Note: Commissioner Vivian Mason was absent from this meeting.
Elizabeth Wielinski wrote: > OPEN TIME > Judy Blasak (sp) of Linden Hills the mother of an 11th grade daughter > who plays soccer for DeLaSalle (with younger children coming up through > the ranks) makes > a plea for the MPRB to approve the plan for the DeLaSalle stadium. She > comes as a citizen not an attorney or well connected political figure > (though she was sitting with John Derus) to ask for their cooperation in > the schools plans which will cost the MPRB nothing and will provide > fields for their programming during the summer with in the city. She > explains that the parents have only known for 2 weeks of the plan and > have begun a writing campaign to show their support .
Judy Blaseg of 4236 Linden Hills Boulevard was rather disingenuous when she claimed that "we the parents" had only known about the plan for 2 weeks. How could Ms. Blaseg not have known about the plan earlier, given all the press coverage in January? In fact, she herself wrote a letter to the Editor of the Star Tribune on January 28, 2005 arguing in favor of it. It's here: http://www.startribune.com/stories/109/5210939.html
It's interesting to note that each commissioner received a "pile" of letters supporting DeLaSalle, but more than half of those letters were written by people who did not live in Minneapolis. Perhaps Minneapolis Park Board decisions ought to slightly favor Minneapolis residents and taxpayers over those of people living elsewhere?
Lastly, Ms. Blaseg took pains to note that she was not a lawyer or political figure. Was that a subtle jab at primary DeLaSalle opponent and Nicollet Island resident, attorney Barry Clegg, or maybe at DeLaSalle opponent and Nicollet Island resident, state representative Phyllis Kahn?
On to the rest of the meeting... //// 6:05pm
* Administration and Finance Committee called to order by chair Marie Hauser.
Discussion of Action Item 7.1: That the board approve the proposed 2005 golf rates.
There was some statement made about how gasoline prices affect the Park Board with respect to competition for golf customers. Apparently there is some thought that the better golf courses (except for ours, of course) are a long drive away. It was also remarked that golf course revenues are needed to pay of debt obligations at the Neiman Sports complex.
General Manager Don Siggelkow talked about differential pricing for a couple of courses.
Commissioner and president Jon Olson asked a question about efforts to speed up play.
Siggelkow says they are thinking about a blended rate for round of golf and cart rental at hilly Wirth and Columbia, but it is not for this year, not yet a proposal.
7.1 PASSES unopposed.
Discussion of Action Item 7.2: That the board authorize staff to negotiate a lease agreement with an operator for the Minnehaha Falls Concession subject to the same terms as the Calhoun Concession.
Commissioner Walt Dziedzic moves adoption, and talks about how great the Tin Fish at Calhoun is.
Staff recommendation is that SMP aka Tin Fish get the lease contract, 3 years plus a 3 year extension. Sheffield Priest of 1900 Knox Ave S and principle at Tin Fish is in audience to answer questions.
Commissioner Carol Kummer wants to know how much Park Board made at Tin Fish. Answer from staff is $58,000 last year.
Commissioners Jon Olson, Bob Fine, Carol Kummer, Marie Hauser and John Erwin go out of their ways individually to heap effusive praise on SMP/Tin Fish.
When asked questions about about SMP, GM Siggelkow refers to principle Sheffield Priest as "Sheff."
Comr. Erwin complains about a Resolution passed in many DFL Precinct Caucuses on March 1 "Opposing Commercialization and Privatization of Minneapolis Parks" and says wrongly that the resolution is factually inaccurate.
[Having a copy of that resolution right here, and having carefully reviewed it, I can state categorically that each clase as written is factually accurate and backed by the public record of Park Board minutes, City of Minneapolis official documents and minutes, and published newspaper reports. Does anyone think the author(s) of the Resolution would be foolish enough to write a Resolution with false statements in it? The full text of the Resolution with supporting references will be available at http://www.mplsparkwatch.org in the near future.]
7.2 PASSES unopposed.
6:30pm
* Admin & Fin recesses for a Retiree Recognition and Citizen Commendation item.
2 Park Board employees with 30+ years of service have retired. They are recognized, awarded certificates and statues, and given a chance to speak freely to the commissioners. They are photographed with the board of commissioners.
Park Police Chief Brad Johnson awards citizen commendations to John and Linda McCauley (sp?) for saving a life on the Mississippi River ice, and they are also photographed with the board of commissioners.
* Admin & Fin reconvenes
** Study / Report Items:
1. Midtown Community Works. Bob Corrick is present to report on what they do to help the furtherance of the Midtown Greenway in response to the 2005 budget which cut the $20,000 funding that has in the past gone to his organization. He says they are an advocacy group and that money invested with them is some of the best "bang for the buck" money they can spend because of the great amount of money, effort and cooperation going into creating the Greenway and because of the great good it brings to the city, the neighborhoods adjacent which lack parks and the connecting of the city's great Lakes and River parklands.
Comr. Erwin and Hauser make statements supporting spending $20,000 on the Midtown Community Works.
Comr. Annie Young makes a motion to fund the $20,000, but expresses concerns about the Park Board getting stuck with maintaining the Greenway, which is county property.
Motion PASSES and moves to Full Board.
2. Innovation Fund Polices. GM Siggelkow says the 2005 budget approved $500,000 for this fund. [This Fund doesn't seem to be in any 2005 budget documents the public received at meetings.] The purpose is for spending on projects designed to reduce operating costs or increase profit using one-time spending. Any one item $50,000 or over has to be approved by the Board and has to go through RFP process per state law. The guidelines are that each project must have a 7-year maximum payback.
Young moves approval of Siggelkow's request ? regarding March 16 policy ? (notes confused).
Erwin says the $50,000 limit for approval is ok, but that he would like to see any spending over $20,000 be reported to the board. He makes this a Friendly Amendment to Young's motion and it is accepted.
Comr. Rochelle Berry Graves is concerned the $50,000 limit is too high. She wants to know which projects are currently in the works, and how much is in the fund now. She wants the $50,000 limit lowered.
Siggelkow answers there is an Energy Management project in the works now for a cost of $75,000, and it is expected to payback $15,000 a year.
Berry Graves says we have half a million dollars to be spent at the discretion of the staff in amounts up to $50,000 a pop, yet the public has to come to us and beg for funding for $20,000 for projects which have great benefits, like the Midtown Greenway. Why is that?
Kummer is in favor of lowering the $50,000 limit.
Siggelkow says the money was one-time funding from fund balances beyond the 5% reserve.
Olson supports the $50,000 limit by saying if there is a problem in the parks, follow the law (> $50,000 requires bidding), and tell us about it after it is fixed.
Young proposes that if it costs $0 to $20,000, just do it. If it costs $20,000 to $50,000, report to board how money was spent quarterly, and if $50,000 plus, come to board for approval.
Superintendent Jon Gurban says that sounds good, but don't encumber the staff.
Comr. Walt Dziedzic insults some of the commissioners implicitly by telling Gurban that if he has questions, to call all of the commissioners on the telephone, but that he bets some of the commissioners won't return his calls. He repeats this suggestion in different words. He says the Park Board needs innovation and that they are stifling staff and that this committee is nickel and dime-ing the staff.
Hauser asks Young to please write down her motion for the next meeting.
7:40pm
Admin & Fin Adjourns.
-- Chris Johnson Fulton
REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
