Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association
Minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Hennepin Center for the Arts
528 Hennepin Avenue, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Minneapolis, Minnesota
I. Call to Order and Introductions
Board Chair Carletta Sweet called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Other board members in attendance included Gerry Ewald; Andy Hauer; Natasha Heimer, Treasurer; Denise Holt, Secretary; Kim Motes; and Scott Parkin, Vice Chair.
George Rosenquist was unable to attend.
Guests in attendance included: Tim Bicknell, Ellerbe Becket; Laura Boyd, Alcohol Compliance Services; Michelle Bruch, Downtown Journal; Katie Bruwelhide and Vera Swing, RLK, Inc.; Gretchen Camp and Mike Krych, BKV Group; Bob Day and Terry Day, Downtown Gateway Dog Park; Travis Farniok, Crawford Merz and Anderson; Eric Fortney and Michael Horton, Brothers Bar & Grill; Bill McGrann, McGrann Shea; Tim Rooney and Josh Thoma, Barrio; Gerard Viardin, Marquette Hotel; Mike Wilson, Wilson & Associates.
Staff member Christie Rock also attended the meeting.
II. Consideration of the Agenda
Board Chair Sweet asked if there were any additions or changes to the agenda. Sweet requested that all Land Use items be moved to the top of the agenda. Parkin advised that due to George Rosenquist’s absence there would be no Crime and Safety report, and that he had no Marketing/Communications report for this month.
Hauer moved and Motes seconded a motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed.
III. Land Use Committee Report
Mill District City Apartments. Hauer briefed the Board on the presentation Village Green Companies gave regarding this project at DMNA’s neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, April 29, and noted the following concerns were raised by residents in attendance:
· Its design, i.e., total number of units, signage, power lines on South 2nd Street, and the height of the structure;
· Increased traffic levels;
· Parking limitations; and
· Noise disturbances.
Hauer advised that a vote was taken at the public meeting to determine the level of support for the project. The majority of the individuals in attendance supported the project as presented.
After Board discussion regarding various aspects of the project, Hauer moved and Sweet seconded a motion to support the site plan as presented at the neighborhood public meeting on Tuesday, April 29, with the following two recommendations:
1. That the City, Village Green Companies, and Xcel Energy work together to develop a plan to bury the power lines on the development property; and
2. That the signage be identical to that found on the Eitel City Apartments.
Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed with Holt and Parkin abstaining due to a conflict of interest.
Staff member Rock will prepare a letter for the City noting the neighborhood’s support of this project as presented including the additional two recommendations.
The Marmont. Hauer briefed the Board on the presentation Tod Elkins and Steve Frenz gave regarding this project at DMNA’s neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, April 29, indicating that no concerns were raised by residents in attendance.
After board discussion, Hauer moved and Parkin seconded a motion to support the site plan as presented at the neighborhood public meeting on Tuesday, April 29. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed with Ewald abstaining due to a conflict of interest.
Staff member Rock will prepare a letter for the City outlining the neighborhood’s support of this project as presented.
Barrio Restaurant. Tim Rooney and Josh Thoma, two of the owners of Barrio (the Spanish term for neighborhood), described their business as a casual tequila bar and “Latin street food” restaurant with emphasis on Cuban and Mexican cuisine. The new restaurant is located at 925 Nicollet Mall in the former Dunn Brothers site and will have an outdoor patio and a mezzanine level. Lunch will be served 5 days a week and dinner 7 days a week. The grand opening is anticipated to be in mid-July. The owners are requesting a Class B liquor license.
Motes moved and Heimer second a motion to approve the Class B liquor license for Barrio Restaurant. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed.
Brothers Bar & Grill. Laura Boyd, from Alcohol Compliance Services, introduced the owners of Brothers Bar & Grill, Eric Fortney and Michael Horton, who described their restaurant located at 430 1st Avenue North, and explained the Class-1 liquor license they are seeking from the City which would allow for outdoor music. The owners stated that they would like to have outdoor dining in the alleyway between the Kickernick (where they have operated since 1998) and the Wyman Buildings. The concept is similar to the Champps alley.
Parkin moved and Heimer seconded a motion to approve the Class C-1 liquor license for Brothers Bar & Grill. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed.
Marquette Hotel. Representatives of the hotel, Travis Farniok and Gerard Viardin, distributed a sign variance summary packet and described their designs plans to replace the existing canopy structure and signage with a new, free-standing pylon structure at the corner of South 7th Street and Marquette Avenue South. The structure would serve two purposes: as a sign and as a piece of public art. The architect for the project is Ellerbe Becket.
Overall, Board members welcomed the concept of the free-standing structure; however concerns were expressed about the width of the gap between panels fearing they might attract vagrants. Some suggested that a more substantial and extraordinary structure would be more appropriate at this location due to the iconic nature of the IDS Tower.
Motes moved and Heimer seconded a motion to support the design plan and variance request as presented. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed.
