EPIC Board Meeting Agenda 7-3

 

EPIC Board Meeting Draft Minutes

July 3, 2021, 10am – 12pm

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com 

Email: epic.ssantiago@gmail.com

Office: 2433 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Phone: (608) 513-5107

Board Roster: Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Cassandra Holmes, David Ingold, Shontal Lajeunesse, Steve Sandberg, Earl Simms, Karen Townsend, Nikolas Winter-Simat

Board Members Present: 

Board Members Not Present: 

Members: 

Guests: 

10:00 Open meeting,

Vision and Mission

Welcome guests and Introductions

Agenda Approval, 

Minutes Approval, 

10:05 Announcements

• Next Community Meeting will be: Thursday, July 8 at 6:30 online, the link to join is at eastphillips.org 

• Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, August 7 at 10am online, the link to join is at eastphillips.org

• Garden Steering Committee: Monday, July 5 at 7pm via Zoom

• General Garden Meeting: Saturday, July 10 at 9am via Zoom

• CANCEL? Next Executive Committee meeting will be: Thursday, July 15 at 7pm online, the link to join is at eastphillips.org

• Executive Committee meetings are open to the public

• Board members please send agenda items (for both community meetings and board meetings) to Sarah before executive meetings each month 

10:06 Proposal for changing meeting agendas

• Board Meetings

• Review vision and mission

• welcome guests/intros

• approve agenda and minutes

------- 5 mins

• Report/update from Executive Coordinator

• Reports from Departments

• Departments bring forth motions that are necessary for board approval

------- 30 mins

• New business

• Brief discussion and delegation to departments and action committees

------- 25 mins

• Community Meetings

• Welcome - vision and mission

• Intros

• Group agreements

• Announcements

• Agenda approval and minutes approval

-----10 mins

• Report from one action committee

-----5 mins

• Feature presentation - 15 mins 

• questions and discussion - 10 mins

-----25 mins

• Community decisions

-----20 mins

10:07 Motions

MOTION: The EPIC board recommends changing EPIC’s housing neighborhood priority wording from: “Build up to eight new houses on 8 empty lots to address the need for affordable workforce housing.” to: “Support securing housing for East Phillips residents and the development of affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the neighborhood.”

MOTION: The EPIC board approves $16,000 for the East Phillips Resident Housing Support Program through South East Homes Somali Recovery.

MOTION: The EPIC board approves moving $16,000 for the East Phillips Resident Housing Support Programprogram through South East Homes Somali Recovery from CPP funds to the housing neighborhood priority.

Southside proposal

MOTION: The EPIC board recommends changing EPIC’s community connections neighborhood priority wording from: “Utilize a number of tools and events to connect with residents of the East Phillips neighborhood. These include a special Facebook page, a new website, use of the Somali radio station, an annual park festival, special events such as the Little Earth Native American Mother's Day Pow Wow, a neighborhood Clean Sweep, National Night Out and other activities and initiatives.” to: “utilize tools and events to connect with residents of the East Phillips neighborhood, as well as secure space for community gatherings. The tools EPIC will utilize to increase community connections include media ads and events include the Little Earth Native American Mother’s Day Pow Wow, neighborhood Clean Sweeps, and other activities and initiatives.” I think we can be generic and say media ads. Also, I think we should include ‘Events’ in the list.

Letter of support for EPNI?

10:20 Executive Coordinator Updates

• Audit: 

• Review ‘client responses.’ 

• Any changes? 

• The report will be sent back to the auditor with our client responses.

• Banks/Credit Unions:

• Currently with Wells Fargo:

• Monthly fee of $3.50 for ‘Monthly Check Return/Image Stmt Fee’

• Average 15 transactions per month

• Sunrise Banks

• certified B Corporation, a certified Community Development Financial Institution and member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values

• Community Checking:

• for businesses that have low-volume accounts

• No minimum balance requirement

• If there are more than 50 transactions per month there is an $18 maintenance fee

• $0.45 per debit, paper deposit and check deposits if there are more than 50 transactions per month.

