Ballot Questions: Sales Tax, Early Learning
This week, City Council passed two resolutions; each one will bring a ballot measure before the people of Saint Paul.
The first resolution (RES 23-1073) approves the ballot question to be voted on during the November 7, 2023 general election regarding a 1% sales tax for improvements to streets, bridges, and parks. The ballot question will ask, "Should the City of Saint Paul establish a one percent (1%) sales and use tax over the next 20 years to generate $738,000,000 to repair and improve streets and bridges, $246,000,000 to improve parks and recreation facilities, and associated bonding costs?"
The second resolution (RES 23-1094), orders a special election to be held on November 5, 2024 to add a ballot question on whether the City should create a dedicated fund for subsidies for children's early care and education through a property tax levy. The question will read, "In order to create a dedicated fund for children’s early care and education to be administered by a City department or office that provides subsidies to families and providers so that early care and education is no cost to low-income families and available on a sliding scale to other families, and so as to increase the number of child care slots and support the child care workforce, shall the City of Saint Paul be authorized to levy property taxes in the amount of $2,000,000 in the first year, to increase by the same amount each year following for the next nine years ($4,000,000 of property taxes levied in year two, $6,000,000 in year three, $8,000,000 in year four and so on until $20,000,000 of property taxes are levied in year ten)?"
Read each resolution and listen to the Council discussion from the July 19th City council meeting.
Join a Purple Line Station Area Working Group
Ramsey County is looking for community members to share ideas for areas around planned Purple Line bus rapid transit (BRT) stations.
If you live, work, or play along the Purple Line route in Saint Paul, then this group is for you!
- The Saint Paul Station Area Working Groups will meet three times from August 2023 to July 2024.
- All Station Area Working Group members will receive $25 per meeting.
- Meals will be provided at in-person meetings.
For questions about the Station Area Planning Working Groups, please email Denetrick Powers at powers@neoopartners.com.
Rail Road Island Neighborhood Group Block Party
The Railroad Island Neighborhood Group (RING) is hosting their annual National Night Out Block Party on Tuesday August 1st from 6-8PM at the neighborhood sign park (Desoto & Tedesco). Come for free food, activities, and community!
Rivoli Bluff Bash
Back for a third year, visit Urban Roots' largest growing site at this open house-style, family-friendly event -- Rivoli Bluff Bash! This event will include fresh produce for sale from the Mobile Market (SNAP/EBT accepted), food trucks, Children's Garden activities, community organization information tables, and more! Rivoli Bluff Bash is free to attend but registration is required.
Liu Ming Yuan Garden Poetry Contest
Enter to win this year's Liu Ming Yuan Garden Poetry Contest! The theme this year is "friendship". Poems will be accepted in Dakota, Hmong, Chinese, and English. Open to all ages. Please submit your poetry here by September 15, 2023!
2023 Cultural STAR Deadline Extended
The Cultural STAR grant application deadline has been extended until Thursday, July 27 at 4 p.m.
This program provides grants for arts and cultural programming and organizations within the City of Saint Paul.
Call for Artwork Submissions - 2023 Solidarity Street Gallery
 
Join in celebrating the tapestry of cultures in our neighborhood! Participate in the 2023 Solidarity Street Gallery fine-art exhibition on September 8 and 9 - in its 4th year in 2023!
This call for artwork is open to all - and free!
"We are encouraging all visual artists to participate, be they local or national, and be they well established or emerging! We are seeking diverse representation of all the groups who live, work and shop in our neighborhood - and yours - be they recent immigrants, new arrivals in the neighborhood, or long-term residents."
Please submit your art for the 2023 Solidarity Street Gallery by July 31st.
2023 Neighborhood STAR Applications Open
Applications are now open for the 2023 Neighborhood STAR program funding round. Completed applications must be submitted by Monday, July 31 at 4 p.m.
Find more details, specific program guidelines and a link to the application at stpaul.gov/nstar.
Program changes for 2023
The Saint Paul City Council recently adopted guideline changes for Neighborhood STAR to increase accessibility to grant funds. These changes include:
- In 2023, Neighborhood STAR will be a grants-only program (no loan awards)
- Grant requests of up to $50,000 will no longer require matching funds. Going forward, only grant requests of over $50,000 will require one-to-one matching funds in the full amount of the Neighborhood STAR funding request.
ESNDC Friendly Storefronts Program
Attention Ward 6 Businesses! Are you looking to refresh the appearance of your storefront this summer? Check out East Side Neighborhood Development Company’s Friendly Storefronts Program - Grant funding is available for façade improvement projects on a first come basis. See the flyer for general program guidelines, and send all inquiries to jmcgregor@esndc.org to start the application process!
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