You raise some interesting points, and I'm glad to hear you are game to be
'agreeable' and 'pro-neighborhood.' I'll try not assume you're not.
BUT, I could've alleviated poverty last night if I would've had a little
extra money. I was in a City park painting when two homeless guys started
a chat. They wanted to help, and I wanted to hire them. I sure would've
loved to go downtown with a receipt and get my $50 back. Or just have
Betty cut them a check from the No Feral Child Left Behind Fund.
If our Council was a true and pure representation of the neighborhood, all
our money would be put toward Olde English 800. Our Council has made
efforts, like WSCO, to recruit non-WASPs. The door is always open. The
Annual Event has elections, advertised in the paper. We tell our neighbors
about it. Not much more can be done, so the board has to just try and do
what they feel is best for the neighborhood, and since those decisions are
being made by the people who care the most and who know what's going on the
most, then it follows that they should get to make the decisions. Or, as
you prefer, get to advise you.
The PED liaison was a failure and is not likely to work again, at least for
a while. It wouldn't hurt to get a State of the Department release from
them, considering the recent change.
People don't know their Rep, Sen, etc. either, so it's not really fair to
expect people to know their Council.
Yes, you, the Commissions, City Hall, would take the heat for any fallout,
I suppose. But to think you know more about what our neighborhood needs
than our board does is arrogant. You live in Highland Park so know what
you need, what you want, and what you want it to look like up there. I
would trust your board to know the scene more than, say, a Centex, who are
literally in it only for the money.
As part of the smoking underground, I will venture to bet that we won't
mind carrying on as we often do - sneaking off somewhere in shame to
indulge and gossip.
We have a go-to person in City Hall. We of Ward 2 elected him fair and
square, and all the non-elected are still involved in their own right. If
Elizabeth or Christine were elected, WSCO would have a go-to person, too
(well, they do in Dave anyway, if you ask me). Dave is a "forefather" of
the Council system so our board/council can't really be more in touch with
each other. But there's always some sort of resistance eventually (PED.
Mayor, etc.)- why is that do you think? They make me feel like they think
we are too stupid to know what is good for ourselves, and that annoys me to
no end.
When are they gonna turn on the damn drinking fountains at the Upper
Landing park anyway?! ;-)
Have a blast this weekend! I can hardly believe it... "SO THIS IS SAINT
PAUL!!!!"
Andrew M. Hine
Corporate Research Materials Laboratory
3M Center 201-1W-28
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-5335
Lab 201-W110
"M Anfang"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
com> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: cc:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [StPaul] Re: District
Council Overhaul
orum.org
07/01/2004 08:48
PM
Since I am going to take a minute and respond, I'll correct my previous
email and tell you that even District 15 has non-english speakers too,
unfortunately we have in families living in poverty as well.
I was looking at the district council websites today, assuming that they
would be attempting to communicate with the rest of the neighborhoods, for
if they are really trying to get people jazzed up about more money over
here
vs. over there, am I the only one that thinks there might be some mention
of
it on at least 1 website?
And if paying a district council a little more money is going to somehow
alleviate pressures on crime, poverty, non- english language issues then
the
Councils are doing way more than I thought.
Tim asked if District Councils should be done away with... absolutely not.
Is there a district council that takes a position, gets a unanimous vote
from the board, and then thinks that this is how everyone in the
neighborhood thinks? If residents truly thought that they were being
represented by their grid representative, why would they show up to testify
at public hearings?
The district council elected members really are not accountable to anyone.
I would bet if I went door to door in my grid maybe 1% of the people would
know the name of my representative, I wonder how many district council
members field calls at home, or go door to door to get input. I would not
expect that they would, who could dedicate that kind of time?
On the other hand, if there were a problem in the neighborhood, or they
want
to know why a survey crew was out in front of their house - I'd bet they
would figure out in a hurry that Gayle Summers probably knows why they were
there, what they had for lunch, and when they'll be back.
Members of the District Councils are people that really care and have a
desire to be involved, it does not mean that what they're saying or that a
position of a council is how the neighborhood really feels. Thoughtful
dedicated people, that is who sits on the councils, under no circumstance
should the avenue for Community participation be disolved.
What the District Council says, or what a Community Organizer says to an
issue is not the way it ought to be, the District Council serves in an
advisory capacity, so does the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning
Appeals, the Bicycle Committee and City Staff. They're all advisory to the
City Council. Advisory.
