Re: [Mpls] re: [Mpls]Mpls Awards - no more-yes MORE..
I agree that the Minneapolis Awards should continue. Too many people in the City volunteer and volunteer and barely get a THANKS.This shows to the world that we do apprieciate the volunteers work in Minneapolis. At the new.nice,big ,expensive Park Building is great!!1 Becky Olson Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] I35W Access Project
That's a question I don't know how to answer. You would probably have to ask the committee in such a way that they could contend with the request at this juncture. Or perhaps there is still leeway in the second phase of design. I do know that the PAC announced that the first phase of design was now over, that it goes to the feds for approval next, then comes back here to be approved by both the county and the city in either April or May of 03. Then Phase 2 can begin. The idea of the fly-over was to funnel some traffic onto a runway to 28th and allow Lake St. to have the shoppers. It was also supposed to pull a lot of truck traffic off 31st St. that had no business being there. Until we get some kind of razzmatazz at Lake and Chicago it's going to be tough to make this particular area a destination. What we have now is a specialty area whose customers will come so long as they cohere as a subset and our problems are held enough at bay so as not to freak them out. I know for darn sure that horsing around with who hired who and where their allegiances can be assumed to lie is a colossal waste of time. And mean too. Thanks for supplying the date, John, I'm not very good with remembering dates. WizardMarks, Central John Rocker wrote: As one of the consultants to the Lake Street Partners in 1996, I agree with Wizard that direct access to Lake Street from 35W has the potential to help revitalization by improving accessibility and creating more drive-by traffic for businesses. However, the devil is in the details. The proposed fly-over would redirect a lot of those potential customers and residents away from Lake Street and -- depending on the ultimate design and number of new lanes on Lake -- the sense of place at 4th (and at Nicollet) could easily be diminished rather than enhanced. Another consultant to Lake Street Partners was Walter Kulash, a traffic engineer who has specialized in the rapidly emerging field of livable traffic design. This view of traffic engineering recognizes that the narrow traffic planning goals of the past few decades -- moving the most traffic at the greatest possible speed -- are giving way to a far more inclusive view. In the new view of traffic engineering, traffic performance is balanced against other desired qualities of the street, such as its value as an 'address', its retail friendliness, and its role as a premiere public space of the community. So, what are the chances of re-engineering this project to eliminate the fly-over, maintain a more livable scale, and still provide access to Lake? John Rocker ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] NAACP election highlights differences in beliefs
NAACP election highlights differences in beliefs Terry Collins Star Tribune Published Nov. 18, 2002 It has all the makings of an intergenerational struggle. Yet Saturday's election for president of the Minneapolis NAACP could come down to simple beliefs instead of age or experience. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3438182.html Minneapolis NAACP website http://www.minneapolisnaacp.org Shawn Lewis, Field Neighorhood -- ___ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] re: [Mpls]Mpls Awards - no more!
Actually, Fred -- a bean feed at the towers might be a wonderful way to celebrate such an award ceremony. Every year could be a different thing at a different place. This might help to celebrate in many ways and to include many more people in the event. One year in a park, another at the towers, another year some other fine place... I think it is a good thing to continue as well. With a bit of creativity and citizen involvement, this could cost the taxpayers little or nothing. The closer to the grassroots this event is, the more authenticity it will have, and the more meaning for all of us. Just a few thoughts... Gary Hoover King Field In a message dated 11/17/02 7:13:38 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I've also been at more upscale events from time to time over the years and I must say I identify more with that one citizen awards dinner I did attend than any of the loftier events. Maybe I'm just vin ordinaire but what was that? Cookies and beverage at the convention center? We do better than that every time we put on a bean feed at the high rise! Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten in the Lyndale Neighborhood
[Mpls] 35W Access Project-On being nice.
Wizard Marks writes: ...I know for darn sure that horsing around with who hired who and where their allegiances can be assumed to lie is a colossal waste of time. And mean too. Avidor: When it comes how $150+ Million of the taxpayers' money is spent, I think we should spend as much time as possible getting our questions answered properly...haste makes waste There's an old trick that used car salesmen use to size up customers. They drop a book of matches and if the customer bends over to pick it up for the salesman, the salesman knows it's going to be an easy sell. Nice people don't ask a lot of questions... Is asking questions about how our money is going to be spent on a big highway project like the 35W Access Project mean? Sometimes it isn't nice or comfortable to talk about our money and how it's spent. Don't worry about looking like an angry citizen. Don't worry about hurting the feelings of politicians by asking how your money is being spent. Harry Truman had some good advice for politicians who take offence to questions and criticism If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen Ken Avidor http://www.stride-mn.org Kingfield ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Rybak to give housing update
Mayor Rybak is holding a press conference this morning to give an update on housing production in Minneapolis. I've pasted an excerpt from the press release and a production report detailing housing numbers that will be distributed at the event. Laura Sether, Office of Mayor Rybak, Standish-Ericsson Mayor R.T. Rybak will give an update about multifamily housing projects in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Portland Village, 1829 Portland Ave. S. - a 26-unit housing project that recently won the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA) Meritorious Award for innovation, extraordinary benefit to the community, replicability and affordability. On Nov. 8, the Minneapolis City Council approved $2 million of levy funds for affordable housing and directed the MCDA to recommend projects for funding. At the Nov. 14 Community Development Committee meeting the MCDA will recommend seven housing projects to receive levy funding. By the end of this year, the MCDA will have allocated direct funding of nearly $13.5 million to multifamily housing projects, up from approximately $8.2 million last year. In addition, nearly $89 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds have been approved this year. These funds assist projects that meet MCDA and City priorities for affordable multifamily housing, including supportive housing for special needs and homeless populations, large family housing, and new affordable units in non-concentrated areas of the city. .Minneapolis Housing Production Report, November 15, 2002 Total Production in 2002: Number of Units Completed or Currently Under Construction 3,169 Number of Affordable Units (50% MMI) Completed or Currently Under Construction 1,259 Number of Affordable Units (30% MMI) Completed or Currently Under Construction705 Pipeline: Number of Units Funded by the City but not yet Under Construction 1,648 Number of Affordable Units (50% MMI) Funded by the City but not yet Under Construction 1,237 Number of Affordable Units (30% MMI) Funded by the City but not yet Under Construction 948 In addition: City release of $2M of HRA Levy funds will support an additional 152 units, of which 136 will be affordable 50% MMI and 128 will be affordable 30% MMI (84%). Source: Minneapolis Community Development Agency. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Property Tax Increases and SnowMN
I get a big kick out of the fact that people don't seem to understand that the snowman aren't about art, neither were the Charlie Brown statues. What they are about is fun, and something that brings people to a downtown. Both of those things worked very well in St. Paul's case (I never went to see them because Lucy was art, but because it was so much fun!). What our elected officials just don't get, is that sometimes you do things for art and sometimes you do them for tourist effect. That's why I find it amusing that the public relations mayor wasn't behind this (just sittin' on the fence as usual). Plus what people don't like about Minneapolis and what I think Jan DelCalzo was trying to get at, is that we are awfully out of step with the rest of the metro area and the state. Sometimes that is good and sometimes not so good. What the snowmen would have done isgiven folks who don't necessarily experience the city through our theatres or art museums a chance to come downtown and see the city in a different way. And we shouldn't have done just 10 we should have done 30. St. Paul's experience has proven that even though each statue has a corporate sponsor, more than half of them have no logo or direct reflections of the company. They are often a witty take on the basic character. Lisa McDonald East Harriet - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 12:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Property Tax Increases and SnowMN With regard to the discussion of individual property tax increases considerably exceeding the 8% levy increase cap and Sheldon Mains' observation concerning the fact that this relates to the 2001 Tax Act, there are two excellent articles in Tax Facts, a publication of the Property Tax Study Project, which I recommend. The first is at http://www.mncn.org/bp/TFv4n4.pdf. The article essentially describes (in great detail, I should warn you) how the 2001 Tax Act both shifted the property tax burden from commercial and industrial properties to residential properties and began the phase out of limited market value, thereby resulting in double digit property tax increases for residential property owners. The latest issue of Tax Facts explains how St. Paul residential property tax owners will see significant property tax increases without any increase in their levy: http://www.mncn.org/bp/TFv4n6.pdf.I also can't resist entering into the snowmen debate. The action taken by the two Council committees (which followed the recommendations of both the Arts Commission and the Planning Commission) provided that the City would not agree to the placing of these fiberglass snowmen on the public right of way. The action does not affect private property owners who want to support the project or who are enamored with the snowmen or who want to impress greater Minnesota with our artistic sensibilities. Private property owners may place snowmen on their own properties.Scott BensonCouncil MemberWard 11 Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
[Mpls] Citizen awards
As a pretty active volunteer, I was impressed by the quality (and quantity)
of the work that was done by award winners. I want to thank David Brauer's
for his incredible dedication to making this list work and for Steven Clift
for letting me sit at his table.{And his good work}
The idea that this costs too much and has to be eliminated really concerns me
for several reasons.
The first is that seems so small minded in a penny wise pound foolish way.
In light of the financial problems of the city it also seems to be the wrong
strategy, especially with neighborhood group funding being at risk, this is
an important time to be working on systems that enhance and reward volunteer
work.
The second is that there doesn't seem to be a city driven process that asks
what needs to be done and how do we do it?
The question should be how can we do this with little or no money?
If the city really valued its citizen's efforts, it would lay its cards and
numbers on the table- give an itemized budget and seek assistance from
funding sources.
The third is look who is out there. We get things done. Whether it is a
potluck in a church basement, a beanfeed at a park, or an event aided by
donations at the door, we have the human resources to thank our fellow
citizens.
There are other resources as well. I would love to have the neighborhood
newspapers host an awards forum.
The fourth thing that bugs me is the way this got played out at a council
meeting. In a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, members of
the city council were berating the financial management of the Park Board
(was Target one of their Projects?)
Blaming the Park Board for the financial crisis of the city seems
disingenuous. I don't think this was Councilmember Zerby's finest hour.
In context: The award ceremony defunding was used an attention getting
sacrifice more than a well thought out piece of financial strategy.
I will work with my Neighborhood and others to find a place to thank some of
our outstanding citizens.
Thanks,
Scott Vreeland
President of the Seward NeighborhoodSeward
___
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Re: [Mpls] The Mississippi River in Minneapolis
Having sat on the Planning Commission and the Zoning and Planning Committee while the Upper River Plan was being pursued folks need to realize that if you remove barge traffic from the river, the Corps of Engineers stops dredging the river. If the river is no longer dredged it will silt in and will no longer be usable for any recreational use other than canoeing. Lisa McDonald East Harriet - Original Message - From: Dave Stack Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2002 10:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] The Mississippi River in Minneapolis Last Wednesday evening I attended an interesting public input meeting hostedprimarily by the Corps of Engineers. There are some pretty amazing plansbeing contemplated for the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.The basic idea is to add rapids and islands to one side of the river, whilekeeping the 9' barge channel on the other side. The Locks and dams wouldstay in place, and the islands and rapids would be constructed with placedfill material and rocks. This concept is being developed independently andseparately from the $15-mil 2000' kayak run idea for downtown.The project would bring the river closer to its original natural condition.Prior to about 150 years ago, the Mississippi in Minneapolis was a veryunique segment of the river. This was the only sizable stretch of rapids onthe entire run from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.The Corps stated at the outset of the meeting that they had no intentions ofreducing or stopping the existing commercial barge traffic. However, nearthe end of the hearing, a few attendees spoke favorably of studying thepossibility of removing the locks and dams in Minneapolis.The Corps has a website on the concept at :http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/environment/default.asp?pageid=116An interesting article about the river in Mpls is at :http://www.citypages.com/databank/23/1140/article10764.aspDave StackHarrison Neighborhood(where several volunteers have in recent weeks removed buckthorn alongBassett Creek, making the creek much more visible for bikers and walkers onthe new Bassett Creek Trail,)___Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-DemocracyPost messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mplsGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
[Mpls] Robert Lilligren for standing up to the backroom deals on 35W Access
John Rocker asks: So, what are the chances of re-engineering this project to eliminate the fly-over, maintain a more livable scale, and still provide access to Lake? == Good question John. At the meeting on Saturday, County Commissioner Gail Dorfman said quite clearly that the deals aren't all done yet and encouraged people to continue communicating with city and county officials about this project. During the meeting on Saturday, Wizard Marks went on about how Robert Lilligren went off his nut about the project. Robert was just telling it like it is -- and as I said earlier, this reminded me why I supported Robert's candidacy. Ms. Marks also went on about how bad the entrance ramp from Franklin on 5th was. Personally when I lived in South Minneapolis, I used that entrance ramp all the time -- I preferred that to getting on the freeway going north at 35th/36. Karen Forbes writes: (KF) From my perspective the Mayor, the president of the city council and a county commissioner all appear to be questioning Robert Lilligren's credibility. I have to say that I have a difficult time with the Mayor's credibility when I think about how he campaigned on no public money for the stadium and after he is elected he supports public money for the stadium. I would hope that I could trust what my elected officials tell me me however I am growing more and more suspicious of the process and the people who are part of the process. Thank you again Councilmember Lilligren for speaking out for the interests of the people who are not privy to the back room deals. Karen's got it exactly right -- who is more credible -- RT or Lilligren? RT switching positions on the stadium boondoggle so quickly after he got elected has put his credibility into the toilet. Robert really put it out there last night and called McLaughlin and Johnson publicly on the hand shake deals and backroom promises that have been made to get this deal done one way or another. There is a federal law that prohibits 'segmentation' in the development of transportation systems. How is the process used to implement 35W expansion under the guise of calling it an access project exempt from this law and how does the process used to implement it differ substantially from segmented development? In addition, segmented transportation development averts the scrutiny of full EIS environmental rigor. The EAW process used by segmented development planning does not adequately address the environmental impact of development and results in polluted unlivable conditions in surrounding areas. This question was asked during the Saturday meeting. Peter McLaughlin refused to commit to require an EIS in return for county money for the project. Commissioner Dorfman was interested in this question and though she didn't state so publically at the meeting, seemed receptive to this point. Eva Young Near North Minneapolis [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] ability group and zip codes.
