WB Interstate 94 closed this weekend...

As the City continues work on the Highway 52 Lafayette Bridge east of downtown St. Paul, they will close westbound Interstate 94 between Hwy 61 and I-35E this coming weekend.

 The road will close at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, weather permitting.

You'll need to find an alternate route to bypass the closure, such as westbound I-694 to southbound I-35E or southbound Highway 61 to westbound I-494.

The Lafayette Bridge will remain open throughout the weekend but there will be no access from northbound Highway 52 to westbound I-94.

Statewide traffic, construction and travel information is available atwww.511mn.org, or call 5-1-1.

All Things Railroad

Here is a link to an article from the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District about the CP Rail construction and the fight we and the city have put up to protect Pigs Eye Lake...  http://therippleeffectmn.blogspot.com/2014/11/wetland-versus-railroad-who-decides.html


And then, if you want to sign an online petition to the Federal Rail Administration about the oil tankers moving along the river, here is the link to that.  http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/enforce-railroad-health?source=c.em.mt&r_by=10890623

We STRONGLY suggest that you add a comment about changing the noise regulations while they are at it so that the negative impacts of braking noise on residents' health can also be addressed.

D1 Board Meeting Summary - November 2014

The District 1 Community Council Board met on Monday, November 24 for a business meeting. In attendance were Sawyer (Pres), Mohr (VPres), Westerberg (Treas), Fuehrer (Acting Secretary), Clark, Peterson, DeLaTorre, Yang, Melendez, Barrett, Turner and Harper (newly appointed director). Also in attendance was Ellis (Cmsr McDonough's office) and Leach (D1 staff).

We were to hear from Kathryn Harris of radio station WEQY, the new low-frequency, eastside station, but she did not appear.

We approved our 1st quarter financial reports, approved the draft budget for 2015, and approved the work plan for 2015. In addition we had updates on our job applicant pool - 5 applications were submitted and will be passed on to the personnel committee.

We appointed Harper, Tharbs and Ali to the board to fill vacant seats. These individuals will need to run again at our March annual meeting.

We discussed projects in the district and across the eastside, including, the Cross-Cultural Dialogue Project, Young Mentors' Group, Eastside Promise Zone application, and Freedom School at SunRay. We are taking nominations for the neighborhood Honor Roll.

Our President, Paul Sawyer, announced that he is running for the Ward 7 City Council seat being vacated by Kathy Lantry. As a result, he is taking a leave of absence as board President until after his party's caucus in February. In the meantime, Tom Mohr will serve as board President.

There will be no District 1 Board Meeting in December.

REMINDER - Job Application Deadline Nov 21

See the October 28 blog posting for our Youth Organizer position description. Job applications (resume plus cover letter addressing how your background addresses the required qualifications) must be postmarked by NOVEMBER 21.

Counties Transit Improvement Board Supports Gateway Corridor with Two Grants

The Counties Transit Improvement Board acted Nov. 19 on its annual grant awards, signaling its continued commitment to advancing transit projects across the region. Two grants totaling $1.32 million will go to the Gateway Corridor, a 12-mile proposed bus rapid transit line between downtown Saint Paul and Woodbury, along Interstate 94 and Hudson Road.

Grants were awarded to transit projects in Washington, Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota and Anoka counties, providing regional balance, according to Washington County Commissioner Lisa Weik, chair of the Gateway Corridor Commission.

“Regional equity is important for the success of our growing transit system,” said Commissioner Weik. “I commend the Counties Transit Improvement Board for their commitment to the entire region’s prosperity.”

Gateway’s Preliminary Engineering and the Final Environmental Impact Statement phases of the Federal Transit Administration’s Project Development process will be supported by a $600,000 grant from the Counties Transit Improvement Board.

Another $720,000 grant will help bridge the period between the end of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the start of the Project Development process. Work activities will include preparation for Project Development, station area planning and public engagement. Part of the $720,000 will be used to match a requested $1 million federal grant for transit-oriented development, if the grant is awarded.

Gateway Corridor’s neighbor, the Red Rock Corridor, also received a $360,000 grant to work on its implementation plan. A total of 14 grants for capital and operating investments were awarded Nov. 19 totaling $141 million.  The primary funding source for the grants is a quarter cent transit sales tax collected in member counties, Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington.

With the two new grants to be used in 2015, the Counties Transit Improvement Board has invested more than $4 million to advance the Gateway Corridor proposal. In addition, the board has made a commitment to fund 35 percent of the capital cost if the project gets final approval.

About the Gateway Corridor rapid transit project

Gateway is a proposed bus rapid transit line that would run 12 miles in its own lane between the Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul and Woodbury next to Interstate 94 and Hudson Road. All-day transit service would stop at 12 stations and include connections to the growing regional transit system. The system could open for service by 2022 and will provide a focal point for new economic development opportunities as the region grows. The work is led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, which is comprised of local elected officials, business and community leaders. More information is available at www.theGatewayCorridor.com. 

Garage Burglary ALERT!

Due to an increase of garage burglaries and thefts, Saint Paul police are asking all residents to keep all doors and windows to garages LOCKED at all times.

Report any activity that is unusual or suspicious in your neighborhood by calling 9-1-1 at any time, day or night, to report a possible crime in progress.

Please provide a description of person(s) and vehicle make, model, color and license plate numbers.

Consider the following suggestions:

• Install deadbolts and fortify door frames on all service doors to garages.
• Install a layer of plexiglass or metal mesh over glass windows, especially door windows.
• Install motion detector lights on all sides of garage with windows.
• Take everything out of your vehicle in the garage.
• Lock your vehicle when parked in your garage.
• Record all model and serial numbers of possessions.
• Change the code of the garage door opener, if possible.
• Lock overhead doors from inside and exit service door.
• Call our Community Services Unit to request a free home premise survey at 651-266-5485.

If you park outside, remember that according to city ordinance, Section 157.07, it is against the law to leave your vehicle running unattended to "warm up". Vehicles must be turned off, ignition locked, and keys removed when unattended. The best theft deterrent option to consider using is a remote car starter. The engine will stall if someone tries to take the vehicle without using a key...

