St. Paul leaders propose skyway changes after security complaints

City officials are proposing earlier closing times for the St. Paul skyways and other changes in response to security concerns.

Mayor Chris Coleman and other city leaders Wednesday announced two proposed ordinances to improve the skyways.

"The skyways are an important of the network of the transportation in downtown St. Paul," Coleman said. "They are an important connector for businesses. By and large the skyways are great places to be but we need to make sure that they are always safe and welcoming for all visitors, residents and business owners alike."

Coleman was joined by Police Chief Todd Axtell, council member Rebecca Noecker and Ricardo Cervantes, director of safety and inspections for the city. The officials are part of a multifaceted effort that includes skyway stakeholders that galvanized over the winter following complaints about quality of life and safety.

There was an uptick of people living in vacant buildings, Coleman said, and with no access to restrooms, human waste was also an issue.

Police presence increased from 12 to 19 officers stationed in the skyways the past two years. An additional temporary seven officers were added this past winter, Axtell said.

The proposal calls for skyways to close at midnight instead of 2 a.m. this summer. Building owners would be mandated to lock their doors and do security sweeps. The Skyway Vitality Work Group, a group started in February and co-chair by the deputy mayor and Noecker made the ordinance recommendations. The group is a cross-section of business owners, law enforcement officials and and community organizations.

The original skyway ordinance was enacted in 1991.

"In terms of hours, I think there's a strong pushback from residents," Noecker said. "Downtown is a neighborhood. We're going to have 9,000 people living here — people of all ages — over the next decade," said Noecker. " This is a very different downtown than it was in 1991 when we first published our ordinance."

She said accessibility has to be balanced with residents quality for life in mind.

"In an ideal world, you have a skyway that's as accessible as possible, as open and as safe a possible," she said.

The city is also asking for more money from the state to help the population of people who are homeless.

"We did see an increase of homeless people occupying the skyway system for warmth and shelter," Axtell said.

The mayor called on the Legislature to approve the state bonding bill, which includes $12 million for phase two of the Dorothy Day Center at Higher Ground St. Paul's supportive housing.

The first phase was completed in January and provided housing to people who would've been in the skyway, he said.

"This is going to be a critical piece to the solution to some of the problems that we see, and I hope the Legislature takes this last day or two of the session and passes the bonding bill," Coleman said.

The ordinances are expected to come up before the city council for a vote in July.