WPCC Meeting Minutes - September 5, 2007
Waite Park Community Council
Minutes of Meeting – September 5, 2007
Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm
Minutes of August, 2007 meeting presented and approved
Agenda approved with addition of speaker Tim Martin, Band Director, NE Middle School
Financial Report presented and approved
Motion: To allow Lorraine and Jim to view bank account on-line – Approved
Guest Speakers:
Lois Shapiro, Waite Park School – Enrollment is around 370 students with a target of 401. Enrollments are still coming in so the school should be close.
Ms. Shapiro discussed the latest test scores for Waite Park Elementary. In general the scores were good relative to the district average. Scores did fall short in special education resulting in Waite Park being put on a watch list. An appeal was presented to the state, but not upheld. School is doing more with in and after school attention to address the issue. Mentors needed.
Dr. Udupa, NE Middle School – 480 students enrolled. IV program moving well towards approval. The school has added advanced programs in math, science and language. Won ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair in both science and finance.
Chris Darger introduced Mr. Tim Martin, band director at NE Middle School. Mr. Martin is seeking assistance from neighborhood associations and other sources to assist in hiring a performing arts instructor at 0.2 FTE. Mr. Martin requested $1500 per year for the next three years from WPCC to assist with this.
Motion – To allocate $1500 per year for 3 years from NRP Phase II, schools budget to bring in a 0.2 FTE instructor for a performing arts program, conditional on receipt of Phase II funds - Approved
Committees: (Click to read more)
Committees:
Fundraising – Fall Festival is 9/15. Various sub-committee reports and discussion:
Entertainment – Nick lined up belly dancers and a neighborhood masseuse
Park Events – Larry Umphrey has 8 football teams scheduled (9-11 yrs).
Andrea still gathering silent auction donations, some items in.
Outreach – Don has talked with a lot of neighborhood businesses and churches. Barry to talk with pastor Duane at Waite Park Weseleyan.
Columbia Grounds providing coffee, Ready’s supplying hot dogs, Johnson Street market donating candy, Don to talk with Cub about sodas. Larry will line up a grill.
Need ticket seller volunteers.
Motion: to send a letter to Bywood East thanking them for their $327 donation. WPCC in turn to give $313 to Parks and Rec to reimburse for materials used in Eagle Scout project – Approved.
Parks and Rec (Larry Umphrey) – Most soccer players ever signed up for fall soccer. Sponsoring various Halloween parties, some of which will be age themed for younger or older students. Grand Rounds Bike Tour is Sunday, September 16.
Community Ed (Tony Walker) – Tony said that next year he may be able to arrange the Zoo-mobile for the Fall Festival. Registration are going on for fall adult ed. Providing after school academic support and other after school events.
Garden – Garden “family” photo and work day will be this Saturday. Water bill finally corrected.
Central Avenue Steering Committee – Held their first meeting with Cunningham Group. Cunningham mentioned focusing on increasing investor confidence and increasing partnership. Committee talked about roles and responsibility – steer projects, be advocates for the project, represent greater good. There will be meeting with Cunningham and without as well as focus groups held in October, November and December.
Bike Path – Andrea to give update at next meeting.
Newsletter / Correspondence (Gary) – Received info on NRP elector process – posted on bulletin board. Newsletter deadline is last Thursday of September.
Shoreham Yards – Monday 9/10 is the next meeting. Consultants coming in from around the country to discuss pollution control. The Historical Roundhouse was awarded a Minneapolis Mayor’s Great Works project designation. Project moving forward. Attend meetings if you want to provide input.
Thomas Zahn & Assoc. are holding a meeting on 9/24 to gather feedback for project at Columbia Manor. (See attached lit).
CDC – No update to report.
PEN – Next meeting is Monday, 9/17. New Edison principal is Carla Steinbach. Summer survey has started and is in the current Waite Park Voice. Proposal is in play for local representation on Mpls School Board (rather than all being district-wide). Right now proposal is one vote short.
Community Engagement – Brad getting calls on crime issues. He’s directing them to 911/311. Police / Public Safety letter drafted by motion last meeting was read and approved with one spelling change.
Old Business:
Computer / Software Issues discussed. Received web hosting bill. Eric to look into arranging to pay 1 year in advance rather than monthly billing. There’s been difficulty getting stories updated on the WPCC website.
Motion: to allow Barry and Jeffery to get set up with posting access to the WPCC website – Approved (Barry and Jeffery to email Eric to request id).
Adjourned – 8:42