There has been a great deal of discussion about what happened, or did not happen at Park Board meetings....but if you weren't there, or if a reporter wasn't there, it's pretty hard to know.
That's why I believe these meetings should be on cable. Those with cable can see them; those without it can have a tape. Reporters who weren't there could review the tape.
This could happen almost immediately for both the park and library boards. The city council chamber has state of the arts cable facilities that have served the community very well. Park Board and Library Board meetings come be held in the chamber, and use the existing equipment. I would support making this happen quickly, help adjust schedules and charge only if there are additional costs.
I've raised this before and the usual push back is that this is a "city" building that should not be a place for an independent board to meet. I understand this on some level but in the inperfect, fiscally restrained world we are in, isn't it better to use an existing facility than waste a lof of money on another facility that could instead go into park programs...Or worse, not televise at all?
If it's not the right image to be in the council chamber, explore ways to make it clear this is a park meeting...It could be as simple as hanging a sign in back of the members during the meeting saying "Minneapolis Park Board."
These are small matters that can be resolved when compared to the very serious issues that take place when meetings are not televised so more people can see them.
In any case, this simple move of having the meetings in a place where they can be on cable and tape could helped clarify many of the issues that grew out of the "he said/she said" debate about the last meeting.
I'm ready to help make this happen if people are interested.
I think this is something the Park Board should do. It's nonsensical turf wars to not do this because it would hurt the independence of the board. It's also the type of thing that we can't afford any more.
Also - this makes Park Board meetings more accessible to the public - because they are more bus accessible.
On the issue of criticizing the Star Tribune for not having a reporter at the meeting from SWJournal and Skyway News Editor David Brauer - that one was ironic. After all Southwest Journal reported on a meeting of the Lake St PAC without having a reporter at the meeting.
The Strib deserves criticism for not having a reporter at the Park Board Meeting, and Southwest Journal deserves criticism for not having a reporter at the Lake St Pac meeting.....
Eva Young Near North Minneapolis, MN eva at usucceed.com http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
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