Support Sister's Camelot!

I just read a post that Sister's Camelot is one of three finalists competing to receive a MySpace Impact Award. They give away free food in various locations all over Minneapolis - and it's all organic! Seriously a great organization, that I think we should all vote on to ensure they get more attention.

I have seen them several times this summer stopped at East Phillips Park or Little Earth Community.

Please vote for Sister's Camelot at: http://www.myspace.com/impactawards

Midtown Burner has no one to buy power

EPIC E-NEWS
May 28, 2008

EPIC Board, Members, friends of East Phillips, and folks who helped work for clean air for the people of South Minneapolis.

Two pieces of Good News:
First, Xcel Energy decided not to buy power from the Midtown Burner! This makes it the law and means that Kandiyohi will find it next to impossible to secure the financing to allow them to receive a loan for the project to go ahead. They would be very hard pressed to make the Burner Project work. (Check out the email address at the end of this message)

Second, Governor Pawlenty signed the bill to require a cumulative impact study of all pollution sources in the Burner site area to see if the totality passes muster in the Phillips and surrounding area before any permit can be signed allowing any power plant to be built. This means that Phillips is protected from this sort of thing and either awaits a future when clean energy can be provided and/or simply will not have any sort of similarly polluting industry here period.

Does this completely stop this project? I hesitate to say yes, because there are always possibilities that something will squeak through. We need to be watchful, more than we were this time, but it makes the future look quite pollution free from this source anyway. The Midtown Burner looks nearly laid to rest.

Thank you to those of you that lobbied faithfully with us, provided information, encouraged us when we felt we could not do this, wrote many letters and made many calls. This was a huge group effort. Thank you EPIC Board and members for your work. Thank you Womens Environmental Institute, Thank you Little Earth Staff and residents for your support. Thank you Sisters of Holy Rosary and St, Paul's Lutheran Church for your letters and prayers. Thank you Metro Urban Indian Directors, Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, the Hispanic Baseball League, Midtown Phillips, Phillips West, Ventura Village, 16th Ave. Block Club, the Alley Newspaper, Seward Neighborhood Group, Minneapolis Residents for Clean Air, Standish-Erickson Neighborhood Assoc'., St. Paul Neighbors Against the Burner, Rep. Karen Clark, Senators Linda Berglin and Patricia Torres-Ray, Council Members Schiff, Lilligren and Gordon and the many others who supported our effort too numerous to name and many whose names we don't know.

This was a great united effort. However, two things: we need to remember that we are not done. Again, this could come back, though with great difficulty. But even if it does not, we need to remember that we have made a commitment to press on toward ridding Phillips of all pollution period!! and creating a neighborhood does not drag our population down with further difficulties, but sustains and lifts them up in every way, providing them with an environment of healthy air, healthy soil, healthy homes and places of business, healthy parks and water. We owe this to our children, and this is especially true since Phillips has a greater percentage of the next generation than almost anywhere else in Minneapolis. I hope we can continue with the same unity of purpose toward these future goals. Again, we owe it to the children, the elders and everyone in between.

Thanks again,

Carol Pass, Board Chair, for EPIC

Check this out:
http://www.finance-commerce.com/article.cfm/2008/05/28/Xcel-leaves-developers-powerless-on-Midtown-Burner-project

RT Rybak: "the Midtown Burner Project will go forward"

Rybak says he's not heard enough
"public outrage"
to convince him that the Burner is a problem

This is what community members were told

in a meeting with staff from the Mayor's office

on Friday, April 10, 2008.

So, if you thought the Burner was "dead,"

think again!!

If Kandiyohi Development Partners (the Midtown Burner project owners) are able to negotiate a purchase agreement with Xcel Energy (or any other qualified power company) by Monday June 9, 2008,

THE BURNER PROJECT WILL GO FORWARD.

KDP has been working for some time to negotiate a power purchase agreement, and now they have only a few weeks left to pull it off.

Don't you think they will call on their friends with money and influence to put pressure on Xcel to sign on?

Mayor RT Rybak still supports the Burner.

And his staff are saying that

it will be built!

Read on to find out what the Mayor's staff are saying,

and what you can do to educate the Mayor and others

on what you think about the Burner

Staff at the Mayor's office claim that neighborhood opposition to the Burner is weak -- despite the fact that more than 700 residents have signed statements in opposition to the project, which have been delivered to the Mayor's office. Some residents have sent e-mails to the Mayor and, instead of receiving a response from the Mayor, they got a reply from Kim Havey at Kandiyohi Development Partners. Do you think this is a coincidence?

Staff at the Mayor's office also claim that emissions from the Burner will be no more problematic than exhaust emissions from 24 cars over the course of a year. This is a myth, and it's a great example of how people can mistake a "sound byte" for the truth. If the Mayor's staff dig deeper, they will find that while the Burner emissions and exhaust from 24 cars may be comparable by weight, the content is decidedly different.

