Meeting called to order at 5:00pm and a report on the Charter
Commission is added to what was suppose to be a one item agenda.
Brain Rice reports that he has received the 8th draft from the Charter
Commission and it does not include the revisions that had been
requested by Commissioner Young after the 6th draft in a letter dated
12-22-2004. There is a meeting on November 2nd to vote to submit draft
8 for public comment and Mr. Rice recommends submitting another letter
to again request that the 21 provisions and the request for language
change regarding state law be included as per the previous letter.
Mr. Rice is seriously concerned that with out the wording included the
city council will be able to modify the draft before public comment to
aversely affect the MPRB's independent standing. In effect, the way it
is worded they would put in place a new charter that would supersede
the state laws giving the MPRB it's independent status.
Apparently once the draft is out for public comment no further changes
can be made by the committee.
Commissioner Fine makes a motion to send a letter with Commissioner
Young and Commissioner Dziedzic seconds the motion.
Commissioner Dziedzic states that when he went before the commission
the previous year he testified to the fact that the MPRB could lose
it's status and no one appeared to listen.
Passes 8 AYES Commissioner Hauser absent
Budget for 2006
GM for Admin Siggelkow summarizes the paperwork the commissioners have
received, the survey (8 of 9 and Liz is still waiting for individual
commissioners' responses to be made available even after a Open Data
Practices request), budget history ( dollars approved in categories for
2001 thru 2005), number of positions in various union areas and
management, and an amended 2005 budget to show changes since passed in
Dec. 2004 (this was not available to the public in handout form).
Commissioner Erwin asks what effect the increase in LGA for 2006 will
have on the budget.
GM Siggelkow explains that it is a ONE TIME increase of $1.3 million
dollars.
Commissioner Erwin recommends it be used for one time spending
projects, hopefully those that will further reduce operating costs.
Commissioner Erwin then outlines where he would like to see changes in
the budget...
Add a forestry crew and 2 gardener positions ( one in North and one in
NE )
Add to the Youth sports
Add to field maintenance
Add to Senior programming
He does have specific amounts in mind and equal cuts in other areas to
balance the funds and will go into them in further detail after other
Commissioners speak
Commissioner Berry Graves has concerns based on the union staffing.
She notes that there have been reductions from 257 to 239 arborists
and that electricians
also were cut back. How are we to train in people to replaced the
experienced folks soon to retire and maintain our facilities and urban
forest? She also wonders if dollars for the extra managers hired could
have been used for these positions.
GM for Operations Mike Schmidt was explains how the vegetation
management crew was developing a plan to deal with buckthorn.
As things are now if volunteers to buckthorn removal on weekends, MPRB
staff is paid overtime to supervise and do chipping and removal.
Because the Board voted to eliminate OT the cost has been charged back
to the neighborhood organization or sponsoring group.
Commissioner Olson asks if this could be done more in the off season
when forestry has more down time to which GM Schmidt replies that the 2
seasons are the same.
Commissioner Fine says that it is his understanding that there will be
many retirements in the forestry staff and this area should be hiring
to train replacements.
GM Schmidt explains that this is false. Presently there are less than
6 in forestry that can retire in the next 4 years. In the park
maintenance crews however he foresees up to 45 people retiring during
the next 18 months. Many of the nearing retirement foresters had
already transfered into this other department. Many of these retirees
to be are also 30 year employees so they are the foreman, crew leaders
and senior park-keepers, the ones who have the greatest experience and
are likely the most efficient as well. Hiring equal numbers here will
not accomplish as much due to lack of experience (what are you hinting
at here Mike??? Need some more people??? :-)
Commissioner Olson trying to not be ageist asks if the forestry crew is
more of a younger man's area due to the workload. GM Schmidt suggests
that both areas are physically arduous and that the workman's comp
claims would bear this out.
Commissioner Dziedzic says he's concerned about removing the stumps and
there is some talk about how the stump removal budget was increased in
2005 over what was originally budgeted and that isn't reflected in the
non amended 2005 budget. He asks how much to get caught up and GM
Schmidt estimates about $1 million should do it.
Commissioner Dziedzic recommends approaching the legislature.
GM Siggelkow then reminds the commissioners that they are here to give
staff direction in forming the 2006 budget.
Commissioner Dziedzic asks if the surveys didn't already do that.
GM Siggelkow explains that a little more information on priorities
would be good.
Commissioner Kummer asks if jobs are posted internally for staff to
make transitions (yes, as well as externally where applicable)
Commissioner Mason at this time passes out a copy of a memo she
received from GM Siggelkow in regard to more questions she had about
the materials (or lack there of) provided. She would also like to see
more resources put into maintaining the park facilities used by the
most people.
The missing link on the itree report is now available at ......
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=52&prid=282
More to come in part 2
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
www.parkwatch.org
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