Public comment on the DeLaSalle CAC
1) Liz Wielinski recommends a land swap between the MPRB and DeLaSalle.
The school would move out to the Fort Snelling facility where they
would have access to the entire Neiman sports complex. The old school
could be rented as the houses on the north tip of the island are and
DeLaSalle would possibly have extra room to expand and possibly even
build an elementary school. The Neiman Complex would finally see some
use during the day and the MPRB would make the fields usable for
football.
2) Quentin Liggins DeLaSalle student and injured football player claims
the sound from the field will be no louder than the passing trains, and
the kids deserve it.
3) Arlene Fried "As a citywide stakeholder, I have attended all four
CAC meetings. It is apparent to me that DeLaSalle, like many other
institutions and private schools, has reached a point in its existence
where its needs are outgrowing its site. The DeLaSalle Stadium Project
is a shoehorn project. That is, it is forcing itself onto a site that
has multiple restrictions and problems. It is my observation that the
DeLaSalle Stadium Project is not an appropriate project for Nicollet
Island. DeLaSalle should be exploring other opportunities to
accommodate its growth."
4) Steve Froemming states that as a fan, and a person who has friends
that went to DeLaSalle he feels it would be closer for them, would
create field maintenance jobs and that he would like the commissioners
to please support this project.
5) Barry Clegg, CAC member and island resident. Based on the makeup of
the CAC the vote was pre-determined, even with what he considered a
switch on each side.
The votes he felt were the most important were those of the 2 landscape
architects who both voted against the resolution.
6) John Derus: DeLaSalle was not interested in having a CAC but went
through with it and now there are claims that it was predetermined.
People can't just change the outcome if they don't like it. DeLaSalle
supports the resolution.
7) Ms. R Day: Mayor Fraser's favorite saying was "downtown is
everyone's neighborhood". This is a rip off of everyone's property tax
dollars and suggests they move out to Neiman.
8) Eric Gallitz, Attorney for DeLaSalle... The field belongs with the
building and we should not be asked to leave, and it is a field and not
a stadium.
9) Steve Nelson park user, The school only seems to be concerned about
the football team. With this new plan now the tennis players will need
new courts. Why is it impossible for the football players to take the
footbridge at the north end of the park to the BF Nelson site and build
the stadium there. After all the kids at North High have to walk to
their field. He also states that they took the citizen out of citizen
advisory committee and quotes the corresponding MPRB policy that reads
that anyone living in Minneapolis that attends a the majority of the
meetings may vote.
10) Gary Cagel, delivers a letter from the Clean Water Alliance and
considers the environment omitted. DeLaSalle is claiming that a
promise from the 1984 agreement was not kept and it has been and there
should be a better legal opinion. He refers to DeLaSalle as
sanctimonious beggars who are getting land valued at $14 million for
free.
he goes over the 2 minutes and is cut off
11) Jan Hively, Island resident. States that she has the privilege of
paying $3300/ year in property taxes to live on the island and refers
to an article in Preservation Magazine that states Open Space is being
wiped out in spite of polls showing the desire to keep them and that
there is much stealth privatization of park land.
12) Edna Brazaitis, island resident and CAC member, She discusses how
on October 4th as the CAC members were finally starting to work as a
group the CAC was over. She states that it is not uncommon for urban
teams to be lacking in adjacent fields and list many public and private
schools facing this situation including St. Agnes and St. Bernard's in
St. Paul.
13) Mark Carlson: former DeLaSalle parent. claims DeLaSalle has been
accused of telling lies, playing unfair to win, etc.. Want's the board
to keep away from the toxic environment we have at the state level and
serve in the best interests of the public. He hopes they vote with
integrity.
14) Beth Hart, DeLaSalle parent, her kids are taking the bus to
DeLaSalle and wants everyone to think about the kids and how this will
benefit everyone without costing the MPRB anything, she also makes
comparisons to how when Abbott Hospital was expanding they didn't face
all this acrimony.
15) Larry Romanko, assistant girls soccer coach at DeLaSalle, Don't
focus on past mistakes, move forward on this project which will benefit
young people, be positive.
16) Phyllis Kahn, Island Resident, Rep. Kahn talks about issues of
process, how could a vote be taken without all of the information, what
is the outcome of the EAW, will the Met Council want its money back?
Should the city be reimbursed for the brick paved street to be vacated?
This will be a very expensive prospect.
17) Judy Blaseg: CAC member, was pleasantly surprised by what she
thought would be a tedious process. Thought the outcome was good and
again stresses that 50% of DeLaSalle kids get some sort of financial
aid.
18) John Chaffee, CAC member and island resident, refutes that this
isn't costing the MPRB a cent. They built tennis courts at a cost of
$1,065,000 that will be torn up and the land at todays rates is worth
between $4-8 million dollars. Is this a fair trade to the citizens of
Minneapolis for 350 hours of field time and 150 hours of gym time? It
is a gift of between 1 and 7 million from the public to the private
sector. Why is the MPRB willing to do this and why has there been no
analysis of the value to the public?
19) Judith Martin, quotes and article by Charles Birnbaum ( paraphrased
here... http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/5695927.html ) that
70-80% of park users are looking for passive recreation. She asks if
after the stadium is complete will DeLaSalle be back with their hands
out for the tennis courts also mentioned in the 1984 agreement which
will be taken out with the stadium.
at this point there is some confusion about what order Commissioner
Fine is "arbitrarily using" to determine the speaking order as the next
speaker signed up after Brother Michael Collins and would not like to
"cut in line".
20) Christine Viken, Ms Viken is concerned that the line between
politics and religion is being blurred and crossed and announced that
since her statement would be longer than 2 minutes she would post the
text on-line at www.e-democracy.org
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg41577.html
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg41617.html
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg41574.html
21) Brother Michael Collins, this is not a church and state issue, the
government should be neutral so as not to favor one over the other,
sees himself as an advocate for kids. This is not about ideology or
power but about young city kids.
22) Ross Sutter, Does not believe that people with personal ties to
DeLaSalle who in the past me have received scholarships for their
children or been salaried employees can be impartial. This project is
the wrong size and scale and an alternate site should be considered.
He also states that in light of current goings on it should be apparent
that sports stars are not gods and that athletes should not be lead to
believe that their needs are more important than others.
23) Susan Hanna, CAC member and former DeLaSalle parent, points out no
one is asking the residents to move, that the MPRB is getting use of
the field and 2 gyms and that in the 1980's the students signed
petitions to save the homes on the island. If the parks aren't about
kids they aren't for anything.
24) Catherine Dorr, has seen many opinions and is wondering if
another CAC will have to be held to move the tennis courts to BF Nelson
and will this decision be overturned by a new board after the
elections. Who does this board represent? At every debate and forum
she has attended all incumbents and challengers have promised not to
sell parkland.
25) Steve Christenson: Island Resident, Both landscape architects on
the CAC voted against this proposal, the site is too small, this land
was purchase as open space and the vote should not be taken before the
EAW is completed.
26) John St. Marie. This is truly democracy in action. He has lived in
Minneapolis since 1966 and there has never been a regulation field in
SE where he could have watched his kids play soccer. This field will
provide for both soccer and football. The field as designed appears to
him to be open space and even more than before with out the street and
tennis courts. This plan is a wonderful idea for the citizens of
Minneapolis.
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
more to come in part 3
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
