April 29, 2022

EPIC Board Meeting Agenda 5-7

 

EPIC Board Meeting Draft AgendaOriginal_EPIC_Image

May 7, 2022, 10am – 11am

EPIC web address: eastphillips.org

Email: sarah@eastphillips.org

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, Schuyler Sellars, Karen Townsend, Nikolas Winter-Simat, LR Young

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, May 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 at East Phillips Park (outdoors if it is warm enough, otherwise in the community room)

o   view online (link to join meeting can be found at eastphillips.org)

      Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, June 4 from 10am to 11am at the EPIC office and online (link to join meeting can be found at eastphillips.org)

o   Board Meetings are open to the public - join online

      East Phillips Carnival is Saturday June 25 at noon at Cedar Field (rain plan is East Phillips Park)

      All board members must sign a conflict of interest statement annually

o   If you haven’t signed yet, please do so ASAP

      Board received the Quarterly Financial Report via email

      Motions passed via email since last meeting:

o   MOTION: The EPIC board of directors approve the 2021 Attorney General Report.

o   MOTION: The EPIC board approves of a plan modification to expand the language of  the Phase 2 Home Buyer Assistance (New Construction) strategy to allow funds to be used to support other home improvement and home buyer programs for both new and existing homes.

o   MOTION: The $58,053.17 between the two existing home programs will be allocated as follows: $20,000 towards the Home Buyer Assistance Deferred Loan program and $38,053.17 towards the Deferred and Emergency Deferred. Additionally, both programs will modify the due-on sale forgivable loan term from 10 years to 15 years. The income criteria for the Home Buyer Assistance Deferred Loan program will be 80% AMI, and the Deferred and Emergency Deferred program will be 60% AMI.

10:05   Report/Update from Executive Coordinator

1)     Letters of Support signed since last board meeting

a)     EPNI letter of support for their Partnership Fund application to do a community survey

2)     Update on Safety and Wellness Resource Fair

a)     Goal: highlight the work that community is doing to keep us all safe and healthy

b)    Saturday, June 11 from 1-4pm

c)     PPNA is lead, other Ward 9 orgs are helping with promotion, recruitment of tablers, tabling at the event

3)     Equitable Engagement update

a)     Community Gathering infrastructure - NACDI partnership proposal

                                              i)          This is in our Equitable Engagement plan

(1)   Other funding for this: $25,000 from Midtown Community Works and $5,000 from the Minneapolis Foundation

MOTION: The board approves the use of $35,000 towards the NACDI/4 Sisters Community Gathering Infrastructure Project,

**If approved this will go to the community meeting for a vote - 21 day notice and feedback from at least 25 residents is required - the majority will need to be in favor

b)     Larger Community Meetings - July 14 and September 8 - focus on healing, grieving, celebrating - include food, music, art and healing services

                                              i)          Was working with Reviving Roots Therapy and Wellness, however due to issues with brick and mortar building falling through and staffing issues they are no longer able to partner

                                            ii)          Sarah is talking with Lauren Evans - she is passing it along to her network

                                           iii)          Let Sarah know if you have connections to others that might be interested!

c)     New Neighbor Welcome Bags

                                              i)          Board approved the purchase of EPIC swag (tote, dishtowel, notebook and resource guide)

                                            ii)          Swag in process with local Yarborough Print shop

d)     Spanish speaking outreach worker has been hired and has started! Our Somali speaking outreach worker had to step down due to travel and not being able to commit

e)     Microgrant Program: $30k total. $15k is in our Equitable Engagement Plan already

                                              i)          Cleaning Captains: $15,000 (will need a Community Meeting vote). Contract with neighbors to organize, publicize and implement community clean ups. $21/hour for between 4 and 12 hours per month from May to October.

MOTION: The EPIC board approves the use of $15,000 of Equitable Engagement Funds towards the Cleaning Captains microgrant program.

**If approved this will go to the community meeting for a vote

                                            ii)          Public Art: $10,000. Help to beautify the neighborhood and address the graffiti problem. Contract with artists to bring together neighbors, hear what they would like to see for the Public Art Project and create something that reflects the desires of neighbors. EPIC will compensate the artists for this program and provide an honorarium for people who volunteer their property for the program. Approximately 4 public art projects, artists will be paid $2,400 per public art project and property owners will receive a $100 honorarium.

