May 10, 2012

General Membership Meeting Minutes 05-10

May 10th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S.
EPIC web address: http://www.eastphillips-epic.com/index.html
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Attendees:  Board Members: Mary Gonsior, Jennie Bjorgo, Linda Leonard, Jose Luis Villaseno, Earl Simms, Carol Pass, Rosie Cruz, Steve Struthers,
EPIC Members: Peggy Clark, Brad Pass,
Guests: Shirley Heyer, Doug Wise   

6:45    Introductions:
·      Greetings and Introductions.
·      Approval of Agenda (SS, BP) approved.
·      Approval of Minutes from EPIC 4/12/2012 General Membership Meeting, (BP, JB) approved.
o   Add attendance for directors: present/absent
o   Separate guests/members
o   Correct adjournment time to 8:50 pm.

6:40    Announcements:
·      EPIC Community Garden Meeting; Saturday, May 10th, 9:00 am in the Garden; followed by a community work hour.  2400 block of 17th Avenue.
·      GRAND RE-OPENING of the PHILLIPS COMMUNITY CENTER; This Sat. May 12th, 10 am – 3 pm, Music, Food, Tours and Fun!
·      13th Annual Little Earth Mother’s Day PowWow; This Sat. May 12th & 13th, 11 pm to 6 pm, Sun.1 pm, Cedar Field at 25th St. & 18th Ave.
·      May Day 2012 Parade; May 13th, This Sunday, 12pm to ? Bloomington Ave. to Powderhorn Park.
·      Xcel substation; design. There will be a design charette in mid-June.
·      Midtown Greenway; party all night. June 9, 6 pm to Midnight, Light up the Greenway. Raises money for Greenway services. Reg. req’d for the bike ride.
·      Diabetic breakfast; working on healthy food. Located at Phillips Community Center; May 31, 8 am; Free.
·      Block Club May Reunion Events; receive $50 for block club meetings held in May; funds are still available; contact Don Greeley for pre-registration.
·      Abbot-NW air pollution walk-through; May 31, 6 pm; St. Paul’s Lutheran; Allina wants to change their fuel oil, which they claim will clean up air pollution problems. Download documents from www.pca.state.mn.us/qzqh484
·       
7:00   Report on the Annual Meeting
Jose Luis V. is EPIC’s new board member, elected at the annual meeting. The other board directors elected are returning to service. Brad expressed thanks to those who pitched in, and helped with all the tasks. A good time was had by all.

7:20   Update on EPIC supported programs & Minneapolis Swims: The POOL & the Bonding Bill
Appreciation was expressed to Hannah for all her hard work to save the pool at the PCC. One year ago, we got the contract to save the pool. Since then, the job has been to raise the money. Where to begin? Mpls. Swims and EPIC met with Karen Clark and wrote a bonding bill – which has now been passed. Jeff Hayden was also very helpful with supporting the bill. There is still a lot of money that needs to be raised, and this with all volunteers. Mpls. Swims has been asked to provide swimming lessons to urban youth so they can participate in a swimming and sailing program with the Parks. They need to raiser 25% of the endowment by the end of the year.

SH suggested that we work on changing the priorities of the MPB. HL responded that the MPB are spending $400,000 on one wading pool (used only in summer), when it would take only $280,000 to fix the indoor pool at PCC. We need to educate MPB and the Mpls. Schools.

7:30   EPIC/ NRP/ CEE Phase II Housing Program
·      Progress report on Greenway Heights; 2845 Bloomington Ave. S.

CP distributed elevation drawings on these buildings. The building is a 4-story, all apartments include balconies; there are 45 or 46 units, including 3-4 BR units; parking underground.

·      HomeOwner Rehab support – Doug Wise

The minutes contain an up-date on this project through April 12. There were some questions on that date and we have some responses to report.

