West St. Paul City Council Recap: Sept. 8, 2025

Thanks to Amore Coffee for their support. Amore hosts free homework help for all ages, led by retired professors, on Sundays from 4-6 p.m. Kicks off Sept. 21 with free cookies.

After the Annunciation shooting, Council debated and ultimately tabled a potential resolution supporting gun control for more discussion. The 150 Thompson redevelopment project dominated the rest of the meeting.

Gun Control Resolution

In response to the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on August 27, gun control came up as an unexpected and emotional topic.

• Public speaks: Local resident Michael Orange spoke during citizen comments and presented a resolution supporting a statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
• Moving: Council Member Robyn Gulley broke down while discussing the shooting. “I’m so full of rage and anger and sadness,” she said, before pushing for action. She noted that state law preempts cities from passing any kind of gun control (including banning guns in their own chambers) and the only thing Council can do is pass resolutions to encourage state and federal legislators to take action.
• Discussion: Council added a potential resolution to the agenda and discussed the options. Orange’s resolution pushed a specific action while Mayor Dave Napier offered his own resolution that more generally supported gun control measures and encouraged wider action. He encouraged a “less controversial resolution that will help broaden consensus.” Council Member John Justen expressed concern at passing a resolution with little time to review it.
• What’s next: Council voted unanimously to table the discussion and directed staff to draft a new resolution for the next meeting.

150 Thompson

During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), staff presented details on the 150 Thompson redevelopment project.

• The project: The plan for the former YMCA space includes 457 market-rate apartments, 19 rented townhomes, 7,165 square feet of commercial space, and 2.48 acres of new park land.
• Moving pieces: The project will require tax increment financing (TIF), though none of the details have been finalized. Things keep changing and City Manager Nate Burkett said he received updated numbers just hours before the meeting and the $14 million TIF shared in the agenda was no longer correct. Staff is working hard to lock all the details down by the Sept. 22 meeting.
• Timing: This project is running into a time crunch with a financial piece expiring at the end of 2025 and the city’s bonds used to purchase the land coming due in February. Burkett warned Council that if the project isn’t approved it will have to start over from scratch. Burkett did say he has the beginnings of backup plans to pay off the bonds if the project isn’t approved, so he didn’t want Council to feel backed into a corner.
• Prevailing wage: One of the biggest unknowns on the project is how it will fit the new prevailing wage ordinance or if it will require an exception. Burkett didn’t want to get into details on that issue because nothing is finalized. He did say he thought it was closer than expected given the debate on the prevailing wage ordinance.
• Park: Staff did spend some time reviewing the park space design, which includes an amphitheater and stage that can adjust to the size of the crowd, a fountain/splash pad feature designed for all ages, and an “urban beach” area.
• Approved: Council did unanimously approve several minor items, including the first reading of vacating easements and a zoning change to allow parks in the B6 zone.
• What’s next: Multiple pieces of the massive redevelopment project will come forward at the Sept. 22 meeting for final approval.

Other Items on the Agenda

• Vacating alleys: A tabled public hearing to reconsider vacating an unused alley in order to hear from residents was tabled again when no residents showed up. Staff will reach out to the effected residents before the next meeting.
• Hispanic Heritage Month: Council proclaimed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to be Hispanic Heritage Month.

Engage

• Watch: City Council and OCWS meetings are archived online.
• 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.