Join us for a neighborhood meeting on racial covenants in Waite Park

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The Waite Park Community Council will host a special neighborhood meeting on Thursday, June 30, to address a shameful chapter in the city and neighborhood's history in which Black residents were prohibited from buying or renting homes in the community.

Racial covenants were documents recorded against a home's legal title which banned property owners from selling, renting, or allowing their home to be used by people of certain races. The discriminatory language was not always the same, but most covenants targeted Black people.

Racial covenants were recorded on homes in Minneapolis by developers and homeowners starting in the 1910s. The use of racial covenants forced Black community members to live in racially segregated areas where they could not get mortgages, buy property, or build wealth.

Racial covenants were outlawed by 1968 and are no longer enforceable. Yet, Black people and other people of color in Minneapolis still experience the harm caused by these covenants. In 2010, Minneapolis’ population included 69% white residents and 19% Black residents. However, in the neighborhoods where racial covenants had been common, the population was still 73-90% white.

From 2016 to 2020, the Mapping Prejudice team at the University of Minnesota used technology and volunteers to review thousands of documents looking for racial covenants. They found over 8,000 racial covenants recorded against properties in the City of Minneapolis alone, including more than 200 in the Waite Park neighborhood.

The City of Minneapolis is offering Minneapolis homeowners the chance to learn about and discharge the racial covenants recorded on their properties. It also allows homeowners to reclaim their homes as equitable spaces.

Join us for an informational meeting on the city's Just Deeds project to learn how homeowners can eliminate this hurtful language and reclaim their homes as equitable spaces. Assistant City Attorney Amy Schutt will give a presentation on history of racial covenants and other discriminatory housing practices in Minneapolis, and also take questions from residents.

The meeting will take place at 7pm on Thursday, June 30, on Zoom. Register or sign-in to the meeting at https://tinyurl.com/WPCCjustdeeds

Watch: The TPT documentary ‘Jim Crow of the North’ tells the story of racist, restrictive real estate covenants in the Twin Cities.

WPCC seeking proposals from equity-focused data consultants

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The Waite Park Community Council is seeking proposals from equity-focused data consultants for the creation, implementation, and analysis of surveys and focus groups for our Equitable Engagement Plan.

The Council’s goal is to meaningfully engage marginalized communities that have been historically underrepresented in neighborhood decision making. The goal of the surveys and focus groups will be to gather information from the communities of interest including: BIPOC neighbors, older adults, and residents who rent in the community. 

The full timeline can be found in the RFP. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Equitable Engagement Planning Committee if you have questions or need additional clarification at engagement@waiteparkcc.org.

The Council is accepting proposals until Friday, June 17th .

WPCC to discuss state of neighborhood home improvement loan programs

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The Waite Park Community Council is scheduled to discuss the state of its home improvement and emergency home repair loan programs at its regular monthly board meeting this week.

The community council partners with the Center for Energy and Environment to offer two home loan programs for neighborhood residents. The zero-interest Waite Park Home Improvement Loan program offers up to $15,000 to borrowers earning no more than 80% of Area Median Income. The Waite Park Emergency Deferred Loan, which also has a 0% APR, offers up to $5,000 and has no income limits for borrowers.

Jim Hasnik, director of lending services with the Center for Energy and Environment, is scheduled to give an overview of the program and answer questions for WPCC board members and neighborhood residents. The board may then consider changes to the programs, though none have been proposed in advance.

Participation in the programs has recently fallen off, with several months passing since the last loan was issued. In addition to possible modifications, the board may also discuss ways to raise awareness and better promote the programs so more residents can take advantage of them.

Other items on the agenda include the community council’s upcoming campaign with the city’s Just Deeds program, an updated request for proposals for the council’s Equitable Engagement Plan outreach, and logistics for an upcoming diversity, equity and inclusion retreat for board members.

The meeting is open to the public and will take place at 7pm, Thursday, May 26, via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84266074428). If you are a Waite Park community member and you have an update or announcement you would like to share at the meeting, email agenda@waiteparkcc.org. Full agenda is posted below.

