BOARD MEETING MINUTES – Monday, July 16, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., Bryant Square Park
Board members present: Joy Gottschalk, Dan Williams, Gabe Moreno, Briana Daymont, Valerie Hurst, Carl Arrell, Kellie Hanson, Brian McDonald, Erik Brenna, Pat Collins, Steve Wohlford
Board members absent: Dick Fiala, Ryan Fisher, John Dukich
Also present: Sally Bauer (TNA Coordinator), Chriss Joyce (TNA Interim Coordinator), Staci Horwitz (City of Lakes Community Land Trust)
Called to order: 7:04pm
Officer Reports:
Secretary – Steve made a motion to approve the June minutes, Valerie seconded. Voice vote, all in favor, motion approved.
Treasurer – no report this month. Brian met with Joy and Sally to continue bringing himself up to speed on TNA’s financial situation and proceedures. TNA is moving the checking account from Thrivent to Wells, partly becauseThrivent no longer has an office in the neighborhood. While TNA would like to bank locally no community banks or credit unions are in the neighborhood. Thus the decision was made based on service and costs rather than locality.
City of Lakes Community Land Trust
The Land Trust works to increase affordable housing stock by assisting lower-income homebuyers and homeowners who are in tough situations through restrictions on the later sale of the property. The organization started in 2002 and sold its first home in 2004. 250 homes covering ½ of the neighborhoods in Minneapolis are part of the program including single-family, townhouses, and condos. The Land Trust both purchases, rehabs, and sells existing properties and also builds new homes. Since starting their rehab program a few years ago, they have completed rehabilitations of about 10 homes and currently have nine new ones under construction. They also work with homeowners who have encountered financial difficulties (foreclosure or tax forfeiture) to keep owners in their homes.
Owners participating in the Land Trust’s program must earn less than 80% of the 7 county metro area’s median income, which they ensure through an application an income verification process. In exchange for contributing a given amount (which averages $50,000) to the purchase price of the home thus making the transaction more affordable for the purchaser, the Land Trust takes title to the land and adds title restrictions to ensure the home remains affordable in the future. For example, in the purchase of a $200,000 home where the Land Trust contributes $50,000, the buyer only takes a mortgage for the remaining $150,000. The Land Trust takes title to the land and leases it back to the homeowner for a renewable 99 year term. If the home rises in value, the Land Trust shares in that rise in value when the home is sold. The original $50,000 contribution stays with the property to reduce the future sales price.
The Land Trust works with neighborhood organizations in a number of ways. The Powderhorn, Longfellow, Sheridan, and Victory neighborhoods contributed funds to help with rehabilitation or direct investments into the property as part of the Trust’s share. Powderhorn committed $30,000. Kingfield helped purchase a foreclosed home that the Trust is rehabbing; this particular property was sold by the lender to the Trust for $95,000 and the Trust is putting in $90,000 as the affordability contribution. Kingfield is financing the $250,000 acquisition and construction loan and will forgive the interest as their affordability contribution. The property will be put on the marked for around $160,000 (rather than the market-rate $250,000) due to the $90,000 affordability contribution from the Land Trust.
The Trust also asked for a letter of neighborhood support which is helpful when talking to funding sources and lenders. They provided a template for TNA to consider.
4th of July Debrief
Chriss thanked the board for the time and effort the board put into the event. The weather did not cooperate this year leading Chriss to suggest contingency plans for some aspects next year. Steve thought given circumstances it was a “remarkable success.” He noted that 75% of those who stopped by the TNA table asked where ticket sales were, since tickets were moved inside and stayed there after the weather cleared. Steve suggested a giant banner for ticket sales to make them more visible. Gabe suggested better signage on the north-east side of the Fuller Park building since it blocks the park and crowds from view. Briana suggested better adult activities like mini-golf or adult lawn games. Joy suggested giant bubbles (which she has seen elsewhere). Kellie suggested more food for both kids and adults, like food trucks or an offsite beer garden. Pat wanted more volunteers; Sally said it was difficult to get volunteers this year. Gabe thought seating was in short supply later in the day, Steve suggested encouraging people to bring blankets/chairs/etc and spend the day. Steve suggested revisiting how things are set up; very crowded around the pool area; try to disperse activity throughout the park. Brian suggested food competitions, while Steve suggested traditional competitive activities (eg egg carry, 3-legged race, etc).
Direct income from the event was about $2,340 between T-shirts and ticket sales, minus $300 in seed money. PayPal income was about $1,358 after processing fees. Expenses were about $3,800, indicating a small loss for the event.
Committee Updates
Beautiful, Purposeful Spaces: the committee developed three sub-committees with expanded charters: (1) the streets and alley effort now includes sidewalk assistance, (2) the branding/signage effort now includes public art, and (3) the pedestrian effort includes general pedestrian safety (including 35W construction spillover), trash, and schools. While the Washburn water tower landscaping effort no longer requires significant effort, the committee is fast-tracking an updated water tower information sign to replace the current outdated and no-longer-visible one.
Innovative Environmental Leadership: Joy was elected chairperson. The committee’s previous efforts were around energy, waste/recycling, and water. They would like to float ideas past board and other committee members to figure out what engagement and volunteer resources they would get from the entire board instead of just the committee itself. Joy will send survey to the board and committee chairs, requesting that chairs then send to non-board committee members as well.
Engaged, Welcoming Community: no report at this time
Executive Director Report
Sally and Chriss met with Stacy Sorenson (TNA’s Minneapolis NRP liason) to clarify TNA’s plans around housing funding. They decided to update existing NRP/CPP contracts rather than creating new ones as this will take less time and funding will be available earlier. They would like each committee to define broad categories for each contract and then Sally and Chriss will create more detailed “scope of services” items for each broad category with specific items and tasks. Sally suggested creating a general “project management” category for billing staff time rather than including it in each specific initiative.
New Business
Ryan and Sally suggested a meeting to educate board members on the Minneapolis 2040 plan. While the board will not take an official position on the plan, members should have a good understanding of what it is and how it affects Tangletown. Ryan suggested utilizing the Minneapolis 2040 “facilitation in a box” kit that the city puts together. Sally will send out Doodle poll to board to schedule the meeting.
Helen decided to resign from the board, so there is one available seat. Joy referred two people who expressed interest in to Sally. Sally will also advertise the open seat on social media.
Chriss will be unavailable from July 30th to August 3rd and Sally may be on leave soon after. Out-of-office replies will be set up for any dates Chriss and Sally are out. Board members should email Chriss when Sally starts her leave in early August.
Adjourned: 8:35
Minutes submitted by Dan Williams, TNA Secretary