April 2026 Board Meeting Minutes & Financial Report

YTD Financial Report

April 20, 2026 TNA meeting:

Attendees, board members: Rob Bedeaux, Jim Blackwood, Claire Blanchette, Keri Diem, Jordan Frederickson, Heather Grovum, Bill O’Brien, Pat Prochaska, Tiffany Reis, Heidi Stennes, Hannah Terry, and Will Young

Attendees, non-board members: Andrea Siegel, Annie Clayberger, and Jameson Whiting

Called to order at 705p

  1. Fuller Park updates
    1. Park building is now closed
    2. Staff is shuffling amongst parks, so unsure if Seng will remain director when it reopens
  2. Secretary Minutes
    1. Rob moved to approved; Heidi seconded; passed unanimously
  3. Treasurer update
    1. Only taken in a few payments because most grants have not yet reached us
    2. Will start submitting reimbursements to the city mid-year
  4. Neighborhood Day
    1. May 16 from 9a-12pm at Creekside Commons
    2. No Master Gardener confirmed yet, but Will contacted the program
    3. WiseAcre did not want to provide coffee this year
    4. $150 from Green Partners grant available for food/drinks
      1. Andrea will discuss bagel coupons with St. Paul Bagelry
      2. Not sure if we can also get food/coffee from St. Paul Bagelry
      3. Possible to obtain coffee from ShortWave
    5. Scout troop has not been contacted yet about participating
  5. Annual Meeting on May 18
    1. Event will be hosted at Café Ena from 630-830
      1. Will be in main room of restaurant; hope that patio can be used for other customers if good weather
    2. Requesting a food budget of $350 for appetizers from the restaurant and drinks can be purchased separately
    3. Councilmember Whiting currently unavailable to attend
    4. 10 open seats including those held by people who may return to the Board
  6. Business Meet and Mingle on June 3
    1. Event will be hosted by Wise Acre from 5-7pm
    2. Inviting all business owners in the neighborhood
    3. Asking for RSVP with QR code in letter to businesses along with our survey
  7. Committee Updates
    1. Environmental Committee
      1. Trying to explore new focus areas beyond waste initiatives
        1. Discussed both water pollution and clean transportation
      2. Considering education about invasive bellflower
      3. April 9 “Save the Food” event available on website
      4. Clothing swap will be August 15 from 10-1 at St. John’s
      5. Discussing hosting a battery collection, but many logistical hurdles
    2. Equity Committee
      1. Alternatives to policing post-George Floyd Event had approximately 20 people in attendance
  8. Executive Director update
    1. Printing services got cut off because no access to St. John’s
    2. Lynnhurst is a little concerned about financial component of joint summer party
      1. Apartments
    3. NDE Committee
      1. Garage Sale will be May 1-2
      2. Hosted a Fuller Park construction information meeting on Zoom
        1. Building hopefully reopeing by mid-August
        2. May not be able to fix the drainage in the field because of cost
        3. Landscaping may be pushed into 2027
      3. Welcome Bags to be distributed along with Get to Know People questions
    4. Waiting for meeting with Lynnhurst about cohosting Summer Party before continuing plans
  9. Business Engagement Task Force Update
    1. Need to create a Guide to Neighborhood
      1. Bill and Will agree to work on it including fun facts, history, political representatives, and local businesses and resources
      2. Heidi can maintain/update once it is created
  10. Executive Director update
    1. Printing services got cut off because no access to St. John’s
    2. Lynnhurst is a little concerned about financial component of joint summer party
  11. Councilmember Whiting update
    1. Finally having a “normal” month of council committee meetings but still focusing on recovery from Operation Metro Surge
    2. Thursday meeting will discuss changing the pre-eviction notice from 30 to 45 days
    3. Discussing legalizing possession of drug paraphernalia
    4. $6.8 million in emergency rental assistance was passed
    5. $7 million passed for Small Business Resiliency Fund to waive fees for small business licensing
      1. Funds also will go to forgivable loans and corridor activation for neighborhoods like Lake Street, 50th and Bryant, and 48th and Chicago
    6. Issues a Friday newsletter explaining all his votes
    7. Moved to delay the vote on the Proposed Community Safety and Wellness Center
      1. Center initially proposed n 2017 because MPD training facilities are inadequate
      2. Settlement agreement between city and MDHR requires “assessments” and the consultant for the facility assessment found MPD’s training facilities inadequate
      3. Recommendation to building a new facility containing firing range, driving simulators, etc. that will also host Fire, BCRU, EMS, and 911 training at same location
      4. Funds currently spent renting space in suburbs for some training ($3.5 million/yr)
      5. City reached a purchase agreement with extremely quick turnaround needed, and it will expire before vote comes up again
      6. Hoping to have a broader engagement process with more time before next vote

Meeting adjourned at 850pm