MOTION: The EPIC board approves the use of $10,000 of Equitable Engagement Funds towards the Public Art microgrant program.

            **If approved this will go to the community meeting for a vote

                                           iii)          Skill Shares: $5,000. granting money to neighbors to run events and projects to bring neighbors together to connect around sharing skills. Reimbursement basis, up to $1,000 per skill share event.

MOTION: The EPIC board approves the use of $5,000 of Equitable Engagement Funds towards the Skill Share microgrant program.

(1)   Board members interested in being on the EPIC Grant Review Committee?

4)     Continue to discuss use of the undesignated EEF funds (approximately $120k)

a)     Find the proposal here - based on meeting with Schuyler, Nikolas, Karen, Steve and LR, also touched base with Ariah from the City

                                              i)          Feedback from outreach on this:

MOTION: The EPIC board recommends the programs and projects outlined in the proposal for the use of EPIC’s undesignated money for the Equitable Engagement Fund

5)     Fencing at Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center (NELC)

a)     EPIC Board and members approved funding for this in fall of 2019, it fell through with COVID

b)     Residents who share alley on 17th Ave reached out with serious concerns about harassment from people misusing the playground

c)     Getting bid on concrete wall - 8ft tall; steel fencing on sides - 203 feet total

            -no gate, only access through building

d)     David recommends the following

MOTION:The EPIC board approves the use of $6,000 of NRP Phase II funds towards fencing at the NELC playground to contribute to the safety of the children at the center as well as the surrounding neighbors, moving $5500 from the employment readiness program to the assure safety in public spaces

            Requires 21 day notice to community, will reaffirm vote via email after 21 day period

            Add to CM agenda to announce and follow up email

6)     Safety survey results

a)     All data

b)     Coded Qualitative data

c)     Presentation (share at Community Meeting and add to EPIC website)

                                              i)          For Presenting

d)     Proposal based on feedback:

                                              i)          Create safety group

(1)   Use input from survey to help form group agreements, set the tone for what the values are, how the meetings are run and who to involve

                                            ii)          Publish safety information in EPIC e-news

                                           iii)          Invite CPS on either quarterly basis OR as needed basis

(1)   When invited use input from survey as a grounding and expectation for CPS and for community - what residents would like to see from a space talking about safety

10:35   Report from Departments

1)     New board members choose their department

a)     Legal/finance

-strengths: small detail oriented

-David, Mary, Schuyler?

a.      Vision Development

-vision and mission

-how are we meeting needs?

-strengths:big picture

Nikolas, Karen, LR

c.    Relational-community and board connections

-personnel and community relations

-board retreat

-events

            -how to engage people – flyering, banners etc

            -strengths: relationships

            -Steve, Cassie, Shontal

MOTION: The Finance Committee consists of David Ingold, _____ and Mary Gonsior,

 

10:35   New business

1)     Appoint a petty cash custodian

2)     Determine the petty cash level

MOTION: The EPIC board appoints David Ingold as the Petty Cash Custodian. The petty cash level is $200,

7)     Put financial policies in bylaws (i.e. when community votes are required for expenditures)??

a)     Be careful to differentiate between when member vote is required

 

 

11:00   Adjourn

 

 

 

April 20, 2022

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 4-14

 

EPIC Community Meeting Draft MinutesOriginal_EPIC_Image

April 14, 2022, 6:30 – 7:30

East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S.

EPIC web address: eastphillips.org

Email: sarah@eastphillips.org

Office: 2433 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Phone: (612) 354-6802


Board Roster: Mary Gonsior, Cassandra Holmes, David Ingold, Shontal Lajeunesse, Steve Sandberg, Schuyler Sellars, Karen Townsend, Nikolas Winter-Simat, LR Young

Board Members Present: LR Young, Nikolas Winter-Simat, Steve Sandberg, Karen Townsend,Mary Gonsior

Board Members Not Present: Cassandra Holmes (E), David Ingold (E), Shontal Lajeunesse (E),Schuyler Sellars (E)

Members: Amy Luciano, Sonja, Devika Ghai, Rose, Emrys S.

