BUNGE HOUSING FINANCING SUPPORTED
Ward 2 City Councilmember Cam Gordon reported that the City Council voted unanimously on May 25 to support the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan for development of the Bunge grain elevator site for mixed-income housing. Gordon said the council supported the financing plan in part due to a letter of support for the plan to the council by the SECIA board.

In May, Gordon reported to the board that there were not enough votes on a council committee to support the project’s TIF. He said some committee members had concerns about using tax financing for a project that includes market-rate housing in a “non-impacted” neighborhood.

TUTTLE SCHOOL FUTURE USE, TWO LETTERS APPROVED
The board approved sending two letters about Tuttle School to the Minneapolis School Board. The school is one of several in the city to be closed due to declining enrollment and allocation of resources. One letter will request evaluation and preservation of historic assets in the school, and the other letter will request resolution/identification of NRP funds allocated to the school. The school will be closed June 12. The historic assets include a pictured signed by Walt Disney to the Tuttle community, SECIA Board Chair Wendy Menken said.

Menken reported that the school district will hold a community meeting in four to six weeks about prospects for reuse of buildings to be closed. The district hired a consultant that has a six-month timetable. “The school board is interested in repurposing the buildings ASAP,” she said.

The SECIA board approved a motion to send a letter to the school board requesting that a wide range of options be kept open for reuse of the Tuttle School building. Chair Wendy Menken noted that the school district earlier opposed opening charter schools in former school buildings because they would be competition to the district. Menken said SECIA’s top priority for the building would be another school. A charter school would be great, she said. The second goal would be to save the building.

Menken reported also that the university has been having discussions with the Minneapolis School District about possible lease of the Tuttle School building. Ward 2 Councilmember Cam Gordon added that university uses might include childcare facilities, offices, and 4-H Club space. Board member Marilyn Burns noted that Don Fraser had proposed operation of a daycare center in the building. Burns said the university has a daycare waiting list of more than 300 children.

SE Como resident Katie Fournier reported that a Minneapolis Public Library representative may tour the Tuttle School building in June. Fournier said the representative said the Southeast Library, once it is reopened, should remain in Dinkytown, but wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to consider the Tuttle building.

GRAND ROUNDS PARKWAY “MISSING LINK” KICK-OFF
Nick Eoloff, project manager for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, told the SECIA board that 8th District Congressman James Oberstar would participate in a Grand Rounds Parkway “missing link” planning kick-off event June 25, 10:30 a.m. Location to be announced.

Eoloff said determining a route for the Grand Rounds Parkway “missing link” is a high priority for the park board. The route would connect St. Anthony Parkway in Northeast to East River Road in Prospect Park. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has established a citizen advisory task force. Membership includes SECIA board members Jeff Haberer and Connie Sullivan. Eoloff said the study will take no longer than a year and will include several public meetings. The study includes identifying new parkland along the route. Eoloff said Northeast and Southeast are underserved by parks.

SECIA board member Jake Jacobi said he believes board members favor development of a parkway, but the preferred route would be Industrial Boulevard and crossing over the rail yards to the future Granary Road in Prospect Park. Board member Connie Sullivan urged that the study consultants read the book by Theodore Wirth on Minneapolis parkway development. It includes a route proposed in the Como area.

Eoloff said park board will consider the task force study route proposals and it has the option of selecting it or another route.

NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP PROPOSED
The board voted in favor of participating in planning meetings for a new organization to market, finance, and redevelop housing in three neighborhoods—Marcy-Holmes, SE Como, and Prospect Park.

Noah Bly, member of the Marcy-Holmes land use committee, told the SECIA board that the idea grew out of neighborhood livability concerns last year that involved rising crime rates and subsequent anticrime efforts. The idea for a new organization centered on establishing a Community Development Corporation (CDC), but that is now considered only one possible approach, he said.

Bly said Marcy-Holmes funds from the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) became available to develop a marketing document “that extols the superior features of the neighborhood.” It can be used to “attract new residents and developers compatible with the Marcy-Holmes Master Plan,” he said. The marketing campaign would be directed at “high quality, low impact renters such as university staff, young faculty, graduate students and downtown workers,” and “home buyers motivated to renovate and upgrade old houses for owner occupancy.” Bly said in addition to the NRP start-up funding, the goal would be to raise $10 million to help buy and fix up apartment buildings and to offer financing subsidy to potential homeowners.

Bly said the three neighborhoods decided to talk about common goals, shared concerns, and shared solutions. “We’ve got to do something and get everyone working on the livability issue,” he said, acknowledging that the effort might be similar to some of the goals in the recently proposed larger University Partnership District. He added that the initial CDC organization might later be merged into a district.

