SUNFISH LAKE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 25, 2023
FIRST CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH – 5495 S ROBERT TRAIL
6:30 P.M.
Attendants:
Mayor: Dan O’Leary
Councilmembers: Shari Hansen, Mike Hovey, and Shannon Nelson
Police Chief: Brian Sturgeon
City Clerk: Christy Wilcox
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Provide Update on Governor Walz Moving into Sunfish Lake
Mayor O’Leary updated the residents that Governor Walz will not be moving into Sunfish Lake. The City Council wanted to proceed with this meeting as residents did have concerns and they wanted to address those should a similar situation occur in the future. Mayor O’Leary introduced Chief Sturgeon.
- Chief Sturgeon went over his background in law enforcement and introduced the other Police Department staff that were present. Chief Sturgeon discussed how they handled the unrest with the George Floyd incident, and he stated that they will not allow damage to property during any civil unrest. Chief Sturgeon talked about the many protests that they have handled over the years and that each protest is different.
- Chief Sturgeon went over Ordinance No. 2022-01 relating to the prohibition of targeted residential picketing.
- Chief Sturgeon discussed the preparation for protests and the agreements West St. Paul has with other agencies such as Dakota County, Ramsey County, Washington County, the State Patrol and the DNR.
- Comments from the Public:
- A resident asked who to call if they would like to see more patrol cars going up and down the streets in Sunfish Lake. The resident asked what they could do to help the Police Officers. At this time, Chief Sturgeon went over the handouts that were available for tonight’s meeting and discussed the Sunfish Lake police call statistics for the period January 1, 2020 to April 5, 2023. Chief Sturgeon asked that if a resident sees something suspicious they please call the Police Department ASAP. This is the most important thing to remember.
- A resident said this is the first that they heard about the actions of the Police Department during the George Floyd unrest and they wanted to thank the Police Department for their service to the community.
- A resident was disappointed that they did not hear about the Governor moving into town earlier from the Mayor or City Council. The Mayor explained that he only heard a few days before it was publicized and he was told it was confidential. It was communicated to the residents as soon as it could be.
- A resident asked if there is a possibility of not allowing rental of properties. The Mayor noted that this was discussed in the past and it was determined the City did not want to consider prohibiting rentals at that time.
- A resident asked about the hotel located off Robert Street, as there are frequent Police Agencies at the location.
- A resident asked if the calls for service in Sunfish Lake have improved. The calls for service have been going down.
- A resident thanked the City Council for having this meeting and helping residents to understand that there was a plan.
- A resident would like everyone to support each other and help when they can.
- A resident reminded other residents to set up a neighborhood watch group. It has worked very well for their neighborhood.
Mayor O’Leary provided an update on the letter he sent to the CEO of Xcel Energy regarding the failure to provide any information during the last storm, where several homes did not have power for an extended period of time. Xcel Energy has extended their deepest apology and has already begun the necessary actions so this will not happen again. The Mayor indicated that Sunfish Lake was not on the contact list, which was the reason that there were no updates being provided. Xcel Energy has now been provided with the contact information for Sunfish Lake.
- Adjournment
Mayor O’Leary adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m.
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Christy Wilcox, City Clerk Dan O’Leary, Mayor
We are a small community proud of our heritage and committed to the preservation of our pristine, rural character. We cherish our privacy, yet know we are part of a thriving Dakota County and the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area. With these partnerships in mind, we strive to preserve that unique spirit which is Sunfish Lake, Minnesota.