RSVP for Waite Park 2024 annual neighborhood meeting & election

The Waite Park Community Council will hold its annual neighborhood meeting and board election on Thursday, March 14, at Columbia Manor.

• Meet and mingle with neighbors and community leaders

• Get involved! Learn about neighborhood volunteer opportunities

• Free snacks and beverages (including beer and wine)

The event will begin with a social hour at 6pm, followed by a brief program at 7pm that will include an annual report from WPCC’s board officers as well as brief comments from local leaders. Officials who have RSVP’d to attend include: Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, School Board Treasurer Abdul Abdi, Park Commissioner Billy Menz, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando and State Rep. Sydney Jordan.

*** RSVP here ***

All attendees who live, work, or own property in the Waite Park neighborhood are invited to participate in the annual board election. This year’s vote will elect up to seven board members, as well as officer roles for president and vice president.

The Waite Park Community Council is an all-volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to building community, supporting civic engagement, and maintaining a high quality of life in our neighborhood.

Our 15 board members, elected to staggered, two-year terms, spend on average 3-5 hours per month attending meetings, helping to plan events such as our Fall Festival, administer neighborhood programs, and serve as liaisons with key community partners and stakeholders.

This year’s event will also feature a community resource fair, where attendees can learn about area nonprofits and community groups serving the Waite Park neighborhood and Northeast Minneapolis. Participating organizations include the League of Women Voters, Northeast Football Club, the Northeaster newspaper, Metro Transit, Eastside Neighborhood Services, Immigrant Connection, Waite Park Elementary PTA, and Northeast Middle School.

The Waite Park Community Council would like to extend a special invitation to all of its neighbors in the Columbia Park neighborhood, who may participate in all activities except for the board election.

This is a free event. RSVP is not required but it would help us out if you can let us know in advance if you are planning to attend, so that we can ensure we have the right amount of food, beverage, and seating for a successful event.

A Zoom option (link here) will be available for the annual report and election portion of the event beginning at 7pm.

Waite Park Neighborhood 2023 Annual Meeting & Winter Mixer

The Waite Park Community Council invites you to attend the Waite Park Neighborhood Annual Meeting and Winter Mixer on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Waite Park Recreation Center (1810 34th Ave. NE).

The event will mark the neighborhood’s first in-person annual meeting since 2019. It will feature snacks and social time, along with a state-of-the-neighborhood presentation, annual treasurer’s report, and board election. This year's election will seek to fill eight board seats, as well as officer roles for secretary and treasurer.

Participation in the board election is open to all people 18 years or older who reside, work or own property or a business in the neighborhood. Waite Park is geographically bounded by Central Avenue on the west, Stinson Boulevard on the east, St. Anthony Parkway on the south and 37th Avenue on the north.

The Waite Park Community Council is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a high quality of life in the Waite Park neighborhood by providing a forum for community engagement.

Board members meet monthly and help plan and manage a variety of events and programs, including the neighborhood fall festival, a low-interest home improvement loan program, and rebates for block club and home security improvements.

If you cannot attend in-person but would like to participate in the board election, please contact info@waiteparkcc.org for Zoom information.

WPCC board amends rain garden budget, sets 2023 calendar dates

The Waite Park Community Council approved additional funding for its 2022 rain garden program and set calendar dates for 2023 at its regular monthly board meeting on Aug. 25.

The meeting was chaired by WPCC President Dan Haugen and attended by board members Nick Stroozas, Gary Arnteson, Chelsey Blanke, Scott Larson, Tiffany Moore, Leah Wallgren Price, Katherine Cornish, and Ali Nussbaum.

In April, the council entered a $19,375 contract with Metro Blooms Design + Build to subsidize the cost of installing up to 25 rain gardens for homeowners in the Waite Park neighborhood. A total of 15 residents signed up for this year's program.

The cost per rain garden was contingent on the availability of Conservation Corps Teams. Metro Blooms was allocated fewer crews than anticipated for the project, forcing it to use its own paid crews at a cost of $2080 per day.

The community council's final cost, prorated for 15 projects including higher labor costs, came to $20,750. The WPCC board unanimously approved allocating an additional $1,500 to ensure the rain gardens can be completed this season.

The board also voted to set Wednesday, February 1, 2023, as the date of its next annual meeting and board election. And it voted to set Saturday, September 9, 2023, as the date of its next fall festival. (This year's fall festival is set for Saturday, September 10.)

The Waite Park Community Council's next regular board meeting is scheduled for 7pm Thursday, Sept. 29, on Zoom.

👉 Why you should attend our annual neighborhood meeting 👈

The Waite Park Community Council (WPCC) invites all community members to attend and participate in its annual neighborhood meeting and board election from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Due to COVID-19, the event will be held via Zoom. To receive login info, register at https://tinyurl.com/wpcc2022

Why should I attend the annual neighborhood meeting?

