HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/06/26 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - Study Session
AGENDA
JUNE 26, 2023
The St. Louis Park City Council meets in person at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka
Blvd. Members of the public can attend the meeting in person, watch by webstream at
bit.ly/watchslpcouncil, or watch on local cable (Comcast SD channel 17/HD channel 859).
Recordings are available to watch on the city’s YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/user/slpcable, usually within 24 hours of the end of the council
meeting or study session.
6:30 p.m. City council study session – council chambers
Discussion items
1. 60 min. Boards and commissions program purpose and next steps
2. 60 min. Budget update
Written reports
3. Elections cycle overview
The agenda is posted on Fridays on the official city bulletin board in the lobby of city hall and on the text display on
civic TV cable channel 17. The agenda and full packet are available after noon on Friday on the city’s website.
If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call 952 .924.2505.
Meeting: Study session
Meeting date: June 26, 2023
Discussion item: 1
Executive summary
Title: Boards and commissions program purpose and next steps
Recommended action: Establish initial ideas for the purpose of the board and commission
program and align the program with city strategic priorities.
Policy consideration: What is your vision and purpose for using the boards and commissions
program as a strategy for community engagement?
Summary: On June 12, 2023, the city council reviewed a report on the current state of the
board and commission program. The report recommended that the council adopt a clear
overall purpose for the program and establish a structure that aligns with the city’s strategic
priorities. At that meeting, the council discussed aspects of the report and shared their
experiences and thoughts. Staff reviewed this feedback and mapped out potential next steps
for the program to resolve identified issues and barriers to participation.
This report is meant as a starting point to establish a purpose for the program that aligns with
the city’s strategic priorities. A series of considerations and questions are offered to ground the
discussion. The questions are designed to surface the principles of a programmatic approach to
community engagement through collaboration with residents that results in good governance
practices. General principles of the city’s community engagement model, the IAP2 framework
and ideas from the Race Equity Inclusion Impact Analysis Tool (REI Analysis Tool) are included to
help in establishing a recommended program purpose.
The report also includes an analysis of the way boards and commissions can be used as an
engagement tool from the IAP2 spectrum with equity as a central consideration using the REI
Impact Analysis tool. This is a preliminary outcome of the discussion of the consultant analysis.
Staff will use the discussion and stakeholder input to make a final recommendation for the
overall structure of the program. This information will help the council make informed decisions
about the future of the program and its role in community engagement.
Financial or budget considerations: N/a
Strategic priority consideration: St. Louis Park is committed to creating opportunities to build
social capital through community engagement.
Supporting documents: N/a
Prepared by: Michael Sund, civic engagement coordinator
Reviewed by: Melissa Kennedy, city clerk
Cheyenne Brodeen, administrative services director
Approved by: Kim Keller, city manager
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 1) Page 2
Title: Boards and commissions program purpose and next steps
Discussion
Background:
Boards and commissions provide opportunities for the city to engage residents in a civic process
and hear different perspectives that help plan and shape the future of the community. Ideally,
boards and commissions bring people together and create space for the expression of
viewpoints that might not otherwise be heard.
The history of boards and commissions in St. Louis Park aligns with other programs locally and
nationally. When created in the 1960s, boards and commissions represented best practices in
civic and community engagement strategies. As engagement needs and methods have evolved,
many communities are finding a misalignment between the goals of boards and commissions
and the implementation of associated programming.
The city currently has ten boards and commissions made up of volunteers with wide-ranging
interests and expertise who care about the community and want to participate in public
service. The charter authorizes the city council to create commissions with advisory powers to
investigate any subject of interest to the city. The city code contains the enacting ordinances for
those bodies, created with the express purpose of acting in an advisory capacity to the city
council. Other boards and commissions derive their authority to conduct specific business from
state statute. Membership requirements, composition, scope of work and authority are varied.
The city council currently appoints most, but not all, board and commission members.