SECIA Board Member Joan Menken said, “The U and the city have to be part of the discussion.” Menken cited recent university and legislature recognition and funding to address neighborhood issues.

NRP I REALLOCATION APPROVED
The board voted in favor of reallocating several NRP I budget items totaling $24,877.36. The reallocation is intended to continue SECIA’s transition from the NRP I to NRP II contract. It will also support SECIA office staffing through 2007.

$750,000 AVAILABLE FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Joan Menken reported that the legislature this session approved $750,000 for a project to demonstrate the kind of work possible if the proposed University Community Partnership District were established. Menken said the university Stadium Area Advisory Group (SAAG) will be reconvened and will consider a project. A SAAG study and funding proposal sent to the legislature in February requested up to $30 million to help reverse a decline in university area neighborhoods’ housing and livability.

STADIUM MITIGATION FUNDS AVAILABLE JULY 1
Joan Menken reported that interest income from a $1.5 million state allocation for mitigation of Gopher stadium construction and operations will become available July 1. The interest available each year will be about $65,000. She pointed out it will be divided among the many members of the stadium area group.

Menken said neighborhood concerns about the stadium focus on “parking, parties, and traffic.” She added that university summer school students have been disrupting the Como neighborhood. She cited parties and loud students roaming at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday night. “It’s horrific,” she said.

NEW RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COORDINATOR
Petra Duecker, a recent university graduate, was introduced as the new area community coordinator for Restorative Justice Community Action, Inc. The previous coordinator was Laila Davis.

HISTORY WALK
University student representative and SECIA board member Jeremiah Peterson said he will conduct a Como history walk in July, in addition to the on-going neighborhood Safe Committee walks. Peterson said the history walk will focus on architecture, including “what used to be there.”

151 SIGNATURES ON ROAD REPAIR PETITION
Board member Jeremiah Peterson reported that he turned in a city petition with 151 signatures from residents and two businesses requesting road improvements on 14th, 15th, and 16th Avenues north of East Hennepin Ave.

HOUSE TEAR-DOWN, NEW BUILDING REVIEWED
Zoning committee chair Joan Menken said she met with Craig Jansen, owner of Elmwood Properties, about his plans to tear down a house near 15th Avenue at the railroad tracks, and to construct a six-unit apartment building.

Menken said zoning committee members were impressed with Jansen’s successful record in managing properties and student residents.

SECIA REQUESTS SEMCOL ACCOUNTING
The board approved a request asking the Southeast Minneapolis Council on Learning (SEMCOL) for an accounting of a $10,000 donation in the past.

ANDERSON APPOINTED TO LRT COMMITTEE
The board approved appointing Lynn Anderson as a SECIA representative to the District Council Collaborative Central Corridor Committee. The committee is reviewing plans for development of light rail transit along University Avenue.

BOARD TO RECRUIT TO FILL VACANCIES
The board agreed to recruit to fill two vacancies on the board. The seats were occupied by Jim Manning and Marge Isom.

PROPOSED BY-LAWS WORDING
The board voted to direct the By Laws Subcommittee to draft changes in By- Laws language for consideration at the annual meeting. Co-chair Jeane Moore said the reason for the changes was to prevent the possibility of a hostile take-over of the board.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROUNDTABLE SET JUNE 19
2nd Ward Council Member Cam Gordon offered an invitation to a Roundtable Discussion about community policing, block clubs, and walking groups. It will be held June 19, 7 to 9 p.m., at Luxton Park.

RENTAL LICENSE CHANGE PROPOSED
Council Member Cam Gordon said he will introduce an ordinance at the June 15 council meeting making it possible for the city to revoke or not renew a rental license for any landlord who has unpaid legal judgments against him or her.

NEW YOUTH WEB PAGE OFFERS SUMMER JOBS
Council member Gordon announced the Step-Up summer jobs program. It recruits, trains, and places Minneapolis teens in jobs. See listings on-line at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/residents/youth.asp.

Also, Gordon said youth job information is also available at the What’s Up information line, 612-399-9999, or online at www.whatsup.org.

BOARD MEETING TIME CHANGED
The board voted to change the meeting time to between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. This would allow time for further discussion before the building is closed at 9 p.m. Joan Menken suggested trying the new time for the summer and to evaluate it in the fall.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, July 10, 2007, (one week later due to July 4 holiday). Also, a new meeting time will start. It will be between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

REGULAR MEETINGS: 1st Tuesday of the month, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (New time to be evaluated in the fall.)
Van Cleve Park, 901 15th Ave. SE

CONTACT:
James De Sota, neighborhood coordinator
837 SE 15th Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-676-1731
email: secomo@secomo.org
www.secomo.org

last revised: June 11, 2007

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