EPIC Community Meeting Minutes
July 8, 2021, 6:30-7:30
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: Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Cassandra Holmes, Shontal Lajeunesse, Steve Sandberg, Karen Townsend, Nikolas Winter-Simat
Board Members Not Present: Earl Simms (E), David Ingold (E)
Members: Emrys
Guests:
6:40 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
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
Announcements
Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, August 7th at 10am TBD and online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)
Board Meetings are open to the public
Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday, August 12 at 6:30 TBD and online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)
The topic will be Bloomington Avenue
We will be trying a hybrid model - in person and online. Location is to be determined
Next Executive Committee meeting is cancelled, the board is trying out a new board department model
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: Programs for East Phillips Residents | Center for Energy and Environment (mncee.org)
If you smell a foul odor around Smith foundry or Bituminous Roadways call 311 to report
Write down your incident number
On July 18th come and share your vision for the East Phillips Urban Farm and workshop how the Roof Depot will be owned and managed by the community. 1pm at LERA (2495 18th Ave).
August 1st - big rally at 28th and Longfellow
Join your neighbors in cleaning up trash on your block for 20 minutes every Saturday anytime between 9am and 11am!
Community Traffic walk with city planner Saturday, July 24th at 12pm
Meet at Cedar and 24th at 12pm
New Community Meeting structure:
Welcome - vision and mission
Intros
Group agreements
Announcements including announcements from action groups
Agenda approval and minutes approval
-----10 mins
Report from one action group
-----5 mins
Feature presentation - 15 mins
questions and discussion - 10 mins
-----25 mins
Community decisions
Outsourcing discussions to appropriate spaces
-----20 mins
Organizational structure
Agenda Approval, MG, CH, Approved
Minutes Approval, NWS, MG, Approved
6:50 Motions
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. ” NWS, MG, amended, Approved.
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. NWS, StS, one community member abstention, Approved.
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. NWS, MG, Approved.
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 such as the Little Earth Native American Mother’s Day Pow Wow, neighborhood Clean Sweeps, and other activities and initiatives.” NWS, KT, Approved.
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, NWS, CH, 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, NWS, SL, 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.”)
7:26 Updates
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
Outreach contractors
Applications now being accepted - get paid $22/per hour to talk to East Phillips residents
East Phillips residents highly preferred
Bilingual neighbors highly preferred
Spread the word - description can be found at eastphillips.org
Share EPIC’s Facebook post
Equitable engagement plan
Requirement for city funds for 2022
First draft of plans are due September 1st
Community members interested in meeting to discuss EPIC’s plan
YardHomes
An East Phillips neighbor is working with YardHomes to have an ADU in their yard for individuals who qualify for housing vouchers such as Section 8, veterans, etc. They are running into permitting issues and asked for EPIC’s help navigating these issues with the city, EPIC sent a letter asking for CPED and Cano’s office to engage on the issue.
meeting with CPED, Cano’s office, YardHomes Founder and scottie on July 16th
A variance has been filed, individuals can send a letter of support for the variance for scottie’s unit
EPIC COVID protocol:
EPIC will follow CDC guidelines, unvaccinated people should wear masks while in the office or attending EPIC meetings/events. If you are vaccinated and feel more comfortable wearing a mask, please feel free to do so.
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.
7:30 Community decisions/discussions
Proposal for Cedar Ave lot
Question: fencing since it’s along Cedar Ave
Mitigate by using landscaping
A lot of traffic, scary intersection
Holding green space - social and health benefits
Yellow hazard lights at intersection?
Feedback and visioning process with community members
RFQ - garner bids from East Phillips neighbors
Talk to immediate neighbors once things are more settled with Ed Burk
Board agrees to pursue this option further
Identify people/organizations doing work in the neighborhood with green space, agroforestry, ecological and community space, food sovereignty etc.
Hindolo, Sam from Sierra Club
8:00 Adjourn, LD, MG, approved
