RE: [Mpls] Lake Street Access Project
Tim Bonham: I don't know anything about this Lake St/Hwy 35W project, or the people involved (or even why anyone thinks we need to spend any tax money on changing it after all these years), but I did check out 1 item on this -- is Tom Johnson a lobbyist: From Minnesota Campaign Finance Board List of registered lobbyists: http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us/lobby/lobbyist.html#J Johnson, Thomas, L 3400 City Center, 33 S 6th St Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612)340-5432 #9462 Registered Pre-1996 This is Tom Johnson, an attorney at the Gray Plant Mooty law firm (and former Hennepin County Attorney) NOT Tom Johnson of Access Project fame. I know them both. Although, come to think of it, I've never seen them in the same room David Brauer King Field ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES Responding to reports that up to half of downtown meters are occupied by nonpaying vehicles driven by people with disabilities, an advisory committee has recommended major changes in the city's parking policies. -- I think that they should make the changes... although I believe that there are a number of vehicle owners that abuse those disability placards by parking with the placards when they are not really disabled. I've seen some people that show no disabilities at all get in or out of cars with those placards showing, start their cars, remove the placards and then proceed to drive away. I know that parking enforcement is limited in staffing and that there is not much that they could do, but it just steams me that there are people that are willing to take advantage of something like this... Russell Sasaoka Coon Rapids (Formerly of Loring Park) Working in Minneapolis Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] RE: Community Gardening and Parks
WOW! Lots of interest in community gardening lately! Just wanted to 'check in' with everyone on this as I have been looking into community gardening and how the Park Board can help since. Some of you may remember that I wrote an opinion piece supporting community gardens in parks earlier this spring. I am a Horticulture Prof at the U and, of course, support gardening throughout the city! It is Americans number 1 past time! 1) Great turnout for the Critical Mass bike ride looking at Community Gardens last Friday. Must have been 50-75 bikers. This group did a great job organizing the tour and the party afterwards. 2) Dean Zimmerman organized a meeting last week between his office, MCDA, and myself (Park Board) to talk about this issue as well! Both Dean and I have had discussions about this issue with Paul Ostrow. Paul has a general interest in a 'greening' policy for the city. The support Of Dean Zimmerman, Paul Ostrow, Gary Schiff, and Lisa Goodman for general greening of the city is terrific. I am sure that others on City Council are supportive as well. 3) After having Minneapolis Park Board staff look through everything they could find, I realize now that there is not a concrete Minneapolis Park Board policy on community gardening! The 'no edible' policy, that has been in effect arose because of the previous use of herbicides in parks. In my mind, not allowing edibles alongside potential herbicide application was a good policy. Since herbicides are not used in most neighborhood parks anymore, this issue is no longer valid. 4) Therefore, I introduced a motion at the July 3 Minneapolis Park Board meeting to direct staff to develop their recommendations for a new community gardening policy in parks. The new recommendations will come forward out of the Operations and Environment Committee (Annie Young and I are Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively). The upshot is that I expect that there will be a new policy in place for spring 2003 given there is general support to make some changes across the Board. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board should be community gardeners best friend. It is my hope that the Board will eventually be facilitating folks more in their efforts. Some 'pie in the sky' thoughts - what if people could schedule tillers through the MPRB during the spring, what if there was a single list where MPRB staff could dump compost or chips at specific sites rather than hauling stuff to dump sites, what if MPRB facilitated land purchase through working out some agreement to address the liability insurance issue? I think some, if not all of these are possible with time. Both the affordable housing and the need for green space issues are valid. The city needs to develop more affordable housing, and existing lots are a reasonable place to turn. In addition, any additional property tax revenue would be helpful to the entire city- including the park system! Having said this, I do believe that community gardens can be a vital part of a community to provide green space, a gathering place, and an asset to increase property values in a neighborhood. Surely, we can work out a new city and park policy to promote both! All of your interest is really appreciated! Keep on pushing! Sincerely, John Erwin City-Wide Park Board Commissioner ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Public Protest asking Joe Biernat to Resign
