Epic General Membership Meeting - October 2005

PRESENT
Directors Present: Carol Pass, Linda Leonard, Mary Gonsior, Rosie Cruz, Hannah Lieder, Cynthia Aguirre, Earl Simms

Members Present: Shirley Heyer, Michael Sanchez, Melissa Roussin, Laverne Turner, Amy Pass, Brad Pass, Sulemon Mohamed, Margaret Kirkpatrick, Gregorio Cruz,

Meeting was called to order at 6:45 pm by CP. MG chaired the meeting. Agenda was distributed. Minutes from the September GMM were distributed.

MOTION (AP, BP)
Lacking a Quorum, a motion was passed to convene the meeting as a Committee of the Whole.

AGENDA
Motion (BP, CA)
Motion to approve agenda with amendment to include Michael Sanchez at 7 pm. Motion passed.

QUORUM ESTABLISHED
Quorum was established at 6:52 pm. Ratify the actions of the Committee of the Whole. Passed

MINUTES
The minutes from the September 8, 2005 GMM were passed with no corrections:

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Phillips Community CleanSweep
The Phillips Community CleanSweep event will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2005 from 9 am until Noon. Sign In, supplies and breakfast will be available at two locations at 9 am (Thomson-Dougherty Funeral Home – 26th & Park Avenue, and Welna Hardware – 24th & Bloomington Avenue.) Volunteers will load trash into the garbage trucks. Lunch will be held at Stewart Park – 2700 12th Avenue S. Sponsored by Weed & Seed and Phillips Partnership, and local businesses. Residents are encouraged to clean out homes and garages and place items out for pickup on that date. In addition, breakfast will be served at several locations, and neighbors will go out and clean up the neighborhood.

Midtown Greenway Land Use & Redevelopment Plan
There were two meetings held in September to look at the open space along the entire greenway. The goal of the planning is to provide a unified plan throughout the greenway. The city paid for a consultant. Although there was a meeting for residents both east and west of Chicago, there was not good communication. The planning will affect property extending to 28th Street and possibly 26th Street. The next meeting is the “design phase” and will address specific land use and development. The meeting takes place on Thursday, October 20th from 6:30-8:30. Midtown YWCA, Community Rm, 2121 E. Lake Street. East Phillips residents are encouraged to attend.

A Night to Remember 3
An event to promote peace in our families and to remember and honor the victims & survivors of domestic violence. Wednesday, October 26th, 6-8 pm. Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, 2300 15th Avenue S. Call Marie 612-253-2267.

Midtown Safety Center
The new Midtown Safety Center will celebrate their Grand Opening on November 10th 3-5 pm. 2949 Chicago Avenue.

Parking on 24th Street
EPIC continues to work on getting the parking signs changed for the Franklin Station Townhomes on 24th Street.

Phillips IDA Program
Michael Sanchez of Lutheran Social Services distributed flyers for a program that may benefit East Phillips residents. Sponsored by Faith in the City, a consortium of seven Lutheran organizations, the program offers a Personal Finance Center where residents may take free classes, learn good money management and receive personal coaching. Participants who complete the program will receive matched savings: $2.00 for every $1.00 saved. The Phillips IDA Program is available for a limited time. Eligible individuals live or work in the Phillips neighborhood, have a job and meet income guidelines, and are able to save $50 each month into a savings account. To learn more call 612-879-5220.

Let’s Break Some Ice!
Attendees got to know each other by participating in an ice-breaker activity; each person shared their favorite movie and favorite food.
CA Lavern’s curried chicken. Saving Private Ryan.
AA Cabretta (barbecued goat) & Mousa. Lawrence of Arabia.
CP Lavern’s chicken & spaghetti w green olives. Reds & Dr. Zivago
AP Avocados / guacamole
BP Barbecued Steak & corn on the cobb. 1st Star Wars Movie
RC Spaghetti & Meatballs. MagnolLia
ES S--t on a shingle w rice. Rosewood
LL Beef & noodles w mashed potatoes & hot rolls. Sound of Music
LT Lasagna. The Thin Red Line
HL Beans & Rice w tons of fried onions. Ever After
MR Dad’s biscuits & gravy. Hotel Rwanda
MK Korean barbecued beef & cone sussie. Ground Hog Day
MG Chinese chicken w mushrooms & veggies. Independence Day
SM Zambousa I Robot / Will Smith

Treasurer’s Report
The EPIC 2005/2006 Projected Budget for CDGB funding in the amount of $4,000 and for Wells Fargo funds in the amount of $2,661.06, introduced at the September 8, 2005 GMM was presented for acceptance.

