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MINUTES of the January 20, 2009
MHNA General Membership Meeting
University Lutheran Church of Hope,
601 13th Ave SE, Mpls, MN

1. Meeting called to order by MHNA Vice President Bob Distad. A motion to approve the October 2008 minutes was passed.

2. Bob Distad reported on the board’s earlier discussion about drafting an official MHNA Transportation Policy. We will send out a draft in advance of the March meeting and members can weigh in on it then.

Land Use Report – The committee met with reps of Lunds Grocery Store in Jan seeking a modification of a conditional use permit. The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Land Use Committee, and the MHNA Board of Directors, voted to support Lunds’ application for a modification of its conditional use permit or for a variance so that the store may continue operating with the limited amount of equipment and shelving remaining in front of the windows for the following reasons:

· Placement of the deli and bakery areas along University Avenue provides activity for pedestrians as well as for customers within the store.

· Although the shelving and deli equipment obscure some views into the store, Lunds exceeds the overall percentage of windows required by the Minneapolis zoning code.

· The eating area that has an unobstructed view of University Avenue provides ample “eyes on the street.”

The neighborhood feels Lunds is an asset to the community and it is with pleasure that it supports this application.

3. Cheyenne Erickson, aide to CM Hofstede, announced the upcoming CARE meeting, presented info on the University District Alliance’s Zoning & Planning Regulatory Review committee and passed out 3rd Ward newsletters.

4. Earlier tonight, the board discussed the future of NRP ( Neighborhood Revitalization Program) , now being replaced by a Community Engagement Commission under the direction of the city coordinator. The board agreed that we would take part in an upcoming planning meeting to help decide how neighborhood reps to the commission will be chosen.

5. Dick Gilyard, PPERRIA, and Jan Morlock, U of MN Community Relations, handed out information on the University District Alliance, formed in 2007. It is a partnership of the City, University and neighborhoods adjacent to the U. It is the first time all these groups have worked together in this way, although there are some similarities to past efforts like SEMPAC and First SE Corp, now defunct. The Alliance is looking at land use, direction, and most importantly restoring confidence in the neighborhoods as great places to live and work. The Alliance received $750,000 in state funding to create demonstration projects to improve the area. To preserve current home ownership, the Alliance started an Option to Buy program. Through the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corp (GMHC), the Alliance offers options to purchase homes at fair market value when owners are ready to sell. If GMHC agrees to purchase the home, it is held until it can be resold to an owner occupant. This program, in partnership with SE Seniors, was made available in two target areas, one in Marcy-Holmes and one in SE Como. It helps strengthen and preserve homeownership and attracts more long-term residents. A homebuyers incentive program was also created. It offers $10,000 forgivable loans for down payment assistance on single family, duplex or triplexes that will be owner-occupied throughout the District. The District covers all of SE and the West Bank/Cedar Riverside neighborhoods. Another Alliance initiative is the livenearyourwork.net website. The site tells the story of the District, markets the neighborhoods and posts listings of homes for sale here. Other demonstration projects: The Office of Student Affairs has instituted a neighborhood liaison program with two students in our neighborhood and several in SE Como. These are student peer leaders engaging other students to become active in the civic lives of their neighborhoods. Work on a Zoning & Planning Regulatory Review, which brought parties together to look at existing conditions and how to improve them, is ongoing. The current moratorium on 1-4 unit buildings is a result of this committee. The first phase of a University District Master Plan is also underway with Cuningham Architect Group.

So far, the cash leverage from the Alliance work has been $500,000. Many neighborhood residents have volunteered time on all of these activities. The Alliance is continuing to build partnerships (Augsberg College recently joined). A workshop is planned for this week with an architectural firm taking an existing home and analyzing how it could be retrofitted to become an energy-efficient, truly sustainable home and what that would cost. The Alliance has purchased its first home, in SE Como, to demonstrate these concepts. A commercial district gateway project in Cedar Riverside is in the works. Each neighborhood has forwarded “transformative projects” for the Master Plan. Marcy-Holmes’ is the 15th Ave SE Urban Design Plan; Prospect Park/ East River Rd’s is the 29th Ave SE light rail station ; SE Como is recapturing housing along 15th Ave SE across from Van Cleve Park for alumni and U of MN workers; Cedar Riverside’s is how to fill in the gap that separates the neighborhood, known as the Washington Ave Trench. These are exciting initiatives and people are encouraged to get involved.

6. MHNA Land Use Committee Chair Jo Radzwill explained further the work of the Zoning & Planning Regulatory Review committee of the Alliance. She posted ideas from that group to improve city procedures and regulations related to the neighborhoods. Tonight, those present were asked to walk around and review and comment on the ideas posted for inclusion in the official public comments. Subjects were: parking and transportation, enforcement, design and development, planning and zoning framework, and public process.

7. MHNA member Ardes Johnson spoke about the activities of SEMCOL (SE Minneapolis Council on Learning). MHNA reps on that committee are Ardes, Harriet Johnson, Laurice Jamieson and Don Fraser. SEMCOL, started in 2003, works to support the SE neighborhoods’ schools. One project is to collect books for after school programs. Children are so happy to receive books- over 1000 were given out last year. SEMCOL’s “Learning Dreams” is an effort to talk to families about educational goals, for the parents as well as the children, and help achieve those goals. An online learning directory is underway. Volunteers are needed at both Pratt and Marcy schools. A local corporation, Target, donates 1% of customer charges to local schools and that has greatly helped.

8. Kender Turonie, office of Student affairs, spoke about the new Student Liaison program here. Aaron Jefferson and Eric Lund are working in Marcy-Holmes. They are targeting student renters about livability issues and forming relationships with long term residents. They are partnering with the Second Precinct to form block clubs, focusing on the East Side of our neighborhood. Snow shoveling is a particular issue now. They are looking at vouchers for free snow shovels and assisting SE Seniors. She is also looking at a neighborhood clean up this spring.

9. A joint ward meeting is being held to discuss TCF Stadium game days and how they may impact neighborhoods, Feb 18 at Van Cleve Park.

10. The U of MN is updating its Campus Master Plan that will guide future growth for the next 10 years. Info sessions are scheduled and public comment is sought.

11. Kathleen Reilly announced new programming at the SE Library, including an upcoming art show by Marcy-Holmes resident Scott Bean.

12. The Minneapolis St Paul Home Tour is coming up the last weekend of April. People were asked to consider putting their homes on the tour.

13. Tonight’s door prize winners were: Harriet Johnsons and Kathleen Reilly. Gift certificates to Vic’s and Pracna on Main were kindly provided by the restaurants.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm
Melissa Bean, MHNA Exec. Dir.

—— End of Forwarded Message