Meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by board chair Michael Rainville. Motion was made, seconded and carried to approve agenda. Motion was made (Tony Hofstede), seconded (Joyce Vincent) and carried to approve June minutes.

Financial reports for both STAWNO and NE Farmers Market were reviewed. Market fees are $20 per day for vendors, or $175 per season. Most food vendors don't need a license if sales are less than $5,000. STAWNO made the equivalent of about $70 per hour at the Stone Arch Festival on Father's Day weekend. St. Anthony Main owner was pleased and has ideas on how it can be higher next year - i.e., make it clear part of beverage price goes to STAWNO. Owner has offered to pay for signage that can include notation of what STAWNO will do with its revenue.

Under Open Forum, Bottineau Neighborhood Association staff Chris Gams suggested neighborhoods along river in NE Minneapolis band together to have program aimed at dealing with foreclosed/vacant/boarded houses. This could be a joint NRP project of the four neighborhood organizations, which would then have Request for Proposals from for- and nonprofit developers to purchase, rehab and sell the homes. Proposal was referred to Land Use and Planning Committee for review and open discussion.

Pete Gamades gave update on 9/29 and 10/6 fundraising events. Contact him to volunteer or buy tickets. Sign-up sheets were passed around. Tony Hofstede thanked Gamades for bringing 30 volunteers from Best Buy to CityView playground renovation project this summer.

Bob Margl reported that NRP Phase I review would be completed in about one week. Next newsletter is almost ready to go. He plans to do one every two months. He will put blurb in asking folks to give us their e-mails so STAWNO can reach them.

Dan Brady noted that Mill City farmers market and other large ones have been hard on NE Farmers Market. Community needs to show support of NE market by showing up. Comment: No “sense of place” to this market; how about moving it to B.F. Nelson site? Need to wait on this at least until site is redeveloped. Flyer neighborhood? Get more arts and crafts people? Use market's revenue for marketing?

Rochelle Prondzinski gave update from Second Precinct Advisory Council, where she is new secretary. Burglaries are a big concern right now. Police will be working more closely with housing inspections to address problems. Jerry Evans said he saw police with shotguns near his house last night. Rainville reported that about 63 different people participated in the neighborhood 311 Walking Patrol this summer. Problem property at 901 Second St. (now condemned apartment building) had never been inspected by fire marshal until now, the group learned. If you see anyone on the site, call 911 and report trespassing. Catholic Eldercare has made an offer on the property. In part because of the Walking Patrol, St. Anthony West placed FIRST in the Walk NE program. It was noted that too many passers-by feel entitled to dump trash here. Rainville will call St. John's Lutheran to see if they have a youth group, etc. that might be interested in doing a community service by adopting Broadway for litter pick-up; possibly STAWNO could offer a $200 grant for dealing with an area that's an eyesore.

City's Planning Commission denied a variance request for duplex with no garage at 526 8th Ave. NE. Meg Beekman anticipates owner will reapply for just the two-car garage. She will follow up on this and report back. She will also set up meeting on Chris Gams' proposal.

Information technology task force met over the summer to discuss Web site ideas and other technology enhancements. It was noted that STAWNO Web site needs to have B.F. Nelson meeting dates removed. Rainville has call into co-chair Denise Bryn about rescheduling. Sally Grans will e-mail to staff committee's minutes to post. Prondzinski has a neighbor who creates Web sites who might be of help. City's wi-fi meeting is Oct. 18. CM Diane Hofstede added that city's wi-fi system might have Web hosting and a provision for limited-income people. Wi-fi group will be at Oct. 13 Third Ward Summit. Trees can interfere with wireless.

Grans reported that she wrote a bonding proposal related to B.F. Nelson site, but it didn't get too far. Proposal also submitted to Groundwork. Committee needs to start meeting again; Grans prefers more often than quarterly.

CM Hofstede announced Sept. 20 public meeting on I-35 bridge consent agreement. Main Street bridge will be closed for renovation beginning Oct. 1 for at least one year. She welcomes input on detours. Lowry Bridge will be closed for inspections off and on starting soon. Beltrami neighborhood's opposition to new/additional E. Hennepin ramps on/off 1-35 was noted. Motion was made (Evans), seconded (Prondzinski) and carried to support BNO and send letter modeled off of their own letter of opposition. Volunteers are needed Oct. 12 and 13 for Third Ward Summit. Keep calling 311 (or 911, if needed) on problem properties, tall grass, broken windows, etc. Also let her office know.

Other announcements: Meeting to discuss reuse of Historic Shoreham Yards roundhouse is Sept. 24, all invited….Meetings are coming up on Grand Rounds missing link…Oct. 6 is Northeast Bike Tour…Idea for forming new riverfront organization is moving forward; need to address the rail bridge over the river….Signs and materials related to micro-grant for reducing energy consumption via fluorescent bulbs will be ready for 5K run and Autumn Eve events; sign up for the Minnesota Energy Challenge and be sure to enter STAWNO. E-mail will go out to neighborhood on this. Other idea for $10,000 energy grant did not fit city's criteria or time frame…Buy (and sell) tickets to Autumn Eve!