North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Public Art Project Update
Mural Subcommittee (45th Parallel Boulder) Update
Utility Box Project Completion
Art Cart / Art Night Planning
Autumn Arts Festival Preparations
Market Fest Feasibility Discussion
Feather Flags Ordering Update
Commissioner Term Renewals
Student Commissioner's Personal & Political Updates
Votes (2)
Light Pole Banners Project: Subject Idea Selection
Dissent: Troy Woods (absent) proposed 'Extraordinary. Three square miles' which was dropped, but no active dissent was recorded from present commissioners for the final list.
Commissioners reviewed a list of 13 potential subject ideas for light pole banners, aiming to narrow it down to 6-8. Key discussion points included iconic representation, historical significance, and unique city features. Several ideas were debated for their relevance and visual appeal, with a consensus reached on dropping some and keeping others, often combining concepts like 'Car Show' with '7th Avenue' or 'Snowy' with 'Water Tower'. The discussion also touched on artist negotiations regarding budget and rights to sell merchandise.
Review of Pre-Meeting Protocols and Communications
Dissent: Commissioners Tom Sonic, Sharon Clark Williams, Laura String, Carrie Neto, and Eliza Verma all expressed significant concerns and opposition to various aspects of the proposed changes, particularly the potential for meeting cancellations and the rigid pre-submission requirements.
Jordan Layman, staff liaison, presented a memo from the Community Development Director outlining new protocols: commissioners must submit agenda items, discussion topics, questions, or project documents to staff a week prior to the meeting. The memo suggested replacing general 'subcommittee updates' with individual agenda items, prioritizing transparency, and potentially canceling meetings if no items were submitted in advance. Commissioners, particularly Tom Sonic, expressed strong concerns that these changes would undermine the commission's role as a working session and forum for organic discussion, which is essential for artists. They argued current transparency measures (public meetings, videos) were sufficient and that rigid pre-submission would stifle creativity and real-time decision-making, differentiating their artistic function from other commissions. The discussion also highlighted a staff request for more advance information to better prepare for meetings.
Notable Quotes (7)
I feel like one that we is a must is we must do Snowy. That is always a must.
I'll just a thought there. I got that uh noted. Can I make a suggestion as well? Um just like on a I'd be remiss if I didn't say something on staff and how it's very unique that North St. Paul has its own electric department.
I just don't want to concede the polar bear. Polar bear to White Bear Lake. It's not there. Like I said, theirs is a black bear. It's our bear, too. It is.
So with these changes, um, we would probably no longer need the subcommittee updates as like a general agenda item. Instead, it would be individual items that are normally discussed in the subcommittee updates.
The notion that we would if there are not new documents or ideas submitted in advance that we would cancel the meeting just seems antithetical to the purpose of the commission frankly.
We are a team of artists. We're on a team. We're a team of volunteers that love what we do and we have to come. We have to show up and talk together to get to those decisions. We We can't just make them. They They come at random times.
I'm still concerned though, Jordan. You mentioned that you don't feel like you're included or or a part of this or or knowing what's going to happen next. I mean, how can we help in in that?
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
Agreement for the 45th Parallel boulder project with Steel and Stone Design.
Proposed document to solicit design ideas and pricing from artists for light pole banners.
Meeting materials distributed to commissioners and the public.