Boards and commissions break down into the following groups for the purpose of this
discussion:
• Five groups have a purpose and scope set in statute.
o Board of Zoning and Appeals
o Charter Commission
o Fire Civil Service Commission
o Housing Authority Board
o Planning commission
• Five groups were established by the council in an advisory capacity.
o Community Technology Advisory Commission
o Environment & Sustainability Commission
o Human Rights Commission
o Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
o Police Advisory Commission
In 2022, the council directed staff to solicit consultant services to review the current structure,
function and role of the boards and commissions program to ensure alignment with the city’s
strategic priorities. Through a competitive RFP process, Transformational Solutions was chosen
to conduct the assessment. The assessment was conducted over several months in early 2023
and engaged with current and past board and commission members, city council, staff and
other community stakeholders. On June 12, 2023, Transformational Solutions presented its
report and findings from the assessment. One of the major findings of the report included a
recommendation to reconsider and establish the purpose of boards and commissions as a
whole and to align this programming with the regular decision-making process of the city.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 1) Page 3
Title: Boards and commissions program purpose and next steps
This strategic effort also provides an opportunity to develop a program that improves the city’s
engagement efforts by ensuring that the time and effort community members offer is more
equitable and effectively utilized. Furthermore, staff hopes to eliminate barriers and create
access through an inclusive engagement process. The REI Analysis Tool encourages the use of
evaluation questions to assess who is at the decision-making table, who a decision impacts and
how they will be impacted. Any time there is a disparity between those who are present and
those who a decision may impact, the tool encourages careful analysis and research to ensure
those perspectives are included in the process. A systematic approach to community
engagement that requires consideration of equity in decision making could further the overall
strategic priorities of the city. To achieve this goal, staff will further engage council, staff
liaisons, board and commission members as well as other community stakeholders as they
build out the recommendation on a purpose and structure for the reimagined boards and
commissions program.
Present considerations:
This report outlines the scope, considerations for existing boards and commissions, timeline
and engagement plan for the redesign as well as an initial conversation with council to help
guide the purpose and direction of what a vision for the program will become. It also reviews an
initial recommendation from staff on the current board and commissions program.
Scope:
Boards and commissions fall into two main categories:
• Statutory and issued-based commissions: Statutory commissions derive their authority
from state law and have a clear function and prescribed purpose in city decision-making
processes.
• Advisory boards and commissions created by ordinance: These boards and commissions
derive their authority from enacting ordinances and are meant to advise the city council
and co-create policy alongside residents when a decision requires this level of public
engagement.
Only the advisory boards and commissions will be included in the work to reimagine the
program. The statutory commissions have ongoing work that is critical to the functioning of the
city and the consultant analysis showed that they do not face the same challenges as other
boards and commissions. Even so, staff will work to ensure they remain aligned with the overall
structure and purpose of the program and remove barriers to equitable participation.
Existing advisory boards and commissions:
As staff moves forward, they plan to work in three distinct phases. First, through the end of
2023, they plan to acknowledge existing members, their bodies of work, and projects that are
currently underway and plan transitions to wrap up each one with members. Second, staff plan
to shift to a new pilot program that would begin early in 2024 and last through 2025. Finally, in
2026, the official reimagined program would launch following the conclusion of the pilot,
including any insight gained during the pilot in the final structure. The new program will launch
alongside the Vision 4.0 strategic priorities.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 1) Page 4
Title: Boards and commissions program purpose and next steps
In order to facilitate this transition and begin the plan, existing advisory boards and
commissions would begin to wrap up their work from now until the end of 2023. New members
will not be appointed to the existing structure and instead interested stakeholders could
participate in the re-design or hold off until a new selection phase begins for the pilot program.
Existing members will continue to be invited to participate in the redesign through stakeholder
engagement.
Discussion on purpose:
Staff will ask council to consider guiding questions to help shape your vision and purpose for
using the boards and commissions program as a strategy for community engagement. While
reflecting on these questions, be mindful of the following:
• Racial equity and inclusive design are strategic priorities of all programming provided by
the city.
