North St. Paul council approves park projects, new payroll system and several infrastructure agreements

The City of North St. Paul Council on unanimous voice votes approved a package of staff'recommended actions covering parks, payroll, emergency planning and streets.

Council approved five additional 2025 parks and recreation capital-improvement projects that staff said total "just under $177,000" and would be funded from the park fund. Staff described items including a $10,000 Casey Lake open-air shelter, a roughly $100,000 reutilization update at Casey Lake (reconfiguring ball fields and adding open space and soccer nets), a recommendation to move a gaga ball pit to Northwood as a portable unit rather than installing a permanent pit at Housy/Howy Park, Polar Park playground equipment replacements (roughly $63,000), and a small urban ecology seating element (about $2,000). The Park & Recreation Commission unanimously supported moving the requests to council, and council voted to approve the additional CIP items.

Council also approved a four'year agreement with Paycom for a cloud-based human-resources and payroll system after a competitive RFP and demos. Staff said the selection committee made a unanimous recommendation for Paycom. The transcript records staff'estimated annual costs of about $32,000 and a one'time implementation expense of roughly $3,000; the contract was presented as contingent on final city-attorney review of the agreement language.

In other actions, the council approved the City of North St. Paul's participation in the 2025 Ramsey County Hazard Mitigation Plan, enabling local eligibility for FEMA mitigation programs staff listed (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, BRIC, Flood Mitigation Assistance and others). The council also authorized execution of a memorandum of understanding with the Ramsey'Washington Metro Watershed District to construct storm'sewer and a low vegetated berm at PCU (Target) Pond and 13th Avenue; staff said the watershed will pay for and run construction and the city will accept long'term ownership and maintenance of new pipe and mowing responsibilities.

The council accepted bids and awarded the 2025 maintenance-overlay construction contract to the low bidder (Batuminous Roadways) for the base bid plus a flexible alternate list; transcript bid entries list a low base bid at about $250,000 with additional alternates discussed, but the transcript contains inconsistent numeric formatting for the final award figure. Council also authorized professional services to begin data collection and engineering for the 2026 pavement preservation project, with staff planning to return in September with recommendations.

Why it matters: the actions allocate park-fund dollars to near'term park improvements, modernize city HR/payroll operations, secure the city's participation in countywide hazard-mitigation grant programs, and move forward with street repairs and a watershed project intended to reduce localized flood risk.

Votes at a glance

- Approve additional 2025 parks & recreation CIP projects (park fund ' transcript: "just under $177,000"): approved (unanimous). - Approve Paycom HR/payroll agreement (four'year term; annual cost estimated ~ $32,000; one'time implement ~$3,000): approved (unanimous; contingent on city attorney review). - Approve participation in the Ramsey County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP): approved (unanimous). - Authorize MOU with Ramsey'Washington Metro Watershed District for PCU Pond/13th Ave flood risk reduction (watershed funds construction; city to own/maintain infrastructure): approved (unanimous). - Award 2025 maintenance overlay contract (Batuminous Roadways; low base bid ~ $250,000; alternates described): approved (unanimous). - Authorize professional services for 2026 pavement preservation project (survey, geotech, inspections): approved (unanimous).

What to watch next: staff advised the watershed district will manage construction this summer and will provide post'construction calculations of reduced flood elevations; engineering staff will return with a refined scope and budget for the 2026 pavement work in September.