ICE in SLP, 2026 tax levy, new businesses, and more

Greetings! Here’s city-related news for residents of Ward 1 and beyond. This update is a bit long as it’s my last. 

New Ward 1 newsletter: I’m pleased to share that Ward 1 Council Member-Elect Daniel Bashore will be generating his own newsletter when his term starts in January. Scroll to the bottom of his website homepage and enter your email address to subscribe. I can’t wait to start reading CM Bashore’s updates!

Municipal election recap: In case you missed it, Daniel Bashore, Jim Engelking, Sue Budd, and Tim Brausen won city council seats in the November election. They'll be sworn in Jan. 5. Patrick Baldwin, Sarah Davis, and Susie Kaufmann won school board seats. Congratulations and thank you to all who ran, that’s such a major effort. Just over 25% of registered voters, or 8,882 people, cast a ballot this year, including 2,612 in Ward 1, the highest turnout of all the wards. Just saying! 

2026 property tax levy: After a roller coaster process, council narrowly approved a 7.49% property tax levy increase to fund city spending totaling nearly $54 million in 2026. The owner of a median value home in SLP ($387,450) will see an estimated increase of 8.6% in the city portion of their property taxes in 2026, with higher value homes seeing a larger percentage increase and commercial properties a smaller percentage increase. My preference was for a smaller levy increase, made possible by a temporary reduction in the amount levied for housing-related expenditures, but that proposal was rejected in a 4-3 vote. The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers property tax relief to seniors and people who experience more than a 12% increase in their property taxes in any given year. Find information on these programs here.  
 
Vision 4.0 report hot off the press: After nearly a year of gathering community feedback from more than 2,000 stakeholders across the community, SLP’s fourth visioning process is complete. The resulting 46-page report is titled “Leading with Love: A Vision of Connection for St. Louis Park” and includes data-driven policy recommendations around five key themes that emerged:

• Safety
• Infrastructure
• Sustainability
• Community & Belonging
• Housing & Affordability

I’m really pleased with the recommendations in this report, including the “Community Pillar” recommendations starting on page 30 that highlight small actions with big impacts like protecting starter homes from investors and teardowns, creating many more third spaces, building an intergenerational service corps, promoting urban agriculture, and more. I encourage you to read this important report on what our community values and how we can realize our vision for the future. Early next year, guided by the contents of the report, council will determine our community’s strategic priorities for the next decade, kind of a big deal. 
 
Neighborhoods make SLP strong: More than 30 years ago SLP city leaders decided to organize and financially support neighborhoods, with the goal to build community, enhance safety, and create accessible opportunities for volunteerism, leadership development and community engagement. That decision has paid off – over the years, most of the city’s 35 neighborhoods have been organized at one time, and many outstanding city leaders have emerged from neighborhood leadership positions. Recent changes to how neighborhoods are supported, including when and how city grant funds can be spent, have made this vital community-building work more challenging - and less effective. I believe in the power of neighborhoods and have been working to address grant funding issues for nearly two years, but unfortunately, couldn’t get it over the finish line before the end of my term. A discussion on the grant program is planned for early 2026 though, with the outcome to be determined by the new council. Thank you to all the neighborhood leaders who helped move the ball forward on this topic by sharing information, photos, ideas, and opinions on how our neighborhood grant program can achieve its goals. Please continue to stay engaged and in touch with council on this topic in the new year. Here’s where to find their contact information. 

ICE in SLP: Many residents are aware of the impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in our area right now, including in SLP. Kids and families are being traumatized by the actions of our federal government, and it’s disgusting. Becoming educated is one way to push back. This publication from the Minnesota Attorney General's Office helps clarify when and where ICE can enter a property, and what people should do if that occurs. This resource from the Immigrant Defense Project helps people know their rights with ICE. As a reminder, the SLP police department does not enforce immigration laws, request documentation of anyone’s immigration status, or maintain related data in their records. No one should hesitate to call the SLP PD if they need help. 

