LEE HELGEN FOR CITY COUNCIL Experience.  Action.  Results.
Campaign Home About Lee Lee's Vision for St. Paul Lee's Accomplishments Upcoming Events Volunteer for Lee Contribute Contact   "Lee is deeply concerned about protecting our environment. He is actively involved in efforts to improve Como Lake's water quality and shoreline." -- Senator Ellen Anderson	Lee's Accomplishments in City Hall, December 2003 -- present Lee on his record in City Hall   As Ward 5's representative on the Saint Paul City Council, I am proud of my accomplishments in the following areas: Promoting public safety by introducing an ordinance to ban possession of replica firearms in public places Protecting the environment Leading the push to bridge the digital divide Creating opportunities for quality, affordable housing Revitalizing Rice Street's Commercial Corridor Bringing jobs to the North End and removing blight Providing strategic visioning for better neighborhoods Investing directly in the community Providing funding to organizations which serve area residents Directly Authoring stronger, more enforceable ordinances to create a safer, more livable city Improving infrastructure in the North End Collaborating for healthy communities Banning Firearms Replicas in Public Places  In February, I introduced an ordinance to ban public possession of firearms replicas.  Read more at:  http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/16631473.htm and http://www.startribune.com/462/story/982248.html. ABOVE:  Lee with Mayor Chris Coleman, displaying how difficult it is to distinguish real firearms from the firearms replicas that Lee and Mayor Coleman would like to ban. Protecting the Environment Partnered with Eureka Recycling in creating the Saint Paul Environmental Roundtable ABOVE:  Lee and Susan Hubbard, CEO of Eureka Recycling, on the occasion of passing the resolution accepting the recommendation of the environmental roundtables and the start of sustainable Saint Paul. Authored Resolution setting Saint Paul’s policy direction on six environmental issues based on recommendations from the Roundtable: zero waste, food systems, cleaner energy, green building, open space and water stewardship.  Project is known as Sustainable Saint Paul. Consistently pushes for inclusion of green elements in projects that go through the City Council and HRA. Leading the Push to Bridge the Digital Divide Leading City effort to bring wi-fi to all residents of Saint Paul.  Authored two resolutions:  The first resolution requested an inventory of existing City telecom infrastructure and a proposal for a study of options for pursuing wi-fi infrastructure for entire City; The second resolution established a Broadband Access Committee, charged with advising the City on its long-term broadband policies and advising on the best ownership options for city-wide wi-fi. Creating Opportunities for Quality, Affordable Housing Led effort for rehab funds – over $1 million allocated in 2005 for lower income home ownership rehabs through CDCs. Winnipeg Project – pushed for HRA approval of funding for removal of dilapidated buildings and replacement with new commercial and housing along Rice Street by SPARC. Willow Reserve Townhomes- pushed for HRA approval of funding to assist SPARC with purchase of vacant nursery site and adjacent buildings to be redeveloped into market rate and Habitat for Humanity townhomes. Revitalizing Rice Street’s Commercial Corridor Passed 40 acre study for Rice Street which rezoned much of the commercial property along Rice to TN2 which is more pedestrian and neighborhood friendly.  Led effort to create Rice Street Action Task Force to implement goals of the 40 acre study and revitalize Rice Street. Pushed City to hire consultants resulting in Buxton Market Study to inform development and redevelopment along Rice Street. Pushed funding for Ace Auto redevelopment through HRA.  Also provided $30,000 of Neighborhood Investment Funds for Ace Auto, which serves as a gateway to the North End.   Bringing Hundreds of Jobs to the North End and the East Side Great Northern Business Center opened Westminster Junction Business Park opened along Phalen Boulevard Como/Front/Dale reconstruction completed making intersection safer and more pedestrian friendly.  Businesses at the intersection have also done significant storefront improvements.  Schroeder’s received Ward 5 neighborhood investment funds to make improvements and rebirth itself as a family restaurant and not just a neighborhood watering hole.  It is gaining a strong reputation for its good food and comfortable decor. Providing Strategic Visioning for Better Neighborhoods Passed the District 6 large area plan amendment to the City’s Comprehensive plan, which provides a blueprint for future development and redevelopment of the North End.  Two vacant industrial sites that sit in the middle of the Loeb Lake neighborhood were rezoned as part of the Loeb Lake 40-acre study.  One site is owned by a church that intends to build on the site, the other was rezoned residential and is ready for a developer. The Loeb Lake Study also calls for redevelopment at the Maryland/Dale intersection, and improvements to Marydale Park, with a stronger connection between the natural amenities of the neighborhood. Investing Directly in the Community Providing Money for Playgrounds and Recreation: Crossroads Elementary: $5,000 Vento Elementary: $10,000 Mississippi Magnet: $18,000 Batting Cage at Rice Rec Center: $1,500 Commercial Improvements in the North End:  Facade improvements: $100,000 Schroeder’s Bar: $55,000 Ace Auto Parts: $30,000 Safety: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (making businesses safer):  $30,000 God Squad Funding: $2,000 ABOVE:  Councilmember Lee Helgen with artist Carly Schmitt and Brad Schroeder (owner of Schroeder's Bar) in front of the new Schroeder's facade at the corner of Dale and Front. Providing Funding to Organizations Which Serve Area Residents Directly Districts 5, 6 and 10 Planning Councils: Crime prevention, operations North End/South Como Block Nurse Program Como Zoo and Conservatory: Scholarships for programming Handyworks: Chore services for the elderly East Side Family Center:  Serving families in the Vento Neighborhood American Indian Family Center:  Planning for a new facility Merrick Community Services:  Youth programming Minnesota Transportation Museum:  Scholarships for children to attend the museum Crestview/New Foundations:  Services to families in need Authoring Stronger, More Enforceable Ordinances to Create a Safer, More Livable City Authored resolutions to increase the police department budget to add more police officers and provide additional funding for community based crime prevention activities. Stronger protections against panhandling – known as “aggressive solicitation” Incorporated Requirement for Crime Prevention through Environmental Design elements to be included in Site Plan review process Living Wage Ordinance Stronger penalties for businesses with multiple license violations Stronger penalties for bars that have a severe injury or death occur on their premises Improving Infrastructure in the North End Rice Street Streetscape Project: New sidewalks and lighting from Sycamore to Maryland Preliminary approval for turn lanes on Maryland and Rice Residential Street Vitality Projects throughout the North End Collaborating for Healthy Communities Led partnership between District 6, Parks and Recreation, community churches, District 5 and the Police Department to establish a summer youth program directed at recruiting more community volunteers and providing more recreational opportunities for neighborhood youth.  The initiative, called Break Out, received a grant from the Saint Paul Police Department.  Because of its success, the program will likely be duplicated in the future. Served on Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Search Advisory Committee.
Campaign Home * About Lee * Vision * Accomplishments  Events * Volunteer * Contribute * Contact Prepared and paid for by Helgen for City Council, 988 Hoyt Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55117 For more information, call 651-488-1850 or e-mail:  helgen00005@hotmail.com