1.     Lottery: CEE says they can’t do a lottery; they must process applications on a first come, first served basis. They didn’t respond to the question of whether the neighborhood can run a lottery.
2.     Loans to be repaid if the property owner refinances. CEE has had problems in the past with asking owners to refinance; they felt it wasn’t fair to owners as they feel that they are still “improving” the neighborhood, and others who received loans do not have to repay.
3.     Budget and cost of loans; some fees may be equal to the loan, or even exceed the loan (in the case of emergency loans.) CEE said that their costs are the same for each loan, no matter the amount of the loan; they will not change this. We could raise the minimum for loans; we could move some funds into another program as grants (who would administer?); we could check with other neighborhoods to see how they are funded.
4.     Budgeted $15,500 for CEE fees; is this a cap? Response is this is an estimate; not a cap.
5.     Emergency funding – agreement should state that CEE should funnel people into other programs if they qualify. CEE is fine with adding this into the agreement.
6.     Timeline to wrap this up. EPIC needs to decide on the final guidelines. Then a contract would be drafted for approval by EPIC (board and membership). Then it would go to the city for approval (takes about a month.)
7.     One more question: $6 fee; is this a fee on repayment loans? Or what? Would there be only one $6 fee if the loan is repaid in one payment?

Doug will send updated draft agreement to CP for distribution to board for next board meeting.
·      Foreclosure intervention coming soon…

CP and Doug met with PRG to discuss foreclosure assistance; what would be the most effective way to use the $20,000 EPIC has set aside. Doug will send presentation to CP for distribution at the next board meeting.

8:00   Land Use and Development Issues:
·      Alliance Housing Project – 2600 17th Ave S. 15 Land Use Issues: Petition Progress
CP has all the petitions that were signed at the annual meeting. There are a few petitions still floating out there. EPIC had hoped to get this done sooner, so everyone needs to help get as many signatures as possible. CP will distribute extra copies of the petition. Get them signed and return them to Carol, asap.

·      Smith Foundry, Bituminous Roadways, Allinas concern with the Clark/Berglin Environmental Justice Law
We need to consult with Karen about this drive to change the law, and figure out what to do. For these polluting companies to make any changes, they must do an expensive study. Now they are talking about changing the bill. We may need to act on this quickly.

8:10   Crime – Progress or Regress?? New difficulties, problem houses.
·      Drug dealing reported on 13th Avenue behind PCC. Really bad; reporter believes the neighbors are calling 911. Residents present have also heard about this problem.
·      Heavy prostitution reported on 25th St. east of Bloomington Avenue next to the SA. Police are working on this.
·      Drug delivery has been observed at Little Earth.
·      There was a severe assault on 15th Avenue and 25th St.
·      Residents can receive a list of all the crimes in the 4 blocks or so surrounding their home. Contact Don Greeley.
ACTION ITEMS
Can we get the driver vehicle lookup.
Talk to Chris Arneson if our account doesn’t work anymore.
Collect problem addresses; send to CP or BP.

8:30   Adjournment

May 5, 2012

Board Meeting Agenda 05-05

May 5th, 2012, Saturday, 10:00 am

East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S**
EPIC web address: http://www.eastphillips-epic.com/index.html
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Present:  Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Steve Struthers, Jennie Bjorgo, Earl Simms            
                       
10:00             Introduction:
·         Approval of Agenda (MG, CP)
·         Approval of Minutes from EPIC Board Meeting, (LL, SS)

10:10    Announcements: 
·      EPIC Membership Meeting:  Thursday, May 10th, 6:30 PM, the East Phillips Park Center,
·      EPIC Community Garden Meeting; Saturday, May 10th, 9:00 am in the Garden; followed by a community work hour.  2400 block of 17th Avenue.
·      GRAND RE-OPENING of the PHILLIPS COMMUNITY CENTER; This Sat. May 12th, 10 am – 3 pm, Music, Food, Tours and Fun!
·      13th Annual Little Earth Mother’s Day PowWow; This Sat. May 12th & 13th, 11 pm to 6 pm, Sun.1 pm, Cedar Field at 25th St. & 18th Ave.
·      May Day 2012 Parade; May 13th, This Sunday, 12pm to ? Bloomington Ave. to Powderhorn Park.
·      Xcel substation; design. There will be a design charette in mid-June.
·      Midtown Greenway; party all night. June 9, 6 pm to Midnight, Light up the Greenway. Raises money for Greenway services. Reg. req’d for the bike ride.
·      Abbot-NW air pollution walk-through; May 31, 6 pm; St. Paul’s Lutheran; Allina wants to change their fuel oil, which they claim will clean up air pollution problems. Download documents from www.pca.state.mn.us/qzqh484

10:20       Report on the Annual Meeting
Jose Luis V. is EPIC’s new board member, elected at the annual meeting. The other board directors elected are returning to service. We don’t have a quorum to elect officers. Quorum appears later, it is decided to wait until Joseluis is present.

