Thanks to Mike’s Butcher Shop for their support. Hosting a dinner party? Simply looking for something quick and easy? From fresh cuts to grill-ready kabobs, you’ll find everything you need at Mike’s.

During the first meeting of 2024, a junior Council member was sworn in, citizens spoke about the Marthaler Park renovation, and three conditional use permits were approved.

First Junior Council Member

Council Member Wendy Berry, acting as Mayor Pro Tem in Mayor Dave Napier’s absence, swore in McKinley Cherrier as the city’s first junior Council member. Cherrier, a junior at Two Rivers High School, is interested in political science and local government. He has experience on the speech and debate teams at Two Rivers, and his coach recommended him for the position. The junior Council member will be able to vote with the Council, but votes will not have any legal weight and will be ceremonial only. 

Sledding Hill Concerns

During citizen comments, several residents raised concerns about the Marthaler Park sledding hill. Neighbors who live near the park have been communicating with the parks department for several months, asking about the safety and usability of the hill after the park renovation. The area surrounding the hill has changed with the addition of a stormwater basin and picnic shelter, which citizens argued have added safety hazards that should be addressed. They cited the need for the city to increase signage, put up a fence, and/or remove construction materials to deal with the issue of children using the hill right now, when the park is closed. The residents also asked for the city to be proactive and address the design now, before construction is complete, in an effort to avoid more time consuming, costlier changes down the line.

Conditional Use Permits

The Council discussed three conditional use permits, which we covered earlier when they were discussed by the Planning Commission. The projects—an electronic church sign, a new liquor store, and a plan to rebuild a fire-damaged duplex—were all unanimously approved by the Council.

Other Agenda Items

In the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), the Council discussed three items that will be voted on in future meetings:

• Organizations: The council considered whether to join the National League of Cities. The membership costs $2,126, which most Council members agreed seemed like a reasonable amount that could pay for itself with grant opportunities.
• Wages: City Manager Nate Burkett presented a plan to increase city wages, which are approximately 6-10% behind other comparable cities. The plan would add a ninth step to the city’s wage tiers. In his proposal, the city would no longer hire at the current step one rates, and once all current employees move beyond step one, it would be eliminated.
• Appointments: The Council discussed the process for reappointing current committee members who are seeking another term. The council agreed that reapplying would be necessary, but they may want to eliminate the need to reinterview for the position, as it might be considered a barrier. Burkett showed the Council some tweaks to the online application, which included a diversity statement at the top and several fields no longer being required.

Engage

• Watch: City Council and OCWS meetings are archived online. You can also watch the video recap by Council Members Robyn Gulley and John Justen.
• Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.

We believe in government transparency and provide these West St. Paul City Council recaps with the support of our members.