All right, let's begin. Um, welcome to the city of St. Paul Park regular council meeting November 17th, 2025. Um, Council Member Conrad is out of town and appearing via Zoom. Council member Conrad, would you please let us know where you're located? >> 2120 Southwest 8th Place, Cape Coral, Florida. >> Thank you, Council Member Conrad. All right. Item number one on the agenda is approval of the minutes for the October 20th, 2025 regular council meeting and wave the reading of the same. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> Approval of the council workshop summary of September 15th, 2025 and wave the reading of the same. >> So moved. >> Second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries. 5-0. >> All right. Items from the public. Item number two. Um, we have nobody signed up, but I will at this time now invite Commissioner Carlo Bingham up to give us a brief update on several things. Um, Commissioner Bingham and I have had several discussions over some of the things that she's going to talk about this evening. One of them being um you know I kind of razz or we go back and forth every once in a while on a few things and as a business owner I pay uh transit tax. I pay a transit tax. It all comes out of the sales tax formula and a significant chunk goes to the state and another slightly smaller chunk goes to the county um for use for transit and roads and bridges. And um I always kind of say, well, what what's St. Paul Park getting out of this? And one of the things we've always discussed transit, both of us have been involved with the Red Rock Corridor over the years and other transit issues. And how do how do we get people back and forth or allow them to have certain modes of transit um >> like within our communities, not just to the major hubs, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and others. Um, so I believe she's got an update on that. >> Yep. >> And also one of the other things that we're going to be working on going down the road is the Sevian Street overpass and how can we all work together to garner some funding and and work with hopefully our state and federal partners to kind of upgrade that. um because as all of our communities around us grow that I my position's always been for the last couple years that it's only going to get worse and and we've seen that. So that's another issue that we've been working on um and beginning to discuss to be able to work together to bring like I said to our state and federal partners because that's going to be a significant cost and a significant undertaking. So >> yeah, >> thank you commissioner for coming. >> Yeah, thank you mayor and council. I appreciate that and um I just appreciate the opportunity tonight to give a little bit of an update. Um first uh the uh route 345 uh is very exciting for this area. It was advocated for by the Red Rock Corridor, which I want to thank uh Council Member Whipbread for her feedback on this. Um as a member of the Red Rock Corridor Commission, too. Um, we advocated to have public transportation going west. We do not have public transportation for the airport for our residents to your point, mayor, um, or to the Mall of America, which not only is a retail hub obviously, but it's a big, uh, employer as well. And so, um, we will, as of December 6 have a stop starting at the Woodbury Woodlane, uh, station dropping down to the Newport Transit Station. So, the Newport Transit Station will be opening up again after being closed since 2020. Um, and it will go on west, you know, hitting the West St. Paul, South St. Paul, uh, and Mall of America and airport. So, I'm very excited about that. It'll run every hour from 6:00 a.m. to 8, um, 7 days a week. And so, I think that's very good news for our area. The other um piece of information I wanted to share with you is that uh the county invests uh funds to expand the circulator service that exists through darts that's currently in Cottage Grove. It now will be coming to St. Paul Park in Newport. Uh this uh will be launched in early 2020 uh early 2026 and it's intended to help as the mayor pointed out um the like residents get access um to necessities. Uh the route will be on Thursday and it'll go by Park Estates, Pioneer Apartments, uh and Pioneer Place before going on to Newport. So yes, it can stop at Broadway and Third. Just going to point that out. Uh if somebody would want a stop there. Um and uh then it'll go into Cottage Grove for the retail area. Um and also um you know the county library and basic needs food shelf and and all of that too as well. Um, so it'll make a full loop. Um, and we also are undergoing an update to our transit need study, which will have early results in 2026. To the mayor's point, um, we are a growing county, especially in the southern part. Uh, we are the fastest growing part of the county and we have a sales tax where, um, it's a half cent and half of that goes to transit, half of that goes to roads and bridges. Um I'm going to be advocating starting next year um that we maybe weigh that a little bit more towards towards roads and bridges um because we have a lot of infrastructure needs and um I know we razz each other but uh it is true like you as a business owner pay substantial business taxes. Everybody in this room pays substantial residential taxes. We all got the notices today. Um and so what are we getting for that? And I think that when we're a growing community, building in it our infrastructure is a big um uh responsibility of both uh local government and so that we will be when we do our next CIP um you will probably see that additional funding reflected in that if we have the votes and support, but I'm just telling you where I'm going to be advocating for for next year. Um but we certainly always appreciate your support um the whole council and mayor on um the transportation and transit issues as we're trying to move um our residents to services. Um and speaking of services, uh Park Grove Library will be undergoing