District 10 News

By MICHAEL KUCHTA, Executive Director

Struggling with a neglected property, absentee landlord, or problem tenant on your block? Then find out how to effectively minimize their impact during a District 10 community forum on problem properties. The free forum is Thur., Nov. 10 at 6:30pm at the Como Park Streetcar Station.

The forum’s goal: get you the practical understanding and hands-on advice you need to report, track, and navigate city departments so you and your neighbors can effectively reduce the impact of properties that are a nuisance, threat, or detriment to our community.

The forum will feature:

• Officer Erik Diskerud, of the Western District FORCE Unit of the Saint Paul Police

• Inspector Joe Yannarelly, of the city ‘s Department of Safety and Inspections

• Andrew Johnson, a community member who has been dealing for years with problem properties

Put your name out there

The District 10 Como Community Council is seeking candidates to fill two board vacancies: one in Sub-District 2, one an At-Large seat. The special elections to fill the vacancies take place on Tues., Nov. 15 at 7pm, before the monthly board meeting, at the Como Park Streetcar Station.

• The At-Large seat is open to anyone who lives in District 10, which is the portion of Saint Paul bounded roughly by Snelling on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Dale on the east, and the railroad tracks between Pierce Butler and Energy Park Dr./Front Ave. on the south.

• For Sub-District 2, you must live in the area between Hamline on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Victoria on the east, and the BNSF tracks north of Front on the south.

The elected candidates will serve the remainder of the vacant terms, which expire in April 2017. Any District 10 resident at least 18 years of age is eligible to run; so are representatives from businesses or institutions in the neighborhood. To submit your name or to find out more, contact the District 10 office at 651-644-3889, or by email at district10@district10comopark.org. Write-in nominations also will be accepted from the floor the night of the special elections.

Something to look forward to

Saint Paul ‘s recycling program will undergo big changes beginning in January 2017. Among the highlights:

• Eureka Recycling will replace bins with covered, wheeled carts

• Pickup will switch from curbside to alleys

• All multi-unit buildings will have the opportunity to recycle

• Residents will get wheeled carts after Thanksgiving

We’ll keep you up to date with more details as they become available. Stay tuned to District 10’s website: www.district10comopark.org.

You’re invited to sit in

The District 10 board and standing committees meet monthly—and community members are always welcome to attend, participate, and speak or raise concerns. The schedule:

• Como Community Council Board meeting: Third Tuesday, 7pm. The next meeting, on Nov. 15, features special elections for board vacancies and a presentation by MnDOT engineer Mark Lindeberg, who will outline plans to improve pedestrian and bicycle access over the Snelling Ave. bridges between Midway Pkwy. and Hamline University.

• Land Use: Typically meets on the Monday before the first Wednesday, 7pm. The next meeting is Dec. 5.

• Neighborhood Relations and Safety: First Tuesday, 7pm. The next meeting is Dec. 6.

• Environment: Last Wednesday, 7pm. The next meeting is Nov. 30.

All meetings are at the Como Park Streetcar Station, at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.