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A few years ago, my family’s regular bike ride to synagogue was detoured for most of the summer because Water Street and the adjacent Lilydale Trail were closed. Excessive spring flooding had not only hefted tons of riverbed onto the roadway but rising waters had also damaged a road barrier which needed fixing before the street could reopen.
Springtime flooding is nothing new, of course, but the intensity and frequency of flooding are increasing. This is just one among many ways in which climate change is upon us - no longer a far-off problem to be avoided, but a reality in our daily lives. From the freeze-thaw cycles that tear up our streets to the urban heat island effect that’s made worse by hotter summers to more intense storms and floods, our changing climate affects our lives in ways we see and feel every day.
I’m proud to live in a city that takes this problem seriously and that’s rising to the challenge of meeting it head on, doing all we can to mitigate its most serious impacts and forestall more severe climate disruption.
In St. Paul, our work is guided by the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), first adopted in 2019 and updated this year. The CARP lays out Saint Paul’s climate goals, including carbon neutrality by 2050, and it includes strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and transportation, expand clean energy and energy efficiency, integrate climate resilience into long-term city planning and capital investments and support sustainable transportation options, such as walking, biking, transit, and electric vehicles.
Click here to read Rebecca's full note.
 Ward 2 welcoming St. Olaf student, Rowan Nordin, to shadow a day of work at City Hall! - May 19, 2026
June Community Conversation this Monday!
Join Council President Noecker for a Community Conversation at Burger Dive on Bay Street on Monday, June 15th!
Join us for our next Community Conversations gathering this Monday. These informal meet-ups are a chance to share ideas, ask questions, and raise concerns in a relaxed, welcoming setting. All are welcome to stop by, connect with neighbors, and talk about what’s on your mind.
- Monday, June 15
- 5:00 - 6:00 PM
- Burger Dive on Bay Street - 731 Randolph Ave
We hope to see you there!
Downtown Action Series – Meeting #7 next week!
Union Depot | 214 4th St E
Thursday, June 18 | 4:30–6:00 PM
Downtown Saint Paul is moving — and we want you in the room.
Join us for our sixth Downtown Action Series meeting as we share key updates, track progress, and create space for real community input on what’s working — and what’s not. This is a working session focused on action, urgency, and shared ownership of downtown’s future.
What to expect:
• Updates from city, county, state, and downtown partners
• Opportunities to connect with neighbors
• Small group Q&A on key revitalization priorities
• Clear ways to get involved
Whether you live, work, or care about downtown, your voice matters. Let’s keep the momentum going.
RSVP: https://forms.office.com/g/BnTA0F52Bq
Saint Paul City Council Passes License Fee Delay
The Saint Paul City Council recently approved an ordinance change championed by Council President Noecker to support small businesses affected by Operation Metro Surge, particularly immigrant-owned businesses on the West Side and throughout the city.
Following conversations with local business owners about declining revenues and economic uncertainty, the measure delays certain business license renewal fee deadlines through the end of 2026. While not a complete solution to the challenges facing small businesses, the ordinance provides meaningful short-term relief and reflects the city's commitment to supporting its local business community.
Click here to hear from the Council President on this new ordinance.
Stop For Me Pedestrian Safety Campaign
Everyone deserves to get where they're going safely. One way the City of Saint Paul is working to improve pedestrian safety is through the new Stop For Me safe crossing campaign. Stop For Me is a partnership between the Saint Paul Police Department, community organizations, and residents to improve driver compliance with Minnesota's crosswalk laws through education, enforcement, and public awareness.
These events give community members an opportunity to work with their friends and neighbors to focus on locations they believe need additional attention. During each event, police officers participate in both uniform and plainclothes. Officers in uniform stop drivers who fail to obey the crosswalk law, while the plainclothes officer provides education to pedestrians on how to safely cross the street. The plainclothes officer also collects information from the event, which is summarized and shared with Public Works for possible future engineering improvements.
Council President Noecker participated in one of these safe crossing events last week at 7th & Goodrich. Click here for a video from this event!
Saint Paul City Council Meetings Now Available on YouTube
Saint Paul City Council meetings are now available to watch live and on demand on YouTube. Visit youtube.com/stpaulgov and look for the City Council Meetings playlist to tune in from your phone, computer, tablet, or smart TV with live captions included.
YouTube is a new, additional way to follow Council proceedings. For official agendas, minutes, and legislative documents, continue to visit the City’s Legistar page at stpaul.legistar.com.
Saint Paul Ranked Fourth-Leading Park System in the U.S.
We are proud to see that Saint Paul was once again ranked as one of America's leading urban systems by the Trust for Public Land! The 2026 ParkScore index evaluates park access, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.
To learn about what went into Saint Paul's ranking, you can access the Trust for Public Land's evaluation here.
