John Erwin, discussing the need for public input to MPRB members regarding priority areas of interest and need, says in part:
> Incidentally, there will be a series of focus group meetings that will > be held throughout the city to help us identify those services the MPRB > provides that the public values most. This effort is critical as we > move into yet another budget cutting year! For those of you who have > the time to participate - call 612-661-4800 (main park board office). [MH] Thanks for posting this to the list John. I have several questions and concerns relative to the planning process. What is planned after the focus groups to determine what actions should be taken by MPRB? I assume the focus groups will be providing input on broad areas relating to MPRB facilities, lands, programs and services given the budget constraints we are facing-- and not just the issue of closing parkways for a few days each year. Is that the case? I also have a serious concern with the use of focus groups in the planning process overall. It should be noted that a series of 'self-selected' focus groups will, at best, identify many of the principal issues/ services/ concerns of interest to focus group members only; any such identified issues/ services/ concerns should then be further investigated in an objective manner-- i.e. through a scientific survey of city residents. Self-selected focus groups can provide very biased information, and should not be interpreted as unbiased public input for planning purposes. Results of the focus groups alone will NOT necessarily represent the views of the broader voter, taxpayer and park-user populations-- nor their beliefs as to priority issues/ services/ concerns to be addressed by the MPRB in it's planning process and as it proceeds to cut budgets. I sure hope MPRB decision making isn't based primarily on results of 'self-selected' focus group input to the planning process! And again, these comments apply to more than just the MPRB. City residents and taxpayers expect and deserve more from elected leaders as priorities are established and budgets cut. Michael Hohmann Linden Hills ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael A. Hohmann and Co. www.mahohmannbizplans.com > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > John Erwin > Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 8:09 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Mpls] RE: Possible Parkway Closures and other stuff - From > John Erwin > > Minneapolis Forum Participants. > > Please find a letter below that is published in the Southwest Journal > today and that Rochelle Olson eluded to in the Star Tribune last week. > The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is asking for input on this > proposed series of events. > snip > ...we are proposing a once a month Sunday afternoon [parkway] closure > along the same route that Vivian and others had worked out before. The > routes are on both the north and south side of Minneapolis. The > specific dates and locations are shown below. Again, we are seeking > input only . . . . . no decision has been made! > > For those who ask how we could propose a series of new events in this > time of budget cuts, I suggest that the events may have no cost and > could result in a net income (through increased concession sales - we > have mobile carts now) that would benefit the whole system! We will > absolutely need community participation in putting up barricades etc. to > pull this event off though. I do believe that community building events > like these are exactly what our city needs though! > > It is my hope that in this time of dwindling resources, that MPRB can > actually diversify the events, activities, and services that we offer to > the public. We will simply have to be more creative in fund generation > and cost savings. Phyllis Kahn and others have had great suggestions > for ways we can and will generate income. Rest assured these > suggestions are not falling on deaf ears - all commissioners receive > print outs of your comments from this list every week and we are > genuinely interested in your ideas! > > Incidentally, there will be a series of focus group meetings that will > be held throughout the city to help us identify those services the MPRB > provides that the public values most. This effort is critical as we > move into yet another budget cutting year! For those of you who have > the time to participate - call 612-661-4800 (main park board office). > > As far as the event below, let us know what you think! > > Sincerely, > John Erwin > City-Wide Commissioner (At-Large) > > ======================================================================== > > Dear Minneapolis Residents: > > The following District and At-Large Commissioners on the Minneapolis > Park and Recreation Board are asking for your thoughts on the > possibility of a new series of events on a portion of the parkways > surrounding Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles, as well as, along a > portion of Victory Memorial Parkway in North Minneapolis. > > We are considering closing a portion of each of the parkways to motor > traffic from 11 am - 3 pm on the last Sunday of May, June, July, August > and September (May 25, June 29, July 27, August 31 and September 28th). > These parkways will be open only to foot and bike traffic. We will > request neighborhood groups place barricades before and after the event. > It is our hope that these events would result in no cost to the Park > System with neighborhood involvement and increased concession sales. > > We are proposing these events as a community building effort. In these > days of cuts, it is our hope that these events would offer a place where > we can come together to celebrate our neighbors, enjoy our parks, and > come together as a community. > > We will present this proposal to all of the impacted neighborhood groups > during April and May. Please feel free to call or write any of us with > your thoughts and opinions. > > Sincerely, > > Rochelle Berry-Graves > At-Large Commissioner > 673-5388 > > John Erwin > At-Large Commissioner > 673-5340 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Annie Young > At-Large Commissioner > 729-3359 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Walt Dziedzic > 1st District Commissioner > 673-5319 > > Jon Olson > 2nd District Commissioner > 673-5330 > > Marie Hauser > 3rd District Commissioner > 673-5329 > > Vivian Mason > 4th District Commissioner > 673-5384 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Carol Kummer > 5th District Commissioner > 722-0370 > > Bob Fine > 6th District Commissioner > 673-5387 > snip TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
