>From Council Member Gary Schiff: Alberto Monserrate is correct in mentioning how disappointing the block permit denial for the Mexican Independence Day celebration was. The event is proposed to go from 6pm to 11:30pm on Thursday Sept. 15th. The official reason for the denial (according to staff) is that events must start no sooner than 6pm and must end by 10:30 pm on weekdays.
Ending the event at 10:30 would be like ending a Fourth of July celebration before the fireworks. Because it is traditional on the eve of Independence Day for a Presidential call to go out at 11pm, reminding everyone of the victory that brought Mexico her independence. The event actually ends around 11:05, with time for people to leave and cleanup. So I decided to do a little research. I quickly found that staff have been approving the Uptown Art Fair applications to close Hennepin Avenune on Fridays....starting at 9am! A full nine hours outside of the ordinance. No hassles, no need for a Council committee meeting to grant an appeal. So why can't the Independence Day celebration go one hour later? That's the question that my colleagues on the Transportation and Public Works committee will vote on tomorrow. I think it would be outrageous for the city to allow the Art Fair to break the law one month, then put the foot down for an ethnic community celebration. While Lake Street undergoes renovation, events like the Mexican Independence Day are exactly the kinds of activity we need on Lake Street to attract business. I am working with neighborhoods and Midtown Community Works to plan events for next summer, when the renovation moves east of Hiawatha. More events and more people are the only way small businesses are going to get the attention they need to attract customers. Our permit process already requires 75% of the business owners on one block to sign the application. If the businesses have gone through the trouble of organizing an event like this, the city shouldn't stand in the way. To clear this up for the future, at last Friday's Council Meeting, I introduced a change to our block event ordinance so the Council has more flexibility in approving these applications. Gary Schiff City Council Ward 9 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