WAITE PARK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA
MAY 26, 2022 via Zoom

7:00: Call to order and land acknowledgement

7:05: Welcome, approval of agenda and April minutes

7:10:  COMMUNITY REPORTS/UPDATES
Parks update, Brian Hall
Community Ed update, Sandi McDonald
Rain Garden update, Kate

7:20. Discussion of home loan programs, Dan
Guest: Jim Hasnik, Center for Energy and Environment

8:00. Racial covenants campaign, Lucas/Dan

8:10. RFP for Equitable Engagement Plan, Leah

8:20 Designation of whistleblower and EEO contact, Dan

8:30. Board retreat, Lucas

8:40: BOARD REPORTS/UPDATES
Treasurer’s Report, Megan
Communications, Gary/Dan
Community Connections, Dan/Gary/Ali
Fall Festival, Scott

9:00: Adjourn

Metro Blooms raingarden program returns to Waite Park neighborhood

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Spring is finally getting underway — it’s time to think about your yard! 

The Waite Park Community Council (WPCC) is partnering with Metro Blooms Neighborhood of Raingardens program to help 25 homeowners install raingardens this year. Raingardens help keep pollutants out of the Mississippi River and provide habitat for pollinators and local wildlife, including Minnesota’s state bee, the endangered rusty patched bumble bee! 🐝 

Metro Blooms Design + Build will offer on-site consultations this summer to identify the best location and discuss budget, plant preference, and other resilient landscaping practices. The designer then will develop a planting plan for each garden (150 sq. ft.  maximum). Designs will be sent to residents for approval two weeks prior to their scheduled installation.

Metro Blooms Design + Build will excavate the garden area, mix in compost, apply mulch, and haul away sod/soil, if necessary. Residents will coordinate with Metro Blooms for a plant pick-up, where staff will be available to offer guidance and support before planting. 

Participants will pay for plants, mulch, and sod/soil disposal (if necessary), as well as half of the consultation fee. The average cost per resident is $300-$400 depending on the size of the raingarden and number of plants.

Registration will open at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 12, and remain open until all 25 slots are filled. To sign up, please contact Neely Atha at neely@metroblooms.org with your name, address, phone number, email address and neighborhood (Waite Park). 

Metro Blooms Design + Build is a wholly-owned for-profit entity that supports the work of Metro Blooms Non-Profit by provides high quality, resilient, and sustainable landcare services for residential and commercial landscapes. It specializes in creating beautiful raingardens, stormwater management, and native plantings. More information is at https://metrobloomsdb.com.

Come say hello at the citywide Community Connections Conference

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The Waite Park Community Council is honored to participate as an exhibitor at this year's Community Connection Conference on May 21st from 8:30 am-3:00 pm. 

The conference theme is “forward together” and is free for all Minneapolis residents, community groups, neighborhoods, and local government. It is an opportunity to learn about and speak with over 100 organizations, including City departments, neighborhood organizations, community organizations, nonprofits, and other government agencies. There will also be impactful conversation topics and Green Zone sessions that address Housing, Community Safety, Environmental Justice, The Minneapolis Climate Action Plan, and much more. In addition to making meaningful connections, there will be dancing, kid's activities, food, and music! 

Additionally, Metro Transit will be offering free rides to the conference via bus or light rail. You can download your pass here.

Visit the conference webpage to learn more, register, and receive email updates.

We hope to see you there!

Hoyer Heights tree trenches add habitat, protect Mississippi River

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The Waite Park neighborhood is home to a unique example of green infrastructure designed to reduce flooding, add habitat, and help protect the Mississippi River.

The Hoyer Heights Tree Trenches were installed by the City of Minneapolis as part of a street reconstruction project in 2020. Supported by grants from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and the Minnesota Clean Water Fund, the pilot project is among the first in the city to capture and treat street runoff using this type of green stormwater infrastructure. It’s part of the Northeast Stormwater Management Initiative, which aims to reduce flooding and improve water quality and habitat in portions of Northeast Minneapolis and Columbia Heights.

