June 1st,
2019, 10am – 12pm
EPIC Board Meeting
EPIC Board Meeting
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,
Cassandra Holmes, Shontal Lajeunesse, Abah Mohamed, Carol Pass, Steve Sandberg,
Sarah Santiago.
Board
Members Present: Laura Dale,
Mary Gonsior, Abah Mohamed, Steve Sandberg, Sarah Santiago
Board
Members Not Present: Rosie Cruz (E),
Cassandra Holmes (E), Carol Pass (E), Shontal Lajeunesse (U)
Members: Devika Ghai, Brad Pass
Guests:
EPIC BOARD MEETING:
PROPOSED AGENDA
Quorum achieved at
10:20am
Agenda approved at
10:21am
First Time Home Buyer
and Rehab Loan Programs; CEE agreement.
EPIC has $150 k + that must be used for housing. The first
time home buyer and rehab loan programs have been reinstated through the Center
for Energy and Environment (CEE) and [Carol Pass] is thinking it would be wise
to follow Midtown Phillips lead in reinstating these two [former EPIC]
programs. Timing is critical because the city will take our money if we don't
get this funding contracted. All the other neighborhoods are locking their
money in this same way.
The cost for the Loan programs are, a One time initial
contract set-up fee of $1,500, a $2,500 annual fee and a 10% origination fee
for each loan that we sign. We are anticipating providing a 0% interest loan, which
is what Midtown did. This is a deferred loan program which would not be due for
repayment until the sale of the property. In a phone conversation with Jim
Hasnik, we were promised a written outline which we should have at Saturday's
board meeting. The agreement should be voted on by the board Saturday and perhaps the general
membership meeting on the second Thursday. (This second vote may not be
necessary because it has already been voted on and there is no other use for
which this money can be put.)
·
City is holding the money, CEE will process the
applications and make sure all of the paperwork is processed. Once sale of home
is made, money goes back in the fund.
·
EPIC already paid the one-time fee – question
whether we need to pay the one time fee again because the program went defunct
·
Is this the only way to use the $150,000?
o
Research whether we can use for renters
o
Impression is that the money is to maintain
housing in the neighborhood
o
Is it possible to make available to landlords to
maintain property?
MOTION: EPIC will
seek a contract with CEE for $150,000 + for housing funds for a first-time
homebuyer and rehab loan program consistent with EPIC’s former program with CEE
and will explore the possibility of whether these dollars can be used for
rental apartment rehab. MG, SS, approved.
Violence Prevention Grant
Proposal
A
grant proposal was written by Devika Ghai on behalf of EPIC seeking $25,000
from Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention. [Mary Gonsior] distributed the
proposal to the executive committee for review, however with only two days
before the proposal needed to be submitted there was very little time to offer
feedback. After receiving feedback from Sarah Santiago, Mary submitted the
proposal online.
Unfortunately,
Carol and Cassie were not able to review the document before it was submitted,
and both had some recommended changes they would propose in the event the funds
are offered to EPIC. Cassie has provided her feedback in writing for discussion
by the full board.
·
Tool
for future EPIC programming
·
Cassie
and Carol had some concerns
·
Proposal
is submitted
o
If
funding is approved – we may need to submit revised proposal and ask if they
are willing to approve revised approval – if not try again next time funding is
open
§
Proposed
changes:
·
Funding
may not be enough – move funds from youth or other pockets to this program if
necessary. If grant is approved will make motions for the funding at that time
·
By
listing Devika as contact person makes proposal stronger with a specific person
– we need to vet Devika because we didn’t have time to go through typical process
for approving proposal. Wants someone else to take lead if possible
·
Board
agrees that Devika is able to be the project lead – we are open to having
someone else take the lead on project. If Devika is lead will contact
references and vet, same with any other candidates.
