I want to thank everyone who came out for my fifth annual budget address Wednesday.  After four years of working smarter to provide better service at a better price, my proposal for the 2011 budget keeps property taxes flat for the coming year. 

These past four years, we have made tough choices and sacrifices in the face of an economic recession and cuts to LGA. This year the state kept it’s commitment to provide Minnesota cities with stable funding, and in turn we are able to provide the same services, with some exciting new ones, to residents for the same price as in 2010. 

Some of the great new initiatives in 2011 include:

The City will invest $140,000 in the Parks and Recreation department, allowing them to increase staff and expand hours in Community Centers, while increasing outreach for our North End Teen Center, No School Days and Summer Blast programs.  

Parks and Recreations will also receive $160,000 to provide a career skills component to their Youth Jobs Corps initiative. Jobs Corps employees will now receive training in computer skills; resume writing, interview preparation, developing a career path and college access information. The department will also expand the Job Corps program, reaching out to older youth and young adults who don't meet current age requirements.  

In addition to construction of the Central Corridor beginning on University in 2011, we will begin work on replacing the Lafayette and Cayuga bridges. The Lafayette Bridge replacement is a $200 million project using state and federal funds. When completed, the bridge will be a “complete streets” bridge, providing bicycle and pedestrian connections from downtown and the East Side to the West Side, Dakota County and beyond.  

The Cayuga Bridge project will create a full access interchange between Phalen Boulevard and I-35E. The new bridge will fulfill the Phalen Boulevard promise of providing new employers with a direct connection to I-35E and the regional transportation network.  

The budget invests $500,000 in Saint Paul Police and Fire Departments, providing for better equipment, increased training and faster response times. The Police Department will utilize their $200,000 to add six additional Sergeants and a Commander who will be assigned to the newly formed FBI Safe Streets initiative. Police will also replace 610 guns and offer three additional training opportunities throughout the year. For the Fire Department, $300,000 will maintain staffing and allow for two additional Supermedic Teams, shortening fire and EMS response times.

As Saint Paul leads the way out of the recession, we must focus on rebuilding our great City while laying the foundation for economic growth. 

Monday marked the beginning for the 2010-2011 VISTAs. With Caleb Jonas leaving to pursue graduate school, the Saint Paul VISTA Program is now being managed by Willy Tully. Willy comes to my office from Big Brothers Big Sisters where he was Director of Education and Enrichment, overseeing college access and career readiness as well as leading efforts to further community engagement among area teens.

This year we are placing 20 VISTA members throughout Saint Paul, in places such as the American Indian Family Center, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota and various community centers and schools.

While VISTA members officially started at their sites on Wednesday, they participated in an orientation on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Coming to Saint Paul from across the nation, from places like New York and Massachusetts, our VISTAs were acclimated to our City during the orientation, learning about current initiatives and exploring the city while competing in the VISTA Amazing Race.

I hope all of our residents will join me in welcoming these men and women to our city, I hope over the next year you come to consider Saint Paul home.

As the summer draws to a close, I would like to invite any college students from around the metro to apply for a fall internship with my office.

This summer we had an incredible batch of interns, spending their summer helping my staff research policy, assist the communications staff and perform various administrative tasks. They were outstanding, and I wish them the best of luck. 

I am always amazed at the young men and women who come participate in our internship program. Each one has been actively engaged with their community and poised to become a strong civic leader.

If you or someone you know are interested, here are the details:

To apply for an internship in the Office of the Mayor, please submit the following materials listed below in one package. 

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• List with references (2 minimum)

• Writing Sample (one page maximum )

Only complete application packages will be accepted for consideration.  Please submit your completed application to Keith Hovis at: or by mail:

Office of Mayor Christopher B. Coleman 

Attn: Keith Hovis

390 City Hall

15 West Kellogg Blvd. 

Saint Paul, MN 55102