At the March Zoning & Planning Committee meeting CM Lilligren and CM Zimmermann along with CM Zerby and CM Ostrow, opposed an amendment to Title 20, Chapter 535 of the Minneapolis Code which bans exterior security barriers:
'no retractable metal security gates or grilles shall be place on the exterior of any portion of an enclosed principal non-residential building facade facing a public street.' As is customary with '10-questions-with-out-a-point' Lilligren and the comforting, hazy Zimmermann, their arguments in favor of permitting exterior security barriers were abstruce. Lilligren said something about 'Art'(was he talking about metal canvas for graffiti artists?--couldn't tell, I was CONFUSED by all his questions) and I could not distill what was Zimmermann's reason for favoring metal garage doors on the faces of commercial properties--perhaps prohibiting their installation will dry up an eventual supply of metal that could be recycled down the road. Whatever! (I am sure there's a grain of wisdom there) These exterior security barriers spell ghetto wherever I have seem them dominate the streetscape and CM Lilligren and CM Zimmermann are projecting a collective sense of low self-esteem on residents of the Sixth and Eighth Wards by defending their use. I am thankful that CM Schiff and CM Johnson proposed this amendment and that it eventually passed in full council on April 2nd. CM Lilligren and CM Zimmermans eventually voted yea--I don't know what switched them over--but their initial opposition to this ban indicates to me that neither of these politicians offers sound representation for wards where residents increasing want to enjoy, not endure, an urban environment. And, after watching several hours of cable coverage of the April 2nd council debate about negotiating a new waste management contract for the City--after wondering why a consulting firm was paid and city staff resources were used to advise a Council that eventually arrived at the percisely opposite order of ranking of the three competing firms--I want to learn more about the art of the marionettes. Does any list member know how I can go about finding the contributors to councilmember election committees? Finally, after enjoying the Nicollet Mall without buses the past month, I want to urge people to encourage their City Councilmembers to permanently make the Mall bus traffic free. We only know what we have when their gone. Gary Dombouy Whittier neighborhood of Mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
