The Central Neighborhood meeting last September was run horribly... The
question is whether this legislation is really the way to go to make these
meetings go better in the future.
Eva
Eva Young
Central
At 11:39 AM 02/10/2001 -0600, David Brauer wrote:
>Those involved with Minneapolis neighborhood organizations may be interested
>in a Minnesota House bill (HF 404) introduced by Minneapolis reps Jean
>Wagenius, Karen Clark, Len Biernat, and Wes Skoglund. I think this state
>action is germane to Minneapolis-issues because it is a response to the
>disputed election in the Central neighborhood.
>
>http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/bldbill.pl?bill=H0404.0&session=l
>s82
>
>Based on my first read-through, the bill mandates specific, extensive
>procedures for publicizing neighborhood meetings.
>
>According to the bill, "Thirty days before a meeting of the members of the
>neighborhood organization is to be held, notice of the date, time, and place
>of the meeting and any other information required by this chapter must be:
>(1) posted at all libraries, schools, park board, and other public buildings
>located within the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood organization,
>and (2) published in the community newspaper having the largest circulation
>within the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood organization or in a
>neighborhood organization newsletter that is distributed to all occupied
>buildings in the neighborhood."
>
>The bill also sets specific guidelines for who can vote at such a meeting:
>
>(b) In the case of a neighborhood organization, members with voting rights
>are individuals who, at a meeting of the neighborhood organization, can
>produce:
>(i) a Minnesota driver license, Minnesota identification card, or some form
>of residency verification issued by a public agency that indicates the
>individual resides within the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood
>organization; or
>(ii) proof of ownership or lease of a business or property or proof of being
>employed by a nonprofit organization or government entity located within the
>geographic boundaries of the neighborhood, if such members are authorized by
>the bylaws of the neighborhood organization.
>
>Comment: Since the reps didn't publicize their own bill very well to those
>of us in the neighborhoods (hint, hint), I'm wondering what people think of
>it?
>
>>From this neighborhood board president's perspective, I think the
>meeting-publicity requirements look good. My only concern is that the
>language is restricted to annual meeting/elections - it would be an all-out
>drag to publicize our monthly neighborhood board meetings this way (that's
>why we have 'em at the same date, time, and place every month).
>
>As for the voting requirements, they also look rational, if a bit onerous.
>Here in good ol' King Field, we've never checked driver's licenses or
>residency verification, but maybe we should - a la Florida, you never know
>when a disputed election will hit.
>
>I'm not sure exactly what constitutes "proof of ownership or lease of a
>business or property," etc. In King Field, most of us know the business
>owners by sight. We're trying to get these folks more involved in the
>neighborhood association, and I'd hate to make them produce tough-to-find
>business documents to vote in our meeting. (Our bylaws allow business owners
>to be members of the neighborhood association.) Then again, if you're going
>to require residents to produce a driver's license, you need some
>verification for business owners - but is there an easier way?
>
>I do hope the Minneapolis reps behind the bill took the time to stop by
>their local neighborhood organizations to let them know this was coming and
>get feedback. Publicity good for the neighborhood goose is also nice for the
>elected-official gander...
>
>David Brauer
>King Field - Ward 10
>President, Kingfield Neighborhood Assn.
>
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