April 12, 2018

EPIC Community Meeting 04 - 12


April 12th,  2018, 6:30 – 8:50
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: Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Tom Harris, Cassandra Holmes, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Linda Vermillion
Board Members Present: Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Tom Harris, Cassandra Holmes, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass.
Board Members Not Present: Linda Vermillion (E).
Members: Brad Pass, Kelly Trius, Abah Mohamed, Michael Green, Maria Torres, Susan Harris, Rep. Karen Clark,
            Halima Abdi, Ed Burke, Dana DeWilde, Harry DeWilde, Rebecca Walling, Shontal LaJeunesse, Craig See
Guests: Brett Nyman CPS, Shirley Heyer,

6:30     Social Time/ Greetings and Introductions

6:50    Announcements:  

  • Annual Meeting will be April 28, 2018, East Phillips Park, 9:30 – 11:30
  • EPIC Board Meeting, May 5th, Saturday, at EPIC Office 2433 Bloomington, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
  • Cinco de Mayo , May 5th, Saturday
  • General Membership Meeting, May 10th, Thursday, at East Phillips Park, 6:30 to 8:45 pm
  • SummerFest will be June 24, 2018
  • Green Zones is meeting monthly for 8 months. There is a citizen’s board that meets the 4th Tuesday of the month. You can find their sustainability project with CPED. Their meeting calendar is on the City website

MEETING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Quorum achieved 6:46

6:55       Approval of Proposed Agenda: Approved as amended (by consensus.)
Approval of March 8th General Membership Draft Minutes: MG, CH, approved.

7:00     Crime and Safety issues: Brett Nyman and Inspector Sullivan of the 3rd Precinct will be joining us.         Come with your questions and possible solutions.

  • Distributed list of beat officers who are not running 911 calls. If you are in danger, call 911. But feel free to develop relationships with these officers.
  • Block Leader Training – 2 sessions (only need to attend one). Please RSVP so there are enough materials by phone to 612-673-2856 or email karen.notsch@minneapolismn.gov.

    • Tuesday, May 8 and Monday June 11
    • 6:30-8 pm
    • Minneapolis Police Dept.
    • 3rd Precinct Community Room
    • 3000 Minnehaha Ave

  • March Part 1 crime and safety stats: See handout. There were two homicides in March (only 1 homicide all of last year.) 1 at the Super America after an altercation. No arrests. 2nd at Ogema Place; suspect arrested.

Questions:

  1. Do the police have data on youth in East Phillips?
    1. Are they victims? Perpetrators? Could we get those stats?
    2. This would be a project; contact Brett.
  2. How does the police department provide resources if there is no arrest? If there is an arrest?
    1. What is the criteria for deciding whether someone is arrested or provided with services?
                                               i.      
  1. Can the police offer a program for business owners where they can ask questions?
    1. Lake St. General Safety Conversation: Tuesday, April 17th, 1507 E. Lake St., 6:30 pm-7:30pm
    2. Block Leader Training
                                               i.     Citizen’s training is offered
    1. Coffee with a Cop (at McDonald’s)
    2. Visit the police precinct website
    3. Beat officers are supposed to be developing relationships.
  1. What processes are most effective in achieving results?
    1. People who are willing to call –
    2. People who are able to overcome being frustrated over a previous incident
    3. Advice: continuously hit a “reset” button
                                               i.     We need people to stay engaged
                                             ii.     Progress does get made
    1. Neighbors in action (south of Lake St.)
                                               i.     Patrols are a great idea; just need to get people involved and committed
1.     You can track crime numbers go down
    1. Cameras – is there funding?
                                               i.     Try the city council
  1. What does the police department do to let people know how they are improving their performance (in light of recent concerns)
    1. Different people want different things from the police. Community is not agreed. Example: loitering
                                               i.     Police take direction from the city council for what actions they want enforced.
    1. What about police training? What is specifically being done!
                                               i.     There is a Facebook site; Brett sends out information to block leaders; seasonal community forums.
  1. What about chronic homelessness; people loitering and leaving their belongings all over.
    1. Regular patrols, regular police presence.
    2. Homelessness is not a crime.
    3. Suggest we invite someone from St. Stephen’s to come and work with us on this long-term situation.
  2. What help do the police offer to help businesses deal with chronic homelessness
    1. They are afraid of going to jail.
    2. Other cities the police provide rides to places where help is provided.
    3. Minneapolis police do have this information – usually a mental health or other situation that prevents people from wanting to get help.
  3. Lighting really helps.

