the infighting that I am proud to sonsor dire and lifesaving dedication to all who work
play and live in Saint Paul. When you think about the story early about my my son. And how he shouldn't be living in a world like that like this. I mean, we didn't ask for this. I know many of us and here we did not ask for this, but I know who did ask for it. The mega supporters. So what I want to call on all mega supporters to do the for their address to ice. So you get a personal. Thank you. And you know what with us that with the reporting line. I mean, right now is the moment where we want to delay. You want to lay the the tactics of ice and delay their operations, which we know they want to do things with They want to things as quickly as possible even to take its citizens because they know that it is the citizens who going to get the team, they're going to come out quickly. Me up for the ice agents. It's all about meeting those quotas. So we want to delay those operations as much as
possible. Well, right now is the time to be reporting in those mega actresses. What is happening is so unacceptable. And I very invested in making sure the people who wanted to they will get that personal. Thank you. Thank you. Mss Yang. And I think at some is calm. Thank you. Council I think that MAY cause him to resin kit and Huntsman being covered much of why this is so critical and where we're going from here so well, I just want say briefly on on the ordinance are introducing today and why it feels so important and so urgent and how important only increased in recent days has that has Ing said we have continued to see ice attempt to use our public spaces as a location to stage grades and their destruction of our communities. When we had a presentation from Ali, what our city attorney's office last week at our policy committee meeting, he spoke about the initial intent of
the separation ordinance as being about public trust and public safety and how critical it is that every single resident of our city know what our values are and know how we're expecting our resources and understand with perfect clarity that we are not going to use city resources to enforce federal immigration law to do the work of Donald Trump and ace and what we saw over the last several days over the last week as ice continued to by later cease and desist show up in our city and parking lots was a fracturing of public trust. I'm sure many of us the conversations happening and social media and other spaces over the weekend suggesting that that our parks and rec department was collaborating with ice. And that's why I
suppose using our parking lots. That is what happens when ice uses our public spaces. It is unacceptable for anybody in this community to have the ipression that our parks and rec department would ever collaborated with ice because they never ever would. They never have never will. That is not what we stand for as a city. We are so deeply committed in this building across the thousands of employees who work for the city of Saint Paul to ensuring that this is a community where every single prson's welcome where every single person knows that we are fighting for them, not for ice, not for that Border Patrol, not for dhs. And so I just to me, it is so essential that we passed this ordinance that we make sure and the ordinances that will come that continue to show who we are as a city that continue to show who is welcome here. And that's our
community members that are residents that everybody in this room and it is not nice. So and saw a lot. Thank you. Is common. That's Thank you. Council PRESIDENT, I'll just share some remarks. I later on in our agenda, we're going to have a public hearing. So I just want to really just have a time for people to participate in that. But I just wanted to share just like justice delayed is justice denied. And when I think about just the power that we have. I policies that is our justice, Thomas. The policy provide clarity information and direction. And I think this ordinance is makes it very crystal clear. What our what our role is. And also just want to say, I want to just
really thank Councilmember Coleman and also counts as a vice PRESIDENT. Kim Yang and also council PRESIDENT Maker for really just all the behind the scenes and also councilmember just everybody behind the scenes work, the sweat equity goes into this. I think all of us feel te heaviness of our responsibility knowing that, you know, we we're electing to these offices to handle city services and now protecting our are our neighbors Federales siege was not part of life. Our platforms we first but now we have to become experts in this. So I do want to say I offer grace and my passion. I hope you do
not see it as a tag. Our offense. But, you know, we we hold really, really important roles. And often our work is invisible. I do appreciate us having this discussion publicly. Even even though there's not like a blueprint right around like how we navigate these waters. But it is really important to to honor that particularly of how we're going to be cracking the future of protections of our neighbors and really making sure responding strongly. I I actually do appreciate how we are rolling this out in phases and not making perfection the enemy of good enemy of action. I think, you know, every week this is, you know, every week that we can work to improve our systems, laws. And also that 3rd part 2 that we talked
about last week, our budgetary, heard you know, policy alone isn't going to actually fix some of the economic harms that people been facing. We can also lean on our partners at the state at the county level to really help with that safety net. And last, not least I want to say also MISS A green field. I really appreciate how just stepping into, you know, his role in Greeley leading with values and providing a lot of information for us, particularly around the framework around, well, the direction we should be going and wanted things that he had mention. But I think is just so valuable you know, making it very clear that the federal government does not have legal authority to enter are not
public spaces and like that legal authority is something that we have to be strong on that legal authority. We are representatives of what our legal authorities are. So just yet again, what out year is, you know, I'm always in support of anything that we can do to exercise our powers make sure that our neighbors are safe and we are we are thinking creatively, innovative Lee and I just love Plaza us And again, just thank you for this work for the sponsors. And no, I'm I'm excited to to pass and adopt this. Thank you. MISS Billy. Thank you. Council PRESIDENT I just I just hope that, you know, it's clear to everyone that this council is unified against ice and we are committed to protecting our residents. Federal operation in our city is a crisis is an emergency and the impact has
been brutal. I mean, are businesses closing? Neighbors disappearing, really fear that everyone's experiencing just to go on about their everyday lives. This odinance was is the first step. Many steps that we're going to take it. MISTER Greenfield mentioned to ensure that our city doesn't waste its resources protective federal work. Our constituents have made it clear that they do not want any part of this. We do not want ice in our community and we will do whatever we can to ensure that our city government maintains its start separation from their operation. Our work is so critical. This might be one of the most important piece of legislation that we work on this year, if not our term, must act intelligently and with pce, I want to make sure
that our efforts are not for their delayed by any missteps procedure. I'm so Councilmember Coleman, thank you. Council. PRESIDENT Maker also really want to think Greenfield who just presented here earlier. I just I don't think that anyone could have captured the work that we're doing in characterizing our values any better. So, Tim, thank you very much. Want to thank council Vice PRESIDENT Kim Council ringing comparably thinking everyone here. I know that we are all united in. We really care so deeply about this issue. And that is why we are bringing forth in this way. I just appreciate everyone's diligence and thoughtfulness, ensuring that
are maximizing our power when our residents need it. The most. So I will continue to support the work of this separation ordinance in any way that I can and making sure that, you know, we're doing this correctly and legally in quickly, I just really appreciate everyone's work to figure out how we could roll this out in a way that makes the most sense and well delivering for to our residents as quickly as possible. Like I think it was. Councilmember Bowie sid, you know, not letting perfection, be the enemy of progress. We're trying to move forward. The separation ordinance that we're working on has so many parts to it. It's takes a significant amount of analysis and work. And so I just 100% agree that this is the best
way to proceed. And so I mentioned we'll we'll do everything. We are doing everything we can to move this forward quickly as possible. And our constituents deserve that. And they deserve so much more. So thank you, everyone, for all your work. Thank you so much. Joe's. Thank you to all my colleagues. I agree 100% with everything that's been said and I feel very, very proud and very grateful to be part of this Strong Resolute Council. The time like this. I just want to add one element that I that that I think is important as well. The trust that has Coleman talked about being built and that the trust is broken down when people see federal agents in our parking lot. That's also trust. That's important to build up and restore among our own frontline staff. The folks who are working in our parks and recs enters the folks who work in our
libraries, the folks who are working in these buildings, knowing that federal agents are not allowed in parking lots, that they're not allowed in on public spaces that gives needed assurance and clarity to our frontline staff as well. And I think right now we're hearing from everyone in our community is that need clarity. We need to know what the rule is. We need to know what's wrong and what's right. And at the time when everyone else might be disregarding that one thing we can do as leaders is hold firm to what is wrong and what is right and we we are clearly stating that line here today in one regard, we will continue to do that as we move forward many other pieces of legislation. So thank you again to my colleagues. This is just a first reading. So tis item
will be laid over and there will be a public hearing on this item next week. We're having a public hearing today in general on immigration operations, but this ordinance will have a public hearing next week. The item is laid over to JANUARY 20th for second reading public hearing. Item number 13, a second reading public ordinance 26 Dash, 2 pending references in the legislative and administrative codes from animal control to animal services and correcting typographical errors. So this does bring us to our public hearing section of the agenda. So for eery public hearing we will win. It is your item. We will invite folks up. I will say this is your public hearing. Is anyone here to speak on this item? When I say that? That's your cue to come on up. Stand in between those 2 microphones. Start with your name and where you're coming from. You will have 2 minutes to testify and they do go by
