To: MHNA Board and General Membership
From: Arvonne Fraser, President
Re: March 16, 2010 Meetings
Board at 6 pm, General Membership at 7:30
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Lower Level

Board Agenda 6 pm
1. Call to order, approve agenda
2. Secretary’s Report- approve Feb. minutes
3. Treasurer’s Report & Fund Raising for 2010 !!! 6:10
4. Doron Clark, NCEC update and planning for 2011 6:20
5. Tabled items: CEE Loan Language Changes and Other neighborhoods’ policies 6:35
6. Audit Committee report 6:50
7. Executive Committee report 6:55
8. Safety & Livability committee on hiatus/ how to proceed 7:00
9. Nominating committee 7:10
10. Land Use Committee report 7:15

General Membership Agenda 7:30 pm
1. Welcome, call to order, approve agenda
2. Approve Jan 2010 General Membership minutes
3. Board actions from earlier this evening 7:40
4. A few words from CM Diane Hofstede 7:45
5. “Beyond Coal”, Sierra Club student volunteers presenting 8:00
6. Upcoming events/ volunteers needed 8:15
• River Clean Up April 17
• Garden Meeting and events
• CEE Clean Energy Cities application
• Hennepin County Hazardous Waste Collection Event
• Marcy Arts Gala (April 17) and Plant Sale (flyers ready by March 26)

7. University Alliance update and Good Neighbor Fund proposals submitted 8:25
8. Any other business, misc 8:30

We have copies of Hiding in Plain Sight, by Penny Petersen, for sale.

The 132-page book, full of photos, tells the history of our neighborhood.

$15 a copy

Do you have a new neighbor who would be interested in joining the MHNA?

Membership registration cards are available at our office or at meetings. We would be happy to mail you one. Call 623-7633.

The University District Alliance’s website livenearyourwork.net is gaining in popularity! We’ve had over 1900 hits in the last month!

The site showcases the district neighborhoods and offers listings of homes for sale along with well maintained rental properties appropriate for graduate students, U faculty and staff and downtown workers. It’s easy to list a property and to search for one -– check it out soon.

Freedom by Design™, the AIAS community service program, utilizes the talents of architecture students to radically impact the lives of people in their community through modest design and construction solutions.

Vital modifications are made to enhance the homes of low-income and disabled individuals by addressing their struggles with everyday tasks such as bathing, ascending stairs and opening doors. Our priority is improving the safety, comfort and dignity of the home’s occupants.

Seeking small design and build projects in Minneapolis area. Please contact Andrew at freedom@umn.edu with inquiries!

aias.org/freedomwww.tc.umn.edu/~aias/freedom

U of MN Student Liaisons are sponsoring a Bike Workshop!

Saturday, March 27, 2010
At University Lutheran Church 1101 University Ave.
from 11am-2pm.

Simple do-it yourself bike maintenance, safety workshops and more!

Refreshments provided.

Anyone is welcome, bring your bike and help get it ready for the Spring. There will be gear and supplies to provide basic maintenance to your bike, along with bike experts to provide you with advice to fix up your bike.

Free classes at Southeast Seniors: A Living at Home/Block Nurse Program:

Consumer Scams: Wednesday, April 7, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Become informed about the more common scams including credit cards, identity theft and related topics.

Making Changes to Stay at Home – Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Events held at Pratt Community Education
66 Malcolm Avenue SE Minneapolis.

612-331-2302
seseniorsmpls.org

Caring for seniors in our community since 1988.

On Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:15 p.m., to mark the beginning of Open Dreams that Live in Space, the current art exhibit by M-H neighborhood resident Candy Kuehn at Southeast Library, 1222 4th St SE, Librarian Eric Heideman will lead a panel discussion with neighborhood artists Scott Bean, Sandra Brick and Candy Kuehn.

They will discuss their artwork, both the philosophy and the ‘nuts and bolts of how they do it and they will also talk about how the creating and displaying of work by local artists can help develop and arts community in the Southeast neighborhood.

The following is a statement from University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks regarding the proposed Central Corridor light rail line. March 1 was the deadline for certain federal claims related to the Central Corridor light rail project.

“Although we continue to have deep and fundamental concerns about the impact that light rail will have on our campus — particularly on the critical research projects conducted along the length of Washington Avenue — the University’s Board of Regents chose not to file suit in federal court.

“Done well, the Central Corridor project is good for the University, for our neighbors and for the community. We have devoted literally thousands of hours to working with our Met Council counterparts to find a way for light rail and the University’s education and research mission to coexist successfully. We have tentative agreements in place for how light rail can be built and operated safely across our campus while minimizing adverse impacts on our daily work. We are meeting almost daily to reach agreement on how to measure and fix any problems that may occur in the future. Given the distance we’ve come, these last steps seem within our powers.

“We believe we can resolve our differences without federal litigation. The resources and attention of both parties will be better spent finding shared solutions for the remaining issues we face, and I sincerely hope we can work together to move this project forward.”

Be Counted Census Day of Action
March 28, 2010 @ noon

Join others in your community to raise awareness about the census. On Sunday March 28th at noon, meet us at the 312 Central Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Help us make sure that everyone is counted in your community. The Census Bureau estimates that for every person not counted, your community would lose $10,000 in federal funding. That’s funding for schools, roads, public safety and medical care.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will explain why the census is important before we go out into the community to engage your neighbors. Contact matt@votingrightsmn.org

Age: Wide Angle A View from the Loft: The Influence of Life Experience on the Literary Perspective

Tuesday, March 16, 2010
doors open at 6:15
program starts at 7 pm
Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall, Pohlad Hall

Mill City Commons and the Library Foundation of Hennepin County are pleased to present the Age: Wide Angle lecture series.

