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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting Tuesday Feb. 18, 2003 University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN

1. Meeting called to order at 7:33 pm by President Chris Wilson. The agenda was approved (Brian Biele motion).
2. The minutes from the January 2003 meeting were approved (Brian Biele motion).
3. Kristin Hoppe, from CCP/SAFE, announced that a CODEFOR Community meeting will be held on Thursday Feb 27, 6:30 – 8:30 PM at Marcy School. Many members of the second precinct will be present to answer questions. In April, a Citizens’ Academy will be held. People are invited to take part and learn what it’s like to train to be a police officer. Council Member Zerby has gone through it and he recommended it. Ms Hoppe also said that she sends out crime alerts to people on her list. You can join the list by sending an email to 2csafe-on@lists.pandh.com She also requested that our website link to her crime maps on the city site. A question was asked about follow up on recent purse snatchings. There is no more information available.
4. Council Member Paul Zerby informed us that very soon we will be getting a new housing inspector. The new second precinct police inspector has not yet been chosen. Paul informed us that today the City Council passed his neighborhood notification ordinance. He worked for a year to build a coalition of Council Members and staff to craft an ordinance that requires applicants for zoning and alcohol licenses to notify neighborhood organizations. The Council, unfortunately, deleted all references to business associations from the ordinance. The part of the ordinance that passed ensures that neighborhood organizations will know about new applications before they go to public hearings.An alcohol compliance task force is being formed which, at first, had no neighborhood reps on it. That has been amended and now SE Como’s Wendy Mencken will serve, with perhaps an alternate from MHNA. There are many competing interests on the committee – bar owners, liquor store owners, etc, so this was real progress to get citizen representation. Council Member Zerby also asked for a good turnout at the CJCC (Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee)presentation Feb 27. There is room for about 60 people in the President’s Room on the third floor of Coffman Union. The meeting starts at 8 am. Free parking is offered at the East River Rd ramp. The CJCC is a monthly meeting of officials in the criminal justice system – city and county. They recently met in Phillips and Jordan. This meeting will focus on Livability Crimes in neighborhoods surrounding the university. A MHNA committee has been meeting with the other SE neighborhoods and the U to put on a presentation.The money problems at the city have not been settled; it looks like a 22% cut in LGA (Legislative Government Aid) funding from the legislature. Council Member Zerby wasn’t sure what this would mean for neighborhood offices, perhaps some consolidation. He also said he would like more public input about the city’s spending and he welcomes emails. You can reach Paul at paul.zerby@ci.minneapolis.mn.us. Brian Biele asked if there was any effort underway to establish business association boundaries city-wide. Yes, MCDA is working on it – especially an issue along Lake Street.
5. NRP – Elissa Cottle reported that a Plan Modification requires 30-day notice, so the one that was printed in the mailer (funding more administration staff time and office operating costs by pulling $25,000 from the leftover Dinkytown Streets-cape program) will have to wait until next month’s meeting to be voted upon.A second draft of the Master plan has been written. Focus groups will be meeting soon to refine ideas. A third draft will be ready in April. Elissa reminded us that there is still funding for Rental Rehabilitation. These are grants for interior or exterior improvements that bring a property up to code. There is a $10,000 maximum grant.Three of the bronze Aldo Moroni sculptures, from the 6th Ave. Gateway, are in the office and available for viewing. These will eventually be placed in front of the Stone Arch Apartments, after construction is through. An unveiling for the Gateway is scheduled for Sunday, May 4.

   Elissa and MHNA Staff met recently with Jan Morlock about some off-campus housing issues. Stronger communication between Mpls. Inspections, Student Legal Services and the U’s Off Campus Housing Service was discussed, as current listings do not differentiate property conditions.

   More NRP news: A sign for the community garden has been approved and will go up this summer. We still have many history books for sale, $18.95 at the office. NRP Chair Tamar Gronvall stepped down and the new chair is Jim Curley.

