Please forgive me if I am just a little bit late in responding to Jim Graham's post of Thursday, 7/28. I felt it was important to wait until today so that I could get the facts straight. If you did not read Jim's post about how he got a permit for the event for Native American youth in East Phillips Park, you should skip down to the bottom and read that before you read my response. Jim and fellow list members, here is the chronological order of what occurred as taken straight from our Access constituent tracking database: Tuesday 7/26/05 @ 10:30 a.m. ~ You called my office wanting to speak with ME . However, I was in the same Committee meeting as CM Lilligren. You made it very clear to the Ward 6 Office Associate, Patti Marsh, that you wanted to talk with ME about this matter. Patti knew I would not be available until that afternoon and, because this event was scheduled to happen the next afternoon, we needed to get city license staff working on this immediately, if permits were going to be issued in time for the start of the event. Patti gave you the name and phone number for the staff person in Licensing who coordinates ALL such events for the city and urged you to have the event organizer contact him IMMEDIATELY so that staff could get going on this. You made it very clear to Patti that you should not have to "start at the bottom of staff" and that was why you wanted to talk to ME instead. Patti tried to explain to you that my office cannot complete the permit applications for the event organizer and that city staff cannot issue permits until they have a completed, signed application from the event organizer. Your dismissive reply to Patti was something to the effect of "That is what Dean is there for, to smooth the way for us past this kind of stuff and make it happen. That is why HE needs to call me back." While it is true that CMs can facilitate making things happen, even we need to follow long-established processes when is come to getting something like this done. As soon as you hung up my Associate, Patti, went to work on this. She contacted city licensing staff, alerted them to the time sensitivity of the permits needed and asked that they follow up with you immediately. Tuesday 7/26/05 @ 11:15 a.m. ~ Licensing staff called Patti back with a status update. They had spoken directly with the event coordinator and the necessary applications had been faxed out to him for completion. All they needed was to get the completed and signed applications faxed back to them and they could immediately issue the permits. They were confident that they would receive the applications back ASAP and that the permits would be issued and faxed back in plenty of time for the event the following day. In just 45 minutes, Patti, my Office Associate, and "the bottom of staff" here at the city had responded to your call, taken what information you begrudgingly gave her and had the permit process 99% completed. And all of this occurred while CM Lilligren and I were still in a Committee meeting. By the time CM Lilligren got out of Committee, returned your call and then called licensing staff in the afternoon the permits were already a "done deal" as a result of the work done earlier in the morning by my office and "the bottom of the staff" here at the city. Jim, it is "the bottom of the staff" here at the city that does the work and gets things done. It is because of the efforts of the Ward 6 office and city staff that morning -- not MY or CM Lilligren's efforts -- that the permits were issued in time for the event. Of course it does not hurt that my office staff understands that I expect them to use good judgment and take the initiative when it seems appropriate - including taking bold action when the situation calls for it. Jim, it is public knowledge that you are supporting my opponent. It strikes me that these side swiping attempts to malign my office, my staff and City staff only serve to undermine your credibility. Given the high level of responsiveness and constituent service that 6th Ward residents have received, I think you are barking up the wrong tree on this permit business. I suppose you are still angry with me for securing those eight MCDA lots for you to use in your American Indian Home Ownership project and for the dozens of hours my office put in to pass your, unfortunately watered down, carriage house ordinance for Ventura Village. I have done my best to serve ALL of my constituents, whether they support me or not. I would like to publicly thank my wonderful staff, Patti Marsh and Natalie Collins, who are creative and hard working. They regularly go the extra mile to provide great constituent service, even to those who unwittingly speak rudely and belittle them. Some might wonder why you waited until the last minute to apply. I had heard this group would be coming to town at least two weeks ago, although there were no plans, at that time, as to where, when or how they would be welcomed - and the nature of a cross country caravan make precise planning difficult. But, these things happen, no big deal, we are just thankful for a responsive City staff who can respond to such emergencies that will inevitably arise. Peace, Dean Zimmermann Mpls City Council - Ward 6 [EMAIL PROTECTED] C: 612-388-1311 W: 612-673-2206 H: 612-724-3888 2200 Clinton Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 Surely the most important task for all of us is to leave