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Housing bills before the legislature, community grants, and the city’s financial foundations will all be topics for discussion at Monday’s City Council meeting. Almost all the debate will happen during the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), with the consent agenda and swearing in a new officers the only items on the agenda for the regular meeting. The city has also announced a special meeting for Tuesday, March 26 in case the expected snowstorm forces the cancellation of Monday’s meeting.
Missing Middle Housing Bills
The state legislature is considering bills to preempt local zoning with the hopes of expanding housing. These bills have bipartisan support from legislators as well as developers and housing advocates. During OCWS, staff will share the potential implications of these bills, which include a lack of appearance standards and way to recoup infrastructure costs.
But the biggest impact for West St. Paul is the lack of public hearings for housing projects. Fewer regulations would give developers more options, and local government fewer ways to dictate development.
Community Neighborhood Grants
The City Council budgeted $25,000 for community neighborhood grants and will discuss parameters for those grants.
Other Items on the Agenda
- New officer: Isabelle Marie Lalor will be sworn in as the newest West St. Paul police officer. Lalor has served as a community service officer since 2021.
- Financial foundations: During the OCWS, City Manager Nate Burkett will give a presentation on the financial foundations of the city, with an end goal of developing new financial indicators and targets. The presentation emphasizes the importance of redevelopment as a way to reduce tax burden on residents. Burkett emphasizes that the numbers in the presentation are examples only and do not reflect current realities.
- Strategic planning: During OCWS, Council will also discuss the difference between “routine” and strategic” city services.
- Pool: A new contract with the YMCA for operating the city pool is on the consent agenda.
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 p.m. for the OCWS).
Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
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