The West Side Community Organization represents the West Side of St. Paul (District 3) as one of 17 District Councils that were established in 1975 through a St. Paul City Council resolution. At the time of their creation, district councils were designed to increase citizen engagement in city government and to foster communication and participation. Each council operates as an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and receives funding from the city to hire staff and maintain an office.

Primary functions of St. Paul District Councils include:

• Providing advisory recommendations to city officials on physical, economic, and social development issues

• Identifying neighborhood needs, initiating community programs, and recruiting volunteers

• Serving as the neighborhood’s primary information and referral source for city programs, policies, and issues