General Membership Meeting 02-19

February 19, 2009

Meeting called to order at 6:43

We convened a committee of the whole with no objections.

Margaret, Chiffon, Brad, Alfonso, Mary

Board: Carol, Linda, Aden, Sherzad, Rosie, Earl

Agenda: We added NRP and Housing and approved the agenda.

Minutes from November were approved.

Comments: The Berglin/Clark bill spared us the paint shop, the asphalt plant, and the burner.

Tomorrow is an Xcel Mtg at 3 pm at the NELC to determine next steps in regard to the project.

6:52 EPIC Financials

2009 Budget and 2008 expenses explained. Filed with the minutes. Possibility of funding our two sports/tutoring programs. There was agreement that it is time to work on greater support for Phillips youth, especially the ethnics that have no programs specifically for them. Admin. funds not needed.

We could finish out phase one funds with program support.

7:00 quorum reached with Rosie.

Rosie talked about 45 kids to play soccer and a tutoring program at Anderson. The background checks will be done. The kids in the soccer league who have academic problems are welcome even if they don’t attend Anderson school.

Linda moved/Chiffon seconded the proposed 2009 budget. Budget adopted without opposition.

Earl arrived.

7:19

Chiffon moved and Aden seconded a motion to the effect that EPIC take a request to the county commissioner to include support for the pedestrian bridge over Hiawatha connecting East Phillips Park to the Franklin Light Rail station. Passed.

7:22 Xcel

Margaret pointed out that if/when there is streetcar service on the Greenway, it would be very difficult to work around power lines. Carol reported that xcel plans to crisscross these big wires which will disrupt all sides of the Greenway. We don’t know what motion the Greenway folks want us to support.  The next meeting is tomorrow and people should come. There was a meeting at Little Earth, but there was no follow-up plan. Carol Pass wants to ask Karen Clark to introduce a bill for Minnesota that would tie the power line issue to density of population, especially in an urban area. Margaret concurred. Carol and Margaret are working on the issue and will report back.

CP passed out Xcel’s data sheet on the spread of Magnetic flux of underground as opposed to overhead high voltage power lines. The underground application is dramatically better as far as the spread of magnetic flux.

BP compared today’s lack of information on the health effects of Magnetic flux to the health effects of Arsenic on the population in the 1930s. Today it is clear that arsenic is a huge problem. It is unconscionable that we are considering exposing this underprivileged population to something that 30 years from now may prove to be as egregious as arsenic and lead.

BP suggested coming to the 2-20-09 NELK information meeting with a motion which is similar to the Greenway Coalition’s motion in opposition to the project.

CP not much happened in opposition to the Burner until people showed up with signs and banners. Perhaps we should consider a sign.

The City council has no legal right to stop the powerline. It is up to the PUC.

MK pointed out that the PUC could say to the city – “if you want to pay the extra $15 million to put the line underground you can do it”.

Funding for Programs:

Covered in discussion on financials. These two organizations, Liga Hispana de Beisbol and the Soccer/Tutoring program have been put forward for additional funding. Motion for review of funds and support for the programs and proposed language change, see Agenda for motion. Passed unanimously.

EPPCCC

Park Board authorized LHB to phase the building with a redesign using the 4.136 million we have. If and when we raise 3 million more we can add phases. Most commissioners and LHB probably will promote a one story building. John Gurban sent commissioners a letter saying he doesn’t want the building on the west side of the park and wanted it to be reconsidered. Most commissioners were incensed and reminded him that a 7:1 vote was to be west side. Later Gurban sent Brad a note indicating that all communications about the project were to go through him and him only. Brad went down to a meeting at Keith’s office and saw Mike and others who refused to speak with him about the project because of Gurban’s gag order. There will be a report March 4 at the Park Board. One of the commissioners made a motion at a meeting to return all the funds.

CURA Grants: One in midtown is to study the different park buildings and resources and use and programs.

We’ve been told that our plans are competing with the gym/pool building. That we have duplication of services. EPIC will continue to ask for funds and submit grants. We wrote a letter in support of public art in the park.

EPIC supports a redesign that will utilize the full amount of money raised and it will approximate as closely as possible the design approved by the neighborhood and park board in May, 2008. This plan must facilitate and not preclude the addition of the second floor plan as accepted in 2008. Brad made the motion and Mary seconded it. Passed.

Linda made a motion and Earl seconded:

That the request for public art for the building reflect the cultural diversity of East Phillips and be intergenerational in nature. Passed

Park Patrol: Little Earth suggested that we get compatible equipment and we did. One training has been completed and about 8 people were there.

Annual Meeting: Will try to find a space for one of the last two Saturday meetings in April.

