September 23, 2022 | Friday

Get Involved: Final 2022 Lake Cleanup

Saturday, October 8 - 9am-Noon @ Como Pavilion Lakeside (by the Ice Cream Stand and Boat Rentals)

The Como Community Council, in partnership with the Capital Region Watershed District, plans multiple Lake Como cleanup events each year. Volunteers gather with others in the community to clean trash from the lake surface or shoreline. We’ll meet at 6pm near the dock on the lower level lake side of the Pavilion to pick up tools, supplies, and have a refreshment.

District 10 provides trash-grabbers, rakes, buckets, nets, trash bags, and nitrile gloves for those who need them. Or, feel free to provide your own gear. Registration is not required, but it helps us plan and communicate if changes come up.

D10 Welcomes New Board Member

This week the D10 Board appointed Jonathan Herum to the vacant At-Large Senior Seat on the board. Jonathan has lived in Como for 28 years, owns a construction company, and is a founding member of the Minnesota Metropolitan Contractors Association. He's also an avid cyclist and dog owner. 

Jonathan applied to the seat after seeing the vacancy posted in the newsletter and he's already started coming to meetings and volunteer events. We're excited to have Jonathan aboard! 

New Subdistrict 1 Board Vacancy

Interested in getting more involved with the Como Community? Our board has one vacancy to fill in a Subdistrict 1 Seat (View subdistrict map). To be considered for the board, submit a board member application.

Vacancies are appointed by the board, all appointed board seats are automatically included in the next annual election, and appointed board members may not serve as officers.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about being a board member you can view info on our website or reach out to district10@district10comopark.org.

South Como Garden Tour

The Saint Paullinators will be hosting a South Como garden tour on Sunday, October 2nd from 2-3:30pm - we will meet at the Orchard Rec Center Garden. We will be viewing Lawns to Legume installations that happened this summer along with our neighbors' more mature gardens as we anticipate what our installations will look like in the future.  

Tours will be led by Saint Paullinator members and will educate on planting for pollinators and garden care. This will be a casual tour, so come with questions and your own experiences!

2022 Como CURB Cleanup

October 1 through November 30, in front of your own home!

Como Community Council is again teamed up with the Capitol Region Watershed District for the Como Curb Cleanup. When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients into the water that flows into storm drains and the lake. There it becomes food for invasive algae. Join 100+ neighbors in sweeping your curb once a week this fall to help keep Lake Como clean with this surprisingly effective effort.

Signing up to be an official participant helps us track results and helps (a lot) to support future efforts!

2022 CRWD Como Lake Walking Tour

September 27 (Tuesday), 5:30-7pm starting at Como Lakeside Pavilion

Experts Britta Belden and Bob Fossum from Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) will lead an educational tour along Como Lake’s walking path that highlights the lake’s history, its dynamic urban ecosystem, and the water quality issues facing it. They will also provide an in-depth overview of projects aimed at improving Como Lake (both past and future) including shoreline restoration efforts, aquatic plant control, fishery management, and major in-lake and watershed phosphorus reduction projects.

Come with your questions and enjoy a fall evening at Como Lake!

Please register in the link below or by calling CRWD at (651) 644-8888. There is a limit of 30 people per tour. Sign-up will be open until capacity is reached.

The tour will be weather dependent. An event cancellation will be sent out via email the day of the tour if storms are expected.

Get Involved: Popcorn Thursdays at Lyngblomsten

All the popcorn you can eat! Help pop popcorn on Thursday afternoons for the Lyngblomsten

community. You'll pop, bag, and hand out popcorn then clean up afterward. Our poppers work in teams of two (or more) to provide a fun service that is highly appreciated by our residents, staff, and

community members. This is a great activity for you and a friend, or for a small group.

This is a physically active role as it requires standing for 2+ hours. Volunteers must be over age 18 to use the popcorn popping machine. If you enjoy being active and meeting new people, reach out today.

Questions? Please contact Melanie at mjagolino@lyngblomsten.org.

Como Parks & Rec Programming

Winter youth sports registration is now open. Saint Paul Parks and Rec announced that registration fees have been eliminated for winter basketball for 10U and up (ages 9+) at all recreation center sites.

