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Dear Neighbors,
 Let me start by saying it’s the greatest honor of my life to represent you as your new Ward 4 City Councilmember. I ran in a special election on Aug. 14 and was sworn in on Sept. 5, joining our Council at one of its busiest times in recent history. We ramped up to, and are still supporting our community through, our first-ever citywide organized trash program; we passed an historic minimum wage ordinance for our city; and we negotiated and approved an ambitious 2019 budget, which included a significant discussion about community-first public safety that requires our continued efforts. My office hired a full team and has been working hard to reach every neighborhood and return every query that comes our way. I’m grateful to all of you for your energy, drive, and patience as we embarked upon this transition. We will continue working hard with you to move our city forward together. We will continue working hard with you to move our city forward together.
I come to this work as the proud daughter of immigrants; as a renter, advocate and community organizer; as a former policy aide and district outreach staffer to U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison; and as someone eager to work with community toward a shared vision for the future of our city. My priorities in office are attainable and affordable housing and homeownership; building our community wealth; transit and sustainability; and community-first public safety. I’m also passionate about improving representation and community engagement for all in our city, including and especially for groups underrepresented in government and policy. We need everyone at the table if we’re going to achieve progress that brings everyone along.
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All of our work, and so much more, is only possible because of our outstanding Ward 4 team: Stacy Cruze and Matt Privratsky. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any ideas, questions, or concerns (ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us) and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for ongoing updates. We will also hopefully see you even sooner at a community event in your neighborhood.
Lastly, I can’t state enough how indebted I am to the leadership and example set by my predecessors Russ Stark and Samantha Henningson. Their thoughtfulness, wisdom, and compassion over the past decade have forever shaped our city, and I’m honored to help carry their work forward.
With gratitude,
Mitra
Mitra Jalali Nelson
Saint Paul City Councilmember – Ward 4
Matt Privratsky – Legislative and Policy Aide
Matt started as the Ward 4 aide in October. He assists in engagement and outreach efforts throughout the Ward and provides policy analysis for work in City Hall. His previous experience includes public policy, government relations, and communications positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. He and his wife, Rochelle, live in the Midway neighborhood and he can be reached at matt.privratsky@ci.stpaul.mn.us and 651-266-8641.
Stacy Cruze – Executive Assistant and Scheduler
Stacy has been with the City of Saint Paul for over five years and comes to the City Council from the Public Works Street Maintance Office. She manages Councilwoman Nelson’s schedule, constituent services, and the day-to-day operations of our office. She can be reached at stacy.cruze@ci.stpaul.mn.us and 651-266-6843.
 Helping hand out winter coats to students at Four Seasons Elementary School
Since taking office, one of the top issues we’ve heard about is the roll-out of our organized trash system. While I wholeheartedly support the broad goals of an organized trash system – and the communitywide environmental and financial benefits it can provide – there are numerous ways it has affected residents that need to be addressed. Many of the specific issues with the new system are rooted in the contract negotiated before I came into office, and the work ahead of us now to improve the system requires effective community engagement in support of city negotiations and dialogue with the haulers.
On November 14, our Council discussed the city trash system with respect to a petition we voted to reject on legal premises, which you can view here. Changes to the system do need to be made, but the structure of the petition we voted to reject was legally untenable and would have sent voters to the ballot for an essentially unactionable referendum. We need to find other ways to move forward together, and toward that end, our office is hosting a series of neighborhood meetings across the Ward to check in on organized trash.
Please RSVP to any of the below organized trash listening sessions by e-mailing stacy.cruze@ci.stpaul.mn.us:
- January 17, 6-7PM – Listening session at Merriam Park Library, Room B
- February 7, 6-7PM – Listening session at St. Anthony Park Library, Auditorium
- February 21, 6-7PM – Listening session at Hamline Midway Library, Auditorium
Ultimately, I support improvements to address issues numerous constituents have raised, including and not limited to:
- Multifamily housing units like duplexes/triplexes/etc. that require multiple cans that go unused
- Townhome and homeowners associations that are determined to be in or out of the program based on the size of their physical structure rather than HOA size
- Better encouraging reduced waste overall and supporting residents in zero/low-waste households
- Supporting residents with low and fixed incomes
- Holding haulers accountable for poor customer service and unreasonable billing practices with negative impacts
Because the contract with the haulers is now in place, making changes to the new system will require a concerted and ongoing effort. I am committed to fighting for the improvements listed above, and am working actively with my Colleagues on a path forward.
