August 14th, 2014, 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
“The world needs dreamers and the world
needs doers,
but most of all the world needs
dreamers who do.”
Board Roster: Jenny
Bjorgo, Mary
Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Ali Micalin, Carol Pass, Cesar
Prado, Earl Simms
Board Members Present: Carol Pass, Earl Simms, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Rosie
Cruz
Board Members Not Present:Ali
Micalin, Jean Howard, Cesar Prado, Jenny Bjorgo(Sick child)
Guests: Michael
Sullivan, Shirley Heyer,
EPIC
Members: Brad Pass, Erica Schultz, Laura Dale,
Michael Green, Kyla Sisson, Margaret Kirkpatrick
MOTION: Meet as a committee of the whole (LL, CP) Passed
6:40 Introductions:
Greetings and Introductions
6:45 Approval
of Agenda (as corrected, LL,Laura)
Approval
of July 10th, 2014 minutes, (corrections: addition of Laura (member) and
Shirley Heyer (guest) who were present) CP, Laura, approved.
7:00 Announcements:
· Next EPIC
General Membership Meeting – September 11th, 6:30 - 8:45 pm
7:05 Report on National Night Out:
CP attended six NNO parties, handing out EPIC brochures,
talked with people. The closer to Lake St. the more alarmed people were about
crime. Everyone was enjoying their neighbors, but a lot of concern expressed
about crime.
Erica reported on her block club party, enjoyed some really
good food, was a really positive experience.
Linda reported a block club party and enjoyed especially the
piñata and fireworks. Had a lot of fun. Recommends that people check with the
different cultures, as they have different food preferences.
Naomi attended six parties, including Rose’s block club
party.
Rose said that it was wonderful and there was a lot of food
and fun; did a ceremony to honor elders,
Shirley had a lot of new young folks, about 100 people.
7:10 Crime
and Safety, Don Greeley: 911
Reports: Stolen Bikes, Report on meeting in 2909 Bloomington
-Street people sleeping in vestibule, forcing their way in, etc., Problem
houses.
Don sent out a “prevention alert” with interesting stats on
bicycle thefts in 3rd precinct. In a one-week period there were
$8,000 bicycle thefts in East Phillips, $45,000 in Mpls. Free service – sign up
for these alerts Real common
problem; best advice is to register your bike – you may be able to recover the
bicycle. There are some new bike locks…they cost more but are very hard to
defeat.
2909 meeting – Don thought the meeting went very well, had a
lot of people there, and a lot of discussion. CP asked if the police can put
pressure on the owner. The building does have trespass signs, and Don will get
additional signs for the owner. Residents can call police and report these
situations, and the police will come and pick them up. LL proposed that EPIC
write a letter to the owner and ask them to provide security (which the owner
does provide in other properties.)
MOTION: EPIC will send a letter
to the owner and manager asking them to enforce “no trespassing”, address
maintenance issues, and hire security at night. (LL, ES) Passed with one opposed (KL).
Brad reported that Joe McDermott has called on two occasions
about a male person sleeping in the 2nd story kids playground
equipment here at the park. This was early in the morning, and it is bad for
the park to have this going on. M.
Sullivan will follow up.
Michael Green reported 2800 16th Ave S – lots of
drug activity, been going on for years. Called recently about the handicapped
sign which is no longer needed by any tenant of the property. Would like to
have this sign removed. Don will follow up.
Erica reported that there were a lot of officers seeming to
be operating at 2800 16th recently – was there an operation that was
carried out recently?
Looking hard at 2900 16th. Not a lot of police
reports, but a lot of police calls. Tenants are calling about a lot of
trespassing inside the 2900 building. Police are planning a meeting with the
owner.
Power outage this morning (city cutting down trees), no
notice – just cut out power. Talked to 311 and they didn’t find anything
scheduled. The trees were in the alley (not the boulevard).
Sullivan reported that Dept has listed Lake Street as a “hot
zone” and has requested a mobile camera for the 1600 block of Lake St. Cert
team did a John Detail, and made some arrests. These are difficult to run but
take a lot of personnel.
7:25 What
is Court Watch?? Don Greeley
Court Watch meets monthly at 2100 Bloomington (tomorrow
morning at 10:30 am.) Track and watch about 35 chronic offenders. The list is
public (distributed the Bloomington court watch). Would like the community to
write impact statements either about these individuals, or about similar
individuals that have impacted the community/your life. There is an electronic
form that you can complete online, and you can remain anonymous – John can
assign you a court watch number.
MOTION: EPIC will request
crosswalk markings on 24th Street, 26th and 28th
on 16th, 17th, and 18th, as well at 25th
and Bloomington Ave, as well as 24th Street at 10th
(East) and Elliot (West). (ES, LL) Approved.
Shirley reported that the city is has been holding meetings
to discuss safety on 26th and 28th Streets. Midtown asked
them to do these meetings in the fall but they are going ahead. Plan will be presented
on August 27th.
7:35 Report
on 25th Street Barricade by SuperAmerica: Linda Leonard
LL and Doug VanderVeen has been talking to the city about
this, and LL called Public Works and obtained a case number. 311 reported that
they don’t have any planters, but they have a pile of stone garbage cans that
they can deliver for a nominal fee. Unfortunately, these are short and have no
reflectors, might collect garbage. An individual would have to make a request
for a special permit and be responsible for the containers and their
maintenance. LL also suggested that EPIC could look for large planters that
could be purchased.
Shirley reported that Heart of the Beast and Pastor
Patrick’s youth and Mosaic programs has money to do a project on 25th
Street and 15th Avenue. Perhaps we could extend the project into
EPIC. We should contact them.
7:50 NRP
and NCR funding; EPIC history and update
Crime
Prevention/Public Safety Neighborhood Priority Plan: Up for a Discussion and
Vote to send
to NCR ?? We looked at the Crime Prevention/Public Safety Strategy. Some
members questioned this use of money.
Ambassador
Program:
Volunteers?? Meet-Up?
September 13, 2014, Saturday – 10:30 - 11:30 am here at the
park.
8:15 EPIC Finances - Future Plans: this
blended into the possibility of the New Home Proposal and the sequestered
funding to allow this to be possible.
8:20 Housing Plans: Prelude to Restoration in
East Phillips: Carol presented the housing proposal that was presented some
time ago. This time it is more fleshed out now with real designs. She presented
the City-owned lot list of 8 lots and pointed out that our EPIC Phase II New
Home Strategy was gutted in the 2010 Mayor’s seizing NRP funds. EPIC had maintained its volunteer
status to restore funding and have the option of using some of that funding to
heal our neighborhood from the foreclosure crisis. This could bring back the
new construction and now empty strategy in our NRP Plan. We have been in
discussion with Powderhorn Residents Group (PRG) and Greater Metro
Housing Corporation (GMHC) about this. We have been assured of two houses
next spring and more later if we choose.
Margaret reported that the PCA is monitoring the pollution
from E. 28th Street and the Greenway.
8:45 Adjourn
