Hi Liz: Thanks for the thoughtful post. My understanding is that currently the plot of land on Nicollet Island that DeLaSalle wants to use for the playing field is not generating any revenue. Am I incorrect? Also, is there some other plan for turning that plot into something that generates revenue? Nikki Carlson Linden Hills -----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Wielinski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Minneapolis Issues <mpls@mnforum.org> Sent: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 08:45:59 -0500 Subject: Re: [Mpls] Taking the "Recreation" out of "Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board"
The issue of giving the land away could come back and haunt the Park Board just like the sale of the Fuji-Ya site. With the Fuji-Ya site the legislature kept a substantial amount and the rest of the money derived from the sale was shared with strings attached. The MPRB is short $2.5 million a year in their forestry budget ( per the Minneapolis Tree Commission ) , and their usual sources of income other than our property taxes, LGA, Metro Park dollars, funds from the LCMR, and fees from non MPRB teams etc... are all under attack ( even the golf courses are running behind with all of this rain ). The Park Board will regardless of their decision probably spend quite a bit defending itself in a lawsuit filed by one side or the other with the DeLaSalle issue, meanwhile something is going to have to give. Cuts will probably fall pretty hard on the RECREATION side of the budget as the other parts have been pared to the bone. How will this new field help? Maybe if DeLaSalle was payin g the going rate for leasing that property I would breathe easier. And in case you didn't notice it isn't being called a lease, that would involve a super-majority vote. As to bringing religion into the picture, I believe Chris Johnson in his post included private not just religious institutions in his examples. He could have also included charter schools ( quasi -private ) in the equation and I'm sure many are located next to parks as well. Speaking of the 2006 budget... how is that looking Commissioners????? Liz Wielinski T-ball mom ( yes, I am trying to keep recreation available!!!! ) Columbia Park Who would like to thank the Skyway News for sharing DeLaSalle's proposal with the public as it was not available to the audience at the June 1 meeting. 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
