Sponsor: Property Management
Title
title
Participation in the Comprehensive Improvement Special Service District for Downtown Saint Paul
end
Recommendation
recommendation
1. Approve participation in the Comprehensive Improvement Special Service District for Downtown Saint Paul, for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029.
2. Accept annual service charges imposed in the district for properties, estimated at $35,000 for 2025 and subject to escalation in each of the four subsequent years.
end
Background and Rationale
body
The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance represents downtown business, nonprofits, government entities, residents, and entrepreneurs to build a strong and vibrant downtown and to create a positive downtown experience. In 2020, the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance proposed the Special Service Improvement District for a portion of downtown Saint Paul, with the mission of creating and maintaining a vibrant, economically successful, and safe and attractive downtown.
The Saint Paul City Council subsequently established a downtown special service improvement district for a portion of downtown Saint Paul that did not include Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) properties.
On July 24, 2024, the Saint Paul City Council adopted Ordinance No. ORD 24-17 to replace the existing Special Service Improvement District with a new expanded downtown special services improvement district that, in totality, will include nearly all of the downtown Saint Paul geographic area, including the RCRRA property at Union Depot. The Saint Paul City Council also adopted Resolution No. RES PH 24-157 to authorize annual service charges for the expanded district, with residential property owners now included as non-voluntary participants. The expanded special service improvement district is referred to as the Comprehensive Improvement Special Service District, and a new five-year term for the district will take effect on January 1, 2025 - effectively ending the term for the initial Special Service Improvement District one year early on December 31, 2024.
RCRRA, as a voluntary participant in the district, will pay annual service charges per the rates established for property owners in the district and based on the building size and street frontage. The expanded district includes all county buildings in downtown and includes a significant portion of the Union Depot property.
end
County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Black, indigenous, and people of color are disproportionately impacted when law enforcement is requested for a response to non-violent and/or non-criminal incidents. With the expansion of the special service district in downtown Saint Paul additional monitoring, safety personnel, and public assistance resources will be made available, which will reduce the need for law enforcement response for minor incidents and reduce the racial disparities.
Community Participation Level and Impact
An informational presentation was shared with the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on August 13, 2024, and is available for review through the county website at https://ramseycountymn.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. More information on the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is available on the organization’s website: https://stpdowntownalliance.org.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is seeking voluntary participation in the Comprehensive Improvement Special Service District by RCRRA. The service charge is estimated at $35,000 in 2025 and subject to escalation in each of the four subsequent years as approved by the Saint Paul City Council. Funding for the 2025 service charges to RCRRA will come from the approved 2025 Union Depot operating budget and be included in subsequent years budget requests.
Last Previous Action
On August 13, 2024, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners received presentation on the Comprehensive Improvement Special Service District.
Attachments
None.