Maplewood City Council — Transcript
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Public Safety and Communications Collaboration
Upcoming City Initiatives and Economic Outlook
Strategic Plan Update (Q2 2026)
Votes (8)
Strategic Plan Update for the Second Quarter (2026)
Moved by Council member Lee [02:05:09,520] · Seconded by Council member Junemann [02:05:13,240]
The council reviewed the second-quarter update of the city's 2026-2028 strategic plan. Progress was reported at 37%, with successes in worker safety and community engagement, but identified challenges like unresolved nuisance properties. The Mayor commended the city's commitment to measuring success and self-reflection.
Ordinance Amending Chapter Ten, Regulating the Number of Dogs and Cats per Dwelling Unit
Moved by Council member Lee [01:02:53,100] · Seconded by Council member Cave [01:03:00,500]
Prompted by a Maple Hills HOA issue, an intern presented a proposal to standardize pet limits across zoning types, allowing up to three dogs and three cats (six animals total). Council members debated the proposed increase, potential impact on multi-family dwellings, and the interplay between city ordinance and HOA rules. The City Attorney clarified that the city ordinance sets the maximum, and HOAs can impose stricter limits. There was a desire to simplify the language and potentially combine dog/cat limits, avoiding a complex appeal process. Ultimately, the council decided to lay over the item for staff to redraft the ordinance, preserving zoning distinctions but modifying the number and configuration of allowed pets.
Conditional Use Permit Resolution for Payless Tires at 1955 County Road D East
Moved by Council member Cave [01:07:25,700] · Seconded by Council member Villavicencio [01:07:35,480]
The council considered and approved a Conditional Use Permit for Payless Tires, which operates a commercial minor auto repair and retail tire business. Although a CUP is newly required due to updated zoning, the use is consistent with the area's historical auto-oriented businesses. All repair work is to be done indoors, and there were no public or staff concerns.
Conditional Use Permit Resolution for Strauss Gates and Bicycles at 1751 Cope Avenue East
Moved by Council member Lee [01:16:08,610] · Seconded by Council member Junemann [01:16:21,370]
The council approved a Conditional Use Permit for Strauss Gates and Bicycles to allow an exterior storage yard for portable sheds, bringing the long-standing business into compliance. Staff recommended screening the sheds from Highway 36, but the Planning Commission and Council members agreed to strike this condition, viewing the visible sheds as a beneficial 'billboard' for the business due to its highway frontage.
Resolution Ordering the Abatement of Conditions at 1852 Walter Street North
Moved by Council member Junemann [01:19:57,660] · Seconded by Council member Lee [01:20:08,740]
The council approved a resolution to abate public nuisance and hazardous conditions at 1852 Walter Street North. Despite sustained efforts by code enforcement, the property owner has not maintained compliance. The resolution authorizes staff to order abatement within 21 days, with potential for city-initiated cleanup and cost assessment against the property if non-compliance persists.
Resolution Ordering the Abatement of Conditions at 1587 Grandview Avenue East
Moved by Council member Lee [01:21:32,910] · Seconded by Council member Junemann [01:21:40,750]
The council approved a resolution for the abatement of public nuisance and hazardous conditions at 1587 Grandview Avenue East, similar to a previous item. This action follows persistent complaints and aims to restore the property to a code-compliant state. Costs incurred by the city for abatement will be assessed against the property.
Resolution Setting Preliminary Property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable in 2027
Moved by Council member Cave [02:00:25,700] · Seconded by Council member Villavicencio [02:00:52,180]
The Finance Director presented the 2027 budget and Capital Improvement Plan, outlining key drivers for the levy increase, including salaries, professional services, debt, and ambulance revenue restructuring. The council discussed various levy scenarios, focusing on a staff-recommended 8.48% increase versus a more comprehensive 9.81% increase (Scenario H) that would proactively fund building capital, a SAFER grant step-up approach, and full ambulance revenue restructuring. Council members ultimately opted for the 9.81% increase, emphasizing the need to address long-term capital and operational needs proactively to avoid higher costs and resident surprises in the future, while directing staff to seek further savings.
