Downtown Minneapolis
Neighborhood Association
Minutes from June
13, 2000 Board of Directors
Meeting
A regularly scheduled meeting of the Board
of Directors of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association, Inc. (DMNA)
was held on Tuesday, June 13,
2000 at the Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Room 310, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I. Call to Order and Announcements
With a quorum present, Jerrie Hayes, Chair, convened the
meeting at 7:08 p.m. Other board
members in attendance included: Larry Calhoun, Dee Cotten, Secretary, Andrew
Hauer, Sue Jahn, Al Smith, Vice Chair, Carletta Sweet, and Joan Wilshire. Board
members unable to attend were Jack Becker, Monroe Bell, Janis LaDouceur, and
Roberta Webb-Streib, Treasurer. Nonboard members in attendance included Scott
Engel, DMNA/NRP Coordinator; Greg Finstad, Director of Transportation &
Parking Services for City of Minneapolis; Lisa Goodman, 7th Ward City Councilmember,
and Douglas Gardner, Administrative Assistant; Joe Kern and Craig Lamothe of
SRF Consulting Group; Allan Klugman of Westwood Professional Services; Peggy
Lucas of Brighton Development; Marcus Mollison of Faegre & Benson; George
Rosenquist, NRP Implementation Committee; Scott Russell of the Southwest Journal;
and Daphne Skoglund of the Sherman Group.
As a reminder, the Chair announced the day and time for the
following standing committee meetings: Land Use on the first Tuesday of the
month at 6:30 p.m.; Board of Directors on the second Tuesday of the month at
7:00 p.m.; Public Relations on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.; Implementation on
the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m.; Executive on the fourth
Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.; and Housing to be
determined by Andy Hauer.
II. New North
Loop Neighborhood – Fact
or Fiction?
After Lisa distributed the June 2000 Spotlight On Seven,
the 7th Ward newsletter, she explained why she had come before the board – to
start a dialogue and to quash rumors surrounding the issue of creating a new
downtown neighborhood. In putting the rumors to rest, Lisa stated that the
City is not in the business of starting new neighborhoods, however there is a very specific process in
place for changing neighborhood boundaries. Furthermore, a North Loop neighborhood already exists which, in conjunction
with the Downtown East and Downtown West neighborhoods, is currently represented
by the DMNA. What North Loop
residents have approached City Council President Jackie Cherryholmes about is
whether they should pursue forming their own neighborhood association since
it now has a sufficient population to do so. Exacerbating this situation is
the existence of a completely separate organization, the Northeast Residents
Redevelopment Council (NERRC) that reviews all of the business, commercial and
industrial development within the North Loop area. In an attempt to unify these two constituencies,
City Council President and the Planning Department are entertaining forming
one neighborhood association that would represent not only the North Loop residents,
but the business, commercial and industrial interests as well without any boundary
changes.
Addressing concerns about the NRP funding process, Lisa explained
that since the formula under Phase 1 was based on population, North Loop did
not contribute (nor, for that matter, Downtown East) proportionately to the
amount of money DMNA received. But now that the new formula for Phase 2 will
be based on income, absentee landlord, blight, and a variety of poverty-type
statistics, North Loop
remaining under the auspices of DMNA would actually be a detriment to the amount
of money DMNA could receive. How Phase 1 would ultimately be worked out if
North Loop were to form its own
neighborhood association remains to be seen. Under Phase 2, there would be
more funds available for DMNA if North Loop were to do so.
After entertaining questions, Lisa summarized that in order to be a more effective
and inclusive downtown community, more neighborhood organizations (over and
beyond the Central City Neighborhoods Partnership) banning together would give
its residents the power base needed to address the major concerns facing downtown
(e.g., Block E, LRT, Marquette Plaza).
Due to time constraints, the Chair moved and Andy seconded
to strike the following agenda items: project updates from the NRP Implementation
Committee Report; Public Relations Committee Report under Other Business; and
Election of Committee Chair under Land Use Committee. The motion was carried
unanimously.