I just got off the phone with Eve White from the Property Rights group (PRAC). She asked me to let you all know about a protest opportunity coming up. Are you outraged that Joe Biernat won't do the honorable thing and resign? Well share your outrage with City Hall. Assemble 10:45 at City Hall (by the Hubert Humphrey sign). The protest will start at 11:00 -- but it's nice for folks to get there a bit early. Tuesday July 30, 2002 Some of you expressed disappointment that this opportunity was not posted here last time. Well now, you've got your chance to make your voice heard. This protest is sponsored by PRAC, but if there are other organizations that would like to co-sponsor this, contact Eve White at 612-275-1040. Eva Eva Eva Young Near North Minneapolis ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Mpls License Board
Mr. Cox's e-paper states that the Mpls License Board ( the one that holds license power over plumbers, electricians etc.) is going out of business. Question for the list. Is this true? Will it take only the state issued license to do work in the city? Or will it still require something from Mpls City Hall? Is there a city hall person who could fill us in? Sounds to good to be true. If it is true, get ready to have all of your repair/installation bills to come down in price. This is a good first step in removing some of the frustration that one feels when trying to get things done in the city. This would be a big step for Minneapolis. Craig Miller Former Fultonite [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
Not all disabilities are readily apparent. I have a friend who's father had a disability placard but did not show signs of a disability. He had a heart condition and could walk well, but not very far. Bruce Anderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Blaine Russell Sasoka says... I've seen some people that show no disabilities at all get in or out of cars with those placards showing, start their cars, remove the placards and then proceed to drive away. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Public Protest asking Joe Biernat to Resign
-Original Message- From: Eva Young I just got off the phone with Eve White from the Property Rights group (PRAC). She asked me to let you all know about a protest opportunity coming up. Are you outraged that Joe Biernat won't do the honorable thing and resign? Well share your outrage with City Hall. [Terrell] I'm not sure I see what's the problem here. CM Herron, er Biernet, got indicted for a variety of federal felonies. The Strib tells us that he confessed (in the cafeteria of the Hennepin Couty Government Center of all places) but he doesn't want that information to become public (apparently being on the front page of the paper doesn't count). Then he skips out on last weeks City Council meeting to go enjoy the great outdoors with his family. I suspect there are at least a few people on this list who have skipped work on a nice summer day at one point in their life. In Joe's case there were 12 other Council Members still around to make decisions on how to run the city. So, Joe looks out on a nice Friday morning, decides it would be a nice day to cut out of work and asks himself What would Brian do? Guess it was skip work. Okay folks, lighten up, Joe may not be able to get out as often in a couple of months. Terrell Brown Preparing to take some time off work and away from the Loring Park neighborhood. terrell at terrellbrown dot org __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
Russell Sasaoka wrote: PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES Responding to reports that up to half of downtown meters are occupied by nonpaying vehicles driven by people with disabilities, an advisory committee has recommended major changes in the city's parking policies. -- I think that they should make the changes... although I believe that there are a number of vehicle owners that abuse those disability placards by parking with the placards when they are not really disabled. I've seen some people that show no disabilities at all get in or out of cars with those placards showing, start their cars, remove the placards and then proceed to drive away. Another case where ignorance is not bliss. I have a handicap placard which allows me to park free at any meter anywhere except in front of Great Clips on Lake St. To see me get out of my van and walk into a building, you would not know I'm handicapped. Once I get inside the building, if it's close enough, I have to rest in order to begin breathing again. We are required to take the placards down when the car is in motion, so as not to obstruct our view and perhaps run over someone--very poor form and painful too. Actually, I don't feel that I have to wear signs to prove I'm disabled. I am not a poster child for COPD. On my bad days, or days when the air pollution is really funky, I carry an oxygen tank in a back pack