North St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Public Concerns: Traffic, Noise, and Financial Oversight
Special Assessment for Unpaid Utility Bills
Community Center Feasibility Study
2024 Crack Seal Project Modifications and Approval
Conditional Use Permit for 2586 7th Avenue East
Department and Council Reports
Votes (7)
Special Assessment Hearing for Unpaid Bills
Moved by Council Member Wong [Approx. 6:45] · Seconded by Council Member Norby [Approx. 6:45]
Finance Director Dan Winnick detailed the annual process of certifying unpaid water, sewer, and garbage bills to Ramsey County for inclusion on 2025 property taxes. Residents have 30 days to pay to avoid interest (6% for solid waste, 10% for others). Historical data showed fluctuations, with this year's initial total around $29,900, reduced to $26,000 before the public hearing, and expected to decrease further. Public comment was opened and closed without input.
Resolution approving assessments to properties for unpaid water, wastewater, environmental utility, and recycling for Maplewood properties.
Moved by Council Member Cole [Approx. 6:46] · Seconded by Council Member Wong [Approx. 6:46]
This resolution specifically covers properties located in Maplewood that receive utility services from North St. Paul and have unpaid balances. It follows the same certification process as other unpaid bills.
Resolution approving assessment to properties for unpaid water, wastewater, environmental utility, street lights, solid waste, and recycling for North St Paul properties billed by the city of Oakdale.
Moved by Council Member Schweer [Approx. 6:47] · Seconded by Council Member Norby [Approx. 6:47]
This resolution addresses a unique situation where a single North St. Paul property is billed by the City of Oakdale for water. As Oakdale is in Washington County, and North St. Paul is in Ramsey County, this specific resolution allows North St. Paul to certify the unpaid amount to Ramsey County.
Discuss Community Center Feasibility Study Consultant
Moved by Council Member Wong [Approx. 6:52] · Seconded by Council Member Schweer [Approx. 6:52]
Six proposals were received for the feasibility study. A five-person internal committee scored proposals based on experience, track record, approach, familiarity with recreation facilities, schedule, and cost. EAPC Architects was recommended by staff, noted for their layout, experience, and in-depth approach. Council Member Wong expressed concern about the near-$90,000 cost, which was at the higher end of the proposals received (range $28k-$172k). The action was to authorize staff to negotiate the agreement.
2024 Crack Seal Project - Approved Change Order Number One
Moved by Council Member Schweer [Approx. 6:55] · Seconded by Council Member Norby [Approx. 6:55]
City Engineer Morgan Dolly explained that the change order would increase the contract amount by $4,121.84 to include crack sealing for the Public Works parking lot. This additional work utilizes unspent Street Maintenance funds, and no extra mobilization charges were incurred, making it a favorable opportunity to extend the lifespan of the parking lot pavement.
2024 Crack Seal Project - Approve Final Voucher and Final Payment
Moved by Council Member Norby [Approx. 6:56] · Seconded by Council Member Cole [Approx. 6:56]
Following the approval of Change Order Number One, the City Council was asked to approve the first and final payment voucher for the 2024 Crack Seal Project. This payment covers all the original street work completed and the newly added crack sealing for the Public Works parking lot.
Approved Conditional Use Permit Application for 2586 7th Avenue East
Moved by Council Member Schweer [Approx. 7:00] · Seconded by Council Member Norby [Approx. 7:00]
Council Member Wong pulled this item from the consent agenda to draw attention to recurring complaints from residents about commercial parking in residential areas near downtown. She emphasized that both the building owners and residents are operating by the book, but friction still arises. She suggested a future workshop to discuss residential parking solutions near downtown, referencing a prior parking study that identified ample public parking options.
Notable Quotes (6)
This is the annual process uh to uh certify onto the property tax system for any unpaid bills... they have 30 days um to pay if uh there's even part of the statute that if they were to um dispute it um that there's avenues for them to do that too but at the end of 30 days whatever hasn't been paid we will certify and it'll be on uh the property taxes that are paid in 2025.
Review of the committee came up with several key staff to review the proposals... City staff is looking for direction from Council to proceed with creating a feasibility study agreement/contract with them U with the selected consultant final agreement will come back to the city council for formal approval at a future meeting date.
for me I'm a little concerned of $90,000 we're looking at here just under correct just under $90,000 which is what a one and a quarter per would be considered our levy on that type of thing so and what was the range so we can hear it from the range of these different ones the six uh anywhere from 28 to 172 was the range of the six different proposals it's quite the range very much so I just my concern is that the price of $90,000 seems to be quite steep
Public Works um wanted to have a look at the Public Works parking lot so that area of the yard there um could have been included but was not originally intended as a recipient for crack ceiling however doing it now um would be able to potentially uh secure the pricing in this particular contract as opposed to waiting for future years
I pulled it but I strongly recommend everyone approve it I did not pull this because I am not in favor of it... I pulled this is because this highlighted um in in my two years here some of the more complaints I've gotten as a city council member that the businesses along main seat Street um can somewhat cause grumblings from the residents near them
my thought is maybe in the future we could have a workshop um to discuss residential parking near the downtown area to see if there was something we could do to alleviate some of the friction when we have building owners and residents um doing everything by the book and and everything that we ask of them and more so
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Minutes from a previous city workshop.
Minutes from a previous city council meeting.
Resolution approving an application for the 2025 SCORE Grant.
Resolution accepting donations received in September 2024.
Application for a temporary liquor license for an event on November 9th, 2024.
Application for a permit to conduct excluded Bingo on November 23rd, 2024.
Application for a conditional use permit for a property at 2586 7th Avenue East.
Approval for the purchase of specific electric meters.
Resolution supporting a change in roadway classification within Ramsey County.
Report on building permits issued in September 2024.
Approval of labor contracts for Public Works, Electric, and Law Enforcement (Patrol and Sergeants).
Resolution to assess unpaid utility bills to property taxes for North St. Paul properties.
Resolution to assess unpaid utility bills to property taxes for Maplewood properties.
Resolution to assess unpaid utility bills to property taxes for one North St. Paul property billed by Oakdale.
Approval of a change order for the crack sealing project to include additional work.