BOARD MEETING MINUTES – Monday, September 16, 2013 7:00 p.m., Fuller Park
Board members present: Ryan Fisher – President, Steve Bieringer – Vice President, Carolyn Dungan – Secretary, Sandra Bartsias – Treasurer, Lauren Anderson, Karen Costello, Birdie Cunningham, Eric David, Jeff Gears, Jane Elias, Andrea Siegel, Charlie Siftar
Also present: Carol Anderson (Fuller Park), Tom Balcom (Historian), John Quincy (City Council Member), Jack Whitehurst (Neighborhood Support Specialist), Christina Morrison (Metro Transit)
1. Call to Order 7:01
2. Metro Transit Orange Line BRT project – Christina Morrison from Metro Transit reported that they are adding ticket vending machines to the 46th street station that will speed up boarding. The 46th street station is the model for the Lake Street and other projects. The Lake street station will be in the center of 35W with stair cases and elevators. They are starting to engage corridor planning and l looking at better service including on weekends along 35W. Next steps – this fall conceptual design work. Lake street is ahead and leading the charge. They are looking for feedback and ideas to make it better and make residents want to use the buses. It was agreed that bike amenities will be important and maybe some underground storage and stroller and wheelchair access. Karen asked about the ridership at the 46th street station. A: 150 Northbound, 110 Southbound daily.
3. Fuller Park plaque update – Steve sent around a packet that was prepared for the Park Board for the memorial plaque. The first week in October the Park Board meets and Steve will try to be at the meeting to hear about the plaque project and also the shade structure effort. There are various sources of funding for the plaque and it was agreed that the bottom of the plaque will note a thanks to friends and neighbors.
Ryan asked if, assuming an approval by the Park Board at their October meeting, construction can start immediately. Steve: yes. We are still getting quotes on rock and labor. The rock will cost approximately $750 including transport. Carole noted that we have until November 30th to do the dedication celebration. Ryan asked if Tom’s book will be done by then. A: Yes. Tom is working on a short article with Tjody announcing that there will be a dedication. The book will include a great photo of Fuller School. Steve – should we aim for November 18th the night of our board meeting for the dedication? It was agreed that we should commit to that date and put that in the Newsletter. Birdie will ask Patisserie 46th to contribute some treats for the event.
4. Ryan passed out the Neighborhood Priority Plan for the Special Service District and support of streetscape plan at 54th & Lyndale. Eric asked if TNA will be liable for personal injury on hardscape installments. Ryan said that no, we will not be liable and that businesses will choose what they want to do with the funds and it is hoped that they will listen to the neighborhood voice when making their decisions.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that:
The TNA Board approves the September 2013 NPP plan to join with Kenny, Lynnhurst and Windom neighborhood associations to be supportive, both financially and organizationally, of the plan to enhance the aesthetic and practical functionality of the pedestrian corridor at 54th & Lyndale by the development and implementation of a streetscape plan.
Ryan will let Ruth Olson know that we approved the plan.
5. Charlie proposed that we install bike racks at five locations for a total cost of $820 to TNA. Birdie asked if we can brand the bike racks with the Tangletown logo. Charlie is not sure if he’d need to get approval for that. He will check into scroll cutting or stenciling. Steve suggested that if it would cause the city to opt out of the funding then we don’t need to do the branding. Sandra suggested that in regards to branding it would be nice to have some signage for entry points to the neighborhood including the 46th street station. Sandra asked if there are other businesses that wanted bike racks and Charlie indicated that we need to reach out to them. Ryan suggested that this could be communicated by NEHBA and John Quincy suggested it also be a part of the 54th & Lyndale streetscape effort. Charlie noted that we could do power coating in color or galvanized. Ryan asked Jack how we would fund the project. Jack responded that it would be a contract and that TNA would not have liability. Also, the city will have to give a final financial estimate for each location.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that:
TNA will fund ten bike racks for 48th & Grand and 54th & Nicollet with a cost not to exceed $1,000.00.
6. Partnership development with Washburn High School – Ryan and John have not yet gotten together to form this group or avenue for partnership with Washburn and Ramsey. Ryan has not yet contacted Tracine. John contacted her and he thought John, Tracine and the principal at WHS should meet first. John wants to get a communication plan for conversations with the community. There are a number of residents around WHS would be open to having that dialogue with the school. Ideally, TNA would have a seat at the site council at the school and a school representative at the TNA meetings. John and Tracine will start the conversation and connect with area representatives who have indicated that they want to be a part of it. Ryan offered to be a representative at the site council. It will help to define the process for how we support them and vice versa.
7. Halloween Home Tour – Jeff would like to see more involvement by the board. We should get signage up this week and no longer require a fee to be put on the tour. It was suggested that we could do the tour from 4-6 Halloween night preceding the Fuller Halloween party that is from 6 – 8pm. Jeff would like help in getting flyers outside of the neighborhood. Jeff would like to put a flyer in the SW Journal and also mention the Fuller Park event. There is a $127 cost for the insert in the SW Journal for the Tangletown area only, which is 1,700 homes. SW Journal will do the printing as well. Eric and Andrea both offered to help with this event.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that:
TNA will fund a budget of up to $500 for the Halloween House Tour event.
8. Review and approve utility box designs – Carolyn will simplify the voting process and asked that everyone on the board submit their votes by this Friday. The Arts Committee will meet and make the final decision for the designs. Carolyn has asked for an extension of the Micro Grant to the Spring of 2014. Mary Altman will be attending our next board meeting to inform us of the next steps in the process.
9. Newsletter assignments and timeline – Tjody asked that articles be submitted by tomorrow. The draft will be prepared and sent around for review Wednesday. Ryan suggested including an article on organics composting. John Quincy suggested articles on rank choice voting, the city budget process and one read.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that:
TNA will fund a budget of up to $650 for the design and layout for the fall newsletter.
10. Secretary report – The Board minutes of the August 19, 2013 meeting were posted on the TNA website for Board approval.
Upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the minutes were approved as presented.
11. Treasurer report – The association has not spent any money since the last meeting. We have changed over to CAPS account at the post office so that they can automatically withdraw money from our bank account when we do mailings.
12. Committee reports – the Arts Committee reported that Kramer Electric will put up two murals on their building. Mac’s Fish and Chips would like a mural as well. There were not any other committee reports.
13. Partner and other announcements – John Quincy reported that permits were issued for the WHS scoreboard on the south end of the field and the scoreboard should be up by the 15th of October. The rules of use were agreed upon. The city is currently in budget hearings and the budget will be approved in December. We have a 1% tax levy because property taxes have gone down due to an increase in local government aid from the state, homestead tax credits and the Vikings stadium package. The city is very supportive of a tree levy to replace 2500 trees that were lost in the storm. There is also an increase in infrastructure projects such as street resurfacing and funding more police and fire fighters. There were no announcements from NEHBA. Carole Anderson provided a Fuller Park update including the Halloween party and the hiring of a new preschool teacher. The dedication of the Fuller plaque will take place at the park building before dusk on the Sunday preceding our next TNA board meeting.
14. Additional announcements – The Pro Bike/Walking Pilot Project on Grand Avenue is on Saturday, Sept 21st and they are looking for help with that program that day. Sandra has requested information from the community education person from Washburn so that TNA can sponsor a class. Birdie asked if anyone is interested in keeping Fuller park pool open through labor day. Carole said that the pools close before school starts if they are located near a school but she will look into it.
15. There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:09pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Dungan, TNA Secretary
Next Meeting: Monday, October 21, 2013 at Fuller Park.