General Membership Meeting Minutes 03-10

March 10th, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. 

**Our First EPIC Membership Meeting in the new

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

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

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

Directors Present: Linda Leonard, Mary Gonsior, Jenny Bjorgo, Earl Simms, Carol Pass,

40 Residents Present: Sign in sheet missing, 12 Somali Elders from the Apartment north of the Park

PARK BOARD PUBLIC MEETING to REVIEW and  COMMENT ON THE DESIGN of the EAST PHILLIPS              PARK ATHLETIC FIELDS RENOVATION PROJECT

Presentation about the fields:

There was not originally funding available for the fields. There was a presentation of a diagram (Concept D) presented showing a baseball field at the north end of the park, and also two soccer fields running side-by-side between the baseball field and the basketball/former tennis courts. The grade of new fields will be raised by 1-2 ft to help with drainage and in-ground irrigation. The soil on the site has been remediated, but now there will be fill added to adjust the grade. High quality field needs time to grow and rest, protection from overuse. Will community accept a fence to protect fields? Will the community respect temporary fencing? Fields need to rest (3 weeks). People must stay off fields when wet. MPRB staff is trained in CPR and safety. Perimeter fencing is okay but needs to provide access.

Comments

• Lighting is needed for all fields and pedestrian areas, along paths and sidewalks, for safety.
• Sidewalks getting here today were slippery and dangerous.
• Some residents would like to restore the tennis courts in the plan.
• Neighborhood has requested separation of baseball field and soccer fields.
• Have requested meeting w/Superintendent Miller about Park safety.
• Fencing between baseball and soccer may be needed.
• Community organizing will be important.
• Temporary fencing OK to protect turf when needed.
• Permanent fencing to protect turf is not desirable.
• Does the PB have the money to pay for programming and maintenance? How does this cost affect other services in the neighborhood?
• Are there alternative turf options that are more resilient?
• Grass is a better solution and more affordable than artificial turf (needs to be replaced every five years at $250K .
• EPIC wants to know if funding is needed, and would like to help.

SPECIAL MOTION: (BP, CW) Passed. We accept and endorse the plan for the fields, and we favor grass over artificial turf and we favor education for the community regarding stewardship of these fields over a huge fence to keep everyone out of the fields. Further, we commit ourselves and will encourage neighborhood elders to foster stewardship of these fields among all residents using these resources. We thank the park board and county for doing this for the neighborhood.

6:30    Introduction:

·        Greetings and Introductions

·         Approval of Agenda (no vote)

·         Minutes from EPIC General Membership Meeting 2/17/2011 (no vote)

7:30        New Classes in the Park and Partnerships: Art Classes, Youth Martial Arts, Basic Soccer and Basketball, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Pottery Classes and more. Al Bangoura and Brad Pass

Park Board is programming based on community need. Continuing to ask people to complete surveys about use of the building, programming, adult, senior, preschool, youth, sports, etc. Seeking quality partnerships with organizations that bring expertise and knowledge.

Science, Arts, Music and Technology

• Institute of Production and Recording. Audio engineering, record CD's, create covers, same technology industry uses
• Screen Printing. A local teacher
• Music - we want to bring music into this neighborhood. Partner with McPhail Music
• New Kiln. Pottery programs

Family Programming

• Family Night - Wednesdays. The whole building. Parent-Tot Time - afternoons

Sports

• Baseball, Soccer camp, Basketball camp, Girls Softball, Golf, Tennis

Seniors

• Rotunda was created especially for seniors to come in and sit down during the day,
• Any rooms can be booked for programming
• International Neighbor Women's Tea Time

Comments

• Senior exercise
• Climbing opportunities for children

7:40      Phillips Community Center Partnership and Swimming Pool – Minneapolis Swims receives 501©(3).                  

             Bill submitted to the legislature by Rep. Karen Clark. Hand outs,  Q & A, Next Steps

Distributed Minneapolis Swims Facts on Swimming including map of Metro Area and indoor/outdoor pools. There is a bonding bill that is being put forward to fund our pool.

6:40    Announcements:

• NRP Task Force – If you want join this committee, Contact Carol Pass, 612- 280-8418
• Discuss greater participation
• focus groups, helping, taking minutes
• Meeting times will be announced, and will be arranged to match schedules of committee members.
• EPIC NPI  Grant Received $10,000 granted and received. EPIC won this grant over 43 other applicants. about 3-4 grants were given out.

