Questers in the Cotopaxi Questival warm up with dance moves before fanning out from Como Park for their 24-hour challenge.
Don't Say 'Nobody Told Me'
The City Council is wrestling with two big initiatives that are getting lots of attention. Ramsey County is studying an important topic that's been flying under the radar. The Citizens League continues to examine a PILOT project for Saint Paul. You have an opportunity to read up now on these issues and, in most cases, have your say now -- before decisions get made.
  • "To Go" Packaging: Proposals would require carry-out food purchased in Saint Paul to be placed in compostable, reusable, or recyclable containers. An official public hearing is scheduled (tentatively) for Wednesday Oct. 4. Find out more. Got questions or suggestions? Email city staff.
  • Ford Site: The City Council is getting close to acting on the recommended Ford Site Zoning Study and Public Realm Master Plan. The official public hearing is Wednesday Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the third-floor City Council Chambers, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd. Get the details here -- or comment in advance online.
  • Solid Waste: Ramsey County has its draft plan posted on how to reduce waste, increase recycling, and divert waste from landfills (or in their case, the garbage burner). You can download a copy, then provide your feedback. (Read quickly: The comment period closes next Friday, Sept. 1.)
  • PILOT: The Citizens League is studying whether there's a way to get colleges, hospitals, churches, units of government, and other tax-exempt landowners to make "payments in lieu of taxes." It's an idea that could take pressure off residential and business property taxes in Saint Paul. Keep track of where the discussion has been and is going.
Live in South Como or Energy Park?
The Como Community Council is seeking candidates to fill one board vacancy representing Sub-District 4, the part of our neighborhood commonly known as South Como and Energy Park. 

The seat is open to anyone at least 18 years of age who lives in Sub-District 4; you can be a renter or a homeowner. Representatives from businesses or institutions based in the Sub-District also are eligible. The boundaries of Sub-District 4 are Dale on the east, Snelling on the west, and the two sets of BNSF railroad tracks on the north and south.

To find our more, see the District 10 website. To get on the ballot, contact the District 10 office at 651-644-3889 or by email
. To be included on the ballot, you must submit your nomination by Tuesday Sept. 12. The elected candidate will serve until April 2018.
A Reminder about the State Fair
The State Fair continues through Labor Day, Monday Sept. 4. Some things to know specifically about the Fair's impact on our neighborhood:
  • Lawn parking: A special zoning Overlay District allows property owners in certain areas near the Fairgrounds to park vehicles on their front and side yards if they meet certain conditions. For a map and all the details, see the article on the District 10 website. If you suspect a violation of the overlay district, call the city's Department of Safety and Inspections: 651-266-9088.
  • Street parking: For safety reasons, parking is restricted to one side of many neighborhood streets during the Fair. In addition, the usual parking rules apply: no blocking driveways, crosswalks, alleys, fire hydrants, etc. If you see a parking violation on a street or alley, call it in directly to St. Paul Parking Enforcement, 651-266-5585 during weekday business hours; 651-291-1111 at other times.
  • Como Park Shuttle: The free shuttle to the Zoo and Conservatory does not run during the Fair. The shuttle resumes weekend service only on Saturday Sept. 9.
  • Peddlers and vending: Special rules kick in about vendors and peddlers selling merchandise on neighborhood streets and from yards. Again, you can find a summary of rules on District 10's website.
Fair Chases Construction Away

With the State Fair in town, nearby construction projects are taking a break. These include:

