May 10, 2018

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 05 - 10


May 10th,  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, Abah Mohamed
Board Members Present: Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Tom Harris, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Linda,
Board Members Not Present: Cassandra Holmes (E), Linda Vermillion (E), Abah Mohamed.
Members:  Bras Pass, Kelly Ekart, George Kennedy Carol Hill Kennedy,
Guests: Shirley Heyer

6:30     Social Time/ Greetings and Introductions


7:10     Approval of Proposed Agenda: BP, LD, approved.
Approval of April 12th General Membership Draft Minutes: BP, LD, approved.

 

-----     Announcements:

  • EPIC Community Garden Meeting – May 12th, 9:00 this Saturday morning, EPPark, 6 plots available!
    • Clean dirt! The soil was remediated back in 2005.

·       SummerFest will be Sunday, June 24, 2018. The next planning meeting is Tuesday, May 15th at 11:30 am.

  • 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.
  • Haitian Flag Day (Powderhorn Park) May 18th 5:30-9:00 commemorates the adoption of the Haitian Flag; Join with the Haitian Community to celebrate their history and culture.
  • Field-Regina-Northrop Neighborhood Celebration, Saturday at 11:30 am on June 2nd at McRae Park. Parade begins at field School – 4645 4th Ave S at 10:45 am.

7:30     Reflections on the Annual Meeting

The annual meeting was a big success. We gained a new board member, Abah Mohamed. We have good board that is stable, and has learned how to do a lot of big things for he neighborhood. Thank you to all those who volunteered to help plan, and carry out the meeting.

7:35     More on Swimming Lesson Plans for East Phillips Kids-Linda Leonard

Update. MPLS park board now has a swimming schedule for the summer. Classes are small (12 at most). Jean is going to print some pre-published schedules. The park needs to know when they will get EPIC money for the project; Jean proposes that EPIC provide a letter from an authority, guaranteeing that EPIC has the funds for $50 each child, up to 50 total children for a total of $2,500.00. Details to be figured out, but we need a motion.

MOTION: EPIC makes 2nd vote to set aside $2,500 of our youth programming money for swimming lessons as here described. LL,LD Approved

7:46    The Community Garden – Plots available with “pure country dirt”.

The garden serves people who live, work or own property in East Phillips. There are 6 plots available, and you can contact Brad Pass, or attend the garden meeting on Saturday.

7:49    Any Summer Issues you want EPIC to deal with…especially if you want to help

  • Carry out events through the summer.
    • Neighborhood BBQ at the park – August?
    • Expand our October Harvest party (block off the street)
      • Special invites to families that have been here for years
  • Raise money for EPIC
    • Youth car wash

8:20    Help Plan the EPIC SummerFest – Mid-June, Talent Show, Music, Food, etc. Bring your ideas and any musicians’ names you know. Do you want a table?

The next planning meeting is Tuesday, May 15th at 11:30 am. Lunch will be served. Ideas:

·       (from Kelly Trius) We’ve been talking about traffic control, and there was a small boy killed last year; if someone was interested in leading a project at SummerFest for the community to work together to create beautiful signs to place around the neighborhood: “slow for children” and “drive like your kids live here”.
·       Open Mike for Children

8:22     Crime and Safety issues: Questions we want answers to:

  • Stop and Shop: dealing, parking, weapons, trash, prostitution
  • Businesses on Lake St. have to deal with guns, gangs, drugs,
  • 2 shootings in East Phillips – people are shook up
    • Little Earth (6 victims, everyone was apprehended); LE community is meeting tonight
    • 2600 block of Cedar (police were in the alley on the east side of Cedar)
  • TH reported a man speeding 50 mph in the neighborhood; the police took almost an hour to arrive. Officer took so long because “he was doing something better”.
    • Reminder: hit the reset button. Keep calling 911. Over time we will see impact
    • Underwhelming police presence: call CM Cano


8:30     Adjourn

May 5, 2018

EPIC Board Meetinig Minutes 05 - 05


May 5th, 2018, 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: Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Tom Harris, Cassandra Holmes, Linda Leonard, Abah Mohamed, Carol Pass, Linda Vermillion
Board Members Present: Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Linda Vermillion, Rosie Cruz, Abah Mohamed
Board Members Not Present: Tom Harris, Cassandra Holmes.
EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Halima Abdi
Guests:

10:20   Introductions: Meeting as a committee of the whole

·       Greetings and Introductions
·       Approval of Agenda as amended: LV, LD, approved
·       Approval of Board Minutes from April 7th, 2018: LV, LD, approved

10:15   Announcements:
·       General Membership Meeting, May 10th, Thursday, at East Phillips Park, 6:30 to 8:45 pm.
·       SummerFest will be June 24, 2018 (Sunday)

10:15   Parking on 16th Avenue

Discussion of long standing parking issues and neighbor relationships on 16th Avenue.

10:51   EPIC Finances

·       EPIC has received $10,000 from our unused NRP dollars. The contract allows EPIC to spend these funds on Admin. We’re still waiting for the contract to come through for completing the Little Earth project.
·       WEI withdrew from EPNI, and Chad Hebert, Urban Farm Project will replace WEI and will receive $20,000 contract.
·       EPIC turned in a payment reimbursement request to DEED for $58K, to be disbursed to the partners of EPNI, in accordance with invoices submitted.

10:30   Welcome New and Incumbent Board Members:   

EPIC welcomes Abah Mohamed to the board!

MOTION: Accept the current executive committee to serve another year. LV, LD, approved.

11:24   EPNI - Urban Farm Project
·       Our payment request submission was described as “perfect”. We have a bill in the legislature for $3M which would also come in through EPIC.
·       CP and CH will advocate for the funding next week at the legislature.
·       EPNI is working on incorporating itself for future sustainability.
·       The city hasn’t changed its response to us – they don’t want to give us any space at all.
·       CH suggested looking into treaty rights in the area considering there are 30 different tribes represented at Little Earth; highlighting the impact of lack of jobs and opportunities, and the effect of pollution on youth in the area.
·       LL referenced an article about the impact of pollution on infants in the womb; miscarriage rates in the neighborhood. Fund a health survey at Little Earth and other nearby neighborhoods. Request stats from CUHCC, clinic at St. Paul’s community clinic, Smileys, and other neighborhood health clinic.
·       SH reported that the city is planning to build a public works building over NE – if this is approved, why would they need the Roof Depot site.

11:34   Swimming program
·       LL met with Park staff to present our concerns about roadblocks to our community to take advantage of the new swimming pool.
·       LL created a contact sheet so that EPIC can identify some families that are interested.
o   Families who qualify for free or reduced lunch, will receive a reduced fee for lessons.
o   Family pays $5 and EPIC pays $50 per student.
o   Sessions include 8 lessons.
o   Children 5-8 must be accompanied by an adult, in the water. Pool is 4.5 feet deep.
o   Children 9-12 must be accompanied by an adult (who does not need to be in the water.)
o   Park Board has not yet scheduled swimming lessons for the summer. Jean will have access to the schedule, but they are expecting children’s lessons to occur in the evening and on weekends.
·       Open Swim $5 (children ages 12 & under are free, up to four per paid adult.)
·       Monthly and Seasonal Passes are available.
·       Free swimsuit and life jackets are available for use by children and adults.
·       Some bi-lingual instruction will be available.

11:40   Summerfest Planning

See Handout.
Planning meeting is planned for Wed. May 9th at the park.

12:00   Adjourned