Doug Mann writes: For the record: Doug Mann has a child who was continuously enrolled at Lake Harriet Community School from the beginning of Kindergarten to part-way through the fourth grade in the fall of 2000. Lynnell Michelsen has a child who was in the same school, in the same grade level, and sometimes in the same homeroom. Her child received phonics instruction in school, my child did not. (If students aren't learning something, the teachers aren't teaching it). Her child spent 50 minutes per day in a reading program for children designated as high-ability learners, my child spent those 50 minutes per day in one of the other reading programs. The sorting and assignment to separate reading classrooms happened at the beginning of first grade While our child was at Lake Harriet Community School my wife and I used the school directory to figure out where most of the kids in the low-, medium-, and high-ability learners groups resided. It almost looked as if the kids were sorted and grouped by zip code. Lynnell says: I've got three boys--same parents, same zip code and three different levels of ability, interest and achievement. My husband and I are like many parents with more than one child--we scratch our heads and wonder how they could have come from the same gene pool and family--because they're all so different. Not sure which one of mine overlapped with Doug's kid. I've got two who do fairly well in school and one that struggles with reading and writing, although struggles is probably a euphemism. Blows off reading and writing would be more accurate. We had him assessed for learning disabilities and from what the experts could tell his chief disability was that he'd rather practice his jump shot or memorize Top 40 songs than pick up a book. So that's what we're dealing with. My kids--all from the same zip code-- have been placed in various groups--because in fact, they seem to have various abilities and interest levels. Which is fine by me. If parents don't think their kid is placed in the appropriate group, they can go in and talk to the teachers, whom I have found are open to parent feedback. From what I can tell, it's not a rigid system and as I've said in my previous post---kids spend the majority of their day in mixed group settings. Reading and math have some flexible groupings. But kids are all mixed together for science, social studies, art, music, gym, homeroom, health, Spanish, which makes up the majority of the school day. I think this system tries to find the right balance. One thing that I've been really impressed by at Lake Harriet is how quickly the teachers seem to figure out where my kids are at. I've heard this from other parents too. We go into conferences in the fall and the teacher says, this is where he's weak, this is where he's strong, this is what I'm going to focus on with this kid for the fall. I can't figure out how they do it. They have between 20 and 25 kids per class and their analysis of my individual kids have almost always been dead-on. (And tough!!!) In previous posts, Doug has argued for individual learning plans for each kid. Which may sound good in theory, but is often not so good in practice. When I was a kid, my school signed onto the individual lesson plan program. For hours every day, we worked on our little packets of worksheets and reading and tests. We reported our results and progress to the teacher. We all got to move at our own pace. No stigma of grouping. Myself, I hated it. There was little interaction between myself or a teacher or another student. And the corporate work-sheet packets were beyond dull. When I was a kid, I also had the peculiar misfortune to consistently test above my abilities in math. So I was usually placed in class levels that were beyond me. I hated looking dumb so instead of admitting I was lost, asking questions and slowing the rest of class down, I just muddled through and did badly. I would have been far better served by being placed in remedial classes where I would have gotten help and actually mastered the concepts. I simply could not run with the Big Dogs in math. Still can't. On a practical level, I think I can safely say that the only people at Lake Harriet who were using the school directory and zip codes to sort kids into various groups were Doug and his wife. Teachers and staff neither have the desire nor the time to try something like this. But Doug is right that if you look across the United States, you could pretty much predict academic success by zip-code---not in the case of each individual student, but certainly in test score averages. Because study after study shows that the most reliable predictors of student success are as follows: 1) the parents' level of education; 2) family stability and commitment to their kids education; 3) parents' income. Unfortunately, factors like teaching and curriculum almost always come in
[Mpls] Holland response re. Cub SCAM
There is no Straw Poll SCAM in NE as Tim Burman stated in a previous post. I facilitated the September Holland Neighborhood meeting in which a proposed Cub Food store for Central Ave. was discussed. It is true that Bruce Shoemaker wasnt at that meeting but his comments do fairly characterize what took place. No one to my knowledge, including Bruce, has claimed that an official vote took place at that meeting. I do not wish to quibble over the semantics of the word Straw Poll. However, I will describe what took place at the meeting to which the word refers. The meeting had an official head count of 103. Most in attendance were Holland residents though there were people from several other NE neighborhoods as well. The meeting had an open discussion format. Councilmember Paul Ostrow and Councilmember Joe Biernats aide gave a general description of the Cub Proposal. Residents were also given the general parameters of what the Cub Store would be in terms of size, location, parking, loading docks etc. The descriptions were consistent with subsequent architectural drawings of the project and dimensions typical of a Cub Store. With that, residents began to one by one express concern if not criticism of the concept of a store of that size with a parking ramp at the location proposed. Around three quarters of the way through this discussion a gentleman, when called on to speak, stood up and identified himself as a local merchant opposed to the Cub proposal. He stated that based on what he was hearing that night he felt confidant that most people in the room shared in his opposition. He informally asked for a show of hands of those who did not want this kind of store at the proposed location. The response was an immediate and overwhelming show of hands against the Cub proposal. Because all those arms were up in the air, it was not easy to count those who did not raise their hand in opposition. There were very few people who did not raise their hand in opposition (10 % would be generous by my count). Again, no one mistook this for an official vote but it made a point that many find hard to ignore. However, Tim Burman in his previous post explicitly ignores to mention this unequivocal show of hands taking place. And to me, this makes his statements about there not being anything even close to resembling a straw poll or there not being any basis for estimates as to where the meeting attendees stood on the issue very misleading. It also seems to reflect a notion that residents only have a voice in the context of strict parliamentary procedure. The newsletter comments that Tim Burman refers to are not an indication that the Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association has prematurely rejected the Cub proposal and will not review more information about the project. Rather they reflect the position of HNIA to date that recognizes that the initial critical input of residents responding to the concept of a Cub store at the location proposed precludes HNIA from supporting this plan at this time. We were getting phone calls in which residents had the notion that HNIA was supporting this plan and it was felt that this needed to be clarified. It is true that CM Ostrow asked to wait to take an official vote at a meeting in which representatives from the developer Sherman Associates and Cub could find time in their schedule to present to the neighborhood. And we will be holding such a vote at our January meeting. In response to the insinuation that the Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association will not be able to hold a fair meeting for the Cub proposal, I must state that HNIA has (in recent years) maintained a reputation for holding very well attended, well-run meetings especially when discussing proposals that engender strong reactions from stakeholders. There are many other things in Tim Burmans post that I could respond to for clarification but I think pointing out what he omits when he makes a sensational claim to a SCAM going down in NE sufficient for the purposes of this forum. Tom Fahling Board President Holland Neighorhood Improvement Association __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Pawlenty supporting Minneapolis Corporate Welfare