Note: fees apply for 4U, 6U and 8U

North Dale Rec Center (1414 N. St. Albans)

• Tot Time ages 1w-6 - Mondays & Wednesdays starting Oct. 3 - Free
• Our Littlest Fans' Favorites Art Class ages 1.5-4 - Wednesdays in Oct. - $62*
• Taekwondo Jr ages 6-8 - Mondays & Wednesdays in Oct. - $60*
• Taekwondo ages 9-21 - Mondays & Wednesdays in Oct. - $60*
• Senior Fitness ages 55+ - Tuesdays & Thursdays thru Dec. 29 - Free
• Senior Day ages 50+ - Thursdays thru Dec. 29 - Free
• Pickleball ages 18+ - Tuesdays & Thursdays thru Dec. 15 - $3
• Senior Gamers ages 50+ - Tuesdays thru Dec. 27 - Free
• School Year Rec Check 1st-5th Grade - Weekdays thru June 14 - Free*
• Zumba w/ Marie ages 18+ - Wednesdays thru Dec. 21 - $4

Northwest Como Rec Center (1550 N. Hamline)

• Artist Workshop ages 7-13 - Tuesdays Oct. 4-Nov. 8 - $60*
• Taekwondo Jr ages 6-8 - Tuesdays & Thursdays in Oct. - $60*
• Taekwondo ages 9-21 - Tuesdays & Thursdays in Oct. - $60*
• New Halloween Bonfire - Friday, Oct. 28, 6-8pm (Costume Contest!) - Free

*Registration Required

St. Paul Parks & Rec Fee Assistance Program

The City of Saint Paul operates a special program that helps families pay for Parks & Recreation youth classes and activities. Fee Assistance can be requested by families who meet program requirements when registering for youth activities. To be eligible for the program, youth must live in Saint Paul, be 18 years old or younger, and qualify for free and reduced lunches.

Fee Assistance can be used toward most recreational sports or activities offered by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. To view the online catalog of all available activities offered, click here.

Neighborhood Notes

Upcoming Applications/Renewals

• Speedway (950 Lexington): Gas Station and Malt Off-Sale Licenses are up for renewal Dec. 1. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 5 Council Member Amy Brendmoen: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
• Duke's Car & Towing (977 Front): Auto Repair Garage License is up for renewal Oct. 19. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 5 Council Member Amy Brendmoen: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

*While license renewal dates serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.

Absentee voting opens Sept. 23 for general election

Anyone eligible to vote in Ramsey County may cast their absentee ballot – either in person or by mail – before the general election on Nov. 8. Voters can cast their ballot from Sept. 23 through Nov. 7.

Sample ballots are available at mnvotes.org.

Vote in person

Beginning Sept. 23, in-person absentee voting is available at two locations. Eligible voters may visit either location, regardless of their home address. Locations include:

• Ramsey County Elections Office
• Ramsey County Library - Roseville

Beginning Nov. 1, four additional locations will offer in-person absentee voting:

• Arlington Hills Community Center
• First Tee of Twin Cities - Highland National Golf Course
• Frogtown Community Center
• Ramsey County Library - White Bear Lake
• View hours for all locations

In alignment with Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, Hmong interpreter election judges will be available at in-person voting locations in 2022. Sample ballots will also be available in Hmong at mnvotes.org.

Vote by mail

Voters can visit ramseycounty.us/VoteByMail to request a ballot. A ballot will be mailed to the voter along with a pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope for returning their completed ballot materials. Voters can track the status of their absentee ballot through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online ballot tracker.

Ballots returned by mail must be received by the Ramsey County Elections Office by Nov. 8 per state guidelines to be accepted.

Voters may also return their ballot in person at the Ramsey County Elections Office or the Ramsey County Library in Roseville. All ballots must be returned inside the building to designated staff who will verify the voter information is complete. Ballots placed in any outdoor document drop boxes or payment boxes will not be accepted.

Voter registration

Eligible residents may register to vote or update their address online at mnvotes.org through Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Residents may also register at the in-person absentee voting locations or at their polling place on Election Day. Proof of residence is required. A list of approved documentation and sample ballots are available at mnvotes.org.

Join the Board of Zoning Appeals

The City's Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) currently has three vacancies. They have two regular positions and one alternate position open.

The BZA holds public hearings on administrative appeals and minor/major zoning variances. Minor variances for things like single family additions, garages, fences, and pools (everything else is a major variance). The meetings are at City Hall every other Monday at 3pm.

