Strong Schools, Strong City Referendum: The SNG board welcomed Kate Towle and Tom Madden, who represented Minneapolis Public Schools. Madden is on the school board. The two presented on a proposed referendum, which would give $60 million per year from 2009 to 2017, to compensate for a previous 2000 referendum which expires next year that brought in $30 million annually. Towle and Madden said $30 million wasn’t enough, it didn’t keep up with the rate of inflation, and that’s why the $60 million proposed referendum is necessary. They cited that Minnesota was previously ranked No. 5 in the country in education funding, but has dropped to No. 30. They also said 65.6 percent of students in the Minneapolis school district participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program, demonstrating the need for more funding from property owners.

The referendum would have three specific aims: first, to get children reading at their grade level by third grade; second, to have all children be ready for algebra by eighth grade; and third, to get up-to-date technology and materials in the classroom. “The cost you’re feeling in your home budget is a cost children are feeling in their day to day lives [in the classroom],” Towle said.

SNG Board President Sheldon Mains questioned whether administrators need more support, too. Meeting attendee Patrick Campbell asked whether funds would also support charter schools, and Madden said they’d support charter schools already sponsored by Minneapolis Public Schools, but not necessarily others.

Towle and Madden asked the board for its support on the referendum, and meeting attendees seemed enthusiastic about the importance of the referendum, but weren’t especially vocal. Towle and Madden distributed their contact information.

Volunteer Opportunity: Mains talked about a nonpartisan organization called Kids Voting Minneapolis, which allows children ages 5–18 to cast ballots in the classroom, for city, state and presidential elections. The program is meant to instill the values of democracy and promote civic involvement. Volunteers are needed to staff youth polling places on Election Day.

Councilmember Cam Gordon’s report: Gordon’s aide, Robin Garwood, represented the councilman. He highlighted that the city’s Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee (CLIC) recommended the city not fund lighting for the Hiawatha Corridor bike trail in 2013, a proposal brought forth by Public Works. Garwood made clear it’s a top priority to have the mayor include the lighting request in his proposed budget next month.

Metro Transit plans to increase the size of many Hiawatha light-rail stations to accommodate three-car trains. Garwood said Gordon has asked that Metro Transit representatives attend the next SNG Community Development Committee meeting to discuss the project.

Financial report: The total assets for the SNG amount to $166,793.59, including interest in the Northern Clay Center. In terms of liabilities and equities, a “huge chunk” of current liabilities (which total $227,326.32) is the NRP debt in question. Treasurer Diann Anders said, “maybe it’s not as bad as it looks” and encouraged people, “don’t panic.” She noted the recent switch to accrual-based accounting from a cash-flow method, but some of the computer-generated figures didn’t quite add up so exact financial estimates for specific categories of funding were somewhat unclear.

McKnight Grant update: It’s the second year of a two-year grant cycle. A site visit was recently conducted to secure second-year grant money, which would provide funds to hire a part-time SNG community coordinator, either employed through a contract or as an employee. Mains said the search has begun for people interested in filling the spot, the duties of which would include office work, looking for additional grants and other related tasks.

NRP update: NRP’s Bob Miller sent an 11-page letter in response to one recently approved by SNG regarding the use of NRP funds. Miller is calling for 100 percent payback of NRP funds. Mains said he’s currently in the process of drafting a response advocating partial payback.

My Yard, Our Message: Seward resident Allison Herrera, who also works at the Walker Art Center, spoke on behalf of a nonpartisan campaign to bring original artist work into 50 Seward neighborhood yards. The program offers 50 different signs to the neighborhood for dispersal into yards, each with a message on them. One example cited was a sign that depicted the earth and read “Help.”

Herrera said two St. Paul neighborhoods had already agreed to the deal, for which the Walker will pay all associated printing costs. However, citizens can purchase signs for $14.95 on an individual basis. The neighborhoods could get their signs by mid-August, in time for the Republican National Convention-goers to see them, Herrera said.

The board was very enthusiastic about the idea, and approved it. Herrera said they were the board quickest to approve the plan. Board members briefly discussed how signs will be allocated within the neighborhood and agreed National Night Out could be a good occasion to publicize the program, and said they’ll take it from there.

Fall Fundraising/November annual meeting: The two will be combined. The focus now is on getting an organizational committee started.

Environment Committee: There was extensive discussion on utility poles recently installed by Xcel Energy, throughout the Seward neighborhood, which were treated with an odorous and environmentally hazardous chemical called Pentachlorophenol. Residents have been bothered by the smell.

The committee requested the board pass a motion opposing the use of that chemical, and calling on the board to request Xcel use alternative pole treatments. Also, the motion would request Xcel remove all chemical-treated poles now in the neighborhood and give warning of poles to be installed in the future. Mains suggested adding to the motion requesting that Xcel provide locations for all Pentachlorophenol-treated poles already installed in the neighborhood. The board agreed. The motion, as amended by Mains, passed.

The committee also urged the board to support lighting installation along the bikeway from Midtown Greenway to downtown along the light-rail line. The board decided to draft and send a letter concerning the matter to Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Community Development Committee: The committee passed a motion to approve the Franklin Avenue Core Value Statement, a guide for future development along Franklin Avenue.

The committee also discussed possible tenants for the part of the 10,000-square-foot Seward Co-op building not occupied by 5,000-square-foot Shega Bakery. The board talked about rumors of large national franchises, like Subway and Dunn Bros. filling the space, and some questioned whether that would be the best choice for the neighborhood. It could be a revolving door of businesses, one board member said, which can hurt the neighborhood. Committee Chair Charlie Hoffman said it’s important to remember students and low-income people living in the area, who might welcome cheaper, fast-food establishments.

Extensive discussion followed relation to a loan modification for resident Steve Seitzer, who formerly had a photography studio. His NRP funding stipulated that he was receiving funding for a photo studio, which complicated matters when he decided to convert his space to other commercial uses. The deadline to alter language to avoid further loan problems was upcoming, which is why Seitzer’s concerns were heard at the SNG meeting and not first before the committee — a fact that upset many board members.

In the end, the board moved and approved that the photo-studio stipulation should be removed, and Seitzer should be allowed to change his business, pending the approval of the city attorney.

Crime and Safety Committee: No representatives were at the SNG meeting.

Archive/History Committee: The committee is working to identify buildings and homes in the Seward neighborhood with particularly interesting histories or current uses. Photos and text are to accompany each story in the archive at the library.

In a partnership with the University of Minnesota, the committee hopes to display the projects on the side of buildings at dusk in the Seward neighborhood.

In the future, the committee hopes to offer its own tour of historic buildings that have changed through the years. The goal is to obtain the stories of the buildings from the businesses that have occupied them, and also of houses, by interviewing significant people in those histories who know the information. The board mentioned it needed volunteers to help. The tentative tour date is set for Sept. 20, 1–4 p.m. There will be a planning meeting on Tuesday, July 29.

SCAN/Art Festival: Nothing to report.

Peace Garden: 15 youth are registered, and kids each earn $20 per week. Weeding at the co-op also earns them $5 per week.

CURA Arts Grant: Mains talked about a class for traditional Somali finger weaving. He mentioned the class needs and is looking for six younger East African women from the Seward Towers, and six from the community at large, to participate.

Franklin Planning: The board briefly discussed progress. “The books are together,” one member said.

The committee will have a short meeting Aug. 27. Location to be determined.

last revised: July 27, 2008

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