Title
Approving The Use Of Grant Funds Through The Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program For West 7th Ford Road Federation, Inc. For The W. 7th Arts District Color The Corridor Project
Body
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2025, the Neighborhood STAR Board reviewed one proposal for the W. 7th Arts District Color the Corridor Project, with West 7th Fort Road Federation, Inc. acting as a fiscal sponsor, for the 2025 Neighborhood STAR grant round, assigning a rank of 42 of 89 total projects and a score of 15 points out of a total of 20 possible points, with recommended funding up to $25,000; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council, by Resolution 25-1614 on December 3, 2025, approved Neighborhood STAR funding of up to $25,000 to West 7th Fort Road Federation, Inc., as fiscal agent for the W. 7th Arts District, for the W. 7th Arts District Color the Corridor Project; and
WHEREAS, on August 24, 2026, a contract was executed between the City of Saint Paul and West 7th Fort Road Federation, Inc., as fiscal agent for the W 7th Arts District, for the W. 7th Arts District Color the Corridor Project; and
WHEREAS, on September 23, 2026, Council President Rebecca Noecker requested that the above-named project be financed through the Ward 2 Neighborhood Year-Round STAR program rather than the annual Neighborhood STAR program; and
WHEREAS, due to the community significance of the above-named project, a waiver to City Council approved Neighborhood STAR Guidelines requirement that improvements be permanently affixed with a life of 7+ years is being recommended; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mayor and the Saint Paul City Council to participate in the financing of these activities by providing grant financing under the Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round program of up to $25,000 to the West 7th Fort Road Federation Inc., as the fiscal agent for the W. 7th Arts District, for the W. 7th Arts District Color the Corridor Project; and
WHEREAS, the intent that $25,000 of Neighborhood STAR funding be returned to the Neighborhood STAR program; now be it
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Saint Paul, upon the recommendation of the Mayor that funds are available for appropriation, that the Neighborhood STAR Year-Round awards described above are hereby approved; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the requirement that improvements be permanently affixed with a life of 7+ years for the W. 7th Arts District Color the Corridor is hereby waived; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, staff of the Department of Planning and Economic Development are further authorized and directed to proceed with all other actions necessary to implement this Resolution, including finalizing all documents and agreements, subject to approval by the City Attorney’s Office; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper City official(s) are hereby approved and authorized to execute any and all documents in connection with this Resolution, subject to approval by the City Attorney’s Office; and be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, that this Resolution does not constitute a binding legal agreement; rather, the action taken herein shall not be effective until said documents are executed by the appropriate official(s) of the City.