Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association
Minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Hennepin Center for the Arts
528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 310, Minneapolis

I.          Call to Order and Introductions

Kim Motes, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 

Other board members in attendance were David Abele, Treasurer; Dee Cotten; Andrew Hauer; Tom Hoch; Jodi Pfarr, Secretary; Gene Nessly; and Carletta Sweet, Vice Chair. 

Others in attendance included:  Ann Calvert, CPED project coordinator; Jenny Buller of Restorative Justice Community Action Inc.; Lois Conroy, Assistant City Attorney; John Van Heel, downtown resident appointee to the steering committee of the Minneapolis 10-Year Transportation Action Plan; Christie Rock, DMNA coordinator; Jeremy Stratton, staff writer for the Downtown Journal; Ward 2 Council Member Paul Zerby.

II.        Consideration of agenda
The agenda was approved as presented.
III.       Update from Council Member Paul Zerby
Council Member Paul Zerby gave the Ward 2 update.  He provided a follow up to several questions/comments that were made at the September DMNA board meeting.  He reviewed the process for notifying neighbors about liquor license applications, specifically with regards to Karma (formerly Daddy Rocks).  He indicated that notification of the neighborhood organization and surrounding residents and businesses is not required if there isn’t a public hearing. 
Zerby also mentioned that he had contacted the Housing Policy Advocate at Legal Aid regarding the potential for implementing a moratorium on the conversion of rental units to condos in downtown.  He stated that the City Council, in particular Council Member Schiff, doesn’t want to do anything about this issue until after the November elections. 
Zerby noted that he voted against extending the off-sale liquor hours from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  He also mentioned that he had been on a tour of the Shubert Theatre in conjunction with the House of Representatives Capital Investment Committee. 
He once again thanked the DMNA for its support of his service as a Minneapolis council member.  In return, the board thanked Council Member Zerby for his responsiveness and his support of downtown projects and issues.
IV.       Consideration of September 2005 Minutes

Vice Chair Carletta Sweet made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 13, 2005 board meeting.   Treasurer David Abele seconded the motion.  Kim Motes called for discussion.  The minutes were unanimously approved.

 
V.         Consideration of October 2005 Financial Statements

Christie Rock distributed and explained the F2005 Budget vs. Actual as of October 2005 document and the bank register for October 1-31, 2005. 

Vice Chair Carletta Sweet made a motion to receive and file the October 2005 financial statements.  Gene Nessly seconded the motion.  Kim Motes called for discussion.  The financial statements were unanimously received and filed.

VI.       Land Use Committee Update

LUC Chair Andy Hauer reviewed the following projects:

·         Nomination of representative to review CPED RFP.  CPED Project Coordinator Ann Calvert is seeking a DMNA representative to review an RFP that CPED is preparing for a parcel of land located down river from the new Guthrie Theatre.  The parcel is located between 10th and 11th Avenues South and South 2nd Street and West River Parkway.  Calvert indicated that the DMNA representative would have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the RFP language before it is let to the development community, as well as review and provide feedback on all of the responses. 

Gene Nessly made a motion to nominate Vice Chair Carletta Sweet as the DMNA representative and Treasurer David Abele as the alternate.  Dee Cotten seconded the motion.  Kim Motes asked for discussion.  The motion was unanimously passed. 

·         Eclipse condominium development.  Treasurer David Abele asked LUC Chair Andy Hauer if he could provide an update on the Eclipse condominium development project planned for the northwesterly side of Hennepin Avenue between Washington Avenue North and North 3rd Street.  Abele is interested in finding out when construction is expected to start.  Hauer indicated that he plans to check on the project’s status and get back to Abele. 

Future agenda items

·         Mill City Farmers’ Market proposed for Chicago Avenue Plaza.   This item will tentatively be discussed at the December 6, 2005, Land Use Committee meeting.
 

·         Parcel D update.  Brighton Development will attend the November 1, 2005, Land Use Committee meeting and give an update on the Park Avenue East Lofts project.

·         Whitney Hotel conversion to condos.  The developer of this project is seeking a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to increase the height of the building.  The developer is tentatively scheduled to present at the November 1, 2005, Land Use Committee meeting.

VII.      Minneapolis 10-year Transportation Action Plan Update

John Van Heel gave a report to the board regarding the Minneapolis 10-year Transportation Action Plan.  Van Heel is a resident of the Loring Park neighborhood, and is the designated citizen representative on the steering committee for the development of the action plan.

Van Heel noted that the City of Minneapolis is hosting a series of workshops to give the public an opportunity to share their ideas on how the City can improve its transportation system.  The workshops will provide an overview of the City’s 10-Year Transportation Action Plan, which is under development, and provide information on the transportation challenges facing the City.

