News and Updates

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#9999CC" TEXT="#080000" background="0903dc00ezuabz.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U>News and Updates</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Central Avenue Plan Hearing Rescheduled to May 12</B></div> <div> After four large public meetings, numerous steering committee, and focus group meetings over the course of a year, the draft <I>Central Avenue Plan Update</I> is headed to the city council. Once approved, this document will be incorporated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Visit the link below to access the document online and to view comments submitted by WPCiA. </div> <bR> <div> <U>Planning Commission Public Hearing</U></div> <div> May 12, 2008 - 4:30 p.m. at Room 317 City Hall</div> <div> <U>Zoning & Planning Committee of the City Council</U></div> <div> May 8, 2008</div> <div> <U>City Council</U></div> <div> May 16, 2008</div> <div> <U>http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/planning/central_ave_plan_update.asp</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Liquor License Discussion at May 20 Windom Park Meeting</B></div> <div> Our next neighborhood meeting is Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. On the agenda: A request by San Pablito's restaurant (2411 Central Ave. NE) for a liquor license. The restaurant owners say they would like to serve beer and pre-mixed margaritas. Also on the agenda: Committee updates.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Next Community Gardening/Planting Event</B></div> <div> Thanks to the 30 hardly folks who showed up on a rainy-snowy Saturday this spring to help with our community tree planting event. Trees were planted, but the "Wind in the Trees" sculpture didn't quite make it into the ground due to concerns about using electricity in wet weather. Our next event is May 22, 5:30 p.m. at the Grassy Knoll (near 18th and Johnson/freeway ramp outside Quarry). All abilities are welcome!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Don't Miss This: Carnival is June 6</B></div> <div> The annual Windom Park Carnval is Friday, June 6, 5-8 p.m. at the park. There will be fun for all ages, and funds raised support WPCiA, park activities and school activities. Volunteers are still needed for the day of the event. Contact Kim to sign-up: (612) 781-3575; <A HREF="mailto:krosesy@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:krosesy@yahoo.com"><U>krosesy@yahoo.com</U></A>.  Volunteer shifts: Set-up:  3-5 p.m. Events:  4:45-6:30 p.m. and 6:15-8 p.m., Clean-up:  8-9 p.m.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Stinson Parkway Update</B></div> <div> On Feb. 19 and April 15, WPCiA neighbors passed resolutions opposing Minneapolis Park and Recreationo Board Citizens Advisory Committee actions related to a bike way on Stinson Parkway. The Audubon Neighborhood Association also opposes this bike way. Details on the resolutions can be found <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stinson Parkway Task Force"><U>here</U></A>. Also, no WPCiA funds were used for the yard signs that neighbors have been displaying throughout Windom Park and beyond.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Questions Remain About the Future of Minneapolis Neighborhoods</B></div> <div> WPCiA continues to monitor legislative action and city council discussions on the future of neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis and the widely acclaimed Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). WPCiA neighbors passed the following motion regarding this issue:</div> <bR> <div> "WPCiA believes the following updates must be made to the Framework for the Future:  </div> <bR> <div> Extension of the TIF districts in the Common Project to make up shortfall from the original commitment to the program, and index of funding sources discussed to date;</div> <bR> <div> An independent multi-jurisdictional Governing Board (overseeing a neighborhood revitalization program) with real responsibility;</div> <bR> <div> Program staff that report to the Governing Board;</div> <bR> <div> Neighborhood-selected representatives that constitute at least 60% of the Governing Board's members."</div> <bR> <div> <B>In addition, the Board of Directors on Feb. 26, received further details on the above issue and a new proposal set to go before the Minnesota Legislature soon. Due to the time-sensitive nature of the legislature proposal, the following was approved by the Board of Directors:</B></div> <bR> <div> <U>"Capitalizing Neighborhood Improvement in Minneapolis and NRP</U></div> <div> <B>Purpose:</B></div> <div> • Create a stable, committed, definable, and long-term source of funding for</div> <div> continued investment in the improvement of neighborhoods in Minneapolis.</div> <div> • Complete the original commitment to residents that was made when the</div> <div> Neighborhood Revitalization Program statute was enacted.</div> <div> <B>Background:</B></div> <div> When the State legislature passed the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP)</div> <div> legislation in 1990 (Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 469.1781 and 469.1831) the</div> <div> expectation was that the program would receive $20 million each year from the TIF</div> <div> districts and other revenue sources of the City’s Common Project over 20 years for a total</div> <div> of $400 million to revitalize the neighborhoods of Minneapolis.