Waite Park Community Council
Minutes of Meeting – December 5, 2007

Meeting was called to order at 7:01pm
Minutes of November, 2007 meeting presented and approved
Agenda approved
Financial Report presented and approved

Guest Speakers:
Patrick Todd from the City of Minneapolis Assessor’s Office talked about home valuation and general information about the 2008 property tax estimates that went out in November. Mr. Todd gave some information about the city’s website where citizens can get current information, use the property tax estimator or email the assessor’s office with questions or disputes regarding your estimated tax amount. Website:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/assessor/

Councilman Paul Ostrow – The city has heard from the public and the street light proposal and fee is off the table. They are looking into other solutions.

Mr. Ostrow acknowledged receiving the letter sent from the WPCC regarding staffing at Fire Station 15 (27th & Johnson). In our November meeting the WPCC requested that staffing be returned to four fire-fighters on duty rather than the recent reduction to three to man the quint truck. Paul agreed that would be the preferred situation, but we will probably not get there until training of the most recently recruited class is complete (approx. February, 2008).

Paul spoke to NRP and said that the 70% funding levels are still a possibility. One option is using the Legacy Fund from the Hilton sale. Councilpersons supporting NRP include Ostrow, Hodges, Lilligren and Johnson. NRP report due to Council on December 20, 2007. City budget meeting December 12, 2007.

January 29 Councilman Ostrow will be holding a round table discussion on how council members can support neighbors and neighborhoods (location TBD).

The city council will be working with the school board to put together a more comprehensive plan.
Last Central Avenue Planning meeting will be February 7, 2008 at the Salvation Army on Central Avenue, NE.

Dan Haugen of the Northeast Beat and TC Daily Planet asked to talk about coordinating with the Waite Park Voice for an on-line delivery of our newsletter or posting other Waite Park News. Board will discuss further at next agenda setting and regular meeting.

Committees:
Fundraising – Jenny Arneson from Waite Park PTA address the council about coordination of fundraising. Discussion tabled until next meeting.

Central Avenue Steering Committee – Process is moving slowly but coming together. One concern identified was sufficient or inadequately laid out parking. Next and final meeting is February 7, 2008 at the Salvation Army.

Library – Next Library Board meeting is December 18, 2007.
Parks and Rec – No report.
Community Ed – No report.
CDC – No report.
Garden – No report.
WP Voice - Nothing to report.

Shoreham Yards – Re-use study of Historic Roundhouse (?) applied for permit to take off part of the roof. Clean-up is progressing. There are still about 900 cubic yards of contaminated soil, one of the contaminants is dioxin.

PEN – Last meeting they reviewed responses to the survey that went out a couple of months ago. S-Plan is under discussion. Next meeting will be January 21, 6:30pm at Edison.

Old Business:
Gary gave brief recap of NRP elector meeting.

New Business:
Discussed renewal of domain name. Motion to renew domain name for two years – Approved.

Adjourned – 8:58