7:50        NRP Phase II Survey: Business & Resident Survey

Distributed Resident Survey and EPIC discussed and presented ideas for the Future Action Plan EPIC projects, and the need to contract Phase II monies before the city tries to take away the other half of our NRP allocation. Everyone did the survey and expressed opinions,  which they noted on their forms. EPIC will try to follow the tight time line in the Participation Agreement, Survey will continue, trends determined and a DRAFT NRP PHASE II ACTION PLAN will be offered for early review at  the April 14th EPIC community meeting.

BLOOMINGTON-LAKE CLINIC

MOTION: (CP, CW) Passed. Contact the head of clinic and city officials and others (possibly Alina) and request that they do everything in their power to bring our clinic back.

8:00        Housing and Redevelopment Update: 

• Greenway Apartments - EPIC’s Final NRP Building Project
• Habitat House: 2428 16TH Ave. S. apparently was sold today.
• 2620 17th Ave. S. (PRG is looking at it.) - very nice but needs a lot of rehab.

8:10        Opening of the Community Garden: 

Notice of first garden meeting April 9 at 9 am has gone out to the former gardeners. There will be several lots available, send an email to Brad at bpass @usinternet.com. The soil has been maintained organic. The plot fee will be about $35 per plot if it remains the same as last year. Goal is to keep the garden affordable for all.

8:15        Crime Concerns and Other Livability Issues:

Distributed a map of the impact on Minneapolis Neighborhood NRP Funds. The map clearly shows that all of the 15 neighborhoods that have lost over $4.1M, will receive only $787,016 in property tax relief. All of the neighborhoods receiving over $2.1M in property tax relief will lose less than $1.4M in NRP funding.

SH: An innocent victim of a shooting several years ago, passed away from complications of the shooting. Asked that EPIC send condolences to the mother of the victim.

8:25       Getting ready for the Annual Meeting Volunteers??? Board membership?? On April 30th

We need a couple new board members. Contact Carol to obtain an application and agreement. Meetings are scheduled the 2nd Thursday of each month. cpass@runbox.com.

8:30       Adjournment:

Board Meeting Minutes 03-05

March 5th, 2011, 10:00 am

Welna Hardware Board Room

EPIC web address: eastphillips-epic.com

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

Present: Carol Pass, Jenny Bjorgo, Rosie Cruz, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Earl Simms,

Residents: Brad Pass, Chiffon Williams, Rep. Karen Clark

Guests: Kasa Hohenstein, American Indian OIC student, Brad Pass. Tim Lott,

10:00    Introduction:

·     Approval of Agenda (approved)

·        Minutes from EPIC Board Meeting Minutes 2/5/2011 (approved)

10:10    Announcements

·         EPIC General Membership Meeting, March 10th THURSDAY

·         At the new EPPCCC, 6:30 pm

·         Every 2nd Thursday is reserved for EPIC from 6:00 - 9:00 PM for the next 5 years.

·         Check out the slide show of the Grand Opening of the East Phillips Park Community Center on our website, The web address is EastPhillips-EPIC

10:20    Park Board Public Meeting to Review the Athletic Field Designs

Even if we have to make slightly smaller than Olympic size playing fields, all groups would compromise to accommodate separate playing fields for baseball and baseball (as opposed to overlapping fields.) There will be one baseball field and two soccer fields. The soccer fields can also be used together to create an Olympic sized field. All parties have come on board with this plan, and now the Park Board asked EPIC to hold a public meeting. The Park Board will take the first 15-20 minutes of the Mar. 10 EPIC meeting.

Discussed fencing. There is going to be a problem with overuse of these facilities. Critical importance is to maintain these fields - grass, etc. The Park Board will be in favor of fencing in order to facilitate scheduling of use, watering, and maintenance. There will be some fencing along the highway side. Other fencing has not been discussed in terms of restricting access to the fields.

Motion: (CP, RC) EPIC will clarify the PB's intentions regarding fencing, prior to the hearing, and forward them the questions that came up at this meeting. Passed.

 Fencing, overuse, scheduling, public availability.

10:30     Park Programs that are going…and new ones coming...EPIC youth programs.