and have canullas up my nose--this is about as much fun as sunburn. Think how you'd feel with hoses up yer noses. I know that parking enforcement is limited in staffing and that there is not much that they could do, but it just steams me that there are people that are willing to take advantage of something like this... On those rare events when I go downtown, it's usually to city hall or Henn. Co. Govt bldg. There used to be underground handicapped parking in the Govt Bldg (a.k.a. the toaster), but 9/11 had the effect of removing underground parking for the handicapped. I don't necessarily subscribe to the notion that someone disguised as a handicapped person is going to pull into the toaster with explosives and blow up the county, but there you are. Further, with the building of the downtown termina (terminuses?) of light rail, the handicapped spots on both Fourth and Fifth St. have gone the way of the atlatl. They may be returned after the train is in place. So count me as one of the people willing to take advantage of the few parking meters downtown. You can get as mad as you've a mind to, but you''ll have to spend the time to get glad again. WizardMarks, Central ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Lake Street Access Project
Tim Bonham wrote: I don't know anything about this Lake St/Hwy 35W project, or the people involved (or even why anyone thinks we need to spend any tax money on changing it after all these years) This is the I35W mitigation deal, as I understand it. From its inception, many people in South Minneapolis have believed that in building I35 we got shafted by the engineers. (1) I 35 goes under the streets from all the way out in the burbs until it hits Lake Street, then it's above ground suddenly. Even though they dug a trench from downtown to Hwy. 62 to put 35 in originally, at Lake St. they declined to trench. (2) At Lake St. one cannot get on 35 to go North or get off if travelling South bound. This has contributed a hefty amount of constraint which resulted (as part of red-lining) in the decline of Lake Street and parts of Nicollet Av. as commercial corridors. The taxes go away and the city disinvests in street cleaning, plowing, etc., etc. too. Then the economic engine falls apart. (3) The Northbound entrance to the freeways at Franklin and Fifth is too crazy for words--going North on 35 or trying to get onto 94 two blocks North of the entrance. MnDOT wants to correct that flaw, as do we who use that entrance. (4) As well as some bad engineering, poor design, and cheap materials that stretch of freeway also suffers from neglect by MnDOT, its owner. The sound baffles and bridge architecture must have been done by the guy who graduated at the bottom of his class or the guy who had no sense of style whatsoever. It is controversial in that, like everything else, it takes a lot more money to correct mistakes than it does to do it right from the first and maintain it religiously. Of course, when talking freeways, you're already talking big bucks just to think about how to correct your mistakes. Add to that that both MnDOT and Metro Transit want a bus station on the freeway bridge with elevators up to it from Lake St. Wells Fargo, Abbott Hospital, St. Mary's and some others would like, though are not determined to have, a flyover to 28th. St. for employees, suppliers, and customers. Also, we who live next to the freeway or around it, are really tired of looking at this shabby way we were treated and believe that the state should correct the mistakes, add the innovations, make it nice looking, and keep it that way until we run out of fossil fuels. Then we'll remodel to be filled with water and get boats if we haven't either blown ourselves up or poisoned ourselves extinct. WizardMarks, Central ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
We shouldn't assume that because someone's not actively limping that they're not disabled. Heart disease, asthma, and arthritis to name a few, are disabilities for many, yet they may not look disabled to the ablebodied. JHarmon Cleveland _ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
Ok, I know I worded my response incorrectly, but you do have to admit there are people out there that do abuse the placards when they are not really handicapped. The person that I did see abusing the placard had walked 2 blocks away from where that person worked and was using the placard just to get a convenient parking space. I can understand if the need was real and you parked in front of the business or close to where you needed to go. As I should have mentioned in my last response, granted there are those that do have a true valid need for the placard, there are those who don't, that do abuse the right. It basically give those that do need to use it a bad name and spoils it for the rest, like anything else. Russell Sasaoka Coon Rapids (Formerly of Loring Park) Working in Minneapolis Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
