BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
SUMMIT HILL ASSOCIATION
March 13, 2008

Members Present: Angst, Flahaven, Haas, McGann, Pearce, Ramberg, Seningen, Sorensen, Sutherland, Winsor, Zambreno

Members Absent: Barrera, Barton, Breymeier, Fitzgibbons, Fox, Huffman, Lein, Lucke, Pramas, White,

Also Present: Hilden, Roy

Note: Lacking quorum at 7:10, began with non-action items. Quorum was reached at 7:15.

1. Additions to the Agenda:
When quorum was reached, Winsor wanted to add a discussion about the circulator bus for the light rail system.

2. Approval of Past Minutes (February 14, 2008):
Flahaven moved to approve minutes. Winsor wanted to add public record of materials under #6 new business. 2nd by Pearce. Approved by unanimous vote.

3. President’s Report:
Nothing to report.

4. Executive Director’s Report:
Diane Hilden, SHA Crime Prevention Coordinator Update
o Provided a February update on problems with staff/owner relations at the Wild Onion. She stated that problems with the Wild Onion and other properties can be addressed if neighbors speak up, call the police when problems and stay on top of the situation.
o Annual fundraising appeal money continues to come in and the goal was met with $7,600 at this time. Fundraiser letter surveys were compiled and a report was circulated to the Board and the top concerns of funders was crime prevention and parking as in previous years.

Comments from Flahaven on CPC update regarding donor survey results:
o Traffic and parking continues to be a major issue for residents due to encroachment from Grand Avenue. The Board should address this since the donor survey indicated this as an area of concern. Angst agreed.
o According to Winsor, the city is acting on developing parking management tools and a city parking task force is working on it as part of revising the full City Comprehensive Plan.

Roy – Executive Director Update
o Naomi Fitzgibbons has retired from the Board and will no longer chair the Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee. Winsor recommended that the EC consider uniting this committee with the Parking Committee. Roy reminded the Board about the recent history of the PS & TC Committee that at one time did handle parking issues, but in 2005 chose to focus on traffic and safety instead.

5. Old Business:
SHA Water Line at Linwood
o The bid of $535 to extend the line discussed during the previous meeting could not be confirmed because a seasonal employee made the bid and will not return to work until mid April with Roy will contact him. Roy reports that the Park Board has agreed to pay half of the current bid. John Angst volunteered to help with fund raising efforts for the cost of the water line.

Refrigerated Ice Rink at Linwood
o The Board discussed the possibility of forming an ice rink committee to address questions about the impact on the ball fields. The Board has not moved on this because it is not known if the Linwood athletic field is still in the running as a location. Roy checked with Park Board staff recently, but they do not know either.
o Angst conveyed the need to gather more information so the Board can make an informed decision on this issue. Angst volunteered to take the lead on an ice rink information gathering committee.

6. New Business:
Creating an SHA Parade Committee
o Roy needs a Board member to take the lead to support staff in planning for the Grand Old Day parade SHA contingent. Our registration is in for June 1. Promotion and planning needs a point person to organize volunteers, etc. In past years, members wore House Tour t-shirts and passed out flyers for the House Tour. The flyers worked well. An article recruiting parade participants is in the next April issue of The Summit.
o The theme for this year is the 70’s.
o A float is a possibility but cost may be an issue.
o A general email soliciting help and leadership will be sent out.
o Staff has submitted our registration for selling wrist bands this year and we will need about 30 volunteers to sign up. There is a mandatory 2 hour training in late May. It was suggested that the next newsletter could be used to solicit more volunteers but the next issue is already full.

Circulator Bus – Winsor
o According to Winsor, when the light rail is completed, buses will be added to connect University to Summit Hill. St Clair and Victoria to Lexington and University is the proposed loop. The Board needs to pay attention to this issue. Ms. Winsor will follow up on this. Winsor will send staff a link for information on the currently proposed route in D16.

7. GABA Report: Lucke Hendriksen
SHA has registered for the parade, a vendor booth (House Tour) and a wristband booth. GABA suggests we start recruiting volunteers early for the wrist band booth where SHA has a chance to raise funds for itself.

Grand Old Day parade will run from Fairview to Dale this year and there will be 5 “districts” during the day along Grand: Entertainment, International, Art, Family Fun Zone and Sporting. Theme is “Flashback to the 70’s”
o SHA staff agreed that we should also try contacting block leaders to get enough volunteers to staff both our wristband booth and the House Tour booth. Haas pointed out that the House Tour Committee is likely to cover that booth to free up others for the wristband booth. Flahaven would like to see an email sent out to clarify how everything will be laid out to help people understand what to sign up for. Roy and Pearce will send out the information. SHA will not do pop sales are out for this year.

8. Treasurer’s Report: Breymeier
Breymeier was out of town. An unbudgeted amount of $120 for website security was added under the House Tour – a cost we haven’t been charged in past years. Otherwise, the budget is doing well with House Tour ads coming in higher than expected.

9. Committee Reports:

Communications Committee – Sorensen
o SHA did not win the website contest that the Communications Committee entered for a free makeover of our current website.
So, the committee is seeking volunteers in the community to help improve the website. They are also planning on meeting with the current web host, August Ash, Inc., about upgrades.
o The SHA Welcome Booklet has been updated and reduced in size to make it both current and less bulky, but also to be less expensive to produce. A “Fun Facts” section has been added for interest. Sorensen suggests we use block leaders to promote and distribute the new booklet to neighbors. A pdf version will be created for distribution.

Development Committee – Haas
o The committee is moving forward on a Summit Hill Cookbook project for use as a fundraiser next year. Need volunteers.
o Volunteer Ms Gabe Horner has agreed to coordinate a volunteer committee to assemble and edit the History of Summit Hill book. Horner has been working with Roy to craft a MN Common Grant that can be submitted to various funders to secure funding for the project. If the grant is approved, the book will move forward.
o Planning is going well for the House Tour under Jan Cronquist leadership. There will be 12 homes featured, 3 public spaces and the Warners’ Stellian company has agreed to be the corporate sponsor. They will donate money in exchange for promotional recognition before and during the house tour.

D16 Implementation Committee – Pramas
o No update – chair on vacation

DCC on Central Corridor
o Progress is being made on the additional 3 stops along University Ave.

Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee
o Committee has lost its new chair, Naomi Fitzgibbons and will be working with staff to reconstitute itself and determine next steps.

Zoning and Land Use Committee – Flahaven
o No news from the owners of Punch Pizza other than they plan to remodel the current “old Hazelton” building at 769 Grand Ave instead of building a new one. This is being done to avoid the required variances needed in their original site plan. The Feb. 25th ZLU hearing was difficult because although the SHA Board and the Committee want the restaurant to come into the neighborhood, Punch’s plan was not in compliance with the District 16 Neighborhood Plan and the TN Zoning Overlay along that part of Grand Ave. The Committee upheld the city’s staff report recommending denial of the requested variances.

10. Announcements/Adjourn:
o Sorenson reminded the Board to reply to the e-survey sent to them about the SHA website.
o Flahaven reminded the Board to let Roy know if they won’t be able to attend any future Board meetings so that we can be assured of having a quorum for business.
o The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Submitted by Brian Zambreno