MOTION (BP, LL)
Motion to approve the EPIC 2005/2006 Projected Budget, as proposed. Motion passed.

Financial Policies and Procedures
The proposed EPIC Fiscal Policies & Procedures marked “draft proposed 09/08/2005,” introduced at the September 8, 2005 GMM was presented for acceptance.
MOTION (LL, CA)
Motion to approve the EPIC Fiscal Policies & Procedures, as proposed. Motion passed.

Park and Recreation
Four Winds School is closing down and the Park Board has decided to close Peavey Park. The neighborhood has long asked for a staffed community center at East Phillips Park on 24th and 17th Avenue.

MOTION (LL, CA)
EPIC will address the mayor, the city council and park board members protesting the ongoing pattern of disregard and neglect for the children and families of Phillips neighborhood demonstrated by the inequity in funding buildings and programs for this neighborhood as compared to other neighborhoods. Motion passed.

East Phillips Commons (2900 block of Bloomington Avenue)
The neighborhood was hoping to put townhomes in this block of property. After presenting the EPIC motion to the city, EPIC learned that a conditional lease would not be accepted as a viable resolution regarding this property, therefore it is recommended that EPIC rescind its September motion, and reinstate EPIC’s support for the existing plan regarding further development of this property.

MOTION TO RESCIND PREVIOUS MOTION (CP, SM)
EPIC rescinds its September 8, 2005 motion, as follows:

[Motion: (BP, RC) - Write a letter opposing a permanent sale of this land to build a parking lot. EPIC would only support a conditional lease for a maximum of two years. The lease agreement to include the requirement that at the end of the lease, the property WILL go back to the neighborhood’s proposed development. Motion passed (one abstain, SA.)]

Motion to rescind previous motion passed.

Gustavus Adolphus
Presented new info on East Phillips Commons on Bloomington at 29th. Sherman and Associates is still interested in building the apartment building and live-work units. However, if we lease part of the development area to provide temporary parking relief as we voted to do at the Sept. meeting, we will lose our funding – TIF district and will be unable to continue with the project. A zoning application has been filed by Floyd Olson to permit conditional use to rezone from C1 to C3A, increase the height of the building, allow a shopping center, allow a parking facility, reduce side yard and front yard setback, reduce minimum drive-aisle width, reduce minimum parking requirement and increase maximum floor area ratio. The City Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, October 20 at 10 am, Room 317 at City Hall. EPIC opposes these zoning changes – see September 8, 2005 motion.

Board Elections
Discussed process and notification requirements regarding election of replacement board members. Board Directors must commit to attending at least two meetings per month (EBM, GMM) and must be willing to sign the EPIC Board Director contract. Nominations and election were announced at the September GMM.
NOMINATIONS (LL, CP)
Aden Awil was announced as a board nominee at the September 2005 GMM. Sulemon Mohamed was also nominated.

MOTION (MK, LL)
Accept Aden Awil and Sulemon Mohamed as EPIC Board Members by acclamation. Motion passed by acclamation

NRP Elector Selection
EPIC needs to select an elector and alternate to participate in the Policy Board Neighborhood Representative Election, held on Thursday, November 17th beginning at 6:30 pm at the Crown Roller Mill offices, 105 5th Avenue S. LL was selected elector by consensus. MG and LT were selected as alternates by consensus.

Fall Harvest Party
LL will take the lead in planning an event for a fall harvest party on October 21, 2005 at 6 pm. The event will be held at the EPIC 17th Avenue Community Garden and EPIC will provide hay bales and beverages. Residents should bring their favorite foods to share. Some possible activities include games, pumpkins for families, coloring activities, and new gardener sign-up sheet.

MOTION (MG, SM)
EPIC authorizes LL to spend up to $150.00 for the fall harvest party. LL and HL are on planning committee. Motion passed.

Survival Celebration!!
Cake was served to celebrate the last year of hard work by East Phillips residents and EPIC.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Mary Gonsior, Secretary
(Appreciation to Brad Pass for supplementary notes.)

ABBREVIATIONS
CDBG = Community Development Block Grant
CLIC = Capital Long Range Improvement Committee
CPED = Community Planning & Economic Development
EBM = EPIC Board Meeting
EPC 17th Ave. Garden Committee = East Phillips 17th Avenue Community Garden Steering Committee






EPIC = East Phillips Improvement Coalition
GMM = General Membership Meeting
GI = Green Institute
MPR = Minnesota Public Radio
NNO = National Night Out
NRP = Neighborhood Revitalization Program
PRG = Powderhorn Residents Group
WEI = Women’s Environmental Institute
EPIC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
October 13, 2005 (DRAFT)
Holy Rosary Church

EPIC Board Meeting - October 2005

PRESENT
Mary Gonsior (MG), Carol Pass (CP), Rosie Cruz (RC), Linda Leonard (LL), Earl Simms (ES), Cynthia Aguirre (CA)

Directors not Present: Hannah Lieder (HL), Sulemon Mohamed (SM)

Meeting was called to order as a committee of the whole at 10:15 by CP. Agenda was distributed. MG was designated as recording secretary.