For ongoing support with the new trash system, reach out to Stacy Cruze at our office or utilize resources on the city website: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/garbage
 Hamline Elementary Fall Festival
I will be working to host office hours in 2019 around the Ward so that there are more places for all to share your ideas, feedback, questions, concerns and aspirations for our city.
The upcoming office hours are open to all, and all are welcome:
- January 10, 6-8PM – Open office hours at Ginkgo Coffee
- January 24, 8-10AM – Open office hours at Cahoots
No need to RSVP; feel free to just show up or stop by. We can also be reached anytime as an entire office at ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
We’ve been hard at work in our first few months as a team – below is a summary of just some of the issues I have worked on and things we’ve accomplished since coming to office..
Marshall Rezoning
We need to push for more housing options in our growing city everywhere, including making the best use of our zoning code to support greater future housing diversity. Our zoning code is one of the most powerful tools we have in our toolkit to address our citywide housing shortage and ease the suffocating 2% vacancy rate that is squeezing people out of our community. This fall, the City Council moved forward with many recommendations put forth in the West Marshall zoning study while also maximizing the opportunity of this corridor as one of the most transit-connected routes in our entire city.
Our office worked to update the proposal to maintain the majority and scale of the proposed changes that were in the initial draft – such as only allowing a maximum of 3 stories in most areas – while also adding flexibility to allow for more desperately needed housing units in those areas. The final plan also integrated traditional neighborhood zoning at key intersections to better leverage all of the transportation investments we’ve made to create more walkable, connected neighborhoods along this corridor, and passed City Council 6-1. We heard from numerous residents throughout this process about the need to balance the vision of the neighborhood as is with future growth. I’m grateful to everyone who invested significant time and effort in this proposal, including city staff, district councils, my predecessors in the Ward 4 office, and numerous community members. I look forward to continuing to work with community partners toward healthier neighborhoods for all in our growing city.
$15 minimum wage has passed!
I have long been a vocal and unwavering supporter of one fair wage for our city, and on November 14, Saint Paul achieved that vision. Our City Council unanimously passed a citywide $15 per hour minimum wage increase, indexed to inflation. The phase-in period will begin in 2020, with the City of Saint Paul and our largest employers leading the way. The phase-in period length for employers will be dependent on business size, as determined by numbers of employees. Between now and then, our office will work with our colleagues on the council and in the Mayor’s Office to ensure workers and businesses are given all the tools they need to implement this new ordinance.
We are also working closely with advocates to improve language related to franchise businesses and enforcement to ensure all workers can receive a fair wage and that the process is efficient for everyone involved. I would like to personally offer a sincere thanks to all of the small businesses in our Ward who reached out to our office to share their point of view on high profile issues like a possible tip credit. We don’t take your commitment to our city lightly, and we will do everything we can to help you thrive in our community.
In the end, this will new minimum wage will mean tens of thousands of workers and their families will get a raise in our city. I’m proud to have played a part in this legislative victory and will keep working with all stakeholders for a smooth and supportive implementation.
Community Benefits Fund for Midway and Allianz Field
Our office, in partnership with Council Member Dai Thao and his team in Ward 1, have been hard at work with District Councils and community partners to explore what a Community Benefits Fund could look like around Allianz Field. Through months of community meetings and comments from hundreds of neighbors and businesses, the vision for a fund that supports local businesses and residents is beginning to take shape. We hosted a widely attended event in 2018 that brought neighbors together to describe a proactive vision for our community and the stadium site.
We’ll be continuing to partner with you next year to make that vision a reality. To get involved or learn more, feel free to reach out to our legislative aide, Matt Privratsky.
2019 Budget Passed
Just days ago, the City Council passed the 2019 Budget. I am hopeful for the millions of dollars we are investing in our city’s future, through:
- Expanded recreation hours and free rec programming
- Fine-free libraries that are welcoming to all
- Supporting homes for all through an historic new Housing Trust Fund that helps
homeowners make repairs to their homes, subsidize new affordable units, preserve
naturally occurring affordable housing and especially missing middle housing, create
access for first-time homebuyers and more
- Improved access to financial services and the chance to build wealth through the new
Office of Financial Empowerment
- Landmark new efforts to provide legal support for immigrants and refugees
- Funding for a cleaner and greener city through more transit options, increasing building
energy efficiency, benchmarking and reductions to our carbon footprint so we can meet
our moral obligation as a city to address climate change
All of these investments are part of a broader strategy to support our neighborhoods and provide services people desperately need.
