Sarah's December SLP Community Updates

​Greetings! Here is some city-related news for residents of SLP and beyond. 

On the campaign trail, I heard how much you admire and enjoy Margaret Rog's monthly summaries. One of my campaign promises was to write a similar newsletter if elected. While we lost the election, I am going to summarize city news here regardless. I hope you enjoy!

🌱 Vision 4.0 Final Report: Every 10 years, the City of St. Louis Park reviews and updates the strategic priorities that staff and elected officials use to guide planning and decision-making over the next decade. The Vision 4.0 final report will be presented to the City Council on Monday 12/8. You can view the report here, starting on page 36.

You know I love a good map, and this map of participants by neighborhood is fascinating to me. Fern Hill, in Ward 1, had the greatest number of respondents to the community survey. This neighborhood includes tightknit Jewish communities and a great deal of the Minneapolis/St. Louis Park Eruv. What can we do to engage other communities this closely?

❄️ Snow Plowing in SLP: Snow is here, and more is on the way. Learn about snow emergencies, plowing operations, and winter parking here.

⛸️ Outdoor Skating & Sledding: It's almost time for outdoor skating and hockey! I grew up near Walnut Ridge Park in Edina, and I have many fond memories skating at the park. Warming houses in SLP plan to be open from Dec. 19 - Feb. 15, weather permitting. Birchwood, Browndale, Nelson, Oak Hill and Parkview parks have warming houses near the ice: find the hours and details here.

📊 2026 SLP City Budget Updates: On December 1, residents shared feedback on the proposed 2026 SLP budget at the Truth in Taxation public hearing. Community members expressed their concerns about increased property taxes. On December 15, the City Council will adopt the 2026 SLP budget and capital improvement plan. In the most recent revised budget, the general fund levy increase was lowered from 8.02% to 7.49%. With a lowered city levy increase, and an increased tax capacity, all St. Louis Park residents and property taxpayers will see a total tax bill that is lower than what was listed on their Truth in Taxation notice. You can read more from the Dec 1 meeting here.

🏠 State of Minnesota property tax relief: Minnesota has two property tax refund programs for homeowners, regular property tax refund, and special property tax refund. You may be eligible for one or both, depending on your income and size of your property tax bill. Find more information on these refunds at the state of Minnesota property tax refund website.

👩‍💼 Community Spotlight: The Coven St. Louis Park opened in 2024 in the historic Walker Lake neighborhood. Home to 11 private offices, 6 dedicated desks, two conference rooms, and two floors for coworking, The Coven SLP is a bustling hub where entrepreneurs and creatives converge. Let me know if you would like to co-work there on a Friday this month.

💡 Ideas for local advocacy: Contact your Council Members and ask them to implement stronger tenant protections in SLP. For example, landlords should be required to give a reason (a just cause) for not offering to renew a tenant’s lease at the end of the original term, if applicable.

🛶 Ideas for statewide advocacy: Contact your State Legislators and ask them to support Prove it First Legislation to protect the BWCA. According to Friends of the Boundary Waters, copper-sulfide mining is the greatest threat to Minnesota’s clean water in decades. Before a copper-sulfide mine in Minnesota could be permitted, the Prove It First Law would require independent scientific proof that a copper-sulfide mine has operated elsewhere in the United States for at least ten years without causing pollution. We need all of our legislators to support this commonsense legislation.

Upcoming Community Events

DancingFish Events and Thesis host a Community Holiday Party. Thursday, December 11, from 7 - 9 pm. Enjoy live music, desserts, and NA cocktails for purchase at Thesis Coffee Co. Free and open to all. RSVP.

2025 CPKC Holiday Train, Sunday, Dec. 14, 6:15 pm. The mission of the Holiday Train is to combat food insecurity in St. Louis Park. A thousand feet of brightly decorated rail cars will roll in, accompanied by a concert. Since 2016, the Holiday Train has stopped in front of STEP, at 6812 West Lake Street, St. Louis Park, attracting thousands of people to join in the fun and festivities.

SLP Friends of the Arts, Artist Showcase exhibit Opening Reception on January 23, 2026, from 5 - 8 pm.

Upcoming community-wide events compiled by the city. You can also sign up to receive email/text notifications of upcoming events.