• Consider possible risks or unintended consequences that could arise from focusing on a
particular benefit.
• Consider the level of service and commitment from all stakeholders that would be
required to facilitate a program that aligns with a desired purpose.
Guiding questions
1. What role could boards play in city decision-making processes?
a. What would be most valuable to you in your role as councilmember?
b. In what ways could the council and staff benefit from input or collaboration with
community?
c. Is the role of boards and commissions to advise council?
2. How could the program contribute to or remove barriers to participation?
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 1) Page 5
Title: Boards and commissions program purpose and next steps
Next steps:
Staff will use the discussion to create a recommendation for an overall structure and purpose
for the program. They will engage stakeholders and meet with current members to involve and
collaborate with them on program details. Staff plans to complete a race equity impact analysis
on proposed changes to the program before establishing a recommended structure.
Meeting: Study session
Meeting date: June 26, 2023
Discussion item: 2
Executive summary
Title: Budget update
Recommended action: There is no action being requested. This report is for discussion
purposes only.
Policy consideration:
1. Should staff plan for a Housing Rehabilitation Authority levy in 2024 that dedicates
funding to housing activities?
2. Should staff plan for an Economic Development Authority levy in 2024 to support staff
time and extend the lifetime of flexible development funds?
Summary: This report provides updated revenue projections for the 2024 budget and outlines
anticipated expense increases. As is typical, there are many moving parts to the budget. Over
the coming weeks and months city staff and partners will finalize the information needed to put
together the 2024 budget and long-range financial plan.
Direction is requested around the number of levies to prepare for in the 2024 budget. In
addition to the General Levy, the city has a long-established practice of passing a dedicated
Housing Rehabilitation Authority (HRA) Levy and, for the past two years, has also passed an
Economic Development Authority (EDA) Levy.
Financial or budget considerations: Details regarding the budget and levy will be discussed in
this report.
Strategic priority consideration: All areas of the adopted strategic priorities are impacted by
the city’s budget and financial health. Choose an item.
Supporting documents:
Prepared by: Amelia Cruver, finance director
Reviewed by: Cheyenne Brodeen, administrative services director
Cindy Walsh, deputy city manager
Approved by: Kim Keller, city manager
Discussion
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 2
Title: Budget update
Background
In early spring, staff begin forecasting expenditures and revenues for the next fiscal year in
preparation for the budget process. There are many moving pieces as part of that review
including, but not limited to: permit and licensing revenue trends, grant requests, city contracts
(e.g. labor, employee benefits, and with outside vendors). Staff also utilizes information from
the prior year’s financial audit to determine if any excess f und balances are available to support
budget needs. This year’s financial review by Abdo ahead of the annual audit adds an additional
layer of oversight and process to be completed.
Once fund balances are audited and expenditures and non- tax revenues are projected, staff
puts together a revised long range financial plan that incorporates all the city’s funds. The long -
range financial plan will identify the levy increases needed to cover current service levels across
our general, debt service, and capital funds and set the stage for budget changes and additions.
This report will lay out our process and key context for next year’s revenues and expenditures.
Staff and council will also discuss next steps and the timeline for adopting the annual budget.
City Council planned budget calendar
August 7 Long Range Financial Plan and Capital Improvement Plan
August 21 Proposed Budget
September 18 Preliminary Levy Adoption
October* Fee Adoption and Hearing
Oct-Nov* Tax Increment Financing Management report
November 27 Revised Budget
December 4 Truth in Taxation Hearing
December 18 2024 Budget Adoption
*date pending
Revenues overview
By far, the largest source of revenue for the city is property taxes. The amount the city collects
is set each year by council and does not change unless increased or decreased by resolution.
Changes to non-property tax revenues that are driven by economic or other factors will
increase or decrease the need for additional property tax levy.