quickly. And job is to keep every one to 2 minutes. So you'll see the time or in front of you. And we just ask for your cooperation with that. And then when you're done testifying, you can sign in on either the to sign in sheets on either side. So with that, that's this is item 13. There anyone here to speak on this item? This is a public. Seeing none. All take a motion from Ms Coleman to close the public hearing. Lay the matter over till JANUARY 20th for final adoption. All in favor say Aye. 6 in favor. None opposed. The ordinance is laid over to JANUARY 28th for final adoption. And number 14 I resolution public hearing. 25 dash 2.93 authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to amend the financing and spending plan in the amount of $85,709 and enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department
of Commerce to accept solar and public buildings. Grant programs for solar installation, Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none. We'll take a motion from chose 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 15 is resolution public hearing. 25 dash 2.94 authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to mend the financing and spending plan. The amount of $72,000 and to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to accept Solar and public buildings, grant program funds for solar installation at Frogtown Community Center. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this
item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his ability to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. Aye opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted item. Number 16 is resolution public hearing. 25 dash 2.95 authorizing the Department of Parks Recreation to accept grant funding in the amount of 200 and 200 and $3,680. The state of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Do you support Saint Paul's Tree planting program? This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his ability to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted item. Number 17 is resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 9 authorizing execution of a grant agreement and amending the city's 2026 operating budget to include $100,000 donation from Unity, Church Unitarian support work
of the Saint Paul Community Reparations Commission. And this is a public hearing. And I know we have a few speakers who were set to speak. We set aside roughly. 10 minutes total for speaker. So what we want to do is invite anyone who's here to speak on this item up. We'll let you divide the time amongst yourselves because this is really a special special items. So welcome up. SEPTEMBER 10. Good afternoon. Council members. My name is the Reverend DR. Oscar Sinclair. I Serve Unity Church Unitarian as its senior minister. For the last several years arc our nation has been dscerning. What it means to be the beloved community in this moment. Others are going to talk about how and what and how that's related to the
proposition in front of you. But I want to do is just for a moment, talk about the role of the church. What we do is we point to the world as it is and the world as it ought to be and sometimes highlight the distinction between those 2 things. When you walk into our sanctuary in Saint Paul, you pass a plaque that from Reverend Arthur foot. That's as MAY. Curage steal our wills and the Light of Truth Forever. Guide us. That's a message for all moments for today and for our work going forward. Our work to support the reparations commission is in large part guided by that love of truth, its an act of moral imagination to work on reparations in 2026. In the context of everything that you have been talking about today. To say what would happen. If we told the truth. And then
acted on it going forward. That's what this is a proposal to do. I will. And it over to Marcia Hayes, the PRESIDENT Of our Board of Trustees. Marcia Hayes, I'm chair of the Board of Trustees Unity Church, Unitarian. And it is a pleasure to be here today. Is this a full city council adopts this resolution on behalf of the Saint Paul Recovery Act. Community Reparations Commission to accept $100,000 from church in a tent. Unitarian. Helene Courier Fund for racial justice in he like. Thank you for witnessing this pledge of our congregations shared commitment to repertory justice and say people world. This occasion marks the for the rights of the Unity Bard
of trustees work over the last 18 months. Explore deeply the potential role for our church play in repairing a broken world to reparations. Where he was the racial Justice Ministry team. In 2024. We the board established a staple reparations commission as a primary source of moral authority forward. So this past year, we over dinners, conversations deeply held. Discussions have succeeded in forging working relationships, frugal connections, building friendships, understanding. Developing a working rhythm. Me and having frank conversations to hash out where we're going. So as the commission completed their
2026 plan, it is in for it informed us that unity's funds in just as importantly, our allyship. Strengthen its foundation. The expansion of public. Outreach and education will also help with further plans for historic archives of American descendants of chattel, slavery and staple. Detailing these stories. Is essential illustrate the ways in which institutional racism as impacted every area of life. From housing, education, health care. Land, use economic. And economic prosperity up to including today. So we're grateful to take the steps with you to build a beloved community. That it introduced Nyla Gold member of Unity. Ask me up with the board. And number the reparations committee. Well, I don't have a whole lot to say other than i remember coming here about 2 years ago, 2 years ago, the
ordinance is passed. I'm proud past or member. I'm a member of unity. And also commissioner. And so I had the opportunity to wear so many hats and to be involved in what's happening and to be totally proud of Saint Paul, timber up and safe. All moved here. Proud of what's happening. I'm so happy to be able be part time and I will turn it over to. Different are. You know, yellow, everybody. Welcome back. It's been a while. Rest Bellinger Pass Council member. I was. Given the honor of taking the lead and the and the ordinance that would come. Prior to that Councilmember Prince was already pushing that. And then we both are members of Unity, church. The first time I came
to unity, church. It kind of slipped off from are home. I was 8 years old. And in the neighborhood that was new to us. Come from where 94 is now. And people weren't quite ready. Were different housing laws. This was almost 70 years ago. When I came when I was headed for up that way. Selby Avenue, the police picking up at 8 years had me up against the wall and we're going through my pocket. Kind of reminiscent of what's going on now. But when I got to unity. Everybody was and it was different over the years. That would go back and back until. So people remembered my name. I don't And there with the baby. From Unity Church. And her husband that sold us our
next home. That was about 6 blocks from there. And I saw her when I was about 10 The churches Missus MacFarlane. Are you a member of this church? She said yes, baby. I'm a member of this church. She remained the church, buried her a few years ago at 109. So I'm a proud member of the church news. Thank City Council. It's discussed. Justice delayed is justice denied and black Americans have to fight for reparations for 400 years in this country. So we ae excited to be here today. And for this moment are very grateful. On behalf of the same part Recovery Act reparations Commission. We accept this $100,000 gift from
Unity, Church. With deep humility. And we knew in a renewed sense of responsibility. This is not just a donation. That is a profound investment in the moral economic fiber of our city by taking this step. Unity Church is modeling. What it means for local institutions to move beyond words and into active and into the active work of restorative justice. These funds will directly support our mission to close massive racial wealth cat and build a Saint Paul, where equity is a reality. Not just to aspiration. Gives his provides vital momentum as we work to design repair a Tory policy recommendations that create tangible change for American descendants of slavery who reside Saint Paul, thank you for your leadership
and commitment to making Saint Paul leader in the reparations movement. Thanks so much. Don't don't go away because we do want to get a picture of you with our fancy camera before you go. So. Your communications associate will do that and then there's a good thing can be. Some comments were. you can that friend I just so much gratitude to all of you to a cupboard. The staff for the commission. Dame Staley worked with our with a couple of us to try to rank their grant agreement. It wasn't easy and he was incredibly It just needed to think this interloper is council member Jane Prince. It's a unity paying. Thank you all so much for
being here. Thank you to our reparations commission, our leaders and 2 unity find it incredible that you're thanking us. We are thanking you for the $100,000 donation. That will be the catalyst for much more generosity. So thank you so much Councilmember Johnson, who somehow not only manages to be on maternity leave with her first child, but also to right and credibly eloquent statements. I certainly was not doing that when I was on maternity leave sent a statement from eatery in her absence just to say thank you to you. So this is from Councilmember Johnson. I'm truly honored and excited to be a council member during this historical time of accepting our very first donation for the reparations commission with hope of more community partners to come. I would like to sincerely thank the Unity Church Unitarian for the historic donation o
$100,000 toward the Sample Recovery Act. Community Reparations Commission to propel their work forward to the harm report public listening sessions, education and the 2026 work plan. Reparations Commission is made up of 11 individuals and staff living across the words of Saint Paul committed their time talent and innovation to addressing the injustices caused by systemic racism against American descendants of chattel, slavery living in Saint Paul in 2021, the Saint Paul City Council passed a resolution on behalf of the city recognizing the harm that has been created by the city and outlined key initiatives to ensure that we didn't just say sorry, but then we actually actual lies, prepare and began doing sorry. The Legislative Advisory Committee, a permanent commission and all the work before I councilmember Tyson
began as a council member leads us to this historic moment and day City Council accepting this resolution. We will continue to fulfill these ongoing efforts in pursuit of this historic contribution through the commission's work plan. I'm grateful for all that came to speak today from Unity, Church, the reparations commission and community members. I'm also grateful for my council colleagues for continuing to support uplift and recognize the rich value of the commission. I'm excited and looking forward to seeing the outcome of the commission's work following the acceptance of this donation. Thank you. And that's from council woman. She quit Johnson. Israeli. Thank you, council PRESIDENT And I'm I'm so so happy to hear that letter from from Councilmember Johnson. I know me and her take this work for personnel
and want to see this work. Higher through. Want to say thank you to our spiritual leaders. Are faith leaders are activists are freedom fighters long before there was a ordinance hre. I've been seeing many of you in the community making this work possible. Normalizing the conversation of what used to be. He'll very controversial now is ordinance and that was normal lives and permanent in our city. I also just want to say, you know, for former council members who are supposed to be in retirement and still raising money coming back safe was just built differently. It just shows now we are deep commitment by our work ethic, nri life, you know, efforts so I want to say also to one of things that I
