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MINUTES of the MHNA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday January 18, 2005
Univ. Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis
in Heritage Hall

1. Meeting called to order at 7:40 PM by MHNA President Brian Biele.
2. The minutes of the November meeting were approved. (There was no meeting in Dec)
3. Council Member Paul Zerby was thanked by President Biele for his assistance in bringing the parties together to resolve the Varsity marquee/liquor license situation. The liquor license went through and the agreement for neighborhood access to advertise events on the marquee was updated.CM Zerby next spoke about the status of the pedestrian lighting on 15th Ave SE. Although it looked like the city’s lighting moratorium was about to be lifted, the item was thrown back to committee when a debate arose as to the actual safety value of the lights. It was suggested that back-lighting was a problem. CM Zerby thought the 15th Ave project was to be considered an exception to the moratorium and he wanted petition process to go forward. However, the neighborhood has not been notified or sent petitions yet, which aggravated him.The parking lot between the Stone Arch Apartments and Steam Plant is being heard at the Board of Adjustment. At issue – a conditional use permit is needed in order to put in a parking lot, but the owner did not follow city procedure and built it without permits or oversight. Steve Minn, owner, is claiming that the parking lot is a continual use and therefore does not require the permit. City staff recommended denying his appeal. A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

   The on campus Gopher Stadium is back on the radar- an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) or an EAW (Environmental Assessment Worksheet) will be needed. CM Zerby took a position opposing the proposed joint Vikings/Gopher stadium last time around, but the new plan is for Gophers only and he would support that. At that time, he got a resolution passed to keep the neighborhoods involved in the planning process and he is meeting tomorrow and hopes to achieve the same.

   CM Zerby also talked about a meeting with concerned constituents about the increasing problem of illegal over occupying of rental units. Many buildings in SE have had basement egress windows added for illegal bedrooms. It is difficult to get a handle on the situation and he is open to suggestions, short of a moratorium on building permits, which he does not support.

4. Board actions taken tonight:
   • We found a volunteer for the East Side Bicycle Advisory Committee – Julie Hartley. A motion to officially name her to that position passed unanimously.
   • The triangle parking lot between Stone Arch Apartments and Steam Plant were discussed at the committee. The lot was installed without following city procedure and in spite of a city “stop work” order. The Board of Adjustment scheduled a hearing and the Land Use Committee passed the following motion:
     

     Be it resolved that the MHNA Land Use Committee urges the Board of Adjustment to require proper planning processes and proper permits, requiring land owners to follow city procedures when developing their property, and to that end should deny the appeal by Steve Minn that a conditional use permit is required in order to establish the parking facility at 600 Main St SE.

     City Staff also recommended denial of the appeal. A motion was passed by the MHNA board (T. Tucker) to concur with the Land Use Committee’s motion and change the words “Land Use Committee” to “Board of Directors” in a letter to the Board of Adjustment.

   • Land Use Committee member Noah Bly had some suggestions on using NRP Phase II funds to market the neighborhood to developers, allocating dollars for each individual project. The Land Use Committee supported the idea. It has been added to the NRP Housing list. A motion (Tucker) to urge the NRP to support this proposal when it considers Phase II projects passed unanimously.
   • Nicollet Island Neighborhood Association’s D’Nardo Collucci came to the board with a proposal from DeLaSalle High School to build a 600 seat stadium on Nicollet Island. The location would be parallel to the river, taking the tennis courts and vacating Grove Street and some park land. This would require the Park Board to issue a longterm lease on 10 acres. The neighborhood was never consulted in the planning and it is not yet scheduled at the Park & Rec. Board.The current scheme seems flawed, according to some Nicollet Islanders, because the field size is drawn too small and without the end zones. A petition has been circulating to oppose the stadium plans. Walt Dziedzic (De La Salle grad) is the area’s park commissioner. Any sale of park land would need a 2/3 majority vote at the Park Board. A copy of the petition was passed around. A motion was unanimously passed (Tucker): Be it resolved that the MHNA is strongly opposed to conveyance of any park land to be developed into the Athletic Complex, vacation of any portion of Grove Street for such use, and any use of Nicollet Island park land inconsistent with the Island’s status as a regional and City park, a National Historic District and inconsistent with the master plan and master lease governing uses of Island land.
   • Gordon Kepner reported on a formal NRP action taken tonight. The NRP Committee prepared a list of non-housing projects to be considered at a neighborhood wide meeting March 7th for NRP Phase II funding. The MHNA Board approved the list prepared by the NRP Committee.
5. Diane Hofstede, Mpls Library Board, spoke about the SE Library. MHNA sent a letter of protest that our library was not included in the list of those where operating hours and programming would be restored. Ms Hofstede said the Library Board decided to restore some of the cuts made previously when operating funds from several closed libraries (due to remodeling) became available. She explained that they tried to expand hours and programming at the libraries nearest to those closed. She complimented us on our past activism – petitions saved the SE Library from closing several years ago. Meanwhile, the SE Library is coming up for referendum and remodeling and MS Hofstede suggested we get proactive and start formulating ideas about what a new or refurbished SE Library should include. She suggested forming a SE Library Task Force.Several questions were asked. Is the SE Library closing on Saturdays? It seems to be a very busy day there. Ms Hofstede agreed that Saturdays are busy here. People are frustrated that library officials seem to dismiss our area as being served by the University – even though not all SE residents are eligible to use the U’s facilities. Another point – the SE Library hours are so selective, it’s hard to know when they are open or not. Rod Ecklund suggested a neon “open” sign that could be seen from the street. Ms Hofstede said that her office had some survey forms we might borrow as templates to gather info from a large group of residents – possible considerations are location, amenities, and who the users are. President Biele asked our Livability Committee to identify participants for a SE Library Task Force. MS Hofstede reminded us that Library board meetings are open to the public.
6. Treasurer Tom Lincoln showed a dazzling graphic indicating how our fundraising is progressing. Since we sent out our appeal in November, we have raised approximately $6000 of our $10,000 goal. Thanks to all and it’s not too late to send in your tax-deductible contribution.
7. Two people who chose restorative justice as an alternative to having a criminal record came to tell their stories. Kristin and Nate, both U of MN students, expressed their regrets about how their alcohol use impacted the community and their thanks for the program’s presence here. Nate is spreading the word about alternative activities for fun at the U and Kristin worked on a Habitat for Humanity house to repay the community. They in turn were thanked for their courage in speaking before us tonight.
8. NRP Coordinator Elissa Cortell took the floor with Housing Proposals for NRP Phase II. We have $684,000 total to spend and 70 % of that must be for housing. The committee is looking for input. At this point, we have a list of 17 proposals and we need a way to narrow the list. A workshop on the subject will be held Jan 27 at 6:30 pm in this room.
9. One more fund raising option- we received three gift certificates from restaurants at St Anthony Main. The Executive Committee decided to have a “Silent Auction” and award them to the highest bidders at the Feb. MHNA meeting. A clipboard with the bid sheets was passed around. Bids will be taken until the announcement is made at the Feb. 15 meeting. You can call the office 623-7633 or email your bids. You do not need to be present to win. The certificates are for $100 at Vic’s; $65 at Pracna; $40 at Tugg’s. (Bids so far are for far less.)

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM. Melissa Bean, MHNA Executive Director