Looking into 2024, staff is projecting a decrease in building permit revenue as the housing
market adjusts to higher interest rates and returns to a more normal pace a fter years of strong
growth. Intergovernmental aid from the state will increase in a number of areas due to new
legislation passed this session, but the majority of the new aid will be a one -time distribution.
Creating a multi-year plan for those dollars and focusing on one-time spending needs will
ensure the city does not create a fiscal cliff when state money from this session is spent. More
information about State grants is detailed in the report below.
Additionally, the city is awaiting determination on a competitive RAISE grant from the Federal
government. If awarded, the capital improvement plan and long-range financial plan will both
be significantly impacted, creating the opportunity for reducing pressure on future property
taxes or investing in additional programmatic and/or capital needs.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 3
Title: Budget update
General Fund Revenues, 2023 Adopted Budget
Focusing in on revenue: Property tax levies
Over the last decade the city has had a General Levy, used to fund the general government
services and debt service and a Housing Redevelopment Authority Levy, to fund improvements
to the housing stock. In the last two years an Economic Development Levy has been included as
well, to fund climate investment activities and staff at the city working on economic
development activities.
Communities put levies specific to housing redevelopment and economic development in place
as a signal of their value to the council and residents. Monies levied in this way are secured for
these purposes unless expressly authorized by the council. This differs from the general levy,
where city administration has the authority to reallocate funds as needed to respond to current
and emerging needs.
As staff prepares the proposed 2024 budget, direction is requested as to whether to continue
the dedicated special levies (i.e. HRA and EDA). If the dedicated levies are to be discontinued or
reduced as a matter of policy (as opposed to a reduction of anticipated spending on the items),
staff recommends a commensurate increase in the General Levy.
The graph and table below both chart the growth from year to year inclusive of all levies
charged to property owners.
General Property
Taxes
67.78%Licenses and
Permits
10.58%
Fines & Forfeits
0.38%
Intergovernmental
4.50%
Charges for
Services
5.47%
Miscellaneous
Revenue
3.47%
Transfers In
6.06%
Investment
Earnings
0.68%
Other Income
1.06%
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 4
Title: Budget update
Focusing in on revenue: Permits and licenses
Permits and licenses are the second largest revenue source for the city’s general fund. This
category includes permits for all kinds of construction from single family home remodels to
large new apartment buildings. The cost charged to residents and businesses for permits covers
the cost of administering city, state and federal regulations on buildings and ensuring a safe and
sustainable built environment.
St. Louis Park permit and license revenue has experienced strong growt h in the recent past and
is expected to return to average levels in 2024. Economic conditions and interest rates are
creating caution for developers with the resulting effect on building permit activity and
resulting revenue. A number of the sizable redevelopment parcels in the city are along the light
rail line and delays in opening day have added to developer caution. There has also been a
slight reduction in permit applications for the time-of-sale program reflecting changes in the
real estate market.
Staff expects there will be continued investment within the city for 2024 and beyond, with a
level of construction like the growth experienced during the 2016 -2018 period, before the
Methodist addition in 2019 and start of many multi-family projects. License and permit
revenues are expected to decline by $470,000 from 2023 to 2024 to reflect that return to
average. Revenue projections provided are conservatively forecasting activity based on
conversations with community development and building and energy. The chart below shows
3.51%3.57%
5.32%
6.00%5.86%
5.01%
4.38%
5.07%
4.62%
6.91%6.83%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
General, HRA, and EDA levy increases
average " all-in" annual increase is 5.19%
Levy 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
General 31,748,368 33,128,261 34,770,521 36,335,325 38,365,750 41,060,251
HRA 1,172,786 1,234,601 1,332,978 1,437,180 1,517,799 1,582,696
EDA 500,000 500,000
Total $32,921,154 $34,362,862 $36,103,499 $37,772,505 $40,383,549 $43,142,947
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 5
Title: Budget update
budget and actual revenues for licenses and permits in 2021, 2022; year to date (YTD) and
projected revenues in 2023; and the proposed budget for 2024.
