Current Minutes
DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Minutes from the Board Meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Hennepin County Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall
Room N-202, Minneapolis, MN
I. Call to Order and Introductions
Board Chair Gerry Ewald called the board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Other board members in attendance were:
Andy Hauer; Paula Klimek; Eric Laska; Carletta Sweet; and Jesse Winkler
Absent board members were:
Andrea Christenson and Wally Swan
Guests in attendance included:
Lisa Goodman, 7th Ward Council Member and Jeremy Zoss, Downtown Journal
DMNA staff member Christie Rock was also present.
II. Consideration of the Agenda
Ewald advised the need to increase the amount under NRP Implementation from $2,789.83 to $7,789.83. He also advised the need to add consideration of the November 29, 2011, special board meeting minutes.
Sweet moved and Hauer seconded a motion to approve the December agenda as amended. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
III. 7th Ward Update by Council Member Lisa Goodman
Goodman reported on the following activities and issues:
Highlighted numerous liquor license approvals that the DMNA has already reviewed.
Noted several development projects, which the DMNA reviewed, have received City approval.
Later with Lisa scheduled for Monday, December 19, at the Normandy Inn.
City will consider adopting final FY2012 budget on December 14. Calls for 0% property tax increase.
Reminder about snow emergency requirements for Downtown property owners.
Working with Minneapolis Police Department regarding shutting down First Avenue and Hennepin Avenue at 10 p.m., on weekends.
No updates on Jaguar site redevelopment project.
Metrodome site is the City’s preferred future Vikings stadium location. Goodman does not support local public financing of the stadium. Prefers a statewide method. She supports the Block E casino proposal.
Downtown Council will unveil 2025 Plan soon. Priorities might differ from what residents want. Generally it supports expanding residential opportunities, more greening, more cultural activities, etc.
Not following Redistricting discussion until the State draws new lines.
Traffic better on Hennepin Avenue after two-way conversion.
Goodman proposed that the 2012 meeting schedule be same as 2011. Rock will work with Ruth Hamann to schedule.
IV. Selection of Committee Chairs
Land Use
Klimek moved and Winkler seconded a motion to nominate Andy Hauer as Land Use Chair. Hauer accepted the nomination. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
Crime and Safety
Ewald reviewed the responsibilities of the Crime and Safety Chair, which includes attending Court Watch meetings. These meetings take place on the second Friday of every month, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Doty Board Room at the Hennepin County Central Library. He mentioned that he had a friend who had an interest in serving as the DMNA Crime and Safety Chair. Klimek expressed concern about having a non-board member representing the DMNA at Court Watch meetings. She suggested that the board rotate attending the meetings. Hauer suggested that a board member and a community volunteer could attend together.
Hauer moved and Klimek seconded a motion to have board members attend Court Watch meetings on a rotational basis. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
Ewald stated that he would attend the January 13, 2012, meeting with his friend. The board could consider the future rotational schedule at the January 10, 2012 board meeting.
V. Land Use
Consideration of the DMNA taking a position on the Alatus Partners Block E Casino Proposal. The board discussed the November 29, special meeting at Alatus Partners and whether they should take a position on the Block E casino proposal. Hauer suggested the DMNA host a community meeting to allow Alatus Partners to give a presentation and receive feedback on the proposal. He suggested waiting on scheduling this meeting until after the Legislative session begins on January 24, 2012. Ewald asked Rock to check with Carl Runck at Alatus Partners to determine whether they would be willing to give a presentation to the community. The Board will revisit this discussion at the January 10, 2012 meeting.
VI. NRP Implementation Update
Consideration of moving $7,789.83 in un-contracted Phase I funds to Phase II. Rock explained that the DMNA has a balance of funds remaining in Phase I NRP strategies. These dollars are not in contracts, which could potentially make them available to the City for other neighborhoods or non-citizen participation activities. She suggested that the board move these funds from Phase I into the Phase II Implementation contract to protect them.
Hauer moved and Sweet seconded a motion to move $7,789.83 in un-contracted Phase I NRP funds to Phase II. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
VII. Neighborhood and Community Engagement Update
Rock advised that the DMNA received information regarding the 6-month extension of funds. The DMNA received an additional allocation of 2011 CPP funds in the amount of $32,936.47. Rock will prepare a budget amendment to add these funds to the existing CPP contract.
VIII. Consideration of Board Meeting Minutes from November 8, 2011
Sweet moved and Hauer seconded a motion to approve the board minutes from November 8, 2011. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
Consideration of Special Board Meeting Minutes from November 29, 2011
Sweet moved and Laska seconded a motion to approve the board minutes from the special meeting held on November 29, 2011 at Alatus Partners. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
IX. Consideration of December 2011 Financial Report
Hauer moved and Sweet seconded a motion to receive and file the December 2011 financial report. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
Consideration of FY 2012 Budget
Sweet moved and Laska seconded a motion to approve the FY 2012 budget. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
X. Staff Report
Rock summarized her activities for the period 11-5-11 to 12-9-11 from the report she previously submitted via email.
Sweet moved and Hauer seconded a motion to receive and file Rock’s staff report. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
XI. Board Governance
No discussion.
XII. Old business / new business / other business
Update on outreach and collaboration with other downtown organizations. Reference the Outreach and Collaboration chart emailed from Sweet in advance of the meeting for updates.
Consideration of DMNA representative to the Downtown Council. Ewald stated that former board member George Rosenquist is interested in continuing as the DMNA liaison to the Downtown Council. However, it is difficult to justify using NRP and CPP funds to pay for his lunches if he is unable to attend DMNA Board meetings to provide updates. Ewald indicated that Christenson might be interested in the position. There was discussion regarding whether the DMNA could actually have a representative. Sweet stated that Rosenquist was allowed to attend Downtown Council meetings as an ex officio because he is a former Downtown Council board member. After further discussion, it was agreed to postpone this matter to the next board meeting to allow Laska the opportunity to speak with his contacts to investigate the matter further.
Redistricting discussion. No additional discussion beyond what was stated during Council Member Goodman’s update.
Yahoo Groups discussion. Laska presented the idea of establishing a Yahoo Group for the DMNA Board and entertained questions. Rock advised that she had previously spoken with Vivid Image, the Web site designers, about creating a password-protected aspect of the site where board members could post discussion items, present motions, etc. She also mentioned that she budgeted for a complete update of the DMNA Web site in the FY2012 budget so that this project could be included in that overhaul.
Winkler moved and Hauer seconded a motion for Rock to follow-up with Vivid Image regarding the Web site overhaul and creating a password-protected aspect of the site. Ewald called for discussion. The motion passed.
Meanwhile, Laska encouraged board members to experiment with the Yahoo Group he set-up and consider it as a temporary alternative until the Web site can be updated.
XIII. Adjournment
Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Signed this ________ day of ________________________, 2011.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Chair Secretary
