Thanks to Jameson’s Irish Bar and West St. Paul Chiropractic for their support.
A look at the preliminary 2025 budget gave a glimpse of potential park and street projects over the next decade, plus burying utilities at the Smith/Dodd intersection and final approvals on the Thompson Square East townhome project.
2025 Budget
During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), Council looked at the preliminary 2025 budget, specifically looking at capital projects over the next 10 years. City Manager Nate Burkett proposed three significant philosophical shifts in preparing the budget:
- Streets: Trying to invest a significant and consistent amount into street maintenance each year to keep up with the backlog of needed repairs.
- Sidewalks: Slowing down on additional sidewalks and only adding them when related construction work makes it economically feasible. Some of the potentially dropped sidewalks include Emerson, Smith, and Thompson.
- Parks: Instead of simply replacing park infrastructure, taking a community engagement approach with each neighborhood park and reimagining what could be in each space. That’s the approach happening right now with Kennedy Park.
Council members seemed generally in favor of this approach, though there was some concern about the sidewalks.
The plans include a 10-year outlook on projects, which is far from final, but gives residents a look at what might be improved over the next decade. Those improvements include:
Streets:
- 2025: Bernard reconstruction (Oakdale to Waterloo), Smith/Dodd intersection
- 2026: Emerson reconstruction (Delaware to Charlton), Emerson mill and overlay (Charlton to Oakdale)
- 2027: Lothenbach reconstruction (Robert to Oakdale), Delaware reconstruction (Dodd to Marie)
- 2028: Smith full depth reclamation (Dodd to Wentworth)
- 2029: Dodd reconstruction (Bernard to Sidney)
- 2030: Christensen reconstruction (Marie to Mendota), West Mendota reconstruction (Marywood to Mendota)
- 2031: Haskell reconstruction (Charlton to Waterloo)
Parks:
- 2025: Kennedy Park
- 2026/2027: Southview Park
- 2027/2028: Haskell Park
- 2028: Emerson Park
- 2029: Sports Complex redevelopment/reuse of horseshoe pavilion.
- 2030: Weschke Park
- 2031: Oakdale Park
Community center: Burkett also included an unfunded $4 million in 2027 for a potential recreation center at Haskell Park or Southview Park. He said this is based on the community center survey where he doesn’t see support for a $50 million community center, but possibly a smaller recreation center potentially at one of these two parks. All very preliminary ideas and highly dependent on community engagement and funding. Burkett said it would be an item discussed at an upcoming OCWS.
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Smith/Dodd Intersection Utilities
With the Smith/Dodd intersection realignment coming next year, City Council voted unanimously to spend $10,000 to get an estimate for burying power lines at the intersection. The vote does not commit the city to the underground utility portion of the project—which could cost $450,000 to $650,000, but does start refining costs so the city could proceed if Council so chooses.
- Why: Moving utilities underground will better accommodate plans for an expanded Albert Park and public plaza with a memorial for Officer Scott Patrick. Earlier city planning documents also recommend it. The agenda packet included several whimsical concept drawings of the space with and without overhead power lines.
- Debate: While the Council was in favor of this initial step, there were conflicted feelings on the total cost of the project. “I’m really nervous about spending the $450,000 to 650,000,” said Mayor Dave Napier. “I’m a big believer in underground utilities though, so that’s the struggle.” Council Member Pat Armon also expressed doubts and asked for feedback from the public.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Townhomes: Council unanimously approved multiple items related to the Thompson Square East townhome project on the site of the former Faith United Methodist Church.
- Marthaler Park: The consent agenda included a change order for the ongoing Marthaler Park project, which pushes completion of the project to the end of August. St. Paul Regional Water is blamed for the delays. Additional changes include a drain for potential standing water and a berm at the bottom of the sledding hill for safety.
Engage
- Watch: City Council and OCWS meetings are archived online.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
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