2021 2022 2023 2024
Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget YTD Projected Proposed
Budget
Licenses 623,563 623,404 640,928 658,596 641,377 45,603 650,000 670,000
Permits 3,492,400 3,806,948 3,605,000 5,738,781 3,795,000 1,590,337 3,500,000 3,300,000
Total 4,115,963 4,430,352 4,245,928 6,397,377 4,436,377 1,635,940 4,150,000 3,970,000
Focusing in on revenue: Utility charges for water, sewer, solid waste, recycling, and yard waste
The second largest revenue stream in the city’s budget is charges for services for city utilities.
The city charges for water usage, solid waste and yard waste removal and recycling services.
The fees collected are set at a level to cover the cost of providing these services. Both spending
and revenues have increased modestly each year to cover inflation and growth in consumption
in recent years. Collection of trash, yard waste and recycling is accomplished through
contracting, and all three contracts were renewed in 2023 for a five-year term with meaningful
increases in cost. A new study to determine appropriate rate increases needed to support the
rising costs of contractual services will be completed later in the summer.
Focusing in on revenue: RAISE grant application
The city has submitted a grant application to the federal RAISE program which funds road and
bridge projects across the country. This is the second year that the city has submitted a request
for funding for the Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue project. The city continues to contact
legislative representatives and administration officials to ensure that the application is well-
positioned for selection. The application requests $10.58 million dollars in funding and , if
awarded, will be used in conjunction with other funding from state and regional resources to
complete the project.
Focusing in on revenue: Changes to State revenue as a result of 2023 legislative session
The State Budget passed in May 2023 included many provisions that will have a fiscal impact on
St. Louis Park. The city actively participated in this legislative session and was present during
negotiations on many items that will directly affect the city. Representatives from the city’s
contracted lobbying firm connected elected leaders and advocated for the interests of the
community during these negotiations. The entire impact of policy changes and other
regulations will become clear over time as the state implements new laws and many will take
effect over several budget periods. However, there were a few increases to formula aid
programs, new formula-based aid programs and a direct appropriation in the bonding bill that
will increase city revenues in 2024, and these are shown in the top half of the chart below. The
top line item in this table represents a direct appropriation for a project at the request of the
city supported by local legislators. In addition to these firm sources of revenue, there are also
many new grant opportunities that the city can pursue to increase state support for affordable
housing and climate goals. These are reflected in the bottom half of the chart and elaborated
on in the footnotes. All items, except for Municipal State Aid and Local Government Aid, should
be budgeted as one time. Staff will know more about potential Affordable Housing grants that
could be longer term in nature in September.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 6
Title: Budget update
The table below is still an estimate as the executive branch works to implement the historic
amount of legislation passed this session. The table and notes below have been produced by
the city’s contracted lobbying firm, Park Street Public.
Type Source City Fund One
Time/Ongoing
Impacted
budget year
Budget impact
Formula and
Direct
Appropriation
$9,563,478
Bonding,
Cedar/Louisiana
Capital OT 2024-2028 $5,000,000
Local
Government Aid
General ONG 2024 $35,374
Municipal State
Aid for Streets
Capital ONG 2024 $1,025,450
Public Safety Aid Capital or
General
OT 2024 $2,194,317
Potential Grants $622,116
Affordable
Housing*
OT 2024 $622,116
Climate (est.) ** OT TBD TBD
*Affordable Housing Grants by source
• $1 billion bill is the largest single investment in housing in Minnesota history with most
of the funding being appropriated as one-time funding from the state budget surplus,
providing a significant but temporary boost to new and existing programs.
• The majority of the funding will be allocated to housing agencies to administer a variety
of programs throughout the state. Some of which, current and future St. Louis Park
residents would be able to access (I.e. down-payment assistance for home purchases).
Other funding the city can apply for or will go directly to St. Louis Park.
