June 11, 2015, 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 Roster: Jenny Bjorgo,
Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass, Gloria
Reyes,
Board Members
Present: Mary Gonsior, Margarita Ortega, Linda Leonard, Carol
Pass, Rosie Cruz,
Board Members
Not Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Gloria Reyes, Jean Howard,
EPIC
Members: Laura Dale, Michael Green, Brad Pass,
Margaret Kirkpatrick
Guests: Shirley Heyer,
6:40 Introductions:
· Greetings and
Introductions
· Meeting of the
committee of the whole (AY, LD) Approved
· Approval of Agenda:
approved by consensus
·
Approval of Minutes from EPIC April 9th
EGM Meeting: Tabled to next month.
·
Approval of Minutes from EPIC Mary14th EGM
Meeting: CP, MK, Approved
6:55 Announcements:
- Potential Date for EPIC Summerfest, Sunday, June 21
- Next months’ meeting are rescheduled
- Next EPIC Board Meeting, Saturday, July 11th
- General Membership Meeting, Thursday, July 16th
- Greenway Saturday, June 20 (evening – 6-Midnight)
- art installations, fundraiser bike ride
- Street resurfacing and bikeway (discussion)
- 26th St. and 28th St.
- Councilmembers met with residents to discuss concerns.
- Follow up meeting was planned;
- Personal follow up with individuals did happen.
- Aisha reported that there was a meeting held with ???, special planning was needed to address the bike connection at that intersection. Staff completed new traffic counts for the portion directly affected by??? Plan is not finalized…for the section of Cedar to Hiawatha. Aisha will send information and links.
- Speedbumps
- CP looked into this and learned that no neighborhood in the city funds these because if you provide funds for one, you have to provide funds for all. Cost is $7,500 for the pair of bumps and two signs.
7:35 Recent Board Actions
·
Completion and submission of CIF Grant in
partnership with Little Earth
·
Letters to Council Members
·
Board Members and neighbors went to planning
commission/CLIC meeting and spoke for our plan for Roof Depot
7:40 History of East Phillips
This neighborhood has been fighting off environmental
injustice since at least 1992. For 100 years, this neighborhood has been an
immigrant neighborhood. Hiawatha was a foot path before it was a highway. The
plan that was drawn by Dovolis is a good one and we need to remember how long
it takes to bring these dreams to fruition. There have been many kinds of
struggles here over many years, by many generations of residents. This is the
“epicenter” of Minneapolis – the easiest way to get in and out of here. While
we want to create a vision for retaining the benefits of industry, we want to
protect our residents from the poisons that are covering this area, and
eliminate the special and environmental inequities that are entrenched in our
cities culture.
Turning the
negatives into the positives
How can we work with the city to help defeat the vote
to authorize negotiation for the property on Monday? The community involvement
has been beneficial to our councilmember’s work to stop the purchase. Hearing
that the community has a vision has empowered the CM to continue to say “NO”
and call on the council to hear community voices and empower the community to
share their own vision for the space. Annie Young wanted to present to the
council on how to work with the community to create a commercial/community
benefits agreement/plan, however, the committee is not accepting any speakers
except by invitation.
Michael Green asked about the diesel trucks, how that
adds to the pollution. Wants more information about actual pollution (studies,
projections, etc.), information about jobs, taxes.
Aisha reported that the council was not really excited
about a CBA, but under pressure from CM Cano and various community residents
and organizations, are starting to at least listen.
CP pointed out that the current plan by the city
includes NOTHING for the community…we may be forced into a compromise, but it
is reasonable for residents to have expectations for jobs, clean air, taxes for
the city, and more.
Robert Lilligren is writing a letter to the council
committee.
If the vote succeeds, next steps for city:
·
Proposal to purchase
·
Community meeting
·
Permits
Community will have additional opportunities to provide
input.
Ideas from Annie Young (for Sunday meeting)
·
EVERYONE write to the city council since they
aren’t letting us speak.
·
Solar powered trucks
·
New HVAC
·
We won an award by Pres. Clinton for the Green
Institute
·
We can win another award if we can work out a
partnership agreement to build a green village (CBA)
o
Help us put in the green features
o
Give us jobs
o
City is already committed to green designs
Carol reminded members that EPIC has been working on
this in our own meetings and with other organizations, and has already passed a
motion in connection with the plans that offer an alternative possibility for
the site. The plan includes having identified investors, consultants, and
ethnic participation with Native American tribes.
MOTION: Form a committee
to perform a thorough cost/benefit analysis on all possible uses of the Roof
Depot site so that we have full backup plans for every possible eventuality. MGr,
MK. Failed.
Shirley Heyer: What other options has the city studied
for this site? They have only studied one buyer, themselves.
8:40 Sunday Meeting 9:00 am at the East
Phillips Park
Carol agrees that there isn’t anyone getting all the
facts, dollars and numbers, but what information there is, is coming through
our CM Cano. Discussion about having meetings on Sunday mornings excluding a
large percent of constituency from these meetings.
