Downtown Minneapolis
Neighborhood Association
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, Tuesday,
September 9, 2003
800 LaSalle Avenue South, Suite 131
I. Call to Order and Introductions
Tom Hoch, the Chair, called the meeting to
order at 6:35 p.m. Other board members
present were: Andrew Hauer; Kim
Motes, Vice Chair; Gene Nessly,
Treasurer; and Carletta Sweet, Secretary. Board members unable to attend were
Dee Cotton, Mark Moller and Leslie Hirsch. Nonboard members in attendance included:
Ron Abramson, Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) board president; Dennis Babcock, TCM
board member and executive producer of Triple Espresso at the Music Box Theater;
Jim Boyer, TCM board member and chair of the community relations committee;
June Harmon, financial consultant; Ruth Kildow,
senior ombudsman; Melinda Ludwiczak, Skyway Senior Center coordinator; Sarah
McKenzie, Skyway News journalist; Stacey Mickelson, Artspace Projects director
of government relations; George Rosenquist, downtown resident; Winona Whitaker,
downtown resident and Skyway Senior Center volunteer; Tom Witheridge, Dunn Brothers
Coffee; and Paul Zerby, 2nd Ward Councilmember.
II. Twin Cities Marathon Presentation
Jim Boyer gave a brief history of marathons from ancient Greece
which led to the present day 26-mile/385-yard event. The Twin Cities Marathon,
in its present format, began in 1982 and runs along scenic parkways from the
Metrodome in Minneapolis to the
State Capitol in St. Paul on the
first Sunday in October. This year’s event, scheduled to be held on Sunday,
October 5th, marks the 22nd running of the TCM, and the 5th running of the attendant
TC 10, the shortcut to the TCM. The TCM is a nonprofit, volunteer organization,
and totally self-funded from two sources – participant fees and sponsorships.
This year’s budget is $1.3 million. Ron Abramson and Dennis Babcock then distributed
literature, discussed the family events to be held, and advised how to get involved.
For more information visit their website at www.twincitiesmarathon.com.
III. Q&A with Councilmember Paul Zerby
Paul briefed the board on recent activities of the City Council. With great
help from Barret Lane, Ward
13 Councilmember, they ended up with an NRP budget going forward of $9.3 million
by borrowing against the legacy. Paul stated that his one contribution to this
effort was in restoring social and educational services as well as community
safety back in the NRP program. Paul stated that since Council President Paul
Ostrow brought before the NRP policy board the proposition to take $1 million
off of the NRP budget and dedicate it to public safety-type activities, it is
important for neighborhoods to know that in order to get that money they must
put it into their NRP plans. Paul then briefed the board on the process for
the upcoming budget hearings, the search for the police chief which is being
conducted by an outside search firm, the ordinance related to cross-gender use
of public bathrooms, and the potential merging of the city, park and transit
police departments. Paul also advised that he’s still working on trying to
get some version of a nuisance night court (working on a pilot project for downtown)
despite resistance from Hennepin County Chief Justice Kevin Burke who has concluded
that budget constraints and the strained case loads of the judges would prohibit
enacting such a program.
IV. Land Use Committee (LUC) Report
Andy presented the following items that the LUC entertained at its September
2nd meeting (see memo from LUC dated Tuesday, September 9, 2003):
·
Entertainment license for Dunn Brothers Coffee at 925 Nicollet
Mall. Tom Witheridge, franchisee, was in attendance. His facility has been
opened since April 2000 and he has experimented from time to time to extend
his hours to attract after work traffic but to no success. He is now persuaded
to do so again but to include public performances by those not quite ready for
a more high-profile venue. The board voted unanimously to approve.
·
Class A food and beverage license for Red at 821
Marquette Avenue (Foshay
Tower). Andy advised that the LUC
recommended approval with two conditions, i.e., that Red join the Downtown Entertainment
Security Task Force (bar watch), and work with SAFE. The board voted unanimously
to approve.
·
Conditional use permit for the Whitney
Hotel conversion at South
2nd Street and Portland
Avenue South. The board voted to approve by majority
vote.
V. Skyway Senior
Center Progress Report
Ruth Kildow thanked DMNA for its support and introduced Melinda Ludwiczak who
distributed literature (i.e., progress report as of September 2003, program
attendance as of 2003, daily attendance for years 2001-2003, the September 2003
“Chatter” newsletter, and a list of community partnerships and collaboration)
and explained SSC’s progress to date. Winona Whitaker briefly spoke about the
benefits of the SSC and welcomed DMNA’s continued support.
