EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 03-09

03-09-2017, 6:30 – 8:50

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, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass.

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

Board Members Not Present: Jenny Bjorgo (E),

Members: Brad Pass, Sandi Mason, Marian Gabvan, Jolene Jones, Cassandra Holmes, Linda Vermillion, Julie Ellis, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Halima Abdi, Michael Green, Tom Harris, Susan Harris

Guests: Shirley Heyer, Ed Burke, Cora Peterson, Carrie Aspinwahl, Mahamed Cali, Nathan Van Wylen, Pamela Ellis, Johan Ellis

6:30      Social Time/Greetings and Introductions  

6:45    Approval Proposed March 9 Agenda:MG, LD         
           Approved as amended.
          Approval of General Membership Draft                                  Minutes from February 9^th: LD, MG,             
            Approved as amended.

6:55    Announcements 

o    Little Earth announcement: CA thanked EPIC board for welcoming all the residents of Little Earth to the meeting. Little Earth residents are going to increase their participation in EPIC. We have some resources that we can share with EPIC, and we want to learn the process and participate in EPIC.  

.    First Garden Meeting of the Year. Gardening will be starting a month earlier this year.  March 11, this Saturday, 9:00 am at the East Phillips Community Center. Come if you want to garden. Some open plots.There are 33 plots total. 
.     Next EPIC Board Meeting will be April 1st, 2017, Saturday at the Park 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

o    Next EPIC Community meeting will be April 13th, 2017, Thursday at the Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.

o    Community Connections Conference 2017 Saturday, April 1^st, 8:00 - 3:00 at the convention center. Registration is now open. This is a Free Conference for us, paid for by the Neighborhood Community Relations Dept. Many of the Workshops will involve getting input from folks. It’s also our board meeting day?? What to do?                                        

o    Annual Meeting- Saturday, April 22 – 9:30 AM at the Community Center- We are seeking additional board members. Members of the East Phillips Improvement Coalition seeking election to the Board of Directors, whether nominated by themselves or another person. You can find Applications online at EPIC website: www.eastphillips-epic.com. Click on “About EPIC”. See the application forms -middle of page. Turn in completed application forms to any EPIC board member.

o     Summer Festival, Sunday, June 25, 2017. Planning meeting on Tuesday, March 28 at 11:30 am. Lunch is served.

o   Phillips Pool groundbreaking March 28^th. See the Alley for more information.

7:10     Plans for Phillips Garden’s Development at 2700 Cedar Ave., Ed Burke

Provide landscape design and maintenance for clients with disposable income. The cufrrent site of the business was renovated from an old gas station, and there was a lot of remediation of toxic chemicals. 62% of employees live in East Phillips and 48% use public transportation or bike to and from work. Have been working for 3-4 years to address parking concerns and will probably cost $.5M with no public funds. The plan was approved at the city hearing and there were no residents present who opposed the plan. The building will have 3 stories. 1^st floor will be a workshop where materials will be stored. The 2^nd floor will be an open mezzanine. The 3^rd floor will be a residence, where owner can stay when he is in town (owner lives in Vermont.)

The existing house on the site was a victim of a past fire, and is not salvageable. Company is committed to staying in the neighborhood and has developed a traffic plan to address traffic on 27^th St. There have been many accidents at the intersection of 27^th and Cedar and Company would be happy to work on issues with community to prevent congestion and traffic problems.

The proposal needs to go to zoning, and then to the city council. Groundbreaking is expected sometime in July and to be occupied by March 2018.

7:25     EPIC sponsorship - EPIC/KALY Radio Station Programming Partnership, 2017. Mahamed Cali

MC has a history with EPIC and actually served on EPIC’s board a few years back. When granted a license for the radio station, the planners wanted to work in partnership with the communities that supported them in their efforts to gain the station.

This is the first Somali American radio station in the US, and the largest, oldest Somali-American community. The radio is 24 hours, you can listen at home or in your car. In both English and Somali, mostly Somali. Broadcasting events and news. Seeking a partnership with EPIC to advance the mission of EPIC and to underwrite the sustaining costs of Somali-American radio programming. The leadership of SAC KALY Radio has developed a diverse board. The proposal will add a bullet to provide quarterly financial reporting. See Memorandum of Understanding for support of $10,000 in 2017.

