Budget meeting continues...
Commissioner Mason notes that the MPRB has gone from quite a few FT to
PT positions and wonders if this should be reconsidered.
Commissioner Olson asks how a line item budget is done?
GM Siggelkow states it is done by the department managers
Commissioner Mason restates that she did not receive the information
she had requested.
GM Siggelkow replies that they are now going to district budgets with
the restructuring. [go to this link and scroll to the bottom for my
comments regarding this from 12-15-2004 that are still pertinent
questions.... http://www.mplsparkwatch.org/node/187 ]
Commissioner Erwin states his budget issues...
Increases Diseased Tree Removal
Youth Sports up 25 % = 120,000
Field Maintenance up 25% = 170,000
Senior Programming up 200%= 100,000
Reduction # of ice rinks for $400,000
Increase in Youth Supervision ( N, NE and Powderhorn )100% = $83,000
Take $ from ticket revenues (which would have to increase because they
are already earmarked so watch where you park and speed)
Increase staff at Rec + by 100%=120,000 which will serve more kids
Reduce admin 5%
Where there are Rec centers close to each other have more junior staff
full time and make the managing staff take on 2 centers. Changing to 1
manager per 2 rec centers could put $75,000 into youth programming
He would like to use the 1 time LGA windfall to get 2 mobile movie
screens, one for north and one for NE and plantings for the new
gardeners
Staff additions 2 gardeners and 1 forestry crew.
Commissioner Berry Graves would like to add a water quality person, a
manager for Environmental Operations, 2 carpenters, add Whittier, and
Phillips to the list of parks Commissioner Erwin wants extra staff at,
Teen Teamworks and Youthline restored and more Park rehabilitation
dollars
If kids are our priority our budget should reflect this.
Commissioner Young comments negatively on the amount of information she
had to work with and gets into a discussion with President Olson over
the line item budget...
LIZ"S APOLOGIES HERE ....there was commentary by Commissioner Young
and Commissioner Olson during the next few minutes but I missed it as
my husband was ill and my 6 year old companion (my son Bobby) needed a
restroom break. ( maybe Scott Vreeland who was also present at the
meeting could fill in the blanks, though his earlier post was pretty
specific about his opinion of the meeting)
Commissioner Fine wants to know why they should put more money into
field maintenance, and shouldn't they just be redone with capital
dollars
He would like Commissioner Erwin to give a better explanation
Commissioner Dziedzic wants to know if there were cuts in recreation,
feels it has been kept at a stable level. Back when they eliminated
the Rec Coordinators they created a void filled by the folks that did
outreach and youthline and folks want it back. He would also like MORE
rinks, skip the warming rooms and just flood the old rink spots like at
Hi-view and give kids a chance to skate [ disclaimer...Hi view is my
local park and the last year they flooded the rink was in 1993-94 the
year I moved into my house, but this was not my suggestion, he skipped
my house when door-knocking ]
Commissioner Kummer asks how the budget fares with the new $1.9 million
in additional taxes ( if approved) and GM Siggelkow states that with
the recent raises in union contracts and increases due to inflation and
health care they will break even.
Commissioner Mason would like youth sports to be combined with all
other youth programming and refered to as Youth Recreation
The only other increase she would suggest if possible is more milfoil
harvesting and she would also like staff to "come up with a plan" for
the Neiman Complex. She would also like additional budget discussions
to be held between 11/16 and 12/7 when the public has input.
Commissioner Hauser who has just arrived would like to see an increase
in the base dollars for stump removal and feels that more investment in
beaches in pools would serve more people that ice rinks
She would also like to see that the staffing levels are kept in the
building trades and park keepers
Commissioner Erwin makes a motion to direct staff to work on the 2006
budget with these priorities...
establish a 4th forestry crew, hire 2 gardeners, more money into youth
RECREATION, field maintenance, senior programming, stump removal, pay
for OT for volunteer event staffing needs example buckthorn removal,
and wise investments for the one time LGA increase
Commissioner Mason amends (friendly) to include milfoil and a Neiman
Complex plan
to which President Olson suggests dealing with at another time and he
is reminded it was on the SURVEY
GM Schmidt weighs in with the milfoil harvesters already at full
capacity and we would need another harvester and the DNR only allows so
much to be harvested due to fish habitat concerns. President Olson ask
for a ballpark cost and is told about $100,000 for another harvester.
Superintendent Gurban (hey .. he's there..) mentions that they are
already at the max for DNR area and GM Schmidt mentions it could be
done more often in the same areas.
Commissioner Fine again states that the ball fields were not built to
make money but to improve field quality for those playing sports. The
Neiman Complex is like the neighborhood parks ( but the neighborhood is
Bloomington isn't it???) He would also like the funding for JUMP IN
restored.
Commissioner Kummer would like no cuts to the water quality budget. She
would also like loss statements for all the other parks if there is one
for Neiman.
Commissioner Hauser again asks if Neiman is a recreational opportunity
or not and would like to PRESERVE GREEN SPACE (only that with gridiron
lines on it, right??? )
Commissioner Berry Graves seconds the milfoil ( would increase the
swimmers) and Jump In coming back
President Olson points out there are 3 minutes remaining
Commissioner Young requests that we have Jump In in more than just
English if its coming back and would like to see more money in
environmental education.
Commissioner Dziedzic puts in his remaining comment that they are not
in the fee business but the fun business.
9 ayes for what appears to be priorities of...
2 gardeners
1 forestry crew
Field Maintenance
Youth Recreation
Stump Removal
Senior Programming
Jump In
Environmental Education
Adjourned 6:30 PM
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
and Bobby age 6, who is the kid lying on the floor if you watch on TV
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