FREE BUS RIDES ON ELECTION DAY!!

A state law passed in 2014 requires transit providers to provide free rides on fixed-route service on Election Day this year.

The law also provides funding for agencies to cover the free rides. 

Free rides are available on the following services:

• Metro Transit buses

• All METRO Lines

• Northstar

• All Suburban providers

• Metropolitan Council buses.

NOTE: The free-ride offer is not available on Dial-A-Ride or Metro Mobility.

Free rides on buses will be available from the beginning to the end of the Nov. 4th service day (12:01AM to Midnight). Fare boxes on buses will have a cover placed over them that notes the customer of the free rides.

The bus overhead sign will read: "Vote Nov. 4"

Free rides on rail will be available from 3 a.m., November 4 through 3 a.m. November 5. Ticket vending machines will be disabled and the main screen will display the free ride message. Nov. 5. Rail card readers will either be disabled or will have a cover placed over them that notes the customer of the free rides.

Customers do not need to show or do anything to get a free ride this day.

A GREAT day to give transit a try AND get to the polls!

Minutes from October 27 Board Meeting

First quarter financial reports were presented but could not be approved because we did not have a quorum.

Presentation: Children and Nature Network (C&NN) Program Manager Lee Baker presented information about the project the C&NN is undertaking with the SunRay branch Library.  C&NN was founded by Robert Louv, author of The Last Child in the Woods – about the effects of depriving children access to the natural world. The organization has a series of programs that bring children and nature together in efforts to build leadership, healthy activity, and literacy. The project at our library will involve bringing literacy-promotion activities into the parklands around the library and Conway Rec Center. There will be a series of focus groups with identified communities in the area to help define cultural relationships with nature and to develop a curriculum around wanted and needed activities. Then in May of 2015 there will be a celebration of the roll-out of the curriculum that will include the planting of 50-60 trees in the park. Both the Mayor and Robert Louv are expected to attend the May celebration. The redesign of the library incorporates various themes about nature with an outdoor children’s reading/play area. The SunRay branch of the library is being used as a model of a “Nature Library” that will be evaluated and applied in other cities in the future. C&NN is in partnership with both 3M and Wells Fargo, in addition to the community here, as it develops the curriculum and defines activities.

Attendees were reminded that the grand re-opening of SunRay Library will be Saturday, November 15 from 1-5p. There will be an opportunity there for residents to weigh in on the types of activities they would like to see at the Library and in the park.

Residents Tharbs and Harper introduced themselves. They, along with Ali (not in attendance) are seeking to fill vacancies on our board created by the departures of Xiong, McDonough, and Nixon. Because we did not have a quorum, we could not take action on this request.

Sawyer discussed the departure of staff member Young and the process underway to hire a new Youth Organizer. The award of our grant from McNeely Foundation enables us to increase hours for the Organizer, and to shift funds so that the Exec Director/Organizer can also have increased hours. This reforming of the staffing plan will allow us to increase the overall weekly coverage by two full days per week.

Leach presented the draft budget and workplan for first discussion. A final draft of each will be brought back at the November meeting for final approval.

The November Board Meeting will be November 24 at 6:30 at a location to be determined.

Meeting adjourned at 7:43p

Job Opening at District 1

JOB OPENING for Community Organizer (Youth Focus)

The District 1 Community Council is the officially recognized neighborhood planning organization for the Eastview, Conway, Battle Creek and Highwood Hills neighborhoods of southeast Saint Paul. Our mission is to build a more vibrant and welcoming community by working with those who live and work in our four neighborhoods, and to do so in partnership with government and other nonprofit organizations.

Location and Setting: Our office is in the Sun Ray Shopping Center in planning district #1 for the City of Saint Paul. We are located at 2105 ½ Old Hudson Road, Saint Paul, MN 55119. We share space with the Saint Paul Police Storefront at the shopping center. The district is undergoing rapid demographic change with increasing populations of African American, African immigrant, Hmong and Latino residents, and a white population that is 45% of the total (and declining). We have proportionately greater numbers of youth and elders than the city as a whole. We have a geographically restricted business community dominated by franchises, and we have many large parks.

Description: This job is a part-time position at 35 hours/week for one year, with potential for extension. The work week runs Tuesday through Saturday with evening hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and morning/afternoon hours on Saturday. Our staff consists of two people, both working part-time. The job involves community building through work with youth and their families, and includes organizing an annual community-wide event. The position also involves work with the Youth Task Force of the District 1 Board, the Young Mentors’ Group and with the Youth Council, as well as with partner organizations and community groups. This is an organizing, not an advocacy position. General office coverage and shared office tasks are also involved. The job provides holidays, paid time off, and FICA but no overtime, health or retirement benefits. The rate of pay is $15.00/hour.

Required Job Skills:

At least one year experience with community organizing (in a paid or volunteer position), preferably with youth

Ability to work both independently and on collaborative teams

Ability to work with youth and families from a variety of cultures and backgrounds

Strong communication skills, both written and oral

Strong time management skills

Attention to detail

Strong problem-solving skills

Ability to think creatively and make adjustments to work “on the fly”

Willingness to coordinate large events

Understanding of the non-profit setting

Strong sense of ethics

Commitment to principles of equity, openness and collaboration

Willingness to pitch in where help is needed.

Desired but not required Job Skills:

Some college background

Fluency in more than one language

Experience working with and managing volunteers

Experience with event planning

Application Process:

Send a letter of interest highlighting how you meet the job requirements, along with a resume and two references, to:

            Personnel Committee

            District 1 Community Council

            2105 ½ Old Hudson Rd.

            Saint Paul, MN 55119

Deadline for Applications: November 21, 2014

Expected Start Date: January 2, 2015

Applications will be reviewed by the Personnel Committee followed by interviews in mid- December.

