This transcript is from a North St. Paul City Council Workshop followed by a Regular City Council meeting. **Note on Speaker Identification:** While the prompt provided a list of officials, the transcript includes **Tim Cole** and **Council Member Wong** as active participants. I have included them based on the vocal cues in the dialogue. *** ### **Part 1: City Council Workshop** **[00:00:00] Mayor John Monge:** I'll call the meeting to order at 5:15. Take the roll, please. **[00:00:05] Brian Frandle (City Manager):** Council Member Cole? **[00:00:06] Tim Cole:** Here. **[00:00:07] Brian Frandle:** Council Member Schweer? **[00:00:08] Cassidy Schweer:** Here. **[00:00:09] Brian Frandle:** Council Member Wong? **[00:00:10] Council Member Wong:** Here. **[00:00:11] Brian Frandle:** Council Member Nordby? **[00:00:12] Jason Nordby:** Here. **[00:00:13] Brian Frandle:** Mayor Monge? **[00:00:14] Mayor John Monge:** Here. Can I get a motion to adopt the agenda, please? **[00:00:16] Tim Cole:** So moved. **[00:00:17] Council Member Wong:** Second. **[00:00:18] Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor say aye. **[00:00:19] Council Members:** Aye. **[00:00:20] Brian Frandle:** Thank you, Mayor. We had two topics tonight. First up is the Ramsey County 2024 McKnight Road Mill and Overlay project. We have City Engineer Morgan Dawley here to discuss. **[00:00:30] Morgan Dawley (City Engineer):** Thank you, Brian. Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, this item is on your regular city council meeting agenda for tonight. The intent here from myself and in conversation with the City Manager, we just thought we'd maybe dedicate five or ten minutes just for a quick overview. Ultimately, we do have members of Ramsey County Public Works staff coming to the regular meeting to do a little bit more in-depth presentation... In summary, Ramsey County is going to be asking the City Council for action to make a determination on "no parking" along McKnight Road... Currently, McKnight Road between 11th Avenue and approximately 17th Avenue is a four-lane, divided in some sections and undivided in others. Ramsey County has had success in converting some of those four-lane roads to a three-lane configuration... **[00:03:00] Morgan Dawley:** They’ve come up with a couple of different alternatives... One of them is dedicated bike lanes all the way from 11th Avenue to the end of the project. The other one honors the historical legacy of on-street parking between Mohawk and 17th Avenue and repurposes that shoulder to a multi-use shoulder... My recommendation is to maintain the parking. With that, I'll stand for any questions. **[00:07:30] Mayor John Monge:** Any questions anyone? **[00:07:45] Council Member Wong:** I have a question. You discussed that there was a large forward-facing [residential area]. Do you know what the distance is roughly from Mohawk to, I think it's Shawnee Drive? **[00:07:55] Morgan Dawley:** It's going to be approximately 1,000 feet. About a two-block stretch. **[00:08:10] Council Member Wong:** And thinking about parking spaces, what would that equate to? **[00:08:15] Morgan Dawley:** A parking stall is approximately 20 feet. I think on-street parking per household is going to be between one and two parking stalls for those homes... there's approximately 30 to 35 homes. **[00:09:00] Tim Cole:** On projects like this, when they're being vetted, are they ran past the Police Department and Fire Department to see if they have any recommendations one way or the other? **[00:09:15] Morgan Dawley:** I can't say if they contacted the Police Department. I don't know if you guys got a specific invitation. **[00:09:20] Phil Baebenroth (Police Chief):** Not that I recall on this specific item. We do know that Maplewood Fire uses 17th North on McKnight as access. **[00:10:00] Mayor John Monge:** I like the idea of having the third [lane] in the middle because people get locked and then they try pulling out in front of each other. Safety-wise, that’s a good deal. **[00:11:00] Morgan Dawley:** I agree... Ramsey County is perfectly fine with either option. They wanted to create flexibility for local consideration. **[00:12:15] Tim Cole:** As City Engineer, do you have any concerns having that shared with parking and biking? **[00:12:20] Morgan Dawley:** My recommendation