Local election coverage happens thanks to our members. Join now to support neighborhood news.
In the West St. Paul municipal election this year the mayor and three City Council members are on the ballot. We’ve asked the candidates a series of questions to see where they stand on the issues. We’ll share one question and the responses at a time leading up to the general election on November 5. See our 2024 voter’s guide for more.
Previously we asked about candidates’ top issues, the budget, and housing. This time we’re talking about a community center.
A potential community center has been an ongoing discussion, with a recent survey showing some support for a sizable tax increase to pay for it. Do you support a community center? How do we pay for it?
Here are the candidates’ responses:
Candidates for Mayor
This is an uncontested race.
Dave Napier
(no campaign site)
Dave Napier did not respond to our questionnaire.
Candidates for City Council Ward 1
Doug Fromm
I completely understand the desire for a centrally located West St. Paul community center, and would like to see it happen someday. The city staff have conducted several surveys on this issue, and many of those who answered the survey support the idea but many are also concerned about the cost. When you factor in the cost to build, maintain and staff such an amenity, and the lack of city owned property to actually build it on, it becomes harder to support. A sizable tax increase will directly lead to increased housing costs for both renters and homeowners in a period of significant inflation where folks are finding it harder to make ends meet. Therefore, I would find it difficult to support that kind of levy increase for this project, at this time.
However, I do support private-public partnerships that, when combined with existing amenities, provide most of the elements of what we want in a community center, just not in one place.
As an example, when the old YMCA on Thompson location is finally developed, I would advocate for an indoor public/private meeting space where we could hold forums, concerts, and other gatherings. Another example would be revitalizing and adding amenities to the West St. Paul swimming pool. We should look for grants, user fees, private investment, and partnerships with other communities to help offset the cost of these projects.
Andrew Rydlund
(no campaign site)
Andrew Rydlund did not respond to our questionnaire.
Candidates for City Council Ward 2
This is an uncontested race.
Robyn Gulley
I absolutely support West St. Paul having a great community center. I ran on this 3 ½ years ago and I am still working on a plan that will get our community what we need. Any plan will involve multiple partners—the State, Dakota County, nearby municipalities, and community organizations.
Candidates for City Council Ward 3
Lisa Eng-Sarne
This is a topic where we are trying to meet community needs and expectations but are fully aware that cost is a significant issue. Private companies, cities, and nonprofits have re-evaluated the way they are doing community centers, with many cities finding themselves in a position where they have to sell their assets to private entities. Then, membership to those centers can be out of reach, where citizens that have paid taxes to cover the cost of building a center but then see expensive membership fees. We’re thinking outside the box of what a community center can be, and I support a version that doesn’t hurt us financially for generations to come. The former YMCA site will have us building a bandshell and other public amenities to be determined by public input. We are looking at the feasibility of a recreation center, different from a larger community center, at a park like Southview or Haskel. We have a higher ratio of seniors here and it would be especially great for them to have their needs met in a recreation center. The West St. Paul pool will need significant upgrades and repairs in the coming years as well. We are including these facilities in our long-term and short-term funding plans. While these options don’t lay plans for a traditional community center in the sense where it is all under one big roof with one fee, I see us potentially moving forward with amenities that will fill this big need.
Anthony Smith
(no campaign site)
Anthony Smith did not respond to our questionnaire.
Vote on November 5
The general election is on Tuesday, November 5. Learn more about where and how to vote. You can also vote early with an absentee ballot, either by mail or by stopping at the Dakota County offices.
See our 2024 voter’s guide for more on the candidates and other races.
Thank you to the candidates for taking the time to respond to our questions.
This local election coverage only happens thanks to the support of our members. Consider joining West St. Paul Reader to ensure local election coverage continues. Membership starts at just $3 per month.