October 6, 2004
MLK Park
7:00pm
Attendance
Kingfield: Mark Hinds, David Motzenbecker, Steve Brandt, Steve Jevning
KFNA Staff: Joanna Sahlberg Hallstrom
Bryant: Dennis Tifft, Kathleen Varner, Johannes Frazier
1.      Introduction
Joanna Sahlberg Hallstrom the new NRP Organizer was introduced. She replaced Liz Gibson-Gasset.
2. Update on Meetings
Johannes Frazier updated Robert Lilligren, City Council Member on the 40 street bridge project. Lilligren stated that he is a big proponent of the use of bikes and pedestrian spaces within the city. He will is supportive of the project.
David Motzenbecker and Mark Hinds met with Dan Niziolek, City Council Member and he is on board to support the bridge project.
A stakeholder meeting is being planned for late October. Mark Hinds is preparing a presentation for the meeting. The group discussed who the crucial stakeholders are that need to be at the meeting. The proposed stakeholders include Hennepin County, RT Rybek, Robert Lilligren, Dan Niziolek, St. Paul Public Works, MN DOT, Minneapolis Park Board, Met Council, and a staff from Martin Sabo’s office.
Johannes Frazier made a point to make sure that everyone with possible ties to or political interests in the bridge project are invited. Kathleen Varner stressed importance of not offending anyone as we are trying to build and secure support for the project.
Steve Jevning commented that we need to make sure that future city council members know about this project, since Robert Lillegren and Dan Niziolek have 15 month left as elected officials.
3. Ideas for Project Name
Marks Hinds
·        Friendship Bridge
·        The Bridge at 40th
Joanness Frazier
·        The South Minneapolis Friendship Bridge
·        The South Minneapolis Unity Bridge
Steve Brandt
·        Harmony Bridge
·        South Side Span
Steve Jevning
·        Martin Luther King Bridge (have a logo that represents unity)
Kathleen Varner
·        The King Bridge
Peter Hallstrom (submitted names prior to the meeting)
·        40th Street Bridge (to be consistent with other roadway bridges like the Franklin Street Bridge and the Lake Street Bridge)
·        Gateway Bridge
·        RiverLake Greenway Bridge
·        GreenSpan (humorous suggestion)
Joanna Sahlberg Hallstrom
·        Bryant RiverLake Gateway / Kingfield RiverLake Gateway
The group brainstormed names of famous and historical figures to name the bridge after.
·        Wellstone
·        Clem Kackelmeyer
·        Cleveland
·        Elmer Andersen
·        Theodore Wirth
The idea of using a Native American word that means friendship was also suggested. Someone brought up the Sabathani Community Center wanting to know the meaning of Sabathani. Steve Brandt will research some possibilities of Native American words and the meaning and origin of “Sabathaniâ€.
As discussed by the group it is important that the themes of friendship, acknowledgement of diversity, welcoming people, and strengthening the connection between neighborhoods are incorporated into the bridge name and logo.
Using “Gateway†as part of the name may be viewed negatively by people living in south metro neighborhoods due to a controversial redevelopment project a few years ago that used the same name.
A question was raised about weather or not MNDOT allowed bridges to be named. Mark Hinds believes that yes, MNDOT does allow bridges to be named by outside stakeholders.
The group decided to name this bridge project the King Bridge Partnership, reflecting the collaboration of the Bryant and Kingfield neighborhoods and the Martin Luther King Park which are all accessed by the bridge. The actual bridge name will not be decided until further progress has been made in securing funding and establishing support for the new bridge. At that time Bryant and Kingfield neighborhood members may be involved in the naming process.
4. Review Project Goals
The RiverLake Greenway Project Goals is in draft form. Group members are still reviewing it. Drafts can be attained from Sarah Linnes-Robinson.
5. Review and Discuss Draft Presentation
Mark Hinds presented a draft form of the PowerPoint presentation that will be used at the stakeholders meeting. The presentation outlines the need for a new pedestrian bridge over 35W on 40th street. The group discussed each slide and suggested changes and corrections.
A point was made that it needs to be very clear in the presentation that the King Bridge Partnership will be the body that facilitates the bridge design and building process.
In response to a question Steve Jevning will research the demographics of the South Minneapolis neighborhoods that were destroyed and separated by the construction of 35W in 1960s. The group would like to learn how the neighborhood demographics have changed since they were split, losing valuable community connection.
6. Review and Discuss Project Outline and Tasks
Mark Hinds took the group through a project outline that breaks down the bridge project into stages, steps, tasks. Group members were asked to look over the outline and consider which task they themselves could do or ask someone outside the group to do.
See Project Outline and Task document attached
7. Next Steps
·        Review Project Outline and decide what tasks to be in involved in or who to recruit to assist with the project.
·        Review the draft of Agreement Between the Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA) and Bryant Neighborhood Organization (BNO) and submit suggestions for revisions. The agreement was drafted by Erik Lindseth, a lawyer and KFNA board member. The draft will be emailed out to all King Bridge Partnership members.
·        Prepare for the stakeholders meeting. A tentative date of October 27 has been set. Mark Hinds will make the suggested text and format changes to the PowerPoint presentation. David Motzenbecker will scan and email example bridge photos to Mark to add to the PowerPoint. A presentation “dry run†will be scheduled with the King Bridge Partnership before the stakeholders meeting.
·        Kerri Pierce-Ruch, aid to Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman has been given a list of people to contact.
·        The group needs to get Minneapolis Public Works on board. The City will need to designate a contact for them.
8. Discuss Consultant Needs
Not discussed
minutes correspond with the meeting agenda