For the purpose of discussing parking regulations, I think we should assume all those that have special parking privileges deserve it. Russell Sasaoka wrote, Responding to reports that up to half of downtown meters are occupied by nonpaying vehicles driven by people with disabilities, an advisory committee has recommended major changes in the city's parking policies. Does anyone know what the recommended changes are? John Rocker Calhoun ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] changes to contractor ordinances
The following is an overview of the contractor licenses in MPLS. Residential Specialty Contractor. These are residential building contractors that are exempt from the State Contractor laws. MPLS is still requiring that all contractors working on homes with 1 to 4 units obtain licenses. To get this license, you must provide the city with a $10,000 per year bond and liability insurance to $300,000. This license allows homeowners with workmanship and code problems to obtain satisfaction without going to court. Commercial Cement and Masonry licenses are eliminated. Building Wrecker. Remain licenses as they were in the pass. Heating, Ventiliation and AIr Conditioning and Steam and Hot Water Installers remain licensed in MPLS. New bonding levels of $10,000 and liability insurance were added to these licenses. Plumbers and Gas Fitters remain lciensed in MPLS. Plasterer/Stucco commerical licenses are eliminated. Most licenses were not eliminated the structure of getting licensed was. It should be much easier to get a license. SIncerely, Julie A. Casey, License Inspector duties include contractor licenses and complaints. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
I thank the posters for pointing out that COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - emphysema, asthma, combinations of several) is frequently not visible until we, yes, we, are forced to use oxygen tubes. We are of the smokers' era, now paying for our addiction and a life of inhaling tobacco smoke even before starting our own cigarette-smoking. I'm among the fortunate who doesn't need an oxygen tank tethered to my nose, but the day will come, and for the moment, long walks and stairs can be killers. Especially in winter, when the air shuts down lungs like a slamming door. We don't have wheelchairs. We don't use crutches. We don't even limp. But we are disabled as any person who does. Thus the hanging sign in our windows. I try not to use my sign when I clearly don't need to, but that isn't the case for many disabled parkers. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. - Benjamin Disraeli From: j c harmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 11:58:38 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES We shouldn't assume that because someone's not actively limping that they're not disabled. Heart disease, asthma, and arthritis to name a few, are disabilities for many, yet they may not look disabled to the ablebodied. JHarmon Cleveland _ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
John Rockers asks, of the meter recommendations for those with disabilities: Does anyone know what the recommended changes are? John Rocker Calhoun Please see: http://www.skywaynews.net/archives/index.inn?loc=detaildoc=/2002/July/19-31 53-news04.txt If the link breaks, go to http://www.skywaynews.net, hit the archive link and search for meters. It should be the first story that comes up. David Brauer King Field Editor, Skyway News ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] parking placard
I have a disability placard. Some days my knees hurt - some days they don't and I use my cane. but my actual placard is given for my asthma which I don't believe you would know I have unless you heard me wheezing somewhere. Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner At 10:40 AM 7/29/02 -0500, Anderson, Bruce wrote: Not all disabilities are readily apparent. I have a friend who's father had a disability placard but did not show signs of a disability. He had a heart condition and could walk well, but not very far. Bruce Anderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Blaine Russell Sasoka says... I've seen some people that show no disabilities at all get in or out of cars with those placards showing, start their cars, remove the placards and then proceed to drive away. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Community Gardens
I also support new actions for the Park Board to help with Community Gardens. I have served On CUE (Committee on Urban Environment) and on the NRP-ETC Committee of Phillips which has spent years on the community gardens topics. The issue that raises it's ugly head no matter who you talk to is LIABILITY. If people can figure that issue out we might be able to resolve this dilemma because I agree - everyone should have a garden if they so choose and we have lots of parkland that people assume we will take care of anyway so why not have a Green Spaces policy that covers a variety of settings. This has been one of those 25 years in the making government policies - so wouldn't you say, it's about damned time? (kind of like bottle deposits on pop bottles) Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Community Gardens
