EPIC Board Meeting 8-3

EPIC Board Meeting Draft Minutes

EPIC Board Meeting

August 3^rd, 2019, 10am – 12pm

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

Office: 2433 Bloomington Ave., 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: Carol Pass, Laura Dale, Steve Sandberg, Sarah Santiago, Abah Mohamed, Cassie Holmes, Rosie Cruz

Board Members Not Present: Mary Gonsior (E), Shontal Lajeunesse (U)

Members: Augustin Arce, Sonia Parra, Alfonso Cruz

Guests: Shirley Heyer

10:19   Quorum achieved

Agenda Approval. LD, SS, Approved.

·      Discussion on publishing agenda

Minutes Approval. CH, LD, Approved

10:25   Announcements

·      Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday, August 8^th at 6:30 at East Phillips Park

·      Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, September 7^th at 10am at the EPIC office (2433 Bloomington Avenue)

o   Board Meetings are open to the public

·      Open House at Colin Powell Weds. August 21^st 4-6pm on Midtown Greenway and 5^th Avenue

o   Talking about 35W project

10:28   Insurance Update

·      We are in discussions with a good insurance company

o   Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group (NIA)

MOTION: EPIC will accept a general liability waiver and any accompanying documents to be attached to our request for liability insurance with Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group (NIA) and accept the final copy of answers to the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group’s questions and attorney’s opinion. All this will be included in our Policies and Procedures Manual with the date of its inclusion. LD, CH, Approved

·      What does this mean for our Violence Prevention Grant?

o   It postpones the Violence Prevention Grant

o   The city won’t release the money until we have insurance

10:34   Violence Prevention Grant Committee update:

·      Do we need Final affirmative vote on additional spending for Violence Prevention Grant?

o   We did board vote, one community vote, need an additional community vote on Thursday

·      Have not had community vote because without funding doesn’t make sense

·      Devika agrees she will continue in whatever capacity she can after funding goes through

·      Should the board ask for an extension?

o   Ask Bob Cooper if we are still eligible for funds once we have insurance and do we need an extension once we have the funds?

·      Create contract as soon as possible, because once we have the funding, we will have a shorter window to do the project

·      Carol will ask attorney whether Devika needs insurance coverage because she is like a free agent

10:54   Status of SCOUT money?

·       Cassie got the money, purchased the Cub gift cards and Target gift cards

o   Stickers on cards say “this gift card is a donation from the East Phillips Improvement Coalition”

·       So far only have 58 out of 400 surveys that are not completed! Huge response rate already

·       Cassie will get the receipts and 'thank you for partnering with us’ to EPIC

11:05   Under 18 change to our bylaws – tabled from July Board Meeting

·       Should youth member be allowed on our board?

·       In Violence Prevention Grant it states board will consider changing bylaws to allow youth surveyors in EPIC’s board

·       We want to create multi-generational involvement – including in world café at the Roof Depot Site

·       Teach kids to be leaders – tell them you are a part of this

o   We need to teach them how to do this work

§  Teach them about bylaws and motions etc.

11:15   Bike On Program

·       Rosie wants to continue the program to teach kids and parents to ride on greenway

·       New $5 per adult program for a yearly membership

·       So far have 4 parents and 15 youth who are interested

·       At NNO they will get a list of people who are interested and bring it to community meeting on Thursday

·       So far have 6 bikes

·       Issue of insurance – either becomes direct project of EPIC and get a grant (perhaps through Blue Cross and Blue Shield)

·       This is one way to say family and kids live here – and get drug dealers and other crime out of the neighborhood

o   We need to figure out a way to get money

§  Need to find new sources of money

11:45   Adjourn LD, CH, Approved