ECCO Minutes

ECCO BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR NOV 3, 2005
         (East Calhoun neighborhood monthly meeting)
  (To get on our list, go to eccoinfo.com)

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Nature is trying to take over! A bald eagle was reported living at Lake Calhoun in area of "Windsurfer Beach." Loons heard on Calhoun and a red fox encountered
in the Roberts Bird Sanctuary. Wild!

2. City Planning approved Ackerberg Lagoon Uptown project of 10, 8, and 6
stories.

3. Discussion of the Greco Development, another 10 and 8 story condo development
along the Greenway at Lyndale Ave will be Mon, Nov. 14, 7 PM, at 118 E. 26th St. suite 100b.

4. Come discuss how the Greenway should eventually look. Appropriate height and
scale. Midtown "Y" at 2121 East Lake Street, Tues Nov 15, 6:30 PM.

5. The Lander Group proposed project of a 116 ft. tower and two lower towers
to be situated across from Lake Calhoun, next to the Calhoun Beach club and Greenway was voted down mainly due to height. Developer is appealing.

6. Trygs wants to build condos on land behind their restaurant.

7. A developer, Hornig, is proposing a 74 ft. high, 34 condo unit project behind
Babette�s restaurant, at Lagoon and Irving Ave.

8. City Environmental Supervisor, Tom Frame, will be at the Dec or Jan
meeting to answer questions about the environment; air pollutants, sewer
drainage, and other environmental issues. Thurs, 7:00 PM Dec 1, St. Marys
Church. E-mail questions before meeting to president@eastcalhoun.org

9. Uptown Parking/Transportation study will be out by Mon, Nov 14. Contact
Dan.Niziolek@ci.minneapolis.mn.us for info for a copy.

10. Entrance stairway to ECCO�s Loon Lake Trolley path nature trail is under
construction. If weather permits, a "ribbon-cutting" will be announced upon
completion.

11. New ECCO officers, newspaper management rep, and zoning committee
members were elected.

(For details and other news items�see below)

               ==========================================

Meeting Held:
Thursday, Nov 3, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church
(Board meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, public invited)

Board Members Present:
Bruce Grimm (President), Al Anderson (Secretary), Don MacPherson (Treasurer), Anne G. Chase, Carrie Menard, Debbie Jans, Matt Carter, Tim Prinsen, Jim Steman,
Ted Ringsred, Keith Ruddick, Lara Norkus-Crampton, Bruce Sabatke,

Others Present:
Aaron Rubinstein (Reporting on Calhoun Square Development), Anne Geske (SW Journal), Kay Anderson (Secretary), Bill Morton (Pastor, Joyce Church and CARAG board), Tom Frame (City of Mpls), Dan Niziolek (city councilman), Erik Hansen (NRP).
WELCOME:
President, Bruce Grimm, called the meeting to order, welcomed board members and
others, and initiated introductions.

OPEN FORUM:
1. ACKERBERG LAGOON DEVELOPMENT--Board Member Lara Norkus-Crampton reported that the city planning commission approved the project of 10 stories, 8 stories and 6 stories. The multi-screen theater will be situated close to the Greenway than
initially planned.

Lara also reported these upcoming meetings--

2. GRECO DEVELOPMENT AT LYN-LAKE (11/14 Meeting)--The Greco Development Company is planning a 10 story and 8 story development along the Greenway near Lyndale avenue. A two-block long project. The Greenway Coalition
Land Use Committee will meet Mon, November 14 at 7:00 P.M. to discuss the Greco proposal. Meeting Location is 118 East 26th Street, Suite 100b.

3. GREENWAY "CHARRETTE" --Lara reported a "charrette" (discussion) will be held
on the zoning and land use for the Greenway corridor; the appropriate height and scale
and how the Greenway should eventually look. Meeting at the Midtown "Y" , 2121 East Lake Street, Tues, Nov 15 at 6:30 P.M. The Greenway Master Plan will be decided on in
the next few months. This will be one of the final presentations. The final Open House
will take place at Intermedia Arts on Jan 19th.

4. LANDER NORTH LAKE CALHOUN PROJECT--Lara reported that the Lander
proposal of a 116 ft tower plus two lower towers on the north side of the Calhoun
Beach Club was voted down, mainly due to its height. Lander is appealing. Hearing
took place on Nov 10. Lara said that neighbors are appealing some aspects of
this project.

5. Secretary, Kay Anderson added that these additional projects are planned:

TRYGS wants to build townhouses behind their restaurant, which she thinks
is within the Shoreline District Overlay boundaries.

HORNIG PROJECT--A project within the Shoreline District Overlay located
behind Barbette�s restaurant.

6. GLOBAL WARMING IN CITIES--Al Anderson, board member, said that he saw a documentary on global warming that contained the comment that high density building and development within U.S. cities is one of the worst things that can be done for global warming. The comment was related to the accumulation of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.

7. BALD EAGLE AT LAKE CALHOUN-- Board member Deb Jans reported that we
have a bald eagle living at Lake Calhoun, close to "Windsurfer Beach" on the Southeast
shore area. Board member Lara said that the eagle was fishing the other day and all the coots were cowering at the other end of the lake.

LOONS--Kay Anderson commented that she has been hearing loons on the lake lately.

FOX--Bill Morton, Joyce Church pastor, said that recently he was in the Roberts Bird Sanctuary at Lake Harriet where he came within five feet of a red fox. Getting that
close, Bill thought the fox was probably dysfunctional (The fox gave no opinion
about Bill).

APPROVAL OF MINUTES & AGENDA:
The meeting agenda and the previous meeting minutes were approved.

CITY COUNCILMAN UPDATE :
Councilman Dan Niziolek reported�

1. AIR QUALITY BADGES--Six air quality "badges" have been placed in the Uptown area for the second time. The first sampling was in August. A third sampling will be in January �06. City will then issue a report. The badges are sensitive to thirty five air toxins. Dan reported that the first readings have indicated that benzene and carbon tetrachloride were indicated to be "slightly above" the "health benchmarks." Dan said
this "above" reading is a common reading throughout our "region."

Benzene was said to be a component of automobile emissions. Dan reported that carbon Tetrachloride has been banned since 1996, but it takes a long time to degrade. There is
still a fair amount of that in the air throughout the region.

Dan said that these badges do not measure every toxin. He said the city is still looking at
how to measure "air particulates." He said formaldehyde is also not measured.

Tom Frame (City of Mpls.) specialist said that with complete combustion, the auto
emissions main yield would be oxygen, water and carbon dioxide. However, combustion is never complete in engines.

Board member Keith Ruddick volunteered that there are a lot of things in gasoline we
haven�t talked about: heavy metals�diesel exhaust puts out loads of sulfur. None of
these things are being measured as far as he knew.

Al Anderson, board member, said that in a past meeting, a woman challenged what a consultant reported for the Lagoon Ackerberg project. He came back with a report talking only about carbon monoxide, a somewhat outdated concern today. She claimed that "small particulates" are the more important toxins--they stay in your lungs the rest of
your life and do the most damage. But that they were ignored, not measured.. Anderson said, if that�s true, we should be focusing more there. Dan Niziolek said that there is a device to measure particulates which sells for between $5,000 and $8,000.

Anderson observed that while talking about badges and monitoring, it is a "sin of
omission" not to identify those toxins which are doing the most damage. If it
is small particulates, then that should be front and center in the discussion.

Dan indicated that what is being done is a first step, that this is the first time that
the City has begun paying attention to air quality. Dan said that this is an area that
they have never studied in detail as a city.

Keith Ruddick asked, Then, are you consulting with people who know what�s put out
by gasoline? Most of this stuff is put out by buses and cars. If you are measuring
benzene and carbon tetrachloride, there must be correlations between the amount of
benzene and the amount of particulates. There are experts around who know exactly
what is coming out of all these cars. Is anybody in the city consulting with these people?

Tom Frame (city of Mpls), replied that they are working with the MPCA. Anderson: And we read in the newspaper that they have "clients", big companies who refer to as their
clients, not the citizens!

Ruddick: I know there are some people at the University of Minnesota who spend their
lives studying diesel engines and the emissions of diesel engines. They are trying to
improve their performance. Some of these people might be worth talking to.

Dan: Air quality has largely been the responsibility of the MPCA.

Action: Bruce Grimm will arrange a return engagement for City Environmental Supervisor, Tom Frame for December or January.

2. STORM WATER UTILITY FEE--Dan said in order to get 100% credit, you have to be
able to retain on your property a 100 year rain! (Laughter) Dan explained two ways to
obtain a storm water credit: (1) a "quality" credit involving a "sand filter" or other technology or (2) a "quantity" credit which requires retaining 100% of the run-off water
on the resident�s property and treating it!

Board Member Keith Ruddick commented that this is a totally arbitrary system. He said
there are houses where all of the water runs into the yards. Dan noted that the current
system is primitive, but a start. He said that the system is in the process of being refined.

Kay Anderson asked if there has been an fee adjustment for churches, which had
claimed that they were being charged unfairly. Dan said no. Dan said that these
non-profits do pay for services. Bill Morton, pastor at Joyce Church (CARAG),
observed that churches are paying more under the new plan, that this has been
a major blow and may wipe out some churches. He said that was not saying the
system isn�t fair.

3. TOM FRAME, MPLS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES--Environmental Services Supervisor, Tom Frame, broadly described his department�s functions of monitoring
and planning for improvements in the city storm water runoff system.

Tom distributed two maps of the ECCO area, indicating the storm drainage. He said that all the local storm water drains into Lake Calhoun. Most of the rest of the city drains to the Mississippi. He said, that the drainage and construction projects that drain to the chain of lakes and/or Minnehaha Creek have a higher quality standard needed to protect the quality of that water.

Asked if they address the subject of sewer capacities and sewage overflow running into
the lake, Tom said that they are working with the Public Works department to address
that. He said that some buildings still have roof drains which connect to the sanitary
sewer systems . Recent heavy rains exceeded the capacity of the sanitary sewer
system to handle this flow. Overflow regulators in the system then divert this rain water into the storm drain system (along with sewage). Tom said that if that did not exist, the system would back up into streets, buildings and homes.

Mr. Frame was invited to return for an extended presentation at the December or January board meetings. Tom said he would like to receive questions prior to these meetings. Simply e-mail questions to Bruce Grimm, president, and they will be forwarded to Frame for answers at a future ECCO meeting (Dec or Jan).

Action: E-mail questions about sewage, water and air pollution to Bruce Grimm at president@eastcalhoun.org

4. UPTOWN AREA PARKING STUDY--Niziolek said that the final draft of the
parking study will be ready by next weekend (Nov 14). Subject is how to deal with
parking problems/transportation in the Uptown area.

Action: Review parking/tsp study draft. Contact Dan Niziolek for a copy at
Dan.Niziolek@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

CALHOUN SQUARE UPDATE:
Aaron Rubenstein, CARAG resident, reported that the City Planning Commission
did not approve the Calhoun Square project, which returned to the drawing board.
Aaron described variances, C.U.P.�s, new buildings to be built, and other changes
too numerous to describe here.

Aaron said that two major issues that came out of the two planning commission meetings
were (1) concern about the east elevation of the parking ramp that faces the houses on the
west side of Fremont avenue, that there needs to be a better architectural and landscape screening there. and (2) due to concern about the six story height of buildings along
31st street, the height of the buildings could be lowered there and increased above six
stories on lake street.

Calhoun Square is expected to go back to the planning commission on November
28th for review of the revised plans.

A motion was made and seconded that the ECCO zoning committee meet after the
CARAG meeting and that the Board will support the recommendation that the
zoning committee makes regarding Calhoun Square. Motion passed.

LOON LAKE TROLLEY PATH:
Secretary Kay Anderson reported that the new stair entrance to the Loon Lake Trolley
nature path is now under construction. The old step with a 1916 date and children�s�
hand prints has been saved and integrated into the platform at the bottom of the stairs.

She said Channel 2 has been running a special on Minneapolis. Professor Lanegran
and Kathy Wurzer from the Almanac show are chatting while standing on the Loon
Lake Trolley Path just below the stairs. The professor is holding "The Lake District"
book, the history of the city lakes area. Back in 1979, as Community Relations Director of the 5th Norwest bank, Kay and the bank president commissioned the writing of this book. There is another printing now available from the Minnesota Press.

Kay re-contacted Prof. Lanegran who indicated he would be pleased to come to an
event marking completion of the trolley path steps. Kay noted the iron railings are not
installed yet. Kay will keep us informed. Al Anderson has a couple of pictures of the project being completed.

Action: Kay Anderson will announce a Trolley Path stairs "ribbon-cutting" when
appropriate.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
At a previous board meeting, there was discussion regarding whether ECCO bylaws should contain guidance relating to revealing a board member�s conflict of interest when a vote is taken on an issue or project . After investigating the subject, board member Ted Ringsred distributed information for review by the board. An example draft amendment
was included.

Action: Board members review "conflict" materials for later action.

NRP UPDATE:
Erik Hansen, NRP Coordinator, reported�

NRP Neighborhood Elector--A neighborhood elector, Al Anderson and alternate
Matt Carter were elected by the board. The elector function is to appear downtown
representing the neighborhood and vote for the NRP representative on Nov 17.

Action: Al Anderson will attend the NRP election, casting a vote for a representative
on Nov. 17.

NEW ECCO BOARD OFFICERS:
The following ECCO board officers were elected: President Bruce Grimm, Vice
President Anne G. Chase, Treasurer Don MacPherson, Secretary Al Anderson.

President Bruce reminded that, per the bylaws, the Vice President is also Chair of
the NRP steering committee. All NRP committees report to the Chair and steering
committee.

NEW UPTOWN NEWSPAPER MANAGEMENT:
Board member, Carrie Menard, was elected as a neighborhood management representative for the Uptown Neighborhood Newspaper.

NEW ECCO ZONING COMMITTEE:
The new ECCO zoning committee was elected: Chairwoman Lara Norkus-Crampton,
and committee members Ted Ringsred, Tim Prinsen, Jim Steman, Deborah Jans,
Keith Ruddick, Carrie Menard, Al Anderson.