For more information or questions about the process contact Betsy Leach, Executive Director, at 651-578-7600

Check out the current version of the Saint Paul Bike Plan

An updated draft of the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan is available on the project website. The updated draft includes some important revisions from the first draft presented in January 2014 in response to public comments received on the draft. Notable revisions include the following:

• An expanded scope to include topics such as bicycle parking, traffic signals, bicycle counting, and other topics.
• A revised title ("Saint Paul Bicycle Plan") that better reflects the expanded scope of the plan.
• An updated format to enhance the readability of the plan.
• Action Items to guide future work.
• Revised and expanded maps to reflect many of the comments received throughout the public comment period for the draft plan.
• Prioritization guidance and implementation recommendations.

You can view and download the plan materials at the project website.

The plan adoption process is anticipated to take several months and will include additional opportunities for public involvement and comment. Dates and times of these opportunities will be presented on the project website as they become available. The plan must be approved by the Transportation Committee and the Planning Commission before receiving final approval from the City Council and the Mayor. It is anticipated that the plan will be presented to the City Council in February 2015.

Conway Trophies??

The City is getting ready to do some recycling at Conway Rec Center. Before that happens, though, they want to give people a chance to claim any of many sports trophies that have collected over the years. If you have a personal or family interest in sports trophies from the years when Conway Rec was a powerhouse for city sports leagues, come to the Rec Center on Saturday, October 11 from noon to 2p to take home some of the trophies for posterity.

Several key trophies will be saved for display. Other trophies not claimed will be recycled.

County Meets with Community About Boys Totem Town

On Tuesday, September 30 about 50 neighbors and concerned county residents came together with County Commissioner Jim McDonough and staff of Ramsey County Corrections to talk about Boys Totem Town and juvenile corrections. Although there were some questions about what happens to the site should Boys Totem Town merge with Hennepin County’s residential facility and move to a different location, most of the questions centered on how a potential merger would affect youth and the community.

Commissioner McDonough began the evening with an explanation of what has happened so far in the reevaluation of Boys Totem Town and its current site. In August, there was a joint meeting of both Hennepin and Ramsey County commissioners where all fully agreed that they should continue to look into whether a merger between their facilities would be feasible. It may take one to two years to figure out whether a merger could actually work. In general, correction professionals say it would be a good idea since the two counties have similar approaches to youth corrections, there are similar aged youth in both programs, and the risk levels of each of the groups held in the two residential facilities are similar. However, actually it will be a decision made by the elected commissioners. First they need to examine whether the bureaucratic structures of the two corrections systems can be made compatible.

Questions asked by the attendees included:

Doesn’t a merger of the two facilities at either of the existing sites impose a burden on families from the other county whose children will be housed there? Isn’t the point of the facilities to keep children close to their families? – response: These children are pretty mobile but the county would be looking for a place that is easily accessible and on transit. Ramsey County currently already sends some of its youth to Hennepin County.

What about differences that youth from different cities have with each other, including potential conflicts between gangs from the two cities? – response: The staff at these facilities know how to deal with different gangs. Their purpose is to teach the youth how to get along. They also work with various community groups to help deal with these issues.

How is Ramsey County working to keep children out of the system in the first place? – response: The decline in numbers of youth in both Ramsey and Hennepin County residential facilities demonstrate that what is happening now is doing just that. They work with such organizations as St. Paul Youth Services, 180 Degrees, curfew officers on this. But once kids get into the system, there needs to be a place for those who need to be removed from their homes, or who have a repeated history of violations. A follow-up comment from the audience – The county should be looking at how to integrate smaller organizations into this effort as well as the larger nonprofits.

Is this plan being explored just to fill the beds at facilities? – response: They are trying to “right size” the facilities to the current and projected need, which is less than what it was before.

Is there a pre-design for the site if there is a merger and the facility is here at Totem Town, or if Totem Town leaves this site? There is a concern that the community should be in on the conversation now. – response: There is no ulterior motive for this work. What happens at the site should not take precedence over what is good for the kids.

Questions about the process – What is the $30 million for? Who is the consultant? How long until a decision is made and who makes that decision? – response: The $30 million is to do the work that will eventually produce a plan. At the moment the only outcome being explored is whether it is feasible to merge with Hennepin County. If that is not feasible, other options already outlined will be explored. Hennepin County is paying for the same consultant to do this current exploration that Ramsey County used in defining its multiple options. This allows for some efficiencies in process and some continuity. The ultimate decision will be elected County Commissioners and both sets of county judges who work with the youth.

What gets kids into Boys Totem Town vs other parts of the juvenile corrections system? – response: 80% of the youth at BTT have mental health issues. Many have chemical dependency issues. Many have had many failures in the community, but they are not considered a risk to themselves or to others. Those who end up in Red Wing tend to be gang members and considered a risk to the safety of themselves or others. There would be no change to this framework after any merger. Currently 75-80% of BTT parents are involved in classes and therapy along with the youth.

Questions related to what happens at the site should BTT leave:

A statement was made that the determination of use is already set in stone through a 1990 localized land use plan stating that it should become parkland. - Response: The District 1 Community Council is updating its community plan and this one statement will be reevaluated given that we have an entirely different community and circumstances in 2014 than we had in 1990. A draft of the plan will be rolled out later this year for community response and refinement.

A community member stated that she did not want and there was no need for more low income housing. – response: There is no point in making plans for what should or should not be at the site since no determination has been made to leave.

Another community member stated that he felt BTT was a community asset and didn’t want to see it leave.

The County has committed to coming back with updates twice a year until this is all decided.

Summary of D1 9/22 meeting - Youth and Justice

The District 1 Community Council Board met on Monday, September 22 to talk about how our youth are treated by the criminal justice system here in Saint Paul. In attendance were Kathy Lantry (City Council President and our councilmember) and Joann Ellis (aide to County Commissioner Jim McDonough).  Residents of the area talked about their personal experiences from this summer with police interaction with youth. These experiences included harassment and intimidation that seemed particularly directed at youth of color. There is concern that the police are targeting youth of color and this seems to be borne out by the disproportionate number of youth of color, particularly African American youth, in the criminal justice system.