haven't really heard that was connected to this repair actually council. Mayor Coleman, your your dad when he was Mayor Chris Coleman. I was at the Rondo Plaza and I believe this was I want to say 2006, maybe. But he was the first mayor. So actually publicly acknowledge and issue an apology, prticularly with the damage that was done in a round of communities. So I just went out just always when when public officials, you you'll help spark the callous to to this change. This work is very personal to me. As you can imagine, especially as a council member whose ancestors were survivors of chattel, slavery and state-sanctioned violence and mass incarceration. You know, I didn't really viable about this, right. When we talk
about the Himes and I'm dressing, you know, the violence. I'm someone who had a cousin who was killed by Saint Paul Police Department. And, you know, when we think about just a lot of the healing that is necessary and the commitment that we have to this work. I want to just, you know, expressed that it takes a lot of bravery and for folks to show up and do the workout policy, but also doing the deepwork of recovering and like how we are, you know how this is like showing up in our lives right? My residents know very closely what it feels like to be treated like a permanent second-class citizen and denied there basic human rights and freedoms. And I come from Rondo of people who survive, who served her survival depended on our
ability to really come together, preserve icon, sir community and our spirit of collective healing. And I see this donation truly found Unity Church has a deeper commitment and the deeper responsibility for the healing work for the commission to bring comprehensive recommendations. And I'm just so happy to hear current chair chair Cruz, particularly around some some repairs and some some policies and practices and budgetary decisions that going to come in for it. I also see this as a commitment to legislating freedom. This has this been an ongoing theme that came about actually sparked from our public hearing that we had some weeks ago and now maybe a month ago feels like so so long at all someone had there. Their lack of belief that we
had the power to legislate freedom and that deeply deeply resonates with me because I think about, you know, what is what are the impacts of our Laos, right? And how can we make sure that we're using these tools too, to repair many years, hundreds of years of damage. Also see this donation and as a way to empower the Visor e board with some really strong economic development plans and being a thought partner and that word supporting affordable housing and owners homeownership really helping amplify our inheritance fun and making sure we get the dollar's out there in the door so we can get people to start building a stronger economic freedom in their own families. Building accountability mechanisms to really prevent races practices a racist behaviors and also support our quality service
delivery. So the folks in Frogtown is getting the same level of care services for the Saint. Paul Lights and Highland. And really diversifying our city vendors and You know, here in the city, we have some equity goes, racial equity goals that we're trying to me and we need to make sure that's reflected and last but not least not truly continuing the programs and partnerships that are the lifelines to our communities. We worked so hard to build trust. When I think about all the different staff members in the programs and things that, you know, MAY not fit under the box of what we see as preparations. Like, for example, I free swim classes. That is that is really
instrumental. When I think about be a young black girl and never learned how to swim, you know, and never really saw our public polls as a place for me to be no now being a city council member and making sure that that's in our budget and now our young people, no matter their rce now has the opportunity to be welcomed and learn how to swim. You know, I I just want to say thank you for doing all the work, the grunt work, you know, so we don't have to, you know, negotiate in DECEMBER around how we're going to continue this work. You've done it for us. So thank you so much. Thank you so much. History. With that, is there anyone else to speak on this item? Sorry. I'm just a stupid thing off. The public wants to speak. Other was a commotion from saying to close the public hearing and we'll have a discussion for second. Go Thank you, council PRESIDENT. I just wanted to make some quick comments and say I echo everything that you
comfortably in customer Johnson have shared. But this definitely makes it to the top. In terms of my headlights from today. And so you really want to say thank you to everybody from the unity Church for your leadership your commitment to community to liberation and justice and reparations for descendants of chattel slavery. I looked into the crowd that was up and they're in the room and they were a part of really plenty to see for this. And so to those leaders, like you treat him Thank you for continuing to invest your time energy into this. And the last thing is that I just want to say thank you for spreading hope during a time when it is so needed. And so I I hope and that everything that you do in the committee that he also received that 100 full.
Thanks. MISS Yang. All right. I'm not a commotion from his plea to close the public hearing and approve any final discussion. The motion. Seeing none all in favor say Aye. Post 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted. Item. Number 18 is resolution public hearing 26 Dash 10 approving the petition of Church of Saint Bernard King to vacate a portion of Ali right of way in blocked one of Bernie Norton and Kingsley Second edition to Saint Paul address one 47 Geranium Avenue West. I told you MAY be going all over the map. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none. I'll take motion for Vice PRESIDENT Kim to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. Aye. All post 6 in favor not oppose. The resolution is
adopted item. Number 19 is. Resolution public hearing. 26 Dash 11 proving the petition of friends of Nova Classical Academy to vacate airspace over and across the intersection, Madison Street and Mercer Way. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? Seeing none. I'll take a motion from his chose to close the public hearing and approve all in favor say Aye. Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None oppose. The resolution is adopted. I think we skip one night. I my. And I much. I remember on the fence. Okay. Item number 20 is resolution public hearing 26 dash, 2 public hearing on grievances about federal immigration operations. again, the for all those of you who are here on this item, this is general public hearing on immigration operations. We
will be having every week for at least the next few months. Just to give folks a chance to be heard again, please remember, this what I my job is to keep every one to 2 minutes. I appreciate everyone's cooperation with that. We want to make sure last speaker gets the same amount of attention as the day for speaker. Again, please start with your name where you're coming from and then make sure to sign. And when you're done well, come up. Thank you. PRESIDENT Of the council first of this is coming from the mayor's Advisory Council for People Disabilities. And I would just like to begin at and then next, just submit that we all right. Yes, ok, thank you. Dear members of the same policy counsel on behalf of the Saint Paul mayor's Advisory Council of People Disabilities. We write to express strong support from
fiction moratorium. What you passed and to request an immediate increase protections for membership forced activities. But as Saint Paul Police Department, he's or central preserve the health safety and independence of people with this building. Our city and present yes okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. An and make sure to sign in. And by the way, just all folks we know 2 minutes. Go by quickly. You can always sbmit testimony in writing to us here via email at another time. So if you run out of time and you want to do that, we encourage that. Let every set. Oh, yeah, sure. Thank you. Ms Yang we do. We will if
anyone here has a young person with them or some other reason why, you know, it's difficult for them to stay. We would love for them to be able to come towards the front of the line. Thanks everyone for your help with that. Good afternoon council members. My name is Sarah Gardner and I reside in Ward 7. I'm here today to reset raised concerns about the current federal immigration operations. There impact in Saint Paul for some asking for clear public clarification on the city separation ordinance and how city staff, including the Saint Paul Police Department engage with dhs residents need to understand in plain terms what cooperation does and does not look like and what consequences will follow if the ordinance is violated. When that information is unclear, fear spreads and trust in public safety declines. Second, there are credible repeated reports of
federal officials engaging in conduct that would not be tolerated from local residents were city employees, including but not limited to reckless driving failure to follow traffic laws altered or obscured license plates and pointing weapons at unarmed residents. These reports ward oversight and response. No agency operating in Saint Paul should be exempt from te basic standards of lawful behavior. 3rd, there are serious concerns about U.S. Citizens being illegally detained during the hs operations. This is not an immigration issue or a policy disagreement. This is a constitutional crisis. A civil rights issue. The city has a responsibility to speak clearly and take action when civil rights are violated within its jurisdiction. Finally, these operations have
a real and measurable financial impact on Saint Paul business community and our local economy. Businesses are losing workers, customers revenue because fear is disrupting daily life, economic stability depends upon people feeling safe enough to participate in their communities. Saint Paul's committed to safety, dignity and the rule of law. And I urge the city Council to do whatever is within their power to reinforce those commitments. Through clarity, accountability, oversight and action. Thank you. Thank you very much. To make sure to sign in. sorry. Keep breaking Hello again. My name is Heather. See Lou, I was here on JANUARY 7 immediately after it occurred. Was Bernard speaking specifically about the federal operations here in Minnesota. Get couple of updates that
what happened since last time I was here. It's been 2 weeks. This is first time leaving the House Monday. On Monday. The 19th I noticed an unmarked black suv with 2 people with face coverings in it in front of my house in Ward 6. If I live front of my home for 2 to 5 minutes as I panicked trying to figure out if and when someone was going to come in safety and help me. And I was the only person that could. The people inside looked in the direction of my house, took photos of my home. And and that I documented this called my neighbors and talk to loved ones until my block was clear. I was intimidated. And even as a U.S. Citizen, I mixed Asian. Southern Chinese and Southeast Asian one and I have generation immigrant
