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North St. Paul council approves $89,500 feasibility study contract for community center, tables manager agreement
Summary
Facing $5.3 million in potential grant funding, the council voted to authorize a not-to-exceed $89,500 contract with consultant EAPC for a community center feasibility study and tabled a proposed amendment to the city manager's employment agreement pending a special meeting.
The North St. Paul City Council on Dec. 17 directed staff to execute a contract with consultant EAPC for a community center feasibility study at a not-to-exceed amount of $89,500. The motion directing staff to execute the contract passed after discussion about the long-running project and available federal and state grant funding the council cited at about $5.3 million.
A council member pressing for the study said the community has "been waiting" for the information and urged the council to proceed so the city could determine whether and how to use the grant funds. City Attorney Brooksbank explained the options, noted a written contract was ready and framed two paths: (1) direct staff to execute the contract with EAPC with a not-to-exceed total (the motion ultimately made), or (2) table the item to a special meeting. Finance Director Winnick noted the contract amount and said the funding source for the contract still needs to be identified and brought forward for approval.
Vote: the motion to direct staff to execute the EAPC contract (not to exceed $89,500) carried; the roll-call style voice vote recorded one dissent (Council Member Jason Orbi voted "nay").
Separately, councilors moved to table the First Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement (consent item H) so the full, outgoing council could review and a special meeting could be scheduled; the motion to table carried.
Why it matters: the feasibility study is the next formal step toward deciding whether to proceed with a community center and how to use the cited grant funding. Councilors framed the vote as an effort to move a long-standing project forward while ensuring a full council has the opportunity to review key employment-agreement changes.
What comes next: staff were directed to execute the EAPC contract; council requested that the funding source for the contract be presented (finance staff indicated it has not yet been identified). Council also agreed to schedule a special closed session (three-day notice required under Minnesota statute) to finalize any decisions regarding the city manager's employment agreement.
