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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
May 16, 2006 • Marcy Open School, 415 4th Ave SE, Mpls.

1. Meeting called to order at 7:35 pm by President Brian Biele.
2. A motion to approve the agenda (B Sherman) was passed.
3. A motion to approve the April minutes was passed.
4. Executive Committee Report – no formal actions taken tonight. Since the last meeting the committee:
   • voted to re-send 151 membership registration cards due to irregularities
   • voted to approve a liquor license for O’Brien’s Decoy Pub & Smokehouse, Eighth & East Hennepin
   • voted to add Volunteer Recognition to the June meeting. Nominations are welcome. We will not hold the July picnic.
   • approved a Gophers Stadium resolution: The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association formally requests that the staffing of the full-time uniformed police officers employed by the University of Minnesota are consistent with the staffing numbers during Memorial Stadium’s last years of operation. The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association opposes a new on campus football stadium at the University of Minnesota if the above-mentioned staffing levels are not met.
5. Safety & Livability Report – no formal action tonight
6. NRP Report – Board approved storefront grants to Duffy’s Pizza and Casablanca Hair; and Urban Envy. Board also approved (1 abstention: Kepner) 14 Rental Property rehab grants: 800 7th St; 321 12th Av; 815 12th Av; 916 7th St; 915 Univ; 1219 7th St; 627 12th Av; 1201 7th St; 1105 6th St; 339 8th St; 407 4th St; 707 8th Av; 311 11th Av; 524 8th St. If any funds are unspent, there is a ranked waiting list of properties that will get grants.
7. Land Use Committee Report – By consensus the board agreed to reiterate, by letter, its support for the Andrew Riverside project as presented by David Frank.
8. All were reminded that 2006 Boulevard Garden applications are due 5/16. We are adding new 5th St Bump-Out Gardens and having a plant swap/potluck on Mon June 5. Call the office 623-7633 for details.
9. Student Liaison Matt Hill has been working with the Safety & Livability Committee to get students involved in safety precautions. He is also using students to paint murals in Dinkytown. Ten Restorative Justice participants have been busy cleaning trash from the west side of the neighborhood.
10. Brian Biele commended all for their work at the Annual River Clean Up. This was his first one, and many said the amount of garbage was less this year than in the past.
11. CM Diane Hofstede spoke about the upcoming Third Ward Summit Task Force meeting May 31, East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 Second St NE at 6:45pm. It will address traffic, arts, greenspace and youth. She was asked about the city’s Safe Summer Initiative – it seems “boilerplate” and not specific to our neighborhood’s needs. CM Hofstede replied that this is a “working document” and will change with feedback. She reminded us of the upcoming Inspections Sweep and asked people to call 911 to document crimes, suspicious behavior. The Mayor expects to have a new police chief by Labor Day and a budget soon. We were asked to contact her about areas that need beefing up in the budget. She complimented our group for staying active and speaking up.
12. Cindy Wheeler, of MN Dept. of Natural Resources, gave a presentation on the proposed Whitewater Park, to be located between the Stone Arch Bridge and the 35W Bridge along the eats bank of the Mississippi. There will be bike trails, picnic areas, restored vegetation, shore fishing facilities, as well as a rafting/kayak whitewater park. A feasibility study, completed in 1999, showed the concept is economically and technically feasible. Another environmental review, by the Army Corps of Engineers, brought up some concerns about creating some upland fill in the river, so the project is currently stalled until it is re-designed. In the best case scenario, the new environmental review and cost analysis would be done by June 07. The whitewater park concept is becoming very popular across the country. We are fortunate to have a natural drop of 25’. There will be a way to control the flow so different skill levels can be accommodated. Spectators also enjoy a day at the park. $26 million was the original cost; new re-design cost is not yet known. Xcel Energy has offered to donate the land. The legislature is looking at a $3.7 million bonding request. A question was asked – After it is built, who would manage and operate it? It must go to a state entity, although the MPRB wants some role. Ms Wheeler was thanked and agreed to return when new information is available.
13. MHNA member Julie Harley reported on the East Side Bicycle Advisory Task Force meetings she has been attending on our behalf. We are one of four cities recently awarded a $25 million grant for pedestrian and non-motorized transportation funding. Much of that will go to North and NE Mpls. including a new bridge over the river at 18th Ave NE and continuation of bike paths at Second St North, just across the river, in 2010. There will be a connection from St Paul to the Midtown Greenway bike path. More ideas are being sought. Transit for Livable Communities is administering the grant. We will try to get a link to maps via our website.
14. Kathleen Reilly, SE Library Task Force, announced that all plans are on hold until after the new downtown library opens. On June 5, 6:30 – 8:30, at the SE Library, the Friends of the Library are holding a public meeting. Kathleen suggested that our rallying cry for now should be for more hours the library is open. She would like to pack the meeting – all are encouraged to attend.
15. U of MN’s Kendre Turonie announced that the 2-year Dept of Education grant application was funded. It was not funded at the full amount, but $130,000 per year. It seeks to address underage alcohol use; Restorative Justice on campus; police patrols; interns for neighborhood associations. (More information to follow)
16. The Central Corridor Transit hearings are scheduled: www.centralcorridor.org
17. Board elections are being held in June. We have several openings. If you would like to run, please contact the office. Also – we just found out that the June meeting will NOT be held at Marcy School – instead, we will meet at First Congregational Church, 5th St SE & 8th Ave SE.
18. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM

Melissa Bean, Ex. Dir.