Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood
Association (CIDNA)
Minutes Of CIDNA Board Of Directors Meeting
October 2, 2001
Call To Order
Pursuant to prior notice, Kathy Hendricks, Chair, called the CIDNA Board
of Directors meeting to order at 7:00 PM on Tuesday October 2, 2001 at Jones-Harrison
Residence. A quorum was present.
The following directors were present: David Anson, Judy Berge, Glenna Case,
Bob Corrick, Kathy Hendricks, Angie Lillehei, Ken Moritz, Bob Olson, Carla Sariin-Egerman,
David Shirley, and Billy Weisman.
Excused absences: Charlie Elowson, Bengt Sohlen, and Angie Lillehei.
Also present were the following officials: Lisa Goodman, City Council; Douglas
Gardner, Assistant to Lisa Goodman, City Council; Gail Dorfman, Hennepin County
Commissioner; George Puzak, Minneapolis, Representative on the St. Louis Park
Railroad Advisory Committee; Charlie Meyer, City Manager of St. Louis Park;
Morgan Holle, Southwest Journal Reporter.
Additional neighborhood residents present included: Peter Pampalone, CIDNA resident
and prospective Board member, Ron Werner, Bryn Mawr resident concerned about
Cedar Lake, Rodge Adams from Lake Point, and one unidentified neighborhood resident.
It was agreed that in the future, minutes should indicate when an absence was
excused.
Review/Approve Minutes of September 4, 2001 Meeting
Kathy Hendricks requested a motion to approve the September 4, 2001 Minutes.
Ken Moritz so moved and was seconded by Bob Corrick.
ACTION: The Minutes of the September 4, 2001 Meeting of the CIDNA Board
of Directors were approved unanimously.
Council Person Lisa Goodman’s Report
The Board received the report of City Council member Lisa Goodman. Ms. Goodman
announced the last “Lunch with Lisa” for the year would be Wednesday,
October 24, 2001. She has invited all of the candidates for the School Board
and the Library Board to be present because voters often don’t have adequate
opportunity to make an informed opinion about these candidates. She noted that
two vacancies exist for the Real Estate Advisory Board and encouraged the Board
to contact real estate agents in CIDNA who might be interested in such participation.
Ms. Goodman noted that the Park Board had rejected AIMCO’s request to stage
its reconstruction of the Calhoun Beach Apartments from Dean Parkway and that
AIMCO would be attempting to appeal this decision. AIMCO will pay the City $115,000
to use the public right of way on Lake Street during its reconstruction project.
She informed the group that AIMCO has bought Benson McKay out and is now the
sole owner of the Calhoun Beach Club and Apartments complex. Ms. Goodman indicated
that her office has spent more time addressing issues related to AIMCO and its
ownership of the Calhoun Beach Club and Apartments than any other during her
four years on the City Council. She stated that she would be interested in meeting
with AIMCO again to try to reach a global settlement of all outstanding issues,
but that attempts to deal with problems one at a time had not been fruitful.
Ms. Goodman noted that problems with Hidden Beach were under discussion and
work on policing issues was underway. She was asked if she had received many
complaints from CIDNA residents concerning the large number of pesky raccoons
in the neighborhood and she indicated that she had not. She indicated that she
would not be attending the next CIDNA meeting because it is Election Day.
New Business
St. Louis Park Railroad Advisory Committee (SLPRAC) Report
Kathy Hendricks introduced Gail Dorfman, Hennepin County Commissioner and
George Puzak, Minneapolis Representative to the St. Louis Park Railroad Advisory
Committee (SLPRAC). Ms. Dorfman stated that Mr. Puzak had served ably as our
community’s representative to the SLPRAC and that she was present to answer
any questions that she could and to hear the Board’s concerns. George Puzak,
a 15-year CIDNA resident until recently described his involvement on the SLPRAC
and introduced Charlie Meyer, St. Louis Park City Manager, whom he felt is best
able to describe the issues and the findings of the SLPRAC. Mr. Meyer gave a
thorough presentation on the current rail system, the problems and challenges
the metro area faces concerning it, and the findings of the SLPRAC that will
be voted on by the St. Louis City Council on October 15, 2001. The “bottom-line”
recommendation is that trains continue to run through the Kenilworth Corridor
until they are displaced by mass transit scheduled to occur sometime in the
indeterminate future. Mr. Meyer also commented that Mr. Puzak should receive
a citizen service award for his diligent work on this issue on behalf of Minneapolis
and our community. Several members of the Board expressed concerns regarding
the recommendations of the SLPRAC and requested advice on next steps. It was
agreed that it might be helpful to hold a community meeting on the subject in
the not too distant future.
Cedar Lake Park Development
Ron Werner, a neighborhood resident with a background in forestry and safety,
met with the Board to discuss problems at Cedar Lake. He feels the conditions
at Cedar Lake are deteriorating and that action to improve the park should not
be delayed until the restoration of the Lake of the Isles is complete. He indicated
that signs of neglect are the failure to replant trees following the blow down
in May of 1998, the terrific overgrowth of Buckthorn, and the silt fence on
the North end of the park. He felt that the undeveloped end of the park is being
permitted to be too wild and that neighbors fear walking there. Some members
of the Board expressed the belief that the undeveloped portion of the park is
in keeping with the plans for the park and neighborhood wishes. Certainly improvements
can be made and waiting until the completion of Lake of the Isles, which is
already behind schedule could be too long.
Committee Reports
NRP: Reporting for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program Implementation
Committee (NRP Committee), Kathy Hendricks indicated that City of Lakes Gateway
Project (the bridge railing initiative) continues to move forward and that the
joint West Calhoun Neighborhood Council/CIDNA task force on the project would
be meeting again soon.
Environment: Reporting for the Environment Committee, Kathy Hendricks
presented the Environment Committee’s request for permission to send a
mailing to the neighborhood reminding everyone that it is illegal and bad for
lake water quality to blow leaves into the street. It was agreed that much of
the problem stems from lawn services and that lawn services should also be sent
the mailing. After brief discussion the Board unanimously passed the following
motion:
ACTION: The Environment Committee is authorized to send a mailing to
CIDNA residents notifying them of the importance of not placing leaves in the
street. This mailing should also be sent to lawn services operating in CIDNA.
Variance and Development: Judy Berge, Chair, stated that no further business
had come before the Variance and Development Committee since the June meeting.
Communications Committee: The Fall Festival was held on September 16,
2001 at Park Siding Park and was well attended (about 175 people) despite the
tragic events of September 11th and poor weather conditions. The Executive Committee
of the Board had conferred on whether to cancel the event in response to the
tragedy but after consultation around the neighborhood, a decision was made
to hold the event as planned. There was strong feedback from neighbors that
a positive diversionary event was needed. Despite no moonwalk, no fire engine,
and no mounted patrol, a good time seemed to be had by all. The event ran a
little over funds available as fewer donations were received from community
businesses than had been provided in previous years.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the Board, Ken Moritz moved for adjournment.
The meeting was concluded at approximately 9:10 pm.
Meetings of the CIDNA board are generally held in the Lake Room of the Jones-Harrison
Residence on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. The next meeting will
be held on October 2, 2001, in the Lake View Room.
These minutes were prepared and submitted by Glenna Case.
The minutes were adopted at the board meeting held on_________________, 2001.
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Attachments: Treasurer’s Report
Fall Festival Budget
Codefor Report