St. Paul Park council approves consent agenda: donations accepted, public works hire, administrator resignation noted; Third Street parking plan formalized

The City of St. Paul Park City Council on Monday, April 7, 2025, unanimously approved a consent agenda that included acceptance of donations, approval of grants, hiring of a new public works supervisor and formal action on the city administrator’s pending resignation. The council also adopted a state-aid-related resolution setting parking arrangements for the Third Street reconstruction project.

The consent agenda passed by a 5-0 vote. Among the items the council approved were: acceptance of donations totaling $820 (Parks and Recreation Commission $220 for the Veterans Park mural; Coke Funeral Home $100 for the volunteer appreciation dinner; WSB $500 for the volunteer appreciation dinner); approval of a Met Council inflow-and-infiltration grant (amount not specified in the packet); approval of a municipal recycling grant from the county (amount not specified); and hiring Anthony “Tony” Brinkman as public works supervisor, a hire the mayor and council welcomed.

The council also accepted City Administrator Kevin Walsh’s resignation, effective July 31, 2025, and approved moving forward with a recruitment proposal. The packet referenced a proposal from a recruitment firm described in the meeting as “Drown Associates.” At the meeting one council member referred to a well-regarded consulting firm by name; staff said they would engage an executive-recruiting firm to support filling the administrator role. (Transcript used variations of the recruiter’s name; the city intends to contract with a recognized executive search firm.)

Cars in the Park special event permit Council members discussed a proposed special event permit for Cars in the Park and determined the packet did not include a full permit. Mayor Fraiche moved to table the item for further review; the motion carried. The mayor said he was working with public works and the event organizers to clarify costs and usage details before returning the item to council.

Third Street parking resolution (Resolution 17-40) The council adopted Resolution 17-40, which defines the ultimate parking arrangements for the Third Street reconstruction project as part of the state-aid funding requirements. A city engineer explained that state-aid review requires a resolution that defines the end-state parking arrangement. Under the adopted plan, the project will provide parking on one side of Third Street (the west side) and no parking on the east side where a trail and new pedestrian facilities are being incorporated. The engineer said that during construction the contractor will likely need both sides clear for work, and that signage and enforcement of the new parking limits would not be implemented until the project is complete, likely next year. The resolution includes standard tapers and intersection clearances required by statute.

Other permits and approvals The council approved lawful gambling permits for Ducks Unlimited (event listed as May 4) and a permit request from Sons of the American Legion Post 98 (date not specified in the packet). The council also approved a municipal recycling grant from the county.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (donations, grants, hires, permits, acceptance of resignation): Approved 5-0 (Mover: Council Member Swenson; second: not specified). - Resolution 17-41 accepting donations totaling $820: Approved as part of consent agenda (5-0). - Hiring of Anthony Brinkman as public works supervisor: Approved as part of consent agenda (5-0). - Acceptance of City Administrator Kevin Walsh’s resignation effective 2025-07-31 and authorization to engage an executive search firm for recruitment: Approved as part of consent agenda (5-0). - Resolution 17-40 (Third Street parking restrictions for reconstruction project): Adopted as part of consent agenda; explained by city engineer and required by state-aid funding process. - Motion to table Cars in the Park special event permit for further review: Motion carried (vote recorded as carried; roll-call not specified).

Why it matters: Approving staff hires, grants and the administrator’s resignation sets the city’s near-term staffing and funding trajectory; the Third Street parking resolution commits to a design that incorporates a trail and reduced street parking on one side and is a condition of state-aid funding for the reconstruction.

What’s next: Staff will return the Cars in the Park permit with clarified costs and conditions; the city will proceed with recruiter engagement and a search process for the city administrator role; signage and enforcement for Third Street will be implemented after construction.