Looking ahead to 2020

Hello and happy new year!

December was a low-key month for the St. Louis Park City Council, but 2020 will bring many new opportunities to shape the future of our shared community. 

Here's a look-ahead to some of the items your local elected officials will be discussing and potentially voting on in the coming months:

• A local sales tax to fund road projects
• Developer Oppidan's proposal for the former Sam's Club site
• New affordable housing development proposals representing partnerships between Union Congregational Church and Project for Pride in Living, and Vista Lutheran Church and CommonBond Communities
• A request from the St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) to partner on building a new "Community Welcome Center"
• Renewable energy incentive programs for residents and businesses in support of our Climate Action Plan
• Restrictions on the sale of mint & menthol tobacco products in SLP
• Southeast Bikeway and Fern Hill Pavement Management projects
• Changes in how the city gathers public input to inform decision-making, including adding "open mic" opportunities at some council meetings
• Potential changes to SLP's Crime Free Rental Housing ordinance
• A new Notice of Eviction policy to protect renters in SLP
• A strategic framework for supporting arts & culture in SLP
• And much more

Local government decisions matter to our quality of life! I encourage you to stay informed and active in the coming year by:

• Viewing council agendas, which are posted every Friday here on the city's website, and sharing your views on issues your elected officials will consider. You can find contact information for all city council members here. Here's the agenda for tomorrow's meeting. 
• Viewing city council meetings, which take place the first and third Mondays of each month starting at 6:30 pm, in real time or recorded online. You can find links to live and recorded meetings here. Of course you can also attend meetings and study sessions (2nd & 4th Mondays) in person at City Hall too.
• Subscribing to the Sun Sailor, SLP's free local newspaper, here. Create an account online and sign up for weekly home delivery. 

Additionally, if you value my monthly updates and think friends & neighbors might as well, please share this link so I can add them to my email list. And please consider attending my First Sunday Meetups, which are informal opportunities for residents to share ideas and ask questions about local government and city council work. You can find more info on meetups here. 

Finally, here's a select list of upcoming events in SLP in January: 

​Fern Hill Pavement Management Project Open House & Public Hearing: These events are about work proposed for 2020, which includes potential new sidewalks along Basswood Road and Kipling Ave. Open House to review proposed plans and share feedback with staff: Tues., Jan. 7, 5:30-7 pm, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. Public Hearing, Mon., Jan. 21, 6:30 pm, Council Chambers, St. Louis Park City Hall. More info here. 

Presidential Primary Primer: On March 3, Minnesota will have its first presidential primary. How will it work? And what happens at a caucus? Learn and ask questions at this nonpartisan community event Wed., Jan. 22, 7-8:30 pm at Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Featured speaker will be Michael Wall from the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Hosted by the SLP Community Education Advisory Council in partnership with the League of Women Voters and the St. Louis Park City Clerk's office. 

City Communications Focus Groups: The City is looking for help in shaping a vision for local cable, community media and technology by inviting residents to participate in one of three focus groups. Attend any focus group, or the one that most closely aligns with your role or that of an organization in the community you're associated with. Dates are: Local Government (city staff, elected officials, boards, commissions, local businesses) Wed., Jan. 22, 9:30-11:30 am; Public (nonprofit groups, arts, culture, faith, seniors, residents and organizations) Wed., Jan. 22, 5:30-7:30 pm; Education (teachers, administrators, staff, sports, parents, students) Thurs., Jan. 23, 5:30-7:30 pm. Sign up by Jan 15 here. More info here.

St. Louis Park & Golden Valley artist showcase opening night: Be among the first to view an Artist Showcase featuring 2D and 3D artwork from 36 artists from the St. Louis Park and Golden Valley communities. Virtual reality art experiences with REM5 VR Lab, food & drinks, live music and local performers, film premieres, artist discussions and more. Fri., Jan. 31, 5-9 pm, Brookview Golden Valley, 316 Brookview Parkway S., Golden Valley. Info here.
 
Thanks for reading and please stay in touch! 

Margaret