Photo credit: Kyle Mianulli
Councilmember Russ Stark's Ward 4 E-News
January 2014
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In This Issue
Need your input
Homelessness
2013 in Review

Quick links

 
Opportunities for you to weigh in
  • Do you have thoughts about pedestrian safety and traffic at the intersection of Snelling and Selby? Fill out this survey and/or attend a community meeting to discuss on Tuesday, January 14, 6:30-8:30pm, at O'Gara's.  
  • The City of St Paul intends to build the third phase of the Marshall Green Streets project -- a planted median at Marshall and Wilder to reduce turning conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, and to allow pedestrians to cross in two phases. District 13's Neighborhood Issues Committee will be discussing the project at its January 21 meeting (6-7:30pm at Merriam Park Rec Center). You can also submit comments to me by February 7, or testify at a public hearing on the budget amendment for the project on February 19 at 5:30pm.  
  • Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Hamline Midway Community Plan on February 7. More info here.  
  • Public Hearing on zoning text amendments to allow source- separated organic material to be dropped off at yard waste sites. February 5 at 5:30pm, more info on the amendments here. 
  • 2014 Sustainable Saint Paul Award nominations due March 27. Nominate a worthy individual or group now! 
What the City is doing about homelessness and what you can do to help 


The newly announced Dorothy Day Center ReVision plan to relocate, enhance, and rebuild the service structure offered in Downtown St. Paul, coupled with our recent bout of extreme cold temperatures, has elevated an important discussion about services for the homeless in our community. Recently, a panel of State agencies identified a set of strategies for eliminating homelessness for Minnesota veterans by 2015 and for eliminating homelessness for all in Minnesota by 2020. On any given night in our state, about 10,000 people experience homelessness, and half of those people are children. A new Dorothy Day Center designed to serve as both an overnight shelter and to offer day services, as well as apartments to help transition people out of homelessness, would be a huge step in the right direction in Saint Paul. To learn more about the Dorothy Day ReVision plan, as well as how you can help make it a reality, visit this site.

Prior Crossing project rendering 

Another important project in St. Paul is Beacon Interfaith Housing's proposed Prior Crossing project, which would be located in Ward 4 at University and Prior Avenues and house up to 40 teens and young adults experiencing homelessness. Beacon, Catholic Charities, advocacy groups, services providers and others around the state are hoping that the Legislature and Governor Dayton will continue to be a big part of the solution in 2014. Behind the banner of Homes for All, they are requesting $100 million in state bonding for affordable housing, some of which would go to housing serving those experiencing homelessness. These resources along with increases in funding for the ongoing operations and maintenance costs of providing housing for the homeless will be critical if we are to make real progress on this issue in our community and state in the near future. Please consider reaching out to the Governor and your legislators about this important issue in Saint Paul and beyond.  

2013 in Review 
  • The City conducted a comprehensive community assessment on the topic of recycling and solid waste, which produced an interesting report and key findings. I am excited for the service changes that will start in April 2014 and be phased over the next several years.

  • Bang Brewing
    Bang Brewing 
  • Ward 4 welcomed Bang Brewing in 2013 and anxiously awaits the openings of Burning Brothers Brewing and Urban Growler Brewing Company in 2014. I was pleased to work with the industry and City staff to review the zoning requirements for small-scale brewers like these, making it easier for them to set up shop.
  • Metro Transit continued work with the technical and community advisory committees to get ready for Rapid Bus on Snelling Avenue in 2015.
    Saint Paul Open Streets 
    Highlights of Saint Paul Open Streets
     
  • The City hosted its first Open Streets event on University Avenue and its first Better Block event on E 7th in Dayton's Bluff.  
  • Thanks to some tireless PTO volunteers, generous sponsors, as well as collaboration between the City and school district, Chelsea Heights Elementary built a beautiful new playground. Watch a video highlight reel here. 
  • Significant progress on a streetcar feasibility study that led to a draft long-term network. More on that network, and upcoming public input opportunities in January here. 
  • In 2009, I authored a Council resolution to bolster the City's attention to urban agriculture issues. The most recent result of that action was the 2013 approval of Urban Agriculture Zoning Amendments that went through extensive community process to clarify our regulations and in some cases make food production in Saint Paul easier.  
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