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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
August 16, 2005
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE

1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by MHNA Secretary Tom Lincoln.
2. The agenda was approved – although there was no quorum present.
3. Council Member Paul Zerby gave an update on the 15th Ave SE Lighting project. An info meeting for property owners was held recently. A church, worried about financial burden, and one property owner present were the only ones who spoke out in opposition of the project. The cost of the project is being reduced by financial participation from the U of MN, Mpls Park Board, and NRP funds from MHNA and SECIA. The public hearing will be at City Hall Aug 23, 9:45 am.CM Zerby referred to an article in St Paul newspaper that mentioned the A-Mill project and the quandary of height in new development. A straw poll of those present indicated a majority favoring taller buildings with more open space between them vs lower buildings with greater massing.The city is hiring new police officers and our Second Precinct Station will get back the seven positions we were down. Restoring some of the LGA funds at Legislature was responsible for the turn around and CM Zerby felt Senator Pogemiller was largely to thank.
4. Tom Lincoln read the board motions made earlier:
   • A letter of support will be sent to Housing Inspections in favor of moving our Housing Inspector into the Second Precinct Police Station

   Tom Lincoln read the Executive Committee decisions made since the June board meeting:

   • Voted to uphold the zoning administratorÕs decision to oppose any expansion of non conforming use at 421 6th t SE.
   • Did not object to expanded hours for Jimmy JohnÕs restaurant in Dinkytown.
   • Did not object to an off site parking lot for employees of Popular Front Interactive at 605 Central.
   • Did not object to the setback variance for Dekker-Travis garage at 608 7th Ave SE.
   • Submitted an Neighborhood Impact Statement letter re: Wardell Sherril, arrested for aggressive panhandling here.
5. Land Use Committee Chair Jo Radzwill announced tonightÕs board decisions made after her committee recommendations:
   • The Andrew Riverside Church site on 4th St SE – The board agreed to a zoning change ( from R2B to R5) that would permit a 4 story 32-condo unit building with the church leasing space on the first floor. There will be four townhouses on the 8th Ave side; greenspace in the back, and underground parking for the residents. Church parking would be across the street in the lot they already use with talks continuing about sharing some of the Gopher Cleaners rear parking for church events.
6. Beth Storey of Friends of the Mississippi River, spoke abut their Stewardship Gorge Project. They currently work with PPERRIA and Longfellow neighborhood groups to restore Mississippi River oak savannas, upland prairies and sand flats. They work with volunteers to remove invasive plant species (like buckthorn and garlic mustard) and clean up trails. They plan to do an interpretive program in Marcy-Holmes in November and hope to work with us on a project in the near future.
7. Elissa Cottle gave an NRP report. The Phase II Plan is set to be approved by the City Council on Friday. There are still Dutch Elm Disease Prevention grants available – call the office for an application – 623-7923. An opening for a Student Liaison was announced – must be a resident and student; part time job has flexible hours. New murals may be coming to Dinkytown as anti-graffiti measure. A sign up list for NRP projects was on the back table.
8. Misc – Melissa Bean talked about the Rainwater Recycling Tours held in early August. Leftover brochures for self guided tours were available tonight or at the office. Meetings continue to be held on the U football stadium. We should have something to look at by November MHNA meeting. Star Tribune had a recent story on possible development at Superior Plating. We expect another multi-neighborhod task force will take up the matter. People were reminded that the U Light Up the Night event is Sept 1.
9. The Vice President of recruitment at Triangle Fraternity, Shuo Wang, read a list of five motions he would like considered at the October meeting. They concerned moving the annual meeting to October; adopting Roberts’ Rules of Orders; changing membership eligibility; and proxy voting. President Officer Tom Lincoln asked for the list in writing so he could refer them to the September Executive Committee meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM Melissa Bean