General membership Meeting Minutes 06 - 09

June 9th, 2016, 6:30 p.m. – 8:50 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

Phone: (612)  280-8418

"Those who say it cannot be done

shouldn’t interrupt the people doing it." Ephemera, Inc.

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.

Board Members Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Shawna Dillon.

Board Members Not Present: Rosie Cruz (E), Margarita Ortega (E).

Members: Brad Pass, Maryanne Quiroz, Steve Sandberg, Rep. Karen Clark

Guests: Shirley Heyer, Clyde Turner (PACE), Gary Nelson (MPD), Cliff Swenson (MPRB), Chris Larson, Betty Sandoval, Erdogan Akguc, Yildiz Akguc,

6:40     Introductions:

·      Greetings and Introductions:

·      Approval of Agenda: Approved by concensus

Approval of Minutes from May 12th, 2016, MG, LL Approved

6:45     Announcements:

·      Next EPIC Board Meeting will be July 2^nd at the Park 10;00 am to 12:00 am

• EPIC SummerFest, this Sunday, June 12^th, 2016, 1 to 7 pm.
• Next Community Meeting will be July 14th.
• Clean Sweep t-shirt design contest, ages 8-18; Deadline is June 15; $50 prize to winner.
• Save the Shave, “2019 East Lake Open Street” – Site of the original Burma Shave Factory, on the street performance: 11-5 Sunday, July 24^th. (Steve Sandburg.)

6:50     Crime and Safety (Gary Nelson)

Discussed status of speed bumps on 18^th Avenue and 16^th Avenue. Camera update: Insp. Sullivan wants EPIC to check with PD about location of other cameras. Must be agreed upon location. Terry, 612.708.8212. “Summer Fun” at Cedar Field every Tuesday from June 21 to Aug. 2, from 11 am to 1:30 pm. There will be food and activities. Sponsored by MPD community engagement team and PAL (Police Athletic League).

7:00     Maryanne Quiroz will be attending GMMs for Alondra Cano’s office. Passed out Ninth Ward Update.

7:10    Exciting update on progress on the Swimming Pool. Cliff Swenson from the Park Board

Minneapolis received a solar panel grant and East Phillips will receive one of those parks to receive solar panels. Will be installed on the south end of the Gym. Construction will begin Sept./Oct. and will go live in November. This will save 6-8% of the energy cost of this building. Grant came from Xcel Energy. The MN legislature also granted about $900,000 to Minneapolis.

Current plan to renovate existing pool and building a teaching pool. Concerns included maintaining access to the aquatics areas. The existing teen room will switched with the current fitness room. Also planned in the aquatics area will be both a men’s and women’s changing area, along with a family changing area. There will be a Community room also. 

Goal is to get the drawings out for bids in August, award in September and begin construction end of October/early November. Construction is expected to take 10-12 months and we hope to open in September 2017. We feel that with this design, the project will stay within budget. Funding has been provided to support operations for the first five years. Scheduling an aquatics director to begin in June 2017. This will be the park boards first indoor aquatics venue, and we want to make sure that the space is programmed well.

           

7:15     First Time Home Buyer help available, EPIC and the State of MN

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (Handout) offers education, loans, and professional assistance in finding and financing affordable housing.

EPIC should add our housing program on the GMHC website. Call Sondra.

7:35   Final Vote for $4,500 to support Shakopee Sioux matching grant for Clyde Turner Basketball Camp from PACE (Past Athletes Concerned About Education). Board and Community approved motion is the following:

MOTION: EPIC will partner with PACE to sponsor a one week or longer youth basketball & character building camp and will provide $4,500 toward the budget, and will receive recognition as a sponsor, along with EPPCCC and MPRB, based on the proposal provided on May 6, 2016 and presented to GMM on May 12, 2016.  MG, LL, Approved.

2^nd Vote: BP, JB. Approved.

