Frequently Asked Questions
wHAT IS A dISTRICT cOUNCIL?
The City of Saint Paul is divided into 17 planning districts, each with its own neighborhood organization. All are independent 501(c)3 organizations (charitable non-profits).
The planning districts are a way for local government officials to get input from residents about issues where action is needed. The City contracts with the nonprofits that represent each district to:
The planning districts are a way for local government officials to get input from residents about issues where action is needed. The City contracts with the nonprofits that represent each district to:
- help the Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED) get input on zoning and development issues,
- work with other City departments to foster conversations between residents and local government, and
- distribute recycling information, and loan out recycling and organics containers for events. A few district councils are also contracted to manage the city-wide community drop off days held each year.
Are the DISTRICT COUNCILs part of city government?
No. The City contracts with the district councils to perform certain tasks related to keeping residents informed and ensuring residents have input into governmental decisions. Although much of the funding for the councils' work comes from the city, it is the district councils' boards, and the residents of each district, who determine what each council does and how it gets done.
WHAT do I need to know about recycling?
Each household is provided a recycling cart by the City, and carts are paid for out of your county taxes. If you live in an apartment, we have indoor recycling bags available for no charge at our office. HOWEVER, you should call first to make sure someone will be there when you come – 651-578-7600. These bags make it convenient to store your recycling and then carry it down to the apartment's recycling containers.
If the recycling crews misses your home for some reason, please call 651-222-7678 and let Eureka Recycling know. They will send someone back to pick up what was missed.
If the recycling crews misses your home for some reason, please call 651-222-7678 and let Eureka Recycling know. They will send someone back to pick up what was missed.
WHAT can be RECYCLed?
You do not need to sort materials - everything goes into your single recycling cart. The recycling day varies depending on your location in the City. In SECO, the current recycling day is on Wednesday.
A full list of recyclable materials can be found at the County’s waste management site. But we can recycle a wide variety of items at the curb: office paper, newspaper, cardboard, old phone books, and crushed boxes. Pizza boxes, plastic jugs and containers such as for yogurt. Milk and juice cartons, glass jars and metal cans, pop cans, paper tubes. Do not include wrapping paper or paper plates and napkins – these can be taken to the composting site for organic composting. Do not include black plastic, plastic bags (take to the grocery store), or Styrofoam.
Food waste, including meat and dairy, can be taken, along with egg cartons, tissues and paper plates and cups, to the organic composting sites. There are special bags available for collecting this material, and a special ORGANICS dumpster for disposing it. We have kitchen compost-collecting buckets at our office for free [See Yard Waste question below for more information on food and organic waste recycling].
A full list of recyclable materials can be found at the County’s waste management site. But we can recycle a wide variety of items at the curb: office paper, newspaper, cardboard, old phone books, and crushed boxes. Pizza boxes, plastic jugs and containers such as for yogurt. Milk and juice cartons, glass jars and metal cans, pop cans, paper tubes. Do not include wrapping paper or paper plates and napkins – these can be taken to the composting site for organic composting. Do not include black plastic, plastic bags (take to the grocery store), or Styrofoam.
Food waste, including meat and dairy, can be taken, along with egg cartons, tissues and paper plates and cups, to the organic composting sites. There are special bags available for collecting this material, and a special ORGANICS dumpster for disposing it. We have kitchen compost-collecting buckets at our office for free [See Yard Waste question below for more information on food and organic waste recycling].
What can I do with HAZARDOUS waste?
Please dispose of hazardous waste properly. There are options depending on what you need to dispose of. Find more information on the Ramsey County Household Hazardous Waste web page.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH yard waste?
- Yard Waste: If you don't have your own compost bin, you can take grass clippings, leaves and soft-bodied plants to the County compost site on Winthrop just off of Londin Lane (389 S. Winthrop). Branches, trees, shrubs and Christmas trees must be taken to a different site at Frank St. and Sims Ave (1150 Sims – it also accepts soft yard waste).