• $200 million for housing infrastructure resources to be utilized under the same eligibility
guidelines as Housing Infrastructure Bonds.
• $4.8 million in funding for Local Housing Trust Fund State Matching Grants.
• $90 million for a new Community Stabilization Program to help preserve naturally
occurring affordable housing.
• $353.2 million generated each year from the quarter-cent metro sales tax to support
formula funding to metro area cities and counties based on cost burden with a quarter
of funding dedicated to supporting metro area rental assistance program.
o $31.125 million is estimated annually to be distributed in two payments in July
and December of each year to cities in the metro area over 10,000 in population
based on number of cost burdened units in each city. Cities must spend this aid
by December 31st in the third year following the year after the aid was received.
o Qualifying projects include rental assistance, financial support to developers,
construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation projects, gap financing, or transfer
to local housing trust fund if a viable project cannot be executed within three
years.
o Cities will be able to use this aid only for affordable housing assistance to
households at 115 percent of the area median income for homeownership
projects, and 80 percent of the area median income for rental housing projects.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 7
Title: Budget update
o Metro counties must consult with cities if qualifying county projects are planned
in a metro city.
• $10 million in grant funding to retrofit high-rise buildings with at least one story used for
human occupancy that is 75 feet or more above fire access that do not have sprinkler
fire suppression systems.
o Requirement that first- and second-class cities across the state must report to
the state fire marshal by June 20, 2024, a list of each residential building that has
at least one story used for human occupancy that is 75 feet. or more above fire
access that does not have a sprinkler fire suppression system.
**Climate Grants by Source
The state Environment and Energy Omnibus Bill contained a large number of appropriations
and policies related to climate. Because the funding opportunities are competitive grants and
not formula funds, the budget impacts are TBD (as well as the corresponding budget year of
impact) but staff will apply for as many as appropriate. A summary is included below.
Financing:
• Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA) (“green bank”)
o Establishes a publicly accountable financing authority to accelerate the adoption
of clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction projects. $45 million is initially
available. The finance authority is modeled on a green bank, which invests in
clean energy projects through public-private partnerships that seek to maximize
the amount of private investment per public dollar used.
Competitive grants (new or expanded state programs):
• State Competitiveness Fund (new)
o Establishes a special fund to pay all or any portion of state match required to
receive federal funds and provides grant writing assistance to eligible entities.
• Grants for local climate action planning and implementation (new)
o Provides $5 million in grant funding to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
for the purpose of providing grants for local governments to develop and
implement climate action plans.
• Resilient Communities grants and technical assistance (expanded)
o For local and Tribal governments to address stormwater, wastewater, and
community resilience. $100 million funded. At least 40% must be used in areas
that meet environmental justice criteria.
• Solar grant program for public buildings (new)
o Provides funding for solar on public buildings. Capacity limit of 40kW or 120% of
building’s annual energy usage.
• Electric vehicle and carsharing infrastructure programs (expanded)
o Over $14 million for the electric vehicle infrastructure program.
• ReLeaf community forestry program (expanded)
o $16 million for grants to local and Tribal governments and nonprofit
organizations to enhance community forest ecosystem health and sustainability.
Further, the city anticipates that climate-related rebates and tax credits (e.g., heat pumps,
electrical panels) flowing directly to residents from the state and federal government will be
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 8
Title: Budget update
significant and may reduce the cost sharing amounts provided as incentives from the city in
future years.
Expenses overview
The largest expense at the city is salaries and benefits for city staff. Expenses in this category
will increase into 2024 as a result of general salary adjustments as well as anticipated increases
in the costs of insurance.
The 2024 budget will include general salary adjustments for all employees; some will be known
because they are included in signed contracts, and some will be estimated using historical
trends. These increases are expected to be in line with historical increases. This summer the city
will also renew its contracts for providers of medical, dental, long-term disability and life
insurance. Staff will know more about the new rates in September and will include conservative
estimates for budgeting purposes until the precise figure is settled. It is likely that a larger than
average increase in 2024 will be needed for employee benefits.