NRP. It was not Davney that introduced the NRP bill. It was Karen Clark, Torres Ray, and the neighborhood. Gary misrepresented the history in his mailings. It was Davney and Dibble who split the bill in half in committee giving the money to the city to manage and the neighborhoods lost out. The money we lobbied for at the legislature has essentially been removed from the program it was designated for. The new money might only be able to be used in the areas where the taxes are raised. This means it would all go to the downtown where the  tax increment would be accrued. The city said NRP couldn’t go back to ask the legislature for clarification, but some NRP people still do intend to go back to this session to correct what has happened. The money is going to be limited to buying office supplies, but nothing for housing or organizing or building. We agreed that if there is no money to manage, there’s only limited reasons for meeting. The only available big bucks will be competitive and that will make it hard for neighborhoods like ours.

Meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm

Board Meeting Minutes 02-07

Board Meeting Minutes 2/7/2009

Welna's Hardware Board Room

9:46 Meeting called to order.

Shirley Heyer is a guest. Carol Pass, Linda Leonard, Jenny Bjorgo present.

Committee of the whole without a quorum.

Agenda approved.

Approved the minutes.

Financial report: Carol distributed last year’s budget; this year’s projected budget; and last year’s expense account reports. She also distributed a statement of activities and a statement of functional expenses.  There is also a balance sheet with $7,184 plus some deposits.

We focused on the next year’s budget. We  have some unrestricted money to pay the garden property tax.  CDBG is less than before. We changed some features to clarify the statement. Carol is going to update the statement and send new ones out based on actual invoices. We have about $37,000 but most is for NRP consultant and CURA sports/youth grant expenditures.

NRP Issues: We have a community engagement board and an NRP board now. David Rubidor from PRG was hired by the city office. There are duplicate functions with NRP controlling one with Phase 1 and 2 monies, but the community engagement board having only advisory roles, but no power. Each neighborhood only gets a small part. We will get about $300,000 but most has to be spent on housing. Maybe we should do something positive with Bloomington Ave in the 2600 and 2700 blocks.  We need to probably hire our consultant another year  to help with the community center project. We could use some money for a revolving loan “due on sale” to improve buildings. We can get a match from the

federal gov’t IF we can get another neighborhood to go with us and get 300,000 for housing.  Midtown only gets $170,000 this year. Shirley and Carol discussed options for deferred loans.

Park Center

Karen Clark met with the MET COUNCIL this week and Brad Pass sent a letter of clarification. We have until 2011 to get the project contracted and ready to go. Brad and Carol met with Ellison’s staff person as well as Klobuchar’s office and the metcouncil tax bonding meeting.  We need a statement from the MetCouncil for the Park Board to document clarifications. Unfortunately Keith’s staff gave misinformation from the House side.  Senator Klobuchar’s staff person explained that it had to be in both the House and the Senate in Congress. Appropriations for 2009 are due Feb 20. Keith’s office made a mistake and didn’t write that the building would be owned by a gov’t agency. Arthur and Carol are going to try to correct last year’s request and submit requests under programs this year. 

Kresge is interested in our project and wants us to reapply.

We received one $10,000.

Excel . There is a meeting Monday on land use and transit in the Midtown Greenway. Midtown Greenway needs a grant to stay in charge of the discussion. Carol will talk to Bill at Little Earth to let him know that excel funds the energy coop.

The Obama administration energy matching grants could be used for lines that will buy back solar and wind energy. Someone else is planning a new hydroelectric plant. We need a motion to push Excel to match federal money and to make new projects a 21^st century project.  Carol and Shirley will craft a motion to bring to the membership of both neighborhood organizations. Underground, able to buy back wind and solar, and apply for federal funds, and put the lines down 28^th.

Housing:

PRG is doing the village project…Kathy is in charge. Caroline from GMAC has an interest in housing. There are addresses that Shirley has already. Edie Oats said applications are due Feb 17^th and the programs ned letters of support from neighborhood organizations. By consensus we authorized Carol to write a letter of support for PRG.

Village Project. Kathy said that Gary Schiff told her that he does NOT support the project because there isn’t enough green space. He told her this at the meeting we endorsed Common Bond. Gary has apparently chosen to work with blocks instead of neighborhood organizations.  This tends to split the neighborhoods. Midtown and East Phillips both have a lot of money invested in the project. We also have a reserve fund for a total of about $500,000. Kathy said Common Bond is getting cold feet about managing it. We are looking at the possibility of another developer who might be interested.

Sherman and Associates are going to change the live/work units probably to apartments on Bloomington near Lake Street. He needs a letter of approval. Almost no one will grant a mortgage for such a project. We authorized Carol to write a letter of support. We should find out if the building next to the site is in foreclosure. 

Garden Purchase

Should PPL hold our garden? They wouldn’t be able to sell it for 30 years because of the conservation clause. Our problem is that some of the gardeners keep trying to control the garden or EPIC. PPL would need to have a contract with EPIC to manage the garden.