Barb Lickness wrote: So..now I hear 35W is a done deal. I have been told Tim Pawlenty is on board (boy, he didn't waste time)snip David Piehl writes: Is anyone suprised that Pawlenty is supporting a major corporate welfare opportunity? Pawlenty's statement of support included language to the effect that we needed to do this to support Allina and Wells Fargo; that does tend to run contrary to what Smith Parker Peter McLaughlin tell us!! (their message being that it is good for the neighborhood) David Piehl Central __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Changes to I-35W would affect ALL of south Minneapolis
For starters, my thanks to John Rocker for focusing on issues related to I-35W instead of personalities. I'd also like to apologize ahead of time for the length of this e-mail and trust that folks not interested in this subject will simply scroll down to the next message. Let's remember that our friends at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) are famous -- make that infamous -- for dividing and conquering communities. MnDOT gets its way every time a community does not stand united. Instead of criticizing each other, let's see if we can find common ground that will strengthen the City's hand. The current proposal for re-working I-35W, including access ramps between Franklin/5th Avenues and 38th Street, is yet another indication of why I-35W should be treated as a corridor, rather than being expanded and re-worked in a piecemeal fashion, segment by segment. That holistic approach (if you will) is the one MnDOT used when it first proposed in 1986 a massive expansion of I-35W between Washington Avenue north of downtown Minneapolis and I-35W's junction with I-35E out in Burnsville. In May of 1992, the citizens of Minneapolis brought that mega-project to a screeching halt by turning the State's official public hearing on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) into the largest public hearing ever held in the State of Minnesota. The crowd in attendance was estimated by one media outlet to be as high as 3,200 people. I can assure you that most of that crowd came from Minneapolis. The net effect of that strength was that the mega-project was abandoned, thereby saving 700 buildings in Minneapolis from being demolished and 3,100 Minneapolis residents from being dis-located. The Final EIS rejected the notion of adding high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes from 42nd Street on north. Some readers will likely recall the years of worry related to the proposals to add a massive bus transfer station at 46th Street and I-35W. In the Spring of 2001, Brian Herron and I seemed to be on the verge of reaching agreement with Metro Council Chair Ted Mondale and Metro Council Member Frank Hornstein on a new concept to be proposed for public comment and input -- namely, simple bus transfer facilities UNDER 46th Street (at the I-35W level) that would occur next to the outside shoulders of I-35W. Buses using the shoulders on I-35W (as they do today) would simply pull off onto wider shoulders for riders to leave or enter. It was an intriguing proposal; I really wanted to know whether the public and adjacent neighborhoods would find it acceptable. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter Brian's woes came to light and that effort came to a halt. I wrote the above paragraph simply to make the point that what happens at Lake Street can affect what happens at 46th Street and elsewhere. The new proposal we were developing at 46th Street would have worked well with the wonderful new bus facilities once proposed at Lake Street, which would also have occurred adjacent to the highway's shoulders. The current Lake Street proposal puts the bus facilities in the highway's median instead. I suspect that would render the new concept at 46th Street infeasible. But we'll never really know unless the corridor is considered as a whole, so that we'll know all of the pluses and minuses and all of the effects near and far. Also, widening I-35W between 38th Street and Franklin Avenue will mean that the sections south of 38th Street (and probably north of Franklin) will also have to be widened if I-35W is going to work as a comprehensive whole. In effect, this is MnDOT going back to its original mega-project proposal but without looking at it as a whole and without the real public transportation that light rail transit would have offered. [By the way, I'm NOT trying to re-open that debate since MnDOT has already filled in with additional lanes south of 46th Street the space that could have been devoted to light rail.] With that background and setting in mind, I'll offer my reactions to some of the aspects of the current Lake Street Access Project. 1. It offers no access to Lake Street. In fact, it would be more accurate to call it the Lake Street By-Pass Project. That's a real affront to the owners of Lake Street businesses who have fought for access to/from the north side of Lake Street since I-35W opened in 1967. 2. It should not be described as an economic development tool. The primary beneficiaries of the proposal are already in place. In fact, some of the biggest losers under the proposal are the small businesses that would see their buildings demolished to accommodate the new ramps and HOV lanes. And who works in those small businesses now? Do they tend to be residents of the area? 3. It would displace residents of some relatively modest homes. I would venture to guess that a significant number of those residents use public transportation regularly and don't own cars. Why would we want them to lose
[Mpls] Mpls Wi-Fi Hotspots
Last Thursday USA Today had a long (by USA Today standards) piece regarding emerging Wi-Fi technology. The article mentioned hot spots popping up in numerous cities. Does anyone know of good Wi-Fi hot spots in Minneapolis? Here is the link: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2002-11-13-wi-fi-technology_x.htm Bill Dooley Kenny ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Uptown Apartment Bldgs Sold (City Regulations Blamed)
The latest issue of TWIN CITIES BUSINESS JOURNAL has an interesting article regarding the sale of 20 Uptown apartment buildings from Steve Frenz (JAS Properties) to Spiros Zorbalas (Uptown Classic Properties). This sale was for $10 million which averages $45,000 per apartment unit. According to the article, Frenz is shifting his apartment investments to other cities out of frustration with the regulatory environment in Minneapolis. The key issue raising (Frenz's) blood pressure is the way Minneapolis calculates storm-water fees based on the amount of water used within a building. Most cities instead calculate how much runoff storm water a property produces, he said. Minneapolis' method unfairly penalizes multifamily apartment buildings because those buildings use more water, but that additional water use has nothing to do with storm water, Frenz said. Bill Dooley Kenny ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Outa Step;Brauer;Access