A deeper analysis of the "24 cars" argument shows that:

· In addition to nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water (the major components of typical car exhaust), the Burner will also be adding alarming amounts of sulfur, lead, benzene, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde, manganese, styrene, toluene, arsenic, cadmium and mercury in addition to extremely fine particulate matter (nanoparticles, also known as "soot") to the air that we all breathe.

· Carbon dioxide, while not harmful to breathe and naturally occurring in our air, is a "greenhouse gas." The total carbon dioxide emissions from the Midtown Burner will be equivalent to that produced by over 30,000 cars!

· Cars also create toxic fumes including carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and nitrous oxides -- but the amount is less than 1% of a car's emissions. The Burner will create all of these three "volatile organic compounds" (are similar to the unburned hydrocarbons from cars), but they make up a much larger proportion of the Burner's emissions. A calculation adjusting for the proportion of these emissions shows that:

o carbon monoxide: Burner emissions = 3,400 cars/year

o volatile organic compounds: Burner emissions = 7,800 cars/year

o nitrous oxide: Burner emissions = 29,000 cars/year

The Mayor claims he hasn't heard enough

public outrage about the Burner.

Has he heard your opinion?

Are you outraged that you may be forced to breathe more sulfur, lead, benzene, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde, manganese, styrene, toluene, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrous oxide, and nano particles (soot)?

Are you outraged that the Mayor seems to be ignoring the messages from more than 700 people in the community?

Are you outraged by the fact that elected officials who should be looking out for your interests are still supporting the Midtown Burner?

IF YOU'RE OUTRAGED,

IT'S TIME TO LET THE MAYOR AND OTHERS KNOW!

please also send us copies of your correspondence and any response you get:

Minneapolis Residents for Clean Air

(612) 326-3308

mpls.residentsforcleanair@gmail.com

For more background info, articles, and talking points on this issue: http://mplsresidentsforcleanair.blogspot.com/

Call, write, or e-mail:

Mayor RT Rybak

City Hall, Room 331

350 South Fifth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55415

(612) 673-2100

rt@minneapolis.org

David Sparby

President, Xcel Energy, Inc.

414 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis MN 55401

Mr. Sparby's policy assistant, Ms. Barb Bridgeman (612) 330-5901

Steve Wilenski

Vice President for Regulartory and Governmental Affairs, Xcel Energy, Inc.

414 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis MN 55401

Mr. Wilensky's policy assistant, Ms. Ann Johnson (612) 330-6403

Commissioner Peter McLaughlin

is on record as opposing the Burner - urge him to say that to Dave Sparby and Steve Wilenski from Xcel!

A2400 Government Center

300 South Sixth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55487

612-348-3085

commissioner.mclaughlin@co.hennepin.mn.us

Your Council Member

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/

Cam Gordon, Gary Schiff, and Robert Lillegren are on record as opposing the Burner - urge them to say that to Dave Sparby and Steve Wilenski from Xcel!

Your State Senator

http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

If your State Senator opposes the Burner, urge her/him to say that to Dave Sparby and Steve Wilenski from Xcel!

Your State Representative

http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

If your State Representative opposes the Burner, urge her/him to say that to Dave Sparby and Steve Wilenski from Xcel!

Your Neighborhood Organization

http://www.nrp.org/r2/Neighborhoods/Summary/NbhdSummary.html

If your neighborhood organization opposes the Burner, urge them to say that to Dave Sparby and Steve Wilenski from Xcel!

Representative Keith Ellison

1130 Longworth Building

Washington, D.C. 20515-2305

(202) 225-4755 or (612) 522-1212

http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87

Senator Norm Coleman

320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

(202) 224-5641

Web Form: coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Co...

Senator Amy Klobuchar

302 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

(202) 224-3244

Web Form: klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Jullonne Glad

Juliet Thompson

Betsy Sohn

on behalf of Minneapolis Residents for Clean Air

an ad hoc group of community volunteers holding elected officials accountable

Letters needed to stop the burner!!

To Supporters of the Residents of East Phillips: PLEASE CONSIDER WRITING A LETTER RIGHT AWAY.

In case you hadn’t heard, a wood burning power plant, Midtown Eco Energy Biomass Plant, has been proposed by Kandiyohi Development Partners (KDP) for the East Phillips Neighborhood, but impacting the Corcoran, Powderhorn, Midtown and West Phillips Neighborhoods, Longfellow, Central and Seward Neighborhoods as well. It would be built on the site of the old incinerator at 28^th St. and 20^th Ave. S. and would be “a major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants” according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (p.2, Tech Support Doc.). The members of the East Phillips Improvement Coalition have voted to oppose this project, believing that it is entirely inappropriate for an area so burdened by pollution already and so filled with minority children and struggling families. The following page contains the basic points that should be included in a letter of opposition, which we hope you will consider writing very soon, regarding this project. Use letterhead if possible, Regardless of where one lives, we should all protect one another from such things as a general moral obligation.