Right now the station is partnering with the city of Minneapolis, Metro Transit, Minneapolis schools and library, University of Saint Thomas; about 10 partners. Partnering with MPR and BBC to learn about funding the station, and this will be aired live.

The station is a nonprofit and cannot promote politics, or businesses; they must follow FCC regulations. Tower is located at 301 E. Lake St.

Board Recommended Motion: EPIC approved the SAC Kaly Radio LP 101.7 proposal to underwrite sustaining costs for the remaining months of 2017 for KALY Radio programming.

MOTION: Accept the memorandum of understanding, and the board motion: JJ, MG, Approved.

7:55   Support for a Greenway Extension down Minnehaha/Hiawatha corridor across the river on the Shortline Railway bridge. Cora Peterson

Minn-Hi community group is seeking an expression of support from neighborhoods to extend the Shortline Railway bridge, and extend the Greenway over the river. Asking the city to buy the areas of track that are not used now, and the tracks that are unused eventually be turned over to the businesses to develop. Two existing users of the tracks are experiencing dwindling business: ADM at 38^th St. and Leder Bros. on Snelling. Metro Transit brings in their new rail cars on this line also.

Concerns for some East Phillips residents would be displacing the scrap yard; this is a source of support for some of EPIC’s residents.

Board Recommended Motion: Approve and support the Greenway Extension & Shortline Railway bridge river crossing.

MOTION: Send a letter of support for the Midtown Greenway Coalition and Min Hi Line Coalition in their work to advance a Greenway Extension down Minnehaha/Hiawatha corridor across the river on the Shortline Railway bridge. LL, MK. (9) Approved with (2) opposed.

8:15     EPIC sponsor Summer Youth Program for East Phillips kids -Julie Graves

The Waite House’ goal for the summer is achievement; they want to create low cost or free academic opportunities to
Last year EPIC supported the program.

About 98% of students remained in the program throughout.  The feedback on twice a week field trips, and meals, were the highest rated activities for East Phillips participants; both programs are a source of much of the cost. Kids are assessed at intervals during the programming period.

Can EPIC provide more money? Waite House wuld like to carry forward through school time with programming for these kids. 

Board Recommended Motion: $5,000 memorandum of understanding Spring and Summer, 2017

MOTION: Support youth programming for East Phillips kids with Waite House Summer Youth Program. LL, LD, Approved.

8:25     Annual Meeting Planning and recruitment of Board Members: We need volunteers to help. Also EPIC needs New Board Members.  Nominations for the Board:

Members of East Phillips seeking election to the Board of Directors, whether nominated by themselves or another person, find Applications on line at EPIC website: www.eastphillips-epic.com. Click on “About EPIC”; see middle of the page for Application forms. Turn in completed application forms to any EPIC board member soon.

Individuals seeking to serve on the board must be eligible for EPIC membership and must have attended at least one general membership meeting during the year previous to the annual meeting.

Nominations can come from the floor, but application forms are also available online.

Planning meeting for food: Contact Brad Pass

Pancake breakfast (Brad has appropriate licenses.)

Solicit donations for food, decorations, etc.

Mary will serve at the welcome table.

Setup on Friday

Michael will provide plates, napkins and utensils

Tom will provide tablecloths

Door prizes. Mark Welna; others?

8:55     Adjourn

EPIC Board Meeting Minutes 03 - 04

March 4th, 2017, 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, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass.

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

Board Members Not Present:

EPIC Members: Brad Pass, Tom Harris, Susan Harris

Guests: Julie Graves, Shirley Heyer, Mahamed Cali

10:00   Introductions:

·       Greetings and Introductions.

·       Approval of Agenda MG, JB, approved

·       Approval of Minutes from February 4th, 2017, JB, MG, Approved

10:10   Announcements:

·       Next meeting of the NCEC Commission is at 5:00 at the DT Library on Tuesday, March 28th.  Our Resolution will be on the Agenda for a Vote by Commissioners. We should all try to attend.

·       Community Connections Conference 2017 Saturday, April 1^st, 8:00 - 3:00 registration is now open.

     This a Free Conference to us, paid for by the Neighborhood Community Relations Dept.                                         

                        Many of the Workshops will involve getting input from folks. It’s our board meeting day…..

