North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Flock Cameras and Public Information
Police Response and Report Delays
Veterans Park Maintenance Agreement
Boulevard Mowing Policy and Safety
Future Use of Third Street North City-Owned Property (Parks vs. Student Housing)
City-Owned Property Sales and Acquisitions
Hung Hung House Restaurant Liquor License Reinstatement
2024 Pavement Management Project Closeout
2025 Street Utility Improvement Project Professional Services Amendment
2027 Street Utility Improvement Project Design Authorization
Votes (7)
June 16th, 2026 Close Session Summary
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A - Action from previous closed session reported. · Seconded by N/A - Action from previous closed session reported.
The council received a summary of the June 16th, 2026 closed session, which involved discussions regarding an offer for the sale of city-owned property at 2300 North St. Paul Drive, as per Minnesota State Statute 13D.05, subsection 3C.
July 16th, 2026 Special H Closed Meeting Summary
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A - Action from previous closed session reported. · Seconded by N/A - Action from previous closed session reported.
A summary was provided for the July 16th, 2026 special closed meeting, which focused on the potential purchase of property located at 2119 Eldridge Avenue. The council's conclusion involved establishing and authorizing an offer range for the property.
City-owned property discussion at the third street properties
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A - Discussion Tabled · Seconded by N/A - Discussion Tabled
The council discussed the future use of a 1.07-acre city-owned property on Third Street North. Staff sought direction on whether to consider it for park or residential uses, specifically student-built housing, given a lack of identified sites. Concerns were raised by council members and the public regarding prior park studies for the site, communication with the Parks and Recreation Committee, the land's suitability for housing due to a slope, ADA compliance for park development, and proximity to industry.
Hung Hung House Restaurant and Banquet Hall LLC liquor license
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schwar [00:36:58] · Seconded by Council member McKenzie [00:37:02]
The council considered the reinstatement of Hung Hung House's expired liquor license. The owner explained that due to a business partner handling previous renewals and a misunderstanding of the process, they believed their license was valid after renewing a buyer's card. They complied immediately upon notification to cease alcohol sales. Council members expressed understanding, noting no malicious intent or prior issues, and emphasized supporting local businesses.
2024 Pavement Management Project (City Project 24-01) - Accept project and approve final payment
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schwar [00:40:40] · Seconded by Council member Nordby [00:40:43]
City Engineer Morgan Dolly presented the final payment request for the 2024 Pavement Management Project, which focused on street and roadway improvements. The project was completed under budget, approximately 3% below the $1.5 million contract amount, despite some delays in addressing punch list items and submitting final paperwork.
2025 Street Utility Improvement Project Professional Services Amendment
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member McKenzie [00:44:48] · Seconded by Council member Nordby [00:44:50]
The council reviewed a request to amend WSB's professional services contract for the 2025 Street Utility Improvement Project. The amendment, costing approximately $36,000, was necessary due to an extended construction timeline (caused by pond construction delays) and a significant change order from sewer lining to open trench construction, which ultimately saved the project over $100,000 and improved the final product, keeping the overall project well under its bond budget.
2027 Street Utility Improvement Project (City Project CP 2701) - Authorized professional services proposal from WSB
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schwar [00:47:58] · Seconded by Council member McKenzie [00:48:00]
City Engineer Morgan Dolly requested authorization for WSB to begin final design for the 2027 Street Utility Improvement Project, which will be 'Phase Two' in the Casey Lake neighborhood (Chisum, Msabi, and Gerald Avenues). This early start aims to secure competitive bids for construction in early 2027 and utilize the successful open-cut sewer construction method from the previous phase. The project is planned for 2027 bonding.
Notable Quotes (10)
This is really disappointing as I received a call today saying this is what we're going to discuss on this topic. A year ago, the parks and wreck... paid HGA to do a park study... without talking to parks and recreation first, we're going to build a student build house there.
I don't believe that program should supersede public land and giving up public land that was previously denoted to become parkland to privatize it for this program.
In my opinion, it's just my opinion, North St. Paul has a history of encroaching upon industry. ... I don't have any desire to put homes that close to industry.
We understand the importance of following the city licensing requirements and we take full responsibility for making sure this never happens again. We would like to explain how this happened.
It's the first bar he ran. His partner set it up. In my mind, they've faced hardship by not being able to sell alcohol for two years. ... it doesn't sound like it was malicious.
I do believe in grace and that obviously I understand because I'm currently going through a situation where um a predecessor of mine had made a lot of mistakes... So, you don't know what you didn't know and you did what was best that you thought.
The contract was completed... just underneath the contract amount, about 3% under the contract amount of $1.5 million. So that's good news. We finished everything up with a little bit of cost savings there for the project.
The change in schedule and the delay of the um uh delay of the pond construction was one component that kind of expanded the number of weeks that uh it took to construct... the ma more major contributing factor was that the contractor had proposed a switch from sewer lining to s sewer open trench construction.
Even with this additional 36,000 we are still to the positive u pretty substantially about at least 10% is is what the calculations show under the bond the available bond funds amount.
This is the next one. Um so this would be, I guess you could call it phase two in the Casey Lake neighborhood. ...we would start the design now. So that's why we wanted to bring this forward uh to get a jump on it again, hopefully finish plans and specs and get into a bidding scenario very very early in 2027 to reserve kind of that the contractor's spots, get competitive pricing.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
State statute requiring summaries of closed sessions at the next public meeting.
Grant application listed on the consent agenda.
Resolution listed on the consent agenda.
Report with potential park designs for the Third Street North property, costing approximately $1 million for construction.
City plan previously amended for properties in the Third Street North area, but not for the specific city-owned parcel under discussion.
Designation for properties in the Third Street North area, previously amended.
City Project 24-01, a capital improvement project focusing on pavement and roadways.
Resolution for final payment to Aztec Corp. for the 2024 Pavement Management Project.
Amendment to the professional services contract with WSB for the 2025 street and utility project.
City Project CP 2701, the proposed next phase of street and utility improvements in the Casey Lake neighborhood.
Long-range plan guiding city projects and funding, referenced for various projects.
Specific capital improvement plan referenced for the 2027 street and utility project funding.
City program providing assistance for exterior building improvements, inquired about by the Boy Scout Girl Scouts Museum.