General Membership Meeting Minutes 04 - 14

April 14th, 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, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.

Board Members Present: Mary Gonsior, Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Laura Dale, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega,

Carol Pass.

Board Members Not Present: Shawna Dillon, Jean Howard

EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Michael Green, Jadin Bjorgo, Margaret Kirkpatrick

Guests: Shirley Heyer, Alondra Cano, Tammy Williams, Julie Graves

6:45   Introductions:

·       Greetings and Introductions:

·       Approval of Agenda:

·       Approval of Minutes from March 10th, 2016, Carol remarked that she had changed a mistaken name. Tammy Williams was mistaken for Julie Graves. She thought this would cause confusion if not changed right away. Approved by consensus

6:50     Announcements:

·       Tax Return is done and sent

• EPIC Annual Meeting volunteers are needed. Contact a board member.
• EPIC SummerFest performers needed. Contact Brad Pass.

• EPIC Annual Meeting: Saturday, April 30^th, 2016 
• EPIC SummerFest, Sunday, June 12^th, 2016

7:05     New 2016 Policies and Procedures Handbook

•  Review and clarification Board Attendance described what an excused and unexcused absence is. Board  voted to budget up to $2400 per year for child-care at board and general membership meetings. We would need to form the following:

**Policies, procedures and job description. Contract services.

MG will contact Ikram Mohamed for childcare.

·       Reviewed changes to the financial policies and procedures (page 7).

·       The Handbook is on the Web. There is one missing page, the Neighborhood Priority Plan procedure. The new Handbook has numbered pages and formatting changes.

·       Board Application materials are on pages 11, 12 and 13.

·       New letter policy is in page 10.

·       New change: page 13; remove “Pointers for Participation from Board Contract (page 13).

7:20  Jean Whitehill and Tammy Williams, Youth Coordinator – A Spring Pilot Program to create a volunteer incentive program for youth that frequent the East Phillips Park during summer. Build and encourage life skills for future jobs. See Handout. Partnering with East Phillips parents and EPIC’s Programming Partnering Committee.
Program request total: $995.

MOTION: EPIC will provide funding for new EP Park Youth Pilot Program of $995 from NRP Phase II Youth Programming.  Passed by Consensus

7:30  Julie Graves presented Plans for a Youth Sports Program (Track and Field)- a Partnership of EPIC and  Waite House.  

This proposal was brought first to the EP Park Program Partnership committee of  EPIC for a summer program involving East Phillips youth. They are seeking funds from EPIC, Midtown and other organizations. See handout. This is for including kids from grades 6-8 in a full summer program of six weeks, 5 days a week and 6 hours a day. They will also provide two meals a day and academic help will also be part of this.

Thirty youth are to be from East Phillips (Addresses provided). Waite House provides staff and transportation. EPIC members will provide recruitment

Board Recommended MOTION: EPIC will subsidize Waite House Summer Youth Program to support 30 low-income EPIC students’ summer learning and development at a rate of $3,000. EPIC will provide Outreach. Passed by consensus

7:45    Final Vote on a Plan Modification:   This action was approved by the Board and for review at the March 10^th Community Meeting. It involves repurposing $7500 of NRP Phase II $10,000 once allocated for building out the EP Park Community Center kitchen and now no longer needed…..

MOTION: Approve $7,500 of NRP Phase II $10,000 former Park Kitchen allocation to be used for the speed bumps on the 2400 Block of 18^th Ave South by the School and on the 2900 block of 16^th Ave S. to slow the large number of speeding cars. LL, JB Passed

8:00   The Board voted to consider the $2,000 of the remaining $2500 go as equal matching dollars from Little Earth to support the Native Americans Survey for the Bryne Grant.

The NCR staff said that we did not have enough information regarding this request and needed more to determine what to do. We could vote to do this if it works out.

MOTION: Move the $2,000 of the remaining $2500 go as equal matching dollars from Little Earth to support the Native Americans Survey for the Bryne Grant if motion is appropriate. BP JB

The remaining $500 dollars to be decided. We may get an ok for speed bumps  near Cedar Field on the 2500 Block and this money could be used to help with that.