III.
Land Use Committee
A. Washburn Lofts by Peggy Lucas of Brighton
Development
The Land Use Committee, at its last meeting on June 6, 2000, reviewed this project.
The materials were subsequently forwarded to the board in advance of this meeting
for review. After Peggy entertained questions regarding disability accessibility,
parking, and private space, the Chair moved and Al seconded for a resolution
to approve the project. The motion was carried unanimously. The Chair stated
she would send a follow up letter to Brighton Development to that effect.
B. Livable Communities Grant
Since the representative who assisted in preparing the application
was not in attendance, the Chair advised the board that the Livable Communities
Grant went through the Metropolitan Council, a copy of which will be forwarded
in the near future. A second phase application will be due at the end of the
summer.
C. 701 Washington Avenue North
Parking Variance by Marcus Mollison
As background Marcus explained that Ken Sherman and his
investment group have a purchase agreement for the Litin
Building at 701
Washington Avenue North, scheduled to close at the
end of the month. Additionally, they have a letter of agreement with Hammel
Green and Abrahamson (HGA), an architectural firm comprised of 415 employees
who would occupy the entire premises and undertake a proposed $6.0+ million
historic renovation. The property currently has approximately 105 parking spaces
available on-site, however the new zoning code requires
330 spaces. In order to comply with the revised zoning code the purchasers
are seeking a zoning variance (a copy of which was distributed to the board)
to secure the additional spaces required off-site at the municipal ramps at
10th and Washington Avenue
and under Interstate 94. Management for both municipal parking ramps indicated
that the requisite number of spaces would be allotted to HGA for the duration
of its lease, an additional requirement recommended by the Minneapolis
zoning staff. Marcus also explained that failure by the purchasers to obtain
the zoning variance would most likely result in the departure of HGA from Minneapolis,
the loss of a well-established professional organization to the area.
After Marcus entertained questions regarding possible demolition
of existing buildings, accessibility, and potential shuttle runs, the Chair
moved and Andy seconded to approve the application for zoning variance as proposed.
The motion was carried unanimously and the Chair indicated a follow up letter
would be sent to that effect.
IV. NRP Implementation Committee Report
The Chair explained that the matter of whether to renew DMNA’s
NRP coordinator contract with Scott Engel appeared before the Executive Committee.
Since his contact had already expired, Scott proposed to the Executive Committee
a 1-year renewal and a $2.00 per hour raise. After further discussions with
Scott, the Executive Committee proposed to renew with no modifications to his
previously contracted responsibilities.
After the Chair entertained questions, Andy moved and Dee
seconded to approve the proposed Agreement for Purchase of Services by DMNA
NRP (a copy of which was distributed to the board). Al then moved, for accounting
purposes only and to get on track with MCDA’s fiscal year, to amend the Agreement
by changing the ending date under Scope of Services to read December
31, 2000 instead of June
15, 2001. The motion as amended was carried unanimously.
V. 2000 Downtown Minneapolis Transportation Study Presentation
Greg Finstad, Joe Kern, and Al Klugman presented
a synopsis of the study begun September 1999 regarding current and future (through
2010) transportation systems and needs in downtown Minneapolis to improve
and enhance vehicular and pedestrian movement going forward, a copy of which
was distributed to the board. Elements of the study included travel demand,
traffic flow, transit demand, parking supply and demand, bicycle system, pedestrian
circulation, and curbside activities within the riverfront, central and outer
core, frame, and technology corridor areas.
After the Chair entertained questions regarding
the impact of increased parking demand in the downtown neighborhood and it’s
impact on potential green space, , it was determined that no action was required
of the board.
VI. Other Business
Andy advised the board that the Housing Committee was not
prepared to give a report at this time and that the next meeting will be soon
announced. Also negotiations are still underway for DMNA’s office space.
VII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Signed and approved by
______________________________
______________________________
Chair
Secretary