Our city officials think that the police are unaware that the community feels there is a potential problem, and that this summer’s efforts in community outreach by the police were not well-received. Council member Lantry suggested that community members, and the District 1 Council make a concerted effort to reach out to the police to make concerns known. But she cautioned that the community needs to have in mind what those interactions SHOULD look like.

District Council board members held up police efforts with the Somali/East African community in the Lower Afton area or in South Minneapolis as examples of on-going, personalized interactions between police and youth that seem to be more positive. The general consensus was that one-shot picnics or pick up ball games were not effective in building good relations between police and the community.

There was also discussion of the process that the County is undertaking in coming to a decision about what to do with Boys Totem Town. The community wants to know what remains to be decided, who makes the decisions, and how the community can provide input. The potential choices for Totem Town (rebuild as single entity in current location, co-locate with Hennepin County at current location, co-locate with Hennepin County at Hennepin County location, or co-location with Hennepin County at a new location) have a greater impact on this community other than the land use implications. Those land use implications are enormous and should be prepared for, but there is also the question of how the decision impacts the racial inequities in the criminal justice system that affect every part of the Saint Paul community.

The community is reminded that the latter questions about Boys Totem Town can be asked at the upcoming meeting with County Commissioner Jim McDonough and Juvenile Corrections staff on Tuesday, September 30 at 6:30p at Battle Creek Rec (75 S. Winthrop St.). This meeting is open to the entire Ramsey County community and interested parties.

Time to Rethink SunRay Shopping Center??

In 1967, Sun Ray Shopping Center looked like this.... Doesn't look much different than it does now, right? Is it time to rethink? Have things changed at all since 1967? With Gateway Corridor transit line proposed here, can we take this opportunity to redesign for the 21st century??

from the Minnesota Historical Society - Sun Ray Shopping Center looking east.

Meet the D1 Board

At our Monday, September 22, Board/Community meeting, we thought we would take a picture to show the world the fantastic neighborhood folks who are working for you at the district council. In this picture, starting at the back row left is Tom Mohr (Vice President), Phil Fuehrer (District 1 News editor), Gordon Westerberg (Treasurer), Paul Sawyer (President), Ebony Young (D1 Youth Organizer), and Matthew Barrett (Director). Front row starting at the left is Garneth Peterson (Land Use Chair), Pauline Nixon (Director), Christopher Melendez (Director), and Daniel Yang (Director).

Missing from the picture are Rose McDonough and Jay Xiong (both of whom had to recently step down for personal reasons), JoAnn Clark, Frances McAfee, Timothy Turner, and Liz DeLaTorre, all of whom had work or other community commitments that evening. We will try later to get a picture of all of us together.

As Executive Director, I am so grateful to be working with such a fabulous group of people!!

Governor seeks input on Rail Safety...

Governor Mark Dayton today reached out to 300 communities located along railway routes in Minnesota, asking how increased rail traffic and the volatility of oil shipments are impacting local budgets and the quality of life enjoyed by area residents.

After hosting a series of railway safety meetings across the state this summer, Governor Dayton is digging deeper with a community-by-community analysis of the local costs and impacts of increased railway traffic. The Governor will use this input to inform the state’s ongoing response to the issue, and to develop recommendations to the Legislature for how the state can help local governments address the additional costs, safety concerns, and infrastructure needs caused by a steady increase in railway traffic.

“In my meetings with local leaders across the state this summer, it became clear that increased traffic on our railways is having real and costly impacts on Minnesota communities,” said Governor Dayton. “This survey will help identify those challenges, and provide a roadmap for the state to address these problems in the 2015 Legislative Session.”

During railway safety meetings this summer, the Governor met with local leaders and emergency managers to review the state’s new railway safety laws and to discuss other ways the state can partner with communities to enhance the safety of Minnesotans. Building on those conversations, the Governor’s railway safety survey asks communities how increased freight traffic is impacting them, including:

·         What are your biggest challenges related to rail traffic?

·         What costs have your community incurred to address the increased rail traffic?

·         What additional costs does your community foresee to address the increased rail traffic? 

For a full copy of the letter sent to local governments today, click here. Citizens who have input or concerns about the impacts of increased railway traffic are encouraged to contact the Governor Dayton’s Office through this contact form on the Governor’s website.

Governor Urges Adoption of Stronger Federal Railway Safety Standards

In a separate letter to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration today, Governor Dayton urged the federal government to adopt stronger railway safety standards nationwide. The Governor’s letter, and comments submitted on behalf of the State of Minnesota, detail the increasing volume of oil shipments through the state and the dangers those shipments pose to Minnesota residents.

“Minnesota will continue to be the epicenter of Bakken oil movement for the foreseeable future as the amount of oil coming out of the Bakken region increases on a nearly daily basis,” wrote Governor Dayton. “These train movements have a significant impact on almost 3.5 million of the state’s 5 million citizens who reside in communities on Bakken oil and ethanol ‘high-hazard flammable train’ routes.”

A full copy of the Governor’s letter and comments is available here.

Come Discuss Juvenile Corrections and Boys Totem Town 9/30

Please join the District 1 community as we meet with Juvenile Corrections staff and County Commissioner Jim McDonough on Tuesday, September 30, 6:30p at Battle Creek Rec (75 S. Winthrop).

This meeting will be an update on work the county has been doing to decide the fate of the Boys Totem Town (BTT) facility and to improve how we deal with young people who get into the criminal justice system. Under discussion now is whether Ramsey County residential facility (BTT) should merge with the Hennepin County residential facility. Both have inadequate current buildings and similar approaches to juvenile corrections. But IF such a merger were to happen, where would the merged facility be located? And what implications are there in the merger for our youth, their families and their communities? What implications are there in a specific location for a merged facility for our youth, their families, and their communities? How does the decision help to address the fact that a disproportionate number of youth of color are in the juvenile justice system? How is the county reaching out to communities of color as they make these important decisions?

The community needs to know what the process is for making a decision and how they can provide input. This is a decision that affects ALL of Ramsey County, not just the immediate neighborhood of BTT.

So please come hear what the County officials have to say, and come prepared with your questions for them.

