Ward 5 Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Hwa Jeong Kim
Housing
1. Saint Paul is currently completing a 1-4 Unit Housing Study that would broadly allow 4 housing units per lot across the city, and relieve other zoning requirements that constrain our city’s housing options. Do you support this and other regulatory changes that allow for more housing in St. Paul?
Response: I would love to eliminate single-family zoning.
2. Saint Paul’s SAFE Tenant protections, which included just cause eviction protections and rules around security deposits and tenant screening, were repealed in 2022. How would you work to sustainably instate tenant protections in Saint Paul?
Response: First, we need to eliminate vacancy de-control from the rent stabilization ordinance. This creates a harmful and predatory renter market that incentivizes landlords to push renters out to raise the rent. Second, we need to address the violations the judge issued in the stay so that we can enforce, protect, and, if needed, litigate tenant protections. Moving forward without addressing those concerns is not a sustainable approach. I look forward to working with renters and housing advocates to pass comprehensive tenant protections in Saint Paul, including limiting tenant screenings and in-perpetuity lease renewals.
3. It can be difficult for cities such as Saint Paul to secure enough public funding for building affordable housing. Given this challenge, what do you see as the most promising strategies for increasing the supply of affordable homes in Saint Paul?
Response: I would love to eliminate single-family zoning and up zone where we can. I will expand small-scale, missing middle development of brownfield sites by supporting our local family and non-profit developers by connecting them through state gap funding. We can Fall 2023 continue to increase our rental rehab programs to ensure we sustain quality housing across income ranges and our Inspiring Communities program to ensure affordability as we scale. And lastly, there are non-profit and mom-and-pop local developers who intimately understand our neighborhood needs. We must support folks filling in the missing middle and doing it with our communities in mind.
Transportation
4. The quality of the transit network in Saint Paul is improving, and we hope to see this continue. How would you work with local constituents along existing and planned transit routes to build support for further improvements of our bus and light rail network?
Response: One of the Transit Fare Elimination Pilot Routes is the 62, which runs through the heart of my neighborhood and Ward. I would support expanding the pilot in other areas and communities that benefit from free fares. Public transit systems are a public good and I would love to co-create ideas for incentivizing ridership beyond free fares. Once transit is free, we must ensure it continues to be networked and create perks and incentives for ridership.
I would support implementing more high-frequency routes in Saint Paul; naming Rice Street and HWY 36 to Robert Street and HWY 62/Interstate 494 would be amazing. Most of the established routes are in Minneapolis.
I would like to reduce wait times. While many bus routes up arterials in Saint Paul intersect the Green Line, bus routes through and into my neighborhood run every 30 minutes. It’s quicker to walk, roll, or bike to your destination with a 30-minute wait time (Sundays, it’s every 50 minutes). The 62 Route runs through the heart of my neighborhood on Rice Street and stops every 18 minutes.
5. The future of the I-94 corridor, which runs through the heart of Saint Paul, is currently being considered by MnDOT through the Rethinking I-94 project. Sustain Saint Paul believes that the city deserves a future corridor that addresses historical harms to nearby neighborhoods, improves city connectivity across the highway, and reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled and associated vehicle pollution. What elements of a future corridor do you support? Some examples include an at-grade boulevard, a land bridge, a transit-only lane, reducing the number of vehicle lanes or street width; please be specific.
Response:
6. The City of Saint Paul is currently preparing an update to the Saint Paul bicycle plan, with a focus on grade-separated bikeways and a more seamlessly connected network. Do you support this effort, and will you commit to ensuring its success if elected?
Response: I would love an at-grade boulevard that focuses on the repair and restoration of the community as well as contributing to our climate resiliency. I am partial to the at-grade boulevard because of Cheonggye Expressway. I have walked along the riverway and felt the benefits of green space in a bustling city. It encourages walking and promotes mental well-being and greater connectivity.
Quality urbanism
7. One of Sustain Saint Paul’s top policy priorities is “mixed-use zoning.” Our current zoning policies prohibit retail stores, coffeeshops, restaurants, and other neighborhood businesses in residential areas, and we think our city would be more vibrant and resilient if we allowed such neighborhood areas throughout the city. Do you support zoning changes to allow this?
Response: Yes, to any land use tool that encourages us to walk, buy, live, attend school, shop, and congregate at a neighborhood level. Mixed -use zoning also means a greater level of connectivity, visibility, and safety. It can only be good when more people, not just those on your block, care about your neighborhood. As a former Planning Commissioner and Zoning Committee member, I have been proud to support projects that increase land use to make our neighborhoods more vibrant and inclusive.
8. Sustain St. Paul believes that whenever the city rebuilds or repairs a street, it should redesign the street to reduce traffic speeds for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. Would you champion policies to encourage this?
Response: Yes.
9. What other urbanism-focused ideas do you have for making Saint Paul a more pleasant, safe, and vibrant place to live, work, and play?
Response: I would like to partner on ideas to submit for Inflation Reduction Act funds. We currently have a small but scaled electric vehicle ride-share program. After we finish meeting our initial fleet goal of 175 cars, I would like to expand the number of vehicles available. Within the first six months of the rideshare program, with a fleet of 100 cars, it has reduced an estimated 741 metric tons of greenhouse gas.
