Downtown Minneapolis
Neighborhood Association
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, Tuesday,
August 12, 2003
800 LaSalle Avenue South, Suite 131
I. Announcements and Call to Order
Tom Hoch, the Chair, announced the following:
·
Memo from Minneapolis Empowerment Zone (EZ) Governance Board
seeking to fill two immediate vacancies: an EZ business representative; and
a citywide or metropolitan business agency representative. There are also 20
board positions open due to 3-year terms that expire in September. Applications
are due by August 29th. For more information, visit EZ’s website at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ez.
·
Letter from Dennis Babcock of
the Twin Cities Marathon Community Relations Committee regarding its 22nd annual
marathon notifying the neighborhoods that will be impacted along its route.
Thereafter, with a quorum present, the Chair
called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
Other board members present were: Dee Cotten; Andrew Hauer; Gene
Nessly, Treasurer; and Carletta Sweet, Secretary. Board
members unable to attend were Leslie Hirsch, Mark Moller, and Kim Motes, Vice
Chair. Nonboard members in attendance included: Rosemary Fagrelius, Harbor
Light Center development consultant; Doug Franzen, Harbor Light Center development
counsel; Lisa Goodman, 7th Ward Councilmember; Shawn Hardin, downtown resident;
June Harmon,
financial consultant; Trudy Lindbloom, Harbor Light Center program director;
Sarah McKenzie, Skyway News journalist; and George Rosenquist, downtown resident.
II. The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center Security Upgrade Project
Trudy advised the board that the Harbor Light Center, located at 1010 Currie Avenue,
provides 350 shelter beds and 27 SROs for the homeless, chemically dependent,
and underemployed. Rosemary stated that they are seeking neighborhood support
for the security and safety renovation project submitted to MCDA for emergency
shelter funding from HUD. The $350,000 project involves four major improvements:
installation of closed-circuit television monitors both inside and outside;
installation of lighting around the perimeter of the building; tuck pointing;
and resurfacing of the parking lot. According to Rosemary, approximately $97,000
of the project costs will come from The Salvation Army capital fund, $87,000
from emergency shelter funds, and the remainder from other funding sources.
The board expressed no objections to the project.
III. Q&A with Councilmember Lisa Goodman
Lisa discussed the imminent decision that will
be made regarding the NRP and how the downtown neighborhoods (i.e., Downtown
[East and West], Elliot Park, Loring Park, and North
Loop) could possibly react to it. Councilmember Lane’s
ordinance is winding through the system and Lisa believes it will pass. The
ordinance will not set up a new governance structure but will determine how
much funding will be available which will be drastically reduced. Lisa stated
that the downtown neighborhoods could work together under a new governance plan
to improve efficiency and reduce staffing expenses but maintain separate boards
for issues specific to each neighborhoods (e.g., land use and zoning). Lisa
advised that this system is already working as evidenced by the Restorative
Justice Program that is run by CCNP, a coalition of five neighborhoods. According
to Lisa, both Eliot Park and Loring Park
neighborhood associations have already expressed support of her proposal. DMNA
board members present also expressed support of Lisa’s proposal.
Lisa also stated that as of August 24th all employees will be officially transferred
from MCDA to Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), the pension
issue has been resolved as a result of the ordinance, and that through the end
of the year legal and council actions will be taken to merge back everything
that was separate. But as of now, through the budget process and the 5-year
planning process, CPED is operating as a division of the city. Planning, employment
and training, and the EZ are all within this division.
IV. Consideration of Minutes from July 2003
The minutes from the July 2003 board meeting
were unanimously approved.
V. Financial Report from July 2003
June Harmon distributed and Gene Nessly explained the F2003 Budget vs. Actual as of July 2003,
the Profit & Loss YTD Comparison statements for July 2003, and the Wells
Fargo check register from July 1-31, 2003. The financial
report and documents were unanimously received and filed.
VI. Land Use Committee (LUC) Report
Andy presented the following items that the
LUC entertained at its August 5th meeting (see memo from LUC dated Tuesday, August 12, 2003):
·
Daddy Rocks, the upscale gentlemen’s
club to be located at 315 First Avenue North
(old bath house). Since this project was presented to the board for informational
purposes only, no action was required of the board.
·
Parking variance request by Dale
Howey for his mixed-use development at 1023-29 Washington Avenue South
(formerly Lucky’s Garage). The board voted unanimously to approve the variance.
Andy advised that there is a need for one member from the DMNA to serve on
the Guthrie review board. The Chair nominated Andy to serve. Then the Chair
announced that Carletta would be DMNA’s representative on the Parcel E Liner
RFP review committee.
Andy also advised that although the Bridge
Place project received approval from DMNA’s LUC and board,
he has been working with the developer of Bridge Place to schedule
additional meetings to address questions raised by residents of The Crossings,
Rivergate, and The Towers Condominiums. And since the Heritage Preservation
Commission rejected Bridge
Place’s architectural
renderings, there will be a lot more discussion regarding the project.
VII. NRP Implementation Committee Update
The Chair advised that since Kim is on vacation,
Christie Rock
continues to work with Barb Lichness to move the process along.
Thereafter, the board voted to unanimously approve
reallocating NRP funds by moving $10,000 from Arts, Culture and Education Strategy
1.1.2.2., Word Mural Signage Project, to Crime and Safety 2.1.3.2., Restorative
Justice Program.
VII. Other Business
Annual Meeting Arrangements
- Date set for Tuesday November 11, 2003
- Time set for 7:00 p.m.
- Location TBD. The Chair and Treasurer will present options at next board
meeting
- Agenda TBD
The Chair will confer with June Harmon regarding the budget for this event.
Hennepin Avenue Streetscape
Update
The Chair advised that there continues to be area-way issues that are being
resolved but he believes all the work will get done this year. The sample of
the planter in front of the Pantages Theatre, although not exactly what will
be, is generally the consensus design. Trees will be planted in structural
soil and there will be a grating on top of the open area with two colored-gel
lights. Also a solution to Palomino’s hot spot (the bright lights shinning
on its customers from its new signage) is being developed.
Gateway Fountain Update
Gene advised that the county has some NRP money for this project (no more than
$25,000) and that he has spoken to Lisa about it so that it would not be necessary
to tap into DMNA’s NRP funds. Separately he is pursuing funds from other donors
for operating expenses.
VIII. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss,
the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Signed this ________ day of ________________________,
2003.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Chair
Secretary