Enjoy Summer Downtown with Lunch on the Lawn
Join us Monday through Thursday during the summer for Lunch on the Lawn! We've got a great line-up of food trucks and grab-and-go lunch options at our downtown parks. Enjoy a weekly rotation of live music, DJs, fitness events, delicious food, and more at a different downtown park each day.
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Monday: Pedro Park
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Grab-N-Go Lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Music by DJ (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Lawn games and makers space (11 a.m. -2 p.m.)
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Self-Led circuit workout (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
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Tuesday: Mears Park
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Grab-n-go lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Lawn games (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Live music (View music schedule) (Noon-1 p.m.)
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Yoga (1-2 p.m.)
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Thursday: Kellogg Mall Park
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Food Trucks (View food trucks schedule) (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Lawn games (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Sound Bath (Noon-1 p.m. on select dates)
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Yoga (1-2 p.m.)
 Members of the Saint Paul City Council and Mayor Kaohly Her gather with community members, colleagues, and families for the 62nd Annual Saint Paul Police Memorial Ceremony. - May 13, 2026
Construction Updates
Sign up for weekly Downtown Construction Updates at the Downtown Projects webpage here.
Additional event and construction closures:
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10 p.m. Friday, June 12 through 5 a.m. Monday, June 15, eastbound I-94 is closed between I-35E and Hwy 10/61 for bridge maintenance.
Road closures and restrictions as of June 8:
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4th Street:
- Lane restrictions between St Peter and Wabasha streets for skyway painting until June 30.
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5th Street:
- Lane restrictions between Wabasha and Cedar streets for Osborn Plaza.
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West 7th Street:
- Lane Restrictions between Walnut Street and Kellogg Boulevard on West 7th for Xcel Energy work.
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6th Street:
- Lane restrictions between Jackson and Minnesota streets for Robert Street construction.
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7th Place:
- Starting June 8, 7th Place will be closed between Robert and Jackson streets as part of the Robert Street construction project.
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West 7th Street:
- Lane restrictions between Walnut Street and Kellogg Boulevard on West 7th for Xcel Energy work (at Chestnut Street) and sewer work (at Walnut Street).
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East 7th Street:
- Lane restrictions between Mounds Boulevard and Arcade Street for MnDOT work.
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Chestnut Street:
- Closed at West 7th for Xcel Energy work.
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Jackson Street:
- Jackson Street closed to thru traffic from Kellogg Boulevard to Shepard Road for sewer pump station and floodwall work.
- Jackson Street is open to parking and properties between Kellogg Boulevard and 2nd Street. 2nd Street is open between Jackson and Sibley streets.
- For more information, visit the city’s Lowertown Floodwall webpage.
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John Ireland Bridge:
- Closed for MnDOT reconstruction.
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Kellogg Boulevard:
- Westbound lanes closed between West 7th Street and Wabasha Street. Eastbound open only between Wabasha Street and Washington Street. For more information about the CCB Kellogg Phase 2 project, visit stpaul.gov/ccbkellogg2.
- Lane restrictions between Broadway and Lafayette streets for Xcel Energy work.
- Kellogg Boulevard/3rd Street bridge remains closed through 2027. Kellogg Boulevard remains closed between Lafayette Street and Mounds Boulevard. For more information about the Kellogg/3rd Street Bridge project, visit: stpaul.gov/Kellogg-3.
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Lafayette Road:
- Starting June 8, road closed to all thru traffic at University Avenue.
- Road closed to northbound traffic at University Avenue.
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Robert Street:
- Lane restrictions between Kellogg Boulevard and 9th Street as needed for sidewalk work and final reconstruction work.
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Shepard Road:
- Westbound Shepard closed between Eagle Parkway and Sibley Street.
- Shepard Road closed to thru traffic at I-35E for MnDOT bridge reconstruction.
- Eastbound will remain open from I-35E to Highway 61.
- Eastbound Shepard traffic can access downtown from Eagle Parkway and Sibley Street, except no trucks on Sibley Street due to bridge height.
- Westbound Shepard traffic can access downtown from Sibley Street, except no trucks due to bridge height.
- No access from Shepard Road to I-35E southbound.
- I-35E northbound can exit to eastbound Shepard Road.
- Shepard Road detour: Lexington Parkway to West 7th Street to Otto Avenue.
- For more information, visit MnDOT's I-35E and Shepard Road webpage.
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Temperance Street:
- Lane restrictions between 7th and 9th streets for roofing work.
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University Avenue:
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Wabasha Street:
- Lane restrictions between 10th Street and Exchange Street for Xcel Energy work.
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Wacouta Street:
- Lane restrictions between 6th and 7th streets for Xcel Energy work. Southbound traffic only.
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Walnut Street:
- Sewer work at Walnut Street and West 7th Street starts June 8. Lane restrictions on West 7th Street and no thru traffic on Walnut Street.
For more information on construction projects in Saint Paul, visit stpaul.gov/construction.
 Ward 2 participating in the Saint Paul & Ramsey County Employee Blood Drive at City Hall! - June 3, 2026
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