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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
Tues. Sept. 21. 2004
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis

1. Meeting called to order at 7:40 PM by President Brian Biele.
2. A motion to approve the agenda (M.K. O’Hearn) was passed.
3. A motion to approve the August minutes ( G. Kepner) was passed.
4. Council Member Paul Zerby addressed the group on the subject of thecity’s Low Level Lighting policy. The policy is being revised after a moratorium was enacted. The public is asked for feedback before any new policy is adopted. There is a website featuring fixture styles, a feedback form, and directions for a self-guided tour of areas that have the lights in place. The closest to us is Prospect Park. The draft policy is also available on the website. 100% of the operation and maintenance costs are the billed to the affected property owner. To start the process a property owner, resident or developer must request in writing and list the blocks (at least 4) to be included. Public Works then prepares a petition which is circulated by the person making the request. 65% of the affected property owners must sign the petition within one year. Then a public hearing is held and a recommendation is made to city council. Details about how the assessments are made can be found at the website. CM Zerby would like to see the moratorium lifted. U of Mn’s Kendre Turonie asked about the different classifications listed on the website – residential, commercial and pedestrian- and how they are defined and which 15th Ave SE would fall under. CM Zerby will look into. He also added that when these low level lights are installed, the high overhead streetlights are removed. This caused some concern, as the streetlights seem designed for the roadway and the low level for beneath the tree canopy/sidewalk safety. CM Zerby will look into the precedent of having both overhead and sidewalk lights. This has been a very divisive issue in other neighborhoods. It is hoped the new policy will prevent some of the past difficulties.Since the meeting, we received the following reply from Bev Warmke, city lighting guru:
   • What is a “pedestrian district”? There is still some discussion regarding this as we, PW and CPED, are trying to fully define ped districts. In the past we have used area names like “commercial nodes” and “outlying commercial districts”. Basically we are looking into the having increased lighting in areas which draw a high volume of pedestrians, and the implications that this increased lighting may have. An example might be corridors leading to LRT stations.
   • What happens to the existing wooden pole lights when pedestrian level lights are installed? The existing wood pole lights are removed from service once the pedestrian lighting system is operational.
   • If the wooden pole lights are removed, would it be possible to leave them in? Doing so would make it possible to reduce the number of pedestrian lights needed to achieve the desired light level. The wood pole system doesn’t “compliment” the ornamental system very well. PW considers the wood pole system to provide a standard amount of lighting and the ornamental system are designed to do the same, so leaving both in place would be like having 2 systems in place.
5. Board Actions taken tonight: The Executive Committee voted to approve a 3.7% raise for staff, retroactive to May 7th; to establish a policy of not allowing “agents “ of MHNA members to inquire if someone other than themselves is a member in good standing; to change Melissa Bean’s title from “Staff” to :Executive Director”; to amend the personnel policy to address unused paid vacation time to “Vacation days will be taken within the year allotted unless staff makes other arrangements with the president or presiding officer”; to move the MHNA office from the U-Tec Building to Marcy Open School by Nov 1 to save rent. The board approved these Executive Committee motions.
6. The Livability Committee, co-chaired by Ardes Johnson and Gordon Kepner, recommended appointing two MHNA members to a SE –wide task force to work on the University Foster Wheeler Steam Plant’s application to burn bio-mass, in addition to the wood, coal and gas already burned there. The task force would work with the U and the MPCA (MN Pollution Control Agency). The Board approved the motion. Two reps will be forwarded for board approval by the next meeting.The litter containers in Dinkytown are being painted. It is hoped this will prevent graffiti. There are 22 containers in the neighborhood that are maintained by residents. If you see a container with graffiti, call Ardes at 378-1166. (This committee is co-chaired by Ardes Johnson and Gordon Kepner and meets the third Monday, 7 pm at Dunn Bros. on Univ & 6th)
7. Land Use Committee – Committee Member and Secretary Jo Radzwill made the report. (Ted Tucker chairs this committee, which meets second Tuesdays at Dunn Bros, 6th & University, 5 pm, big table back room)Land Use Committee Report –The former Tri Delta Sorority, 316 10th Ave SE, is being purchased by former board member David Hoban to be converted to a “Faculty House”. It meets the criteria for this zoning classification but needs a conditional use permit. Wales House in 5th St SE is the only other Faculty House in the neighborhood. There are no spacing requirements except to be within 1/2 mile of the educational institution served. The Planning Dept. has assured the committee that this (interim) use will not preclude the building from becoming a sorority or fraternity in the future. In the meantime, Mr. Hoban’s plan would preserve this historic building and ensure it is maintained and occupied. The committee did not object to the conditional use permit but would like to see the parking lot landscaped to city code. The board passed two motions on this matter: to not oppose the conditional use permit IF the parking lot is landscaped to city code and to not oppose if there is an on site resident caretaker to oversee the property.The Committee discussed the Bluff Development project at 520 Second Street SE. They talked about improving the design so there is a stronger horizontal emphasis on the first floor to fit in better with the neighboring structures. The rest of the building should be stepped back. The developer agreed to consider these recommendations. Meanwhile, the Mpls City Council’s Z & P Committee voted on the appeal to he HPC decision ( to not allow 8 stories – keep it to 4) : a compromise – no more than 6 stories/64 feet high and to protect the “view corridor” by pulling the building back from the rr tracks. The Land Use Committee recommended that the board support the design guidelines discussed at the committee meeting: Keep setbacks at 19’ from lot line/oppose the variance requested; make a heavier horizontal emphasis at first floor; penthouse setbacks should be 8 – 10’ at top; oppose the variance for the Floor Area Ratio unless something extraordinary is offered – like adding some affordable units. The board approved the Land Use recommendations re:Bluff Development and Tri Delta Sorority.

