July 10th, 2014, 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
“The world needs dreamers and the world
needs doers,
but most of all the world needs
dreamers who do.”
Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Ali Micalin, Carol Pass, Cesar
Prado, Earl Simms
Board Members
Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie
Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda
Leonard, Ali Micalin, Carol Pass, Earl Simms
Board Members Not
Present: Cesar Prado,
EPIC Members: Erica Schultz, Abdi Abdihakim, Tammy Skinaway, Jolene Jones, Diana J. Sanders, Patricia Hanks, Abdullahi Gure, Karen Clark,
EPIC Members: Erica Schultz, Abdi Abdihakim, Tammy Skinaway, Jolene Jones, Diana J. Sanders, Patricia Hanks, Abdullahi Gure, Karen Clark,
Guests: Dean Dovolis, Diana
J. Sanders
6:40 Introductions:
Greetings and Introductions
6:45 Results of Annual Meeting Survey
LL presented information on the results of the survey that
was taken during the Annual Meeting in April 2014, distributing a 3 page
summary report. In addition, LL passed out a proposal for EPIC AMBASSADORS, as
a response to the high responses to the survey for the category, crime and
safety. EPIC’s board reviewed the program proposal at the July board meeting.
This information was passed out and the community is invited to spread the word
about this proposed program.
7:00: Approval of Agenda (JB, MG)
Approval of June 12th, 2014 minutes
MOTION: Approve the Agenda
and move Crime and Safety up to the top of the agenda, followed by the Swimming Pool, followed
by Response to claims about EPIC Meeting. (JB, MG) Approved.
AMENDMENT (CP, ES) Inserted “followed by the Swimming Pool,
above in red.
7:15 Crime & Safety Priority Plan:
-Report on SuperAmerica 25th St. Garden Diversion (Barrier)
Last month, EPIC discussed the barrier on 25th
Street, which has been effective, but couldn’t it be more attractive. LL has
contacted Mpls. and learned that there are large planters available, and wanted
to know if EPIC had funds to offset the cost of installation. Also asked about
how to move these barriers for May Day Parade. LL has photos showing at least
one similar installation in Mpls. We need to refer this to Doug Vanderveen to
consult with the Fire Department.
-Police
Bike
EPIC has approved funds for this project, and just needs to
arrange a contract for the funds.
-EPIC
Ambassador Program
Reported earlier, as we waited for copies of the agenda to be
printed.
Q&A
Q. There are so many repeat offenders, who are not getting
the help and assistance they need to get them off the streets.
A. A large percentage of the officers in Mpls. are called CIT
officers with special training to deal with people with those challenges.
Whenever a call comes in regarding a case like this to help with handling and
de-escalating the situation.
Q. (JH) Little Earth spends $500,000 on crime and safety
issues, funding additional officers which has greatly reduced the crime in the
area. I wonder what resources the Mpls. Police are applying to the area
surrounding Little Earth. I think EPIC should use its money to hire “off duty”
officers.
A. That is an option for EPIC to consider. Ventura Village
spends money on police patrols.
JH would like to look at the Ventura Village budget for
police officers. Can EPIC put this on next month’s agenda.
Q. Regarding the EPIC Ambassadors program, what kind of
training is going to be provided, and are the vests adding risk to the person,
and will there be an introduction of the program and invitation to the
community to join.
A. Think of this as a mobile patrol, with personal safety
training.
There is a difference between “buy back” (federal grant) and
“off duty” (local, approved by local police administration) officers…
MOTION: EPIC will begin the
process required to hire off duty officers to patrol the East Phillips area.
(JB, ES) Approved.
7:35 Announcement of matching grant for the Swimming
Pool: Dean Dovolis, DJR Architecture
The president of
Mpls. Swims has left the board and the board has reconstituted itself. The
Mpls. Park Board has extended the fundraising deadline to March 31, 2015.
·
$250,000
matching grant from Mystic Lake Casino. $1 for $1 match.
·
Goal
is to build the 2 pools project, and we will be moving forward, announcing
major contributions, and working to raise the funds required.
CP reported that
the Mpls. Park Board has $50,000 from EPIC that has not been spent (is thought
to be in hand for the EPPCCC project. Because these funds are already earmarked
for the Park Board, we think we can easily move these funds to the Pool
Project. EPIC has already earmarked $25,000 for the Pool. This is a very
fortunate situation that EPIC has these funds right now. This would be
MOTION: EPIC will request that the $50,000 the
MPB has, be re-allocated to the Pool Project for matching purposes. (JB, ES)
Unanimously approved.
Discussion:
Does this motion need a second round? Since the funds are already allocated to
the MPB, we may not need a second vote, but we can re-affirm next month. Need
to ask this question.
7:40 Alondra
Cano arrived.
AC introduced herself and submitted flyers for distribution.
·
Announcement of Community Engagement Forums, July 31 and
August 2nd.
·
Announcement of bicycle and pedestrian improvements in 2015.
8:00 Recess
8:05 Karen
Clark (state representative) introduced herself.
8:05 NCR Response to
claims about EPIC Meeting of June 12, 2014
The EPIC Mission
Statement was read.
The June 27,
2014 letter from NCR was read.
Transcript of
Cedar Field Discussion.
