Thanks to Blue Sky Bookkeeping, Minnesota Locks, and Zak’s Auto Service for their support.
A maximum property tax levy, problem property, and frustration over a bus rapid transit stop were the highlight’s of last night’s West St. Paul City Council meeting.
Property Tax Levy
City Council set the maximum property tax levy increase for 2027 at 7.28%.
- Impact: That will amount to a $65 property tax increase for a median value home. That’s down from $92 in August, thanks to the fiscal disparities numbers.
- Timeline: The city is required to approve a maximum levy amount by the end of September. That’s the number that will be mailed out to residents in November. Council will need to approve a final number in December, and it can be lowered but not raised.
- Movement: City staff are confident they can find additional savings and bring that number down further.
Problem Property: 161 Haskell Street East
Council approved an emergency ordinance to secure a single family home at 161 Haskell Street East.
- The issue: The city’s chief building official inspected the property and called it an “extreme fire hazard,” citing multiple issues including structural problems, unsafe systems, accumulated garbage, and pest infestation.
- Status: City staff boarded up the property.
- Process: The home is in foreclosure and potential abatement or demolition would come back to the Council through the normal hazardous property process. This process can be unpredictable and depends on courts and the banks, often taking years.
Bus Rapid Transit: G-Line
A routine joint powers agreement (JPA) with the Met Council for construction of the G-Line bus rapid transit (BRT) route hit a speed bump as Council Member Doug Fromm requested it be pulled from the consent agenda and discussed separately.
- Context: The BRT line was announced in 2021, and Metro Transit has worked to gather feedback from the community and City Council. Last October, Metro Transit met with City Council and Fromm and Council Member Pat Armon expressed concern about a northbound stop at Robert and Butler in front of the Dairy Queen.
- Issue: Fromm expressed strong support for the project overall, but had serious concerns about making an already difficult intersection worse. He argued for pushing the bus stop just 50 feet north to create more distance from the intersection.
- Debate: Other Council members weighed in with the same concerns and expressed frustration that Metro Transit didn’t listen to their feedback. City Manager Nate Burkett suggested there was little to be gained by not approving the JPA, noting the project would go through anyway.
- Vote: Ultimately, Council approved the JPA unanimously. “I don’t support it,” Armon said, “but I won’t hold up a JPA over it.”
Other Items on the Agenda
- Charlton Place: Council approved two items to finalize a Housing Improvement Area (HIA) for Charlton Place condos and a bond for improvements. Now a 45-day veto period starts where 45% of Charlton Place residents can vote to stop the project.
- TIF transfer: The Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved the sale of Wentworth Commons (1590 Robert St., the strip mall with Noodles & Company), resassiging the property’s tax increment financing (TIF) and other details.
- Proclamation: The City Council recognized Constitution Week, which is September 17-23.
Engage
- Watch: City Council and EDA meetings are archived online.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
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