Lower speed limits, Dakota-Edgewood bridge, new renter protections, and more

September greetings! Here’s city-related news for residents of Ward 1 and beyond. 
 
Slow down, SLP!: Cars & trucks speeding down residential streets are scary and upsetting. Higher vehicle speeds also increase the risk that someone will be injured or killed in the event of a crash. Until recently, however, cities were limited in their ability to lower speed limits. That changed last year when the MN legislature voted to allow cities to set their own speed limits on city streets (but not county roads or state highways). SLP staff and council are now discussing reducing speed limits citywide, with most streets proposed for 20 mph. If approved, changes will likely be implemented next year. Find a map of current and proposed speed limits here.

Council vacancy: After 11 years of dedicated service, Ward 2 council member Anne Mavity is moving to Minneapolis and has submitted her resignation effective Oct. 31, 2020. I've been honored to work alongside CM Mavity and her strong voice on the council will be missed. At our Sept. 14 study session, council will discuss our process for selecting a Ward 2 resident to fill the seat through the end of the current term which ends Jan. 3, 2022.

Dakota-Edgewood bridge: In case you haven't heard, there's a new ped/bike bridge planned over the railroad tracks near Peter Hobart School. I won't lie, I've lost sleep over this project in the last couple weeks, and here's why: While I am one thousand percent in favor of creating this critical transportation link between north and south, the escalating price tag - now nearly five times the original estimate of $2M - is deeply concerning. If we go forward, what are the opportunity costs - things we won't do while paying off this debt? Who benefits from this project? Who doesn't? These are tough questions and I invite everyone to respect the legitimate positions people have on this project, pro and con, as a decision is made. 

Last month, in light of higher than expected project bids, Council postponed a planned vote on the project for reasons including, in my case, a desire to pause, reflect, engage, and learn more in order to make a thoughtful and informed decision. While I still feel there's not a clear right or wrong way to vote on this, I plan to vote in favor of authorizing contracts totaling $8,177,657 at our council meeting on 9/8, for the following reasons:

• we have spent more than $1.2M on engineering design, right of way, utility relocation, and other expenditures that will fall to local taxpayers whether we build the bridge, or not
• a $2.9M federal grant for the project reduces the remaining local cost to under $6M; the federal grant must be used by 2021 or returned
• if approved, the bridge will serve as a critical link between new bike/ped facilities on the north and south ends of the bridge and provide an opportunity to test whether and how this type of infrastructure increases non-vehicle travel through the community as predicted (as more bridges are proposed)

Despite the above rationale and my own plan to vote in favor, I think it's important for people to recognize the financial burden projects like this one can have on our neighbors, particularly those on fixed or limited incomes. The owner of a median value home in SLP (estimated at $306,400 in 2021), can expect to pay at least $5-$6 per month for the next ten years to fund the Dakota-Edgewood bridge & bikeway. All of this is to demonstrate the complexity of these decisions for council and the community and to encourage both appreciation and humility if and when we move forward with this exciting, but expensive, new infrastructure project.Voting is trending:  Did you know that 46% of eligible voters in SLP cast a vote in this year's primary election, including 31% who voted early? Our election staff report "normal" turnout for a similar primary is 20%. Based on this high turnout, elections staff expect as many as 10,000 voters may visit SLP City Hall beginning Sept. 18 to vote early in the 46 days leading up to Nov. 3. Here's a repeat of voter pro tips (via city staff) from my last update, plus a few additions:

• Vote by mail if you can, for health & safety reasons. Request your absentee ballot here.
• There is no official deadline to request an absentee ballot, but your ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 (Election Day) and delivered by Nov. 10.
• Staff recommend mailing your absentee ballot at least one week before Election Day.
• If it's less than a week before Election Day and you haven't mailed your ballot, you can bring it to City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. Ballots will be accepted up until 3 pm on Election Day. 
• Ballots can be hand-delivered to the City Clerk's office (3rd floor) during regular business hours, or deposited in the utility payment boxes outside city hall (first and third floors; first floor is drive-up and drop off). Staff will check and empty these boxes twice daily. 
• You can track the status of your absentee ballot here.
• If you prefer to vote in person, you can vote early starting Sept. 18 at City Hall. Days & hours here.
• On November 3, polls will be open across the city from 7am-8 pm, with pandemic protocols in place to keep voters and poll workers safe. Find your polling place here. 
• If you have any additional questions about voting, visit here or call the SLP Elections staff at (952) 924-2503. They are happy to assist.

Notice of eviction: People who rent their homes comprise nearly half of all SLP residents. Unlike homeowners, people who rent their homes, particularly those with low incomes, can face constant threats to their housing stability. Property managers hold the power in the renter-landlord relationship and while many property managers can be trusted to treat renters fairly, not all do. Poor communication between landlords and renters can result in late rent or other unmet financial obligations and subsequent rapid eviction filings for individuals and families in our community. To provide renters with extra protection, council is considering a Notice of Eviction ordinance that requires landlords to provide tenants seven days' notice before filing an eviction action for nonpayment of rent. This time window will allow renters to seek help from area agencies or simply rectify past due payments so they can stay in their homes. 

Superfund designation: Contaminated soils are part of the landscape, literally, in St. Louis Park, and always will be, due in large part to our industrial legacy. Another development in this ongoing story is the Environmental Protection Agency's recent addition of the Hwy 100/Co Rd 3 Groundwater Plume Site to the their Superfund National Priorities List. Formal recognition of contamination in this area is not new; contamination has been recognized and addressed through multiple mitigation strategies (ground plume storymap here). This is a positive development for SLP as we will now be eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup and hold those who caused the contamination responsible.

Fire Department restructure: SLP Fire Department leaders have proposed restructuring the department, which would result in the elimination of the city's 25-year-old part-time firefighter program and a transition to an all full-time force. The proposed changes are designed to reduce expenditures and improve service. The part-time firefighter program has served our community well in many ways and if the restructuring goes forward as planned, I'll be sorry to see it go. 

Here's a select list of upcoming events:

Thai Sunday Market: Today, Sunday, Sept. 6, 11am-6 pm. The Thai Sunday market mimics the vibrant markets of Thailand and Southeast Asia including local vendors, Thai souvenirs, and traditional Northern Thai-styled Khan Tok tables where socially distanced visitors can enjoy Thai street food, Thai desserts, and Thai beverages. Support a Ward 1 cultural community hub while enjoying authentic Thai culture and food! Order food in person at Wat Prom Temple, 2544 Hwy. 100 S., or online for pickup here. 

Paintings in the Park, Sept. 12-Oct. 18: Like taking walks? Like art? Now you can combine the two thanks to SLP Friends of the Arts' Art-Walk in the Park. Beginning next weekend and through mid-October, 30 original paintings by St. Louis Park artists will be installed along the trails at Wolfe Park, Westwood Hills Nature Center, and Aqulia Park. Check the schedule here. 

Westwood Hills Nature Center interpretive center opening: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2:30 pm. Commemorate the opening of the new building at Westwood Hills Nature Center and enjoy a walk around the nature center trails. This event will be low-key due to the pandemic; a larger celebration is planned next year to commemorate the nature center's 40th anniversary. 

STEP fundraiser, Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30-8:45am: Support SLP's safety net organization and learn more about all STEP does for people in our community by joining their "virtual" breakfast fundraiser. Info and registration here. 

Thanks for reading, be well, and stay in touch. I want to hear from you!
 
Margaret