A civics field trip to City Hall on Tuesday that was meant to give St. Paul’s seventh-graders a glimpse into local government ended with the class unintentionally influencing municipal policy, when a show of hands during a live city council session was mistaken for an official vote and narrowly approved a new ordinance requiring all downtown crosswalks to be painted in “fun colors.”

The ordinance passed 14 to 13 — the fourteen being the St. Paul’s students who raised their hands when council member Richard Busby asked, “Does anyone here think this city could use a little more color?” He has since clarified that the question was rhetorical.

“I was gesturing broadly,” Busby said at a press conference Wednesday. “I did not expect twenty-six children to immediately raise their hands.”

The trip had been arranged by seventh-grade social studies teacher Mr. Gregory Tanaka to coincide with his class’s unit on how local government works. Students arrived at City Hall at 9 a.m. and were given a guided tour by a city employee named Phil, who spoke for forty minutes about the history of the building’s ventilation system before anyone could redirect him.

The group was then seated in the public gallery of the main council chamber to observe a session in progress. According to multiple witnesses, everything proceeded normally until council member Busby, known for his informal presentation style, turned to address the gallery.

“He said it was great to see young people engaged in democracy,” recalled seventh-grader Sofia Reyes. “And then he asked if we wanted more color in the city and we all raised our hands because obviously yes.”

City Clerk Margaret Odom, a 31-year veteran of municipal administration, recorded the vote as is procedurally required. When asked why she did not immediately flag the irregularity, she paused for a long moment.

“It was a very decisive vote,” she said finally.

Mayor Linda Cho, who was not present at the session, learned of the ordinance Thursday morning and described her reaction as “complicated.” Legal staff are currently reviewing whether the measure can be quietly amended or whether the city is now obligated to repaint eleven crosswalks in shades including coral, seafoam, and what the ordinance text describes only as “a cheerful yellow.”

Mr. Tanaka acknowledged the outcome was not part of the lesson plan but maintained that it was, educationally speaking, a tremendous success.

“They saw exactly how local government works,” he said. “A vote happens, consequences follow. I couldn’t have planned a better demonstration.”

Several students have already submitted color suggestions to the mayor’s office. Eighth-grader Devon Simms, who was not on the trip but heard about it at lunch, has requested that his street get purple.

His request is under review.

The crosswalks are expected to be repainted by early June, pending a formal legal opinion and one more vote — this time, with only registered adults.