These will be replayed tonight beginning at 6pm and this weekend.
Watched CPED. Important because of its function and amount of budget
resources it is allocated.
Presented new report (available in Mayor's office) Housing Development,
Rehabiliation and Ownership resource guide. Variety of programs available
and important for those interested in corridor development and affordable
housing. Donated one copy to Nokomis Community library. These should be
available in all of our libraries (hint, hint).
NRP-informative presentation by Bob Miller and for the first time in several
years, he wasn't the recipient of alot of criticism and negativity.
Library Board presentation:
Director Kit Hadley did an excellent presentation involving equity of
funding among City, Park and Library board since l994. A large group of
ordinary residents turned out to support this presentation (usually these
presentations have more staff than residents).
Unfortunately, only 5 of the 13 council members were there to here
it--Natalie Johnson Lee, Paul Ostrow, Barbara Johnson, Dan Niziolek, and
Lisa Goodman. I realize other council people can listen to it on tape (if
they can find the time) but nothing beats being right there to ask
questions. The Mayor was not present.
Issues were service charges the city wants to increase and overhead cost
recovery charges (they are also attempting charges to Park Board on
Sewer/water even though the Park Boards lakes, etc. act as retention ponds
for city (talk about charging back the city). Costs are being shifted while
revenues are decreasing. Costs are being shifted to independent
boards...are these costs justified? and if they are why aren't revenues also
being increased to the independent boards. (my comment: If these charges
go through, it will wreck havoc with the good budget business plan the
library has done for next 5 years....unless that's the intention)
Trends: digital divide showing up in greatest proportion with have-nots
and the state of education in a competitive global economy (one reason why
lib. is working more with schools and parks, witnessess overwhelming success
of last summer's Marshall Field sponsored kids reading program).
Mpls has lowest open hours in country for city of its size and budget based
on 2 libraries being closed. when No regional and east lake reopen, other
libraries will be cut (or closed?).
In what looks like a pretty good apples to apples comparison, The
libraries situation vis a vis the city and parks certified tax levy and LGA
show from 2003 to 2008 :
Librrary board experiencing a decrease of l.5%
City of Mpls shows an increase of 13.79%
Park Board show an increase of 9.56%
From 1994 to 2008 (Certified tax levy, LGA, HACA)
Library board shows an increase of only 41.62%
compared to the city incrase of 77.37% and ther Park boards increase of
75.23%.
Ms. Hadley asked for a review of the formulas. Ms. Goodman asked from where
she wanted to take the money..the parks, public works (my humble comment,
there are still a few savings which can be made if priorities revisited like
outside consulting (and I used to be a consultant)...this has been brought
up by others, mayor's proposed increase in downtown planners, appointed
staff salary increases of 14-15%, avoidance of lawsuits, high staff use task
forces, etc.) The Library board is not at war with the park board and I
hope the dialogue doesn't lead down that path.
Mr. Ostrow said he doesn't see the council supporting the library's request
on this. Ms. Hadley stated that she was only asking for the council to look
at this. Closings of libraries came up (and it could very easily happen in
2008). One council member complemented the library on the process it used
to take the pulse of residents several years ago and not close libraries.
Ms. Hadley asked that the formulas be revisited on a yearly basis and
stressed the importance of representative democracy and openess and
transparency.
A fire alarm/evacuation occured and prevented further questions. This
afternoon, council session held on police/resident issues (iincluding law
suits)
With best wishes,
cheryl Luger
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