Sheridan Neighborhood Organization
22 October 2001
All board members but Melissa Davis present.
Andy Nederveld called the meeting to order.
Introductions.
John Akre read the minutes. Jenny Fortman moved that the minutes be accepted; Sally 2nded, motion carried.
Interim Board Actions
Approve $54.01 for direct mail advertising in the Northeaster for this meeting.
John Akre moved the above; Sally Waterman 2nded. Motion carried.
Treasurer's report - Melissa Davis was absent, John Akre read from the treasurer's report. The SNO balance is $9,670.
MEND update - Andy Nederveld presented - there was a recent meeting on the Pierre Bottineau library - concerns about parking were expressed at meeting. A committee will study the parking issue.
Bike path thru Graco - Michael Rainville presented. He said that Graco has granted an easement between their building and the river for a bike trail - MCDA has approved it and it is now sitting on the desk of the Park Board - he thinks we should approach the Park Board and look into federal funding for the path. Louise Olsen said she had concerns about chemicals (chromium compounds) at Graco's plant and that it may not be safe to bike past it. John Akre moved that SNO support the effort to build the bike path behind Graco - Trish Schilling 2nded. Motion carried.
SNO Representative to MEND - Sally Waterman moved that SNO appoint Drew Trampe as representative and Chuck Sullivan as alternative to MEND, John Akre 2nded, motion carried.
Announcements
Polish White Eagle - Andy Nederveld presented - they have run into financial trouble and the state dept. of commerce is overseeing the liquidation of all their assets - their buildings are for sale
Ginny Sutton - Eastside Food Co-op - have their annual membership meeting Nov. 13th.
Tom Taylor - he has been speaking to members of the library board on sustainable architecture at the Pierre Bottineau branch - he would like the library to work with the Green Institute on the Bottineau library. Andy said we went thru lengthy process to find out what was important to people in the neighborhood and that this issue had not come up. Chuck Sullivan said that it would be worthy if SNO said it supported the Green Institute looking at the library plans. Trish Schilling made a motion that SNO supports Tom Taylor's pursuit of further investigation of sustainable architecture at the Pierre Bottineau Library, Jenny Fortman 2nded. Motion carried.
Tanni Eschanour - update on Western Minerals site - 113 properties were targeted for remediation, 64 have been cleaned up. Eschanour said they notify adjoining neighbors when they are doing a clean-up.
Trish Schilling said that membership forms are on the desk - fill one out.
Paul Ostrow said McKnight Foundation recently awarded funding for an arts district study for NE.
Sally Waterman - announcing candidate debate on Oct 24th.
Open Microphone
No takers
NRP Owner Occupied Revolving Loan Funds
Andy Nederveld presented. There are two funds - the fund for owner occupants is nearly exhausted - the fund for absentee owners still has $180,000 in it. SNO would like to transfer $100,000 from the absentee fund to owner occupant fund. Sally Waterman moved that SNO transfer $100,000 from the absentee to the owner occupied Revolving Loan fund program - Jenny Fortman 2nded, motion carried.
Andy Nederveld added that SNO has $36,000 in program income. In the future we should talk about where we want to apply those funds.
Malone's Autoworks
Paul Ostrow presented. In 1994 there were complaints about Malone's. They had a non-conforming use certificate - owner can say that even tho property is not zoned for this use, I have been using it for this purpose. Then it goes to the zoning board of adjustment and city council. There is an agreement with conditions placed on the business. There were conditions Malone's had to keep that were determined by STAY, the neighborhood group at that time. In 1996, licensing was saying there were violations at the property. Mpls has a site plan ordinance which is different from the non-conforming use process. The site plan review involves set-backs and striped parking and landscaping and curbing issues. Malone's said they already worked out a deal (meaning the Non-conforming use process) and they don't have to do these additional things. The city said these are two separate processes. This goes to the planning commission 2 weeks from today. They have five requests: a striped walkway, a guardrail on the alley, changes in curb cutss, landscaping, including seven canopy trees, and a 6 foot fence to screen the business from its neighbor on the south. The planning commission is interested in neighborhood viewpoint.
There were questions about the number of vehicles parked in Malone's lot and on the street in front of it. There were comments about the request for seven canopy trees. On neighbor complained about the business practices there. Jean said that trees are nice - but for neighbors, the biggest thing that people want is that cars stay on the lot and that they stay back so you can see traffic. Pilagio, the attorney for Malone's, said that they object to the amount of landscaping and canopy trees. They said they need to park 15 cars on the lot to have a viable business. Pilagio said they rent space across the street for overflow. A neighbor, Linda, said she just wants it cleaned up - she said there is a tow truck parked there that never moves. Norby said that cars on parked on the street are the owners responsibility - Trish Schilling said that you can call 911 if car is parked for more than 24 hours. A neighbor, Rosemary, said it was treacherous coming out of alley last winter with large vehicles parked by the alley.
Paul Ostrow said he wants to know the neighbors concerns so he can advocate our point of view. To recap the discussion, Andy Nederveld said the #1 issue is visual access - not being able to see coming out of alley because of parked vehicles. Other issues were concerns about the number of cars on the lot and lack of striping, concern about cars parked across the street and on the street. People are supportive of compromising on some of the landscape issues. Andy said that John Akre and he would work out something in writing for Paul Ostrow to present.
Grain Belt Brewhouse update
No update. There were concerns about silt at the construction site of the parking lot at Marshall going down stormdrains.
New Business
Parking lot at 13th and Marshall - one kind of tree in the plan, Red Birch, was rejected by the state office of historic preservation. It will be replaced on the plan
Message Board - Trish Schilling would like to put up a message board somewhere in neighborhood - Arden and Chip will help make it, and she found a location, next to 212 Pottery, in front of Art-A-Motive, in grassy area. Drew Trampe asked about the STAY sign in front of Erte. The new owners of the building want to take it down to open the windows.
Committee Updates
Business - Drew Trampe reported. The committee has an ad to publicize the business loan program - John Akre moved that SNO approve $220 for the ad, Trish Schilling 2nded. Motion carried.
Sally Waterman moved to adjourn the meeting, Jenny Fortman 2nded, motion carried.