Held every Tuesday evening in February and March, the Age: Wide Angle lecture series offers a fresh perspective on the topic of age and aging by prominent arts leaders who will explore the role age plays in their field of expertise or their own artistic lives. From a writer’s perspective, more years give you more material and deeper insights. This program, moderated by the Loft Literary Center’s Executive Director Jocelyn Hale, will include short readings, musings and lively conversation about the role of age and long-term perspective in literary work. Acclaimed panelists will include Loft Mentor Series winner and Marcy-Holmes resident , Fred Amram, poet Philip S. Bryant, poet Phebe Hanson and novelist Faith Sullivan.

The program is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.

For more information: supporthclib.org

MHNA’s annual Earth Day River Clean Up is set for Saturday April 17, 2010.

Our site is East Bank of the Mississippi River from 35W to Nicollet Island.

Event starts at 9:30 am, meet at the corner for 6th Ave SE & Main Street — look for the Marcy-Holmes banner.

Coffee, bagels, bags & gloves provided.

This years’ site coordinators are U of MN students Alicai Uzarek and Kelly Muellman. Thank you!

MHNA’s Safety & Livability Committee is currently on hiatus due to schedule conflicts.

If you would like to be added to the committee’s mailing list, contact the MHNA office at:office@marcy-holmes.org. We will send an email when regular committee meetings resume.

Mini Grants Available For Water Quality Projects — Pass It On!

Water pollution comes from many different sources, including our everyday activities. How we care for our yards and grounds, wash and maintain our cars, and even dispose of pet waste can contribute to water pollution in the Mississippi River. The hard surfaces of our driveways, sidewalks, and pathways increase the amount of stormwater entering the stormdrains. There are many choices we can make to reduce these harmful impacts on water quality.

Become a partner organization with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) by applying for a Stewardship Fund Mini Grant to work together to improve water quality in the MWMO. The MWMO includes parts of Minneapolis, Saint Paul, the City of Saint Anthony Village, and Lauderdale. The MWMO is now accepting applications for Stewardship Fund Mini Grants up to $2,000 each.

$20,000 is available in the Spring 2010 cycle to fund projects that address the following goals:

1) Improve water quality or improve water and natural resource management
2) Build community understanding, knowledge, and initiative related to water and natural resource issues and solutions

Nonprofit organizations, officially recognized neighborhood groups, schools, local units of government, and business and professional associations are eligible to apply. Individuals, home owners associations and condominium associations, and private businesses may partner with eligible applicants in order to apply.

Letters of Interest due Monday, March 22, 2010, by 3:00 pm

For information about the application process, visit
mwmo.org/stewardshipfund.html

From the Second Precinct:

Block Club Training on March 22, 2010
6:00 p.m.
at the 2nd Precinct
1911 Central Avenue NE.

This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the resources available for block clubs and why block clubs are important in building strong and safe neighborhoods.

The City of Minneapolis has a new, streamlined process for selecting individuals to serve on volunteer boards and commissions. Appointments to City boards and commissions will now be made two times per year through formal City Council and Mayoral processes. Previously, appointments were made on an as-needed basis and are now targeted to happen in May and November.

Applications are now being accepted for a number of open positions that the City Council and Mayor will appoint in May. The application deadline is April 2, 2010.

Interested applicants should visit:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/boards-and-commissions/open/index.asp

for a full list of openings, descriptions and the opportunity to sign up to receive emails from the City to stay up to date on all boards and commissions openings.

In August, the City will begin accepting applications for November appointments.

The 6th Annual Community Garden Resource Fair will take place:

Saturday March 27th, 2010
9 am – 4 pm

at Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th St, Minneapolis

Free parking, $5 entry suggested at the door.

There will be a series of workshops (food growing in urban settings, working with new Americans, sustainable landscaping).

See gardeningmatters.org for the full schedule.

Council Member Cam Gordon has introduced subject matter of an ordinance that will strengthen an existing law requiring that apartment buildings provide recycling service to their tenants.

City staff has found the current law difficult to enforce, and that this significantly reduces compliance. Staff is recommending that we clarify the fines for violations, remove the underused and unnecessary system for building owners to request waivers from the ordinance, and make compliance with the ordinance a licensing standard for rental licenses.

This matter is scheduled to come before the Regulatory Energy and Environment committee for a public hearing on March 22, 2010, at 1:30pm in Council Chambers.

We are invited to attend the our FREE Fifth Annual Neighborhood Sustainability Conference:

Saturday March 13, 2010
8:30 to 4:30pm

Central Lutheran Church (next to the Minneapolis Convention Center)

The Annual Neighborhood Sustainability Conference is a once a year opportunity to find out about new project funding sources, network with other neighborhoods and connect with resource groups.

Please pre-register with the Alliance for Sustainability at 612-331-1099 (Optional lunch for $5, parking $5 or carpool or take the bus) Please pre-register at www.afors.org

Hennepin County’s Hazardous Waste Collection day on the U campus, for residential households in the University District.

Bring your hazardous waste to the collection site on campus.

Date, site to be announced – stay tuned.