The DMNA Annual Meeting is coming up on Tuesday, October 21, at 6:30 p.m., at the Minneapolis Depot.

This year’s Annual Meeting will feature a fantastic line-up of guest speakers; including Seventh Ward Council Member Lisa Goodman and Third Ward Council Member Jacob Frey.  Both will be reviewing development projects taking place or expected to break ground over the next year in the downtown community.

In addition, Council Member Jacob Frey will take attendees on a virtual video tour of the Downtown East and Downtown West neighborhoods, showing what the community will look like in 2016.  DMNA Board Chair Nick Cichowicz will then highlight initiatives that the organization has been involved with over the last year that have or will help create a vibrant and safe community for years to come.  Nick will introduce guest speakers that will provide updates on the following topics: Homelessness, Crime and Safety, Webster School and the Business Community.

Guest speakers include the following:

• A St. Stephen’s Street Outreach Worker who will review efforts to end long term homelessness;
• First Precinct Inspector Medaria Arradondo will discuss efforts to locate a Police Substation in Ryan Companies Downtown East redevelopment project.  Representatives from the Second Precinct will provide an example of a successful substation located at 22 University Avenue NE, in the Marcy Holmes neighborhood.
• Eric Laska and Ginger Krantz will provide an update on the Webster School project.  This school will welcome downtown families with school aged children in the fall of 2015; and finally,
• Steve Cramer, the President and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, and Dan Collison, the Executive Director of the East Downtown Council will talk about business challenges and opportunities in the downtown community.

Elections to the DMNA Board of Directors will also take place at the Annual Meeting.  Anyone who lives works or owns property in the Downtown East or Downtown West neighborhoods can vote, or run for a seat on the board.  Board terms are two years.  The board meets once a month on the first Thursday.  If you have an interest in running for a seat on the board, please send an email with your name and address to [email protected], by Monday, October 13.

Please help spread the word to your neighbors and friends regarding the DMNA Annual Meeting.  Attendees are welcome to arrive early and enjoy happy hour specials at the Stone Arch Bar, and stay after the meeting to “mix and mingle” with other downtown residents.  The Annual Meeting itself will start promptly at 6:30 p.m., and will wrap up by 8 p.m.

Annual Meeting Flyer