Thanks to Lehner Law Office and Lindsay Bjerke with Norton Realty for their support.
West St. Paul City Council will consider limits for cannabis dispensaries, new park signage, pool rehab options, and settle a concession stand dispute.
Cannabis Limits
With West St. Paul’s first cannabis dispensary opening today, Council will consider further limiting the allowed number of dispensaries.
- Allowed: State law requires the city allow at least two dispensaries.
- Previously: West St. Paul set a maximum of two, with the understanding that tribal dispensaries approved under a compact with the state would not count toward that limit.
- But: Apparently they can, so the Council is moving to amend their language to limit dispensaries to two including tribal dispensaries.
- More: This comes as a second cannabis shop came before the Planning Commission earlier this week.
Concession Dispute
A dispute over exclusive use of the Harmon Park concession stand will come to City Council.
- What’s the issue: The city is trying to finalize an agreement with the youth baseball association WSP Baseball (WSPB), but there’s disagreement over when their exclusive use of the concession stand should end. The city says it should end after the WSPB tournament, freeing it up for use by another youth baseball association, the Two Rivers Athletic Association (TRAA) for their tournament the next weekend. Reportedly, WSPB wants exclusive use of the concession stand through the TRAA tournament, as they’ve done in the past.
- Tension: Last year the city raised fees on fields 30-40%, the first increase since 2014, which still doesn’t cover the full cost.
- Why Council?: These agreements are normally handled by the city manager, but given the dispute, City Manager Nate Burkett is bringing it to City Council.
Park Signs
During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), Council will consider options for updated park signage.
- What’s included: These include main park signs, interpretive signage, wayfinding, regulations, and more.
- Options: The main consideration is the materials, with varying upfront and ongoing costs. The options are wood (costs $80,000), steel ($98,000), and stone ($120,000-$148,000).
- When: The city has budgeted for a five-year sign replacement plan, so this would be a multi-year effort.
Pool Rehab
The city plans to rehab the city pool over the next two years, though project costs for various components are making the budget tight.
- What: During the OCWS, staff will present options for different upgrades and look for feedback on whether to cut improvements or increase the budget.
- How much: Plans include two options for pool deck designs, one with about $450,000 in additional costs.
- Celebrate: During the regular meeting, Council will proclaim April 1 to be April Pool’s Day in honor of the pool’s 70th anniversary this year.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Restaurant: Council will consider a conditional use permit (CUP) for on-sale liquor and an outdoor patio for a potential restaurant/cafe.
- K9: Council will recognize the resignation of Officer Nicole Murphy, who serves as the canine handler for Cecil. Given Cecil’s age and the cost of retraining, it’s more cost effective to retire Cecil. The city will follow standard practice and transfer ownership of Cecil to Murphy.
Engage
- Watch: The public can watch the meeting live on Town Square TV or cable TV starting at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. for the OCWS) on Monday.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
These West St. Paul City Council previews happen with the support of our members. Local news is a group effort, and we couldn’t do it without them.
