Commission weighs penny-press purchase and opts for new art cart with modifications

Members of the North St. Paul Arts & Culture Commission received updates on several public-art projects and reached a majority decision to move forward with a newer art cart while asking staff to refine costs and logistics.

A subcommittee reported it had received a vendor quote and write-up for a penny-press machine. A member said the machine price was “like $6,000 roughly,” with an optional credit-card payment upgrade costing another $5,000 and additional artist-design services available from the vendor. Staff said finance and public works would need to review the proposal because the device handles currency and that the project proposal form was circulating among relevant staff.

Commissioners also discussed sidewalk branding irons: the vendor quoted about $80 for a 4-inch iron and $110 for a 5-inch iron, and members favored the 5-inch size as a usable "sweet spot." The group debated how many to order, where to place them in sidewalks, and whether they should be permanent or intermittently changed.

A lengthy discussion focused on the art cart used for outreach and events. Staff described a newer aluminum trailer-style cart that is easier for Public Works to move and includes a loading ramp but lacks the current cart’s full open side. Members weighed repainting or wrapping the existing cart versus accepting the donated trailer and auctioning the old cart; they discussed whether auction proceeds could be returned to the art-cart fund. After deliberation commissioners expressed a majority preference for the new cart and asked staff to price modifications such as interior shelving and an awning. One commissioner summarized the informal tally as "5 to 1 new cart."

Staff said they will follow up with finance and public works on budgets and logistics and return cost estimates and procurement guidance at a future meeting.