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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
April 18, 2006
Marcy Open School, 415 4th Ave SE

1. Meeting called to order at 7:45 pm by President Brian Biele. The agenda was approved.
2. The March minutes were approved with the addition of some NRP items that were inadvertently omitted: NRP Storefront grants approved for Post Office and Burrito Loco. NRP recommended awarding $922.50 to Post Office for half cost of new windows and lamination to prevent etching, and $1,000 toward cost of canvas awning at Burrito Loco. Also approved, allocating up to $1,000 in NRP funds toward a survey of U of MN faculty and staff regarding their housing needs.
3. Council Member Diane Hofstede reminded all of the April 29 Second Installment of the Third Ward Summit. The information from the first one has been compiled. There will be break out groups and strategy sessions. A sign up sheet was passed around. CM Hofstede complimented Tom Lincoln and his Safety Committee for putting on the April 8th workshop. The mayor’s State of the City address was held tonight and public safety was his first priority. It is not yet known when more officers will be hired for the second precinct. It is very important to call 911 when you see a crime occurring or suspicious behavior. The number of calls received at 911 determines the number of police we see on our streets. CM Hofstede also urged us to call her office (673-2203) after we make the 911 calls so she can track problems.CM Hofstede acknowledged our concerns about the U stadium bill and agrees that the mitigation fund proposed is not enough. She has been in conversations with the legislature and university to work out a more comprehensive plan. There is a precedent at other universities to create community participation agreements. She added that we might need to rally the troops.
4. Board actions taken tonight:
   • Executive Committee – Tonight approved a liquor license for O’Brien’s Decoy’s Pub & Smokehouse, on East Hennepin. (Same business, new owner.) Earlier ok’d sending a letter (Land Use committee recommendation) to FERC objecting to the fact the MHNA comments about operations at the proposed XCEL Hennepin Island Park were not acted upon in the final document. Executive Committee also ok’d (Safety & Livability Committee recommendation) NRP’s Joint Party Detail proposal, with the addition that some police time should address drug trade that has sprouted this spring.
   • Safety & Livability – Chair Tom Lincoln thanked committee members who worked on the April 8th workshop: Sarah Schultz, Matt Hill, Sarah Murphy, Brian Muldoon, Paula Buchta, Karen Quiroz Bly, Larry Prinds. There will be a May 1 follow up meeting to focus on 311 vs. 911 calls; citizen patrols, focusing on problem properties, greater U of MN involvement, graffiti clean up. The committee meets the first Monday of the month 7 pm at First Congregational Church, 5th St. SE & 8th Ave SE. Reminder – a personal safety workshop is scheduled for April 26 at NE Middle School. Flyers are available tonight. Anyone interested in patrols, contact Tom Lincoln at thomas_lincoln@urscorp.com
   • NRP – The board approved $4500 in police buy back funding for four nights in April and May from 9 pm to 2 am. The Second Precinct is also providing a party patrol to all of Southeast on nights we don’t have coverage. The board approved using $2700 in NRP funds for two special outreach meetings per year through 2009, organized by Safety & Livability Committee. Several other storefront grants were approved: Burrito Loco ($3652.17 awnings); Dinkytown Optical ($1000 window etching prevention lamination); Espresso Royale ($3,000 awnings); Subway ($379 graffiti prevention coating), Vescio’s ($1000 etching prevention lamination). Also approved by the board – Using $9,000 in NRP funds to hire a professional fundraiser to augment NRP-approved housing strategies.
   • Land Use – Jo Radzwill, chair, reported that the committee and board agreed to write a letter to Andrew Riverside Church asking them to refurbish the site until construction begins. The garden there was dismantled and plants given away to community gardens city wide in anticipation of site preparation. The construction has been delayed awaiting city and HPC approval of the building.Archive condominiums at 700 – 708 Central Ave requested variances and a change in zoning. The land use committee recommended the MHNA support Archive developers in their request for changes summarized in the attached Zoning Summary (part of their general land use application submitted to the City of Minneapolis). In addition, the land use committee / MHNA recognizes the site constraints encountered by developers regarding their parking facility and supports the project despite having no “eyes on the street” in the new construction on Seventh Street SE.Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association (MHNA) Land Use Committee recommended and the MHNA board agreed to support the Draft of the Mississippi River Critical Area Plan dated March 22, 2006.The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association recognizes and appreciates that many parts of the Mississippi River Critical Area Plan reinforce the MHNA Master Plan. The river is an asset to both the City of Minneapolis and the neighborhood. The MHNA particularly supports the following:
     • Preservation of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District
     • Improvement and expansion of the riverfront greenway system – Extension of existing Main Street to connect with East River Parkway at the University of Minnesota (also known as the “missing link”) – Continuous off-street regional trail corridor (for both walking and biking), remaining at the river’s edge where possible
     • Public access to the river, ideally through park property, or via extensions of the existing street grid (perpendicular to the river)
     • Development of a whitewater park in the St. Anthony Falls area

     The neighborhood recognizes that more intense residential development along the river is appropriate. As this development evolves the neighborhood supports the following:

     • Development of “points of interest” where adjacent neighborhoods such as Marcy-Holmes have lateral entry to the river
     • Design of buildings developed along the river corridor to avoid the appearance of walls, emphasizing river views and accessibility as key design components

     The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association looks forward to using the Mississippi River Critical Area Plan to guide development of our riverfront.

