Sheridan Neighborhood Organization
21 May 2001
All Board members but Jenny Fortman present.
Andy Nederveld called the meeting to order
Introductions
John Akre read the minutes. Melissa Davis moved the that minutes be accepted as read. Patrick Greffin seconded, motion carried.
Executive Committee Reports
Interim Board actions
Approve up to $300 for annual meeting expenses
approve up to $450 for Library Meeting Expenses
Approve $200 for NE Arts Retailers promotional material
John Akre moved these three items
Melissa Davis 2nded. motion carried.
Treasurer's Report - balance $8,776. CDBG balance that must be spent by end of month. $500 needs to be spent in next 10 days. $7,700 in general funds.Melissa Davis has established a small committee to work on 501c3 application.
Library meeting on May 12th - RSP presented - got feedback from residents - top ideas included an outdoor performance space and connectons to the river.
Upper River Working Group update - Trish Schilling presented - the group is going to be meeting one more time. This group is setting guidelines for the group that will guide the process of carrying out the uppler river plan. Citizens group will act as body that will voice opinions as development occurs.
Sheridan Deferred Loan Program - Andy Nederveld presented - applications are being accepted - went out in May 15th Northeaster - due on June 15th at office .
MEND Update - met with Cunningham Group - how to make most of existing arts resources - brainstorming - committment from St. Anthony West and Bottineau to help us make 13th Avenue more pedestrian friendly - to connect from river up to Logan Park.
St. Anthony West provided first year funding for MEND, $7,835. SNO has been submitted a request to match those funds for next year - that money would come out of our NRP funds already targeted to staff and office space - Mellisa Davis moved that SNO spend $7,835 out of NRP funds to fund MEND for a year. Sally seconded. Question about Cops on Bikes - Bottineau will pay for it this year. Motion passed.
John Akre moved that we approve up to $500 for bike rodeo expenses, for helmets and licenses for Sheridan kids for the CCP/SAFE bike rodeo. Trish Schilling seconded, motion passed.
Malone's Auto - Joe Biernat presented - site plan that they submitted was not complete - they can submit a plan by Wednesday - if they don't their license will be revoked - if they do, the issue will be postponed for another month. Red Landon asked that they close if they do not meet city specifications - Joe Biernat said that if they do not conform on Wednesday, their license will be revoked -
Tannie Echenaur - from State Health Dept. - spoke about the Vermiculite survey - the State wants to identify people who have had exposure to asbestos - they will only survey the eastern portion of Sheridan - she has forms if you are not in the area and want to fill out a survey - they will provide assesment of risks to people who participate in survey - will also assess surface of property, EPA will pay for clean up if required. Questions - vermiculite insulation - may be a problem with vermiculite insulation in home - if you have it, leave it alone. If you remove it yourself, you do it at great risk.
Open Microphone
Dave Ramstead - opposite Malone's is large open pit flame that people light up over and over again. He also has yard signs for his campaign
Valdis Rozentals - spoke about the third ward summit on May 8th - the next meeting will be in the Jordan neighborhood - he has yard signs available.
Committee Updates
Outreach - Tom Taylor - we are losing Maureen Rath and Richard Gunderson - one branch of the phone tree - he is looking for someone to pick that up - sending out post cards for SNO Big Deal with meeting info - $67 to make postcards - 1700 - Melissa Davis moved that we approve up to $500 for postcards and mailing. John Akre seconded, motion carried.
Housing Committee - Andy Nederveld presented - next month we will see detailed site plans on 2 GHMMC homes on two vacant lots
Events - Trish Schilling reported - SNO Big Deal June 16th - Eastside parade is June 26th - Trish asked for show of hands of who thought SNO should have presence in parade - she was looking for someone to organize the SNO presence.
