General Membership Meeting Minutes 08 - 13

August 13^th, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:50 p.m.

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

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass,

Board Members Present: Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior, Margarita Ortega, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Rosie Cruz (T),

Board Members Not Present: Jenny Bjorgo

EPIC Members: Brad Pass,  Laura Dale, Clara Emma, Naomi Kordian, Kristin Dionne,  Sarah Goodspeed, Brian Heart, Brydine Falcon, Lance Lamm, Erica Schultz, Peter Vankoughnett, Carol Hil-Kennedy, Pat Fleetham, Shauna Dillon, Reta Bluetra, Lola Lablont, George Kennedy   

Guests: Aisha Gomez, Shirley Heyer, Michelle Chavez, Carrie Aspinwall, Heidi Hafermann, Joe Beaulieu, Christine MacDonald, 

6:35     Bike for Police:   Matthew Severance; newly promoted, assigned to our neighborhood, came to thank us for the bicycle. Question: Recent incidence – massive police response. Police believed someone in the garbage truck was armed. Did not believe it was stolen.

6:45     Greetings and Introductions; favorite meeting to go to. Theme: meeting guidelines.

o   Food, Learning (history, culture), Garden, school conference meetings, community building team meeting, birthday parties, diabetic breakfast (info), native American pow wows (dance), Living room, coworker meetings, underwater tea parties, Alzheimer’s support group, moving meetings, food and out of the office, productive and healthy, EPIC and family breakfast meetings, EPP programming and partnership meetings, GLBT/MN 2 Spirit Society/Little Earth/coworkers, Michegan Women’s Music Festival, Walking meeting.

o   Accommodators (10)

o   Peacemakers (2)

o   Distributed meeting guidelines

·       Approval of Agenda: Approved by consensus

·       Approval of Minutes: BP, Laura Approved

  6:55     Announcements:

• EPIC Membership Meeting, Sept. 10^th Wed. 6:30 pm, Board Meeting, East Phillips Park, Sat, 10:00 am, Sept 5^th
• First Planning Meeting for Clean Sweep, Next Wednesday, August 19^th, 8:30 am
• The POPULAR FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASS in SPANISH, Starts Next Tuesday, August 18^th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, East Phillips Park, Tuesdays and Thursdays for three weeks at East Phillips Park
• Clean Sweep, Saturday, Oct. 10^th, 9:00 am at the Welna Ace Hardware Parking Lot..Free Breakfast & T-shirts
• EPIC Fall Harvest Party and Potluck at the Community Garden, Oct. 17^th, Sat. 4:30 until the fire goes out.
• Read the Alley Articles – EPIC posts in every issue.
• Banyan announced they will have a ground-breaking on the 15^th of September at 4 pm at 13^th and 26^th Street.

7:10     The Roof Depot site, the Water Yard and the Future:  Aisha Gomez, Q and A

What is happening now?
What should we be doing?

A Protest?

A lot of EPIC residents got involved to try to stop the city from purchasing the property, but the city voted to put in an offer, however, the owner rejected the offer and has said that the property is no longer for sale. We have heard that the owner was upset about all the publicity and so our efforts worked. We’re not done, we’re not exactly sure why he rejected the offer, but this gives us time to do some visioning for what could be there, how to raise funds to purchase, etc. Mayor Hodges announced her budget for next year and it includes a “green zone” project, which we hope might come to East Phillips/Hiawatha Ave. City is not looking for another site for the Water yard (City has been discussing this since 2001), and city will try again in a couple months.

EPIC passed a motion that seeks to get pollution out of this site, and turn it into something that provides local jobs and housing, and prevents new polluting industries from moving into the site. We would love to see sustainable agriculture in that area, with local jobs, with solar powered urban agriculture.

Three properties: Dalson Roofing, Bituminous Roadways, Smith Foundry, Roof Depot

MO: Since he isn’t selling to the city at this time should we be forming a relationship with the owner?

CP: We have started a protest to try to move the foundry and the roof depot out; continuing our effort to remove the polluting industries. Goal is send our message.

LL: Has anyone forwarded to the owner a vision that the Phillips community has formed.

AG: This might be appropriate for Rep. Karen Clark to present.

Other notes:

LML: The waste from Smith Foundry is being leaked out onto 28^th Street.

JH: Send a separate letter with invitation to meet, and discuss future uses.

Pat: Ask Karen to present our thanks.

PV: We need to have outside support, so a personal relationship may be more important down the road.

CP: Karen feels so strongly about this site and the pollution issue and will probably do something anyway. I think we should be honest about our hopes for the properties.

MOTION: EPIC will send a thank you letter to the owner of Roof Depot for not selling his property to the City of Minneapolis (MO, MG, Limited debate; Approved.)