is to maintain the parking. I think it's a reasonable recommendation to consider maintaining it. **[00:13:30] Brian Frandle:** Next topic is Item B: Consider approving Joint Powers Agreement and authorize entering into a partnership with the State of Minnesota BCA Violent Crime Reduction Unit. We have two gentlemen from the BCA. I'll turn it over to Chief Baebenroth to start us off. **[00:14:00] Phil Baebenroth (Police Chief):** Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the Council. Violent crime in Minnesota, especially within the seven-county metro area, has increased in recent years... In response, the Minnesota Legislature approved funding for a Violent Crime Reduction Support Initiative... I'm grateful to have here today two highly regarded leaders: Deputy Superintendent Scott Mueller and Special Agent in Charge Jake May. **[00:16:45] Scott Mueller (BCA Deputy Superintendent):** Welcome Mayor, Council members. Over the last year and a half, the BCA was asked to assist Minneapolis with violent crime... We sent over 10% of the BCA's investigative staff with a simple goal of disrupting violent crime... Every person we are arresting related to a shooting or homicide is carrying fentanyl with them... We are creating an enforcement team to work with our laboratory and information group to find these people... We are going to have Special Agent in Charge May leading this group. **[00:21:30] Council Member Wong:** Thank you for your presentation. I have a question. Is it North Maplewood or South Maplewood for the location? **[00:21:38] Scott Mueller:** South Maplewood. **[00:21:40] Council Member Wong:** You have a proactive and a reactive approach. How does that break down in terms of percentage of time invested? **[00:22:00] Scott Mueller:** It really depends. I anticipate at the beginning, probably a lot more proactive work, then evening out as the cities get comfortable feeding cases to this group. **[00:24:00] Cassidy Schweer:** Thank you very much for your presentation. Am I correct in that you would have to get involvement from other departments if this goes across state lines? **[00:24:15] Scott Mueller:** Yes and no. We have about three-fourths of this team that will be federally deputized as well. That gives us more breadth. **[00:25:45] Tim Cole:** Just wondering, why North St. Paul? **[00:26:15] Scott Mueller:** Wonderful question. I started my career in White Bear Lake... North St. Paul is strategically located as a through-point between Wisconsin and the metro area. **[00:29:15] Council Member Wong:** A question for Chief Baebenroth. This requires one of our officers to leave our area. How do you see the process of hiring when there is a shortage? **[00:29:45] Phil Baebenroth:** Great question. Thankfully, we have had a posting out for a while. We are actually full to staffing right now at our current complement of 20. **[00:30:15] Mayor John Monge:** Thank you to the BCA for coming out. I also think this is a fantastic opportunity for career development. **[00:30:30] Tim Cole:** Motion to adjourn. **[00:30:35] Jason Nordby:** Second. **[00:30:40] Mayor John Monge:** All those in favor say aye. (Meeting adjourns). *** ### **Part 2: Regular City Council Meeting** **[00:31:00] Mayor John Monge:** (Call to order/Pledge of Allegiance). Roll call, please. **[00:31:30] Brian Frandle:** (Takes roll: Cole, Schweer, Wong, Nordby, Monge all present). **[00:31:50] Mayor John Monge:** Motion to adopt the agenda? **[00:31:55] Jason Nordby:** So moved. **[00:32:00] Council Member Wong:** Second. **[00:32:05] Mayor John Monge:** All in favor say aye. (Aye). **[00:32:15] Brian Frandle:** We have two presentations. First was for Arthur Rd Alvarez Jr., but he is under the weather. Next is the Community Development annual report from Director Brandy Howe. **[00:32:45] Brandy Howe (Community Development Director):** Evening everybody. Our department is responsible for Community Services, Parks and Rec, Economic Development, Planning, and Licensing... In 2023, we saw 12 new businesses open... We were awarded a $194,000 grant for Hausen Park improvements. **[00:36:30] Cassidy Schweer:** Brandy, I'd like to say thank you for all you do. I get the pleasure of seeing your work in the Planning Commission and you are just wonderful. **[00:37:00] Council Member Wong:** Thank