Guests: Kat Hoffman


6:30     Welcome

      Vision and Mission

      Intros

      Special welcome to new board members - Schuyler Sellars and LR Young!

      Agenda Approval, NWS, MG, Approved

Minutes Approval, NWS, StS, Approved

      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

 

6:40     Community Discussion topic: Strategic Planning

      Strategic plan is giving EPIC a direction

      As we brainstorm: What do I want to be involved in? What will strengthen the community? What is a good use of EPIC’s money?

      Document for break out rooms

      More ideas?

      There is a Google Form requesting input - in your inbox and on EPIC’s Facebook page

      Interested in being more involved in this process? Want to join the Vision Committee?

      Put your name and contact information in the chat

7:15     Announcements

o   Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, May 7th from10am-11am join online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)

        Board Meetings are open to the public

o   Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday, May 12 from 6:30-7:30 at East Phillips Park (if it is warm enough to meet outside we will be outdoors at the park), view the meeting online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)

        We will be discussing how to use our approximately $140,000 of funds to better engage with people who are underrepresented in EPIC

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: Programs for East Phillips Residents | Center for Energy and Environment (mncee.org)

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

        Write down your incident number

o   The March financial report is available here or on at eastphillips.org

o   We are excited to announce that EPIC has hired Joe Meinholz as our Spanish speaking Outreach Worker for the spring/summer!

        Still looking for a Somali Speaking person to help us talk with neighbors

      4 hours per week; $21 per hour

      Outreach Worker Job Description (eastphillips-epic.com)

o   EPIC and a neighbor volunteer plan to plant in the roundabout on 25th and 17th

        Join us on April 26 at 6pm at the roundabout to view the design plan, give your input and plug in to help plant or with upkeep (trash pickup, weeding, watering etc.)

        If you can’t join, feel free to email sarah@eastphillips.org to give your input!

o   The East Phillips Garden has open plots!

        Contact Sarah (612) 354-6802 or sarah@eastphillips.org

o   Upcoming May Indian Month events:

o   May 2 - March (Indian Month, unknown time and direction)

o   May 6 - DIW Resource Fair? 11am - 3pm

o   May 8 - LERA (Mother's Day Powwow & Clyde's Birthday?)

o   May 11 - Franklin Library (Giving out Clyde's book)

o   May 14 - Brooklyn Park's First Native American Heritage Event 10am - 2pm

o   May 18 - Event held at South HIgh - (Collaboration of 3 orgs, Indian Ed, ? & ?)

o   May 24 - NACDI Event 11am - 3pm

o   May 27 - IHB Event - 1pm to 3pm

 

7:20     Community Decisions

 

Overview of proposed lighting project

      $20,000 for an alley lighting project. This would be able to serve about 60-100 homes (depending on the kind of lighting), applying for additional funding through the Violence Prevention Fund to help extend the project to reach most of the neighborhood.

      This program aims to provide free security lighting on the alley-side of residents’ properties who sign-up for a free lighting fixture/installation. Depending on electrical power availability on the exterior, electricians will install either

      a dusk-to-dawn lighting fixture (ideal for providing consistent brightness and disincentivizing activity–see picture below) or

      a solar motion lighting fixture where power is not available.



 

      This project will have decades of violence-reduction impact (security lights should last decades, solar lights may only last 1 decade) through this type of environmental change. Overtime, it is expected that neighbor interactions and presence in alleys will increase as the space is felt to be safe, and the increased presence in public spaces will have an exponential impact on reducing violence in the neighborhood (especially as neighbors are increasingly empowered in de-escalation and violence interruption training).

      Most of the costs will be associated with contracting the electricians for installation.

      $1289.52/dozen for dusk to dawn lights

      $37.63/ea for the solar powered lights

 

      Note: Holy Rosary Church/Centro Guadalupano supports this proposed project

 

MOTION: The EPIC board and community members approves of recommending $20,000 of Equitable Engagement Funds for alley lighting project pending city approval, MG, StS, Approved

 

Question about whether it is LED - bad for insects

Question about light pollution and making sure that it doesn’t add to the problem as well as aim into other people’s homes

 

7:33     Adjourn