Vote By Mail, It's Safer and You Still Get a Sticker!
This upcoming general election on November 3rd will be different than most of us have experienced in our lifetimes. Voting by mail has always made voting more accessible but this year, it will be vital to ensure your voice gets heard and that you stay safe in the pandemic too. Information below lays out how to apply for an absentee ballot with links that lead to more in depth instructions. Please make sure you are registered and ready! 

Voting by mail is safe, easy and convenient. All voters can vote early in Minnesota. You do not need to provide a reason to vote by mail. You can request your ballot now for the general election.
First, register to vote or check your registration status on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.


If you prefer, you can submit a paper absentee ballot application (PDF) if you have a printer at home:
For additional languages or formats, call 1-877-600-8683.

It is also possible to vote in person. For the Nov. 3, 2020 general election, you can vote in person before Election Day beginning Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. In person voting sites will be announced in the near future. However, if you have the option to do it in a safer, distanced way mail, we would encourage that!
D10 Candidate Deadline is Monday
This Monday, Sept. 7, is the deadline for residents in South Como or Energy Park to get on the ballot for this month's special election to fill a vacancy on the District 10 Como Community Council board. The winning candidate will serve until April 2021, filling the Sub-District 4 seat being left vacant by Bob Jacobson, who is moving out of District 10. Fill out an application

(The boundaries for 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.) 
Voting Starts Tuesday -- Request a Ballot
Community members in South Como and Energy Park can request a ballot for the special election in Sub-District 4. Residents in that part of the neighborhood can vote absentee in two ways:
  • Vote online by requesting a ballot before noon on Tuesday Sept. 15. We'll email you a secure link to your ballot. You must vote no later than Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.
  • Vote through the mail using a paper ballot. To make sure there's enough turnaround time, you must request a paper ballot no later than this 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. We will mail you a ballot with a return envelope; the District 10 office must receive your paper ballot no later than Tuesday Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.
Ballots will be sent beginning Sept. 8. (And just so you are not confused -- this has nothing to do with the state and federal elections that happen in November.)

Who can vote: All residents age 16 or older who live in Sub-District 4 are eligible to vote. So are authorized representatives from a business or nonprofit organization with a physical location in Sub-District 4. (The boundaries for 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.)
Environment Committee Meets Wednesday
District 10's Environment Committee meets this Wednesday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m. 

All renters, homeowners, and other District 10 community members are welcome to take part in one or both meetings via video conference or telephone. To join, email the Como Community Council office; staff will send access information.
Keep Your Trash, Recycling an Extra Day
A reminder: Because of this week's Labor Day holiday, trash and recycling will be picked up one day later than usual. Eureka will empty your blue recycling carts this Saturday, Sept. 12, instead of on Friday. Monday trash pickup (in the western part of the neighborhood) will take place this Tuesday, Sept. 8. Friday trash pickup will take place next Saturday, Sept. 12.
Photo: Common Sense Home
Garden Workshops Shift Seasons
Ramsey County Master Gardeners are scheduling a new series of free gardening workshop focused on autumn. Topics include preserving food, growing microgreens, and houseplants. The 90-minute workshops are online beginning Saturday Sept. 19. Registration is required.
Bicycle, Pedestrian Counts Will Go On
Saint Paul Public Works no longer is organizing its annual bicycle and pedestrian count. So, the Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition intends to do it instead. Counts are scheduled for this Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 8-10, at roughly 40 locations around the city. Most counts will be from 4-6 p.m. If you are interested in a shift: Email the coalition. Include the day(s) you are available and which part(s) of the city you are willing to count.
Get It on Your Calendar
  • Through this Monday, Sept. 7: It's the final weekend for the Minnesota State Fair Food Parade. The gate at Hoyt and Snelling opens at 9 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; at 11 a.m. on Monday. The Fairgrounds otherwise are closed to the public through this Thursday, Sept. 10.
  • This Tuesday, Sept. 8: Public hearing on 2021 water rates and fees proposed by Saint Paul Regional Water Services, 5 p.m. The hearing will be virtual, but details on how to participate have not been released. The utility plans to raise rates by 11 cents per unit in Saint Paul in 2021. There are no proposed changes in base fees or surcharges.
  • Saturday Sept. 26: Saint Paul Parks and Recreation's Seed Squad invites volunteers to harvest native seeds from the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom, 3-5 p.m. Space is limited; sign up in advance.
Still Getting the Traffic Runaround
  • Como Ave.: In our neighborhood, Como is still dug up and shut down completely from Hamline west to Arona. Public Works has barricaded the east and west ends of Breda, Albany, and Almond, in an attempt to prevent cut-through traffic that refuses to use the official Midway Parkway detour.Como itself remains open in each direction between Arona and Snelling. West of Snelling, westbound Como is shut down to Caithlin. An eastbound lane remains open from Caithlin to Snelling. From Caithlin to the Cleveland/Raymond intersection, the street runs one lane in each direction.
    On the city's western border, Como is closed at Brompton. That means access to Highway 280 from Como Ave. is cut off. So is access to Eustis St., which is the closest alternative to get on 280 (using the Larpenteur Ave. ramps). So, getting on 280 now means taking Raymond south to Energy Park Drive or Cleveland north to Larpenteur. 
  • Dale St.: The county road remains restricted to one lane in each direction between University and Carroll, as reconstruction of the bridge over Interstate 94 continues. Ramps to and from I-94 are closed. Access from Dale to the Uni-Dale Mall and to some nearby east-west streets is cut off.
  • Energy Park Drive: Ramsey County's repaving and restriping continues from the intersection of Front and Churchill west toward Raymond. Despite lane restrictions, travel will remain open in both directions. 
  • Larpenteur Ave.: Work continues on the permanent conversion of Larpenteur from 4 lanes to 3 between Dale Street and Interstate 35E. In some stretches, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction. 
Planning a Block Party for National Night Out?
Saint Paul continues to schedule National Night Out for Tuesday Oct. 6. You can download a participant guide, register your event, apply to have Sgt. Fuzz show up at your block party, or even enter a contest to win a DJ for the night.
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.