Jenny would be willing to manage our community garden.

Annual Meeting: We could maybe rent space in Sabri’s building. We might be able to be in Southside Learning Center. We need to have it in April. The 18^th or 25^th Saturday morning would be best.

Midtown’s annual meeting. Feb 17^th at Anderson School. Potluck.  5:15 is dinner. Backyard Initiative report. David Rubidor is going to talk about the whole new department in Mpls and Phase 3 of NRP. Bob Miller is going to come and give counter information.

Ask Leon to borrow the earphones for simultaneous translation.

Midtown is going to submit a request for safety pedestrian bridge over Hiawatha from the light rail to East Phillips with Great Streets planning money. It’s due ASAP. Carol should do one for 25^th and Bloomington for Great streets. EPIC could get 25^th/Bloomington money. Open Arms could apply too. Shirley went to a workshop and said there have been changes 3 times. You could get 10 grand for a transportation consultant. Someone at CPED knows about this federal money.

Adjourned at 11:30

Board Meeting Minutes 01-17

1/17/2009

Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Earl Sims,

Called to order at 9:57 am at Welna’s Hardware

Agenda approved by consent with a committee of the whole.

Board minutes from November comments:

We passed a more involved motion about excel at our membership meeting.

The paint booth for all the light rail trains was stopped because of the bill Karen Clark’s bill stopped the process.

The bill also stopped progress on the city’s plan to put in a new hot asphalt plant.

We’ve not had time to pursue purchase arrangements for the community garden.

17

Mary moved and Linda seconded the motion to approve the Minutes. Passed

EPIC Finances

Carol and Mary discussed the format of the financial statement and appropriate labels for the report. They are going to use “Statement of Activities” changing the title of “donations” to “restricted grants”, but Carol got different advice from an accountant. There are some differences in report styles between nonprofits and corporations. Mary and Carol will continue the discussion and how best to report our figures. We agreed on a three year depreciation schedule.

-------Earl Simms arrived at 10:20

Report on NRP

Carol went to a Midtown meeting to talk about the mayor’s new community advisory board. Carol was just elected to the NRP policy board. NRP still has more than advisory power. It is a nonprofit that controls millions of dollars for neighborhoods. The new advisory board is what the mayor wants and it centralizes power downtown. No one from the 8^th or 9^th Ward got on the advisory board even though Carol and Jana Metge applied. The new board has 8 people the mayor and council chooses and 8 people from neighborhoods. The mayor has chosen all anglos, non of whom has been involved in neighborhood organizations. NRP is asking neighborhoods how we want to select the other 8 people. NRP has proposed a formal resolution for a meeting Feb 21^st. 60% of the neighborhoods have to respond by the end of January.

Motion: To adopt the NRP resolution; Mary moved/Earl seconded. Passed

Earl would like to meet at Perkins whenever the first Saturday falls on the 1^st and ACE isn’t available.

We appointed Carol to attend the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission meeting on Feb 21 to discuss how to select representatives and to frame issues for the citizen’s advisory committee which will have 8 representatives from the neighborhoods. It’s the beginning of a discussion.

The NRP elections resulted in the election of Kari Anderson as a delegate and Carol as an alternate to the Policy Board.

REPORT ON PARKS

There was a survey from the park board about residents’ view of programs and facilities but they were available only at Stewart Park and almost no one goes there. They were due the 15^th of Jan.

Karen Clark spoke with Brad and Carol about state financing of the community center. The design team has not been meeting, but 3 park commissioners met with Brad and Carol,

As chair of the design team, Brad sent a letter to Representative Alice Hausman to correct impressions that Tom Weaver of the Met Council sent, given the documents provided him from the Park Board staff.

Vreeland, MM Anderson, and Annie Young as Park Commissioners reviewed the correspondence with Brad and Carol. They are worried about losing the money to the state and that we need a one story contract right away. They want to meet Jan 21^st to decide at the Park Board Meeting with a report about where we are in the design, contract, and money raising process.

Karen Clark sent a letter and a copy of a law that we have two more years on this report to the park board.

***EPIC wants a copy of the Park Staff reports and correspondence relative to the East Phillips Park Building. We’re going to ask Karen  Clark to get that information by her request.

Karen is on the conference committee and holds some power over the Park Board at the Legislature.

***Carol and Brad need to ask Karen to meet with commissioners and the design team and to go to the Park Board meeting next week.

EXCEL ENERGY

There is a concern about the effect of above ground high magnetic influence with the high power lines. EPIC already passed a motion about underground. The community meeting last week surfaced a lot of information. Abbott might write a letter encouraging Xcel to bury the wires. Excel published in the papers already that it is going down the Greenway with criss-cross wires wires. MPCA has no power. Only the public utilities commission needs to issue a permit.  This would negatively impact high density housing and health issues along the Greenway.  We need a new law for needs assessment based on population density as well as distance of the lines. 

