Sep

27

NRP Phase II Kickoff Meeting Minutes 9/27/05

Filed Under meeting notes, nrp 

Kingfield NRP Phase II Kickoff Minutes 9/27/05

The meeting began at 7:00pm with an informal sign-in, agenda, phase II participation agreement handout, a self guiding walking tour of the accomplishments during phase I, and root beer floats.  There were photos and descriptions spread around the room outlining some of the NRP projects from Phase I.

At 7:15 Julie Ristau (former president and NRP Steering Committee Chairperson) kicked off the meeting with a meeting outline:

Phase I Review

  • Approval of Phase I and Participation Agreement
  • Transferring of Funds
  • Small group discussions on ideas for Phase II money

She then gave a history o NRP.  “In 1995-96 Kingfield started participating in NRP.  We were one of the last neighborhoods in Minneapolis to be a part of the program.  It mainly began with EHIP (Exterior Home Improvement Projects).  Then there were a series of house parties (over 80).  Through these house parties NRP began surveying to collect qualitative data.  The first step was to see what would work.”  Julie pointed out that a lot of what everyone was seeing tonight (projects from phase I) was a result of some of those very early meetings… investing in Hosmer Library, greenway, helping businesses, the arts, Kingfield Park.

Julie explained that in the last ten years the neighborhood has changed a lot.  Some trends we’ve seen:

  • Unparallel rise in property values
  • Higher home ownership rate
  • Increased diversity
  • More mixed use business
  • Greater sense of neighborhood identity
  • More people and beauty on the street

Arthur Knowles (longtime Kingfield resident and member of NRP) discussed the participation agreement to prepare for the voting.  Arthur’s comments were “NRP is a great set up…democracy in action.”  “We’ve told you what been going on and what we’ve done and the highlights.”  He told the group we’d be voting on what everyone thought of Phase I and the Phase II development and our plan.  Arthur then discussed the parameters of KFNA membership: must live or have a business in the neighborhood to vote on NRP decisions.  The Arthur discussed the steering committee projects and structure, and the fact that Kingfield will develop a plan for the next 4-8 years.  Arthur explained that we’d ask the group to organize and identify ideas for Phase II, evaluate the highlights from Phase I, and lastly recommend projects for Phase II.  Arthur explained that after approval of phase II/idea gathering that we’d present at the April ’06 Annual Meeting for approval.  Arthur encouraged them to all take part.  Arthur went over census data… home values, fewer retirement homes, fewer units, minorities (change in demographics)

During Arthur’s presentation a question came up “Is part of the long term plan to open up Nicollet?”  The response was yes but that it was still uncertain what would happen.

Next Sean Whirley (NRP Chair and Board Member) took questions and the vote.  It was unanimous that participation agreement was approved and we could move to phase II.  We then voted and approved to move the 140K of KFNA money.  A question came up on whether or not the money was earning interest.  The answer was yes, but not much (not sure the exact amount, pays for some admin fees).  It was explained what could be done with the money if it was moved.  We voted and most were in favor, three abstained.

The next 45 minutes were spent in three small groups brainstorming ides for what we could do with Phase II monies.  The three areas to discuss were:
1)      Housing
2)      Community Development
3)      Environment (beautification and transportation)

Each group was directed to discuss each topic for 15 minute and prioritized the top two ideas to discuss in the larger group.

Following were the top ideas:

Housing
Melissa’s Group:

  • Partnerships
  • Matching grants/Revolving loans
  • NRP sunset

Ryan’s Group:

  • Recoverability of grants (environ and mitigation)
  • Revolving loans
  • Affordable housing

Sean’s Group:

  • Revolving Loan
  • Income limits on some programs (housing, diversity, and life-cycle housing)

Community
Ryan’s Group:

  • Macro-community-connections with neighboring neighborhoods and bridging Kingfield with other neighborhood (K-mart, King Bridge)
  • Micro (Night out)

Sean’s Group:

  • Farmer’s Market
  • Improving Businesses (adding grocery store)
  • Staff (to run programs)

Melinda’s Group:

  • Diversity Integration (Spanish speaking staff and minority leadership)
  • Farmer’s Market (in winter food shelf or concert hall)
  • Newsletters/communication

Environment
Melinda’s Group:

  • Elm Program (saving and placing trees)
  • Solar energy program (power buying coop, energy conservation)
  • Housing density

Sean’s Group:

  • Landscape business and home matching grants
  • Greenway/Bridge
  • Art trashcans, art plaza’s, and art bus stops

Ryan’s Group:

  • Farmer’s market (educational topics)
  • Establishing and sustaining guidelines for a green development policy

At the end we discussed that Phase II funds would have to be used by 2009.

Sean Whirley closed with next steps that we’d we solidifying ideas for use for Phase II monies into an action plan that we’d present to board and at the annual meeting in April.  Sean provided the dates and times for all the upcoming Kingfield meetings, and thanked everyone for participating.  We finished at 9pm.

Minutes prepared by Natalie Lenz, NRP Steering Committee Member, 9/29/05.

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