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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/11/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularOfficial minutes Special city council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota Nov. 10, 2025 1. Call to order. Mayor Mohamed called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. a. Pledge of allegiance b. Roll call Council members present: Margaret Rog, Lynette Dumalag, Sue Budd, Tim Brausen, Yolanda Farris, Paul Baudhuin, Mayor Nadia Mohamed Council members absent: none Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), senior planner (Ms. Chamberlain), community development director and interim building and energy director (Ms. Barton), zoning administrator (Mr. Morrison), city clerk (Ms. Kennedy), election specialist (Mr. Harris-Paul), economic development manager (Ms. Monson), planning manager (Mr. Walther) 2. Approve agenda. It was moved by Council Member Budd, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 3. Presentations – none. 4. Minutes – none. 5. Consent item. a. Resolutions No. 25-143 and 25-144 authorizing a grant application for Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development contamination cleanup and investigation grant for Beltline Station Development project - Ward 1 It was moved by Council Member Rog, seconded by Council Member Brausen, to approve the consent items as listed; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 7-0. 6. Public hearings – none. 7. Regular business. a. Resolution No. 25-145 approving canvassing results of the November 4, 2025 Municipal General Election Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F Special study session minutes -2- Nov. 10, 2025 Ms. Kennedy presented the staff report. Minnesota Statutes 205.185, sub. 3 states that the canvassing of municipal general election results must be conducted between the third and tenth days after an election. St. Louis Park City Charter Section 4.07 requires the city council to meet and canvass election returns within ten days of any regular or special election and declare the results as soon as possible. As required by the city charter, the resolution includes: • Total number of ballots cast • Total number of spoiled ballots • The vote for each candidate, with a declaration of those who were elected • A true copy of the ballots used • The names of the workers and clerks of election Ms. Kennedy stated that Chapter 10 of the St. Louis Park City Code requires a post-election review. At the time of canvass, the chief election official (city clerk) will select, by lot, a total of two (2) precincts to be reviewed and set the date, time and place for the post-election review. Using the actual ballots cast in the two (2) precincts selected, a hand count of ballots will be conducted for the office selected in each precinct. A comparison of the results compiled by the voting system with the results compiled by the election workers performing the hand count must show that the results of the electronic voting system differed by no more than the applicable percentage threshold, as provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 204C.36, from the hand count of the sample tested. Valid votes that have been marked by the voter outside the vote targets or using a manual marking device that cannot be read by the voting system must not be included in making the determination whether the voting system has met the standard of acceptable performance. Ms. Kennedy stated that the following candidates have been elected to the city council for four- year terms commencing on the first regularly scheduled meeting of 2026: • Council Member Ward 1 – Daniel Bashore • Council Member Ward 2 – Jim Engelking • Council Member Ward 3 – Sue Budd • Council Member Ward 4 – Tim Brausen Ms. Kennedy stated this election’s voter turnout was high for a municipal election, with 25.7% of registered voters in the city participating. This was a slight increase over the municipal election in 2023, which had a voter turnout of 24.2%. Of those who voted, 25% cast their ballot before Election Day either in-person at city hall or by mail. This was also an increase from 2023 when 21% of all voters chose to participate before Election Day. Ms. Kennedy added that the total number of spoiled ballots, 58, was less than 1% of all ballots cast. This demonstrates voters generally understand how to mark their ballot to avoid mistakes and election workers are providing effective instructions prior to voters marking their ballots. She noted the post-election review was scheduled for Nov. 20, 2025. Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F Special study session minutes -3- Nov. 10, 2025 Council Member Rog observed that for the city council seat in Ward 2, one candidate ran unopposed. She stated she received questions about why three (3) choice still appeared on the ballot with only one candidate. Ms. Kennedy stated that this is a function of the ranked-choice system. Each ballot is required to contain three choices, no matter how many candidates file for the office. The ballot style and layout must be the same for all precincts. Ms. Kennedy noted that ranking, however, is not required and how a voter chooses to mark their ballot is up to them. Mayor Mohamed thanked staff for their work on the election and for the professionalism and integrity of the election workers. Mayor Mohamed congratulated the winners of the election and those who ran for office, as well as new and returning city council members. Council Member Brausen also thanked staff for their election work. He shared that he heard comments that the voting process was easy, both before and on Election Day, and that staff and election workers were helpful, efficient and explained the process well. Council Member Brausen thanked all candidates and stated that the process helps everyone learn about the community, and he encouraged those who were unsuccessful in their races to run for office again in the future. After drawing by lot from all St. Louis Park precincts, Ms. Kennedy stated that Precincts 4 and 5 - both in Ward 2 – will be included in the post-election review process. It was moved by Council Member Farris, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to adopt Resolution No. 25-145 canvassing results of the Nov. 4, 2025 Municipal General Election. The motion passed 7-0. 8. Communications and announcements. Ms. Keller stated that November 11 is Veterans Day and that city offices will be closed. Ms. Keller thanked all city staff and community members who are also veterans for their service. 9. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F