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Nov
13
City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission
Filed Under City Council, community engagement | Leave a Comment
The City of Minneapolis is now accepting applications from residents for seven positions on the newly created Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. The role of the commission will be to shape how the City engages its residents and works with neighborhood and community organizations, as well as oversee programming details and funding for neighborhood revitalization work.
The seven committee members that will be appointed by the Mayor and City Council will be part of the 16-member committee. Of the remaining members, eight residents will be selected by neighborhood organizations and one will be appointed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Please note this application process only applies to the seven residents who will be appointed by the Mayor and City Council.
The application deadline for these seven positions is Nov. 19, 2008. Applicants are required to be Minneapolis residents who do not hold a current election certificate. Current City employees are not eligible. For more information and to apply, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/communityengagement.asp to download an application form. Applications are also available at the Minneapolis City Clerk’s Office, room 304 of City Hall at 350 S. Fifth St.
Commission meetings will generally take place once a month. Typically, members will serve two year terms. However, since this is a new commission, staggered terms will be established for the future. Of the initial seven appointees in this group, three will be for a term to expire in January 2011, and four will be for a term to expire in January 2012.
The Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission was created by the Mayor and City Council in late September. It is designed as one measure to strengthen the relationship between the City and its neighborhoods and carry on the work of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) beyond 2009. Because the state legislation that funded NRP sunsets in 2009, City leaders have been working since 2006 to improve the City’s community engagement system and to find ways to make sure neighborhoods remain a valued part of the City’s culture, serving as a link between City government, residents and businesses. That work has centered around creating a community engagement system that allows City government and neighborhoods to work more closely together, while being more accountable and transparent to taxpayers.
Jennifer Lastoka
Community Engagement Coordinator
City of Minneapolis
612-673-3163
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Nov
13
8th Ward Community Meeting – 2009 City Budget
Monday, November 24th
6:30-8:00pm
Calvary Lutheran Church
3901 Chicago Ave S
In the Fellowship Hall (located in the basement)
Learn about the 2009 Budget for Minneapolis – give your input on City priorities
On August 14th, the Mayor presented his proposed 2009 budget; since that date, much has changed in the world, including additional financial pressures on the City of Minneapolis. We invite you to a Community Meeting on the Mayor’s Proposed 2009 Budget. This is an important opportunity to learn how the budget may impact property taxes, and review and weigh in on policy choices for this and future years.
Heather Johnston, Minneapolis’ Budget Director, and Councilmember Elizabeth Glidden will be on hand to present budget information, answer questions, and gather your input.
Please contact Elizabeth at the 8th Ward Office at (612) 673-2208 or e-mail her at elizabeth.glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us if you would like more information but are unable to attend the meeting.
Nov
13
Community Celebration for Retiring State Rep. Neva Walker
Filed Under City Council, community engagement | Leave a Comment
Calling all neighbors — please attend!
A Community Celebration in honor of Retiring State Representative Neva Walker (61B)
Powderhorn Park Recreation Center
3400 15th Ave South
Thursday, November 20th
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Featuring presentations by Dr Josie Johnson and Dr Mahmoud El-Kati
With, light refreshments, DJ & youth entertainment
Please join us to thank Neva for her advocacy on behalf of our neighborhoods; for her policy work impacting mental health, affordable housing, youth and education, seniors, and much more; for her work to mentor young people; and for her leadership as the first African American woman elected to the Minnesota State Legislature.
Admission free
Please contact Elizabeth at the 8th Ward Office at (612) 673-2208 or e-mail her at elizabeth.glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us if you would like more information but are unable to attend the meeting.
Oct
7
NNO 2008 Statistics
Filed Under Uncategorized, community engagement, nno | Leave a Comment
Thank you for helping promote the 2008 (and 25th Annual) National Night Out. Your group’s support was an important part of NNO. I’m happy to report that we had an outstanding NNO this year. Citywide, results included:
· At least 1111 separate, mostly small events.
· More than 62,000 participants (16.4% of the City’s population).
· Participation from blocks in 82 of 83 residential neighborhoods.
· Events on 216 blocks that that didn’t host NNO in 2007.
· 967 pre-NNO planning meetings.
· Collaboration with United Way, which resulted in food collection at 288 or more NNO events.
· Support (often increased) from returning local sponsors Minnesota Twins, Nickelodeon Universe MOA, Qwest, Target and KFAI Radio.
· Assistance from new local sponsors AAA, Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, Litin and MTN.
· Significant contributions from Holiday Stationstores, Roundy’s/Rainbow Foods, General Mills Foundation, The Shout! House and Castle Building and Remodeling.
National Night Out’s impact lasts far longer than one evening in Minneapolis. By bringing neighbors together block by block, NNO helps make a year-round difference in creating community, reducing fear, building leadership and improving safety.
Thanks again for getting helping out! By the way, the 2009 Minneapolis National Night Out is Tuesday, August 4.
John R. Baumann
Operations Manager
Community Crime Prevention/SAFE Central
Minneapolis Police Department
612-673-3447 (office)
john.baumann@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/safe
Oct
3
On Sept. 26, 2008 the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved establishing a Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission and a Neighborhood and Community Relations Department. Because the state legislation that funded NRP sunsets in 2009, City leaders have been working for several years to improve the City’s community engagement system and to find ways to make sure neighborhoods remain a valued part of the City’s culture, serving as a link between City government, residents and businesses. Together the new commission and City department will collaborate to support the ongoing work of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), partner with neighborhoods to promote resident participation in City decision-making, and support the community engagement work of City departments.
The new Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission, a group of 16 residents will be appointed to oversee the City’s relationship with neighborhoods and community organizations. The commission’s charge is to provide direction to the next phase of NRP and be primarily responsible for the review of neighborhood plans. The commission will also make recommendations to the City Council on allocation of a variety of types of funding to neighborhoods. Neighborhoods will have significant representation on the commission with eight residents selected by neighborhood organizations, five residents appointed by the City Council, two appointed by the Mayor, and one appointed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Through the input and work of the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission, residents and neighborhood organizations will play a key role in enhancing and shaping how the City engages its residents.
The approval of a new City department, the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department, is designed to bring existing staff from different departments together to leverage their expertise to jointly serve residents and promote community participation through the work of neighborhoods and City departments. Department staff will help neighborhood organizations navigate City processes and continue developing partnerships with City departments. Plans call for the department to offer leadership training to residents and develop opportunities for all residents of the City to learn more about civic participation in the City of Minneapolis.
Additionally, department staff, in cooperation with community crime prevention, would work to promote more collaboration between neighborhood groups and block clubs. The department will also be situated to create a forum for neighborhood organizations to share lessons learned and best practices and similarly for City departments to learn from one another’s experiences. The department will begin its work in January 2009 and will use much of the year as a transition period to establish staffing and programming details.
Many successful components of NRP will continue under the new system. Neighborhoods will continue to receive City funding for operations and programs, and as independent organizations, neighborhoods will retain control over their goals, budgets, and work plans. The department will administer the new State authorized funds available for neighborhood operations and programming that will support the next phase of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). Another of the department’s duties is to provide staff support to the new resident-controlled Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. Together the commission and department staff will collaborate to oversee and support programming details and funding of the next phase of NRP.
For more information on the City’s Community engagement work, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/communityengagement.asp. The final language of the authorizing resolution for the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission is made available through the City Council Archives Web page under Official Council Proceedings at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/archives.asp.