District Councils Collaborative of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Central Corridor Resource Center (old Lexington Library)
1080 University Ave W, St. Paul
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Chair: Anne White
Recorder: Bob Spaulding
Staff Present: Carol Swenson, Community Liaison
Guest: Linda Youngwirth, Commissioner Rettman’s Office, Mike Madden
Roll call:
Member Organizations
District Council 6 (North End, South Como)
District Council 7 (Frogtown)
District Council 8 (Summit-University)
District Council 10 (Midway-Como)
District Council 11 (Hamline-Midway)
District Council 12 (St. Anthony Park)
District Council 13 (Union Park)
District Council 14 (Macalester-Groveland)
District Council 16 (Summit Hill Association)
District Council 17 (Capitol River)
PPERRIA (Prospect Park-East River Road Improvement
Assoc.)
SECIA (Southeast Como Improvement Association)
Marcy-Holmes
Cedar Riverside-West Bank Coalition
University of Minnesota Area Community
District Council 6 (North End, South Como)
District Council 7 (Frogtown)
District Council 8 (Summit-University)
District Council 8 (Summit-University)
District Council 10 (Midway-Como)
District Council 11 (Hamline-Midway)
District Council 12 (St. Anthony Park)
District Council 13 (Union Park)
District Council 16 (Summit-Hill)
District Council 17 (Capitol River)
PPERRIA (Prospect Park-East River Road Improvement
Association)
SECIA (Southeast Como Improvement Association)
Representatives
Patricia Carlson
Karen Inman
Steve Wilson
Sehoya Cotner
Steve Samuelson
Mark Nelson
Anne White
Joel Clemmer
Melissa
Sutherland
Bob Spaulding
Phil Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Doug Carlson
Vacant
Ron Lischeid
Alternates
Clint Gerner
Anthony
Fernandez
Tim Jorissen
Woody Erickson
Tony Hainault
Mike Dean
Renée Lepreau
Sheila Sahu
Present and
Voting
Excused
Absent
Present
Excused
Present
Excused
Present
Excused
Present
Present
Present
Present
Excused
Present
Present and
Voting
Present and
Voting
Kim Hyers
Susan LarsonFleming
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Cedar Riverside (West Bank Community Coalition)
Marcy-Holmes
University District
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PRELIMINARY BUSINESS
1. Welcome to new members and visitors. Anne welcomed Clint Gerner, North End –
South Como, who introduced himself. Linda Windsor from University UNITED, Mike
Madden from District 13, and Linda Jungwirth from Commissioner Janice Rettman’s
office introduced themselves.
2. Roll Call of Voting Representatives & Roster of Current Members. Carol called the roll.
A quorum was present.
3. Opportunity for Visitors to Speak. Mike Madden introduced himself. He noted that
recent planning calls for more emphasis on alternative transportation, and so we should
focus on bringing more people to light rail. He suggested that we bring more people
through increased north-south bus service and by creating better bicycle and pedestrian
connections. He believes that park and rides are contrary to good urban transit design.
Mike also introduced cross-section renderings of what University Avenue would look
like with just two lanes in each direction; this would help preserve parking on the
Avenue. He said that engineers projected 9 to 13 failing intersections under that scenario,
but said that experience led him to believe that prediction was probably a bit of “gloom
and doom” coming from traffic engineers.
4. Approve Agenda. Phil moved to adopt an amended agenda, by moving number 10 up to
after #6 on the agenda, to accommodate University UNITED’s Linda Winsor, who is
here to talk about the DCC relationship to University UNITED.
5. Approve Minutes of September Meeting. Carol noted three changes to the draft minutes
that were sent out by e-mail. These reflect errors that were corrected in the version
distributed today: the date at the top of the minutes (corrected from August to
September), Anthony Fernandez (from absent to present and voting), and #6 (changed to
refer to the August financials instead of the July financials). Steve moved approval with
the aforementioned changes. Motion seconded and approved.
6. Receive September Financial Report. Carol said that the first column shows where our
2008 financials were through the beginning of August - $64,000 in income and $46,161
in expenses. In September, the income stayed the same, and expenses rose to $51,434.
Carol noted that we expect to receive the $50,000 pledge from the St. Paul Foundation in
October. We also hope to get word soon, pending University UNITED acceptance, of
whether our $25,000 applications for funding from the Bremer and Minneapolis
foundations will be approved.