We do not intend to take on the entire Biomass industry, but since the MPCA has clearly stated that the plant will be a “major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants”, we believe it is our obligation to protect the people here, especially since there is no real social or economic benefit for them. It fits the “Environmental Justice Policy” of the MPCA exactly. However, when I called the Minn. Pollution Control Agency’s Senior Engineer for this project, Paula Connell, and asked her how this would apply, she stated, ”I don’t know, that is my great frustration, I don’t know”. I asked her for guidance and she said she didn’t have any. Apparently this policy has never been implemented or stopped anything. We have discovered that the MPCA does not even know how to do a cumulative impact study of this sort of thing. This was just stated by MPCA officials at the Legislative public hearing on the subject last week. This is very disturbing and leaves us no way to protect the people.

So we are on our own and only public pressure can do anything. Another important fact is that the major investors who stand to make a lot of money from this all live in the wealthiest sections of town and it is the poorest and greatest minority population of Minneapolis that will be compelled to bear the entire burden of health risks and negative consequences to their property values and their quality of life. We also know that more money could be spent in the project for pollution control. I don’t say this easily, but the obviousness of environmental and economic racism is compellingly clear in this case.

People of conscience should not stand by and say or do nothing. The residents of East Phillips are asking you to write the Mayor and all City Council Members immediately and call on them to oppose the proposed power plant. In particular, if you are writing to the Mayor and Council, ask them each to NOT extend the option to buy the land and building, which would house the power plant. The option ends at the end of March. This could possibly stop the project right now. We need to make these points and insist that the Council and Mayor not extend Kandiyohi Developers’ option to buy the site. If we write early this week, we may be able to influence this vote which could come up this week or next. Thank you for whatever you do. Also the East Phillips organization would appreciate copies of whatever you send for our file to help prepare this case for the future. If you would, please email a copy to EPIC at: Carol Pass, Chair, EPIC cpass@runbox.com. Contact at: 612-280-8418. Addresses of Public Officials to be contacted are:

Mayor R.T. Rybak (612) 673-2100 Mayor.Rybak@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Minneapolis City Council Members

Ward 1: Paul Ostrow (612) 673-2201 Paul.Ostrow@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 2: Cam Gordon (612) 673-2202 Cam.Gordon@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 3: Diane Hofstede (612) 673-2203 Diane.Hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 4: Barbara Johnson (612) 673-2204 Barbara.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 5: Don Samuels (612) 673-2205 Don.Samuels@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 6: Robert Lilligren (612) 673-2206 Robert.Lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 7: Lisa Goodman (612) 673-2207 Lisa Goodman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 8: Elizabeth Glidden (612) 673-2208 Elizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 9: Gary Schiff (612) 673-2209 Gary.Schiff@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 10: Ralph.Remington (612) 673-2210 Ralph.Remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 11: Scott Benson (612) 673-2211 Scott.Benson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 12: Sandy Colvin Roy (612) 673-2212 Sandy.ColvinRoy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 13: Betsy Hodges (612) 673-2213 Betsy.Hodges@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Dear Letter Writers: Do not Copy this letter. Rearrange its contents and put it in your own words. These are the main points to be covered, but your letter needs to reflect your own perspective and voice. Letters need to go out or be emailed early this next week or as soon as possible. Use letterhead, if you have it. Your letters for our files would be much appreciated. We would like to know who has written and why. Your help is invaluable. If you would, please email them to EPIC at: Carol Pass, Chair, EPIC cpass@runbox.com. Contact at 612-280-8418.

To the Mayor and City Council:

I am writing to insist that the City of Minneapolis conform to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s “Environmental Justice Policy”(http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications /policy-environmentaljustice.pdf) which states that:

“The MPCA will, within its authority, ensure fair and equitable treatment and meaningful involvement of all Minnesota citizens in the implementation of federal and state environmental laws, rules, programs, and policies to insure that: Minority and economically-disadvantaged communities in Minnesota do not bear a disproportionate share of the involuntary risks and consequences of environmental pollution...”

I am requesting that the City Council and Mayor rescind all support for the Midtown Eco Energy Power Plant proposed by Kandiyohi Development Partners and commit to stopping its construction in the East Phillips Neighborhood for the following reasons:

1) We are aware that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has stated that the proposed Midtown EcoEnergy facility (wood burning power plant) proposed for the East Phillips Neighborhood (near Hiawatha Ave and East Lake St.), “will be a major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants” (MPCA Tech. Support Doc. p. 2) (November, 2007)

2) Public exposure of this statement has not occurred in any of the presentations by the developers of this project, nor has this truth been contained in any of the many advertisements or statements by the developers in area media. In addition, almost all official approvals took place before this information was publicly available on November 11, 2007. Because of this lack of public information, informed consent has not occurred. This is especially true of the people who live in the area which would be most impacted. For example, Little Earth of United Tribes heard nothing of this before approvals were given.

