December
13th, 2012, 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: Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior, Jenny Bjorgo, Earl Simms,
Chiffon Williams, Rosie Cruz,
Board Members Not Present: Steve Struthers, Rosie Cruz, JoseLuis Villasenor
EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Troy Benjederdes, Jessie Leader & Mahdi Sultan (townhome residents),
EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Troy Benjederdes, Jessie Leader & Mahdi Sultan (townhome residents),
Guests: Sgt. Dave Pleuger, Lt. Mike Taylor, Janessa Bjorgo, Doug
Wise
6:45 Introductions:
· Greetings and Introductions
· Meeting as a committee of the whole MOTION – (BP, JB) passed.
· Approval of Agenda (MK, BP) MOTION – Passed with added addition and possible
addition of Minneapolis Energy Options Campaign, time permitting.
6:55 Chiffon arrived,
and a quorum was achieved.
· Approval of Minutes from EPIC 11/8/12 General Membership
Meeting MOTION – (JB, ES) passed.
o Addition: 7:45 Note: accuracy of this list is pending.
6:55 Announcements:
· La Natividad, Dec. 13 -16, 20 – 22, 6:30 pm at Heart of the
Beast, 1500 East Lake Street.
· Banyan Foundation received the recommendation from Midtown
Phillips to purchase the Waite House property. Now the decision is up to the
Park Board. Public Hearings in very early January
· (Added) Greenway Heights
7:00 Crime
Concerns: Officer Taylor, Q &
A, Seeking Solutions
together, Cameras? Patrols? More supervised
programs for Kids?
We have been wanting
to have a crime conversation for a long time, but our monthly meetings are so
full already. When we have a big issue, we have a large meeting. Right now we
have a big issue with crime in the neighborhood, but it is also Christmas…We
are quite aware that we have a lot of burglaries, robberies, assaults, etc. We
used to work much more closely with Police and for 3 years we ran an early
morning Bloomington Avenue Citizen Patrol. When we got a camera, we quit the
patrol, as we were exhausted. There have been a rash of broken car windows,
smashed in front doors at the townhomes. We are making an effort to connect
with Police, people have questions. We don’t want to tell you all the local
tragedies tonight because while this is therapeutic, it doesn’t get things done.
We want to know what we can do, and make a plan. Examples; should we do
patrols, should we get cameras, etc.?
See handwritten notes.
To summarize:
1. Cameras can be
effective, do research – they’re are expensive. Who will finance? Who will
maintain & monitor?
2. Get to know your
neighbors, who belongs, who is a stranger; form a phone tree; look out the
window; report suspicious behavior. Give accurate descriptions: age, clothes,
suspicious behavior.
3. Get to know Don
Greeley; form a block club. Post No Trespassing signs. Learn “prevention” tips.
4. Creative ways to
communicate Security Tips, Reporting Crime, etc. (such as video).
5. Keep calling 911.
That is how burglars are caught.
6. Alarm systems can
be effective.
To do: Consider joining with Ventura Village to raise money to pay
for a Police Camera for Phillips.
7:35 Housing: Doug Wise- EPIC/NRP Phase II Housing Programs to roll out in
January to meet a spring time availability. Marketing our programs, Ideas for
the greatest equity? See Brochure.
Suggestions:
1. Replace details on
inside for EPIC Foreclosure Prevention Program. Instead, add a blurb to the
effect, if you are behind on your mortgage, contact…etc.
2. Eliminate table on
back “Income Limits”, this is too important and should be moved to the inside.
3. Add 2 or more
additional family size/income listings; add an asterisk: households larger etc.
see website.
4. Remove all
underlines; don’t abbreviate “info.”
5. Re-word the “first
come, first served”.
Who are the contact
people for the programs? Calling CEE – they can answer questions, but can’t
support/help with the process. This is important in light of our purpose/goal
of achieving maximum fairness, maximum diversity, and maximum
·
To be fair, there has
to be door-to-door distribution, with language translations – especially
Spanish.
·
We have to get this in
the Alley; we have to get this online and emailed.
MOTION – (TB, RC) Allow the Exec. Committee make final decisions on
the brochure.
MOTION – Passed previously approved agenda.
7:50 Partnership
of Diabetics (A-POD program): Future of the program and the Latino Outreach.
Helping
to pay for machines for interpreters streaming translation.
8:10 EPIC
Anti-Pollution Effort:
Abbott Hospital claims
to be going to a more pollution free system but it may actually just be
different pollution. EPIC is working on learning more about the Abbott
plans/proposals.
MOTION – Board Recommended Motion EPIC
commits the organization to a major effort to remove Bituminous Roadways and
Smith Foundry from the city. Passed.
Possible addition (5 minutes): Minneapolis Energy Options
Campaign and ask for endorsement.
Energy.org for more information.
The city of Minneapolis has a Franchise
Agreement with Xcel Energy – expires in 2013. CenterPoint Energy’s Franchise
Agreement expires in 2014.
There is a coalition of people asking
neighborhood organizations to support an effort to add a ballot item to
“municipalize” our power. Someone who lives in the city should have the right
to local control, local input, and accountability to local residents. The goal
of this group is to give Minneapolis residents negotiating power.
Boulder, CO has already done this; they
are in court with Xcel to figure out what the electric grill is worth. They
were in the same position – renew the franchise, or “re-do” things with Xcel
(more renewable energy, less pollution, more solar panels, smart grid, etc.)
Question raised: Can EPIC endorse this group? Instructed to bring this to the board for a look...Need more information.
EPPCCC December Party for Kids
This Saturday, all the kids in the
neighborhood will gather to celebrate Christmas. 9 am-1 pm. East Phillips Park
Cultural and Community Center. There will be music, food, piñatas and gifts for
small children. All neighborhood kids are welcome!
