With winter storms on the horizon, St. Louis Park city officials are laying down the law for residents: move your cars or get towed. To avoid the seasonal street-side snarls, the city may declare snow emergencies when significant snowfall is in the forecast. Residents are urged to rapidly get their vehicles off the streets until plowing is complete, according to the city's announcement yesterday. Information on snow emergencies, including exemptions for certain areas, can be swiftly found on the city's website or by signing up for various alert systems like ParkAlert and the myStLouisPark app.
In response to a pressing need for affordable housing, the city is promoting its 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program. This initiative offers property tax reductions to landlords who commit at least 20% of their rental units as affordable for a five-year period. In addition, the city is providing financial assistance for energy efficiency upgrades and repairs on aging properties. "Now is a great time to consider if the 4d program is a fit for your property," the city stated, encouraging property owners to apply by March 1, 2024. Housing Specialist Katie Kline can be reached for further details at 952.928.1314 or via email at [email protected].
Following the festive season, St. Louis Park's last yard waste collection for the year will be between Jan. 2 – 19, 2024, which also covers the disposal of live Christmas trees. Residents are reminded to strip their trees of all decorations and coverings before putting them out for collection. Alternatives for those without city collection include using the city's brush drop-off site on Jan. 13, and more guidelines are available on the city’s yard waste page.
Community members are also being invited to become Recycling Champions, with training scheduled for Jan. 23. As Recycling Champions, residents will learn to properly execute recycling practices and then share this knowledge within the community as sustainability ambassadors. For those interested in participating, RSVP is required by Jan. 16, and potential champions should reach out to the city's recycling department at [email protected] or by calling 952.924.2187.
The St. Louis Park Area Rental Coalition (SPARC) has its 2024 quarterly meetings on the books, aiming to bring together rental housing stakeholders. The meetings will provide a platform for property owners, managers, and city staff to engage in networking and receive training on effective rental management. Dates for the upcoming year's meetings are set for Feb. 6, May 7, Aug. 6, and Nov. 14. Detailed information on the upcoming SPARC meetings, along with further resources, can be expected to be disseminated via the city's e-newsletter and an update on their website. For any queries related to housing issues, contact details for city housing authority staff, including Housing Specialist Katie Kline and HCV Specialist Cassi Reissmann-Doring, are readily made available for the public's convenience.
