July 29, 2021

EPIC Board Meeting Agenda 8-7


Original_EPIC_Image

    

    EPIC Board Meeting Draft Agenda

August 7, 2021, 10am – 11am

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 Review vision and mission

Welcome guests/intros

Approve agenda,

Approve minutes,

Reminders:

  • Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday,  August 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 at Cedar Field Park and online (link to join meeting can be found at eastphillips.org)

    • The focus will be on a community discussion about issues on Bloomington Ave - invite your neighbors!

  • Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, September 4 from 10am to 11am TBD  and online (link to join meeting can be found at eastphillips.org)

    • Board Meetings are open to the public


10:05 Jack Byers from Payne-Phalen Neighborhood


10:20 Questions for Jack and Discussion


10:35 Report/Update from Executive Coordinator

  • Probation Update

  • Outreach Update

Report from Departments

  • Scope and goals of each department

  • Legal/Finance Department

    • Quarterly Financial Report

    • Move funds to cover annual fee for CEE loan programs

      • a) We need to add more funds to cover CEE's annual fee, which is $2,500. Sarah proposes we move $5,000 (budgeting for 2 years) from the homebuyer assistance program to cover the immediate need for funds, since I believe the annual fee is due in September.

      • b) We only have $3,112 left in the Deferred & Emergency deferred loan program (minimum loan amount is $1,000 and maximum is $10,000. The original amount in this program was $48,871.00). We could move money from CPP to this program or we also have a little over $18,000 in Phase II Program Income in the Deferred Rehab Loan Strategy that we could use for this and it wouldn't require a plan modification.

      • c) We have $43,967 left in the home buyer assistance program. This would likely cover 4 more loans, since the maximum loan amount is $10,000. We haven't had much activity with this program (just $10,000), but if we are moving the above funds, I wonder if we add more to this fund as well since we have CPP money.

MOTION: The EPIC Board approves of moving $5,000 from our CEE homebuyer assistance program to cover CEE's annual fee for two years.

  • Does this need 2 community meeting votes? We are only moving money from a CEE program to cover fees for the loan programs.

MOTION: The EPIC Board approves of moving $18,000 from the Phase II Program Income in the Deferred Rehab Loan Strategy to the CEE Deferred and Emergency deferred loan program.

  • This will require 2 community meeting votes.

10:35 New business and delegate to proper spaces (work group, department etc.)

  • New policies and procedures

    • Procurement and Competitive Bidding Policy (auditor strongly encouraged, we agreed to implement) Decide how much to put: "EPIC’s employees, board of directors or volunteers shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, gifts, consulting fees, trips, favors or anything having a monetary value in excess of _____ dollars ($__) from a vendor, potential vendor, or from the family or employees of a vendor, potential vendor or bidder; or from any party to a sub-agreement or ancillary contract.

    • Social Media Policy (board discussed needing one in past, also in probation requirements)

    • Board Attendance Policy

    • Small changes to Operating Policies and Procedures and Board Manual

      • Page 40: "Two authorized check signers will sign any disbursement over $3,000.00." Changed from $1,000.

      • Page 36:

      • Change: All expenditures above $1,000 and not already included in the Organizational Budget CPP administrative budget with jurisdiction at the time, shall require a board recommendation, a community review vote at the next community meeting and a final affirmative vote at the following community meeting, which must take place at least 21 days from the prior reviewing meeting.

      • Add: All expenditures less than $1,000 and included in the Organizational Budget will be provided to the board in a written proposal outlining the purpose and line item the expense will come from three business days before purchase. 

  • In the past EPIC has offered reimbursement for materials for National Night Out - we have $6,500 in family events and outreach, David and Sarah approved a request from a block leader and sent out a message to the email list and on Facebook saying we will reimburse people up to $100 per block party up to $1,000

    • Do we want to expand this through the summer to reimburse block parties?

    • $100 per block party to be used for block party materials i.e. decorations, plates, cups, kids activities (no food or entertainment)?

