RSVP for Waite Park 2024 annual neighborhood meeting & election

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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 meeting to feature discussion of proposed Johnson Street bus changes

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The Waite Park Community Council will welcome representatives from Metro Transit at its February 29 board meeting to discuss planned changes to its Johnson Street bus service.

Metro Transit is seeking feedback on potential changes to its Route 4 bus line, including consolidating bus stops as a way to reduce travel times. Three bus stops would be eliminated in Waite Park.

The community is invited to attend the meeting. After a brief presentation by Metro Transit, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback on its proposal. Waite Park residents and transit users are also encouraged to fill out a survey on the proposed changes on Metro Transit’s website.

The board also plans to discuss preparations for the upcoming annual neighborhood meeting, the 2024 community garden budget, and its recently launched renter household survey. Meeting documents can be viewed here.

The meeting will take place at 7pm Thursday, Feb. 29, at the Waite Park Recreation Center (1810 34th Avenue NE). Go to the main entrance on the north side of the building and press the “Park” button on the post to be buzzed in. There is also a Zoom option here.

Waite Park Community Council supports sustained commitment to city climate funding

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The Waite Park Community Council’s board of directors unanimously voted Nov. 30 to sign-on to a letter encouraging city leaders to invest in and support the implementation of the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan.

The Climate Equity Plan was unanimously passed by City Council on July 20 and signed by Mayor Frey on July 25. The city has yet to commit long-term funding to achieve all of the plan’s goals, however.

A coalition of local climate, environmental and labor groups including MN350, ISAIAH, UNIDOS MN, SEIU Local 26, and Sierra Club is asking neighborhood associations to endorse the open letter, which call for “city leaders to use every necessary tool to guide Minneapolis forward as we transition our homes and businesses to electric and other cleaner energy sources.”

You can read the full letter here.

The board’s vote followed a 30-minute neighborhood forum on the Climate Equity Plan and letter. Just Transition Fund Coalition representative Jonathan Harms explained that the coalition is most focused on eliminating emissions from buildings, including weatherization and electrification of homes in the city.

Should we take a position on the city's new Climate Equity Plan?

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The Waite Park Community Council has been asked to sign-on to a letter encouraging city leaders to invest in and support the implementation of the newly adopted Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan.

A coalition of local climate, environmental and labor groups including MN350, ISAIAH, UNIDOS MN, SEIU Local 26, and Sierra Club is asking neighborhood associations to endorse the open letter, which call for “city leaders to use every necessary tool to guide Minneapolis forward as we transition our homes and businesses to electric and other cleaner energy sources.”

You can read the full letter here.

The WPCC board of directors plans to consider the request at its next regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30. Before deciding whether to take a position, the board will host a neighborhood forum from 6:30-7:00pm at the Waite Park Recreation Center, 1810 34th Ave. NE. (Zoom link). A representative of the campaign will share a brief presentation, followed by Q&A and community input.

The board regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

If you would like to share your opinion with the WPCC board but are unable to attend the meeting, you may email your thoughts to board@waiteparkcc.org or leave a voicemail at (612) 470-0861.

WPCC Regular Board Meeting Agenda - March 30, 2023

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Waite Park Community Council
Regular Board Meeting Agenda - Thursday, March 30, 2023, 7pm
at Waite Park Recreation Center and Zoom

Call to order and land acknowledgement 

Approval of agenda and February minutes 

Bylaw/Policy Highlight: Mission statement

Committee reports
Operations & Finance, Dan
Treasurer's Report, Dan
Fall Festival, Nick
Equitable Engagement, Leah
Projects & Positions, Ali

Unfinished business
Grievance Policy, Dan
Whistleblower & EEO policy updates, Dan

New business
Community Connections Conference, Gary
Gardening update, Kate
Block Club Kick-off, Dan/Connie

WPCC January Regular Board Meeting Agenda - in-person/hybrid

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The Waite Park Community Council’s board of directors will meet for its regular monthly board meeting on Thursday, January 26, at 7 p.m. at the Waite Park Recreation Center (1810 34th Avenue NE.)

The meeting will be the board’s first in-person meeting in three years. A Zoom option will also be available at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87261724473

The board will hear a presentation from Minneapolis Public Works and CenterPoint Energy on upcoming resurfacing, pedestrian curb ramp, and utility work on 29th Avenue between Central Avenue and Stinson Boulevard.

The agenda also includes discussion for the upcoming annual meeting and board election on February 1, as well as other programming for 2023. A full agenda is available here.

Waite Park Neighborhood 2023 Annual Meeting & Winter Mixer

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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 December Regular Board Meeting Agenda

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WAITE PARK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA
DECEMBER 8, 2022 via Zoom

7:00: Call to order and land acknowledgement

7:05: Approval of agenda and October minutes

7:10: Open floor for announcements/information sharing

7:15: NorthEast Investment Cooperative presentation, Michael Darger

7:30: WPCC annual meeting plans and budget, Dan

7:40: Venue for January regular board meeting, Dan

7:50: Board comment on proposed NRP Policy Board districts map and NCR Neighborhood Grievance Process, Gary

8:00: WPCC Grievance Policy, Lucas and Tiffany

8:30: Reflection on 2022 board accomplishments

New business?

WPCC board approves election bylaw and calendar changes

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At its Sept. 29 board meeting, the Waite Park Community Council formally adopted a bylaw change related to board elections and also approved changes to its meeting calendar for the remainder of the year.

The board of directors gave notice in July of its intent to amend its bylaws, clarifying that nominations to board seats may be made "from the floor" of its annual meeting, a long held practice that was not reflected in the organization's bylaws. The board also added a provision that it will provide a virtual or dial-in option for members who cannot attend elections in person.

Both changes were initiated to comply with new city rules for neighborhood organizations that receive city funding.

The board scheduled a series of work sessions in October to complete its application for city funding in 2023 and 2024. The application asks for details on the organization's progress engaging underrepresented groups in the neighborhood. It also requires a proposed budget for the two-year period.

The Waite Park Community Council is expected to be allocated $11,198 per year from the City of Minneapolis in 2023 and 2024, with $1,198 per year reserved for work related to improving engagement with underrepresented groups.

Board members will meet virtually on Oct. 11, in-person on Oct. 23, and, if necessary, virtually on Oct. 25 to complete the funding application and budget. Members who wish to attend may contact info@waiteparkcc.org for more information.

The council also voted to cancel its regularly scheduled board meetings in late November and December, and replace them with a single meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8, 7pm on Zoom. Agenda and login information will be posted to waiteparkneighborhood.org a few days before the meeting.

Other discussion items at the Sept. 29 meeting:

  • The 2022 Waite Park Fall Festival was another success, with attendance estimated around 1,500 people. Thank you to our sponsors Turbo Tim's, Stinson Wine Beer and Spirits, Eastside Co-Op, and Larsen Dental, as well as Ready Meats for donating hot dogs and Fair State Brewing Cooperative for hosting an afterparty fundraiser.

  • The neighborhood engagement survey concluded with around 300 responses. The survey consultant was compiling results to share at the Equitible Engagement Committee's meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

  • One property in the neighborhood (3300 Buchanan) appears on Hennepin County's tax forfeited property list. WPCC Vice President Nick Stroozas plans to attempt contact with owner and explore whether board should make recommendation to city on the resolution ahead of board's October meeting.

  • The board discussed holding a neighborhood wide forum in November featuring an elected official or a panel focused on a specific topic. President Dan Haugen will reach out to Councilmember Elliott Payne's office.

The Waite Park Community Council's next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place 7pm, Thursday, Oct. 27, on Zoom.