Learn about plans for the future of Central Avenue at WPCC's December board meeting

You are invited to join the Waite Park Community Council’s board of directors on Thursday, Dec. 12, as it hears a presentation on the future of Central Avenue from representatives for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The meeting will take place at 7pm at the Waite Park Recreation Center (1810 34th Ave. NE). To attend, go to the main entrance of the school on the north side of the building and press the ‘PARK & REC’ button on the security post to be buzzed in by park staff.

MnDOT is collaborating with local agencies and the public to create a new design for Central Ave. between University Ave. S.E. and I-694. As a part of this project, it is working closely with Metro Transit on the integration of the METRO F Line, a planned bus rapid transit line that will provide improved transit service on Route 10.

Following the presentation and Q&A with transportation planners, the board will have a discussion with 2nd Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Abdirashid Ali on recent vandalism and car break-ins in the neighborhood.

The board will also begin planning its 2025 annual neighborhood meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 13.

The complete agenda is available here.

The Waite Park Community Council is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization representing the Waite Park neighborhood in Northeast Minneapolis. Fifteen board members are elected to staggered two-year terms. Meetings are open for all to attend. Questions? Contact info@waiteparkcc.org.

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 meeting to feature discussion of proposed Johnson Street bus changes

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

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?

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 Special Board Meeting on May 8, 2023

The Waite Park Community Council will hold a special board meeting on Monday, May 8, at 7 p.m. on Zoom to vote on submitting a letter to the Minneapolis Capital-Long Range Improvement Committee in support of reconstruction of 33rd Avenue. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86994131337

WPCC Regular Board Meeting Agenda - March 30, 2023

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

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

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

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?