[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6324448,"mediaKeyId","2338163-ea603ad80b346872de20aff42f713a9e","parentId",2338163,"title","St. Paul Park council approves minutes and consent agenda; declares vacancy, sets March 5 deadline for applications","audioSeconds",754,"startMs",356000,"endMs",1110000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338163-ea603ad80b346872de20aff42f713a9e&start=356&end=1110","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338163-ea603ad80b346872de20aff42f713a9e/thumbnail_356000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6324448/Minnesota/St-Paul-Park-council-approves-minutes-and-consent-agenda-declares-vacancy-sets-March-5-deadline-for-applications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324448-e9fc47ad8094a7a7352c8a625d9dff64/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413433&Signature=eVxwgp2o2crIDKydo2hoqXDlL2mRsh3W-fbBQc4BM-kc85ScsBdmgIT721ntXgEcpPQG6qCinMI5oOjuRAmUWkT6r2y458muyOO3onwAMvsgdGk8BMFQi-9y17mIzv2nuv6GwWCwmVU-K2uFwEldoapyZagKaLsgrWIwAitg64ZMmQTUxP~MymlQLckaNh2sk2XEjvvsd8wXXG3BidG2kMCKlZztXLSGO9wH2pKkvYTbhwtOOwij8ZMoCjOu1DHTZPR6oxcZzMdw6GZQDglQiBaoQKsTXa88Y7436WfX406H8mfGutnJ3z5bizIIV0zJt~vvy~F9oMF5twy-TAxxTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Saint Paul Park, MN","date","2025-02-14T16:58:13Z","article","The City of St. Paul Park City Council on Feb. 18 approved the minutes of its Jan. 21 regular meeting and approved a consent agenda that included several routine items and a resolution declaring a council vacancy.

The consent agenda, approved by voice vote, included: posting open‑book meetings for county property taxes, payment of city bills, adoption of Resolution 17‑36 endorsing federal funding for body armor for emergency responders, adoption of Resolution 17‑37 declaring a council vacancy, approval of a lawful gambling permit for Household of Faith (raffle scheduled for Sept. 13), approval of a special event permit for the American Legion burger bash (April 12), and approval of other city licenses.

Why it matters: The council’s actions finalize routine administrative items and begin a local appointment process to fill a vacated council seat, triggering a public application period and potential interviews that will determine who serves until the next election.

Councilmember Swenson asked how the vacancy process will work. City Administrator Kevin Walsh said the vacancy posting will go up the day after the Feb. 18 meeting at City Hall and on the city website, and that the draft timeline sets a deadline of “March 5, 3 p.” for applicants. Walsh said the council could hold brief interviews prior to the March 17 council meeting if needed.

Walsh also told the council that leaving the seat vacant until the November election is an option under certain conditions. “I think there’s a statute that talks about if there’s over 2 years left in the term that there’s a required special election,” Walsh said; in shorter terms the council may appoint someone to serve until the next regular election.

The council approved the Jan. 21 minutes by voice vote; the motion carried 4‑0. Later, the council moved and seconded the consent agenda and approved it by voice vote; the motion carried 4‑0.

Next steps: The council will accept applications posted after Feb. 18 and will consider applicants after the March 5 deadline. Kevin Walsh indicated the council could act on an applicant at the March 17 meeting or conduct interviews before that date depending on the number of applicants.