6. SE Como Improvement Association’s Wendy Menken spoke briefly about the upcoming CJCC presentation. The east bank neighborhoods will have ten minutes to speak. She has compiled data from Como about party calls and alcohol related behavior. Much discussion followed about “losing citizens by inches” – it’s often the constant needling of small things that wears people down. These issues are important here and we face the problem of how to get officials to take them seriously. To aid our effort, Gordon Kepner handed out a survey about how people view the criminal justice system in our neighborhood. Results will be tallied and become part of the CJCC presentation. Members who have email were sent electronic versions.
7. We sent out a flurry of letters after last month’s meeting, and Chris Wilson reported on some responses. Parks Commissioner Dziedzic called to say he is “on board” with the “Unified Park” proposal, which combines the Whitewater Park with the new Hennepin Island Park. Although we sent a letter in support of not cutting NRP funding, Council Member Zerby had some real reservations due to shortfall in city funding. We also sent a letter reiterating our support for connecting East River Parkway with Main St SE, the “Missing Link/Option 2A”. Council Member Zerby explained, by letter, why that project did not meet the criteria for current federal funding. We inquired about possible sidewalk encroachment at the Stone Arch Apartments and it was discovered to be 1 inch, so the city decided not to pursue it. We got a letter from President Bruininks about the possibility of an on-campus Gophers only stadium, but it is on the back burner for now. We also sent a letter expressing our frustration about the lack of progress at the Gopher Motel, and the city’s licensing department reports their phone calls to the owner have not gone unanswered. Don Pflaum, Bike Planner from City Transportation, contacted us about our suggestions for the 5th Street Bike Lanes. The changes were sent to members in the last mailing.

We do not have a house on the Home Tour this year. The 10th Annual River Clean Up is scheduled for May 17. Do we want to participate? Volunteers have been dwindling… We have a very full schedule for the March meeting, so Chris Wilson urged all to attend.

If you have an email address, it saves us money to send MHNA mailings electronically. Please contact us at mhna@pro-ns.net

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM Melissa Bean, staff

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We had a glitch on the website where people renew their membership. So, even though you thought you renewed, it might not have gone through. Here are the names of people who have not renewed. PLEASE check the list and renew-we’ve been asking since June! You can renew online at www.marcy-holmes.org Look to the left side of our home page under “ join or renew”. It’s quick and easy.List of NOT RENEWED: Adair & Hartley Bloom Bresnehan D. Carlson Dekker-Travis Travis Day R. Davidson S. Dekker Dick/ Orchard T. Elkins Engler Karen Erickson T. Gronval Hall Hally. Hart Haskins Hoban & Janisch Holznagel B & J Johnson E. Kadioglu Kondy Kimber Lazorick/Witkowski Libertus P. Lincoln Liska & Russell Lundquist & Merrill Masoner McKay Morse Rod Nelson Newhouse Peterson/Tucker Pionek Radzwell R & J Roberts Robbins Schlottman Schultz K. Sorensen Staats Storti Sulit Svedberg Sung P. Thompson Zissler

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NEWS of MHNA Board of Directors Meeting Tuesday Feb 18, 2003

