St. Paul City Council to Weigh $160,000 Legal Settlement
The council will review a proposed settlement on October 21 regarding a data practices lawsuit.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in City Hall
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On October 21, 2026, the St. Paul City Council is set to consider a $160,000 legal settlement with the coalition Save Our Street. This agreement would resolve a data practices lawsuit filed in October 2025 regarding the Summit Avenue Regional Trail.
Why it matters
The lawsuit alleges the city manipulated trail scoring criteria to prioritize construction for the project, which is eligible for $3.57 million in 1% Common Cent sales tax funding. A resolution would end the litigation without the city admitting fault.
The settlement covers claims stemming from 14 documented violations of the state data practices act. These violations relate to the scoring of the Summit Avenue Regional Trail project.
The players
Save Our Street
This is a local coalition that advocates for transparency and has challenged city administration practices regarding trail construction.
Gary Todd
He is an individual who signed the proposed settlement agreement on behalf of the coalition.
The details
The settlement follows mediation between the city and Save Our Street after a previous lawsuit failed to reach an agreement. If approved, the city will not be required to admit fault for the alleged mismanagement of project scoring criteria.
Timeline
2023: Save Our Street filed a prior data practices lawsuit.
July 2024: A judge ruled the city violated data practices 14 times.
October 2025: The coalition filed the second data practices lawsuit.
October 10, 2026: Gary Todd signed the proposed settlement agreement.
October 21, 2026: The City Council will weigh in on the settlement.
Political Context
The proposed settlement draws pushback from observers who argue that city transparency remains insufficient regarding project funding. Critics contend that settling without an admission of fault prevents public accountability for the alleged manipulation of scoring criteria.
The $160,000 settlement would be paid out, impacting local municipal funds collected via the 1% Common Cent sales tax. Residents should monitor council proceedings to see how this payout influences the budget for the Summit Avenue Regional Trail project.
The takeaway
This settlement serves as a reminder of the fiscal risks cities face when failing to comply with public data transparency laws. Taxpayers should remain engaged in council meetings to ensure that project scoring criteria remain objective and fair.
Further reading
Find more updates on local governance and transparency initiatives on the City Hall section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Twin Cities.
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