“rejected amendment” …and tell him that the neighborhood is exploring possibilities and would like to meet with him (Amendment, BP).

7:53     Introduction of our new Neighborhood Specialist

• Michelle Chavez- Her vision for her Role as Neighborhood Support Specialist.
• Will work with EPIC’s board
• Will work with Carrie to understand history of EPIC
• Will assist with various housing and safety projects that are currently in the pipeline; and will assist with obtaining funding for future projects also.
• Has a number of neighborhoods
• With the city for 17 years
• Health dept., planning dept., public works,
• Carrie’s position
• Michelle and Carrie will be tag-teaming
• Focus on needs related to leadership development
• Will have input providing support and guidance

7:58     Discussion of the CIF Community Innovation Grant – Michelle Chavez

We are one of 11 groups who received a grant. EPIC has done projects with other groups, and this is a project working with Little Earth. The grant brings neighborhoods and one or more other nonprofits together. There are a number of Native American youth (ages 14-19) who will be working with a teaching artist, and will incorporate collaborate activities between Little Earth and the EPIC community.

Joe: Currently works with youth at Little Earth, and has worked with Heidi over the summer on this idea.

Heidi: Joe and Heidi worked together on this project for the last three years. Heidi loves working with these kids and came up with an idea to expand accessibility to business/programming/arts institutions that are traditionally less open to the Native American community.

This group of students will really “run” the program, there will be a cultural and community connection to Little Earth, and will engage multi-generational communication. The program will include an annual program at EPIC’s annual meeting, and an annual Community meeting. The activities will be heavily based in the summer, and will provide stipends for the students.

CDA: The collaboration is helping EPIC achieve some of our priority plan.

MO: Joe and Heidi are eager to get started, and so how can we get funds to them?

Michelle and Carrie: 25% is available as an advance. Michelle and Carrie are meeting tomorrow to ensure that they understand what needs to be included in the scope of services. The contract will actually be with EPIC, and so roles need to be very clear, and all these details need to be established in the agreement.

LL: Press release? Some kind of program?

8:14     EPIC needs Two New Board Members

·       Two positions are open

·       EPIC Process for filling vacancies; outlined in our bylaws (available online.)

o   Distributed and read aloud (Article VII, Section 10

o   Read aloud, (Membership Eligibility and Board of Directors )

·       Nominations are open: Applications were distributed and are available online (See website: About EPIC).

o   Applications need to be filed with the Secretary by Saturday, August 29, 2015.

o   1404 East Franklin Ave. during business hours, or call Jean Howard at 612-499-1262[c1] 

MOTION: EPIC will move the board meeting to Sept. 12, and the GMM move to Sept. 17. (CP, JH) Approved.

8:40     Reports-

• Finance report
• National Night Out
• Board Retreat
• We did a lot of training with Ellen McVeigh (attorney)
• What our rights are and how we can stand as a neighborhood organization even without the city, and how we “bite the hand that feeds us”.
• Thanks to a grant from Little Earth, we enjoyed breakfast and lunch
• We discussed historical trauma and why Little Earth residents shy away from EPIC and why it is hard for Native American board members to be here.
• MO shared that she wants more board training
• We started considering some bylaw changes; still needs further discussion
• We are working on the City of Minneapolis’ responses to our bylaws
• We learned a lot about each other
• MO shared some information about her survey of the Little Earth community, discovering some information about generational challenges and hardships that still need to be addressed and how understanding of these issues can increase communication.
• The Popular Financial Literacy Classes are Back IN SPANISH
• Start on the 18^th (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-8 pm.)
• Home Rehab and Home Buyer Loans
• New loans are available

MOTION: JH, MO Table the following items to the next meeting.

• EPIC Home Construction Project
• Report on Grievances
• Ground Breaking for the Banyan, Sept. 15, 26th St. & 13th Ave. 4:00 pm

8:50     Adjournment (MG, JH) Adjourned

---

 [c1]These must be posted to the website and emailed out to the community. City will also post on their website.

Board Retreat 08 - 01

General Membership Meetings Minutes 07-16

July 16th 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

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

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

Office: 2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass, Gloria Reyes,

Board Members Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Mary Gonsior, Carol Pass,

Board Members Not Present: Rosie Cruz (E), Jean Howard (E), Linda Leonard (E), Margarita Ortega (A), Gloria Reyes (A)

EPIC Members: Michael Green, Brad Pass, Kim Hayden, Troy Mengerdez, Laura Dale, Shoui Tsai, Clara Emma

Guests: Shirley Heyer, Aisha Gomez

6:45     MOTION: Meet as a committee of the whole (JB, MG) Approved.

6:55      Greetings and Introductions

·       Approval of Agenda: Accepted as amended.