8:15   Report: Pollution Issue and EPIC at the Legislature for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm

CP attended the Capitol at the House Committee on Agriculture with Karen Clark to lobby for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm. Learned that other people are also applying for funding for similar projects. We are applying for $3M for the Governor’s Racial Equity Fund to combine with 9.8M from investors gathered by Dean Dovolis from DJR Inc. Our request is based on Neighborhood Revitalization through urban Ag. And the idea is job creation for jobs that don’t require college degrees. There is an additional Fund of $20M for Urban Agriculture available. We have not applied for that.
Permit is up for renewal for Smith Foundry.
Change of Zoning from I 3 to I 2

8:25  Speed Bumps (Margarita)
Holy Rosary, will try to contribute $1,000
Little Earth, requested a budget
Southside Family Nurturing Center, TBD
Baby’s Space, $500
  
Speed Bumps (Rosie/Rob) DurDur Bakery  $3250 or whatever is not collected from the block.
or whatever is not collected from the block.

8:30   Annual Meeting – Plans to help with the Set-Up. 

            Annual Meeting, April 30, 2016

1.     Pancake breakfast/Volunteers:

a.     MO will ask the PAR team to help (Byrne Grant Study) with set-up

b.     MG will “woman” the sign-in table

c.     Brad will take care of the food

d.     Paper goods and meeting supplies – purchase

e.     Still need:

                                               i.     Volunteers to cook and serve

                                             ii.     Volunteers to clean up/tear down

8:40   Help Plan the EPIC SummerFest – Mid-June, Talent Show, Music, Food, etc.

8:55     Adjourn

Board Meeting Minutes 04 - 02

April 2, 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, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.

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

Board Members Not Present: Shawna Dillon, Jean Howard

EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Michael Green

Guests:

10:00   Introductions:

·       Greetings and Introductions.

·       Approval of Agenda:

·       Approval of Minutes from March 5th, 2016

Announcements: Next EPIC Membership Meeting, April 14th, East Phillips Park, Thursday 6:30 pm,

• Annual Meeting, April 30^th, Saturday, East Phillips Park, 9:30 am

• Next EPIC Board meeting, May 7th, East Phillips Park, Saturday, 10:00 am

Grievance-Michael Green submitted a note regarding what he perceived as improprieties in our last proposed agenda for the community meeting on April 14^th. These were duly noted and changes will be made accordingly   .  

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10:20   EPIC Board Policies and Procedures Manual-

New 2016 Policies and Procedures Manual was distributed. Reviewed the new board attendance policy (page 6).

• A review and clarification Board Attendance described what an excused and unexcused absence is. Board voted to budget up to $2400 per year for child-care at board and general membership meetings. We would need

to form the following:

**Policies, procedures and job description. Contract services.

MG will contact Ikram Mohamed for childcare.

·       Reviewed changes to the financial policies and procedures (page 7).

·       The Handbook is on the Web. There is one missing page, the Neighborhood Priority Plan procedure. The new Handbook has numbered pages and formatting changes.

·       Board Application materials are on pages 11, 12 and 13.

·       New letter policy is in page 10.

·       New change: page 13; remove “Pointers for Participation from Board Contract (page 13).

10:50   Track, Field & Dance Spring Program – Julie Graves, Director of Youth Activities/ Pillsbury United

Julie pointed out that for the last couple of years, youth programs have had a decline in funding and the challenge is to continue providing effective programming for youth with fewer resources. Seeing a growing trend of families struggling to provide summer enrichment activities for their children, especially in East Phillips and Midtown. We want to ensure that families that need and want summer programming the most have access.  EPIC has $30,000 in NRP Phase II Youth Programmiing to use for purposes like this.

Programs focus on academics, arts, culture and wellness.
Julie insured us that East Phillips kids will be major participants. She is documenting their addresses.

MOTION: EPIC will partner with Waite House Summer Youth Program to support 30 low-income EPIC students’ summer learning and development at a rate of $3,000 to come from NRP Phase II  Youth Programming.. MO, JB, Approved.

