North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
City Development Project Updates
EDA Administrative and Community Engagement Updates
Votes (2)
Downtown Design Manual Update Funding and Timeline
Dissent: None. There was a consensus to fund the Downtown Design Manual update (estimated $60,000) from the EDA's 2025 budget, with the possibility to start the project in 2025.
Moved by No formal motion recorded, decision based on consensus. · Seconded by No formal second recorded, decision based on consensus.
The discussion centered on updating the Downtown Design Manual, which was approved in 2005 and is now inconsistent with newer city plans. It was initially slated for general fund allocation but staff recommended funding it through the Economic Development Authority (EDA) due to better fit and to help reduce the city's overall levy. There was also a debate on whether to fund and begin the update in 2025 or postpone it to 2026, with staff suggesting 2026 to allow the new Community Development Director to gain experience and align with the upcoming facade improvement program. EDA members expressed an appetite to fund it from the EDA, seeing it as an EDA-driven initiative.
Facade Improvement Program Adoption and Guidelines
Dissent: None. There was a consensus to move forward with the Facade Improvement Program, with a matching grant up to $20,000 per property and a total program limit of $200,000. Permit costs were explicitly excluded, and signage will be considered eligible at staff/EDA discretion if it's an integral part of broader facade improvements. The program is set to officially start January 1, 2025, with staff handling initial reviews and the EDA providing final approval.
Moved by No formal motion recorded, decision based on consensus. · Seconded by No formal second recorded, decision based on consensus.
The EDA discussed adopting a new Facade Improvement Program, modeled after Northfield's. Key program parameters included a 50% matching grant up to $20,000 per property, with a total program cap of $200,000 funded from the EDA's fund balance. Eligible properties are commercial buildings within a defined downtown area. Significant debate occurred regarding the eligibility of signs, with some members advocating for a clear exclusion due to cost and focus on structural integrity, while others supported inclusion if signs were integral to a broader facade improvement. The process for application review, project timeline, and marketing was also outlined.
Notable Quotes (9)
it really does fit uh more to be funded Through The Economic Development Authority but to do that really needs to get your approval
the downtown design manual is no longer consistent with the city plans and ordinances and should be updated
pushing this to to 2026 would uh allow us some time to um Define uh the facade uh Improvement um project through the Eda uh and then allow us a little more time again like I said to um uh update the the downtown design manual based off of that
to me this is kind of an edad driven thing so
The facade Improvement grant program aims to strengthen Revitalize and sustain the downtown by encouraging and assisting Property Owners to make improvements to buildings within the downtown area by providing a financial incentive.
I think the overall expectations of this program is to enhance the structural capability of the building I don't understand totally agree that signs is going to help advertise magnify the business I think that's on the business owner we're talking about the structural integrities of the buildings those are separate sign is not an instructural
Is it possible to do a couple phases where we focus on the building itself see how popular the program is and then take a look at sign
if it's if the sign is in conjunction with the rest of the facade I would include that as part of the project if it's strictly signed no no
but let staff do all the review and and Merit of the project itself um because they can work with you know the the business owner if they need to tweak their program before it's asked for a final approval
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Capital Improvement Plan, where the Downtown Design Manual was initially funded
Document approved in 2005, needing an update for consistency with current city plans
Illustrates portions related to the desired built environment
Updated in 2015, making the Downtown Design Manual inconsistent
Approved in 2018, making the Downtown Design Manual inconsistent
Updated in 2022, making the Downtown Design Manual inconsistent
Proposed maximum increase of 9.88% for the city, subject to reduction
Request for Proposals, to be issued for the Downtown Design Manual update and Margaret Street Commons
Legal document required for the Facade Improvement Program, needing attorney assistance
Required for sign changes, discussed in relation to facade program eligibility
Required for various facade improvements, its cost was debated for grant eligibility
Funding mechanism utilized by the Article 7 development
Marketing channel for the facade improvement program