HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 06092026CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 9, 2026
I. CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Webster called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Webster invited the Council and audience to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL.
Present: Mayor Webster, Councilmembers Jan Jenson and Thomas Randle.
Absent: Councilmembers Nadia Elnagdy and Lona Doolan.
Also Present: Assistant City Manager Ashley Morello.
Others Present: None.
CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS.
IV. APPROVAL OF JUNE 9, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
Council Meeting Agenda of June 9, 2026, as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
V. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE
VI. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Approve May 26 Council Meeting Minutes.
B. License and Permits.
C. Claims.
D. Resolution 26-042 - Approving An Off -Site Lawful Gambling Permit And Lease
Agreement For The Northeast Minneapolis Lions Community Foundation At VillageFest
E. Resolution 26 043 - Establishing The Municipal Cannabis Enterprise Fund, Authorizing
The Opening Of An Affiliated Bank Account,
F. Resolution 26 044 - Authorizing Staff To Enter An Agreement With The Metropolitan
Council To Accept A Water Efficiency Grant
Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to approve the Consent
Agenda items.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2026
Page 2
Motion carried 3-0.
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3 VII. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE.
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5 VIII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF — NONE.
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7 IX. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL — NONE.
9 X. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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11 Assistant City Manager Morello reported that the City had previously held a compost event in
12 which free composters were distributed to residents. She noted the event's immense popularity
13 and informed the Council that they would hold it again. Drop-off will occur on Thursday, June
14 11, in Central Park. She also reported that the City is hosting a new Sustainability Intern, Fowzia
15 Warsame, who is transferring from the Sustainability Corps program. Assistant City Manager
16 Morello stated that Sustainability Intern Warsame has already been with the City for a week and
17 has attended the previous Parks and Environmental Commission meeting. The Staff are looking
18 for an opportunity for her to attend a City Council meeting or work session.
19
20 Councilmember Jenson reported that on May 14, he attended the Ramsey County Local League
21 of Governments Climate Action Working Committee Meeting. He reported that on May 21, he
22 attended the Northeast Youth and Family Services Board of Directors Meeting. On May 31, he
23 attended the previous Mayor, Jerry Fault's, funeral.
24
25 Councilmember Randle had no report.
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27 Mayor Webster reported that on May 27, she attended a meeting with community members who
28 were interested in building community mental health support in St. Anthony. She also attended
29 the Nine North Executive Board Meeting on June 8.
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31 XI. COMMUNITY FORUM.
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33 Carl Neumann, a resident, yielded his time to Dr. Bibi Neumann.
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35 Dr. Bibi Neumann, a resident, began by providing an overview of her extensive educational
36 history. She noted that her background joins policy analysis, public commentary,
37 interdisciplinary examination of governance systems, institutional accountability, and the
38 relationship between government administration and public participation. She commented that it
39 stood out to her on the agenda that the major items before the Council are not what they propose
40 to be. She stated that they instead reflect government systems. She first focused on Resolution
41 26-042 and noted that gambling will occur on City property. She then highlighted Resolution 26-
42 043 and stated that this new fund will have its own banking relationship, accounting structure,
43 financial controls, and operational framework. She finished by reviewing Resolution 26-044, and
44 noted that this will require the City to accept a 34,000 dollar Met Council grant with a 6,000
45 dollar match in local funds. She stated that this will create a 50,500 dollar Water Efficiency
46 Program, which will operate through June of 2028. She highlighted that, according to the plans,
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2026
Page 3
1 this includes replacing 43 toilets, 13 urinals, one dishwasher, four showerheads, and 69 faucets
2 and related fixtures within municipal facilities. Dr. Neumann informed the Council that the same
3 materials stated that St. Anthony used more than 304 million gallons of water in 2025, while
4 serving a population of around 9,257. She also commented that there is a component that may be
5 difficult for residents to find, which includes rebates for water -efficiency improvements and a
6 low-income assistance program that may provide up to the full replacement of one appliance
7 from an approved list. She expressed that this reflects how local governments increasingly
8 operate through financial, grant, regulatory, operational, and reporting systems. Dr. Neumann
9 cited the prior work session, noting that the City is seeking a public financing policy to guide the
10 use of public resources to support private enterprises and utility franchise fees. She stated that
11 these are discussions surrounding how funding is acquired and who receives it. Dr. Neumann
12 noted that there is ample exploration of how advanced systems for funding new projects exist,
13 but there is not as much information on how these systems can benefit existing homeowners and
14 residents. She commented that the Council often discusses building affordable housing, but does
15 not discuss maintaining affordability for existing residents. Dr. Neumann highlighted the myriad
16 ways individuals contribute to civic life. She stated that the public can view the votes and the
17 infrastructure behind them, but there are not ample improvements to public understanding given
18 increased governmental complexity. She expressed that residents must understand not only what
19 is being approved, but how programs operate after approval, how eligibility is determined, how
20 residents apply, if low-income residents are required to pay costs up front and seek
21 reimbursement, whether homes without advance funding are eligible, how outcomes are
22 measured, and how residents know if a program is succeeding. She reiterated a previous concern
23 about public records, noting that the substance relating to public participation must be preserved.
24 Dr. Neumann commented that future residents must understand what concerns were raised, why
25 they were raised, and how the government responded. She highlighted that the public record
26 provides an avenue for residents to understand how systems were created, discussed, and
27 justified. She thanked the Council members for their public service.
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29 XIL INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
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31 A. Future Agenda Items.
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33 The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on June 23, 2026.
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35 XIII. ADJOURNMENT.
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37 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to adjourn the meeting.
38
39 Motion carried 3-0.
40
41 The Regular Meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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43
44 Respectfully submitted,
45 Samina Crabtree
46 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2026
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6 ATTEST:
7 City Clerk
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Mayor