The City of St. Paul Park City Council voted 3-0 Thursday to approve filling a part-time Community Service Officer (CSO) position at a starting wage of $20 per hour and to post the vacancy.

The move, made as new business after the council approved a consent agenda, aims to return ordinance-enforcement capacity to the city and reduce time municipal police officers spend on noncriminal code-enforcement matters.

City Administrator Walsh said the $20 hourly rate is accounted for in the 2025 CSO budget and that the action authorizes the city to post the vacancy. “It’s to go out for posting,” Walsh said. The council then voted to adopt the item with a 3-0 tally.

Why it matters: Council members and the police chief described the CSO role as a front-line code-enforcement position that answers complaints, performs visible inspections from the street or alley, issues documented notices and — when needed — initiates court citations if property owners do not return to compliance. Council members said staffing the position would free sworn officers to focus on higher-priority calls.

During an extended discussion, the police chief explained how the complaint and enforcement process works. “If the complaint is not observed by the CSO, then it needs to be reported to us … the preference would be you call dispatch,” the chief said, describing the city’s online ordinance-violation form and dispatch pathway. The chief said officers or a CSO verify visible violations, attempt voluntary contact with property owners, and send a written notice that typically gives 14 days to correct violations. The chief added that the city may grant extensions for complex situations and that unresolved cases can result in citations and court proceedings.

Council members pressed on recruitment and pay. One council member noted the prior CSO starting pay had been $18 per hour and questioned whether $20 would attract applicants. The mayor replied, “I can't even get people through the door at the cafe for 20 an hour,” and another council member said market rates for similar positions elsewhere are higher, noting $23 and up in neighboring communities. Council members also said the position is part time, hours are flexible (examples cited ranged from about 10 to 20 hours per week), and the city has previously accommodated students and workers with other full-time jobs.

The council clarified the posting will reflect part-time status and that the city can hire and terminate at will. Officials said the CSO would prioritize incoming complaints, then use downtime for proactive patrols of the city.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes for the Feb. 18, 2025 postponed council meeting — approved as moved/seconded; vote recorded as 3-0.
- Consent agenda (approved as moved/seconded by motion): approved 3-0. Items on the consent agenda included renewing an addendum to the Attenas site agreement with Xcel Energy; purchase of a 1-ton public works pickup truck (budget amendment noted); payment number 4 on a generator construction contract; renewal of an agreement with Washington County on rain gardens; adoption of Resolution No. 17-38 (plans/specifications and authorization to advertise for bids for Third Street reconstruction); Ordinance No. 775 (amending Ordinance 610 to extend an electric franchise) and Ordinance No. 776 (amending Ordinance 609 to extend a gas franchise) with Xcel Energy (extensions cited as required by state statute); and adoption of Resolution No. 17-39 approving a lawful gambling permit for Willie’s Hidden Harbor in partnership with the Woodbury Athletic Association.
- Item F (new business): Approve filling the Community Service Officer position at $20 per hour — motion to adopt passed 3-0.

What council members and staff said: Council Member Swenson moved to approve the consent agenda minus item F so the council could discuss the CSO separately; the motion passed. The mayor moved to adopt item F (the CSO hire authorization) later in the meeting; that motion passed 3-0. The chief and Walsh supplied operational details and budget context; council members raised recruitment and enforcement-process questions.

Additional council business: The council heard an update that five applications were received for a vacant council seat; the mayor said candidates will be invited to a future meeting to give two-minute statements and the council will vote at a later date. City staff also said they will advertise plans for the Third Street reconstruction project and seek bids this spring.

Background and next steps: The CSO posting will go out following the council’s authorization. Officials said the position is intended to be flexible in hours, will be hired under the city’s part-time rules and budgeted for 2025, and will perform complaint response, documentation and limited proactive patrols. The council did not set a specific hire date; recruitment and selection will follow the posting and applicant review process.

No formal changes to city ordinances were made during the CSO discussion; council members said existing ordinances generally allow the enforcement steps staff described but that practical obstacles — for example, properties in probate or owners who cannot afford cleanup — sometimes limit enforcement outcomes.