here. And I'm acutely aware that I'm a forever for a in this country. I'm carrying my passport in my head is on a swivel. I've been taking out of an average single day and I really can't stop shaking. I think this is just who I am now. Since JANUARY 7th, my neighbors have been abducted, assaulted, traumatized, terrorize. And tonight, our due process and First Amendment rights. My Saint Paul neighbor among Elderon citizen was detained and freezing temperatures with very little to no clothes on. They were planning a funeral. My community is organized in taking care of each other. Organized rapid responses, mutual aid, escorts and so on and so forth. I love my community for this. This is simple. Black brown, indigenous immigrant and refugee populations are not safe in both public and private spaces where dhs, ice, Border Patrol and other federal tendrils have entangled into our communities. This is there's racial pofiling, intimidation
law, lawlessness and utter disrespect for citizens and the U.S. Constitution. Ice must be abolished. Thank very much. Sure sign it. High and the and I live in Ward 4. I'm an early childhood elder and I actually been meeting with a group of child care centers in Saint Paul since summer to work the issue. The crisis losing childcare we show is here to talk about that. But I'm here to talk about ice and I actually originally wanted to talk about expediting separation or to understand from the conversation with MR. Greenfield that you're working on that. I would like to add a thought in there about. Residents and city property and not public property. We also have organizations that are human service organizations, including
childcare. But I'm also thinking about the medical providers. I heard on press conference yesterday, school properties and other organizations like childcare that are serving the families that our infrastructure and our community and what's happening to those organizations is they're being attacked a well. Have a couple of examples of childcare. Perkins I know of in Saint Paul that have had took on partial shutdown because ice is activated in their next door neighborhood or they're staging down the street. So no of a Spanish immersion program that had I circling their property in taunting their volunteers. So it's affecting families, children. It's true that traumatic, traumatizing. So what we need your help. So we need your help thinking about the separation are and how
quickly that can happen. I know you have your process, but I know it also takes as we heard today, 3. To even get a decision made. So that sergeant for us, if you can't do it today, please let us know as soon possible when you can address that. That question of are there protections available for child care and in specifically need the Saint Pul police to be clear because you've gotten very different messages about what they can and cannot do if ice comes and violates our property to against our wishes are threatened. Children and families. So we would love to have something in writing a press release. Anything. What the city council, the mayor and as pd will do to protect Healthcare. Thank you. Thank you very much. Hello, my name is Angela Clarendon. Senator actor in childcare program here in
Saint Paul. I just wanted t speak today about the real impact with the current environment and how it's impacting our children, families, staff members and community. Child care programs have been placed in the national spotlight due to the fraud allegations and also bringing unannounced audit visits. Well, I kind of a matter lack of clarity around who's entering our buildings has created fear. We're also concerned about individuals seeking attention on social media when we attempt to enter our programs to film children and families. And that fear is real. On top of this, many of us are experiencing deep anxiety related to the immigration enforcement activity in our neighborhoods. My program is located in an area where this activity activity has been reoccurring on a daily basis. Just last week, Halifax helicopter hovered over our building of children alongside a large
caravan of ice vehicles. I heard whistles outside and a woman yelling for help. A sound that I cannot forget. If you have not heard someone being taken by ice, it stays in your head. I hear it every night. When I go to sleep. That they are center, went into lockdown for 3 hours and again for 4 hours, 2 days later, this is not okay. Kids shouldn't have to be in a space where their buildings are locked and doors are closed and all the lights are As a result, we have families who are keeping their children home, not because of illness or choice that just want to be home for the day, but because they're afraid they're afraid to leave their community to bring their child to a place that should be safe. And I want to be clear that my experience is mild compared to
some other programs in Saint Paul and what they've experienced with their children and staff. As a senator ector. My responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of being of every child and staff member. And I can say today that certainty has faded from me. Our children cannot feely freely enjoy outdoor activities. We have new snow outside. The can't be outside. So the fear is not abstract safety consistency in peace of mind for our children is not negotiable. Thank you very much for you. Hello. I'm Celeste been. Founder and director of big funder childcare and more one and I live in Ward 2 and I live in Ward one. Thank you so much for having this on the agenda today and also really proud that we're able to close on the day of truth and
freedom on Friday. I wish with all my heart that I did not have to testify today. I wish with all my hart that the city had organized this weeks ago. Mnneapolis renew their separation ordinance on DECEMBER. 11th, why are we just starting this process? I find this to be a profound act of negligence. Fire city's leaders. I know that the legal footing is essential, but the city's inaction, mixed messaging and poor leadership are inexcusable. I open been wonder to honor the night unique rights of children, families and teachers. That's very difficult right now. I need update my emergency and risk reduction plans during ice occupation to keep my kids safe. Ice is targeting child care and I cnnot do my job of protecting the children in my
care without courageous, timely, aware leadership by the city. Last week we were told that it was Merck. If Saint Paul police would respond to a 9-1-1, call regarding lawful activity at a childcare center by council members. Aid. Then a staff member from the mayor's office called and said that they would intercede if ice does, if I ice's acting unlawfully. The next day, Councilmembers concurred with the statement. During my meeting with the police chief the following day, I heard that Saint Paul police would not interfere with ice under ay circumstances mix messaging by the City Council, the mayor's office ad the police highlights how poorly coordinated the city's efforts have been. We need greater
clarity and communication from the city leaders to keep Saint Paul residents safe. Which is why we raise West organize and involved the press. I wish I didn't have to, but I never again take our democracy for granted. Citizens must hold our lawmakers and government leaders accountable. Please act as though the lives of your constituents are on the line. We need the separation ordinance now to prove and provide a press release with Saint Paul mayor and the City Council. Thank you. Thank you very much. Sure sign in. I'm the director of a child Care Center in Saint Paul. The trauma facing our city and child care in particular did not happen by accident. Minnesota government officials handed a YouTuber a list of Smalling childcare providers to investigate fraud. And within days, federal child care assistance was cut off for our entire state. That's 23,000 kids. And thousands of ice agents have since descended on our state
reaching complete destruction on us. As we're all aware. I share this point to be clear, the federal government is not only terrorizing us through official channels. It's also emboldening other bad actors to do us harm as well. Its drop-off time. 7.30, in the morning. I walk into the in I find a mother crying in the arms of te infant teacher who is herself here on a silent. baby looks up. The mom is saying. They took him. They took him. Her grandfather never returned home the day before he's lived here since he was 14. He has legal status to live here. They returned him to a police station this
weekend with no explanation and he is yet unable to speak of his experience. Later that day, its pickup time. Barrett walks She's visibly shaking. She says, I just watched someone get kidnapped. A car pulled grabbed him and off the sidewalk and drove away. Her toddler runs out shaking peace arch to me that day to show her mom. We've been on lockdown multiple times. Federal agents blocked off for intersection with a semi truck. Helicopters are circling us. We hear sirens all day. Kds do not deserve that. They deserve to feel joy and to learn and grow with their friends every day. Our neighbors patrol our center. One observed someone pull out circle the block with 4 people in the car. Somebody got out and put on our sidewalk in
front of my center. Well, I'm making that police report. Another car is circling the block, yelling out the window. Is this one of those fake daycare centers? I've never seen any kids in here. There is a lot that we can have control. But what I see in front of me right now is a really strong city council that is able to take action. Thank you. I do need to ask you to wrap up. You have both the authority and the responsibility to set clear boundaries for housing calls, resources, employees and cooperation are used. When these boundaries are not set, you're complicit in the harm occurring in Saint Paul. I urge you to continue to not delay. I'm grateful. I know my time is going to be up soon. It already 30 seconds over. Please don't continue delay
for kids. I expect to see something every week from this council, a new ordinance every week. Expected you so much. Make sure to sign it. really hate to cut people off. I am and ask people to stick to the 2 minutes. Go Salute I will make up for the previous comment trusting my comments are breeze. I have completed a 44 year career as an emt and paramedic. Just names are site where you're coming Would you stay with your name and where you're on? Sorry, I change Levi and I live in Ward one. Thank you. And I retired several years ago after working 44 years as an emt and paramedic in Wisconsin and Minnesota, I'm very comfortable on around law enforcement because they've literally had my back when the atf was successful in
convicting a woman who supplied the guns killed to Burnsville police officers and a Burnsville fire medic. I think to them. Because they did the right thing. When this intervention on the part of I started, I, of course, was reminded You know, Martin, the pros about first. They came for the communists and I was a communist. Trichet. Renee rely said I have to a citizen. I have to step up that the government is not going to protect us at the federal level. I spent time in pain feeling and the West Side rely not my experience to go solo man patrolling with rapid response groups. After Renee Good's murder, I realized that patrolling alone was no longer a safe activity for me. Monday to give you idea of how this
has affected us Monday. I garden Immersion academy in my neighborhood to prevent ice from returning to abduct parents when they dropped off or picked up their children. Tuesday, I went to get coffee on the Westside. The coffee shop was locked and I had to ask them to be let in to get a cup o coffee. After that, I went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch again, locked open, but a lot. So we have got to do something. And I appreciate the resistance that we're putting up. And I certainly encourage you to keep working at that. Okay. Thank you minute. Make sure to sign it. Hello. My name is to not personally as I live in Saint Paul and board for. But I work in Minneapolis is a union and community organizer and a member Pei, local, 12 and twin cities.
