PARKS MANAGER IS NEW CONTACT
Jon Oyanagi, new Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board River District Manager, introduced himself and described a reorganization of the board which is intended “to get services out to the people.” Oyanagi said he is now the person to contact about park problems, such as lights out or broken benches. He said this frees Park Commissioner Walt Dziedzic to work on policies. Oyanagi responded to questions. The district phone is 612-230-6435.

Oyanagi said he hopes the board can fund air conditioning for the Luxton Recreation Center building. “I know I’d be a hero if I got that done,” he said.

FUNDS APPROVED FOR LUXTON HOURS, PROGRAMS
By a voice vote, the membership and board approved allocating $1,085.91 in NRP Phase I funds to keep extended hours for teens and staff at the Luxton Recreation Center. Also approved by a voice vote was allocation of $1,500 for summer programs at the recreation center and park. There was a round of applause in support of the funding.

NRP PHASE II FUNDS RELEASE ANNOUNCED
Dick Poppele announced there would be a vote at the June meeting on release of $27,229 in NRP II funds for administrative expenses.

NEW PERRIA COMMITTEES, MEMERSHIP APPROVED
President Poppele proposed creation of new PPERRIA standing committees and sought approval of membership in the committees. The committees and members were approved by voice vote. He said committees provide “a forum for thoughtful review and keep the organization informed.” Poppele said he hopes the new committees will encourage more participation in PPERRIA. The committees are in addition to the Executive Committee.

Committees and membership approved were:

Planning subcommittee: Rachael Ramadhyani, chair; members: Phil Anderson, David Barnhart, Tom Clausen, Bridget Ferguson, Richard Gilyard, Mary Alice Kopf, Clay Lambert, Susan Larson-Fleming, Dean Lund, Karen Murdock, Daniel Peters, Dick Poppele, Joe Ring, Gary Shallcross, Tom Skagstrom, Spencer Ung, Betts Zerby, Peter LaSha, and John Wicks.

Livability Committee, Joe Ring, chair. Members: Dorothy Davey, Betty Burton, Peter Lucas, John DeWitt, Richard Adams, Peter Rejto, Gratia Reynolds (community events), Betts Zerby (history project), Mary Alice Kopf (landscape), Tom Kilton (East River Gorge River Cleanup; plus new volunteers Karen Murdock and Ann Munt), Dean Abrahamson (environment), and Kate Galle.

Membership Committee: Tom Kilton, chair. Member is Cheryl Vollhaber, others.

Housing Committee: Roger Kiemele, chair. Members: Dick Poppele, Andy Mickel, Mary Alice Kopf, John Kari, Steve Ficker, Kari Simonson, John Wicks, and Dan Peters.

Education and Human Services: Susan Larson Fleming, chair. Members: Jerry Stein, Scott Johnson, Bridget Ferguson, Steve Banks, Meredith Poppele.

Finance: Tony Garmers, chair. Lois Willand, treasurer.

Transit Committee: John DeWitt, chair. Members: John Wicks, Phil Anderson, Walt Jacobs, Julie Wallace, Steve Ficker, Dan Peters, Bonnie Herr, and John Holmquist.

Personnel Committee, Susan Larson-Fleming, chair.

Zoning and Land Use Committee, Florence Littman, chair.

Task Forces:
By-Laws: Paul Zerby, chair. Members: Dorothy Davey, John DeWitt, Richard Adams, Dave Walter, and Steve Ficker.
University Property Behind 4th Street: Julie Wallace, chair. Members: Sally Bell, Bob Estes, Matthew James, Doug and Doreen Schulz, Kari Simonson, Jesse Vega, Aoida Zaragoza, and Phil Anderson.

WELCOME FOR NEW SEASON
New PPERRIA President Dick Poppele welcomed the 38 people attending the first meeting of the season and he said the large turnout was great. He thanked former president Joe Ring for his work, and Poppele said he has a new appreciation of the work involved.

TWO NOMINATED TO STADIUM COMMITTEE
Dick Poppele reported that the University’s Stadium Area Advisory Group (SAAG) is forming a committee. It will accept requests for project funding to mitigate the impact of the university’s Gopher football TCF Bank Stadium operation. Poppele said PPERRIA nominated Steve Banks and Dean Abrahamson for the committee.

The university has established a $1.5 million stadium impact endowment fund. Interest income will be available to fund stadium area mitigation projects.

OVERFLOW CAFÉ TO OPEN
Dave Barnhart said the Overflow Café in the Prospect Park Business Center in the former Kemps Building is expected to open June 4.

JAN MORLOCK RECEIVES U AWARD
Zoning Committee Chair Florence Littman announced that Director of University Relations Jan Morlock received a president’s outstanding service award. Morlock attends and represents the university at numerous area meetings. Littman’s proposal to send a letter supporting Morlock’s award was approved.

PRESERVATION PROCESS FAULTED
Zoning Committee Chair Littman said members were disappointed in the process by the city’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) and staff in handling a request to demolish a house at 2019 Franklin Avenue.

Littman said the committee was also disappointed in the HPC and staff handling of permission for T-Mobile to install a communications tower in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood.

UNIVERSITY AVENUE MORATORIUM CONSIDERED
Zoning Chair Littman reported that Dick Gilyard met with City Council members to suggest a development moratorium along University Avenue. It would be intended to slow development prior to adopting a transit overlay development plan, she said.

Littman noted that the St. Paul City Council is considering a development moratorium along University Avenue to address development pressure in anticipation of construction of light rail transit in the Central Corridor.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING PROPOSED
Zoning Chair Littman said the owner of properties at 3020 to 3028 University Avenue has proposed construction of a professional office building, with housing above.

CITGO MEETS LAST HURDLE
Zoning Committee Littman reported that the owners of the Prospect Park Citgo service station, 27th and University Avenue, successfully answered further city staff questions about redevelopment of the site. Littman said the process has been like a “soap opera.”

Littman said the service station owner has secured a $3 million loan for the project.

EVENTS
Community Concert: The Light of the Moon, June 17, 7:30 p.m. Pratt School
Community Concert: The Eddies, June 19, 7:30 p.m., at Pratt School
Garden Walk: June 23, approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: Monday, June 25, 2007

MEETINGS:
4th Monday of the month, 7 p.m., unless otherwise announced. Prospect Park United Methodist Church, 22 Orlin Ave. SE

CONTACT: 612-331-2970, 66 SE Malcolm Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55414; pperria@tcfreenet.org, www.pperr.org

last revised: May 22, 2007

• Login or register to post comments