·       Approval of Minutes from EPIC June 11^th, April 9^th Minutes need to be tabled again. Need to watch whole the tape (JB, BP) with corrections. Approved.

      Also…meeting with residents; and …insert, MGr asked about a follow up meeting as promised by CM Cano at resident meeting, nothing was done about the follow-up meeting…directly affected by the water works between Cedar and Hiawatha.

6:55     Announcements:

• Report on SummerFest (Brad)
• We received the $25,000 CIF Grant Collaborative Native Youth Arts Collective; Still needs to be approved by the full council next Friday. Ventura Village/APOD received a grant for improvements at the Phillips Community Center; and Midtown Phillips received a grant for the Somali radio station.
• National Night Out on August 4^th, 2015; EPIC will reimburse block clubs up to $100 for block parties; receipts are required (food is NOT included.)
• Read the Alley Articles
• Board will go on a retreat for next Board meeting on August 1^st. Ellen McVeigh will do training
• General Membership Meeting is on August 13^th
• Midtown Phillips Festival; open to everyone-would love to have EPIC residents attend. July 25^th., from Noon to 8 pm, at Stewart Park.
• CM Cano’s office holds a monthly conversation series, will hold a conversation on Wed. July 29^th on prostitution and trafficking located at 16^th Avenue between Lake & 31^st St.

7:18     The Roof Depot site and the Water Yard

• What is the history of the current Phillips struggle
• Our goal is to find a new buyer for the property, who is able to fund and develop a better plan; one that will reduce pollution, and create a property that benefits the community.
• Our goal is to “be involved” in these decisions.
• Current Progress?
• EPIC revealed our new banner for use in protesting the city decisions on the Roof Depot site.
• Report on the Water Works proposal meeting: Board Members & Neighbors went to Ways &Means and City Council and spoke for our Plan. We were not listened to, Rep. Karen Clark was not allowed to speak. Security was there because one member of EPIC sent an email saying we would disrupt the meeting. We did insist on voting ourselves before the Council voted.
• Aisha reported that she and CM Cano met with Greg Goeke with property services for the city. He is completing a light version of an environmental impact study – they will take a few months to complete. He has hired someone to complete it. The city and the agent for Roof Depot are negotiating right now. Much more will be known in about a month. If a price agreement is reached, the city feels that their plans will not trigger EPA involvement as no additional “emissions” would occur.
• Karen’s law about increasing pollution – they claim it doesn’t apply because they don’t need a permit. Any new permits requested within 1 mile would trigger EPA involvement.
• Discussed whether increased traffic would trigger EPA involvement.
• Other comments
• Pocket parks; there are tons of kids on the south end of the neighborhood, and there is no green “play space” for children and families.
• What should we do to help make the community vision happen?
• Find a group of people to approach and engage the owner in conversation
• How can we work together to accomplish our goals for the future of this space.
• Can the city tell us who the owner is? Owned by an LLC.
• Listed as taxpayer: M. G. McGraph, 1387 Cope Ave E, Maplewood, MN 55109
• Asking price is $8M (appraisal)
• MHA Nation is interested in developing the space into an agribusiness.
• Dean Devolis is a principle developer
• Give this “controversy” more visibility; make the seller uncomfortable selling the property to the city; instead sell to a buyer who improve the property and benefit the community.
• Press
• Public, smart, strong, spot protests by residents to the City
• Talk about the environmental issues
• Gather a lot of people; more diverse and broader based

7:25     Proposal for Jama Mohamed to buy CPED owned vacant lots in East Phillips

·       EPIC put together a housing proposal several years ago, as part of our priority plan.

·       These lots are all already assigned to GHMC for development in our priority plan.

·       Our interest is that we increase the asset base of the people here, so we have approved funding for these lots to help subsidize these houses.

·       The money has been approved since Christmas.

·       EPIC has already contacted CPED and notified them that these lots have already been promised to GHMC.

8:00     EPIC and Waite House are hosting a Computer Give-Away. Brad…

Comes with the Free Computer Class. Register SOON!  Class starts on Monday   

A corporation downtown upgraded their computer system and are making laptops available to neighborhood organizations. Older, good quality laptops. Register NOW. EPIC will pool their allotment together with Waite House to give away 24 computers. Distribute flyer with more information on how to qualify for this opportunity.

8:10     Speed Bumps- How to get them…Rita

• CP is proposing that EPIC consider a sizable grant ($1,000-$2,000) to blocks that can raise the remaining funds to install speed bumps.
• SH suggested we also research how long these speed bumps last.
• What are the rules about “funding all neighborhoods”.
• We could add speed bumps in our priority plan; we need to “contract” our money asap.