AGENDA
The agenda was approved with correction: change “Reimbursements” to “Crime Report.”

QUORUM
Quorum was established at 10:25 am (6 of 8 directors present.)

MINUTES
The minutes from the September 3, 2005 EBM were approved.

Clean Sweep
We need to distribute flyers. The event will be held on October 15th. Acceptable items: furniture, tires, etc. No hazardous waster. LL suggested that flyers be distributed along with survey.

CDBG funding
EPIC will submit financial policies and budget to Robert Cooper.

Insurance
All steps are completed – EPIC is insured.

Crime Report
25-30 police officers went around Little Earth looking for many specific individuals. There were several arrests. The raid was conducted Thursday evening on both sides of Cedar. Discussed crime along 25th St. CA said there will probably be another sweep (upcoming elections.) CP attended problem properties tech team meeting. CP has repeatedly reported 16th Avenue n their “hot list.” The list of problem properties in Midtown is “huge.” We may want to focus on one or two properties at a time. For example, 2440-16th and NE corner of 16th & 25th. ES has seen people with keys going in and out of the property on the corner.

EPIC will complain to Well’s Fargo about the condition of the property and ask, 1. Who owns the property, 2. Send owner a letter about the condition of the property, 3. Request that the owner take the building down.

Find address for problem property on 28th St & 18th Avenue
Report on tech meeting: decisions on court watch; opportunity for neighborhood to provide information and feedback to authorities regarding crime and properties and to learn what they are doing. CA would like to try to attend at least one meeting. CP will dates to CA for weed and seed, crime tech team meeting. CP will try to get minutes for these meetings.

Hi-Lake Development.
There will be a public hearing meeting for the development of Hi-Lake Shopping Center, sometime in October. There are some proposed plans that EPIC doesn’t know anything about. EPIC missed a meeting in September. EPIC needs to have participation in this next public hearing. Ryan has been informed about these plans but hasn’t communicated the information to EPIC.

Housing and Economic Development Committee
By consensus, CP will supervise the Housing and Economic Development Committee meetings of EPIC and hold the chair accountable to hold regular meetings and report regularly to EPIC GMM

Parking Issues
Keep calling about 24th Street Parking. Discussed concerns about the alley and other issues regarding the next phase when the condo comes in on 24th and Bloomington. Discussed other concerns of Townhome residents and the need for EPIC to support some sort of communication between the Association and PRG.

Motion (LL, MG)
Write a letter to PRG to encourage them to meet with Townhouse residents to discuss concerns about parking and any other concerns. CC letter to David and other board members. Motion passed.

Board Directors
Invite potential candidates to become board members. Hold election at next GMM, if nominations are made. Names offered for consideration: Aden Awil, Amy Pass, Laverne Turner, Ryan Brueske, Marcelino Reyes. EPIC will invite these individuals to consider accepting nomination. Each director to try to bring two new people to EPIC GMM.

GMM
CA will develop an icebreaker for EPIC GMM.

Survey
Completing the survey will give us a strategic plan for Phase I spending and loosen the $200,000 Phase II funds. It will also give us indicators for Phase II spending. The survey will also help with writing the Phase I evaluation and is an opportunity to meet people and educate about EPIC meetings. Directors to meet separately to set up schedule and implementation of survey.

Garden
Appoint a 2nd liaison to Garden Committee, when a director is available. Call Cory Zoll and request, 1. A copy of Lynne’s “garden agreement”, and 2. An itemized list of money that EPIC owes for the garden.

Lack of program funding and closure of park buildings
Research class/ethnic discrimination in decisions to close parks, defund programming

Agenda for GMM
Submit agenda items to the chair.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:14 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Mary Gonsior, Secretary

CDBG = Community Development Block Grant
EBM = EPIC Board Meeting
EPC 17th Ave. Garden Committee = East Phillips 17th Avenue Community Garden Steering Committee
EPIC = East Phillips Improvement Coalition
GMM = General Membership Meeting


EPIC BOARD MEETING
October 1, 2005
2526 18th Avenue S, Apt. #5