• Woodlands

• owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as part of their economic diversification program

• Success Checking:

• Limited to 25 deposited items per statement cycle

• If customer exceeds 25 deposited items there is a fee of $0.10 per deposited item

• Limited to 25 debits per statement cycle

• If customer exceeds 25 withdrawals there is a fee of $0.15 per debit

• No minimum balance

• TruStone

• Federally insured by NCUA (National Credit Union Administration)

• Small Business Checking:

• No monthly fees

• First 20 checks/debits are free per month, $0.20 each thereafter

MOTION: The EPIC board approves changing the depository to _______

• Documentary Film project

• Due to ethical concerns, Korab and team decided to move forward with just EPNI and not do larger East Phillips film due to time constraints

• Is open to working with us in future

• Work with Nations Gibbons?

• Outreach contractors

• Contracting with Knock Knock LLC who will hire and train field canvassers and conduct outreach delivering 3,900 doors knocked obtaining 20% (780) of contact rate, 80% (624) surveys filled out, 75% (468) of the phone numbers, 75% (468) of emails. 

• Bilingual East Phillips residents are highly preferred - tell your neighbors!

• Final steps, sign memorandum of understanding with EPNI, sign Independent Contractor Consulting Agreement

• Knock Knock LLC will begin the hiring process on Monday

• Mighty Networks

• YardHomes 

• meeting with CPED, Cano’s office, YardHomes Founder and scottie on July 

• A variance has been sent, individuals can send a letter of support for the variance for scottie’s unit

• Discuss COVID restrictions - mask requirement at office? 

• No longer required to have a COVID-19 preparedness plan

• propose change to: 

• EPIC will follow CDC guidelines, face coverings are not required at the EPIC office or at EPIC meetings/events. Unvaccinated people are highly recommended to wear masks while in the office or attending EPIC meetings/events. 

• If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, please do not come to an in person meeting or event at the EPIC office or elsewhere.

• EPIC will keep a contact log for in person EPIC meetings and events. The log will be used for notification purposes in the case that someone in attendance tests positive for COVID-19 or had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

• If an attendee tests positive/was infectious at an EPIC meeting/event the attendee will notify Sarah (state this requirement on the contact log).

• EPIC will provide an online meeting option for people who choose not to be vaccinated or are immunocompromised. 

• Who would like to work together on the equitable engagement plan? 

• draft is due to the city September 1

• Sarah would like to meet with neighbors and board members to gather people’s ideas, she can then work on putting together a first draft for board review before September 1

• Nikolas,

• Attendance expectations - change in policies and procedures

• Emailed to Nikolas and Mary

11:00 Department Delegation

• Departments

• who is interested in each department

• Legal/finance Department

• strengths: small detail oriented

• David, Mary, Laura

• Vision Department

• vision and mission

• how are we meeting needs?

• strengths: big picture thinker

• Nikolas

• Relational Community and Board Engagement Department

• community and board connections

• personnel and community relations

• board retreat

• events

• how to engage people – flyering, banners etc

• Community partnerships?

• strengths: relationships

• Steve

• get together with your department before next board meeting

• cancel Executive Committee meeting

• in your department make a list of the scope of the department priorities, goals

11:15 Proposal for the 27th and Cedar site

11:20 New business: Bloomington Ave

• All well aware of issues on Bloomington

• Long term:

•  further developing Bloomington

• Aid in providing housing to those who want it 

• I.e. South East Homes Somali Recovery program

• Provide other services 

• I.e. South Side Harm Reduction

• Short term: 

• Topic of August Community meeting

• Part of restructuring community meetings

• Find people doing the work - invite them to discussion

• In person meeting with option to join virtually

• Sarah proposes we purchases an Owl - camera, mic and speaker all in one

• Hotspot?

• Children’s activities 

Clarification: items on organizational budget under $1,000 do not require further approval, such as above items or items for mayoral candidate forum.

If needed:

MOTION: EPIC approves the purchasing of equipment and supplies to be used for hybrid meetings, that may include, but not limited to an Owl device, hotspot and children’s activities 

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 6-10

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes

June 10th, 2021, 6:30 – 8:50

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

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com 

Email: epic.ssantiago@gmail.com

Office: 2433 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Phone: (612) -280-8418

Board Roster: Laura Dale, Mary Gonsior, Cassandra Holmes, David Ingold, Shontal Lajeunesse, Steve Sandberg, Earl Simms, Karen Townsend, Nikolas Winter-Simat

Board Members Present: Laura Dale, David Ingold, Karen Townsend, Steve Sandberg, Earl Simms, Nikolas Winter-Simat, Mary Gonsior