7:37   EPNI - Urban Farm Project: Next Steps:
·       Project Funding: we have a bill before the legislature for $3 million to build the project not just plan.
·       The project group is seeking money from both private sources and the state and anywhere to achieve this project. Goal is $10M.
·       Business and Development Plans: Each group is writing a business plan including financial sustainability.
o   A four-year process of neighborhood/community planning
o   $300,000 state grant received last year for planning and getting the project off the ground.
o   Site would be excellent for an indoor urban farm
o   EPNI has been working and studying the project and is planning to implement both low tech and high tech systems in the site.
o   Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural collaboration of local organizations.
·       Funding use issues - we are working out the spending process… it's pretty involved and we are trying to avoid needing an advance.   

Discussion about number of jobs, whether they will be local, whether there are opportunities for additional partners, can vendors buy “shares”, and other ideas. Right now, EPNI is in a process of trying to get the city to give us sufficient space for the project. The project is in a process of being “defined”. Nothing is finalized, and while we could get the space anytime, we expect about a 2-year process.

Met with the city yesterday. The city is still trying to figure out what space it really needs. The city wants to knock down the building, and we have asked them to save the part of the building we want.

8:07     Request for East Phillips Youth Program Funding Summer 2018; Jeanne Whitehill, Park Director
(See handout.) Programs include Field Fun (ages 6-14), #FridaysEP (all ages), and Skills & Drills on the Blacktop (ages 11-16). Goals including providing additional programs for neighborhood youth and families, increase participation of girls ages 12-16, increase staff visibility and site safety, learning opportunities for health, fitness, self-esteem, and build community.

MOTION: EPIC applauds, thanks and will commiit $5,000 for summer funding for Jeanne Whitehill's fabulous summer program for this summer.  LL, MG, Approved.

8:24     Swimming Lesson Plans for East Phillips Kids-Linda Leonard
LL followed up on a board discussion on the fact that most of the resources for the new pool seemed to be reserved already, and some of the sessions are already full. This is not necessarily how signups for sessions will happen in the future. LL spent time listing the barriers to EPIC youth to access these resources. Park staff is now aware that EPIC has provided financial support. They are looking for lifeguards and aquatics instructors. There is also a current schedule on the website. You must create a username and password to sign up for classes.

Barriers: Transportation, money, swimsuits, language, access to electronics, and more.

Options for overcoming some of these barriers:
  • EPIC has money availableto donate to PB scholarship fund, earmarked for East Phillips only.
  • A series of lessons is typically anticipated to be evenings, after dinner, twice a week for four weeks; at a cost of $55. The family would pay $5 if they qualify (free or reduced lunch) and EPIC paying the balance.
  • EPIC will prioritize criteria for funding by other factors such as attendance, age groups, etc.
  • Adults must accompany youth ages 8 and under (1 adult to 4 youth).

8:35     EPIC ANNUAL MEETING, April 28, 2018, East Phillips Park, 9:30 – 11:30
Are you considering running for the Board? Find out what’s involved. What does the board do? Think about what the board has done.…Comes up with Visionary Plans and turns them into Realities. Volunteers are NEEDED to help set up and serve. Friday evening 7 pm (clean kitchen, set up tables, etc. get everything ready.) Saturday morning 8 am (cooking, final set up tables, coffee, paper goods, sound system.) CLEANUP 11:30 am until done.

  • Check out the three pages for applications, which also can be found on the EPIC Website at www.eastphillips-epic.com. Click on ‘about EPIC’, then go to Board Nomination 3 pages.
  • The Election, Ballots, nominations from the floor; eligibility requirements.
    • Age 18, and live or work in East Phillips
    • Have attended a board meeting in the past year, and elected to be a member
    • Complete the application forms and attend the Annual Meeting
  • Four (4) seats will be on the ballot, including incumbents:
    • Rosie Cruz
    • Laura Dale
    • Carol Pass
  • Board Directors must attend both board meetings and general membership meetings. Occasional additional meeting attendance may also be required.
    • Board meeting 1st Saturday of each month (10 am – Noon)
    • General membership meeting 2nd Thursday of each month (6:30 -8:45 pm)
    • Annual meeting (TBD annually in March or April)
    • Summer Fest (TBD annually in June)

8:55     Adjourn
Posted by at
Labels: