Epic General Membership Meeting - November 2005

Minutes 11/10/2005

Directors Present:
Carol Pass (CP), Mary Gonsior (MG), Cynthia Aguirre (CA), Hanna Lieder (HL), Rosie Cruz (RC), Aden Awil (AA), Earl Simms (ES), Linda Leonard (LL)

Members Present:
Stephanie Allen (SA), Sherzad Cruz (SC), Margaret Kirkpatrick (MK), Amy Pass (AP), Brad Pass (BP), Kevin Lieder (KL)

Guests Present:
Jim Roth, Natalia Pretelt, Don Greeley, Michou Kokodoku, MPD Officer Terry Nutter

MG called the meeting to order @ 6:43 PM and attendees introduced themselves.

Motion: (BP, CA) Approve agenda. Passed
Motion: (BP, CA) Approve 10/13/2005 GMM Minutes. Passed

CA Treasurers Report & discussion:
Our Budget & Financial Policy were accepted by Bob Cooper @ NRP.
$1,401.03 is in the bank.
* NRP needs Tax # & a few other items.
LL Do we need to spend money before 12/31/2005?
CP* We can get an extension but we need a spending plan.

HL Report on Nov. Action Items:
Most items accomplished.

CP Report on Public Safety Initiative:
A new group was formed with Karen Clark and others to write legislation to tighten penalties for repeat and frequent offenders. After a predetermined # of misdemeanors, future offenses are Gross Misdemeanors. After a predetermined # of Gross Misdemeanors, future offenses are Felonies. The plan is to work with rural county attorneys to press for legislative change.

CP Report on Live-work units on Bloomington @ 29th St.
At the Oct. GMM EPIC rescinded the September motion to lease land in the project area to provide temporary parking during Lake St. re-construction. This motion was rescinded because project funding would be lost and the project would be terminated if the land were leased instead of proceeding with the project. CP also reported that Sherman & Associates stated they were planning to proceed with construction of the two live-work units this spring.

MK A heads up on Arbor Day plantings in May

Don Greely Report on crime initiatives:
Don is assigned to Sector One of the third precinct, our sector. He brought mug shots of frequent offenders, handouts and talked about Chemical Dependency and Criminal Behavior Intervention. He encouraged us to participate in Court Watch and send in Community Impact Statements (which can be made anonymously).

Report on MCCD (Mpls. Consortium of Community Developers) by Jim Roth, Mishu Kokodoko and Natalia Pretelt
In 1995 MCCD provided a grant for the Franklin Station Town-homes (then called the Village in Phillips or VIP). PRG & PPL then built the project.
Jim Roth talked about the roll of non-profit developers and proposed legislation on real estate tax relief for low income housing.
Natalia P. works in the Loan Program & provides staff support for Lake St. Businesses.
Mishu K. oversees credit analysis, helping with business plans and finding funders.
MCCD maintains and administers loan funds, and is made up of many member organizations.
MCCD identified 25 barriers to development and/or starting a business.

CA Ice Breaker. Name your favorite or dream vacation spot.
MG Alabama Gulf. White sand beach.
BP Scotland
AA Route from Pakistan to Beijing over the Himalayas and up the Khyber Pass.
SC San Diego
RC Tijuana with relatives
SM Tasco Mexico & the Virgin Islands
CA Arizona/Japan
ES Dreams
CP Romania
LL Rain Forest in the Olympics

CP NRP report
Originally $20,000,000 of Common Project Money was to be divided between the Minneapolis neighborhoods based on relative need. Over the years, due to Mpls. fiscal problems, the money was reduced and a large part of the money was diverted to repay the Legacy fund which was a fund provided by the sale of the Old Hilton Hotel which was to be used for Mpls. development. The Legacy fund was invested in the stock market and was subsequently lost in the collapse of the technology market. Some members of the NRP Policy Board believe it may be inappropriate and/or illegal to use NRP funds to repay the Legacy Fund.
Motion: LL moved that – If it is determined to be appropriate, EPIC write a letter to the Mayor and City Council members insisting on the return to NRP of all NRP Moneys used to repay the Legacy Fund. AA Seconded.
Motion Passed.
Motion: CP moved to send a letter to the Mayor and City Council expressing concern about the possible acquisition of Neighborhood Loan Repayment Money by the city and insisting that these moneys be returned to the neighborhood which provided the funding and authorized the loan.
RC Seconded. Motion Passed.
AA reported that he repaid his EPIC loan and he wants to know if it is coming back to EPIC or is going Downtown.

LL Report on Winter Garden Party:
Party to be about the same as the Garden Harvest Party.
Motion: LL moved to allocate $75 for Winter garden Party. Seconded and Passed

Motion: Adjorn. Seconded and Passed at 8:45 PM



Respectfully submitted by
Brad Pass
12/2/2005