The event is an opportunity to meet neighbors, hear from local elected officials, and learn about WPCC programs and volunteer opportunities, including the election of new board members and officers.

You will get to hear short updates from our local elected officials, including Ward 1 City Council Member Elliott Payne, District 1 Parks Commissioner Billy Menz, School Board Vice-Chair Jenny Arneson, County Commissioner Irene Fernando, State Sen. Kari Dziedzic, and State Rep. Sydney Jordan.

Also: There will be door prizes! We will raffle off prizes throughout the evening from local businesses including: Cosmic Coffee, Eastside Food Co-op, Herbivorous Butcher, I Like You, Marino’s Deli, Modern Age District Repurpose, Parkway Pizza, Sarah Jane’s Bakery, and Schemespace Community Makerspace.

What is the Waite Park Community Council?

We are a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization recognized by the City of Minneapolis as the neighborhood representative of Waite Park. Founded in 1954, the WPCC serves as a forum to address a broad range of issues, including, but not limited to, housing, safety, livability, community building, and sustainability, as well as annual neighborhood events. 

What does a board member do?

Volunteer board members are expected to attend and participate in monthly board meetings, in which we vote on spending proposals, discuss board policies, speak with city officials, address community issues, and more. There are also opportunities to serve on committees related to equity engagement, events, neighborhood funding, environmental issues, and more. 

Board members are energetic, community-minded leaders, who can help the WPCC and the Waite Park neighborhood thrive. WPCC works to enhance the quality of life in the Waite Park neighborhood by facilitating neighborhood engagement, embracing a diversity of voices, and fostering community development. 

Ok, I might be interested. How do I join the board?

Any person 18 years or older residing, working, owning property or a business in the Waite Park neighborhood is invited to participate in the annual board election. The neighborhood’s boundaries are Central and Stinson avenues, between 37th Avenue and St. Anthony Parkway.

To become a candidate for election to the board, eligible individuals need to be present at the meeting, express their interest, and provide a few words on how they would like to support the Waite Park community. Attendees who meet membership requirements will vote to elect candidates to the board.

Are there other ways to get involved?

Yes! We are always looking for community members to help drive initiatives and volunteer at events. We also want to hear from you and learn what you need from the council. 

Save the date: Waite Park Community Council annual meeting and board election set for March 3

The Waite Park Community Council (WPCC) invites all community members to attend and participate in its annual neighborhood meeting and board election from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Due to COVID-19, the event will be held via Zoom. All attendees must register at https://tinyurl.com/wpcc2022

The event is an opportunity to meet your neighbors, hear from local elected officials, and learn about WPCC programs and volunteer opportunities, including the election of new board members and officers.

Our local elected officials, including Ward 1 City Council Member Elliott Payne, District 1 Parks Commissioner Billy Menz, County Commissioner Irene Fernando, State Sen. Kari Dziedzic, and State Rep. Sydney Jordan, will provide short updates on their recent priorities.

WPCC board members will update the neighborhood on the board’s accomplishments in 2021. They include drafting a plan to improve engagement with three underrepresented groups: renters, seniors, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).

The board’s priorities for 2022 include building on the success of last year’s revived fall festival, as well as education and outreach to homeowners about hurtful and discriminatory racial covenants that remain in an estimated 200 housing deeds in our neighborhood.

WPCC is a volunteer-powered organization. We receive a small annual budget from the city to cover some administrative costs, but we depend on people giving their time and energy to make our programs and activities a success.

Any person 18 years or older residing, working, owning property or a business in the Waite Park neighborhood is invited to participate in the annual board election. The neighborhood’s boundaries are Central and Stinson avenues (between 37th Avenue and St. Anthony Parkway.)

This year’s election includes seven board of director positions. Each term lasts two years. Board members are expected to attend monthly board meetings on the last Thursday of the month. They are also strongly encouraged to participate in committees that make our programs and events happen, for a total volunteer commitment of about 5-10 hours per month.

In addition to filling seven board seats, members will also elect a president and vice president. The president is responsible for presiding over meetings and seeing that board orders and resolutions are carried out, as well as other administrative duties on behalf of the organization. The vice president shares similar duties in collaboration with the board and president.

To become a candidate for election to the board, eligible individuals need to be present at the meeting, express their interest, and provide a few words on how they would like to support the Waite Park community. Meeting participants will vote to elect candidates to the board.

The Waite Park Community Council is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and neighborhood. All are encouraged to attend and volunteer for a board seat, regardless of experience. Please join us at the table to create an inclusive neighborhood for everyone!