President Jim Widder called the 1/27/97 PPERRIA Membership meeting to order at the Prospect Park United Methodist Church. A quorum was present

The 11/25/96 PPERRIA Membership minutes were amended to acknowledge that the idea for the interior light at the top of Prospect Tower was from Steve Kotcke of Mpls Public Works. A thank you card will be sent. Minutes approved with correction.

Motion passed without noes: that a front yard variance of four feet for an elevator be recommended for Genesis II at 3036 University Ave. SE. Florence Littman said the Zoning Committee recommended the variance as there is no other practical place for the elevator on the site. Genesis, after ten years at the site, is now owner of the building and this will bring the building within ADA requirement for accessibility. At present, neither clients nor staff who require accessibility can use the building except with great difficulty. Genesis will be increasing their child care facilities and will be working with PPERRIA to see if community-wide use is a possibility. Barbara Kaufman, Executive Director, spoke about Genesis II and answered questions.

Motion also passes without noes, that both Genesis and PPERRIA write to Mpls Public Works about increasing the green light time so that crossing University and Malcolm can be made by parents with children without the light changing quickly to red.

Motion passed without noes, to transfer $24,000 to NRP/PPERRIA Job Readiness Program from the NRP/PPERRIA Contingency fund. Jerry Stein of the Social Service and Education Committee presented the motion. The Job Readiness program was initially funded for two years from the NRP/PPERRIA Early Access funds. It is now combined with an existing job network. The programs are now working and should be self supporting in 1998 through either becoming part of the public school system (if there is a school at Pratt,) or outside funding, or a combination of both. Concern was expressed that this would use most of the original contingency funds. Other funding requests may be presented. Why not shift other funds? Shifting funds within the plan is a lengthy process and the need of the Job Readiness program is now. The contingency fund was established with the intent to fund under funded programs. NRP/PPERRIA programs and funding will be revisited within a year, at the mid point, using original NRP program identification process.

Motion Passed without noes, to transfer $8,000 from NRP/PPERRIA Livability project to the Village Green Project. Mary Alice Kopf of the Pratt Building project presented the motion. To be added to items provided by outside funding will be an ADA approved drinking fountain and an information kiosk area. Work on the Village Green should restart April 1997 and the intent is to have the site usable for the Pratt Ice Cream Social in May.

Andy Mickel of the NRP/PPERRIA Housing Improvement Committee, reported on the progress of a program in the Motley Community to assist owner occupancy of resident houses being put up for sale by the University, 15 houses on 19 lots. The NRP/PPERRIA part of this project could be the use of up to $100,000 from the NRP/PPERRIA Housing Plan. There is $1.455 million in the plan that was projected to be used for housing in the Fourth Street area and on the Barber/Gopher/UNOCAL site. Now that the expansion of KSTP has reduced the scope of the Fourth Street Housing project, funds are available for other housing uses. The Motley funding could be used for assisting down payments and rehab costs. Seward and Como have similar projects. The program would be open to anyone who wanted to become an owner occupant of a single family home. Watch for further information. This is the only proposed NRP/PPERRIA project in the Motley Neighborhood.

Florence Littman presented the Zoning Committee report. Panel Craft will be moving into the General Rental building at University and Arthur. A non-conforming use variance has been issued by the city Planning Commission. Of concern is the truck traffic. Residents on Sidney Place had concern that their previous problem of truck traffic on their street not only would continue, but increase. Various solutions are being tried. Also, discussions are continuing about the nature of signage. It seems the necessary permissions were signed by the city without thinking through everything.

The proposed development of the site between University/Washington/Ontario has failed to get funding and renters. Earlier this summer project was approved by city over PPERRIA’s non-recommendation. Of major concern is variance of parking for essentially a fast food complex. Why this happened is of concern to PPERRIA.

Dave Johnson, owner of the gas station on Franklin/River Road/27th, talked about his proposed project to increase the service bays and eliminate sale of gasoline at the station. A major upgrading of the site. More to come.

Florence Littman of the History Project, announced that there is a room at Pratt that will hold "historical stuff." Tasks such as sorting are ongoing. Call 331-2740 to have "stuff" included and/or to help sort.

Jeanne Moses of the Landscape/Garden committee passed around sign up sheets for various public planting spaces in the neighborhood. Included is the Children’s Garden at Glendale/Luxton and replacement trees in Glendale. Plantings on Tower Hill Park will be done later this summer after all other work is completed. Concern was expressed about not being able to see clearly at the intersection of the Malcolm/University triangle; possibility of pruning the bushes will be explored.

It was announced that Harrison Nelson is leaving the NRP/PPERRIA staff. Moving on to other things. Thanks were expressed for Harrison’s critical work in the success of the NRP/ PPERRIA program. Existing staff will coordinate the program and continue the current process of one person per task.

Paula Denman reported for Susan Gottleib on the safe street lighting project. Block Clubs are contacting individuals about lighting. This process along with some city matters have resulted in amending the implementation time line. As this project was a major request during the formation of the NRP PPERRIA plan, great care is being taken that everyone understands and has a say. As individual, special, and specific concerns are identified through this, ways to deal with the concerns are being formulated. Things are moving along. Discussed was an unrelated city project which installs existing fixture styles in areas of neighborhoods that may not usually qualify for the current lighting, i.e. short or non-regular blocks. The city has decided to accelerate the project. This project does not duplicate the safe street lighting project if for other reason than Prospect Park neighborhood would qualify for up to three additional existing lights.

Andy Mickel reported that he attended the NRP Policy Board selection forum and the candidates he voted for to represent this neighborhood were elected.

Jim Widder indicated that the various street safety/calming projects continue to be evaluated. Planned is a special meeting in April. Also in April there should be an update on development on the expanded KSTP site, the Schnitzer then proposed as a UM transit site. Jerry Stein is the neighborhood contact person for the developing program for job seekers and employers. More to come. PPERRIA now has an canopy. If it could be of use for your event, send a note to PPERRIA at Pratt, 66 Malcolm, to reserve a date. Also anyone should indicate a neighborhood problem by sending a note to PPERRIA at Pratt, 66 Malcolm. The appropriate committee will follow through. There will be By Law revision meetings at 6 PM before each fourth Monday PPERRIA Membership meeting at Prospect Park United Methodist Church. Contact Tom Kilton at 339- 3064. Watch for information about the Spring clean up. The specific date depends on when the city trucks are available and the four organizers are identified and able to do their work.

Motion to adjourn passed.