If you read the above and double-checked that it wasn't spelled "Bored of Zoning Appeals", this position is not for you. If you read the above and didn't double-check that spelling, you should definitely apply!

The Mayor’s Office is responsible for appointing members and City Council approves the me appointments.

Upcoming Crime Prevention Activities from SPPD

Western District Monthly Community Meetings

Tuesday, September 20 (and every 3rd Tuesday of the month), Saint Paul Police (SPPD) hosts two Western District Community Meetings at the Western District office at 389 Hamline Ave. The meetings are at 9:30am AND 6:30pm. This month we will have 911 operators on hand at the evening meeting.

Crime Prevention

• Fraud and Identity Theft Class. September 28th @ 6pm- virtual. Will discuss what thieves look for in identity theft, how they seek to get the info, common scams, and what to do if you are a victim. Register Here
• 3 Burglary Prevention Open Houses - All 5-7pm
• Oct. 12 - Rice St. Library (1011 Rice St.)
• Oct. 19 - West District (389 Hamline Ave.)
• Oct. 27 - East District. (722 Payne Ave.)
• These open houses give residents the opportunity to talk with SPPD staff and see examples of lighting, locks, windows, security systems, cameras, etc. 

Youth and Programming

• SPPD's Youth and Programming Unit is hosting a Police Explorers Open House on October 4 6:30pm at Rowan Training Center (600 Lafayette Road)
• Safe Summer Nights Fall Festival - Saturday, October 29, noon-2pm at Arlington Hills Recreation Center (1200 Payne Ave). Food, games, and candy.

Free electronics recycling now available for Ramsey County residents

Ramsey County residents looking to get rid of laptops, televisions, cell phones or other electronics (e-waste) now have a free and easy way to recycle them. Used and old electronics are the fastest-growing waste in the country and often contain toxic metals like lead, mercury and cadmium. Ramsey County Environmental Health is partnering with Repowered to reuse or refurbish unwanted electronics, and to keep toxic metals out of the environment. All data from electronics dropped off at the e-waste site will be destroyed physically or electronically wiped.

The electronics collection site is located at:

Repowered

860 Vandalia Street

Saint Paul, MN 55114

2023 St. Paul Budget

The City Council is responsible for adopting the City's operating and capital budgets and property tax levies. In August, the Mayor proposes the budgets for the following year. After the budgets are proposed, the City Council begins its consideration of the budgets. A series of Council Budget Committee meetings are held throughout the fall to review the Mayor's proposed budgets in detail. Public hearings on the proposed budgets and tax levies are also held during this time period. In mid-December, the Council adopts the final budgets and property tax levies, incorporating any changes Councilmembers have to the original proposal into the adopted budgets and levies.

Budget Committee Meetings are be held on Wednesday mornings at 10am from August 24th and December 7, 2022. The council hears budget breakdowns from different departments, this is the draft schedule:

• 8/24 Mayor's Proposed 2023 Budget and Department of Safety and Inspections
• 9/7 Fire Department (Police Department delayed to 9/21)
• 9/7 Library Board Meeting: Budget Presentation General Fund Changes 2:00pm
• 9/14 Parks and Recreation Department (At Highland Park Community Center)
• 9/14 HRA Board Meeting: HRA/PED Budget Presentation 2:00pm
• 9/21 Public Works & Police Department
• 9/21 Levy Limit Vote and Ramsey County Tax Trends Presentation @ 3:30 City Council Meeting 
• 9/28 City Attorney's Office/Office of Neighborhood Safety 
• 10/5 Follow-Up and Capital Improvement and Sales Tax
• 10/5 Library Board Meeting: Budget Presentation 2:00pm
• 10/12 Office of Technology and Communications and Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity
• 10/19 Human Resources and City Council 
• 10/26 Discuss Mayor's proposal and Council budget priorities
• 11/2 5 year Street Plan and Debt Strategy
• 11/9 Follow Up and Office of Financial Services and Office of Financial Empowerment
• 11/16 RVCA 
• TBD Truth in Taxation
• 12/7 Budget Committee - Budget Adoption 3:30pm

Meetings can be live streamed and are recorded to view later. Find minutes, live streams, recordings, and updated scheduling here on the city's website. You can send comments and feedback to the City Council: CouncilBudget@ci.stpaul.mn.us

What's going on at the Fairgrounds?