·       First Garden Meeting of the year, March 11, 2017 – 9:00 AM at the Community Center

·       Annual Meeting April 22 – 9:30 AM at the Community Center

o   We are seeking additional board members; visit the website

·       Summer Festival, Sunday, June 25, 2017

·       Karen’s Urban Agriculture Bill

·       Bituminous Roadways

10:30   Summer Youth Program - Julie Graves       
See Memorandum

Motion: EPIC will fund the Pillsbury United Communities – Waite House Youth Program for Summer 2017, $5,000 for program expenses for at least 25 East Phillips youth participants. JB, LD, Approved.

10:45   EPIC/KALY Radio Station Partnership for 2017: Mahamed  Cali and Shirley responded to questions regarding Mahamed's proposal.

This is the first Somali American radio station in the US, and the largest, oldest Somali-American community. Seeking a partnership with EPIC to advance the mission of EPIC and to underwrite the sustaining costs of Somali-American radio programming. See Memorandum of Understanding.

The leadership of SAC KALY Radio has developed a diverse board. The proposal will add a bullet to provide quarterly financial reporting. Mahamed promised an inclusive broadcasting schedule, which will feature EPIC and other neighborhood interviews and events..

Motion: EPIC approved the SAC Kaly Radio LP 101.7 proposal to underwrite sustaining costs for the remaining months of 2017 for KALY Rado programming. MG, LL, Approved.

11:00   Plans for Phillips Gardens Development at 2700 Cedar Ave. CP met with Phillips Gardens ataff and received elevations and site plans, which  were presented to the board. It is a combination commercial and residential building, which can be turned into all residential if Phillips Gardens ever leaves. The board and attending residents found the building very attractive and wished to approve it.

There will be a public hearing on this site on Monday, March 6^th.

The board members stated that Phillips Gardens’ drawings responded to what concerns they had and will enhance a local business and the appearance of the neighborhood. They agreed to come to our next community meeting to answer more questions and explain their business.

Motion: EPIC will write a letter from the board only supporting the plan. LL, RC, Approved.

11:15   Additions to Policies and Procedures and changes to consider…office of the Chair. Need new edition of 2017 EPIC Policies and Procedures with table of contents, new grievance policy inclusions and to address need to act between meetings to defend, foster and advance the projects and programs of EPIC between meetings and without additional motions whenever necessary as long as these programs and projects have been democratically endorsed according to the EPIC Bylaws. This is both an obligation and a responsibility of the Chair.

 Whoever becomes Chair must able to do this or oversee staff to see to it that it's done.

Motion: Approve updating 2017 Policies and Procedures including the addition of the Board Chair Job Description (item 21)  Chair is obligated and free to respond with letters, attendance at relevant meetings, give speeches, make phone calls, etc. to protect, defend, explain, foster and advance the projects and programs of EPIC between meetings and  without additional motions whenever necessary as long as these programs and projects have been democratically endorsed according to the EPIC Bylaws.  MG, JB, Approved.

A new addition will be produced and added to the EPIC Website within two weeks to accommodate needs of Annual Meeting board applicants.
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11:20   Support for a Greenway Extension down Minnehaha/Hiawatha corridor across the river on the Shortline Railway bridge. 

Motion: EPIC supports the plan to extend the Midtown Greenway along the Minnehaha/Hiawatha corridor across the river on the Shortline Railway bridge. LL, JB, Approved.

           

We will write the  relevant letter.

11:25   Update on the Office:

CP is working on a lease agreement for the site, and the executive committee will serve to review and approve the final lease.

11:30   Budget adjustments

Motion: EPIC will make the following adjustments to our budget for 2014-2017.  JB, LD, Approved. RC abstained.

Move $10,000 from Other Services to Outreach Partnerships
Move $4,000 from Development to Occupancy
Move $4,000 from Meetings/Community Building Events to Outreach Partnerships
Move $2,000 from Meetings/Community Building Events to Professional Services

11:50   Announcements:

• Karen Clark bill in the legislature; requesting $3M for urban agriculture/indoor farming, job training, education, and skills development.
• An alternative site for an asphalt plant has been identified and recommended to Bituminous Roadways.

11:55   Annual Meeting Planning and recruitment of Board Members

Discussed potential board members.

