October 13, 2016

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 10 - 13


October 13th, 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

Board Roster: Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass. Margarita Ortega, Kristin Hanks, Rosie Cruz, Jenny Bjorgo, Mary Gonsior.
Board Members Present: Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Margarita Ortega, Jenny Bjorgo, Mary Gonsior.
Board Members Not Present: Kristin Hanks.
Members: Brad Pass, Michael Green, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Kim Hayden
Guests: Shirley Heyer, MaryAnne Quinoz

6:49     Introductions:

·       Greetings and Introductions:
·       Approval of Agenda: CP, JB; Approved with additions of financial report about moving line items, and Cedar bridge report.
·       Approval of Minutes from September 15th, 2016. JB, CP; Approved.

6:45     Announcements:

·       Next EPIC Board Meeting will be November 5th, Saturday at the Park 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
  • Next EPIC Community meeting will be November 10th, Thursday at the Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.
  • EPIC Garden Harvest Party, October 15th, Good Food, Pumpkin Carving Contest, Bring your musical instruments. Starts at 4:30; potluck – bring something to share. Dress warmly.
  • Next EPIC Community meeting will be November 10th, Thursday at the Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.
  • Neighborhood Network invitation to participate. Next Door is a private social network for you and your community. Talk to your neighbors online.

7:00     Cedar Bridge Update

There is a “rebuilding” project to retain the historic design of the bridge, add a bike trail, grass boulevard and sidewalk. This would narrow the traffic lanes. The condo’s are already right up to the sidewalk. The plan does not address a left-turn lane. SH obtained a 45 page document conversation about the changes to the Cedar bridge. LL proposes that we ask CM Cano to hold a neighborhood meeting to discuss. Why is there a bike lane on Cedar when there is a bike lane 2 blocks away on 17th? Ask CM Cano who is in charge of the project, and where is the local input about the local implications for this plan? Invite city/county transportation, traffic control, bicycles, safety, etc. Other neighborhoods should be invited (Powderhorn and Corcoran). Next EPIC meeting is Nov. 10th.

7:10    Clean Sweep Report – Brad reporting

A great success. Many people participated and enjoyed breakfast at Welna’s and lunch at Stewart Park. We raised $9,000 for this event; we tried but failed to get the city to contribute the garbage trucks donated. We gave away 400 T-shirts, designed by a local girl. This year Midtown picked up a lot of trash: Midtown 11,340 lbs; EPIC 10,700 lbs; Phillips West 2,560 lbs; Ventura Village 8,260 lbs. We also picked up 26 TVs, 12 appliances, 77 tires, 8,600 lbs of metal, and more! If anything was set out but not picked up, please contact Brad Pass.

Somali American Radio
Mahamed Cali reported that the radio station is doing very well. The Somali community wants to be involved in neighborhood life and work to make the community stronger, improve communication, reduce crime, and the radio station is a tool for communication and education, and can make a big difference in connecting the Somali American community to the larger neighborhoods.  EPIC would like to partner with the radio station and is looking into how such a partnership would work. For example, Midtown is partnering with the radio station, and their agreement includes providing a committee or board member to participate in an interview with the radio station every month.

7:29     Budget Realignment 2014-2016

Report on discussion and motion from Board’s October board meeting:

EPIC is showing a negative balance in one of our CPP expense categories (Communication/Outreach) and will need additional funds for 2016 in the category Professional Services. Discussed moving funds from various categories, to meet budget needs through 2016.

Board MOTION: Propose moving $5,000 from (9) Other Services to (1) Professional Services, and move $1,000 from (7) Development, $1,000 from (8) Fundraising, and $3,000 from (9) Other Services to (3) Communications/Outreach. MG, LD, Approved.

7:40     Crime Report and Information Intake

There was a crime meeting with local businesses and neighborhood folks held at St. Paul’s church, where discussion of the high volume of crime, recent murders, etc. took place. CP attended and the meeting was very productive in identifying serious nuisance properties. CP reported that Gail Baez wants to help neighborhoods find solutions to these nuisance properties. For example, there are instances where an individual owns multiple nuisance properties. The solution is to get the city to remove the rental license from these owners, and condemn these properties. Baez said we have to get active, and get involved with others in the neighborhood, and “affect” the election of officials who are not addressing these issues. M. Green tracked down Brian Starry who is the supervisor for the nuisance property division. MG reported a specific property on his block and tracked down the owner. He suggests that neighborhoods create a process for reporting these properties, and a procedure to follow for reporting and follow-up. Michael is going to ask for a number every time he calls 911, and will follow up with requests for reporting on the call.

M. Gonsior reported that the loitering, drug dealing and prostitution that had become rampant in the alley behind SuperAmerica, suddenly disappeared. RC reported that similar crime is going on near her – the worst EVER! Kim reported that there have been multiple break-ins in her block.

8:09     Begin Process of Bylaw Changes

Distributed a red-line version of the board’s recommended changes to EPIC’s bylaws. This is not a finished product, but the board is in full agreement about the changes that are included, however, there are still changes that the board wants to make. Red indicates initial and agreed on changes proposed by the committee working on the changes; the blue text indicates changes where lengthy discussion was needed to finalize the text. They will be changed to red.

MOTION: Post the Draft 1 Bylaws online until the next GMM at which time the board will present a proposal for reviewing and voting on the changes. LL, MK, Approved.

Noted: Before posting, add a footnote to include the date, and “Draft – version #” to the document before posting online; use red for ALL changes for the posted version; 

8:00     New CPP Application for 2017 – 2019

We are close to the end of a funding cycle. In the next funding cycle (2017 – 2018) EPIC will receive $232,460 or about $80,000 per year.  EPIC needs to create a priority plan for the next funding cycle. To create this plan, the board must first develop a process for engaging the community in order to identify priorities.

These funds are not sufficient to cover both an office and staff, as well as much in the way of priority activities. EPIC will have to choose how to spend these funds, but staffing is expensive, and this will leave very little for priorities.

SH shared that Midtown has been discussing this for several months. They hired TWO staff this year alone…they have also had to cut back on the budget. In the discussions, other priorities came up, and they are back to $20-30,000 for staff salaries…this is not full-time staff.

8:49     EPIC seeks a new Board Member

EPIC will post the opening on our Website as well as the section of EPIC Bylaws that outline how EPIC fills board vacancies.

8:51    Adjourn