We want a rate change to Hennepin County or the entire city to pay the cost of burying the lines. Excel sometimes runs over the community, sometimes cooperates.  Excel is building another substation that they haven’t told us about and it seems they plan to link these to provide power elsewhere.

******Look at the cost and loss to major development along the Greenway for business and housing.

We need to have the city council to oppose overhead lines. Developers have told us they would refuse developments near these lines.

Motion: EPIC is adamantly opposed to overhead high power lines running anywhere in the neighborhood and want them buried down East 28^th  .Street.  passed.

REPORTS

Court watch photos

List of foreclosures in Phillips

We have the community of Phillips patrol vests and walkie talkies; cops patrol

Meeting adjourned at 11:45 am.

EPIC General Membership Meeting Minutes 07-10-08

EPIC 7/10/2008

GMM Draft Minutes

Board Members Present:

Earl Simms (ES), Jennifer Bjorgo (JB), Mary Gonsior (MG), Carol Pass (CP), Aden Awil (AA), Linda Leonard (LL), Sherzad Kordian (SK),

Board Members Absent:

Rosie Cruz (RC),

Members Present:

Carrie Anne Johnson (CAJ), Indelrcio Leyva (IL), Janessa Bjorgo (JB2), Katie Nissly (KN), Stephanie Allen (SA), Brad Pass (BP),

Guests Present:

Julia Eagles (JE, PCEC), Abby Finis (AF, PCEC), Heidi Quezda (HQ, Gary Schiff’s Staff)

CP chaired and called the Meeting to order at 6:42 pm.

MOTION:    Because of the lack of quorum, the meeting will be a committee of the                                    whole until a quorum is present.

                        (cp/bp) Approved

MOTION:    Recommend that the Agenda be approved with no corrections or additions:

                         (jb/aw) Approved

MOTION:    Recommend that the Minutes from the June 12, 2008 meeting be approved                            with no corrections or additions:

                         (mg/jb) Approved

Announcements:

1. the Open Arms celebration on the site of the former Commodore Bar and the new Open Arms Facility on Saturday, July 5th was fun and well attended.
2. The East Phillips Community 17^th Ave. Garden will participate in the 2008 Parade of Gardens which will be on Aug. 16 from 10:00 to 2:00. A map will be published in neighborhood venues and will be available at the garden(s).
3. CP attended two police round tables held by an outside consultant with no MPD personnel present – she and BP were the only EPIC residents present. The purpose was to gauge citizen perception of police fairness and racial impartiality in carrying out their duty of law enforcement and their ability to evaluate their own performance. Under the current system, the police themselves evaluate cases of  reported impropriety or brutality through their own Internal Review Board. Most people at the meeting were not comfortable with this – it is not good to have the police evaluate their own performance. There is a Civilian Review Board, but the police review board reviews the civilian review board. Only cases that go to court ever are determined by an outside body. CP recommends that more people attend these police round tables. Brad commented that the community expressed uncertainty about which review board to address with their concerns and that he didn’t think that the round table clarified this very much.
   Brad recommends that residents can call 311 and ask how they can report an incident to the internal affairs department. CP wants EPIC to become more aware of these issues.
1. Q. Can people comment and/or file complaints anonymously? Apparently Yes but the procedure is not well defined. It should be noted that there was no representation at the Phillips meeting by the local African American community the local Somali community, or the local Hispanic community. Someone suggested this was because of fear of retaliation.
2. Q. Why are some police who have terrible civil rights, or brutality records, including convictions for these offenses, still policing this community?
4. Julia Eagles from the Phillips Community Energy Co-op (PCEC) announced their seasonal appliance trade-in program and distributed flyers with more information. Bring used air conditioners and dehumidifiers (they do not have to work) to the Re-Use Center (in the back of the Green Institute at 2801 20^th Ave. S.) to receive you deeply discounted Energy Star replacement. If you need or want a new refrigerator, contact the same and they will deliver your new one (for a deeply discounted price) and remove your old one free of charge.
   JE also reported on a series of classes on home energy conservation with college level instruction where residents will learn simple ways to save energy and money, and learn about energy use in their homes and in the community. Julia also distributed the latest PCEC newsletter. Julia introduced Abby, who is interning with PEC this summer, and is from the Phillips neighborhood.
5. The village art fair will be held on Franklin and 12^th on Aug. 15-16
6. Club Youth Line, is taking over management of the Phillips Pool and Gym and will be holding a grand opening on Tuesday. Sherzad Kordian, an EPIC Board member,  will be doing some short term youth programming this summer. Youth Line is part of the Mpls. Park system. They are looking for additional programming.