HORNIG PROJECT:
North of the Babettes restaurant, a condo project is being proposed called the Hornig
project. Location would be Lagoon and Irving, six stories, 34 condo units, 74 feet
in height. A review of the project was held Nov 9.

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn was made and passed. Next board meeting will be Thursday, December 1, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church. West 35th St.
and Irving Ave. So. Open to the Public.

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ECCO BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 2005
  (East Calhoun neighborhood monthly meeting)
  (To get on our E-mail list, go to eccoinfo.org)

THIS WAS A STANDING ROOM ONLY ANNUAL MEETING!   GO ECCO!

Meeting Held:
Thursday, Oct 6, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church
(Board meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, open to public)

Board Members Present:
Bruce Grimm (President), Kay Anderson (Secretary), Tanya Cornelius, Anne G. Chase, Ralph Knox (Vice President),   Don MacPherson (Treasurer), Ted Ringsred, Keith Ruddick, Steve Buckley, Gary Farland, Sue Labhil, Bruce Sabatke, Matt Carter.

WELCOME:
President, Bruce Grimm, called the meeting to order, welcomed board members, and others.

PIZZA COMPLIMENTS OF DAVANNI�S:
Bruce announced that Davanni�s had provided free pizzas and pop for our Annual meeting this year. It was good. Stop in and buy lunch or supper
from Davanni�s on Lake Street. Tell them thanks for helping our ECCO neighborhood. THANKS DAVANNI�S!

HORENSTEIN AND NIZIOLEK SPEAK:
Frank Horenstein, Representative in the Minnesota House, and Dan Niziolek, City Councilperson, spoke, updating the audience.

Frank Horenstein had a few free Minnesota highway maps with him.
He said he worked very hard to pass a comprehensive transportation
bill this past session, the largest transit bill in history. But the Governor vetoed it. He wanted to come to this meeting with a transportation bill---
but he said all he had were these crummy maps!

Frank said he would be working on air quality, including that in the
Hennepin-Lake area. Said he has a special interest in reducing
school class sizes. He said that he was not in favor of a special session.

Councilman, Dan Niziolek, said that citywide, violent crime is up 20% compared to last year. He said that burglaries and auto thefts are up
over 10%. Dan says that we need to increase the resources of the
police department, which have been reduced in the past. Dan commented that although we are seeing a 30% increase in burglaries across the city,
he says that three in four of these are preventable if we simply keep our windows and doors locked! He noted that ECCO crime figures are somewhat better than for the city as a whole.

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES ANSWERED QUESTIONS:
Ralph Remington and Scott Persons, 10th ward city council candidates, spoke and answered questions from the audience.

PARK BOARD CANDIDATES ANSWERED QUESTIONS:
Christine Hansen and Tracy Nordstrom, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board candidates for the 4th Park Board District, spoke and answered questions from the audience.

KENWOOD-ISLES ASSOCIATION PARK BOARD FORUM COMING!
A District 4 and At-Large Candidates Park Board Forum will be held
7-9PM at 2101 West Franklin Avenue (Franklin and Penn So.). Tues, October 18. Kenwood Rec Center (Gym). This forum will include the
at-large Park Board candidates.

ELECTION OF NEW ECCO BOARD MEMBERS:
President Bruce Grimm extended a warm thank you to the retiring board members of the East Calhoun Community Organization for their past years of service:

Sue Labhil, Tanya Cornelius, Kay Anderson, Ralph Knox, and Steve Buckley.

Eight residents were nominated as board candidates and alternates for
the ECCO board. Voting took place by printed ballot. Results of the
voting resulted in these residents elected as new ECCO board members:

Lara Norkus-Crampton, Tim Prinsen, Al Anderson, Deborah Jans, Jim Stamen, and Carrie Menard.

Alternates are Ruth Cain and Gary Farland.

Congratulations!

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed. Meeting was adjourned. Next board meeting will be Thursday, November, 3, 2005,
7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church. West 35th St. and Irving Ave. So. Open to the Public.

TO RECEIVE A MONTHLY FREE E-MAIL COPY OF ECCO�S MINUTES, SIMPLY GO TO ECCOINFO.ORG

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ECCO BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR SEP 1ST, 2005 (9 pages)
(East Calhoun neighborhood monthly meeting)
(To get on our list, email to amrsurvey@aol.com)

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Is one individual--City Planning Director--deciding what we breathe? Is City Hall not measuring the key air pollution "particulates"--from auto traffic?

2. FLASH! Councilman�s parking study of ECCO determines it�s difficult to
find parking after 4 p.m. in ECCO!

3. Developer Michael Lander apparently is going to the max down at City Hall�116 foot high building plus other buildings across from the North beach
of Lake Calhoun. Plans evidently include cutting down a green mass of 100 foot
tall trees --on Park land-- to make way for his underground garage.

4. "Ten principles" of Greenway planning distributed at Greenway "visioning"
meeting. Participants were asked to rate land parcels of which they had no knowledge, little familiarity or background info. Didn�t work. (guess the meeting planners needed some "vision"). Copies of the principles available.

5. Is "heavy metal" pollution dropped from vehicles being ignored while it is washing into our lakes? asks physicist and ECCO board member, Keith Ruddick.

6. Bennett Lumber property (2 blocks) sold to condo developer.

7. Our Park Board anticipates selling eight acres of park property on the west bank of the Mississippi river to a high rise condo developer (200 more condos).

8. Conflict of Interest discussed at ECCO meeting.

9. Job Opening: Erik Hansen, ECCO NRP Coordinator, looking for replacement.

10. Volunteer opening: Managing board member for Uptown Neighborhood News.

11. Labor day parade, police cars, Southwest band and picnic was GREAT!

12. ECCO Annual Meeting will feature political candidates and election of board
members.

(For details and other news items�see below)

==========================================

Meeting Held:
Thursday, Sep 1, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church
(Board meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, open to public)

Board Members Present:
Bruce Grimm (President), Kay Anderson (Secretary), Tanya Cornelius, Anne G. Chase, Ralph Knox (Vice President), Don MacPherson (Treasurer), Ted Ringsred, Keith Ruddick, Steve Buckley, Gary Farland, Sue Labhil,

Others Present:
Anne Geske (SW Journal), Al Anderson (resident), Robyn Cook (resident), Bill Morton
(CARAG board), Linda Schutz (East Isles resident), JoAnn and Darrell Savage (residents), Gay Noble (Candidate for 10th ward council representative.)

WELCOME:
President, Bruce Grimm, called the meeting to order, welcomed board members and
others, and initiated introductions.

OPEN FORUM:
1. Greenway Idea Meetings--Linda Schutz reported on the Greenway public "visioning process" meeting she attended. Ten principles of Greenway supported development were communicated for consideration. Small group sessions. Lots of maps of Greenway with parcels indicated with potential for development. Objective at meeting was to have the group rank many different sites for their development potential. However, the group present was not familiar with sites in neighborhoods other than their own. Didn�t work well. Linda distributed copies of the ten principles. Asked ECCO board to look at them in the zoning and planning committee (and others). Invited ECCO board, zoning committee and residents to look at the 10 principles and make suggestions, etc. To see a copy of the ten principles, contact Bruce Grimm at president@eastcalhoun.com or Al Anderson at amrsurvey@aol.com.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES & AGENDA:
1. There was no quorum for a formal August meeting.

