December 8, 2011

General Membership Meeting Minutes 12-08


December 8th, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center 
2307 17th Ave S.
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Board Members Present: Steve Struthers, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass
Members Present: Pat Fleetham, Brad Pass, Nimco Mohamed
Guest:   Jana Metge,
Agreed to meet as Committee of the Whole

6:45   Introductions:
·        Greetings and Introduction.
·        Approval of Agenda  (approved)
·        Approval of Minutes from EPIC 11/10/2011 General Membership Meeting (approved)
·        Requested that attendance be reported monthly       
              
6:40    Announcements:
·         La Posada, December 17th, St.Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4:00 pm, 2742 15th Ave. S.

7:35   Running Wolf Fitness Center in Phillips Community Center, New Affordable Programs to stay healthy,  Calendar of Classes – Connie Norman, Exec. Director

Opened in October 2011, they have registered 170 people in their programs, including 54 from East Phillips. The program originally was located on Lake St, and it didn’t work for people in Phillips. Native American Clinic and American Indian Health Board assisted with getting the program moved into the Phillips.

Membership is free for the first six months (through the end of March). After that the fee will be $10 per month. You must get a medical clearance before joining (not a physical.) There is not day care available at this time.  The organization is looking for a defibrillator; they are using a “loaner” right now. Financial support was brought up, to be discussed at the next board meeting.

7:15      Presentation of the PLAN for the new EAST PHILLIPS PARK SOCCER and BASEBALL FIELDS. Cliff Swenson, Park Board Planning Dept.

Cliff has been working for the park board since July and is trying to clean up a few projects. Cliff reminded us that there is a gas line running under the soccer and baseball fields. The park board is working to put together the funding to create a full size soccer field with artificial turf, (which can also be used as two “Soccer 6” fields for younger players.) With artificial turn installed, the field can be “overscheduled” during daylight hours without being concerned about erosion of the field/turf.

Cliff distributed a preliminary draft of the plan that the park board is submitting to vendors for bids. There is no field lighting provided in this plan (no funds for this right now.) Cost would be about $300,000 to install.

Starting next week, Hennepin County provided funds for the park board to begin testing samples from a few areas to gauge the level of contamination of soil at the tie-in locations for storm sewer utilities.

The Gym has been completed, the extra hoops are installed.

The kitchen was bid out twice, and a contractor has been selected. The fittings should be delivered about Christmas and the kitchen will be completed very soon thereafter

The park board will tackle pedestrian lighting in the spring. 

LL: Soccer Report       

Community based soccer is nearly ready to go. The park will provide supervised playing times, and coaching children ages 5-15. They will focus on fundamentals, ensuring that it is safe and fun. The park is looking for coaches, and is beginning to screen candidates. They are looking particularly for women who can coach. Volunteers should stop in at the park, pick up a volunteering form (including a background check), and return the completed form to Travis at the front desk.

LL: Design Project

Last month, EPIC voted to provide funding for a digital design workshop class for teens at the Waite House. They will be using the $750 provided by EPIC to purchase design software. All youth programming at the Waite House requires family participation.

7:50    Greenway Heights Project- It is going to go ahead.

Carol reported that now that EPIC’s Phase II plan has been passed – we can begin working on the contract for Loren Brueggeman (Phoenix), and PRG to get the project moving forward.

8:00      Status of the Phase II Plan (IT PASSED) and the Policy Board
            Motions from last month:
  • Support the Exec. Director letter from Waite House and the concerns of the ethnically diverse families of Midtown Phillips.
·        Call upon NRP and the new NCR to take the grass roots effort to be responsive to the ethnically diverse people more seriously on a neighborhood level. Support our NRP and NCEC rep in pressing this as a grass roots ethical issue.

Neighborhood and Community Relations Dept
Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission
            The issue of Neighborhood Empowerment: Will there be neighborhood people on these boards
            Will there be funding for Neighborhoods

8:15    Neighborhood Crime Control: A Plan- Phillips Community Crime Coalition
 - A Central Repository for Crime    -Block Clubs

Motion from last meeting: Create Block Clubs and request crime reports from the police. Make a Plan to consolidate and coordinate crime reports and problem properties. Centrally locate this information and circulate it to residents. Work with Block clubs on the other side of Bloomington Ave. Arrange Network Meetings.
Who will help do this??

Steve S receives a weekly “digest” for several neighborhoods – he will provide sign up information for weekly reports on crime in neighborhoods.

Midtown and East Philips are considering joining together, meeting as a group, start parceling out information, get the police involved again, pick out problem houses and try to intervene in some of this crime. We need people to take responsibility for their blocks, and monitor and identify hot spots. We will start by contacting people who have been block club leaders in the past.

