December 8, 2016

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 12 - 08


December 8th, 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: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass. Margarita Ortega, Mary Gonsior
Board Members Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior
Board Members Not Present: Margarita Ortega
Members: Brad Pass, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Michael Green, Steve Sabdberg
Guests: Shirley Heyer, Dana Murdoch, Michelle Chavez, Christina Kendrick,  Noah Keller

6:30     Social Time/ Greetings and Introductions

6:55     Approval of Proposed December 8th, 2016 Agenda, by consensus.
            Approval of November 10th General Membership Draft Minutes, by consensus. 

7:00     Announcements      
  •   Next EPIC Board Meeting will be January 7th, 2017, Saturday at the Park 10:00 am to 12:00 no
  • Next EPIC Community meeting will be January 12th, 2017, Thursday at the Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.
  • Nominations for the Board: Members of East Phillips seeking election to the Board of Directors, whether nominated by themselves or another, should pick up the eligibility papers, sign them and turn them in to an EPIC Board member in the next few weeks.
  • Cedar Field Redesign - Help create Cedar Avenue Field Park Master Plan during three-day open house at EPPCCC at 3-9pm on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15 and 16, and at 9am-4pm on Saturday, Dec. 17. Announcements will be made on local Somali radio, and the flyer will be translated as well.
  • A New York City investment group is planning to buy property connected with the Sears building/Midtown Exchange from Ryan Companies.
7:15     Roof Depot – Community Voice
  • Roof Depot: Christina Kendrick (Neighborhood and Community Relations) reported that once the city makes definite decisions regarding utilization of the property, she will lead community engagement to explain what will happen and what role the community will have. It is not clear at this time exactly what that entails. Christina has a team of engagement specialists with various languages, communities. Christina will do all she can with all her tools to ensure that she hears from the community and how the city’s message is being received, and how these decisions impact constituents.
    • All scheduled engagement meetings will be public.
  • Decision-makers:
    • Property Services is in charge of thinking through how the city needs to use its facilities.
    • Public Works is designated as the department to use this site.
    • Meeting on Dec. 23rd – can EPIC be there?
  • Can Christina work with Traffic & Parking, and Traffic Control? This is a big concern in the neighborhood.
EPIC made motions at our last meeting to (1) seek funding from the city to conduct our own community engagement process, and (2) set aside dollars to hire an architect to assist in providing a community-friendly proposal for the site. EPIC has already done much to engage the community to plan a beneficial amenity for this site, and may be able to impact city decisions.

7:30     Housing – Habitat for Humanity- New Home build at 2921 18th Av. S.
Noah Keller; Habitat is proposing a single home; construction July 2017. Presented schematics; 4 bedroom home; a true-infill lot. Comments included crime/safety requests to make sure all builds include railings, even if there are only 2 steps, and also to build garages with the large doors perpendicular to the alley (not facing the alley).

MOTION: EPIC supports the purchase of 2921 18th Av. S. by Habitat for Humanity and we fully support the 4 bedroom home they will build, and recommend that they build the garage with the large garage doors perpendicular to the alley (not facing the alley). CP, JB, Approved.

7:45      Report on the Phillips Aquatics Center- Dana Murdoch, MPRB, graphics and design layouts, Q and A.

The project has gone out for bid. Morecon had the lowest bid, yet was beyond the existing budget. The bid was crafted with multiple options so that the contract could go ahead, and the funds will not be lost. The contract will include “base projects” (existing pool, spectator area, check in desk, new pool with family flexible locker rooms, community room, public restrooms and staff support spaces), but will not include Alternatives 2 (update existing locker rooms – cost is $162,000 for paint and some new finishes plus reconfigure entry to modern standards) and 3 (relocate fitness & teen centers – cost is $116,000 to switch the rooms). The MPRB has “dug deep” to find the funds for the “base projects”. The big work will start in April or May.

Comments:
  • The canopy was requested by community to protect disabled and youth being dropped off in busloads.  Cost is $135,000.
  • Midtown voted to ask MPRB save the 6 maple trees – they can be moved.
  • Are there handicap-accessible toilets in the locker rooms?
  • Does the structure support Solar?
8:00     Report on Grievance Resolutions

Process update: Typically members hear back when a grievance is resolved. Since there are some long-term outstanding grievances that the board wants to report,  the Executive Committee asked that the following resolution to the most recent grievance be read aloud to the members and placed in the minutes.

"The EPIC Executive Committee proposes the following resolution:
1.       We want you to  refer to the record about Board and member motions and actions regarding office space and staffing.
2.       We want you to  respect the decisions of the Board and membership in the manner in which the Board sets priorities, agendas, and work plans.
3.       You can present proposals to the Board about work plans, potential staffing, office sites, criteria, and funding options as he chooses.  Your current proposed remedy would incur costs and time beyond the scope of the Board’s current plans to pursue office space and staffing.
4.       The Board will be considering future funding and budgets and those proposals will come to the membership for discussion and approval. You can express your views at that time as may all the other members present.
5. It would be preferable for you to ask your questions at the time business is reported rather than wait months to do so.
6. In the future we will offer more details about further inquiries about potential office space and costs. No  decisions or proposals about the property on Bloomington  Avenue have been under discussion and there was nothing further to report about that property option when the grievance was filed." (Read by Linda Leonard)

We were told that the grievance process will be concluded in December.

8:15     EPIC Bylaw Revisions

The board wishes to make additional revisions. Once the board approved revisions have been incorporated into a new red-line version, it would go to NCR for review. Once the review is complete, the board would publish a FINAL version of the new Bylaws. EPIC would present an overview to the community (hit the significant changes), and then there is a vote (yay or nay.)

8:30      Financial Report

Finance reports through Nov. 15, 2016 were distributed.

8:50      Adjournment

In the interest of Public Safety, please consider the following:

  • Alert: ALL RESIDENTS – FOR THE COMMUNITY AND YOUR SAFETY – PLEASE TURN ON YOUR   OUTSIDE LIGHTS AT DUSK
  • Alert: Are any of your street lights out? Feel Safer and call the following numbers.
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