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Tuesday Nov. 19, 2002 University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE

1. Meeting called to order at 7:55 PM by Chris Wilson. Agenda was approved.
2. The minutes of the October meeting (Dave Polaschek) were approved.
3. A vote was taken on a motion (Brian Biele)to change the bylaws so that our official fiscal year would run from June 1 to May 31st. Motion passed unanimously.
4. Earlier in the evening, the MHNA board voted on a stadium resolution which was then relayed to the general membership. The board voted to send a letter to the regents opposing the on –campus location of a joint Vikings/Gophers stadium due to the negative impacts it would have on the neighborhood. The opposition was based on five issues:
   1. The linkages to transportation and activity centers is marginal
   2. There would be detrimental effects on the neighborhood in terms of traffic, parking, litter, noise and crowd control
   3. A stadium does not represent the highest and best use of the land – something academic is preferred
   4. The stadium is not in compliance with the recommendations of the SEED/SEMI Master Plan
   5. The current stadium’s downtown location has the necessary infrastructure and proximity to restaurants, entertainment, parking, etc.

   A motion (Walt Liebenow) was unanimously passed to support the board’s position.

5. Paul Domholt, Parks Forestry, and Rebecca Van Wieren of the Tree Trust, presented information about the Tree Keepers grant we received to replace boulevard trees in the neighborhood. The Tree Keepers program was designed to make citizens more informed about urban trees. Our grant will pay for 80 trees. MHNA members surveyed the neighborhood for spots that could use trees. Trees were needed to replace those that were damaged by vandals or lost from disease. The forestry dept then checked our list and the final tally sheet was passed out tonight. The trees will be about 1 3/4” diameter, bare root. The Park Board will plant, mulch and water twice in the first summer. It is imperative for the trees’ survival that property owners monitor and water the boulevard trees as needed in the first two years. To ensure success, we are asking property owners to sign an agreement to water and maintain or, if unable to, we will find a nearby neighbor to do so. We should know the final locations of all the trees by the first of the year and will solicit members to “adopt” any trees at that time. There will be more volunteer opportunities with this program in the spring. In some of the toughest locations, we will be building wooden supports for the young trees. An Eagle Scout has also contacted us about helping.
6. Lisa Cerney, Public Works, talked about the road renovation project coming this summer. The east side of the neighborhood will be done in ’03 and the west side in ’04. Curbs and gutters will be replaced and new bituminous road surfaces will go in. The only streets/avenues NOT in the project this summer are: University, 10th, and 15th Ave SE; 8th St. and 4th St SE. (15th will be done in 2004) When these renovations are done in a neighborhood, there is funding available for traffic calming. We have $13,200 for each side of the neighborhood. Lisa would like to convene a small committee to discuss the possibilities and come back to the January meeting with their proposal for approval. Some questions were posed – Is the city taking into account the possible new stadium? Yes, she has been in contact with the U and DBA. Will property owners be assessed for this roadwork? Yes, at the uniform assessment rate. What are the options? Traffic diverters are very expensive; speed bumps may not be that effective as people tend to speed up after they encounter them; Bump outs at corners are about $5,000 each. The group will look at bike lanes and add striping where needed. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday Nov. 25, 7 PM at Van Cleve Park. People from both sides of the neighborhood are needed.
7. Jan Morlock, U of MN, passed around information on their upcoming (funded) capital projects. Highlighting the East Bank campus, she showed renovation and restoration projects for the next six years: renovation of Jones Hall, Northrup Auditorium; Mineral Research Resource Building to become part of College of Education; a Frank Gehry addition to the Weisman; The Bell Museum moving to St Paul, but the building will be reused. For the Bierman Field area, a “precinct plan” has been designed that has a park from 5th Street to 8th Street and Oak to 15th . The U does not yet own all of the land needed. When the new Granary Park roadway is built, this area will be divided into two distinct areas. The park-like setting will be open to the public. It will contain University facilities: tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, outdoor basketball courts, football fields, baseball stadium, an All Weather Outdoor Practice Area (dome). There will also be a skateboard park, jogging/skating paths and picnic areas open to the public.
   It is hoped this expansion will provide more on campus activities for students. It will be completed in phases as funding is available.
8. Council Member Zerby said a few words to the group. He was at an environmental meeting earlier in the evening, regarding the Xcel Riverside Plant in NE Minneapolis. An ordinance was recently passed to require filling stations to capture escaping vapors at the gas pump. He answered a few questions about the Stone Arch Apartments’ progress – negotiations are ongoing between Metalmatic and the city about assurances in leases for new residents so they are informed about nearby industrial activity; density will not change due to some new provisions in the ILOD. A question was asked about the TIF financing status but Mr. Zerby did not know the answer. Budget talks at city council have been taking place. There is some concern that the funding for social services that use CDBG (federal) dollars would go into housing, but now that is not the case. There is some disagreement whether or not the city should provide direct social services.
9. NRP – There are still two Master Planning meetings scheduled – Dec. 3 and 5.
10. Kelly Carver reported that SE Way To Grow has lost their funding and will be folding into Northeast Way to Grow. This opens a nice spot in the First Congregational Church of anyone knows of a group needing space.
11. Reminder – No General Meeting in December. Please renew your membership.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm Melissa Bean, Staff

