May 12, 2016

General Membership Meeting Minutes 05 -12




May 12th, 2016, 6:30 p.m. – 8:50 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
Phone: (612)  280-8418

"Those who are too smart to engage in politics
are punished by being governed by those who are dumber"  - Plato

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.
Board Members Present: Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.
Board Members Not Present: Jenny Bjorgo (E), Rosie Cruz (E), Shawna Dillon (E), Kristin Hanks.
EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Craig Seifert, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Karen Clark
Guests: Shirley Heyer, Clyde Turner (PACE)

6:45     Introductions:

·      Greetings and Introductions:
·      Approval of Agenda: by consensus
Approval of Minutes from April 14th, 2016, by consensus.  

6:50     Announcements:


  • Art-A-Whirl – Northeast Artists Studios open for viewing. May 20th,21st and 22nd from Friday 5 pm to 10 pm, Sat noon ‘til 8 pm, Sun noon ‘til 5 pm. 
  • Next EPIC Board Meeting will be June 4th.
  • Next Community Meeting will be June 9th.
  • EPIC SummerFest performers needed. Contact Brad Pass.
  • EPIC SummerFest, Sunday, June 12th, 2016.
  • Developer for 2701 Bloomington (empty lot now) has provided plans for community input. Proposal for 1-2 businesses in this project.

7:05     Introducing the new Board Members and Executive Committee and Report on the Annual Meeting.

Election results: Counted by Jana Metge and Julie Graves
2 year term: Shawna Dillon, Kristin Hanks, Laura Dale, Carol Pass, Rosie Cruz
1 year term: Jenny Bjorgo (volunteered to serve 1 year term)

Executive Committee
President: Carol Pass, Vice President: Margarita Ortega
Secretary: Linda Leonard, Treasurer: Mary Gonsior

Apparently, some of the election paperwork was thrown out in the trash. We don’t know by whom or why.

7:10     Byrne Grant Motion
In April, EPIC voted to repurpose $2,000 of the remaining $2,500 former NRP Phase II Park Kitchen allocation once allocated for building out the EP Park Community Center Kitchen and now no longer needed…to go as equal matching dollars from Little Earth to support the Native Americans Survey for the Byrne Grant. This is the 2nd vote to repurpose these funds, as required by EPIC Bylaws.

MOTION: (2ND Vote): Move the $2,000 of the remaining $2,500 go as equal matching dollars from Little Earth to support the Native Americans Survey for the Byrne Grant if motion is appropriate. Approved.

This leaves $500 in the NRP Phase II Park Kitchen allocation, once allocated for building out the EP Park Community Center Kitchen and now no longer needed. How to spend the remaining $500 to be decided.

7:20     Update on the Pollution struggle with the Asphalt Plant, Foundry and the Water Yard Trucks. The progress on the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm.

The $20M originally thought to be available for Urban Farming was reduced to $3M and so there will not be much chance to obtain funding in this particular legislative session. The new strategy of the coalition is to seek funding through the Governor under the category “Racial Equity”.

7:50     Consider a New Sports and Mentoring Proposal from PACE (Past Athletes Concerned About Education)   Clyde Turner will present. This will be a beginning vote for review with a final vote next EPIC meeting. This will involve partial funding by EPIC, partnering with funds from the Shakopee Sioux Community.

What does the budget look like? Are there stipends for the youth?
No, although there are some youth who are promoted to leadership positions.

Possibility for follow-up after the basketball camp.
Hoping to have a Basketball Academy…continue for the next three Saturdays (an additional 9 hours).PACE is also operating in Sanford Middle School, Henry in N. Minneapolis, and many schools in Saint Paul; there is an afternoon program in Burnsville.

Can EPIC receive “anonymous” data on youth who end up participating in school-based PACE programs?
Yes, that would be helpful information for both EPIC and PACE. PACE is very interested in collaborations that benefit the program and the sponsors.

Can the program be run indoors or outdoors?
Yes, either.

Will EPPCCC have capacity to host this program, even if for only one week and a few following Saturdays.
Little Earth also has basketball courts and there is definitely a lot of interest in basketball (heavily used).

Suggestions for collaboration/source of funds:
1. Participate in EPIC’s SummerFest
2. List EPIC and MPBoard on the T-shirt.
3. NRP Phase II, Youth Program Funds ($30,000 uncontracted)

MOTION: EPIC will partner with PACE to sponsor a one week or longer youth basketball & character building camp, and will provide $4,500 toward the budget, and will receive recognition as a sponsor, along with EPPCCC and MPRB, based on the proposal provided on May 6, 2016 and presented to GMM on May 12, 2016.  MG, LL, Approved.

