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Minutes of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
Tuesday October 21, 2003
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis

1. Meeting called to order at 7:35 PM by Kelly Carver, president. A motion to approve the agenda (Arvonne Fraser) was passed.
2. A motion to approve the September minutes (Dave Polaschek) was passed.
3. Kelly reviewed Board actions taken tonight:
   1. By-Laws – A committee will be appointed to review current by-laws and suggested changes. The bylaw changes that were to be acted upon tonight will be part of that discussion. The committee will report back their recommendations to the board for consideration before a vote is taken at general membership, June meeting earliest.
   2. The board voted to approve MHNA Z & P committee recommendations:
      • For the Brett Naylor project, 13th & University, and not oppose the zoning change or conditional use permit previously supported and setback variances in the new design. The number of parking spaces (75) the developer requested was not approved. Instead, a minimum of 82 spaces was supported.
      • Extended hour requests (until 3 am, 7 days a week) from Burrito Loco and Erbert & Gerbert’s were approved
      • After receiving a letter from developer John Kerwin, asking for our support in his purchasing and restoring for reuse historic Andrew Riverside Church, it was decided we would contact the church and ask them to seriously consider this start of negotiations if it would help save the building.
      • The Schafer Richardson Task Force recommended that in order to simplify construction of underground parking needed for the re-use of the A-Mill, South Mill and Red Tile Elevator; To open a public path to the riverfront between Second Street SE and Main St SE where 4th Ave SE would have gone through; To allow development of more, and more cost-effective, housing units on the site of the white concrete grain elevators than could be fit into those elevators if they were reused, thus reducing the height and density needed elsewhere on the two and one half block site to make the project economically viable; and to offer a chance to replace the forbidding elevators with more pedestrian friendly buildings that will help transform Second Street SE into another residential street for this riverfront neighborhood, we support the demolition of the white concrete elevators on this site. This support is contingent on saving and reusing the historic A-Mill, the adjacent South Mill and the Red Tile Elevator and its neon sign and upon creating a safe and inviting public path from second Street SE to Main Street SE approximately where Fourth Ave SE would go through. The board and membership have stated, consistent with our Master Plan, that buildings on this two and one half block site should be no higher than the Red Tile elevator which rises about 190′ above Main St SE. The MHNA Board voted to accept these recommendations.
4. Council Member Zerby reported that the city council unanimously approved the historic designation of the Greek Letter Chapter Houses. There will be a meeting to look at design guidelines for the new district, Nov 10 from 7-9 pm at Van Cleve Park. He is hopeful a lot of concerns can be alleviated with this meeting. Next Council member Zerby discussed the Rental Housing Inspections Sweeps currently underway. Mpls, firefighters are inspecting buildings with 4 or more units and Housing Inspections will do the smaller buildings. Jan Morlock, U of MN, and Jo Ann Velde, Inspections, are printing a brochure to answer renters’ questions about the sweeps. There will be some “cold calling”, where inspectors will ask to gain entry into the building. There will not be any “break-ins”. Inspectors do not care how messy the place is; they are looking for life and safety code violations. This includes over-occupancy. If a building is found to be over- occupied, it will have to be brought into compliance, meaning some tenants will have to vacate. He understands that at least one landlord has complained about how this would affect his cash flow, but that is not the issue. If a landlord has knowingly over occupied that landlord should assist in relocating tenants.There are several resources for students who are displaced:
   • For on-campus housing contact 624-2994 (Nancy Knutson or Erling Kurtti)
   • For off-campus housing contact www.umn.edu/housing/offcampus
   • Or Student Legal Services at 624-1001 or karon001@umn.edu

   Board Member Dave Polaschek added that the MN Tenants Union might be useful in some efforts. On the upside, according to Zerby, several groups are now working on the issue of improved student housing. MPIRG is looking at ordinance changes that would make property owners more accountable for housing conditions; the U is considering dropping properties from their off campus housing list if the owners have more than three code violations in a year.

   MHNA and SE Como are cooperating with the U on several other efforts including a Teach-In Nov. 13 from 4:30-6 PM in rm 323 of Coffman Union.

   Council Member Zerby also complimented tonight’s attendees for the calm and respectful tone of the meeting, which he suggested should be shipped to Iraq as a model. He spoke about the very constructive meeting about bylaws that NRP Executive Director Bob Miller had with several MHNA members since the last MHNA meeting. President Carver thanked Council Member Zerby for his assistance in this matter.