Community letter in support of Somali neighbors: More than 275 SLP residents, including religious, political, and business leaders, signed on to a letter published in the St. Louis Park/Hopkins Sun Sailor this month in support of our Somali neighbors. The letter called on all SLP residents, regardless of their personal politics, to reject the unfair targeting and harassment of immigrants and to use their words and actions to preserve and strengthen our city’s reputation as a welcoming, inclusive community. A Sun Sailor editorial the following week reinforced the message by urging Minnesotans to condemn the president’s cruel portrayal of Somali Minnesotans. 

If you’re trying to read these important community communications and running into a firewall, there’s an easy solution: subscribe to the Sun Sailor. Subscriptions are just $72/year for a weekly hard copy delivered to your mailbox along with online access. Support local media and stay on top of what’s happening in our community by becoming a subscriber. Thanks!

Proposed new housing on the old Holiday site: Sela Investments has submitted preliminary proposal for multifamily housing at the northwest corner of Minnetonka Blvd. and Hwy 100, the old Holiday Station site. The proposal is for a three-story, 33-unit apartment building with a mix of underground and surface parking, and a new public trail to the east of the site. A neighborhood meeting on the project is set for Tuesday, January 7 at 6 pm at Parkway 25 Apartments, 4015 Co. Rd. 25. If this meeting will be difficult for you to access due to the location and/or time of day, please let staff know via email. If they hear from enough folks, another meeting can be planned that is closer to the impacted neighborhood. Our Planning Commission is tentatively set to hold a public hearing on the project on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6 pm in Council Chambers - check the agenda before you go.

Heads up on Twin Lakes Pond: Twin Lakes Pond in Fern Hill’s Twin Lakes Park treats stormwater runoff that would otherwise enter Cedar Lake and Twin Lakes. Periodically, sediment in the pond reaches a level that requires dewatering and dredging to remove it. That process will take place this winter involving heavy machinery and noise. It's anticipated to last 4-6 weeks. Learn more here. 

New pizza place in town: Rosalia Pizza is slated to open in January in the former Revival Space at Texa-Tonka Shopping Center. Rosalia offers Neapolitan-style pizzas, fresh Sicilian pastas, salads, gluten-free options and a full cocktail bar. Exciting!

New butcher & deli too: Ward 1 residents were collectively sad when Nelson’s Meats closed a few years ago due to health issues of the generous, community-minded former owner. This spring, Sweet Lou’s Sausage & Butchery will open a brick-and-mortar version of their catering/retail/food truck business in the old Nelson’s space at 6318 Minnetonka Blvd. with a butcher shop, market, deli and coffee bar. Looking forward to this!

Ullsperger Brewing … coffee! Locally owned nanobrewery Ullsperger Brewing is now serving gourmet coffee and espresso, opening at 8 am on Saturdays and Sundays, where you can make crafts while enjoying your java. This is a great little business that has so many fun things going on. Please patronize Ullsberger now and during the upcoming road construction project that will challenge businesses in the Louisiana/Cedar Lake Road area. Sign up for Ullsperger’s weekly newsletter here – I just did!

iSmash Rage Room: Trying to keep an open mind about this one. New business iSmash, in the West End near Crave and Chi Chi’s, will allow customers to “de-stress” using mallets and baseball bats to destroy items made of glass and ceramic as well as electronics and even car windshields. A splatter paint activity will allow adults and kids to decorate a canvas with paint - as well as the walls, floor, and ceiling. The space is set to open in January. 

Jerry’s Hardware to close: The sweet hardware store at the corner of Louisiana Ave. & Cedar Lake Road is slated to close soon, with no reason given for its closure. I’ll miss this friendly shop!

Grant support for local businesses: SLP property owners, tenants, and nonprofits can get financial help for façade improvements through a new city/county grant program called Love Local Storefronts. Grant awards range from $5,000-$15,000 with a 1-1 match required. Here’s a map of eligible business districts in SLP. Email city staff to learn more about the program and apply.

