[Mpls] Park Board Meeting Highlights

[Chris Johnson]

Park Board Meeting Highlights, September 1, 2004 -- Part 3

7:13PM

[Regular meeting - continued]

* Reports From Officers

* Assistant superintendent Don Siggelkow reports on the Liens filed by 
contractors against the Park Board for work down at "The Fort" [a historic 
building at Ft. Snelling which the Park Board acquired a few years back and 
for which there were plans to convert it to an indoor skate park facility]. 
Apparently there is some sort of insurance company proposal with some sort of 
right to negotiate to resolve the liens, both a 60 day and 120 day period were 
mentioned, but it wasn't clear what was meant.  There also seems to be another 
proposal from some other company than the original failed company to build 
some sort of facility there.

* Assistant superintendent Judd Rietkerk was supposed to report on the Bassett 
Creek Valley Master Plan, but only just today met with the City, and wants to 
beg off until the first meeting in October.  [the master plan documents have 
been on the City's web site for over a yaer]

* Assistant superintendent Mike Schmidt reports that the forestry department 
wants to make a dry run of their forestry management plan for 2004-2005 to 
board members.  It will happen on Monday, September 13 at 3:30pm.  Full 
presentation to the board will be at October 6 meeting.

Comr. Hauser expresses concerns about recently planted trees being watered.

7:22PM

* Interim superintendent Jon Gurban is asked to summarize his [board policy 
required] monthly superintendent's report [the first such time he's actually 
produced one since taking the position].  He hems and haws about his "8 page 
report" covering the spring and summer, that it was mailed out, but that it is 
"8 pages" so is "too lengthy" to discuss at this moment.

Comr. Young points out that nobody actually has a copy of the report yet -- 
since it was apparently just mailed today -- and as such discussion should be 
moved to the next meeting.  She states the report is supposed to be ready by 
the first meeting of each month [per the MPRB handbook, rules and polices, 
duties of the superintendent].

* Consent Business

Consent items 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 are moved.

Item 2.3 states:  "That the board authorize staff to aplly to the NFL's 
community football fields program for a grant in the amount of $200,000 for 
the Parade."

Comr. Young asks why the grant would be for artificial turf at the Parade 
instead of North Commons [as had been previously discussed]?  Parade never had 
board approval, was just a proposed plan.

Schmidt answers with a lot of talk about how the grant works and that it 
cannot be moved from one place to another, where the grant comes from, etc. 
etc.  He says Parade was part of some Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and so 
that amounts to approval.

All three consent items PASS.

* Planning Items

* Comr. Fine moves 4.1, approval of the staff comments to Xcel on their 
aesthetic adequacy flow plan.  There is a vote, then some discussion and then 
a revote with Comr. Mason and Comr. Dziedzic voting NO.  PASSES.

* Somehow an item 4.2 gets inserted here, and Comr. Dziedzic makes a 
substitute motion to approve plans to transfer park police from south side 
service center to HQ building.

Comrs. Erwin and Mason do not want to vote on this plan until the exact costs 
are known.  Erwin suggests a modification to the motion to allow project to 
proceed.

Comr. Young says she must vote no until they get construction bids.

Comr. Hauser asks if Dziedzic would change his motion to Erwin's suggestion.

Comr. Fine decides now would be a good time to launch one of his trademark 
paternalistic tirades on proper procedure, and lectures comr. Young on the 
purpose of the lights and how motions are made.  Fine then says the Park Board 
will "save money" by moving the police [conveniently ignoring the financial 
facts].

Comr. Kummer says she agrees and she thinks it is the job and perogative of 
the superintendent to do so [ignoring -- once again -- that the issue is not 
about space allocation but proper communication with the board and the board 
approved financial arrangements for the HQ building].  She then says the 
"issue of lost property taxes is nothing."  [taxpayers might think differently.]

Comr. Berry Graves says she feels it is her job to have a budget before 
voting.  She states her responsibility is to the public, to have that 
information before approving such a project.

Comr. Erwin offers a second substitute motion which authorizes staff to 
proceed with planning and to get cost estimates.

Erwin's motion passes with Mason voting No.

Dziedzic withdraws his substitute motion.

7:40PM

* Unfinished Business

* Items 8.1 (adopting a change to ordinance to allow liquor license at 
Calhoun), 8.2 (resolution to appoint appraisal commissioners for Nokomis and 
Minnehaha Parkway improvements), and 8.3 (resolution honoring work of 
lifeguard Meagan Norlin-Weaver) are moved and seconded.  All PASS unanimously 
on a role call vote.