New businesses in Dinkytown:

• Burrito Loco, in Dinkydale
• Charactergrams in the Dinkydale – having a Lunch with Santa Dec. 8
• Kitty Cat Club, downstairs from Annie’s

MCDA has recently funded improvements at The Steak Knife Restaurant in Dinkytown and Santana Foods new store at 8th Ave SE and 4th Street SE.

Duffy’s Dinkytown Pizza will be opening soon across from U-Tec center on 5th St SE. No alcohol will be served there, so no public input was needed. Members of our Zoning & Planning committee did meet with the new owner to discuss plans to improve the property. Both Burrito Loco and Duffy’s Dinkytown Pizza are applying to be open extended hours, until 2 am.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTIONS in DECEMBER

1. A resolution concerning Alcohol Sales Compliance Checks was considered by the city council on Dec 18. The resolution called for:
   • Random Checks All Licensees will be randomly shopped at least once, but not more than twice, in a two-year period
   • Complaint Checks Complaints of sales to minors received by he City will be investigated by the police department and may result in a compliance check of the licensee.
   • Re-Checks If a licensee fails a random check, complaint check or re-check, they will be shopped again within six months of the violation.

   We were asked to send support for this resolution. By majority vote (3/4) the MHNA Executive Committee supported the resolution.
   (FYI – it did not survive committee. Instead Council Member Colvin Roy substituted a motion to give it another six months of discussion and form a liquor advisory group. Council Member Zerby vigorously supported the original resolution, according to our sources on the scene)

2. The new Pizza Hut going in between Subway and Hollywood Video in Dinkytown is up for site plan review on January 13, 4:30 PM in room 317 City Hall. Property owner Irv Hershkovitz called us for our input. It was impossible to assemble our Zoning & Planning group on such short notice before the holidays, so Kelly Carver spoke at length over the phone with him. From that conversation, we learned:
   • The new building will be much like the Hollywood one, but the brick will continue above the windows to the top of the building.
   • There will be designated parking in a row alongside Subway. Gopher Towing will monitor the parking lot.
   • There will be signage in the back and front, as allowed by city code.
   • The large free-standing sign at corner will be split/ Hollywood & Pizza Hut
   • The landscaping will remain the same.
   • There will be some indoor seating

   With that info and Kelly’s recommendation, the Exec. Cttee was polled and (by a 3/4 majority ) voted to support the Pizza Hut project.

