Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association

Annual Meeting
 Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Crown Roller Mill Building

105 5th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

I.          Call to Order and Welcome

Board Chair Carletta Sweet called the annual meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  Other board members in attendance were Andrew Hauer; Tom Hoch, Vice Chair; Denise Holt; Kim Motes; Cynthia Newsom, Treasurer; Scott Parkin, Secretary; and George Rosenquist. 

Sweet welcomed the audience and thanked Minneapolis’ Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) and Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) for donating the atrium space, Caribou Coffee for donating coffee, and staff member Christie Rock for orchestrating the logistics for the event.

Sweet then highlighted DMNA’s 2007 accomplishments (as guided by and developed in its NRP Phase 1 Neighborhood Action Plan):

  • Reaffirmed $25,000 financial commitment for the Minneapolis Planetarium
  • Awarded $10,000 to Restorative Justice Community Action, Inc., to continue to provide restorative justice services to the downtown community
  • Contributed $10,000 toward the Walking Minneapolis project
  • Contributed $1,700 to the downtown Minneapolis’ National Night Out celebration held annually in August
  • Provided letter of support to Audubon Minnesota for its “Lights Out” initiative to prevent window collisions by migratory birds passing over the brightly lit downtown skyscrapers
  • Continued active participation in keeping downtown Minneapolis a healthy and safe place to live through efforts led by Crime and Safety Committee Chair Tom Hoch:
  • o   The Downtown Minneapolis SafeZone Collaborative

    o   The Keep Minneapolis Beautiful project

  • Reviewed numerous land use items, including variance requests, conditional use permits, site plan reviews, liquor license applications, and provided recommendations to City staff and elected officials
  • Participated in the Metrodome District Design Roundtable discussions
  • Commissioned Sassafrass Design to develop a branding campaign for the DMNA including both logo and website redesign
  • Developed partnership with the R&R Social Club to cross-market events and activities in the downtown community
  • Sweet noted that these accomplishments, as well as those achieved by the other more than 70 Minneapolis neighborhoods, were made possible by the NRP, the future of which is in jeopardy.  For more information about this dilemma, she encouraged the audience to visit www.nrp.org and www.neighbors4nrp.org

    II.        Updates by Local Elected Officials

    Sweet introduced Ward 7 City Council Member Lisa Goodman, then State Senator Scott Dibble (District 60) and State Representative Augustine “Willie” Dominquez (District 58B), each of whom gave legislative briefings.  For more information about Senator Dibble’s and Representative Dominquez’s legislative activities, visit their respective websites at www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?district=60 and www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=58B.

    III.       Keynote Address by Mayor R.T. Rybak

    The Mayor thanked the DMNA for inviting him to speak at its annual meeting, then reminisced about his family’s early experiences in downtown, described how the area’s urban landscape has changed over the years, and expounded on the most notable initiatives the City has taken to foster a more healthy and safe community for its residents, workers and visitors including:  Access Minneapolis (10-year transportation downtown action plan); and the Washington Boulevard Great City Design (a new vision for Washington Avenue from I-35W to West Broadway). 

    IV.       Elections to DMNA Board of Directors

    Sweet introduced and thanked the current board and noted that both Tom Hoch and Cynthia Newsom would not be seeking re-election.

    Thereafter, representatives from the Minneapolis League of Women Voters (LWV) moderated the election process.  There were four 2-year-term open seats and four candidates:  Natasha Heimer, Lee Seppings, and two incumbents, Andy Hauer and Scott Parkin. 

    The LWV gave each candidate the opportunity to comment about themselves and share their interest in serving on the board.  During this comment period it was resolved that since Lee Seppings was not present at the meeting, nor was anyone willing and able to speak on his behalf, his candidacy would be null and void. Thereafter, the membership moved and seconded a motion to approve the three candidates present at the meeting to fill three of the four 2-year-term seats.  The motion passed. 

    Community members heard from Minneapolis Police Department representatives of the First Precinct, including Inspector Janeé Harteau, Lieutenant Travis Glampe, Lieutenant Kathy Waite, and Crime Prevention Specialist Luther Krueger.  They reported that serious crime is down and arrests are up in the SafeZone area of Downtown Minneapolis (the area between 2nd Avenue North, Marquette Avenue, Washington Avenue and 12th Street).  Police are working hard to reduce nuisance, or livability crimes such as aggressive panhandling, loitering and public urination.  And to further reduce theft from autos in parking garages (a crime more prevalent in the downtown area), community members were encouraged to remove valuables from their vehicles and refrain from allowing other vehicles to follow them into their residential garages.  For crime maps and statistics go to www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-statistics/codefor/

    VI.       Recognition of DMNA Volunteer Paul Barber

    Vice Chair Tom Hoch recognized the work of long-time DMNA volunteer Paul Barber.  Tom informed the membership that Paul was one of the founding members of the Downtown Minneapolis Residents Association (the predecessor organization to the DMNA) who remained a neighborhood volunteer as well as the DMNA webmaster for the past decade.  Paul’s selfless and tireless service to the DMNA has enabled the organization to be an effective advocate for all who live and work in the downtown community.  Paul is stepping down from his role as webmaster in 2008 and his knowledge and experience will be missed tremendously.  Thank you Paul for your service to the organization!

    DMNA Land Use Committee Chair Andy Hauer introduced CPED Director Mike Christenson and Kim Motes, Executive Director of the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center.  Christenson reviewed some of the larger development projects taking place in the Downtown East and West neighborhoods:  the new Twins Ball Park; redevelopment plans for the Metrodome District; several residential condo projects, and the new Ivy Hotel.  Motes provided an update regarding plans to rehabilitate the Shubert Theatre and create the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center.  The Center will be the premiere location for dance performance in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and will be another excellent destination in the Hennepin Theatre District.  Motes indicated that fundraising is nearing completion.  For more information, visit their website at www.mnshubert.org.    

    Downtown Identity Committee Chair Scott Parkin gave a presentation regarding the DMNA’s plans to update the look of its website and introduce the new logo.  He explained the process the DMNA Board went through to select Sassafrass Design as the company to help rebrand the neighborhood organization.  Parkin used a PowerPoint presentation to showcase the new DMNA logo and display a concept plan for the new website home page.  Scott also acknowledged and praised Paul Barber’s contribution to the DMNA in his role as webmaster.  It is anticipated that the new website will be activated in early 2008. 

    Being no further business, the annual meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

    Signed this ________ day of ________________________, 2008.

    _______________________________                      _______________________________
    Chair                                                                           Secretary