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The public weighed in on the Annapolis Street reconstruction project during the West St. Paul City Council meeting, among other business including ice arena expansion and strategic initiatives.
Annapolis Reconstruction
Council held a public hearing on the Annapolis reconstruction project. Residents raised varied concerns about loss of parking, the Annapolis-Dodd-Charlton intersection, and the necessity of sidewalks on the far east end.
During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), Council looked at some specifics for the Annapolis-Dodd-Charlton intersection, including challenges with one of the options and the potential of adding on-street parking near El Cubano.
Council approved the $9.6 million project unanimously, which means engineering will move forward to finalize some of the outstanding questions.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Doddway: Tucked into the consent agenda is a request for federal funding for Smith/Dodd street realignment, a plaza at Albert Park, and a memorial for Officer Scott Patrick. It’s just initial Council support to request federal funding, but it’s confirmation that the Doddway redevelopment project, initially proposed last summer, is still in the works.
- Ice arena: Council awarded bids, contracts, and approved a funding agreement for the ice arena expansion.
- Loading docks: Council approved an amendment that tweaks where loading docks can be located in industrial zones.
- Strategic plan: During the OCWS, Council again reviewed their initiatives from last month’s strategic planning meeting, with City Manager Nate Burkett clarifying what each item meant and looking at budget parameters and priorities for the 2023 and 2024 budgets. Some potential budget options include adding police officers, transitioning the city’s fleet of vehicles to electric (which brings a significant savings), adding parks/street maintenance workers to boost curb appeal, among others.
You can watch the City Council and OCWS meetings online. For more insights, watch the video recap from Council Members Robyn Gulley and John Justen.
Learn more about how city council works with our Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
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