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

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.