Alcohol in Parks
This week St Paul City Council passed Ordinance 22-4, to allow for people to drink beverages with up to 5.5% alcohol by weight within picnic shelters and pavilions in St Paul parks. This is a change from the previously allowed 3.2% alcohol beverages.
I am happy to support this common sense amendment as it will allow for families and groups to enjoy low-alcohol beverages that are more commonly available to buy.
Please note that alcohol will still not be generally allowed in rec centers, playgrounds, or in park spaces beyond picnic areas. Plastic and metal containers will still be required for safety (no glass).
I am happy to support this common sense amendment increasing the allowed alcohol percentage in picnic pavilions and picnic shelters as it will allow for families and groups to enjoy low-alcohol beverages that are more commonly available to buy.
Read the full ordinance 22-4 here.
Rent Help MN Deadline Tonight
The deadline for renters to submit a state program RentHelpMN application is Friday, January 28, 2022, at 9 p.m. Visit RentHelpMN to apply. The website is available in English, Español/Spanish, Hmoob/Hmong, and Soomaali/Somali.
People who are behind on their rent can still apply for overdue rent, utilities, and up to one month of forward rent, but they must submit an application by the 1/28 deadline.
The RentHelpMN application portal will be closed the weekend of January 29-30. It will be available again the morning of Monday, January 31, for applications already in-process. Please note that applications started but not submitted by January 28 will be considered withdrawn. They will not be processed and will not provide protection from eviction.
Submitted applications will continue to be processed after the program closes, subject to funding availability. It is possible that residents in some communities may be eligible for other emergency rental assistance programs, including the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Dakota County, Washington County, Ramsey County, and Saint Paul. Renters who have been working with a Tribal-run program should check directly with them on the availability of funds.
For questions, please log in to the portal or call the helpline at 211 or 1-800-543-7709. Please be aware that wait times for help through 211 will be longer than usual due to high demand.
Jobs for Youth and Employers
Right Track, the City of Saint Paul's youth employment program, is recruiting youth and employers.
For business leaders and employers: Employer applications to host a Saint Paul intern this summer are now open. Help cultivate Saint Paul’s future workforce. The workforce of the future will be made up of young, diverse talent, and Right Track can help connect you! Regardless of the industry or organizational structure, your company will truly benefit from mentoring Saint Paul youth. Apply today or reach out to Shaina Abraham at shaina.abraham@ci.stpaul.mn.us to get started.
For youth seeking employment: Applications for youth will be open the month of February for jobs beginning in Summer 2022. Employment opportunities are for youth ages 14-21. There are many internship opportunities to choose from thanks to our amazing employer partners throughout the city. Help spread the word to get our young people connected to a meaningful summer experience with Right Track! Learn more about opportunities by watching this video created by Right Track interns and find more information online. (Applications will be available starting Feb. 1.) For application support and/or questions, please reach out to the Right Track team at righttrack@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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New Federal COVID-19 Testing Site in Saint Paul
There's a new COVID-19 testing site at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Building in Saint Paul (395 John Ireland Blvd, St Paul, MN 55155). The site will operate now through February 14, 2022. Open daily from 7 am – 4 pm.
The site will be free and open to anyone, providing nasal-swab PCR testing for all ages. Staff will not collect any insurance information. Appointments are highly recommended, though a small number of walk-ins will be accepted each day. To guarantee a test, register directly with the testing provider at doineedacovid19test.com or visit the state’s COVID-19 Community Testing Sites page.
The testing site (395 John Ireland Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155), has free parking available in the MnDOT Building Parking Ramp F, main level, 424 Rice Street, St. Paul, MN 55155. The building is wheelchair accessible.
COVID-19 Updates
Effective January 19 (January 26 for ticketed events): City-licensed businesses and venues serving food and/or beverages consumed indoors on site are required to request all patrons to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative test result for COVID-19 (received within 72 hours of entry) and a photo ID. Photo ID not required for those under 18. Patrons also must wear face covering at all times except when eating or drinking. Individuals under the age of five are exempt. Businesses can print and post this official sign alerting patrons. More details are available at stpaul.gov/executive-orders.
Mask Requirement
Mayor Melvin Carter has signed Executive Order 2022-3 requiring face coverings to be worn indoors in all city-controlled facilities and all businesses licensed by the City of Saint Paul. This went into effect January 6th at 5 pm.
