November Hawthorne Business Committee Minutes

HAWTHORNE AREA COMMUNITY COUNCIL BUSINESS COMMITTEE
11/30/07 Johnny A’s

Attending: Jim Wentzell (Co Chair), Georgianna Yantos, Dennis Werneke (Secretary), Grover Jones, WBBAC & NEON
Bryan Thao Worra, HACC, Sherm Malkerson, Valeng Cha, HACC, Mike Christenson, CPED, Erik Hansen, CPED, Leroy Smithrud,


Meeting was called to order@ 8:37 am by Jim Wentzell

MSC The minutes for September and October were approved with some minor changes.


StepUp Achieve program
Jim Wentzell and Valeng Cha gave an update on the StepUp Achieve program.
The same motion that we approved last April was approved again with some slight changes that the “Student intern work 10 to 40 hours per week” Valeng will reintroduce this motion to the HACC board for approval for 2008.

In further discussion, Jim Wentzell recommended that he thought that HACC board should pay for ½ the tuition for the two student interns that Dennis Werneke of American Chemical Inc took on this last summer, because he was of the understanding that because this Business board and HACC board approved original motion last April and May. Unfortunately, HACC did not follow through with the original plan to implement the plan before the program started.
MSC “A motion of recommendation for the HACC board try to locate some NRP funds to pay up to $2000 to American Chemical Inc. for sponsoring two student interns this last summer.” Dennis Werneke with American Chemical Inc. said that any reimbursement should be less than $1500. Dennis Werneke abstained from the vote of this motion.

Mike Christenson with CPED gave an updated as to the progress on what is happening in North Minneapolis.

Coloplast, Inc will be building a $45,000,000 corporate headquarters at approximately 1600 West River Road.
The city of Minneapolis will be supplying some “Claw Back” TIF money for hiring North Minneapolis students in the future.

Penn & Lowry development is moving along fine and the Aldi’s will be opening in the beginning of February.
There is a need for some sort of banking service at this intersection.

Penn & Broadway is looking better and that there are some development and improvements underway.

Penn & Plymouth, we will soon be seeing some development by the U of M.

Mike suggested that Hawthorne could help coordinate getting this good new out to the Hawthorne Huddle at a future meeting.
Erik Hanson and Mike Christensen could put on a power point presentation as to what positive changes have happened in North Minneapolis.

Mike’s 3 big things (wish list) he would like to see happen in the near future.

1 Communicate with the community after a deal is done not before. This can be partially achieved by the Huddle.
2 Put together a community process to address the housing issues with all the boarded up homes on North 4th Street, just north of Broadway.
3 Put together a panel or task force on the reuse of the Broadway and Washington Avenue intersections.

Erik Hansen mentioned that it looks like Master Development will put on a second floor where Irv’s Bar is (after the roof signage lease expires in the spring ) and develop that corner. And that they will then move into this property and that “Way to Grow” will be moving into their existing space.

Next meeting –January 25th, 2008 at Johnnie A’s

Meeting adjourned @ 10:00 am

October Hawthorne Business Committee Minutes

HAWTHORNE AREA COMMUNITY COUNCIL BUSINESS COMMITTEE
10/26/07 Johnny A’s

Attending: Jim Wentzell (Co Chair), Georgianna Yantos, Dennis Werneke (Secretary),
Bryan Thao Worra, HACC, Sherm Malkerson, Valeng Cha, HACC, Tom Laughton, CPED, Erik Hansen, CPED, Leroy Smithrud,
Gail Thompson, Grover Jones NEON

Meeting was called to order@ 8:30 am by Jim Wentzell

The minutes of September Meeting were labeled until our next meeting scheduled for November 30th.


NEON update by Grover Jones

Grover gave the following update on NEON programs; currently they have done 7 outreach marketing and new business training classes this year. The training classes consist of pro bono legal and accounting services, and discussing the metro loan program.
The program works with the U of M Emerge Outreach Program, Score Programs, and Empowerment Zone initiatives.
Grover is very busy but can be reached at 612-277-1126.

North side development by Erik Hansen

Here are some of the Highlights for 2008;
-1101 Building is up and running
-Penn Lowry new businesses should be open spring 2008
-Set the foundation for the YWCA and AINDC in the 800 West Broadway Bldg.
-West Broadway Alive implementation programs to start next year
-Hawthorne Plaza redesign
-City wide façade improvement program
-Lowry Ave redo will be between Queen and Girard Ave.
-There is a 2% business improvement loan program up to $150,000 city to cover half of it.
Erik can be reached at 612 672-5022

North Side JOBS Park update by Sherm Malkerson

Master Development has until the end of the year to put together plans for their site at Plymouth and North 2nd Street.
If nothing is done then the city will put the parcel of land back on the auction block.
Coloplast is looking at expanding into maybe the Reliance Recycling site on North 2nd Street. Of course Reliance needs a spot that they can move too.

Valeng Cha and Bryan Thao Worra gave the following update

The business committee will need to put together a work plan for 2008 such as a business survey, StepUp/ Achieve Program ( underway) and the Façade (NRP) improvement program.

Tom Leighton with CPED update.

The West Broadway Alive is in a 45 day review period and that sometime after Dec 1st they will go before the City Council for input and implementation approval. So far the feedback from those involved has been very positive.

Another comment was made that they would like to get some business help to approach Broadway Resource Recovery to remove the fence facing Broadway and do some landscaping as they originally promised for the south side of their building.

Next meeting –November 30th 2007 at Johnnie A’s

Meeting adjourned @ 9:30 am

September Hawthorne Business Committee Minutes

HAWTHORNE AREA COMMUNITY COUNCIL BUSINESS COMMITTEE
9/28/07 Johnny A’s

Attending: Jim Wentzell (Co Chair), Georgianna Yantos, Dennis Werneke (Secretary),
Bryan Thao Worra, HACC, Mindy Isaacs (Co Chair)

Meeting was called to order@ 8:36 am by Jim Wentzell

MSC Approval of the August minutes with some minor spelling errors.

WBBAC update by Jim Wentzell

The WBBAC has a job opening for an Executive Director and hope to interview and hire by November 15th.
The new office for the WBBAC will be at 1505 West Broadway and NEON will share space with WBBAC.
Jim Wentzell also stated that WBBAC is working on collaboration more with NEON.

Other items

On October 13 their will be a 3rd Ward summit at “City View School” for the Northside.

Jim also mentioned about sending a letter out regarding the cleaning of the street signs and poles in the neighborhood.

Bryan would like for our business group to have a business & community meeting in mid January. Maybe have a cocktail after hours get together to discuss business issues in the area. Some of his ideas were to have a one page survey on their 3 top issues, find out who owns what property and who rents space, type of business, perhaps put together a tax seminar or discuss building improvements.

Bryan also mentioned that the HACC site has an area for Business Blogs.

Next meeting –October 26th, 2007 at Johnnie A’s

Meeting adjourned @ 9:05 am