BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
SUMMIT HILL ASSOCIATION
August 14, 2008
Minutes
Members Present: Angst, Barrera, Dobson, Flahaven, Lein, McGann, Pearce, Pramas,Ramberg, Seningen, Sutherland, Zambreno
Members Absent: Breymeier Dobson, Haas, Fox, Lucke, Muller, White,Winsor
Also Present: Hilden, Roy, Jane McClure (Highland Villager). Greg Cruz, Elizabeth Sorenson (SHA Communications Committee), Tim Brownell (Eureka Recycling), Stephanie Galarneault (volunteer coordinator for House Tour)
President Sutherland called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
1. Additions to the Agenda: Based on the number of speakers present for tonight’s meeting, the Board decided to address items in an order different from that laid out in the agenda to minimize wait time for outside speakers.
2. Approval of Past Minutes (July): Approved by unanimous voice vote.
3. President’s Report:
Sutherland reminded board members of the importance of meeting attendance and indicated he has been and will continue to follow up with those members who have been missing a significant number of meetings. Sutherland also mentioned the board’s power to remove members for persistent absences.
4. Executive Director’s Report:
Jeff Roy asked for volunteers to serve on a committee to plan the annual meeting in October. The committee includes the following individuals who volunteered: Angst (chair), Pramas, Seningen, Sutherland and Zambrero.
Roy provided a written report of his activities in an e-mail sent to board members about one week before the hearing and reviewed highlights of the report, including recent work by the Environment Committee. Kate Pearce has volunteered to serve as chair of that committee.
5. CPC/AA Staff Report:
Diane Hilden, SHA Crime Prevention Coordinator, provided a July update on her project activities and directed the members to her written report provided in an e-mail to Board members about one week before the meeting. She highlighted events that occurred in the neighborhood on National Night Out Day held on August 5.
6. New Business: Approval of Annual Charitable Report to Attorney General – approved by unanimous voice vote.
7. Communications Committee – New Neighbor Booklet:
Elizabeth Sorenson from the Communications Committee addressed the Board about the costs associated with printing the neighborhood booklet and the need for help from each board member when it comes time to distribute the booklet throughout our neighborhood. The question was presented as to how to fund the costs for printing the booklets. One idea was to for the Board to fund the printing by either raising money for that purpose or determining if money was available either now or perhaps after the House Tour to pay for the printing. The other alternative discussed was to have the Communications Committee solicit advertising for the booklet to defray all or a substantial portion of the cost. There was extended discussion about these options and about whether the Board should delay any decision pending the results of the House Tour in September.
Pramas made the following motion:
The Communications Committee is authorized to solicit advertisers for the Neighborhood Welcome Booklet. The advertising should be limited to no more than three pages of the booklet. The Committee should solicit advertisers based on the following priority:
1. Businesses that currently advertise in the Summit or are on its waiting list;
2. Businesses that currently sponsor or contribute to the House Tour or have supported past house tours;
3. Businesses located in District 16;
4. Any other business.
There was additional discussion about the motion and the matter came to a vote. The motion was approved by a 7-5 vote. Voting in favor of the motion were Pramas, McGann, Barrera, Angst, Dobson, Pearce, and Lein. Voting against the motion were Sutherland, Flahaven, Ramberg, Seningen, and Zambreno.
8. Tim Brownell – Eureka Recycling Update :
Mr. Brownell reviewed Eureka’s role in providing various services to the neighborhood and to St. Paul generally, Eureka’s desire to expand special events it offers, and the status of a Eureka processing facility. Mr. Brownell then took questions from board members. Board members were complimentary about the job Eureka has done and specifically inquired about the possibility of Eureka expanding the types of plastics it accepts for recycling and determining if business participation with recycling could be further increased.
9. GABA Report:
Angst updated the Board on GABA’s planning for the upcoming Republican National Convention and efforts to promote Grand Avenue business to visitors coming to our city for the convention.
10. House Tour Volunteers: Stephanie Galarneault noted that the House Tour needs a total of 280 volunteers. Although many have volunteered, there is still a need for 130 volunteers. Board members were asked to volunteer their time for the Tour given the Tour’s crucial importance to SHA. The Board’s assistance in recruiting volunteers was also sought.
11. Zoning and Land Use:
Ramberg reviewed the events at the ZLU Committee’s July 22 public hearing to formulate input to provide to the St. Paul’s Public Works-Traffic Engineering Division concerning Axel’s Bonfire Restaurant’s informal request for valet parking for 3-5 spaces on the south side of Grand Ave. from the corner of Victoria heading east.
After considerable discussion, Barrera offered an amendment to the recommendation approved at the July 22 ZLU Committee meeting. The Committee’s recommendation, as amended, was approved by unanimous voice vote. The amended recommendation is as follows:
To support the Bonfire Restaurant, 850 Grand Ave., creating with the City of St. Paul, an agreement to vacate 3-5 parking spaces on the south side of Grand Ave. from the corner of Victoria heading east, in order to operate a valet parking service for customers on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5 p.m. until midnight. The valet company moving vehicles to the House of Hope parking lot. This recommendation is subject to the following conditions: (1) the valet service would be staffed with three or more valet attendants; (2) this valet service would be offered for a six to nine month pilot period to be determined by the City requiring public input during and at the end of the pilot period; (3) the valet service would be free of charge and widely advertised as being free and available to the general public, not just Bonfire customers.
Flahaven discussed reports of Anderson Cleaners operating a drive thru window in an alley and the lack of a needed conditional use permit. The City asked the business to discontinue that drive thru window.
12. Treasurer’s Report: Jeff Roy reported that revenue and expenses are on track in accordance with the 2008 budget.
13. Committee Reports:
Development Committee: By unanimous voice vote the Board approved the expenditure of funds from the grant already collected for that dedicated purpose for the printing and designing of the Summit Hill History Book.
D16 Committee: Pramas reported on the initial meeting on July 14 and the general framework of how this committee will interact with other committees to implement plan objectives.
Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee: Dobson indicated the committee met on July 14 and is discussing various proposals and project priorities for the committee in the coming year.
14. Announcements/Adjourn:
The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
Submitted by Tim Pramas