3. Council Member Zerby encouraged us to nominate someone for the new Civilian/Police Mediation Review Board. Board member Blaine Johnson expressed interest, so the Executive Committee (unanimous decision) forwarded his name to Council Member Johnson Lee. Since the outcome of the committee makeup has not been made public, we do not know where his nomination stands.

News of the Board from November Board Meeting:

New board member Tara Beard was introduced. She is a second year graduate student, working toward a master’s in Urban Planning. Tara has lived in Marcy-Holmes on and off through undergrad school. Her husband and she now reside at Dover Court, on 5th Ave SE. Her final project will be on the impact the University has on the surrounding neighborhoods. Tara has been active in our Master Planning sessions. A vote to accept Tara to the board was unanimously passed. Tara joins Blaine Johnson as student reps on our board.

We opened a new bank account called Housing. Although we have not yet determined how money from this account will be used, we opened it in response to a request from First Southeast Corp. That group worked to keep houses in the hands of owner occupants in the three SE neighborhoods, but has voted to dissolve. They are asking share holders to consider donating their stock refund to the neighborhood groups to continue in the spirit of their mission. Now we can keep this money in a separate account for future use.

Zoning & Planning – Anwar Abdel Karim, rooming house owner at 1126 6th St SE for the past 20 years, came to ask our support for converting it to a 4-plex. He is not doing this as a money making endeavor, but rather as a service to his tenants. The lot is smaller than required, so he would need a variance. He can fit 3 cars, but the requirement is four. It is zoned R-5. The rooming house classification is grandfathered and would permit up to 2 people per bedroom, so a total of 16. The 4 plex would allow 20 max. There was some discussion about square footage and the number of occupants size could support, probably 12 – 13, but a question as to whether this related only to building construction. The MHNA Zoning & Planning committee met on site with the owner and felt his intentions were good. Mr. Karim has put the building in a trust for his children, so they will not be selling it. He currently has 12 tenants. There is a common prayer room that has been there 14 years and would remain. Brian Biele made a motion to support the parking variance from 4 to 3 because the conversion eliminates a longstanding rooming house and lowers density, in agreement with MHNA policy. Motion passed unanimously. A second motion (Gordon Kepner): To authorize the president to support a variance of up to 5000 square feet if that is what the codes says is required for 4-plex conversion, because it would reduce density and eliminate a rooming house in agreement with MHNA policy, was also unanimously passed

Some problems at Marcy Park were discussed. Since our last meeting, there has been an incident where a fire extinguisher was sprayed all over the play equipment and on another occasion duct tape applied everywhere. We did get a call back form Commissioner Dziedzic after he got our letter, but he said there was no money for lighting and did not promise extra patrols. This means it is important to call 911 if the park is being used after 10 pm or if illegal activities are happening.

MHNA rep on the Soap Factory board John Capecci introduced their new Executive Director, Ben Haywood. The Soap Factory, on 5th Ave SE & 2nd Street SE, is home to No Name Exhibitions. As it is rehabbed, more organizations will be housed there. For the past 15 years, they have operated with only volunteers. Mr. Haywood, from London, is their first full time paid staff. He spoke about the building’s condition – built in 1892; currently has no heat so only operates in summer; is 48,000 square feet large but gallery only uses 12,000 s.f. He hopes to get started soon on some exterior work, including signage. He would like to encourage more neighbors to come in and enjoy the artwork and facility. It is free. Mr. Haywood would like to see the Soap Factory grow into the third major arts institution in the city, behind the Mpls. Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center. Their growth will be slow and steady, but they are committed to staying in Marcy-Holmes. He would be open to leading tours of the facility at some point.

Marcy-Holmes resident, former mayor and honorary MHNA board member Don Fraser returned with an update on the SE Council of Learning. All three SE neighborhood groups have now lent their support and a grant has funded $5,000. Mr. Fraser asked the board to forward 4 names from our group to serve on this council. He volunteered to be the first. The others suggested were: Scott Bean, Ardes Johnson and Laurice Jamieson.