Politics & Government

STEP Hopes to Build New Roof But Needs Federal Funding to Come Through

The St. Louis Park nonprofit is waiting to hear how much it will receive in Community Development Block Grant money.

The hopes to be able to build a new roof later this year, but the nonprofit’s ability to do so may largely be determined by the federal government.

On Tuesday, St. Louis Park City Council approved a preliminary plan on how to divvy up roughly $222,000 in Community Development Block Grants, which come from the federal Housing and Urban Development department. Under the plan, STEP, which provides a food shelf and other services, would receive $70,000 — enough to replace the leaky, old roof on the building the organization bought and moved into in May.

But the plan approved by council reflects the same dollar amount that the city received last year. That’s because Congress has yet to determine 2011 funding levels for the grant program, and many believe there will be cuts when all is said and done. For now, St. Louis Park is keeping its proposed allocation “flexible” until more details are known.

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Some of these details should materialize soon. The next step for the city is to submit its funding proposal to Hennepin County, which distributes the federal grants, by Thursday. Early next month, both St. Louis Park and the county should have a better idea of what they’re dealing with, as a short-term federal funding plan for the grant program expires on March 4.

For now, STEP officials will wait patiently, hoping their requested funding comes through. Jackie Olafson, the organization’s executive director, said she doesn’t know what to expect but is optimistic.

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“As you know, we have the new building and we’re going to get through the winter,” she told council Tuesday. “(But) I hope we can put on a new roof.”

Councilwoman Sue Sanger echoed Olafson’s sentiments.

“I would hope the good folks in Congress would help us,” she said.

In addition to the $70,000 proposed for STEP, a number of other local programs aimed at improving housing situations for moderate- to low-income families, including a $22,000 Habitat for Humanity project, were included in the funding plan.

Here is a brief recap of other action taken by the St. Louis Park City Council on Tuesday:

CVB Gets Ground Rules

The council approved an operating agreement with the city’s new convention and visitors bureau. The bureau, which was formally established in December with the addition of a 3 percent lodging tax in St. Louis Park, from local hotel managers, who fear the new tax will drive customers to hotels in other nearby cities.

The operating agreement allows the city to terminate the tax — effectively shutting down the CVB — if a 90-day notice is given. The agreement also outlines a list of duties to be performed by the bureau, such as creating brochures for potential St. Louis Park visitors, and states that the bureau will present annual statements to the city about its operations.

City Contract Settled

The city also approved a contract with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local #49, which represents St. Louis Park street cleaners, snowplow drivers and public works employees, among others.

The new deal provides no wage increase in 2011, which is consistent with other recent city agreements. However, the city workers will receive a one-time lump sum of $270 each, and will also be better compensated for getting called in for unscheduled work on Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

With the agreement, the city now has two open contracts left to be settled this year — one with firefighters, the other with 911 dispatch employees.


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