Housing – Heidi Quesada:

Heidi works in Gary Schiff’s office and is attending to distribute updates on the boarded and vacant properties.

• 2829 16^th ave s – recommend demo
• 2440 16^th ave s – would like to be informed about hearings
• 2423 17^th ave s – water is shut off – check on occupancy
• 1919 EM Stately st. – requested immediate fence and no trespassing notices
• Gary’s office is sending out a letter regarding a home owners strategy meeting for EM Stately Street.

Brad asked for an update on issues coming up at the city council affecting EPIC. CP reported that EPIC would like to get the EPIC housing committee going again and would welcome a chair for this committee. Interested residents should contact CP.

Quorum achieved:

MOTION:    EPIC approves the actions of the Committee of Whole, namely to approve                             the 7/10/08 agenda and the 6/12/08 minutes.

                       (bp/jb) Approved

Election of New Board Member

There being a Board vacancy, Sherzad Kordian’s name was entered as a nominee at the 6/12/08 meeting. In the interest of an open election, nominations were held open for the last month until this meeting, at which there were no further nominations.

• Sherzad Kordian

MOTION:    EPIC accepts Sherzad Kordian as our new board member by consensus.

                        (bp/mg) Approved

CP gave a message about commitment, loyalty and the importance of being a board member. When the neighborhood has a critical issue, it is important that we have full participation and committed board members.

East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center (EPPCCC)

The EPIC board recommends that the members adopt the EPPCC partnership agreement and model “in concept.” The agreement does not form a 501c3 organization or any other legal organization, but does pull together the various groups in the neighborhood who wish to work together to raise money and provide resources and programming for the EPPCCC. The agreement is not refined yet to a final state, however the Design Team did adopt a revised mission statement which was recommended by the EPIC board.

BP read from the first paragraph of the partnership agreement, pointing out that the agreement itself is not something that is written in stone and will instead change as partners come into the agreement and are approved.

Any organization that is willing to commit their resources, whether monetary, or in-kind, to the park will be considered for membership in the partnership.

It is important to create this document to build a plan that is marketable and fundable.

EPIC is working to make sure that the partner organizations are indigenous or have the interests of the community as a priority.

MOTION:    EPIC will accept and adopt the EPPCCC partnership agreement and                                    model dated 10 July, 2008 - IN CONCEPT.  EPIC recognizes that this is a                work in progress and it is not, in any way, a legally binding agreement.

                         (mg/cj) Approved

MOTION:    EPIC agrees that it will serve as the asking organization for both capital                              and operating funds for the East Phillips Park Cultural and Community                                    Center and that any and all funds raised will be transferred to and held by              the appropriate fund at the Minneapolis Foundation.

                        (ll/jb) Approved

MOTION:    EPIC approves The Minneapolis Foundation as the holder of two funds for              the East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center: the Special                              Purpose Capital Fund and the Special Purpose Program Fund. It is                                    understood that the payout of these funds is to be directed by the East                              Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center Partnership Agreement and             Model.

                        (ll/jb) Approved

 MOTION:    EPIC is strongly in favor of a building a commercial kitchen in the                                       EPPCCC facility for the purpose of financial sustainability and                                         community needs.

                         (ll/jb) Approved

Progress: Fund Raising Advisory Committee

Experts in development from organizations including the Guthrie Theater, Jewish Community Action, Allina, Abbott Northwestern, General Mills, and AIOIC joined the EPPCCC advisory committee and were very enthusiastic about our current financial position. In addition, they bring with them many contacts and ideas for future fundraising.

Housing Development

CPED finally agreed to authorize moving funds of $50,000 NRP to be contracted to PRG to pay DDK LLC $48,000 for the purchase of 2845 Bloomington extending over to 16^th avenue. The remaining $2,000 was paid as a fee to CPED. We have been working on this since 2001 – this is a real victory- HOWEVER-  Because we have moved the closing from June to August, the owners are threatening to sue EPIC. CP wrote a letter and requested patience with our small organization.

Breaking ground at 2931 Bloomington Ave

The project is stopped because the buyers haven’t finalized the purchase agreements. We need to find new buyers.

2603 Bloomington

B. Sabri is the developer of this property. There are serious permit and code violations at the site. Fines have been levied and there is, apparently, no compliance.

National Night Out Deadlines

All the information for NNO is available online.

MOTION:    Adjourn

                        (bp/mg) Approved

Respectfully submitted by Mary Gonsior, Treasurer

Edited by BP 7-13-08

EPIC Board Meetiing Minutes 06-07-08

EPIC Board Meeting Minutes

June 7, 2008

Jenny called the meeting to order at 10:25.

