STUDENT LIAISON UPDATE
Kendre Turonie, coordinator for Student and Community Relations (SCR) at the University of Minnesota, updated the board regarding the student liaison focus on keeping sidewalks clear of snow during January. She described a partnership with Oaks Hardware to provide free snow shovels, and she said that liaisons will try to convince local renters to “be a good neighbor” and shovel even if they are not required to do so.

Residents can call 612-625-8939 or email the SCR at neighbor@umn.edu for more information or to contact the liaison working in a particular area of Southeast Como. Check the SECIA website for a link to pertinent information.

VAN CLEVE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Chris Wilson with Project for Pride in Living brought posters showing architectural drawings of the evolving development at the former Bunge site. He described a growing need for the subsidized family housing, which the project would provide, due to the foreclosure crisis. He told the board that building “B” is completed and fully leased. The Habitat for Humanity townhomes are all completed and sold. An asphalt lift of about two inches is slated for next spring, as is a remediation of the land previously owned by the railroad.

SECIA Board President Wendy Menken expressed concern that the marketing for occupancy is not “internal to the neighborhood” and that community members did not feel welcome to participate. Wilson apologized and expressed a desire to change that perception, asking, “What would you like me to do?” He added that “word of mouth” is a mainstay of getting the word out about the properties. Joan Menken commented that the neighborhood is a diverse area with regard to ethnicity, race and income, and she wondered how the process could be opened up to people such as those who work at the University of Minnesota.

President Menken recommended that a link be placed on the SECIA website to the application to “aggressively” get the word out to people to live near their work.

Discussion also took place regarding other possibilities discussed for the Bunge Development as it evolves, including a community urban garden.

Wilson said that the condominiums planned for the grain elevators include 151 units, running between 700 and 1200 square feet; a few will have 2000 square feet. The tower has an “unbelievable view,” Wilson said.

“It’s a goal of this neighborhood to keep those towers,” said Board President Wendy Menken.

SOUTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL ON LEARNING (SEMCOL) UPDATE
Katie Fournier advised the board that the four SECIA representatives would like to serve another year; the board unanimously approved this. The four representatives are Fournier, Holly Day, Jennifer Franko and Mark Tondra.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE (UDPA) UPDATE
Fournier reported that a draft summary report document with planning and zoning ideas was available (http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/docs/ZPRR_draft_summary_report_121408.pdf).

She recommended the board hold a special community meeting to get feedback about the document, and that interested residents read the report carefully before the meeting. Potential meeting dates are between the last week of January and the second week in February.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAM GORDON’S UPDATE
Gordon discussed the UDPA’s Homebuyer Incentive Program, which has $150,000 available for the purchase of homes in the district area. He also touched on the “Live Near Your Work” campaign.

Gordon discussed the 2008 crime statistics reflecting a double-digit drop in crime for the second straight year. Concerns were raised about possible underreporting of crime, with board members discussing perceptions that police response is slow and unsatisfactory.
Menken described a “poor relationship” with the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) 2nd Precinct and said that, while violent crimes certainly deserved considerable attention, livability crimes deserved attention, too. Gordon encouraged 911 calls and suggested measurable goals be established, such as the number of 911 calls.

SECOND PRECINT CRIME AND SAFETY QUESTIONNAIRE
The board desires an extension, into February, to allow time to respond to the safety questionnaire forwarded to SECIA by the 2nd Precinct. The questionnaire polls neighborhood associations regarding the greatest concern about crime in the community and how the neighborhood will work with the MPD “to increase the number of McGruff Houses, Block Club, National Night Out Events, and subscribers to the email alert system.” Menken felt the questionnaire needed “more teeth,” and board member Joan Menken called the questionnaire “insulting.”

DISTRICT COUNCILS COLLABORATIVE
Lynn Anderson led a discussion regarding a proposed “memo of understanding to join or continue membership” in the DCC. The board voted to prepare a letter of authorization in support of the memo of understanding.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM (NRP) REPRESENTATIVE Board Member Lee Hibbing volunteered to act as SECIA representative at a process discussion meeting to be convened by NRP. The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 21. The meeting will focus on how community representatives will be elected to the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission.

SECIA STUDENT INTERN UPDATE
Five University of Minnesota students — Michelle Ward, Natalie Forster, Andrew Jennings-Freerks, Bethany Kloecker and Samantha Iaizzo — will serve as SECIA interns in 2009. The group will work on Green Village projects.

NEXT MEETING The next SECIA board meeting will be Tues., Feb. 3 at 6:30 at Van Cleve Park.

CONTACT:
James DeSota, neighborhood coordinator
SECIA office
837 SE 15th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-676-1731
email: secomo@secomo.org
Website: www.secomo.org

last revised: January 9, 2009

• Login or register to post comments