</div> <div> In 2001 the State legislature adopted tax law changes that greatly reduced the revenues</div> <div> from the Common Project that were the primary source for the $400 million. In fact, the</div> <div> City of Minneapolis, in its most recent projections, is showing total program revenues to</div> <div> NRP of about $300 million by the end of the original funding period (2009). This is $100</div> <div> million less than the amount originally committed.</div> <div> NRP and the neighborhoods of the City have met their commitments. They have:</div> <div> • developed and implemented impressive neighborhood action plans</div> <div> • invested in improvements to the housing stock</div> <div> • helped accomplish economic revitalization in depressed neighborhoods</div> <div> • improved the physical and civic infrastructure of Minneapolis</div> <div> • leveraged over $1 billion of additional public and private investment in</div> <div> neighborhood improvements</div> <div> NRP is an urban success story, held up as a model across the country and even</div> <div> internationally.</div> <div> Investment in neighborhoods, however, continues to be desperately needed. The number</div> <div> of mortgage foreclosures in Minneapolis is only one indicator of the need for continued</div> <div> attention to neighborhood revitalization.</div> <div> In mid-2009 the pre-1979 TIF districts in the Common Project are due to be decertified,</div> <div> eliminating the main source of NRP funding.</div> <div> <B>Proposal Regarding NRP for the 2008 Legislative Session</B></div> <div> Amend the existing statutes relating to NRP to do the following:</div> <div> 1) Extend the life of the pre-1979 TIF districts currently scheduled to decertify in 2009 to</div> <div> 2019.</div> <div> 2) Require that the excess tax revenues generated from the TIF districts (after any</div> <div> existing annual debt and contractual obligations of the districts are paid) be reserved for,</div> <div> and transferred to, the appropriate local government jurisdictions in the same proportions</div> <div> as they would be directed to the local taxing jurisdictions if decertification had occurred,</div> <div> with the City of Minneapolis portion to be split equally between the City and the NRP.</div> <div> The revenues designated for NRP shall be transferred directly to the NRP annually within</div> <div> 14 calendar days of the date their amount has been finally determined.</div> <div> 3) Require that the governance of the NRP must be by an independent Governance Board</div> <div> with at least 60% of its members elected by the neighborhoods developing neighborhood</div> <div> action plans and with other members to be the Mayor of Minneapolis, the President of the</div> <div> Minneapolis City Council, and representatives from the Minnesota Legislature, Hennepin</div> <div> County Board of Commissioners, Minneapolis Park Board and Minneapolis School</div> <div> Board.</div> <div> 4) Assign the following responsibilities to the NRP Governance Board:</div> <div> • hiring, firing, and managing NRP staff,</div> <div> • approving neighborhood action plans and their modifications,</div> <div> • preparing and administering implementation contracts for strategies in approved</div> <div> neighborhood action plans,</div> <div> • monitoring neighborhood action plan implementation,</div> <div> • designating neighborhood organizations for participation in NRP,</div> <div> • other activities required to cost effectively implement and manage the NRP program</div> <div> and monitor and support neighborhood organizations, and</div> <div> • documenting the benefits resulting from NRP projects and activities."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Donation “Tip” From Your Friendly Neighborhood 501(c)3</B></div> <div> Federal rebate checks are now arriving in your mailbox and your bank accounts. Since this money is a windfall, you may consider paying off bills, adding some to savings, or purchasing a new TV. You could also contribute a small portion to a charitable organization. With the poor economy and tight City and State budgets, charitable organizations are having trouble providing services when people need services most. Whether you have an organization in mind or not, it may help to note that charitable donations are tax deductible. A gift of 10% will go a long way for most local charities and you get the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to build a better community and didn’t have to take away from any of your hard-earned cash - you’re just reinvesting a portion of what is being granted to you. Windom Park Citizens in Action is a charitable organization (501c3) dedicated to making the neighborhood a better place to live, work & play. We would gladly put your donation to work for you locally. Contact the WPCiA office for more information or send a donation to our office:</div> <div> Windom Park Citizens in Action</div> <div> 2314 Lowry Ave. NE</div> <div> Minneapolis, MN 55418 </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>***********************</B></div> <bR> <div> <U>_______________.</U></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission"><U><B>Mission</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>News and Updates</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U><B>Calendar</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Committees"><U><B>Committees</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP"><U><B>Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP)</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board of Directors"><U><B>Board of Directors</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minutes"><U><B>Minutes</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>