When completed, the Transportation Action Plan will be a citywide plan that addresses a full range of transportation options and issues, including pedestrians, bicycles, transit, automobiles, and freight. The 10-Year Action Plan will also include additional materials, including a web-based transportation fact book; a transit and street operations plan for downtown; and new street design guidelines that reflect the characteristics of the surroundings.

Pre-registration for the workshops is not required. Since the workshops will include presentations on transportation challenges facing the City, followed by structured dialogue, participants are encouraged to arrive at the designated meeting start time.

The Workshops are being held:

• 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005

North Commons Recreation Center, 1801 James Ave. N., Minneapolis

• 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005

Butler Square Building, First Floor Conference Room A and B, 100 N. Sixth St., Minneapolis

• 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005

Keewaydin Recreation Center, 3000 53rd St. E., Minneapolis

For more information regarding the Minneapolis 10-year Transportation Action Plan, visit the following web site:  www.downtown2015.com

 VIII.   Crime and Safety Update

·         CCP/SAFE.  Crime Prevention Specialist Luther Krueger did not attend the meeting. 

·         New trespassing ordinance.  Assistant City Attorney Conroy gave a presentation to the board regarding the new trespassing ordinance that was put in place this past summer.  The ordinance allows business and property owners to limit people from public spaces if they commit a crime or use the property for which it wasn’t intended.  For example, if a person is caught shoplifting at Marshall Fields, Marshall Fields can prevent the person from entering the business for up to a year.  This extends the time from a previous cap of 30 days.  Ms. Conroy is providing training on the new ordinance on the third Wednesday of the month during the months of October, November and December.  The training takes place in the First Precinct Community Room from noon to 1:30 p.m.
 

·         Livability crime initiative.  Ms. Conroy and Jenny Buller from Restorative Justice Community Action gave a report on a new livability crime initiative that was implemented in the Second Precinct.  The initiative is called the Minor Consumption Referral Program.  The program has received over 200 referrals during the past month.  Ms. Conroy stated that she would like to replicate the program in the First Precinct.  She has spoken with numerous officers, and they seem receptive and in some cases enthusiastic about the idea.  The program is only successful if the police support it.  She asked the DMNA board for feedback and some thoughts on what the livability issues are in the downtown neighborhoods.  Board members suggested the following:  public urination/indecent exposure; disorderly conduct; harassment.  Vice Chair Carletta Sweet asked whether other public service agencies can participate in the referral program, e.g., the Transit Police.  Ms. Conroy said she has had conversations with them about the program.

IX.       NRP Implementation Update
·        Stone Arch Bridge lighting project.  The contracting process is started for the DMNA to contribute $10,000 toward this project.

·       Hennepin Avenue lighting project.   Tom Hoch presented a request for NRP funds for the purpose of purchasing holiday lights for the trees in the Hennepin Avenue Streetscape.  The look would be similar to that on Nicollet Avenue.  Tom is seeking up to $10,000 in DMNA NRP funds for the project.  He plans to get three bids for lights and use the lowest responsible bid. 
David Abele made a motion to approve the allocation of up to $10,000 in DMNA NRP funds from the Downtown Identity Strategy of the NRP Plan for the purchase of holiday lights for the Hennepin Avenue Streetscape.  Dee Cotten seconded the motion.  Kim Motes asked for discussion.  The motion passed unanimously.
In order to get the lights purchased and hung before the holiday season starts, Tom indicated that Hennepin Theatre Trust can upfront the costs of the lights and get reimbursed from the DMNA once the contract is in place.
X.         Old Business / New Business / Other Business
·        DeLaSalle Citizens Advisory Panel update.  Tom Hoch gave a report to the board regarding the outcome/status of the DeLaSalle Citizens Advisory Panel.  The Minneapolis Park Board convened the panel to gather input about the school’s proposed athletic facility on Nicollet Island.

·         November 15, 2005, Annual Meeting update.  DMNA Coordinator Christie Rock noted that she has confirmed the following list of presenters:
Assistant City Attorney, Lois Conroy; Jenny Buller, Restorative Justice Community Action; CPED Principal Planner, Jack Byers; Michael Moriarity, Heritage Development; Brian Gorecki, Sherman Associates; and Danielle Salus, Brighton Development.
Christie indicated that she will also contact CCP/SAFE Crime Prevention Specialist Luther Krueger, Inspector Rob Allen, and Lieutenants Kjos and Harteau.
XII.      Adjournment

Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Signed this ________ day of ________________________, 2005.

_______________________________             _______________________________
Chair                                                                    Secretary