Maplewood council approves liquor license, budget software and a slate of regional and local measures

Maplewood City Council voted on multiple measures during its Sept. 10 meeting, approving a packaged‑liquor license for a neighborhood market, buying budgeting software intended to add a public transparency portal, ratifying engineering work for a regional fire‑training facility and advancing tax and zoning ordinances to subsequent readings or approvals.

Council approved a packaged and Sunday packaged‑liquor license for a business listed in the record as Hanlo/Han Lau LLC at 7219 (Winchester/Chester) Road after a brief hearing in which the petitioner was not present; a council member requested a stipulation that the license be revoked if illegal gambling devices are found on the premises. The motion passed by voice vote.

The council approved Resolution 24‑53 to accept a vendor proposal for budgeting software in the amount of $39,275. Staff said the purchase includes implementation, training and the first‑year subscription, and will provide a dashboard and a public transparency portal with budget‑to‑actual reports. The software will be cloud‑hosted and will exchange data with the city's Tyler financial system via uploads and downloads, but staff emphasized it is a standalone budgeting product.

A resolution to ratify a contract with Arc Images Inc. for architectural, structural and mechanical engineering services for a regional fire‑training facility — described in the record as a $114,200 commitment shared among participating municipalities — was approved by roll call. The council heard that the facility and training would be a joint effort among surrounding cities and that costs are shared.

Council also approved a regional hazard‑mitigation plan (2025–2030) as presented by public works staff and appointed two property‑owner representatives (Laura Lashley and Ted Bergman) to the Deer Creek Center Community Improvement District through Aug. 21, 2028.

Several bills and ordinances were taken up: a zoning change to allow financial institutions as conditional uses at 1811 South Hamill Road (transcribed as Bill 6,258/Ordinance 6,052) was approved; a bill authorizing a shared fire‑training chief (Bill 62,259/Ordinance 6,053) was approved; and a bill directing the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds (Bill 62,260 / Ordinance 60 54 as transcribed) was approved; a bond representative said the true interest cost on the sale was 3.677 percent. An ordinance establishing city tax rates for 2024 was moved to its third and final reading at the next meeting.

The meeting concluded with council and staff announcements about upcoming ward meetings, a senior survey and an October public workshop for the comprehensive plan. The council adjourned without further action.

Votes and formal actions (selected): • Packaged‑liquor license for Hanlo/Han Lau LLC (Item 14) — approved (voice vote). • Resolution 24‑53: budgeting software, $39,275 — approved (roll call). • Resolution 24‑54: Arc Images engineering services for fire‑training facility, $114,200 — approved (roll call). • Resolution adopting 2025–2030 St. Louis Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan — approved (roll call). • Appointments: Laura Lashley and Ted Bergman to Deer Creek CID (terms to 08/21/2028) — approved (roll call). • Bill 6,258 / Ordinance 6,052 (conditional use to allow a financial institution at 1811 South Hamill Road) — approved (roll call). • Bill 62,259 / Ordinance 6,053 (shared fire‑training chief) — approved (roll call). • Bill 62,260 (general obligation bonds series 2024) — approved (roll call); true interest cost reported as 3.677%.

The council also advanced an ordinance establishing tax rates to a final reading at the next meeting and continued second‑reading items for the conditional‑use permit for 2867 Clean Station Road. Several items were noted for follow‑up memos to provide more context for future liquor‑license requests.