Additionally, inflation will put pressure on other operating costs and departments will work
over the next few weeks to manage expected expense increases within their budgets.
Department leaders are thinking about needs they have, conversations with council about city
priorities, and how they use their budgets to further city goals. Proposals for expanded or new
activities will be included in the September preliminary budget presentation.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
St. Louis Park has communicated to the U.S. Treasury that it will utilize all the $5,317,881 ARPA
funds to replace lost revenue. Staff and city council have held a series of discussions around the
allocation of the ARPA allocation the city received in 2022 and 2023. At a special city council
meeting on May 26 the council voted to appropriate the city’s ARPA allocation in the following
ways:
Project 2022 2023 2024 Total
Vaccine Incentives 2,750
Watermain Break Recovery 1,500,000
Various Capital Project Investments 1,000,000
Hennepin County Social Worker 65,000
Dakota Park Bridge 110,000
Internal Services 517,000
Public employee salaries 2,123,131
Total $1,502,750 $1,582,000 $2,233,131 $5,317,881
Staff continue to support the needed investments raised during the April 10 study session and
are seeking alternative funding mechanisms. Staff will have further discussions with council
about our approaches to funding for community partners.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 2) Page 9
Title: Budget update
Next steps
As outlined in the report above, direction is requested as to the number of levies staff should
prepare for in the 2024 proposed budget.
Staff will continue to replace assumptions with known figures in order to produce the long -
range financial plan and capital improvement plan in August for council consideration.
Meeting: Study session
Meeting date: June 26, 2023
Written report: 3
Executive summary
Title: Elections cycle overview
Recommended action: None at this time, the purpose of this report is to review the upcoming
election cycles and the potential effects of recently adopted state legislation.
Policy consideration: None at this time. This report is provided to inform the city council on
what to expect in the upcoming election cycles.
Summary: The City of St. Louis Park is preparing to administer four (4) elections in the next 18
months. These include a municipal general election for city and school district offices in 2023
and a presidential nomination primary, a state primary and a state general election in 2024.
Elections staff are planning and coordinating the operations and services for these elections as
a unified strategic effort. The operational goals continue to center on providing high quality,
accessible, and responsive services to voters. The city is responsible for all aspects of election
administration, including providing in-person voting services both before and on Election Day,
recruitment and training of election workers, preparation and programming of elections
equipment, preparation and secure storage of all election supplies and materials and voter
outreach and education. The city also works with other government partners including
Hennepin County and the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.
The Minnesota Legislature recently enacted several significant changes to election law ,
including changes to the voter registration system, a new option for voters to automatically
receive an absentee ballot, a provision for early voting that allows for additional locations and
requires extended hours of operation. These changes will impact how voters participate in
elections and our service and staffing models. Elections staff are committed to conducting
outreach and education to residents on voter services and developing materials t o inform
voters about these changes and their opportunities to participate.
The legislature has also approved funding to help municipalities with the costs of implementing
new election laws. Additional funds were also allocated to state and county election
administration offices to ensure they have adequate support. Additional information on access
to this funding will be forthcoming from the county and state.
This report will provide an overview of the dates and details of the upcoming elections and how
the city will be affected by the new laws. This report will also explain the specifics of the new
laws and their implications for the city and voters.
Financial or budget considerations: Costs related to administration of elections are included in
the 2023 and 2024 budgets.
Strategic priority consideration: St. Louis Park is committed to creating opportunities to build
social capital through community engagement.
Supporting documents: N/A
Prepared by: Michael Sund, civic engagement coordinator
Reviewed by: Melissa Kennedy, city clerk
Cheyenne Brodeen, administrative services director
Approved by: Kim Keller, city manager
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 3) Page 2
Title: Elections cycle overview
Discussion
Overview of most pertinent changes to election law
• Voter registration eligibility
The voter registration eligibility criteria have been updated to include more voters. Individuals
who are serving a felony sentence but are not incarcerated can now register and vote.