Pat will ask someone in his building to take on block club leadership. Chiffon suggested getting a list of owners of problem properties and is willing to talk with owners. Nimco is willing to become a block club leader. Mary will reinstate herself as a block club leader. Steve will find someone on their block willing to become a block club leader. Hannah thinks that Rose is the block club leader on her block. Contact Don Greeley for more information and to sign up for training, etc.

Jana and Carol will plan a meeting in early 2012 to start a process of communication.

Update on Safety Center and Public Safety Officers

The mayor is cutting a number of community safety positions out of the budget. Carla is leaving for the 2nd Precinct. We are keeping John and the Midtown safety center. Jana suggested that instead of Carla leaving, she be given a new job, such as “city coordinator for court watch” and that she be HQ’d at the Midtown safety center.

Nimco pointed out that funding the neighborhood crime specialists are going away.

MOTION: We endorse the concept of working to form a coalition that would be conducive to obtaining status as a weed and seed graduated site for the purpose of crime control and seek funding through that means, for crime control. (PF, CP approved as committee of the whole)

AGENDA NEXT MONTH: Nimco requested that we look into how EPIC should respond to planned cuts to funding for neighborhood crime specialists.

8:35     Adjournment

November 10, 2011

General Membership Meeting Minutes 11-10


November 10th, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center 
2307 17th Ave S.
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Attendance:
Board Members: Earl Simms, Jennie Bjorgo, Chiffon Williams, Carol Pass, Linda Leonard, Steve Struthers, Mary Gonsior,
Members: Nicolas Collard, Ali Macalm, Jose Alvarez, Susana Luque, Margaret Weaver, Bayessa Didi,, Carlyle Bowker, Hannah Lieder, Brad Pass, Gabriel Pass, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Rosie Cruz
Guests: Jana Metge, Shirley Heyer, Al Bangoura,

6:45   Introduction:
·        Greetings and Introductions.
·        Approval of Agenda  (Nicolas Collard, SS)
·        Approval of Minutes from EPIC 10/13 /2011 General Membership Meeting (BP, CP)
·        Agenda additions: Chicago Corridor Public Hearing
·        Minutes corrections: missing website and mailing address

6:40    Announcements:
·         November 14th, Monday, 9:30 – 10:30 am, Bii Di Gain Dash Anwebi (Come in. Rest.) Elder Housing Groundbreaking Ceremony, Note about T Alley layout. Carol has plans, include short discussion. EPIC will go to the groundbreaking and raise our questions.


MOTION: EPIC contact Mike Goze and any other leaders of the development and request that all documentation at the groundbreaking and any subsequent documentation mentioning donors, must include EPIC’s contribution of $---. (BP, ES) Passed.

·         November  17th, Thursday, NRP Policy Board Elections: Jenny Bjorgo is our elector.

·         November 21st, 4:30, 23rd Floor, Henn. County Government Center, Final Passage of our Postponed NRP Phase II Action Plan  

·         Friday Nov. 11, 2011, St. Paul’s Church, 6:00 pm, Big Party, Honoring Wendell Phillips (birthday was 11/11/1811) and the Alley Newspaper

·         Chicago Corridor Public Hearing, Tuesdays, Nov. 15, 2011. This is the FINAL public hearing on the Chicago Corridor. 24th Avenue connects to the corridor, and streetcars on Chicago could connect to EPIC. Anyone can attend, the plan is on the internet.

·         Open Arms, Director resigned (Kevin Winge); having a big party. EPIC will send out an email about the date/time. Thurs. Dec. 1, 5 PM, RSVP requested.

7:16     Plan Modification of NRP Phase I dollars to assist with completion of the park baseball and soccer fields. 
community meeting to recommend passage of the following Plan Modification:

Motion: EPIC membership moves to transfer $52,280.54 from the following listed categories, consolidating them in the goal named Environment/Transportation/Parks, strategy 6.5.7.1 Playgrounds, to facilitate completion of the East Phillips Park soccer and baseball fields. The categories to be consolidated are:

