ECCO Annual Meeting Minutes for October 6, 2011

ECCO Annual Meeting Minutes

October 6, 2011 at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church

Minutes submitted by Monica Smith

Attendance

Approximately 50 residents attended the Annual Meeting including Board members: Nancy Ward (President), Sarah Sponheim (Vice President), Brad and Kaitryne Durham, Gael Ellis, Tim Norkus-Crampton, Judy Shields, Jim Smith, Linda Todd and Heather Wulfsberg.

The event began with a free pizza dinner with a social hour with elected officials.

ECCO Board President Nancy Ward called the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m.

Soren Jensen, Executive Director, Midtown Greenway Coalition

Soren Jensen is the new Executive Director of the Midtown Greenway Coalition. He encourages everyone to become a member of the non-profit coalition because more members mean a stronger voice for the organization.

The Coalition is looking for volunteers to tend green spaces along the Greenway. Please send an email to Soren@midtowngreenway.org to help.

Minneapolis Police

Chelsea Adams, Crime Prevention Specialist, Lt Jack Kelly, Officer Chard (Uptown beat cop) attended the meeting to give a crime update.

Bike thefts have increased. Use a U-lock (80% of stolen bikes were locked with cable locks). Record your serial number and make/model of bike for better chance of getting your property returned. Burglaries have increased; many have been crimes of opportunity in unlocked garages. Keep garage service doors locked. Remove items from vehicles, or place items in your trunk before arriving at your destination. Call 911 to report suspicious activity.

The police offered this advice for a question about loud parties. Call 911; phone calls from more than one neighbor are helpful. If it is an ongoing problem, send an email to Chelsea.Adams@minneapolismn.gov with dates and times of the loud parties and she can see if it meets the criteria for further action.

Anita Tabb, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner

The Park Board hosted four community meeting to review design possibilities for the Park Board owned land just north of the Walker Library (on The Mall) to enhance the area once the new library is built. Citizen feedback is encouraged but the comment period will be ending soon. For details go to www.minneapolisparks.org, click on Design and Planning, then Current Projects, and then select The Mall and Walker Library. The funding for the redesign has not yet been determined.

Gail Dorfman, Hennepin County Commissioner

Commissioner Dorfman gave an update on the Walker Library. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) created a vision statement for the design of the new library. Vincent James Associates Architects has been selected to design the building. The design features a one-story building with a two-story presence scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2014. It has not been determined if the collection and service will be relocated or closed during construction.

Dorman also reported that the federal government gave approval for the preliminary engineering to move forward with the Southwest LRT. Issues involving the location of freight trains remain unresolved. The County remains committed to transit along the Greenway to connect Southwest LRT with the Hiawatha line.

Sarah Sponheim, Green Team

Sarah Sponheim, on behalf of the ECCO Board and the neighborhood, thanked Nancy Ward for her service as ECCO’s president.

Remember to water trees in your yard and on the boulevards during this dry period.

The Green Team is working on two projects:

• Composting pilot (one of three sites in the City of Minneapolis). 40% of eligible households are participating in the pilot program. The goal is to increase participation. Curbside composting is easy and free. Thanks to a grant from Hennepin County the Green Team is promoting waste reduction through a program called Waste Watchers. Contact greenteam@eastcalhoun.org to sign up and receive free goodies such as kitchen compost pale, cloth shopping bag, lawn sign and compostable bags.
• One sort recycling pilot (on of two sites in the City). New blue-topped recycling bins were delivered to eligible households. The list of recyclable material remains the same but you no longer have to sort the items. So easy!  The first pick-up with the new system showed a 30% increase in participation and 60% increase in weight.

The Green Team is looking for new members and ideas. Contact greenteam@eastcalhoun.org. Nancy Ward thanked Sarah and the Green Team for their work.

Financial Report

Nancy Ward reported that ECCO’s finances are in good order, however, NRP will be phasing out and future funding from the City remains uncertain.

Heather Wulfsberg, Zoning Committee

New developments in the area include CB2 at 31^st and Hennepin; a mixed-use development at Knox and Lake; Mosaic; Walker Library; and a new single family home will be built on the 3300 block of Irving. Mesa Pizza generously donated pizza for tonight’s meeting and will be opening a location at 1440 W. Lake Street.

Monica Smith, NRP Report

ECCO received notification from the City that NRP as a separate entity will conclude on December 31, 2011. The administrative of NRP will be transferred to Neighborhood Community Relations department.

The current Community Participation Program contract has been extended until June 30, 2012. ECCO will receive 50% more funding for the program. The guidelines for the 2012 program will be published in February with applications due by June 30, 2012.

The following grant and loan programs are available to East Calhoun residents through our NRP program (details at www.eastcalhoun.org, NRP tab):

• Community Energy Services (CES): Energy workshop and home energy visit. Free to first 150 households. Up to $400 of services and installed goods.
• Home Improvement Grants: 25% NRP funds to 75% homeowner funds, $3,000 max grant, no income limits
• Home Improvement Loans: 4% interest rate loans with flexible terms, $7,500 max loan. Household limits apply
• Home Security Grant: Grant of up to $250 per household for security upgrades
• Rain barrel and/or compost bin grant: One time grant of up to $100 per property
• Tree Treatment Grant: Grant of up to $250 per property/per year to treat diseased trees.
• Coming soon: new neighborhood boundary signs

Residents are encouraged to apply for these programs and share the information with neighbors.

Social Committee

The ECCO Social Committee has been hosting monthly socials. The next event will be candlelight social in November.

Board Elections

Four seats on the ECCO Board were open for election (Nancy Ward, Tim Norkus-Crampton, Glen Christianson and Katherine St. Martin).  Elected to fill these positions were: Anja Curiskis, Harry Savage, Kate Davenport and Glen Christianson (re-elected). Tim Norkus-Crampton will serve as alternate.

Tree Committee

The ECCO Board is starting a task force for a healthy tree canopy in East Calhoun. The group will study conditions and work on a proposal for the neighborhood. Residents are encouraged to participate on the task force. The first meeting will be set up soon. Contact president@eastcalhoun.org for more details.

Community Suggestions

Attendees offered the following suggestions for neighborhood improvements:

• Pavement painting for traffic calming
• Welcome committee for new residents
• Repairing potholes
• Organizing around property tax concerns
• Networking with Uptown Association and retailers
• Increasing employment in the neighborhood
• Pedestrian safety
• Community garden
• Restricting cell phone use for motorists

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Next meeting: Thursday, November 3, 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church.