·
Would
like a key on page 2 for map
·
Page
3 – “largest urban native” correction
·
Page
4 – “We want to convey…”-what is EPIC’s strategic plan? Use this to form a
strategic plan – board agrees
·
Concern
about the negative aspects of EPIC – change to language that we have achieved a
lot and can do more
·
“Haven’t
conducted survey in over 10 years correction” – have conducted survey last year
– Sarah is contact for this
·
Page
5 - Add pollution to top “broader issues…”
·
“share
data publicly” – Little Earth has rules about sharing data – permissions may be
required
·
Shontal
– spelled wrong
·
Page
6 – project lead – will revisit in July
·
“highly
problematic vacant lot” got references mixed up
·
Love
idea of exit interviews with youth
·
“under
18 change” – look at bylaws – Little Earth has youth board member voted on by
peers
·
“Same
tired strategies” – state more positively
·
Art
murals – do they have East Phillips community connection? - invite artists and
have lunch with us– not $ out of budget
·
Incentives
for gift card – disconnect between budget and how much gift card incentive will
cost
o
May
need to come up with supplement for more funds
·
Budget
– project lead says “supervising of youth team” – that is responsibility of
mentor
o
200
hours doesn’t seem like enough time
§
Devika
says budget was reason for fewer hours
§
Ask
project lead candidate to plan out how 200 hours will be spent
o
More
money needed for incentives
·
Budget
narrative – rephrase that $5000 for project lead etc.
Devika
will make revisions and submit CV and references to EPIC
MOTION: EPIC
will approve the 2019 Violence Prevention Fund proposal with revision and submit
to general membership at the June general membership meeting. LD, AM, approved.
Board
is greatly appreciative of Devika for this proposal.
City staff re: the proposed
new development on 17th Ave.
[Devika
and partner] strongly feel the new development should be entirely or mostly
affordable housing, not just one or two affordable units in an otherwise luxury
apartment building. As a result of our conversations, Clay Dutra, as well
as CPED and city staff are going to make a public presentation to the community
about the timeline and process for the development, highlighting any and all
opportunities for public participation.
I
[Devika] wanted to ask what you all think of the idea of having this community
conversation be part of the upcoming EPIC meeting? Lex and I will help do
outreach to turn people out to the meeting, esp from 17th & 16th Aves,
which will be the most affected. Let me know if you're up for that. If not, no
problem, we will organize a separate meeting that Tuesday. Please let us know
what you think. If you have any questions plz feel free to call me - 650
644 6142.
·
EPIC’s
townhomes are mixed income – Mary mentions the reasons behind this
·
If
city going to approve market rate apartments then not following their values
·
Devika
and Steve co-lead this part of the general membership meeting
·
The
city hasn’t done anything about the project
·
Their
block hasn’t heard anything about the project
·
Parking
concerns, affordability and notification/engagement concerns
·
Will
be on June general membership meeting
Summerfest
Park
board employee, Tammy Williams, has been planning Summerfest but issue with
reimbursing her
·
Tammy
got in trouble because getting paid by park board and received stipend as well
·
Would
like to reimburse Tammy for time
·
Ask
her for proposal – under $1,000
o
Compensation
for Tammy Williams
·
Put
together proposal for staff development/retreat?
·
Gift
cards – distribute in fair way
Stage
and tent are free, not paying performers, Brad will pay for Pinatas and candy,
Park Board pays for bouncy houses. Food trucks want to be guaranteed amount
they will earn and otherwise reimbursed.
MOTION: EPIC
will set aside up to $999 from community engagement to cover Summerfest
expenses. StS, LD, approved
Other NRP Fund
balances
Another financial issue is the fact that we have little bits
of money in numerous categories that should be consolidated under one contract
called Community Engagement or Community Outreach. In the last couple of months
the Board locked down contracts for increasing our admin & youth
programming. All the rest needs to be consolidated and contracted ASAP.
MOTION: EPIC will consolidate
remaining small NRP phase II fund balances into one contract called Community
Engagement or Community Outreach. AM,LD, approved.
Community meeting for
Roof Depot
Hoping to call a meeting
·
Wednesdays are the best, Mondays second best for
the park
·
We need to get a lot of people out to plan what
to do when trucks appear to tear down building
o
Want to give people jobs of what they can do
·
Goals: to prevent pollution; second goal is to
achieve all of the goals of the Urban Farm project - need to keep it in the
community
Sarah has agreed to update the contact e-mail lists from
EPIC meetings; send out e-mail reminder of the upcoming meeting including
asking for proposals for agendas; and contact Gabe or Amy to upload meeting
minutes online.
