April 14th, 2011, 6:30
p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center
2307 17th Ave
S.
Office:
2536 18th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Our Second EPIC Membership Meeting in the
new East Phillips Park Cultural &
Community Center
Directors Present: Mary Gonsior, Carol Pass, Jenny Bjorgo, Earl
Simms, Linda Leonard, Rosie Cruz, Steve Struthers
Residents: Brad Pass, Chiffon Williams, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Pat
Fleetham, Karen Clark, Hannah Lieder, Kevin Lieder, Bill Kingsbury, Kim Hadaway, Jason Rodney, Troy, Linnea, Kara
Guests: Loren Brueggemann, Kathy Wetzel, Mike Buelow, John Gold, Shirley Heyer
6:30
Introduction:
· Greetings and Introductions
· Approval of Agenda (JB, CW) approved.
·
Minutes from EPIC General Membership Meeting 3/10 /2011 (JB,
CW) approved.
6:40 Announcements:
·
NRP
Task Force – If you want to be a part of this committee, Contact Carol Pass,
612- 280-8418
·
Meeting
times will be announced, and will be arranged to match schedules of committee
members.
·
EPIC’s
12th Annual Meeting April 30th, 9:30 Saturday morning, Treats, Talk and
Progress
7:00
New Classes in the Park and Partnerships: Linda’s ‘Tea and Talk’, Family night, Partner
meeting next week,
Brad Pass
The doors have been open for about a
month and a half. The partners are meeting next week and we are slowly ramping
up our programming. The park board has put out bids for 4 additional basketball
hoops, a divider for the gym, and finishing out appliances for the kitchen.
Linda's Tea and Talk sessions have seen some success with multi-cultural
conversations (Sat. 1-3 pm.) Family night (Wed. 6-8:30 pm.) is popular, playing
organized games in the gym, Wii was set up, people watching a video in the
rotunda, and more.
Vending machines: we want to have
healthy choices.
MOTION: Replace
snacks and pop with healthy snack and beverage options. (CW, JB) passed.
Park Board has a fee structure for
many things. EPIC will explore the fee structure and see if there is some way
of mitigating these costs for local residents.
7:10 Phillips
Community Center Partnership and Swimming Pool
– Minneapolis Swims Update, Hannah Lieder
Progress of the bonding Bill
submitted to the legislature by Rep. Karen Clark. Q & A, Next Steps
We
are hoping that the bill will be considered by the bonding committee and put
forward to the legislature. EPIC believes if the neighborhoods put up some
money, this is a strong statement to the legislature and other funders. If the legislature did approve this funding,
it is likely the governor would sign it.
7:25 EPIC Development: Greenway Heights
apartments: EPIC’s completion of NRP Phase
I project. Loren Brueggemann, Phoenix
Development and Kathy Wetzel, PRG, neighborhood nonprofit.
Additional presenters: Michael
Buelow from Phoenix, John Gold, project architect (BKV).
Presentation of a plan for a
4-story/40 unit building of workforce housing for the vacant property on
Bloomington Ave & 29th St. Seeking support from EPIC in advance of the next
funding round ---.
Loren Brueggeman discussed that
the project is designed to accommodate community expressed needs for family
housing, community friendly, child
friendly, green friendly, cost effective/affordable rents. The bulk of the
units are 2 & 3 bedrooms, with a few 1 bedrooms included.
Drawings presented are the
early stages of the concept for the project. The conceptual site plan was
presented showing a very tight footprint, using the space very efficiently.
Concerns expressed:
eco-friendly, energy efficient, pedestrian walkways, play areas, safety, etc.
Concession of those attending this meeting are in favor of making the walkway
to the south of the building, private for the building for the sake of safety
and privacy.
MOTION:
EPIC approves the project concept and supports applications for funding, with
the understanding that the project will be in consultation with EPIC as the
design develops. (CP, MK) passed.
7:45 Participation Agreement and Draft
Phase II Action Plan: Business & Resident Survey,
Review of Plan, Preliminary Approval
Motion
In
the last two years, one neighborhood went from 53 boarded houses to 144
(2009-2010.) NRP money could possibly have reduced this level of foreclosure,
by helping to re-sell these homes. EPIC has created tax income from the housing
projects that were created through using our NRP funds. While we are hoping
that the legislature will support the bonding bill for projects such as the Phillips
Community Center Partnership and Swimming Pool,
the uncertainly causes us to set an aggressive schedule for completing our Phase II
NRP plan before the close of the legislature.
NRP Survey
findings so far:
Residents
want to help people that are on the edge (emergency housing needs.)
Residents
want us to offer foreclosure assistance.
Residents
want us to do other things in addition to housing, i.e. kids programs, swimming
pool, etc.
MOTION: EPIC
approves basic concepts and direction of
the Draft EPIC NRP Phase II Action Plan. (JB, CW) approved.
Survey
will continue to reach more of the neighborhood. Additional focus groups
planned. Some with tiny ethnic groups.
Suggested
that an addition to the plan would include a vision for transition to a
post-petroleum society.
8:05 Food Resource Hub- Bill Kingsbury
Grow
your own food - Minneapolis' new organization of neighbors distributing
8:10 Getting ready for EPIC’s 12th Annual
meeting April 30th: Planning?? Volunteers?? Board membership??
Shirley
Heyer will be organizing the food for the morning. We will be providing a full
healthy breakfast, in part coming from
Open Arms. They have offered a big egg dish. Also Tamales. Need volunteers
8:25 Crime Concerns and Other Livability
Issues:
MOTION: EPIC recognizes the situation of heavy
industrial bordering residential housing, and (SS, JB) By agreement, this
motion was tabled to the next meeting.
There
is a CARE grant through the EPA to identify toxins along the minnehaha-hiawatha
corridor. Google Hennepin Cty website. for more information.
8:30 Adjournment:
