The West St. Paul City Council met to approve an increase in city staff wages, an extension in the preliminary development agreement for 150 Thompson, and discussed legislative priorities and other city business.
Council Rules and Code of Ethics
The council considered updates to the council rules and code of ethics, which haven’t been reviewed since 2021. The discussion centered around public comments, and ways to balance concerns about potential lawsuits with the ability to provide an open forum for citizens.
Some suggestions were to consistently limit all comments to three minutes and to city-related business, and to have a clear policy to deal with offensive or irrelevant comments. The council also debated phone-in comments, which could potentially be unrelated to city business if they come from outside of West St. Paul. Mayor Napier expressed his desire to eliminate the phone-in option, while Council Members Julie Eastman and Robyn Gulley pointed out that having a phone-in option is more accessible for those who don’t have transportation, mobility, or childcare. Mayor Napier suggested as a compromise it could be required for callers to request time prior to the meeting, similar to how the ISD 197 school board meetings handle call-in comments. The changes to the rules will be considered at a future meeting.
Other Items on the Agenda:
150 Thompson: The preliminary development agreement for 150 Thomspson was extended, allowing the plan to move forward. The developer was not deterred by the lower than expected TIF, and is comfortable spending more money on the project. A second public open house will be scheduled in the spring, and zoning approvals will follow.
City wages: The council unanimously approved an increase in city wages to help offset them falling short compared to other cities. The new wage plan adds a ninth step to the city’s wage tiers, and also realigns several positions to higher classifications. The wage increases are budget neutral for this year, due to increased revenue from providing services to Sunfish Lake and Newport.
Legislative priorities: During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), the council discussed a list of priorities for the council to talk about to legislators during the upcoming legislative session. These included an anti-opioid push and potential capital projects, such as sewer lining and 150 Thomspon.
Departing Council member: Council Member Julie Eastman announced she will not seek re-election in 2024. She said serving on the council has been a great experience, and that residents of Ward 1 should consider running.
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Watch:City Council, OCWS, and EDA meetings are archived online. You can also watch the video recap by Council Members Robyn Gulley and John Justen.
A single-family rental property on Robert Street is at risk of eviction due to code violations. Other City Council business included zoning and code changes, a branding update, LTS expansion, and more.
West St. Paul City Council Recap: Jan. 22, 2024
Thanks to Clothesline Laundromat and Minnesota Locks for their support.
The West St. Paul City Council met to approve an increase in city staff wages, an extension in the preliminary development agreement for 150 Thompson, and discussed legislative priorities and other city business.
Council Rules and Code of Ethics
The council considered updates to the council rules and code of ethics, which haven’t been reviewed since 2021. The discussion centered around public comments, and ways to balance concerns about potential lawsuits with the ability to provide an open forum for citizens.
Some suggestions were to consistently limit all comments to three minutes and to city-related business, and to have a clear policy to deal with offensive or irrelevant comments. The council also debated phone-in comments, which could potentially be unrelated to city business if they come from outside of West St. Paul. Mayor Napier expressed his desire to eliminate the phone-in option, while Council Members Julie Eastman and Robyn Gulley pointed out that having a phone-in option is more accessible for those who don’t have transportation, mobility, or childcare. Mayor Napier suggested as a compromise it could be required for callers to request time prior to the meeting, similar to how the ISD 197 school board meetings handle call-in comments. The changes to the rules will be considered at a future meeting.
Other Items on the Agenda:
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We believe in government transparency and provide these West St. Paul City Council recaps with the support of our members.
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A single-family rental property on Robert Street is at risk of eviction due to code violations. Other City Council business included zoning and code changes, a branding update, LTS expansion, and more.