11:25   BYRNE Grant
Margarita introduced Roberta Gibbons, professor at Metropolitan University. Along with 2 professors from Hamline put together a proposal ($150,000) to fund a planning study of Little Earth addressing many areas including crime and safety and surveys of any area the LE community chooses. This is research WITH the community, instead of research ON the community. The grant funds a “participatory study team”. The goal is figuring out the persistence of crime in the community and ideas the community has for solving the problem. Will identify strengths of the community, and support a larger grant proposal to fund implementation of solutions.

MOTION: EPIC will explore the possibility of funding $2,000 to be matched by Little Earth for the purpose of providing an incentive for survey participants for the Byrne Grant study on crime and safety at Little Earth. LL, RC, Approved.

11:50   EPIC 990 and Charitable Organization Annual Report Form

MOTION: Approve the 2015 Form 990. LD, RC Approved.
MOTION: Approve the charitable organization annual report. JB, LD, Approved.

11:55   Grievances review:

Called Ellen McVeigh to ask her to work with EPIC on our Grievance Procedures. Waiting to hear back. We budgeted $1,000 for this.

Mary reported actions taken regarding grievance received at March 5, 2016 board meeting. We have until April 18 to respond.

12:10   Funding for Crime and Safety

Motions for the April membership meeting:

1.     Move $7,500 from NRP Phase 2 Community Kitchen to Crime and Safety fund.

2.     Approve spending $7,500 on the speed bump (split between 18^th and 16^th Avenues).

3.     Board recommended Motion: Move remaining $2,500 from NRP Phase 2 Community Kitchen for spending $2,000 for matching funding from Little Earth for survey participants in the LE Byrne Grant Study with remaining $500 to Crime and Safety for Speed Bumps on 18^th Ave by Cedar Field.

12:15   Reports (take from agenda)

Office, next steps
1. get plans/approval from the city
2. raise money

EPIC at the Capitol (Carol)
CP attended the Capitol, to the House Committee on Agriculture with Karen Clark to lobby for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm. Learned that other people are also applying for funding for similar projects. We are applying for $3M for the Governor’s Racial Equity Fund to combine with 9.8M from investors gathered by Dean Dovolis from DJR Inc. Our request is based on Neighborhood Revitalization through urban Ag. And the idea is job creation for jobs that don’t require college degrees. There is an additional Fund of $20M for Urban Agriculture available. We have not applied for that.

EPIC paid Dean Dovolis $10,000 for services rendered for over the past year and a half. His invoice will be distributed to board members. EPIC voted to provide these funds at our November meeting in 2014, and confirmed the motion in February 2015.

EPIC will post our $10M proposal for East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm online.

Speed Bumps (Margarita)
Holy Rosary, will try to contribute $1,000
Little Earth, requested a budget
Southside Family Nurturing Center, TBD
Baby’s Space, $500

12:30    Annual Meeting, April 30, 2016

1.     Pancake breakfast/Volunteers:

a.     MO will ask the PAR team to help (Byrne Grant Study) with set-up

b.     MG will “woman” the sign in table

c.     Brad will take care of the food

d.     Paper goods and meeting supplies – purchase

e.     Still need:

                                               i.     Volunteers to cook and serve

                                             ii.     Volunteers to clean up/tear down

2.     MG will send a email to absent directors, regarding attendance.

3.     MG will send an email to those directors whose term is ending, do they wish to run again.

MPRB Youth Fund Program Funding
1. Will this serve youth from East Phillips?
2. Provide a copy of our partnership programming requirements and ask MPRB to address these points.

Agenda for April Membership Meeting
Waite House Youth Programming proposal
MPRB Youth Programming proposal
Tax Return report
Annual Meeting

1:10     Adjourn

General Membership Meeting Minutes 03 - 10

March 10, 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, Shawna Dillon, Mary Gonsior, Jean Howard, Linda Leonard, Margarita Ortega, Carol Pass.

