Upcoming Office Closures

Upcoming Office Closures

• Dec. 23-26: Closed all-day

• Dec. 30-Jan. 2: Closed all-day

Please contact the office ahead of time if you need anything before the long weekend, and remember you can self-administer Visitor Parking Permits as needed via your RentCafe account.

Maintenance Emergencies: In the event of a ‘critical' or 'high' priority level, or emergency situation (i.e. water leak, heat issues, smell of gas/smoke, etc.), please call 651-646-7526 and follow the prompts for our 24/7 on-call maintenance to receive immediate support during and after-hours.

Updated CTC Business Hours

• Mon: 8: am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 3 pm (Remote Service Only)

• Tues: 9 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 4:30 pm

• Wed: 8 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 3 pm

• Thurs: 9 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 4:30 pm (Remote Service Only)

• Fri: 9 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 3 pm

On a typical week during business hours, CTC’s office is open for in-person services on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, with remote service available Monday-Friday.

Ready-to-Heat Meals

Thursdays | 12-1 pm | Community Center

Minnesota Central Kitchen is offering free, take-and-bake meals available weekly on Thursdays from 12-1 pm, at Community Center building. Meals are available for anyone interested (while supplies last).

Schedule Update:

No events on Dec. 22 or Dec. 29. Next event on Jan. 5, 2023.

Due to the winter storm coming this week, UMN's Campus Club and MN Central Kitchen have decided to cancel the meal distribution this Thursday 12/22 to keep staff and volunteers safe. The program will not be offered on 12/29 due to staff shortages over the holidays. Thus, meals will resume on Thursday, Jan. 5, at the regular times.

Volunteers Wanted!

MCK is looking for help running the events, such as helping carry the food inside from the truck and handing out meals. Sign-up to volunteer here!

Gingerbread House Contest

Submit Houses on Dec.27-28

The community is invited to build gingerbread houses for submission in our second ever Gingerbread House Contest! The contest is free and open to all ages and skill levels.To enter in the contest, submit your gingerbread house to CTC’s office on Dec. 27 or Dec. 28 between 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Next, the community will view and vote upon their favorite contestants, awarding two winners each a $25 gift card to Target.

Community Viewing & Voting

Poll Open: Wednesday, Dec. 29 - Monday, January 9.

Each CTC resident can cast one ballot, placing two votes for your favorite submissions: one for the Family category, and one for the Adult category.

Holiday Donation Drive for Keystone

Now through Saturday, Dec. 31

$25 donation = 75 nutritious meals

This holiday season, we invite you to consider giving to support St. Paul neighbors by donating to Keystone with our 2022 Holiday Season Food & Household Product Drive! Donate food, hygiene products, money, or your time by volunteering -- and ensure to highlight you're a CTC resident in your donation by Dec. 31 to be counted in our community's total impact results!

Project + Community Feedback Open Houses

Share Input toward Summer 2023 Outdoor Improvement Projects

We want our upcoming capital projects to benefit our community, fulfilling the most needs and interests. Thus, we want your input on toward improving outdoor CTC amenities, including playgrounds, sports courts/equipment, and exercise equipment.

Based on the community survey results from November 2022 and April 2022, CTC will begin planning the prioritized projects and their features, and we invite all residents to continue their participation in the conversation to enhance the final projects to be built and enjoyed this summer.

Attend the Open House Events:

• Friday, January 13 (5:30-7:30 pm)

• Thursday, January 19 (5:30-7:30 pm)

Open Board Seats

Two Positions for 2021-2023 Term

Serving on a board of directors is an excellent way to advance your career, especially if you’re looking to move into executive management — as well as to serve and enhance your community through your interests and skills. No experience necessary; just the desire to do good in your community! Apply now!

Mandatory: Fire Extinguisher Exchange

February 22-23, 2023

All households must bring their fire extinguisher to the CTC garages on Feb. 22 or 23 between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm to receive a new one. Nonparticipants will incur a $30 fee, with maintenance replacing the extinguisher for you.

Extended Travel/Absence Checklist

Remember to do the following year-round before you plan to leave your home for 5 or more days at a time!

• Notify CTC Office: Let the office know your anticipated dates as soon as possible, so we can turn off your gas for the time being and handle any emergencies that may arise.

• Inform Ward Rep: Inform the representative of your ward to avoid scheduling conflicts with laundry room cleaning.

• Secure Plan for Vehicle: Snow can come fast and unexpectedly. Give your car keys to a friend so they can move it for any snow emergency plow days. You can also buy a Seasonal Paid Parking permit for $35/month (prorated) in which your car can park in a designated lot so you don’t have to worry about any snow related surprises.

• Make Shoveling Arrangements: All residents have 48 hours after final snowfall to complete their household shoveling requirement. Arrange for someone to shovel for you while you are on vacation to avoid incurring fees.

• Hold Mail: Remember to hold mail at the post office or give a friend your mailbox key to check and remove contents at least once a week. If you hold your mail at the post office, you have the option of having the accumulated mail delivered to you when you return or to pick it up at the post office.

• Pay Rent: Remember before you leave if traveling/absent at the beginning of the month, otherwise you can pay online via RentCafe anytime, anywhere!

Winter Responsibilities + Resources

Review your seasonal co-op duties in our Winter Newsletter 2022-23, including the following topics and more. We'll make it through, together!

• Household Shoveling*

• Snow Emergencies* + Seasonal Paid Parking Lot

• Parking Reminders

• UMN Landcare Requests + Snow Removal Noise

• Salt + Sand Barrels

• Extended Travel/Absence (5+ days) Checklist*

• Apartment Heating + Humidity*

• Mailboxes Freezing Shut

• Fall Preparation Tasks*

• Fire Extinguisher Exchange* on February 22-23, 2023

*Community Requirement

Keystone Foodmobile

Monthly | 12-2 pm | North Lot

Formerly known as the ‘U Mobile Pantry,’ this mobile food shelf will provide free groceries to UMN students + families on a monthly basis on the second Thursday of the month from 12-2 pm in CTC's north/seasonal lot!

Pay Online for Free

New: Zero ACH Transaction Fee

No fee to send online payments from your bank’s checking account via your RentCafe. Paying on RentCafe is secure and convenient:

• View your balance/ledger

• Submit partial or full payments —anytime, anywhere!

• Set-up monthly automatic payments to help avoid missed or late payments

Annual Inspections

Required for all Households

Starting in September through winter, CTC maintenance conducts the University's required yearly check-ups to ensure the quality of your home's infrastructure and appliances. You will receive an email prior with the exact day your unit will be inspected between the unspecified hours of 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. You do not need to be home during the inspection.

Contact CTC’s Board

We want to hear from you!

Your feedback and ideas to CTC’s Board are a great contribution to building a better community. Feel free to reach any Board Member — send an email to board@umnctc.org, or join us during the Community Voices at the Board meetings!