Port Authority says tenants sweep Southport roads; council seeks clarity on compliance

Todd Hurley, president and CEO of the Saint Paul Port Authority, told the policy committee that the Port Authority leases property in Southport and expects tenants to follow state regulations and mitigation practices.

"The roads down in Southport are actually owned by the city of Saint Paul," Hurley said, adding that the Port Authority contracts through tenants to sweep roads at least once a week and that tenants take additional sweeping actions within private facilities. He said leases require tenant compliance with MPCA standards and that the Port Authority has provided statements to the council about current tenant mitigation measures.

Hurley said an ordinance could change lease obligations and the Port Authority would need to evaluate how a local rule would interact with lease terms and state enforcement. Councilmembers asked for clearer documentation of current sweeping schedules, tenant practices and MPCA interactions to inform ordinance drafting.