1. Housing  Resource Center                                                                                         $35.09
2. Home Ownership Assistance, 1.2.1                                                                         $30,228.31
3. Housing, Vacant Housing, 1.5.1                                                                                  $257.17
4. Crime and Safety, 1.1.1                                                                                              $474.25
5. Lifespan, Early Learning Center 2.1.1                                                                        $7,078.30
6. Lifespan, 24-Hour Youth Center 2.1.2                                                                        $1,000.00
7. Environ/Transport/Parks,‘Green Economy' 3.4.1                                                           $92.30
8. Environ/Transport/Parks, Transportation 4.1.1                                                           $1,495.17
9. Environ/Transport/Parks, Midtown Greenway 4.2.1                                                   $10,017.61
10. Environ/Transport/Parks, Bike Paths 4.2.4                                                               $17.61
11. Environ/Transport/Parks, Stewart Park, Safety 5.3.1                                                $1,495.17
12. Environ/Transport/Parks, Forest Management 5.6.1                                                 $71.94
13. Include Environ/Transport/Parks, Playgrounds 5.7.1                                                 $17.61
 Total                                                                                                                         $52,280.54
PASSED: (BP, SS)

7:30      Issues with the politics of the Phase II Plan and the Policy Board. Crafting EPIC’s Response.
Two claims as to why the EPIC Phase II was tabled at the meeting:
  1. Legal issues (could be approved pending legal review.)
  2. Not an approved citizen participation plan.
Documents distributed to EPIC members: 
  1. Waite House Executive Director’s letter
  2. NRP Exec. Director’s Memorandum
  3. NRP NRP Exec. Director’s recent letter (response to issue related to the citizen participation plan. Confirms that the EPIC citizen participation plan was approved on February 17, 2011.
  4. Documentation of EPIC’s Phase II Process.
  5. EPIC Phase II Plan 
Discussion:
Jana Metge, as a resident of Midtown, and as a staff person at NRP stated: “There was nothing inappropriate in Carol’s comments regarding the Midtown plan, and as a neighborhood representative she was elected to make these types of comments. What she did was GOOD.”

Nicola supports Carol’s comments and the actions of EPIC in responding to the setback of our Phase II plan. Question of the amounts listed in Robert Miller’s letter: Jana and Carol will review the numbers and report next month.

Shirley recommended correction of motion to list “Director” of Waite House. She reported that at a Midtown meeting subsequent to passing of their NRP Phase II plan, she was not permitted to even raise an issue or discuss possible changes.
Steve is concerned about the motion, He is not convinced that EPIC should put our members at risk as a result of Midtown neighborhood’s process.


Carol responded that we don’t need to act on this motion immediately, but we work with Midtown Phillips and even though we are separate neighborhoods, we want to partner to serve our communities.

Motion: Support the letter from Waite House Director Francisco Segovia, and the concerns of the ethnically diverse families of Midtown Phillips.

Motion: Call upon NRP and the new NCR to take the grass roots effort to be responsive to the ethnically diverse people more seriously on a neighborhood level. Support our NRP and NCEC rep in pressing this as a grass roots ethical issue.
OMNIBUS MOTION encompassing the 2 motions (LL, ES) Motion Passes, 1 opposed (SS); 1 abstain (NC)

7:45      Neighborhood Crime Control: Ideas, Plans, Decisions, Block Clubs, Volunteers
            Luther Krueger’s letter, map and example of crime report.
            - A Central Repository for Crime
            -Block Clubs

If you are a block leader or if you want to receive alerts, send an email to Luther Krueger and request MPD Action Alerts. We asked to receive a larger circle of notification, and we were told no. Krueger wants to send the information to the most local source. However, in EPIC we have blocks that aren’t organized, and we don’t have block leaders.

EPIC can serve as an arms-length representative for residents with problem properties. Residents should bring neighboring problem properties to EPIC, as well as attend meetings to assist with crime problems for properties a little further away.

Motion: EPIC requests notification of all crime data for the neighborhood. Point out that other neighborhoods (with staff) receive this information. (BP, LL) Passed.

Invite Lauretta to speak to EPIC about forming block clubs, hooking up with block clubs already formed, and disseminating information about crime prevention.

The City of Minneapolis is holding a block club leader training on Nov. 17.

Plan of action: Create Block Clubs and request crime reports from the police. Make a Plan to consolidate and coordinate crime reports and problem properties. Centrally locate this information and circulate it to residents. Work with Block clubs on the other side of Bloomington Ave. Arrange Network Meetings.


8:15      Digital Design workshop- spring class for teens at Waite House
From: Julie Graves
Waite House is seeking some financial support around a 12-14 week digital workshop teaching design software during our spring semester at Waite House. The final project will include doing some professional design work for the Dakota Jazz Club. Phillips teens will get the chance to add this comprehensive learning experience to their resume and portfolio.


