Jan

23

NRP Meeting Minutes 1/23/05

Filed Under meeting notes, nrp 

January 23, 2005
MINUTES

Present: Sean Wherley, Arthur Knowles, Melinda Ludwiczak, Natalie Lenz
Absent: Barb Chung, Wayne Anderson, Rolf Johnson, Niki Valens, Sam Zordich, Lisa Rudy, and Sarah Linnes-Robinson, KFNA Executive Director
Also Present: Joanna S. Hallstrom, NRP Project Organizer; KFNA

Guest presenter, Aaron Isaacs of Metro Transit answered questions about the possibilities of creating art shelters in place of traditional bus shelters. J. Hallstrom prepared a bus stop inventory map prior to the meeting. The map identified where each bus stop, bench and shelter is located in KFNA and was as reference tool for NRP Committee members.

Isaacs stated that in order to be approved for a shelter a bus stop must generate 40 riders a day. Metro Transit has started a process of reviewing ridership at existing shelter sites in order to asses shelter needs etc. Isaacs thought that the site at 38th and Grand Ave., which has an art shelter planned (although delayed) may have less riders then this.

Shelter maintenance is the number one concern that Metro Transit has in regards to art shelters. The capital to build and install shelters is available, however the funding to maintain shelters has been cut three consecutive years and a fourth cut is expected.

Isaacs is favorable to the idea of art shelters and is currently working with West Calhoun Neighborhood on a number of art shelter sites. If maintenance is to be done by Metro Transit a neighborhood can “decorate” or “customize” the shell of a Metro Transit bus shelter with these stipulations: art treatments can be attached to the roof or on the sides of a shelter. Treatments attached to the must be hinged to allow for easy access to glass panels. If the neighborhood wants to do their own “shelter” Metro Transit will not do any shelter maintenance.  i.e. the art shelter at the corner of 38th and Grand Ave. was designed to protrude out of the mural painted on the wall, a structure to be built completely by an artist (not using the M.T. bus shelter shell) and maintained by Lucky Girl, a business that is now closed.  Isaacs was also careful to state that Metro Transit will never be responsible for the maintenance of any of the art on or around their shelters. Also anything beyond the basic structure of the Metro Transit shelter will not be maintained by M.T.

According to Isaacs a new bus shelter kit costs $3500. The cement slab beneath the shelter costs $1000 and the assembly / installation is approximately $600. A total cost varying between $5000 and $6000. Adding lighting and heaters significantly increases the cost depending on the distance to the nearest electricity source. The maintenance of lighting and heaters is also a major expense.

Wherley asked if Isaacs knew which shelter in KFNA are to be replaced in the near future. Isaacs did not know of hand but will look into this and get back to the committee. The NRP Committee thought that is would be best to target shelter sites that either will be replaced soon, so as to build the art onto the shelter during the kit assembly and installation process or build onto new shelters that are expected to last at least 20 years (no use putting art on a shelter that will be replaced in five years). Isaacs offered that the artist could work on the shelter in the Metro Transit bus shelter shop in North Minneapolis.

Isaacs noted that Metro Transit bus shelter do not have advertising on them. The shelters that do have advertising on them are owned by another company. KFNA would have to work with them separately. Again, Isaacs mentioned that he will report back which shelters Metro Transit owns and which of these are due for replacement.

Issacs suggested that the committee look at the public art along the Hiawatha Corridor. He stated that the art is noticeably durable however the maintenance costs etc. would be something to research.

Shelters the Isaacs suggested checking out include: 24 th, 25th, 26th streets along Hennepin Avenue- built into base of advertisement posts. 50th and Xerxies – condo assoc. provides the maintence. 28th and Chicago – Allina. See also 28th and Lyndale, and bus shelters in West Calhoun Neighborhood.

Regarding benches. Isaacs informed the committee that Metro Transit does not own or govern the location of bus stop benches. US Bench owns the benches and sells the advertising. They have a contract with the City of Minneapolis to place the benches at will. The City receives a cut of the advertisement revenue. US Bench is to work with Metro Transit and considerately place benches as to not interfere with bus accessibility and ADA pads. There have been a few problems with this that Metro Transit has had to address.

Isaacs left the meeting at the closed of this discussion. The NRP committee proceeded with other business.

Minutes were approved by consensus of NRP committee members present.

1)       23rd West 38th Street
The NRP committee approved a $10,000 grant to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority for soil remediation, pile-ons so that MPHA can proceed with building the duplex at 23rd West 38th street.

2)       Theisen Building
Wherley reminded the NRP Committee that the Redevelopment Committee is having a public meeting on January 26, 2005 at MLK Park at 7:00pm. Student from the Metropolitan Design Center at the University of Minnesota will be presenting sustainable design concepts for the redevelopment of the Theisen Building at 38th and Nicollet. A representative from Lander Group Inc., the developer will be present to hear the student’s ideas.

3)      Nicollet Ave. Lighting Petition
Wherley reported that Linnes-Robinson submitted the petition for the Nicollet Ave Pedestrian Lighting project. The City is in the process of reviewing signatures and addresses and should finish this process by the end of January. The project will then move forward.

Task: Linnes-Robinson will follow up on the type of pedestrian lighting that will be installed. The community would like to have baffles that direct the light downward. The goal would also be to change the baffles on the pedestrian lighting that was previously installed along Nicollet from40th Street to 46th Street.

4)     Tree Inventory
The Minneapolis Park Board doesn’t have enough money to do adequate tree replacement. They are currently consumed with getting infected Elm trees down.  It will cost 2.5 million to get the Dutch elm disease under control.

Task: Linnes-Robinson will try to get a representative from the Mpls Park Board, Forestry Department to present and answer questions at the February NRP meeting.

5)     Organizing and Outreach for CIG / SS

The NRP committee brainstormed a list of ideas for community initiated and social service grants.

1. Solar panels
2. Bus shelters
3. Bus benches
4. Art bus shelters/benches
5. Boulevard flowers
6. Bike racks
7. Paint crosswalks
8. Install pedestrian crossing signs
9. Youth projects
10. Decorative benches (non-bus benches)
11. Decorative trash cans (street intersections)
12. Speed humps
13. Plant grass near concrete-covered bus stops
14. Distribute paint for garage door murals/graffiti paint overs
15. Motion/security lights for home, business use
16. Recyling shelves
17. Hosmer Library
18. Sabathani food shelf
19. Skyway Senior Center
20. Southwest Senior Center
21. After-school tutoring
22. Big Brothers/Big Sisters (event/trip planning)
23. Blaisdell YMCA
24. Lyndale School
25. Install left-turn traffic signals (at appropriate intersections)
26. Leonardo’s Basement
27. School theater troupes
28. Stencils on street gutter grates

Regarding social service grants it was suggested to notify organizations that KFNA has already given money to of their eligibility to apply for another grant.

6) NRP Planning
NRP Planning discussion was put on hold until Linnes-Robinson is back. Wherley did state that KFNA will not ask the community to approve a waiver. KFNA must contract 95% threshold. Linnes-Robinson is planning on having a community meeting in September instead of on this spring.

Next NRP Meeting is February 21, 2005 at MLK Park, 7:00pm.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:00pm

Minutes prepared by Joanna S. Hallstrom, KFNA Project Organizer

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