Conversations in South St. Paul - Ep. 8 | Mayor's Roundtable
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Regional cooperation among mayors
Infrastructure investment and aging facilities
Police department facility needs and space constraints
Open Meeting Law and social media engagement for public officials
Municipal sales tax impact on infrastructure funding
Public safety and police department mutual aid
Shared services (recycling, fire departments, education)
Senior housing development projects
Riverfront revitalization
Government transparency through social media
Areas of Interest (5)
- Mayors from four neighboring cities demonstrate unconventional cross-city collaboration and informal 'walking' meetings.
- Mendota Heights faces a critical infrastructure crisis with a crumbling, outdated police facility requiring significant tax investment.
- Tensions persist between public transparency and the Open Meeting Law, limiting how local officials engage with social media.
- Municipalities are increasingly utilizing half-cent sales taxes to fund aging infrastructure, despite potential taxpayer pushback.
- Small cities are moving away from formal Roberts Rules in work sessions to foster more authentic collaboration.
Notable Quotes (2)
If you are concerned about what the open meeting law is or or what it means to public officials, I encourage people to read about it because it is an important law, but it is sometimes hamstringing a little bit our ability to respond.
We really look at it from a regional standpoint and how is it going to impact the region. We currently have that half a cent sales tax.
People (3)
Dave NapierMayorServing in seventh year; emphasizes community collaboration and sports-based podcasts for leadership.
1 quote
Serving in seventh year; emphasizes community collaboration and sports-based podcasts for leadership.
“The way I describe it is not as compact... It's just like cooking on a cast iron pan.”
Explaining the Blackstone griddle during a discussion on cooking.
Stephanie LavineMayorServing in third term; prioritizes transparency and infrastructure updates.
2 quotes
Serving in third term; prioritizes transparency and infrastructure updates.
“We need to do something. Our police department has is an extraordinary department and they need a work place that is respectful to them.”
Advocating for a new police facility due to poor current conditions.
“I can't engage on that without breaking the open meeting law.”
Explaining constraints on responding to social media comments.
Mayor DietrichMayorFocuses on fitness and riverfront amenities.
Focuses on fitness and riverfront amenities.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (3)
- West St. Paul City Council: 2nd and 4th Mondays
- Mendota Heights City Council: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays
- Mendota Heights Police Facility Open House: Tuesday