you for your approach to getting grants. I appreciate everything. **[00:37:30] Brian Frandle:** (Reads Consent Agenda items A through N). **[00:38:15] Cassidy Schweer:** I'd like to pull Item L (Update purchase of Mac plow truck). **[00:38:25] Mayor John Monge:** Motion for the rest excluding L? **[00:38:30] Tim Cole:** So moved. **[00:38:35] Council Member Wong:** Second. (Approved). **[00:38:45] Mayor John Monge:** Open to the public. John Schult. **[00:38:50] John Schult (Resident):** Regarding LexusNexus... I was informed it's now listed as "not available" on the website. It’s taken two months to get to this point... frustrated, a little ticked off... Also, the water fee schedule was corrected to "per thousand gallons," so thank you for that. **[00:39:45] Mayor John Monge:** City Business action items A and B. Budget amendments and MSA reallocations. Dan Winick, our Finance Director. **[00:40:00] Dan Winick (Finance Director):** Good evening. These two items are cleanup items. We moved our fund balance policy to a minimum of 40%, moving toward 50%. We are sitting comfortable at 50% at the end of this year... In 2023, interest income was $1.2 million, up from $624,000... I want to thank the Council for your leadership. **[00:46:30] Mayor John Monge:** Motion for the budget amendment? **[00:46:35] Council Member Wong:** So moved. **[00:46:40] Jason Nordby:** Second. (Approved). **[00:47:30] Dan Winick:** Next is the 2027 Street reconstruction project MSA reallocation. This is a cleanup item to move about $132,000 in surface water funds. **[00:48:15] Tim Cole:** So moved. **[00:48:20] Council Member Wong:** Second. (Approved). **[00:48:30] Morgan Dawley:** Bringing back Ramsey County staff for the McKnight Road project. Alan Maxwell is the project manager. **[00:49:00] Alan Maxwell (Ramsey County Engineer):** We are looking to convert McKnight from four lanes to three... This provides a 7 to 8-foot wide shoulder. We have two options: designated bike lanes or a multi-use shoulder that allows for the existing on-street parking. **[00:52:30] Council Member Wong:** I’m a proponent of the bike lanes. It feels safer and provides a clear route. **[00:53:30] Tim Cole:** The section between 11th and 17th is heavily traveled. How is this going to solve the backup going north during high traffic? **[00:54:00] Alan Maxwell:** Three lanes can actually be more efficient than four because left-turners move into a dedicated lane and don't block the through-traffic. **[00:56:00] Mayor John Monge:** What’s the consensus? **[00:56:15] Tim Cole:** I don't want to discourage the group home. I believe taking away the parking would be detrimental. I'm in favor of the first one, the multi-use shoulder. **[00:56:30] Jason Nordby:** That's where my head goes as well. **[00:56:45] Cassidy Schweer:** I like the bike path, but I would be an irritated homeowner if I didn't have parking. **[00:57:30] Tim Cole:** I move for the multi-use shoulder option. **[00:57:40] Jason Nordby:** Second. **[00:57:45] Mayor John Monge:** All in favor say aye. (Aye). Council Member Wong? **[00:57:50] Council Member Wong:** Nay. (Motion carries 4-1). **[00:58:15] Cassidy Schweer:** Regarding the Mac plow truck, I view this as an opportunity for the city to help our drivers stay safe. Maybe a "Name a Plow Truck" contest to engage the community? **[00:59:00] Tim Cole:** So moved (to approve purchase). **[00:59:05] Council Member Wong:** Second. (Approved). **[00:59:30] Brian Frandle:** (Manager reports: Fire engine replacement, EAB tree grants, Well maintenance, Police LexusNexus software issues). **[01:01:00] Jason Nordby:** Planning Commission meeting March 7th. **[01:01:15] Council Member Wong:** Arts and Culture meeting tomorrow. **[01:01:30] Cassidy Schweer:** Parks and Rec next meeting on the 28th. **[01:01:45] Tim Cole:** EDA meeting was canceled. I attended the 120 Redevelopment session; there are new intersection changes coming. **[01:02:45] Mayor John Monge:** Welcome back, Jason (Nordby). You were duly missed. **[01:03:00] Jason Nordby:** Thank you for entrusting me with the keys while you were gone. **[01:04:00] Mayor John Monge:** Motion to close? **[01:04:05] Jason Nordby:** So moved. **[01:04:10] Council Member Wong:** Second. **[01:04:15] Mayor John Monge:** All in favor? (Aye). Have a great night.