Since the budget was proposed by the Mayor’s Office earlier this fall, we, as council members, worked together to scrub the details of that proposal and ensure we are making sound investments. In particular, we worked to reduce the levy increase from roughly 11.5% to 10.46% - which matches the market value increase of property in the city. It’s our responsibility to invest in community stability, and there are tremendous steps toward that end in this budget.
Still, moving forward, we know there is work to be done with respect to community-first public safety. We heard loud and clear during the budget process from numerous people about their concerns about funding for police, which I share, and their ideas for continuing to shift investments into prevention, wellness and safety for all. I am offering the full support of my voice, my office, my staff and our Ward resources toward this urgently needed effort, and am eager to partner with my colleagues, Mayor Carter, Deputy Mayor Tincher, Jason Sole, and our community to shape a Community-First Public Safety Cabinet that can provide transparent and concrete way for the community to help guide our public safety efforts.
By expanding the conversation and lifting up community voices, I’m confident that we can build upon the historic investments made in this budget and keep working toward a city where everyone feels truly safe. I look forward to working even more with community to realize the full potential of this budget and our city.
 Councilmember Dan Bostrom’s tremendous career spans 55 years of public service in Saint Paul, from his years as a police officer, to school board, to City Hall. It’s been a privilege as our newest Councilmember to overlap with our longest-serving one
The City of Saint Paul is working hard on clearer streets this winter. During a declared Snow Emergency, Saint Paul plows more than 800 miles of streets with a fleet of 80 plows and equipment. Typically, the entire city is plowed in less than 24 hours. Saint Paul’s snow emergency protocol requires people to move their cars to facilitate removal.
You can learn more and sign up for e-mail and text alerts this winter at stpaul.gov/snow, or call 651-266-PLOW (7569) anytime to check on the status of a potential snow emergency.
Sustainable to-go packaging
Our office is partnering with the team in Ward 7 and community advocates to bring a new sustainable to-go packaging ordinance to Saint Paul. This will help increase recycling and composting while reducing waste citywide. City staff have already done extensive outreach to local businesses to help them transition their packaging to more sustainable options and we’re ready to move forward with a final vote in February. Email ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us with your feedback to help us make Saint Paul more sustainable!
Saint Paul’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan – submit comments by Jan. 11
Our comprehensive plan will help guide local public policy for a decade. Our ability to address climate change, create economic opportunity and grow our sustainability happens primarily through local planning, and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan will form the basis of that effort for years to come. City staff have spent years gathering input from the community to help shape the draft 2040 plan. Now it’s your turn to weigh in! Head to the city website to submit comments online or come to the public hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Friday January 11, 2018 in Room 40 (basement) of City Hall, 15 W. Kellogg Boulevard.
Saint Paul Pedestrian Plan – submit comments by Feb. 8
Help us shape a more environmentally sustainable city through improved walkability and mobility for all, and give your feedback! Visit stpaul.gov/walking to read the city’s draft pedestrian plan and submit written comments. Comments will be accepted through February 8, 2019.
Energy Survey
The City of Saint Paul is conducting an online survey of residents regarding energy to better understand what concerns residents have about energy use in their homes, what resources they would find helpful, and what sources of information they most trust and value.
Take the Survey: English Hmong Somali Spanish
Public Safety Summit
Help us shape a vision for community-first public safety in Saint Paul. What does community-first public safety mean to you? What are your ideas and aspirations for proven alternatives to traditional policing that can help reduce crime, support residents, break the cycle of criminalization and incarceration, and restore our neighborhoods?
Date and location TBA. Contact Matt Privratsky (matt.privratsky@ci.stpaul.mn.us) to sign up for updates and more info.
Renter Engagement with District Councils
Renters are underrepresented in virtually every level of government but make up over half of our City. As the one renter voice on our Council now, I am working with colleagues and residents in every living situation to help everyone in our city be heard. Our office is working with Ward 4 district council partners on this topic and also toward hosting a renter engagement forum in spring 2019. We’re looking for your input and would love to hear from you on how to better involve all in our community for change.
Date and location TBA. Contact Matt Privratsky (matt.privratsky@ci.stpaul.mn.us) to sign up for updates and get involved.
Support Midway businesses
Our office is working with the Midway Chamber, The Midway Economic Community and the local business owners to help make Saint Paul a place where small businesses can thrive. To do that, we need your voice. Please complete this short survey and share it with other business owners and residents in Saint Paul.
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As we head to the holidays, I’m proud of all we have accomplished in such a short time together, and deeply grateful for your continued partnership for our city. We’re just getting started.
Signing off until 2019 –
Mitra and your Ward 4 team
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