--- loki anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Now, on to a different topic that I've been mulling over since watching the InterGovernmental Relations Committee of the Mpls City Council on cable last week. How involved should the City Council be in commenting on issues that are before other governmental bodies? ---David Strand Replies I believe it is often appropriate for the city to comment on issues before other governmental bodies. Nearly all larger municipal governments comment from time to time to on activities at the state and federal level and even on actions taken by other municipalities and public entitities. So it certainly is not an uncommon practice. Obviously, there are times when the relationship with city business is more direct than in other circumstances but we should be free to call upon our city council to express the opinion of Minneapolitans to other government bodies. This is in no way inappropriate. This is one area I DO disagree with Lisa Goodman. She has told me in the past that whenever something like this comes up she gets calls from the regular cranks in the ward complaining about a pothole or some other city need and asking why the city is wasting time on these other matters when they can't keep the streets up. In my opinion, there is not a direct relationship between a pothole not getting filled in a timely manner and the city passing a resolution on a matter before another governmental body. BOTH are proper duties and uses of municipal resources and neither should be neglected. In support of the excercise of the municipal voice, David Strand Loring Park __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.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
