It was a short one Monday, April 20 as the St. Paul Park City Council met in city hall to transact business.In just under 13 minutes the council made a proclamation, approved a consent agenda with several resolutions, appointed Alicia Mason to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and heard council updates.
With April 6 council cancelled and Council Member Tim Conrad appearing remotely, the April 20 meeting opened with a heartfelt proclamation honoring longtime former Cottage Grove Public Safety Director Pete Koerner, recognizing his decades of service and regional impact.
Mayor Keith Franke began the meeting by welcoming attendees and noting the significance of the evening’s first agenda item.
“We are going to be honoring and recognizing Pete Koerner,” he said, before reflecting on Koerner’s nearly 34-year career with the City of Cottage Grove, dating from July 1992.
Franke emphasized Koerner’s strong partnership with St. Paul Park and neighboring communities. “Pete has been a great partner to the City of St. Paul Park, making sure and having his guys help us out in certain situations and always being there to have an ear or lend a hand,” he said, adding that Koerner recently assisted the city in hiring its new police chief.
The mayor then read the official proclamation into the meeting record:
“Whereas, Police Chief Pete Koerner spent most of his life serving the greater South Washington County communities; and
“Whereas, Pete was a long-time friend and partner with the City of St. Paul Park; and
“Whereas, Pete lived a life of service and hard work wearing many hats throughout his law enforcement career, and mentoring dozens of law enforcement officers along the way, to include our own St Paul Park police officers; and
“Whereas, Pete loved working with community members to solve all manner of quality of life issues.
“Now, therefore, I Keith Franke, Mayor of the City of St. Paul Park, Minnesota do publicly thank Pete Koerner and acknowledge his legacy to the greater statewide and regional law enforcement community as well as our local community here of St Paul Park.
“I urge citizens to honor Pete’s legacy by making a difference in the lives of others as he has done throughout his storied professional career and personal interactions with each of us.
“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of St. Paul Park to be affixed this 20th day of April 2026.”
Following the reading, Franke presented the proclamation and thanked Koerner directly. “From myself and from the council and the citizens of St. Paul Park, thank you for everything you’ve done,” he told Koerner.
The recognition then concluded with applause and a photo opportunity with council members.
Following Koerner’s recognition was a public comment opportunity, no one taking the opportunity to speak. The council then turned to the consent agenda, passed unanimously with a motion by Council Member Jeff Swenson that was seconded by Council Member Jeff Haggerty.
Among consent items for April 20 were two resolutions formally accepting donations to the city. Donations totaled $4,620.82 for the fourth quarter of 2025 and $700 for the first quarter of 2026, supporting parks, recreation, and volunteer efforts. Donations for the fourth quarter of 2025 were accepted with Resolution 1774 and included $19.12 from American Online for Parks and Recreation, $3,401.70 from RCL for the AED, and $1,200 from WSB for the Community Garden. Donations for the first quarter of 2026 were accepted via Resolution 1775 and included $500 from WSB and $100 each from Van Meter and Total Mechanical, all for the volunteer dinner.
Also included in consent was awarding of a contract to Norit Americas, Inc.for the 2026 granular activated carbon (GAC) changeout at the city’s water treatment plant. The $232,800 project will replace filtration media used to remove PFAS contaminants from drinking water. The cost is expected to be fully covered with funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to address PFAS removal, with no direct expense to the city. Carbon Activated Corporation also bid on the project.
Also in consent items meanwhile, the council approved $57,500 to replace the roof at Wellhouse No. 2. City staff reported the existing roof is more than three decades old and has deteriorated significantly. Inspection reports cited water intrusion, failing seams, and structural wear as justification for full replacement.
Tree removal projects were also authorized for several city-owned stormwater ponds and properties, including Stevens Pond and Hastings Avenue Pond. The work is intended to improve drainage and restore proper stormwater function while addressing complaints from nearby residents about overgrowth. The lowest bid for the project came in at $30,300.
Another key approval was a three-year, $7,450 contract with Regroup Mass Notification. The system will allow the city to send targeted alerts to residents via phone, text, email, or app notifications. City staff described the tool as a major step forward in improving communication beyond traditional platforms like social media.
The council also approved several appointments, including Council Member Tim Conrad to the Public Safety Commission through Dec. 31, 2027 and city resident Alicia Mason to the Parks and Recreation Commission through Dec. 31, 2028.
“My desire to be appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission is rooted in my deep appreciation for the outdoors and my commitment to the St. Paul Park community,” Mason wrote in her application. “As a consistent user of our local parks, I have a personal stake in their quality and believe that well-maintained green spaces are essential for the health and vitality of our city. I am eager to contribute my energy and ideas to several key areas, including engaging community engagement and promoting the highest standards for park cleanliness and safety. My goal is to work collaboratively to ensure St Paul Park continues to be a community with exceptional parks and recreational opportunities for all residents.”
Closing out the April 20 council meeting meanwhile were updates from city council members and city staff.
Haggerty noted that the Public Works Commission will meet June 2 and is actively seeking additional members. “We need at least one more member for public works, maybe two. So please come on down and volunteer,” he said.
Swenson reported that the Public Safety Commission will meet June 4 and currently has a full roster.
Conrad said the Planning Commission’s last meeting was canceled due to a lack of agenda items, with the next meeting scheduled for May 11.
The update from Parks and Recreation meanwhile highlighted a busy upcoming season. Council Member Charlene Whitbred-Hemmingson announced a rescheduled meeting for April 30 and promoted a May 9 garden event. “We are still looking for vendors—plants, crafts, candles, anything like that,” she said.
City Administrator Hugo McPhee shared that interest in the city’s upcoming farmers market is strong, with 10 vendors already expressing interest. “We’re really pleased with the initial turnout,” he said, noting that the market will run monthly from June through October and include food trucks and live music.
During final comments, Conrad announced the start of the city’s seasonal car show on May 6. “Official hours are four till dusk,” he said, asking participants not to arrive early so organizers have time to set up.
With no further business, Mayor Franke adjourned the meeting.
St. Paul Park council meetings are held the first and third Monday of each month in city hall. The public is welcome and invited to attend.