SNO minutes: June 24, 2002
John Akre called the meeting to order.
Introductions were made. One board member, Mike Romans, was absent (the absence was excused). Dawn Rae Davis read the minutes of the May meeting. Trish Schilling offered two corrections to the minutes.
Tom Taylor moved to accept the minutes as corrected.
Seaen McKay seconded the motion. The minutes as corrected were accepted.
Seaen McKay gave the treasurer's report. SNO coffers totaled $9,403.88.
Announcements:
Melissa Davis announced that, after a two year effort on the part of SNO, SNO's 501 (c) status had been achieved. SNO's status is now that of a tax-exempt, non-profit application was in hand, signed, and ready to be mailed. John Akre spoke about how this new status affected changes regarding the SNO membership process, and he initiated discussion of whether we should keep the recent changes written into SNO's by-laws (which require advance registration through a membership application process prior to Board elections held at the annual meeting) or revert to the older membership process which entails a more open way of voting and no membership application prior to voting. There was a lively discussion about the pros and cons of keeping it as is or of changing it to a more open process. No final decision was reached.
Eeris Fritz announced the Summer in the City event July 5th at NE Bank where the
Minnesota orchestra will be playing.
Becky ___ announced the new Bottineau library ground-breaking on Saturday, July 12 at 1 pm and encouraged all to attend.
Tom Taylor announced the annual Northeast Parade on Tues. June 25, and invited folks to walk with the Green Party for the parade.
John Akre announced an information and feedback meeting regarding streamlining processes related to the City would take place on June 26th at North Regional Library, and there would be another meeting in July also.
Open Mic:
There were no takers.
Committee Reports:
Events committee: Trish Schilling thanked everyone who volunteered for the SNO Big Deal picnic and everyone who attended, reporting that it was a great time. She said that five bands performed at the picnic using a solar generator for amplification. She also reported that youth volunteers from Eastside Services did distribute SNO Big Deal flyers for us. And Tom Taylor thanked Pat from Dusty's for the Dago-Burger donations.
Outreach committee: Tom Taylor stated the committee's intention to reach out to more renters in the neighborhood. He is planning a survey to go in the SNO News to query renters about what they’d like to see in their community and neighborhood.
The SNO News: Trish Schilling thanked Chip Schilling for all his work on the newsletter and invited submissions for the upcoming edition.
Business committee: Drew ____ gave the report, stating the business committee had had a flurry of meetings a few months ago to consider an arts event for 13th Avenue, however nothing concrete on that had been approved yet. He also reported that another member of the Business Committee went to the breakfast with the mayor and the mayor thought a festival/event on 13th Avenue would be great and was enthusiastic about the idea. Drew ____ announced that Ballet of the Dolls will host a fundraiser on August 29th at the Ritz Theatre, it is $100 a plate and then the event will open up later to those who would like to attend only for drinks. He invited all to come. The next Business Committee meeting will be the second Tuesday in August.
NRP Committee: John Akre gave the report. He handed out the NRP Survey Results and reported that many of the NRP programs that have been around for a number of years are ending. Housing, business, safety and youth are categories for which NRP monies are allocated within our own accounting system. Next meeting of the NRP Committee is Wednesday, August 19th, 7 pm at Eastside Neighborhood Center.
Eeris Fritz asked if the amount allocated for the business funds included the GIMMIC funds. John said, no they did not.
Tom Taylor thanked Chris O'Malley for pulling together the numbers from the SNO-executed NRP survey.
Mississippi Citizen Report: It was announced that Micheal Rainvill will be at the SNO meeting next month to talk about the Cunningham Group Plan for Marshall Avenue.
Citizen Advisory Committee: Chuck Sullivan gave the report. He described the committee and the focus of its work. Tom Taylor and Trish Schilling are Sheridan's representatives on the committee. The committee has had three meetings to date. The first project to be reviewed is the Riverview Supper Club. All are welcome to attend this committee's meetings. They are the third Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of each month. When Chuck learns the specific date of the Riverview Supper Club Review, he will let SNO know. But interested parties can contact Chuck directly for updates and information. Tom Taylor had a question about the Riverview Supper Club and its connection to housing.
