Great problem, and one that is repeated in difference permutations throughout the city.
For me, the most important job of the neighborhood organization board in a situation like this is not to debate the pros and cons of the proposal, but to make sure that the community, and especially those living most closely to the proposed parking lot and those most effected by the lot, hear the proposal and say whether or not they want it. My suggestion would be to organize a meeting as close to the proposed parking lot as possible and then flyer at least those within, say, a two or three block radius of the parking lot. If you can expand the outreach area, go for it. Here is what a meeting regarding this zoning change could look like: Ace Hardware makes its presentation Community people ask questions. Community people brainstorm the pros and cons of the proposal. Community people vote the proposal up or down. The neighborhood organization then reports the vote to the councilmembers, along with an endorsement or the results. Often those living on the block have information or a perspective that the board alone does not have. If I lived on the block, was against the proposal, and then found out that the neighborhood board had approved the proposal without ever asking the opinion of the neighbors most effected, I would be pretty ticked. I know that some will come in with only a few days lead time. You have the right to say that you need at least ten days or two weeks to organize the meeting. I have noticed that often those with the shortest timelines are actually the ones that most need scrutiny by the neighbors. And remember that although they are coming to you with say four days advance notification, they have probably been thinking about and planning the zoning change for months. Such short notice should be their problem, not yours or the neighbors. Neighborhood organizations obviously cannot organize a meeting every time someone wants to change his bathroom faucets from chrome to brass. But I would say that for significant zoning changes such as tearing down two houses, the number one job of the neighborhood organization is to get out and find out what those most effected want, and then back them up Here are a couple of alternative methods of getting a vote on the proposal if you do not have the capacity to do a meeting: 1) Set up a box in someone's porch. Flyer the surrounding, say, two blocks with a explanation of the proposal and a ballot to vote. Tell people that for their vote to count they need to drop their ballot in the box by 5:00 P.M. Wednesday. 2) Instead of a box, you can have people phone their votes into the office. We did this in Jordan, and never had a problem with ballot stuffing. If you want, you can number the ballots and/or print the ballot on weird color paper. Jay Clark Cooper P.S. On Advanced Placement courses. I had a year's worth of credits when I went to college, mostly from advanced placement courses. I graduated early, and it saved me a lot of money. For students with moderate income, it can make the difference between affording college or not. I also learned a hell of a lot. A.P. classes are not simply some sort of foofy designer boutique social club for knock=kneed dweebs. I urge Minneapolis to support and expand the A.P. program. _______________________________________ 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
