King Bridge Partnership
Meeting Minutes
March 7, 2007
MLK Park
7:00pm
Attendance: Steve Brandt, Mark Hinds, Steve Jevning, and Margaret Sines, Andrea Jenkins (8th Ward)
KFNA Staff: Joanna S. Hallstrom, NRP Project Organizer
Introductions: Demetrius Sanders from Bryant Neighborhood, first meeting.
Announcements: Jenkins announced that the Bryant Issues meeting was cancelled due to the snowstorm. It is rescheduled for April 5th at Phelps Park. Brandt will attend and Jenkins recommended that multiple KBP members attend to communicate the immediate need to address the current condition of the bridge and show support for the larger project.
Jenkins also announced that the Minneapolis Park Board Foundation is organizing a big Grand Rounds Bike Rally on September 16. This would be a great opportunity to draw attention to the KBP project and the RiverLake Greenway. KBP would like to try to get a brochure registration packet and get the two projects listed on the route map.
Memorandum of Understanding:
Hinds will send a letter to Jim Grube next week. The committee discussed the key elements that need to be included in the MOU. KBP’s priority is to ensure that they are responsible for bridge design decisions and identify who will be responsible for bridge maintenance once it is constructed (not KBP).
RFP Revisions – Motzenbecker will make revisions to the RFP once all the timeline and details of the process are clarified.
Fundraising
Sines has been doing prospect funding research focusing on funding sources in community development, building construction, community improvement, recreation and the arts. Sines suggested establishing a subcommittee to further work on funding development. Sines will group funding prospects and contacts and continue with her research but she would like someone else to cultivate the relationships and apply for the funding.
Sines did not research corporate funders and will expand her search to include a healthy living category
The Committee discussed their strategy for securing funding:
Secure a few large donors first in order to make it easier to attain funding from smaller donors.
Develop the small/individual donor base to demonstrate grass roots support for the project, which can be leveraged to receive support from larger contributors.
Be strategic in matching funders with the appropriate project phase (i.e. the county can fund architecture but not design; identify funders to supplement the design phase).
Current Time Frame:
Complete the Common Grant Application
Plan cultivation events to further develop supporters
Complete MOU
Proceed with Design Competition
Hinds will email out a time line that includes specific fundraising and outreach steps
Outreach:
Brandt and Jevning have been working on the Sponsor Plan. The primary goal of the Sponsor Plan is to acquire and demonstrate grass roots support for the bridge project from local community members, churches, organization and public officials. This support will be leverage for future funding requests. “Sponsors” will not be asked for letters of support etc. but no financial donations will be solicited at this time.
Brandt and Jevening have a list of potential supporters and will send the master list to Hallstrom.
Other:
Jenkins will research if 2nd and 1st Avenues are State Aid roadways.
Brandt will email out a task list to committee members.
Minutes completed by Joanna S. Hallstrom, KFNA