Midtown Phillips Neighborhood Association Inc.

Community Meeting Minutes Tuesday August 25, 2015 6:30-8pm. Stewart Park (Multi-purpose Room), 2700 12th Ave S, Minneapolis Board members present: Evan Hall, Abdul Mohamed, Mahamed Cali, Jana Metge Also in attendance: Maren Hokanson, Katherine Blauvelt, Claudia Slovacek, Kim Kinsler, Rand Retterath, Tim Springer, Jama Mahamod, D. Ahmad, Fatuma Mohamud, Hawa Yassan, Shirley Heyer, Jan Lorick, Ismail Haji, Lawrence Benson, Bill Bryant, Joseph Spangler, Bob Stacke, Steve Herzog, LT Danny May, Darin Rowles, Chad Dipman, Aisha Gomez, Renae Kemp, Sadiq Ali, Abdi Hassan, Russel Gregg, Matilde Dutan, Jim Bueche, Ellen Sones, Lisa Middag, Sarah Murphy, Ryan Billig, Mo Joon, Jim Bloom, Raquel Bloom, Earl Pettiford, Mary Lynch, Susan Huner Weir, Amad Malamad, Osman Ali, Fadumo Ayo, Jamula Ahmed, Nabil Browne, Ayoub Jama, Abdulkadri Said, Aden Osman, Emma Buechs Board members absent: Mary Matze, Aaron Lockridge, Sunshine Sevigny, Joe Scott, Geu Xiong, Lesley Schack, Paul Nettles, I. Evan opened meeting. II. Introductions III. Approve June 23 Community Meeting Minutes (there was no July Community Meeting) Evan Hall moved to approve the June Community Meeting Minutes, Rand Retterath seconded. Motion passed IV. Lieutenant May gave a report of recent activity along Lake Street - Focus on Franklin and Chicago may have pushed activity further South - MPD has been working with management at Popeyes, the situation is improving - Working with Transit folks to work on the bus stop issues - Beat officers spend majority of time on Lake St - Now there are over-time officers both on foot and in squad cars patrolling Lake Street - Had strategy meeting this morning – precinct wide, first week in this entire calendar year that they are in the positive for crime reduction (has always gone up until this week) for violent and part I crime (better than city average) - Katherine Blauvelt asked about the Popeyes strategies -> County attorney, CERT team, Crime prevention specialist working together on Popeyes - Rand Retterath asked a shift-change question -> These decisions can only change twice a year, shifts get bidded on, no powershift overlaps anymore with only three shifts V. Robert Stacke and Steve Herzog presented on potential East African Youth Music partnership - The idea came out of the Midtown festival and the goal is to make Somali music between neighborhood and Augsburg students.

- They are now wanting to archive the stories of families and how they got to this neighborhood. Once the interviews are recorded they would be presented to youth, who would put it to music and tell the story of the neighborhood creating a unique “Phillips sound.” This would all be with the help of Augsburg Music students. - They would also create a CD of live performance in Midtown Phillips with spoken word and stories as well. - Steve Herzog has extensive background in writing and transcribing music, giving students tools they need to do their own thing – give them just enough support so they can take off on their own, give students instruments and teach them how to play and perform and then produce their own shows (setting up all of the equipment, marketing themselves, getting on the local radio station, etc.) - Evan opened the discussion up to the community to get comments and feedback. - Jana reminded folks that community meetings are about making sure there is community support before moving it on to make sure there is funding. - Question about what ‘cross-cultural’ means. Bob responded by saying it is putting together different learning styles, music styles and ethnicities. - Question: Only Somali? or East African, as well? Bob answered that this opportunity would be open to all – the language performed in would be up to the kids - Community Member suggested Viviana Pentado (Salsa del Sol) who lives in Phillips, Grammy awarded Afro-Cubano Pianist Motion from the community: Approve the concept of this east African youth music program in conjunction with Robert Stacke and Steve Herzog emphasizing opportunities for cross-cultural exchange – come back with a more formal proposal for the next community meeting. The board will look at it and move forward with having conversations about funding - Claudia Slovacek made the motion; Jana Metge seconded, motion passed. VI. Discussion on Village Market Expansion - Katherine Blauvelt gave update on 8/17 Planning Commission Meeting, she also added that her block club is in agreement that Sabri is not operating this property with dignity, there needs to be more respect to both neighbors and business owners. The commission met to look at proposed expansion of 8,500 square feet on corner of 24th and 10th and said it “wasn’t there yet.” The result is that it was delayed two cycles until September 21st with following things to consider: look into converting Elliot and 10th to one-way streets, implementing the remaining strategies mentioned in the TDMP, having street signs in various languages (including Somali), adding additional parking attendants and security personnel, dealing with the trash, having a loitering strategy, creating a public gathering space within the building, including a redesign of the addition with storefront glass and doors on E 24th St. - Evan updated that last board meeting the motion passed to uphold motion from last year, if the owner makes improvement we will re-consider on how the project is developing - Bill Bryant encouraged people to look at the crime report and see that the Village Market is a hot spot, already unmanageable – asking to expand upon that, many have written letters, and a petition is going around, to summarize: it’s not working now, it’s not solving crime and traffic congestion issues now, why would we want to expand? Encourages folks to vote no – maybe relocate parts of the market to other sites, so there can be more positive interaction with the East African community - Others commented: a new swimming pool is coming and that will bring many kids coming to and fro, we need to be aware of the safety; Sabri has a history of putting the weight of these issues on the neighborhood; some wanted to have a stronger motion passed; those who door-

