SECIA Board Meeting – 03/10/09

Present:

Wendy M., Connie S., Stewart S., James D., Jake J. Joan M., Andrew V., Megan C., Jeff H., Tedd J.

Excused:

 Lee H., Jake J., Jeremiah P., Jeane M., Bill D.

*Wendy opened the meeting – 6:38pm

* Condolence card sent around meeting for Ann

*February Minutes

Correction: Minutes approved by Connie

Windom Park spelling correction

Need to find out which non-profit Jake wanted to the Board to adopt a position on from 02/09 meeting

Correct the CEPD motion on who made the motion and who 2nd the motion

Joan made motion to pass Feb. minutes as amended

Ted 2nd the motion

*Megan C. Lend a Hand – Hear the Band update

*Talmadge Update & Road Construction on Como Ave SE – Jeff Handeland

Como Ave SE: Reconstruction started on Como Ave from 22nd Ave and 35th Ave in 2005

Final stretch started in 2007 between 22nd and 24th Ave (including utility updates)

City preparing to complete the reconstruction between 22nd and 24th starting 03/30/09 (poss.

Starting the week earlier). Letter will go out to residents affected by the construction. Reopen to traffic May 30th.

New sidewalks, storm drains will be done, updated asphalt

Detour will be 18th Ave to Hennepin Ave to 29th Ave

*Talmadge will be closed for a period of time to make the train crossing and Talmadge intersection safer

Center median (6 inches tall) will be put in – 4 ft wide curb to curb – improve safety to stop cars from weaving around the crossing arms when they are down.

No new lighting proposed for the crossing – suggestion to place lighting or reflectors on the new medians

Look toward a federal outreach (MN Congressional outreach) to help with the chemical spraying that happens at that intersection every year

Start date for the project would be 04/08/09

Wendy – made a recommendation to hold a public meeting prior to the construction date with Jack Yuzna to discuss some of these proposed ideas mentioned at this meeting

Motion proposed by Tedd – Insist City have a rep meet with Board prior to start date of project to address the height of the barrier; lighting; drainage; and who owns the property in the crossing area

Connie 2nd motion

*Councilmember Update – Cam Gordon

U. of M. seeking to increase their power to make ordinances from MN Legislature – problem could be that two separate sets of ordinances (one for the U. and one for the City) would make things more challenging to enforce both sets of ordinances

Ostrow proposal to use NRP funds to help offset the economic crisis brought up to Councilmember Gordon.  Cam will look into this issue

*Treasurer’s Report to the Board – Connie and James

Income/Assets 2008 breakdown shared with the Board

Grants are a big portion of our Assets/Income

Joan made motion to accept the report into the record

Tedd 2nd motion w/exception that Connie and James be thanked in the report for their hard work

Discussion of a possible workshop meeting in 2009 to discuss the future of SECIA

*Committee Updates

1) Connie moved to approve MPCA resolution statement

Tedd 2nd the motion to approve the resolution statement

2) SECIA Office Heat – proposal that SECIA would pay a flat $30/mo for heating – proposal would

                benefit SECIA by $5/mo

This has been discussed with the landlord to lock in this heating proposal into the SECIA lease

Connie moved that the Board adopt the $30/mo for the heat be built into the SECIA lease

Joan 2nd the motion

Connie moved that the staff and Exec committee discuss with the landlord these proposed changes

Jeff 2nd

3) Business Grant Update – ClockWork proposal

In-ground sprinkler system addition to the property

Andrew presented a schematic of the property with the proposed updates

Exec will re-examine the proposal

4) Federal EPA Grant  – Environmental Grant of $100,000 – Wendy proposed that Como Green

Village would sponsor to do an area-wide environmental & sustainability plan – would include the Alliance, Windom Park and St. Anthony Park to join us in this plan

A consultant would be hired to work on this project – 18 mo process

Connie moved that we encourage this grant writing project

Jeff 2nd the motion

5) Nick Juarez wants the Board to accept a proposal to begin a study on parking enforcement

                issues

Jeff made motion to allow Nick to begin this study

Tedd 2nd the motion

6) “Sofa Ordinance” letter by Katie

Connie moved we send the sofa ordinance letter

Andrew 2nd the motion

7) Joan made motion to accept the SECIA’s Submission for the Como-2nd Precinct Community

                Policing Plan as written

Connie 2nd motion

*Adjourned 8:45 pm