Sheridan Neighborhood Organization Board Meetings

John Akre, Maureen Rath, and Melissa Davis were the board members present

Drew Trampe, Andy Nederveld and Jenny Fortman were excused

Dora Harris was not present

Maureen Rath called meeting to order

• John Akre read the minutes from the February meeting. No quorum was present. Minutes could not be approved.

• Hilary Freeman from the Third Ward City Council office presented an award to Tom Taylor, one of the 3rd Ward Awards - for his volunteer service

• The board approved by e-mail to purchase an ad for the Art-a-Whirl program, and to pay for the printing of the latest SNO News
• A letter to support the parking variance requested by the Polish Deli was sent out - Hillary Freeman – reported that the City Council office is working on a minor site review, which would be a small administrative process rather than major review for the deli. Her office is trying to get things changed so that one business is not responsible for requirements for a multi-use building. The change could be coming in April

Treasurer's Report – Melissa Davis reported in the absence of Drew Trampe – the balance is similar to last months, but the balance of money from the SNO Ball has been added.

MEND Update – the Mississippi Eastside Neighborhood Development group is working on bylaws

Office supply guideline - Maureen Rath presented recommendations:

• If a purchase is less that $10, it is O.K. to buy
• $10 - 50 purchase needs approval from one board member
• $50 - 250 purchase needs approval by the board by e-mail
• greater than $250 purchase needs to be approved by the board at apublic meeting
• These guidelines cannot be voted on without a quorum

NRP Plan Modification for Cops on Bikes program – the paper work has been sent and NRP will let us know whether the changes are approved.

• Maureen accepted the Pioneer Award, given to SNO by the St. Anthony West Neighborhood Organization at their annual meeting -
• Newsletter - Kristine and Richard were recognized for their work on the jumbo issue.

• Sheridan River Clean Up is on April 22nd at 10 a.m. at park on river
• The SNO Annual meeting – will be on April 24th at NE Bank. Board nominations are currently being accepted - contact a board member or call the SNO number to make a nomination. As part of the Annual Meeting, SNO will be recognizing outstanding volunteers - send your nominations to Maureen

• Judy Cedar asked if at the April meeting, will there be time for presentations? Maureen Rath explained that there will be a half hour of regular business.
• Maureen Rath said that at the STAWNO Annual Meeting, Diane Hofstede reported about the Pierre Bottineau library. She mentioned three possible new locations for it – the Grain Belt Gasthouse, in Catholic Eldercare, and a third location not in Sheridan. Maureen recommended that if you feel strongly about keeping the library in neighborhood, contact Diane Hofstede.
• Kristine Harley announced the Guild Fest at the Casandra school
• Trish Schilling was requested by Margo Ashmore to open her home for the Home Tour. It will be good publicity for Art-A-whirl and the neighborhood. They recommend you have volunteers in house - Trish is looking for volunteers to staff her house.
• Census - Mike Romans said it is not too late and you can still apply as a census taker -

Events

• Trish Schilling reported that the committee met on March 23^rd. Matthew from Walker on Wheels announced that it will come to Sheridan school, April 14th to June 2^nd. They want SNO to participate. The events committee is working on two events: Recycling for Art on Aptil 29 at 10 am. It starts with a clean sweep and they will use the litter to make art, and do a weenie roast that day. They will also work on the Film Night on May 26^th. The Events Committee could provide popcorn and beverages and is asking people with instrument to bring one for that night to accompany the films. May 20th is the River Cleanup. Tom Taylor is picking up gloves and bags - meet at river.
• SNO big deal - June 17^th is the tentative date. This year there will be a real tent, Rita Fischers’ band will play.
• There are two parades – the July 4th MEND parade and the June 27th Eastside Parade – the committee is asking for people to bring bikes, matching t-shirts, they are looking for a design for SNO t-shirts.
• In October, they plan on a family fundraiser, called SNO Scary Days, it will be a fundraising event for families.
• There was some discussion on two river cleanups, one on April 22^nd and another on May 20^th.

SNO annual meeting committee

• The meeting will be formatted like last year's - with time for some regular business - total budget for the meeting is $962 - the League of Women Voters will provide people to run the election.

Business and Environment - no one could give update

Housing and Safety - no one could give update

Outreach - Tom Taylor reported

• The committee has been mostly making calls. Put your name on the sign-up list to get called. A couple phone-callers are also needed to call 10 to 15 people before meetings - talk to Tom if you are interested.

• Rosemary Fagrelius of GHMMC spoke. At the last meeting the 100 hours of community service was discussed, but she needs approval on removing that from the program, and the note and mortgage that will be signed will be removed as well. She still needs a date for the random drawing. Maureen Rath said we will wait until we see if we need it. The Board needs to approve the necessary changes when it has a quorum.
• Don Snyder spoke about part of the new program guidelines. He spoke about the request to consider deleting the community service requirements for people who had received money from the previous program. He needs a vote to approve the revised scope of services, guidelines and budget.
• A question was raised about how accurate do figures have to be on the application? just a ballpark figure is needed. Trish Schilling suggested that since we had consensus on these issues at last meeting we may be able to approve them outside of a meeting.

• Stephanie Lundeen presented. For two years a group has been working to get a natural food store open in NE Mpls. They did a feasability study with good results. There is a $55 membership fee - $100 for household. They need to raise memberships; they need 500 memberships to get bank support to get a loan. If the store does not materialize, you get the money back. Events coming up – on May 13th - 2nd annual plant sale - at central and 14th at city tree park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. NE mpls farmers' market at St. Boniface parking lot will start June 3rd and run every Saturday till sept. or oct. from 8 to noon - 12 to 15 producers will be there.

• Judy Cedar presented. She gave a presentation to City Council CD committee; it was approved by the Community Development Committee. Next Monday, the Ways and Means Committee will review the report, which talks about costs and resources needed for the project. She met with artists at the warehouse and bottling house. The artists are interested in finding a way to organize themselves to be competitive if buildings are sold. The project total budget is $19 million. Some of the costs would be spent to remove the gasthouse, seal wells, build parking, removing the stockhouse. Those costs are $1.5 million, the rest of the money goes to the brewhouse itself. Two sources of funding are identified in document, ones over which city council has control, and those over which it doesn't: grants, etc.
• Ryan will own the brewhouse and boiler house. Ryan will put up $5million equity. Public funding is about $13 million, from the MCDA, federal, and state. They will be looking at the sale of the warehouse and bottling house as funding. Artists there now are looking at possibly organizing and buying their space.
• MCDA’s Multifamily housing division will be coming with a request for proposal for multifamily housing in part of project. Ryan needs to begin construction in July; the parking lot will be owned by the MCDA. Ryan will not be paying rent for that parking. When surface parking is replaced by housing, MVDA will provide a parking ramp.
• Cedar said they will continue to try to save money wherever they can
• Maureen Rath encouraged people to come to artists meetings at Grain Belt if interested

• A Grain Belt Brewery Development Task Force has been set up. Maureen Rath is on it. It is revising the 1996 report drawn up for the entire Grain Belt site. She wants input before the next meeting. Maureen passed out a sign up sheet for people wanting to give input on development for that site, which is mostly recommended for housing

• In January Ellie Meenan introduced Erte restaurant. One thing that wasn't specifically reported was her need for a liquor license. The board cannot vote now but Maureen Rath asked for input. They are opening next week. Meenan also brought up the parking lot issue - she does not want to break asphalt; she also wants SNO's support like was given with the Polish Deli.

No report

Meeting adjourned