RE: truth in taxation

Just want to set the record straight on this issue. The Mayor didn't actually support full-funding of the Park Board Infrastructure package. There are three pots of money that could have been allocated for the Park Board. The first was their CLIC or net debt capital money that is about $2.5 millio

RE: Library Funding in the out years

Interestingly enough besides the capital debt that Gustafson talked about, the library board has finally given us the operating deficity figures they expect to occur at the newly remodeled branch libraries. It is reasonable to expect remodeled libraries will have greater service needs given the f

RE: Discussion on TIF

They did invite a public official...me. Unfortunately I had a conflict which I couldn't change. I would have loved to have participated. Lisa McDonald Tenth Ward Council member > -Original Message- > From: Linda Higgins [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 10:38 AM

RE: Libraries, referendum, budget shortfall

I just want to clarify something that might have been misinterpreted on my previous post on libraries. I got my information from budget staff. That doesn't necessarily mean it is the mayor's point of view. So a cautionary note. Secondly I appreciate all the information Mr. Gustafson has posted. So

RE: Taxes, Mayor's budget and Library Referendum

I appreciate Mr. Gustafson comments on this issue. I asked our budget staff about the issue of both capital and the $2 million "structural deficit." I was told there will be no change in the library capital this year from the currently allocated capital. The referendum doesn't kick in till next ye

RE: affordable housing on greenway

One of the reasons that we don't do totally affordable housing projects is the concentration of poverty. That's why the Hollman decision was handed down. Plus basically as a city you want inclusionary housing. Folks of all income levels living next to each other. That's why we have scattered site

The Cost of Removing Graffiti

Graffiti Removal from Sensitive Surfaces I thought you might be interested to know that as of October 16, 2000 the City of Minneapolis has spent $343,487.86 removing graffiti from sensitive surfaces. Of this amount, the we have spent $274,326.75 and private property owners have spent $75,758.84.

RE: Paper Box Responsibility

You think that is bad, today I was out visiting busineses on Hennepin Avenue and discovered that everyone oif our new pedestrian light standards, which we haven't even turned on yet, had been stickered by a record company. Of course I pulled off a sticker and went to Oarfolk on 26th and Lyndale t

RE: park board and dog parks

Dave, We've spent hours discussing all of these issues over the past two years and believe it or not we have a handle on it. Rather than bore the rest of this group I'd be glad to chat with you on the phone about it. Give me a call at 673-2210 Lisa McDonald Tenth Ward Council member > -Origi

RE: Park Board-- who needs 'em?

Well I certainly agree after meeting with them on off-leash dog parks this morning. What a group. They go through a citizen participation process, promise parks and then when all is said and done we only get two of them, virtually guaranteeing they will be overrun and a failure. As to the issue

RE: Library Referendum

Yes David you need to have TIF for a downtown libary. The issue is whether is is one, two or four blocks. Given the state of our general fund it sould be on the same block as the library. So it's self-contained. The unfortunate thing is that everyone wants a stand alone civic Carnagie Mellon kin

RE: Library Referendum

Two questions I would like answered on the referendum. If indeed having all these books accessible means less librarian time inolved in finding them, will we be able to make some staff adjustments, ie. less staff or will we be able to extend hours? What exactly is the trade-off? I'm still also con

RE: Modular Housing in Minneapolis

Sorry this reply took me awhile. But here's the answer. Last year the legislature passed a law which doesn't let local jurisdictions discriminate against either modular homes or trailer homes. This was done because Representative McElroy has a modular home factory in his district. So I asked Blac

RE: New affordable housing new math

This is all such who-ha. The bottom line is that I made a motion during the affortdable housing hearings to make it 20 percent of BOTH rental and homeownership projects when the developer got city assistanmce. Needless to say some MCDA staff members were lobbying against either one of those option

RE: Target Center competition -- in the dailies

Here's what happened. The reporter from St. Paul caught both of us late afternoon before we had a chance to talk to staff. The next day we found out that SFX (who just closed their deal with the city last week) hadn't approached the city about this before spilling the beans to the Pioneer Press. W

RE: Piling on Boy Scouts, and PC

I think both sides have legitimate beefs on this issue. Three weeks ago I requested an opinion from the City Attorney about how the Boy Scout decision impacted our anti-discrimination ordinance. I was concerned on two counts. First is the issue of using publically funded facilities in the city; i.

RE: City Budget -- Response to Council Member Lane

I've been sitting on the sidelines watching this budget discussion and finally have decided to weigh in, hopefully without writing an e-mail message the size of "War and Peace." First of all it's great to have folks like Barrett and Paul scrutinizing the budget, since for years it was just myself