Livability Committee
The Livability Committee of the Victory Neighborhood Association meets on the second Saturday of every month from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at The Warren [4400 Osseo Road]. All residents are invited to attend to discuss issues of traffic, crime and safety, housing conditions and other issues that affect the livability of the neighborhood.
Community Crime Prevention / Safety For Everyone
Minneapolis Police Department's Community Crime Prevention/SAFE (CCP/SAFE) Central is located at 217 South 3rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401, 612-673-3447.
Each precinct is also served by several CCP/SAFE crime prevention specialists. They work with individual neighborhoods to reduce the fear of crime, improve community and police cooperation and improve the quality of life in Minneapolis neighborhoods. The crime prevention specialists provide educational materials and programs, develop working relationships with the community and assist residents in reducing the opportunity for crime and in solving problems in the community.
The crime prevention specialist for Victory (and Weber-Camden, Lind-Bohanon and Shingle Creek) is Shannon McDonough. Shannon’s phone number is 673-2805. His e-mail address is Shannon.McDonough@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
CCP/SAFE
CCP/SAFE Does…
Problem Solving:
- Pro-active Crime Prevention Activities
They offer free home security demonstrations and personal safety workshops, free home security checks, auto theft prevention presentations, McGruff Houses, Operation Identification, crime alert bulletins and rental property owner workshops.- Organizing Block Clubs/ Neighborhood Watch Groups
They actively recruit residents to organize their blocks. Volunteers (block leaders) are taught crime prevention techniques and how to maintain their block clubs and inform the police when illegal or suspicious behavior is occurring. (See Victory Neighborhood Block Club information below)- Neighborhood Issues Affecting More Than Two Neighbors
This can include problems such as chronic party houses, addresses with unsupervised youth causing problems in the neighborhood or addresses that generate repeat calls for service.- Problems Dealing With Rental Property
When repeated disorderly conduct by tenants or their guests (noisy parties, sale or use of weapons) is reported at a rental property, CCP/SAFE works with the neighborhood and the property owner to correct the behavior. We send a sequence of notices so that the problem can be addressed by the owner. Crime prevention specialists are available to provide information and assistance, but if the conduct continues, the ultimate result can be revocation or suspension of the rental dwelling license.- Problems Dealing With Owner Occupied Residences
The SAFE Unit can use the state nuisance statute to address repeated disorderly conduct that occurs at or near a residence by owners or their guests (guns, noisy parties, prostitution, illegal liquor, drugs or gambling) if the activity is verified by the police. As with rental properties, we try to work with the owner by providing information and assistance. However, if the conduct continues, we work with the County Attorney's office to close the property for up to one year. During that period, all occupants are evicted and the property is boarded and cannot be used for any purpose.CCP/SAFE Doesn't...
Problem Solving:
- Neighbor one-on-one disputes
When two neighbors have a one-on-one dispute (such as property line disputes or livability issues), they may contact Minneapolis Mediation or (for financial disputes) Conciliation Court.- Traffic Complaints
General questions about traffic complaints may be directed to Traffic Enforcement.- Animal Issues
Animal Issues/Pet issues regardless of the time of day are handled by Animal Control at 612-348-4250.- Housing Inspections
If you have complaints about garbage houses, tall grass, structure problems or a house without water or electrical service, contact Housing Inspections.- Parking Complaints
Issues concerning abandoned autos or other parking problems on public streets or sidewalks may be addressed to Traffic Control & Parking Enforcement. Issues concerning abandoned autos or other parking problems on private property may be addressed to Housing Inspections.- Suspected Narcotics Activity
If you believe that a location is the site of suspected drug activity, call your precinct Community Response Team (CRT). For the 4th precinct the phone number is 612-673-5707.- Boarded up properties that continue to be problematic
Unfortunately, many persons inappropriately enter boarded properties. As a citizen, you can do the following things to address the issue.
- If it is criminal activity you are CURRENTLY observing, call 911. Otherwise, please check to see if there are notices or placards on the property. They may give an indication as to who should be called for problems.
- If there are no postings, then start with Housing Inspections. If it is not an Inspections property, call your crime prevention specialist. Many agencies and private individuals may be responsible for the boarding, including a local bank, the fire department, rental owner or Minneapolis Community Development Agency.
- Graffiti
If you have had property "tagged" with graffiti, call the 311 (612-673-3000) or make an online graffiti report.
Victory Neighborhood Block Clubs
Block Clubs are organized and Block Club Leaders are trained by CCP/SAFE. However for privacy reasons CCP/SAFE cannot reveal to us the names of the Block Club Leaders in Victory. However, over 35 residents of the Victory Neighborhood have identified themselves to ViNA as Block Club Leaders. If you want to know if there is a block club on your block you can call the ViNA office at 612-529-9558 or e-mail us at vina@mninter.net. If we cannot identify a block club leader on your block you can then call CPS McDonough at 673-2805. If there is no trained leader and organized block club on your block and you are interested in being trained to organize one CPS McDonough can help you with this.
Victory Neighborhood Association (ViNA) Block Club Grants
The purpose of this grant program is to assist Block Clubs in their crime prevention and safety activities or to enhance the livability of the block. The maximum amount to be awarded to any block club is $260. Any request over $50.00 needs to be approved by the ViNA Board of Directors. Any request of under $50.00 can be approved by the Crime and Safety committee
Who qualifies?
- Any organized block club in the Victory Neighborhood that is recognized by CCP/SAFE and registered with ViNA. (Call the ViNA office at 612-529-9558 if you wish to register your block club)
What can the grants be used for?
- Any Crime Prevention activities including but not limited to Walk Patrols, Motion Lights, neighborhood outreach. (Any equipment purchased with grant funds, with the exception of motion lights, will remain the property of ViNA and shall be returned to ViNA when it is no longer being used.)
- Any Safety activities including but not limited to speed bumps in alleys. (Grants for speed bumps will pay up to ½ the cost of the speed bumps, the remainder to be paid for by the members of the block club)
- Any projects that address livability issues on the block including but not limited to addressing the appearance or conditions of properties on the block or the public spaces on the block or enhancing the environmental amenities on the block.
How does a block club apply for a grant?
- Download and complete this application [PDF]. Be as specific as possible as to the purpose of the grant, how the money will be spent. and how this plan will add to the safety and livability of your block. (For example do not say, “we want to buy motion detector lights”, but “we will use $220 to purchase 11 motion detector lights at $20.00 each to be placed on the 11 homes on our block that are not adequately lit by the street or alley lights”.) You need to discuss with your block club the most effective way to address crime and safety issues on your block, what residents are willing to do and what the actual costs of your plan are. Call the ViNA office at 529-9558 if you need help developing a proposal.
- Mail or drop off your grant application to the ViNA office at 2200 44th Avenue No.
- The application will be reviewed by the ViNA Board of Directors or the Crime and Safety Committee and you will be notified if your grant is approved or needs modification. The grants are available on a first come, first served basis until the funds are exhausted.