5. Jeff Miller, of HKGi, presented the results of their Supplement to the Master Plan for three development areas we identified in the neighborhood: 15th and 14th Ave SE; University & 10th Ave SE; the Hennepin/Central Ave triangle. Developer roundtable discussions addressed these areas as well. They hold both challenges ad opportunities. At our February meeting the basic concepts were shown. Tonight those concepts have been illustrated with desired patterns, building types, placement, etc. The information is useful for proactive conversations with developers. See www.marcy-holmes.org for complete presentation)The Hennepin Central triangle is suggested to have mixed use with enclosed parking for residential, surface for retail. The back section is seen as more residential (6 – 8 stories) than the front (4 stories). Reuse and restoration of existing warehouse buildings is encouraged. Along East Hennepin, buildings should maximize the amount of street frontage to create a cohesive urban pedestrian street environment similar to the intersection of East Hennepin and University. A gateway, small corner plazas and benches would contribute to the neighborhoods identity.14th/15th Ave area (between 5th St. and railroad tracks) is seen as multifamily residential, with more relaxed height limits due to the high cost of acquiring rental property. At a minimum of 4 stories, the plan envisions different types of housing ; a balance of owner-occupied and rental; perhaps some new student rentals owned and operated by the U of MN. A relatively taller, “landmark” building (6-8 stories) could go on the block NW of 15th Ave SE and 8th St. intersection. Some form of outdoor space for residents, including balconies, patios, roof gardens and courtyards should be included. Some other ideas included converting the dead end of 14th Ave into a plaza; creating an “urban” streetscape along 15th and 5th St.; creating residential streetscape along 14th Ave, 6th, 7th and 8th St.The 10th Ave/35W area is seen as primarily multifamily residential with some commercial and light industrial. Between University and 2nd Street is residential; retail nodes would be at Univ. Ave./10th Ave/35W/ and 8th Ave/4th St. The redevelopment of University faculty housing (Pillsbury Court) to a more attractive and neighborhood-oriented type of housing is suggested. Florence Court’s historic character is a model for new buildings to complement. Newer buildings along 2nd Street could reach 8-10 stories in order to enable higher density to occur at the edge of the neighborhood. A gateway should be created at 35W interchange ramps, including small corner plazas.

   A question was asked about how much density the neighborhood could comfortably handle. Our Master Plan preserves a significant amount of single family at the core, but shows the outer edges as multifamily development we have incredible transit systems already here. Adding density is a city goal. We need to encourage developers to be a part of the solution. Our area is the third highest employment center in the state, add to that amenities like the riverfront, and it is easy to see why Marcy-Holmes is headed for more growth. It was suggested that HKGi add a line about existing transit modes at each site and add the routes to the project maps.

   Ardes Johnson brought up the U’s recent workshop designed to encourage employees to live closer to campus, within walking distance. The next step is to reach out to the seven developers who took part in our roundtable talks. Some items to discuss: acquiring land; working with the U on affordable student housing; encouraging more graduate student housing options. After these plans are officially adopted by MHNA, it would be a good idea to get city council to adopt as well.

6. NRP Implementation Committee Elections were held. Several candidates are running again:
   • Louise Huebner (SE churches)
   • Ardes Johnson (homeowner)
   • Skott Johnson (businesses)
   • Marni Loven-Bell (at large)
   • Ted Tucker (landlord)

   Both student and renter seats are open. To fill one, Erin Steva has volunteered. The committee will seek the final member at its first meeting. A motion (NRP Committee) to accept the slate of candidates was passed.

7. Kim Malrick, of Restorative Justice Community Action, handed out their last quarter’s highlights. All are encouraged to participate in the community conferences to help decide community service options for those offenders who have chosen this program instead of the court system. Most common citation here: underage consumption (376 since 10/04, 60 so far this year) The program has a 96% satisfaction rate.
8. Barbara Mundes, Hennepin County Corrections, is involved in a program new to Second Precinct called the Neighborhood Probation Office. They supervise people who are on probation and parole in the community. They also attend neighborhood meetings. Her office, soon to be located at 2632 Central Ave., has a conference room that can be used for community meetings. A juvenile probation officer will also have an office there.Brian Biele asked about public information available re: the concentration of these folks in the neighborhood. Probation means in lieu of going to jail or prison; parole means they’ve done their time, getting released, in need of supervision. These names, numbers are part of the public record, Community Computers ZIP System, but can only be accessed downtown. Ms Mundes offered to assist. There is no mechanism now in place for police officers to know at time of a call if person involved is on parole or probation. Tom Lincoln asked about the “Re-Entry Program” This is a mental health program and she does not see it as creating problems. Although several participants are living in the 8th St./8th Ave SE area, she does not see them creating a problem. Most are “vulnerable” adults. Landlords are the key – she would like to work with us, perhaps help set up some tenant screening committees.MHNA member Kathleen Reilly reminded the group of “due process”. Although the conversation was only beginning, we ran out of time. Ms Mundes is happy to return at a later date.
9. Kendre Turonie announced Spring Jam info. People were reminded of the Earth Day River Clean Up, Saturday April 22 at 6th & Main.
10. Meeting adjourned at 9:12 pm.

Melissa Bean, MHNA Exec. Dir