EPIC Board Meeting Draft Minutes
July 3, 2021, 10am – 12pm
EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Email: epic.ssantiago@gmail.com
Office: 2433 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (608) 513-5107
Board Roster: Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Cassandra Holmes, David Ingold, Shontal Lajeunesse, Steve Sandberg, Earl Simms, Karen Townsend, Nikolas Winter-Simat
Board Members Present:
Board Members Not Present:
Members:
Guests:
10:00 Open meeting,
Vision and Mission
Welcome guests and Introductions
Agenda Approval,
Minutes Approval,
10:05 Announcements
Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday, July 8 at 6:30 online, the link to join is at eastphillips.org
Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, August 7 at 10am online, the link to join is at eastphillips.org
Garden Steering Committee: Monday, July 5 at 7pm via Zoom
General Garden Meeting: Saturday, July 10 at 9am via Zoom
CANCEL? Next Executive Committee meeting will be: Thursday, July 15 at 7pm online, the link to join is at eastphillips.org
Executive Committee meetings are open to the public
Board members please send agenda items (for both community meetings and board meetings) to Sarah before executive meetings each month
10:06 Proposal for changing meeting agendas
Board Meetings
Review vision and mission
welcome guests/intros
approve agenda and minutes
------- 5 mins
Report/update from Executive Coordinator
Reports from Departments
Departments bring forth motions that are necessary for board approval
------- 30 mins
New business
Brief discussion and delegation to departments and action committees
------- 25 mins
Community Meetings
Welcome - vision and mission
Intros
Group agreements
Announcements
Agenda approval and minutes approval
-----10 mins
Report from one action committee
-----5 mins
Feature presentation - 15 mins
questions and discussion - 10 mins
-----25 mins
Community decisions
-----20 mins
10:07 Motions
MOTION: The EPIC board recommends changing EPIC’s housing neighborhood priority wording from: “Build up to eight new houses on 8 empty lots to address the need for affordable workforce housing.” to: “Support securing housing for East Phillips residents and the development of affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the neighborhood.”
MOTION: The EPIC board approves $16,000 for the East Phillips Resident Housing Support Program through South East Homes Somali Recovery.
MOTION: The EPIC board approves moving $16,000 for the East Phillips Resident Housing Support Programprogram through South East Homes Somali Recovery from CPP funds to the housing neighborhood priority.
Southside proposal
MOTION: The EPIC board recommends changing EPIC’s community connections neighborhood priority wording from: “Utilize a number of tools and events to connect with residents of the East Phillips neighborhood. These include a special Facebook page, a new website, use of the Somali radio station, an annual park festival, special events such as the Little Earth Native American Mother's Day Pow Wow, a neighborhood Clean Sweep, National Night Out and other activities and initiatives.” to: “utilize tools and events to connect with residents of the East Phillips neighborhood, as well as secure space for community gatherings. The tools EPIC will utilize to increase community connections include media ads and events include the Little Earth Native American Mother’s Day Pow Wow, neighborhood Clean Sweeps, and other activities and initiatives.” I think we can be generic and say media ads. Also, I think we should include ‘Events’ in the list.
Letter of support for EPNI?
10:20 Executive Coordinator Updates
Audit:
Review ‘client responses.’
Any changes?
The report will be sent back to the auditor with our client responses.
Banks/Credit Unions:
Currently with Wells Fargo:
Monthly fee of $3.50 for ‘Monthly Check Return/Image Stmt Fee’
Average 15 transactions per month
certified B Corporation, a certified Community Development Financial Institution and member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values
Community Checking:
for businesses that have low-volume accounts
No minimum balance requirement
If there are more than 50 transactions per month there is an $18 maintenance fee
$0.45 per debit, paper deposit and check deposits if there are more than 50 transactions per month.
owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as part of their economic diversification program
Success Checking:
Limited to 25 deposited items per statement cycle
If customer exceeds 25 deposited items there is a fee of $0.10 per deposited item
Limited to 25 debits per statement cycle
If customer exceeds 25 withdrawals there is a fee of $0.15 per debit
No minimum balance
Federally insured by NCUA (National Credit Union Administration)
Small Business Checking:
No monthly fees
First 20 checks/debits are free per month, $0.20 each thereafter
MOTION: The EPIC board approves changing the depository to _______
Documentary Film project
Due to ethical concerns, Korab and team decided to move forward with just EPNI and not do larger East Phillips film due to time constraints
Is open to working with us in future
Work with Nations Gibbons?
Outreach contractors
Contracting with Knock Knock LLC who will hire and train field canvassers and conduct outreach delivering 3,900 doors knocked obtaining 20% (780) of contact rate, 80% (624) surveys filled out, 75% (468) of the phone numbers, 75% (468) of emails.
Bilingual East Phillips residents are highly preferred - tell your neighbors!
Final steps, sign memorandum of understanding with EPNI, sign Independent Contractor Consulting Agreement
Knock Knock LLC will begin the hiring process on Monday
Mighty Networks
YardHomes
meeting with CPED, Cano’s office, YardHomes Founder and scottie on July
A variance has been sent, individuals can send a letter of support for the variance for scottie’s unit
Discuss COVID restrictions - mask requirement at office?
No longer required to have a COVID-19 preparedness plan
propose change to:
EPIC will follow CDC guidelines, face coverings are not required at the EPIC office or at EPIC meetings/events. Unvaccinated people are highly recommended to wear masks while in the office or attending EPIC meetings/events.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, please do not come to an in person meeting or event at the EPIC office or elsewhere.
EPIC will keep a contact log for in person EPIC meetings and events. The log will be used for notification purposes in the case that someone in attendance tests positive for COVID-19 or had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
If an attendee tests positive/was infectious at an EPIC meeting/event the attendee will notify Sarah (state this requirement on the contact log).
EPIC will provide an online meeting option for people who choose not to be vaccinated or are immunocompromised.
Who would like to work together on the equitable engagement plan?
draft is due to the city September 1
Sarah would like to meet with neighbors and board members to gather people’s ideas, she can then work on putting together a first draft for board review before September 1
Nikolas,
Attendance expectations - change in policies and procedures
Emailed to Nikolas and Mary
11:00 Department Delegation
Departments
who is interested in each department
Legal/finance Department
strengths: small detail oriented
David, Mary, Laura
Vision Department
vision and mission
how are we meeting needs?
strengths: big picture thinker
Nikolas
Relational Community and Board Engagement Department
community and board connections
personnel and community relations
board retreat
events
how to engage people – flyering, banners etc
Community partnerships?
strengths: relationships
Steve
get together with your department before next board meeting
cancel Executive Committee meeting
in your department make a list of the scope of the department priorities, goals
11:15 Proposal for the 27th and Cedar site
11:20 New business: Bloomington Ave
All well aware of issues on Bloomington
Long term:
further developing Bloomington
Aid in providing housing to those who want it
I.e. South East Homes Somali Recovery program
Provide other services
I.e. South Side Harm Reduction
Short term:
Topic of August Community meeting
Part of restructuring community meetings
Find people doing the work - invite them to discussion
In person meeting with option to join virtually
Sarah proposes we purchases an Owl - camera, mic and speaker all in one
Hotspot?
Children’s activities
Clarification: items on organizational budget under $1,000 do not require further approval, such as above items or items for mayoral candidate forum.
If needed:
MOTION: EPIC approves the purchasing of equipment and supplies to be used for hybrid meetings, that may include, but not limited to an Owl device, hotspot and children’s activities