Aden, Carol, Jenny, Mary, Linda and guest Tom Hill

·      Add to agenda: Somali Mall at Hi-Lake

Police Review and civil rights and national night out;

Jenny and cp moved to accept the agenda; approved as amended.

Jenny and cp moved to accept the minutes; they were approved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Biomass Plant has withdrawn . Celebration at the New Acadia on Cedar and Riverside. Date to be announced.  Pawlenty did sign the legislation requiring MPCA to do study for cumulative health impact. We need to rezone the neighborhood because the 1924 zoning allows heavy industrial activity here. Linda asked about the city’s hot asphalt and whether they have to get a permit and if there has to be a study before that.  Jinny announced a new Somali Mall  at HiLake. Aden questioned the business practices of many of these malls. The accounting is very untraditional without inventory and accounts in and out, etc. The earliest malls maybe made some money. Many are extended families and tribal groups that trust one another. He thinks the new mall will bring people and is a good thing. We should find out who owns the space. Maybe Welch development has it. We have to talk with Gary Schiff about these developments. Mary expressed concern about business practices and the immigrants have trouble later about fines/taxes. Who owns/manages the businesses.  There is a seat open on the Civil Rights Commission. Linda will call Jeff Sprinkle.

MOTION: Election of Officers. Juliet isn’t here, but said she doesn’t want to be an officer. Paul Wichman is gone too much. Proposed slate: Carol Pass president; Jenny B. for Mary G for treasurer; Linda L for secretary. Aden wishes we had money for hired staff. We discussed  the possibility of interns.  Mary was very positive at her interns at work.

The motion carries.

Linda is willing to continue the responsibility as EPIC garden liaison with the Community Garden and the Green Institute.

EPIC Finance: We need  $48,000 by June 30 for the purchase of 2845 Bloomington over to 16^th for the townhouses with the PRG developer. Robert Thompson with NRP told us we had $150,000 that we had to contract before we could get Phase 2 money. We committed funds to Prg for the land acquisition and they got a grant to go with it. We set aside money to hire a consultant to help with the Park project. $49,000.  The $150,000 was an accounting mistake and nrp told us only two months ago.  We need our phase 2 money to cover the ‘debts’ and nrp should advance it for us because it was their mistake.  NRP is not being helpful. Bob Miller with NRP said it’s hard to get from phase 2 because the city is holding it.  PRG and GMIC are in this too…..Carol has to find someone to help us get this money asap. Carol mentions 8-10,000 dollars of CDBG funds.  Mary brings up local cooperative. What are action steps?  We will agree to spend our remaining admin money—Mary brings up that there may be a 30 day waiting period.  Carol passed out projected budget of expenses. Carol highlighted that we have 1,000 dollars that we didn’t spend our money on a lawyer for the burner. 

Mary makes a motion “ to move the money from admin to the land acquisition of 2845 Bloomington”.  Mary brought up that because this is a set amount over 1000 dollars we need to have this motion it appear on the general agenda for the meeting.  

MOTION: We are allowed to take up to 9000 dollars from our bank account and loan that money to the project at 2845 Bloomington Ave So, to be replaced by our phase II money for NRP.  MOTION passed;

 Mary then went through our “ Projected Budget of Expenses” , going through each item and noting when an item had been paid, when it needed to be paid, and if it was necessary to be paid.  Carol brought up Midtown and Shirley Heyer, the Midtown Phillips neighborhood will discuss it this Tuesday.  Other options to ask for a loan, Franklin Bank,

Get Mary’s notes

BioMass plant: defeated, but moved to other neighborhoods. Carol alerted those neighborhoods.

Take the issue of helping the neighborhoods to the general membership.

Park Building: We have the building plan and time line to raise money approved by the Park . People can attend/observe the Design Team meeting Monday at Holy Rosary at 6 pm.

Housing

2535 16^th some people somewhere in the neighborhood don’t want to accept the GMHC proposal. We can invite Doug VanderVeen to the EPIC meeting to present their points of view.

2931 B loomington is happening

 Table to general membership meeting

Deleted chiffon’s situation; postponed national night out;

Adjourned 12:06

General Membership Meeting 01 - 10

 EPIC General Membership Meeting

Minutes 1/10/2008

The next EPIC meeting is:

Thursday, February 14^th, 2008 @ 6:30 PM

Holy Rosary Church

2424 18^th Ave. S.

Enter door on 18^th Ave. side under the “OFFICE” sign.

