Downtown
Minutes from
A regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association, Inc. (DMNA)
was held on
With a quorum present, Monroe Bell, Chair, called the meeting
to order at
The Chair requested newly-elected board member Joan Willshire
to introduce herself to the other members. Joan mentioned she was also new
to the neighborhood, currently residing since November 1998 in the River Station
Condominiums in the
Following introductions, the Chair turned to the matter of
the minutes from the April 13 board meeting for comments/revisions. Bob expressed
concern that under paragraph IV, NRP Administrative Contract, all programs were
not mentioned. Carletta indicated that the minutes were not meant to be a comprehensive
listing of all programs, only those actually discussed in the April board meeting.
The Chair reminded the members that for further clarification/ specification
of the programs they should refer to the comprehensive list of programs in their
copy of the DMNA NRP First Step Plan. After agreeing to correct the spelling
of
Scott Engel presented two resolutions related to the implementation committee
for adoption (see Attachment 1): the first drafted by Bob Saginaw for the establishment
of an NRP Implementation Committee (moved by Bob and seconded by
Scott also brought the board up-to-date on the activities of the NRP Implementation
Committee since the April board meeting. At a meeting held on April 21, two
of the bigger projects were mentioned as moving ahead faster than any of the
others: the word mural program, and the police buy-back
program (draft contracts for each were distributed for perusal). The skyway
kiosks, signage and security phone system program was also mentioned as moving
along pretty quickly and would soon have a draft contract as well. Scott mentioned
that funding for each of these programs would flow directly to the appropriate
agency (i.e., Planning Department for word mural). No resolution or action
was required by the board on these matters since they had prior board approval
as required for the First Step Plan. Next steps for the NRP Implementation
Committee include meeting with the Heritage Preservation Commission, the Planning
Department and BOMA regarding signage guidelines and materials for the word
mural program. The next meeting of the NRP Implementation Committee is scheduled
for May 20, Room 253 of the Minneapolis Central Library at
Joan posed questions concerning the location, quantity and design elements of the kiosks to which Scott indicated 11 kiosks were proposed (some on the skyway, others on street level), and that the specific design elements would be worked out during the design phase.
Al raised the point that since many of these funds would not be channeled through DMNA’s account, DMNA should not take any responsibility/liability for the misuse of these funds by program agencies.
The Chair thanked Scott for his update and reminded the board members that Scott is currently under his third contract with DMNA for a duration of 1 year.
Paul established the first downtown internet presence in 1995, as a way to
get community activism going on the internet. The DMNA website is housed at
the Twin Cities Free-Net, a volunteer organization comprised of internet experts,
where approximately one-third of the
Jonathan emphasized the need going forward to revamp the website – perhaps to get one of the downtown website graphic design outfits to design the DMNA website in kind, then to use it as a source for fundraising. The Chair requested the board to develop a proposal for the future use of the website, and Jonathan further encouraged board participation and outreach efforts for the maintenance and continued development of the website.
Due to time constraints, Paul suggested reading his handout for an update on the LRT project, however the board should be aware that the task forces that were formed from the initial meeting are well underway.
Ann Calvert of the MCDA and Michael Kraft of Shea Architects gave an update on the revised plan for redevelopment of the Milwaukee Depot site bounded by Washington Avenue South, Second Street South, Third Avenue South and a proposed new segment of Fifth Avenue South. After the initial ice rink operators backed out last year, MCDA, which owns the site, forged ahead with City Council authorization to continue to work with CSM Corporation, a large Twin Cities developer, and Shea Architects to develop a revised plan. The revised plan includes: rehabilitation of the historic Milwaukee Depot for a restaurant, meeting rooms and 16 hotel rooms, with a future planned skyway connection across Washington Avenue; preservation of the historic train shed for open air uses; and new construction of two hotels (a Marriott Courtyard and a Marriott Residence Inn) and a parking facility in the vacant area on the river side of the historic structures.
Next steps include going back through the approval process in June to obtain City Council approval for the revised package regarding the land sale to the developer and the pre-development plans for implementation.
Al moved and
Dale White, who was elected by DMNA early fall
of 1998 to act as liaison for DMNA on CCNP enterprise facilitation projects,
gave an status update. Dale advised the board that enterprise facilitation no longer existed
under CCNP due to a loss of funding by
Jonathan moved and Al seconded that Dale continue his role as liaision
to SMBF on behalf of DMNA. The board unanimously approved the motion. Dale
mentioned that SMBF meetings are held the first Friday of every month,
The Chair turned to the business of the DMNA 1997 audit to briefly recap the most recent occurrences: distribution of the auditor's fourth draft that contained a very substantial error, which draft should have subsequently been returned by all board members to Judy Dutcher’s office; distribution of the auditor's fifth (final) version that contains at least one error; instances of noncompliance; audit charges; and auditor's calculation of a deficit in unrestricted funds (see Attachment 3). No action was required by the board on this matter.
Al distributed the Treasurer’s Report (see Attachment 4) and gave an update on the board’s financial status. To further clarify expense item 03-403 that was charged against Citizen Participation, Al mentioned that in an attempt to get Target 2 modified, he had hired an architectural illustrator to produce a professional presentation to go against Dayton Hudson. This professionally prepared document was ultimately presented to Zoning, Planning, City Council, and several other groups with only partial success. However, Al continues to work with the Save the Nicollet Mall Committee, a special corporation he helped to establish, to get design modifications incorporated into the plan. Al further stated that since we'll be going against people like Ellerbe Becket, Faegre & Benson, the “giant gorillas,” at very high-level meetings, our documents must necessarily reflect a higher standard of professionalism. No action was required by the board on the Treasurer's Report.
Responding to
Bob Saginaw announced that the next meeting
on
Attachment 1
In order to help implement the DMNA NRP First Step Plan, the DMNA Board believes an implementation committee should be established to facilitate bringing about the various aspects of the First Step Plan. It is not intended that the Board give up its authority or responsibility in the carrying out of the Plan. Rather, the implementation committee would help develop, coordinate, and execute the operational aspects of the Plan, with the Board retailing final authority.
Therefore it is hereby resolved that the Board establish an implementation committee for the NRP First Step Plan to be called the DMNA Implementation Committee of the NRP First Step Plan. The purpose of the Committee shall be to help and assist the Board in implementing the Plan, with the Board having final authority and responsibility for the Plan. It is intended that this Committee shall be comprised of no less than 4 and no more than 10 members duly nominated and elected by the Board.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the DMNA Board appoint the following people to the DMNA NRP Implementation Committee: BarbaraAndrews, Barbara Bell-Smith, Larry Calhoun, Saul Carliner, Art Centor, Patty Connolly, Ashu Kataria, George Rosenquist.
Attachment 2
[INSERT 2-page "DMNA Web Master" document from
Attachment 3
[INSERT 1-page "DMNA 1997 Audit" document from Monroe Bell]
Attachment 4
[INSERT 1-page "Treasurer's Report 11 May 1999" from Al Smith]