City Council Preview: July 27, 2020

We provide these West St. Paul City Council previews with your support.

West St. Paul City Council has a full docket for Monday’s meeting, including public hearings on two separate proposed apartment projects, a change to the chicken ordinance, and a conversion therapy ban.

Meetings at city hall will continue to be limited to a very small audience, though an overflow crowd can watch the meeting in the lobby and conference room. All meetings, including work sessions, are also broadcast online and on cable TV. Public comments will be taken in-person and via the call-in option.

Public Hearing

The regular City Council meeting will include six public hearings. Most of them should be fairly routine, though the proposed apartment building at the former K-mart site is likely to get more comments.

Conversion Therapy Ban

The City Council will hear a first reading of an ordinance to ban conversion therapy. Assuming it passes (which is likely), a public hearing will occur at the next City Council meeting.

On the Agenda

• More chickens!: City Council will consider relaxing the small farm animal ordinance to allow chicken coops within 50 feet instead of 100 feet of nearby dwellings. There’s also an option of requiring neighbor approval.
• Harmon Park bathrooms: The city opened Harmon Park bathrooms after pleas from residents, but recent vandalism has the city reconsidering that.
• CARES Act funding: The Council will talk about how the city can use CARES Act funding during the OCWS, including the potential of $150,000 of small business grants.
• Sidewalk and trail gaps: During the OCWS, the Council will look at sidewalk and trail gaps in an effort to prioritize the work that needs to be done.
• Recognition: In 2019 the city recognized Pride Month for the first time and Black History Month for the first time in 2020. Now the city is taking a more wholistic approach to recognitions in 2021, including Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian Pacific Heritage Month, American Indian Heritage Month, and more.
• Townhome assessments: During the OCWS, Council will consider whether street repair assessments should be adjusted for townhomes.
• BLVD expansion: The BLVD Bar and Grill is planning a $440,000 expansion that will add 2,000 square feet and 25 additional employees. The EDA will consider a $25,000 business subsidy grant.

The public can watch the meeting live on Town Square TV or cable channel 18 starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2020 (5:30 p.m. for the OCWS).

If you’re not able to attend the meeting in person, you can always use our coloring pages to imagine you’re there.

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