EPIC Board Members Present:

Rosie Cruz (RC), Carol Pass (CP),  Linda Leonard (LL), Aden Awil (AA), Juliet Thompson (JT), Mary Gonsior (MG), Sherzad Kordian (SK), Earl Simms (ES), Paul Wichmann (PW)

EPIC Members Present:

Brad Pass (BP), Jennifer Bjorgo (JB), Shirley Heyer (SH), Bruce Singer (BS), Ron Moey (RM), Margaret Kirkpatrick (MK), Kendra Allen (KA), Amy Pass (AP), Chiffon Williams (CW)

Guests Present:

Scott Vreeland (SV), Leah Seelhoff (LS), Mark redicker (MR), Marcus Moore (MM), Harvey Winje (HW), Gary Schiff (GS), Doug Vanderveen (DV).

CP  chaired and called the meeting to order at 6:40 PM -  Introductions.

MOTION:    EPIC moves to accept the agenda.  Motion Passed

MOTION:    EPIC moves to accept the November 8^th 2007 General Membership meeting                                 minutes.         Motion Passed.

Announcements and Reports:

·      Public Hearing (Community Action Committee) meeting on the East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center-All Welcome!! Come see the Building Plans Jan. 24^th at 7:00 PM at Holy Rosary Basement.

·      Link to the see the Park Center Plans: East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center on the LHB Web site: http://www.lhbcorp.com/government/pf1.html 

·      Community/Law Enforcement Action Network(Clean Sheets): http://www.walterleegutzmer.com/

·      Forum on Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan – how the city relates to neighborhoods - at Lake Hiawatha Community Center, 2701 44^th St. Changed from 10 am to 2 pm, this Saturday. Give your input on how the city intends to relate to the Neighborhoods

·      Last call for letters pro/con for the Midtown Eco Energy Biomass Plant , Monday, January 14^th.

                 Contact: Paula Connell, 651-282-2605, email: paula.connell@pca.state.mn.us

Revisiting The Biomass Plant:

CP  After initial presentations from Kandiyohi Development on their proposed Biomass Co-Generating plant to be located at the old City incinerator site behind Dalsin Roofing and behind Pioneer Cemetery, EPIC initially supported the project. A local biomass power plant and district heating plant which would help reduce the carbon footprint of the area and help provide oil independence sounded like a good idea. EPIC wrote a letter of support for the project and signed a “Good Neighbor Agreement” with Kandiyohi Development Partners (KDP).

However, as residents became more aware of the particulates and pollution the plant would deposit on the neighborhood, many people started having second thoughts, State Rep. Karen Clark was among them. EPIC decided to do independent research and make a determination based on available facts as to whether or not the Biomass Plant would be a good idea for the community.

People were alarmed by the following findings:

ü  According to the MPCA’s proposed environmental permit, the facility could release up to one million pounds of particulate matter into the air above this community every year.

ü  These particulates would include lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, arsenic, PAHs and others, many carcinogenic.

ü  According to the MPCA findings, “The Midtown district energy facility will be a major source of hazardous air pollutants” for the neighborhood.

ü  There are reports that the available clean waste wood fuel supply may not be adequate which according to State Law could permit the facility to burn up to 30% Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF – garbage) without additional permits. They claim they won’t do that. We would have no way to know. GNA doesn’t require reporting.

ü  The community already has many sources of pollution – Dalsin Roofing with their hot tar storage, Bituminous Roadways with their asphalt plant and asphalt hot storage, Smith Foundry, the Arsenic Triangle Super Fund site and the high levels of lead in local homes and yards as a result of past leaded gasoline and lead based paint.

This along with the fact that there are no studies of the cumulative affect all these sources of pollution on our health, led the EPIC Board to vote to recommend rescinding support for the Plant and question the Good Neighbor Agreement with Kandiyohi Developers and to recommend that the EPIC membership do the same.

           

            It should be noted that the Green Institute’s “Comments on Midtown Eco-Energy Biomass Facility Permit Application” became available to the EPIC Board after the   above recommendation was made. As such it played no part in our decision.

LL  All previous public meetings on the biomass plant were scheduled on the second Thursday of the month – the same time the EPIC meetings have always been scheduled. This prevented the EPIC members from attending either one or the other meeting. That is why the EPIC Board voted to cancel the December EPIC General Membership meeting. This enabled many EPIC members to participate in the last biomass public meeting.

AA  If this plant will produce so much pollution, why is the City of Minneapolis not against it?

GS  The City was told one thing by the developers. The City relies on the Pollution Control Agency (PCA) to set limits.

The developers must have three things in order for the City to sell them the land:

1)    A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

2)    A Good Neighbor Agreement with EPIC, and

3)    PCA approval.

At this time, the developer does not have a PPA.

PW  The agreement to sell the land states that the Good Neighbor Agreement may not be necessary if the neighborhood is found to be acting capriciously.

GS  The neighborhood is not being capricious – I think it is being responsible.