Tsa, I'm the daughter of an immigrant, most phone Bill Minnesotans have not been able to work and leave their home for the last 7 weeks because we're under siege by own federal government. Every day my friends and family around the country call email. Text me every day to make sure I'm safe. Less and less. Students are showing up to school. More and more families are choosing virtual options in their schools. They need to shelter in place to stay safe. There are many families at risk choosing to flee Minnesota because of ice. If we want to keep families here, we have to do everything we can to protect them because it's the race right thing to do. I'm concerned about the Saint Paul Police Department and their collaboration with ice and their lackadaisical attitude towards protecting residents. As many people have already
stated. It is unsafe to patrol. That is something that I have been doing. I know a lot rsidents have been stepping up do mutual aid for folks who are really in need. But its also been really distressing and anxiety producing t know that ice agents have been going door to door banging doors down. Not thankfully, my landlord agreed not to let ice to come in. Not everyone has that protection or that privilege. I want to thank you all for voting in favor the eviction moratorium and the Friday JANUARY 20 for 20rd day of action. We need your help to put pressure on the gvernor. And there are things that you can be doing locally and in conjunction with Minneapolis to stop this terror, the state-sponsored terror. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much.
Extra signage. My name is Nancy. Out an abundance of caution, I will sign my full name there. Mollie Coleman knows me. Good afternoon. I'm a southern Wisconsin. Transplant to the Twin Cities. Chicago family, and I've lived in Saint Paul and Love Saint Paul. For 38 years. I urged the council to continue your good work on this ordinance. Separation ordinance, 0, 4, 3, 1, 6, To pass it correctly. But to pass it with urgency, if you can condense your process, at least a little bit without sacrificing legal impact so that it will stick. As you've heard these stories. The urgency is now and yesterday. I also want to direct some of
my comments and my pleas to the Saint Paul police. I don't know I hope you have some representation here. But I will speak about 2 about this. My interactions with you say poll police have been across 38 years. Not every year, Fiat and into event. But they've been wonderful. You have been helpful and, you know, the law, you understand the Constitution and the law. And we need you when you continue to serve. I ask you. Saint Paul police. Specially after the stronger ordinances passed. Serve and protect all of Saint Paul. In the same spirit that you have been. Serving and protecting me in my Jewish community here in Saint Paul. To provide extra care because
we have been under greater threat in recent years. I can speak about. The chair. Estoppel folks. Patrolling our streets. Take taking people. By the way, everyone, please do your your Google search of really use my time. I have more to say check into what our former Governor Jesse Ventura said. About comparing ice to the Gestapo. We do wish people we know about this. Thank you very much. And you to ask you to stop there for much. Thank you for your time. Thank you so much for your testimony. Make sure to sign in. award for PRESIDENT. And so hi, my name I no firm word for I come from a second generation and a great family. I'm also that deputy advocacy
manager at Minnesota Freedom Fund. And I've been organizing over the last 2 years. For more accountable and equitable criminal legal system and community safety. I'm here because I live here. I have a stake in seeing my community safe and protected. I'm here to make sure voices like mine actually heard an action is taken. For the past few months. Isis terrorize our neighborhoods and continues to operate in a discriminatory way that singles out anyone but especially my black and Brown brothers and sisters. The fear is real. Iloved ones have reached out for support and have even given the important document in case I snatches them. I'm taking. I'm talking about all people from all statuses from citizens to green card holders. It
shouldn't be like this. Minneapolis created a stronger separation ordinance to ensure that our local law enforcement does not participate in cruel federal immigration actions. I believe the can and must do the same thing here in Saint Paul. At the very least our own police department should not be harming us while we try to exercise our legal rights. The ice rain on NOVEMBER, 25th on Rose Avenue shows exactly why we need stronger protections. According to the Post Sport model policy and the Saint Paul Police Department on policies, officers violated procedure multiple ways during that raid. They use excessive force spring pepper spray indiscriminately at people who are not breaking the law. They even a targeted identify members of the media. By assisting federal agents in
attacking peaceful observers. Saint Paul police officers acted as de facto ice agents violating the spirit and intent of our current city separation ordinance. Therefore, we demand that the city Council take immediate action to investigate this misconduct and work together to create a stronger and forcible separation ordinance to better protect all seen Presidents. Thank you. Thank you very much for the Senate. Hello, thank you for being such a. Aligned accountable board leadership for city. It was actually Tories. So I was born and raised in Saint Paul. This month. They witnessed a citizen under has been stopped. But I traveling home from work on stolen Dakota Land. The all too common encounter included a word list of searched threats of violence and physical force despite the fact tat the husband was already experiencing a serious medical condition and has been coughing up blood that morning ice agents job his head down
and his chest and threatened him with brandishing assault rifles and grenade shaped devices. This escalation triggered his critical condition. One of servers with whistles called 9-1-1 sample. Police arrived but did not intervene with ice's actions will protect the family from the armed agents and ambulance transported the husband to Regions Hospital where the Trump ties wafers left to find her own way. There. At the hospital. The wife was denied access to her husband to have been legally shackled to his legally shackled to his bed despite being under civil detention, not criminal custody. Police physically prevented the citizen from singer husband as medical staff are bringing her back. Refused her request for social worker been promised saying she'd been given the chance to wait long enough. Police forced the citizen and her
supporters to leave the hospital. Her attorneys that the constitutional observers and threatened them turn to trespass them. The hospital later refused to acknowledge the husbands presence or allow the system to speak to a doctor to confirm the condition of her husband, despite his lack of criminal, the payment. Attempts to reach him through ice would to answering machines when calling the hospital police and security for information they block the phone number. Throughout this experience, the sample police faith failed to protect and serve the citizens. They were sworn to instead at every turn they offered protection service and aid to the armed ice aents as they sought to sort out bown and black citizens and residents to fulfill their
quotas in bonuses. Beyond the devastated families, traumatized terrorized bipoc communities who know is no longer safe for people of color of color, to leave their homes. Saint Paul police officers assisted ice to force one more family to live in a reality where they must choose between death. Thank you. I'm so sorry that time said you need to stop there. The family too afraid to seek lifesaving medical care for fear of their lives on the Thank you very much. Make sure to sign in. Good afternoon. My name is Katie Jarvie. I'm a resident of Ward 4 in Saint Paul. I'm here to urge the City Council to adopt a set of policy measures that will protect our civil liberties, protect vulnerable community - spaces, enhance transparency in law enforcement and ensure accountability for both law enforcement and accountability for our residents as well. First I'm asking is counsel prohibit all lord law enforcement use of masks or face coverings within our city
limits and to require visible agency identification, including the name and badge number at all times. I cannot be more clear about this demand. We are entitled to know who is enforcing our laws. Transparency and accountability must act as a check on law enforcement. Second, the city must adopt protections for our vulnerable community spaces. We need to require that law enforcement prioritize those calls that are alleging harassment and intimidation by federal officials and also require signed judicial warrant for any law enforcement entry into any city-funded city-run or city maintain facility. The PRESIDENT Presented. These faces include things
like the spaces that other folks have talked about here today, medical facilities, schools, daycares libraries, court houses, basic city services that all of our residents are entitled to. But in particular, the children in our communities and that parent with young children in emergence schools daycare in the city. And I spent the last 2 and a half weeks organizing with my other parents to try and protect and care for the very people every day going to work to protect and care for my children. While I'm at work, agents circle our schools and daycares. They taunt and harassed the parents and they follow our teachers home. It is harassment and intimidation and it is designed to instill fear and compliance which are hallmarks of an outdoor authoritarian government. Thank you very much. Should
you need to stop there? I'm Elise. I'm going yield my time back to Katie. I'm also a family law attorney and I have significant experience working with families who have experienced trauma. I see firsthand how fear instability and stress affect a family's ability to function day-to-day and how it impacts parenting school attendance, mental health and a child sense of safety. My work over these last few weeks has put me in incredibly close contact with the real world consequences of these traumas and the long-term harm that is occurring as we speak because our families are targeted and unable to seek help. Law enforcement trauma related to what is happening when masked officers come into our schools when they circle our parks in our community centers. It is a
public health emergency and we will see. The the effects of this for generations to come. The residents of our city should never have to question whether law enforcement will protect them or act ethically while doing so. The federal government has spent the last month eroding the already fragile trust between public and law enforcement. And we will now spend decades trying to rebuild that. A clear, strong separation ordinance, not only protects the id, what is left of that fragile trust. If anything. But we need to be a community that very clearly delineates what everyone's obligations are. We need to be a community that upholds dignity and civil rights for every single human being