EPIC submitted a grant application to CURA/NPI for $10,000 to assist the Somali Amer Community(SAC), EPIC and Midtown neighborhoods agree in the grant to organize to identify and prioritize problems, carry out solutions, and build leadership in the community. CP pointed out we may not get this grant. At present the Somalis are facing a lot of issues. CP suggests that we begin our plan to collaborate with various groups as stated in our CPP Plan, especially SAC.

Motion: (LL/JB)  EPIC agrees to assist the Somali American Community (SAC)by collaborating in community organizing to seek solutions for their issues and assist in their youth sports, crime control and other issues by forming an agreement for use of the 2011 CPP funding of $2,000 set aside for this purpose in our CPP grant. Passed

Security Concerns, some gangs turning up at the basket ball courts..warm weather. Some bullying

Motion: (LL, JB) EPIC requests that the park issue adult ID's for this CSA for the purpose of tracking adult participation, encouraging family participation, increasing security, notification of programs, and registration of programs. Passed.

Motion: (LL, JB) EPIC encourages our CSA to intentionally schedule and promote family-based, intergenerational programming and activities. Passed.

These motions will be directed to Director of our CSA, Director of EPPCCC, and the PCPI, and ratified by the EGM.

Programming: Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Youth Martial Arts, and Park Board programs are starting to run. EPP Programming Partnership will start in April.

10:30     Phillips Community Pool.

A map of existing pools in the Park system exist in affluent neighborhoods. The map highlights the unequal access of lower income residents to a foundational life skill for health, safety and education through swimming. Support for bonding/funding for the Phillips Community Pool is being solicited and is looking hopeful.

10:35       NRP Business  Survey and Focus Groups  for Phase II -

Jenny and Chiffon are making good progress on the business survey, as well as publicizing the activities of EPIC. CP distributed copies of the final residents' survey and asked for comments to be submitted to CP. CW reported that the home-daycare operators expressed much more concern about neighborhood issues, as they are living in the neighborhood as well as operating businesses in the neighborhood. Surveying and outreach going well.

10:50       NRP Legislation:

The neighborhoods on the NRP policy board have drafted a bill to try to lobby through the legislature to stop the city from taking money from all the neighborhoods. We are going to work on lobbying, Sen. Kelash (Senate), Rep. Mullery (House) are authors. The next step, if this fails, is to file a lawsuit.

11:00     Housing and Redevelopment-  

·   Greenway Apartments-

·      reviewed several plans proposed by BKV group, discussed suggestions for improvement.

·   2620 17th Avenue S.-

·      Nice house - it has 4 br, large yard, nat. woodwork. working with PRG to try to save.

·      Motion: (CP, JB) EPIC supports saving existing housing in East Phillips and having time to find developers to rehab. Passed.

·         2428 16th Avenue S.-

·         City owns this house and wants to sell to Habitat for tear-down and replacement.

·        EPIC's questions: is there a garage? can the roof-line conform to EPIC goals. is it worth it to tear down   a house to replace it?

·         CP and Brad will request access to the existing building.

·         Motion: (CP, JB) EPIC will amend our Housing Requirements to include energy conservation and green development. Passed.

11:15     Opening of the garden listserve

The first garden meeting will be April 9th at 9 AM at the garden. Must be there to sign up for a lot. CP expressed hope that the garden committee would encourage diversity in the group of gardeners.

11:25    Getting ready for the Annual Meeting - We hope to hold the annual meeting on April 30th at the new park building. We have funds this year for music and food this year.

11: 30    Adjournment

General Membership Meeting Minutes 02-17

February 17th, 2011, 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

Attendees:  Hannah Lieder,  Al  Bangoura ( and Charles (CSA 6), Shirley Heyer,  Jenny Bjorgo, Brad Pass, Carol Pass, Linda Leonard, Mary Gonsior, Seven Sruthers, Earl Sims,  Mohammed Cali, Mary Juanita Leonard, Chiffon Williams,

6:50    Introduction:

·         Greetings and Introductions

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Minutes from EPIC General Membership Meeting 1/20/2011

Linda and Jenny moved to the committee of the whole and it passed.

6:55    Announcements  &  Reports:

                NRP Task Force – If you want to be a part of this committee, Contact Carol Pass, 612- 280-8418

                Meeting times will be announced, and will be arranged to match schedules of committee members.

                Jenny's announcement--lots of volunteers available from Jenny's school for doing surveys, etc.

               

7:00      Phillips Community Center Partnership and Swimming Pool – Minneapolis Swims receives 501©(3).                  

