[Mpls] Stone Arch Bridge for Rent
I only caught part of the MPRB meeting tonight but that section included, incredibly, a committee considering shutting down the Stone Arch Bridge and W River Road (the plank road), just south of the old Whitney Hotel, to the public for private rentals at a rate of $1000-$1500. Not sure how much time the fee covers. Also, from what I saw, rental of these spaces would not be available to local residents, especially not for weddings, nor local businesses, unions or clubs except for the Mill City Museum (MHS). Rental of these sites would be open to conventions - and staff was working with GMVCA. During rentals, a pedestrian path would remain open for bikers, runners, walkers, tourists, guided tours, trolleys?, etc. Staff has already chosen a private caterer to initially receive an exclusive three year trial contract to cater all events on the Stone Arch Bridge and the Plank/W River Road. When asked if this was a no-bid contract, staff sort of dodged the answer but said that staff prefers that only a single caterer receive the contract. Comm. Young sought to clarify and amend the staff proposal. She was shut down with an accusation of micromanagement. Comm. Erwin opposed the proposal. This proposal passed out of committee with Young and Erwin opposed and Berry Graves, Dziedzic, and Hauser in favor. I believe the proposal will go before full MPRB board at the next meeting. Some commissioner suggested contacting immediate neighbors about this proposal. That suggestion went nowhere. I don't recall any commissioners insisting that the proposal be submitted to local neighborhood groups, or advertised, or to be reviewed by a CAC. (I suggest that changing these sites from transportation and/or historic preservation/interpretation to shutting out the general public so as to assist the GMVCA with recruiting conventions is a major shift in use - one that requires reviews of earlier contracts with grantors who provided development funds for the Stone Arch and West River Road, so a citizen study/review committee seems in order.) Since I only saw a portion of the MPRB meeting without my full attention, I welcome corrections and clarification. Shawne FitzGerald Powderhorn 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Stone Arch Bridge for Rent
I'm glad to hear someone else's comments on the Oct. 5 Park Board Meeting. It all seemed so incredible that I was beginning to doubt my senses. Yes, they were talking about renting out the STONE ARCH BRIDGE for maybe $1000 - $1500! Now, being in the business of renting out spaces for events (Van Dusen Center, 1900 La Salle in Mpls.), I know at least something about the subject. Any of our three buildings rent for $1200 on a Friday or Saturday. I believe they said an event would require the time of two Park Police. And then there's clean-up. Plus the area would likely be shut down for 24 hour periods. In other words, they'd be hardpressed to break even at those prices. Of course it's the public's resources that they'd be renting out, and likely only for big special events like those of the GMVCC that promote Minneapolis. I didn't realize that the Minneapolis Park System is a service to underwrite the efforts of the Convention Center. Silly deluded me. CM Berry Graves questioned the whole thing, also pointing out that they were moving ahead without citizen input. In this case, it affects all the city's citizens, plus very specifically the residents along W. River Parkway. Don't tell me that ..., she asked repeatedly, as they proceeded with the usual modus operandi: staff comes forward with a proposal that presents shallow information that only supports a pre-selected course of action. It's unclear if the staff is running the show by presenting such selective info. or whether there are those on the board who are working with them and advisors from private enterprise. Staff said one caterer was chosen who offered the largest percentage of proceeds. However, that info. is really meaningless without the entire context, as 15% of a low cost caterer's proceeds may net significantly lower amounts than 10% from a high-end caterer. Just what criteria and what business analysis is being offered here? In this day of budget shortfalls, privatization must be considered out of necessity. But this rush to privatize our public park resources is being handled without any real cost/return analysis, let alone an opportunity for the impacted public to weigh in. I'm so glad that there are these public broadcasts. It means I don't have to buy movie tickets to experience incredible chills and absolutely frightening scenarios. Christine Viken Loring Heights-Stevens Square On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 02:35:55 -0500, Shawne FitzGerald wrote I only caught part of the MPRB meeting tonight but that section included, incredibly, a committee considering shutting down the Stone Arch Bridge and W River Road (the plank road), just south of the old Whitney Hotel, to the public for private rentals at a rate of $1000-$1500. Not sure how much time the fee covers. Also, from what I saw, rental of these spaces would not be available to local