8:05     Proposal to build a small, one-story commercial building on 2701 Bloomington Ave. – Erdogan and Yildiz Akguc. Needs variances, zoning and parking set back. Public hearing will be Monday, June 13^th, Rm 317, City Hall. EPIC Board recommended approval. Board Motion is the following:

MOTION: EPIC board recommends support of the variances for this plan as they continue to work with the community and consider additional models and features. LL, JB, Approved. One abstain (RC).

MOTION:  EPIC Community supports of the variances for this plan as they continue to work with the community and consider additional models and features. BP, SD, Approved.       

8:30     Planning for EPIC SummerFest – June 12^th, Talent Show, Music, Food, etc. Check out plan and schedule, looking for volunteers.

EPIC TABLE:                                                  SATURDAY                                  SUNDAY SETUP: 9am – 1pm
1-3 pm Mary Gonsior                                      Get stage and generator                              Set up stage and generator
3-4 pm Linda Leonard                                           Speakers & Sound                            Set up Speakers & Sound
4-5 pm                                                                                                                   Setting up other activities & booths
5-7 pm Kristin Hanks                                                                                             Holy Rosary – food

8:45     Update on the Pollution struggle with the Asphalt Plant, Foundry and the Water Yard Trucks.

Karen Clark reported that there is some question about a study performed by Krista with MPCA. Krista wrote a grant and studied PAH’s, reporting that the study shows that the cumulative pollution here is not breaking the bar of “really bad air”. There is a lot of confusion about the findings of this study. EPIC has asthma maps that show otherwise. This study is looking at only one pollution factor. Karen will set up a meeting for a smaller group in the next couple weeks.

8:52     Adjourn

EPIC Board Meeting Minutes 06 - 04

June 4th, 10:00 am -12:00

East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S.

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

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

Phone: (612)  280-8418

Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Kristin Hanks , Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.

Board Members Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale,  Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass.

Board Members Not Present: Shawna Dillon, Kristin Hanks, Margarita Ortega

EPIC Members: Brad Pass

Guests: Pastor Patrick Hansel, Shirley Heyer, Heidi Hafermann, Erdogan and Yildiz Akguc,

10:00   Introductions:

·       Greetings and Introductions.

·       Approval of Agenda: JB, MG, approved with correction to approval of minutes May 7^thand SummerFest time (1-7 pm)

·       Approval of Minutes from May 7th, 2016, approved with correction of time for SummerFest (1-7 pm)

10:10   Announcements:

• Next EPIC Membership Meeting, June 9^th, East Phillips Park, Thursday 6:30 pm.

• Next EPIC Board meeting, July 2^nd, East Phillips Park, Saturday, 10:00 am.
• EPIC SummerFest, June 12^th, East Phillips Park, 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

10:15   Review of EPIC board meeting dates

Add to July agenda; review holidays and determine the dates of all monthly meetings through the next Annual meeting.

For this year, the board meeting will be on July 2^nd, and if unable to attend due to the holiday, it will be an excused absence.

10:21   Update on the Speed Bumps: Carol and Rita

The individual who promised money for the 16^th avenue speed bump hasn’t provided the funds, and this is holding up both speed bumps. RC and CP are working getting the promised funds.

10:15   Art on the Street- Patrick Hansel- Proposal to “muralize” our garbage can.

Pastor Patrick Cabello Hansel (St. Paul’s Lutheran) would like to work with youth and adults to create a East Phillips neighbors design for a mini-mural (mosaic) for the large garbage can at the community garden. The Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts proposes a cost of $400 and includes all materials, etc. A written proposal was presented.

MOTION: Support budget. JB, LL, approved.

10:30   Payment of Structural Engineer for 2433 Bloomington Ave Office site- Brad Pass has offered to make a restricted donation for the purpose of paying ALIGN Structural $770.00 for services.

MOTION: Accept donation to EPIC 501©(3) from Brad Pass for a restricted fund to pay for services from ALIGN Structural. LL, JB, Approved.