Bridge Lane Closure on Kellogg/3rd Street 9/29

Mayor Chris Coleman and Council President Kathy Lantry today announced that they will request state and federal money to immediately pursue rebuilding the Kellogg Avenue-Third Street Bridge in downtown Saint Paul and that traffic on the bridge will be indefinitely restricted to the center lanes beginning Monday, September 29. The decision comes after city engineers informed the Mayor and Council President that a recent inspection and structural analysis by an independent consultant, in coordination with MnDOT engineers, determined the bridge’s outer lanes are not adequately designed to support current traffic.

“We are acting swiftly in the interest of public safety,” said Mayor Coleman. “Obviously, the news that the bridge’s outer lanes are structurally deficient is not something we can overlook, despite the fact that the bridge has functioned for more than 30 years and the obvious challenges this will pose to movement within the city. I have directed city engineers to work immediately with county, state and federal partners on short-term traffic flow alternatives until a new bridge can be built.”

The Kellogg Avenue-Third Street Bridge was designed and built by MnDOT in the early 1980s and was turned over to the city in December 1983. It spans nearly one-half mile and is comprised of a concrete deck and beams supported on cantilevered piers. Since acquisition of the bridge, the city has performed structural inspections that comply with state and federal standards. In recent years, the city has supplemented regular inspections with increased monitoring, specialized inspection and load capacity analysis after signs of stress on the piers were found during routine inspections.

During the preliminary design phase for a project aimed at repairing the existing piers, deeper analysis found that the outer lanes do not meet what is now required under federal code to support today’s traffic without further damage to the bridge.

“This is not going to be a minor inconvenience for people as we work through the immediate and long-term challenges of redirecting traffic within the city,” said Council President Lantry. “In terms of the financial impact, we are working in collaboration with our county, state and federal partners to identify funding sources to build a new bridge as soon as possible.”

Lane closure details

The city’s Department of Public Works is making preparations to reduce vehicle traffic to three lanes with a narrower path for pedestrians and cyclists to share. The bridge will be temporarily closed beginning Friday, September 26 at 9:00 a.m. to allow for previously planned construction work on Prince Street. Engineers plan to use this opportunity to prepare the bridge with new striping, signage and other traffic devices and will reopen on Monday, September 29 at 6:00 a.m, ahead of the morning commute. Signal timing will be monitored and adjusted as needed to optimize traffic flow.

“It’s important for residents to understand that using the bridge remains safe and that the lane restrictions are the only immediately-required response to the findings,” said City Engineer John Maczko. “That said, the Kellogg-Third Street Bridge is a critically important arterial street and there is not a sufficient long-term alternative route. We need to move quickly.”

State and federal partners

The Mayor and City Council are working with state and federal partners to identify funding options for a new bridge.

Representative Sheldon Johnson said, “With the Lowertown Ballpark set to open early next year, the small and mid-sized businesses booming throughout Lowertown and the East Side, as well as the neighborhoods served by this bridge, I will advocate for state support during the next legislative session.”

For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov/Kellogg-ThirdStreetBridge. 

Interested in Oak Wilt?

Please mark your calendar for the MnSTAC Forum, Membership Meeting, and 40th Anniversary Celebration to be held under the beautiful oaks in Newell Park in Saint Paul.  Details about the Forum are below.

 

September 18, 2014

LOCATION:

Newell Park

North Fairview Avenue and Hewitt Avenue

Saint Paul, MN 55104

 

Forum  10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Bur Oak Problems

Most people seem to underestimate oak wilt as an enemy of bur oak. This misunderstanding, coupled with the presence of bur oak blight and Botryosphaeria dieback in 2014, has complicated field diagnosis of bur oak maladies. Come to this presentation to better understand the slight differences in symptoms caused by these three diseases. 

Speaker: Brian Schwingle, DNR forest health specialist for central and southern Minnesota, has worked for the Minnesota DNR for only three months, but he’s not new to the forest health world. He previously worked for the Wisconsin DNR as that state’s northern forest health specialist for the last seven years.

 

Hope to see you there!

http://www.mnstac.org/forums.html

Library Update

Here are some photos to get a view of the Sun Ray Branch Library as it is being remodeled. These will give you a sense of what we are in for once the library opens again officially in November.

Date of the Grand Re-Opening is not definitely set yet, and we are hoping that there will be a less-official opening prior to this, but it will be in November.

Check out the photos.

Firefighters work on Operation Warm...

Join the Saint Paul Firefighters union for a fundraiser to benefit OPERATION WARM on September 18 at Flat Earth Brewery. On Thursday September 18 from 6-10p the Saint Paul Firefighters are raising money to buy new winter coats for kids in need in the Daytons Bluff area. Your $25 donation in advance ($30 at the door) will go towards buying a brand new coat (American-made) for a child at Daytons Bluff Elementary. Each donation will include a complimentary beverage. The event includes brewery tours, distillery tours at neighboring 11 Wells Distillery, a silent auction, a raffle, access to a local food truck and live acoustic performances by Sam Breckenridge, Brian Cristofono, and TFarrell.

To purchase tickets, visit www.operationwarm.org/flatearth

Discussions of Merging Hennepin and Ramsey Juvenile Residential Facilities

Here is the link to the Pioneer Press article about discussions that are underway - actually have been underway for a while - about a potential merger between Ramsey and Hennepin County juvenile residential facilities - in Saint Paul, that means Boys Totem Town.

This is a huge decision to be made, and so far all discussions have been behind closed doors. This decision will affect Ramsey County youth and their families. It will disproportionately affect youth of color and their families in Ramsey County. People need to be talking about this with their elected county officials NOW.

This decision will also have a huge effect on District 1 beyond its effect on our youth. This potentially opens up a huge block of undeveloped land for who knows what kind of development.

There are needs in this neighborhood. There are needs in this city. Our children need us to stand up and start discussing with the counties the effect THEIR decisions have on US.

Here is a link to the website where you can find contact information for your county commissioner.

