North St. Paul council approves AFSCME contract, hears community center feasibility update

The North St. Paul City Council on Jan. 21 approved multiple consent items — including a revised AFSCME 2025–2027 collective bargaining agreement and $1,954,455.06 in general claims — by voice vote and received staff reports on an upcoming community center feasibility study and department activities.

The contract and claims were adopted as part of the meeting’s consent agenda, which the council approved after a motion and second. City staff also said they are continuing to gather information for a feasibility study with EAPC for a proposed community center and reminded residents about a council “coffee” event scheduled the next day from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Approve consent agenda (includes items below): approved by voice vote. - Approve general claims of $1,954,455.06: approved as part of consent agenda. - Approve HRA claims of $260.06: approved as part of consent agenda. - Acknowledge 2024 police employees’ suspense hour overages (administrative action): approved as part of consent agenda. - Approve revised AFSCME 2025–2027 essential and nonessential collective bargaining agreement: approved as part of consent agenda. - Accept billing permit report for December 2024: accepted as part of consent agenda. - Adopt Resolution accepting donations for December 2024: adopted as part of consent agenda.

Staff updates and department reports

City manager and department staff provided routine updates. Key points included: - Community center feasibility: staff said they are still gathering information for a feasibility study with EAPC and noted a related meeting the next day (4:30–5:30 p.m.). No formal action was taken. - Electric department: crews performed system inspections and identified poles needing replacement; annual testing of dielectric equipment and lift trucks occurred; line-hose testing was completed and an audit was reported as satisfactory. - Communications and website: staff said a revised website update is planned for completion in April and that the city newsletter will include a downtown business spotlight. - Public works: the student-built houses project has slowed due to cold weather but interior framing continues; three ice rinks are open and staff said there may be a fourth rink at Houssey next year; significant tree trimming was performed at Casey Lake. - Finance: auditors were on site last week and are scheduled to return in February and March to complete work. - Community development: staff indicated the fee schedule will be updated to reflect a new cannabis law; no ordinance or fee figures were presented at the meeting. - Police and fire: police reported two applicants are in background checks and that recruitment remains open for an investigator position and three officer positions; fire reported ongoing training and multifamily inspections and noted a first-responders assembly scheduled for Jan. 28 at “St. Pete’s.” - Safe Haven program: staff described the long-running program aimed at elderly, owner-occupied single-family homes. Services mentioned included in-home fall-prevention checks, installation of donated smoke detectors (provided by the Red Cross), placement of carbon-monoxide detectors donated by the city, and distribution/installation of air purifiers from the electric department’s conservation improvement program.

Procedural notes and public comment

There were no members of the public signed up to speak during the opening public-comment period. The council completed routine roll call, adopted the meeting agenda and later adjourned by voice vote. Council and commission reminders included a Parks and Recreation meeting the following night, an Arts and Culture Commission update on new leadership and plans presented by Ava Greenmark, and a Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Feb. 6.

The council did not take separate votes on individual consent subitems during the meeting; the items listed above were approved together as the consent agenda.