Part 2 of 2.
7:13pm -- Regular Meeting reconvened.
Agenda amended to add 2 items:
7.6 to approve the deferral of special property tax assessments for senior
citizens, and
8.2 to approve resolution No. 2005-107 requesting the City Council and Board
of Estimate and Taxation to sell net debt bonds for the Park Board's 2005
capital improvement projects.
[ Up until the Park Board bonded the first $6 million of what ultimately
became $14 million in bonded debt for the Neiman Complex, the Park Board had
never gone into debt in its entire 120+ year history. Now, without even being
on the original agenda, and with no details in the commissioners meeting
packet information, it appears they're willing to go further into debt.
What's up with item 8.2? Are they charging up the credit card like the
previous regime at City Hall which voters turned out? ]
** Reports of Officers **
- Superintendent Jon Gurban highlighted his activity report (written) for
April. The written report contains some items which may be of interest to
some readers. Gurban report that he:
1. "Met with representatives of the Calhoun Yacht Club and Lake Calhoun
Sailing School [corrected name] to further and explore their involvement in
the pending Lakeside Pavilion project. The meeting went very well. We
believe we will be bringing the proposal forward to the Planning Committee in
June."
2. "Met with DRI Consulting (John Fennig) in an effort to improve both my
communication and management skills."
[ It appears that DRI Consulting is the "company" that did the psychological
management testing for the superintendent candidates both this past year when
the finalists were Jon Gurban and Cris Gears, and the previous year when Jon
Gurban was not a finalist, but was slipped in and given a "take home" test by
DRI. Now DRI is Gurban's personal management coach? And taxpayers are paying
how much for this? DRI's ethics are less than stellar at this point. ]
- General manager Don Siggelkow reported on contract negotiations.
- General manager Michael Schmidt gave a forestry update.
- Park police chief Brad Johnson gave a public safety report. Through a small
grant and a cooperative effort with the UofM, the horse patrol will continue.
Erwin asked about the Hidden Beach status.
Johnson said there were allegations of excessive force and that it is an
on-going investigation.
Johnson clarified the situation with the 4 reports of robberies near the Cedar
Lake Trail. Only 2 were actually on the trail and on park property. The
other 2 were in neighborhoods near the trail.
Dziedzic asks Johnson if he is chief or captain. [As a former cop and the
Park Police department's biggest booster on the board, can anyone imagine
Dziedzic not knowing the answer to this question? Listening to Dziedzic
sometimes reminds me of listening to Peter Falk's Lt. Columbo -- you just
never know where he's going with some things.]
Dziedzic asks Johnson when they are moving into the HQ building. Answer:
August 1 is the target date.
** Consent business
Items 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 are all moved, seconded and passed
with no controversial discussion.
** Reports of Standing committee
Planning: 4.1 is moved and passed with no discussion.
Admin & Fin: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 are all moved and passed with no discussion.
7.5, to spend board education and travel budget on funding Midtown Community
Works Partnership [remember in first message, this was already spent] and Teen
Teamworks is moved and passed. Young asks how it could already spent with no
funding source identified. [bah! details!]
7.6, the hardship assessment program for seniors, moved and passes with no
discussion.
** Unfinished business
8.1 thanking General Mills Foundation for its grant of $15,000 to Teen
Teamworks, passes.
8.2, resolution to sell net debt bonds. Role call vote: 7 ayes, 2 absent
[Mason and Olson, who had left to go to GetBob meeting -- an amusing story in
itself: http://www.mplsparkwatch.org/node/274]
** New Business
Young reminds board that the budgeting process is starting again in June.
Young also would like a record/chart of how votes were taken on resolutions,
similar to the one that Dziedzic got instituted at the City Council in 1980.
7:47pm
** Petitions and Communications
Fine got a letter suggesting they plant disease resistant elms. GM Schmidt
pointed out that the forestry department already does that.
Young mentions the Linden Hills festival on Sunday [in Fine's district --
wonder why he didn't mention it].
Kummer has gotten complaints about speed on the parkways and says she "did saw
something," the aftermath of an auto/bicycle accident.
Berry Graves got a letter supporting better use / improvements of the Fruen's
Mill area.
Erwin reports that an EPA cleanup grant reports the BF Nelson site was
selected, but no dollars yet.
Gurban suggests renaming the BF Nelson site.
8:00pm Meeting Adjourned.
--
Chris Johnson
Fulton
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