- Kitchen Composting: Both sites (Winthrop and Frank & Sims) have organics collection for food waste. Collection bags for this material is available at the SECO office (and kitchen collection kits) and at the compost sites. For hours and to learn more check out the Ramsey County Organic Waste web page.
- Medicine: Unwanted, expired and unused medicines should be safely disposed of -- they can be disposed of for FREE at one of three public drop boxes in Ramsey County. Safe disposal of unwanted medicine helps prevent crime, drug abuse, and accidental poisoning. For more information and locations of drop boxes check the Ramsey County Medicine Collection web page.
How do I dispose of electronics?
If the electronics are still usable, consider posting them (and other reusable items) on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and on Nextdoor.com. These opportunities allows you to let others know you have something that might be useful to them. They can come and pick it up and it will stay out of the waste stream.
Other possible drop-off suggestions:
Other possible drop-off suggestions:
- PCs for People -- this FREE service from a local St. Paul organization wipes your computer, fixes it up and gets it into the hands of low income folks and non-profits who wouldn't be able to afford one otherwise.
- Tech Dump recycles computers (FREE) and other electronics while providing job training for adults facing barriers to employment.
- Washington County Environmental Center takes a wide variety of items for free and is open to residents of Ramsey County.
- Community Drop Off: Every year, SECO hosts a city-wide community drop off at Harding High School where you can bring your unwanted stuff for a reduced fee to have it recycled. There are three other city-wide drop offs each year.
what do I do if i suspect criminal activity in my neighborhood?
Never hesitate to call the police! If you suspect something is happening, or you are watching what you believe is a crime in progress, you should call 911. You can also call the police non-emergency number at -- 651-291-1111. You can remain anonymous if you want to, but it is important to call and it is essential to report.
Many people are afraid that the police will come out and find nothing. Never hesitate for this reason —it is the police department's job to determine whether a crime has taken place, not yours. IF IN DOUBT, REPORT!
If you think criminal activity might be happening in your neighborhood but do not witness it, you should call the police non-emergency number (651-291-1111) .
Many people are afraid that the police will come out and find nothing. Never hesitate for this reason —it is the police department's job to determine whether a crime has taken place, not yours. IF IN DOUBT, REPORT!
If you think criminal activity might be happening in your neighborhood but do not witness it, you should call the police non-emergency number (651-291-1111) .
WHAT DO I DO IF i have noisy neighbors, or someone isn't maintaining their yard or property?
First, if it is safe, try resolving the issue by talking directly to your neighbor. Maybe they just need some help. If that doesn’t work, the City has a central number you can call about any concerns, and from which they will direct you to the correct department. This number is the Citizen Service Office at 651-266-8989. Your can read about the proper procedure on the How to Complain About a Neighborhood Nuisance webpage -- you can also find the proper online form there as well. You can find a lot more information in the online Resident Handbook.
If you have any difficulty finding the right department, contact us and we will contact the city for you.
If you have any difficulty finding the right department, contact us and we will contact the city for you.
THERE ARE TOO MANY DEER. HOW CAN I DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM?
Every year, Ramsey County Parks puts a plan into effect to reduce deer populations in the County and Regional Parks. Battle Creek Park is one of the parks covered by this plan.
In the fall, officials from the County will post notices around affected parks alerting residents and visitors to when hunters will be culling the herds. In some instances they may use sharpshooters, but they are more likely to use bow-hunters to reduce the number of deer.
Residents who live in wooded areas can try using "liquid fence" products to deter deer —a non-toxic substance that gives off the odor of a deer's predators. These products can be found at hardware and feed stores, or can be ordered on-line. However, large portions of our district are ideal habitat for deer, and without natural predators, their populations will tend to increase without periodic culling. And remember the more you feed them the more they will be around -- and it is not good for the deer either.