8:40     Urban Agriculture

Last year, a bill was passed that said the commissioner of agriculture had to go out and ask what was important to future urban agriculture. This year, there is a pilot program that would fund grantees that apply. Cities, individuals, nonprofits and cooperatives can apply. There are 21 criteria that requests would be rated by, and economic need would be a component (creating jobs to grow food in communities with need). Passed in the House and Senate committees. The House brought it to the finance committee, but the Senate never did.
The Senate decided to put forward a plan to spend all of the surplus funds (cash) on funding into roads and bridges (fixing crumbling infrastructure) and lowering taxes for some. The result was that there was no money provided for many projects, including urban farming. The Senate spent $93M on this disparity budget.

Hundreds of people have worked on this issue all over the state, so the coalition is asking the governor and agriculture commissioner to exercise their power to provide funding. Never give up. We are seeking $3M.

House and Senate plans are so far apart, there might require a special session.

Call your senator and ask them to put Urban Farming in the big funding bill. It creates economic development, it’s a food justice issue. 

8:54     The Garden is being planted by many families and friends.

If you want a space, get on the waiting list. Planting season is upon us. Contact Brad Pass. 612-916-8478 or bpass@usinternet.com

8:55     Clean Sweep T-Shirt Design Contest. A Serious Prize ($50 cash prize). Deadline June 15th.

Contact Brad Pass. 612-916-8478 or bpass@usinternet.com.

8:56     Planning for EPIC SummerFest – June 12th, Talent Show, Music, Food, etc.

 Contact Brad Pass. 612-916-8478 or bpass@usinternet.com.

8:58     Adjourn





May 7, 2016

Board Meeting Minutes 05 - 07


May 7th, 10:00 am -12:00

East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S.
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (612)280-8418

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.
Board Members Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Laura Dale, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.
Board Members Not Present: Rosie Cruz (E), Linda Leonard (E),
EPIC Members: Brad Pass
Guests:

10:10   Introductions:
·      Greetings and Introductions.
·      Approval of Agenda: JB, Approved
·      Approval of Minutes from April 2nd, 2016: JB, Approved

Announcements:
  • Next EPIC Membership Meeting, May 12th, East Phillips Park, Thursday 6:30 pm,
  • Next EPIC Board meeting, June 4th, East Phillips Park, Saturday, 10:00 am
  • EPIC SummerFest, June 12th, East Phillips Park, 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
  • The city is no longer providing legal services to neighborhoods.

10:20   UP Dates on Grievance- Carol, Speed Bumps- Rita, Update on Cameras- Carol, Byrne Grant Money - Rita, CIF Grant- Carol

Grievances: Michelle Chavez has reported the EPIC has been very responsive to requests from NCR to address grievances under review.

Speed bumps: Rita will be receiving checks this week from businesses and will deliver the funds downtown. The 18th Avenue fundraising is completed.

Cameras: Police need to decide where to put the cameras. Cost is $8,000 per camera. EPIC needs to review the crime and safety budget.

Byrne Grant: We are waiting to hear from Michelle with authorization to spend these funds.

CIF Grant: We have still not received any requests for funds.

10:50   EPIC Governing Documents – Your Note books
            1)         Bylaws, Policies and Procedures, Garden, Park Programming Partnership
2)         EPIC Board Policies and Procedures Manual-

11:20   EPIC’s Financial Governing Documents-
1)    2012  NRP Phase II Action Plan: NRP a Housing Plan, Who Created? Other? What’s Spent? NRP now
a.     Note: EPIC NRP Funding To Little Earth and Bidi Gain Dash Anwebi
2)    EPIC Citizen Participation Program (CPP) Application 2014, Budget
3)    Priority Plans- Housing and Crime and Safety
  
11:30   EPIC’s Projects and Programs- Partnerships with Waite House, EP Park, Urban Farm Proposal
            PACE Program?

MOTION: EPIC Board recommends to the general membership for review, potential partnership with the PACE Program for 2016. JB, SD, Approved.

11:00    Duties of the Officers of the Board, Discussion- Election of Officers See Hand out

EPIC Officers were selected by consensus:

President: Carol Pass
Vice President: Margarita Ortega
Secretary: Linda Leonard
Treasurer: Mary Gonsior

12:00    Adjourn