regardless of their legal status. So whatever language you think is strong in adding to this ordinance, take it a step further and then your that. I'm in council member Joe Stick strict for board. Correct term. I want add to that is I would like to ask that when the police show up at protests, they are not facing the citizens. They are facing the Good afternoon. My name is back. Jackson. And first, I want to acknowledge going to cry so far to everybody. But I want to acknowledge that I'm only taking up space here. Because I'm here to advocate for my neighbors or in hiding and can't come out of their
houses. As I said, my name is Beth Jackson. I live in Mali's Gordon Ward, 4. I've been a resident there since 1994. I now feel safer calling. Rapid responders in a signal than I Helen, 9-1-1, and our city. JANUARY 17th. I was a legally abducted by 2 men. Later confirmed to Border Patrol officer Daniel They were aided and abetted by Saint Paul police. Sorry specifically, Officer Riley Reszke. And several other officers whom I hope you will help my attorney identify. Agent MacLachlan had called 9-1-1. He did not identify himself to that dispatcher as a federal agent, he lied to the dispatcher that I had boxed in his vehicle and threatened him
with a knife. Officer Reszke. Let's remind officer rescues. We should all know him. He's a danger, our community. He was involved in the shooting. Not far from my house and other responding officers. Frist, me and searched my vehicle and found no such weapon. They left. They chuckled and told me to be careful. It's iy as they allowed the color to approach might be a full and arrest me. I was taken to and unmarked van by 2 men in gym shorts. And they processed shackled my ankles, fingerprint id me to my dna. And I was detained for more than 6 hours the following day. Ie agents in multiple vehicles showed up at my block. I'm norm, right on time. I'm not sure my gym shorts. Abductors were in one
of those vehicles. This time they were shrouded behind the anonymity tactic I know this is painful. I will ask you that you immediately take action to stop Chief Henry and its officers from aiding and abetting these atrocities. Thank you. Council members. M name is healing up or Lance and I am a resident Dayton's bluff. I am 2 blocks from East 7th Street which has a high volume which is seeing a high volume of immigration enforcement enforcement officers and vehicles. I am concerned by their deeply tinted windows and oftentimes lack of license plates. If residents would normally be pulled over these things that I don't think any sort o law enforcement agency should be able to use these tactics. Moreover, I want to stress of the council that I
cannot leave my house to get groceries or visit friends without seen ice vehicles and convoys in my neighborhood. Every time I see a nice vehicle and anxiety takes over and wander over and over again, which of my neighbors, they're going to harass, potentially could net next counsel. Please understand that. I am constantly on. I am constantly activated and worrying about my neighbors being safe. I cannot sleep. I cannot work. I cannot focus on my day to day activities because of how threatening ice is to my neighbors. If white person and feeling this level of anxiety in regards to ice on our streets than mine on white neighbors are feeling it exponentially worse. The families running the local mercados and talk areas are not dangerous and are not a threat they are unilaterally
treated like they are my Latino Somali and neighbors are not threats but out of state ice vehicles speeding up and down Wiper Avenue at 60 to 70 miles per hour during an active snowfall are the ice agents driving aggressively and hitting civilian cars are more dangerous than my neighbors simply trying to get groceries, pick their kids u from school and simply live their lives. I'm calling for ice out of Saint Paul and ice out of Minnesota. Now. And I just like at this point, if there's anyone else who plans to speak, please line up just so we have a sense of how many more folks plan to speak. Welcome. Everyone. My name is a residence, a point even more 3. I'm also a student at cost college and I would like to is my time here to remind everyone of the context that we're in because I recently got back from a trip New Orleans, Louisiana, and I
talked to a lot community engagement organizers over there that fighting the same battle we are fighting over here against ice. One stories I heard was a boat from a 14 year-old boy named and in. Is hoping a volunteering his time as as I to it to help the families. We have to custody paperwork after their parents are detained by ice. Another thing that I learned into was the fact that they have a governor who is actively encouraging ice to go into it to schools and making life really scary for the kids. So I want to remind everyone of the privilege that we have here from having of progressive City council, progressive mayor and a Democratic governor about urgency that we have and overall we have. So people were detained in
Minnesota Cent 2 red states where there rights upheld. Actually. I have who was recently detained by ice and sent over to California because there was a man over there that had the same name had a criminal record on him. And the only reason my uncle was a was let go was because it did not have a tattoo of all the men they were looking for. Did. And so that that was in California. And I learned that you as as the biggest prison population any state. Same pod to keep our city away from all that because my uncle was a key. But other people who get sent over to states like Louisiana Texas, they do not have the same amount of protections that we do here. So I want
urge the Saint Paul City Council, if our police department to stop ice before they get sent over places where we much harder to get them back. Thank Thank you very much. Good afternoon. My name is Michael Ball on board for resident and public policy director Whole Life Line operates a free, confidential legal advice hotline, serving members across the state. We advise nearly 2900 Saint Paul re-up Osos last year with evictions being the number 2 reason that they called us. I want sharing today comes directly from tenants they contacted us ever since this crisis began. Over the past month and a half, we've had a dramatic increase calls related to ice activity across Minnesota. Ice is showing u in apartment buildings. Some landlords are tlling tenants
and staff the most that ice in and tenants are being threatened with deportation for asserting their basic housing rights. People are afraid to leave their homes. They're missing work. They're keeping the children to school, skipping medical care and running out of food. Rent is going on paid not by choice but because they have 8 isis meet daily life. Impossible. Compared to the last year to this time we're seeing a 65% increase in rent are seeking financial assistance higher than any point in 34 year history, including the start of covid pandemic. Same time Minnesota is experiencing record eviction filings with more than 25 1000 filed in 2025, that is why we need fiction moratorium now. Moratorium is the fastest way
to stop. Is to stop immediate harm. It keeps family's house out o court longer solution while others longer-term solutions are developed, but it cannot stand alone. Municipal communities can extend prediction timelines, public housing authorities could pause evictions for nonpayment of rent. Stay in state funding to be redirected to rental assistance and the solution must include these non negotiable. It must make renters whole, including back rent. It must be available immediately. It must be available statewide and for many months because we don't know when this crisis families cannot wait, weeks will evictions move forward in days and privacy rights must be 2 feet protected. So people who are. Forest aren't forced to risk their safety for state
house. Our communities are stepping up for the community. Community care cannot replace that government responsibility. We need city. The state and lansford Act right now as our candidates are doing day, make sure to sign in. My name is Chris Sanders. I'm inward one. Done this before and I found it, I don't have fared statement, but I think I agree with the gist of it. I'm a newcomer to this. I've been fortunate not witness ice because I was busy. I was working full-time as going to school cared. But I didn't have time. But after Renee was murdered, realize that this really nothing else that matters right now. I'll sleep later. And so I've been trying my best to plug into community groups that I can follow. Her example. It's inspiring a lot of ways to seal people who are willing to get up at 04:05:06am, to go stand in the
3 below wind chill to try and protect preschool because we have to do that now to protect preschools. But I can't not wonder if all of the burden of protecting your community all of the time and the energy and the cost and the risk falls on unharmed. People with whistles. Than what the police for. Why do we pay them? Some day? This will be over. It's hard to measure it right now. But Sunday, this to be over and most of us will still be here. And I think when that time comes, we're going to be asking these questions and the organized community will have the time to ask these questions in a way that we don't have the time right now. Thank you
What fine. And is live and work for a grew up in Saint Paul. I currently live in Ward 4. So I was charged with lying to a peace officer when I was 19 years old. I don't think that that federal agent is going to be charged with lying to a police officer for lying about my neighbor here being arrested. Boxing in their car. I think that clear examples of a white supremacist agenda from federal law enforcement. And it's almost impossible to not believe that Saint Paul police also a white-supremacist organization. If if they are aiding and abetting. Federal law enforcement, there's no reason that we as a community should be ptting up with this invasion. If we have people who have serve and protect on their badges. I am a nurse. I
work United Emergency Room and there've been many points as a previous people hve stated where ice has brought people to the emergency room and to the hospital. This. Is a public health issue because we are already in a flu surge and people are being traumatized, beaten. Killed by federal agents. What is simple police doing? They're not doing anything. We often I work at United and security say. We can't stop ice from coming in. Otherwise will be obstructing. We can ask them to leave, but that's it. What would Saint Paul police do? In your heart? What do you think they would do? Because I think they would do nothing. There are a lot of ways that local officials such
as yourselves can do. Stop this violence from occurring. And I please beg you it. Thank you. Thank you very much. A sign it. Hello, my name is Catherine Banbury. I'm a renter in Ward. 7 a tenant organizer with home line. I work on the front lines with close ties to tenant leaders who live in subsidized housing properties. WeWork multicultural Lee has a high percentage of tenants are immigrant families. Over the past few months. The toxic rhetoric coming from the federal government, particularly targeting Somali community has had an especially harsh impact on tenants, sense of being precious members. Belong in the center of our community.
