Board of Directors Meeting Agenda 

March 16, 2021

7:00-7:05pm: Introduction & Attendance

Richard, called to order at 7:02pm

Guests in attendance who introduced themselves: Brenda White, Lydia Wilson Allen, Jeff Lanoue- City Dept of Planning, Nicole King- UMBC Faculty, Marianne Navarro- Lifebridge Health, Courtney Hobson- Hollins Market, Gardener at Pop Farm, Cecilia Gonzales- SOWEBO Community Action, Kathy Shulman- Candidate for district 40

7:05-7:10pm: Minutes Approval

Edits were discussed including: Jane B- Please change her vote FOR sending the letter against Divine Light, Scott K- Preservation Committee- State the Values of the SWP proactively was the letter, Metro Metals Building also protected- The façade of the building not the entire building, Dan Bythewood was invited to the Housing and Preservation Committee

Richard asked for a motion to approve the minutes, George Kleb motion to approve, scott k seconded, motion passes

7:10-7:15pm: Michael Dorsey – Youth Workforce Opportunity [Cancelled]

7:15-7:20pm: Jane Shaab – Research Park Corporation (RPC) Community Fund

Every company pays into the fund- every dollar in each year is spent that same year- $75k a year is paid into the fund annually to support workforce development, education in the local schools, etc

Request for grants should be sent to Jane Shaab VP of Economic Development UMB- jshaab@Umaryland.edu and she them with the 10 person board of RPC

Paulette- Question about traffic coming into the neighborhood on Fremont due to the new proposed intersection change

Bif- asked Jane if this is the same fund that the neighborhood president’s met with her about 2 years ago—Jane explained that money was supposed to come from 873 W Baltimore Street that was to be built but since it wasn’t ever constructed, this is not the same fund.

Jane S- funding for neighborhood associations to have a small operating budget is an allowable expense under the current community fund

7:20-7:30pm: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Meet & Greet – Diversity Training Group

  • 7:20-7:25 Presentation

Presentation on DEI by Ana Ramirez Sans, Kelly Brello, and Marvin Jones Mauricio Velasquez, from Diversity Training Group – lets the organizations take the lead, help them identify the issues to see if how to best address them

  • 7:25-7:30 Questions & Answers

Scott K asked what the process would look like-

Answer- steering committee is formed, the committee decides the scope and breath (survey and interview etc) – Can give raw data or a summary report—DTG, design the protocols, look at the data, compare and drill down on issues which may need to be one on one interviews, and then review (collaboratively review data together) the final data and show us how we compare to best practices around the country

Laura Dykes- What outcomes have you had from others that they have learned?

  • Confirm certain things you know, come across things you had no idea about…so why we look at the data, there might be changes in training, community engagement, building trust, identify stakeholders who we haven’t yet reached, etc.

7:30-7:40pm: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Meet & Greet – CommonHealth Action

  • 7:30-7:35 Presentation
  • Common Health Action- Presentation by SVP Ms. Nehanda Lindsey and her colleague President Natalie Burke – Read a statement about 1. Leadership education and training, 2. Equity, Diversity and inclusion, 3. Measuring when you apply an equity lens to your organizations work
  • Mentioned their experience working with Kaiser Permanente
  • Tie in some of the requests from RFP to the work they are already doing. So they would do an online survey for staff/board, in depth interviews to delve into the pain points, and then conduct a focus groups to determine what constituents/stakeholders have of our organizations
  • 7:35-7:40 Q&A
    • Laura- After training- results- they find a common language to address and establish a historical context to create momentum to look at policies and practices, and what does an equitable place look like, so help people development an equity lens for them to view the world
    • Cecilia- In your assessment process how do you involve the community that is represented in SWP?
    • Answer- used to working at the community level, we would work with you to design the process because we believe the voice of the community IS THE TABLE, so they will go into community and to some degree let the community determine their own destiny
    • Lou P/David M- What do you think is your differentiator as a consultant in this space? Answer- We exist to change inequities – respectful entry and successful exist- So that we design and engage in a way that benefits you the most because we won’t be with you forever, but we will set you up for success once we leave; “Perspective Transformation”

 

7:40-7:50pm: DEI Discussion & Next Steps

            George K- Seems like they have a combo of expertise and openness that sounded very competent; their answers to the Q&A were excellent

Cost is very close- DTG $22k and Common Health $21k

Kris- worked with both in the past; Natalie is amazing, if we select them, talk about how much of her time we actually get versus the other staff, not that they aren’t good, but Natalie is very structured on the approach she believes is correct

Mauricio, his is more flexible in terms of how the approach, he uses humor, and a little less structured but both would be excellent choices