Crime Prevention Education, Block Clubs, National Night out, Recycling,
Neighborhood Clean-up and seeking community input, thats why they're here,
and here to stay.
How can they be more effective and inclusive, try these:
- I think the District Councils need a liaison back in PED, Mayor's Office,
whatever, they need a go-to person at City Hall.
- When a recommendation from a district council is brought or sent to
another board, it would be helpful to have some background. More often
than
not, a letter will be submitted that says, the District 25 Planning
Council
urges the Planning Commission to oppose the rezoning of 387 Ocean Drive.
That's it, include a little more, give the position some teeth-
We had 8 people testify, the 5 in opposition were consistent with they're
reasons such as... The 3 that supported the rezoning said...
We had a case at the Planning Commission a year or so ago, and I think it
was the Thomas / Dale Council that summarized exaclty what ocurred at the
neighborhood meetings. I think that the majority of the testimony was
contrary to the Council's recommendation, but they told us what happend,
and
why they made the recommendation they had made.
Its hard thankless work, not always agreeing with the district council does
not mean you're anti-neighborhood, or all about "big buiness". Heck this is
Saint Paul, I think the biggest business in town is government!
The district councils shield City Hall, who do you think is going to get
the
call when all the people who want a smoke are standing in the alley behind
the neighborhood bar!
- Matt Anfang
I really live in Highland Park
>From: Tim Erickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "St. Paul Issues Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: [StPaul] Re: District Council Overhaul
>Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 13:14:14 -0500
>
>Two points:
>
>#1) I joked about Chuck Repke being the big winner, not as any kind of
>criticism of Chuck or the proposed new system. I certainly don't think
that
>Chuck "manipulated" the system - although he does know how to "work it."
>Its simply the case that Chuck has been the very vocal promoter of this
new
>system in our forum and I couldn't resist the urge to toss in that
comment.
>Clearly, this effort involved many people and will have a positive impact
>on several districts, A neutral impact on others, and others might loose a
>little something over the long run.
>
>#2) Matt Anfang commented "to say that the boards are representative of
the
>community, well thats another matter..."
>
>While others might disagree, I'll grant Matt the point that district
>councils aren't really representative of their districts. Just as our city
>council doesn't really represent our city nor does our congress really
>represent our nation. All of these bodies tend to represent that portion
of
>the population to that takes the time and effort to get involved, run for
>office, and vote (neglecting for a moment the impact of money on the
>process). Or as some might say, "its a messy and inefficient system, but
>its the best system that we've been able to find."
>
>I frequently hear people criticize district councils, site councils, and
>other community based policy bodies - about, not representing their
>communities. But, when I go to the meetings of these organizations, I find
>groups of volunteers desperately struggling to get more people to take an
>interest, to get involved, and to vote in their elections.
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>I'm wondering if Matt or anyone else has any suggestions or ideas about
how
>to make district councils more representative of their communities? How to
>increase participation?
>
>OR - does this criticism suggest that district council bodies are
>inherently unrepresentative and should be down away with?
>
>Just curious,
>
>Tim Erickson
>Hamline Midway
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>----------------------------------------------
>
>>Apparently this issue is of no importance to the Community Councils. I
>>just had a few minutes between meetings, perused each of the District
>>Council websites (and the City's) an found zero information about the
>>proposed funding plan.
>>
>>Population based funding is probably the most equitable way to fund these
>>councils. Are the issues any more difficult to address in District 2
than
>>in District 13? We have non-english speaking people too!
>>
>>Should we do it by tax base? why no, that would not be fair...
>>
>>Maybe a system could be established where funding is determined by a
basis
>>of where a college or university is located and what the "negative
>>impacts" of their presence is on the community... no, too issue based
>>
>>Perhaps some councils could get "bonused" when they take action on an
>>issues within an established timeframe. There is usually always time to
>>come and report that they did not have time to respond... silly
>>
>>Maybe when a development or improvement that meets zoning and codes
within
>>an area of a council is opposed, that future property values associated
>>with that be imposed as a fine on the funding... nah
>>
>>Kudos to the District Councils that have done fundraising efforts, Kudos
>>to all the councils for that matter, the representatives of the boards
are
>>committed and valued citizens,
>>
>>to say that the boards are representative of the community, well thats
>>another matter...
>>
>>Good Luck Chuck,
>>
>>Matt Anfang
>>Highland Park
>>
>
>
>--
>=================================================
>Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA
> 651-643-0722
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim
>=================================================
>
>
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