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!