• Craig Siefert
• Tom Harris and wife, Susan Harris; interested – must attend a membership meeting
• Flyer for both apartment buildings at 29^th and Bloomington

Volunteers are needed to setup and cleanup, Friday evening (7-9), serving breakfast (planning), setting up tables and chairs.

12:08   Community garden – first meeting is next Saturday at 9 am, here at the park. 34 garden plots.

12:10  Adjourn

EPIC Community Meeting Minutes 02-09

02/09/2017, 6:30 – 8:50

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, Mary Gonsior, Linda Leonard, Carol Pass.

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

Board Members Not Present:

Members: Brad Pass, Jolene Jones, JoseLuis Villasenor, Alfonso Cruz, Paul Pacheco, 
Hannah Lieder, Hahma Abdi, Pat Fleetham, Amy Pass, Gabe Pass, April Johnson, Crystal Rance, Steve Sandberg, Craig Seifert, Westin Martin, Sven Glades

Guests: Shirley Heyer, Peter Mclaughlin, Dean Michalko, Kyle Mianulli, Carrie Aspinwall

6:30     Social Time/ Greetings and Introductions

6:45     Approval of Proposed February 9^th Agenda, 
            MG, LD, Approved 

Approval of General Membership Draft Minutes,
           JB, BP, Approved

7:00     Announcements:

o Next EPIC Board Meeting will be March 4^th, 2017, Saturday at the Park 10:00 am to 12:00 noon;

o   Next EPIC Community meeting will be March 9^th, 2017, Thursday at the Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.

o   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.

o   Hiawatha Campus Open House-Saturday, Feb. 11th, 10:00 am -  11:30 am, East Phillips Park, Informational meeting about the Hiawatha Campus Expansion at the site formerly known as the Roof Depot site. Please join City of Mpls. Staff, CM Cano and Representative Clark to share ideas; community should be engaged in this project.

o   CPED New Housing Guidelines for vacant lots. A whole new way of dealing with this has been developed, with new funds available, especially for the Phillips neighborhoods. There will be a meeting on Friday morning 10:30-Noon at the Penn Ave Urban League will focus on residents. 

7:10     County Transportation Department- Dean Michalko, Project Engineer and Kyle Mianulli,  communications

·      Presentation and Q and A

Peter McLaughlin

Reviewed the county’s contributions to Phillips neighborhoods, and continue to invest in this neighborhood. Here to discuss two bridges over the Midtown Greenway, one on Cedar and one on Portland. These are both over 100 years old. We would usually stage this more separately, but having to address large 35W reconstruction in 2018. There is no question that this will be disruptive, but these bridges need to be replaced.

Dean Michlko

Discussed what the bridges will look like, how you will get around during construction, what to expect. Six large illustrations were provided. May 2017 the bridges will close; will reopen in December 2018. There will be some minor closures of the Midtown Greenway for up to a week per time. Will try to minimize the disruption, will set up roadway detours (Portland to Lyndale; Cedar to Hiawatha). Trail detours are also planned (East 28^th Street; 5^th Avenue). More details are available on the website. Current bridge is a 3-span with 30’ spans. The corridor is listed on the National Register of Historic Bridges. The 3-span look is very important to them. The current piers are not actually structural requirements for the bridge. In spite of drawings, plans include 3-span bridges; spans will be a bit wider than current bridges.

Casey

Advantages by using a single contractor to coordinate the construction at the same time. Closures will be limited in length. Will have to do excavation to get the old bridge out; concerns about the effect of construction on existing properties nearby the two sites. Original bridges were built 1914-1916 and were low cost investments by the railroad. Improvements planned include widening the bridge by 12 feet. This will expand the driving lanes and the pedestrian sidewalks. Aesthetically, will work to make the bridge blend in with the other bridges in the sightline. Been very busy since July 2016 working with design and will move quickly to select a contractor in March.

   SHPO, CFU? Who are these orgs, and what do they do?