No additional formal votes were recorded in the meeting minutes provided beyond the two 4‑0 voice‑votes for approval of the Jan. 21 minutes and the consent agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Paul Park City Council Meeting 2-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of St. Paul Park City Council on Feb. 18 approved the minutes of its Jan. 21 regular meeting and approved a consent agenda that included several routine items and a resolution declaring a council vacancy.","taxTitle","City of St. Paul Park, Washington County, Minnesota","taxId",71444,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6324453,"Basic Needs Inc. reports large year of food rescue, outreach and upcoming events in South Washington County",403,393000,796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338163-ea603ad80b346872de20aff42f713a9e&start=393&end=796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338163-ea603ad80b346872de20aff42f713a9e/thumbnail_393000.jpg","/articles/6324453/Minnesota/Basic-Needs-Inc-reports-large-year-of-food-rescue-outreach-and-upcoming-events-in-South-Washington-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324453-b630b10e4e98ea12b8a475c77b39ad59/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413433&Signature=CgArjwC8dBcvVnuF1yZ013MdeNfLfdN32sSlJLT1BUQ7poQKWzrmOFqRBy1x6J8XOKaS454U1b2Kzg-IcDM27tutFfvWvwuNqQkrV0znXaBcXmnUxIccZMwV8Y59jWkOG-v1kImOK5UR4QlAE~rx6A2iCZt~5Nhs5cbdbSIvRO3w2gwJOVHoX1uAkRGCV3t7Z2AWcADW3RWLdy7JS69-rz1U6SlmQXlTLOtBO5MqdH6pUBCD~wE4onfiLAQMhNLuGUBz3AUkqIchmj5RYAhm9WyLX4VbBCMArozhQQqnKgbMbofXZ2Iz32blh7NH1JI9hvcMA7JZF82JUREpJ-t2nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Opie Penaloga, executive director of Basic Needs Inc., told the City of St. Paul Park City Council on Feb. 18 that the nonprofit distributed more than 680,000 pounds of rescued food last year and served “just over a 60,000 people” across South Washington County.

Penaloga said the organization’s free food market in Cottage Grove operates Monday through Friday and that the agency counted “over 50,000 children and over 25,000 seniors” among people who used its services last year. He described a thrift-store voucher program that distributed “just over $10,000 in vouchers” to households in emergency situations, including fire victims and veterans.

Those totals, Penaloga said, came alongside a new outreach event the agency calls the Pit Stop, staged at the Cottage Grove Armory, where Basic Needs worked with “over 40 agencies and organizations” to deliver resources and referrals. Penaloga said the event referred about 14 families to homeless services, distributed “over, dollars 2,000 in gas and food carts” and drew “just over 400 people,” most from St. Paul Park and Cottage Grove.

Why it matters: Basic Needs provides direct services that city leaders and residents identified as part of the social-safety net for low-income households, seniors and families experiencing housing instability in South Washington County. The council heard the presentation during its Feb. 18 meeting as the nonprofit invited municipal participation in upcoming events.

In the meeting, Penaloga outlined near-term dates and fundraising plans. He said Basic Needs will hold its next Pit Stop on Oct. 9 at the Cottage Grove Armory and is hosting a fundraiser called Fashion for a Cause on April 10. He also invited local police and fire departments and the mayors of Newport, St. Paul Park and Cottage Grove to a joint charity event called Badges and Hoses — scheduled for May 17 — that pairs first responders against high‑school JV basketball teams in a fundraising game.

Penaloga told the council he would follow up with an email and said Basic Needs’ development manager Antonio had already sent invitations to council members before the Feb. 18 meeting. “I just wanted to come down and introduce myself,” Penaloga said in his remarks, adding that he became executive director in May of last year.

Council members thanked Penaloga for the work. Mayor Franke said, “Thank you, Opie. We really do appreciate your organization and all the hard work and you hitting the ground running in all of our communities around here.”

The presentation provided an overview of service volumes and invitations for partnership; no formal action by the council was taken during or after the presentation. Penaloga asked the council to consider volunteering or otherwise participating in the events and said the agency would send more information by email.

Basic Needs Inc. and the city did not provide a detailed funding breakdown in the meeting; Penaloga identified the April gala as a fundraiser that helps pay for the organization’s programs and food market.","Basic Needs Inc. Executive Director Opie Penaloga told the St. Paul Park City Council the nonprofit distributed about 680,000 pounds of rescued food last year, served tens of thousands of residents, and invited the city and public safety agencies to upcoming events including a resource fair and a fundraiser.","actionData","errors"]

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St. Paul Park council approves minutes and consent agenda; declares vacancy, sets March 5 deadline for applications

Basic Needs Inc. reports large year of food rescue, outreach and upcoming events in South Washington County