Nine elected to District 10 Board
With record participation, District 10 residents elected five new members to the Como Community Council board and re-elected four members. All voting this year was absentee, either through mail ballots or online voting.
Altogether, 275 community members voted, more than double the ballots cast in prior years when voting was restricted to in-person at the Council’s annual meeting. Elected to two-year terms:
• Vice-chair: Olivia Morawiecki (Olivia previously was an at-large board member)
• Treasurer: Mike Ireland (re-elected)
• At-Large: Melissa Brannon (newly elected) and Jill Henricksen (re-elected)
• Sub-District 1: Rebecca Calvo (re-elected)
• Sub-District 2: Dan Edgerton (newly elected)
• Sub-District 3: Jenne Nelson (newly elected)
• Sub-District 4: Rachel Bowers (newly elected)
Also, Bob Jacobson was newly elected to fill the remaining 10 months of a vacant seat in Sub-District 4.
Starting the conversation in Como
In the wake of Minneapolis police officer’s killing of George Floyd, Como Community Council board members are asking Como residents to help revise our neighborhood’s role in ending systemic racism and dismantling inequities where we live. To begin the process, they are asking community members to share their experiences with racism, their ideas for pursuing racial justice and their willingness to act for permanent change. Join the conversation at: www.surveymonkey
.com/r/D10racism.
Como trail work scheduled
Cancellation of the State Fair has at least one benefit: It has paved the way for St. Paul to rebuild all of Como Avenue this summer between Hamline Avenue and the Raymond/Cleveland intersection.
Originally, work was going to be split between 2020 and 2021. Now, construction is scheduled to begin in July and finish by the end of October, according to city project manager Don Pflaum. Trees will be planted in spring 2021.
The reconstruction includes building the Como Avenue Trail along the entire 2.5-mile stretch on the north side of Como. The off-street trail for bicycles and pedestrians is part of the Saint Paul Grand Round. Federal funds are paying for much of the work. Reconstruction also includes sewer work and reconfiguring much of the road itself:
• Hamline to Snelling: On-street bike lanes will be eliminated and the road will be narrowed. Otherwise, things remain functionally as they are now: parking on both sides of the street and one vehicle lane in each direction.
• Snelling to the Transitway: The road will narrow and be reconfigured to handle one vehicle lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and an on-street bike lane in each direction. During the two weeks of the State Fair, this section will be restriped to handle two vehicle lanes in each direction, similar to what occurs now.
• Transitway to Raymond/Cleveland: The street will remain pretty much as it is now: one lane of vehicle traffic in each direction, parking on each side of Como, and an on-street bike lane in each direction.
ComoFest is canceled
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual ComoFest will not take place in July. Events canceled include the Como Community Council’s Ice Cream Social and Como Connect, the Northwest Como Movie Night and Campout, the ComoFest Art Fair, North Dale Summerfest, TopLine Federal Credit Union’s community appreciation picnic, Gabe’s By The Park’s Mini-Mingle and Lyngblomsten’s MidSummer Festival.
Como scavenger hunt
Staying “safe” during the pandemic no longer means we have to stay home all the time. To help us get rid of the cobwebs, the Como Community Council has created a Como Scavenger Hunt. This family friendly activity helps you discover your neighborhood, past and present, get some fresh air, and exercise your body and mind along the way.
There are two hunts: one east of Lexington, one west of Lexington. Do them at your own pace up until July 31. We’ll enter all completed lists into a drawing for gift cards to District 10 restaurants. Download the lists at www
district10comopark.org.
District 10 meetings
District 10 board and committee meetings are continuing but, for the time being, they take place using technology rather than face to face.
To obtain links, phone numbers, or other information to join a meeting remotely, send a request by email to district10@district10comopark.org. Or, call in your request to 651-644-3889. Upcoming meetings:
• Neighborhood Relations: Tuesday, July 7
• Environment: Wednesday, July 8
• Board meeting: Tuesday, July 21