Ross Feffercorn presented an update on the Sheridan Development at the Grainbelt.
He reviewed Sheridan Development's work at the Grainbelt thus far, describing the five sites the area has been broken up into, the historic foundation at Marshall and 13th Avenue, the additional 250 spaces for parking that became necessary as the plan developed, and changes in TIFF (tax increment financing) funding that had affected the design plans also. There is not enough TIFF funding to provide for a structured parking facility. Now the plan includes more housing units than earlier planned and at more affordable costs. The plan includes 275 units now; 167 at the first site (in Phase One) and 110 units (in Phase 2) on the second site. For now then there will be surface parking rather than a parking structure. Structured parking may come at a much later date. (Ross anticipates that would not be for at least several years until they could find funding for structured parking.) When asked, he said it's really too early to estimate what the housing units will sell for since they won't be finished for at least three years. He threw out the figure of $180-$200 per square foot. When asked, he estimated ground would be broken sometime in spring 2003 at the earliest, that is the hoped for schedule. Asked about ownership of the surface parking lots, he said it would be the MCDA who owned them. Asked about current private properties which may be involved in the plan, he also said that discussions with property owners of one of the surface parking sites has not yet taken place, and whether or not Electrical Motor Supply is a willing seller has not yet been determined. A concern about flooding in the underground of the residential units was raised, he said a new drainage system is going in that will prevent that flooding. Asked about filing for an extension regarding the development, he said, yes, he'll file for another extension in six months. Asked about the July 15th date, Ross reported that by that date the redefined proposal is presented to the executive committee of the MCDA to receive their approval to go forward, it's a purchase agreement basically that they come up with w/MCDA. Asked who will contact the home owners, he said, probably himself. He hopes for friendly acquisition but stated there is no point of contacting these property owners now because Sheridan Development doesn't have acquisition rights yet. The contact would be premature. (However, this will change after July 15th.) A concern was raised about affordability; how much the new residential units, estimated at the sale price presented, was going to increase the market value of properties in the neighborhood. He cited studies regarding the median income of Minneapolis right now, and said he thought they were going to be the leader in providing this type of housing at the estimated cost and they were trying to achieve a strong percentage of affordable housing with the project. Regarding 3 private properties on site one, it was asked, about the possibility of offering those owners the chance to purchase new residences once they are built.
Sheridan Development is looking for a letter stating that the neighborhood is still supporting the development. John asked for a motion . Tom Taylor made a motion that we write a letter but that it express concerns that there is private property that may become involved in the development and that we should have wording in the proposed letter regarding the private property owners or suggesting an opportunity wherein they can continue to reside in the neighborhood among other concerns that should be expressed in the letter of support. A discussion ensued. Among points made in the discussion: (1) that the intention of the motion is that we support extension of the agreement of development with Sheridan Development, but we want the development project to continue to work cooperatively with current property owners, (2) questions about how those concerns should be worded in the new letter of support, (3) a question regarding whether or not SNO members had changed any of their outlooks or attitudes towards the development since SNO gave its initial support to the project two years ago and a suggestion that the discussion be open to less supportive views if they exist. Dawn Rae Davis suggested a straw poll be taken by a show of hands to determine the amount of continued support for and opposition to continued support of the development. A show of hands was taken and the majority was in favor of continued support of the development with three showing opposition. A motion was made to support the extension and the project as it is right now but expressing concern about houses the city does not yet own on 13th Avenue and how they will be acquired. Eeris Fritz seconded the motion. The board passed the motion.
Walt Sentyrz was on the agenda but did not attend the meeting.
There was some discussion about the changes Sentyrz renovations might mean.
Tom Taylor moved to adjourn the meeting. Seaen McKay seconded. The meeting was adjourned.