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MINUTES of the FEB 19, 2002 MHNA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOPE, 601 13TH AVE SE, Mpls, MN

1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM by President Chris Wilson. The agenda was approved.

2. New Fifth Ward Council Member Natalie Johnson Lee was introduced. She spoke about the city budget that was just approved. She said her office was empty when she moved in; all the files were gone. She is trying to re-gather missing information. She serves on the same committees as Paul Zerby. A question was asked about the future of the truth in housing ordinance. Council Member Johnson Lee replied that they are looking at ways to make it more effective, but that it will be preserved in some fashion. The closing of the Office of Cultural Affairs was discussed. The art projects that were already approved (like our 6th Ave. Aldo Moroni project) will continue, possibly under the Planning Dept. Arvonne Fraser asked about abolishing the Police Review Board. It will not be abolished, but the funding was reduced. They are working on ways to improve it. The McKinsey Group that is looking into the possible merge of Planning & NRP, has contacted about 100 residents to consider options. There is now a website survey people can take – go to the city website. Their findings should be ready sometime in March. Redistricting was discussed. New boundaries could force multiple elections in the next four years. Tom Lincoln told Ms Johnson Lee about our Neighborhood Master Plan and she said her office would participate in the process.

3. Second Ward Council Member Paul Zerby spoke to the group. He elaborated a bit on the Truth in Housing discussion – many realtors are weighing in against it and he has heard of some bad experiences. He is considering some kind of escrow account at the point of sale as an alternative. He also informed us that Second Precinct Lt. Chris Hildreth will be on leave until May and sadly that SE resident Richard Rose died today. Jan Morlock answered a question about the proposed Vikings/Gopher stadium. Although it was rejected at one point in committee, it is back in another form, so the concept is alive. People should contact their elected representatives now.

4. Shanna Hendrickson, of the Mpls Park Dept, spoke to us about the scourge of buckthorn, an invasive plant first planted as a hedge in our area at the beginning of the century. The problem is it takes over and prevents a diversity of plant life that should thrive here. It is spread by birds that eat the seeds. The Park Board is encouraging individuals to remove buckthorn from private property. It grows as a bush or a tree. It has a spikey bark and dark blue berries. It is often the last tree to stay green in the fall.

Last fall four Minneapolis neighborhoods had buckthorn removal events – where property owners cut and stacked the wood and a hauling service was hired to pick it up from the curb. Volunteers worked with Master Gardeners to identify the plants in yards and volunteers also helped load the trucks and sweep away berries form pick-up site. Fees were collected to help pay for the tree service. Costs to the neighborhoods ranged from $1500(Prospect Park /28 properties) to $3500 (Linden Hills /168 properties). $1000 of funding is available to us if we decide to join this year’s effort. There is another facet to the eradication of buckthorn: removal from public property. The Park Board is writing for a grant to assist neighborhoods and the Park Dept in removal from the riverbanks of the Mississippi River Gorge. This would include our stretch of the river. We would be asked to provide volunteers (at least 12 strong) on a Saturday to pull logs and branches out of the woods for pick-up. It will take many years to completely rid our area of buckthorn.

Ms. Hendrickson was thanked for her presentation. A straw poll was taken to determine the interest in this project, and there was none.

5. Reverend Janet Whelock, of University Episcopal Center, 317 University Ave, returned with a revised concept for a mixed-use student housing and worship facility on the current site. Her organization has purchased the Presbyterian Church adjacent in order to get a larger lot. They plan five stories of housing at one end and a tower at the sanctuary end. Rev. Wheelock and project planner Noah Bly attended our January meeting with their preliminary plans. We wrote them a letter asking for a greater separation of the uses, additional parking and a more obvious sanctuary design.

In answer to our letter, they have made some changes. Visitors to the church will have ten parking stalls on site. The Sunday worshippers can park free at the U ramp on 4th St. There are 48 spaces for the residents. They feel most residents will be walking or biking. They plan to have 170 spots for bikes. There will be 164 bedrooms at the apartment end and 12 on the first floor near the church end for those studying religion. There will be state of the art construction with much attention paid to the acoustics. They need some setback variances (back form 13’ to 6’; side from 15’ to 12’; front from 15’ to 0’ other side (17th ) from 15’ to 0.) The building is pushed out to the sidewalk. The zoning and height are permitted. It will be about one story higher than the nearby fraternities. It will have a finish of cast stone, brick and siding. There is handicap parking in the basement lot.