Now it is manifested chaos. Thousands of federal agents are targeting these apartment buildings. They arrive unmarked vehicles, utilizing racial profiling, waiting in some cases for yung Somali teenagers returning from work to tackle them to the ground d be roughly cuffed and taken despite their U.S. Citizenship. This kind of tear has everyone on edge? The tenant association meetings are being canceled due to landlords policy to let ice agents into the building when they arrive at the door. Tenants say they feel like sitting ducks fearing for their health and safety in their own homes. These attacks pose an additional source of stress and anxiety when folks
who are afraid to even go into work resulting in the subsequent loss of income to pay for rent. This is why a statewide eviction moratorium is needed now. Moratorium will protect Minnesota tenants from homelessness during this crisis by preventing displacement ensuring public health by addressing systemic inequities that disproportionately affect bipoc women and low-income communities allowing time for rental assistance and preventing long term damage to credit and community ties. The world is watching. As Minnesotans. We must act on our core value of century and belong in our community and we must do it now. Thank you very much make sure to sign and welcome. Hi, my name is Emily. And I'm from or 3 as is the rest of my family. I'm not a mother, but I've gotten
trained to do the school pickups and drop-offs to protect children. While ice is in our city. specifically like to talk about the medical emergencies that are going on attended during within my hyper-local chat. There have been multiple instances of women who have high-risk pregnancies that are at 9 months who refuse to go to the hospital because they're so afraid. We had an elderly couple who lived on the street who were having a medical emergency. They refused to go to the hospital out of fear. When I talked to a family member who's a nurse and asked what her hospital sent to do about this. Person in charge there was telling employees that it is too much of a liability to offer at-home care. And instead it recommended telehealth visits
which is not helpful. If you are going into labor or experiencing a stroke. And so I'm wondering what each of you can do with your powers to either asked that the hospitals do. I don't know. Maybe we can provide. Medical assistance and use the emergency alert system that was mentioned earlier to tell people in each of your words how they can receive medical attention if they are experiencing something. At home without fear of having to go into the hospital where my aunt also if people do go into the hospital and not to go into the emergency room and shoe. Act very in pain so that they get a private room because that's the only place where ice will not be allowed to enter. Even then there their entry. So I ask each of you with figuring out a way that we can make at home care accessible for people. Thank very much. Make sure to sign it.
Hello, my name is National Hall. I live Ward just outside or just inside the Rondo neighborhood aea. I want to echo and reinforce all the comments that have come before especially the eviction moratorium. I work as volunteer attorney. Doing eviction defense advice for tenants in the Ramsey County courts and I see the face of the people being suffering eviction threats. Right now. They're the faces of the people who are. Who skin and ethnicity, make them direct targets of ice and they're the ones who not like me who but who are though most vulnerable at this exact moment. So to fiction moratorium would be incredible tool to help them protect themselves and keep their homes and their lives -
Bill together. But originally come in to say that I to ask that the separation ordinance be clarified directly to have. To ask the simple pd 2 intervene. Protect us as we are out on the streets standing in front of child care centers with whistles. My daughter 7 months old, just started her childcare in JANUARY. And I take her in or with the and the days that I take her in. I wonder, is this the day that her teeth, one of her teachers is going to vanish and does not appear in the classroom the day that one of the parents students are one of these one of her, a fellow children's parents is just not going to show up for a pickup because ice has been circling my child care center waiting in the bushes to leap
out and snatched people with the wrong skin color like they're packed slave catchers. And I see the fear in the messages coming from a childcare center. The fact that they have to place themselves between my child and arms. Armored soldiers. Is not enough. There needs to be the city behind them as well. You can't just be us with our whistles. Thank you very much. Make sure to sign it. I'm Joe Live in Merriam Park and I work in Saint Paul with clients who also call Saint Paul home. Every day I hear that people are terrified and exhausted and grieving. People are in danger, unable to work or socialize with their communities are suffered groceries without risking
their safety and their lives. People have to go to work and then essentially work a second shift to in crisis management doing all we can to take care of each other and protect our neighbors. As our home is under federal occupation, the fascists are testing how far they can go. And we are on the front lines. The time is now or never to take extraordinary measures to protect each other. We are all older than ice and I pray we will all out with it. But progress is not inevitable. And we have to make it happen. keep thinking of the Jewish principal up because fish which holds the protecting lives is worth breaking any other rule in the book. I am calling on you all to be bold and creative and responsive to what you're hearing today and every day and vendor beak whatever traditions or norms rules that you have to to protect the people of Saint Paul and be up front. We are fighting fascism and we cannot
afford to back down for one second or leave anyone behind. We have solidarity or we have. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm Sara Dignan repair dose and I I live in councilmember Shaniqua Johnson's district in Dayton's Bluff. I'm a Spanish teacher and I serve as a volunteer interpreter. I'm a single mother of 5 children volunteering my time at 04:30am. And after midnight on signal to call my neighbors and legal constitutional observers standing up to imminent arrest as we collectively care for our community. I recently sat with the family after federal agents pulled a gun in the yard on a 16 year-old citizen child. And entire family with small children witnessed this violence through the window as agents yell that young
siblings to open the door. The family was shaken to the core and went into hiding. I didn't suggest to call the Saint Paul police because there is no trust in law enforcement at this point. The harm broken trust is already done. On another occasion this month that was locked inside a local ethnic grocery store. And we witnessed the abduction of a citizen. In a parking lot nearby. The agents smashed the young man's head into the pavement. Neighbors ask me to drive to the home listed on the car title to let the family know what had happened to their loved one. As I said, taken their family member into custody. We called attorneys in the citizen date detainee was released but injured. We are now already policing our own community with whistles by keeping eyes on the city and keeping each other safe. Saint Paul police are behind the
ball. We know that Saint Paul in Minneapolis, police are file far outnumbered. Do not increase the police budget and hire more officers place. We are working to protect our own community in the face of federal terror in our streets and homes. I was called in to interpret it with constitutional observers for a family with papers, a citizen wife who wanted to know with her husband was alive after being taken in an ambulance and detained by ice. And we listen to her sobbing for hours in the lobby of the hospital wanting to know if her husband was alive as we sat quietly in a competent with the city attorneys for immigrant and refugee rights, both from city from Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The hospital security demanded we leave and past us to Saint Paul police in decades of interpreting I have never been threatened with trespassing and escorted out while serving the community. Thank you. I do
need you to wrap up there. Trust is beyond broken with the authorities. We do not feel safe in our homes and streets. Thank you very much. You need you to staff there. Make sure to sign welcome up. We want MISS Any severe enough that site and were 3. I'm a student and the cows are college. However, I am Illinois, which is city over from Franklin Park where 2 video the goes on sale. This was murdered last year. I'm here to represent a lot of children and the family. We're currently thinking about how they might have to take over their family have to get custody They're sitting They're going to take care of the House, to give up chase. Apparent might take. I can to Minnesota because I thought it was one of the safest places I could come. And just like. Last OCTOBER, I flew back home. Cheney be that as much
to cut from a family. And every single night that I was there, there's helicopters. Finally, my house. There was ice down the streets. And that happening right here with the same community, the community that I thought to be safe. So I urge you. The community from ice, particularly for the young children. We're currently thinking about how they're going take are simply last thing that I want to say 2 weeks ago, I was in with them. I love that for just just to be there. And so it's time where attended college, which is Minnesota, instead of asking me where it was like people usually do because they don't know they knew right away because of the killing Renee. That is such a disappointment. Thank you very much. just want to say I so
