June 19, 2001 Agenda
1. Call to order, welcome new members
2. ANNUAL ELECTIONS - Most of our officers are stepping down. (Bylaws permit only 3 consecutive years in the same position ). There are also director positions to fill. We will be electing a total of 4 officers and 6 directors. Officers must come from the current board.
Board members who are continuing in the second year of their term are:
Tod Elkins*
Tish Murphy*
Kelly Carver*
Stanley Masoner*
Vic Thorstenson*
Candidates for election are:
Ken Backhus
Bob Distad
Gordon Kepner
Barry Schlottman
Joe Stokes
David Hoban*
Dave Polaschek*
Ardes Johnson*
Steve Swanson*
Chris Wilson*
Tom Lincoln*
Names with * are eligible to become the four officers (1 yr term). The six directors will be elected to two-year terms. An officer’s slate has not been decided yet. Nominations for directors are also welcome from the floor at the meeting.
Many thanks to those retiring: Ted, Jan Morse, Jerry Zelesnikar, Paul Chrenka!
3. Future Neighborhood Planning- Ted Ôs last official act will be to lead a discussion on future planning for the neighborhood. We are often asked to make recommendations on development proposals on a case-by-case basis, when what we really need is a comprehensive plan to guide us in our decisions. We may use NRP Phase II funds to do a Master Plan. Meanwhile, we will summarize our past motions on Dinkytown, the East Hennepin wedge, 9th St Industrial Corridor, and the Riverfront. Tonight we will concentrate on the Riverfront’s future, as a development proposal that requires a change in zoning is being proposed. (See Board News).
4. Social Time - Refreshments will be served at this Annual Meeting. Please try to make it! We will also have many guests from City Hall, U of MN, other neighborhoods, river front collaborators and past MHNA presidents and board members.
5. Enclosed please find all the updates and announcements, committee reports that we may not have time for at this meeting. Also please note - the JULY 17 meeting will be a combined Board/ General Membership, starting at 6:30 PH, Hope Church. We may have more joint meetings this summer.
Welcome new members:
E Paquette
A Fuller
K Seager
S Schultz
E Hart
Items of Interest We Probably Won’t Have Time to Discuss at the Meeting:
1. River Clean-Up, May 19. We picked up a lot of trash in a short time, including a muffler, tailpipe, 2- 55 gallon drums, an 8′ auger, a leather jacket, a couch, chair, plastic hand grenade, toothbrush in a package and a traffic sign. Thanks to Gene Buell & family for lending their flatbed truck and all their help and to Ardes Johnson for getting the food and staying with the registration table. We also had some great helpers from Portland House and The Chateau. There were about 35 people who cleaned that day, but curiously, only about 7 were Marcy-Holmes members. It may be time to re-evaluate. Do we want to continue to do this annually? It costs a lot to publicize to our membership, to buy refreshments, gloves, bags. It takes a lot of staff time to plan. Your feedback would be appreciated.
2. Be sure to check our website www.marcy-holmes.org. Webmaster Dave Polaschek has added new features, like the ability to search by keyword. And if you have friends coming in from out of town, he has compiled a list of places to stay. Thanks, Dave.
3. Blooming Boulevards nominations are due July 16. Last year our neighborhood got 26 awards. There are so many beautiful gardens in the neighborhood now that should be nominated. We need help photographing them (we have disposable cameras) and writing up the nomination forms. Forms are at the office. If you can help, call the office 379-3814.
4. Since we met last month about Holmes Park, missing swings have been replaced or are on order . We talked with maintenance staff about new plantings and vines on the gazebo. The tennis net has been replaced. The Park Dept is looking for help weeding in the park - they have an Adopt a Park program if any group wants to officially assist.
5. We contacted Susan Young at Solid Waste about the frequently left out on curb garbage carts and recycling bins. She has asked crews to keep an eye out, and offered to send us more yellow stickers with the cart rules. If you are aware of a problem, call the office. It looks so much neater when carts are removed after pick up, and it’s the law.
