Tracy Singleton
Birchwood Cafe
Hans Steege
May Meeting Notes Dero Bike Rack
Presenter: Scott Seiler, Seiler & Associates, PLLC
Location: Movement Arts Center, 2211 E Franklin Ave Joe Buck
by Dave Madsen Buck Bros. Construction
After owner Nina Chenault arranged the meeting space at the Movement Arts Center, 20
members of the SCCA filed in and were provided a $10 lunch from Tracy’s Saloon and Eatery. Monthly Meetings are
Megan Sheridan, Assistant Project Manager for Seward Redesign, then called the meeting to held on the 3rd Wednesday of
order at noon, beginning with introductions and announcements. each month from 11:45 - 1pm.
Sheridan announced that the selection process for the Facade Improvement Program would
Upcoming Dates
be beginning on Wednesday, May 26. Sheldon Mains, Chair of Seward Neighborhood Group,
explained that there were a total of 101 registered sales at the Annual Seward Garage Sale
Daze this year. Mains thanked the event’s sponsors: Welna II Hardware, Crown Video and Tan- July 21st
ning, Seward Coop Grocery and Deli, and the Birchwood Cafe. August 18th
September 15th
Suzanne Weinstein, owner of Coastal Seafoods, announced that the recent oil spill in the Gulf
of Mexico would not be affecting her business. Owner Ben Smith of Glaciers Café then ex-
continued on page 4
SCCA Mission: to provide a forum for Seward area businesses to plan, discuss, advocate and network for mutual benefit.
Page 2 Member Updates
Nice Ride peddles into Minneapolis
New Member Profile: Nice Ride, MN 2834 10th Avenue South
by Dave Madsen
Dan Breva lights up when he discusses his work with Nice In addition to the easily-accessible kiosks, cyclists who use the
Ride Minnesota. As a 40-year veteran of the outdoor-recre- system will be treated to Minneapolis’ developing, bike-friendly
ation work environment and nearly a decade of part-time road system.
bicycle maintenance under his belt, Breva’s hands suit him
perfectly for his work as the Operations Manager for this As Breva explained, “Minneapolis is a surprisingly safe city to
subscriber-based public bike share system set to kick off in ride bike in. There are a lot of marked bike lanes and there will
June. be more put in this summer. “
Starting at 11:00am on June 10, participants in the kick-off Behind the logistics of the system are Nice Ride’s unifying
will meet in Downtown near the Minneapolis Public Library. principles of creating a more sustainable urban environment.
Then, riders will make their way down Nicollet Mall to Peavey According to Breva, Nice Ride is primarily designed to get
Plaza in order to hear a brief presentation. At the reception, people “actively using active transport.” Due to the influx of
participants will have a chance to hear from the program’s bikers across the city, residents and pedestrians may find Min-
founding sponsors as well as representatives from the city neapolis a more welcoming and personal city.
about how the bike share system developed. The event is
sponsored, in part, by the Birchwood Café and Seward Co- Also, bike-sharers may find themselves healthier due to in-
op Grocery & Deli. creased exercise and the reduced amount of motor vehicle-
created air pollution in the area. “It’s really an alternative to
The initial inspiration for Nice Ride Minnesota came from getting in your car and driving that half mile,” Breva said.
successful models of public bicycle systems across Europe.
Nice Ride Minnesota adopted a bike-share system developed In the Seward neighborhood, Nice Ride has requested per-
in Montreal, which is currently in its second summer with mission from the city for kiosks to be placed near Franklin
over 30,000 subscribing members and over a million uses. Avenue’s Light Rail Station. Nice Ride’s initial deployment for
Seward includes several stations along Franklin, and in the
Breva had the opportunity to witness the deployment of the Cedar Riverside area. Kiosks will also be placed on the cam-
system this spring. He explained, “As soon as people saw the puses of Augsburg College and the University or Minnesota,
stuff back out on the street, they were ready to ride within as well as popular destinations like the Birchwood Cafe & the
36 to 48 hours.” Seward Co-op.
According to Breva, Nice Ride’s bikes have been designed to Breva concluded by saying that he is beginning to see Minne-
accommodate for relatively short trips. “The only real adjust- apolis as a city “where all forms of transportation are consid-
ment people will have to make is saddle height. “ Breva added. ered in street design, rather than just motor vehicles. People
“And once you know your preferred saddle height, you can who use public transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians are all part
just key the bike out and go.” of transportation.”
SCCA NEWS Page 3
Seiler said that in order for a worker to be exempt from overtime pay, he/she must be paid on a salary basis and must retain the
duties of a “White Collar” employee (i.e. workers with an executive or administrative position, learned/creative/computer profes-
sionals, or workers dealing with outside sales).
Exempt employees are not entitled to overtime pay if they are compensated on a salary basis, meaning their minimum weekly pay-
ment is equivalent or greater than $455. Seiler explained that exempt employees paid on salary must receive payment regardless
of their hours worked, and their salary cannot be reduced due to their “variations in work quantity or quality,” non-subsequent
absences, or lack of effort.
Seiler went on to explain that exempt employees must be paid for a full
week’s salary when he/she works during that week. However, exempt
employees may incur deductions from their pay if they take one or more
full, consecutive days off for personal reasons (i.e. not sickness, disability,
or vacation).
Megan Sheridan then closed the meeting by thanking Seilier for his pre-
sentation and many business owners proceeded to distribute their busi-
ness cards directly to him.
The next meeting of the Seward Civic and Commerce Association will
be held on June 16th from 11:45:am – 1:00pm in the Seward Towers
East building (2910 E Franklin Ave). State Senator Patricia Torres Ray,
State Representative Jim Davnie, City Council Member Gary Schiff, City
Council Member Cam Gordon, and Hennepin County Commissioner
Seiler talks business at the SCCA’s May meeting. Peter McLaughlin will all be present to discuss relevant legislative is-
sues.
SCCA NEWS Page 5
Minneapolis, MN 55406
2619 E Franklin Avenue
Seward Civic & Commerce Association