7. University UNITED Relationship. Anne reported that the DCC and University UNITED
have been in discussions for several months regarding funding. It really came to a head
when several foundations noted they will only accept one request from each organization
(the DCC is under University UNITED’s umbrella). We have been increasingly
discussing this since that time, both Anne, our Executive Committee, and a bit at the full
Governing Council. Last February or March, the DCC agreed that our work would
definitely be needed until at least midway through LRT construction in 2012. University
UNITED suggested we should wind down in December 2009. The DCC Executive
Committee came to the conclusion that we would need to do one of two things:
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
Agree to continue with University UNITED as the DCC’s fiscal sponsor, with
support for DCC funding requests through 2012, when the DCC would sunset, or

Agree that UU and the DCC should begin the process of separating, with the
transition to be completed by December 2009 at the latest. If the board of UU
chooses this option, the DCC also requests that UU support our pending Bremer
and Minneapolis Foundation grant proposals, which were submitted in May 2008,
with UU approval, and have proceeded through site visits in August and
September. The DCC will need these grants to allow for a smooth transition,
while continuing our research and advocacy at the current level.
Linda Winsor introduced herself. She reported that the University UNITED Executive
Committee met on Monday and discussed their future relationship with the District
Councils Collaborative. She said she did not believe that the DCC’s work would end
with the merger proposed by University UNITED, but it would continue within
University UNITED.
In laying out the history of DCC/UU funding discussions, Linda said that earlier, Brian
McMahon recommended that University UNITED and the DCC seek grants together.
Steve Wilson and Anne White noted that has never been what Brian has suggested to the
DCC; in fact he opposed that suggestion by Frank Schweigert. Linda said she would
check on that detail.
Shortly after the first meeting, the DCC invited the Collaborative to move into the
UNITED office, and the invitation was turned down. Linda said that University
UNITED has cut office staffing from a total of 2.5 FTE down to 1 FTE over the last year.
Meanwhile, she said that UNITED felt the DCC has increased its spending, with plans to
hire office assistants for Carol, and consultants. (It was pointed out that no assistant was
ever hired). In May, UNITED learned that the St. Paul and Bremer foundations had new
policies that would not allow multiple grants to the same organization. (Anne noted that
Bremer actually informed us of that policy in August, during the site visit.) Anne also
noted that regardless, Brian McMahon gave the go-ahead to apply to the St. Paul, Bremer
and Minneapolis foundations in February of this year.
Linda stated that a foundation officer had suggested the DCC would like to be around for
a period of sixty years. DCC members disagreed, and laughed at the concept that anyone
would submit such a silly idea.
Anne noted that we have agreed that the work of the DCC will need to continue through
2012, halfway through construction of the Central Corridor LRT. We view 2012 as a
reasonable date for the DCC to end.
Linda reported that University UNITED felt it has done everything it can to tighten its
belt, but has not seen that the DCC has done the same. In June, UNITED asked the DCC
to pitch in with $5,000 for U-Plan to create 3-D visuals of LRT station areas, but the
DCC refused. (Anne noted that this request was made in the form of a “what if…” e-mail
from Brian to her, and she replied saying she thought it was too late for the visuals to be
useful for community discussions, given pending deadlines for municipal consent. There
was no formal request from UU, so she did not bring the proposal to the Executive
Committee for consideration.)
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A budget discussion followed to try to reconcile differences between UU and DCC
financial statements. The UU version of the DCC budget shows a $65,993 balance after
September 30th, and projects that the DCC could continue to exist for an additional 11 ½
months with that money. The DCC budget shows a $56,865 balance after September
30th, which would cover 10 months of expenses at the current level, but would not allow
for any additional consulting contracts. Carol noted that most of the difference between
the two budgets reflects receivables not included by UU -- $5000 due for consulting work
on traffic impacts of the Washington Avenue pedestrian/transit mall, $1200 approved for
Carol to attend Railvolution conference, and $1500 for the 3% fiscal sponsorship fee due
to UU on receipt of the $50,000 grant from the St. Paul Foundation.
The University UNITED Executive Committee is advancing the following resolution to
their board:
WHEREAS, foundations have adopted policies limiting funding to one program
per organization, and
WHEREAS, the current downturn in the economy may result in less available
funds for non-profit organizations,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that University UNITED will cease to
support new funding applications for the District Councils Collaborative, as a
separate program beyond their current funding that will end in September, 2009.
When asked to clarify UU’s alternative proposal that the DCC merge with UU by the end
of 2009, Linda said she thought the intention was not that the DCC would cease to exist,
but the UU board would direct the work of the DCC, with two seats on the UU board
reserved for DCC representatives. However, she thought there might be a willingness on
the part of UU to allow the DCC Governing Council to continue as an advisory
committee to the UU Board.