Recycling Updates

It has been an eventful spring and summer in Saint Paul when it comes to reducing, recycling and

composting! Since the launch of the new All In recycling program this past April, Saint Paul residents have enthusiastically embraced the new features of the program. With the introduction of single-sort recycling and the collection of additional plastics, there has already been a 16% increase in the volume of materials collected.

Participation in the Citywide Community Cleanup events also continues to be strong; 91 tons of materials were kept out of the waste stream from just three events this spring.  Residents are delivering materials and volunteering at the events from all areas of the community.  Visit stpaul.gov/comeclean to find a schedule of community cleanup events in September and October.

Participation in the organics drop off program has also exceeded expectations. Three of the four Ramsey County drop off sites have had to double the size of collection containers and increase frequency of collections due to the high volume of participants and material. This program is proving to be a well-received step in the right direction toward proper organics management. Click here to learn more.

2015 and Beyond

The City is continuing to make modifications and improvements to the recycling program. In 2015 and beyond, efforts will continue to upgrade the apartment recycling system, increase backyard composting education and expand “away from home” recycling opportunities.  Stay tuned as these programs are developed.

While it was the City’s goal to roll out wheeled, lidded carts to all Saint Paul households in the spring of 2015, the plan has been temporarily delayed due to an unexpected and significant increase in costs.

City staff is developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for recycling services, as the City’s current recycling contract ends Dec. 31, 2016. A new program will be in place in January of 2017.

Despite this delay, the City remains committed to providing the best, most convenient service possible – including organics collection and the collection of wheeled, lidded carts from alleyways. Both of these features are expected to be part of the program beginning January 2017.

More Information

Visit stpaul.gov/recycle to learn more about how you can participate in the All In program and check out the new All In “Recycling 101” video for a reminder of some of the recyclables that should go in your recycling bin. 

Please continue going “all in” with your recycling efforts and do your part to reduce, recycle and compost in Saint Paul!

Questions?  Please contact Kris Hageman, Environmental Coordinator at 651-266-8866 or kris.hageman@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

Food Shelf at Progressive Baptist

"Fishes and Loaves" food shelf, In partnership with Second Harvest Heartland is offering food to the community every Wednesday from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM. Located at Progressive Baptist Church, 1505 Burns Avenue in St. Paul MN, we offer nutritious foods, employment information, spiritual support and prayer. All are welcome. No ID required, only the need for food!!

For inquiry or to volunteer, please contact:

Rev. Icelean McClendon
Dea. Paul Johnson, Pjohnsongraphics@msn.com


District 1 is also contributing to this effort by donating excess produce from our project with CBC Seniors and the Garden of Feed'em Community Garden (at Conway Rec). We encourage anyone to make use of the food shelf AND to donate their time to this effort!!

Need more Clean Up opportunities??

Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Citywide Community Cleanup on Saturday, September 20th at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds.  The event runs from 8am - 1pm, and volunteers are needed for the early shift (7:30 - 10:30) or late shift (10:15 - 1:15).  Volunteers will help direct traffic, unload vehicles, and support the event.  Volunteers will receive a voucher good for a free disposal load at the event.  Interested volunteers should contact Lauren Fullner at the Hamline Midway Coalition (District 5) - lauren@hamlinemidway.org or 651-214-8752.

How we use the Neighborhood Profiles from MN Compass...

Here is a link to the posting we did for Minnesota Compass about the new neighborhood profiles. This updated demographic data is so vital to us that it was important to let others know what we use them for and how they can help others.

Read the story...

Who are we as a neighborhood?

This area of Saint Paul has gone through dramatic demographic changes in the past 15-20 years. People and agencies are still thinking we are who we were back then. We are much more now. We are a vibrant, dynamic, and beautifully diverse community.

The Wilder Foundation's Research department has worked over many years with a variety of partners to develop NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILES for communities across Minnesota. Here in the Twin Cities, they have developed these profiles so there can be direct comparisons of communities.

If you want to understand who we are currently, here is a link to the freshly updated demographic data. Click on the map for our area (the southeast corner of Saint Paul - the yellow colored area). This gives you a very interesting perspective on who we are.

Phalen Closures

Motorists in St. Paul will encounter delays and a detour on Pennsylvania Avenue/Phalen Boulevard as both directions of the road close at Interstate 35E, Wednesday,  Aug. 13.

The road will close before morning rush hours Aug. 13, and will remain closed for approximately two weeks. Motorists will be detoured to Jackson Street, University Avenue and Olive Street to bypass the closure.

The closure will allow crews to lower a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue/Phalen Boulevard in order to avoid height restrictions when constructing the new I-35E bridges spanning the roadway. After reopening, Pennsylvania Avenue/Phalen Boulevard will remain a single lane in each direction at I-35E through approximately late 2015 for bridge construction.

The I-35E Cayuga Improvement Project aims to reconstruct I-35E between University Avenue and Maryland Avenue, including replacement of the Cayuga Bridge, the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge and the railroad bridges along I-35E. Read more about the Cayuga project by visitingwww.mndot.gov/metro/projects/35estpaul/cayuga.html.  

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit www.511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.

All things TRAFFIC - notes from 7/28 Community Meeting

There were three topics of discussion at the 7/28 Community Meeting at Grace Lutheran Church. About 50 people total attended, including District 1 Board members.

