Fulton Neighborhood Association NRP Committee Meeting Minutes 2/6/2013.
Notes from the Fulton NRP meeting of February 6, 2013
Present
Jim Tincher, John Finlayson, Steve Young, Jeff Alden, Ruth Olson, Dave Delvoye
Minutes
The committee approved the minutes of the 1/2/13 meeting.
Fulton Neighborhood News
Ruth updated the 2013 FNA administrative calendar and will soon begin working on the March issue of Fulton Neighborhood News.
Rain garden at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church
A meeting with Solution Blue, the design firm for the rain garden project, is scheduled for 2/7.
Fulton Farmers Market
Jeff presented two proposals for promoting the Fulton Farmers Market and further engaging the community in the event. The first involves children creating yard signs promoting the market, a project similar to the successful Fulton Favorites yard signs from several years ago. The same artist – Gail Katz-James – would organize and conduct this project over the course of nine weeks at the Saturday morning market, with a goal of engaging enough children and families to produce 150 signs which they would then take home and display. The project’s budget of $3,570 includes labor (artist and assistant) plus materials. Jeff will find out whether a smaller quantity of signs could be purchased up front in case the number of participants is lower than anticipated. The committee expressed support for this proposal.
The second proposal involves creating banners promoting the market and installing them on the 11 pedestrian-scale street light poles at the 50th & Xerxes commercial district. A bid from Urban Works, a company which has accomplished similar projects throughout the city, calls for producing 14 aluminum banners (three of which would be held in reserve as replacements) with a budget of $4,995. This bid includes installation, but does not include City permit fees ($55 application plus $55 per year). The banners come with a ten-year manufacturer’s warranty. The committee expressed support for the idea and suggested that Jeff contact the Nicollet East Harriet Business Association (NEHBA), which is organizing the businesses at 50th & Xerxes, to find out whether that group would support the project and perhaps become a partner and help fund it. There was a suggestion that the business group could perhaps produce its own banners promoting the district which could be installed on the light poles during the months when the market is not open.
A third proposal involving construction of a willow tunnel or wall at the farmers market site has been dropped due to lack of interest.
The committee discussed whether and how to fund these proposals. The committee approved a proposal drafted by Ruth requesting up to $6,000 in CPP funds for the projects. This will allow for the possibility of all of the proposals, but does not commit us to any of them. The yard signs can be implemented right away and the banners can be further discussed in conjunction with the 50th & Xerxes business district. This proposal will be presented to community members for a vote at the 2/13 FNA meeting. If it passes, the Board will then ratify the decision and send the proposal to the City for approval. The Kingfield Farmers Market (the organization which includes the Fulton Farmers Market) has pledged $2,000 to help support these projects.
Airport issues
Bryan Simmons, chair of the Kenny Neighborhood Association (KNA) and leader of the SW Airport Advisory Team (SWAAT), sent a letter to FNA and other neighborhood groups asking each for a $150 donation to support SWAAT’s initial efforts to organize residents to deal with airport-related noise issues. Until SWAAT is incorporated as a non-profit, it appears that KNA will act as the group’s fiscal agent. The committee recommended that the FNA Board contribute $150 from the Friends of Fulton account to SWAAT.
Safety committee
At the committee’s request, 5th Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Amy Lavender is looking into whether to organize another burglary prevention workshop for neighborhood residents, perhaps in April.
Minnehaha Creek corridor
Representatives from Fulton, Lynnhurst, and Armatage neighborhood associations will meet with Park Board staff on 3/4 to continue the discussion about how to improve the Minnehaha Creek corridor shared by the three neighborhoods and plan the upcoming community engagement process.
2013 FNA budget
The committee reviewed the draft FNA budget for 2013, which anticipates a decline of over $5,000 in Friends of Fulton income due to decreased revenue from the plant sale and the festival while expenses remain the same as in 2012. Income is estimated at $9,650, while expenses total $2,850. Almost $43,000 remains in the Community Participation Program budget for 2013, including $15,425 for neighborhood priority projects such as the Farmers Market yard signs and banners.
Notes prepared by Dave Delvoye.
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