2. President Bruce Grimm requested ratification of the past executive committee action which authorized ECCO to participate in neighborhood sponsorship of the 10th Ward Candidate Forum of up to a $50 payment to St. Marys Greek Church (the facility) and same payment if required to the League of Women voters which moderated the program. The request was approved.

CITY COUNCILMAN�S REPORT :
Councilman Dan Niziolek reported�
1. Area Parking Study--Councilman Niziolek thanked the volunteers who helped count autos for the parking study in the ECCO neighborhood between July 11th and July 25th . Consultants have compiled the data and a series of maps are being constructed.

Dan says one obvious conclusion is that after about 4 p.m. there is no on-street parking
in the core corridor. They are looking at the subject of available off-street parking, etc. Various options are being formulated. Dan mentioned that there is a city 10 year study of transportation going on in the city. For information or to volunteer contact Dan.Niziolek@ci.minneapolis.mn.us or telephone 673-2210.

2. Weisman Project--Dan does not know for sure what is going to be proposed for that
project. Linda Schutz volunteered that after talking to Hilary Watson, a Sr. Planner at City Hall, she said that she has not yet assigned the Weismann Project a number. Not
completely reviewed it. She could not give an October date for the Planning Commission. Gary Farland said that this project by Lander (developer) will have a building of 116 ft. plus other buildings as submitted.

Kay Anderson, board member, noted that the underground garage planned to be
built closely adjacent to park land will kill a group 100 foot cottonwood trees growing there.

Dan offered to get the neighborhood the partially complete application. Gary Farland,
ECCO zoning chairman, requested that Dan provide it in it�s latest form.

ACTION: Niziolek will provide Farland with the Lander Weisman site proposal.

Kay Anderson, board members, said that she had received e-mails from people who said that Michael Lander, developer, has claimed that ECCO has never invited him to present the above project. Kay noted that he was on the agenda, but he had double-booked himself and did not show at the ECCO meeting (and did not notify anyone). President
Bruce verified no notification from Lander.

3. Air Quality Monitoring activity--A city-wide air quality study is underway. Councilman Dan Niziolek indicated that the monitoring sites appeared to have been picked at random rather than sub-samples of relevant locations. A single Uptown badge/site was planned to be sited about 12 blocks from Uptown. Dan acquired six additional "badges" to sample air quality in the Uptown area. Dan said the study will sample 35 different air pollutants. Information will come back in about a month. Environmental staff will come out and describe the results. This will be repeated in October and January.

However, this study will not capture and measure "air particulates." (see below)

4. Faulty City Procedures on Air Pollution? --Dan indicated that measuring air pollution has generally been a state level issue, but said the city is becoming more aggressive on the subject. Asked about an environmental worksheet study for studying pollution, Dan described the petition process. He cited the Lagoon project as an example where the state certified it and the City voted it down. Based on the "staff�s review", they decided that the environmental study was not necessary to get the information that was necessary to make a decision. It was agreed to do an 8 hour carbon monoxide test. The "staff" looked at the information and advised the council not to bother. The 8 hour CO test
was conducted by a "consultant" who was a previous city government employee. He was
paid by the developer. The council "reviewed" and decided that the EAW study was not required.

In a contrasting view, Linda Schutz volunteered that she understood that the concern was that the consultant hired by the city (Mr. Cronin) told the city that through the conditional use permit process on this project , site plan review, and through the Traffic Demand
Management study (TDM), that the city could have captured sufficient information on air pollutants. So the city council relied on that assessment by this paid consultant when
it voted 11-1 on May 5, 2005 , not to perform an EAW for the Ackerberg-Gassen
Lagood development near Girard and Uptown Avenues.

Unfortunately, the only pollutant that was modeled by the developer was for CO (carbon monoxide). However, in twenty years, everyone in the country has seen dramatic declines in CO because of improved fuels and improved combustion in cars (catalytic converters).

The particulates that cause the air pollution alerts that all of us hear about regularly
on the radio, about 13 one year, 14 another year, and several times this year--those
do relate to the tiniest little particulates that get clogged in your lungs. They stay with
you until you die. The tiny particulates were never modeled for, and, that is the cause
of the problems in today�s environment. That�s very much related, almost half of
Minnesota�s air pollutants come from "mobile sources" (e.g., cars, trucks, buses, etc.)
which increase with increased density.

The other problem was Nitrous Oxides VOC�s or Volatile Organic Compounds that occur especially in warm weather to cause smog. That certainly was not modeled
because the (consultant) study was done before the summer time period, and summer
traffic counts were not collected or estimated.

So, the toxins and the federal criteria pollutants that are the big issues for peoples health today, in this century, in this decade, were simply not modeled by the developer and the
problem was the Hennepin Lake guidelines require the TDM to include the full range of
the pollutants to be studied. But, the City Planning Director has the discretion to eliminate that requirement. Which she did! And some city council testimony on June 23 said it�s out of our hands because the City Planning Director, Barbars Sporlein, said it didn�t have to be done (the TDM was "accepted/approved" without comprehensive air
pollution information)!

So it�s one of these horrible catch-22 situations where they model for pollutants that
are no longer a concern in America, much less in the Twin Cities. They fail to model for
the pollutant that is causing all the health problems. It was mandated in the Hennepin-
Lake Pedestrian Overlay District and the Planning Director did not hold the developer�s feet to the fire, the letter of the law. The council said, well, she exercised her discretion, there�s nothing we can do about it!

5. Pollution Different for Kids and Adults?--Kay Anderson, board member, noted that
she could not get an answer from the mayor or the city council on this question relating
to the "Ackerberg Alley" and it�s predicted high auto emissions. Kay had asked the
question noting that schools are not allowed to have children standing waiting to
get on buses or off buses in an area where buses are running due to the harmful pollution. The question asked was, would use of the alley have been approved if there had been a childrens nursery or a daycare center located there? She said that question was just blown away. However, adult lung tissue and children�s lung tissue are the same.

Dan Niziolek responded that the biggest issue with air quality is the level of understanding. He noted the expense of monitoring equipment. He noted that we do not have a baseline that tells us that the level in Uptown is unacceptable.

Kay said she was referring to what we already know; that it is a state law that teachers cannot have children stand there and breathe those fumes. But that idea was not even entertained. Dan replied that he thought it�s a state law because it was such an obvious health hazard that the state legislature passed a law to deal with that unique situation. Said it�s a political response to somebody , like a parent, raising the obvious issue that diesel buses contribute a significant amount of air pollution that�s getting in the schools.

6. Status of Ackerberg-Gassen Uptown Project--Kay Anderson said that she understood
that the Ackerberg-Gassen plan has been presented to Lowry Hill East Neighborhood but
not to ECCO and CARAG. Dan said that the four neighborhoods are being invited to the
next LEHNA zoning committee.

ACTION: Dan will check when that meeting will occur and get back to Secretary Kay and President Bruce Grimm.