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Test at Home for FREE
 Order free, at home, COVID-19 tests from the federal government. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order up to four free at-home tests. All tests distributed as part of this program are FDA-authorized at-home rapid antigen tests, not PCR tests. These tests provide results within 30 minutes and no lab drop-off is required. Learn more about ordering a test from these frequently asked questions.
$200 Visa gift card: The State of Minnesota is offering $200 Visa gift cards to families in Minnesota who get their 5-11-year-olds fully vaccinated in January and February. To be eligible, kids in Minnesota ages 5-11 must receive their first and second dose between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28.
$100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings: Later this spring, there will be drawings for five $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings for all kids in Minnesota 5-11 years old who are fully vaccinated. All kids in Minnesota ages 5-11 years old who completed their first and second doses at any point up to the registration deadline will be eligible to enter for a chance to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Details on the drawings will be announced in the coming months.
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Get Boosted
All Minnesotans are now eligible for their COVID-19 booster shot! Officials have authorized 'mixing and matching' COVID-19 vaccine boosters, meaning anybody who is eligible to get a booster shot can get either the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson booster shot regardless of what they received for their primary series. Make your appointment!
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Need an in-person test?
Need an in-person saliva or rapid test? The State of Minnesota and Ramsey County are operating COVID-19 testing sites that are free and open to everyone who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms.
The State of Minnesota offers community testing at multiple locations. Currently, the closest Saint Paul locations include Roy Wilkins Auditorium and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in Terminal 1. Appointments can be made through the Vault Health registration site. Walk-ins are also accepted.
Additional testing locations are open throughout the state.
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Contact Us
Email: ward6@stpaul.gov
Phone: 651-266-8660
Facebook: NelsieYangWard6
Twitter: @NelsieYangCM
Meet & Greet phone call appointments are available on Thursdays. Register online at stpaul.gov/ward6.
1-4 Unit Housing Zoning Changes
Join City staff, District Council representatives, and residents at one of three upcoming virtual engagement sessions to share input for Phase 2 of the 1-4 Unit Housing Study!
Attendees will see a presentation on the study and take part in small group discussions on neighborhood-scale housing types and potential opportunities for the City to add more housing.
These sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m. on February 1 (Tues), February 10 (Thurs), and March 2 (Wed) and are being co-hosted by partnering District Councils. This study is exploring the potential to create more neighborhood-scale housing types that are missing across the city. For a link to attend the virtual meeting and to learn more, visit www.EngageStPaul.org/1to4HousingStudy.
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Affordable Connectivity Program
Are you in need of internet service? You may qualify for FREE or reduced-cost internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). https://www.fcc.gov/acp Households may qualify if you're eligible for public assistance programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, National School Lunch Program, SNAP, Medicaid and Housing Assistance. Apply at https://acpbenefit.org!
Snow Emergency Information
Sign up for Snow Emergency Alerts at stpaul.gov/SNOW!
When St Paul gets a snowfall accumulation of more than 3 inches, the City may declare a Snow Emergency, which requires all residents and visitors to move their cars off the streets to allow City crews to plow the entire City.
Saint Paul’s Snow Emergency lasts 96 hours and has three phases: Night Plow routes, Day Plow routes, and Clean up. During this 96 hour period, you can report vehicles on your street that failed to move in time for the initial plowing by calling 651-266-9800. "Snowbird" vehicles will be ticketed, and towed if needed. These sections of road can then be re-plowed during the clean-up phase.
Residential side streets only get plowed during a Snow Emergency, so it’s critical that people move their cars for plows to get to the curb. To avoid a ticket, or tow, please follow all Snow Emergency parking rules.
Visit stpaul.gov/snow for more Snow Emergency information! Snow Emergency alerts by text or email are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.
Call 651-266-PLOW (7569) to hear a recorded message about the current Snow Emergency status.
Print and share Snow Emergency brochure information with your neighbors. Brochures are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen, Oromo, Lao, Burmese, and Amharic.
Download the free Saint Paul Snow Emergency parking map that can show you when and where you can park in your neighborhood.
Energy Assistance
The Minnesota Energy Assistance Program (EAP) will now pay up to $3,200 towards income-eligible households' current and past-due energy bills, including water and sewer. The increase is due to an additional $106 million in federal funding.
FREE Spring Sports at Duluth & Case Rec
Saint Paul Parks & Recreation, in partnership with the University of Minnesota, are offering FREE spring sports at the Duluth & Case Rec Center in Ward 6! These offerings are for youth ages 6 – 12 years old. Interested individuals can register for volleyball or indoor soccer online or by calling the Duluth & Case Rec Center at 651-298-5709.
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