knocked made it through four houses in an hour (people have a lot to say about this issue); in an hour of door knocking, one resident called 911 twice because of violent situations – Sabri has a gated parking lot, but the violence gets pushed into the neighborhood - Joseph Spangler gave a compliment to MPNAI Staff (Emma Buechs) and everyone else who testified, very respectful while expressing opinions - One Resident who lives about 350 feet from mall highlighted the issues of sanitation, security, and parking– but the idea of the city taking back the mall being there is unacceptable for the people moving to this neighborhood because of that mall – when making decisions about that mall we need to think about the people who are investing in this neighborhood because of the mall – however, the livability issues still need to be addressed - Mahamed Cali asked if others from a differing perspective wanted to speak - Evan invited community to come to the commission meeting on September 21st, 4:30 Motion from the community: Community of Midtown Phillips supports MPNAI (in its position) in opposition to the expansion of the Village Market until livability issues are addressed and outcomes achieved. William Bryant made motion, Mahamed Cali Seconded 21 in favor 1 opposed - Evan Hall 2 abstention – Abdul Mohamed, Mahamed Cali Motion Passed -> Mahamed Cali translated into Somali -> Bylaws: resident, property owner, or one representative of business over 18 years old can vote VII. Jama Mahamod from Construction Consultants presented on current development plans - Made an application to the City of Minneapolis, came to last Community Meeting (6/23/15), need neighborhood approval for CPED lots, and wants to know what the neighborhood wants to see there - The lots: 2432 14th Ave S, 2446 15th Ave S, 2523 14t Ave S, 2527 14th Ave S, 2528 14th Ave S, 2839 14th Ave S - Earl Pettiford from city: presented offers and plans for the parcels, originally came with bungalows, came back with two-story plan; indicated large number of small families expressing desire for home ownership. They are all zoned R2B – can build single-family – sometimes duplex if the parcels are big enough. The neighborhoods can comment on what they want to see in development, as he still has the opportunity to write a report because it is all still in proposal form. However, they have made offers and would like to move forward. - Tim Springer commented on the 2839 14th Ave S lot– looked at greenway plan to change zoning to medium zoning – Habitat to purchase third of 3 parcels to build bigger structure especially in relation to Greenway for multi-family housing - Jana Metge also commented on the 2839 14th lot –block club talking with Edie Oates and other developers and was told that lot was being held for higher density (have been working on this for 3 ½ years) – it is important to have a multi-family development there - Jama Mahamod agreed to take the address 2839 14th Ave S off the list - Shirley Heyer expressed the necessity to have a housing comittee - Evan Hall points out that because we don’t have an active housing committee, we need to see more from the developer, i.e. have they talked to current neighbors about if they are ok with infill.

- Earl: City site plan review criteria passed out, very similar to previous housing committee criteria - Board will send out all plans to blocks - Aisha Gomez appreciated that the developers took questions and critiques that community had about the last plans and integrated that feedback – they are now filling a need. She is interested in how the 2-3 moved to 6 bedroom house and how costs will change. We need to make sure we are maintaining affordability as much as possible. It makes people nervous to get a whole bunch of lots – maybe just start with a couple. - Shirley Heyer inquires as to why they aren’t working with non-profit developer so the building costs can be subsidized so that the price can be lower for the buyer Motion from the Community: Midtown Phillips general membership meeting supports the development of 5 lots listed (2432 14th Ave S, 2446 15th Ave S, 2523 14t Ave S, 2527 14th Ave S, 2528 14th Ave S ) with the stipulation that the developers reach out to the block clubs for input and support Joseph Spangler made the motion, Jana Metge seconded 20 in favor 0 oppose 1 abstain – Tim Springer Motion passed. VIII. Director of Abubakar Islamic Center Request for Partnership - Are requesting funding – this is the first time they are asking for something like this; they have built speed bumps on the streets and the lighting to improve safety and security – Were asked to come to next community meeting IX. Community Announcements - Pool – hearing on 9/14 at 6:30 at the Phillips Community Center - Green tomato festival – St. Paul’s Church – Thursday October 22nd - Saturday August 29th – at dusk – first movie at the cemetery – introduced by actual wrestlers – in Spanish - Clean Sweep October 10th: Volunteers meet between 9am-10am October 10th at either Welna Ace Hardware Parking Lot – 2438 Bloomington Ave S OR Lutheran Social Services – 2400 Park Ave S (enter on 24th St). Enjoy a Free Breakfast and Pick-Up Free Supplies. Lunch is 12-2pm with a community resource fair at Stewart Park. Bring out your trash! The Phillips neighborhoods have arranged with the City for pick up of extra trash, old furniture, carpet, household construction and tires (no hazardous waste); make sure your trash is out no later than 7am Oct. 10th.