5. MHNA Member Ron Wacks reported on the MN Home Based Entrepreneurs Association, which had its start as the SE Home Based Business Assoc, using NRP funds to get started nine years ago. It is now the largest home based business association in the upper Midwest and one of the largest in the nation. Their mission is to be a resource that actively promotes the visibility of small and home-based businesses as a vital part of the local community and economy of the neighborhood, the city and the region. Mr Wacks and his group have won many awards and now conduct a Home Based Business Expo annually. Businesses of 1-10 employees are eligible. Mr. Wacks thanked MHNA for their original support and called this endeavor a “neighborhood success story,” FFI contact www.homebiz.org
6. MHNA member Paul White was unable to attend, but President Carver read a statement from him:
   

   A half dozen Marcy-Holmes boys between 8 and 14 years of age have started a club to build two go-carts. After meeting the past two Sundays the club members are making good progress and having fun. They are working on design, funding, shop location, places to drive the carts, and more. If you have interest in participation or supporting this club call Paul White at 612-840-1930.

7. NRP Implementation Committee Elections – Elissa Cottle, NRP Coordinator, conducted the election for 7 committee seats. A slate of candidates was read and nominations from the floor were requested to fill some slots. Each seat on the committee represents a stakeholder in the neighborhood:
   • Sonny Schneiderhan (at large) has lived here since 1972, is interested in livability, improving housing stock, and is on the gardening committee. She has benefited from NRP programs in the past and she sees this as a learning opportunity.
   • Joe Stokes (homeowner) has lived here for 11 years and is very interested in livability and development. He feels these are fascinating times with many issues facing us, and he hopes NRP continues to have a positive effect on the neighborhood.
   • Gordon Kepner (landlord) is a 30 year resident, a “small landlord”, and has spent two years on the NRP Implementation Committee. He said that although a huge amount of work has been done, there is still much to do, for example evaluate the last 10 years of NRP in Marcy-Holmes. He is particularly interested in a renters’ Assistance Program which would help educate renters about how to deal with landlords and how to show respect for property and neighbors
   • Jim Shadko (businesses) is a business owner (Eastbank, in Dinkytown) who has been involved in NRP in other neighborhoods. He thinks it’s a great and democratic process, though cumbersome and complicated. He sees it as a great way to be more involved in the neighborhood.
   • Joe Blankholm (U Student) is a political science major; has worked for Commissioner Peter McLaughlin; is involved in the SE Council on Learning and the Como Reads Program that promotes literacy in SE Mpls.
   • Tom Lincoln (institution/ Marcy School) has lived here 11 years, is a homeowner and has been involved in NRP since it began here. He thinks the recent NRP funds re-allocation will re-invigorate NRP here. He was pleased to hear Ron Wack’s report earlier tonight and pointed to the MHEA as an example of the type of “seeding” NRP is capable of.
   • Nathalie Hallyn (renter) has a professional interest in the environment and preserving the natural habitat of the neighborhood. She worked on the watershed improvement project and will chair a committee working on lead remediation.

   MHNA Board Member Bill Huntzicker moved to elect the slate by proclamation and the motion was unanimously approved.

8. U of MN Community Relations’ Jan Morlock reported on Homecoming plans. Activities are scheduled from Oct 27 – Nov 1. On Nov 2 a neighborhood clean up will occur on the east side of 35W. Volunteers should meet at McDonald’s at 11 am. She also talked about the Inspections Sweep of rental properties now underway here. The new Gophers stadium will be discussed at the regents meeting in mid November. A task force that will include neighborhood reps will begin meeting later in November.
9. Kendra Turoni was introduced. She is the U’s new liaison for community, business and students. She will be working on ways to increase students’ civic engagement and improve their stay in the neighborhoods. Kendra will not be dealing with individual problems, but with chronic issues. Her email address is turon001@umn.edu or her telephone is 625-8939.
10. The issue of streetlights was discussed. We have a link on our website to report street light outages, or people can contact Council Member Zerby at paul.zerby@ci.minneapolis.mn.us. Many present felt if Xcel would only stay on top of that, we would have most of the problem solved. MHNA member and VP for Risk Management for the PanHellenic Council, Andrea Heinrichs, said that the lack of lighting on 5th St SE makes it feel unsafe. She would like something to be done. Council Member Zerby explained that the city’s finances do not allow for adding more lights unless it is ornamental lighting, like they have now in Prospect Park. The cost of that lighting( about $5,000 each) was borne by the individual property owners where a light was placed and that caused many problems and hard feelings in that neighborhood. Nicollet Island recently installed these ornamental lights. Skott Johnson, DBA, suggested some funding might be available from state and federal sources. It was also suggested that our Livability Committee could continue to work on this issue. Next meeting is Nov 4 at 7 pm, Dunn Bros.
11. The Welcome to our Neighborhood / Slow Down signs are here. Call the office if you want to put one in front of your residence. They are bright orange and free. People on busy streets are especially encouraged to do this. They have been effective in other neighborhoods. We have 50 on hand – need to get them all out to make an impact. Call the office to get yours: 379-3814.

Meeting adjourned 8:52 PM
Melissa Bean, Staff