According to our last election, Lisa, we're outa step with more than the suburbs and hinterlands. Why we even think war in Iraq is insanity. Gotta hairshirt to spare? Anyway, if someone wants to waste corporate money, what can any of us do about it? But I do hope you understand why this is NOT a priority for public money. Taxpayers aren't having any fun right now. I watched the show on Channel 17 last night. Was the List Manager there asking questions about affordable housing? I'm with Eva on the Franklin entrance. I've used it more times than I can count and found it quite useable. Don't have a clue what Wizard Marks is talking about on that. Lynell Mickelson gets at the cultural static that I've talked about. His problem is that he'd rather memorize top 40 songs or work on his jump shot. And whose fault is that? Basically, I'd say the TV is the top culprit. And not just because Lynell owns one. Also because the kid's PEERS own one. And kids are very susceptible of peer pressure. We have a country with GARBAGE VALUES folks. Look at what a nurse or teacher earns. And people complain about THAT! Yet, Kevin Garnett makes more in a year than a nurse or teacher will make in their LIFETIMES. And how much hot air emits about that outrage! So, why WOULD the kid think more of learning than a jump shot. I think teachers are swimming UPSTREAM in a raging river! I congratulate them on every kid they DO teach. And I excoriate all the adults who make it so hard by paying SO much attention to entertainment and sports that the entertainers are made cultural heroes. (Yeh, it makes me mad, since I and other childless adults have to pay to try to overcome those influences at school). Another comment on access. The more I read, the more it seems to me that with suburban power now entrenched at the state level, the Minneapolis resistance to building more throughput for suburban drivers on 35W is resurfacing disguised as a Minneapolis project. The socalled access' is really a trojan horse for what surrounding communities have tried to ram down Minneapolis throats for years. I noticed Carol Molnau on TV last night hammering on increasing highway capacity. She left it to Tinklenberg and others to talk about transportation alternatives. But her agenda is what Chaska and the other outlying towns want. Face it, folks, this is NOT what Minneapolis asked for. This is the Pawlenty-Day-Swiggum project. They managed to grab everything but the Attorney-General's office; and now they think that what residents of this city want is no longer an important item. And Lisa McDonald chiding us for being out of step is simply more fuel for that fire. I guess Lisa thinks we better give them the bigger gulch or we'll pay for it elsewhere. Is the tax increase the first installment of suburbs sticking it to the inner city through Pawlenty and the rest, Lisa? = Jim Mork Cooper Neighborhood Minneapolis is awaiting your input at [EMAIL PROTECTED] (before January 1, 2003) __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Property Tax Increases and SnowMN
In a message dated 11/18/2002 11:00:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I get a big kick out of the fact that people don't seem to understand that the snowman aren't about art, neither were the Charlie Brown statues. What they are about is fun... A new twist on an old saying: I may not know much about fun, but I know what I don't enjoy. And that's snowmen on the street signs, snowmen on the telephone directory, Snowman on the highway (which by the way the town fathers, in their wisdom, built right through the %$#! town, making my walk to North St. Paul High each day a sheer delight). Want to look at it? Here's the behemoth: http://www.mnhs.org/places/other/roadside/images/mysnnsp.html Yeah, it was fun too, when I first saw it. When I was a kid. Now I'm allergic. Please don't let it reproduce! As Charlie Brown himself would say, Auugh! Kristine Harley Sheridan ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] I35-W Environmental Impact Statement
Among the issues related to the current Access Project is the fact that the project organizers are admittedly trying to AVOID doing an EIS, or Environmental Impact Statement. Environmental Impact Statements are of tremendous importance - they become a tool by which the public can objectively evaluate the project if they are well crafted, as well as a possible guideline for future development plans. I'm sure that the process of completing an EIS is cumbersome and time consuming, but if the project organizers want us to take their claims seriously, and if the Access Project really is the net gain they claim it is, then they should be proud of the opportunity to substantiate their claims through an EIS. I challenge the project organizers to embrace the EIS process, and explain to us their reasons and/or benefits of avoiding this federal requirement. David Piehl Central __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Library Board 2003 Budget Reductions
The Minneapolis Public Library will incur an expected $1.5 million loss to its requested operating budget next year as a result of the City limiting the overall tax levy increase. This funding gap--coupled with the rising costs of books and other materials, utilities, salaries, and employee health coverage--means that the Library Board will not be able to maintain services at current levels. The Board has reviewed a variety of options to make up the budget shortfall while assuring that changes are equitable throughout the city. The Board aims to continue to provide first-rate library service in as many locations and for as many hours per week as possible given the financial realities. In October the Library Board hosted a series of meetings to inform the public about the impact of potential service reductions in 2003. Feedback from these meetings was used to help shape decisions on the specific steps to take in order to balance the budget. Over the past several months the Library Board has sought to identify and enact changes that will have the least disruptive effect on library services. Therefore, the following measures will be recommended for Library Board approval on November 20 (estimated savings noted in parentheses). -Continue to leave vacant 18 staff positions in the Central Library, Technical Services, and Buildings (equal to 5% of the total staff). Vacancies in Community Libraries would be filled, as would positions that are necessary to operate the Library system. ($830,000) -Reduce hours of public service at four large libraries by 12 hour per week. East Lake, North Regional, and Walker would be open Mon, Thurs 1-9 pm; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10 am-6pm; Sun (Sept-May) 1-5 pm (reduced from 64 to 52 hours per week). Washburn would be open Mon, Thurs 1-9 pm; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10 am-6 pm (reduced from 60 to 48 hours per week). ($300,000) -Adopt a schedule for Central Library Marquette of 9 am-6 pm Mon-Fri and 10 am-6 pm Sat (but offer InfoLine telephone reference service beginning at 8 am Mon-Fri). ($130,000) -Close all libraries on three additional holidays (President's Day 2/17; Columbus Day 10/13; Veterans Day 11/11) and close the Saturdays before Memorial Day and Labor Day (5/24 and 8/31) and the Saturday following Independence Day (7/5). Staff will use vacation time as available or will take leave without pay. ($80,000) -Close all libraries for a one week period, during which time staff would use vacation time as available or will take leave without pay. ($80,000-$100,000, pending further study) -Move the cost of the Franklin Library roof repair/rebuilding to capital funds instead of operating funds. ($80,000) The 2003 operating budget shortfall does not relate to the referendum funds approved by voters in November 2000, providing $110 million toward the new Central Library and $30 million for a decade of community library improvements. Referendum funds may be expended only on library building projects, not operations. Public comments, suggestions, or questions are always welcome. Options include: -fill out a comment form available at any Minneapolis Public Library -leave a message on the Library comment line at 612-630-6263 (or 630-6003 TTY) -submit online at www.mplib.org/suggest.asp -send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -write to Minneapolis Public Library, 250 Marquette, Suite 400, Mpls., MN 55401 --- Kristi Gibson Public Affairs Minneapolis Public Library ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Landlord
In regards to Frenz as a landlord, I say don't let the door hit you on the way out. five or six years ago he bought a building where I lived, and tried to hold my security deposit when I left. i had to miss work to take him to small claims court and get my money back. then he wouldn't mail the check and made me come to his office to pick it up. mark wilde windom park The latest issue of TWIN CITIES BUSINESS JOURNAL has an interesting article regarding the sale of 20 Uptown apartment buildings from Steve Frenz (JAS Properties) to Spiros Zorbalas (Uptown Classic Properties). This sale was for $10 million which averages $45,000 per apartment unit. According to the article, Frenz is shifting his apartment investments to other cities out of frustration with the regulatory environment in Minneapolis. __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Pawlenty supporting Minneapolis Corporate Welfare