Currently, if someone hurts themselves while walking, running, biking, skate boarding, etc., or playing ball or soccer, hockey, etc. on MPRB lands, what is the liability issue and insurance ramifications? Don't kids/parents have to sign liability waivers (for whatever they are worth- or not)? How would community gardens differ? Michael Hohmann Linden Hills -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Annie Young Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 2:57 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Community Gardens I also support new actions for the Park Board to help with Community Gardens. I have served On CUE (Committee on Urban Environment) and on the NRP-ETC Committee of Phillips which has spent years on the community gardens topics. The issue that raises it's ugly head no matter who you talk to is LIABILITY. If people can figure that issue out we might be able to resolve this dilemma... snip Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner snip ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Parking Meter Management Plan
Thanks to David Brauer and the city's web site, I've now read the proposed Parking Meter Management Plan (http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/2002-meetings/20020726/docs/16_ Parking_Meter_Mgmt_Plan.pdf). I think continuing to let people with disabilities park for free but enforcing the meter's actual time limit is the best solution to this part of the parking problem (unless a person can demonstrate that there are no other viable parking options in close proximity to work -- in which case they could park all day). The plan currently proposes allowing up to 4 hours of parking at a one- or two-hour meter, but that seems almost as easy to get around as the current regulation. What seems to be missing altogether from the plan is any effort to increase the number of on-street spaces in downtown's core. Councilmember Lisa Goodman once posted to Mpls Issues that the city has tried to identify new parking spaces and I have no reason to doubt her, but I wonder if the city shouldn't take a fresh look at it and make adding spaces a priority as part of this meter management plan. I'm always struck by the high percentage of downtown curb space where you CAN'T park. Loading zones (approved by the council and paid for by property owners or businesses) eat up at least 1/2-block of curb space on most blocks of the Avenues and there are virtually no meters on 4th through 10th Streets between Hennepin and 5th Avenue (in part because of all the garage entrances). As part of the city's cost/benefit analysis of this plan, I'd like to see: 1. if it makes sense to eliminate some loading zones and replace them with metered parking; and 2. if there are streets currently with little or no parking (6th, 8th, 10th) where non-rush hour parking could be added along both sides of the street. There are obvious trade-offs to these suggestions, but I think more on-street parking makes for a more livable downtown (added convenience for visitors, buffer for pedestrians, etc.) and that is more important than moving traffic as quickly as possible or encountering the occasional double-parked delivery truck. Just a thought. John Rocker Calhoun ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Parking Meter Management Plan
I would agree to this idea, however with all the construction going on in the downtown area, adding more spaces is not really a viable suggestion, nor are the conditions of the roads. If there were available street space, then I can see this idea working, another suggestion would be to open up parking in the parking lots and allow the handicap park for free, but it would have to be agreed upon by the lot management and building owners. Wasn't there something in the new handicap access laws about this, I could be way off the mark to begin with... Begin Included Message Thanks to David Brauer and the city's web site, I've now read the proposed Parking Meter Management Plan (http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/2002-meetings/20020726/docs/16_ Parking_Meter_Mgmt_Plan.pdf). I think continuing to let people with disabilities park for free but enforcing the meter's actual time limit is the best solution to this part of the parking problem (unless a person can demonstrate that there are no other viable parking options in close proximity to work -- in which case they could park all day). The plan currently proposes allowing up to 4 hours of parking at a one- or two-hour meter, but that seems almost as easy to get around as the current regulation. What seems to be missing altogether from the plan is any effort to increase the number of on-street spaces in downtown's core. Councilmember Lisa Goodman once posted to Mpls Issues that the city has tried to identify new parking spaces and I have no reason to doubt her, but I wonder if the city shouldn't take a fresh look at it and make adding spaces a priority as part of this meter management plan. I'm always struck by the high percentage of downtown curb space where you CAN'T