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MINUTES of the MHNA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
May 17, 2005
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE

1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by President Brian Biele. The agenda was approved.
2. A motion to accept the April minutes was approved.
3. Board actions taken tonight were read by Melissa Bean. The board voted unanimously to support the decision of the zoning administrator regarding two James Eischens properties in the neighborhood at 1100 5th St SE and 628 4th St SE. The Board of Adjustment hearing will be held June 2.
4. Council member Zerby spoke to the group about the 15th Ave lighting project. He indicated that we still have a ways to go in order to get the 65% approval needed to get the project approved. The formula is slightly ambiguous, but some preliminary figures:
   • Counting only property owners we are at 25%
   • Counting owners, tenants and the U of MN we are at 70%
   • Counting owners, U and Park Board we are at 69%
   • Counting only U and property owners we are at 60%

   There is still time to get more support. In SE Como a church, some industrial property and a few absentee landlords would put us over. CM Zerby complimented our neighborhood’s success in getting signatures.

   Public Works is meeting on site to improve safety at pedestrian crossing on 10th Ave SE & 5th St SE. Ardes Johnson and Kelly Carver are working with the city.

   Responses to the scope of the study re: Gopher on campus stadium have come in. A question was asked about the possibility of expanding the stadium beyone what is now proposed – if that were to occur, a new EIS process would have to be undertaken.

   A new charter school plans to open in the area- across from Siebert Field on 8th St SE, far side of 15th Ave SE. The site is technically not in Marcy-Holmes or in SE Como, so both neighborhoods are being asked to look into it. The June 14 MHNA Land Use Committee has it on the agenda.

5. CCP/SAFE’s Nicole Nelson and Second Precinct Police Inspector Val Wurster were introduced. They spoke about the city’s new aggressive panhandling ordinance and passed out related fliers. They suggested people NOT give money – it only rewards and encourages the behavior. Panhandlers will not return to a place where they have been turned down for money. People should call 911 when there is a panhandler at your door or on your property. Even if the police do not show up, if a number of complaints are received citizens can combine and press charges. The police are trying to get the word out in the neighborhood. They are “rousting’ some vagrants who have been camping under bridges.Inspector Wurster had good news – the crime rate is down – but it is still high here for auto theft and theft from auto. She reminded all – Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle. A reminder will soon go onto windshields in the neighborhood. They are also seeing an increase in aggravated assaults and robbery. Inspector Wurster told people to be safe, call 911 if you encounter suspicious activity. She is encouraging officers to call back people who call in to get more information. A question was asked about the Crime Alert that went out this week: an aggressive panhandler known to be in our neighborhood is a suspect in several armed robberies of persons. When the suspect was spotted by a resident the 911 call did not seem to help. Instead, the police car that came out drove right past the man and did not stop. Inspector Wurster will investigate the facts. Officers cannot arrest for a misdemeanor if it does not occur in their presence. Brian Biele expressed frustration with some 911 dispatchers.
6. Eric McDonald, of Hennepin County attorney’s office, made a presentation. His office handles felonies for the county. There is a website www.hennepinattorney.org that features a Community Prosecution link that gets you to Minneapolis, then Second Precinct, then to Marcy Holmes and finally to cases that are being prosecuted here. People can send in comments on these crimes via the website. Community Impact Statements do make a difference when a judge is sentencing an offender.
7. Stacy Holland and Cheryl Heilman of the SE Angle board of Directors spoke about the possibility of merging the newspaper with the Seward Profile. This move would increase the number of households served to 25,000, thus increasing the ad rates, and would save some duplication that now occurs. Both are monthlies published by Triangle Park. The long-term survival of neighborhood newspapers is in jeopardy. There is competition from MN Daily, Skyway News, the Northeaster. The Angle board will discuss this at their June 3 meeting. It was suggested we have more in common with Northeast Minneapolis than Seward – could they combine there? It was also suggested that the board find out whom their advertisers wish to appeal to and go after that audience; to try to appeal to a younger demographic; to look at Southwest Journal as a model and to improve the readability of the calendar page.
8. Emily Buehler of the CCNP Restorative Justice Program , announced that there is a huge increase on the number of cases they are seeing here. Since we started here in October , we have had 165 cases enrolled. The total number of cases in all 7 other neighborhoods combined is 60. Offenders are sentenced to community service at community conferences. They are held at First Congregational Church.Ms Buehler thanked Ardes Johnson and Gordon Kepner for their involvement, More volunteers are needed for the conferences. People can first just observe, then sign up for one or more. U students are encouraged to get involved as well. Some recent offenders signed up to help with the 5th St garden project May 21.Call Emily to volunteer at 341-2657.
9. Elissa Cortell announced that the Phase II NRP plan will be put to vote at the June meeting. Dutch Elm Tree Disease Prevention grant applications are due June 1.
10. MHNA member Chris Wilson postponed his Gopher Stadium report until next month. Note – next month is our Annual Elections meeting. Committees will be giving year end reports and a several new board members positions need filling.

Meeting adjourned at 9: 15 pm. Melissa Bean, MHNA Executive Director