June 9, 2016

General membership Meeting Minutes 06 - 09


June 9th, 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 say it cannot be done
shouldn’t interrupt the people doing it." Ephemera, Inc.

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, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Shawna Dillon.
Board Members Not Present: Rosie Cruz (E), Margarita Ortega (E).
Members: Brad Pass, Maryanne Quiroz, Steve Sandberg, Rep. Karen Clark
Guests: Shirley Heyer, Clyde Turner (PACE), Gary Nelson (MPD), Cliff Swenson (MPRB), Chris Larson, Betty Sandoval, Erdogan Akguc, Yildiz Akguc,

6:40     Introductions:

·      Greetings and Introductions:
·      Approval of Agenda: Approved by concensus
Approval of Minutes from May 12th, 2016, MG, LL Approved

6:45     Announcements:

·      Next EPIC Board Meeting will be July 2nd at the Park 10;00 am to 12:00 am
  • EPIC SummerFest, this Sunday, June 12th, 2016, 1 to 7 pm.
  • Next Community Meeting will be July 14th.
  • Clean Sweep t-shirt design contest, ages 8-18; Deadline is June 15; $50 prize to winner.
  • Save the Shave, “2019 East Lake Open Street” – Site of the original Burma Shave Factory, on the street performance: 11-5 Sunday, July 24th. (Steve Sandburg.)

6:50     Crime and Safety (Gary Nelson)

Discussed status of speed bumps on 18th Avenue and 16th Avenue. Camera update: Insp. Sullivan wants EPIC to check with PD about location of other cameras. Must be agreed upon location. Terry, 612.708.8212. “Summer Fun” at Cedar Field every Tuesday from June 21 to Aug. 2, from 11 am to 1:30 pm. There will be food and activities. Sponsored by MPD community engagement team and PAL (Police Athletic League).

7:00     Maryanne Quiroz will be attending GMMs for Alondra Cano’s office. Passed out Ninth Ward Update.

7:10    Exciting update on progress on the Swimming Pool. Cliff Swenson from the Park Board

Minneapolis received a solar panel grant and East Phillips will receive one of those parks to receive solar panels. Will be installed on the south end of the Gym. Construction will begin Sept./Oct. and will go live in November. This will save 6-8% of the energy cost of this building. Grant came from Xcel Energy. The MN legislature also granted about $900,000 to Minneapolis.

Current plan to renovate existing pool and building a teaching pool. Concerns included maintaining access to the aquatics areas. The existing teen room will switched with the current fitness room. Also planned in the aquatics area will be both a men’s and women’s changing area, along with a family changing area. There will be a Community room also. 

Goal is to get the drawings out for bids in August, award in September and begin construction end of October/early November. Construction is expected to take 10-12 months and we hope to open in September 2017. We feel that with this design, the project will stay within budget. Funding has been provided to support operations for the first five years. Scheduling an aquatics director to begin in June 2017. This will be the park boards first indoor aquatics venue, and we want to make sure that the space is programmed well.
           
7:15     First Time Home Buyer help available, EPIC and the State of MN

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (Handout) offers education, loans, and professional assistance in finding and financing affordable housing.

EPIC should add our housing program on the GMHC website. Call Sondra.

7:35   Final Vote for $4,500 to support Shakopee Sioux matching grant for Clyde Turner Basketball Camp from PACE (Past Athletes Concerned About Education). Board and Community approved motion is the following:

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.

2nd Vote: BP, JB. Approved.

8:05     Proposal to build a small, one-story commercial building on 2701 Bloomington Ave. – Erdogan and Yildiz Akguc. Needs variances, zoning and parking set back. Public hearing will be Monday, June 13th, Rm 317, City Hall. EPIC Board recommended approval. Board Motion is the following:

MOTION: EPIC board recommends support of the variances for this plan as they continue to work with the community and consider additional models and features. LL, JB, Approved. One abstain (RC).

MOTION:  EPIC Community supports of the variances for this plan as they continue to work with the community and consider additional models and features. BP, SD, Approved.       

8:30     Planning for EPIC SummerFest – June 12th, Talent Show, Music, Food, etc. Check out plan and schedule, looking for volunteers.

EPIC TABLE:                                                  SATURDAY                                  SUNDAY SETUP: 9am – 1pm
1-3 pm Mary Gonsior                                      Get stage and generator                              Set up stage and generator
3-4 pm Linda Leonard                                           Speakers & Sound                            Set up Speakers & Sound
4-5 pm                                                                                                                   Setting up other activities & booths
5-7 pm Kristin Hanks                                                                                             Holy Rosary – food

8:45     Update on the Pollution struggle with the Asphalt Plant, Foundry and the Water Yard Trucks.

Karen Clark reported that there is some question about a study performed by Krista with MPCA. Krista wrote a grant and studied PAH’s, reporting that the study shows that the cumulative pollution here is not breaking the bar of “really bad air”. There is a lot of confusion about the findings of this study. EPIC has asthma maps that show otherwise. This study is looking at only one pollution factor. Karen will set up a meeting for a smaller group in the next couple weeks.

8:52     Adjourn