Board Members Not Present: Shontal Lajeunesse (E), Cassandra Holmes

Members: Emrys, Brad, Carol, Linda Leonard

Guests: Sheila, Christina, Frank, Christian Korab, Shirley Heyer

6:30 Social Time

6:45 Welcome and acknowledgement of land

Vision and Mission

Community Participation Agreement:

• Simplified version:

• Respect each other; aim for kindness

• Respect each other's time; aim for brevity

• Respect the agenda; aim for unity

• Own your words, actions, and reactions; aim for peace

6:50 Greetings and Introductions 

• How to become a member

• chat Sarah or email sarah@eastphillips.org with your email address and physical address (to verify you live in East Phillips)

6:55 Approve tonight’s agenda, Approved

Approve minutes from May community meeting, Approved

7:00 Announcements

• Next Board Meeting will be: Saturday, July 3rd at 10am online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)

• Board Meetings are open to the public

• Next Community Meeting will be: July 8 at 6:30 online (link to join is at eastphillips.org)

• we will be discussing changing our Housing Neighborhood Priority. We will discuss this further later in the meeting

• Next Executive Committee meeting is cancelled, the board is trying out a new board department model

• EPIC has a housing program! 0% interest! Fix up your home or buy a new home in East Phillips – Check your email for the brochure or go to: mncee.org/eastphillips

• If you smell a foul odor around Smith foundry or Bituminous Roadways call 311 to report

• Write down your incident number

• Join your neighbors in cleaning up trash on your block for 20 minutes every Saturday anytime between 9am and 11am!

• EPICs Operating Policies and Procedures and Board Manual will be updated on our website to include Language Access Policy, Board Training and Development Policy

• WEI programs are FREE if you live in East Phillips and if you sign up BEFORE JUNE 25TH 

• Check out the catalog on EPICs Facebook page

• here is the link to sign up: bit.ly/3wG4Whb

• Park Board buildings are closed

• if public calls Park coordinators and the Park Board Director (Al) they may open Park Board buildings

• call!

• sarah chillo is the aquatic director  schillo@minneapolisparks.org  o 612 230-6476 cell 612 655-7564     jean is at east phillips Anthony is at Phillips and Lou is at Stewart  They supervise  but don't do all the programming They can establish ways to register people with hard copy or in person if we can get the doors open. east phillips 612 370-4888   stewart612 370-4932 phillips 612 370-4946  customer service 612 230-6400 espanol 612 230-6573  somali 612 230-6574  AK Hassan  612 230-6443 ext 3  is our commissioner ahassan@minneapolisparks.org

• Al Bangoura: Phone: 612-230-6404 Email: abangoura@minneapolisparks.org

1) $2,000 advance 

1. advance from crime and safety initiative contract that expired 2017

2. Money needs to be contracted or returned

3. the board has voted to bring the following motion to the EPIC membership, this is the second of two community meeting votes

MOTION: EPIC will pay the $2,000 advance back to the city of Minneapolis from the 2017 crime and safety initiative contract, NWS, LD, Approved

2) CPP Funding:

2nd community vote on:

MOTION: EPIC approves the proposals and funding from the Youth Workforce Development Program ($23,408) for and the Native Youth Arts Collective ($15,614), MG, LD, Approved

MOTION: EPIC moves to transfer $39,022 from CPP funding to the Youth and Adult Programming neighborhood priority, NWS, DI, Approved

U of M Documentary on East Phillips - guests - 5 minutes

1st community vote on:

MOTION: The EPIC board approves using $6,500 of CPP funds to support the ‘East Phillips Tells the Roof Depot’ documentary project, NWS, MG, Approved

• use as a different mode of communication to reach community members than we typically do (i.e. flyers etc.)

• highlight our neighborhood in a way that it needs to be presented

• avoid cherry picking representatives of the community

• Documentarian is very well aware that he is stepping into a sacred space

• Board member shared that the price of this project is extremely low

• documenting roof depot story - due August 5 (city council meeting)

• other project as deep dive into East Phillips

South East Homes Somali Recovery: requesting $16,000 for an East Phillips Housing Support Program. Connects clients (primarily East African) who are unhoused and experiencing chemical dependency issues to housing, providing them with culturally responsive support and mentoring once they have secured housing. 

• Requires a wording change to our Housing Neighborhood Priority. Currently as it is written the priority is focused on new construction and homeownership. 