park. Loading zones (approved by the council and paid for by property owners or businesses) eat up at least 1/2-block of curb space on most blocks of the Avenues and there are virtually no meters on 4th through 10th Streets between Hennepin and 5th Avenue (in part because of all the garage entrances). As part of the city's cost/benefit analysis of this plan, I'd like to see: 1. if it makes sense to eliminate some loading zones and replace them with metered parking; and 2. if there are streets currently with little or no parking (6th, 8th, 10th) where non-rush hour parking could be added along both sides of the street. There are obvious trade-offs to these suggestions, but I think more on-street parking makes for a more livable downtown (added convenience for visitors, buffer for pedestrians, etc.) and that is more important than moving traffic as quickly as possible or encountering the occasional double-parked delivery truck. Just a thought. John Rocker Calhoun ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls End Included Message Russell Sasaoka Coon Rapids (Formerly of Loring Park) Working in Minneapolis Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Re: PANEL RECOMMENDS DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
I think continuing to let people with disabilities park for free . . . I'm not trying to attack people with disabled parking permits (my mother had one after her knee replacement surgery, and needed it), but just WHY do they need to park for free? (Or, to be more accurate, why should their parking be subsidized by the rest of us taxpayers?) I expect someone will say that they should be subsidized because of the economic hardship they face because of their disability. But in this downtown area, we have all kinds of welfare clients going to see their case workers, we have people without jobs going to the unemployment office, etc. Remember that we are talking about people with disabled stickers using the meters to park all day long while they are at their jobs. Shouldn't unemployed people, without any job at all, get free parking too? Or maybe everybody should pay for their parking, equally. Provide economic assistance to disabled parkers some other way (deduction on state income tax, maybe), if we feel that is needed. Tim Bonham, Ward 12, Standish-Ericsson ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Panel recommends downtown parking changes
Everyone's disabled in one way or another - and don't forget that the boomers are getting older and older. The social security administration includes drug addicts and alcoholics. What about the overweight? So let's just charge the tourists for parking! Then there won't be enough money to pay the parking ramp debts, so the operators will default on the bonds, and we can all pay another $1,000 per year in property taxes. Great idea! Vicky Heller North Oaks Mpls property owner and taxpayer ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] CM Biernat and Council ethics
The city council has the authority to remove an unethical colleague with cause. ( The processes is in the city charter, Chapter 4, section 4). There is a notice of charges, a chance to respond, notification, and a trial mechanism with the power to compel the attendance of witnesses. I can understand that it would be easier to wait for Biernat to resign or the legal case to be more resolved. I also think that newspaper reports by themselves are not sufficient cause for removal. It seems to me that the council does have a responsibility and reasonable cause to ask him directly about his conduct in matters related to the current legal charges. Is the council being prudent by not mucking up the legal case? Are they concerned about the cost? Are they concerned that they would be sued? I guess my question to other list members: Should the council be using the designated city charter provisions for removal of elected officers? Why? or Why not? And is there any more information on how the alleged confession got accidentally released? Thanks, Scott Vreeland, Seward ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Habitat for Humanity vs. Park Board spending
After riding my bicycle 540 miles and raising $3100 for Habitat for Humanity a week ago I was thinking about how much money the Park Board wants to spend to build its' own house. The MPRB plans to spend about $4 Million to give itself a new home on the riverfront. For $46,500 Habitat for Humanity can build a home for a family! $4 Million would build how many homes? A plan to spend $1.2 Million to renovate the shelter building in Loring Park would build how many homes? Give me a break! The MPRB has lived on it's own fat for too many years. I love the park system and Citizens for a Loring Park Community (CLPC) gave the MPRB $1.3 Million in NRP funds to fix up Loring Park but enough is enough. We need to get real where our priorities are and housing is way more important than spending money on a shelter building that has little use for the Loring neighborhood. Richard Anderson Loring park ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
