October 25, 2019 eNews

October 15, 2019 Meeting Recap

  • The ANA discussed upcoming park events and voted to approve funding to support Armatage Park’s Halloween event.
  • Minneapolis Regulatory Services staff members Clara Schmit-Gonzales and Mah Isaac spoke on their department, which includes Animal Care & Control, Fire Inspections Services, Housing Inspections, Traffic Control, and Operations and Engagement. Residents can reach Regulatory Services via 311.
  • Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board staff member Emma Paschutta spoke on the Parks for All 2020 Comprehensive Plan. 3,000 comments have been received and community members can continue to submit their dreams and visions for the Minneapolis parks system through comment boxes at all recreation centers and through an online survey.
  • City Council Member Linea Palmisano spoke on Vision Zero and the City’s efforts to lower the speed limit in Minneapolis, updates on Neighborhoods 2020, implementation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and other upcoming city projects.
  • The ANA discussed its draft funding plan and outreach efforts for the 35 day comment period. The board approved funds for supplies and food at upcoming engagement events. Community feedback on the proposed plan will be accepted through November 15 – more info is listed below and at armatage.org/funds.


The Armatage Neighborhood Association has remaining, unspent funds and needs your input! Check out the proposed plan to allocate this one-time resource to keep popular programs and community services operating for the next 4+ years at armatage.org/funds

Voice Your Feedback by November 15:

  • Fill out our online survey
  • Text us at 612.466.0296
  • Email us at anacoordinator@armatage.org
  • Tell us at upcoming events:
    • Armatage Park Halloween • Friday 10/25 • 6:00-8:30pm
    • Washburn Tot Lot Pop-up Play Date • Saturday 11/2 • 3:00-5:00pm
    • Neighborhood Happy Hour • Tuesday 11/12 • 7:00-9:00pm at Red Wagon Pizza
    • November Neighborhood Meeting • Tuesday 11/19 • 6:30pm at Armatage Rec Center – final neighborhood and board vote.  Anyone 18 and older who lives in the Armatage Neighborhood or is a designated representative of a neighborhood business is eligible to vote.

Washburn Tot Lot Pop-up Play Date

Saturday, November 2
3:00-5:00pm

Join the ANA Board for warm drinks, treats, and a fun afternoon play date at the Washburn Tot Lot! Stop by to weigh in on our neighborhood funding plan for the next few years (more info at armatage.org/funds) and stay to play! What better way to spend the last day before Daylight Saving Time ends and the sun starts setting at 5:00pm than with your neighbors?


Now is the Time to Adopt-a-Drain

Fall is an important time to keep leaves out of the gutter so they don’t get into the storm drain when it rains. In the storm drain, leaves get carried to the Creek and eventually to Lake Hiawatha, adding the phosphorus that causes algae blooms. Don’t wait for the city to sweep the street, as leaves will be rushing down the drain with each rainfall!

If you haven’t already, consider the county’s Adopt-a-Drain program, signing up to keep one or more storm drains on your street clear so that only water goes into it. You can adopt any drain that hasn’t already been adopted, even if it isn’t in front of your house! This interactive website helps you locate drains near you and adopt any that you choose: https://www.adopt-a-drain.org/

If you need assistance adopting a drain OR if you would like a friendly neighborhood volunteer to assist you the first time you set out to clean your storm drain, please contact the ANA at anacoordinator@armatage.org. The ANA’s Green Team will also provide the next twenty people who sign up to Adopt-a-Drain with a free pair of gloves to wear when cleaning your drain. Email us to pick yours up!  Huge thanks to ANA Green Team member Linda Ridlehuber for this article!

Street Sweeping Has Begun

Watch the progress, look up your sweeping date, and answer all your street sweeping questions here.

Funding for Neighborhood Organizations Expires in 2020

We need your help! Funding for neighborhood organizations is set to expire in 2020 and Minneapolis City Council is planning to vote soon on whether or not to continue funding neighborhood organizations, who provide many services to their communities including summer festivals, rain garden grants, micro grants, security rebates and more.

If you find value in these or other services provided by your neighborhood organization and would like funding to continue, please let City Council know with the sample letter at armatage.org/n2020


2020 Census is Hiring

See the census job openings in Minnesota here.

Field representative job applicants should reach out to the Regional Office in order to receive an application package: Chicago Regional Office Recruiting at 1-800-865-6384, Ext. 15. Applications for other positions, such as IT manager and regional technician can be submitted online at usajobs.gov.

Check out what’s happening locally with the 2020 Census and sign up for updates at http://minneapolismn.gov/census/

Change Matters – Sleep Matters

You have just a few more days to support local nonprofit My Very Own Bed at the Wedge and Linden Hills Co-ops through the co-ops’ October Change Matters campaign. Change Matters is a register round-up program that promotes the work of local non-profits and invites shoppers to provide critical funding by rounding up their purchases.

My Very Own Bed provides new beds and linens to children in our community who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor or sharing a bed with a parent or sibling. We focus on beds for kids because of the amazing power of sleep to help kids thrive. Healthy sleep helps children fight off illness, enhances growth, improves self-regulation and stress control, and aids learning. We also believe that all children deserve at least a small, comfortable place to call their own.

In October, shoppers at the Wedge Co-op, Wedge Table, and Linden Hills Co-op can round up their purchases to support My Very Own Bed. Each $200 raised will provide front-door delivery of a new bed and dream kit (new, twin-sized sheets, blanket, mattress pad, pillow, and stuffed animal) to another child. The stores will also collect these dream kit items.

Questions? Reach out to info@myveryownbed.org.