    • EPIC outreach would need to be a part of the block party - we drop off EPIC flyers

    • 49% of survey respondents have shared that block parties are a way they prefer to engage with East Phillips

  • MIGIZI is filing for a variance for their addition and remodeling project at 1845 East Lake Street:

    • To allow for the addition to be setback from the property line a distance greater than the municipal zoning code allows for Pedestrian Overlay district. 

    • The proposed two story addition connects to the existing two story building and includes an elevator bringing accessibility to a floor that is not currently accessible. 

    • The project adds building area in a place of surface parking. The proposed project moves the site towards conformity as the design adds windows fronting Lake Street. 

    • The proposed site plan adds greenspace fronting the street where fence and asphalt parking currently exist.

    • The City Planning Commission will meet on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. During the declared local public health emergency, Minneapolis has transitioned to an electronic format for its public meetings and hearings, authorized under Minn. Stat. Section 13D.021, to minimize the risk of exposure to or potential spread of COVID-19. The public may view the public hearing using the following options: Watch on Comcast Channel 14 or 799 or live on www.minneapolismn.gov/tv/citycounciltv.   

    • If you have questions about the project, please contact the City staff person listed below.  If you would like to submit comments, you may submit them via the link above or by emailing:

    • Lindsey Silas, Senior City Planner – 505 4th Ave S #320, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone (612) 673-2653 

E-mail: Lindsey.Silas@minneapolismn.gov.

  • This announcement has been added to our community meeting agenda

  • Any further action?

  • Help host Ward 9 Forum?

    • NACDI, MNVoice, Powderhorn Park and others who are planning mayoral candidate forum, working to do Ward 9 forum

    • September 21

    • How do we want to contribute - help planning? Financially? 


11:00 Adjourn




July 22, 2021

EPIC Community Meeting Agenda 8-12


 EPIC Community Meeting Draft Agenda

August 12, 2021, 6:30-7:30

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

Email: epic.ssantiago@gmail.com

Office: 2433 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Phone: (612) 354-6802

 

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:

 

6:30     Welcome

      Vision and Mission

      Intros

      Group Agreements

      Respect each other; aim for kindness

      Respect each other's time; aim for brevity

      Respect the agenda; aim for unity

      Own your words, actions, and reactions; aim for peace

      How to become a member

      For those joining in person: simply mark that you want to be a member on the sign in sheet

      For those joining virtually: chat Sarah or email sarah@eastphillips.org with your email address and physical address (to verify you live in East Phillips)

      All members are allowed to vote on EPIC decisions and motions

      Agenda Approval,

Minutes Approval,

      Announcements


  • Mayoral Candidate forum is next Sunday! 2-4 at Cedar Field Park

  • Pickle off and Ward 9 Candidate Forum is Tuesday, September 21

    • Pickle off is 12-3. Food will be served

    • Ward 9 forum is 3-4:30/5 - more details coming soon!

 o Traffic update

o  Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, September 4 at 10am online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)

        Board Meetings are open to the public

o   Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday, September 9 at 6:30 at the lot at Cedar and 27th Street and online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)

        September community meeting - proposal to have Mike, the city planner focused on traffic safety along 24th, 26th and 28th Streets and potentially 4 Sisters (more on this at the end of the meeting). At the lot at Cedar and 27th.

        October community meeting - proposal to invite the various organizations organizing around the charter amendments

o   EPIC has a housing program! 0% interest! Fix up your home or buy a new home in East Phillips – Check your email for the brochure or go to: mncee.org/east-phillips

o   If you smell a foul odor around Smith foundry or Bituminous Roadways call 311 to report

        Write down your incident number

o   Join your neighbors in cleaning up trash on your block at noon every Saturday! Meet at 27th and 17th!

o   Next Southside Green Zone Meeting is August 23 at 6pm

        To join the meeting as a member of the public, call 612-276-6670 and enter Conference ID: 635 614 218#

o   Update on East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm Project

o   MIGIZI is filing for a variance for their addition and remodeling project at 1845 East Lake Street:

        To allow for the addition to be setback from the property line a distance greater than the municipal zoning code allows for Pedestrian Overlay district.