In response to Tom’s question regarding the SSC’s fundraising efforts, Ruth
advised that since SSC is a city organization, they have been turned down by
numerous donors because they cannot deduct the funds from their taxes, therefore
SSC is pursuing a 5013c status in order to re-apply.
In response to Andy’s question regarding SSC’s monthly rent, Melinda advised
that the rent is a gift to the city from the Ryan Company for 5 years which
can be re-evaluated at the end of the agreement term, however they do pay utilities
and maintenance which amount she did not have at hand but indicated that the
annual operating cost is $150,000.
VI. Consideration of Minutes from August 2003
The minutes from the August 9, 2003
board meeting were unanimously approved.
VII. Financial Report from August 2003
June Harmon distributed and Gene
Nessly explained the F2003 Budget vs. Actual as of August 2003,
the Profit & Loss YTD Comparison statements for August 2003, and the Wells
Fargo check register from August 1-31, 2003. Gene also explained that June just
received a check in the amount of $2,300 from the City for its citizen participation
program that is not reflected on the statement. These financial documents were
unanimously received and filed.
VIII. Minnesota Shubert Update
Stacy Mickelson, a former state legislator for North
Dakota, distributed a packet of information and explained
how he is helping Artspace with its myriad political issues across the nation.
He has been pulled onto the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education
Center (MSPAED) project, a new three-building performing arts complex at Hennepin
Avenue and 6th Street South, to seek $10 million bonding in 2004 from the legislature.
The MSPAEC will be the statewide link for arts education thanks in part to $200,000
that Congressman Martin Sabo secured in fiscal 2003 under the Department of
Education’s Fund for Improvement of Education. To complete the statewide link,
Stacy is back before the federal government for $2.5 million. And to complete
the three-building complex it will take $34 million, of which $20.5 million
will go for construction ($9.25 million for renovation; $10 million construction
of the atrium; $1.25 million to link the Hennepin
Center for the Arts and the Shubert
to the atrium). Construction is expected to begin fall 2004 with completion
expected by mid 2006. Stacy requested that DMNA write a letter of recommendation
urging the City of Minneapolis to
place this project on its bonding priority list and to give it favorable/high
rating on that list.
The board approved by majority vote (with Kim Motes
abstaining) to write a letter of recommendation to Scott Benson, chair of the
City’s inter-government committee.
IX. NRP Implementation Committee Update
Affordable Housing
Kim sought board members’ availability for a meeting with the developers who
had submitted RFPs for DMNA’s affordable housing funds. Thereafter the meeting
with the developers was scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at DMNA’s
office.
Revised NRP Reallocation Proposal
After the Chair entertained questions, the board approved by majority vote
(with Kim Motes abstaining) the revised NRP
reallocation proposal (to be presented for public approval at its annual meeting
in November 2003) as amended: under Section 1, Strategy 1, correct spelling
of Hennepin; under Section 2, Strategy 7, change “Work with CCNP” to “Work with
other community organizations” and remove “Night Court” and “same day court”;
under Section 3, Goal 2, Strategy 2, to ascertain an amount, if any, to be inserted
after “NRP FUNDS:”; and to ascertain an appropriate amount for administrative
costs.
Plan Modification
The Chair advised that since Gene has secured $25,000 of Hennepin County 7-1/2
percent NRP funds, a motion to modify the DMNA NRP Action Plan was required,
to wit: Under Section 2, Objective 3, Strategy 1, Hennepin Avenue Streetscape
as follows: “NRP funds may also be used to renovate the Gateway Fountain owned
by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board” effective August 12th. The board
voted unanimously to approve the modification.
X. Other Business
Annual Meeting Arrangements
- Since November 11, 2003
is a holiday (Veterans Day), the Chair suggested holding the annual meeting
on Tuesday, November 4, 2003
- Time TBD
- Location: pursue the Mill City
Museum
- Agenda to include the NRP reallocation proposal, as well as a presentation
on NRP Phase 2 and recent/current developments within downtown.
NRP Policy Board Representative
Andy nominated himself to be the NRP elector for Downtown West at the NRP policy
board elections on November 20th. The board voted unanimously to appoint Andy
as the NRP elector for Downtown West.
XI. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15
p.m.
Signed this ________ day of ________________________, 2003.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Chair
Secretary