North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Staff Liaison Transition
Current Public Art Projects Status
2025 Arts and Culture Commission Planning
City-Wide Development and Governance Updates
Votes (3)
Ongoing Arts & Culture Project Updates and Needs Assessment
The commission received updates on several ongoing projects. The mural on the 'dumpster garage' is nearly complete, with positive feedback. The utility box wrap project is stalled due to vinyl adhesion issues and weather constraints. Discussions highlighted the need for better organization (shelves, durable containers, bungee cords) within the art cart and the potential for new, foldable tables at Casey Lake due to current tables being heavy and worn. A successful 'watercolor greeting cards' paint night was reported, and the name 'Paint Night' was proposed to be changed to 'Art Party' for broader activities.
2025 Arts & Culture Commission Project Planning and Budget Overview
The commission reviewed plans for 2025, confirming the continuation of core projects: murals, utility boxes, art cart, 'Art Party,' and the Autumn Arts Festival. Project Snowy was officially retired from the active list. Discussion focused on new initiatives, including a smaller-scale Asian Night Market in late spring and a placeholder for a public art project. Ideas for public art ranged from collaborations with the Parks Commission on sculptures for new park remodels (Casey Lake, McNight Fields, downtown parcel) to parklets, interactive musical sculptures, and sidewalk poetry. The budget includes $5,000 for 'Asian Night,' $5,000 for art classes/events, $8,000 for the Autumn Arts Festival, and a $55,000 placeholder for public art.
City Council Liaison Report and Community Updates
Council Member Lisa Wong reported on local election results, including Troy Woods and David McKenzie joining the City Council and Kelly Miller becoming County Commissioner for District 7. She noted the successful grand opening of Taco Bell and the progress on the community center feasibility study, with EAPC Architects recommended to develop plans involving community engagement. Union agreements were proceeding smoothly, and the ribbon-cutting for the new Article 7 apartments was announced for December 4th. The search for a new staff liaison for the Arts & Culture Commission is underway, with over 40 candidates. Updates on city funds revealed increased internet costs and a $20,000 transfer from the general fund to the Community Center fund due to a lack of revenue and upcoming maintenance needs.
Notable Quotes (9)
I can say that the mural is started and um I forget what the building's called the dumpster garage it does not look like a dumpster garage anymore and if you've had a chance to look down the alley at it it really beautiful reflection of the seasons and it it compliments the snowy so perfectly.
From what I understood from myi is that um the vinyl um for the utility wraps was not adhering well to the boxes yeah um so everything's kind of on hold anyway so we have more time to edit them.
Those tables in Casey Lake suck yeah oh really and I messaged Ma and Ava if there was like um what do you call it like a life cycle policy for replacing those just because they're really they're looking gross because there have been so many parties in there which great that people are using the building but like they look gross they're really heavy.
So we're carrying on all those things so the only thing that we're dropping off of the list is snowy um so is there did we have any other like major event that whether it was an event or a project that we want to focus on or do we feel okay with these and we can kind of add as we as we go or were we going to look at something for the budget.
I have an idea yes I've brought it up in the past but it's a parklet.
So generally speaking we're not um there's kind of like two new things on our plan we have our we have our ongoing efforts that that we've already covered and then we'll have um you know the public art project and then Asian night so we got our we got our plan.
I appreciate all of you so much and um it's been a ride for sure but um I do see some really wonderful changes happening here and this arts and culture commission um has been a bright light for that in the city.
The city of North St Paul has voted in two new council members for um 2025 and that's Troy woods and David McKenzie.
After our um tenant uh kakuro volleyball um left we didn't have anyone go back in and so we have no Revenue coming in um so uh unfortunately that means we've had to pull $220,000 out of the general fund to transfer into the community center fund.
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
Request for Proposals related to the community center feasibility study.
A 10-year plan outlining large-scale projects and expenses, including a future water tower.
Official certification of the city's property tax levy, scheduled for December 17th.