One of the city’s most accessible opportunities to reduce VMT as a municipality is to grow and develop the electric charging network. Expanding the EV Spot Network into existing and future projects on key transit corridors and in low-wealth neighborhoods is a great IRA proposal. Como Pavillion parking lot renovation is an excellent example of how this could work. Any time Saint Paul needs to renovate a facility, we can require options for adding infrastructure to install EV chargers. Expanding the fleet and charging network will encourage infrequent car users to use reliable and flexible transportation alternatives while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
Pat Tollefson
Housing
1. Saint Paul is currently completing a 1-4 Unit Housing Study that would broadly allow 4 housing units per lot across the city, and relieve other zoning requirements that constrain our city’s housing options. Do you support this and other regulatory changes that allow for more housing in St. Paul?
Response: I support this because it gives homeowners flexibility when deciding on building on their property and it will create more housing options. But, there are negative aspects that need to be considered. Developers can swoop into low income neighborhoods, buy property at a low cost and then tear down old houses in order to build multi unit housing. The developers make money while the residents are pushed out of their neighborhoods. Getting input from residents is very important and I don't like making definitive decisions that impact them until I have that input.
2. Saint Paul’s SAFE Tenant protections, which included just cause eviction protections and rules around security deposits and tenant screening, were repealed in 2022. How would you work to sustainably instate tenant protections in Saint Paul?
Response: I think it's important to work with landlords and renters to work toward reinstating tenant protections. The reason the SAFE tenant protects were rescinded was because of the restrictive rules against landlords and they would have sued the city. Landlords and renters need each other and sometimes, compromise is necessary. We need renter protection rights and we need to draft them so both groups are satisfied.
It can be difficult for cities such as Saint Paul to secure enough public funding for building affordable housing. Given this challenge, what do you see as the most promising strategies for increasing the supply of affordable homes in Saint Paul?
3. It can be difficult for cities such as Saint Paul to secure enough public funding for building affordable housing. Given this challenge, what do you see as the most promising strategies for increasing the supply of affordable homes in Saint Paul?
Response: Offer tax incentives; reduced permitting fees; creating a community land trust for the purpose of affordable housing; review income thresholds for housing vouchers.
Transportation
4. The quality of the transit network in Saint Paul is improving, and we hope to see this continue. How would you work with local constituents along existing and planned transit routes to build support for further improvements of our bus and light rail network?
5. The future of the I-94 corridor, which runs through the heart of Saint Paul, is currently being considered by MnDOT through the Rethinking I-94 project. Sustain Saint Paul believes that the city deserves a future corridor that addresses historical harms to nearby neighborhoods, improves city connectivity across the highway, and reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled and associated vehicle pollution. What elements of a future corridor do you support? Some examples include an at-grade boulevard, a land bridge, a transit-only lane, reducing the number of vehicle lanes or street width; please be specific.
Response: There are 35,000 residents and 1,300 businesses within a quarter mile on either side of I-94. I think before any project is started, the city needs to understand the impact to those residents an businesses. How long would each project take to complete? What is the alternative routes for all of these people? What is the environmental impact? How does this impact traffic on University and Marshall Avenues and the residents? We need to make sure we look at all factors when making big decisions.
Looking at the designs the city is considering, I would support the following alternatives to the future corridor project: General Maintenance, Maintenance – A, and Maintenance – B; Reduced Freeway – A; Reconfigure Freeway – A; Expanded Freeway – A; Expanded Freeway – B.
6. The City of Saint Paul is currently preparing an update to the Saint Paul bicycle plan, with a focus on grade-separated bikeways and a more seamlessly connected network. Do you support this effort, and will you commit to ensuring its success if elected?
Response: It depends on the location, damage to property, time spent on these projects, and environmental damage. Too many times, in private companies and public sector, people make sweeping changes or decisions without looking at all of the factors. This comprehensive approach can help mitigate risks and ensure that the outcomes are beneficial for all people involved.
Quality urbanism
7. One of Sustain Saint Paul’s top policy priorities is “mixed-use zoning.” Our current zoning policies prohibit retail stores, coffeeshops, restaurants, and other neighborhood businesses in residential areas, and we think our city would be more vibrant and resilient if we allowed such neighborhood areas throughout the city. Do you support zoning changes to allow this?
Response: Yes, I would support this.
8. Sustain St. Paul believes that whenever the city rebuilds or repairs a street, it should redesign the street to reduce traffic speeds for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. Would you champion policies to encourage this?
Response: It depends on the redesign and necessity. Sometimes, it is ok to keep the same design. And, sometimes, it's ok to add a small change, such as a speed bump, to reduce traffic speeds. For 9 speed bumps, it's approximately $140,000 (a few years ago).
Also, I believe we need to address pedestrian crossings. We need to add the street signs that make it known to drivers to stop for pedestrians.
9. What other urbanism-focused ideas do you have for making Saint Paul a more pleasant, safe, and vibrant place to live, work, and play?
Response: I believe we need to keep our buildings and landscapes that are designated as historically preserved. We can't ever recapture times in history if we tear them down.
Lake Phalen and Como Park are two examples of how we can have access to meeting places, gardens, streams, water falls, boat launchings, beaches, playgrounds, and other things, all within a block from neighborhoods. While we can't "build a lake" we can continue to maintain walking paths, playgrounds, and meeting places throughout other areas of the city.
I see the E-bikes and scooters parked all over the city. Some residents don't even know what these are all about. We need to have more information given to people so they know why a scooter is left on the corner by their house for a few days. I think it's a great plan to make these available to people but we just need more information on how they are gathered, recharged, etc.
I think we need to encourage more block clubs or neighborhood watch groups. When people know what is going on in their neighborhood and have discussions with each other, crime seems to be less.
