Saint Paul City Council
11/08/2017 - The Ackerberg Group was granted developer status, giving them exclusive right to purchase designated parkland should city council approve their proposal later in 2018.
A full record of the vote is online. To find related paperwork click on the 4th agenda item.
Council Members represent all of St. Paul. All may be contacted. Click here for sample letters.
The Mayor
Melvin Carter III
During his campaign Mayor Carter expressed passionate support for a full block park. A clip below is from a mayoral debate in our neighborhood.
Update: Mayor Carter and his administration are now supporting and working to continue the sale of the Annex Building. Please remind Mayor Carter what he said on the campaign trail.
Mayor Carter Excerpt.mp4Ward 1
Dai Thao
Phone: 651-266-8610
Email: ward1@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted against selling city parkland.
“The city made a promise to the people and Pedro family," Thao said. "We need more green space in downtown. I envision a park with (a) grass sliding hill. … We have plenty of vacant office for businesses to occupy. Let’s fulfill the promise the city has made.”
Ward 2
Rebecca Noecker
Phone: 651-266-8620
Email: ward2@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted against selling city parkland.
Her full position is posted on Facebook.
Predecessor, Dave Thune, was instrumental in coordinating the 2009 Pedro Park donation and sponsored the 2015 resolution designating Pedro Park's boundaries as the full northern half of Block 10 - land which includes the Public Safety Annex
Ward 3
Chris Tolbert
Phone: 651-266-8630
Email: ward3@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted in favor of granting developer status to the Ackerberg Group.
Past Votes:
- 2015 voted to designate official Pedro Park borders to include city owned land next to Pedro donation. Vote was unanimous.
Sited a Technology Task Force that concluded creative office space was needed.
Ward 4
Russ Stark*
Phone: 651-266-8640
Email: ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted in favor of granting developer status to the Ackerberg Group.
Past Votes:
- 2015 voted to designate official Pedro Park borders to include city owned land next to Pedro donation. Vote was unanimous.
- 2010 voted to reaffirm Fitzgerald Park's Comprehensive Plan showing Pedro Park as a full block park 1 block from 10th St. Green Line Station. Vote was unanimous.
- 2009 voted to accept the Pedro Family donation stipulating city would use the land to become part of a larger park.
Council President Russ Stark said he could “really see both sides of the equation” but he worried about St. Paul becoming a bedroom community to other cities that have grown their employment sector. “The residential growth we’ve had downtown is tremendous,” Stark said. “On the flip side, we have not yet seen the job growth downtown that all of us would want to see … and that’s somewhat true all the way down the Green Line.”
*Samantha Henningson has replaced Mr. Stark until a special election is held for his vacated seat in August 2018. Mr. Stark took a position in the new Mayor's administration.
Ward 5
Amy Brendmoen
Phone: 651-266-8650
Email: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted in favor of granting developer status to the Ackerberg Group.
2017 Chair of the Housing and Redevelopment Board (HRA) that oversees the sale of city properties. Married to Mike Hahm, Director of Park and Recreation.
Ward 6
Dan Bostrom
Phone: 651-266-8660
Email: ward6@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted in favor of granting developer status to the Ackerberg Group.
Sited wish to preserve the building.
Past Votes:
- 2015 voted to designate official Pedro Park borders to include city owned land next to Pedro donation. Vote was unanimous.
- 2010 voted to reaffirm Fitzgerald Park's Comprehensive Plan showing Pedro Park as a full block park 1 block from 10th St. Green Line Station. Vote was unanimous.
- 2009 voted to accept the Pedro Family donation stipulating city would use the land to become part of a larger park.
- 2006 voted in support of Fitzgerald Park's Comprehensive Plan centered around a future full block park.
Ward 7
Jane L. Prince
Phone: 651-266-8670
Email: ward7@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position: Voted against selling city parkland.
“When we had a high vacancy rate … residents came to our rescue downtown and filled a lot of buildings. … The next thing you need when you have high-density housing is green and open space to serve those people.”
Ward Map: Click Here to see which ward you live in.
Photo Credit: copyright 2017 Bob Conroy Communication Links