My limited understanding of the agenda process is that the President of
the MPRB as well as the Superintendent ( with help of staff ) set the
agenda for the regular meeting. The chair of each committee (
Planning, Admin and Finance, Operations and Environment, Recreation,
Legislative and Standards and Conduct) sets the committee agenda with
staff. If you are not a chair you can ask to have something brought
before a committee but that is at the discretion of the chair. The
present chair of the Planning Committee is Commissioner Fine. ( the
website could certainly be more specific about this whole agenda
procedure)
Most (but not all i.e. DeLaSalle) projects follow a planning format
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=35 There is a
chart you can click to see. Many involve community meetings ( if your
address is within 3 blocks of the project you should get mailed
notification as well as your neighborhood association receiving
something) and then a presentation before the planning committee with a
chance for community input. The date of the meeting is sent to those
in the radius as well as anyone who attends one of the earlier
meetings. This was the process used for the St. Anthony Parkway Plan
on tomorrow's agenda. So watch your mail for those little colored
postcards and if you are concerned about other projects around town try
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=33 This is the list
of current projects and the contact person is listed.
Though there is a list of current projects, it would be nice to have a
link to see what is coming down the pipeline so there are fewer of the
"surprises" that create such havoc. I know there is a list of sorts as
Director Reitkirk of the Planning Department was kind enough to let me
know that the building in my park would not have any renovations until
2007 at the earliest ( and I asked about that last year) and with
funding being an issue that date was tentative at best. What I found
curious was how Solomon Park jumped into the list so quickly ahead of
how many parks? I know that some projects have to be coordinated with
federal $$ ( like the Grand Rounds) but just because the MPRB traded
some land and ended up with Solomon Park doesn't mean it should jump
ahead of Jordan Park , whose delays Commissioner Olson mentions
frequently.
The MPRB is not known for its transparency in operations, especially
where budgeting and planning are concerned. I am hoping that the
folks running as reform candidates will do something about this after
they are elected in November. The MPRB gets a huge chunk of my
property tax dollars and I would like more detailed information about
how it is spent
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
( who got 2 postcards for the St. Anthony Parkway Plan at the MPRB
tomorrow, one for resident and one to Liz who attended 2 of the 3
meetings)
http://www.parkboardreform.org
http://www.mplsparkwatch.org
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