7. How About Heavy Metal Pollution?--Keith Ruddick, board member, pointed out that all the auto traffic that moves through the area dumps heavy metals on the streets and
sidewalks. Ruddick asked, are there any studies being made of that? Said, this stuff gets washed into our lakes. All these particulates that we are talking about, I would have thought that would be as important a problem as the air pollution. In fact, the heavy metals likely cause Alzheimer�s. I am asking about the non-porous stuff being on the streets and sidewalks.

8. Henn. Ave Plan--Board members were asked to look at the Henn. Ave Plan and react to it. Middle of Sept, board chairs will be asked to compile/provide the comments to
Beth Elliot, Senior Planner. Send Comments to Dan, Gary Farland, or Bruce Grimm
at president@eastcalhoun.org.
9. Some Bennett Lumber Property Sold--Dan reported that Bennett Lumber has sold
two blocks of property, Dupont to Colfax and the Dupont to Emerson blocks to a developer, George Sherman, who is looking at high density housing.

Dan said other light industrial use property in that area is also for sale.

SECRETARY�S REPORT:
Kay Anderson, Secretary, reported�
1. Mayoral Debate to be Re-Broadcast-- The Mayoral Debate held August 24 will be
re-broadcast on Channel 16 (sixteen) at 10PM on Friday, Sep 9.

2. Trolley Steps--Kay said that Erik Hansen (NRP) and she have been trying to contact
the city to keep our trolley steps projects moving. No response. Erik said he would try
again. Kay said she would like to schedule a ribbon cutting ceremony and another mulch laying day on the nature path.

3. Park Board Selling More Park Property--Kay reported that a bluff on the west bank of the Mississippi river called Bluff Street Park, also called Gas Works Bluff is pending to
be sold by the Minneapolis Park Board to a high rise condo developer. Approximately
eight acres of park land. Developers John and Fred Wall have expressed their interest in purchasing the land to build a 200 unit condominium.

The neighborhood association for Cedar Riverside, The West Bank Community Coalition, has a task force that has been working for over a year to create a plan to preserve this precious open space in the city. The U of M Metropolitan Design Center has created a design for a park. The virtually unanimous neighborhood consensus is to preserve this bluff as a natural native habitat for wildlife with paths for walking, biking, etc.

How can you help? Please attend the presentation to the Minneapolis Park Board by the Bluff Street Park Task Force this Wednesday, Sep 7 at 6:00 PM at Park Board office at 2117 River Road. The new park building. The mission of the park board should be to save our parks. Watch it on the public cable station, usually 79 on Wednesday. Or, if you can come down, that would be great to show support.

4. Grand Marias Project a Red Flag for Lake Calhoun? Secretary Kay Anderson reported that on a recent trip to Grand Marias she encountered a citizens committee fighting a city plan to radically enlarge the capacity of the Grand Marias boat harbor
for added capacity which appears to be unnecessary. The city plans to increase the
size of the break wall, eliminating people�s lake views, eliminating camp grounds and soccer fields.

After two years of planning, it was finally revealed to the public that for every acre of
harbor space, the DNR requires an equal acre of shore land. Kay expressed concern
that there may be issues like this lurking in the background, should the sailing village
idea every become reality on Lake Calhoun.

Kay pointed out that the idea of any structure or facility being built on the shore of
Lake Calhoun already has been rejected by the East Calhoun Community and other neighborhoods, a movement which she helped sponsor.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCUSSION:
Kay Anderson asked for comments relating to the subject of people participating in
neighborhood board decisions who may have a conflict of interest. Bill Morton, a
visiting CARAG board member, suggested that signing a conflict of interest form
probably makes one conscious that they are obligated to conform to the rules.

Another suggested that we could simply have a bylaw that prohibits conflict of interest.

Linda Schutz, visiting Isles resident, suggested that it can be very difficult to identify
the conflict of interest, especially when it gets a little beyond the neighborhood. She
gave as examples of perhaps discussing an Uptown master plan or the entire Greenway.
Linda observed that what we have been seeing in other neighborhood groups is officers
who are members of corporations which actually have contracts with the developers to do
traffic studies, to do the landscaping, to do the interior design.

So, it is in their best interests, perhaps to vote favorably on developer X�s project in their own neighborhood--because on developer X�s project in the next or the next neigh-
-borhood, their firm will be getting a contract or may already have one. These conflicts of interest are becoming more and more obvious to people who go to multiple forums. That�s why it�s a problem; it�s not just an NRP fund problem, it�s a bigger development problem because it�s the domino effect. You vote one high rise in at 13 stories and it has ripple effects for the next thing and the next neighborhood at ten or eight stories. There are problems, I have seen them, she said.

After discussion, board member, Ted Ringsrud volunteered to review the topic and have
a recommendation at the next board meeting.

Action: Place Ted Ringsrud on the agenda for the next board meeting to present a
recommendation on the implications and recommended wording of a conflict of
interest addition to the ECCO bylaws.

NRP UPDATE:
Erik Hansen, NRP Coordinator, reported�
1. Applications are being accepted for an NRP Coordinator to replace Erik. An ad
will appear in the Uptown Neighborhood News, etc. Contact Erik@twooaktrees.com
for information.

2. Loon Lake Trolley Path Steps--Erik reported that he had been receiving communications from the City departments until June 1st, when communications ceased.
Erik said that this can be typical during the busy summer construction season. Erik said
that this is the number one project that he is working on. Erik indicated that the city
department does not have to do the work; they can simply give NRP the authoriity and
a supplier can be found. Erik said that he would enlist councilman Dan Niziolek�s help
in getting the project moving.

Action: Erik Hansen will contact our councilman to aid the neighborhood in getting this
NRP project underway before the construction season is over. PLEASE RUSH.

UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS:
Gary Farland, UNN representative, reported�
1. The CARAG board finalized adoption of the newspaper. CARAG is now the
financial sponsor of the Uptown Neighborhood News.

2. One of the three ECCO managing board members has resigned, making this volunteer position available to an ECCO resident. Contact Gary Farland at gfarland@ties2.net

LABOR DAY BIKE PARADE & PICNIC:
The Labor Day Bike Parade & Picnic took place on a wonderful sunny day. The bike,
trike and scooter riders were enthusiastic parade participants. A big thank you to the Southwest High Band which marched and gave a great musical show for the neighborhood! Yea, Southwest! And another big thank you to the 5th Precinct Police Department for providing Lt. Marie Pryzinski and her squad car (and siren) to lead the parade. This year, we also had a second officer follow the parade in his squad car. We did not get his name, but appreciate his participation!

The parade crowd was quite substantial this year. It was wonderful to see the
enthusiastic participation in this totally positive, joyous event. We have a GREAT COMMUNITY!

MCDA GRANT COMING:
Don Macpherson, ECCO Treasurer, reported that after talking to the MCDA, Don
reported that we will be receiving about $5,000 in back funds due the neighborhood.
Thanks, Don, for keeping on this!

ANNUAL MEETING:
President Bruce Grimm recruited volunteers from the Board to help with the ECCO
annual meeting on October 6 at 7:00 P.M. at St Marys Greek Orthodox church on
W. 35th street and Irving Avenue S. In addition to the election of ECCO board members, political candidates will be invited to appear. All this and free pizza!

