State of the Nokomis East Neighborhood

NENA Board, business association, parks, police and council update residents on activity

Arlticle and photos by TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Nokomis East Neighborhood Association reinstated its town hall meetings in January by hosting a ‘State of Our Neighborhood’ meeting.

Photo right: Nokomis East Neighborhood Association Executive Director Becky Timm welcomes residents to the State of Our Neighborhood meeting on Jan. 19, 2016.

Local leaders updated residents on activities and projects during a gathering at Morris Park on Tues., Jan. 19.

The next town hall meeting is slated for Tues., Feb. 16, 6pm, at the Keewaydin School. It will focus on housing issues.

NENA Board goes door-knocking

The first months of 2015 were internally focused, as the board completed training and focused on policies, according to NENA Board Chair Vanessa Haight. Then they were each challenged to meet 20 residents by knocking on doors and find out what people liked about the neighborhood and what changes they were looking for.

“One of the most powerful moments for our Board in the last year was door knocking,” said Haight.

This kickstarted the board’s strategic process.

“We want to be a sector leading organization,” said Haight. “NENA doesn’t want to be just an average neighborhood organization.”

The board’s new strategic plan will be shared at the annual meeting on Apr. 28.

“2016 will be the year when we launch new programs,” promised Haight.

The board plans to create a Green Initiative Committee this year to evaluate the various “green” programs NENA is already involved in and come up with new ideas. Currently, NENA assists with the Gateway Garden nears Cap’s Grille, the Nokomis Naturescape and gardens at its office building. Plus it co-hosts the Monarch Festival in September.

The Housing and Commercial Streetscaping Committee, formed a year and a half ago, is working to pinpoint its 2016 projects. It will be working with the Nokomis East Business Association (NEBA), and projects will be announced throughout the year.

Haight encourages neighborhood residents to get involved in NENA, whether by volunteering to weed one of the Gateway Garden plots or at one of the neighborhood events. Plus half of the current Board is up for election, and new board members are needed.

Business Association building relationships

Re-formed four years ago, the Nokomis East Business Association (www.nokomiseastba.com) is comprised entirely of volunteers, pointed out Earl Netwal of Minneapolis Internet Marketing Consultant, and it is always looking for more members.

Photo left: The Nokomis Business Association (NEBA) is focused on building relationships, according to volunteer Earl Netwal.

“This is a unique area in the city,” Netwal pointed out. “It has 14,000 people or buying power. That’s the equivalent of the city of Bemidji.”

However, unlike Bemidji, the businesses in NENA have to manage the “leakage” that occurs when neighborhood residents go outside the neighborhood for goods and services.

“How do we capture the market?” Netwal asked. The answer is providing service, proximity and building relationships. In particular, NEBA focuses on building relationships.

It hosts an annual block party at Oxendale’s/Faith Lutheran Church every September, a tree lighting the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and an indoor block party at Keewaydin School (this year set for Sat., Mar. 12). Home-based businesses, as well as storefronts, are encouraged to be part of the indoor block party.

NEBA also hopes to attract the people riding the light rail and going to the Veteran’s Hospital to shop at neighborhood businesses.

In cooperation with NENA, NEBA is working to develop a mailer that will be sent out to all new residents. “If we can build that relationship when someone moves in, they’re more likely to shop locally,” observed Netwal.

Specifics of Bossen Field not yet determined

Portions of Bossen Field will be updated this year. However, just what will be included in Phase 1 of the project hasn’t yet been ironed out.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) did purchase the playground equipment to take advantage of 2015 prices, pointed out Jonathan Duesman of the MPRB, and so that work will be done this summer.

Also, MPRB is planning to work around already scheduled events on the fields.

The designs will be finalized, and the project bid out in late February.

He encouraged people to check out the park’s project website to keep updated.

Council members desire resident input

Ward 12 Council Member Andrew Johnson updated residents on what he’s been involved in. He pointed out that much of his time is spent addressing constituent issues, such as stop signs and crime issues. Recently, he helped concerned residents address the high speeds at Minnehaha and 53rd.

“Do not hesitate to reach out,” Johnson encouraged.

The city will be developing a site at Riverview Road and 54th this year, and it will include commercial space following a request from community members, Johnson said. He’s working to change city regulations so that Cap’s Grille can become a brew pub.

Improvements are also coming for the stoplights along Hiawatha Ave., he promised.

The city designated funds for the Nokomis Healthy Seniors, a group that helps seniors stay in their homes longer by helping with things like mowing and changing lightbulbs.

Before the next election, the precinct five polling place will be split in two to avoid the two-hour-long lines of the past election.

With Parks Commissioner Steffanie Musich, Johnson has worked to increase patrols and safety along Minnehaha Creek. “We’re working to install trash guards at Lake Hiawatha,” said Johnson.

Every 10 years, the city updates its comprehensive plan, and that will start again this year. “We have the opportunity to shape that change,” said Johnson. “What do we want our community to look like?”

Ward 11 Council Member John Quincy thanked residents for their comments and ideas. He remarked, “It is your work that helps us do our legislative work. We take your ideas and put them into action.”

As the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Quincy highlighted some city-wide improvements as well as the recently-passed budget.

He noted that the city’s police force will grow to 862 officers this year.

Crime down by 3%

Third Precinct Inspector Michael Sullivan is looking forward to putting six beat officers on the streets. In particular, the department will add two beat officers at Bloomington and Lake, two at Chicago and Lake and two at Franklin and Chicago.

When the next class of rookies graduates in April, five will be assigned to Precinct 3, which includes the area south of I-94, north of Hwy 62 and between I-35 and the river.

Sullivan pointed out that this Precinct is the largest in the city, and it is the most diverse, according to Lieutenant Kim Lund.

While some specific crimes increased in 2015, overall crimes decreased by 3%, according to Sullivan. “We do not have a gang problem,” he observed, which in some ways makes it more difficult to address issues because they are more spread out.

Photo right: Minneapolis Police Third Precinct Inspector Michael Sullivan points out that crime in the neighborhood was down 3% in 2015 as compared to 2014.

There were 23 aggravated assaults in Wenonah last year, up from 11 in 2014. Most of those occurred at Bossen Terrace, said Sullivan and were either domestics or known assailants. They were not stranger-related he stressed, but between people who knew each other.

Thefts in Morris Park were up, 30 in 2015 compared to 21 in 2014. Sullivan encouraged people to report suspicious people or vehicles they don’t recognize by calling 911 and letting the operator know this isn’t an emergency call. He remarked that many times people ask themselves, “Should I call?”

“If you’re second guessing yourself, call,” he recommended.

Even if a squad can’t get there within five minutes, they may be in the area 20 minutes later and be able to stop the car in the nearby area because you provided the details on it.

Photo left: Minneapolis Lieutenant Kim Lund supervises the officers who work overnight in the third precinct. Part of what she appreciates in the neighborhood is the great diversity.

“You never know if that’s going to be the call that connects the dots,” agreed Lund.

She is the supervisor of the officers who work in the neighborhood at night, going up and down alleys, looking for garage doors left open and knocking on doors to notify property owners. “What we do in the middle of the night, people aren’t even aware of,” Lund said.