1. We briefly discussed what the parameters should be for including things in our mailings. A new member asked us to publicize an event, but the request came in after our regular mailing had gone out. We need a more official policy to be published on the front of the website. A motion was passed (Bob Distad) that Items that need to be in the printed newsletter must be received before the First Friday of the month so we have time to incorporate them into the printed newsletter. Items needing a vote must appear in the printed agenda for that month’s meeting, so the same deadline applies. Staff and webmaster reserve the right to edit items and items must be of interest to residents of Marcy-Holmes. Policy will be posted on the website.
2. Executive Committee met recently to discuss strategies regarding the livability issues that SE neighborhoods are grappling with and how our concerns can be heard and seriously addressed. We got a response to our letter sent to University President Bruininks, but it was not specific about future changes. He did say he wanted to work with us in the coming year. The concept of a legislative bill was discussed. We could offer points from our Community Impact Statement, specifically the ones about hiring staff to work with the neighborhoods and student livability issues and getting the U to include these items in their a code of conduct so that the U can sanction students who are convicted of offenses. Board members were queried. Most felt a dual track approach was best: ask for a meeting with President Bruininks as well as contact Senator Pogemiller and Rep. Kahn about how they might be able to assist us. Some board members went to a reception at Eastcliffe earlier in the evening where President Bruininks said he wanted to listen to neighborhood concerns. Sara James thought these initiatives could be a selling point for the university. State budget problems will be an obstacle. Tara Beard did not feel comfortable with the St. Thomas comparison – different kind of neighborhood, much smaller campus. It was decided by consensus that we should continue both efforts and keep Jan Morlock involved.
3. Old St. Anthony Association – Our bylaws require a seat on our board for them, but we do not really have one. When we recently asked for a rep, they said same – who from MHNA will go to their meetings? Sara James offered to when the weather gets warmer. That may be the best we can do at the moment. NOTE -Since this exchange, we have been notified that Shari Pleiss, of Stone Arch Coffeehouse, will rep OSAA at our meetings.
4. Second Ward meetings news- The change in city ordinance to require early notification of neighborhood groups, as part of zoning application, passed. Business groups will not be getting the early notification, mostly because there are places in the city (like Lake Street) where business group boundaries are not well defined. Business groups will be notified for things like liquor licenses, but not for curb cuts, garages, etc. The 2nd ward group has been working on a presentation before the CJCC (Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee) on Feb 27. They are still honing the speeches and gathering data. Audience members can be neighborhood people, although they will not be allowed to speak. Meeting is at 8 am in President’s Room at Coffman Union. The fraternities and sororities have concerns about the study being done at HPC to make a historic district. They are worried about what kinds of changes they will be allowed to make to expand their facilities. They would like to meet with a group form the neighborhood to discuss ways to keep fraternities and sororities viable within a historic district. Volunteers needed, call the office. Kelly Carver expressed interest. Gordon Kepner passed around a survey about how the Criminal Justice System is perceived here and the results will become part of the CJCC presentation.
5. John Stedland of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) informed the group of $250,000 in funding available for projects that improve and protect water quality via their Stewardship Fund. This grant money is available to citizen groups, schools or any public organization. Maximum grant is $40,000. He handed out a draft of the application. Many board members expressed interest, particularly in rain gardens that collect runoff from parking lots. They will start taking applications March 17 with a May 9 due date. Drafts of their application will be available in the office, until the final is received. Strong citizen support/involvement is needed.
6. Zoning & Planning – Our committee met with the property owner of 814 5th St SE, a brick four-plex next to the pedestrian bridge over 35W. Originally built as a duplex, the owner now wishes to add a basement unit. The committee members felt it was a reasonable request (he seemed well set up for this) but he would need a zoning change to achieve this. This brought up the group’s opposition to “spot zoning” and any precedent this may set. We have not received any official notification, but it was decided (consensus) that the addition of a basement apartment would not be supported if it is not allowed in the current zoning.
7. We got news that Andrew Riverside Church has decided to demolish, rather than repair, its church. The church is on the Heritage Preservation list, so we will probably be asked to weigh in at some point. The church’s stone wall gave way last summer and it has been unoccupied since then. The lot is zoned R2B.
8. Pete Roos, Sky Ventures, made a presentation on the Pizza Hut relocation/construction in Dinkytown. The new restaurant will be located next to the Hollywood Video. It will be a smaller facility – 30 seats. They are not applying for a license to serve any alcohol. They would like to have extended hours that would match the hours they had on University & 12th. The hours they would like are similar to those of other restaurants in Dinkytown: 11 pm on weeknights, 2 am Friday and Sat. nights. A motion was unanimously passed (Bob Distad/Gordon Kepner) To convey to council members that we have no objection to the extended hours for the new Pizza Hut, but that our approval is contingent on the fact that NO Alcohol of any kind will be served there, and if, at a later time, they wish to add alcohol, they must revert to the shorter hours.
9. We discussed an unsettling letter that was sent to property owner Tim Harmsen recently. Mr, Harmsen brought it to the office. The unsigned letter warned Mr Harmsen’s tenants that a group home for developmentally disabled sex offenders had opened next door at 1307 6th St SE. The letter writer claimed to be a former employee of Rem Hennepin, the property owner and operators of the program. Apparently the property has been used in this manner since October. The letter warned that these individuals are predators and the location of the facility is “an accident waiting to happen”. MHNA Staff immediately contacted Council Member Zerby’s office and inquired about the legalities – is it zoned for this? What about the spacing required between group homes? This is close to Cabrini House and Portland House. Isn’t there a public hearing required? Is it licensed? As far as Council Member Zerby knows, there have been no incidents, but he is checking with city officials on the questions we asked.
10. The U is again hosting an Off Campus Housing Fair, March 12 from 11 – 2. The group discussed pros and cons of having a (free) booth there. It was decided to participate and Tara Beard would man the booth with relief from Melissa Bean and Ardes Johnson.