David M- wanted to ask about references, but heard what he needed from Kris’s comments

Chuck C- Likes Mauricio’s approach because he sounded more didactic and a better fit for our group

Abigail- Natalie, research based, lots of language; Mauricio (DTG) – more conversational, more responsive “in the moment”, more of a community centered approached

Dotie- Had a hard time following the steering committee concept; but Common Health said they would step out into the community themselves which is what she liked

Jane B- Liked the first group best because it would be more relaxing and interactive process versus a more structured approached

Lou P- Potentially Common Health seems rigid, so Kris, do you think they could respond to that rigidity? Do you think Common Health could “loosen up a bit”? Kris, it’s been so long, it’s hard to say, but they do have a specific way they want to go about the process, starting with the language first, the process worked, but again, it’s really about personality

Richard called the vote- 751pm- the majority selected Common Health Action and Tony will follow up with them to get the process underway

7:50-8:10pm: President’s Remarks

  • Monthly Community Meetings: Franklin Square – Tuesday, April 13th @6:30pm
  • Barre Circle had a great meeting on 3/15; Ashley asked about “big issues”
  • Rich Shores- Audio/Visual Store, being turned into a taco restaurant (owners of Mobtown Ballroom) corner of Barre and Washington Blvd.
  • Greenspace is DOT land/right of way, so we want to spend community dues on enhancements to the greens and parks- how do we start to think about this year
  • Lou P- they are trying to coordinate dumpsters with their neighbor’s in Pigtown – so all of our neighborhoods could learn from that
  • Board Actions
    • Divine Light Letter 
      • After several meetings, we decided to send a letter of opposition and it has been sent to a few elected officials that represent our areas; Scott K – there is a petition against the DL project coming to W Baltimore Street and encourages anyone interested to sign it
      • https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/STOP-Divine-Light
      • Jeff L. from city planning- the zoning commission said the current zoning is allowing this use currently “by right”
      • Dan B- where is DL going to park? They have “off street” parking required that we may be able to contest that. Richard said this may be a point of issue we can take to zoning commission- Are the parking requirements met?
      • Zoning Administrator, Jeffrey Beale – make sure all of the applicable parking requirements are met.
      • David M asked who is letter going to and what outcomes are we looking for—In terms of the zoning administrator, does he have a role to engage with the community; Is there any legal standing we have?
      • Answer from city- they either meet the parking requirement or not since the use is already allowed under the current zoning, that is really the only area we could push.
      • George Kleb asked if C1 or C2- allows residential treatment? So that also what we need to double check and make sure we include that in the letter or a follow up communication to the zoning administrator
      • Jane B says she believes it is a c2 and it allows 16 people in a residential- the letter already went to the City Council Pres, all three council members, Antonio Hayes and Chris Reyer and Jeffery Beale.
    • Loan Approval for 1317 W Baltimore St (SWP Office) & Commitment to sell 1325 W Baltimore St
      • We were always supposed to move from temporary financing to permanent financing for the properties; main requirement was the storehouse next door needs to be sold off because it is a liability; it saves a $200 a month on the lease
      • We don’t need a motion since it goes under Executive Board action
      • Jane B- Can we get a list of all properties we have have loan agreements on for the next meeting?
      • Donnell and Tony will present that at the next meeting.
      • Cecilia wants to make sure we can see the payment plan
    • La Cite/Center West Letter
      • A lively discussion was had about the letter that the developer of Center West made (claimed to be time sensitive) requested for a letter of support, so the executive board met and drafted the letter.

Many people had comments and were talking over one another—some highlights include:

  • Chuck Callahan would like to point out that he didn’t know anything about this and since his name is on the letter, he asked that in the future we get time to review documents like this since there wasn’t a chance to learn anything about it and his organizations name is listed.
  • Heather- wants to know what the urgency was of La Cite’s letter and we should be given minutes and is concerned that Ashley was driving when the meeting was being held so how accurate could the notes be?
  • Scott K read his opposition on many fronts – recommends that we rescind the letter, and draft a letter of support for the grocery store and the two buildings that are already built “that we all support”
  • Sonia- Richard called into Sonia’s board meeting on the 18th and told Sonia that the letter was already sent – Sonia felt betrayed by Richard after their conversation; felt Poppleton residents are being overlooked and treated differently than other communities after they have been given up so much
  • David/Kelleigh- what was the intent of the letter, was it already used?
  • Scott- supporting the entire project is very different then supporting the portion that is already built
  • Laura would like to second Scott’s motion to rescind the letter because it needs to be a broader discussion
  • Paulette and Dotie, we’ve already discussed the La Cite project many times…Poppleton Now only has 3 or 4 people attending the meetings, there are many people in Poppleton who actually support the project….we know some of you just don’t like the developer.
  • Sonia doesn’t like that her name is on this letter
  • Richard clarified that he didn’t make the decision by himself- it was an executive Board decision- read the bylaws section that applied to this situation, when special circumstances call for it exec committee can meet and take action
  • Richard was asked if the letter of support could have waited until the Board meeting, Richard also noted that Ashley asked him to call Ms. Sonia and get her feedback on the letter prior to the letter being sent. He reported that he did that, and they spoke for a few hours about the letter, she didn’t have a problem with the development, but that her issue was with the houses being slated for demolition. She asked Richard to set up a meeting – Sonia wanted to have the LDA reviewed, Sonia wanted an extension of the park in the Poppleton Park
  • Heather- there is a motion on the “floor”, we need to vote on the motion
  • Richard scheduled the meeting with Mr. Bythewood, and Sonia the next day, the meeting never happened
  • Bythewood reported that he didn’t feel, at his first SWP board meeting, to go into that level of detail, he needed the letter to show the financial institution
  • Rich Shores, asked if rescinding the letter would hurt his financing – Dan answered yes, it would hurt the entire project
  • Dan B discussed the background of the project, what’s to be built in the future, and how the community support is needed
  • Chuck C wanted to clarified that in the future we see these things ahead of time, what can we do short of rescinding the letter
  • Richard says that would require a by-law change- because then every vote would be a full board vote
  • George Kleb- the Executive committee followed the by-laws, the governance committee is undertaking a by-laws review,
  • David M made a recommendation – would you entertain a clarifying letter
  • Scott amends his motion to read that he will work with Mr. Blythewood, Sonia, David and George to work together on a letter that everyone can agree on
  • Bif wanted to make a point that many projects in this area have been stalled due to the economy, so we don’t want to open the door to start changing our position on projects that were approved years ago.
  • Edith- we need to move on
  • Dan Bythewood- why are we meeting again?
  • Richard called the vote, 13 For and 5 Abstain, 2 against
  • Jane B- FOR, Abigail- For, Chuck FOR, David, FOR, Donnell, abstain, Edith, Abstain, Heather, FOR, Jane S For, Kelleigh, FOR, GEORGE, FOR, Laura, FOR, Rich Shore against, Scott K, For, Sonia, For, Ashley FOR, Greg, FOR, JR, Against, Richard, Abstain, jose, abstain
  • Jane Shaab- could the preservation committee present us with what the issues at hand are at the next meeting.
  • New Items

8:10-8:15pm: Executive Director’s Report

  • Curtis will be the new small business development manager (same salary)
  • Hiring community schools manager and marketing manager shortly

8:15-8:35pm: Lord Baltimore Presentation

  • Moved to present at the April meeting and will send the presentation to the Board

8:35-8:45pm: Committee Reports

  1. Commercial
  2. Education
  3. Historic Preservation committee

Want to draft a letter asking the city:

  1. Moratorium on demo in Poppleton unless it’s an emergency and
  2. Memorandum of Agreement gets completed

Seconded by Heather

Debate- Ms. Dotie asked who would be going on the walk, United Way and Holy Nativity Church also since they are investors

Richard, why, if Poppleton Now hasn’t voted on this motion would we support this? Scott reported that he talked to Sonia about the motion and she was supportive of the motion but the neighborhood hasn’t met yet.

Richard, against, Jose, for, JR against, Donnell, against, Edith, against, Greg, abstain, Ashley abstain, Rich abstain, Laura For, George Kleb, against, Jane S Abstain, Dave Abstain, Chuck, Callahan abstain, Jane b abstain, Abigail For, Scott For, heather For, Kelleigh For, Sonia, For

7 For

5 against

7 abstain

Motion passes

 

  1. Housing
  2. Public Safety- JR- discussion around COVID vaccine- Ashely mentioned UMB is out in the community helping to register neighbors who need help getting appointments and will connect with him.
  3. Vibrant Streets Donnell- one announcement, Steuart Hill Academic Academy is looking to expand their ESOL program; Next meeting MICA will be presenting on their “Made You Look Project”
  4. Workforce

8:45-8:55pm: Open Forum

Sonia- Rally March 27th at 2pm a rally in 1100 block of Sara Ann Street to fight to protect the houses scheduled for demo and to support the neighborhood in getting more help

Lou is distributing masks and hand sanitizer for community distribution; Paulette is handing out masks as well

Donnell sent out the expenditures – the audit is complete and we have been responsive to all questions

10:17pm: Adjournment

 Richard made a motion to adjourn, noting that in the spirited debate we had tonight, we are one community, Donnell, George seconded; adjourn

Scroll to Top