8:20     Ruling of the EPIC Board Regarding Vacancies, the issues & ruling of Parliamentarian. Two positions open.   EPIC Process for filling vacancies

What happened?

• One newly elected board member had to move out of the neighborhood. EPIC bylaws require that we ask for a resignation.
• One newly elected board member was ineligible to run for the board; EPIC consulted with the City’s attorney who said that it was the board’s decision and that the decision was professionally made; the city put a lot of pressure on EPIC to accept the election results and seat the individual, however , Robert’s Rules state that electing a noneligible candidate would be a violation of the Bylaws.

What do we need to do?

• We need to replace these two members in accordance with our bylaws.
• We will announce the openings via email
• We will announce the process and receive nominations (by application) until August 22, 2015; mailed or dropped off at 2536 18^th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN

8:40     EPIC Home Loan Program

We have our new vendor for home/rehab loan program (GHMC ) is finally under contract. We have been waiting a long time and everything is official now. Brochure was distributed. If you are or become a homeowner in East Phillips you are eligible for up to $5,000 for a down payment.

Minneapolis also has a $7,500 loan through PRG. Call PRG for more information. Ask for Mindy.

8:50     Adjournment

Board Meeiting Miinutes 07 - 11

July 11th, 2015, Saturday, 10:00 am

East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center

EPIC web address:  www.eastphillips-epic.com

Office: 2536 18^th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Rita Ortega

Carol Pass, Gloria Reyes

Present board members: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Rita Ortega

Carol Pass,

Absent board members: Gloria Reyes

Members:

Visitors: Shirley Heyer,

10:15   Introductions:

·       Introductions

·       Approval of July 11^th Agenda: MG, JB Approved

·       Approval of June 6^th Board Minutes: MG, JB Approved as corrected.

o   Discussed research on what information is posted on other neighborhood organizations. Contact information for every board member is NOT included on other neighborhood organizations.

Announcements

·       CIF Grant selected the EPIC proposal for Native Arts Collective collaboration between EPIC and Little Earth for funding of $25,000. The selection still needs approval from the city council’s the neighborhood committee.

10:37  Election for new board member: EPIC’s policies, Bylaws and Parliamentary ruling. Consider candidates

            EPIC Letter to Edwin, EPIC letter to Atty. McVeigh and Response.

MOTION: EPIC will follow our bylaws and fill the empty vacancy. LL, CP. Approved.

EPIC bylaws “Vacancies” (Article 7, Section 10). EPIC will announce the open position in the email notice to members for the general membership meeting including a link to eligibility and application information online, on the agenda for the meeting in July, and will provide board member application forms at the meeting.

11:01   Some budgetary Information

CP distributed EPIC’s CPP budget for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

11:10  National Night Out Stipend for registered Block Clubs

MOTION:  Board will reimburse receipts up to and including $100 for NNO block party. LL, CP. Approved.

11:16   Wells Fargo Stipend $250 for organizer  

MOTION: EPIC will provide a $250 stipend to Janna Metge for organizing our annual summer festival. LL, JB.

11:20   Water Yard Issue:

Discussion: Where are we now??  CM Alondra Cano will be at our meeting on Thursday. There is a group of residents that is continuing to meet to work on this. If you want to be informed of meetings…sign up. Rep. Karen Clark’s position. EPIC vote.

MOTION: EPIC will spend no more than $350 for an Anti-pollution Banner to be designed by the committee working on water yard issue. LL, JB. Approved.

Committee members include Andrew Falstrom, CP, BP, Jose Louis, Dave Moore, Patty Zanski, Anne Fisher and others.

11:24   Grievance – Board Report and Resolutions

Closed Session: MG, MO. Approved.

MOTION: Grievance #1 (JH, CP) Approved as amended.

MOTION: Grievance #2 (JB, CP) Approved as amended.

MOTION: Grievance #3 and #4 refer to NCR. (MO, RC) Approved.

MOTION: Publish EPIC’s process for requesting/submitting a proposal for a partnership program to our website. (MG, LL)  Approved.

LL will communicate the board’s motions to the Lieder’s.

M. Green Grievance

MOTION: the current exc comm will address all m. green grievance in accordance with our Bylaws, article 10, section 3. (LL, JB) Approved.

MOTION: EXEC comm will hold a special meeting to address the m. green grievance. (MO, JH) Approved.

Tuesday, July 21 at 6 pm. At Perkins.

MOTION: Open session. (LL, CP) Approved.

11:30   Retreat Planning

Rita and Linda presented a board retreat proposal; Rita found funding for food; NCR is providing funding for training. Each board officer will bring sample job descriptions for their role as officers. CP will prepare and distribute any proposed bylaws related motions to the board in advance of the board retreat.

12:20   Self Evaluation

12:24   Adjourn