This year, a printed ballot will be used to assure privacy and eliminate the possibility
of multiple voting. Six board positions will be open.

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed. Meeting was adjourned. Next board meeting will be Thursday, October 6, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church. West 35th St. and Irving Ave. So. Open to the Public.

FOR A FREE E-MAIL COPY OF ECCO�S MONTHLY MINUTES, E-MAIL YOUR REQUEST TO amrsurvey@aol.com

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ECCO BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR JUNE 2, 2005:
(East Calhoun neighborhood monthly meeting)
   (To get on our list email to amrsurvey@aol.com)

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Come see some old strippers June 25!

2. Wine Tasting Party June 15 under the big tent. Organize a party!

3. ECCO RESOLVES: No structures on Lake Calhoun shores.

4. County admits to being four years behind on tax forfeiture property.

5. Dangerous Loon Lake Trolley Path stairs to be replaced

6. Electronic "ECCO INFO" neighbor notification system up and running soon.

7. Some air quality monitoring planned for Uptown area?

8. Uptown Calhoun Square buildings now will hit six stories (were promised four).

9. CARAG/ECCO newspaper may be out with an August issue. Maybe.

10. Twin City Marathon will be October 1-2.

11. City Zoning Administrator says East Isles "Triangle" lawsuit only allows
a maximum height of 35 feet!

(For details and other news items�see below)

               ==========================================

Meeting Held:
Thursday, June 2, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church
(Board meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, open to public)

Board Members Present:
Kay Anderson (Secretary), Tanya Cornelius, Bruce Grimm (President), Anne G. Chase, Ralph Knox (Vice President),   Don MacPherson (Treasurer), Sue Lahbil, Ted Ringsred, Gary Farland, Steve Buckley, Bruce Sabatke, Matt Carter.

Others Present:
Anne Geske (SW Journal), Al Anderson (resident), Erik Hansen (NRP coordinator),   Joanne and Darrell Savage (residents), Allan Benard, (candidate for city council), Steele Arundel (pond hockey rep), Ruth Elaine Hane (resident), Jay Joyner (resident), Ralph Remington (candidate for city council), Dan Niziolek (city council), Cynthia Stokes (Mpls Pops), Anne Knuth (visitor).

WELCOME:
President, Bruce Grimm, called the meeting to order, welcomed board members and
others, and initiated introductions.

OPEN FORUM:
1. CALHOUN YACHT CLUB SAILING FACILITY PROPOSED--Kay Anderson explained that the Lake Calhoun Yacht and Sailing Club wants to construct a building
on the southeast shore of Lake Calhoun with three retail stores, a center for meetings and social events, and facilities for their sailing club including a dock. She reported that they want to move "most" of the sail boats to that location. Kay attended the June meeting of the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association. Kay said that the East Harriet neighborhood was just getting their first information about this Park Board commercial- retail facility proposed for the Lake. Kay noted that the grassy park land across the street (archery range) apparently is under consideration to be paved over and used for a parking lot to serve this proposed facility. One effect of this retail shore development will be to take over this sandy shore now being used by windsurfers as a landing beach.

2. RESOLUTION REGARDING STRUCTURES ON LAKE CALHOUN SHORE:
Al Anderson commented that the Park Board, as earlier reported by Commissioner Bob Fine, has expressed a willingness to entertain a plan for constructing these buildings on the shore of Lake Calhoun. Anderson pointed out that the simple act of "reviewing the plans" implies a willingness that some type of structure is acceptable on the lake--which it is not. He proposed that ECCO pass a resolution that recommends against ANY building or structure being built on the shore of Lake Calhoun and specifically on the proposed Southeast shore site.

After discussion, a motion was made, seconded and this resolution was passed:

"Be it resolved that the East Calhoun Community Organization strongly objects to development along the shore of Lake Calhoun and specifically to the Lake Calhoun
Yacht Club proposal on the Southeast Shore. We feel that the lake shore should be
kept as natural as possible."

ACTION: Secretary, Kay Anderson will send this resolution to the Park Board members
and other interested parties.

3. EAST HARRIET HEARS ABOUT SAILING CLUB STRUCTURE: After being updated on the SailingClub facility proposal at their neighborhood meeting, the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association said that they will be discussing this topic and will have a strong position on this issue in the future.

4. PARK CONSULTANT HIRED--Kay Anderson said that she had talked with park
commissioner, Bob Fine, who said that the Park Board has hired a City Park Planner to develop some type of master plan for the park system. She said Bob Fine noted that the Park Board will be talking about some type of building moratorium.

5. TAX FORFEITURE PROPERTY--Ruth Elaine Hane, ECCO resident and former board member, commented that she was concerned about the continual worsening condition of the property at 3249 Humboldt Ave. So., the house immediately to her south. Ruth said that she had talked to Councilman Dan Niziolek, called the City Inspector, and talked to ECCO President, Bruce Grimm. She said that she is concerned about drugs and crime in the ECCO community. Ruth said she would like whatever help she could get on this problem.   She said that the owner is Jim Doherty.

Councilman Niziolek said it would be helpful if anyone knows the whereabouts of Jim Doherty. Dan said that this is a tax forfeiture property. Dan said that Ruth had brought it to his attention two years ago. Dan said he had talked to the county which said that this subject was "on our list, but it will take two to four years to get to it."

Niziolek said that Julie, of his staff, is looking into it again to see if something has changed.   Ruth said that there is someone living there off and on. Dan said that he could get a police squad to come out there when someone is seen to be living there�to take this issue further.

ACTION: Dan will provide an update at the July meeting and inform Ruth.

ACTION: Ruth or anyone, please call Dan when you see someone living in the house to get specific advice and help on this issue. Thanks, Dan.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES & AGENDA:
The May minutes were approved as was the proposed meeting agenda with a sequence
change.

NRP UPDATE:
1. Erik Hansen announced that he will be terminating his position as the NRP Coordinator for the ECCO neighborhood. He will plan to transition to the next
Coordinator over the summer months. Erik, Thanks for all the years of help!!

2. Loon Lake Trolley Path Stairs--City notified Erik that they were going to inspect
the old stairs on June 3/05 , the next "step" in the process. Contracting for new stairs and railings will be next.

ACTION: Erik keeps in touch with the City on this project. Erick please keep Trolley path committee chairperson Kay Anderson informed of your progress.

3. "ECCO INFO" electronic mailing list--A new server will be required to accommodate the ECCO INFO mailing list. Erik said it will take about an hour to set up. A free service to the residents, it will cost about $10 annually to register the domain name and about $3 per month rental. Kay Anderson, Don MacPherson and Al Anderson comprise the committee for this service.

The initial "ECCO INFO" operating rules were distributed and reviewed. A motion was made, seconded and passed approving the operating rules and authorizing Al and Erik to get "ECCO INFO" up and running ASAP.

ACTION: Erik and Al will meet on Wednesday, June 8 for initial system setup.