                    Bill submitted to the legislature by Rep. Karen Clark. Hand outs,  Q & A, Next Steps

Hanna:

Gwen is a consultant from St. Paul. We have a competition swimming pool. They never pay for themselves. Therapy pools have been proposed as addition. Hanna teaches at the YWCA which also has preschool and level 1,2 and parent/child lessons in the warm pool. We need it to have sustainable operating costs. It's less money total if we put more capital into the second pool NOW. This reduces future operating costs. There may be additional funds for therapy pools. Hanna stated she never expected any Park Board money for renovation or building pools. There may have been some confusion with some commissioners. Hanna went to the State of MN for bonding and didn't make any rigid private/public money distinction. Apparently someone with the Park Board interpreted Hanna's efforts as being in competition with the Park Board's bonding requests.

• sponsorship includes Republican leadership
• there is also a physician who is "on board"
• we have to show there is state significance......The MN branch of the national swimming competitive group is sending out letters to the 8,000 competitive MN swimmers to lobby their state-wide legislators for this project;
• Drowning is most significant among black males; there are national efforts to increase swimming lessons for ethnic people and for increased participation in competition
• Hanna is developing relationship with DNR as well with swimming being a life skill
• Meeting next week with Three Rivers and Karen Clark........partnership programming will increase diversity populations using the programs.
• The sherrif's department sees this as public safety and will write a letter of support
• The mayor gave a pat on the back and that's about it.

Phillips Wellness Corridor

Mary and Jenny put the motion out to accept Bob Albee's Proposal that E 24th from I 35 to 55 named Phillip's Community Wellness Corridor and we encourage the Phillips Community Park Initiative group to flesh out the concept to bring to the neighborhoods for discussion and implementation. PASSED

• Shirley said MTransit dropped the E 24th St. route in the past--Midtown wants to reconsider another route again
• She noted there are more agencies and businesses than we used to have.
• Shirley doesn't want to become another Sabbathani Center where there is leased space but people don't know one another and are isolated from one another.
• Mary asked who will decide what this means and where it is going.
• Brad explained that group represents the community broadly. The accountability is with the reps to their own groups.
• The neighborhood still gets to decide what to do internally to the neighborhood.

7:10        Linda/Chiffon motion to move to regular meeting from Committee of the Whole when Mary Gonsior arrived.

Recent letter from the Park Board.

History

 The attorney who writes the bills met with Karen Clark and community on Thursday and the bill had to be submitted by Friday. It would not have been possible to work with Park Board under that deadline.

We have only a six month window for.......

We want the Park Board to understand that in our efforts to lobby for East Phillips bonding the Park Board refused to accept the money. Karen Clark essentially wrote a letter delivered asap to the chair at the time that if the Park Board did not accept the proposal she would quit supporting any of the park board initiatives.   There were commissioners who said on TV aren't they all Indians.......why don't we spread this around and send the money to the north side.

We know we have a new superintendent who is probably a finer person than any of the commissioners in terms of being a listener, caring for the poor, and understanding diversity.

-When the urgent and imperative actions Hanna and Carol took became public a commissioner screamed and yelled at Carol about taking initiative, Carol realized the experience of repeated abuse.

AL: PCC gave her background and she's dealt with situations like this in Detroit.  She has dealt with public initiative in the past and is comfortable.

-Carol and Hanna's goals included: Unassailable by the mayor and city council. Make the Park Board and this CSA "shine"

-Hanna said understanding Park Board funding was a surprise; all but one of her board members are first time on any board. There is a group of people trying to learn and trying to lead and they make mistakes.

-Our community assumes that this proposal would have been lost in the Park Board proposal and we could have been defeated at a number of points.

-Shirley explained MET Council a bit because Hanna asked.

-Hanna understands the Park Board was surprised, annoyed, and upset. She understands now. For the Park Board not to see that the bill is social justice, public safety, an access issue to services and natural resources. This would be the only indoor public swimming pool in the city.

