Meeting 1:
Date:April 21, 2008 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Minutes

I. Welcome & Introductions
a. Facilitator: Mary Jacksteit
Facilitator asked each person to introduce themselves and talk briefly about why they attended the meeting and what they hope to achieve.

II. Elements of the Future
Description: The Facilitator broke the room into 4 groups, and asked groups to list what they would like to see when they walked down the length of Mt. Pleasant Street in seven years. Groups shared and compared.

a. No Vacancies
b. Strong, varied local businesses
c. Lower rents, rent control (for residential and commercial)
i. Affordable Housing
d. Green businesses, green space, green buildings
e. Community gathering spaces, and the methods to support public/community space
f. No Chains (no national chains, no regional chains)
g. Unique image and branding for Mt. Pleasant that reflects the community and is distinctive
h. Local businesses own their own properties
i. Diversity of businesses and residents
j. ‘What is here now’
k. Businesses of sufficient quality to draw people from other neighborhoods
l. More mix of businesses, a diversity of stores
m. Music venues – all kinds, more vibrant
n. Street vendors – food
o. Community processes to drive economic development
p. Roof decks on businesses
q. Businesses that are here in 2008 are participating
r. Pedestrian friendly (wide sidewalks, outdoor cafes)
s. Mature trees, green
t. Regulatory policies that support our vision
u. Locally-owned businesses that serve all Mt. Pleasant residents

III. Challenges to Reach ‘Elements of the Future’
a. High Costs: high rents, high taxes, high utility rates, high land value
b. Question that need to be answered: What is diversity?
c. Opportunity costs: generating rental income versus owner operating business
d. Restrictive voluntary agreements
e. Regulatory environment and systems (what are appropriate policies, how to generate them?)
f. Affordable Housing

IV. Things We Can Do Together
a. Locate and access funding and resources
b. Generate a political voice, ‘work the politics’
c. Find our common ground and work together
d. Create a roadmap and identify roles for different groups – coordinate and leverage each other
e. Create a community outreach and accountability plan
f. Develop more cohesive communication methods within the neighborhood and externally (with other neighborhoods, groups, city, etc..)
g. Create civil discourse, ‘be more neighborly’
h. Reduce gossip
i. Expand our reach
j. Neighborhood groups recruit new people for enhanced community participation and to share strategies
k. Get the property owners at the table
l. Utilize historic district status for community benefit

V. Immediate Opportunities – things we can do together
a. Mt. Pleasant Revisions to Comprehensive Plan
b. Input on transportation study
c. Address vacant properties – talk directly with property owners
i. Identify and vet potential new businesses
d. Get Mt. Pleasant into the city-wide retail action strategy
e. Get involved with City First (for creating land trust)
f. Purchase opportunities to save affordable housing and businesses
g. Work with existing at-risk businesses

VI. Outcomes & Next Steps
a. Three Task Forces to Address Immediate & Over-Arching Issues
i. Task Forces will meet independently and report to entire group at next meeting
ii. Larger meeting will occur quarterly – next meeting to be organized in July, 2008. Mt. Pleasant Main Street will coordinate.

1. Task Force on Vacant Property and New Business Development
i. Initial Coordinator: Aaron Eisendrath
ii. Participants: Terry Lynch, Alison Rodden, Trisha Clauson, Rob Vickers, Phil Greiner, Janelle Treibitz, Adam Hoey

2. Task Force on Business Retention
i. Initial Coordinator: Rebecca Moudry
ii. Participants: Chris Behr, Trisha Clauson, Alison Rodden, Adam Hoey

3. Task Force on Affordable Housing
i. Initial Coordinator: Janelle Treibitz
ii. Participants: Claudia Schlosberg, Gregg Edwards, Rachel Davis

b. Complete the Vision Process – refer to as a working Framework
i. Synthesize and prioritize at follow-up meeting in July, 2008

c. Input/Involvement with Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Study
i. Coordinator/Contact: Neil Richardson

d. Suggestion to create a separate town-hall meeting for larger community participation on vacant properties and broader topics