a $15 million major renovation that will start in February of 2026 and be shut down for about a year. Um the Cottage Grove Armory will have some programming and then the cell service center in Cottage Grove will have a catalog of books that'll be rotating for people to use. As always, we have the Stafford library which is the next closest uh library to us. Um, we it hasn't been renovated since 1986 when I would ride my blue car blue cloud bike with the banana seat and the tassels on them. Um, there and it's um, you know, way overdue and it's been delayed a couple times, but no more. Uh, so we're going to get that taken care of. Um, the I want to give a quick update on the food scrap program. Um, first, thank you to everybody who signed up and um, encourage you to sign up as we go into this holiday season where there's lots of food and lots of uh, parties. Um, we have 11% uh, enrollment in across both counties. It's a Ramsey Washington project. Um, 12% in Washington County. 34s of Washington County has been rolled out and has access to the curbside um, program. The rest will be in 2026. Um, St. Paul Park is currently at 8% of their residents are signed up. So, please um feel free to sign up uh on the website and really appreciate uh everybody uh who's participating in that. And um uh as the holidays are coming, just remember we have our uh environmental centers uh available uh throughout the county. uh one in northern uh Washington County and Forest Lake and then the one in Woodbury that takes Christmas lights to properly recycle them and batteries. So, we want to keep those out of the waist streams, please. Um and then the final thing, I'm getting the look from Council Member Swenson. Um is a couple weeks ago the county appropriated uh 250,000 for local food shelves. both friends in need and basic needs uh received um a portion of those funds due to the SNAP benefits um being uh turned off. Now that has been turned back on and we have the federal government open again. Um but that does not take away the pressure uh or the need that our food shelves are feeling. Both organizations uh reported to me that they are at a 30% increase year-to- date and most of those are of new firsttime users of the food shelf. So, um you know, I want to remind everybody and I know the mayor is very passionate about this project is the holiday train is coming on December 13th and that does directly um benefit friends in need food shell. uh if you can um volunteer, they need volunteers as well due to the increase in traffic. Um and uh also I know I will see all of you on Friday at the meat raffle supporting our wonderful St. Paul Park Fire Department. So I can stand for any questions. >> Question. >> I have a question. the transit that's going to be going to the airport. Um, I had a couple people ask, will there be o can you overnight park down there? >> We don't allow overnight parking down at the uh down at the transit center on our county properties. So, uh I would not recommend doing that um because remember the county sheriff does patrol Newport and they do drive through there and if they're overnight it might not end well for that person. >> Okay. >> But that is a very good question and appreciate that and we should probably get that out. So, I appreciate you bringing that up. No, because you might Yeah, that was a good question. >> Yeah. >> Think I will park here. Won't cost me anything and I'm going to go jump on a plane. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> A week later, >> right? >> Yeah. >> No, good question. >> Awesome. >> All right. Any other questions for Commissioner Bam? >> All right. Well, as always, reach out if there's anything. Happy holidays, merry Christmas, and uh thank you very much for your time tonight. >> Oh, thank you for coming with the update. We appreciate it. >> See you Friday. >> Yep. >> See you Friday. >> And you'll be buying all the tickets up. >> Mhm. >> All right, let's move on to item number three, the consent agenda. This evening on the consent agenda, we will be >> Yes, Council Member Swinson. >> If I may. >> Yes. >> Could we please remove I and J from the tonight's consent agenda and then take them separately? You want to remove I and J, >> right, and take them as single items. >> Okay. All right. >> We can take them together. >> Council member Swson makes a motion to remove I and J and move them down to new business. Let's say >> second. >> All right. Have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. All right. So then on the consent agenda, we have uh we're going to pay the bills for October 22nd through November 18th. We're going to approve pay voucher number four for Ginger and Suns Third Street Work. Um a change order for Third Street Work. Uh grant agreement with the Met Council. Um, sanitary manhole repairs, tobacco licenses, game room licenses, um, 32 license for carbonis, wine license, same there, um, offsale for St. Park Liquor Northern Tier Well, Speedway um their 32 license and approve some brush and log grinding and removal at the old compost. >> Mayor Frankie, >> Council Member Swanson, >> if I may, I move that we approve the cons uh tonight's consent agenda minus items I and J. >> Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? If I could. >> Yes, council member. >> I just have a couple questions. On page 16, the city hall char lights, >> were those lights converted to LED? >> Do do you know that? >> Know that. >> Yes. >> Tony says yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, how about page 18 screening? is uh is this something that's done because it I think it's closed but and um wondering if there's any chance of that possibly reopening maybe with a an attendant and um if there's if there's anyone anything related to that >> um council member Conrad I guess at this point those are unknowns I know there have in some discussion with the county. I believe it was last year about possibly reopening or manning. I remember hearing something about