6. We contacted First Congregational Church about some noise complaints - the bells are quite loud to the nearest neighbors. Staff there agreed to lower the volume in the warm months when people are outside. The patriotic tunes on Memorial Day were very much appreciated, according to the comments we have heard at office.
7. National Night Out is Tuesday August 7. Why not plan a block party with your neighbors? If you want to block off the street to traffic, you can get a free permit - but you have to do it soon. After July 10 it costs $15 and no permits will be issued after July 24. Need help planning your event? We have info on planning, photo contest, promotional products. Call the office.
8. July 4th Parade is coming up. Decorate your bike, stroller or do a family float! Big cash prizes, and the chance to win the coveted Best Neighborhood Participation cup back from St Anthony West. This year all NE & SE Neighborhoods are eligible. At least one group entry is being planned by Tish Murphy, Michelle Zwicky, Tana Yarano, Victoria Johnson - others invited to join or do your own thing. Meet at West Side of Stone Arch Bridge at 1:30 PM on July 4th. We will line up by neighborhoods. Musicians are needed- anyone have a marching band? If nothing else, bring your kazoo. Free hot dogs and root beer for paraders from Surdyk’s and Kramarczuk’s. Call the office for more info.
9. Hey Gardeners - If you missed the Plant Swap/potluck at Frasers’ Monday night, did you miss a great time and some great food. Especially noteworthy Millie Holmgren’s rhubarb cake, MaryKay O’hearn’s sauerkrautr salad, Audrey Gulachek’s broccoli salad with raisins and bacon, and Bill Biermaier’s marinated asparagus. And there were tons of plants being exchanged, many left over. If we do it again, don’t feel obligated to bring plants, just take what is offered. We have a gardeners’ mailing list at the office - call to be added to the list if you aren’t already. We are thinking of doing a garden tour in early August - call the office if you would like to help plan, attend or be on the tour.
10. More Garden news - We planted annuals at the 8th St Garden this week, but there is still more work to do. We have more landscape edging to install, weeds to pull, woodchip mulch to put down and then there is mowing of those pesky weeds. If you can take on watering the garden for a week, we have a sign up sheet going. Hose is at the blue house next door - landlord kindly gave us permission to use his water. Hose is ours. Or if you are passing by, do a little deadheading or trash collecting. We adopted the lot from the city. There are other lots in the neighborhood that are adoptable - we just can’t take more on with out more volunteers.
NEXT GARDEN WORK DATE: Wed June 20, 6:30 PM Bring your own tools.
11. Stone Arch Festival of the Arts June 16 & 17. Solstice River Dance June 21 at 8:30 PM, on the Stone Arch Bridge. Free admission.
12. Did you know first time home buyers with annual incomes of $74,700 or less may purchase a home with sales price of $175,591 with a 30 yr mortgage below market interest rate through MCDA’s CityLiving program? For program guidelines call MCDA 673-5288.
13. Don’t forget - July meeting will be a combined board & general, starting at 6:30 on Tuesday July 17. Look for new MHNA membership registration cards in the July mailing. Membership must be renewed annually.
Marcy-Holmes NRP Update June 2001
Housing: Housing Rehab. Prog. - Nothing new to report.
Rental Rehab Prog. - Applications available from MHNRP office.
Lead Safe Housing - Program closed to new applications.
Crime & Safety: Cops on Bikes - Patrols have resumed .
Safety Lights - Program applications available at MHNRP office.
Tree Trimming - Program applications available at MHNRP office.
Environment: Environmental Profile - Copies of report available at MHNRP office.
Sixth Avenue Gateway - Final design process underway.
Gateway Public Art - Artist Also Moroni working with Sixth Avenue
Committee.
Community Garden - Look for new boulevard gardens around neighborhood.
Transportation - Nothing new to report.
Economic Development: Dinkytown - Nothing new to report
SEED - Nothing new to report.
Strategic Planning
The MHNRP Implementation Committee and MHNA Board of Directors have discussed undertaking a master planning process. The master plan will be used to help the neighborhood prepare for NRP Phase II. We will discuss master planning at the General Membership
