On the sustainability topic, before Rybak is given a pat on the back for
this I would just like to state that I worked with MCNC (Mississippi
Corridor Neighborhood Coalition) to provide Mayor Rybak in March of 2002 our
"Environmental Agenda" (in response to the Mayor's '90-day Agenda') which
included encouraging the City of Minneapolis to adopt Sustainability
language. We offered up some definitions and it also included some precepts
of sustainability largely adapted from materials off of the Office of
Environmental Assistance's (OEA's) website and other City's plans.
We are still awaiting a response from his office.
(see http://www.mcnc-mpls.org/)
Additionally, as a member of CEAC, (Citizens Environmental Advisory
Committee) who has been tasked with some oversight (albeit limited) of the
sustainability indicator process. This has been a an ardous process and
still till this day is completely, and I mean completely, unfunded. There
isn't even a single City staff person who is dedicated to coordination or
implementation of the indicators or goals, which means if a citizen
participant suggests a target on renewable energy used in municipal
buildings of 50% by 2012, City staff (mayor appointments included) descend
upon that person like rabid wolves decrying budget concerns and how
ridiculous the notion is (despite the fact that OEA staff who helped provide
a grant to the City of Minneapolis to work on the indicators suggested a
target of 100%).
So if you have an idea that fits within the box, which is the size of a
small coin purse, then maybe it is worth looking into. But if you have
ideas of actual policies that would steer towards sustainability, forget
about it unless you come with cash and I don't mean ideas of how to raise
revenue either, (such as a carbon tax or pollution tax) those are off the
table in an election year or any year.
People interested in sustainability are at the root of any accomplishments
that the City can take credit for so far, meaning that the mayor could have
created a position, and still can, that works towards implementing
sustainability metrics and goals. Unfortunately politics have gotten in to
what was some very good citizen input and produced what we have so
far--which is not much.
Justin Eibenholzl
Armatage
Mr. Snyder writes:
"Question: I know a number of Hennepin County staff members who have done
some great work regarding sustainability issues, but where is Hennepin
County's sustainability plan and how has that been integrated into their
master planning efforts? I mean, at least Minneapolis has these things even
if you're not wholly satisfied with them.
"Aren't you risking taking a step backwards by supporting the guy who's had
how many years on the Hennepin County commission to propose these kinds of
efforts and apparently hasn't done so or if he has, hasn't managed to get
anywhere with them?"
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