that the compost site. Um but that was with our last public works supervisor. So those might have to be revisited. Um so yeah, I guess that part that question would have to be answered at a different time. >> Okay. Okay. I just wanted to mention it because I didn't know what to think about it. Um then one other question and I don't know if this is a part of the bills or not but uh with regard to the compost site and the brush and log on is is that um >> I think I think there was an amount attached to that. Is that something that we haul to Rumpa or another compost site or do we think we did all day long? >> Depends. Um, we had three bids last time we processed it and put it in Riverside Park. So, it could we could do that again or we could haul out. So, wait on the third bid. >> We're taking bids on that. And depending upon where the bids come from and how they come in, um, it could be hauled out or it could be just, uh, scattered throughout Riverside Park. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. I just thought I'd ask. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Conrad. Any further discussion? >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries. 5-0. All right. On to new business. Um we will be taking up uh item well let's start with item number I and uh I think what um uh council member Swanson was referring to is uh I'll I'll make these motions and then we can vote. >> Okay. Um, so as far as item number I from the consent agenda added to new business, I will make a motion to approve on sale intoxicating licenses for Bllye LLC, DBA, Broadway Bar and Grill, Parkplace, and Willies Hidden Harbor. >> I second that motion. >> I have a motion in a second to approve those three establishments. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed? Motion carries 5-0. Um, back to item number I. Um, >> well, make a motion on the >> Okay. >> Right. Um, I would make a motion to approve the on sale intoxicating liquor license for Frankie's Bar. Second. >> I have a motion to second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> And I will abstain. So that motion carries. 5 01 or 401. All right. On to item number J. Approve Sunday on sale liquor license. Um, the motion would then be to approve Bllye LLC, DBA, Broadway Bar and Grill, Lana, Inc. DBA Carbony's Pizzeria, Parkplace, and Willy's Hidden Harbor for the on sale Sunday liquor license. >> Second. Have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries 5-0. Um, next motion would be to approve Sunday on sale liquor license for Frankie's Bar. >> I'll second. >> Motion in a second. >> All those in favor say I. All right. Any discussion? >> No discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> And I will abstain. Motion carries 4 with one abstension. All right. Next item on new business is we have a proposal from Rum River. Trick's going to be how to get all these devices all in one desk. Do I just press play on the presentation? >> Go ahead and try it and see what happens. >> Will it show up on one of the TVs? >> It should. Yep. Okay. >> What time is the game? Is there something to flip? Is there to flip? Um, they may have to activate it in the room. Technical difficulties. >> Yes, >> technology is great. >> The Jeopardy. >> Yeah, let's figure out either connect your laptop to it >> or if >> we'll do this one. on that one. So, this works just fine. Yeah, >> absolutely. >> Okay, >> that's why I put that up there. >> Well, um, good evening, mayor and council. I am Carrie Leitzky. I'm with River Consultants. Joining with me tonight is Andy Schrader. Um, he is our co-owner and chief building official for the city of St. Paul Park. Um, we really appreciate uh, administrator McY inviting us to present on this proposal tonight and to inform the council on uh, where our program is currently and outline some items that needs a little bit of updating and request support from council to uh, move forward uh, with those updates. Although we've been your um professional consulting firm for the last going on three years now, I believe this is the first council meeting that we've actually attended in person. So, it's good to meet you all. Right. Okay. Before we begin discussing our proposal, it's important to review how we arrived here tonight. And um so if you look there, I've got our timeline up. Our initial agreement with St. Paul Park began um in our our agreement was approved in November of 2022 and we began um performing services in January of o of of 23. During our onboarding period, we had identified um some sections of the city code that did not align with current statutes um or adopted state code requirements. And while these sections didn't have an immediate influence on how Rum River administered the Minnesota State Building Code, it did impact um areas of the rental licensing program. And so at that time, city administration determined that Run River would focus on performing the inspections in the field and then city staff would um oversee the administrative portion of the rental licensing program. So, the first rental cycle, as you see here, started in um applications were mailed out in July of 23 and inspections began in August. And um and then a pretty large advancement that we had um uh the city implemented was uh utilizing baseline technologies, which is Rum Rivers permitting and program management software. That program has been functioning very well. We've received positive um feedback from permanent applicants, contractors and residents alike and um that is going going very well. Um as city staffing and workloads evolved um it was about this time last year that we began trans um transitioning full administration of St. Paul Park's rental licensing program to Rum River. And in February and March of this year, city council um approved the fee schedule and we started having some discussions on um how to align the um areas in the code to best practices. Um this shift in administration did does require procedural adjustments