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Saint Paul
Councilmember Russ Stark's
Ward 4 E-News

June 3, 2010
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The Gulf Oil Spill: Context for our Work

BPspill_APphoto
As crude oil continues to spill into the Gulf of Mexico at an alarming rate (click here for an idea of the scale of the spill), threatening the ecology and economy of that entire region, we are reminded of the many, many reasons we should all be working to find ways to lessen our reliance on fossil fuels. 

In Saint Paul, we use the most fossil fuel in: 1) heating, cooling, and powering our buildings, 2) fueling our cars and other transportation modes, and 3) growing and distributing our food. These will continue to be areas of policy focus for me, and I hope you will make Saint Paul a leader in these areas.  While the problem of energy security can be daunting and expensive, solutions are not.  In fact, many are simple and inexpensive, and also build healthier, more resilient communities.

Think about how expensive the clean-up of the oil spill will be, and then think about how far those same resources could go if applied to better insulating homes, improving facilities for bicycling and transit, and improving access to local food. So let's use the oil spill in the Gulf as a reminder of all the reasons that we must continue to make changes in the way we live, so that our children will have every opportunity that we do to live happy, healthy, meaningful lives.
house with keys and earthGreat New Opportunity to Improve Home Energy Efficiency

The City of St. Paul is offering a great deal for homeowners interested in making high-impact improvements to their home's energy efficiency.  The Energy Smart Homes program offers up to $6,500 to pay for home energy efficiency improvements recommended after an Xcel energy home energy audit.  Eligible improvements include new high-efficiency furnaces/boilers, insulation, and air-sealing.

In my home in Hamline Midway, my wife and I did all the above improvements and our winter natural gas bills declined by nearly 40% over 12 months.

Funds are provided in a no-interest loan that does not have to be paid back until you sell your home. Only 100-150 households will be able to participate (based on current funding levels). Submit your simple application before the June 11 deadline.  Participants will be selected through a random lottery.

A related program provides a $200 per unit rebate to residential rental property owners who replaces older, less efficient refrigerators with new Energy Star rated units.
New State Complete Streets Policy passes

e-news header April 2010
The State Legislature approved (with bipartisan support), and the Governor signed, this years' Transportation Bill which included a new Complete Streets Policy.  Complete Streets means that all road construction and reconstruction projects must be planned and designed with consideration given to all users - motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit vehicles, trucks, and emergency vehicles.  I authored and the Council and Mayor approved a Resolution in March 2009 establishing a Complete Streets Policy for St. Paul.  We were the second community in Minnesota to approve such a policy.

Complete Streets optimizes mobility and accessibility for all users, with a special emphasis on ensuring protections for the most vulnerable users, including people in wheelchairs, and seniors and children on foot or bicycle.  This does not mean that every street in St. Paul will end up having sidewalks on both sides of the street, or that every street will have design features to accommodate bicycles or trucks.  But it does mean that the needs of these users must be taken into account on every street, and that over time the City will work to fill in gaps that will improve mobility and accessibility for all users.

I continue to work with City staff to ensure that a "Complete Streets" approach pervades all of the processes by which streets in St. Paul are constructed and re-constructed.
Central Corridor Update: Good News

downtown utility work
The bid packages for the St. Paul portion of the light rail project have been made public, and at first blush the news appears to be all good.  The total package in St. Paul was budgeted to cost $236 millions, and 6 bids ranged from $206 million to $245 million.  The Central Corridor Project Office of the Metropolitan Council is currently analyzing the bids and will offer a contract to the lowest responsible bidder in June.

Just a reminder that heavy construction on University Avenue will be in 2011 west of Hamline Avenue, and in 2012 east of Hamline Avenue.  In each case, in one construction season, the street and sidewalk work will be completed, and the work on the tracks and stations will begin.  After that initial construction season, work will continue on the tracks, stations, and medians, but the street will begin functioning close to normal.
Photo credits: BP oil spill photo by the Associated Press; Complete Streets photo by Laura Sandt; Downtown LRT construction photo from Met Council.
In This Issue
The Gulf Oil Spill
Energy Smart Homes
State Complete Streets Policy
Central Corridor Update
Ward 4 in the News
Ward 4 Businesses

Action Opportunities

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Shirtz Unlimited
Shirtz
This month, Hamline Midway business, Shirtz Unlimited is our featured business.  Everett's involvement with tending the Snelling Avenue planters every year is a good example of the many contributions our small businesses make to neighborhoods in Saint Paul.

Don't forget to tell us about your favorite Ward 4 small businesses.