February 2025 Board Meeting Minutes – Tangletown Neighborhood Association

February 18, 2025 TNA meeting:

Attendees, board members: Jim Blackwood, Claire Blanchette, Keri Diem, Heather Grovum, Bill O’Brien, Pat Prochaska, and Will Young

Attendees, non-board members: Andrea Siegel

Called to order at 6:38pm

Fuller Park updates:
1. Enrollment is low in the Spanish immersion preschool, so there will be a push for more attendees
  1. We will include information in the e-news
2. Summer program registration opens in March
Secretary update:
1. Will moved to approve January minutes; Claire seconded; passed unanimously
Treasurer update:
1. Nearly $20,000 payment recently received from the city
2. Very few expenses last month
3. Will travel to bank to obtain spare change before Winter Fest
Annual Report
1. Due to City on March 1
2. Pat moved to approve; Heather seconded; passed unanimously
Board Meeting times
1. Discussion regarding moving earlier to accommodate 8pm closing of park building
2. Studio is always open Monday nights, so staff still present after doors lock
3. The time will remain 7pm, and Executive Director will include a note on website and social media about the doors locking and how to reach staff for access after 8pm
May Board Meeting
1. Will spoke with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and they are willing to present
  1. Board will give them 10 to 15 minutes at the meeting
2. We will also ask CM Koski to speak in her official capacity, not as a candidate
3. We will determine what (if any) food will be provided at another meeting
May 17 Neighborhood Day Event
1. Environmental Committee will provide compost
2. Will to contact U of M regarding Master Gardener
3. Andrea to contact Creekside to see if parking lot is available; Knox Presbyterian will be second choice
Board Recruitment
1. Andrea spoke with Washburn High School college and career center staff who mentioned the 2-year board commitment might be problematic for students under age 18
2. We are willing to be flexible about commitment length, might discuss resolution at later date
Committee Updates
1. Environmental
  1. Putting together a video for Adopt a Storm Drain initiative
  2. No word yet about Hennepin County grant application
  3. Trying to set up a talk with Electrify Everything for a Zoom meeting with residents
    1. Discussed inviting realtors to that meeting
    2. No response to two scheduling inquiries so far
  4. Meeting at La Estancia with other neighborhood association Environmental Committees on February 25 to seek collaborative oppotunities
2. Equity
  1. Bystander Training dates fell apart, so now likely months away
  2. Will find activities to share with neighborhood to commemorate the 5-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd
  3. Trying to schedule an informal Saturday morning meeting at George Floyd Square in June with a community volunteer
3. Neighborhood Development and Engagement
  1. Winter Fest planning
    1. No musician, but Community Sing will occur
    2. Seng will provide hot chocolate, seeking big insulated serving piece
    3. New bottles of snow paint available
  2. Seeking information about the lead pipes that the city recently shared with residents
    1. Environmental Committee might take over this initiative
  3. Curious Tangletown will be every other month
  4. Divided list of business addresses to create initial database of businesses
    1. Will then share businesses and promote online with hope to “partner” or find sponsorships in a few months after it is public and showing some value
Executive Director update
1. Preparing 2024 tax return
2. Lots of discussion in bimonthly meeting of neighborhood association staff members about successful fundraising
  1. Trying to shift away from Give to the Max to another time
  2. No big successes to report yet
  3. Meeting with small group to figure out ways to fundraise around Neighborhood Day by telling the story of what neighborhood associations do

Meeting adjourned at 751pm