Resolution Setting Preliminary EDA Levy for Taxes Payable in 2027
Moved by Council member Lee [02:04:09,880] · Seconded by Council member Junemann [02:04:22,520]
The council adopted the recommended preliminary EDA levy of $636,000 for 2027, maintaining the same level as 2026. This decision aims to sustain the EDA fund balance towards a goal of $5.2 million by 2034 without additional impact on residents. Alternative scenarios, including removing or increasing the levy, were presented but not adopted.
Notable Quotes (11)
Our current plan progress is at 37%. And that's actually a pretty good place to be. Some of our measures are one year measures that we should be about half done with, and others are measures that may be 2 or 3 years in the making. So we're in a good spot...
this is not something that every community does. Uh, the fact that we actually measure our success and point out things that we're working on and things that we need to change, I think that, uh, we hold the mirror up to ourselves in a real, I think, reflective way.
I from what I'm aware of, um, the city wants to be less involved with the restrictions implied on housing units. Um, my purpose was to kind of expand it so that this allows for property managers, um, rental licensers to instill their own requirements.
If we have an apartment building that has 20 units, we have those in our city. And if we permit six animals in 20 units, that would be 120 animals in a 20 unit complex, which I think under any circumstances... That's a lot of animals. It makes me a little bit uncomfortable...
the lower number, whichever it is, will control. In other words, if the city allowed three and the HOA only allowed two to be compliant with both regulations, they would be limited to two. If the city allowed three and the HOA allowed for three would be the maximum. They could have to comply with both ordinances or both. Both regulations.
I'm looking at this is how are we being competitive as a city to other cities? And, you know, one of the questions that I, that I came across with, one of the constituents was one of the property that they were the Home Owners Association restricted them. Someone wanted to move in. They didn't want to move in because of the pet policy. So I think part of this, this is then we're restricting our constituents and restricting potential constituents that may be coming into Maplewood with an opportunity of having more pets.
And that's exactly what was the, uh, the, the planning commission had a really good, robust conversation about it and talked about why we, why it was even required in the first place. And so part of being on 36 is having that as a billboard, having people drive by the hundreds of people that drive by it. So taking that out would benefit the business significantly.
So one of the strategies would be to do a step up approach or a gradual increase in the levy that can help us with building capital, but will also make it. So we're not doing two years of back to back $400,000 increases for these employees.
This is the maximum number that you can set. And if you recall from last year, you set a maximum levy at 8.48. And then over the subsequent months, um, found, um, savings within the budget and going through. And so one of the things I often say is that we just get smarter as the year goes on, we get more refined numbers, we learn more things, we are able to refine that.
At some point we're going to have to deal with the ambulance Restructuring the building capital fund, the Safer grant. These are all things that are coming at us, and we're going to have to grapple with them. These are the hard questions that we have to have to be prepared to address. If we were to go with section or option eight H... we cannot kick these things down the road. We have to be resourceful and creative.
My biggest concern is our safer grant that's going to hit us really soon. Three years is not a long time away, and I think in a couple of years here, when we tell our constituents that it's going to cost them $1 million, that's going to be a pretty penny. And I don't want our constituents to be surprised with that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
Educational video on lithium-ion battery safety, a collaboration between area fire and communications departments.
Upcoming report from Kraus Anderson on potential remodels for the Public Works facility.
Required training for property managers and tenants, to be showcased soon.
Next round of applications due for review on October 12th.
A 240-page report by the EDA detailing market conditions in Maplewood, used as a tool for developers.
Three-year plan guiding city operations and measuring performance.
Recently distributed guide in the community.
Community input survey on budget priorities for the coming year.
Proposed amendment regulating the number of dogs and cats per dwelling unit, laid over for redrafting.
Permit for Payless Tires at 1955 County Road D East, approved by council.
Permit for Strauss Gates and Bicycles at 1751 Cope Avenue East to store portable sheds, approved by council with a condition stricken.
Order for cleanup of a hazardous property and public nuisance.
Order for cleanup of a hazardous property and public nuisance.
The financial framework for the upcoming fiscal year, including long-term capital investments.
Resolution setting the maximum property tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year.
Resolution setting the maximum tax levy for the Economic Development Authority.
State-level program providing refunds for eligible taxpayers.
Tax credit for homeowners that can reduce property tax.