General Membership Meeting Minutes 06 - 11

June 11, 2015, 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

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass, Gloria Reyes,

Board Members Present: Mary Gonsior, Margarita Ortega, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Rosie Cruz,

Board Members Not Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Gloria Reyes, Jean Howard,

EPIC Members: Laura Dale, Michael Green, Brad Pass, Margaret Kirkpatrick

Guests: Shirley Heyer,

6:40     Introductions:

·      Greetings and Introductions

·      Meeting of the committee of the whole (AY, LD) Approved

·      Approval of Agenda: approved by consensus

·      Approval of Minutes from EPIC April 9^th EGM Meeting: Tabled to next month.

·      Approval of Minutes from EPIC Mary14th EGM Meeting: CP, MK, Approved

6:55    Announcements:

• Potential Date for EPIC Summerfest, Sunday, June 21
• Next months’ meeting are rescheduled
• Next EPIC Board Meeting, Saturday, July 11th
• General Membership Meeting, Thursday, July 16th
• Greenway Saturday, June 20 (evening – 6-Midnight)
• art installations, fundraiser bike ride
• Street resurfacing and bikeway (discussion)
• 26^th St. and 28^th St.
• Councilmembers met with residents to discuss concerns.
• Follow up meeting was planned;
• Personal follow up with individuals did happen.
• Aisha reported that there was a meeting held with ???, special planning was needed to address the bike connection at that intersection. Staff completed new traffic counts for the portion directly affected by??? Plan is not finalized…for the section of Cedar to Hiawatha. Aisha will send information and links.
• Speedbumps
• CP looked into this and learned that no neighborhood in the city funds these because if you provide funds for one, you have to provide funds for all. Cost is $7,500 for the pair of bumps and two signs.

7:35     Recent Board Actions

·      Completion and submission of CIF Grant in partnership with Little Earth

·      Letters to Council Members

·      Board Members and neighbors went to planning commission/CLIC meeting and spoke for our plan for Roof Depot

7:40     History of East Phillips

This neighborhood has been fighting off environmental injustice since at least 1992. For 100 years, this neighborhood has been an immigrant neighborhood. Hiawatha was a foot path before it was a highway. The plan that was drawn by Dovolis is a good one and we need to remember how long it takes to bring these dreams to fruition. There have been many kinds of struggles here over many years, by many generations of residents. This is the “epicenter” of Minneapolis – the easiest way to get in and out of here. While we want to create a vision for retaining the benefits of industry, we want to protect our residents from the poisons that are covering this area, and eliminate the special and environmental inequities that are entrenched in our cities culture.

Turning the negatives into the positives

How can we work with the city to help defeat the vote to authorize negotiation for the property on Monday? The community involvement has been beneficial to our councilmember’s work to stop the purchase. Hearing that the community has a vision has empowered the CM to continue to say “NO” and call on the council to hear community voices and empower the community to share their own vision for the space. Annie Young wanted to present to the council on how to work with the community to create a commercial/community benefits agreement/plan, however, the committee is not accepting any speakers except by invitation.

Michael Green asked about the diesel trucks, how that adds to the pollution. Wants more information about actual pollution (studies, projections, etc.), information about jobs, taxes.

Aisha reported that the council was not really excited about a CBA, but under pressure from CM Cano and various community residents and organizations, are starting to at least listen.

CP pointed out that the current plan by the city includes NOTHING for the community…we may be forced into a compromise, but it is reasonable for residents to have expectations for jobs, clean air, taxes for the city, and more.

Robert Lilligren is writing a letter to the council committee.

If the vote succeeds, next steps for city:

·      Proposal to purchase

·      Community meeting

·      Permits

Community will have additional opportunities to provide input.

Ideas from Annie Young (for Sunday meeting)

·      EVERYONE write to the city council since they aren’t letting us speak.

·      Solar powered trucks

·      New HVAC

·      We won an award by Pres. Clinton for the Green Institute

·      We can win another award if we can work out a partnership agreement to build a green village (CBA)

o   Help us put in the green features

o   Give us jobs

o   City is already committed to green designs

Carol reminded members that EPIC has been working on this in our own meetings and with other organizations, and has already passed a motion in connection with the plans that offer an alternative possibility for the site. The plan includes having identified investors, consultants, and ethnic participation with Native American tribes.

MOTION: Form a committee to perform a thorough cost/benefit analysis on all possible uses of the Roof Depot site so that we have full backup plans for every possible eventuality. MGr, MK. Failed.

Shirley Heyer: What other options has the city studied for this site? They have only studied one buyer, themselves.