CITY COUNCILMAN�S REPORT :
Councilman Dan Niziolek reported�
1. Air Quality Initiative--Dan reported that Minneapolis has begin an air quality initiative which involves a number of air quality badges for measuring about 40 different pollutants. None were placed in Uptown. Dan will get some for Uptown. They collect air samples for 72 hours. They are sent four times during a year for analysis and reporting. This should indicate which are the area�s major air pollutants.

Kay Anderson asked, what good will this sampling do, seeing that the City Council all voted against doing an environmental work sheet assessment of the Ackerberg Gasson Lagoon project? She asked, why are they now doing this? It�s confusing.

Dan essentially replied that this project was only one source of pollution in the area, not
the whole area. He said that the area has not had any baseline air pollution data for years.

2. Parking Study --A parking study for the Uptown area is to be discussed at a meeting, June 6th, 7:00P.M. at Calhoun Square.

3. Hennepin Ave Plan--A meeting was held with the neighborhood presidents and zoning
committee chairpersons on the Hennepin Ave Plan (from ten years ago). This plan is on Dan Niziolek�s web site. A meeting will be held in July to look at this plan in general terms.   The website is www.ci.minneapolis.mn/us/council/ward10/

ACTION: Dan suggested that the board members and the neighborhood to review the old Hennepin Avenue Plan and provide opinions, likes, dislikes at a July meeting.

4. Edgewater Neighbors--Steve Buckley conveyed requests from his neighbors living along the Edgewater project alley: Vehicles haven�t been able to pick up garbage on two occasions because trucks could not get into the alley. Same for the recycling truck. People are parking illegally in the alley hampering traffic flow in the alley.

Steve noted that the Edgewater received a C.U.P. from the city council that stated that
the Edgewater must work with the neighbors. Buckley said that, so far, the Edgewater
has come and told them what they were going to do, dictated to them. Neighbors had no
input. Buckley asked councilman Niziolek how to change that situation?

Niziolek said that a letter had been sent to City Planning who decided that there had been
no violation of the C.U.P.   However, Dan Z. says that the City of Minneapolis does demolitions very poorly. Dan said there is a mis-match between demolition and construction phases. He said there has been mis-communication among departments. He said some new person is now involved in this process.

Board member Buckley still felt the developer had not treated the neighbors properly.
Dan cited technical requirements of a C.U.P. to him. No offer of help was extended to the neighbors from the councilman�s office.

5. West Calhoun-East Isles Triangle--The City Zoning Administrator has looked at the West Calhoun-East Isles Triangle. It was earlier thought that a legal settlement meant that those buildings could go up to 56 feet. not the 35 foot cap called for by the
Shoreland District Overlay Ordinance. His interpretation of the legal history is that
the developments planned there are fall under the same 35 foot limit as the Edgewater
project or any other property within the S.O.D.

6. Meeting of Four Neighborhood Presidents and Zoning Chairs--The four Uptown neighborhood presidents and their zoning chairmen held a meeting to discuss transportation, the Hennepin Ave Plan, and area development. One outcome was
that when a project is planned, the neighborhood in which the project is planned will
take the lead, inviting the other three neighborhoods to share information.

LAKE CALHOUN POND HOCKEY--Steele Arundel announced an outdoor "pond hockey" tournament planned for January 20-22 featuring 24 rinks and 96 teams,
hospitality and warming house tents. This will be a weekend festival Fri through Sun.
Probably 10AM to 5PM. Location is N.E. corner of Lake Calhoun.

MPLS POPS FUNDING REQUEST--Cynthia Stokes representing the Minneapolis Pops
orchestra presented a request to ECCO to continue the annual contributions to support
their music at the Lake Harriet bandstand and other park locations. An amount of $500
was approved.

CALHOUN SQUARE UPDATE--Anne representing Calhoun Square presented the updated plans for the Calhoun Square development. Part of the development will now be six stories or 72 ft. high. Three hundred parking stalls will be added. The 3lst Street side has been "opened up" more than before.

Asked what concerns Joyce Church currently has relating to the Calhoun Square development, the presenter said she did not know of any. It was suggested that Joyce
Church may be one of the most threatened entities in the area as a result of this new
development.

Gary Farland, board member, observed that the buildings of this development will probably be visible from across Lake Calhoun. More buildings, less greenery.

ECCO BYLAW CHANGES--Al Anderson, resident, offered these suggested changes
to the ECCO By-Laws:

1. Place a date on the document showing when it was last updated.

2. Delete section 2 under article 4 "Organization General Membership". Section 1
specifies that any person 18 years or age or older maintaining a domicile within the boundaries of the Organization may be a member.

Section 2 states: Any person 18 years of age or older owning property or operating a
business in the neighborhood may be a member. Anderson said, in effect, this section allows people living outside our neighborhood to be voting members of the neighborhood. In other words, absentee landlords and developers could be voting members. They could conceivably run for office, be elected and control the ECCO Board. Al suggested that Section 2 should be deleted.

3. Require a printed ballot -- Anderson suggested that a printed ballot be specified for use at the Annual Meeting for election of Board Members. A printed ballot will allow for only one vote per open board seat by each resident. . Al explained, for example, that if there are five seats open, a numbered ballot will allow for writing in only five names (no. 1 through 5). Also, a printed ballot will make voting confidential.

This addition should be made as Section 5 under Article 7 Organization Meetings.
Title it "Section 5 Election of Board Members. Election of board members shall be by
paper ballot."

4. Specify the Organizational Form. It is suggested that in the "Organization" section
under Article 2 "Authority" that this information be included:

"ECCO is federally registered as a 501C-4."

"The Federal I.D. Number for the ECCO organization is 31-1627352."

A motion was made and seconded and the above bylaw changes were approved.

ACTION: Anne Chase, will you please incorporate these changes into the bylaws and provide a copy to Al Anderson and the board members. Thank you.

HAZARDOUS WASTE SATURDAY JUNE 25--The FREE Hazardous Waste Day is scheduled for Saturday June 25 at 3800 Bryant Ave South, the Mpls Park & Rec Operations Center. 9am to 3pm. Drive in on Dupont Ave S (Kings Highway side).

Drop off your�
Old paints, stains, thinners, old anti-freeze, old gas (NOT motor oil), flammables,
pesticides, garden chemicals, household cleaners, mercury items like thermometers,
fluorescent lamps, aerosol containers, button batteries (NO car batteries), old brake
fluid, power steering fluid, glues, strippers and more. OR�if it says: "Caution",
"Warning", "Danger", "Poison" then, bring it along.

Another area drop-off date/place will be Saturday, July 16 at the Southwest High School Parking lot, 3414 West 47th Street.

Bring your drivers license to show where you live, containers should be 5 gallons or less,
Place wastes upright in a plastic lined cardboard box, Secure wastes so they don�t tip.

TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS! Help keep this stuff out of our lakes and sewer system!
FOR MORE INFO: call M-F 348-3777.

WINE TASTING EVENT JUNE 15!! --There are still Wine Tasting tickets available from the ECCO Board members. This is our neighborhood�s single largest fund-raiser, almost all of the funds go directly to our neighborhood. Tickets $25 each. Wine tasting will be Wednesday, June 15 outside at Campiellos restaurant (a bigger tent this year). For tickets, contact President Bruce Grimm at 825-5831 or email him at president@eastcalhoun.org or Gary Farland at 824-6744 or Don MacPherson 338-7610 or Kay Anderson 822-1822. Get a group going-- for wine tasting and dinner later!