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

Board Members Not Present: Shawna Dillon, Jean Howard

EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Steve Sandberg, Margaret Kirkpatrick, George Kennedy, Carol Hill-Kennedy, Michael Green

Guests: Shirley Heyer, Simon Blienski, Millie Hernandez, Jeanne Whitehill, Tammie Williams, Sterling Sherell, Rachael Hager

6:45     Introductions:

·       Greetings and Introductions.

·       Approval of Agenda, MG, MO Approved with correction to 7:15 item (Simon Blenski/Public Works)

·       Approval of Minutes from February 11th, 2016. MO, LD Approved.

6:50     Announcements:

• Opening St. Patrick’s Day joke and cartoons.
• EPIC Annual Meeting volunteers are needed. Contact a board member.
• EPIC SummerFest performers needed. Contact Brad Pass.
• Next EPIC Board Meeting, East Phillips Park, Sat, 10:00 am, April 2^nd, 2016

• Next EPIC Membership Meeting, East Phillips Park, Thursday 6:30 pm, April 14th, 2016.
• EPIC Annual Meeting: Saturday, April 30^th, 2016 
• EPIC SummerFest, Sunday, June 12^th, 2016

8:30     EPIC SummerFest – June 12th, Talent Show, Music, Food, etc.

Volunteers are needed to make this year’s event a success! There are many planned activities, especially for children, that require park staff hours. Volunteers can make a big difference.

3^rd Annual SommerFest: party in the park. EPIC is working with the Park Board and staff, as well as other partners to plan this event. Tammie is working on entertainment and a preschool program a week before the fest, so children can perform.

If you want to help plan, the Park “program planning meetings” are held the last Tuesday of the month, 11:30 am, including lunch (this is the “Programming Partnership” meeting)

Planning meetings are ongoing, and everyone is welcome.

Steve Sandburg/South Side Acers is trying to establish a community “band practice” on Friday’s on the greenway at 28^th St. The band is currently performing at the Eagles and Steve participates in the May Day parade and other venues.

7:15     Simon Blenski from Public Works - Presentation on Options for HUMANIZING the HI-LAKE Intersection. Proposals for improvement. Also Discussion of the Bike Lanes

Report on the Hi-Lake Interchange Study (Feb. 2016)/PowerPoint

Transportation Study Highlights:

• Study to inform decisions about potential improvements
• City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Metro Transit and MnDOT
• Historical Summary (1990s to present)
• Lots of pedestrian use, and growing
• Humanize Hi-Lake Petition to improve safety (website)
• Study looked at 5 of 6 recommendations
• Existing Issues
• High volume of pedestrian, bicycle and automobile traffic
• Lack of natural light
• Zig-Zagging pedestrian and vehicle crossings (confusion for pedestrians)
• Long crossings (6 lanes of traffic)
• Bicycle trails are undefined.
• Opportunities/Future Demand
• Design Principles
• Options: 3 Tiers
• Low, medium and high cost
• Low, medium and high impact

Questions:

1. Did the study seek to find options for improving automobile traffic now and in the future?

2. Did the study consider bicycle traffic?

The full, detailed report is available online.

Send feedback to four agencies and CM Cano.

7:53     Speed Bump project for 2400 block of 18th Ave & 2900 Block 16th Ave – And Camera Project

MOTION: Ask the city to do a traffic study on 18^th Avenue S for the purpose of generating data to justify a set of speed bumps (18^th Avenue between 25^th & 26^th.) MK, JB Approved.

Report on 18^th Avenue (24^th -25^th)

CP has consulted with businesses and other seeking funds for the speed bumps. MO is working with Holy Rosary to support the speed bump. The total cost for a “set” of speedbumps is $7,500 for two bumps. Little Earth wants EPIC to state their contribution first; then they will work to fundraise the remainder. CP has been looking for funds from the CPP Crime and Safety Budget  and NRP Phase II NRP Plan..

MOTION: Authorize the board to find $7,500 to pay half the cost of two sets of speed bumps on the 2900 block of 16^th Avenue and the 2400 block of 18^th Avenue. MGr, LD Approved.