10:45   Proposal to build small commercial on 2701 Bloomington Ave. – Erdogan and Yildiz Akguc, Needs variances. Zoning and parking set back.

Planning a 3,000 sq. ft., one-story commercial unit. This pushes the building toward the sidewalks a little bit. Erdogan wants to create two small businesses next to each other. This will provide more safety for each business. Will eventually sell the building to the business. Updated drawings were distributed. There is a public hearing scheduled Monday, June 132, 2016 at 4:30 pm in Room 317 City Hall to review variances requested to reduce the minimum front yard setback on Bloomington, reduce the minimum off-street parking, and reduce the minimum drive aisle.

MOTION: EPIC board recommends support of the variances for this plan as they continue to work with the community and consider additional models and features. LL, JB, Approved. One abstain (RC).

11:20   Update on the Native Youth Arts Collective-Heidi Hafermann, Return on July 14^th Community Meeting?

There are 2 Facebook pages. One is Little Earth Arts Collective, and the other is a private page for the group to communicate. 29 students are members of the group. There  is a core group of about 6, at least 10 at every meeting and usually more like 15. There will be an arts opening at MIA on Thursday, June 9, 2016 beginning at 6 pm (landscape art show.) The show will be up through July.

Since last October, there have been 3 major endeavors that students have worked on with outside agencies. 1. In connection with the Guerrilla Girls visit to Minneapolis. Fabulous video with Craig Rice. 2. With Courtney Cochran, collaborating on a piece about missing women – currently showing at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. 3. Landscape show with MIA, working with Witt Seasoko.

Joe and Heidi went back to the Walker to discuss mentorships, and found that Walker was in the midst of overturning their program. Instead, the students volunteered to become volunteers at the Walker. Received an email from the current education directors at Walker offering to host teens for an intensive internship for the fall (Sept-Feb.) Walker will absorb cost of stipends, so that the CIF grant can be used to extend the program. Without the engagement that occurred so far, this opportunity would not have been possible. EPIC could invite the Walker staff to a meeting in September. 

Getting good feedback from youth – they are enjoying getting out around the city with these opportunities. Joe and Heidi have learned that the “big picture” has been hard to manage in this stage of the program; there is not enough time and resources to plug in to every opportunity. Unfortunately, students will not be participating in the SummerFest event in June 12. School and graduations, and the opening of the Landscape exhibit are all this week. Students could come to the July 14^th membership meeting and present what they have been doing.

The CIF grant has enabled the program to provide modest stipends to collaborators and has allowed the program to provide more frequent programming. In fact, regular programming during the school year for 14-20 year olds is really new at Little Earth. The program is popular and has reached its maximum outreach.

Encouraging the youth to build their own relationships with the artists that they are collaborating with has helped them to build skills and confidence in developing communication and relationships outside their comfort zone.

In preparation for the September program with the Walker, would like to have a 1-2 day “retreat” to prepare for the intensity of the Walker partnership. This is not included in the CIF budget.

12:04    Update on the  EPIC SUMMERFEST – Check out plan and schedule,  looking for   volunteers.  

A week from tomorrow: we need help setting up and tearing down.

EPIC TABLE:
1-3 pm Mary Gonsior
3-5 pm
5-7 pm

SATURDAY

·       Set up Bocce Ball

·       Get stage and generator

·       Speakers & Sound (Gabe)

SETUP: 9am – 1pm

·       Set up Bocce Ball

·       Get stage and generator

·       Speakers & Sound (Gabe)

·       Setting up other activities and booths

o   Holy Rosary – food

o   Park Board – hot dogs, popcorn

o   Kids games – Park Board

o   Pinata – Brad

o   T-Shirts - Brad

In future, EPIC should prepare a budget for SummerFest well in advance of the event. EPIC might be able to find funding for free food for residents (vouchers).

12:20    Adjourn