ECCO ESTABLISH A 501-C3?-- Kay Anderson, Secretary was approached by a party who wants to donate some funds to ECCO (Somebody likes us??).   This raises the issue of whether ECCO should establish a 501-C3 entity which could accept donated funds. This could be an operation separate from the current ECCO organization which is registered as a 501C-4.   Kay noted that it is conceivable that some people might like to write ECCO a check as one of their contributions every year. The board will review the subject with more information and discussion at the July meeting.

NEW NEWSPAPER STILL COMING--Gary Farland, newspaper management rep, reported that CARAG approved bylaw changes and accepted ownership of the East Calhoun two-neighborhood newspaper. An August edition may be in the works.

SUPER SALE-- There was some breakdown in distribution of flyers and newspaper inserts advertising the Super Sale. However, Sylvia Kafkas did her usual terrific job.
Even though it rained and shopper traffic was down, a lot of merchandise was sold, basements got emptied and cars got their garage spaces back.

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn was made and passed, the meeting was adjourned. Next meeting is Thursday, July 7, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church. West 35th St. and Irving Ave. So. Open to the Public).

FOR A FREE E-MAIL COPY OF ECCO�S MONTHLY MINUTES, E-MAIL YOUR REQUEST TO amrsurvey@aol.com

   ECCO BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR MAY 5, 2005:
        (East Calhoun neighborhood monthly meeting)

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Moratorium on development passed for Loring Park Area!

2. Calhoun Yacht Club to provide financial proposal to Park Board soon.
Bob Fine of Park Board says having buildings on the Lake does not bother him.

3. New Amora Victoria restaurant going in at Lake and Irving with full liquor
bar and childrens menu approved by ECCO board.

4. Tin Fish getting 3.2 beer license supported by ECCO board.

5. ECCO recommends against conditional use permits or variances for the Lander
project on the north Calhoun Weisman building site.

6. CARAG and ECCO neighborhoods both reject the Lagoon Ackerberg-Gassen project.

7. City zoning and planning committee and City Council reject a citizen petitioned request for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet study of the Lagoon Ackerman-Gassen project.

8. Super Sale will be June 4.

9. Wine tasting event will be June 15.

10. Twin City Marathon will be October 1-2.

(For details and other news items�see below)

               ==========================================

Meeting Held:
Thursday, May 5, 2005, 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary�s Greek Orthodox Church
(Board meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, open to public)

Board Members Present:
Kay Anderson (Secretary), Tanya Cornelius, Bruce Grimm (President), Anne G. Chase, Ralph Knox (Vice President),   Don MacPherson, Sue Lahbil, Ted Ringsred, Sue Lahbil.

Others Present:
Lara Norkus Crampton (ECCO zoning committee), Anne Geske (SW Journal), Schutz Al Anderson, Erik Hansen (NRP Coordinator), Alex and Jenna Victoria (new restaurant owners), Jeff Farnum, Bob Fine (Park Board), Gay Noble (Reporting for the councilman), Joanne and Darrell Savage (residents), Athena & Sheffield Priest (Tin Fish), Ron Ricketts
(resident), Susan Goldstein.

Welcome:
President, Bruce Grimm, called the meeting to order, welcomed board members and
others, and initiated introductions.

Open Forum:
1. Kay Anderson, Secretary, announced a meeting with the mayor to be held at Gigi�s restaurant on Saturday May 7 on the Ackerberg Lagoon Project (Meeting date is now past).

2. Ron Ricketts, resident, attended the Hennepin County commissioners meeting regarding the Twins Stadium. He understood that the law says that if you want to have a sales tax, there must be a referendum. The county voted in favor of the Twin Stadium.
He said that the legislature will be in session for about two more weeks. If you have an
opinion, contact the state legislators.

3. Secretary, Kay Anderson, passed a petition from Ruth Jones of the CIDNA
neighborhood regarding the Ackerberg project being planned for West Lake Street,
behind the Ministers Life building. The existing residents of condos located there
who are threatened with substantial additional daily traffic and exhaust fumes
request (1) that the private driveway exiting onto Dean Parkway be closed, and,
(2) that the developer provide free on-site visitor parking without restrictions.

Approval of Minutes & Agenda:
The April minutes were approved as was the proposed amended meeting agenda.

Bob Fine of Park Board On thee Proposed Sailing Club Building:
Bob Fine, Park Board Commissioner, spoke on the status of the sailing clubhouse,
event center and retail stores proposed to be located on the Southeast shore of Lake
Calhoun. This project is being requested by the Lake Calhoun sailing club members.
Bob said the staff has taken a look at it, it�s still in the study stage because the staff
is waiting for "financial information" from the sailing club. Staff says that information
will be coming quickly. Bob says, then, they will bring it before the Park Board.
Fine told the sailing club he wanted two things before it comes before the board:
(1) That they meet with the windsurfers who use that sandy site--and come to an
agreement. (2) That the project comes up for a neighborhood review, especially in
his Linden Hills neighborhood. He mentioned perhaps it should be reviewed by
three nearby neighborhoods in a single large meeting, "We want input from everyone",
he said. He did not say whether other city neighborhoods have a stake in this issue.

Fine said that the sailing club was told that they "have to come up with a lot of funding".
He saw that as happening within two months. Bob said that since he is the Chairman
of the Planning committee, that he will be the first to know.

Then, referring to the planned Ackerberg development on west of Dean Parkway,
Fine said that his planning committee has asked the city to do a traffic engineering study
on that project because "obviously, it�s going to have a huge impact on Dean Parkway
and probably Lake Calhoun Parkway and Lake Street. Because it�s going to cause a lot
more traffic on what is an over utilized street already."

Bob said, that while the city is looking at this subject, they should also look carefully at the Shoreland Overlay ordinance, because we are always worried about any high rises
going up around the lake.

Gary Farland, ECCO board member, noted that the Park Board had passed a resolution
opposing the tall Edgewater building. He asked whether the Park Board would do the
same for the buildings proposed for the north side of Lake Calhoun. Fine replied that
they would oppose buildings that have any height to them. Fine says that he opposes
any high rises.

Board Member, Kay Anderson, pointed out that the City Council did not pay any attention to the Park Board resolution for the Edgewater building, saying "They blew it away at the City Council."--ignoring their own Planning Department, The Park Board resolution, recommendations of two neighborhoods and a petition of almost 500 signatures. She held out little hope for a Park Board resolution having much effect.

In response to a question by President Bruce Grim regarding whether the Park Board
is "open" to having the sailing club building on park land, Bob indicated that having
buildings on the lake did not really bother them, that there had been buildings on the
lake in the past. Fine said, "It doesn�t totally bother me as long as there is something about it, we are not building a high-rise (there) we are building a park building, something that is very nice, not what the bath house used to look like."

Asked whether the Calhoun sailing club owned or leased the current small building
they used on the shore near the Tin Fish building, Bob said he did n

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