3) The same area in East Phillips is already the site of an asphalt plant, a foundry, an Arsenic Superfund Site, a roofing company’s hot asphalt storage, the future site of the City’s hot asphalt storage and high levels of lead contamination in homes and yards. The facts are that no one, in preparation for authorizing construction of the power plant here, has done a full analysis of the major pollution already here or even begun to understand its impact on the many minority and Indigenous families and children of Phillips. Rep.Karen Clark is working on a full study of all the families and children to determine the causes of large health disparities among the Phillips population with respect to the rest of the City of Minneapolis to accomplish this missing piece. This neighborhood has already been determined to be one of the most polluted locations in the 5 county metro area and the power plant proposal would bring even more “major hazardous pollutants. to the neighborhood.

4) 40% of the neighborhood population are children, 40% of whom live in poverty. These children have a disproportionately high rate of asthma and other chronic health problems, many potentially related to area toxins and particulate matter. The drop out rate of 9^th graders living in Phillips is much higher than elsewhere in Minneapolis and asthma is one of the major causes of poor school attendance.

5) There are no significant direct economic or social benefits from this project sufficient to balance the serious public health risks the economically challenged minority and Indigenous population of East Phillips as well as the residents of near by surrounding neighborhoods would be compelled to bear.

Therefore, the proposed construction of the Midtown Eco Energy Power Plant and the granting of its Air Emission Permit constitute a clear violation of the MPCA Environmental Justice Policy and an example of environmental racism and injustice to the people of East Phillips and surrounding neighborhoods.

Mayor R.T. Rybak (612) 673-2100 Mayor.Rybak@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Minneapolis City Council Members

Ward 1: Paul Ostrow (612) 673-2201 Paul.Ostrow@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 2: Cam Gordon (612) 673-2202 Cam.Gordon@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 3: Diane Hofstede (612) 673-2203 Diane.Hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 4: Barbara Johnson (612) 673-2204 Barbara.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 5: Don Samuels (612) 673-2205 Don.Samuels@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 6: Robert Lilligren (612) 673-2206 Robert.Lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 7: Lisa Goodman (612) 673-2207 Lisa Goodman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 8: Elizabeth Glidden (612) 673-2208 Elizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 9: Gary Schiff (612) 673-2209 Gary.Schiff@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 10: Ralph.Remington (612) 673-2210 Ralph.Remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 11: Scott Benson (612) 673-2211 Scott.Benson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 12: Sandy Colvin Roy (612) 673-2212 Sandy.ColvinRoy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Ward 13: Betsy Hodges (612) 673-2213 Betsy.Hodges@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

MPCA paula.connell@pca.state.mn.us mark.sulzbach@state.mn.us

651-282-2605 651-296-7768

Governor Tim Pawlenty tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us 651-296-3391

State Legislators

House

58A Joe Mullery 651-296-4262 rep.joe.mullery@house.mn

58B Augustine (Willie) Dominguez 651-296-8659 rep.augustine.dominguez@house.mn

59A Diane Loeffler 651-296-4219 rep.diane.loeffler@house.mn

59B Phyllis Kahn 651-296-4257 rep.phyllis.kahn@house.mn

60A Margaret Anderson Kelliher 651-296-0171 rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn

60B Frank Hornstein 651-296-9281 rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn

61A Karen Clark 651-296-0294 rep.karen.clark@house.mn

61B Neva Walker 651-296-7152 rep.neva.walker@house.mn

62A Jim Davnie 651-296-0173 rep.jim.davnie@house.mn

62B Jean Wagenius 651-296-4200 rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn

63A Paul Thissen 651-296-5375 rep.paul.thissen@house.mn

Senate

58 Linda Higgins 651-296-9246 sen.linda.higgens@senate.mn

59 Lawrence Pogemiller 651-296-7809 Use mail form*

60 Scott Dibble 651-296-4191 sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn

61 Linda Berglin 651-296-4261 Use mail form*

62 Patricia Torres Ray 651-296-4274 sen.patricia.torres.ray@senate.mn

Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee

50 Satveer Chaudhary *205 Cap 651-296-4334 sen.satveer.chaudary@senate.mn

66 Ellen Anderson *120 Cap 651-296-5537 sen.ellen.anderson@senate.mn

60 Scott Dibble *111 Cap 651-296-4191 sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn

18 Steve Dille 103 St Off 651-296-4131 sen.steve,dille@senate.mn

21 Dennis Frederickson 139 St Off 651-296-8138 sen.dennis.frederickson@senate.mn

11 Bill Ingebrigtsen *123 St Off 651-296-8063 sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn

4 Mary Olson 124 Cap 651-296-4913 sen.mary.olson@senate.mn

3 Tom Saxhaug *124 Cap 651-296-4136 sen.tom.saxhaug@senate.mn

23 Kathy Sheran G-4* Cap 651-296-6153 sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn

57 Katie Sieben *321 Cap 651-297-8060 sen.katie,sieben@senate.mn

1 Leroy Stumpf *208 Cap 651-296-8660 senate.mn/senatorstumpfemail

22 Jim Vickerman 226 Cap 651-296-5650 senate,mn/senatorvickermanemail

source:http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd9thxh2_48gfvnmb8p

Phillips East Yahoo Group Started

Just started the Phillips East Yahoo Group that can easily be found in the regional section under Minneapolis.

