City Council supports boundary change for Districts 6 and 10

The District Councils were established in 1975 as a citywide citizen participation process, according to the City of Saint Paul. There are currently 17 of them, based on neighborhoods and not on population.

By JAN WILLMS

At its March 20th meeting, the City Council passed a resolution to change the boundaries of Districts 6 and 10. The South Como neighborhood was allowed to secede from District 6 and move into District 10.

This decision followed public input given to Ward 5 councilmember Amy Brendmoen and a public meeting called to gather input from local residents. With an overwhelming number favoring the boundary change, and with the Districts eventually supporting the plan, the Department of Planning and Economic Development offered a recommendation in favor of the move to the City Council on Jan. 24.

“District 10 will be approving an ad hoc committee to develop the process for us to implement the change, including studying and recommending bylaw, budget and other necessary changes,” said Ted Blank, a member of the Executive Committee and new administrator of the District 10 Council.

“We plan to approve the committee’s charter at our April board meeting, and they will begin work after that,” he said.

The boundary changes are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2014, allowing both councils time to make necessary changes.