grateful it on for their testimony. We are going to end with this last speaker who's here, unless are you planning to speak? So you're going to be our last Speaker for tonight. Thank you so much. Give another public hearing after this one respect their tenants. Welcome. Welcome. Mine is Aaron. I'm resident of Ward 5 and that there are a lot of things I could say about what's happening right now. But today I'm here as a parent to support the child care workers who are here today. And in a kind of strange twist of fate. My youngest is gone to the daycare is owned by 2 of the people who spoke today for privacy reasons. I'm not going to say more than that, but but I can say is that there. On paper very different and in feel very similar. One school. Is majority students of color. The teachers are native Spanish speakers. They took my child
who is nonverbal. And brought her to a different level where she. Shot up, frankly, it's wonderful. They loved her so much. And another the other schools in affluent part of Saint Paul. They are in a church. And they're still scared. It's It's so hard. Both places are being patrolled by neighbors. Because childcare centers don't have the same parent things built in as the schools do because if your kids in child care, you probably can't be there during the day to patrol. That's why you took your kds. So even more so than my elementary student who is being patrolled their school is being patrolled by Pete parents with whistles invests. I have to trust non parents to patrol around my preschool. And so did the other students at the other
preschools. And I frankly trust them more than the police right now, which is very, very hard. I don't trust the police, but I need to be able to because I leave my baby other people. Most of the day. So I need them to be able to call for help. I need to know that when I tell them they'll be safe there, that it's true. And then I'm not lying to my kid. Both needed to be true. Thank you very much council. Thank you so for the Senate. My name is Gregory Kaczynski. I live in Ward 2. here to say I really hope you continue to expeditiously pass the legislation you talked about, especially strengthening the separation ordinance of Saint Paul to
face. I know you can't do everything immediately, but we the people your city or watching and please make sure you continue with the momentum that your party started. I've never had to pay much attention to say the legislation before, but now I am. And I think all of neighbors are as well. The people of our city need to know that someone is looking out for us and please show us that you all are. Thank you very much. For the Well, come up. Hello, good I'm Navalny or painting as protests memory of the record that pink being community, especially on Unity Day to help heal. And to make sure we're in a child knows that her mother was a hero to our community. Council members. I'm not here for sympathy. I'm here for action because we are dealing with
ptsd on all levels. Our bodies securing grief stress in our chair and children are carrying it too. My daughter now Saint public school student helped organize the student walkout last week along with her fellow students and friends and the co they walked miles to be heard. And the truth is we are the dots and we should be protecting our children that are children protecting us. And ward up with Kurds outside agitators coming here to provoke target and target our neighborhoods. Whether Minneapolis Saint Paul, Rochester, where Minnesota and we are who public speak about burning Tucker on in come here, expressing like Jake laying should be condemned fish and you walking in our state. It doesn't matter if threats or escalated danger, but that
needs to stop because we lost political leaders like Melissa Hartman. She still should be a life. It needs to stop. Everybody needs to condemn hate and violence on all levels. Some asking for all of you guys because you guys are leaders to post that you did not condemn any of it in the study said by you in these to be seen by because the problem is that we got a leader whose pulse to be a PRESIDENT. Spewing hate before us in lies. And it's not ok, its sad when you have a child, you can't even tell when this going to end? You've got a kid saying I'm not going back to school bcause I don't feel safe. I's not ok. So when I ask you for that, we unified public statement, emergency funding, whether it's that's dollars and moving into arts, holistic health, wellness for community community safety. Art figure out what Dallas can
be put in all of awards. Now we need help. There's people being evicted I people losing homes, just jobs. We need help. Thank you. Figure out something. Thank you. Thank you. Make sure to sign in. I do want to say a huge and heartfelt. Thank you to everyone who took time to testify tonight. Please know that your stories are. Powerful. They're important. They're influencing the work that we're doing. The grateful too, for coming out tonight. We're going to close the public eye. I will move to close the public hearing. Is there any discussion from my colleagues? We do still have a couple of legislative hearing items on our agenda. Not see any discussion again. Thank you all very, very much. You'll continue to see action from us on these items over the weeks ahead. And with that, we'll take a vote close public hearing all in favor
say Aye. Post 6 in favor and opposed. The public hearing is closed item number. 21 is our late 26 dash 3 first making finding on the appeal nuisance abatement order for 10 79 Western Avenue north in Council file. Our of 25 dash. 71 Ms Marmont. I understand Council members amended resolution includes an extension to Pfeffer 20th to complete That's that's front of Fish doesn't it. Alright, that motion is to. The amended version that extends until FEBRUARY 20. Yes. And discussion of the motion. All in favor say Aye. I post 6 in favor. None opposed. The resolution is adopted as amended legislative hearing consent agenda items. 22 23 or
before you for your consideration. And you can for separate consideration this moment. I don't believe This will be a public hearing on items. 22 23 on our legislative hearing agenda. Is there anyone here to speak to item? 22 or 23? Seeing none. We'll take a motion from his chose to approve those items with a legislative hearing. Officers and nations all in favor say Aye. All opposed 6 in favor. None opposing legislative hearing consent agenda is adopted as amended. That brings us to the end of our agenda. I know it has been lengthy meeting. Is there any quick news from around the works? Is really in them is thank you so much council PRESIDENT. I'm just kidding. The event. So actually tonight, I think's going on right now from 6 to 7.30. You know what? I feel that even. Bring it up. And it's happening right now. But just
for anyone who is listening and can head over, has been excuse me. We're still in the middle of the meeting so everyone maybe move that activity and down. Thank you. Time has been que. To Fy University, 8, 2, 5, University Avenue is having a know your rights training and is this ridge will be there. They have It's get ice out of round on fraud town is actively going on right now. This or next weekend. We Rondo night at the Winter Carnival on Friday. Also it's the same exact date. I think maybe one of you off from the tap for probably can pick it up. But I man that is hosting a public comment receiving public
comments from from the community, particularly regarding the rethinking I-ninety-four that's going to take place at the Wilder Foundation next Friday. So great. Thank you. MISS Just. I realize this technically a word for item. But for us, was supposed to be this Saturday Grove and Park. It's being postponed to the 31st from 2 to Ford's put on by the McAllister Groovin Community Council will be ice skating and hot chocolate. So think was from te week. Thanks, Just look for to it. Plenty of time to anticipate now. I want to share carnival 140 years and going still going strong kicks off tomorrow night. I know some of us are going to be snow flakes in the very frigid temperatures in the parade. So hope everyone can find some time to attend to in a kind of activity. Anything else from
courts. Yeah. Thank I just wanted to share a few resources that we will send on our social media, but also in our newsletter. There are 4 ways you can confidentially submit reports. One of them is around observers reporting ice misconduct. That's to the aclu. They have a form. It's available in English Vaness Hmong and Somali. There's also reporting racial profiling, racial profiling and warrantless. Detainment questioning. And that's also with the aclu. That form is also available in among Spanish, English and smelly the attorney general is asking for folks to submit documentation around our civil rights violations in any sort impacts of federal harm. And that is on the tree. Just general's Web site that is also available in the filing, which is that I just mentioned and the last one is reporting gender-based harm by federal agents. That could be verbal physical, any sort of
gender-based violence that folks are witnessing or experiencing and that is going to be collected through gender justice from is also available on Spanish, English and smelly. I'll b sharing out there's resources on our social media and also in our newsletter. But the links looks can be found online. Thank you. Vice PRESIDENT. All right. And MISS Yang, thank you. Council PRESIDENT. I just wanted to share again about the committee action taking place this Friday. We passed a resolution. Earlier just you see here. Details. Aain, I's this Friday at 02:00pm and it's going to happen at the Commons park. So that's 4.16, Portland Avenue. Minneapolis. And
again, it's opportunity for folks to be in solidarity with each other and and condemned the action. The federal activity that we've seen and heard in our communities. Thank you very much. All right. See no other good news or news from around the words. Thank you all for a great and weird.