Minutes & Agendas
Minutes - April 8, 2010
MINUTES OF HIGHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meeting Minutes
April 8, 2010
Members of the Highland District Council Board of Directors met on Thursday April 8, 2010 at the Hillcrest Recreation Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55116. Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Board members present were: Tia Anderson, Marilyn Tamsky, Loren Sorenson, Chris Priebe, Fay Hasse, Jennifer Taylor James, Katherine Soderberg, Paul Krech, Robert Brandtjen, Mark Forsberg, Tim Puffer, Rick Hugley, and Shawn Bartsh. Bill Poulos was seated as designated alternate for Ray Cleveland. Layne Carver and Gary Thompson were seated as alternates.
Appointment of Temporary Secretary
Tim Puffer was appointed to serve as temporary secretary for the meeting.
Approval of Agenda
Motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda for the meeting as presented. Bill Poulos moved to amend the agenda by adding the Pledge of Allegiance and asking that the flag be brought to the meeting room. Because the same motion was made and failed at the previous meeting, the motion required two-thirds affirmative vote of members to reconsider. Having two-thirds of members supporting, the motion was voted on and prevailed. A motion to add a discussion of the crime prevention coordinator position to the executive committee report was made, seconded and passed. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made, seconded and passed.
Grid 7 Election
An election to fill the vacant Grid 7 board position was conducted. Gary Thompson and David Tyree stood as candidates, introduced themselves and answered questions. Gary Thompson was elected to fill the position.
Public Comment
Pat Fabio commented on crime on the Homecroft area and questioned the decision to discontinue employment of the HDC crime prevention coordinator. He expressed a desire to see the position filled.
Barb Gibson expressed concern that there the Grid 7 representative position had been vacant for a while particularly during recent incidents of windows being broken in her neighborhood.
Georgia Dietz commented on the motion to add the pledge to the agenda.
Minutes of the March 11, 2010 HDC board meeting were approved as amended.
Treasurer's Report
Paul Krech was not present at the time allotted for the treasurer's report. Community Organizer Kathy Carruth referred members to the updated reimbursement information contained in the board packets.
Community Organizer's Report
Kathy Carruth gave an update on windshields being smashed recently on Highland and Ford Parkways.
The annual Home Improvement Fair which will take place at Cretin Derham Hall High School April 10th is still in need of three volunteers for takedown. Layne, Shawn and Jennifer offered to help.
The annual report of the HDC will take the form of a newsletter this year and is being mailed to all households in Highland.
Walgreen's revised site plan for the property at Ford Parkway and Finn will go to the zoning committee on April 29th. A copy of the plan is available for review after the board meeting.
Volunteers are needed for the spring clean-up on May 22nd. A sign-up sheet was distributed. Board members were also asked to bring a couple dozen bars or cookies for the annual meeting.
The Crosby Lake Water Study project of which HDC is a partner needs to have an HDC representative appointed. A motion was made to appoint Jenny Winkleman conditional on her reporting periodically to the HDC board and consulting the board before taking positions or voting on behalf of the HDC. The motion was seconded and passed.
Standing Committee Reports
Community Services Committee
- Update on Garagefest was presented.
- CP Rail railroad property cleanup will take place June 12th. Volunteers are needed.
- A Crime Prevention workshop presented through the efforts of district council coordinator Diane Wanner and the City of St. Paul will take place April 22 from 6 to 8:30 pm. Any and all board members are encouraged to attend.
Community Development Committee
- Walgreens presented its revised site plan to the committee
- Children's Montessori located on Edgcumbe and Randolph notified HDC that they are considering expansion and may need a parking variance.
- The regular committee meeting was rescheduled to April 13 because of the timing of a request for a variance from Jimmy Johns which is required for them to move from their present location to a building across the street.
Transportation Committee
- Police have been monitoring speeding and traffic concerns on Edgcumbe and St. Paul Avenues.
- The bus stop on Cleveland south of Ford Parkway will be shift to the south slightly to ensure that busses have enough room to clear the intersection when they stop.
- The intersection of Lexington-Montreal-West 7th Street will be re-worked this spring to add another traffic lane instead of parking on Montreal south of the intersection. New stripping and sign placement will also be done to minimize left turn traffic hazards.
- SmartTrips will be working in Highland Park this year to to encourage and support biking and walking.
- The HDC transportation committee is working on pedestrian safety issues on Edgcumbe near the synagogue.
Executive Committee Report
Loren Sorenson reported that employment of the crime prevention coordinator was discontinued since the last board meeting. Several members requested more details. Because of the confidential nature of personnel matters, a motion was made, seconded and passed to adjourn at 8:30 pm for an executive session to discuss the matter further.
Annual meeting election procedures and bylaw amendment balloting was reviewed. A motion to consider blank or non-voted amendment ballots as "no" votes and add instructions to the ballots to reflect that effect was made and seconded. The motion did not prevail.
A letter of agreement between the HDC and the Mac Groveland Community Council was also presented.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Tim Puffer, Acting Secretary