IV. Consideration of 2007 Federal Form 990,
MN Charitable Organization Reporting Form, and $25 MN Filing Fee.
Staff Member Rock introduced Mike Wilson from Wilson & Associates. Wilson is on contract with NRP to provide accounting services to Minneapolis neighborhood organizations. He conducts audits and prepares federal and state filing forms. Wilson gave a brief explanation of the Federal Form 990 and summarized the DMNA’s return.
Hauer moved and Ewald seconded a motion to approve the Federal Form 990, the MN Charitable Organization Reporting Form, and the $25 MN filing fee. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed.
Mill District Streetscape Gap Project. Hauer, DMNA’s representative on the Mill District Streetscape Gap Committee (MDSGC), distributed a summary of what has transpired with the committee since the April 8th DMNA Board meeting. The MDSGC is seeking an additional $1,000 in NRP funds from the DMNA to assist with the development of landscaping design plans. The MDSGC will use the design plans to appeal to other organizations for additional funds to implement the project.
Discussion ensued regarding the request for additional funds, the necessity for design plans, the limited amount of remaining funds in NRP Phase 1, and the fact that there were two additional requests for funds still to be considered on the agenda.
Staff member Rock explained that the Board could choose to do a plan modification and move the funds remaining in the Planetarium strategy to the Downtown Identity strategy to help support the projects seeking funds at the instant meeting, and decide to replenish the Planetarium funds through the NRP Phase II.
Rock then suggested moving some of the Planetarium funds to NRP Implementation (administrative contract) to help support the organization’s administrative expenses during the Phase II planning process. The money does not needed to be added to the administrative contract at this time, but could remain in the strategy until needed. If the DMNA does not need the funds to cover administrative expenses, the board could reallocate the dollars to projects.
Motes moved and Heimer seconded a motion to move $15,000 of the $25,000 in the Planetarium strategy to the NRP Implementation strategy, and the remaining $10,000 to the Downtown Identity strategy. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed with Hauer opposing.
Friends of Triangle Park. NRP Implementation Committee Chair Motes distributed a handout that described the Friends of Triangle Park (FTP), its progress to date and goals, a detailed list of improvements planned for 2008 and 2009, and the organization’s 3-year budget. Triangle Park is located at South 10th Street, between the on and off I-35W freeway ramps.
FTP is working in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and MNDOT to make improvements to the park to increase safety and create a more pedestrian friendly gateway to Downtown Minneapolis. FTP is seeking DMNA NRP funds to assist with the purchase of landscaping materials such as shrubs and grasses, as well as perennials and flowers, plus site amenities including flower urns, picnic tables and birdbaths.
Discussion then turned to the Downtown Gateway Dog Park.
Downtown Gateway Dog Park . Bob Day, a representative of the Downtown Gateway Dog Park (DGDP), explained that Minneapolis Dog Grounds is working in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, MNDOT, and Mortenson Construction to establish the DGDP at the intersection of South 11th Street and 4th Avenue South on the west side of Triangle Park.
The purpose of the dog park is to provide dog walkers with a place to conduct business, local business owners and visitors can quickly exercise and relieve their dogs, and local workers can take lunch break with their dogs.
Day distributed architectural renderings of the DGDP prepared by Oslund and Associates, a schematic estimate prepared by Mortenson Construction, and a letter of support from two Grant Park residents. Day indicated that Minneapolis Dog Grounds is seeking DMNA NRP funds to assist with the purchase of site amenities including landscaping, benches, grass ottomans, a water feature and fencing.
After discussion regarding Triangle Park and the Downtown Gateway Dog Park, Hauer moved and Sweet seconded a motion to allocate $6,000 from the Downtown Identity strategy to the Friends of Triangle Park for site amenities, and $6,000 from the Downtown Identity strategy to Minneapolis Dog Grounds for the Downtown Gateway Dog Park for site amenities. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed with Motes abstaining.
Staff member Rock will prepare scopes of services for both of these projects and work with Bob Cooper to get the dollars contracted as soon as possible.
Motes moved and Parkin seconded a motion to approve the March 11, and April 8, 2008, board minutes. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed.
VII. Consideration of Balance Sheet for Year End 12/31/07, April 2008 Financial Statements, and May 2008 Financial Statements
Hauer moved and Parkin seconded a motion to approve the Balance Sheet for Year End 12/31/07, along with the April and May 2008 Financial Statements. Sweet called for discussion. The motion passed.
Update on DMNA NRP Phase I review process. The focus group meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, May 8, will now take place on Thursday, June 5 and will more than likely be held in the 5th floor conference room. CURA intern Joe Kapper will facilitate the meeting.
Update on outreach and collaboration with other downtown organizations. Postponed until June 10, 2008, board meeting.
IX. Adjournment
Hauer moved and Rosenquist seconded a motion to adjourn the board meeting. The motion passed.
Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Signed this ________ day of ________________________, 2008.
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Chair
Secretary