St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's spokesperson Bob Hume said Thursday top Republican officials are in town to negotiate details about the 2008 Republican National Convention. City officials expect a contract to be signed within the next month. And once that contract's signed, the donation requests will begin because the local host committee will have to raise millions in anticipation of the convention, which is expected to bring thousands of politicians, news people and protesters to the Twin Cities. St. Paul's also eyeing some debt relief from the state Legislature on bonds for the RiverCentre. That gesture would allow the city make any improvements to the RiverCentre or Xcel Energy Center prior to the fall of '08.