North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Community Center Redevelopment Proposal
Police Department Operations and Future Needs
2025 Street and Utility Improvement Project
Votes (5)
Community Center Redevelopment Proposal Discussion
Moved by Mayor Mongi [0:29:43]
Council Member Jason Norby presented a detailed plan to transform the community center site by demolishing most of the existing structure and rebuilding a 'basic simple and efficient' single-story building. The new concept prioritizes a farmers market and Parks & Rec programs, ensuring long-term viability for grant requirements and offering flexibility for other partnerships, library expansion, or historical society use. Initial cost estimates were provided, and the council expressed general enthusiasm for the vision, particularly for moving away from the limitations of the previous building and providing an adaptable space.
Police Department Operations Update
Police Chief Ray presented a comprehensive review of the department's 2024 activities and challenges. He reported a high volume of calls, a significant increase in domestic incidents, and concerning activity at Webster Learning Center requiring dedicated SRO presence. Staffing shortages and retention issues due to competition from larger agencies were highlighted as major concerns. The Chief also detailed the success of the BCA joint powers agreement in recovering numerous firearms and substantial quantities of illegal drugs. He outlined ongoing efforts in officer wellness, community policing, streamlined internal processes, and future needs including additional staffing, recruitment incentives, and an embedded mental health worker.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Moved by Council Member Schwe [1:15:35] · Seconded by Council Member Woods [1:15:40]
The Consent Agenda consisted of multiple routine items, including the minutes from the February 4th, 2025 workshop and regular meeting, general claims, a municipal tort liability waiver, a resolution updating the 2025 fee schedule, a tobacco license renewal, approval for a spring directional bore, public works surplus, donation acceptance, and various commission appointments. The entire consent agenda was approved without any items being pulled for separate discussion.
Call for Public Hearing on Street Reconstruction Plan and Bond Issuance
Moved by Council Member Schwe [1:21:40] · Seconded by Council Member Norby [1:21:45]
Finance Director Winnick presented a resolution to schedule a public hearing for March 4th regarding the adoption of the 2025 Street Reconstruction Plan and the city's intent to issue General Obligation Street Reconstruction Bonds. The bond issuance, projected to be up to $7 million, is crucial for financing the upcoming street and utility improvement projects, with funds anticipated by May to align with construction schedules.
2025 Street and Utility Improvement Project: Approve Plans & Specs, Order Advertisement for Bids
Moved by Council Member Woods [1:26:10] · Seconded by Council Member McKenzie [1:26:15]
Engineer Dolly presented a resolution for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvement Project (City Project No. 25-1), which involves reconstruction on Gerald Avenue, Shawnee Drive, and Bu Avenue in the Casey Lake area. The resolution sought authorization to approve the project's plans and specifications and to advertise for sealed bids. With an estimated cost of over $6.5 million, bids are expected by late March, with construction projected to commence mid-May after coordinating with Xcel Gas and City Electric for preliminary utility work.
Notable Quotes (13)
overall what my idea is in a nutshell is that we demolish about 85% of the building and keep just a small portion overlaid is the size of the building I was prop our laptop's our touchscreen overlaid is the size of the building that I was proposing that we put on the current site um approximately 170 ft by 8 ft and again my core principle was always basic simple and efficient
I have been passionate about not using it is a building that used to house the community center what is it going to be and that's why I wanted to do the feasibility study so I think what you presented is fantastic I think it's a great start to navigate some to navigate the next area
going back to the basic simple and efficient our current model is telling us that we have a $2 million future expenditure after we spend the grant money and that was one of the big things I was scared about we've never developed and we've never maintained a plan of how how do we not pass it on the citizens right
one of the other things I'd like it if if we go forward um to at least ask the architector the general concept is so the back of the building having three very large garage doors to open it up to the elements but I'd also like if possible to put the caveat that they're tall enough where if we need to get our emergency vehicles inside that it is possible
our investigations well got rocked in 2024 198 cases um highest in 5 years uh possibly the highest ever
our SRO has been dedicated um to Webster Learning Center when he's been here um mostly for December and January and that's unacceptable um
these photos here um this is a gun that was recovered in North St Paul um by Sergeant Fredericks and his BCA team that were working a case in our city...that's scary that we have we have these guns so close you know to our people and our community and uh they are here
it's been over the last several years it's been statistically a battle retaining um um and it's been a battle trying to keep up with the much more big budgeted uh agencies that can throw out you know a lot more better incentives than what we can
one thing I think we're going to be looking into and I uh I talked with uh city manager frandle about is there are some surrounding agencies I know South St Paul has a wonderful program I spoke with I met with those folks over there they have a embedded social worker unit
this is the beginning of a short but lengthy process of issuing bonds... this is timed very well um that we should receive uh funds um on this Bond issuance in May
we've got it um right now having for the public hearing on March 4th um that going up to a maximum of $7 million uh we may not actually issue out 7 million
this item is a continuation of uh what Finance director winck had set up for you um separate from the bonding which is the financing for the project uh there's a requirement by State Statute uh for larger projects such as this to be uh advertised for sealed bidding
project uh estimate uh right now from a cost standpoint is just over $6.5 million which is uh just about in line with the anticipated costs that were included in the capital Improvement plan
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Proposal by Council Member Jason Norby for demolishing and rebuilding the community center.
Identifier for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvement Project.
Plan detailing the 2025 street projects, subject to public hearing and bond issuance.
Bonds to be issued to finance the 2025 Street and Utility Improvement Project, up to $7 million.
Document where the anticipated costs for the street and utility project were included.
Item on the consent agenda.
Item on the consent agenda.
Tobacco license renewal on the consent agenda.
Item on the consent agenda.
Item on the consent agenda.