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9/23/02 SNO Minutes
John Akre called the meeting to order. Introductions were made. All board members were present except Eeris Fritz and Tom Taylor. Dawn Rae Davis read the minutes from the August meeting. Three corrections were offered. Mike Romans moved to accept the minutes as corrected and Bob Sorg seconded. The minutes were approved.
Seaen McKay gave the treasurer’s report.
A Ritz Theatre Update was given by Jim Boyle. He reported the McKnight Foundation has awarded Ballet of the Dolls $500,000. One of the reasons the foundation responded so generously was because of the economic opportunities the new theater will bring to the neighborhood. Bringing electricity to the building, putting in a permanent stage and light for the marquee are among the first things they will do with the money. They now have approximately half the money designated for Phase I of the project. Plans for the parking lot at Sheridan School are moving ahead without interruption. He described the capital campaign currently underway and reported that the August fundraiser raised about $25,000. The recent production of Carmen played to sold-out audiences and it will be presented again at the Southern Theatre in October. Seaen McKay asked regarding the parking lot and about funding previously approved by SNO. Bob Sorg asked about the possibility of gaining a loan to move forward based on the current capital raised. Jim said it was not financially in the organization’s best interest to take out such a loan.
Mary Ostapanko-Anstett talked about the opportunity for Eastside Neighborhood Services to make a grant for youth program development. She is looking for assessment input from SNO and asked us all for responses to five questions regarding youth needs in the neighborhood.
Regarding by-laws and membership changes: the board wants to change the by-laws from those initiated last year in response to the 501C status requirements (which have themselves changed in the past year). John Akre explained the changes and asked for volunteers to look over the current by-laws and discuss and draft the changes that allow them to meet the state ordinance requirements. John suggested the goal for approving these new by-laws would be at the November meeting. John said we need to run an ad in the Northeaster prior to voting on the new by-laws. Seaen McKay made a motion that we allocate up to $300 for an ad to advertise the November meeting at which we will vote on the new by-laws. Mike Romans seconded. The motion passed.
Karen Berthal purchased a building on the 15th block of Marshall in which she plans to have her art studio and to rent out 3 other units in the building also as art studio spaces. She passed around photos of the building and described her renovation plans and zoning status. Chuck raised the issue of city zoning laws in relation to Marshall St. and its future related to merchants being able to zone for retail in the future, such as when a potential commercial property gets re-zoned as a residential property (the community then loses that commercial potential for the future).
Announcements:
Becky Hunter announced that the Third Ward still had a senior citizen position open and said if we knew anybody that was interested in senior issues to call her at (612) 673-3198.
Chuck Sullivan announced his concern regarding properties getting torn down and rebuilt rather than working with already existing properties. John suggested this was more an open microphone item. Chuck announced that Jennifer Young's California Building has an exhibit on sky-scrapers open from 10-5.
Other announcements included: a senior health and resource fair at NE neighborhood Center, the Seventh Annual State of the Neighborhoods Address, a conference between neighborhood organizations, Mayor Rybek, and city council members, the next meeting of the Minneapolis River Forum to discuss the Minneapolis Grand Excursion legacy project.
Red Landon announced that he'd had his car fixed at the garage that used to be Malones, now called Corner Car Care, and said that they did a good job and that the new business has cleaned up their parking lot.
John Akre announced that SNO needed to designate a delegate for the NRP election. Seaen McKay volunteered to be that delegate.
Open Mic:
Red Landon said he saw 6 tires sitting in the alley behind 6th St. and when he talked to the home owner whose house they were sitting behind, he said they'd been dropped off by a stranger.
Mary Ostapanko-Anstett said that three properties behind her on 14th Ave have been problem properties; there were about 70 911 calls related to that residence in the last 6 months; concerned neighbors have talked to SAFE officers with little change. There was some discussion regarding neighborhood strategies.
Becky Hunter offered to copy the city codes on Sect. 8 housing and give to SNO.
Committee Reports:
Events Committee: Trish Schilling said the committee was beginning to look for spaces for the 2003 SNO Ball.
Outreach/SNO News: the new SNO news will come out in November and Trish invited folks to contribute. The issue deadline will be the last week of October.
Business Committee: Bob Sorg said the 13th Avenue community has lost some of its cohesiveness and he is in a recruiting process to pull the 13th Avenue merchants back together. Trish asked about the meetings of the business committee and who attends. Bob said that in essence the committee seems non-existent and that it doesn’t seem like anything is being done. John Akre mentioned that SNO was thinking about whether or not to renew its membership with the NE Chamber of Commerce and said he’d like to entertain a motion to renew the membership and listing in their directory. Seaen McKay read a notice from the organization that described what it does and provides to the neighborhood. There was a motion made to renew our membership by Seaen McKay and it was seconded by Bob Sorg. There was some discussion that included opinions that the membership should not be renewed. The vote was three in favor and two opposed. The motion carried.
NRP Committee: John Akre reported on current NRP plans regarding modifications to the Fix and Paint Program and encouraged folks to attend the Oct. 21 meeting at Eastside Services. Approval for the modifications would be sought at the Board’s next meeting.
MEND Update: the current meeting has been canceled, John Akre seemed to think.
AFCAC (Above the Falls Citizen Advisory Council): Chuck Sullivan gave the report; they are in an organizational phase intrinsic to structuring the group.
New Business:
Dawn Rae Davis announced that this is the last week of business on 13th Ave for Madame Dora's and that Dora Harris is having a party celebrating 7 years in business on 13th Avenue and she encouraged SNO members to attend.
Mike Romans made a motion to adjourn. Seaen McKay seconded. The meeting was adjourned.
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