June 2015

BOARD MEETING MINUTES – Monday, June 15, 2015 (Annual Meeting) – 7:00 p.m., Fuller Park

Board members present: Steve Bieringer, Ryan Fisher, Sandra Bartsias, Lauren Anderson, Eric David, Andrew Buss, Joy Gottschalk, Dick Fiala, Virgil Petrie, Dan Williams, Andrea Siegel, Laura Silver, Karen Costello

Board members absent:

Also present: Abby Rowan (staff)

Called to order: 7:05pm

TNA Annual Meeting
Sandra reported that TNA spent $484.33 on this year’s Annual Meeting. In 2014 the board spent $922.26, which was a higher total due to a postcard mailing. Because a postcard sent this year, the board observed slightly lower attendance and recommends sending one in 2016 to hit mailboxes 1-2 weeks before the event. Russ Henry from Homegrown Minneapolis spoke to attendees and was engaging and informative. Because questions came in regarding TNA’s funding through the City, the Board would like to invite Jack Whitehurst to a September or October board meeting (depending on the timing of the fall newsletter) to present to residents in greater depth. The Board also discussed TNA’s current avenues to reach community members and strategies to grow the electronic newsletter mailing list. Abby suggested having a specific prize drawing at the 4th of July event for attendees who are already on or sign up to be on the TNA e-news list. Board members would also like to connect with block leaders and invite Jennifer Waisenan from MPD’s 5th Precinct at a future meeting.

TNA 4th of July
The planning team met last week to finalize assignments. Board members typically arrive at Fuller between 8:00am and 9:00am to set up chairs and tables, help vendors find their spots, and coordinate the parade. The volunteer schedule is in process – Abby has another neighborhood e-blast scheduled for tomorrow. Steve has a contact for potential face painters from the Fuller Park grand opening with whom he’ll follow up so there can be face painting at this year’s event. Board members are trying to locate the event banners, which may be at Simply Jane or Charlie’s Bike Shop. TNA will work with Hector Ruiz of Café Ena and La Fresca to provide watermelon juice instead of root beer. The planning team may meet once more before the event – Board members are encouraged to attend if so. Sandra reminded board members that formal approval of a budget for this year’s event in still needed. Last year’s event netted $282.53 ($3141.85 in proceeds and $2,859.32 in expenses). Ryan proposed a budget of $3,500 for this year’s event, which was seconded and approved by the full board.

17 West Elmwood Place Variance Request
The property owner plans to rebuild the garage on the property and forwarded plans to TNA. No further action is recommended at this stage.

Officer Reports:
Secretary – A motion to approve the May 2015 minutes with one correction was made, seconded and approved.
Treasurer – The NCR account is at $17,850.68 and the Tangletown account is at $15,902.88.
Officer elections – Lauren would like to pass the secretary duties to another board member. The Board will revisit officer elections at next month’s meetings.

Committee Reports:
Abby sent an email to recruit committee members and several committee meeting scheduling emails. Karen would like to form a bicycle-focused committee with weekly rides, which could be promoted through facebook, website, and e-newsletter. She also proposed changing the Sustainability Committee’s name to the Green Team.
Sustainability – Lauren reported on the committee’s most recent meeting and potential changes to the Green Day event. Joy gave a quick update on the Minneapolis Community Solar meeting held on April 30th. Xcel Energy is in the midst of making its approval process easier for new community solar projects. Tangletown has a few potential avenues for helping residents connect with community solar projects, particularly in partnership with other neighborhoods. The City has some guidelines for neighborhoods but the concept is still in development. Abby will connect with other SW neighborhood coordinators and report back at a future board meeting.
Arts – TNA would like to continue working on utility box wraps and Dan volunteered to help coordinate the process. Thank you, Dan!

Coordinator Update
Abby met with Jack Whitehurst from the City of Minneapolis’s Neighborhood & Community Relations (NCR) Department on several budget items. TNA’s funds from the home loan program have been moved from the Center for Energy & Environment (CEE) but as TNA doesn’t have a new administrator yet the program remains in limbo. Some neighborhoods have worked together to identify a new administrator so Ryan recommended that Abby follow up with the City for more information. Jack also gave an overview on the process to shift TNA’s allocation of NCR (a process that TNA has often used in the past). It’s conceivable that the City might freeze and/or take back unspent Community Participation Program (CPP) funds in the future, so TNA should identify neighborhood projects for this fiscal year. Potential projects could include utility box wraps, more neighborhood bike racks, a neighborhood business list and way-finding signs. Ryan proposed scheduling a meeting later this summer to brainstorm ideas and estimate volunteer time needed to accomplish each.

Partner and Other Announcements
Ryan reported that the Nicollet East Harriet Business Association (NEHBA) will receive funds to create a mobile app to connect with neighborhood businesses and incentives to shop there. The app should be available later this year.

Adjourned: 8:40pm

Minutes submitted by Lauren Anderson, TNA Secretary