MGon: Does EPIC want to establish its own criteria for funding?

CP: Each situation is different. EPIC should ask neighbors impacted for help to pay for these speed bumps.

Mgre: Consider who is requesting funds (board members) and how might this appear to the community. Thinks a process is a good idea.

CP: doesn’t want to set a limit for how much funding for each.

MO: agreed.

8:30  ---Julie Graves presents Plans for a Youth Sports Program  (Track and Field) - a Partnership of EPIC and Waite House. 

LL reported that the Waite House also brought this proposal to the EP Park Program Partnership group (which includes EPIC) for a summer program involving East Phillips youth. They are seeking funds from EPIC, Midtown and other organizations. See handout. This is for including kids from grades 6-8 in a full summer program of six weeks, 5 days a week and 6 hours a day. They will also provide two meals a day and academic help will also be  part of this. , Thirty youth are to be from East Phillips. Waite House provides staff and transportation.

 Other Park Issues: Can we find a space for Phillips’ programs and kids in the new rental requirements and   procedures or are we losing our Park to wealthier organizations and Neighborhoods because of high fees?

BP reported that the Park Board has raised fees for everything in all the parks. It is a “one shoe fits all” approach. Neighborhood sponsored events can be done free of charge assuming that they are scheduled within the working hours of the park. The Programming Partnership feels that they are providing staff and programs here at the park should be considered “neighborhood sponsored” status.

SH reported that EPIC is not the only park/community that is furious over these price increases.

SS (coach for South HS women’s softball) expressed concern over Park communication that the softball diamond is planned to be removed (see last month’s meetings.) Strongly opposes this idea. The field is the home field for South and the North Central University Softball teams. Mr. Sterling Sherrell from South is South’s coach and objects strenuously to this. He is asking for help to keep the field. Some members agreed to support this and help counter this plan.

7:55    Continuation of Roof Depot Issue. Complete Proposal for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm

CP distributed a copy of a letter and proposal for East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm.

EPIC and 8 partners have garnered pledges of $6.8M and are requesting $3M in the Governor’s Supplemental Budget.

8:50     Annual Meeting – consider running for the Board.

 Meeting will take place on April 30, 2016 at 9:30.

Board Directorship Requirements are:  1) You must be over 18 years of age. 2) Have attended at least ONE general membership meeting in the previous year. (This does not mean the coming Annual Meeting) 3) live in or own property within the boundaries of East Phillips and/or work or represent an organization or business in East Phillips and submit name of Employer, Organization, or Business Name, and Address and an official letter on letterhead signed by an appropriate official naming the the applicant as the designated voting representative must be on file or will be filed before the election. 4) must submit a Director’s Application Form, pg. 10 of Policies and Procedures Manual, 5) Submit the Qualifications for EPIC Board of Directors, pg. 11 6) Be willing to sign the Board Contract., pg. 12, the Duties and Responsibilities page, pg. 13,  the Directors’ Standards of Conduct, pg. 14-15.

If you wish to do this, please consider that it involves two meetings a month. This is a commitment to assist the Board in serving East Phillips.

8:50     East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm proposal

CP informed the meeting that the proposal for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm was completed. Partners are East Phillips Improvement Coalition; Dean Dovolis, DJR Architects; WEI (Karen Clark); Tamales @ Bicicletas, JoseLuis Villasenior; Debbie Goettel of MN Sustainable Development Group and others. In addition, it has been submitted to the legislature for a bill to provide $3M funding for planning and implementation of the project.

CP reported that we already have a commitment of $6.8M for this project from the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm Team

Copies of the proposal were handed out.

8:53      EPIC Office Project – Progress

CP distributed a report on the History of EPIC’s Pursuit of an Office in the Minutes from Oct. 2014 to Jan. 2016 in response to claims of a lack of transparency. This report will be posted on the EPIC website and Facebook page. It was pointed out that the issue has been in front of the EPIC Board 6 times and the community 3 times since 2014. Each time the response was positive to go ahead.

8:55     Adjourn