The site is at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phillipseast

Instead of participating in a Blog that the entire world can see, one can communicate solely with local members of the community.

East Phillips at a glance

Comparison statistics for the City of Minneapolis are shown in [brackets].

SIZE 0.4 square miles [54.9]

POPULATION

• Individuals: 4,147 [382,618]
• Households: 1,090 [162,352]
• Families: 751 [73,939]
• Children under 18: 1,697 - 40.9% of population [84,169 - 22.0%]

DIVERSITY

• Native American: 943 - 22.7% of population [8,378 - 2.2% of City]
• Black: 967 - 23.3% [68,818 - 18.0%]
• Latino: 1,121 - 27.0% [29,175 - 7.6%]
• Asian: 309 - 7.5% [23,744 - 6.2%]
• White: 975 - 23.5% [249,186 - 65.1%]
• Total non-white: 3,172 - 76.5% [133,432 - 34.9%]

MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME

$24,049 [$48,602]

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

$23,346 [$37,974]

FAMILIES BELOW POVERTY

260 - 34.6% of neighborhood families [8,868 - 11.9%]

CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY

665 - 40.8% of all neighborhood children [20,477 - 25.1%]

UNEMPLOYMENT

187 - 11.5% of workers [12,778 - 5.8%]

HOUSING

• Total number of housing units: 1,162 [168,606]
• Vacant units: 72 - 6.2% of neighborhood units [6,254 - 3.7%]
• Owner occupied units: 342 - 29.4% [83,408 - 51.4%]
• Renter-occupied units: 748 - 64.4% [78,944 - 48.6%]

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000

prepared by community design group // www.c-d-g.org

Why this blog?

The East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis has no website. Nor does the community organization that serves it have a website and make clear what its operations are. Therefore this blog is meant to be a community asset and improve local communication.

Anyone living or has had lived in East Philips neighborhood of Minneapolis is welcome to join this blog.

EPIC Information

Anyone who want to contact our neighborhood organization:

East Phillips Improvement Coalition

2536 18th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404


Staff Contact
Carol Pass

bpass at usinternet.com


Board Chairperson
Carol Pass

EPIC Membership Meeting - July 2005

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
GI = Green Institute
NRP = Neighborhood Revitalization Program
SWMCB = Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board

PRESENT

Mary Gonsior (MG), Hannah Lieder (HL), Linda Leonard (LL), Carol Pass (CP), Albin Dittli (AD), Cynthia Aquirre (CA)

Directors not Present: Andy Engebretson (out of town), Rosie Cruz (out of town) and Earl Sims (unknown reason)

Observers: Laverne Turner (LT) was present during discussion of first item.

Meeting was called to order at 10:15 by CP. Agenda was distributed. MG was designated as recording secretary. Quorum was established (6 directors present.)

Announcements
MG reported that she hasn’t completed the draft letter to introduce board Directors to community organizations.

Minutes
The minutes from the last Board Meeting (6/18/2005) were not completed yet.

Agenda
The agenda was approved with the following changes: Response to Robert Thompson’s email (added.) Issues surrounding the letters Lynn handed out (moved to top of the agenda.) Garden Policy item (moved to #2 on agenda.)

NEW BUSINESS

Issues surrounding the letters in Lynne Mayo’s handout at the June GMM
HL asked why we were addressing these issues again when we already discussed this and made policies about this. CP responded that we need to request a response from NRP (Robert Miller,) apologizing for telling community members that the process that was followed by the community from the October GMM until the Annual Meeting in 2005 was “illegal” and to address other related gossip and hearsay that is being spread through the EPIC community and other neighborhoods.

CP proposed requesting a 2-3 hour meeting with Robert Miller to present the legitimacy of the process followed by the community. (Robert Miller has already agreed to grant such a request.) At this meeting, CP will present all the minutes from all the meetings from October 2004 through the Annual Meeting, EPIC Bylaws, letters from the community, letters from attorneys, etc. EPIC will formally request that NRP correct the misunderstandings and rumors that abound regarding the following four points.