Gateway Corridor – Lyssa Leitner (Washington County, lead agency for the Gateway Corridor)

Paul Sawyer is Chair of Community Advisory Committee, Kathy Lantry is the Saint Paul Rep on the Policy Advisory Committee. The line will go from the Lake Elmo area to downtown SP (Union Depot).  There is also Technical Advisory Committee which consists of staff from county and city agencies. Gordon Westerberg (Pathways on Park) and Doug Swalboski (Owner of Culvers) are also representing D1 in the Advisory work. People use transit to get to where they need to go for a variety of purposes – work, errands, entertainment, school, so this project is important to the community, even if you don’t use transit yourself. The process has narrowed down the choices of alignment to one line on map – along I-94. There will be an expedited process if we are successful in our bid for funding with a 2019 start of construction and a 2022 fully functional build-out. This will increase transit service to every 15 minutes in both directions (going into downtown and out to eastern suburbs), including getting to jobs and shopping in Woodbury. The choices have also been narrowed down in terms of the mode (kind of transit) – they are looking at Bus Rapid Transit instead of light rail. This is cheaper to construct but also better suited to the numbers of riders they are initially estimating. There were several alignment choices in the far east metro – the choice is dominantly on the north side of I-94 where there isn’t development today. The reason for this is that opportunities for more major impacts in new development are greatest there. This point in the planning is the furthest any project has gotten on the eastside. The Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) is now chosen, now looking for community input – meeting is August 7 6p at Conway Rec – for responding to this LPA. There are other ways to give input if can’t make the meeting – contact the Gateway Corridor staff. There will be dedicated lanes for buses in the system.

Bill Dermody of SP Planning and Economic Development – There will be 6 stations in St. Paul for Gateway – 3 are in District 1. Station area planning is currently going on – This determines where station is, what happens around the station, what land use changes are around the station, what kind of development happens, how pedestrians and others get to the station. Public sessions about the plans will be in late September and October. Paul Sawyer and Garneth Peterson are on the station area planning working groups. Questions: funding? construction is covered by 45% from federal government (competitive process – specific for these projects); 35% transit tax; 10% from state, 5% from counties and 5% from city – taxes for these are already collected, if this project isn’t there, our taxes go elsewhere; fares will exist in the same way they do now; Metro Transit system has a better recovery system for expenses than elsewhere; Numbers of riders? estimated 10,000 riders per day. What properties will be effected?  the actual precise alignment is not set.

White Bear Ave Rebuild – Kathy Jaschke, Nick Fischer (Ramsey County Public Works)

The County will be reconstructing White Bear Avenue from I-94 to Beech Street. This project is dealing with a bad pavement problem – will get new streets, lighting and sidewalks. Ramsey County is here to get feedback on what people want - are there problems with particular intersections? Old Hudson needs a turn lane; WB is overly packed, intersections have peds running across maybe even not at intersections. Is parking necessary on WB? There is only parking where trucks unload – will probably put up no parking along the entire length. Should they remove tall trees replace with ornamentals? – problems with speeding are made worse with removal of trees lining streets. How about ? – where does the snow go if the street is widened? Does a median work to help with pedestrians? This would require taking ROW, that is losing the boulevards and trees and potentially some front yard space. WB is only thoroughfare going north south – it is important. It has 23,000 cars per day. People didn’t want round-abouts but the road is too busy for them anyway and they would also take up property to put in. When would this happen and how is it funded? funds and engineering are ready to go for 2016 – will coordinate with MnDOT for what will happen at I-94. Could the city and county increase the crossing time at signalized intersections? Could they also put in signs with no right turn when pedestrians are in crosswalk? This is not effective. Comment from Paul St. Martin with St. Paul Public Works  – this work will require assessing a portion of the cost to the abutting property owners at the same rate as residential rate – about $100/foot that can be paid off in full or added to your property taxes to pay over 20 years. Ramsey County is hiring a consultant to look at crashes, turn lanes, crossing times; consultant will also look at a conversion from 4 lanes to three lanes with center turn lane, but this is a very busy street for that design. Community asks the county to look for as many traffic calming measures as possible to tip drivers off that this is a neighborhood, not a speedway. Could they add a cross walk light between Minnehaha and 3^rd? This is a long way between signalized crossings (see Margaret Street discussion below). Should try to make streets as safe as possible for everyone.  Concerns were expressed about the detours during the construction, make things accessible for the destinations including churches and businesses. Is it possible to make changes in traffic patterns along the stretch? for example, 2 in one direction, 1 in the other – this would be difficult on such a busy street. White Bear is not suitable for bikes, but Bill Dermody SPPED  noted that bike lanes across the freeway are in city bike plan.

Margaret St Bikeway – Paul St. Martin and Mike Klobucar (Saint Paul Public Works)

Every two years the city goes through a Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process. Forest to McKnight  along Margaret Street Bike Route was proposed. This is a part of Bike plan for the city which is in process. There will be improvements on the Margaret as a result. The Margaret Bike way will be implemented in two parts. This project was proposed by Daytons Bluff Community Council (with support from District 1), and will connect to some of the north south routes that currently exist on the eastside. Margaret can easily accommodate bikes – it is not heavily used, and connects straight across from McKnight to Forest. Margaret Street is identified as a bike route to make it more attractive to bike riders by adding traffic calming elements (things that slow down traffic). Drivers need visual cues to slow down. The city is now in the process of initial design, and has done some traffic studies. “Construction “ (adding signs and share the road arrows on the street) will start in fall 2014. In fall they will have final recommendations and short term elements will be implemented. Traffic counts and speeds done along the length – speeds look at the speed of 85% of the drivers. The total budget in this first phase is $100,000 – there will be no hard-scaping (that is engineered modifications) and no removal of parking – signage, sharrows, perhaps enhanced crosswalks.  In the long term the City is looking for the planning to make somewhat more significant improvements. These long-term treatments may include the following– pedestrian refuges, bumpouts, traffic circles, warning flashers – all this would require additional proposals and competition for funding.

They have done preliminary assessment of traffic circles – Atlantic, Hazelwood, Flandrau, Hazel, Winthrop. Evidence shows that stop signs do not slow traffic whereas traffic circles do. Other options: Forest and Earl – do we do one way bike ways on these streets since Margaret is narrower at its western end? This allows some parking to remain on these streets but still have bike lanes. Margaret and Johnson – do they close access of the street there for cars? Bikes can cross, but cars would turn on service roads. Margaret and White Bear – narrow road and ROW – what kind of enhanced crossing can happen here? Will work with county on this.  The project, especially in the first phase, won’t be a noticeable change for people living on the street – EXCEPT that traffic will slow down.  Margaret and McKnight is another problem – can’t close it because of the firestation – could close left turn lane, prohibiting the left turn now, allowing to stop in the median; take the existing sidewalk on the west side and make it a bike lane to connect to the east side; There might be full closures at 4^th and  5^th and Fremont; doesn’t impact parking in D1. Neighbors comment that there are problems with obeying the traffic laws.