Dirty runoff from the streets flows into the tree trenches via curb cuts. Native plants and trees in the trenches absorb the water, while sediment traps and the soil filter out pollutants. A perforated pipe underdrain allows the cleaned stormwater runoff to drain through the storm sewer system to the Mississippi River.

An MWMO video provides an overview of how the tree trenches work as well as the basic maintenance techniques involved in keeping the functioning. As you can see from the video, the native plants have proven to be remarkably resilient, bursting with flowers and buzzing with pollinators in spite of last year’s drought.

The MWMO is planning to host a tour of the project later this summer. This will be an opportunity to learn how the tree trenches work as well as how they’re maintained. Contact MWMO Training and Community Learning Specialist Abby Moore at amoore@mwmo.org if you’d like to learn more.

—Submitted by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

WPCC Regular Board Meeting Agenda - April 28, 2022

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Zoom link and supporting materials.

7:00: Call to order and land acknowledgement

7:05: Welcome, approval of agenda and March minutes

7:10: COMMUNITY REPORTS/UPDATES
Parks update, Brian Hall
Community Ed update, Sandi McDonald

7:20 Discussion/adoption of board policies, Dan
Financial Policies & Procedures, Megan
Whistleblower Policy, Nick
EOE & Affirmative Action Policy, Tiffany
Language Access Policy, Gary
ADA Policy, Leah
Conflict of Interest Policy, Dan

8:00 Approval of 2020-2021 CPP Final Report, Dan

8:05 EEP budget and deadline vote, Megan

8:15 Approval of 2022 Metro Blooms rain garden contract, Megan

8:30 Extension of NRP Phase 2 Funds for the Parks Dept., Nick
Parks proposal for new sound system, Nick

8:45: BOARD REPORTS/UPDATES
Operations, Dan
Treasurer’s Report, Megan
Board Retreat, Lucas
Community Connections, Tiffany
Fall Festival, Nick

9:00: Adjourn

Panel talks to explore visions for revitalizing Shoreham Yards buffers

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A pair of events this week will explore visions for revitalizing areas around Shoreham Yards.

The panel discussions will take place Wednesday, April 20, at the Weisman Art Museum and Friday, April 22, at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

MCAD faculty member Gudrun Lock and a group of poets, researchers, activists, and other artists will explore what revitalization means to them.

Lock’s exhibition, the Nature of Shoreham Yards at the Weisman Art Museum, features the in-process work, research, and explorations of a motley collective of thinkers and makers. The focus of these efforts are the buffers of Shoreham Yards, an active, 230-acre train and trucking facility in Northeast Minneapolis. Both polluted and full of life, the buffers interface in dynamic ways with the neighborhoods surrounding them, and are potent sites of potential transformation, revitalization, and repair.

What is Revitalization? Panel Discussions
Pecha Kucha Panel: April 20, 3:00 p.m. at the WAM
Revitalization Panel: April 22, 1:00 p.m. at MCAD

Learn More

Community listening sessions scheduled to inform new police chief search

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Community listening sessions held in each of the City’s five police precincts will help inform the search process for the next Minneapolis police chief. City Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw, chair of the City Council’s Public Health & Safety Committee and member of the Mayor’s Police Chief Search Committee, is working with the Mayor and the search committee on the series of sessions.

The community feedback, guidance and perspective received during these sessions will be an integral piece in the creation of the position profile and will inform the entire search process for the new police chief.

Council Member Elliott Payne will attend the session on Wednesday, April 27 from 6-7:30 PM at the Logan Park building, 690 13th Ave. NE.

Other Community Listening Sessions

  • 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, April 18 Folwell Park building, 1615 Dowling Ave. N.

  • 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21 Elliot Park building, 1000 E. 14th St.

  • 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, April 25 Powderhorn Park building, 3400 15th Ave. S.

  • 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 Logan Park building, 690 13th Ave. NE.

  • 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park building, 4055 Nicollet

Item via Council Member Elliott Payne’s Ward 1 Newsletter