Robert Miller and Barb Lickness need to apologize for telling community members and the former Board Directors that the process followed by the community between the October 2004 GMM and the 2005 Annual Meeting was not legitimate and was not legal. Both need to confirm that they conducted no investigation of the claims made by the former Board Directors regarding their accusations against community members.
Robert Miller and Barb Lickness need to confirm that they released information to the public regarding accusations towards community members that EPIC staffer, Rebekah Cross, was abused and confirm that her claim of harassment, and/or hostile work environment was never established. Both need to apologize to the community for releasing information about Rebekah’s claim to the public, and confirm that the information was hearsay only and that NRP made no investigation regarding Rebekah’s claim.
Robert Miller needs to confirm that the MN Legislature requires neighborhoods to spend 52% of NRP Phase I funds on housing. In addition, because POP wrote only 18% in the original plan, he needs to confirm that it was responsible for EPIC to spend as much remaining NRP funds as possible on housing.
Robert Miller needs to confirm that all neighborhoods will be required to spend 70% of Phase II NRP funds on housing and that NRP won’t even consider plans spending less than 70% on housing.

Motion (MG, LL)
CP will meet with Robert Miller as soon as possible and present the aforementioned information. EPIC will request (in writing) that the four points listed above be addressed publicly, in writing, by Robert Miller and Barb Lickness. If EPIC does not receive a satisfactory response by August 1, 2005, EPIC will file a grievance against NRP. Motion passed.

Garden Policy: Response to Corrie Zoll’s email.
A group of gardeners asked the EPIC Board to resolve concerns brought about by discovery of an advertisement for “A Composter in Every Back Yard” youth composting and waste awareness program. Responding to EPIC’s inquiry, Corrie Zoll of the Green Institute (GI,) responded by email. Corrie referenced a Use Agreement between GI and the East Phillips 17th Avenue Community Garden dated August 9, 2004 that was signed by Christine Rangen, Daniel Thomas, Lynne Mayo, Judith Schwartzbacker and Aden Awil. Corrie worked with Lynne Mayo to secure a grant from the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) in 2004 because he understood that “Lynne Mayo is the representative appointed by [the East Phillips 17th Avenue Community Garden Steering Committee] to represent the East Phillips 17th Avenue Community Garden.”

CP drafted a response to Corrie Zoll’s email concerning the following points.

The committee called EPC 17th Ave. Garden Committee is the same committee known as East Phillips 17th Avenue Community Garden Steering Committee. The name was abbreviated for convenience.
According to GI and EPIC records, the garden steering committee is to be composed of two EPIC Board Directors, two active gardeners and one at-large individual from EPIC neighborhood (approved by both groups.)
EPIC has never appointed a “representative” from the steering committee to the GI. Instead, our relationship with GI is governed by the motions of an official garden committee with oversight from EPIC, with decisions conveyed to the GI in the form of motions.
EPIC has determined that the signers of the August 9, 2004 “Use Agreement” do not meet the criteria for the official “garden committee,” having no EPIC Directors present on the committee. In addition, the “Use Agreement” was not signed by an EPIC Director.
A garden steering committee was not formed in the spring of 2004 due to remediation issues in the garden.
AD and CA (EPIC Directors and active gardeners in 2005) attempted to investigate the 2004 “Use Agreement” by a “garden steering committee.” They requested documentation from Lynne Mayo who failed to provide any records.
There are no sign-in sheets of meetings, minutes, or financial records of dues/expenses for the garden in 2004. There are no records of any process followed to select a steering committee, sign the “Use Agreement” or designate Lynne Mayo as an official “representative” of the committee.
Irrespective of providing a monthly garden report to EPIC since last September, Lynne Mayo never reported to the garden group or EPIC that she submitted a proposal for the “A Composter in Every Back Yard” program, or that she received a grant from SWMCB. Nor did she report to the garden group or EPIC that the GI agreed to act as fiscal agent for the EPC 17th Ave. Garden Committee.
AD and CA could find no active gardeners (2005) who had been informed of or invited to participate in the “A Composter in Every Back Yard” program prior to public advertisement in June 2005.
The “A Composter in Every Back Yard” program represents a departure from the EPIC policy describing the beneficiaries of the garden, namely the residents of East Phillips neighborhood. The program advertisement is addressed to all Minneapolis students, college students and parents.
EPIC’s has additional concerns about the program including safety and liability issues, community notification, financial oversight and program evaluation.
By providing fiscal agency to this unrecognized garden committee, the GI has endangered the credibility, reputation and financial future of the 17th Avenue Community Garden, EPC 17th Ave. Garden Committee, EPIC and itself.

Motion (LL, AD)
Send the draft letter to committee to be reworked into a shorter version, if possible. Submit the final draft to CA and HL before sending to GI. Motion passed.

Garden Policy: Proposal for Garden Agreement and Proposal for Garden Policies
CA reported that the 2005 garden steering committee is not functional. The current committee has an even number of representatives: three gardeners and one EPIC rep. CA will propose that the next garden group meeting elect a new, expanded steering committee and adopt garden policies. AD has prepared a set of policies governing operation of the garden that will be submitted to the garden committee for adoption at their next meeting (in the garden at 10 AM on Saturday, July 9, 2005.) The proposal was written by several members of the garden group. In addition, AD prepared a Garden Use Agreement that adheres to the requirements of the GI. Both of these documents were designed to clarify the operations of the garden, the steering committee, the relationship to GI and to ensure that EPIC is informed about and participates in the operations and decisions made regarding the garden. These proposals will be presented for adoption by the garden group on Saturday. Anyone with comments or suggestions should submit them to AD before next Saturday.