um and some workflow updates and uh unfortunately due to some various city staffing changes um the work was delayed until new leadership was in place so that um things could be reviewed comprehensively rather than as an isolated um action. So tonight's proposal um does reflect the next steps needed to finalize um the alignment of operations and ordinance language along with the new professional services agreement. And here we have um there's five main components um before you tonight. And the first one is the um update to city code chapter 18 which is buildings and building regulations. updates to chapter 30 uh fire prevention and protection. The third is to update chapter 42 um which involves permit and licensing fees. And then the fourth component is a development of an operational fire permit program which aligns with the Minnesota state fire code. And then of course to um uh approve a revised professional services agreement that reflects the programs currently administered and then also uh potential expansion um options for attention of responsibilities. The intent is to complete all components as one coordinated package and again this is to ensure accuracy and consistency and legal compliance. Um I'm going to summarize for you tonight at um pretty high level um as far as those changes that are needed for each of those five components. So the articles that you see here on this slide um which is article one in general uh the building code property maintenance and rental licensing um those we are looking to do a complete repeal and replace. Um, we're going to up we're going to need to update statutory references, clarify responsibilities, align the city code with the state building code, and of um also modern modernize some language based on current processes, terminology, and best practices. Uh, for article three, property maintenance, the revision is mainly going to focus on um referencing the international property maintenance code. It'll clarify uh modifications and ensure consistency between um rental requirements and general property standards as well. and revisions for article 4. The rental licensing will align um program procedures with currently used workflows, clarify definitions, ensure equal treatment across dwelling types and structure licensing cycles in a manner that supports compliance and man manageable workflow workflow pacing. Chapter 30, fire prevention and protection, uh will also require a complete repeal and replace. Um the the current city code um is very outdated. It references the uniform fire code and uh we need to get that up to today's um statutes, which is referred to as the Minnesota State Fire Code. and we'll need to correct citations and align the authority and process as well. Chapter 42, license and permit fees. We'll need to have um just minor amendments to update permit related fees and ensure alignment between the new ordinances and administrative um practices. Fire operational permit program. This component focuses on the creation of a fire operational permit program as required in the Minnesota state fire code. Um we Rum Rivers program will identify the properties, verify compliance and then also establish uh renewal procedures. We will coordinate um and have already met with um the fire department to build the property database um manage the letters documentation, perform field inspections and um the program will operate although very different um it will operate similar to rental licensing and permits and in kind of the notion that it is selffunded through the um fees for the license for the um permit program uh making budget neutral. And then the um last component is getting an updated um professional services agreement. Um our current agreement doesn't reflect our scope of services. Therefore, um updating that agreement, it would be necessary. So, in closing, the city of St. Paul Park and Rum River have um we've completed the our foundation work um these last few years um along with good program implementation and uh at this time we're requesting authorization to move forward with the preparation of ordinance amendments and development of the operational permit um program and then of course finalize the um updated agreement. Both Andy and I are here and available for any questions. I know you had um a part of your packet um also included our um projects our detailed project scope um along with the deliverables. I'm happy to walk through that if you have questions. Um hopefully that was easy to understand. I know it contained a lot of information. So >> all right, thank you Carrie. Does anybody have any questions? All right. Well, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Here you go. >> Um, mayor and councel, I think this is a very important step for us to um uh know. I don't think we know what we don't know what we don't know as far as uh um compliance and and um some of our structures, etc. So, this is a very important step to help ensure the safety of our community members and uh make sure rental properties are properly maintained and and proper livable conditions as well as helping uh our fire staff to um enforce fire ordinances uh either solo or in conjunction with um with Rum River folks because the um ordinance is so outdated as is the building code. So, I think it's a significant need in the community and um we've had a established partnership with Rum River and um we've not had major issues or really any issues that I'm aware of. So, I would I would recommend that council would strongly consider this and and pass this so we can uh incorporate incorporate this into the budget uh to be enacted uh first part of next year. >> All right. Any questions for Hugo? >> Not for Hugo. >> Any questions at all? Uh, is this recommended by Chief Kramer? