North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Public Concerns and Feedback
Park Reconstruction and Development
Redevelopment Site Preparation and Governance
City Department Updates and Personnel Changes
Commission Activities and Community Engagement
Votes (4)
Housy Park Reconstruction Project: Receive Bids and Awards Contract
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Norby [Timestamp] · Seconded by Council Member Cole [Timestamp]
The project was initially bid last year with high costs. After successfully obtaining a DNR Recreation Grant, the project was re-bid, resulting in 15 competitive bids. The low bid from Odessa 2 was significantly under the original estimate, highlighting optimal timing for the second bidding process.
Contract for Private Development for 17th Avenue in Delaware
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Cole [Timestamp] · Seconded by Council Member Wong [Timestamp]
The city agreed to sell 2329 17th Avenue to Andress built LLC for $100,000 to develop 10 twin homes across five buildings. The developer will cover most closing costs. The appraisal value of the developable one-acre portion of the site was $100,000. Future steps include Planning Commission and City Council approval of a plat and PUD.
Margaret Street Commons Final Plat
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Cole [Timestamp] · Seconded by Council Member Schweer [Timestamp]
The council approved the final plat for the Margaret Street Commons site, owned by the city and HRA. This action prepares the 3/4 acre site for future redevelopment, following previous unsuccessful attempts to secure a developer for mixed-use projects. The Central Park area will remain as is.
Margaret Street Commons Property Conveyance to HRA
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Wong [Timestamp] · Seconded by Council Member Norby [Timestamp]
To consolidate ownership and facilitate future redevelopment, the city approved conveying its parcels within the Margaret Street Commons to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The City Attorney advised that HRAs possess a broader range of statutory tools specific to housing and economic development, making them a more effective entity for such projects, with no anticipated drawbacks to the transfer.
Notable Quotes (6)
We did bid this project once last year and right after we bid we received some bids they were a little bit High and the city decided to try and get one of those DNR Rec creation Grant so they applied for that and they were successful and so that brings us here one year later so we rebid the project knowing that we had that Grant opportunity involved and we got I would say very optimal timing for the bidding process...
the low bid came in like 100,000 in underneath that estimate so again just very optimal timing this year compared to last
The developer proposes to a acquire the property and plat it to develop is it still 10 Twin Homes or is it nine I think 10 T Twin Homes um the the um so there would be total of five buildings 10 units okay that's better
the market value is really based on the the one acre portion of the lot that's considered developable so the developer has agreed to a purchase price of $100,000 with 10,000 in earnest money at closing
to to start with one the the consolidation uh simply makes life easier in terms of having a single entity uh control at least the transfer of the property when you look at the statutory schemes set up in terms of why why have an HRA or an Eda they cities are set up for General governance the edas and the hras are have a little bit more specificity and by a little I mean quite a bit actually in terms of what they can do in terms of helping establish housing or Economic Development so we do have a broader uh pallet of tools that we can utilize and it's just more clear what exactly what we can start to impose
I don't no I don't [anticipate any other drawback] um if if we if there was a a fatal flaw to going to the HRA or hey look out for this then then we would just keep it here at this deis and let the city determine it but I I do think it makes the most sense to transfer to the HRA
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Grant secured for Housy Park reconstruction project
Document to establish new property divisions for 17th Avenue development
Planned Unit Development document for 17th Avenue project
Initial plat for Margaret Street Commons, approved in December
Final plat for Margaret Street Commons, approved at this meeting
City Attorney's explanation regarding HRA property conveyance
Fire Department's certificate for investigations/inspections
Grant for low-income tree removal assistance