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West St. Paul City Council looked at new park signage and pool rehab options, approved a cannabis limit, and settled a concession stand dispute.
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 Open Council Work Session (OCWS), staff presented options for different upgrades and looked for feedback.
- When: Work will happen before this summer’s pool season to fix the slide, but all other work will start when the pool season ends with the goal of finishing before the 2027 seasons tarts.
- How much: Plans include two options for pool deck designs, one with about $450,000 in additional costs that upgrades components and adds more shade and furniture.
- Direction: Council Member John Justen was opposed to converting existing grass to astroturf and creating more impervious surface. The other members all supported the additional features, noting this would be a rare opportunity to make improvements and it would address the two biggest pool complaints of a lack of shade and seating.
- Celebrate: During the regular meeting, Council proclaimed April 1 to be April Pool’s Day in honor of the pool’s 70th anniversary this year.
Park Signs
During the OCWS, Council considered 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). All options are under the $150,000 budget.
- When: The city has budgeted for a five-year sign replacement plan, so this would be a multi-year effort.
- Where: For the first year, new signs will go to Kennedy Park, Marthaler Park, Garlough Park, the ice arena, and banners along Robert Street.
- Direction: The majority of Council members preferred the stone option, though Council Member John Justen opposed it based on cost.
Concession Dispute
City Council decided a dispute between two youth baseball organizations over the use of the Harmon Park concession stand.
- What’s the issue: The debate is over who gets to run the concession stand—and keep the income that comes with it—during a Two Rivers Athletic Association (TRAA) softball tournament in July. WSP Baseball (WSPB) has exclusive use of the concession stand during their season. The question is whether that exclusive use should extend one more week to cover the TRAA tournament, which it has 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 brought it to City Council.
- Debate: Representatives from both groups argued their case. WSPB argued that they serve West St. Paul only and wanted to keep the money in the community. They alleged that with TRAA running concessions, the money would go to Mendota Heights. TRAA countered that they also serve West St. Paul along with students in the wider ISD 197 area.
- Response: While Mayor Dave Napier seemed to side with WSPB and valued the way they hire local youth to run concessions, the mayor doesn’t get a vote. Other Council members argued that both organizations serve the community and the organization running the tournament should be able to run their own concessions. When Napier tried to push for another chance at reconciliation, Council noted that it came to this point because they couldn’t agree and a decision needed to be made.
- Vote: Council ultimately voted unanimously (4-0; Council Members Pat Armon and Doug Fromm were absent) to approve the agreement as written, giving TRAA use of the concession stand during their tournament.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Restaurant: Council approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for on-sale liquor and an outdoor patio for a potential restaurant/cafe. Owner Tatiana Kilgore shared her vision to create community and experiences.
- K9: Council recognized 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.
- Cannabis limits: With one cannabis shop opened and another potentially on the way, Council voted unanimously to include tribal dispensaries in the maximum limit of two. Previously, the city thought tribal dispensaries couldn’t count toward the limit, but a recent administrative rule clarified that they could. Council Member Justen noted the limit, the minimum allowed by state law, is to ensure cannabis rolls out smoothly without any issues. It can always be expanded later, but it’s too late to reduce a limit once stores exist.
- School resource officer: The consent agenda included the approval of a new school resource officer (SRO) agreement between West St. Paul and ISD 197. The biggest change is the new agreement has no end date and is automatically renewed.
- Sports Complex: The consent agenda also includes a contract to redo the concrete at the Sports Complex horseshoe pavilion, removing horseshoes. This will open up the pavilion to other uses. The first phase will be a flat concrete floor completed in time for Explore West St. Paul Days in June. A second phase will come after community input with further improvements.
Engage
- Watch: City Council and OCWS meetings are archived online.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
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