Welcome! soo dhawaw! nyob zou tos txais! Bienvenidos! The Payne Phalen Community Council exists to promote the physical, social and economic development and human dignity of people of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, and communities within its geographic boundaries and across St. Paul’s East Side. The Community Council organizes within and across the community to fulfill the vision and interests of all people living in or operating business in Payne-Phalen. Our mission is to improve Payne-Phalen neighborhoods by engaging, educating and empowering all residents in our diverse communities. Payne-Phalen is the largest and most diverse of the 17 planning and citizen participation districts in St. Paul. We are an independent, registered Minnesota non-profit 501(C)3 organization governed by an all-volunteer 17- member Board of Directors. Presently our Board is a majority people of color. The District Council helps residents and businesses connect with local city and county government and seeks to build local consensus on public issues. Saint Paul has a rich history of active and distinct neighborhoods. As a District Planning Council, Payne-Phalen is also part of the larger Saint Paul Planning Council system. To support neighborhood participation in governance, the district council planning process was created in 1975 by St. Paul City Council Resolution. The City of Saint Paul named the geographic area making up the Payne-Phalen neighborhood as the District 5 Planning area. Saint Paul’s District Council system is a nationally recognized citizen participation system of 17 recognized St. Paul neighborhoods (Map). The community is strongly encouraged to participate in all aspects of the Community Council and its programs, governance, events and activities. There are no dues or applications to fully participate in your District Council. Everyone over the age of 16 who lives in or owns a business in our area is a voting member. District Councils are tasked to fully engage the community in local public planning and community improvement initiatives. Responsibilities of the councils include: planning and advising on the physical, economic, and social development of their areas; identifying needs; initiating community programs; recruiting volunteers; and sponsoring community events.