 10:30    Neighborhood Funding

Tuesday, May 8, 2012
6:00pm to 8:00pm

Northeast Library

2200 Central Avenue N.E.

10:50   Phase II Housing Contract with CEE- Doug Wise,
·      Housing Rehab Loans – Loan Pool - $90,000.00, Lottery??? Discussion about contents? Marketing?
·      Emergency Repair Loans – Loan Pool $$18,000.00
·      Foreclosure Assistance Loans – Loan Pool 

11:00             Land Use Issues: Already have these issues: Smith Foundry, Bituminous Roadways,
·      Alliance Housing Project – 2600 17th Ave S. 15 Land Use Issues: Petition Progress

CP has all the petitions that were signed at the annual meeting. There are a few petitions still floating out there. EPIC had hoped to get this done sooner, so everyone needs to help get as many signatures as possible. CP will distribute extra copies of the petition. Get them signed and return them to Carol, asap.

·      Smith Foundry, Bituminous Roadways, Allinas concern with the Clark/Berglin Environmental Justice Law

We need to consult with Karen about this drive to change the law, and figure out what to do. For these polluting companies to make any changes, they must do an expensive study. Now they are talking about changing the bill.           
How do we get action from our Council Member
Several residents who have written letters and emails to Gary S. to support neighboring residents’ efforts to see the 2003 Minneapolis Plan and Greenway plan for this area, implemented in this neighborhood, that is, the removal of heavy industrial activities at these sites. Bituminous Roadways. Smith Foundry,
·      Get the people together: 2850 Cedar, Steve’s block club, 28th & Cedar building.
·      Alliance Project Petition Collect Signatures area wide Send to??
·      Meet with Herb Frye to change project
·      Press CM Gary Schiff

11:55   Adjournment



           
                                   
EPIC General Membership Meeting Minutes
August 11th, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S**

6:45    Introduction:
·      Greetings and Introductions
·      Carol Pass; Chiffon Willams; Earl Sims; Hanna Lieder; Mohammed CaliLinda Leonard; Brad Pass; Shirley Heyer; 3 residents Miko
·          Approval of Agenda  
Agenda approved [Linda and Chiffon with the motion]
·      Minutes from EPIC 7/14 /2011 General Membership Meeting         
                        Brad and Chiffon moved to accept the minutes with the addition of spelling out AT as artificial turf in the motion made at the meeting. Passed
6:40    Announcements:
 “Bridging Phillips” August 13th, Saturday, A Celebration of our Connections on our one Connecting Street, 24th St.  There is an effort to save the pedestrian bridge.
I 35 improvements with I94 hearing about 28th and 29th street and that impacts the fact that the pedestrian bridge has to go…August.17th 5-7 pm at the Shrine building on  26th Street
Soccer Sign Up for Fall Park League.
Final Review of NRP Phase II Plan at Next Monthly EPIC Meeting
Please ask people to email the city council about more family housing units in any developments. Families are having to leave Minneapolis to find housing because of foreclosures
6:50            Reading of the City Core Principles