8:40     Sunday Meeting 9:00 am at the East Phillips Park

Carol agrees that there isn’t anyone getting all the facts, dollars and numbers, but what information there is, is coming through our CM Cano. Discussion about having meetings on Sunday mornings excluding a large percent of constituency from these meetings.

8:45     Adjournment.

Board Meeting Minutes 06 - 06

June 6th, 2015, Saturday, 10:00 am

East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center

EPIC web address:  www.eastphillips-epic.com

Office: 2536 18^th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Rita Ortega

Carol Pass, Gloria Reyes

Present board members: Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Rita Ortega, Carol Pass, Rosie Cruz,

Absent board members: Jenny Bjorgo (E), Gloria Reyes

Members:

Visitors: Jovita Morales, Petra

10:00   Introductions:

·       Introductions

·       Approval of June 6^th Agenda, JH, RO, Approved.

·       Approval of May 2nd Board Minutes

Jovita Morales shared about an upcoming community conversation about housing problems. Flyers in Spanish are being distributed through Phillips neighborhoods.

Community Forum, June 20^th 11am-1pm.

Waite House, 2323 11^th Ave S

Housing issues, conversation with City Council Members

Two residents from Ventura Village shared about problems with the building where they live (2323 16^th Ave South.) The new owner raised the rent from $595 to $725, but there are a lot of problems with the building. The apartment is not in good condition. A lot of broken equipment, heating/cooling is not working, the floors are bad, $595 nnow is $725 for a 1 BR. Landlord’s name is Daniel.

LL This is happening all over the city. Have you spoken to the free legal aid through the county? Also free legal aid clinic is available at Park Avenue United Methodist Church.

EPIC will have some resources at the next membership meeting. Waite House also has some resources. We agreed to provide what help we could.

Quorum achieved: 10:40 am

11:00   Presentation and Discussion of the CIF grant

Copies of the proposal that was submitted were distributed. There was no way that this could be distributed to the board in a timely way – there just wasn’t time. Carol said she thought the program was good and pointed out that it included the things we had agreed to at the previous Board meeting.  Linda provided about 6 hours of work on the narrative for the grant, editing and revising the narrative to strengthen the grant, and reviewing the budget. We requested but did not receive a Word document of the Narrative and so were unable to add these efforts at collaboration.  CP reported that there were some challenges with this grant partnership, especially the time constraints. There was no one available to respond to questions so information that was needed could not be found until the last minute and arrived often at the last minute. RO and JH feel there should be an evaluation of how the process worked. MG feels we need to have an MOU to facilitate how EPIC and LE will work together to administer the grant/program. We will wait to see if we receive the grant before setting up a meeting for Robert, Ethan, Carol, Mary, Jean, and Rita,

11:17   Discussion of the NPP Plan, CPP Plan finance,   

CP distributed copies of the East Phillips “Crime and  Safety Initiatives” Neighborhood Priority Plan for the years

2014-2016 and the board discussed implementation of the various programs. The Board also viewed copies of a contract amendment to the original 2014-2016 Community Participation Program Submission showing changes to the budget.

We discussed putting these all on line. CP will check other neighborhood organizations to see what documents they post online and will report at the next board meeting.

11:45   Discussion of Fiduciary Responsibility of Directors of Charitable Organizations

            Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Obedience, Getting along

This discussion was postponed. We were running out of time..EPIC has a pooled insurance policy with all the other neighborhoods. There has been so many people suing everyone, the policy for the whole city has been cancelled once , and the cost has gone up considerably.

The Board agreed by consensus to sign up for the City’s policy because we didn’t want to mediate potential debates with insurance companies if there was a law suit.

Board training…retreat style? August 1^st. LL and RO will plan and invite all board members.

11:55   Discussion of Edwin’s Candidacy Meeting with Ellen

Letter from Ellen McVeigh (attorney) confirming summary of EPIC’s meeting with her.

Agreed upon conclusions

1. EPIC’s letter was professional and explained that in accordance with EPIC bylaws, Edwin was not eligible.to run for the board.

2. The only parties that have standing and should be discussing the issue of Edwin Gonzales election are EPIC and Edwin Gonzales and no one else.

3. There is confusion about two apparently contradictory rulings in Robert’s Rules and the attorney deferred to the parliamentarian.

Carol remarked that the letter was heavily edited by Ellen McVeigh and had a copy that demonstrated that.

EPIC is seeking an opinion from a certified parliamentarian.

12:20   Grievances-

JH had to leave the meeting.

M. Green grievances: we are seeking assistance from Craig Seifert to assist us with a response. Craig is a para legal with extensive experience related to similar situations.

MOTION: Allow the previous Executive Committee to deal with Hannah’s grievance. MG, RO. Passed.

LL had to leave the meeting.

12:35   Self Evaluation

Board members completed a self-evaluation.

12:40   Adjourn