  • Snelling Ave.: All lanes and intersections are open from Como Ave. north to Highway 36. The orange barrels return on Wednesday Sept. 6, and periodic lane closures continue through the end of September.
  • Como Ave.: The road is passable west of Raymond Ave., though the four-way stop at the Raymond/Cleveland intersection can be a nightmare. Como will shut down again on Tuesday Sept. 5.
  • Wheelock Parkway remains closed to through traffic between Victoria and Dale. Victoria is closed until Sept. 9, just north of the intersection with Wheelock and Como Lake Drive. Other intersections at north-south streets will be closed on a daily, as-needed basis.
  • On Lexington Parkway south of us, work continues rebuilding sidewalk ramps and getting rid of what's left of the brick crosswalks. Work is moving north toward University Ave., then switching to the southbound lanes and heading back toward Randolph Ave.
Looking Bacharach (get it?) pays tribute to composer and pianist Burt Bacharach on Thursday. 
Before Long, This Too Will Be Gone
It's the last week of free performances on the Promenade of the Lakeside Pavilion. Here's the final lineup of this summer's music series:
  • Tonight, Friday Aug. 25: Tiller Black, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday Aug. 26: Pan-Handlers Steele Drum Band, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday Aug. 27: Honeywell Concert Band, 3 p.m.; Hornucopia, 7 p.m.
  • Monday Aug. 28: Emergence Brass Band, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday Aug. 29: Rocksteady Breakfast, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday Aug. 30: St. Paul Ballet, 7 p.m.
  • Thursday Aug. 31: Looking Bacharach, 7 p.m.
  • Next Friday, Sept. 1: 7 Cats Swing, 7 p.m.
  • Next Saturday, Sept. 2: Post Atomic Trio, 7 p.m.
Farmers Market: The Dockside Farmers Market unloads the goods every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. 
All is not sweetness and light with invasives such as burdock.
Watching Our Waste: Invasives
Friends of the Mississippi River has a short, instructive video on how to identify, then safely and effectively eradicate common, non-native, invasive plants such as buckthorn, burdock, and garlic mustard.

One Thing Leads to Another    
 
  • Today, Friday Aug. 25: Deadline to apply for Saint Paul's Cultural STAR funding program.
  • This Monday, Aug. 28: Classes resume at Twin Cities German Immersion School
  • This Wednesday, Aug. 30: District 10 Environment Committee, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Topics include discussion with the artists behind the upcoming "bee high-rise" and with organizers of the Como Active Citizens Network. All community members are welcome to attend and participate. 
  • Tuesday Sept. 5: Classes resume at Saint Paul Public Schools, Great River School, Hmong College Prep Academy, Maternity of Mary Saint Andrew School, Metro Deaf School
  • Saturday Sept. 9: Twin Cities Veg Fest, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Como Park.
  • Monday Sept. 11: Public Works meeting on Wheelock Parkway construction assessments and progress, 6 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. 
  • Thursday Sept. 14: Master Water Stewards information session, 5:30-7 p.m. Urban Boatbuilders, 2288 W. University Ave.
  • Saturday Oct. 7: Citywide "Reduce and Recycle" Dropoff at State Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Saturday Oct. 7: Como Park Senior High School Homecoming Parade, 11 a.m.
You Can Never Be Too Careful
   
 
You've heard before that if you park your vehicle outside at home, do not leave the automatic garage door opener inside. If you do, a thief who breaks into your car can get into your garage, too. Well, in case you need to be even more paranoid: Some police advise that you should never leave your garage door opener visible anytime you park the car -- even far away from home. Why? Because most of us have something in the car with our address on it. That means enterprising thiefs could pop the lock, pocket the opener, write down your address, then get into your garage anytime it suits their schedule. Food for thought. 

If it's Sunday, the Streetcar Station is Open
The Como Park Streetcar Station is now open every Sunday through September from noon-4 p.m. Stop in to learn a bit about the history of Como Park, admire the new paint job inside, pick up an organics recycling starter kit (including a plastic kitchen bin), or just share comments and suggestions with a District 10 board member who's on staff that day. The Streetcar Station is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. 
Photographers, Don't Keep It to Yourself
We know plenty of you are taking pictures of the people, places and things that make our neighborhood unique. Well, we'd like to give you more exposure. This newsletter is happy to highlight the best of what local photographers send us about life in Como . It's easy: Just  email us your top image from the past seven days or so.   
Spread the Word
District 10 is one of Saint Paul's 17 citizen participation districts. The District 10 Como Community Council is a nonprofit organization, governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by members of the community. The Council's mission is to inform, educate, and connect the neighborhood to increase community pride and confidence. 

You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in District 10 activities.