St. Paul residents now have another way to follow local government after the city launched live streaming of City Council meetings on YouTube.

The city announced that regular council meetings, committee meetings, Housing and Redevelopment Authority sessions and Library Board meetings are now available live through the city’s official YouTube channel.

City officials said the move is designed to improve transparency and accessibility by allowing residents to watch meetings from any internet-connected device. Archived recordings also remain available for on-demand viewing.

Council President Rebecca Noecker called the expansion an important step in improving public access to city government. HRA Chair Cheniqua Johnson noted that many significant discussions about housing, economic development and budgets occur during committee and HRA meetings.

The platform also provides automatic closed captioning and improved accessibility features for residents who are deaf, hard of hearing or use assistive technologies.

For residents who previously relied on cable television broadcasts or attending meetings in person, the new streaming option removes barriers to participation and civic engagement.

The change comes as local governments across Minnesota increasingly use digital platforms to broaden public access to meetings and decision-making processes.

Residents can watch live and archived meetings at youtube.com/stpaulgov. Meeting schedules are available at stpaul.gov.