·      Q and A

• Transitions: How will you address transition from wider lanes to narrow lanes again? Plans include making smooth transitions on each side of the bridge on Cedar Avenue.
• 29^th is a major school bus route: will you set up something for safety for the children? Will be sending out notifications about construction/contractors are working north of 29^th and shouldn’t have vehicles or other construction equipment causing a problem.  Need to give at least a month’s notice. Some buses come from cities outside Minneapolis to pick up children (Edina, for example.)
• 26^th St and 28^th St are already super busy and have lots of traffic congestion already.
• In particular, intersection at 18^th St and Chicago.
• Advance signage (2 weeks) will be put up notifying folks that the bridge will be closed.
• Consider adding some 4-way stops to protect local traffic/vehicles. Will observe and react to traffic problems, especially safety issues.
• Concerns about large city trucks, safety, how new traffic from City public works site will impact neighborhood during bridge reconstruction. Have been working with the city – meeting monthly – as planning has progressed.
• Neighbors who use public transit and Metro Mobility. What will happen with the buses? Haven’t seen their plans. Metro Transit is aware of the plans, and
• Suggestion: invite traffic to visit EPIC next month.
• Improved lighting; steeper slopes will be lit, and lights will be provided on the trail. Plan to eliminate the flat ledge at the slope/foundation.
• How far down are the footings for the right and left piers? Plan does accommodate possible future streetcars, although not necessarily in the manner originally expected.

County will be sending out regular emails, so send email to greenwaybridges@hennepin.us, or sign up online at www.hennepin.us/greewaybridges.

8:00    Roof Depot and Hiawatha Campus

-Update $40,000 City Grant use of solar in challenged communities.   
- EPIC would like pay-as-you go $10,000 contract w/ Professional Consultant Dean Dovolis

- Planning Group may seek organizer

EPIC has worked to be part of the decision-making process for developing this site. We want to hire two people to assist with this very challenging project. We have been battling the city about the site, yet the city recently obtained a $40,000 City Grant on our behalf.

The board of EPIC has recommended that EPIC set aside $10,000 to pay Dean Dovolis to serve as a consultant on how this site is developed. Dean has been working with CM Cano and others, working along with EPIC all along.

MOTION (Withdrawn when 1^st vote at November GMM for $15,000 for review was pointed out): EPIC approves in concept, the retaining of Dean Dovolis as a consultant, subject to presentation of a contractual agreement with the neighborhood, not to exceed $10,000. PF, JB,

2^nd VOTE, for Plan mod and conformity with Bylaws: See November GMM.

MOTION: EPIC will offer up to $15,000 to DJR Architect to advise and consult with EPIC on responding to EPIC’s interests and representing the needs and interests of EPIC with regard to the roof depot design project. BP, LL, Approved.

8:15     EPIC seeks to lease Office at Welna's building,  2433 Bloomington- We have determined what those structural issues are and believe this is the closest thing to a real possibility we will find.

EPIC has been looking for an office in East Phillips for 3 years. There is nothing that is handi-cap accessible. The board wants to create this office space by raising funds to make this property accessible.

Recommended by the EPIC Board (BP seconded)
MOTION: EPIC will secure a lease for the downstairs unit of 2433   Bloomington Ave. S. for up to $900/month as a temporary EPIC office until it either finds the funding to make it accessible or finds an alternate location for an EPIC office. Approved.

8:25     Karen Clark Updates

No bonding bill last year or the year before; nothing being spent for two years; reasoning – legislature wants to use these funds to give tax breaks. Hoping for a bonding bill this year (session ends in May).

·       KC discussed a bill that she would like feedback on. When someone commits a crime that requires a geographic restriction, breaking the restriction would go back to being an enforcement tool (parole violation). The City says that this helps the neighborhood (safer).

·       Other discussion:

o   City laws regarding minimum wage, sick leave, etc. are being curtailed by bills that would restrict cities from making these laws.

o   A bill to take away the Prairie Island created fund and others created to advance solar and wind power, and move it into an “energy” fund.

o   The real ID bill. MN has been one of the few states that have refused to join this program. The feds are moving toward this as a requirement by 2028. This impacts legislation affecting issuance of undocumented driver’s licenses.

o   MN AG and Washington Judge issued an order that stopped the Trump ban on immigrants which was successful.

o   Create a special fund to assist homeowners who want to insulate their homes but have asbestos in their walls or attic.

o   Efforts to “wipe out” state environmental regulations.

o   How to protect/help homeowners with lead-pipe plumbing.

o   Seeking funding for four “urban agriculture” projects, including the Roof Depot site.

8:40     EPIC needs New Board Members

Applications on line at EPIC website: www.eastphillips-epic.com. Turn in completed application forms to any EPIC board member

8:55     Adjourn