March 5th, 2011, 10:00 am
Welna Hardware Board Room
EPIC
web address: eastphillips-epic.com
Office:
2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Present:
Carol Pass, Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary
Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Earl Simms,
Residents:
Brad Pass, Chiffon Williams, Rep. Karen Clark
Guests:
Kasa Hohenstein, American Indian OIC student, Brad
Pass. Tim Lott,
10:00
Introduction:
· Approval of Agenda (approved)
·
Minutes
from EPIC Board Meeting Minutes 2/5/2011
(approved)
10:10 Announcements
·
EPIC General Membership
Meeting, March 10th THURSDAY
· At the new EPPCCC, 6:30 pm
· Every 2nd Thursday is reserved for EPIC from
6:00 - 9:00 PM for the next 5 years.
·
Check out the slide show of the
Grand Opening of the East Phillips Park Community Center on our website, The
web address is EastPhillips-EPIC
10:20 Park
Board Public Meeting to Review the Athletic Field Designs
Even if we
have to make slightly smaller than Olympic size playing fields, all groups
would compromise to accommodate separate playing fields for baseball and
baseball (as opposed to overlapping fields.) There will be one baseball field
and two soccer fields. The soccer fields can also be used together to create an
Olympic sized field. All parties have come on board with this plan, and now the
Park Board asked EPIC to hold a public meeting. The Park Board will take the
first 15-20 minutes of the Mar. 10 EPIC meeting.
Discussed
fencing. There is going to be a problem with overuse of these facilities.
Critical importance is to maintain these fields - grass, etc. The Park Board
will be in favor of fencing in order to facilitate scheduling of use, watering,
and maintenance. There will be some fencing along the highway side. Other
fencing has not been discussed in terms of restricting access to the fields.
Motion: (CP, RC)
EPIC will clarify the PB's intentions regarding fencing, prior to the hearing,
and forward them the questions that came up at this meeting. Passed.
Fencing, overuse, scheduling, public
availability.
10:30
Park
Programs that are going…and new ones coming...EPIC youth programs.
EPIC submitted
a grant application to CURA/NPI for $10,000 to assist the Somali Amer
Community(SAC), EPIC and Midtown neighborhoods agree in the grant to organize
to identify and prioritize problems, carry out solutions, and build leadership
in the community. CP pointed out we may not get this grant. At present the
Somalis are facing a lot of issues. CP suggests that we begin our plan to
collaborate with various groups as stated in our CPP Plan, especially SAC.
Motion: (LL/JB) EPIC agrees to assist the Somali American
Community (SAC)by collaborating in community organizing to seek solutions for
their issues and assist in their youth sports, crime control and other issues
by forming an agreement for use of the 2011 CPP funding of $2,000 set aside for
this purpose in our CPP grant. Passed
Security
Concerns, some gangs turning up at the basket ball courts..warm weather. Some
bullying
Motion: (LL, JB)
EPIC requests that the park issue adult ID's for this CSA for the purpose of
tracking adult participation, encouraging family participation, increasing
security, notification of programs, and registration of programs. Passed.
Motion: (LL, JB)
EPIC encourages our CSA to intentionally schedule and promote family-based,
intergenerational programming and activities. Passed.
These
motions will be directed to Director of our CSA, Director of EPPCCC, and the
PCPI, and ratified by the EGM.
Programming:
Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Youth Martial Arts, and Park Board programs are
starting to run. EPP Programming Partnership will start in April.
10:30
Phillips
Community Pool.
A map of existing pools in the
Park system exist in affluent neighborhoods. The map highlights the unequal
access of lower income residents to a foundational life skill for health,
safety and education through swimming. Support for bonding/funding for the
Phillips Community Pool is being solicited and is looking hopeful.
10:35 NRP
Business Survey and Focus Groups for Phase II -
Jenny and
Chiffon are making good progress on the business survey, as well as publicizing
the activities of EPIC. CP distributed copies of the final residents' survey
and asked for comments to be submitted to CP. CW reported that the home-daycare
operators expressed much more concern about neighborhood issues, as they are living
in the neighborhood as well as operating businesses in the neighborhood.
Surveying and outreach going well.
10:50 NRP
Legislation:
The
neighborhoods on the NRP policy board have drafted a bill to try to lobby
through the legislature to stop the city from taking money from all the
neighborhoods. We are going to work on lobbying, Sen. Kelash (Senate), Rep.
Mullery (House) are authors. The next step, if this fails, is to file a
lawsuit.
11:00 Housing
and Redevelopment-
· Greenway Apartments-
· reviewed several plans proposed by BKV group,
discussed suggestions for improvement.
· 2620 17th Avenue S.-
· Nice house - it has 4 br, large yard,
nat. woodwork. working with PRG to try to save.
· Motion: (CP, JB) EPIC supports saving
existing housing in East Phillips and having time to find developers to rehab.
Passed.
·
2428
16th Avenue S.-
· City owns this house and wants to sell to Habitat for tear-down
and replacement.
· EPIC's questions: is there a garage? can the roof-line conform
to EPIC goals. is it worth it to tear down
a house to replace it?
· CP and Brad will request access to the existing building.
· Motion:
(CP, JB) EPIC will amend our Housing Requirements to include energy
conservation and green development. Passed.
11:15
Opening of the garden
listserve
The first garden meeting will be April
9th at 9 AM at the garden. Must be there to sign up for a lot. CP expressed
hope that the garden committee would encourage diversity in the group of
gardeners.
11:25 Getting ready for the Annual Meeting - We
hope to hold the annual meeting on April 30th at the new park building. We have
funds this year for music and food this year.
11:
30 Adjournment
