Thanks to Block Portrait Studios, Clothesline Laundromat, and Clover Montessori School for their support.
West St. Paul’s City Council will again debate the sign ordinance, will consider an interim marijuana moratorium, and has a closed session for the sale of the former AutoZone.
Sign & Mural Ordinance
After tabling the sign ordinance at the last meeting, City Council will continue the debate during the Open Council Work Session (OCWS). The plan is to approve the first reading during the regular meeting, and continue with the final reading on June 26.
A few of the big changes:
- Dropping the color restrictions that applied to both murals and houses.
- Severely restricting the allowed locations for residential murals. Basically, if a neighbor could see it, you can’t do it. (This is intentional—they want to make slow, incremental change.)
- Mosaics are allowed, but treated like a sign, which would severely limit the size of a mosaic “mural” vs. a painted mural.
- Staff couldn’t find any reasonable accommodate to allow people renting in multi-family buildings to display signs.
Marijuana Ordinances
With the state legalizing marijuana, West St. Paul will consider a cannabis business interim ordinance. The ordinance will prohibit new marijuana businesses and freeze licensing for THC product retailers, giving staff time to determine what if any long-term restrictions the city wants to have in place.
- The city can limit the number of retailers (to as few as one) and can impose distance requirements.
- It’s a lot more complicated than that. The city attorney included a 12-page memo outlining some of the implications.
More on the Agenda
- Development: The Economic Development Authority (EDA) will have a closed work session to discuss the sale of the former AutoZone. This is likely the first step in movement on redevelopment of the former Hy-Vee/YMCA parcels now that the state gave TIF approval. Look for more details to be public by the June 26 meeting.
- Restructuring: At a previous meeting Council discussed restructuring the police department and parks and recreation. Those changes will be presented during OCWS and approved during the consent agenda of the regular meeting.
- Recognitions & proclamations: A new police officer, Justin James, will be sworn in, Bob and Ken Pace will be recognized for more than 60 years of business in West St. Paul, and Juneteenth will be recognized.
Engage
Watch: The public can watch the meeting live on Town Square TV or cable TV starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (5:30 p.m. for the OCWS meeting).
Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
West St. Paul Reader provides neighborhood news supported by neighbors. Become a member today.
