St. Paul City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Rice Larpender Alliance Presentation and Funding
Votes (1)
SR26-163 Rice Larpender Alliance presentation
The presentation by Kim O'Brien detailed the Rice Larpender Alliance's (RLA) origins in 2015, driven by a need to address blight, crime, and disinvestment at the tri-city intersection. The RLA operates on a vision adopted in 2018, focusing on diversity, non-displacement, and a strengths-based approach. Key achievements include a drastic reduction in crime since 2018, significant infrastructure improvements like traffic calming on Larpender Avenue and reconstruction of Rice Street, support for over 30 local businesses with grants exceeding $200,000, and robust community engagement with events doubling attendance since 2019. The RLA also played a crucial role in the closure of unsafe establishments like the Lamplighter Lounge, which was redeveloped into an Asian community grocery store. The primary challenge discussed was the zeroing out of St. Paul's $75,000 general operations funding for 2026, replaced by the Commercial Corridor Opportunity Program Grant which largely restricts staffing costs, leaving the RLA operating at half capacity and jeopardizing its sustainability. Questions arose about the equitable distribution of city funding across different corridors.
Notable Quotes (6)
Non-displacement meaning recognizing that any investment that happens in this community needs to be for and by the community who is there now.
All who report a drastic reduce reduction in major crime and safety incidents since 2018. Like massive.
For every $1 invested into the alliance at 75,000, $3.67 was invested from other parties. That's a pretty good return on investment. Every $1 that we invest as a city is met by an additional two and a half dollars.
in 2026 um the general operations funding so St. Paul's contribution to the three city partnership was zeroed out to because of the creation of the commercial corridor program and we worked very closely you know um with chair Johnson and commissioner Kim to find ways and flexibility within the commercial corridor program such that we can leverage that resource to keep serving community and there's important stipulations within that source of funding that they don't go for the staffing work.
I think the question really remains on if we do this in one community, what is the alternative to being able to provide that similar assistance in other places across the city in an equitable way.
this has significantly changed many different metrics along like when we think about commercial vitality and what are the metrics we want to accomplish. It requires someone to hold the pieces together.
Ordinances & Resolutions (4)
Staff report presented to the legislative body regarding the Rice Larpender Alliance presentation.
Community-led vision plan for the Rice and Larpender area, adopted by all three cities in 2018, serving as a framework for the alliance's work.
Official manual developed by the Rice Larpender Alliance board of directors to guide operations.
City grant program that provided funding to the RLA in 2025 but has limitations on operational/staffing expenses for 2026.