Timing of the elements – a matter of funding – current funding is available for signage and painting; additional funding will be requested for the hardscaping; something needs to be done at Ruth and Margaret – could do a bumpout, signage, high visibility crosswalk, warning flasher activated by button; safe routes to schools needs to be implemented; Hawk lighting costs 40% of a full traffic signal

School at Ruth Street – looking at Safe Routes to schools - how can we improve this crossing so kids are safe.

New Pastor at Grace Lutheran

 The members of Grace Lutheran Church, 1730 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, are excited for our new Pastor, Karen Williams, to join us on July 29, 2014. Pastor Karen is a resident of Oakdale, a graduate of Harding High School, and she was the Director of Music for Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Oakdale while she was still in college. She has also served at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bayport, and most recently at Mount Carmel Lutheran.  

 

Pastor Williams will be installed at Grace Lutheran on September 7, 9:30 a.m., with the new Bishop Patricia Lull officiating.  It will be a festive day at Grace with the fall education and activities also beginning.  We welcome all who would like to come and worship with us and welcome Pastor Karen.  Stay for the picnic after worship!

Rules for Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area - Comments solicited

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold three public information meetings in July to present information and receive comments on proposed rules for the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA).

The meetings, which all run from 6:30 to 9 p.m., are scheduled for:

•  Wednesday, July 16, Greenhaven Golf Course, 2800 Greenhaven Road, Anoka
•  Tuesday, July 22, Nova Classical Academy, 1455 Victoria Way West., St. Paul
•  Thursday, July 24, Schaar’s Bluff Gathering Center (Spring Lake Park Reserve), 8395 127^th Street E, Hastings

Each meeting will have the same format and information, with a presentation and discussion scheduled from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and opportunities to visit with DNR staff the rest of the time. Visitors will be able to learn more about the draft rules, including key topics such as vegetation management, land alteration, setbacks, nonconformities, and shoreline facilities. DNR staff will be available to explain how the draft rules might affect individual properties. Comments received at these meetings are not part of the formal rulemaking record, but they will be considered as draft rules are revised.

Stretching 72 miles from Dayton to Hastings, the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area was designated via executive order in the late 1970s. No formal rules were ever adopted, though, and over the past decade, the executive order has become increasingly outdated and difficult for state and local governments to administer. In 2009 and 2013, the legislature directed DNR to replace the executive order with rules establishing new districts and updated land development standards that sustain key natural, scenic, cultural and economic resources and features.

DNR will accept comments on its working draft of rules for the MRCCA through August 15. The comment period is intended to gather feedback on the draft rules before they are revised and proposed for formal rule adoption, anticipated this fall/winter. More information is available on the DNR’s project website atwww.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/mrcca/index.html.  Questions about the meetings may be e-mailed tomrcca.rulemaking@state.mn.us, or call 651-259-5714 to leave a message.

Waterworks near you!!

The splashpad at Conway Park is now open!!

At local county parks, lifeguard services will begin Saturday, June 7 at noon at Ramsey County’s five guarded swimming beaches. Battle Creek Waterworks family water park will also open for the season on June 7 at 11 a.m.

Guarded beaches are available at the following locations:

• Tony Schmidt Regional Park: 3500 Lake Johanna Blvd. Arden Hills, MN 55112

• Lake Josephine County Park: 3027 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113

• Long Lake Regional Park: 1500 Old Highway 8 New Brighton, MN 55112

• Lake McCarrons County Park: 1795 Rice St. Roseville, MN 55113

• Snail Lake in Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park: 4191 Snail Lake Blvd. Shoreview, MN 55126

 Lifeguards will be on duty at guarded beaches daily from noon – 8 p.m. through August 10. Beach users must obey all rules outlined in the Ramsey County park ordinance. Parents are advised that while lifeguards are available to enforce rules and respond to emergencies, guardians are ultimately responsible for supervising their children. All organized groups must make an advanced reservation and obtain a group use permit, which is free. Concessions are available at Long Lake and Snail Lake.

Mississippi River Critical Area Update - Comments requested

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is requesting comments on a working draft of possible rules governing land development in the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA). A Request for Comments was published today, June 2, 2014, in the State Register. The Request for Comments, working draft of possible rules, district maps, rulemaking schedule, and other information regarding the rulemaking are available to view and print from the MRCCA Rulemaking Project website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/mrcca/index.html.

The MRCCA is a land corridor along the Mississippi River within the seven-county metro area. There are 30 local governments within the 72 mile long, 54,000 acre corridor. Land development in the corridor is guided by existing state regulations, which are implemented through local government plans and zoning ordinances. The proposed rules, if adopted, would replace the existing regulations.

This rulemaking will:

• Continue to guide management of the MRCCA as a multi-purpose resource
• Establish new districts and update minimum guidelines and standards for land development in the districts

The rules would likely affect the following persons and organizations within the MRCCA:

• All local government units with jurisdiction in the MRCCA
• Property owners, institutions, developers, and businesses
• Recreational facility users
• Water-oriented businesses, facilities, and navigation interests on the Mississippi River
• Utility providers
• State and regional agencies and and institutions with facilities, property interests, and/or regulatory authority in the MRCCA (such as the Metropolitan Council, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Airports Commission, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul Port Authority, Minnesota Historical Society, and federal agencies such as the National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 

How to Comment: The DNR will accept comments until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2014. We encourage written comments. As you review the working draft rules, please focus on the following topics:

• What doesn’t work and why?
• What needs clarification?
• What specific changes do you recommend?

 It will help us if you can cite specific parts or pages within the working draft document.

Comments may be submitted via e-mail, US mail, or fax to:

Daniel Petrik

MRCCA Rulemaking Project, Minnesota DNR
Ecological and Water Resources Division500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5714
Fax: 651-296-1811
E-mail: mrcca.rulemaking@state.mn.us