DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, INC.

NRP STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

Monday, September 30, 1996

Roger Thomte convened the meeting.

Roll call (including subsequent arrivals) showed the presence of members Bell, Brust, Centor, Meyer, Percich, Rosenquist, Saginaw, Thomte, Wilson; staff Cox-Jenkins, Stark; visitor Andrew Hauer.

Approval of minutes of August meeting moved by Saginaw, seconded by George. Vote in favor was unanimous.

DMRA staff report, Bill Stark, Executive Director

1. Bill announced his intention to publish and distribute the next DMRA newsletter so that it could provide timely announcement and promotion for a community meeting on the Neighborhood Revitalization Project.

2. Bill announced his intention to ask members of this committee to telephone people who have indicated interest in joining task forces to ask for their attendance at the community meeting.

3. Bill reported some building meetings since last steering committee meeting.

4. Bill reported that raw data from some 500 returned surveys have been given to city planning department.

Continuing business Task Forces and Community Meeting

Roger opened discussion of the establishment of task forces which soon became mingled with discussion of a community meeting. Among the task forces which we might anticipate needing are parks, crime and safety, skyways, education, development, transportation, and housing.

As the discussion continued questions arose regarding the date and agenda for a combined community meeting and DMRA annual meeting with election. If such a meeting were to be held November 19 the DMRA newsletter might need to be in final form (or nearly so) by the time of the regular October meeting of this committee. In addition, a 2-hour session with one hour for NRP presentation of survey data and formation of task forces and one hour for DMRA annual meeting, including elections, might lead to crowding and/or excessive length.

Monroe moved and Karen seconded that this committee authorize its chair to make decisions on these matters with representatives of the DMRA Board. Further conversation clarified that the DMRA Board was inviting the NRP Steering Committee to use a full hour, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., in advance of the DMRA Annual Meeting on Nov. 19. Bob Saginaw twice asked for advice in the matter of inviting a celebrity guest speaker in the light of the tension between the desirability of drawing a larger attendance and the possibility of reducing time or attentiveness for other matters.

Angelo proposed a friendly amendment or substitute motion that this committee schedule a community meeting for consideration of NRP survey results and task force formation for 7:00-8:00 p.m. Nov. 19. Monroe and Karen accepted Angelo's suggestion and the motion passed without dissent.

Roger proposed forming a sub-committee immediately to begin predicting task forces in advance of receiving survey results and possibly identifying task force leadership. Bill spoke to the advantage of proceeding with these plans in advance of the next meeting in order that more concrete information could be written into the DMRA newsletter.

Bob Saginaw moved and Sandra seconded that we create a sub-committee on task forces to prepare for the next meeting of the Steering Committee. George and Karen spoke to the need for this sub-committee to include preparation for the community meeting including a focus on procedure. This motion passed unanimously.

Angelo moved that we charge this sub-committee to develop a procedure sufficiently detailed and concrete to provide details of the community meeting for the newsletter. This motion failed for lack of a second.

By volunteering and common consent the sub-committee membership was set to include Bob Saginaw, George, and Bill.

New Business

1. Roger spoke of the advantage of this committee's holding meetings in a variety of places. By common consent it was decided to hold the October meeting at Rivergate and to expect to use other locations in the future.

2. This committee is not ready to set date(s) for task force training.

3. Discussion began on a proposed budget revision #3 (reverse of Bill's Sept 5 letter.) Angelo moved and Frank seconded that Bill be paid for 27 hrs per week now with up to $500 transferred from General Outreach between now and the October meeting. This motion passed. Committee sentiments included thanks and condolences to Bill for his work on behalf of NRP.

4. The October meeting was set for the 28th at Rivergate with Frank and Sandra providing refreshments.

5. Any new business

A. The question was raised whether we need a by-law revision to provide for removal of inactive members of this committee. It was suggested that three consecutive absences without prior notification might justify removal. By common consent 1 or 2 members present were assigned to talk with each absent member.

B. The committee was reminded of the election of the NRP Policy Board Nov. 21. The time for nominations has passed. Both the NRP Steering Committee and the DMRA Board need appropriate representation on this NRP Policy Board.

C. George requested financial report for NRP budget. It was agreed that money management needed to be on the October agenda. Visitor Andy Hauer promised that a financial spread sheet would be provided for the October meeting.

Motion to adjourn made by Bob Saginaw, seconded by Arthur, passed without dissent.

Monroe Bell, Secretary