In the fall, officials from the County will post notices around affected parks alerting residents and visitors to when hunters will be culling the herds. In some instances they may use sharpshooters, but they are more likely to use bow-hunters to reduce the number of deer.
Residents who live in wooded areas can try using "liquid fence" products to deter deer —a non-toxic substance that gives off the odor of a deer's predators. These products can be found at hardware and feed stores, or can be ordered on-line. However, large portions of our district are ideal habitat for deer, and without natural predators, their populations will tend to increase without periodic culling. And remember the more you feed them the more they will be around -- and it is not good for the deer either.
how do i start a block club?
The Eastern District Police Department (SPPD) will walk you through the steps to have a first time block club meeting. Our office can get you in touch with the right people at the police department (call 651-578-7600 or email district1council@gmail.com).
You will need to decide on a date, time, and location —the police department should provide all of the materials including flyers to distribute to the neighbors. They will also request an officer to attend the meeting. You will need to find a neighbor willing to facilitate the meeting.
You will need to decide on a date, time, and location —the police department should provide all of the materials including flyers to distribute to the neighbors. They will also request an officer to attend the meeting. You will need to find a neighbor willing to facilitate the meeting.
how do i connect with neighbors who have similar interests?
One way to find others with similar interests is to get to know your immediate neighbors! You can do this by starting a neighborhood group – there is no obligation to become "best friends."
Building a sense of community in your neighborhood is the best way to increase safety as well as finding common interests! You can always plan a neighborhood block party where people tend to socialize, or set up a formal block club meeting, or possibly help to plan a National Night Out party for your neighborhood on the first Tuesday of August.
Formal block clubs are supported by the Eastern District Police Department (SPPD). You can contact the SECO office to be put in touch with the folks at SPPD who will help you get started.
You can also connect with neighbors through Nextdoor.com.
Building a sense of community in your neighborhood is the best way to increase safety as well as finding common interests! You can always plan a neighborhood block party where people tend to socialize, or set up a formal block club meeting, or possibly help to plan a National Night Out party for your neighborhood on the first Tuesday of August.
Formal block clubs are supported by the Eastern District Police Department (SPPD). You can contact the SECO office to be put in touch with the folks at SPPD who will help you get started.
You can also connect with neighbors through Nextdoor.com.
traffic is too fast on my street. what can I do?
The Traffic & Accident Unit at the Police Department suggests that you try to determine a pattern if there is one. By this, they mean that you should actually write down the day of the week and times that this traffic is taking place. If there is a pattern, there may be an officer from the Eastern District office that will be assigned to watch the intersection/street to try to catch the person(s) speeding. Unfortunately, the officer cannot stay at the location for an extended period of time so an accurate time frame will help them determine when to have an officer "stake out" the location.
Another suggestion is to send a flyer to the neighbors about traffic concerns asking them to help out by watching and documenting patterns they may observe. It is also a good way to give a heads up to neighbors that they too need to slow down —many times when an officer is assigned to an area, it is the people who live there that end up being tagged for speeding!
Enforcement is one way to influence how people travel in their cars but there are other ways too. Research has shown that if people are out in their front yards and on the sidewalk in an area, traffic will slow down. If there is something interesting happening in a neighborhood near the street, it also slows people down. Having bike lanes on your street, trees overhanging the street, and other such things also help to calm traffic. Information is also available on the City's website.
Another suggestion is to send a flyer to the neighbors about traffic concerns asking them to help out by watching and documenting patterns they may observe. It is also a good way to give a heads up to neighbors that they too need to slow down —many times when an officer is assigned to an area, it is the people who live there that end up being tagged for speeding!
Enforcement is one way to influence how people travel in their cars but there are other ways too. Research has shown that if people are out in their front yards and on the sidewalk in an area, traffic will slow down. If there is something interesting happening in a neighborhood near the street, it also slows people down. Having bike lanes on your street, trees overhanging the street, and other such things also help to calm traffic. Information is also available on the City's website.
