Jul

19

NRP Meeting Minutes 07/19/04

Filed Under meeting notes, nrp 

July 19, 2004

MINUTES
Present: Sean Wherley, Melinda Ludwiczak, Arthur Knowles, Wayne Anderson, Sam Zordich, Lisa Rudy
Absent: Barb Chung, Natalie Lenz, Niki Valens
Also Present: Sarah Linnes-Robinson, KFNA NRP Coordinator and Marie Hauser, Park Board Representative

Knowles moved that the May NRP Minutes be approved as drafted.  Anderson seconded and all gave their consensus.

Linnes-Robinson reported that the City approved four of the Neighborhood murals and all were scheduled to begin in the next few weeks.  The fifth mural was on hold because the business owner had left the town on a lengthy vacation before having a chance to meet with the artist.  It seems possible that this mural can also be completed this summer, although until he is back this cannot be assured.

Staffer Rachel Foran has been doorknocking, sent a letter, and doing follow-up phone calls with Nicollet Avenue property owners concerning the lighting petition.  The results of her work are attached, although because each signature does not carry the same weight, it is hard to tell how many more signatures are needed.  Rather the amount of property each person owns determines the “value” of their signature, and she noted that three property owners are really necessary for the success of this petition; the large land owners are Super Shuttle, Salvation Army, and The Latter Day Saints Church.  The committee agreed that these should be targeted first, thus letting us know how many smaller parcels we need signatures for.  Wherley agreed to attend these meetings as a board representative with Foran.

A Community Initiated Grant submitted by Niki Brovold was discussed.  It includes the design and installation of an art bus stop outside of Lucky Girl Grocery.  She has received agreement from Metro Transit to remove the current structure and also for the installation of the new design.  The cost of the project is $3500 and the grant would cover $3000.  Linnes-Robinson said, upon questioning, that she assumed Brovold will pay the remainder.  Rudy approved the CIG grant for the Art Bus Stop Project and Ludwiczak seconded.  It is planned to be installed in August 2004.

Promotion of both Community Initiated and Social Service grants was discussed.  Linnes-Robinson repeated that this was a priority for the summer, yet due to the hiring complications with Foran (who has reduced her hours and is intending to quit the position in October 2004) true outreach on these programs has not been accomplished.  Linnes-Robinson said that with new staff hired by the 1st of 2005, this would be a priority for 2005.  Valens had called in her absence to the meeting and had stressed that clearer ideas of how the money could be used would be beneficial in getting the community to spend the dollars.  So, until Organizing staff is hired, she will draft a newsletter article that more clearly outlines project ideas, and she will also take advantage of the Kingfield festival to promote these grant pools.  National Night Out was also discussed as a time to get information to the neighborhood about these programs, although none of the committee volunteered to travel the neighborhood and spread the word on that night.  Linnes-Robinson will see if Redevelopment Committee members may want to spread the information along with the CHI survey they are distributing.

A tree planting project was again discussed as a way to green-up the neighborhood and deal with the loss of elms.  Marie Hauser was available to answer questions concerning how the Park Board selects sites for tree replacements following a Dutch Elm removal, and she said it was largely due to requests.  Linnes-Robinson will check into this information with the forestry department and if it true, will publish the information on the email list.  Any project ideas to add trees to the neighborhood either through the Park Board for boulevards or to private property through a separate vendor will be planned this winter (ideally with a volunteer that has a knowledge and interest in the project) and implemented next spring.

Linnes-Robinson then walked the group through a handout she developed (see attachment) that showed NRP dollars spent, committed and contracted to date (7-04).  She suggested that the group focus on the contract amount as the key number to pay attention to in regards to moving onto Phase II planning.  According to her calculations once the group is able to contract the Nicollet lighting portion, they are almost to their required percentage.  However, all the small pots of money that are remaining will still not get the neighborhood to the required 85%.  Hence, she recommended planning to ask for a waiver from the 85% rule from the community in April, stating the Redevelopment funds will go to the redevelopment strategy in Phase II which, due to the language, could then be used for residential or commercial development, or leveraged into mixed use as the Redevelopment Committee has discussed.  This waiver will be presented along with a Participation Agreement for entering into Phase II planning which will include an outreach timeline for the spring and summer of 2005.  Based upon this “plan”, there is nor need for “big” ideas for Phase I, rather small ideas to keep Community Initiated grants moving and initiate new projects.

Before this is done, the executive summary of Phase I will need to be done.  Linnes-Robinson said she will begin work on this for the upcoming meetings and the group could review pieces and results of Phase I throughout the fall and winter.  It will be incorporated into either a winter newsletter, or a booklet to promote the Annual Meeting.

Problems with past housing options were then discussed as the precursor for trying to decide how Phase II housing dollars should be spent.  Linnes-Robinson reviewed the programs, dollars spent, and issues and successes to date.  No solutions were arrived at, unless the Redevelopment Committee truly was successful at encouraging redevelopment along Nicollet and money could be allocated towards that.

The next meeting will be Monday August 16, 7 PM at Anodyne, due to the closing of the park building for the last two weeks of August.

The meeting was adjourned.

Minutes prepared by Sarah Linnes-Robinson, KFNA Coordinator, 8/1/04.

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