May 2015 (Annual Meeting)

BOARD MEETING MINUTES – Monday, May 19, 2015 (Annual Meeting) – 7:00 p.m., Fuller Park

Board members present: Steve Bieringer, Ryan Fisher, Sandra Bartsias, Lauren Anderson, Dylan Sirny, Eric David, Mary Jane Mitchell, Matt Chapman, Andrea Siegel, Laura Silver

Board members absent: Karen Costello

Also present: Russ Henry (Homegrown Minneapolis), Councilmember John Quincy, Forrest Hardy (City Safe Routes for Youth & Seniors Planner), Tangletown residents in attendance for Annual Meeting & Board Elections

Called to order: 7:04pm

Welcome & Overview
Steve welcomed residents to the 2015 Annual Meeting and Andrea Siegel introduced speaker Russ Henry from Homegrown Minneapolis.

Speaker: Russ Henry – Co-chair of Homegrown Minneapolis
Russ Henry is a local landscaper and co-chair of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, a citywide initiative to help Minneapolis residents grow, process, distribute, eat, and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods within city limits. Homegrown Minneapolis is one of 20-30 advisory committees that advises the city on local foods and helps to develop a robust local food economy.

Growing: There are approximately 260 community gardens, 265+ backyard chicken permits, >50 permitted beehives, and 6 aquaponics projects throughout the city. Local food resource hubs have over 1,000 members and Tree Trust partners to distribute discount fruit trees to city residents. Currently, Minneapolis has more than 20 urban farms of greater than 10,000 square feet and many market gardens of less than 10,000 square feet. To encourage more urban farming, the city is planning to offer inexpensive leases on city-owned and maintained vacant lots throughout the city for market gardening in the near future.

Processing: Homegrown Minneapolis is working with the City to make the licensing process easier for developing and existing local food manufacturers. There are currently three incubator kitchens (licensed for food business and production) in the city in addition to 40 community kitchens (for private event cooking).

Distribution: There are currently 15 farmers’ markets and 14 mini-markets (nearly all accept SNAP/EBT food support). The city has 30 Healthy Corner Stores, which are mobile groceries to help all communities access locally grown foods. Privately operated farm stands are now legal in Minneapolis. Homegrown Minneapolis also promotes backyard composting and partners with Minneapolis Pubic Schools on Farm to School initiatives and with the University of St. Thomas on research projects on composting and local food res

Policy: The City of Minneapolis has passed ordinances to support mobile food stores, beekeeping, farm stands, and edible landscaping in Minneapolis Parks. Corner stores are now required to carry staple foods. At the state level, Homegrown Minneapolis has advocated for legislation to enable farmers market vendors to more easily provide food samples and accurate labeling of bee-friendly plants and seeds as well as compensation to beekeepers whose bees dies due to pesticide applications. Minneapolis is working on becoming a Bee-Friendly City in 2015 and limiting pesticide use, particularly in the Minneapolis Parks.

Board Introductions
2014-2014 board members and TNA’s Coordinator introduced themselves to attendees.

TNA 2015 Annual Garage Sale Wrap-up
Steve reported that there were approximately 44 participants in the 2015 Garage Sale. Steve and Eric updated our signage for the event – the signs distributed about 200 maps to the neighborhood. A resident mentioned that traffic was up considerably this year. Thank you to Abby for posting the sale in many places.

Tangletown 4th of July Event
Ryan gave attendees an overview of the 4th of July event. Steve, Ryan and Abby have met once to kick off planning for this year’s event. Brava food truck is interested in participating again this year as a food vendor.

Officer Reports
Secretary – A motion to approve the April 2015 minutes with a correction in the attendance section was made, seconded and approved.
Treasurer – Sandra gave a brief overview of the TNA accounts (approximately $38,000 total in both accounts) and answered questions about expenditures from residents.

Neighborhood Business and Events
Ryan gave attendees an overview of TNA’s annual events and activities over the past year including Green Day, the Garage Sale, the 4th of July Parade & Festival, neighborhood bike racks, crime prevention meetings, and Fuller Park shade structures and historical plaque.

Brief Summary of TNA Committees & Projects
Mary Jane presented information on each of TNA’s committees to attendees including Arts (murals and utility box wraps), Communications (website, facebook page), NRP (business façade improvement grant program), Sustainability (organics, Green Day), and Business. Attendees asked about NRP funds and proceeds from repaid home loans.

Review Responsibilities of TNA Board Members
Steve spoke to attendees about the expectations of board members and committee work. Andrea nominated Andrew Busse, Mary Jane nominated Dan Williams, Virgil Petrie nominated himself, Lauren nominated Joy Gottschalk, and Todd nominated Dick Fiala. Steve made a motion to approve the nominations, which was seconded and approved.

New 2015-2016 Board Members:
Dan Williams Andrew Buss
Virgil Petrie Dick Fiala
Joy Gottschalk

Continuing 2015-2015 Board Members:
Steve Bieringer Dylan Sirny
Ryan Fisher Mary Jane Mitchell
Sandra Bartsias Laura Silver
Andrea Siegel Eric David
Lauren Anderson Karen Costello

Andrea Siegel drew door prizes – congratulations to MaryAnn Schoenberge and Dick Fiala.

Partner and Other Announcements
A resident asked about the construction plans for the old Diamond Lake Hardware site. There will be first floor retail and apartments above. Diamond Lake Hardware won’t be relocating to the site so they’re looking for retail partners to occupy space on the first floor.

Councilmember John Quincy thanked residents for attending the Annual Meeting and spoke on the City’s commitment to equity and sustainability throughout Minneapolis. An attendee asked about the recently passed Working Families Agenda, which provides paid family leave among other benefits – the City Council would also like to examine the regional minimum wage to support working families. City Safe Routes for Youth & Seniors Planner, Forrest Hardy, has developed plans for a bike lane on Diamond Lake Road between Stevens Ave and Lyndale Ave. Sandra asked about the decision-making process about the bike lane/sharrow striping plan after sealcoating of that stretch takes place this summer. The group discussed the notification of this proposed change – the City uses social media and limited flyers instead of postcards sent to adjacent businesses and residents.

Adjourned: 8:40pm

Minutes submitted by Lauren Anderson, TNA Secretary