December 8th, 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
Board Roster: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass. Margarita Ortega, Mary
Gonsior
Board Members Present: Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass, Mary Gonsior
Board Members Not Present: Margarita Ortega
Members: Brad Pass,
Margaret Kirkpatrick, Michael Green, Steve Sabdberg
Guests: Shirley Heyer,
Dana Murdoch, Michelle Chavez, Christina Kendrick, Noah Keller
6:30 Social Time/ Greetings and Introductions
6:55 Approval of Proposed December 8th,
2016 Agenda, by consensus.
Approval of November
10th General Membership Draft Minutes, by consensus.
7:00 Announcements
7:00 Announcements
- Next EPIC Board Meeting will be January 7th, 2017, Saturday at the Park 10:00 am to 12:00 no
- Next EPIC Community meeting will be January 12th, 2017, Thursday at the Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.
- Nominations for the Board: Members of East Phillips seeking election to the Board of Directors, whether nominated by themselves or another, should pick up the eligibility papers, sign them and turn them in to an EPIC Board member in the next few weeks.
- Cedar Field Redesign - Help create Cedar Avenue Field Park Master Plan during three-day open house at EPPCCC at 3-9pm on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15 and 16, and at 9am-4pm on Saturday, Dec. 17. Announcements will be made on local Somali radio, and the flyer will be translated as well.
- A New York City investment group is planning to buy property connected with the Sears building/Midtown Exchange from Ryan Companies.
7:15 Roof Depot – Community Voice
- Roof Depot: Christina Kendrick (Neighborhood and Community Relations) reported that once the city makes definite decisions regarding utilization of the property, she will lead community engagement to explain what will happen and what role the community will have. It is not clear at this time exactly what that entails. Christina has a team of engagement specialists with various languages, communities. Christina will do all she can with all her tools to ensure that she hears from the community and how the city’s message is being received, and how these decisions impact constituents.
- All scheduled engagement meetings will be public.
- Decision-makers:
- Property Services is in charge of thinking through how the city needs to use its facilities.
- Public Works is designated as the department to use this site.
- Meeting on Dec. 23rd – can EPIC be there?
- Can Christina work with Traffic & Parking, and Traffic Control? This is a big concern in the neighborhood.
EPIC
made motions at our last meeting to (1) seek funding from the city to conduct
our own community engagement process, and (2) set aside dollars to hire an
architect to assist in providing a community-friendly proposal for the site.
EPIC has already done much to engage the community to plan a beneficial amenity
for this site, and may be able to impact city decisions.
7:30 Housing – Habitat for Humanity- New Home build at 2921 18th
Av. S.
Noah
Keller; Habitat is proposing a single home; construction July 2017. Presented
schematics; 4 bedroom home; a true-infill lot. Comments included crime/safety
requests to make sure all builds include railings, even if there are only 2
steps, and also to build garages with the large doors perpendicular to the
alley (not facing the alley).
MOTION: EPIC supports the purchase of 2921 18th Av. S. by Habitat for Humanity and we fully support the
4 bedroom home they will build, and recommend that they build the garage
with the large garage doors perpendicular to the alley (not facing the alley). CP, JB, Approved.
7:45 Report on the Phillips Aquatics Center- Dana Murdoch, MPRB, graphics
and design layouts, Q and A.
The
project has gone out for bid. Morecon had the lowest bid, yet was beyond the
existing budget. The bid was crafted with multiple options so that the contract
could go ahead, and the funds will not be lost. The contract will include “base
projects” (existing pool, spectator area, check in desk, new pool with family
flexible locker rooms, community room, public restrooms and staff support
spaces), but will not include Alternatives 2 (update existing locker rooms –
cost is $162,000 for paint and some new finishes plus reconfigure entry to
modern standards) and 3 (relocate fitness & teen centers – cost is $116,000
to switch the rooms). The MPRB has “dug deep” to find the funds for the “base
projects”. The big work will start in April or May.
Comments:
- The canopy was requested by community to protect disabled and youth being dropped off in busloads. Cost is $135,000.
- Midtown voted to ask MPRB save the 6 maple trees – they can be moved.
- Are there handicap-accessible toilets in the locker rooms?
- Does the structure support Solar?
8:00 Report on Grievance Resolutions
Process
update: Typically members hear back when a grievance is resolved. Since there
are some long-term outstanding grievances that the board wants to report, the Executive Committee asked that the following resolution to the most recent grievance be read aloud to the members and placed in the minutes.
"The EPIC Executive Committee proposes the following resolution:
1. We want you to refer to the record about Board and member motions and actions regarding office space and staffing.
2. We want you to respect the decisions of the Board and membership in the manner in which the Board sets priorities, agendas, and work plans.
3. You can present proposals to the Board about work plans, potential staffing, office sites, criteria, and funding options as he chooses. Your current proposed remedy would incur costs and time beyond the scope of the Board’s current plans to pursue office space and staffing.
4. The Board will be considering future funding and budgets and those proposals will come to the membership for discussion and approval. You can express your views at that time as may all the other members present.
5. It would be preferable for you to ask your questions at the time business is reported rather than wait months to do so.
6. In the future we will offer more details about further inquiries about potential office space and costs. No decisions or proposals about the property on Bloomington Avenue have been under discussion and there was nothing further to report about that property option when the grievance was filed." (Read by Linda Leonard)
"The EPIC Executive Committee proposes the following resolution:
1. We want you to refer to the record about Board and member motions and actions regarding office space and staffing.
2. We want you to respect the decisions of the Board and membership in the manner in which the Board sets priorities, agendas, and work plans.
3. You can present proposals to the Board about work plans, potential staffing, office sites, criteria, and funding options as he chooses. Your current proposed remedy would incur costs and time beyond the scope of the Board’s current plans to pursue office space and staffing.
4. The Board will be considering future funding and budgets and those proposals will come to the membership for discussion and approval. You can express your views at that time as may all the other members present.
5. It would be preferable for you to ask your questions at the time business is reported rather than wait months to do so.
6. In the future we will offer more details about further inquiries about potential office space and costs. No decisions or proposals about the property on Bloomington Avenue have been under discussion and there was nothing further to report about that property option when the grievance was filed." (Read by Linda Leonard)
We
were told that the grievance process will be concluded in December.
8:15 EPIC Bylaw Revisions
The
board wishes to make additional revisions. Once the board approved revisions
have been incorporated into a new red-line version, it would go to NCR for
review. Once the review is complete, the board would publish a FINAL version of
the new Bylaws. EPIC would present an overview to the community (hit the
significant changes), and then there is a vote (yay or nay.)
8:30 Financial
Report
Finance
reports through Nov. 15, 2016 were distributed.
8:50 Adjournment
In the interest of
Public Safety, please consider the following:
- Alert: ALL RESIDENTS – FOR THE COMMUNITY AND YOUR SAFETY – PLEASE TURN ON YOUR OUTSIDE LIGHTS AT DUSK
- Alert: Are any of your street lights out? Feel Safer and call the following numbers.
- If the poles are wooden call Excel Energy at 1-800-960-6235 or http://www.exelenergy.com/ODL/OUTAGEREPORT:
- If the poles are metal, call City of Minneapolis 311
