General Membership Meeting Minutes 06 - 14

June 14th, Monday – 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.,

Holy Rosary Church Board Room, 24^th and 17^th Ave S

Attendance:

Board Members: Rosie Cruz, Jenny Bjorgo, Tim Chancey, Mahamed Cali, Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior, Hannah Lieder

Members: Cedric Wash, Paula Weikle, Jen Bjorgo, Shirley Heyer,  Joseph Spangler, Chad Wilkins, Doug VanderVeen, Casey Wostalewicz, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Jeffrey Strand, Ader Kahin, Amran A, Mohemed,

Andrew Fahlstrom, Gail Bjorgo, Zak Hagstrom, Christa Owens, Brianna Besch, Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, Becky Mommens, Fred Jack, Ryan Brueske, Michelle Louviere, Amy Pass, Gabriel Pass, Kris Brogan, Earl Simms,

Linda Leonard, Gary Schiff, Bob Bono, Eric Refsell, Hannah Friedrich, Abah Mohamed, Brad Pass,  Kevin Lieder, Alfonso Cruz

6:30    Introduction:

·       Greetings and Introductions

·       Approval of Agenda

·       Minutes from EPIC Meeting, May 10^th

6:40    Announcements

·       Garden Work Day and Potluck, Saturday, June 19^th Come and Work!!

·       June 29^th , All-Nations Church, 6:00 pm, MPCA is holding a Public Hearing to receive input from the community concerning how to implement the CUMULATIVE IMPACT STUDY required for any new project that may add any new pollution.

·       Next EPIC Meeting, Monday, July 12th

·       July 24^th, Hennepin County Hazardous Waste Pick-up Event, SEE FLYERS!

7:00   Murder on the next Block and Crime Issues- Don Greeley, CCPsafe, Council Member Gary Schiff

·       What do we know? Can we help the families somehow?          

·       Call safe officer 612-673-3482

·       Call Carol Pass 612-280-8418

·       Call 911 and call neighbors

·       These kids need jobs who are on probation because of background checks!!

MOTION:  We encourage the city and county not to do background checks or to provide alternative summer employment opportunities to youth on probation and/or with troubled backgrounds.

·       LL, MK, motion passed

MTION:  City of Minneapolis and MPRB find funding to keep parks in troubled neighborhoods open for extended hours and staff them to provide programming for the summer.

·       BP, JB, motion passed

MOTION:  Ask the 3rd precinct to enforce curfew hours in our neighborhood.

·       LL, MG, motion passed

·       Gary Schiff could be at every EPIC meeting if we moved it from Monday night.

·       He shared crime numbers.  Increased violent crimes that are in specific areas.  Aggravated assault, larceny, burglary, car theft, in East Phillips.  Community meeting on gangs, drugs, next week, Monday or Tuesday.  Boarded and vacant properties in East Phillips.  Drug activity talk to Gary or call 311 or call Carol.  Monthly shot spotter reports. 

·       Vigil?

·       Motions to address the problem?

·       What to do about problem properties.

7:35     2600-2606 17^th Ave. PROPOSAL FOR APARTMENT of 20 UINTS of HOMELESS HOUSING by Alliance Housing. (See attachment.)

·      The Green Space appears inadequate for housing of this type.  Front or side yards are too small for people to hang out. They will tend to be on the sidewalks or yards of others. There is no setback.

·      Parking inadequate for this number of people, not to mention any guests they may have.

·      Zoning of this and all surrounding area is R2B. This is filled with new single family home ownership.  Home owners are entitled to count on the zoning to protect the residential character of the neighborhood when they buy or build.

·      Alliance’s management track record in the neighborhood is not positive. Residents who are in a position to know see known dealers frequenting the cur rent Alliance housing there.

·      Supportive housing of this sort right near our children’s bus stops and centered in a very residential part of the neighborhood is not appropriate.

·      Two buildings dedicated to Elderly, potentially homeless are being built already on 24^th St. and Bloomington Ave. These will contain 34 Units on the east side of the intersection and 12 units on the west side of the intersection. This is 46 units of new housing for the elderly  only two blocks away. East Phillips is doing its part already.

·      17th will be BIKE CORRIDOR with added bike traffic. This street was chosen for its residential character.

·      we doorknocked and inquired. The area residents are very upset and do not want this building. They asked,  “if we don't want this, do we have any say? No, because we are mostly immigrants?” 

Long term homelessness 50+, 20 units - 19 studios, 1 caretaker, studio apartments, access to services as needed.  Hiawatha Commons, homelessness, working middle class, 17th will be BIKE CORRIDOR, no setback, zone 4 or 5, haven't meet with planning commission, 8 parking spots, 2011 Pillsbury - 27 units, Timeline -- 3 months from now at earliest, concerns? talk to Allaince, If anyone is interested let Carol know if you would like to take a tour

      MOTION:  To Support this project as presented. RB, Motion failed.

MOTION: EPIC members oppose a zoning change, oppose a high density homeless facility in this location, and support relocateion of elderly homeless project to a corridor zoned for that use and duplexes for family housing at this site.

            GP, JB  3 abstention, no opposed, rest support, Motion passes

7:50    The NCEC, replacement for NRP (the previous funding and assistance organization for the Neighborhoods

·       What kind of funding do we need for East Phillips

·       What do we think about decision-making?

·       Would we like to research this whole issue more?

·       Funding starting as of 2011, 90% listening, 10% talking, meetings before decisions are made, Neighborhood Community Relations, CRF, NRF, we need more money, we need representation on panel

8:20   East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center Situation: Brad Pass

·       What happened with the Asbestos , Two Grants

·       What we are doing about it and are we going to be successful

8:30    Phillips Community Center:  Issues: Retaining the building for the four Phillips Neighborhoods. Brad Pass

MOTION: Support the Board Motion to accept in principle the Proposal for the Phillips Comm. Center on June 5th contingent on further review. Passed GP, LL

·       How to pay the Bills

·       The role of the Park Board

·       How to save the Pool

MOTION:  Money to Phillips Defense Fund, move to pay $2,000 to pay Paula Macabbee.

            CP, MG, no abstentions, no opposed, motion passed

8:40   Adjournment

Board Meeting Minutes 06 - 05

June 5^th, 2010  10:00 am -11:45 am

Welna Hardware

Attendance: Tim, Hannah, Mary, Mahammed, Linda, Carol, Earl

Absent: Rosie and Jennie

10:00             Introduction:

·         Approval of Agenda

·      Minutes from EPIC Board Meeting 5/7/2010

10:10    Announcements

·      East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center is being built, much is still precarious.

      Mary is going to help with oversight. Brad and Carol have been taking pictures.

·      Phillips Community Center Walk-Through, June 7^th, Monday, 5:00-7:00 pm

·      EPIC General Membership Meeting, June 14th

·      NCEC meetings.......in place of NRP @ powderhorn, wed. June 9, 6 pm; We received one million dollars  for Phase One NRP and $490,000 for Phase 2 NRP. The new plan is only $40,000 per neighborhood.  Brad has argued for need-based allocations instead of housing units where there are few children. Family size, percent of children, etc. is a better set of criteria

·      Stewart Park Soccer Field......6 pm Thursday,    june 10

10:15   EPIC rep on the Garden Board: Appoint Tim Chancy, Carol Pass (alternate)

10:15   East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center Situation: Brad

·      Pollution Issue – What happened??  We have a county grant and a state grant. There is a debate about whether or not the state will let us have the money. The problem is that we have to build right now.  Judd on park board staff gave info to the commissioners that they voted to continue the project. Judd is backpeddling but asking us for NRP money. Karen Clark and Peter McLaughlin might be able to resolve the grant problems within two weeks......the debate is about when the contract was signed and the project. We might have to fund the commercial kitchen and space.

·      NRP Dollars – Toward the building?? We have $490,000 but 70% must go for housing. We only have $150,000 for youth, employment, crime, etc.    and we don't have the Phase II money available yet. We might have  to fund this.

10:30   Phillips Community Center:  A way forward with Bob Albee

·      What is Phillips Community Parks Initiative?

·      The 4-Phillips Neighborhood's (plus Waite House) Proposal for Retention and Use: MOTION

         Public Walk-Through

         It is very elusive what programs 'for the neighborhood' might mean.

Funding involves Freeport West.and clinics using insurance money.....Allina, Childrens, etc; are part of the Wellness Group with diabetic associations; Pillsbury United is strong and firm; The Public Community Section is undefined for leadership. Some space would be free and some rented. Lisa is going to put together detailed budget proposals. She is a consultant hired by Pillsbury.

MOTION : The EPIC Board endorses the Phillips Community Center Proposal in principle subject to review of the final proposal and details. [LL and MC]

10:45   2600 17th Ave Proposed Apartment Building, Other Developments

            We would have to mount concerted objection to 20 units for singles. We need to collect information and data about impact; variances; information about Alliance Housing

­We need to know the zoning; we need to find out the plans and variances needed; we need to know the city contact and why wasn't the community notified about 4 properties.........there is no review process.......We must door knock......

·      What do we think? Action?? .

·      --- Can Currie Building; Wakiagan; other Tramp Camp settings........for police records

·      --Carol can get zoning together about variances

·      Apartment at 2908 16^th, Phoenix Development--could get gov't money and fix it. Loren Bruggeman would       try to control the building for the benefit of the neighborhood. It was 7 units but is down to four units.

·      Greenway site--Dean Dovolis of DJR and Loren might be able to help. Dean will do some checking and have some conversations. He would need 48 units with family space.

11:00   Election of Officers   took place by agreement

Carol Pass as President

Mary Gonsior as VP

Hannah Lieder as Secretary

Mohammed Cali as Treasurer

11:20   Xcel Energy's High Voltage Transmission Line Routes & Substations:

·         Negotiated Settlement--lines will be buried and down E 28th St.  We are debating the exact location. It's going to cost households about $1 a month for some years........still being negotiated

·     100,000 for Solar on  EP Park Center roof. It would reduce the utility cost. Maybe they would help with the pool.

·     Tim Springer wants them to help get grants and Tim is writing something about "work with" under Carol's pressure.

11: 45   Adjournment