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More Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) response, committee interviews, and a rental license hearing make up the bulk of the agenda for the West St. Paul City Council meeting.
ICE Response
For a third meeting in a row, the city’s response to ICE will take center stage.
- What they’ve done: Staff will recap what the city’s done so far and ask the Council to formally approve the $10,000 in emergency food assistance they authorized at the last meeting. The money is being divided evenly between 360 Communities, and the PTAs of Garlough, Moreland, and Heritage (who are coordinating significant grocery deliveries among their families).
- New action: Council will consider using state Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) funds to help families impacted by the current crisis with rent/mortgage assistance. The money would go to a nonprofit with standard safeguards, including income and residency verification, anti-duplication and anti-fraud controls, audit provisions, and reporting requirements. Recipients would need to be at or below 80% area median income (AMI).
- Other proposals: Other ideas on the table include a separation ordinance, mask ban for law enforcement, and banning use of public property for immigration enforcement. Staff recommends not pursuing these proposals because current action is already achieving similar results or they would be difficult to enforce and as a result erode public trust.
Committee Interviews
During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), Council will interview eight candidates for open positions on city boards and commissions (a ninth candidate will be interviewed by the Charter Commission, which recommends its own appointments). There are six open seats across Planning Commission (one), Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (two), and Environmental Committee (three), assuming the six incumbent members who are reapplying are reappointed.
Rental License Hearing: 97 Orme Street East
City Council will hold a rental license hearing for the 10-unit building at 97 Orme Street East.
- The new owner did not apply for a rental license on time, has had two code enforcement issues, and multiple concerning police calls.
- The city proposed a provisional license and a mitigation plan to address the issues.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Board policy: During OCWS, Council will discuss next steps for creating a policy for city boards and commissions.
- Consent agenda: A couple items of note in the consent agenda, including the city manager’s performance review and lowering the fee on second-hand stores from $300 to $25.
- Final reading: A few items will come up for a final reading, which usually means quick consideration and approval, including rezoning for the 424 Butler townhouse project and updating the administrative code.
Engage
- Watch: The public can watch the meeting live on Town Square TV or cable TV starting at 6:30 p.m. (5 p.m. for the OCWS) on Monday.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
These West St. Paul City Council recaps happen with the support of our members. Local news is a group effort, and we couldn’t do it without them.