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, I guess since we don't have a contract in front of us or anything, um, I at this point I would just instruct staff then with the consensus of the council to go and get that done and then bring it back and we can take a vote on the the contract. >> Okay. Uh, mayor council sounds good and we will make that happen. >> All right. >> Can I ask a question? um the con the are the the new professional services agreement would be part of the um five components. So what we'd be looking for is the approval to move forward with those ordinance updates tonight. The contract is separate from that >> the consensus. >> I think we have that. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, that's done. All right, reports from the council. Council member Hagerty. >> Yeah, >> public works. >> Public works commission. Uh, our next meeting is coming up. It's going to be December 2nd at 6:00 p.m. And we still need one or two more members. So, come on down to city hall and apply for public works commission. And it's to my understanding that we did have a somebody apply. We just need to get that before us officially. >> Correct. Yeah. And I just noticed that we do have a city council meeting on December 1st. And if we have that, then we can have that in front of us on December 1st. >> Sounds good. >> Great. >> Um, Council Member Swson, public safety. >> Our next meeting is set for here in council chambers. No, it's Yes, it is council chambers at on December 4th at 6:00. And we need two new members. So you got a better chance at a better commission if you come in for the public safety than if you do for public work. So what >> you have a choice. Make make a smart one. >> Right. >> All right. Council member Conrad, planning commission. >> Planning commission meeting. Uh I was not able to attend the last meeting and our next meeting is December 8th at 700 p.m. >> Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Conrad. Council member Whit Hemson, Parks and Wreck. >> Um Parks and Wreck, we got the final um numbers on our garden. We delivered 480 lbs of produce to Basic Needs and about 40 lbs to basic needs store. The 480 lbs went to the went to the market, the food market up by Burger King, and it serves all our community. Um Bunko's going good. We had 20 members the last time. That's $200. That's a lot for our little park and rec commission. Our next um bunko is December 12th at 7:00. And we will be including our we're having a diaper drive in conjunction with our fire department and all the diapers will go to basic needs. Our drop off is here at city hall and St. Paul Park Carbonies and that goes until December 12th now until December 12th. Diaper drive. All diapers will go to basic needs. >> But they specifically needed two and up. You said >> size two and up. Size two and up. So we'll have a dropbox here and at Carbonis in St. Paul Park. And I And that's it. Our next meeting is December 11th at 6 o'clock. >> And do you need help? We need lots of members. And I just want to let you know that our commission is a lot more fun than them guys. So, come and join ours. All right. Thank you, Council Member Whipped Hemingson. Um, as for myself administratively, I guess at at this time I would say there's there's been a lot of discussion and I I'm going to say it openly here on um at the meeting and um for those watching out there, uh a lot of EMS talk lately. Um myself, staff, our neighboring communities, um we're all working together and there's a lot of information to go through and a lot of information that you guys haven't even seen or gotten a hold of yet. Um and uh so I will say that this is this is a serious situation and um we're working very hard. Um I am now I am almost got to be close to an EMS expert as into the state rules and laws as far as the state of Minnesota goes from reading uh 144E from top to bottom, the OA report. um calling some of my colleagues, former colleagues at the state. Um Hugo has been doing a great job at just delving into just every possible thing we can um not only meeting with state officials and other our our neighbors um to see where we go and how we move forward. Um so I don't want to get too far into the weeds on this. just know that that we are taking this very seriously and this is a a serious subject because we always want our citizens to know that we are I I just I don't know since this came about and I'm going to be honest I haven't been sleeping right. I haven't been eating right. Um this is this is just that's how much I've put into this over the last few weeks along with Hugo and our our neighbors. Um, so we have, just so everybody knows, um, we're not sure what avenue we're going to go down or what avenue we're forced to go down. Um, some of these decisions are completely out of our hands, um, depending upon what happens. Um, but the council did instruct staff earlier to set some money aside and depending upon where we go, that's how we will choose to use that money. Um, but uh we're going to do the best that we can moving forward. So, we will try not to keep anybody in the dark. We will try to be as forthcoming as we can at that time. Um, sometimes I can't always discuss things. Um, just so people know with the council members until it goes through a process or goes through Hugo and other things like that due to open meeting laws. Um, so we're moving forward. We're trying to make the best decisions. We're working with our partners um and I would just ask that everybody take a deep breath um the especially the politicians >> um and let's work together to find a solution um whatever that might be and and move forward and um see what we can do. So, we're doing the best that we can and we'll get more out there when more is available and the council members and the staff have more information because there's a lot more to this than I think anybody could even report on with an hourlong special the intricacies of how this whole system even works throughout the state. So, um just know that that we are very aware and we are working on it. So with that, any more council comments or requests? Nothing further before this council. This meeting's adjourned.