Now most people will say I'm left of center (Seward is one of the few places in the country where I can feel like a conservative) but: Since when is it automatic that when something is good for a corporation, it's bad for the neighborhood? I just don't follow the logic of that! sheldon mains, seward, [EMAIL PROTECTED] David Piehl writes: Is anyone suprised that Pawlenty is supporting a major corporate welfare opportunity? Pawlenty's statement of support included language to the effect that we needed to do this to support Allina and Wells Fargo; that does tend to run contrary to what Smith Parker Peter McLaughlin tell us!! (their message being that it is good for the neighborhood) David Piehl Central __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Uptown Apartment Bldgs Sold (City Regulations Blamed)
OK, this makes it clear some people who claim regulatory problems don't have a clue. Minneapolis does not charge for storm water It does charge for sanitary sewer use. In Minneapolis it is illegal to have storm water run-off going into the sanitary sewer. Minneapolis charges for SANITARY sewer use based on the amount of water used in the building in the winter (don't know how that is defined exactly). The theory is that, in the winter, all the water used in a building goes down the sewer. The summer bills are estimated based on the winter bills so you are not charged for SANITARY sewer use for water you put on your garden or your yard or use to wash your car. How this penalizes multifamily buildings is beyond me. Sheldon mains, seward, [EMAIL PROTECTED] The key issue raising (Frenz's) blood pressure is the way Minneapolis calculates storm-water fees based on the amount of water used within a building. Most cities instead calculate how much runoff storm water a property produces, he said. Minneapolis' method unfairly penalizes multifamily apartment buildings because those buildings use more water, but that additional water use has nothing to do with storm water, Frenz said. Bill Dooley Kenny ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Mpls Wi-Fi Hotspots
I don't know of any WiFi hotspots around Minneapolis, but I would advise anyone considering using wireless networking to think long and hard about what they are doing. Wireless networks pose severe security risks to your computer, and wireless hacking is the most popular form of hacking crime right now. Home, office, or cafe, wireless networks are rarely secured, frequently targeted, and easily hacked. My $0.02 Bob Alberti, President Sanction, Inc. Data Security http://www.sanction.netCusp of Longfellow and Seward A Tempest! Grab the teabag and hang on for your life! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Dooley, Bill Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 1:13 PM To: Discuss Minneapolis (E-mail) Subject: [Mpls] Mpls Wi-Fi Hotspots Last Thursday USA Today had a long (by USA Today standards) piece regarding emerging Wi-Fi technology. The article mentioned hot spots popping up in numerous cities. Does anyone know of good Wi-Fi hot spots in Minneapolis? Here is the link: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2002-11-13-wi-fi-technolog y_x.htm Bill Dooley Kenny ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Apartment Bldgs Sold
List; I've recently sold my families holdings in Minneapolis. Unlike Mr. Frenz, who I believe owned mostly in Mpls, and lives in Mpls, most of my families holdings are outside of the city. We made a deliberate effort not to buy any more property in Mpls or Hennepin county in the late 80's-early-90's. Our most glaring objection was and is the city's and citizen's belief that the landlord can be held responsible for other citizens criminal behavior. Within the larger metro-state wide rental property OWNERS community, the city of Mpls is being viewed as a self inflicted sick sibling or worse a rabid dog. Something to be avoided at all costs, not trusted with serious matters (such as your retirements or kids educations), being so out of step with the rest of us that normal functions of government are not being met. The state of relations between the city and it's landlords has been bordering on hostility for some time. There is very little co-operation. When it comes to my industry, the city is so dysfunctional that it is breaking down. What I find so disheartening is this. After 10 years of persecuting landlords for all of society's ills. The city ( collectively ) was starting to wise up and look for another way out. Maybe address crime by individual. Putting the interests of landlords on par with other property owners and business owners. But I see a dangerous backsliding taking place. A new round of senior police officers are using the term problem properties in the open again. Landlords and buildings are getting profiled not the criminals. The new council has members who are quick to blame landlords when they ought to know better. Many gray beards who knew better have left the scene. It looks like a new dark age could be coming to my industry within the cities boundaries. The star chamber justice system is revving up again. After universal acknowledgement that the private sector is the engine that can solve all housing issues in the least amount of time with the least amount of taxpayer dollars, we have little private sector involvement at all with out huge subsidy. With interest rates at such low levels we should have been at heartstoppingly high vacancy rates. Not so. The policy of the city makes lower cost housing too much of a burden. The end result for those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. 1. Doubling. The practice of jamming two families into space meant for one. 2. 50 percent or better of take home pay going to rent. 3. Over 100,000 citizens in Hennepin county with a UD on their record. The scarlet letter of inability to rent in most places. So many branded because of fear of City Of Minneapolis Policy. 4. Generally having their housing deconcentrated, destructed, gentrified,and being class cleanesed right out of town. 5. Having a seperate police department built just for you if you rent. Don't believe me, pick up your latest CCP/SAFE handout. Last I checked over half of the brochure was devoted to who to call if those people in the apartment building weren't behaving. 6. All sorts of non-profit housing people who could qualify elsewhere while truly needy and homeless are left on the streets. Executive directors and housing advocates eating up ever larger portions of the fatted calf while those they claim to fight for go needy again. 7. Kinsey Report is one of many sources that prove what the landlords have been saying all along is true. Thanks for reading this far. I'll conclude. What is truly sad, is that for me and many others: 10-1 years ago I would never have thought of getting out of the city. Being a landlord in the city on the good days is just a gas. All the things that make Mpls unique and desireable have their own derivitive in my industry. But the bad days kept on coming and coming. Most of them provided by our government. Even when vacancy rates were low and rents stable and rising, the city and other levels of government just ruined it all. Craig Miller Holding one last unit in Fulton. Anybody want to buy it? No longer Camden's 3rd largest landlord [EMAIL PROTECTED] The latest issue of TWIN CITIES BUSINESS JOURNAL has an interesting article regarding the sale of 20 Uptown apartment buildings from Steve Frenz (JAS Properties) to Spiros Zorbalas (Uptown Classic Properties). This sale was for $10 million which averages $45,000 per apartment unit. According to the article, Frenz is shifting his apartment investments to other cities out of frustration with the regulatory environment in Minneapolis. The key issue raising (Frenz's) blood pressure is the way Minneapolis calculates storm-water fees based on the amount of water used within a building. Most cities instead calculate how much runoff storm water a property produces, he said. Minneapolis' method unfairly penalizes multifamily apartment buildings because those buildings use more water, but that additional water use has nothing to do with storm water, Frenz said. Bill
[Mpls] Access without flyover?