There were many questions from the audience. Some felt they were asking too much of this site. It was noted that there is no green space on the plans, and to some that would epitomize the concept of a place of contemplation. Some felt the design was not unique enough – it resembles other student housing going into the area. Some questioned the parking ratio – it still does not meet the city requirement of .5 per bed. By our calculations they need 88 spaces. There is no on- street parking in the area. A student in the audience felt it was a good concept and fills a need due to a shortage of housing near the campus. A motion was passed (J Stokes) to pass along our latest feedback, without affirmation, via letter.

6. Joe Fusco, NRP, reported on the Implementation Committee’s work. A contractor has been hired for the Neighborhood Master Plan, Dahlgren, Shardlow, & Uban. Their goal is to start in mid-April and there will be lots of community input needed. Tomorrow at 6 pm, a class of Marcy School students will be presenting their park plans for the neighborhood. All are invited. Other upcoming meetings were announced. Joe talked about re-distributing Cops on Bikes funding to do a party patrol program, similar to SE Como’s. Rod Ecklund said the Livability Committee has noticed problems with police calls on parties – missing paperwork and lack of follow-up. Perhaps some of the funding could address this.

7. MHNA member Fred Amram, who is now our rep at the North Star Rail Line Task Force, spoke about his experiences with this proposed commuter rail line in his first month “on the job”. In January he attended a meeting about parking around rail stations. A concept known as “hide & ride” was a problem with surrounding neighborhoods in some areas where people park nearby and walk to the station. This can be alleviated by resident permit parking, although some argue that the streets are public property and belong to all. Some have suggested gates so non-residents could not enter residential areas. When the group broke into smaller groups, Mr. Amram noticed that all of SE was omitted from the maps of “circle of concern”. When questioned, a rep from MN DOT agreed to look into it. Mr. Amram rode the train on a test ride to St Cloud that included all the station stops. All the station locations were in open areas with lots of parking – except the 7th St NE proposed station. On Feb. 2 Senator Pogemiller spoke with residents about this rail station and other train issues. At this time, he does not support the station location on Central & 7th. He feels that this location was primarily chosen because it will eventually link up with the Red Rock Line (going to southern MN) but any funding for that is years off. He would prefer another location in NE. He also does not like the station design. First Ward Council Member Paul Ostrow is a big booster of this location, but it will not happen if Senator Pogemiller does not support it. The board of St Anthony East has opposed the station. MHNA’s board position has been general support for the location, as it would be convenient to our neighborhood, but with a caveat that we wanted nearby residents’ concerns to be satisfactorily addressed. Last August a rep from MN DOT attended a MHNA meeting to discuss the line and station. No motions were made at that meeting. At this time the governor seems to be the biggest fan of the North Star Line, and there is some question of its future due to funding. Mr. Amram will report back at another meeting.

8. Chris announced that there are still two seats open on our Board due to recent vacancies. Both terms end in June, so it could be an opportunity for a test run. Call the office to volunteer.

Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM Melissa Bean, MHNA

Unable to make all announcements due to time, but those with internet can always check the MHNA website for all the latest news: www.marcy-holmes.org

News of the Feb. 2002 MHNA Board

1. Brain Biele was introduced. He stepped forward to join the board. He has lived in the neighborhood for most of the past 8 years. He is a political consultant amd union lobbyist, also does staff work for the OSAA. A motion to approve his joining the board (D Polaschek) was unanimously passed. He will take over the rest of Tish’s term, which expires June 2002. There are two other openings on the board.

2. Event dates were discussed. We have to get our application for Neighborhood Clean Sweeps in before the March meeting. We have held these every other year, in the fall. They require a lot of volunteers and organizing. Organizers must be identified on the application. It was decided we should request either Sat Sept 14 or 21. Joe Stokes & Tom Lincoln will co-chair.

River Clean-Up date is set at Sat. June 1. Last year we did not have a great turn-out. It was decided we would do it again and Stanley Masoner will be chair.

3. Representatives of Popular Front Interactive Communications, 625 Central Ave, made a presentation of their plans to add housing to the top of their current building. They are looking at four rental loft-apartments. There is no parking on site, but the business currently rents space at the Alco lot on First Ave NE. They could get additional spaces there. The only variance they are seeking is related to parking. They would like to get their building added to the Pedestrian Overly District Zoning that surrounding buildings have now so they could offer off-site parking. A motion was passed (D Polaschek) to approve the concept and of the request for inclusion in the POD subject to approval from the OSAA and residents’ organization. (It is just outside our official boundaries.)

Melissa Bean, MHNA Staff