Gun violence prevention ordinance: In my November update I invited residents to share their views on whether (like St. Paul) SLP should adopt an ordinance that would ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines in the city, among other gun violence prevention measures. State law currently preempts cities from enacting such ordinances, so the effort would be symbolic and future focused, but send a message to state lawmakers that there is momentum for change. Overwhelmingly, residents told me they wanted us to consider an ordinance. If this issue matters to you, I encourage you to be in touch with your elected officials in the coming year. Here’s where to find their contact information. 

New Park Tavern/Parks & Rec Bowling League: Now this sounds fun. Park Tavern and the SLP Parks & Rec Department have teamed up to offer an accessible bowling league for folks 21 and older. Teams of up to four adults of any skill level are invited to meet for a weekly game with shoes, balls, pizza, and beverage included in the $126 fee for seven weeks of play. Leagues begin in January and February. Info and register here (click on Adult Leagues & Pickleball Lessons).
 
Arts grants: I love our community arts organization, Friends of the Arts! I used to work there back in the day. Each year, FOTA and other community partners select recipients of a total $20,000 in community arts funding. I'd like to see that amount increase in future years because the return on investment is high. Here's what funds will support in 2026:

• Overdressed Duo: Operatic concert series at Wolfe Park 
• Reach for Resources: Arts workshops for adults and teens with disabilities 
• Storytelling Forum: Building bridges between local artist and communities 
• The Park Theater Company: Arts in the Parks video magazine 
• Twin Cities Road Crew: Introduction of breakdancing at neighborhood parks
• Open Eye Figure Theater: Series of all-age puppet shows

If you've gotten this far in this newsletter, you're clearly interested city information of all kinds. If you haven't already, I encourage you to check out all the information the city puts out via email and text on topics ranging from sustainability to construction to youth & adult activities and more. The city also has a robust social media presence (@stlouispark on FB, Instagram, X/@stlouisparkmn on TikTok) if that's your thing. 

Here’s a select list of upcoming events in our community: 

Sea Shanty Sing, first Monday of every month, 7-9 pm, The Local West End, 1607 Park Place. Songs are call and response, no experience needed, all voices welcome. Info here.

Parkway 5/Old Holiday site neighborhood meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6-7 pm, Parkway 25 Apartments, 4015 Co. Rd. 25. Info here.

Come in from the Cold Concert Series, Fridays, Jan. 9, 23 & Feb. 6, 20, Maggie’s Farm Theater, located in the Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Featuring acclaimed and emerging Twin Cities singer/songwriters and artists. Info here.

National Day of Racial Healing, Monday, Jan. 19, 4-7 pm, Westwood Hills Nature Center. Hosted by the City of SLP, SLP Public Schools, SLP Community Ed and Benilde-St. Margaret’s. An opportunity for community members to learn about each other’s diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and lived experiences. Free; pre-registration required. Info here.  

SLP Friends of the Arts Artist Showcase, Jan. 23-Feb. 21, opening reception Friday, Jan. 23, 5-8pm, Brookview in Golden Valley. Annual juried community art event that brings together artists from St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. Info here.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District 2027 Plan Kickoff, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 9:30-11-:30 or 6:30-8:30 pm, Minnetonka Community Center Banquet Room, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka. Lend your voice to the 2027 watershed plan which will address new threats facing the watershed in light of climate change. Free and open to the public. Info and register here.  

Mark your calendars for the Children First Breakfast, Thursday, March 12, 7:30-8:30 am, Marriott West, 9960 Wayzata Blvd., St. Louis Park. This new iteration of Children First is a cradle-to-career educational partnership serving the school districts of SLP and Hopkins, with the goal to ensure all children in these districts have the opportunity to achieve economic mobility. I’m hosting a table at this event and hope to see you there!

Let’s stay in touch: My city email ([email protected]) will become obsolete on Jan. 5, but I plan to stay involved in our great community. Going forward you can reach me at [email protected]. Thanks!

Thanks for reading, and remember, you can sign up for CM Bashore’s newsletter here. 

With gratitude for the opportunity to serve, 

Margaret