SNO Board Meeting May 22, 2000
All Board members present
Andy Nederveld called the meeting to order
Introductions
John Akre read the minutes of the March meeting.
Two corrections were noted: the river cleanup date, and the price for co-op membership.
Melissa Davis moved that the minutes be approved as amended, Jenny Fortman seconded. All voted to approve the minutes.
Executive Committee reports
Melissa Davis reported. SNO has received the new payment from cdbg budget. Of the 1999 cdbg funds, $5353.79 have been spent. $1,668.21 needs to be spent by end of month. All unspent funds go back to the MCDA at the end of the month. SNO has been awarded $700 more CDBG funds this year than last year, a total of $7755. Some budget changes need to be made to adjust the difference between that and the $11,300 requested in the application.
The SNO general fund contains $3430.16 - $2366.11 of that is profit from SNO ball
Drew Trampe presented information about the May 5th Mississippi Eastside Neighborhood Development Meeting. MEND is developing welcome packet that can be given to new neighbors. MEND asks that SNO pass the MEND bylaws. The Cunningham Group will be meeting with MEND members on June 3rd to start thinking about how neighborhoods can plan collectively for the future of the eastside. Phil Filas asked about whether these meetings are open. Drew Trampe responded that this is a first step to prepare for a planning process. Sally Waterman made a motion that SNO accept the MEND bylaws, Jenny Fortman seconded, all voted to accept the bylaws.
A lottery was held to prioritize applications because more were received than there was funding for. GMMHC sent letters to the first 30 people on the lottery list and is working on administering it. In the meantime, there is the Sheridan NRP revolving loan program available.
Town Meeting on Grain Belt Area Development Objectives
120 people signed in. The meeting lasted three hours. There was a lot of testimony. Comments are due on June 30th. The SNO Board will develop a statement over the next month that will incorporate material from the Town Meeting, the Annual Meeting and other feedback, and will discuss and approve the statement at the June meeting.
Announcements
John Akre announced the Jay Clark neighborhood organizing trainings
Kristine Harley announced a changing job party and a dance performance. She also announced that three Mpls Preservation Commission awards were won by Eastsiders.
Open Mic session
Judy Chose said that she would not be getting a letter of support from SNO about site 1 and 2 of the Grain Belt Housing Objectives.
Andy Nederveld responded, says that SNO would go over all the feedback it received to put together a comprehensive report for next the meeting.
Eeris Fritz asked that the strong views at the Town Meeting would be reflected in the statement
Tom Taylor said board needs to consider more things that just the added properties before making a statement
Phil Filas said that as a neighborhood group, SNO needs to represent the people, not politicians.
Trish Schilling said that when SNO received word of Grain Belt objectives, members went to affected neighbors, to tell them about it.
Eeris Fritz thanked SNO for contacting her about the Objectives.
Committee Updates
Trish Schilling reported. She announced items on the Events calendar: Movie night at Sheridan School Parking lot, SNO big Deal on June 17th, NE Parade, for which SNO is putting together a shovel brigade. Jenny Fortman talked about SNO t-shirts. The committee needs $300 to have 50 t-shirts made. Melissa Davis moved that we buy the t-shirts and popcorn for the movie night, John Akre senconded, all Board members voted to approve.
Drew Trampe reported. At the May 9th meeting, Jim Boyle gave a Ballet of Dolls update; he asked for $25,000 to implement Phase II of their plan to move into the Ritz Theatre. The committee approved it. The business Committee is working on developing a business plan for 13th Ave. Corridor
Andy Nederveld reported. Cops on Bikes has been held up by contractual issues between the MCDA and the Second Precinct. The committee is hopeful that the bike cops will be on the streets in the next couple weeks. The committee will be working to market the revolving loan Program in the NRP plan for absentee landlords, which has been underutilized so far.
Tom Taylor reported. The river clean-up was held on Saturday. There were many volunteers. Fred Chose and Arden Miller pulled up the largest items. All told, 27 bags of garbage were collected. The river was much cleaner this year, last year's volunteers should pat themselves on the back.
Kristine Harley said to get things to her as soon as possible for the next newsletter - the May June issue will be out soon
Ballet of the Dolls/Ritz Theatre
Jim Boyle presented. They are into their Phase II of their plan to move into the Ritz. 40% of funding is in place for this phase, which gets them from the feasibility phase to redevelopment. They are preparing to launch a capital campaign in the fall. Andy Nederveld said that the neighborhood has $75,000 in its NRP plan for rehabilitation of the Ritz Theatre, or $50,000 for demolition of it. BOD is asking for $25,000. These funds, for environmental cleanup related costs, would be applicable for either renovation or demolition. Drew Trampe moved that SNO release $25,000 of Ritz Theatre NRP funds to Ballet of the Dolls. Jenny Fortman seconded, all Board Members voted to approve.
Land sale at 208 13th Ave. NE
Judy Cedar presented - Bob Sorg of 212 Pottery wants to purchase the land next to his store. He has a development proposal that would put it into reuse immediately. SNO had asked for Request for Proposals for the site which Cedar had prepared and presented to SNO, but never sent out. In the meantime Sorg came up with a proposal that he wants reviewed. The design was approved in concept by site reviewers at the MCDA. Bob Sorg spoke about his proposal. It would include a retail store in front, and an extension of his pottery shop behind. A parking lot would be in front of the retail store. Above this he and his wife will have a residence. He wants to save a tree in the front of the lot. He would rent out the ground floor space to another business, he wants to have something there to complement his pottery shop. The site is 66 by 165 - 10,890 sq. feet. It is zoned C1, which allows for general commercial, office space; it would not allow food and beverage, medical, public utility, drug store, apartments, theatre or video store. The parcel is appraised at $22,000, which equals the offer from Sorg. There was a question about the rfp that was done but wasn't sent it out, and what constraints does that place on SNO. Cedar said that SNO is not bound by the rfp. Frank Stone said that Sorg has been a good neighbor. John Akre asked if the parking lot couldn't be behind rather than in front of the addition. Cedar and Sorg responded that because of lot size and lack of alley, they can't have parking behind. Andy Nederveld said that SNO had encouraged the MCDA to do an rfp, rather than made it a condition. He said that SNO's earlier motion was based on impatience, wanted things happening sooner on lot if possible, and Sorg wasn't ready then. Now he is making a big committment, selling his house to make it happen. Patrick Greffen said he likes the idea of resident and business combined in one building. John Akre moved that SNO approve the sale of 208 13th Ave NE to Bob Sorg, Sally Waterman seconded, all voted to approve
Christopher Kisershot - 313 13th AVe. NE
He wants to build a fence on the west side of his property. He wants an 8' privacy fence. The city limits him to a 6' privacy fence, which would not give him much privacy because of the grade of the land. The fence would be for a 40' section on the back of the property, not very visible from street. The fence-neighbor has endorsed it and is willing to pay a share. Neighbors on both sides have endorsed fence in writing. Melissa Davis made a motion that we approve the variance for the fence, Jenny Fortman seconded, all voted to approve.
Grain Belt Brew House Redevelopment Update
Judy Cedar presented - important City Council and board reviews are coming up soon. Some of the grants they have been seeking to redevelop it haven't been awarded. This board cycle, finance plan will be approved for land sale, demolition, abatement, Tax Increment Financing report. They are planning for a July construction start and a 13 month construction timetable - May 30th, June 5th the reviews will take place. This project, the Ryan redevelopment of the brewhouse, is separate from the Housing Objectives. Frank Stone asked if the development would include a health club that community could use, as Ryan proposed earlier. Cedar says she does not believe one is proposed for the site.
Cedar passed out a book presented to the Library Board about redeveloping the Gasthouse into a new home for the Pierre Bottineau branch. The library is concerned about wagon shed and office, the historic elements. The State Historic Preservation Office recommends that metal be removed and then tested to see if they are suitable for new uses. If necessary, the buildings would be rebuilt, matching the historic character of the existing buildings. The library voted to dedicated planning money to investigate this as the next site of the branch Library. Cedar will develop a scope of work and the library will select an architect to design it. Cedar will bring plans to the next meeting.
Melissa Davis moved to adjourn, Jenny Fortman seconded, all voted to do so.