Business - Drew Trampe presented - Kelly Albright gave survey update - results will be presented at next meeting - Trampe said after talking to MCDA and Housing Resource Center person - found that our 4% loan is not that competitive - he got copies of matching grant programs of other neighborhoods - he would like to propose to Business Committee something similar to Deferred Loan housing program
Ritz Theater /Ballet of the Dolls
Craig Harris thanked SNO for its support - they did their first show in NE Mpls. at PNA Hall - doing school and outreach program in NE - David Warner - vice chair of board said the board is working identifying new funding sources with success - Sharon from MCDA said the past winter they received environmental abatement estimate to clean up theatre and remove wells - cost $140k. They found a funding source - need to involve state historic preservation office in this - they believe now that the theater has been altered too much for historic status, so MCDA can now begin roof repair and plans to have environmental work done by Aug. 1st. Ballet of the Dolls will do another fundraising event in August and hope to have tour of theater - George Sutton said they have permission to begin work to change the building's zoning to allow for a theater - and need letter from school board to authorize rezoning for parking lot - so it can be residential and commercial - petition will go out to properties within 300 feet -
Andy Nederveld - said that Sheridan devoted $75,000 to Ritz a few years ago in its NRP plan - we released $25,000 last fall for feasibility study - since then we have seen committment from city and Ballet of the Dolls - they would now like to see release of the rest of the funds - Craig Harris presented - relayed other financial committments they have received - money will go to resolving issues of ownership, dealing with fundraising plans, Sutton said that next investment will go to complete the pre-development process - Harris said they have been hearing committment from foundations - but the founations don't want to be first to give their money - so they need to show that they have organizational and community support - Andy Nederveld said that it looks like we have the right group - they are working on issues - Sally Watterman said she thinks we should be the first to commit - Red Landon proposed that Ballet of the Dolls be in the Eastside parade - Harris said he would work on it - Sally Waterman moved that we release $50,000 to the Ritz to finish the pre-development process. Patrick Greffin seconded, motion passed.
Grain Belt Housing Update
Site I, Historic Brewery Foundation - Ross Pfeffercorn presented - in the last 90 days - the have been engaged in fact-finding to find out if theirs is a viable plan - they have uncovered information that will lead to better plan - asked Hennepin county and City to take role in design of Marshall - Arts Park - have gotten interest of Park Board - to start process of comprehensive planning of park areas. Archaological study that has been done in site will have an effect - having been discussing parking requirements of other buildings - bottling and warehouse would require more parking than they initially proposed - up to 350 parking stalls for these buildings, library and RSP - they need to find a place for that parking - historical analysis of Site 1 found the foundation of John Orth Brewery under the site - the study recommended that it is a contributing factor to the brewhouse - contributing factors can be added to list of historic buildings - they are planning for how to build around that - Victor Calliandro - spoke about Orth foundation - foundation starts 6 inch below ground - building that they proposed on Marshall will not be possible - foundation needs to be protected but accessible - he desribed three possibile ways to incorporate it - there were questions about historic nature of foundation - Kristine Harley said that because the foundation exist and are intact, that state will request that they be saved - question about how will this affect retail - Pfeffercorn said they need to revisit how housing density would affect that - Tom Taylor said that there is no retail in upcoming housing developments other than this one - state historic preservation office is also beholden to federal office, park service, and national trust. If their design has adversarial effect on other buildings in district, that area extends past Main and near 15th - architects will be looking for other important buildings in that area. Density of Site One was important for tax increment - so they will have to shift it around to maintain that density - may have to revisit small houses on 13th Avenue
Grain Belt Brewhouse Development update - Stockhouse Parking
Judy Cedar presented - passed out design for temporary parking lot at 13th and Marshall - MCDA received special use permit for interim use of site for parking - 33 trees surround stockhouse site - they need to modify plan to allow for removal of parking spaces by alley so bottling house tenants can have access - parking spaces will have to be moved, which will remove some of the trees and shrubs - she could bring it out when they have modifications to plan done in June - this lot surpasses what they need to do for this lot - Andy Nederveld said that even if the parking lot is here for a short time, it will be one of the first changes neighbors see, so it is important that it looks good. Andy suggested subcommittee of nearby neighbors is formed - Pfeffercorn said that they have been told by historic offices that this was an industrial district that did not traditionally have trees. Andy suggested that temporary committee be set up with Trish Schilling chairing it to review parking lot design - suggestion that trees could be moved after the parking lot is taken down.
Non-Conforming Use Permit - Used Auto Sales, 13th and Marshall
Andy Nederveld presented - they used to have a license to sell used autos from lot - it expired - Nosrat did not renew it because of uncertainty last year - then had to develop a site plan - he showed it - they want a license to sell 8 used cars a month - Joe Biernat said that Nosrat should go to a conditional use permit - based on him selling 8 cars a month and keeping them in stalls and that they not appear on street - Andy Nederveld asked if that permit is transferrable,Biernat said yes. Biernat said that he would support extension to allow construction of site plan - there was a question about what kind of recourse would happen if they do not follow the conditions - Biernat said they could close off their license - Pat Stebe said he is in support of plan - Sally Waterman moved that SNO suport the conditional use permit, John Akre seconded, Joe Biernat suggested that we add the planning office's conditions - that eight cars for sale be allowed on lot, that cars be placed in stalls according to the site plan and that no cars be allowed on street. - those conditions were added to the motion - discussion - Nosrat showed site plan - Biernat said he would support up to May of 2002 to complete work. Motion carried
John Akre moved that we adjourn, Mellissa Davis 2nded. Motion carried.