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.

WPCC board to vote on reallocating NRP funds for home loan programs

/

The Waite Park Community Council (WPCC) intends to vote on a proposed NRP plan modification at its Nov. 30 regular board meeting.

At its Oct. 26 board meeting, members expressed interest in reallocating $14,909.59 in unspent funds from various strategies in its NRP Phase 1 budget for use instead on its home loan programs.

WPCC offers two home improvement loan programs in partnership with the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). The first provides low-interest loans up to $15,000 to income-qualifying property owners. The other offers no-interest emergency loans of up to $5,000 that are forgiven if the owner continues to own and occupy the property for 5 years.

The programs have seen an uptick in use this year with five loans being issued. The budget that had been allocated to cover CEE’s annual contract fee is now depleted, and the board must allocate at least $2,500 in additional funding by December or else the program will sunset at the end of the calendar year.

As of last month, the WPCC home loan program has $16,601.32 remaining to loan for general home improvements, and $15,507.00 for emergency loans. It also had $3,247.87 to cover origination fees, but $0 left for annual contract fees. As loans are repaid, the money becomes available to spend on general WPCC programming and expenses.

At its Oct. 26 board meeting, members identified the unspent NRP Phase 1 money has a good source to continue funding the successful neighborhood home improvement loan program. Prior to voting on an NRP plan modification, neighborhood organizations must provide at least 21 days public notice.

If you have questions or comments for the board, you may email board@waiteparkcc.org, leave a voice mail at (612) 470-0861, or attend the Nov. 30 board meeting, 7pm at the Waite Park Recreation Center, 1810 34th Ave. NE.