        The proposed two story addition connects to the existing two story building and includes an elevator bringing accessibility to a floor that is not currently accessible.

        The project adds building area in a place of surface parking. The proposed project moves the site towards conformity as the design adds windows fronting Lake Street.

        The proposed site plan adds greenspace fronting the street where fence and asphalt parking currently exist

        The City Planning Commission will meet on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. During the declared local public health emergency, Minneapolis has transitioned to an electronic format for its public meetings and hearings, authorized under Minn. Stat. Section 13D.021, to minimize the risk of exposure to or potential spread of COVID-19. The public may view the public hearing using the following options: Watch on Comcast Channel 14 or 799 or live on www.minneapolismn.gov/tv/citycounciltv.  

        In accordance with the Zoning Code, all property owners within 350 feet of the subject property are notified of this public hearing.  The public may submit comments or participate by phone in the meeting by using the following website: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/meetings/public-comment/.

        If you have questions about the project, please contact the City staff person listed below.  If you would like to submit comments, you may submit them via the link above or by emailing:

        Lindsey Silas, Senior City Planner – 505 4th Ave S #320, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone (612) 673-2653

E-mail: Lindsey.Silas@minneapolismn.gov.

 

 

6:40     Updates

      Distribute Quarterly Financial Report

      Guest: Jasna Hadzic-Stanek, Transportation Planner, City of Minneapolis

      Transportation study and an Engagement Plan for permanent changes to 18th Avenue South between 24th and 26th Streets and Ogema Place and Stately Street

 

6:50     Feature Presentation//Community Discussion topic:

      Drug use and lack of affordable housing in East Phillips

      How this is or was addressed along Bloomington Avenue

      How can we come together as a community to address this

 

7:15     Community Decisions

 

The second of two community votes on the following:

Southside proposal: pay folx Southside works with to help clean up neighborhood using gift cards, one to two hour blocks for clean up, trash pick up as well. Everyone working together to clean up and breaking down stigma. Re-word to include trash pick up, not just syringes.

MOTION: The EPIC membership and Board of Directors approves $15,000 for the Community Syringe and Trash Clean Up in East Phillips Project through Southside Harm Reduction, provided that all expenses are city approved,

MOTION: The EPIC membership and Board of Directors approves moving $15,000 for the Community Syringe and Trash Clean Up in East Phillips Project through Southside Harm Reduction from CPP funds to the public safety/crime prevention neighborhood priority, provided that all expenses are city approved,

(NOTE: the public safety/crime prevention neighborhood priority reads: “Assure the safety of all adults, youth and children who frequent our parks and public places.”)

MOTION: The EPIC membership and Board of Directors approves of 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 neighbors (homed and unhomed) and the development of affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the neighborhood. ”

 

MOTION: The EPIC membership and Board of Directors approves $16,000 for the East Phillips Resident Housing Support Program through South East Homes Somali Recovery, provided that we get a budget for the next community vote.

MOTION: The EPIC membership and Board of Directors 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.

 

MOTION: The EPIC membership and Board of Directors approves 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 neighbors 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 and other activities and initiatives.”


 

Brief overview of options to use CPP money:

      Current office building at 2433 Bloomington Ave

1)     Partner with City of Lakes Community Land Trust OR

2)     Purchase building

      Do not want to displace current tenants

      $175,000

      Outdoor community gathering spaces and increase urban agriculture in East Phillips

3)     All of the following:

      27th and Cedar space for community gathering AND

      $40,000-$50,000 for pergola and solar power for outlets

      Partner with NACDI and 4 Sisters on 29th Street project AND

      Indigenous Food Sovereignty

      Contribute $40,0000 for things like seating, shed, etc.

      Pay rent ahead for 1 year

      $10,000

 

7:30     Adjourn