MOTION:    JT       EPIC rescinds any and all former endorsements of the Midtown EcoEnergy Biomass Plant project,

                                    Furthermore, EPIC will actively participate in opposition to the establishment of the Biomass plant,

                                    Furthermore, Given that there has not been a level of disclosure protective of the East Phillips Community, we do not believe there is sufficient confidence for the EPIC organization to continue as a signatory on the Good Neighbor Agreement with Kandiyohi. For this reason EPIC withdraws its signature from this agreement.  JT Moved.  MG Seconded.     No one opposed.  BP Abstained.

Super America:

CP  Minneapolis Licensing held a meeting today with Members of the community, CCP SAFE, the Third Precinct and SA management. The goal was to convince SA that they must improve their performance as a neighborhood convenience store or face license revocation.

In the end, SA agreed to work with the Community and the Council Member to address a long list of “Suggestions” which was compiled with community input.

SA reported that they have police presence Fri. Sat. and Sun. nights and have a roving cop driving from SA location to SA location in addition.

In the past, SA verbally asked the Police to be more “aggressive” in their approach to controlling illegal activity on their premises. They learned that the police they hire are not being proactive enough and will seek a written agreement with the police outlining mutual expectations.

LS  Gas Pump and parking lot congestion is awful. Try to figure out how to make traffic flow better and safer.

CP  Are you committed to leaving in Five years?

SA  There are size problems and that prevents this store from meeting the core strategy of SA. At present, we will probably leave within that time frame.

DV  As a close neighbor, I am not interested in seeing this store cycle between barely acceptable and horrific. I am adamant that the store close.

GS  A boarded building is also a problem.

DV  A vacant lot cannot be as bad as SA.

MG  SA has an obligation to provide security three nights a week – that’s nice but it doesn’t make it safe the rest of the time. SA is not doing enough.

JT  You need to do something about the litter and keep the store clean.

PW  As long as you are planning to leave in five years, why not leave now?

East  Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center:

BP  The $3.25 million funding that CLIC had recommended over two years for the project evaporated to $319,000. If asked, the Mayor would say that the funding is there in the budget – but the city “gave” the park board their own Tax Levi dollars, - dollars the PB relies on for maintenance and repair of all eighty some city parks and said, ‘here, use this for East Phillips’. East Phillips values the city park system and would not recommend stopping roof repair and water heater replacement on other parks for our project. Apparently the Mayor would.

To counter this loss, the Design Team in cooperation with the MPRB is creating a partnership of community corporations, foundations, nonprofits and individuals which will raise money for the bricks and mortar of the buildings as well as the ongoing operating costs of the community center. Everyone is invited to contribute, contact CP at EPIC for details (612-280-8418).

Crime Issues:

GS  Vacant and Boarded  Foreclosures are increasing alarmingly. They are bad here but much worse in North Mpls.

2846 17^th Ave. S. shooting. JT  called police three times about serious trouble at this address BEFORE the shooting. What does it take to make a difference?

GS  The right people didn’t get the information. Call Gary Schiff at 612-673-2209 or Don Greely at 612-673-3482. The neighbors all knew but were unable to get 911 or 311 to respond. This is very frustrating. GS “I want to find out what and who screwed up.”

CP  2625 Bloomington is the same.

Greenway Town Homes 2931 Bloomington:

            CP  This townhome development on the North side of the Midtown Greenway East of Bloomington Ave is about to break ground – but – it needs people who might be interested in a very affordable town Home similar to those on 24^th St between Bloomington and 17^th Ave. S., to indicate their interest. This will not commit youin any way to anything. It only tells the builder and the lender that there is interest in this project. If there are enough interested people in this project it can become reality. If not, the land might be sold to someone else who might build 80 efficiency transient apartments in a six story building without adequate parking – as was planned before.

            If you are interested and can afford the payments,  please call Carol Pass @ 612-916-8478 and complete at non-binding  form which will help to secure the property and prevent the consequences.

Updates on other developments:

            CP  2603 Bloomington Ave project has been minimalized to the point that zoning variances are not required. Therefore the project will proceed as the property owners wish.

            Open Arms at 25^th and Bloomington is still raising money for this wonderful project. If you wish to donate, contact EPIC at 612-280-8418.

            Franklin Station Condos:  are a very affordable housing option for those who value inner-city living in a reviving community. Ground –breaking is imminent and if you have an interest, in this buyers market, Contact Carol Pass 612-280-8478.

Future Neighborhood Funding:

            CDBG cut funding to neighborhoods NRP funding. They propose that neighborhoods ‘compete’ for very limited funds - they propose only $2 million for 80 (eighty) neighborhoods.

            At the same time, the city wasted $10 million on convention scheduling software which they farmed out to a Singapore company which took the City of Minneapolis for a $10 million ride.

Adjourned at 8:45 PM                                                       Submitted by Brad Pass on 2/3/2008

Reviewed by Linda Leonard on 2/3/2008

Approved by EPIC GMMM on