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Minutes of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
May 18, 2004
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, lounge

1. Meeting called to order at 7:52 PM by President Kelly Carver.
2. The agenda was approved with the following changes: We will ask CM Zerby about the procedure for liquor license at Mulrooney’s Pub; we will hear from a rep of Andrew Riverside Church; Livability item from board agenda will be heard at this meeting. (Brian Biele motion)
3. The April minutes were approved (B. Biele motion).
4. Council Member Paul Zerby spoke to the group. CM Johnson Lee plans to attend some of our meetings. He acknowledged CCP SAFE team member Nicole Nelson, present. She explained the changes at CCP SAFE brought on by budget woes and a new chief. The seven SAFE officers are being reassigned to regular duty in the 3rd and 4th precincts. This takes Reid Brown away from the 2nd precinct. The precinct commander (Val Worster) and lieutenant (Tammy Akre will be working directly with Nicole from now on. The new format means more officers are available where the most violent crimes occur and also makes available more officers for community policing. May 27 a meeting is planned here to meet the chief and talk about these changes and other public safety initiatives.The proposed smoking ban was discussed. CM Zerby feels it is no longer controversial, we now know how harmful smoking is to our health. He added that he is a former smoker and he wishes to help people avoid this deadly lethal addiction – especially those who work around smoke and are subject to the same risks. Similar ordinances are coming up for vote in Bloomington and St Paul. He feels Minneapolis should join the ban. Council President Paul Ostrow’s vote is needed, so CM Zerby asked that anyone who knows him should try some persuasion. City Council’s health & Human Services and Public Safety & Regulating Committees will hear it on June 9th. He is on both committees. CM Johnson Lee is a supporter. So far, the DBA and OSAA have not weighed in. Brian Biele felt that the current effort feels rushed, which CM Zerby acknowledged.Kelly Carver asked about the process for a public hearing for a new liquor license at Mulrooney’s Pub in Dinkytown. It’s been a while since we had such a request, but in the past such hearings have taken place at MHNA meetings. Also in the past, CM Zerby has proposed a moratorium on new liquor licenses in the U of MN area, but that proposal was decisively voted down. He thinks that it is difficult to vote down a liquor license application unless the applicant has a criminal history, but he will check on this one and get back to us.

   One other item that was brought to his attention as he biked to work this morning – vandals stole some of the grates from the pavement on the Stone Arch Bridge and an accident could be caused by this. They are now being replaced.

   MHNA Member Noah Bly returned the discussion to the smoking ban and made a motion that the MHNA supports the smoking ban in bars and restaurants in Minneapolis. Brian Biele countered that we should wait to hear opinions at the public hearing and react to the actual wording of the ordinance, which has not yet been published. The board action earlier tonight asked for input from our business communities before taking any action. U of MN’s Kendre Turonie asked DBA’s Skott Johnson and they are not discussing it as a group due to the discord it would cause in their association. A friendly amendment to the motion was suggested and accepted: That we support the idea of a smoking ban in bars and restaurants in Minneapolis. The motion passed. There was some discussion about the validity of the motion, as it did not appear on the agenda so members not present were not aware of the item.

5. Kat Baugher, representing U of MN sororities and VP of Risk Management at Pan Hellenic Council, reported on efforts to light up the neighborhood for safety. Her group sent out postcards urging property owners to leave on porch lights throughout the night. Because many students aren’t here for National Night Out (first Tues in August) an event is planned for Sept 2, 6 – 9 pm, on 5th St SE between 10th Ave SE and 13th Ave SE. It will kick off the lighting campaign and introduce students to safety and health measures available here. There will be food and entertainment. When they have an official name for the event, we will publicize it on our website. MHNA Member Harriet Johnson thanked Kat for her leadership on this and she in turn thanked Nicole Nelson.
6. Rev Harry Magakian, of Andrew Riverside Church, addressed the group about their future plans. For now, a beautiful garden/park space will be created at their vacant site on 4th St SE at 8th Ave SE., thanks to the assistance of Ann Forsyth and her students at the U. A church committee is studying their options and currently favors rebuilding a church in combination with an apartment building, much like the Keeler Apartments/ Episcopal Center on 17th and University. The group has met once with our Zoning & Planning Committee and plans to return to the June meeting.
7. Kelly Carver reported on Board actions taken earlier tonight. The board created a nominations committee to seek board members for three vacant seats. If anyone else is interested in joining, please see Kelly after the meeting. Elected board members must have been a member for one year and live in the neighborhood. A motion was passed to ask the DBA and OSAA about their stance on the proposed smoking ban. The MHNA Zoning & Planning Committee has had a busy month. – see News of the Board, attached.
8. NRP Coordinbator Elissa Cortell announced that here is money for three additional rain gardens in the neighborhood. The grants provide up to $1500 per garden and include professional consultations. A sign up sheet is here tonight. Applications are due June 15. A rain garden has plants with deep roots that catch run off water and keep it from going into the river. Rollins Court on 14th & 7th has one if people are interested in seeing it. Actually, according to resident Ardes Johnson, there are two rain gardens with a berm between them. Enter at the driveway off 7th St. Their rain gardens have 300 plants – all native MN perennials, and Ardes added “It really works”.Students in Marcy-Holmes are urged to apply for a position as student liaison. The person in this position would promote better relations between the students and permanent residents. Deadline for applying is June 11. The application is on the MHNA website or contact Elissa Cortell at 379-3812.We received 60 applications for the deferred loan housing fix up program. There was only funding for 21 loans, so all of the low income applications received were awarded funding. It is possible that all of the funds will not be spent, so a lottery will be offered. Elissa thanked all for applying.
9. Events – We are closing in on the parade season and we are in two this summer – July 4th (across Stone Arch Bridge) and and Aquatennial (Sat July 17 on Hennepin Ave downtown). More volunteers are needed for both events – sign up tonight or contact the office 379-3814. MHNA member Paul White and his SE Boys’ Club will have their go karts ready for the parade.
10. CCNP’s (Central Cities Neighborhood Partnership) Restorative Justice program was introduced to our neighborhood tonight by Jennie Buller. They will be taking on neighborhood livability crime cases starting in July. Volunteers are needed to serve as trained facilitators who guide discussion that addresses ways to hold the offender accountable and make amends to the community or individuals. For example, an offender may write a letter of apology or do some community service. SE Como and the U of MN are our partners in the program. Starting July 1, community conferences will be organized. A sign up sheet is here tonight. Offenders enter the program voluntarily. Police screen applicants and the city attorney removes any violent criminals from participation. So far there are no referrals in our neighborhood. If they complete the program and don’t re-offend within a year, their case will be dismissed.
11. Reminder from Nicole Nelson – national Night out is Tuesday Aug 3. To get materials to help plan your block’s events, call Nicole at 673-2874. There are usually at least two big celebrations in Marcy-Holmes.
12. Board member Ardes Johnson gave the Livability Committee report. 5,000 new trees are being planted in the city this summer. 19 people volunteered to adopt litter containers in the neighborhood and another 9 will be adopted by the committee which will pay the city to empty and maintain. Our neighborhood’s containers will be decorated so watch for them soon. Also a Citizens Inspections group is forming to monitor 12 blocks this summer. Volunteers are needed – call the office.
13. President Kelly Carver announced that the Marcy Open School girls’ softball team is as of tonight the city’s champion. Congratulations! The boys’ game is still not over. Remember to come to the Annual Elections meeting in June. There will be a bylaws vote and all members should have gotten a mailing about this – if not, contact the office.

Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM Melissa Bean, Staff

NEWS of the MAY Board Meeting

• Zoning & Planning –The committee met with Thomas Roe, owner of Betty’s Bikes & Buns at 600 East Hennepin. Although the city already approved his site plan without our input, he was very amenable to our suggestions and the landscaping and picnic area are an improvement. Jo Radzwill had some concern about the lighting.
• Dub’s Bar is being converted into Mulrooney’s Pub. The owner came to the Z & P meeting and the group was pleased to see more food items being added to the Dinkytown offerings. He will be applying for a new liquor license and in the past these items have come before the general membership. A motion was passed (T. Tucker) to contact CM Zerby when he gets here to see of that is still the procedure on liquor licenses.
• The reps from Dolfin Developers returned to Z & P about 619 8th St SE with a revised plan. It now shows 4 stories with no on grade parking. It looks better, and they brought their architect who seemed to understand the desire for more entries and patios on the street. No action was taken. They are withdrawing the request for R6 zoning and will work within the ILOD that exists there. The project will need a conditional use permit. The density has been reduced to between 70 and 80 units with underground parking and owner occupancy. They are marketing the units to an over 55 GLBT buyer.
• So far, the group is telling them to stick to the Master Plan. Access to parking would be off 6th Ave, not 8th St. There is no mixed use- strictly residential. Prices would start at $150,000. The committee was not impressed by the first drawings they showed but feels they are moving in the right direction. They would break ground in 2005. Ted has transmitted our hopes and plans to City Planner Jennifer Bever.
• Brett Naylor put in a formal application for 1301 University Ave SE. This item will come to the June MHNA Z & P meeting. The MHNA Board approved a zoning change and the site plan about a year ago. The project would not fit into the Master Plan, which was written since then.
• The A-Mill Task Force is meeting again. An EAW is being prepared and will go to City Council in June. Board member Tom Lincoln wrote a long report on the traffic analysis and he is now working directly with Schafer Richardson.
• The Phoenix Lofts EAW is due on June 9th. MHNA has already given its blessing as the project meets our guidelines. It does add to the traffic count for the “Bluff Development” proposed for United Rentals sites on 2nd Street SE. That project will be heard at the June MHNA Z & P meeting.
• Andrew Riverside Church is proposing 4 stories of student housing over a church at their vacated site on 8th Ave SE and 4th St SE. There would be 129 bedrooms with 26 parking spots. This site is in the R2B low- density core of the neighborhood. Because it is contiguous to some higher density projects, there may be some sympathy for a greater density, but the R6 they are requesting is not likely. The group is willing to work with the church but unwilling to give approval for an R6. A priority in the Master Plan is to add more owner occupancy to the neighborhood. The Andrew Riverside park plans are going forward, at least for a year. No action has been taken yet on this proposal.
• Star Machine & Manufacturing owner came to the Z & P meeting with plans to move some lot lines on the property he has for sale. It is seen as the first step toward developing that parcel.
• The Crown Hydroelectric plant was discussed. It is across the river from the Stone Arch Bridge and its approval is shaping up to be a controversial vote. Many of the new riverfront residents are worried that the plant would take away some of the water that makes up the central spillway at St Anthony Falls. This lowering of the falls could jeopardize the tailraces that have been recently refurbished. The State Historic preservation Office is opposed, but many environmental groups are in favor. Arvonne mentioned that the roadway at the west end of the bridge would be altered and the parking lot would disappear. Brian Biele added that Commissioner Dziedzic was voting to approve and the Congressman Sabo is in favor of it as well. We do not normally get involved in other neighborhoods’ business, but we do have a stake here. After discussion, a motion was passed (A. Fraser) to send a letter stating that as stakeholders in the Central Riverfront, we oppose the Park Board’s leasing the site for the Crown Hydroelectric Project. (Note – there was one opposed (Biele) and two abstentions (Radzwill and A. Johnson).