My biggest concern about this bill is that it's a bill solely for Central. If no
one else in neighborhoods far and wide is contesting these issues, then making a
law to address it may not be the way to go. It certainly does address the
largest of the contested issues for Central's annual meeting. However, the
culture of CNIA, Central's neighborhood organization, created the situation that
created the rift from which a bill like this ensues. Interestingly enough, the
opposition had been complaining because they were not being given working papers
they needed to act responsibly as board members.
Humans, what a species!
WMarks, Central
David Brauer wrote:
> Minnesota House bill (HF 404) introduced by Minneapolis reps Jean
> Wagenius, Karen Clark, Len Biernat, and Wes Skoglund.
>
> According to the bill, "Thirty days before a meeting of the members of the
> neighborhood organization is to be held, notice of the date, time, and place
> of the meeting and any other information required by this chapter must be:
> (1) posted at all libraries, schools, park board, and other public buildings
> located within the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood organization,
> and (2) published in the community newspaper having the largest circulation
> within the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood organization or in a
> neighborhood organization newsletter that is distributed to all occupied
> buildings in the neighborhood."
>
> The bill also sets specific guidelines for who can vote at such a meeting:
>
> (b) In the case of a neighborhood organization, members with voting rights
> are individuals who, at a meeting of the neighborhood organization, can
> produce:
> (i) a Minnesota driver license, Minnesota identification card, or some form
> of residency verification issued by a public agency that indicates the
> individual resides within the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood
> organization; or
> (ii) proof of ownership or lease of a business or property or proof of being
> employed by a nonprofit organization or government entity located within the
> geographic boundaries of the neighborhood, if such members are authorized by
> the bylaws of the neighborhood organization.
>
> As for the voting requirements, they also look rational, if a bit onerous.
> Here in good ol' King Field, we've never checked driver's licenses or
> residency verification, but maybe we should - a la Florida, you never know
> when a disputed election will hit.
In Central we had been asking for several years that we have voting criteria
because when issues were "hot" we were known for "packing the room" to achieve
particular things. We were not necessarily very tidy about making sure that
ONLY people meeting our bylaw requirements were voting. I have my doubts that
King Field has been trying to operate with poverty politics, so it may not ever
have occured to you to need to have a way to prevent the worst ramifications of
it.
>
>
> I'm not sure exactly what constitutes "proof of ownership or lease of a
> business or property," etc. In King Field, most of us know the business
> owners by sight. We're trying to get these folks more involved in the
> neighborhood association, and I'd hate to make them produce tough-to-find
> business documents to vote in our meeting. (Our bylaws allow business owners
> to be members of the neighborhood association.) Then again, if you're going
> to require residents to produce a driver's license, you need some
> verification for business owners - but is there an easier way?
> I don't think there is an easier way, particularly in neighborhoods where new
> businesses owned by new groups of immigrants are becoming the norm.
> I do hope the Minneapolis reps behind the bill took the time to stop by
> their local neighborhood organizations to let them know this was coming and
> get feedback. Publicity good for the neighborhood goose is also nice for the
> elected-official gander...
>
> David Brauer
> King Field - Ward 10
> President, Kingfield Neighborhood Assn.
>
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