Garden Policy: “A Composter in Every Back Yard” program
17th Avenue Garden members requested that EPIC respond to the program that Lynne Mayo advertised in the garden. HL asked if we could discuss next steps as they relate to requesting a response from Lynne Mayo and Corrie Zoll. CP recommended that we wait until we find out how those individuals respond to correspondence already sent to them. LL pointed out that EPIC is not responsible for the money that was acquired by Lynne, instead, EPIC can act as a fact-finding committee. The gardeners may choose to remove Lynne Mayo from leadership in the garden group. CP disagreed about EPIC’s liability regarding the grant and program, since it affects the credibility of EPIC and possible liability. CP reported that a letter was sent to SWMCB Waste Management Coordinating Board but no response has been received to date. HL pointed out that CA is the official representative of EPIC to the garden steering committee and recommended that CA be a point person for reporting on the progress of these issues.

Garden Report
A garden report will be placed on the agenda for the July GMM to report on the “A Composter in Every Back Yard” youth composting and waste awareness program and on the results of the July 9th garden meeting including any policies or other business that result from that meeting.

Announcements
The Twin Cities Training Program for Neighborhood Organizers is offering in-depth training for neighborhood volunteers. The training will take place once a week on Wednesdays for two hours for five weeks. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 PM at racket Park, 2728 39th Ave. S. in Minneapolis.

501(c)(3) Application
Everything is completed with the exception of the budget. CP reported that the budget cannot be completed until we review four previous years of financial statements.

Carol, everyone was talking at once here… please add any relevant facts that are missing about the budget. There was something about Charlie Ravine and David Rubidor – couldn’t hear it on the tape.

Filing 2004 990 Annual Return
CP believes that we don’t need to file a 990 for 2004. This appears to be the responsibility of PPNA, as the fiscal agent for EPIC in 2004. EPIC appears as a line item in the PPNA budget.

Treasurer’s Report
The old checking account is closed and a new account has been opened. AE still needs to be added as a signer on the account. The current balance is $2,175.06. Checks have been ordered.

CP asked Bob Cooper about the CDBG funds. Cooper said that we can use the funds once we have confirmed to him that EPIC financial policies are in compliance with NRP financial policies. CP requested a copy of the NRP financial policies from Robert Thompson.

CP will give the insurance refund to CA for deposit.

Motion (MG, LL)
Motion to extend EPIC’s liability insurance using the insurance refund. Motion passed.

Community Survey
The revisions made by the Board at the previous meeting have been incorporated into the survey. The survey committee will continue to work out how to conduct the survey.

Terms of Board Directors
The following terms were assigned to Board Directors by acclamation.
One year terms: AE, AD, CP, HL
Two year terms: CA, MG, RC, LL, ES

Agenda for GMM
Submit agenda items to the chair.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:06 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Mary Gonsior, Secretary
EPIC BOARD MEETING
July 2, 2005 FINAL
2435 Bloomington Ave. S.

EPIC Membership Meeting - January 2005

EPIC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
JANUARY 13, 2005
6:39 PM – 8:52 PM

PRESENT:

The meeting was called to order by Carol Pass, interim president of EPIC. AA challenged whether the meeting could be called to order since six members of the board had resigned. CP stated that a “quorum,” according to the bylaws, is “a majority of the board directors.” Since there are presently three board directors (CP, MK, SM), a quorum would be two. Since MK and CP are present, there is a quorum. AA asked which board directors met on January 8, 2005. CP responded that two of the three existing board members were in attendance. MG stated that the status of the board is a board with vacancies and the bylaws state that vacancies can be filled by appointment or election.

Motion 1(BP, MG)
Approve the agenda with the addition of an announcement by JT. Motion passed.

Motion 2
Approve the minutes. It was determined that the only minutes that can be approved would be the minutes from the October 14, 2004 meeting. Since there are no minutes from that meeting, the motion failed.

Announcement
GS announced that the city’s murder rate is rising and 31% of the murders were gang related. The city is looking at several programs. There will be a community meeting to get input on the problem. (Sorry, the sound was TERRIBLE!)

Introductions were made.

Announcement
RB announced that he has set up two Yahoo groups in an effort to provide a means for residents to improve communications. Everyone is invited to include their e-mail address on the sign-in sheet and RB will send an invitation to join the newsgroups. The Yahoo groups will include discussion, file sharing, and a calendar.

Discussion commenced regarding the minutes from the board meeting on 1/8/2005. LM asked to table the discussion and resume our agenda.