* Staff member Mary Page gives a brief update report on the superintendent 
search.  The application period is open.  There are ads in Minnesota 
Recreation and Park Association member publications, an ad on the Park Board's 
web site, and there will be an ad in the National Recreation and Park 
Association's publication.  Application period closes October 8.  The original 
(approved in March) schedule had a public hearing with the finalists on 
October 19, but it is unlikely the Oldani Group will have the finalists to the 
board by that date.  She recommends a schedule adjustment.

Comr. Kummer takes this opportunity to rail about the citizen comments 
regarding a desirable superintendent made at the August 4 which she missed, 
and complains bitterly about the letter from Lisa McDonald which Kummer claims 
"forbids a certain person from applying" [it actually says:  "I think...the 
interim superintendent not be considered for this position."]  She wants the 
board to get a legal opinion on this and have it read into the record.

Comr. Erwin says we don't need to waste money on a legal opinion.  No one is 
excluded from applying for the position.

Kummer further states that if the citizens all understand that it was 
inappropriate and violates labor law, then she will withdraw her request for 
the legal opinion.

Comr. Mason states the public is free to say anything they please, and that it 
is not inappropriate for the public to make such a request.  Mason says 
October 19 is not a good date for her for a public hearing on the finalists.

Kummer continues to belabor her [wrong-headed] point about McDonald's letter 
and Gurban being able to apply for the job.

Mary Page states that the Oldani Group will accept applications from everyone. 
  She says they will not have the finalist recommendation to the board until 
some time in November.

Comr. Young says we should change the date of the public forum.

* New Business

* Comr. Young asks about reorganization planning and new titles.  She says the 
board needs a report answering a number of questions, e.g. the number of 
appointments the superintendent makes, the new titles for those positions, the 
new reporting structure and how it will mesh with the board.  She would like a 
transition team report.

Comr. Dziedzic says the most important function of the board is the hiring of 
the superintendent, and the superintendent hires other people.

* City Council Member Barb Johnson is present and asked if she wants to speak. 
  She does and briefly talks about the several proposals the city has to the 
Salvation Army for Kroc Community Centers in Northeast and at North Commons.

Comr. Young asks how the city handle the separation of church and state issue, 
and the city non-discrimination laws.

CM Johnson says these issues will have to be dealt with [sounds like they have 
not yet been], but she knows there will be a chapel in the facility.

Comr. Dziedzic again points out that Joan Kroc, heiress to the McDonalds 
fortune, left $2 billion "with a B" and rehashes the history of this program.

7:57PM

[somewhere prior to this time, assistant superintendent and official board 
secretary Don Siggelkow had reminded the board that they go off the air -- 
having a 3 hour time slot on cable -- at 8pm]

CM Johnson says this Kroc center deal is a "tremendous opportunity," etc.

7:58PM

Regular meeting is adjourned, Mason leaves [she is not a member of the Admin 
and Finance committee].

Comr. chair Hauser calls the Administration and Finance Committee to order.

* Comr. Dziedzic moves action item 7.1, approval of payment to Brauer and 
Associates for comprehensive park planning, with an increase of $12,000.

Comr. Young is supportive of a comprehensive plan, but is not sure we know 
what we are doing yet, since we are in the middle of a reorganization, and 
will vote no.

Asst. super. Siggelkow says work is done for this billing.

Comr. Erwin says that public input must be part of the comprehensive plan process.

7.1 PASSES.

* Comr. Dziedzic proposes that action item 7.2 approving purchase of more 
parking payment equipment be postponed, unless staff objects.

Asst. super. Siggelkow says staff would like to postpone all remaining items 
so that all of the meeting gets televised.

Dziedzic proposes same (postponing 7.2 and study items #2 and #3).

Comr. Berry Graves make a motion postponing until next meeting so that public 
is confident in the process and conformance to open meeting laws.

Comr. Kummer thinks the public would like to see discussion of 7.2 regarding 
parking meters.

Comr. Erwin says they should proceed because sometimes they are going to run 
out of time, but it is chair Hauser's call.

Comr. Hauser calls the question on Berry Graves motion.  It PASSES with Young 
voting No.

Move to Ajourn PASSES with Young voting No.

~8:10pm.

End of Part 3, End of Meeting Notes.

Chris Johnson - Fulton