WPCC board amends rain garden budget, sets 2023 calendar dates

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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.

Waite Park neighborhood climate committee to meet July 14

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We invite you to join us for the inaugural meeting of the Waite Park neighborhood climate committee on Thursday, July 14, at 6:30pm. The meeting will take place outdoors at Waite Park.

This is a project of the Waite Park Community Council. Our objective is to facilitate a long-term conversation about how we can create a more just, sustainable and resilient neighborhood as our planet warms.

Our special guest for this meeting will be Laura Benson, an Audubon Park neighborhood resident who is involved with the campaign for the Minneapolis People's Climate and Equity Plan.

If the meeting site is not visible from the south Rec Center doors, we will post information about where to find us there. In the event of rain, the meeting will take place on Zoom. Please RSVP here so that we can keep in touch and share information if meeting details change.

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

Neighborhood meeting: Learn about Waite Park's 2021 raingarden program

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pollinator - bee and flower 3.jpg

Please join us on Zoom Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m. for our monthly neighborhood meeting to find out how you could qualify for a discounted raingarden consultation and installation.

The Waite Park Community Council is partnering with Metro Blooms to help up to 20 homeowners in the neighborhood plan and install raingardens this season.

A raingarden consists of native plants and flowers arranged in a shallow depression designed to capture rainwater runoff. Water that would otherwise flow down driveways, streets and sidewalks is instead absorbed into the earth, which filters pollutants and recharges groundwater.

In addition to helping to keep our water clean, rain gardens provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, including the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. And they help prevent local flooding and relieve pressure on storm drains, making our neighborhood more resilient!

The first come, first served program will be subsidized by the Waite Park Community Council. Participants will be responsible for half of the on-site consultation fee and the cost of plants and materials. Information about how to apply will be released after the meeting.

Other items on the agenda for Thursday's meeting:

  • An update on the Waite Park Community Garden and 2021 budget

  • Planning for upcoming neighborhood anti-racism forum

  • Discussion of letter supporting fruit trees on boulevards

  • Discussion about neighborhood COVID-19 vaccine outreach

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