   Also of note in Land Use – The Eastgate Development Task Force has been meeting. Jo reported that the plans include razing the current center and replacing it with mixed use residential ( 6 stories of condos) and commercial space (Lund’s grocery store and parking ramp). It will be a safer, open and friendly environment. Rick’s Market will stay open until construction is complete. The new building will be moved up closer to Central Ave. The Task Force is pleased with the developer. Look for more news at the next MHNA meeting.

8. Student Affairs – Chair Danielle Westhoff reported that the committee is in transition at this time, as both she and Charles Carlson have resigned. Replacements for the student positions on the MHNA board will be forwarded at the next meeting. The committee is formulating a position on adding low level lighting to parts of the neighborhood and will have that ready by next meeting as well.
9. Emily Bueler of CCNP Restorative Justice made a presentation on their activities in our area. They will give quarterly updates to our group. The number of cases has been low so far, but that could be because many of the violations have been “payable” and not “criminal” up to now. A new policy of “direct referral” will offer the offender, at the time a ticket is issued, the opportunity to get information on the restorative justice program instead of paying the fine. This begins Oct 1. Volunteers are needed to participate in Community Conferences and the Community Advisory team. Interested persons should call the MHNA office to volunteer.
10. Police Officer Elliot Wong, from the East Hennepin substation, spoke about his job as a “beat cop” in our area. He regularly patrols by van ort foot, the area of Central & University, East Hennepin, Main Street, Stone Arch Bridge. His office is at 22 University Ave . His method is to observe and follow up on anything that is out of the ordinary. He is able to follow up and research cases. He welcomes neighbors to meet with him. When asked about problems here, he mentioned graffiti, opportunistic theft – like burglary of unlocked vehicles or dwellings, and an increase in homeless people who sleep under bridges. Many of the crimes we see are driven by underlying forces, like unemployment and budget cuts to social services. He stressed the importance of noticing irregularities, being familiar with your neighbors and taking precautions such as locking doors and not leaving valuables in vehicles. In any emergency or if we see something suspicious, call 911. The best way to reach him is via email: elliot.wong@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
11. U of MN Community Relations’ Jan Morlock spoke about the U’s Academic Health Center plans to consolidate facilities . Seven different colleges in partnership with U of MN Physicians and Fairview medical Center are doing long range planning. Several scenarios can be viewed at their website: www.ahc.umn.edu . There are real estate decisions to be made and one of those being considered is locating on the “Super Block” of (mostly first year students) dorms now on campus. Displaced students would be provided with on campus housing before any demo begins. MHNA’s Student Affairs Committee will be looking at this matter.
12. Elissa Cortell, NRP Coordinator, reminded the group about a special NRP neighborhood meeting to help decide spending priorities for Phase II money. The meeting is on Oct 26. See the SE Angle for details. Elissa introduced Sara Schwan, student liaison. Sara and Jackie Wentworth have been doing some door knocking after noisy parties and handing out surveys. She has a link on the MHNA website (www.marcy-holmes.org)
13. MHNA member Paul White is renovating a house at 625 8th Ave SE and has had to change some plans. He was directed to the land Use Committee.
14. Christina Magnuson, Panhellenic Council, introduced several sorority women who have been attending meetings and working on the lighting campaign. They also informed the group that two sorority houses have hit their maximum occupancy and they expect a total of five to so. They voiced support for turning the Tri Delta House into a Faculty House. They also thanked Ardes for her assistance and announced plans for a Recovery Work Seminar.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM Melissa Bean, Executive Director