Anne noted that University UNITED is the fiscal agent for the DCC, and our money
comes through University UNITED. However, the DCC was set up by securing the
approval of the district councils, with the Governing Council representing those councils
that opted to become a part of the organization, and a staff member was hired, answering
to the Governing Council, Executive Committee, and DCC Chair.
Melissa asked whether UNITED represents the same geographic area as UU. Linda
answered that the area is largely the same, but the DCC also includes downtown St. Paul
as well as the full U of M area in Minneapolis. (Anne pointed out that the DCC
represents 15 neighborhood organizations; six of those are also on the board of UU.
Melissa asked what “cease to support” means in the draft UNITED motion. Linda said
the recommendation would be to fold the DCC’s operations into University UNITED,
close the DCC office and move the office to UNITED’s space, and either dissolve the
DCC Governing Council or reconstitute it as an advisory committee to University
UNITED. Clinton asked how the board of UNITED is chosen. Linda said community
representatives are chosen by the boards of the district councils.
It was pointed out that all grants the DCC has applied for have been approved by
University UNITED as the DCC’s fiscal sponsor. Steve said that he thinks one of the
concerns UNITED has is that the DCC too closely follows the community’s interests in
choosing issues to work on. He said he believes that UNITED wants the DCC to cease
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to exist. Lynn asked where UU proposed merging physical office space – at UU or here
at the DCC office, where there is plenty of space available. There is a concern that
Carol’s time would be paid by DCC funding, but used for other UU projects. Phil said
that during his time at UNITED, there was one focus on Minneapolis, and it was dropped.
During his time on the DCC, there have been a number of studies – one excellent one on
the extra stations, and others in Minneapolis, such as the Washington Avenue closure
mitigation study.
Ron moved adoption of the following as a motion:
Whereas University UNITED (UU) and the District Councils Collaborative (DCC)
are faced with increasing challenges in securing funding, including:

Limited foundation resources, with many organizations competing for funding
to work on Central Corridor,

The current economic downturn which may well reduce funding options for
University UNITED, and

Foundation policies that limit funding applications to one per organization,
and put the District Councils Collaborative in direct internal competition with
U-PLAN, University UNITED’s community design studio, and
Whereas, the Executive Committees of UU and the DCC have, over the last several
months, actively explored alternative organizational structures and working
relationships to meet these challenges, and
Whereas, the DCC foresees the need to continue its work on Central Corridor for
another four years – to 2012, halfway through construction, and does not believe the
DCC can responsibly fulfill its mission under the UU proposal that the DCC should
wind down and be absorbed by UU by December 2009 as a condition of continuing
as the DCC’s fiscal sponsor,
Whereas, the University UNITED (UU) Executive Committee intends to recommend
to the Board of University UNITED that UU should terminate its fiscal sponsorship
agreement with the DCC and cease to support new funding applications for the DCC,
Therefore, be it resolved that the DCC requests that the board of University UNITED adopt one
of the following two options at its October meeting:
1. Agree to continue as the DCC’s fiscal sponsor, with support for DCC funding requests
through 2012, when the DCC would sunset, along with assurances that governance of
designated funds, policy control and staff supervision remain with the DCC Governing
Council. If the board of UU chooses this option, the DCC also recommends that UU and
the DCC explore the possibility of developing joint grant proposals to expand funding
opportunities for UU, the DCC and other UU projects. (added as approved by GC)
2. Agree that UU and the DCC should begin the process of separating, with the transition
to be completed by December 2009 at the latest. If the board of UU chooses this option,
the DCC also requests that UU support our pending Bremer and Minneapolis Foundation
grant proposals, which were submitted in May 2008, with UU approval, and have
proceeded through site visits in August and September. The DCC will need these grants
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to allow for a smooth transition, while continuing our research and advocacy at the
current level. It’s also important to note that the DCC’s St Paul Foundation request cited
the Bremer and Minneapolis funding requests as evidence that we are not relying solely
on the St Paul Foundation to support the work of the DCC in the future. (Clarification
added by DCC Chair)
Resolution Context: The DCC appreciates the seminal role that UU played in the
founding of the DCC and understands that any decision by the UU board to terminate its
fiscal sponsorship of the DCC is based on financial considerations.
We believe that University UNITED and the District Councils Collaborative both have
important roles to play in building a successful Central Corridor LRT that serves the
needs of the neighborhoods along the line. We look forward to working alongside UU to
ensure that neighborhood voices are heard and heeded as the project progresses through
Final Design and construction.
Melissa said she would suggest amending #1 to indicate the desire that funds and control
for the DCC would remain wholly with the DCC; those amendments are reflected above
in grey. Steve said that he thought there was support for combined grants for the two
entities from the foundation community, but no support from UNITED for that approach.
Going forward, Steve didn’t think UNITED would be very successful obtaining grants.
Ron said he thought it would be good to have the two options laid out clearly for the
UNITED board – we need to get at least enough funds to get through the end of 2009,
and the proposed resolution lays out those choices. Phil suggested a friendly amendment
that would say we would be okay with getting either the $25,000 from the Bremer
Foundation or the $25,000 Minneapolis Foundation, but the rest of the Governing
Council thought that was unwise, given the uncertainty of receiving either of those
grants. Phil withdrew his suggested amendment. Lynn suggested that Carol amend
language in the resolution to reword #1 to suggest we would be willing to work with
UNITED on joint grant proposals. The Governing Council agreed to this suggestion,
which is reflected above in grey.
Ron’s motion to approve the above, as amended by Melissa and Lynn, was seconded
and passed unanimously.
REPORTS
7, Update on the Central Corridor Project
The Washington Avenue Alignment Committee met with project staff about the state of
the Washington Avenue Bridge and had what seemed to be a good meeting. We will be
setting up additional meetings to explore how the interests of project partners align on
mitigation, and to develop a bridge fact sheet.
8. Update on DCC Priority Agenda
The Stations Committee participated in two meetings with the Transportation
Equity/Stops for Us coalition. One with Rep. Alice Hausman talked about how to secure
funding for additional stations. Another was convened by representatives of
Congresswoman McCollum to talk about station funding, along with contracting
opportunities and community benefits. That group included representatives from Mayor
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Coleman’s office, the City Council and the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners.
The group has agreed to meet again on October 24th. Also ISAIAH is having a big
meeting on October 12th from 3-5:30 pm to talk about transportation equity, with
particular focus on the Central Corridor.
The Access group has continued to meet. Patty Carlson continues to take the lead in
talking about what will happen in District 6. On November 13th at 6:30, there will be a
town hall meeting either at Arlington HS or Arlington Rec Center, with transit agencies
and others, to talk about what it will take for local businesses and citizens to expand bus
service to provide a vital corridor to access light rail. Marcy Holmes is having a
transportation summit on October 15th, with Jack Brose presenting our research on
transportation impacts. The Access group is also taking on the issue of parking. At the
next meeting, Barb Thoman from Transit for Livable Communities will talk about how to
approach parking, park and rides, and the like.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION
9. DCC Priority Agenda (October 2008 – March 2009)
Anne reviewed our current priority agenda. One item is new, which is #4, Neighborhood
Visioning for LRT (formerly neighborhood mitigation). The idea is to go back and have
people think about why they wanted this line, and have people identify clearly from each
neighborhood what issues remain unresolved. In talking with Carol about this, it is still
undefined about whether that means going back to the boards of the neighborhood
organizations, or reaching out to the broader community. In terms of website
development, Anne would like to take that on in earnest, and is in contact with a
consultant; she hopes both Melissa and Joel will join her. We will also continue to work
on funding. And the Structural Transitions Committee will continue looking at two
options -- becoming a 501(c)(3) or looking for another fiscal sponsor. We want to be
prepared to move very quickly, to be responsive to UNITED’s board decisions. Then the
next step in the process will be to go back to each of our district councils or
neighborhood organizations, and seek agreement to continue as members of the new
DCC entity. Lynn suggested a new fiscal sponsor should have a broad geographic base,
and noted that SECIA has had an environmental coordinator in conjunction with funding
of two other neighborhood organizations, but because it was sponsored with one council,
it has become associated with that council primarily.
Melissa moved adoption of the Research and Action Priorities for September 2008 to
March 2009.
Carol read an email from Mark Nelson. He thought it was missing an item: to continue to
track LRT impacts along University Avenue itself. We might think about University
Avenue proper, both sides of the street, and a half block further. The EIS includes loss of
parking as another issue, and this should continue to be tracked. The Council generally
felt these items fit within #1 and #4 in the priorities.
Ron suggest another topic we should be tracking -- the greening of the project, including
stormwater management, air pollution, and water pollution. Perhaps there are others
working on this; if so we should know who are the watchdogs, and who is advocating for
a greener corridor.
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Melissa’s motion to adopt the Research and Action Priorities for September 2008 to
March 2009 was seconded and adopted.
CLOSING BUSINESS
11. Schedule Next Governing Council Meeting – Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 The
next governing council meeting was set.
12. Evaluation of the Meeting & Suggestions for Future Meetings The meeting was
evaluated.
13. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned.
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