North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
2025 Budget Discussion - Levy Budgets for Public Works
Votes (1)
Park Fee Dedication Discussion - Uptown Commons Development
Dissent: No dissent was recorded; all council members expressed agreement with the proposed resolution for future formal action.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
The discussion centered on an uncollected $88,100 park dedication fee from a 2020 development agreement for the Uptown Commons project. The developer claimed an informal agreement with former city staff to waive the fee in exchange for other project contributions (increased land cost, infrastructure work, petroleum cleanup, management fee waivers). The city attorney noted that such an agreement would require formal City Council approval. After extensive testimony from the developer and input from the finance director, who proposed funding the park dedication fund separately using available bond funds, the Council reached a consensus to formally amend the development agreement to waive the fee and then separately address the park fund compensation.
Notable Quotes (7)
we frankly do not have great records as to why that did not occur
even if there was some kind of an agreement with an individual City staff member that would not be an effective Amendment to the development agreement it would need approval of the city council
I said okay guys that's the case then I want the park fees thrown into the project I said I don't have 250 in the budget we don't have $250,000 in the budget for land we want the park fees which is $80,000 so we're short
I couldn't stand to wait for another two three 4 weeks the documents some of the stuff we had to go it would have cost us another three4 $500,000 if we couldn't get going because of the because of the weather so you got to do things and again unusual project
the people who are at a loss in a way is is the parks department and and all the activities that the parks do so um yeah I'm kind of curious like how do we make up for that
I think we proved with the Lily that you know a developer comes to us and we're able to help but we need to be involved right now we're coming back we have absolutely no documentation on our side we couldn't prove a thing if we if we had to because there's nothing
my suggestion is if city council and need your direction if city council is in agreement with what has been presented in front of them tonight and said yep you know I I agree that that there was probably some I'll call it quote unquote horse trading done it wasn't memorialized so let's memorialize that and if the city council's okay with that pass that we'll make the park dedication fund whole and we're done with with this as an issue
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Original agreement signed with the city that included the uncollected park dedication fee of $88,100.
Platform where a note regarding the delayed park dedication fee payment was found, with no further explanation.
Related to the Sentinel building, where a note about the delayed park dedication fee was recorded.
Mentioned in the context of formal amendments to the development contract, although no specific change order related to the park fee waiver was found.
A $400,000 grant ($300k public, $100k private) for ash tree removal and replanting efforts.
An agreement with the city guaranteeing a minimum property value of $18,250,000 to support the $6 million bond for the project.
Pavement Condition Index score used to guide road repair and maintenance decisions.