8:15 MOTION: EPIC will extend the discussion another 15 minutes to read
the transcript and begin the discussion. (JB, JH) Approved
LL proposed
that speaking will take 2 minutes each.
JH. Where are
the June meeting minutes.
MOTION: Distribute the June
meeting minutes but not read them. (JB, JH) Approved.
Draft Transcript
CM Cano spoke. She
said she received a call from Director Rubedor asking her if she heard these
words…(She did not say what the words were) She said, Yes, I did”. It was not accurate to say those
words and we have to talk about the money”. She said she then left it in his
hands. She said “It is not my offices role to block that procedural action, it
becomes a contractual situation between that office, your funding organization
and your board”.
CM Cano then said,
“ I told them today that I want everyone to stop emailing each other.”
We need a
transcription of this part. It is coming
(refer to video)
JH: JH received an
email about the July board meeting on July 4th. JH did not have any
input into the response that was sent to David Rubedor, and does not support
the response. Why wasn’t the only Native American board member not included in
forming the response to the letter from David Rubedor. JH feels that the fact
she was not invited to participate in the responding to the letter, is proof
that there is a racism problem. Who transcribed the video of the June meeting?
I want the city to receive a copy of the video, an apology to the Native
American community; I want 2 or three more members added to this board from the
Little Earth community.
JB: I called JH
immediately when she (Jenny)
received the letter, and JH had not received the letter. It didn’t sound like
racism to JB, so she stepped back.
RC: Calls for a
review of the video…
In 1990, I hadn’t
ever heard of EPIC. Since then I have become involved, and I have never heard
racism. I am native-Mestitos.… Carol works so hard for years, I have never
heard her be disrespectful of Native Americans. I feel myself insulted when
Carrie came here and took over the meetings.
JH: No offense, but
you are not Native American, but the comments were not directed to the Latinos,
but to the Native Americans, and Little Earth. If she was offended, then you
need to apologize. I chair the Pow Wow at Little Earth, and there hasn’t been a
Pow Wow at Cedar Field for years…what is in the transcript is a lie. What
offends you may not offend me, and what offends me may not offend you.
CP: I am sorry that
things got to b a mess, No one said this at the time. We have not been told
what someone is claiming we said. I cannot apologize for something I don’t know
someone is claiming about me.…See video.
MOTION: Extend the meeting
for 12 more minutes (JB, Rhea) Approved.
CP. Continued. Our
letter is asking for evidence. The letter from David Rubedor has punished us
without even telling us anything. This is incredibly unfair. We have no idea
who said we made what remarks. We can’t honestly apologize for what we don’t
know.
Abduli. I am here
the first time. I would like to be a member of EPIC. I want to sue my employer
over racism. Other minorities have been here longer.
Rhea: Words
matter…see video
Cano: CM Cano
spoke. She said she received a call from Director Rubedor asking her if she
heard these words…(She did not say what the words were) She said, Yes, I did”.
It was not accurate to say those words and we have to talk about the money”She
said she then left it in his hands. She said “It is not my offices role to
block that procedural action, it becomes a contractual situation between that
office, your funding organization and your board”.
CM Cano then said,
“ I told them today that I want everyone to stop emailing each other.”
Cultural awareness
training. Run meetings more culturally aware. Also figure out what money is
really available.
Spent time
defending her use of EPIC’s time. Prepared in advance presentation on EPIC
funds “sitting around”.
Explained that she
did talk to NCR about the June meeting.
Emailed NCR and
requested a facilitated conversation between NCR and EPIC.
This is a real
issue. This neighborhood can’t wait for people to work out these issues.
Everyone here cares about this neighborhood, which is suffering because of
these disagreements. What might be a really good next step would be to work
with the organization “CRC of MN…conflict center”. They have worked with the
city before and they are fully funded. They make a comprehensive review of all
the different “sides”. Noticed that most of the conversation was a conversation
between board members. The rest of us didn’t really need to be here. I think
that having board member discussion, is really key. Looking at this letter (?)
if I had to guess, what this organization is really concerned about is this
money. That is not to negate how hurtful that these comments were – I agree
that if the comments were hurtful, there needs to be an apology. Between board
members, JH shouldn’t have to ask for an apology. Ideally, the board will
resolve this before the next board meeting, so as to move forward on working on
funding for the neighborhood.
MOTION: CRC of MN to work
with EPIC. Motion failed for lack of a quorum.
9: 07 pm Meeting
Adjourned,rather people were leaving. Chair declared it was adjourned.
FOLLOWING ITEMS
WERE TABLED:
Announcements:
· Report on
EPIC’s first SummerFest
· Next EPIC
General Membership Meeting – August 14th, 6:30 - 8:45 pm
· Midtown
neighborhood July 26 at Stewart park party as part of Aquatennial. Special
children’s stage; police demo; etc.
Everyone welcome.
· Global
Market Party July 19th
as part of Aquatennial.
7:25 Looking at Finances and Implementation-
-NRP Phase II
-Community Participation
Program (CPP
7:45 Possible
PRG Housing Grant and Greater Metro Housing Grant-Plan Modification- Kathy Wetzel
8:10 Community
Participation Program Submission- EPIC Budget