John Rocker asks: So, what are the chances of re-engineering this project to eliminate the fly-over, maintain a more livable scale, and still provide access to Lake? (JC) Mr. Rocker asks exactly the right question. The flyover ramp is superfluous and should be scrapped. No one in the room at the fifth precinct last Saturday spoke favorably about the flyover. Supporters of the project pointed only to easier access to Lake Street. Those supporters should be enraged at the project managers for overstepping the bounds of Access and incorporating this destructive flyover. The flyover necesitates demolition of 17 affordable housing units, a scandal in and of itself. Moreover, access to 28th street jeopardizes a longstanding need to calm traffic on that treacherous one-way. Currently, 26th and 28th are four-lane mini-freeways, death-traps for pedestrians and bikers. The money saved by not building the flyover should be spent creating a opposite-direction bus lane on 26th Street with a new route connecting light rail and Hi-Lake to Uptown via 26th Street. Both 26th and 28th should remain one-way with two car lanes, bike lanes, and a green ribbon separating the sidewalk from traffic. These ideas, though popular in Phillips and Whittier, have been trumped by traffic engineers for years. The flyover is the latest demonstration of poor transportation priorities in the area. Unless Smith Parker and friends address these concerns, the project is likely doomed. A shame for those on Lake who like the idea of better access. Jeff Carlson, Whittier __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] ability group and zip codes.
In the reading program for high ability-learners at Lake Harriet Community School (first grade, 1997-1998 school year), higher order reading skills were taught, and the expected outcome was that the kids would learn higher-order reading skills. The phonics instruction in that program was effective, i.e., the students acquired knowledge of phonetic rules and developed the ability to use that knowledge to sound out words with a fairly high degree of accuracy. In the reading programs for low- and medium-ability learners, lower order reading skills were taught and lower order reading skills are what the students were expected to learn. They did not receive effective phonics instruction. I think that just about all children in the Minneapolis Public Schools can learn higher order reading and math skills, including many of the kids who are diagnosed as developmentally delayed. It's done in some of the suburban and out-state school districts in this state. It's done in some high-poverty, high-minority public schools in the US. A lot of progress was made toward that goal in the 1970s and 1980s across the US. -Doug Mann, King Field http://educationright.tripod.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Library Board 2003 Budget Reductions
I hope one item on the budget isn't cut---upkeep and maintenance. My three year old son and I have been going to the Walker library since the downtown library closed. The place looks worn, shoddy, and old. The restroom is dirty and have found it on several occasions out of soap and no clean towels to wipe hands. The children's section looks dull and uninviting. The place doesn't have a sense of book about it for kids. That kind of thing doesn't require a lot of money just someone creative and with a mind to think like a young child. Is there a children's librarian at each library or is this a position that's been cut? In spite of all this negative stuff, the staff at the library are wonderful! Thank you! Terry Erickson Whittier - Original Message - From: Gibson, Kristi [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: MPL, Board of Trustees [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 3:23 PM Subject: [Mpls] Library Board 2003 Budget Reductions The Minneapolis Public Library will incur an expected $1.5 million loss to its requested operating budget next year as a result of the City limiting the overall tax levy increase. This funding gap--coupled with the rising costs of books and other materials, utilities, salaries, and employee health coverage--means that the Library Board will not be able to maintain services at current levels. The Board has reviewed a variety of options to make up the budget shortfall while assuring that changes are equitable throughout the city. The Board aims to continue to provide first-rate library service in as many locations and for as many hours per week as possible given the financial realities. In October the Library Board hosted a series of meetings to inform the public about the impact of potential service reductions in 2003. Feedback from these meetings was used to help shape decisions on the specific steps to take in order to balance the budget. Over the past several months the Library Board has sought to identify and enact changes that will have the least disruptive effect on library services. Therefore, the following measures will be recommended for Library Board approval on November 20 (estimated savings noted in parentheses). -Continue to leave vacant 18 staff positions in the Central Library, Technical Services, and Buildings (equal to 5% of the total staff). Vacancies in Community Libraries would be filled, as would positions that are necessary to operate the Library system. ($830,000) -Reduce hours of public service at four large libraries by 12 hour per week. East Lake, North Regional, and Walker would be open Mon, Thurs 1-9 pm; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10 am-6pm; Sun (Sept-May) 1-5 pm (reduced from 64 to 52 hours per week). Washburn would be open Mon, Thurs 1-9 pm; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10 am-6 pm (reduced from 60 to 48 hours per week). ($300,000) -Adopt a schedule for Central Library Marquette of 9 am-6 pm Mon-Fri and 10 am-6 pm Sat (but offer InfoLine telephone reference service beginning at 8 am Mon-Fri). ($130,000) -Close all libraries on three additional holidays (President's Day 2/17; Columbus Day 10/13; Veterans Day 11/11) and close the Saturdays before Memorial Day and Labor Day (5/24 and 8/31) and the Saturday following Independence Day (7/5). Staff will use vacation time as available or will take leave without pay. ($80,000) -Close all libraries for a one week period, during which time staff would use vacation time as available or will take leave without pay. ($80,000-$100,000, pending further study) -Move the cost of the Franklin Library roof repair/rebuilding to capital funds instead of operating funds. ($80,000) The 2003 operating budget shortfall does not relate to the referendum funds approved by voters in November 2000, providing $110 million toward the new Central Library and $30 million for a decade of community library improvements. Referendum funds may be expended only on library building projects, not operations. Public comments, suggestions, or questions are always welcome. Options include: -fill out a comment form available at any Minneapolis Public Library -leave a message on the Library comment line at 612-630-6263 (or 630-6003 TTY) -submit online at www.mplib.org/suggest.asp -send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -write to Minneapolis Public Library, 250 Marquette, Suite 400, Mpls., MN 55401 --- Kristi Gibson Public Affairs Minneapolis Public Library ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Uptown Apartment Bldgs Sold (City Regulations Blamed)
You are not quite right on this matter. Steve Frenz is complaining based on 2 reasons: 1. Sewer rates for homes and duplexes are based on water consumption levels during low-use winter months, while sewer rates for all others are based on actual water use, including the high-use summer months - see the difference? 2. The cost of storm sewer projects is based on water consumption, not on the size of the lot as it should be. I do not think it rains more heavily on apartment buildings than houses or duplexes. A 22 unit building that sits on 3 city lots does not produce any more runoff than 3 houses on the same 3 lots, yet their proportion is 7 times higher - see the difference? Also in Mpls, our rates are 3 times higher than the rate in Edina. We have the 6th highest rate of the largest 30 cities in the Country and are higher than all except Boston of the older cities that have major water infrastructure rebuilding. Why you ask? All of us know that politicians do not want to raise real estate taxes, so they go to other areas to get the money. That is why water and sewer rates have almost doubled in the last 8 years. You can thank the old City Hall crowd for that. Steve Meldahl Jordan (work) - Original Message - From: Sheldon Mains [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Discuss Minneapolis (E-mail)' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 4:26 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Uptown Apartment Bldgs Sold (City Regulations Blamed) OK, this makes it clear some people who claim regulatory problems don't have a clue. Minneapolis does not charge for storm water It does charge for sanitary sewer use. In Minneapolis it is illegal to have storm water run-off going into the sanitary sewer. Minneapolis charges for SANITARY sewer use based on the amount of water used in the building in the winter (don't know how that is defined exactly). The theory is that, in the winter, all the water used in a building goes down the sewer. The summer bills are estimated based on the winter bills so you are not charged for SANITARY sewer use for water you put on your garden or your yard or use to wash your car. How this penalizes multifamily buildings is beyond me. Sheldon mains, seward, [EMAIL PROTECTED] The key issue raising (Frenz's) blood pressure is the way Minneapolis calculates storm-water fees based on the amount of water used within a building. Most cities instead calculate how much runoff storm water a property produces, he said. Minneapolis' method unfairly penalizes multifamily apartment buildings because those buildings use more water, but that additional water use has nothing to do with storm water, Frenz said. Bill Dooley Kenny ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Mpls Wi-Fi Hotspots
