The library has virtually no history of fundraising, grantwriting, etc.
There is no grants office connected to MPL. That was my one equivication
in voting for the library bonding issue--the library hasn't prepared
itself for this huge move. Their grant-writing muscles are totally
undeveloped.
WizardMarks, Central
Michael Hohmann wrote:
>Carol Becker comments on funding for the planetarium...
>
>"...The Library is currently under construction. You need the money now to
>build the Planetarium . You can't wait so see what fund raising you could
>do or what corporations may do. You have to do whatever you are going to do
>now."
>
>{MH] -and after listing why innovative funding solutions aren't possible,
>Carol concludes that:
>
>"You fall back to a general revenue to be able to fund this facility. But
>this is typical for educational institutions. We don't try to fund
>elementary schools through fund raising. We see a general benefit to
>citizens and thus fund it out of general revenues. A specialized
>educational facility like the Planetarium should be no different."
>
>[MH] -well I sure won't be holding my breath as we seek these traditional
>funds, from traditional funding sources for a traditional 'specialized
>educational facility like the Planetarium.' Such 'traditional' innovation,
>or lack thereof, is all too typical of our government institutions and
>entitlement-based mentality. The referendum for the library was passed by
>Mpls. residents a year and a half ago, but we're just now looking for the
>traditional funding for the planetarium portion of the project-- a
>hat-in-the-hand approach at the legislature, where near-sighted, non-metro
>lawmakers have no appreciation for such a 'specialized educational
>facility,' and would rather dwell on stadium plans, rural highways and
>soy-based diesel additives that bolster ag special interests. Just where,
>geographically, does all that tax revenue come from that's being
>redistributed in St. Paul?
>
>Seems a more prudent course would have been to actively package alternative
>funding solutions and shop them to both the public and private sectors in an
>effort to get this thing done-- but that's a bit more difficult than simply
>lobbying the traditional players for the traditional money. Will this
>proposed state-of-the-art facility have nothing unique of value to offer
>state and regional residents and students- urban and rural? Of course it
>will, and it should be actively marketed and sold as such-- based on the
>value-added for various segments of the market. If there is nothing unique
>of value being offered, then why build it? Maybe this planetarium has more
>in common with a Twin's stadium than I originally thought?
>
>Michael Hohmann
>Linden Hills
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
>>Becker
>>Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 11:49 AM
>>To: Mpls Issues
>>Subject: Re: [Mpls] The Guv's Stadium Plan [& planetarium?]
>>
>>
>>From: "Michael Hohmann wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Why aren't state legislators and Library Board/mgmt/Friends debating how
>>>
>>to
>>
>>>finance the Minnesota Planetarium and Space Discovery Center in the new
>>>downtown library, employing such innovative schemes? Maybe a
>>>
>>combination
>>of
>>
>>>gov't. loans and capital bonding, and a %age of matching funds from the
>>>private sector, (two-thirds state funds- loans & bonding, one-third
>>>
>>private
>>
>>>matching), sell naming rights and branded meeting rooms... think Carlson
>>>School, etc. Lease time to colleges/universities; have traveling
>>>
>>exhibits.
>>
>>>The loan could be repaid from a portion of the planetarium gate
>>>
>>fees over
>>a
>>
>>>15-20 year period. Do some innovative planning/marketing and make
>>>planetarium revenues a part of the equation. [A deal where contraction
>>>
>>isn't
>>
>>>an issue, most staff and management aren't millionaires, the private
>>>
>>sector
>>
>>>loves the place and uses it, a majority of the Board are elected by the
>>>public, there's no need for salary caps, and Minneapolis voters already
>>>agreed to pay for nearly 80% of the project- the central library and
>>>planetarium. The Minnesota Planetarium and Space Discovery Center is a
>>>statewide educational resource-- let's pony up some statewide
>>>
>>resources!]
>>
>>The Planetarium is part of the new Central Library. The funding for the
>>referendum did not include the Planetarium, only the library. (As you
>>note, the Planetarium is a state resource and appropriately should be paid
>>for out of state resources.) The Library is currently under construction.
>>You need the money now to build the Planetarium . You can't wait so see
>>what fund raising you could do or what corporations may do. You
>>have to do
>>whatever you are going to do now.
>>
>>You could sell bonds to pay for the planetarium. The problem isn't in the
>>borrowing of money but in the paying back of the money. Usually you can't
>>borrow money unless you have a secure way of paying it back.
>>Typically you
>>can't sell bonds based on the revenues from fund raising because you can't
>>guarantee that any of the money will be raised. It isn't clear that gate
>>fees will cover even the operating costs of the facility much less capital
>>costs. Typically colleges and universities don't have a lot of revenue and
>>would not be able to pay large rental fees. You fall back to a general
>>revenue to be able to fund this facility. But this is typical for
>>educational institutions. We don't try to fund elementary schools through
>>fund raising. We see a general benefit to citizens and thus fund
>>it out of
>>general revenues. A specialized educational facility like the Planetarium
>>should be no different.
>>
>>Carol Becker
>>Longfellow
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________
>>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]
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>
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