7:00             Second Review & comment on NRP Phase II Plan in preparation for a final vote at next month’s             meeting.
Explanation of Funding
We have $223,827 for housing and $96,783 for Community Enhancement
Explanation of the Plan
There was a door to door survey collected from about 150 residents and 22 businesses in East Phillips.
The survey results identified the opinions and questions about how funds would be spent in the neighborhood.
Those survey results guided the proportion of funds targeted for various portions of the NRP Phase II Action Plan. The housing plan focused on using grants and the lottery for major repairs and there is an appeal group for the lottery process for an emergency loan. The best deal for us is housing deferred loans. We probably will contract with CEE; Center for Energy and the Envirionment.
The other major expenditure is for development along the Greenway. This is an ongoing project
We went through the proposal page by page with explanations and commentaries. We made jokes about wanting a gated community.
We concurred that we need more money for a website and we need multiple languages. We could use a volunteer to kwwp our website up to date.
Q & A on Changes
There was a question about prepaying and that would no doubt be okay.
Carol explained how you can build a pool of money by recovering the “due on sale”.
MOTION: To post the plan on the website; distribute it; and start the 30 day review for final approval.   Passed [male resident and chiffon made motion]
7:370            Preparation for Phase II Housing Rehab Support Deferred Loans for East Phillips Residents,
Explanation of the Plan
We went page by page to understand the implications and process for each category.
We think CEE might be able to take this on.
We noted that there can’t be code violations on the house.
We have to market this program and run the lottery, but CEE in the past was very, very helpful and they bring their own grants to the process.
Q & A
Preliminary ratification for Review for Next Month’s  EPIC meeting
Motion:  Approve the Draft RFP for finalization at the next monthly meeting. [male citizen and Mary seconded]  Passed

[Earl and Mohammed left, but Mary arrived at 7:45 pm].

The members moved to a Committee of the Whole at 7:45 pm.

7:47            Distribution of the Phase I survey
            The results were collected at an annual meeting as well as the surveys. We posted how our funds leveraged about one million to gain about 30 million.

7:508:00            Next Steps for Hi-Lake Apartments
            They are not ready to build this fall.
            Residents are urged to call the city council about our need for family housing because so much rental is foreclosed and people can’t find housing to stay in the community with their school and other social relationships and networks.

We have some information from city officials that no more funds are available for the project but we’re going to press for two bedrooms and balconies. One resident offered to meet mornings with the developer and Carol.

7:58:05            “Bridging Phillips” Progressive Festival – A Special Festival connecting & celebrating the Four             Quadrants and the Multi-Ethnicities of Phillips: Our Diversity, Our Unity, Our Community, All Down Our             One Linking Street, 24th St.   Music, Food, Enchantment! Aug. 13th. EPIC Participation at E. Phillips Park
            --Dallas Johnson, presenter
The park board is planning some face painting and activities to this building at 11 am. We will have a dance in the gym and low key presentations about the building’s history.  The East Phillips Garden has a meeting and work day. The gardeners will be encouraged to attend.  Bob Albee knows the budget. We offered up to $800 for this event.

8:0015            Organizing for youth issues – Ideas?  Actions?? Tae Kwan Do?? Youth Soccer?? Big Brothers/Big             Sisters? Update on Somali Community Focus NPI Project. Mohamed Cali, --Carol Pass
We need coaches for a lot of sports, especially soccer. One resident knows someone who might be willing to coach.

8:07             Rosie Cruz arrived so we re-established a quorum.

8:0820     Crime Concerns and Other Livability Issues:  Help Create List of Problem Properties.  Discuss             current             difficulties on your block. Tracking hot spots, problems and police assistance.
            ? Does the owner of the property know about the problem property? No because she lives in Seattle and a management company runs it. 2520 17th
2931 16th Ave?
And the house next to it…….maybe 2927…..selling drugs. There are neighborhood breakins in cars.
There is a native American prostitute that’s back now. Chiffon knows her and so does Jenny. A drug dealer is back on the block too and we might have to use court watch and impact statements and citizen’s patrol to assist in following up on the drug and john traffic.
Chiffon talked about a multi-million grant in Chicago to hire felons to teach skills to senior citizens and other employment options. Chiffon talked about offering options to people so they don’t turn to criminal options.

22nd and Bloomington has a Court Watch tomorrow 10:30 am. Pictures of chronic criminals. Options for impact statements;

Male resident on Greenway at 2 am and assaulted on his bike. The follow up is nothing….no leads….in spite of the fact that cameras are there. We talked about cameras and where they are. The one on 16th is supposed to be portable but costs money to move.

Shooting at 2501 on 17th last night; another shooting at Little Earth this week too.

Motion: Request 3rd precinct to provide access to all public surveillance real time
 video so the public can access it and rebroadcast it.

Shirley talked about how Carla at the third precinct has helped with SA tapes in the past. There are data privacy issues for storage time. If you know the date/time/place you can ask for the tape.
[male resident and Mary seconded it]
Passed

8:350       Adjournment: