April 27th, 2013, 6:30 p.m.
– 8:45 p.m.
East
Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave.
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
“The world needs dreamers and
the world needs doers,
but most of all the world
needs dreamers who do.”
Board Members Present: Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior, Earl Simms,
Linda Leonard, Jenny Bjorgo, Sherdl Kordian, Rosie Cruz.
(NOTE)
Prior to this meeting, Board members Jose Luis Villasenor and Chiffon Williams
resigned for personal reasons)
EPIC Members Present: Shoui Tsai, Guadalupe Martinez, Rose Gbadamassi, Mohamed Nur, Ali Macali, Margarita Aguilar, Aisha Gomez, Indalacio Muroz, Alfonso Cruz, Sharif Ali, Jose Luis Villasenor, Fred Jack, Michael Green, Clara Emma, Tim Springer, Alondra Cano, Hannah Lieder, Kevin Lieder, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Audrey Jackson, Lee Sanaban, Karen Clark, Pat Welna, Virgil Welna, Kristy Jacobsen, Ernestina Ganga, Hamsa Mohamed, Troy Benjegerdes, Ganga Ram, Govinda, Cindy Wright, Alondra Cano, Lavern Turner, Mary Juanita Leonard, Pat Fleetham, Sherzad Kordian, Gloria Kordian, Aden Awil, Mary-Grace Alton, John Mortenson, Max Mortenson, Jeremy Gray, Sky Sellars, Paula Weikle, Maria Riana, Annie Young, Kim Hayden, Shey Castaway, Megan Kraft Steppes, Seth Kuhl-Stenes, Carol Hill, Joseph Sperenzella, Francisca Pass, Carol June Leonard, LeRoy Jeffers, Jorge Granados, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Cedric Wash, Sherdl Kordian, Elizabeth Johnson, Alfred Johnson, Fred Jack, Gabriel Pass, Amy Pass, Aurora Pass, Jenny Bjorgo, Bryce & Kristy Jacobsen, Carol Thomas, Brad Pass, Margaret Castaway, Cynthia Aguirre, Brennen BuBray, Vickey Felder, Abdi Hakim, Don Olson,
Guests: Shirley Heyer, Doug Wise, Donna Smith, Kathy Mastel,
Dean Dovolis, Dean’s son & Daughter.
(77
attendees signed in. There are estimates that an additional 9 attendees did not
sign in and many children are not listed)
9:30 BREAKFAST,
MEET NEIGHBORS,
The
doors opened for breakfast and conversation.
The
Menu included Mexican style scrambled eggs (Huevos Rancheros), turkey and pork sausage, chicken
& vegetarian tamales, Sambusa, Fish Tortes, fruit platter, doughnuts,
bagels, fruit juice, milk
& coffee including all the accoutrements. Three EPIC Spanish birthday cake and cupcakes finished
it off.
9:45 WELCOME
Brad Pass emceed and welcomed everyone,
explained the timing of the agenda, the Door Prizes and encouraged everyone to
continue eating and to have a great time.
10:10 EXPLANATION OF THE ELECTION
PROCESS, NOMINATIONS, SPEECHES
& VOTING
for BOARD MEMBERS.
·
In
preparation for the Board election, Brad explained the board eligibility
requirements and that the board consists of 9 members who were expected to
attend two monthly meetings and be available for additional meetings should the
need arise.
·
He
explained that 6 board positions were open to be filled today and indicated the
EPIC Slate of 6 candidates.
·
Brad
explained that there would be an opportunity for nominations from the floor and
those nominated would have an opportunity to introduce themselves.
·
Brad
explained the election process – who is eligible to vote, that each voter has 6
votes and can vote for each candidate no more than one time.
·
All
current board members and those running on the EPIC Slate were asked to come to
the front and he introduced EPIC Board President, Carol Pass to applause.
·
Carol
introduced each of the candidates on the EPIC Slate (listed below) and they
each gave a brief statement on how they felt able and qualified to serve on the
EPIC Board.
o Mary Gonsior
o Linda Leonard
o Earl Simms
o Sherdl Kordian
o Ali Macalin
o Aisha Gomez
·
Brad
then opened Board Nominations from the floor.
o Cedric Wash was nominated but refused the
nomination.
o Troy Benjegerdes was nominated and
accepted the nomination.
o Michael Greene was nominated but refused
the nomination.
o Nominations were closed.
·
Troy
Benjegerdes introduce himself.
·
Brad
called for the vote. BALLOTS which were distributed to qualified voters at the
sign-in table were filled out and turned in. Annie Young and her appointed
helper counted the ballots.
DOOR
PRIZE
Door prize donated by Welna Hardware at 2438 Bloomington Ave. S.
10:35 EPIC’s 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS & SEE BROCHURE
Carol Pass
Brought attention to the many accomplishments of EPIC as detailed in the
Tri-Fold Brochure and this year’s EPIC Annual Report for 2012.
· THE EAST PHILLIPS PARK CULTURAL & COMMUNITY
CENTER SOCCER, BASEBALL FIELDS, MORE
HOOPS
Construction on the soccer fields and baseball
diamond was completed last fall. Soccer has already started. Baseball must wait
for the natural turf field to mature.
· HOUSING, IMPLEMENTING PHASE II PLAN. REHAB
LOANS, HOME BUYER LOANS, HELP for FORECLOSURES
All
loans are 0% interest with no monthly payments. Loans are not due until the sale or transfer of ownership of the
property.
· GREENWAY HEIGHTS APTS.
The only affordable housing
on the greenway – under way since 2006.
· HELPING RESTORE THE PHILLIPS COMMUNITY CENTER
POOL
· MORE PROGRAMS FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY KIDS
· FUTURE GOALS.NRP PHASE II PLAN See EPIC Annual
Report for 2012
10:40 GREENWAY HEIGHTS APARTMENTS
- Kathy
Wetzel, Progress Report, slide show, boards for viewing.
Kathy
Wetzel reported that the project will be starting soon. There will be a
public hearing in June with cinstruction starting soon after. Greenway Heights will include 42 two-, three, and four bedroom units affordable to households earning less than 50% AMI. Because
of the loss of affordable rental units to the foreclosure crisis, this project is
needed to fill that gap and it will also address the housing needs created by the growth of larger
families within the neighborhood.
The
project provides a secure outdoor play areas for both younger and older
children. Tables will be provided to allow parents a place to watch
their children and also to serve as
a picnic area. A grill will provide for outdoor barbeques.
The
project includes five raised-bed gardens which can produce nearly 1,000 pounds of food
each season for its residents.
The
Greenway Heights/EPIC project will prevent the probability of a much
larger, less desirable
project on this valuable site.
Balconies are desirable eyes on
the Greenway amenities that are important crime prevention
features as well as providing added outdoor space for the apartments. They are beyond
the budget of this project but will be guaranteed if EPIC will help subsidize
them with
a $35,000 contribution. Note this will be reallocating Phase II home Buyer funds to be replaced later by CPP funding.
MOTION: EPIC agrees to help with funding for the
Balconies for our final new construction housing
Project of $35,000,
using current Phase II Home Buyer
Funds to be replaced later and
contingent on
approval of a community supported
design with balconies.
Motion made by Hannah Leider, seconded by John Mortenson. Passed with one negative
vote.
DOOR PRIZE
Door
prizes were donated by Welna Hardware at 2438 Bloomington Ave. S.
11:00 THE
SWIMMING POOL PROJECT – Hannah Leider,
MplsSwims
Carol Pass explained that
she, with help from many East Phillips residents spent 1 year at the State
Legislature raising money for this East Phillips Park Cultural and Community
Center. It was a grueling experience. Hannah spent one year doing the same for
the pool project but was turned down at the last minute. She had to go through
two years at the legislature, and she was successful after a two year struggle.
She deserves accolades for this effort.
Hannah Leider explained the
lack of indoor swimming facilities in Minneapolis. The only city with a worse
record is Chicago.
The drowning rate of minority
youth, especially blacks is horrific and totally reversible with swimming
lessons.
DOOR
PRIZE
Door prizes were donated by Welna
Hardware at 2438 Bloomington Ave. S.
11:20 – 11:40 BYLAW CHANGE-
MOTION: That 30 day notification for review of items
requiring that timing be changed to read “required notification and review time
is to be to the next monthly membership meeting, but not in any case less than
21 days, and to include amendments to the Bylaws”. (Sometimes the meetings do
not fall on an exact 30-day gap, causing problems in timely review and
response.)
Motion passed
unanimously
11:40 RESULTS OF VOTING- The EPIC slate of Directors won the election.
FINAL DOOR PRIZE – THE BEST ONE – a Weber
Grill
Door prizes were donated by Welna
Hardware at 2438 Bloomington Ave.
11:45 ADJOURN
