On 11/1/05 7:08 AM, "rick broberg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Point #1, RT wasn't even there when the resolution for the vapor recovery was > written. And I believe your trying to claim all the credit for someone who > wasn't even there for the work. > SOURCE: Ordinance 2001-Or-160, proposed by CM Biernat, amended Title 13, > Chapter 287.110, required that all gas stations established after 1/1/02 must > install and use a Stage I vapor recovery system. This proposed ordinance > passed unanimously on December 28, 2001, by City Council and was approved on > December 31, 2001, by Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. That's true. But note the key phrase limiting this ordinance to "all gas stations established after 1/1/02" - this limitation put a serious damper on how much good this ordinance was going to do since existing gas stations continued to operate under the status quo. That's why, a year later, on December 13, 2002, Minneapolis City Council passed a similar ordinance authored by CM Scott Benson that expanded this requirement to include all existing gas stations, which did a heck of a lot more good that the first one. (thanks again, Scott!) This was the ordinance that my Sierra Club committee worked to pass and that Mayor Rybak was a significant help in getting passed. > Point #2, in response to the Riverside Coal Plant conversion, there was no > opposition. If a state needs to increase electric generation to meet > increasing demands, it must reduce existing emissions to compensate for it. > The Riverside Coal Plant conversion was supported by Xcel Energy, MPCA, and > various environmental organizations, besides the Mayor.... > > SOURCE: MN Stat 216B.1692, required submission of the Metropolitan Emissions > Reduction Proposal (MERP). The MERP was submitted July 26, 2002, and was > reviewed by MPCA, December 30, 2002. For folks sitting on the sidelines, I can understand the appearance of "no opposition" - from an environmental standpoint, that was largely true. Most people recognized the significant environmental improvements that MERP would bring. However, there was definitely opposition from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce as well as many large industrial manufacturers to the rate increase that accompanied this proposal. There was also some opposition from well-meaning, but poorly informed individuals who feared that switching Riverside (and High Bridge in St. Paul) would result in escalating natural gas prices. This was debunked by research from the State Department of Commerce during the approval process, but it still pops up from time to time, much like the foolishness about Nicollet Island residents don't pay property taxes. The opposition from the Chamber and manufacturers was a big part of why it took until December 2003 for the Public Utilities Commission to finally approve MERP, nearly 18 months after it was introduced. And it was thanks to a large coalition of community groups, environmental groups and elected officials, including Mayor Rybak, that overcame the opposition from powerful business interests and eventually persuaded Gov. Pawlenty to intervene and get the Chamber to back off. > Point #3, I was told that the endorsement meeting was a closed door session of > the Political Committee and that a volunteer/member was not allowed to 'sit > in' the meeting or I would have. Thank you for the clarification, I am sure > Bill and others would like to know how to participate given the endorsements > this year. You were informed correctly. The endorsement meetings consisted only of members of the Political Committee. However, there's nothing stopping you from seeking to be a part of the next Political Committee that is convened if you so desire. All you should have to do is make your wishes known to your committee chair and perhaps to the Executive Committee. Then you too can spend nine months sitting through long meetings, interviews and reading page upon page of questionnaire responses until your eyes glaze over. We'll be glad to have you aboard so you can tell us all how naïve and ignorant we apparently are! Mark Snyder Windom Park 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