residents, especially not for weddings, nor local businesses, unions or clubs except for the Mill City Museum (MHS). Rental of these sites would be open to conventions - and staff was working with GMVCA. During rentals, a pedestrian path would remain open for bikers, runners, walkers, tourists, guided tours, trolleys?, etc. Staff has already chosen a private caterer to initially receive an exclusive three year trial contract to cater all events on the Stone Arch Bridge and the Plank/W River Road. When asked if this was a no- bid contract, staff sort of dodged the answer but said that staff prefers that only a single caterer receive the contract. Comm. Young sought to clarify and amend the staff proposal. She was shut down with an accusation of micromanagement. Comm. Erwin opposed the proposal. This proposal passed out of committee with Young and Erwin opposed and Berry Graves, Dziedzic, and Hauser in favor. I believe the proposal will go before full MPRB board at the next meeting. Some commissioner suggested contacting immediate neighbors about this proposal. That suggestion went nowhere. I don't recall any commissioners insisting that the proposal be submitted to local neighborhood groups, or advertised, or to be reviewed by a CAC. (I suggest that changing these sites from transportation and/or historic preservation/interpretation to shutting out the general public so as to assist the GMVCA with recruiting conventions is a major shift in use - one that requires reviews of earlier contracts with grantors who provided development funds for the Stone Arch and West River Road, so a citizen study/review committee seems in order.) Since I only saw a portion of the MPRB meeting without my full attention, I welcome corrections and clarification. Shawne FitzGerald Powderhorn 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
Re: [Mpls] Stone Arch Bridge for Rent
Would the Park Board candidates (or their supporters) for specific districts and at-large comment on this proposal and the discussion/proposal for a mini-mall on the South end of Lake Calhoun. Bill Dooley Kenny 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re[Mpls]: Stone Arch Bridge for rent.
Good for you, Shawne and Christine, for giving us more news on the shock and dismay front in re the outlandish Parks situation. There's precedent for renting facilities in the parks but IMHO this is a special case because the bridge links major sections of the Historic District. Should the Library Board rent out the facilities that they oversee? Not just a room or an auditorium, but whole locations? Might not the City of Minneapolis find creative ways to justify renting out City Hall from time to time? What else have we got in the public's hands that can be used to turn a dime here and there? Somebody should reel these guys in before we have nothing left for the public's use and enjoyment! Fred Markus, Phillips West 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: Re[Mpls]: Stone Arch Bridge for rent.
On Oct 6, 2005, at 8:40 AM, Fredric Markus wrote: Should the Library Board rent out the facilities that they oversee? Not just a room or an auditorium, but whole locations? Might not the City of Minneapolis find creative ways to justify renting out City Hall from time to time? They just started renting out City Hall for weddings last month. I don't think you get the whole building, though. Frankly, doing wedding rental seems like a good idea to me. Of course, you wouldn't want it to shut off parts of the building the public needs access to. As described, the Stone Arch and Plank Road projects sound like they would shut off such access. David Brauer Kingfield 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: Re[Mpls]: Stone Arch Bridge for rent.
Their next project is to rent out all the air in Minneapolis, but only for 60 to 90 minutes at a time, and only now and then, so not to worry. Think of all the money the private sector could make selling oxygen masks! Clearly, having air as a public commons resource is a direct affront to the spirit of capitalism, free enterprise, individual inititative, and all that has made America what it is today! Or would you rather get your inferior air from the nanny city? Hmm? Hmm? I won't feel good until I'm dropping a quarter into the meter for the next 10 minutes of air. As for what happens to the poor people and the animals, who needs them? --David Shove Roseville On Thu, 6 Oct 2005, David Brauer wrote: On Oct 6, 2005, at 8:40 AM, Fredric Markus wrote: Should the Library Board rent out the facilities that they oversee? Not just a room or an auditorium, but whole locations? Might not the City of Minneapolis find creative ways to justify renting out City Hall from time to time? They just started renting out City Hall for weddings last month. I don't think you get the whole building, though. Frankly, doing wedding rental seems like a good idea to me. Of course, you wouldn't want it to shut off parts of the building the public needs access to. As described, the Stone Arch and Plank Road projects sound like they would shut off such access. David Brauer Kingfield 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
