The two Twin Cities mayors (and their aides) will spend much time the rest of the summer fine-tuning 2015 budget plans, before presenting them in mid-August to their respective city councils.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, a veteran at this now, will present his ninth budget at noon Aug. 13 at the renovated Schmidt Brewery site in the West 7th neighborhood, where lofts and townhouses are being built in the buildings that once housed hops and malt and kegs.
To get public input on the budget — and noting that the city faces a $9.6 million shortfall next year — Coleman plans four public meetings in the coming weeks, and is encouraging online suggestions and comments.
The meetings are:
July 16, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Wellstone Center, Neighborhood House, 179 Robie St. E.
July 23, 9-10 a.m., Golden Thyme Coffee and Café, 921 Selby Av.
July 26, 3-4 p.m., J & S Bean Factory, 1518 Randolph Av.
Aug. 1, from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Hmong Village, 1001 Johnson Pkwy.
St. Paul officials say online suggested should be tweeted with the hashtag #stpaulbudget, or though the city’s website, www.stpaul.gov.
In Minneapolis, Mayor Betsy Hodges is preparing for her first budget meetings with plenty of meetings and study. Her office says her budget speech will be Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. in the City Council chambers.
