To request this information in another language or format, please contact [email protected]. Si aad u codsato foomkan oo qaab ama luqad kale ah, fadlan la xiriir [email protected].

EPNI December Calendar

Friday, December 1st - Winter Party - Community Game Night!
3-6:00 pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1400 Elliot Ave.
Co-hosted by EPNI, NorthCentral University - Elliot Park United, and MPRB - Elliot Park. Join us to meet your neighbors, play a new game, and enjoy cookie decorating, hot cocoa and cider. Bring a game or treat to share, if you wish. All are welcome!

** No EPNI Board or Committee meetings in December -- Happy Holidays! **

Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc. public meetings will resume in January. Stay tuned for January meeting dates for the newly established Land-Use and Transportation and Neighborhood Vitality Committees -- two great ways to get involved in making Elliot Park a better place to live and work!

Want to learn more? Contact us at [email protected] or 612-234-2280.

Monday, January 15th - Monthly Board of Directors Meeting
6:00-7:30pm • At North Central University, 1400 Elliot Ave
Your voice matters, and your insights are invaluable. Join us to stay informed, share your ideas, and help shape the future of our community. Together, we can make our neighborhood an even better place to live. See you there!

Do you have a suggestion or question for Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc.? Email [email protected] or call (612) 234-2280 and someone will get back to you soon!

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December Community Calendar

Thursday, December 21st - Music for the Holidays
Dinner 5:30 pm • Concert 7:30pm • Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall                                             FREE tickets are available Thursday, November 30, 2023 at www.musicfortheholidays.com

CHECK OUT the Downtown Minneapolis Holiday Guide & Events Calendar for more!

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, February 17th - Community Connections Conference

9:00am-4:00pm • Minneapolis Convention Center, 1st Floor-Hall E, 1301 2nd Ave S.

The Community Connections Conference is an annual FREE event that connects residents of Minneapolis, community groups, neighborhoods and local government. 

Community Connections Conference goals -- We host this conference so that:

• Residents, community groups, neighborhood organizations, City of Minneapolis departments and decision-makers can connect.

• All communities feel welcome to get involved in local decision-making.

• Residents learn about programs and policies that affect them.

Get more info about the Community Connections Conference HERE!

Sign up for Conference email updates HERE!

EPNI Updates

A Practical Way to Give: Neighbor Care Kits

As our current housing crisis continues, fueled by the confluence of factors over the past year, such as the end of both pandemic era relief programs and the eviction moratorium, along with continued inflation, an increasing number of our Elliot Park neighbors are experiencing housing and/or food insecurity challenges, and may be living unsheltered.

As the weather turns colder and greater numbers of neighbors are facing the harsh elements outdoors in Minnesota winters, EPNI is assembling basic care kits are equipped to help provide for some high needs general and seasonal items. (See Agate Housing & Services: Give Items, Supplies or Kits)

Your donation to this project can help meet a direct, tangible need for unsheltered neighbors in a practical way. Having these Care Kits on hand helps EPNI engage neighbors with immediate needs by providing something of value to help forge an initial connection, and to provide some basic resource referral through the inclusion and support with the "Street Outreach" travel-size local resource guide. Sharing the Care Kits opens up the possibility of fostering longer-term engagement with our unsheltered neighbors, to improve our understanding around broader needs and interests, in inform future advocacy and action. 

We invite Elliot Park residents and businesses who are able to give to participate in this simple, impactful project, in two ways:

1. Cash Donation: You can donate HERE to EPNI's GiveMN page to the Care Kit project to help defray the costs of Kit supplies. Please be sure to check the box to "Add a Dedication" to note "Care Kit Project" as the purpose of your cash donation; OR -
2. In-Kind Donation: If you would prefer, you can make an in-kind donation of any of the following Care Kit items. To coordinate your donation, please email [email protected] or call/text us at 612-234-2280.

• Bottled water (not larger than 20 oz.)
• Beef jerky / meet sticks (individually wrapped; avoid pork)
• Protein/granola bars  
• Trail mix
• Fruit/veggie pouches
• Unisex wool / thermal / moisture-wicking socks
• Hand/Footwarmer packets
• Hand sanitizer (small bottles)
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste (small or travel size)
• Washcloth (best: fast-drying/wicking)
• Travel soap
• Menstrual products (individually wrapped)

Join an EPNI Committee in 2024! 

Land Use & Transportation Committee

Neighborhood Vitality Committee

The new Neighborhood Vitality Committee is just getting organized now, and also plans to start its monthly public meetings in January, and will work on a variety of projects impacting community and livability in the neighborhood, such as environmental justice, food access, trash pick up and tree planting projects and other community events. 

City & Community Updates

Christmas Joy's Annual Toy & Coat Drive + Support for Unhoused Individuals

Hello Elliot Park Community,

We are thrilled to announce the annual Toy & Coat Drive, as well as an initiative to collect items for the unhoused community. The drive is taking place until December 19th at the Finnovation Lab, 817 Fifth Ave. S., Unit 400, on the 4th floor, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

For the Toy & Coat Drive:

The age range for toys and coats is infant through young adults. Please note that we are looking for gently used clothes and new coats for donation to community members in need. 

Additionally, we are extending our support to families in need by organizing a Food Kit initiative. We encourage participants to consider donating a gift box for families along with their toy and coat contributions.

