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Consultants ask Saint Paul Park to authorize code updates and new fire-permit program
Summary
Rum River (Roam River) Consultants told the council they will prepare coordinated ordinance amendments to update Chapters 18, 30 and 42 to align with Minnesota building and fire codes, revise rental/licensing rules, and create a self-funded fire operational permit program; staff were asked to draft ordinances and an updated professional services agreement for later council action.
Representatives from Rum River Consultants presented a coordinated plan on Nov. 17 to update Saint Paul Park's building, fire and rental-licensing code sections and to develop a fire operational permit program that would be self-funded through permit fees.
"We are requesting authorization to move forward with the preparation of ordinance amendments and development of the operational permit program," said Carrie Levitsky, a Rum River representative, asking the council to authorize the drafting work and to have staff return a contract for later approval.
Levitsky outlined five components the firm recommends the city complete as a coordinated package: a repeal-and-replace of Chapter 18 (building code) to align with the Minnesota State Building Code and modern terminology; revisions to property-maintenance articles to reference the International Property Maintenance Code; changes to Chapter 42 to align fees and permit language; development of a fire operational permit program consistent with the Minnesota State Fire Code; and an updated professional services agreement reflecting current program administration and potential scope expansions.
Andy Schroeder, introduced as co-owner and the city’s chief building official, and Rum River staff said the Baseline Technologies permitting platform is functioning well and that the firm has been performing field inspections while city staff manage the administrative side during earlier transition periods.
Council members asked whether the city’s fire chief recommended the approach; Chief Kramer was specifically referenced during questioning. Administrator McPhee and staff explained that the contract would be drafted and returned to the council for formal approval. The council expressed consensus for staff to proceed with ordinance drafting and to bring back a contract and ordinance language for a future vote rather than approving a contract on the spot.
Why it matters: the changes recommend aligning local code language and permitting processes with state standards and establishing an operational fire-permit program to improve compliance, inspections, and fee-to-service funding.
What’s next: staff will prepare ordinance drafts and an updated professional services agreement and return to council for formal consideration and any required vote.