behind a planet that is fit for our great grandchildren to live on. So all of our personal actions, as well as our political policies, must be tempered with an eye to long term sustainability, not short term profit or expediency. As we struggle to solve the day to day problems -- crime, jobs, budget shortfalls, homelessness, traffic congestion, and air quality, we will look to solutions that serve both our immediate needs and lay the foundation for the post-petroleum economy. Jim Grahams original post: -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of gemgram Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 8:09 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Mpls] A trip down procedure lane, and a Thank you to Robert Lillegrin On Tuesday I was informed that a group of 80 young Indian people were traveling across the country to different reservations to combat drugs and gangs. The group made up of young people from several tribes has apparently been to 17 different reservations across the country this year, attempting to reach young people with an alternative. Little Earth of the United Tribes is unique being what is considered by many to be the only "Urban Reservation" in the country. East Phillips Park, which adjoins Little Earth, has long been a place where one might find gangs and drugs if one was
interested, so it apparently seemed a perfect location for their efforts. I was informed that a local person making arrangements in Minneapolis was having trouble getting the required permits for amplified sound and Park Board permits to use the East Phillips Park for the event. He apparently was just not familiar with the maze of bureaucratic red tape and the maze one must negotiate to accomplish anything. He believed that simply visiting with a park manager was enough for such a worthwhile project, because he would be "led" through any requirements. He now can apply better judgment having gained the experience of that bad judgment. I was asked for help to unravel his problem in one day. When i initially contacted Park Stff I was told that it was impossible to do this in one day, proper procedure and policy would not allow it. Knowing that the case was impossible without the help of some Council members I contacted Council Members Dean Zimmerman's and Robert Lillegrin's offices. Neither was in, but I left a message with both. I also received a lecture from Zimmerman's secretary on proper procedure and how to start at the bottom of staff to work through this problem. (Over the next month.) It seemed impossible to relay to her the necessity for speed, and how I was not really concerned with normal procedure, so I gave up and just left the message. I received a call from Robert Lillegrin a couple hours later due to Robert being in "Committee". Robert agreed that young Indian people attempting get and keep others out of "gang" lifestyles was indeed a worthwhile effort. Robert did not bother to lecture me on procedure, he immediately started to work. This effort would have indeed been impossible without those efforts of Robert Lillegrin. Robert immediately began to sort through the City of Minneapolis permit process. By late that same day he had called back to say to not worry about the City permits he was working to take care of it. At 8:30 Wednesday morning those permits arrived by fax. The park officials were a little more problematic, but Anne and Marie helped some and I was able to strike a deal with the South East Minneapolis Park District Supervisor, then got the young man to get the proper forms filled out and "also insured" certificate filed. And yes, the event did start last night. Last night, tonight, and Friday night these 80 young people will be bringing a different feel to the park. Stopping by for a while last night, I was amazed by how full of life these young people had made that park. "Cockroach Park" was full of people of all ages having a fun time. There were a couple of hundred youth and children having a good time. Quite a difference from "normal". In a survey a few years ago East Phillips and Peavey Parks were identified as the "Most dangerous place a mother could have an unattended child". Last night it seemed different. It seemed safe and welcoming! That difference would have been impossible without the efforts of Robert Lillegrin. Leadership is seeing how things can be accomplished, Not what roadblocks of procedure can be erected. Leadership is taking care of the small things that improve the community you represent. So even if he lacked color, Robert Lillegrin showed how that leadership can work in our City to make it more beautifully colorful for our community. You folks who are interested go out to East Phillips Park and Cedar Field tonight or tomorrow night. See what those wonderful A bunch of young people are having a good time in our parks for a change. I think they are running a 3 on 3 basketball tournament tonight. I cannot say I really appreciate their hiphop music but they do, and hey seeing good kids having fun in a Phillips park can possibly make me appreciate it more. Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips Community, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis >"Advances are made by those with at least a touch of irrational confidence in what they can do." 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 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