Individuals who are 16 years of age or older can pre-register and will be automatically
registered to vote when they turn 18.
• Automatic voter registration
The state government will implement a new system that will automatically register new voters
when they complete certain transactions with state agencies. This system is expected to be
operational by 2024. Voters will receive a postcard after they are registered and will have the
option to cancel their registration by returning the postcard within 20 days.
• Permanent absentee list
Voters will have the opportunity to sign up for a permanent absentee list that will allow them
to automatically receive an absentee ballot through the mail for every election starting after
June 2024. Voters who are already on the list to automatically receive absentee ballot
applications will be transferred to the new list.
• Direct balloting
The direct balloting period (time during which a person can vote prior to Election Day and place
their ballot directly into a machine) will be extended from 7 days to 18 days beginning in 2023.
Expanded hours of operation for this service are also required during the 2024 state general
election.
Other Changes:
• Health care facility voting expanded to allow the process to be used in assisted living
facilities
• Additional protections for election workers, ballot board members and administrators
• Clarified restrictions on campaigning in a polling location
• Additional funding for election administration
• Expanded hours and criteria for agent delivery of ballots
• Additional accessibility options for voters with disabilities
• Additional restriction on party-appointed challengers on Election Day
• Secretary of State designed task force on elections, including a study of potential for
statewide ranked-choice voting implementation
• Requirements for multilingual election workers in precincts with census determined
need
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 3) Page 3
Title: Elections cycle overview
Projected 2023-24 elections calendar
2023 municipal general election – key dates
Dates:
• In person absentee and vote by mail ballots available – Sept. 22
• Voter pre-registration deadline – Oct. 17
• Direct balloting at city hall – Oct. 20
• Election Day – Nov. 7
Hours:
• In person voting before Election Day Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Special in person voting before Election Day:
o Saturday Nov. 4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
o Monday Nov. 6, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Offices on the ballot:
• Mayor
• Councilmember At Large A & B
• School board member
2024 Presidential Nomination Primary – key dates
Dates:
• In Person absentee and vote by mail ballots available – Jan. 19, 2024
• Pre-registration deadline – Feb. 13, 2024
• Direct balloting at city hall – Feb. 16, 2024
• Election Day – Mar. 5, 2024
Hours:
• In person voting before Election Day Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Special in person voting before Election Day:
o Saturday Mar. 2, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
o Monday Mar. 4, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Offices on the ballot:
• Nomination for major parties for the office of President of the United States
State Primary – key dates
Dates:
• In Person absentee and vote by mail ballots available – June 28, 2024
• Pre-registration deadline – July 23, 2024
• Direct balloting – July 26, 2024
• Election Day – Aug. 13, 2024
Hours:
• In person voting before Election Day Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Special in person voting before Election Day:
o Tuesday Aug. 6, 2024, 8 a.m. – 7p.m.
o Saturdays Aug. 3 & Aug. 10, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
o Sunday Aug. 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
o Monday Aug. 12, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Study session meeting of June 26, 2023 (Item No. 3) Page 4
Title: Elections cycle overview
Offices on the ballot – Partisan primary:
• U.S. Senate
• U.S. Representative
• Minnesota House Representative
State general election – key dates
Dates:
• In Person absentee and vote by mail ballots available – Sept. 20, 2024
• Pre-registration deadline – Oct. 15, 2024
• Early voting – Oct. 18, 2024
• Election Day – Nov. 5, 2024
Hours:
• In person voting before Election Day Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Special in person voting before Election Day:
o Tuesday Oct. 29, 2024, 8 a.m. – 7p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 26 & Nov. 2. - 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
o Sunday Nov. 3, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
o Monday Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Offices on the ballot:
• President of the United States
• U.S. Senate
• U.S. Representative
• Minnesota House Representative
• State and Federal judges