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Minutes
District 16 Planning Council/
Summit Hill Association
Board of Directors
Thursday July 13 2006
Linwood Community Center
Members Present: Breymeier, Clapp-Smith, Dobson, Fervoy, Flahaven, Krogstad, Lein, Lucke, Odman, Rathman, Smith, Sutherland, Wefel, Wichman, Winsor.
Members Absent: Barrera, Haas, Hedberg, Kost, Ramberg, Skally.
Others Present: Jeff Roy, Diane Hilden, Jane McClure, Susan Hubbard, Tom Troskey, Steve Haslemann, Anne Hunt.
Meeting was called to order by Vice-President Rick Smith at 7:05pm. SHA stores the full proceedings of this meeting on magnetic tape for a minimum of one year from this date.
Additions to the Agenda: Status update on Grand Old Days Task Force to be added to President’s Report.
Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee Report moved up to follow Eureka Recycling Presentation. A Toast of thanks and celebration for St Paul City Council adoption of the East Grand Avenue Overylay District. A Motion was made to send a letter of thanks to Councilperson Dave Thune.
Eureka Recycling Presentation: Proposed bio-Mass Electric Power Plant (to burn garbage) at Rock-Tenn Site. Susan Hubbard of Eureka Recycling introduced the presentation regarding Rock-Tenn’s need to develop new energy sources. Rock-Tenn will lose its energy source with the conversion of the High Bridge power plant from coal to cleaner natural gas. Rock-Tenn proposes the burning of mass garbage. Eureka Recycling believes burning garbage may be the wrong approach, wants to explore other options and supports burning the cleanest fuel. Tom Troskey and Steve Haslemann of Rock-Tenn explained their proposal to burn garbage in order to continue the company’s near 100 year history of recycling paper into new paper products. Further background information is included in report from St Paul Port Authority.
SHA will be provided updates on the discussions.
Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee: Charlie Hardy provided an update on City RSVP project. Information and updates on the project can be found on the City of St. Paul website. One of numerous problems of the project has been the damage to area trees. Digging and grading has been too close to the roots. The City did not take the safety of trees into account when they let bids on the project; thus the size of the machinery being used is causing damage to trees. Residents need to slow water all trees. The request to work on every other street in the area was overruled due to cost and the work is proceeding from south to north. While dust is a considerable problem the City decided not to sweep the streets because so much lead pipe was removed and there was a concern about lead dust. The City has been asked to use water trucks to cut down on flying dust. Additionally there are problems with parking, particularly for renters, the temporary lights not functioning and City notifications regarding the project not reaching renter or condominium owners. Charlie spoke of concerns regarding requested bump-outs to be funded with CIB Grant monies as well as loss of grass due to the method of construction of alley aprons. It appears that Public Works is not being responsive to concerns nor requests for information. Residents have been directed to try and “catch” contractors. Anne Hunt from the Mayor’s office advised that the Council’s concerns be addressed Bruce Beese, Director of the Public Works Department. Charlie Hardy and Rick Smith will schedule a meeting to relay the Council’s concerns. Todd Wichman reported on the Osceola Brick project.
Charlie Hardy provided an update on the Safe Routes to School Grant. While St Paul Public Works is looking at a Safe Route to School project that would include our three area schools it appears it would provide minimal safety features and so while the Committee will meet with Public Works in August they will also continue to pursue the MnDot Grant.
Rick Smith asked the Council to acknowledge the fine and dedicated work of Charlie Hardy and the Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee. It was recommended that the RSVP project be a standing item on the Council’s agenda until the work is complete.
Grand Old Days Task Force: Rick Smith, Vice President, announced that the SHA Grand Old Days Task Force would bring their report to the full Council prior to a meeting with GABA which has tentatively been set for September.
Executive Director: Jeff Roy reported the Grand Avenue Parking Task Force will create a small working group of 4 to 5 people representing each major stakeholder who would meet three times prior to the July 20th Task Force meeting. The group will draft plans and put them against a pro/con matrix of agreed upon principles which will hopefully lead to a product that would meet everyone’s needs. In response to questions Jeff reported that he is the Task Force Facilitator. Alisa Lein represents residents on Grand, Brian Wenger residents off Grand, John Wolfe businesses on Grand and Rob Stopelstad large businesses on Grand.
6/27 Crime Meeting Follow-up: Rick Smith, Vice President, provided a summary of the 6/27/06 Community Meeting and follow-up. Approximately 125 people attended the meeting at Linwood Recreation Center. People seemed appreciative of the Police Department’s presentation and statistics regarding how crime in District 16 compares with crime throughout the city. Some people felt there was not enough time for questions and answers which leads to the question of what is the next step. Smith announced a July 24 meeting with some of the principals within the neighborhood who initially encouraged the Community meeting to ask what they would like to happen next. That group of neighbors has indicated they would like SHA’s support in adding more police on the street in the Western Division, more community based policing and advocating changes in the criminal justice system to reduce repeat offenders. It is important for all to understand that due to SHA’s non-profit standing we cannot take part in any sort of lobbying. After the July 24th meeting a letter can be sent to the City reporting upon the 6/27 Community Meeting as well as issues and concerns raised by the community.
Diane Hilden, SHA Crime Prevention Coordinator, reported further on the 6/27 Community Meeting with results of the evaluation forms. There will be a fall forum with a panel of judges to discuss the criminal justice system and repeat offenders. All District Councils will be invited. Hilden would like to educate residents on how to go about contacting the right persons within the Police Department with ongoing concerns. Hilden provided Council members with an updated list of block leaders and she keeps a detailed map of all block and building clubs in her office. Rathman indicated disappointment that apparently the Police Department is doing the best they can do with their current force and that due to response time it seems useless to call the Police with suspicions. The Police do track calls and if enough calls are made they can be guided to focus on problem areas. Jeff Roy, Executive Director encouraged Council Members to become more aware of what Diane Hilden actually does as a part of her job and take advantage of her information and services. Krogstad asked if there was a job description. Smith responded that currently the job description of both the Executive Director and the Crime Prevention Coordinator is list of tasks and that the Executive Committee is working to create a formal job description.
GABA Update: Jaimee Lucke, GABA Representative, referred Council Members to update included in Board packet.
Treasurer’s Report: Nancy Breymeier, Treasurer, referred Council Members to update included in the Board packet.
Communications Report: Marcia Odman, chairperson, announced the Communications Committee met on June 19 and has 3 items for the Board’s consideration:
- SHA shall direct the Executive Committee to ask SHA Staff to have 50 copies of the Welcome Booklet completed and ready for pick-up/and or delivery along with the new GABA Welcome Packets by August 1st.
- SHA shall direct the Executive Committee to ask SHA Staff to incorporate the blue “Welcome” graphic into all SHA electronic and written materials including stationary, flyers and newsletters.
- SHA Staff shall provide all SHA Council Members with a copy of the current Block Club Manual as well as a list of names, numbers and emails addresses of all Block Club and Building Leaders.
A motion was made and seconded, after discussion the motion was passed.
Zoning and Land Use Committee: Maureen Flahaven, ZLU Chairperson, reported on the single hearing regarding 185 South Lexington. Due to health matters the resident wished to build a bath and attached garage to her existing single family house. She requested a variance of 5 feet and an 8% variance on coverage. Because of no parking on Lexington and because she was making major improvements to a dilapidated property the Committee recommended approval of both variances and a letter stating such shall be sent to the city.
Board Survey on SHA Objectives: Rick Smith, Vice President submitted the 2006 Goals and Objectives according to how assignment of action falls out by Committee. The Executive Committee will continue to work with Committees to refine. Winsor reminded Smith that the Executive Committee was to provide the Board with a Committee assessment including which Committees were up and running and who sits on each Committee.
Development Committee- 2006 House Tour Update: Rick Smith, Vice President, report that House Tour Plans very doing well and the Committee would have a fuller update next month. Jaimee Lucke reported that House Tour would have a booth at the Paws-on-Grand event scheduled for 07/28.
Human Resource Policies for SHA: Rick Smith, Vice President, announced that due to a lack of time there would be no discussion of the policies this month. Each member received a copy of the Policy document and Smith encouraged anyone with questions to contact the Executive Committee. The Policy will be discussed next month. Krogstad said she would find it offensive to be evaluated without a job description. Smith said that the job description document that exists is a list of tasks rather than a general work plan. The Executive Committee is working on a more formal work plan which it will bring to the board.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm
Submitted by Marcia Odman, Secretary
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