Neighborhood & Community Relations

Room 110, Public Service Center
250 South 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
ncr@minneapolismn.gov
(612) 673-3737

NCR Staff Contact List (pdf)

Neighborhood Programs28_Johnson_Photo

Neighborhood vitality has been both a constant aspiration and a trademark of our identity throughout the City’s history. So, too, has the City’s partnership with neighborhood groups in defining the opportunities and challenges that face us in achieving, maintaining and enhancing truly livable neighborhoods.

In pursuit of this goal, this department will focus on nurturing neighborhood vitality through neighborhood-based priority setting, planning and implementation; and the integration of this work with the work of the City. These components include:

On August 20, 2012, NCR presented the 2011 Neighborhood Programs Report to the City Council's Committee of the Whole.

You can find out more about your neighborhood and view neighborhood organization contact information at Neighborhood Links.  Don't know your neighborhood? See Minneapolis PropertyInfo.

Contact us -- we welcome your comments.

Neighborhood and Community Events Calendar
Please view some of the many neighborhood and community events happening in Minneapolis!

 

      Access additional NRP information here:

 

NCR Renewing General Liability Insurance
Contact Robert Thompson at (612) 673-2523 with questions

In early July, NCR will be renewing the General Liability insurance policy that currently covers 25 neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis. If your neighborhood organization is currently covered under the General Liability Policy, or is interested in joining the policy, please attend an upcoming informational meeting:

Wednesday, May 29, 2013
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Van Cleve Park Recreation Center
901 15th Ave. SE, Minneapolis

Andy Morse from Nonprofit Insurance Advisors will be present to discuss the policy and answer any questions. Unlike the Directors and Officers policy, this is an opt-in policy, and neighborhood organizations that opt-in will reimburse the insurance administrator (Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association) for their share of the premium. 

NCR sends Draft NPP Policy and Draft Revised Changing Neighborhood Plans Policy to NRP Policy Board

Following direction of the NRP Policy Board on February 19, 2013, NCR Staff distributed the draft Preparation and Processing of Neighborhood Priority Plans Policy and the draft Revised Changing Approved Neighborhood Action Plans Policy to all neighborhood organizations for a 45 day review and comment period. NCR also arranged two city-wide informational meetings to provide background and answer questions. The first informational meeting was held April 3, 2013 at Powderhorn Park Recreation Center in South Minneapolis, and was attended by four neighborhood organization staff and volunteers. The second meeting was held on April 5, 2013 at Van Cleve Park Recreation Center, and was attended by 12 neighborhood organization staff and volunteers.

NCR received written comments from two neighborhood organizations. The written comments reflect some of the discussion that occurred at the two city-wide informational meetings attended by neighborhood organization staff and volunteers.

In addition, NCR staff met with several City department staff to solicit additional comments. NCR staff presented the draft documents to a City Leadership meeting in early April, and followed up during April and May by meeting with Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), Minneapolis Health Department, Civil Rights Department, the Minneapolis Police Department, and Public Works. We have asked each department to provide a staff contact, and to provide feedback on Neighborhood Priority Plans when requested. City Departments have been receptive and positive in their response. To see how neighborhood organization and City Department input was used, please see the May 14, 2013 Report To The Policy Board and the two draft policies.

2012 Community Participation Program (CPP) Annual Report Guide is now available

The 2012 Annual Report Guide for providing neighborhood organization’s 2012 annual report for the Community Participation Program is now available. Neighborhood organization's annual reports are due by the end of Friday, April 19, 2013. Neighborhood organizations should contact their neighborhood specialists if they have any further questions.

2012 Annual Report Guide (doc)

Renewed D&O insurance for neighborhoods

In early March, the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department reviewed and renewed the Directors and Officers insurance policy that covers most 501(c)(3) neighborhood organizations funded through NRP and the Community Participation Program. The policy was automatically renewed for 64 neighborhood organizations. In addition to these 64, three neighborhood organizations required an additional application process to be covered under the pooled policy, and we have been working with the organizations and the agent to complete this application process. Four neighborhood organizations are not qualified to be covered under the policy because they are not 501(c)(3) organizations. View a copy of the binder.

A copy of the endorsements is also availible (including a listing of all neighborhood organizations covered under the policy). The full policy should be available for viewing in about a month.

If you have questions, please contact Robert Thompson at (612) 673-2523, or by email at robert.thompson@minneapolismn.gov.
 

2013 Audit and Financial Reviews

The Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) Department is arranging assistance for neighborhood organizations with audits, financial reviews, and year-end filings in accordance with the NRP Audit Policy. In an effort to be more transparent with audits, financial reviews, and year-end filings, the NCR department is notifying all neighborhoods of the assistance that is available and the 2013 Audit, Limited Financial Review and Agreed Upon Procedures schedules.

IRS Form 990 and Minnesota Charitable Organization Report

As in past years, Mike Wilson is available to assist neighborhood organizations with preparing the Federal IRS Form 990 and the Minnesota Charitable Organization Report forms. Mike will be contacting you as appropriate to make arrangements.

Several neighborhood organizations simply need to file a 990N Electronic Postcard, which you can find at http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Annual-Electronic-Filing-Requirement-for-Small-Exempt-Organizations--Form-990-N-%28e-Postcard%29. Your neighborhood support specialist at NCR will call you as the deadline nears with a reminder to go online and fill out this postcard.

2013 Audit Schedule

We have identified a number of neighborhood organizations that should have some level of audit procedures this year, in addition to the Federal 990 and the Minnesota Charitable Organization Report forms. Mike Wilson or the Office of the State Auditor will contact you directly.

According to the NRP Audit Policy, audit reports consist of at least the following parts: 1) the financial statements, a schedule of NRP funds received and expended, and the auditor's report on the statements and the schedule, and 2) a management and compliance letter assessing the organization's internal control and management structure. The following neighborhood organizations are scheduled for an audit in 2013:

2013 Limited Financial Reviews Schedule

Limited reviews involve specific procedures that are agreed upon in advance by the NCR Director, auditor, and recipient. These procedures may include an evaluation of the organization's accounting practices, limited review of ledgers and source documents, and examination of procedures and records used to demonstrate compliance with NRP contracts. The following organizations are scheduled for a limited financial review in 2013:

2013 Agreed Upon Procedures Schedule

Agreed Upon Procedures are a limited set of procedures that will vary from organization to organization, but may include tests, evaluations, or procedures, but do not provide an opinion. The Agreed Upon Procedures provide a snapshot of the organization’s governance, accomplishments, record keeping, internal controls, filings, and compliance with specific contracts. The following organizations may receive Agreed Upon Procedures engagements in 2013:

NCR covers the cost of providing these financial services to Minneapolis neighborhood groups. Your timely responses to the auditors will ensure that we will be able to continue this support long into the future. To help keep costs down, and to keep filings and audits on schedule for everyone, we encourage you to be prepared for your work with the auditors, and to respond promptly to their requests for documents and information.

If you have any questions, contact Robert Thompson at (612) 673-2523, or by email at robert.thompson@minneapolismn.gov. Thanks!

The City of Minneapolis invites and encourages participation by every resident to each program, service and event within our city. Should you require an accommodation in order for you to fully participate, or should you require this document in a different format, please let us know by contacting 612-673-3737.

 

 

Last updated May. 17, 2013