Your generosity can make a significant impact. Let's spread the joy this holiday season by coming together to support those in our neighborhood.

For any inquiries or further details, feel free to contact [email protected].

It's Minneapolis City Budget Time -- And YOUR Voice Matters! 

Here's what you should know, as the City of Minneapolis is nearing completion of the 2024 City Budget process:

• The Minneapolis City Council will meet to review and may vote on Mayor Frey's Proposed 2024 City Budget on Tuesday, December 5th, at 6:05pm, following an October 25th budget overview presentation and public hearings on October 25th and Nov. 1st.
• City Council members have introduced nearly fifty budget amendments, including pending Budget Amendment #17 "Elliot Park Community Safety Initiatives" authored by Ward 6 Council Member Osman, for the stated purpose "to combat crime, public intoxication, and violence in the Elliot Park neighborhood." 
• You can still voice your feedback before the budget is finalized, by or before December 5th, by submitting a public comment online or by signing up to share your comments at the budget meeting, in person.
• You can also contact the Ward 6 office to let Councilmember Osman what you think of the proposed City Budget, online or by calling 612-673-2206. 

A large mechanical claw, suspended from a ceiling-mounted gantry crane, grips a pile of trash inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center in Minneapolis on Sept. 14. Ben Hovland | MPR News

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Did you know that about 45% of the roughly 800,000 tons of garbage generated in all of Hennepin County every year is burned just two miles northwest of the Elliot Park neighborhood, in the Minneapolis trash incinerator next to Target Field in downtown Minneapolis, called the Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center (HERC)? (1, 3).

In October 2023, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to commence plans to close the HERC incinerator, sometime between 2028 and 2040. The county board expects to receive initial closure plans in February 2024. (2). 

Open questions, fueled by divergent perspectives, remain about the timeline for closure, alternative plans for what to do with all the trash generated in Hennepin County, as well as what will happen to the HERC facility following closure. Climate and environmental justice activists, such as Minnesota Environmental Justice Table remain at the forefront of advocating for an expedited closure timeline, as soon as 2025. (1, 2, 3, 4).

Examining these questions also underscores one of the critical underlying issues to also expedite reduction of waste generated, to actualize both state and county Zero Waste goals, as well as adhere to a state law requirement to achieve at least 75% recycling in the Metro area by 2030. (1).

Learn more from these sources, cited for this summary:

1. See MPR's article, for a helpful overview of the complexities of these issues:  "Hennepin County Wrestles Future of Minneapolis Waste Incinerator"
2. See also WasteDive's article, "Hennepin County, Minnesota, votes to begin closure of WTE plant" 
3. See also Hennepin County's HERC web page and fact sheet
4. See also Minnesota Environmental Justice Table to learn more about their environmental justice campaign and efforts to gather residents and organizations to join their petition to expedite the HERC's shutdown.

How to Get Your COVID-19, Flu and RSV Vaccines This Year

Immunizations are available this fall and winter in the United States that can help protect against three major respiratory diseases: COVID-19, flu and RSV. Immunization against these viruses remains the best protection for reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalizations, long-term health impacts and death.

Recommendations for these immunizations vary based on age, pregnancy status or medical conditions.

To find flu and COVID-19 vaccines, visit vaccines.gov.To learn more, including how to find recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

EPNI Renter's Corner

City of Minneapolis Renter Resources -- Get ready for Winter!

With winter approaching, here's a reminder about heat rules and winter preparedness for renters.

Heat rules for Minneapolis

• Minneapolis renters must have access to heat Oct. 1-April 30.
• The heating equipment must be capable of keeping your space at 68 F.
• If the heat stops working in your rental unit, tell the property owner or manager right away. If the heat can’t be fixed immediately, the property owner must provide two temporary heat sources to each rental unit.
• If the property owner or manager doesn’t respond, you can report it to the City to get help from an inspector.
  • Call 311 or 612-673-3000 to report an issue. 311 is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Outside of 311 hours, call 911 to report low heat or no heat.
  • The 311 agent or 911 dispatcher will take your contact information, and an inspector will contact you to set up an inspection as soon as possible. From Sept. 15 to May 15, there is always an inspector on duty to help renters who report heat issues.

Winter preparedness

While property maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner, there are steps that renters can take to prepare their homes for cold weather. Here are some ways you can keep your home safe and warm this winter:

• Check smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries monthly, and change the batteries every six months. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are required in every rental unit in Minneapolis.
• If you use space heaters, make sure you’re using them safely. The National Fire Protection Association has tip sheets in multiple languages for heating safety.
• Consider using an inexpensive window insulation kit to keep your apartment warmer and save money on utility bills.
• Review your lease to see if you’re responsible for snow removal or other seasonal maintenance.
• If you have questions about your rights as a renter, call HOME Line at 612-728-5767 or Legal Aid at 612-334-5970.

Report rental issues to 311

Contact 311 to report rental housing issues or speak to a housing liaison. You can also track complaints online on the 311 property complaint dashboard.

Share your Renter Experience with HOME Line to Help Build Renter Power

Click HERE to share your story about what issues you've faced as a tenant with Home Line to inform their advocacy for making significant changes to Tenant/Landlord Law during the 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session to create a better balance of power between tenants and landlords. You can share your info if you want to get involved, or choose to share your story anonymously. 

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