Sheridan Neighborhood Organization Board Meetings

Sheridan Neighborhood Organization Board Meeting

September 27, 1999

Maureen Rath called the meeting to order

Drew Trampe was not present. All other board members were present

Introductions

John Akre read the minutes from the last August SNO meeting, Melissa Davis made a motion to approve the minutes, Dora Harris seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Treasurer's report – Drew Trampe was not present, so Maureen Rath gave the report. The SNO account balance is $4,144.98, after receipt of MCDA funds.

SNO Executive Committee meeting report - 9/8/99

• The SNO Board voted to accept meeting space offered at 1226 2nd St. NE. New phone number with voice mail has been secured- The phone number is 612/379-0728. SNO does not have office hours.
• Next month, the SNO board will be meeting at Sheridan School, 1201 University, room 135. Enter at 4th Street side, north entrance. Northeaster has been updated – In November we will meet the 3rd Monday, as the 4th is not avail at Sheridan School.
• MCDA/CDBG money, - $4,000 has been received.
• MCDA Road Show - Maureen and Melissa attended - informational meeting.

Announcements

• Watch your car program - in CCP/SAFE newsletter
• Promotion on combating graffiti - call within 24 hours or 911 if witnessing it. Graffiti Hotline number is in phone book.
• Block club leader meeting Oct. 13th.
• Other information - Zoning hearing

Open Mic Session

• Jacki Sullivan - Sheridan School looking for support from its 4^th Street neighbors – they want feedback from residents for the idea of putting no parking signs for one side of street to make it easier to load and unload schoolbuses.

Ritz Theatre Update - Andy Nederveld said check in the mail to Ballet of the Dolls for the feasibility study they are to do - Jim Boyle of Ballet of the Dolls asked for member of SNO to be on steering committee. Talk to Andy if interested.

Jeff Shane – spoke about the status of his Harmony Scenic Building

• Shane spoke about his need to sell his building on Marshall Avenue and about the roadblocks he has found after lining up several interested buyers.
• He put building up for sale in March 99. Shane handed out a document of what has been happening since then. He has had several interested buyers but feels they have dropped their interest after hearing of city plans for the area. The most recent buyer planned to keep the building operating under its current use, but after a talk with a MCDA staffperson Gerald Boardman, they backed out of the deal. Boardman told them that Brighton development was considering building housing there, and that long range plans for the area call for housing. When Shane received the go ahead to build his building just a few years ago plans for the area called for light industrial, and he had been encouraged to build there. Now he is frustrated because he cannot sell his building.

Michael Rainville - Saint Anthony West -

Rainville asked permission for three presidents, of STAWNO, BNA and SNO, to sit down to form a joint powers agreement to work on mutual projects and form 501c4 organization to get federal funding for projects. He proposes calling it "MEND?" The three neighborhood groups would work together to develop bylaws. If they agree on common issues, the combined organization can be a powerful vote downtown. Dora Harris made a motion that SNO send Maureen Rath as representative to work on a joint powers agreement and bylaws for new group, Andy Nederveld seconded – Maureen Rath agreed to be the representative. – The motion was approved unanimously.

Committees

• Events Committee - Trish spoke. SNO had a picnic - photos were circulated. The next event will be the SNO Ball; talking about February as a possibility - Trish would like list of people who want to be on that committee - to work on thank you letters for the last event and plan the next event.
• Business - John read minutes. Drew wrote them. They are attached. The committee is beginning work on 13^th Ave. issues.
• From the business committee report, John Akre made a motion that a letter be sent to the owner of the 331 bar requesting that his wood fence along University Ave be taken down because it encourages illegal activity behind it. The letter would be cc’d to Joe Biernat's office, Dora Harris seconded the motion. Discussion: language in the letter should ask for the fence to be removed or lowered. The motion was passed unanimously.
• Fundraising - did not meet
• Arts & Education - did not meet
• Housing and safety - Andy Nederveld reported. The committee discussed ways to improve current initiatives - will present views once they are refined - also talked about problem intersections - making traffic lights more visible and curb speeding - also looked at block clubs and invited CCP Safe to talk about increasing participation - scheduled tentatively for 14th of October - next meeting. Meeting at 1210 6th Meeting.
• Outreach - committee hasn't met officially yet.

Charles Krenz wanted to recognize Jacki Sullivan for her work to get us into Sheridan for next meeting - no smoking in Sheridan school - applause for Jim and Patty Grell for use of their space for nearly last year.

Dora Harris suggested that we should think about child care soon.

Maureen Rath announced that she would take leave of absence beginning in December for her child.

John Akre moved that we adjourn meeting, Charles Krenz seconded, all approved.