-Off the record the community members gave personal responses about working with the Park Board. The summary is that the culture here and people and institutions here have had to fight for everything we get......[not just with the Park Board]

  8:00     East Phillips Park Community Center-  Partnerships and Phillips CSA, Q & A  Brad

• February 28 is the official opening date and it looks possible.
• Partnership programs are being scheduled with Travis
• New system "active net" links everything in the parks/rec system
• You can use a card for all the financial transactions
• You can have photo ID cards
• Open Arms with the intern from McAllister is considering a nutrition program for summer lunch program
• Leonardo's BASEMENT on 45th and Nicollet does go-carts; three dimensional design; science and technology like lego robotics
• Institute of Production and Recording on Washington and ?; multi-media technology; Lance Sabin has lots of other connections with private interprise. It 's youth driven and TBD "Indigenous creative" is the name of the program and it is part of a non-profit.
• AOC with Youth Adventure and Intermedia Arts is starting out by creating name and brand. Project Footsteps, Freeport West, a marketing guy from General Mills and others are partnering.
• There are computers for adults and youth;  teaching/instruction possible

Travis...on-line by March 7

• youth martial arts
• women's self defense
• yoga
• fundamental baseball with a league
• basketball camp in May

8:10        NRP Phase I Review: The final assessment was finished and writing the Phase One report nearly complete.          

8:15        NRP Phase II Planning: Business Survey, Resident Survey Participation Agreement was discussed

                MOTION: for Participation Agreement Approval, JB & CP, Passed

                We edited the Phase II survey and Steering Committee need it back with comments by Friday night.

                The surveys are part of what will go into the new planning document and doing the door-to-door needs to start this   weekend. Members at the meeting discussed and critiqued the survey

                Task Force, Focus Groups

                we need more participants and Steve might be interested.

8:18        Future Funding for Neighborhoods:  Response of the NRP Policy Board, Pro-Democracy Issues

Board Motions

MOTION (JB, ES ) Passed: WHEREAS the NRP neighborhoods were given the responsibility to watch over these funds given to us by the state, and whereas the city has committed itself to informing the neighborhoods of major decisions and allowing them to participate, and WHEREAS the city made these changes with no notification to the neighborhoods, no advance notice to the city council, and no notification to any of the parties that would be damaged by these decisions, EPIC believes, as a neighborhood, that we are legally, politically and morally responsible to protect these funds for their appropriate and intended use by the neighborhoods to which they were allocated. THEREFORE, be it resolved that EPIC join the other injured parties (other neighborhoods) in a temporary restraining order against this city action and we join them if it proceeds to a law suit. (Carol and Chiffon  proposed the amendment that was accepted.) PASSED

Constitutional Amendment

MOTION (JB, ES) Passed: Resolved that EPIC will ask our Representative and Senator to introduce a motion parallel to Vermont's regarding proposing an amendment to the constitution for the state's consideration which provides that corporations are not persons under the laws of the United States or any of its jurisdictional subdivisions. PASSED

8:25   Housing and Development Update:

·         Greenway Apartments : Recent Progress; Loren Bruggeman is partnering with PRG to move ahead. Affordable family housing and it will be the first such housing on the Greenway. One block wide.

·         2600-2606 17^th Ave. Proposal for Apartment Building of 20 Units by Alliance on an R2B site which is very small. Update, Q & A     So far they have not been allowed to build there. We are trying to get someone to buy the sites and put duplexes. We don't want spot zoning.

·         Habitat House at 2428 16th Ave. S. Tear down and rebuild is the proposal. Carol wants to talk to the Village project people. There are empty lots on both sides and that's where the circle is supposed to be for the next phase. We need to include the town home people.

·         PRG possible Rehab at 2620 17th Ave. S.--oak pillars; the owner wants too much money; 4 BR

·         Housing Committee; Steve says it fits his interests and skills

Mary suggested segmented board meetings so that one hour is common business and the second hour is committee time.

               

8:35    Crime Concerns and Other Livability Issues:

                People are more aggressive about finding vulnerable objects and locations.       Pull the shades!

 -Steve says the foundry shakes his house between 3 and 4 in the morning.......it's a noise violation. Steve talked with Gary Schiff who referred him to a committee.  Smith Foundry has good people and they are willing to help but not sure how. It keeps him up.

-The neighborhood organization will contact the owner on Steve's behalf.

Brad and Carol will brainstorm with the owner.

The business is nonconforming and doesn't fit industrial one and two........they are not to upgrade and market forces are supposed to encourage them to move; Carol pointed out that they have a good neighbor agreement and we might be able to get them to reconfigure the equipment somehow.  That business helped us rebuild the neighborhood by giving $4,000 which brought in funds for lots of houses.

8:35   Annual Meeting : In April . . .?????? at the new community center

8:50    Adjournment: