Sheridan Neighborhood Organization
23 July 2001
All board members present but Sally Waterman
Andy Nederveld called the meeting to order
Introductions
John Akre read the minutes. Melissa Davis moved that the minutes be accepted, Jenny Fortman 2nded. Motion carried.
Executive Committee Reports
Treasurer's report - Melissa Davis reported - SNO has $11490 in bank - 501c3 application is at the attorneys.
Cops on Bikes - Andy Nederveld reported. SNO needs more contacts for bike patrol to stop at.
Announcements
Ritz Theatre - Andy Nederveld reported. Work is going on there on cleaning up the structure.
EPA is arriving - Tani Eschanour presented - people in moon suits will be walking around in neighborhood for vermiculite cleanup
Fringe festival - coming up on August 3rd
Trish Schilling announced several events, including candidate forums.
Tom Taylor presented - meet the candidate forum on 100 block of 13th Avenue.
MEND Update - St. Anthony West and Sheridan are applying for Commercial Corridor Reserve Fund - that is part of Phase 2 NRP so that is on hold
NRP general state - Stacy Sorenson of NRP presented - there are funds to fund Phase 1 NRP plans; phase 2 is a big question - Sheridan's existing plan is safe
Library - SNO will get a presentation in August about possible amenities that we would fund for library.
Open Mic
Russell Ferguson - complained about his neighbors on the 200 block of 16th Avenue NE.
Tom Taylor - suggested that the SNO Board sponsor a candidate forum.
John Akre - announced National Night Out
Dave Olsen of Mississippi Corridor Neighborhood Coalition – spoke about the organization - working on projects - planting, citizen participation on Upper River plan, water testing, pollution reduction, meet on third Saturday of each month at Olsen studios.
Committee Updates
Outreach - Tom Taylor - looking for people to help make phone calls - Trish Schilling - working on getting next newsletter out - she encourages submissions.
Events - Trish Schilling - nothing to report.
Business - Drew Trampe presented - last March they had a plan with 4% loan - started looking into grant program - they've gone back to original revolving loan program with 0% interest loan - loans would be for external work - in next 2 to 3 weeks the money would be approved - next couple week final guidelines will come out - there was discussion about NRP money for Ritz Theatre vs. for other businesses. Eeris Fritz said that if we start out as 0% loan this year she'd like us too look into Grant program in the future - Tom Taylor says that if we change program to a grant program, it needs to be brought up to neighborhood in a vote - Trish Schilling suggested if 0% loan doesn't work then it should be addressed and changed.
Catholic Eldercare - GMMHC
Andy Nederveld presented - there are 2 MCDA vacant lots that had to be developed - one on 12th - SNO decided to use Home Ownership program and work with GMMHC to build houses on the lots. Carolyn Olson presented - she is on board of Catholic Eldercare - they are working on an assisted living center - they will build 75 units on 2nd and Broadway in Saint Anthony West - they need to acquire two additional houses - one owner agreed to sell if he found appropriate home - he would accept one of the GMMHC houses, the one to be built on 12th Avenue - he would meet guidelines - Eldercare would build and own the house - and he would pay for some upgrades. Olson asked SNO if we would allow that - if we don't Eldercare won't be able to build. The new houses will be sold for $185,000. Olson said both of the houses should be done by winter - Andy Nederveld said we would get the same exact house - it won't cost us anything - and it would help Eldercare expand - Olson said only difference is that house wouldn't be sold on the market.
John Akre moved that SNO repurpose lot on 12th Ave from the Home Ownership program to Catholic Eldercare - Jenny Fortman 2nded, the motion passed
MPLS Public Schools' NRP Funding Request
Andy Nederveld presented - this would be a retroactive change to NRP plan - there are some funds in Phase 1 NRP accessible only to schools - Sheridan school improved its parking lot at an expense of $15,000, but did not work with neighborhood to develop a part of the neighborhood NRP plan to account for this expense. The school is asking us to approve language to our NRP plan to allow them to pay for these improvements - Stacy Sorenson we would need to add a new strategy to our NRP plan – Andy Nederveld said we should make it clear that we will never again make such a retroactive change. Jenny Fortman moved that we add a strategy to the Sheridan NRP plan that states, "Improve the Sheridan School parking area," and that this strategy be paid for with $15,000 of school's 2nd and a half percent funds. Melissa Davis 2nded the motion. Motion carried.
SNO Voting Membership Requirements
Melissa Davis presented. According to MN State Law - you have to choose to be a member of SNO to be able to vote at annual elections - we need to have a membership list for our annual meeting and only allow members on the list to vote. Davis wants by August meeting to have some input, so in September meeting we can vote on revised bylaws. Tom Taylor added that we need to flyer a couple months before annual meeting to let people know they need to be members to vote.
Vacant lot on 4th Street
Four developers presented a few meetings ago - our first choice backed out of the project - 2nd choice was Williams construction - contractor has come back wanting to do a second plan - Andy Nederveld presented the blueprints - Tom Taylor recommended that we hold off discussion till August. He would flyer affected neighbors.
John Akre moved that we adjourn, Jenny Fortman 2nded, motion carried.