COVID-19 Updates from the City of Saint Paul

City of St. Paul sent this bulletin at 04/28/2020 05:56 PM CDT

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COVID-19 UPDATE

TUESDAY, APRIL 28

Like communities across our nation, we’ve been closely monitoring the unfolding of the situation around the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The City is working diligently in responding to the unique needs of our residents, business owners, and key partners and is coordinating closely with public health officials. Learn more about the City’s response at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.  

Mayor Carter Announces Fine, Fee, and Collection Relief Measures In Response to Economic Impact of COVID-19

Fine and Fee Information

Today, Mayor Carter announced a set of fine, fee and collection relief measures in response to the economic impact of COVID-19 affecting businesses and residents. Learn more at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.

  • License fees reduced by 25% for all businesses named in Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-04, including any subsequent clarifying orders. Businesses with a license renewal due before August 1, 2020 will also be provided a 90-day extension past their due date to pay their renewal without penalty.  
  • All towing and storage charges are waived for vehicle owners reclaiming their cars from impoundment. Charges will be waived for vehicles in the snow impound lot through May 6 and the Barge Channel lot through May 8. This action has been implemented by the Mayor administratively. 
  • Referrals to collection agencies for debts owed to the city that are 90 days past due will be temporarily suspended through June 30, 2020. Overdue invoices will continue to be tracked during this period but will not be sent to collections. This action has been implemented by the Mayor administratively.  
  • Collection of street assessments that would be levied in 2020 will be delayed until 2021. The assessments that will be delayed include street reconstruction projects, seal coating, and mill & overlays. This action has been implemented by the Mayor administratively.  
  • These measures come following other actions to support those most vulnerable including the Saint Paul Bridge Fund of Families and Small Businesses, the suspension of water shut-offs in, and requesting the suspension of evictions with the Ramsey County Sheriff. 

City of Saint Paul Updates

  • The City is accepting donations of personal protective equipment. There is an urgent need for PPE for the City's first responders and other city staff members. Please consider donating today at one of our mobile donation sites. Learn more at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.
    • Mondays between 2-6 p.m. - Allianz Field West Parking Lot near Snelling Avenue 
    • Wednesdays between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Highland Park Community Center Parking Lot 
    • Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. – Sears Parking Lot near Rice Street and University Avenue 
  • NEW - May 1 is just around the corner and that means rent and mortgage payments are due. Find housing and rental assistance here.
  • City meal service started today. To address growing food insecurity in Saint Paul due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is partnering with Youthprise, Arts-Us, and the Sanneh Foundation  to provide free meal service through June 5 to Saint Paul families in need. The City’s meal service will supplement services provided by Saint Paul Public Schools, local food shelves, and other governmental partners. Learn more at stpaul.gov/parks-covid19. 
Language Resources Team

Language Resource Line

The City of Saint Paul has a new phone line and email address to answer questions about the City’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Interpreters are available to answer questions in Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish. Learn more at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.

Phone Number: 651-266-6000
Email: LanguageResources@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Public Health

  • The CDC has added six more conditions to its list of COVID-19 symptoms, including chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. Please visit the State of Minnesota’s COVID-19 website for information about what to do if you are experiencing symptoms, including a new resource that helps identify testing locations: https://mn.gov/covid19/. 
  • Find COVID-19 testing locations with new state website. As part of the state’s effort to provide widespread, rapid COVID-19 testing, Governor Tim Walz today unveiled a new website to help Minnesotans find a testing location within their community. This testing collaborative now includes 127 clinics and health care facilities across the state.

  • Managing Chronic Conditions during COVID-19. Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Learn about basic steps older adults can take to protect themselves.

  • The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).

Multilingual Health Information

Community Recommendations

The Minnesota Department of Health has community recommendations involving employers, assisted living facilities, schools and health care settings and large and small community events and gatherings. 

Mental Health Resources

  • University of Minnesota: Managing Fear and Anxiety for Healthcare Workers  
  • Ramsey County residents who are experiencing stress and mental health symptoms as a result of COVID-19 are encouraged to call the county’s Crisis Team for support and resources. The county’s two crisis lines continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
    • Children’s Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7878. 
    • Adult Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7900. 

Family Assistance

  • Saint Paul Public Schools Meal Service Updates. Starting Monday, April 20, SPPS will no longer have bus stop deliveries. Instead, SPPS will start weekly home meal delivery to SPPS families who are in need of food for their children. Meals are only for kids ages 18 and under, or those with a disability enrolled in a school program. Please continue to check spps.org/covidmeals for the most up-to-date information about meals, including pickup times and locations. 
  • WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is a supplemental food, nutrition and breastfeeding program that helps eligible pregnant women, new mothers, babies and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy. Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health continues to offer WIC services to eligible families with children up to age five. Please call 651-266-1300 to apply for WIC.
  • Families can apply for cash emergency and food (SNAP) assistance at http://applymn.dhs.mn.gov. Before applying, you can see if you are eligible for ApplyMN programs at http://mn.bridgetobenefits.org.
  • School and Child Care Questions? Call 651-297-1304. This is a state hotline open for school and child care questions for Minnesota residents that is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday of the week.

Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Workforce

  • The deadline to submit eligibility documentation for the Saint Paul Bridge Fund grants for small businesses and families is Friday, May 1. If you have questions about submitting documentation, call (651) 266-6565. Staff are available to help who speak English, Hmong, Spanish, Somali, Oromo and Karen. Learn more at stpaul.gov/bridge-fund.  
  • The Small Business Administration (SBA) will resume accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders today, Monday, April 27. With the additional funding provided by the new COVID-19 relief package, SBA will resume processing Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Advance applications that are already in the queue on a first come, first-served basis. SBA will provide further information on the availability of the EIDL portal to receive new applications (including those from agricultural enterprises) as soon as possible. To learn more about the relief options available for your business, click here.
  • Applications are now open for the Small Business Relief Grants, which are part of LISC’s Rapid Relief & Recovery Fund programs. These programs help businesses deal with immediate financial impact due to the pandemic.Click here to apply. Applications must be completed by Tuesday, April 28th, at 11:59 p.m ET (10:59 p.m. CT). Before completing the application, we recommend applicants review our Grant Information Overview and FAQ, which can be found
  • Need help accessing your Federal Economic Impact Payment? Assistance filing taxes? A local nonprofit, Prepare + Prosper works with people with low- to moderate-incomes to build financial well-being through free tax preparation and financial services, coaching, and products. Currently, they are offering remote support in filing returns for taxes and stimulus payments. They are also virtually enrolling people in safe and affordable prepaid debit cards and their FAIR banking products (including a checking account) to quickly access their Economic Impact Payments and tax refunds. For more information, visit www.prepareandprosper.org. For tax help or general questions, contact 651-287-0187 or contact@prepareandprosper.org. To enroll in an account, make an appointment online. 
  • Federal Economic Impact Payments for Low-Income Residents. If you are a low-income resident who doesn't normally file federal tax returns and doesn't normally receive federal benefits, you will not be able to receive Federal Economic Impact Payments automatically. You will have to complete an online form at the IRS website.  Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic can help people fill out the form. Call the Taxpayer Clinic's intake number at 612-334-5970.  Learn more on LawHelpMN's website.
  • Save Small Business Fund. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations, and philanthropic donors – has launched the Save Small Business Fund. The Fund will provide $5,000 grants to help as many businesses as possible meet their most pressing needs -- from rent, making payroll, or for overall business operations.
  • Community Benefit Financial Company Emergency Fund (Otto Bremer Trust)
  • Propel Nonprofits Working Capital Loans. Loans to support program and operational stability or program expansion or reimbursements. Typical range: $20,000 to $600,000. Learn more here. 

Housing Resources

  • Virtual Home Energy Squad. Whether you are at home working, learning, or just staying safe, the additional time spent inside can mean higher energy bills. The Home Energy Squad, provided by CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy, is here to help with a new free service: the Virtual HES Visit. We’ll take customers on a home walk-through via video chat, and together we'll help find ways to reduce energy bills while keeping indoor air clean and healthy. Learn more about the Virtual HES Visit. Sign up online or call 651-328-6220.
  • Executive order on evictions, Stay at Home, & COVID-19 information: Resources for tenants regarding these orders and general advice about tenant rights. 
  • Rental rehabilitation loan program: Receive assistance to preserve existing affordable rental housing in Saint Paul. 
  • A limited number of hotel beds are available now through Monday, April 27 for unsheltered youth who are ages 18-24. To request a room, youth can call the Salvation Army Shelter Line 10 a.m. -10 p.m. any day of the week at 651-444-5757.

Human Rights

  • City Accessibility Coordinator. Residents and businesses are reminded that they can contact the City of Saint Paul Accessibility Coordinator with language needs and accessibility concerns. For more information, please visit the City of Saint Paul ADA Accommodation information webpage. 

Partner Updates

  • Property tax deadline extended to July 15 for qualifying taxpayers. The deadline for payment of first-half property taxes for qualifying property owners in Ramsey County who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis has been extended from May 15 to July 15, 2020. Please visit ramseycounty.us/paypropertytax for more information.

  • Use Metro Transit for essential travel only. Metro Transit is operating a reduced service schedule. Bus service is suspended 11 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. Light rail service is suspended 9 p.m. - 6 a.m. Between April 20-27, buses will replace Blue & Green Line trains. Learn more here. 

Donate to the Saint Paul Bridge Fund

Community members can donate to the Saint Paul Bridge Fund on GiveMN. Donations will increase the number of families and small businesses that receive funds through the program.

The Saint Paul Bridge Fund includes funds provided by The Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority and private donors including the Baird, Bush Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Minnesota United FC, Minnesota Wild, Peter H. Seed, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Securian Foundation, Whaley Foundation, Xcel Energy, and over 160 individual contributors.  

Virtual Activities