Announcement
IM told the community about the difficult housing situation facing her father, YH. The family asked for support from the community in staying in their present housing, or seeking new housing. CP proposed that neighbors meet the following day to figure out who to contact at the city to try to reverse the eviction.

Announcement
JT reported that the Greenway is planning a meeting on 1/24/05 7 pm at the Green Institute to review plans for Arbor Day and plantings at 18th Avenue. There is a job opening (flyer distributed.) She announced that she is looking for someone to take her place on the Greenway committee. Responsibilities include attending Greenway board meetings, and reporting back to EPIC.

Treasurer’s Report
MK reported that PPNA is no longer acting as fiscal agent for EPIC. All the rent and other bills will be paid and a report will be received from PPNA in early Feb. We have a lot of NRP money, but we can’t access it without a fiscal agent. If the 501(c)(3) comes through then we won’t need a fiscal agent. MK was asked for a past report and stated that there was a question of paying final bills and the amount of non-NRP funds wasn’t known yet. CP asked if there would be funds to pay for mailings for the annual meeting. CP also noted that LM was to be reimbursed for garden expenses. The funds were set aside for this. MK asked whether the bill was sent to Rebecca. LM responded that she had no contact with Rebecca after the October GMM. MG asked if PPNA provided a written notice of their reason for declining the job of fiscal agent.

Motion 3 (LM, MG)
Obtain a letter from PPNA explaining the reason that PPNA declined to be EPIC’s fiscal agent. Motion passed. MK will bring the motion to PPNA for her Feb. meeting with Elena.

Discussion commenced about EPIC’s mail. Where is the mail going? Who is receiving the mail? MK reported that she purchased a PO Box for EPIC in early December and told Rebecca and David to inform EPIC’s correspondents. The key was given to David. This was before the six directors resigned. MK has tried to get a second key, and the PO keeps delaying this. MK asked David for the key and hasn’t received it. MK notified the PO to forward mail from the Green Institute to the PO Box 7539, 55407 last week. CP asked MK to obtain the key asap and pick up the mail. CP will pick up any mail at the Green Institute.

Motions from the Jan. 8 Board Meeting
SM and CP followed the bylaws and consulted NRP, the MN Attorney General and called a meeting of the board on Jan. 8, 2005. CP and SM installed themselves as President and Vice President in order to keep the neighborhood organization going, and move forward in the process for establishing 501(c)(3) status for EPIC. The motions passed at the board meeting were presented to the GMM.

Motion 4 (LL, MG)
Motion to entrust RB with the administration of the Yahoo discussion and news groups, to establish rules for participation and to monitor the groups. RB will have the authority to remove subscribers who violate those rules. (Motion passed.)

Motion 5 (BP, JT)
Motion to establish a Directors Nominating Committee. The committee will present to the community at the January GMM. Motion was amended (MK) to strike “Directors Nominating Committee” and add “establish a paperwork committee to be commissioned to do these things.” (Motion passed, LM abstained.)

RB will chair the committee. Tasks include:
Job description for board directors.
Board director qualifications.
Board director nomination forms.
Board director agreement.
New board director information packet (to include EPIC’s mission statement and a copy of EPIC’s bylaws.)

Motion 6 (BP, LL)
Motion to write to Robert Thompson requesting information regarding EPIC’s equipment and files, arrange for transport to RB’s home; and instruct NRP to recognize new officers and change of address; write to PPNA requesting financial records. (Motion passed.)

Motion 7 (LL, SM)
Motion to count votes, henceforth. (Motion passed 9/0.)

Old Business
CP presented Motion 8 from the Jan. 8 board meeting, as follows:
Motion to place items 1-8 on Thursday’s GMM agenda. (Passed unanimously.)

10/9/03, Motion to submit the 501(c)3 application in a timely way.
10/9/03, Motion to set up an ethics and conduct committee.
11/2003, Motion to set up professional board training.
2/2004, Motion to set up a program committee to work on the needs of youth.
8/2003, and 3/2004, Motion to implement a mediation process.
5/2004, Motion to set up the Strategic Planning committee to create a budget.
8/2003, Motion to tape EPIC board and general membership meetings.
7/2004, Motion to implement the resolution of the grievances filed at the beginning of the summer.

Pending Grievances
Item 8 above: EPIC agreed to create policies that give the community assurance that motions passed by EPIC will be carried forward by the board. This item will be included in the agenda for Thursday’s GMM and community will be invited to participate in forming policies and procedures.

Motion 8 (RB, LL)
The paperwork committee take on responsibility for all issues representing neighborhood motions. (Motion passed, 8/0.)

Brochure to welcome new townhome residents.
(Motion tabled.)

Planning for the March Annual Meeting
We must have a plan by the February Meeting because we have to provide notification. We have to mail every address in the neighborhood.

Motion 9 to Adjourn (LL, BP)
(Motion passed, 8/0.)