Bob Alberti says, in part: Wireless networks pose severe security risks to your computer, and wireless hacking is the most popular form of hacking crime right now. Good point Bob. What's the average wireless user to do? Michael Hohmann wired in Linden Hills -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Bob Alberti Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 5:07 PM To: Mpls Forum Subject: RE: [Mpls] Mpls Wi-Fi Hotspots I don't know of any WiFi hotspots around Minneapolis, but I would advise anyone considering using wireless networking to think long and hard about what they are doing. Wireless networks pose severe security risks to your computer, and wireless hacking is the most popular form of hacking crime right now. Home, office, or cafe, wireless networks are rarely secured, frequently targeted, and easily hacked. My $0.02 Bob Alberti, President Sanction, Inc. Data Security http://www.sanction.netCusp of Longfellow and Seward A Tempest! Grab the teabag and hang on for your life! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Dooley, Bill Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 1:13 PM To: Discuss Minneapolis (E-mail) Subject: [Mpls] Mpls Wi-Fi Hotspots Last Thursday USA Today had a long (by USA Today standards) piece regarding emerging Wi-Fi technology. The article mentioned hot spots popping up in numerous cities. Does anyone know of good Wi-Fi hot spots in Minneapolis? Here is the link: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2002-11-13-wi-fi -technolog y_x.htm Bill Dooley Kenny ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Minneapolis Draft Goals and Expectations Documents--Resident and Neighborhoods Comment Sought
Minneapolis Draft Goals and Expectations Documents--Resident and Neighborhoods Comment Sought I respectfully request that List Members take the time to review and comment on the above. Following a meeting earlier this evening, Erik Takeshita from Mayor R.T. Rybak's office pointed out that NRP action plans were consulted in the preparation of these documents and that resident's and neighborhood's comments are sought. These draft goals for Public Input have now been put into a low cost brochure for distribution. Please bring these up to your neighborhood organizations, and other community or business groups. Please go to this link on the City of Minneapolis web site: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/results-oriented-minneapolis/ Jeffrey L. Strand Shingle Creek/Ward 4 == Results Oriented Minneapolis Performance Measurement in Minneapolis Minneapolis Citizen Survey Draft Goal Documents Results-Oriented Minneapolis Draft City Goals for Public Input The City of Minneapolis provides residents with essential services for a safe, livable community. Strong goals help City leaders provide citizens the services they need, in a way that makes sense. City leaders set new goals every four years, and use citizen input to guide the process. The result? Clear priorities that provide long-term direction and clarify the core function of City government. How do I comment? Citizen input is an essential part of the goal-setting process. A complete copy of the City's draft goals and expectations for public input and a summary are available here. Comments on these draft goals can be sent to: City Goals Office of the City Coordinator 350 So. 5th Street, Room 301M Minneapolis, MN 55415-1330 Comments via e-mail can be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your input will be used to draft a final version of the City goals. Comments will be accepted through Tues., Dec. 31, 2002. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Uptown Apartment Bldgs Sold (City Regulations Blamed)
I can't speak with authority on #1, but I can say that Steve Meldahl is incorrect with his assumption in #2. The reason for this is because the three houses on three lots are surrounded by three yards that absorb storm water whereas the 22 unit building on three lots has a great deal more paved surface area (especially if there's off-street parking as well) that does not absorb storm water and it must instead run off into the storm sewers. Whether there's enough of that going on to justify the price difference Steve cites, I don't know, but there are justifiable grounds for having a price difference. Especially when we consider just how much water is being lost to the storm sewer system rather than replenishing our ground water through infiltration (sinking back into the ground). According to a report issued this past August, Minneapolis ranks among the top ten metropolitan areas in ground water infiltration losses. Based on 1997 figures, we lose around 21 billion gallons of water per year. This is more than double what was lost annually in 1982, when it was 9 billion gallons annually. Why is this important? Because diminishing ground water supplies contributes to drought conditions. And of course, since we all have to have pristine green lawns, we consume even more water to maintain them. Those interested can read more at: http://www.americanrivers.org/landuse/sprawldroughtreport.htm#execsum And if you're wondering what you can do to reduce your impact on storm water runoff, a simple thing is to redirect the downspouts on your gutters so that they empty onto your lawn or garden (away from your house, of course) and not a paved surface like a driveway or sidewalk. And if you really want to make a difference, you can quit water your lawn during the driest part of the summer and allow it to go dormant as nature intended. I haven't watered my lawn in about 20 years. It still comes back just fine every spring. Mark Snyder Windom Park (59A) On 11/18/02 9:05 PM, steven meldahl [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are not quite right on this matter. Steve Frenz is complaining based on 2 reasons: 1. Sewer rates for homes and duplexes are based on water consumption levels during low-use winter months, while sewer rates for all others are based on actual water use, including the high-use summer months - see the difference? 2. The cost of storm sewer projects is based on water consumption, not on the size of the lot as it should be. I do not think it rains more heavily on apartment buildings than houses or duplexes. A 22 unit building that sits on 3 city lots does not produce any more runoff than 3 houses on the same 3 lots, yet their proportion is 7 times higher - see the difference? snip Steve Meldahl Jordan (work) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] The Access Project Flyover: a Corporate Subsidy
Dore Mead wrote: I see no good in the current proposal. If people truly want more access = to Lake Street, add it -- to the north side of Lake. That can be done very simply, without massive fly-over ramps or other ill-conceived ideas that = can only damage a neighborhood. (JC) Dore has revealed the flyover ramp to 28th street for what it really is: a massive corporate subsidy. If the same multi-million dollar hand-out were Tax-Incremented-Financing, the penny-pinching citizens of Minneapolis would point to the city's empty coffers and shrug, saying sorry, tough economic times. At least T.I.F. brings some desirable development (sometimes) which fits into the Minneapolis Plan's vision for the city. A flyover ramp that replaces 17 units of affordable housing can hardly fit that bill. Robert Lilligren should be praised for his courageous stand against the project. Dean Zimmerman also deserves kudos for his recently voiced opposition. Dore's analysis is sound, thorough and chock full of the history behind this thinly veiled attempt to deliver on the flyover ramp and H.O.V. lanes. Both would never stand up to another Environmental Impact Statement. Nay, they should never have resurfaced in the first place having been found untenable by the first E.I.S. in 1992. Ten years won't suffice for Minneapolis to forget. Check out www.stride-mn.org for more information on the I-35W Excess Project. Jeff Carlson, Whittier __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