• would need to add wording around unhoused neighbors, or securing housing in general

• this requires 21 day notice before board approval plus two community meeting votes

3) Vote on bylaw changes

• worked on changes last month

• changes incorporated into 2nd draft and it has been on the website for a month

MOTION: The EPIC membership and board of directors adapts the new bylaws posted as the ‘second draft of bylaws’ on the EPIC website with the suggested wording change during this meeting, DI, MG, Approved, one community member abstention 

4) Financial Report

• The EPIC board approved an organizational budget, share budget with community,

• pointing out funds spent year to date

• Options the EPIC board is exploring regarding using our CPP funds:

• a) building purchase ~ $175,000 

• renovations - paying someone to make bathroom ADA accessible

• residential landlords - makes things murky being the n’hood organization

• would want to prioritize avoiding displacing people

• make yard community gathering space or expanding the space

• need to show that we have sufficient resources to maintain building for next 10 years

• b) Co-op ownership model 

• Another organization is landlord

• They purchase land

• Removes overhead responsibilities

• we wouldn’t be property managers or landlords

• in exchange for us providing money to purchase building, they provide office space for free

• find someone who would prioritize the current renters 

• c) Divide money between community based organizations

• continue renting, hope to move into Roof Depot in future

• multilingual outreach and trash pick up employees

• ‘tech up the office’ so we can easily Zoom in meetings

• pay rent a year or two ahead

• Money toward Community Based Organizations

• d) Secure vacant lot at 27th and Cedar

• continue renting, hope to move into Roof Depot in future

• use vacant lot as community gathering space, community garden

• partnering with key organizations/groups that want to hold meetings and events in space

• A few options:

• pursue purchasing lot at 27th and Cedar with some of the money

• $80-100,000 to lot purchase

• problem: NRP funds can’t be used to hold property  and are primarily used for redevelopment

• would have to prove that it isn’t suitable for redevelopment

• would not qualify for as a public facility

• maintenance costs (taxes, shoveling, mowing etc.) are not eligible costs - need to determine how to cover costs

• city purchases with EPIC’s funds and makes it available to EPIC for EPIC purposes

• the city can incur maintenance costs that are not available to non-public entities

• the city could sell it at any point

• Ed (current owner) retains ownership and leases to EPIC and allows EPIC to do improvements on land

• ~$30,000 for lease, awning, solar

• Find someone to purchase the land and we pay rent for the space equivalent to making them whole and the improvements

5) YardHomes

• A neighbor is working with an organization called YardHomes who has forged a community partnership with City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT) to install accessory dwelling units in yards of CLCLT homeowners that will be lived in by individuals who qualify for housing vouchers such as Section 8, veterans, etc

• Running into issues with the city permitting office

• Does the EPIC board approve of Sarah working with neighbor and YardHomes to try to navigate the city’s permitting office? 

• writing a letter of support if necessary?

• has enthusiastic support of their project from neighbors on either side of them as well as across the street

• neighbor is happy to reach out to other neighbors 

• YardHomes founder is happy to hold informational meetings with neighbors and/or a committee

• CPED, YardHomes, Cano representative comes to neighborhood meeting

• how do you help a neighbor hold enough power

• EPIC will write a letter to invite CPED, YardHomes and Cano to engage on the issue.

6) Parks and Recreation advocacy

• Pool at Phillips Community Center is closed?

• Low turn out for swim lessons at Phillips Community Center

• Registration is online

• A lot of slots are open

• Neighbor would like EPIC to appoint an advocate/liaison between Gina (Phillips Community Center?), parks and rec person at East Phillips (Jeanne?) and Park and Rec person at Stewart Park

• outreach to increase participation

• Parks have list of day camps, post at Loaves and Fishes etc. as well as when doing doorknocking

• can make matrix

• post on social media, including Little Earth

• add to email

• Encourage people about calling to get buildings reopened

• if you would like this to happen, contact them

• Cross pollination - people who sign on with W-E-I, tell them to sign up as well

7) Community walk with city planners to point out concerns on 24th, 26th and 28th Aves

• long history of crashes leading to injuries and sometimes death on these streets

• goal is to make it easier for pedestrians to cross streets and to make the streets safer

• pick a date and time to do a community walk to highlight issues neighbors see

• July 24 at noon

9) Crime and safety – Sarah reports information from Kali Pliego, our Crime Prevention Specialist

• Burglaries occurring while someone is home

• Home Security Tips (scroll down)

9:00 Adjourn