While we have students and teachers from MCAD spearheading the project (therefore the in-kind contribution for staffing is thousands of dollars J), we don’t have any supply income. I would like to approach the neighborhood orgs for a modest contribution to help make this project happen. The name of the project is “Diseno para el Comunidad” or Design for the Community and will be led by MCAD senior Daniel de la Torre. We will have ample slots for any teens residing in Phillips. I see this as an awesome opportunity for the neighborhoods to collaborate on a project that will bring dozens of talented MCAD staff and students to Phillips while supplying a quality academic/job experience for Phillips teens lacking job opportunities. Each neighborhood that contributes could designate slots for youth from their neighborhood, and we could also do a huge recognition party this spring for our “graduating” students. I’m hoping these students could eventually help with graphic design for each group, in fact we could make that a condition of the funding.

Motion: EPIC will dedicate $500.00 or up to $750.00 to sponsor spots for 5-7 teens from East Phillips who would participate and produce a graphic design proposal representing the East Phillips Neighborhood. (LL, SS) Passed.

8:25      Henn. County Care Project   - Contract Info  
There is an effort to support and enhance development in the corridor along the Light Rail (Hiawatha Avenue.) EPIC was included in a project to receive a grant of up to $2M, in partnership with Longfellow neighborhood and Karen Clark’s Women’s Environmental Health organization. Carol has signed the partnership agreement with Hennepin County and if we are able to complete all the terms, we will receive a stipend of $500 over two years.

9:00       Adjournment
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic

November 5, 2011

Board Meeting Minutes 11-05


November 5th,  2011, 10:00 am
East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center 
2307 17th Ave S.
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404


Present: Mary Gonsior, Carol Pass, Linda Leonard, Rosie Cruz, Earl Sims, Jenny Bjorgo, Steve S,
              Mahamed Cali (not a board member)

10:00    Introduction:
·         Approval of Agenda
·         Approval of Minutes from EPIC Board Meeting Minutes  10/3/2011

10:10    Announcements: 
  • EPIC Membership Meeting:  Thursday, November 10th, 6:30 at the East Phillips Park Community Center,
  • Rock Climbing Club started, big success
  • Next NRP Policy Board Meeting: November 21st
  • NRP Policy Board Election Nov. 17th: Elector must be chosen by November 14th
10:15    NRP Policy Board: A really nasty situation. What happened, What to do. Start to plan contracting. Long discussion, Waite house letter, and Bob Miller’s approval letter presented. Discussion of NRP Poicy Board Rep.”Job Description”. Board member as witnesses: Chiffon, Residents: Carlyle Bowker and Mahamed Cali, also Jana Metge, working as NRP Staff. Agreed to study the issue and support the diverse residents of Midtown.

11:00    The Remaining NRP Phase I dollars:  Phase one remainders: Motions and Plan Modification
              1) Motion: Request $7,657.22 in Admin. 1.1.1 to be moved to EPIC account with line item for Doug Wise contract. Carol authorized to do any necessary steps. Passed by consent.
              Carol noted the Doug Wise contract has had final approval about three times by the board & neighborhood.

              2)  Plan modification final vote at the November EPIC Membership meeting: Move Remaining Phase I NRP to Playgrounds: 5.7.1
Motion: EPIC membership moves to transfer $52,280.54 from the following listed categories, consolidating them in the goal named Environment/Transportation/Parks, strategy 6.5.7.1 Playgrounds, to facilitate completion of the East Phillips Park soccer and baseball fields. The categories to be consolidated are:

1)         Housing Resource Center                                                            $35.09
2)         Housing, Home Ownership Assistance,  1.2.1                       $30,228.31
3)         Housing, Vacant Housing,  1.5.1                                                 $257.17
4)         Crime and Safety, Mobile Safety Center 1.1.1                           $474.25
5)         Lifespan, Early Learning Center 2.1.1                                      $7,078.30
6)         Lifespan, 24-Hour Youth Center 2.1.2                                     $1,000.00
7)         Environ/Transport/Parks,‘Green Economy’Demos  3.4.1              $92.30
8)         Environ/Transport/Parks, Transportation Management 4.1.1  $1,495.17
9)         Environ/Transport/Parks, Midtown Greenway 4.2.1              $10,017.61
10)       Environ/Transport/Parks, Bike Paths  4.2.4                                   $17.61
11)       Environ/Transport/Parks, Stewart Park, Safety 5.3.1               $1,495.17
12)       Environ/Transport/Parks, Forest Management 5.6.1                    $71.94
13)       Already included Environ/Transport/Parks, Playgrounds 5.7.1     $17.61
            Total                                                                                       $52,280.54
30- day Neighborhood notification by flyer and EPIC E-News
Board re-approves motion configuration from October Meeting by unanimous consent.


11:15.   County Program: What to consider ,: Is there any more funding in the County contract??…may need a      contract extension. Motion for contract extension if needed. Passed by consent

11: 30    Adjournment –