Proposed Citizens Participation Ordinance
As justification for the ordinance revision, the claim has been that if they ( the MPRB) need to change a light bulb, they need to hold a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). They have come up with a new DRAFT that you can visit, click on the staff report for the proposed ordinance.
I find the new version...... not so citizen participation friendly
First- they want to change it from all projects to major new or significant redevelopment projects.... no definitions of significant attached, like a cost or size.... nothing. This should be defined, as most development in the parks will be redevelopment as the MPRB acquisition fund seems to be tapped. As to repair or replacement this ordinance is not applicable - unless the MPRB so deems it. So if the MPRB chooses to tear down the Lake Harriet Bandshell to build a BIGGER BETTER BEIGER BANDSHELL they do not need a CAC unless they say so.
Second -they only want citizen involvement after a project is funded... I find this one hilarious. When meetings were delayed over the bike trails along St Anthony Parkway over 2 years ago we were told an agreement on the plan had to reached. Why? They had to have the plans written practically in stone in order to submit them to the Met Council just to get in line for funding. This would make a citizen advisory committee a rubber stamp... oops I may have hit the nail on the head there.
and my favorite.... notification will be reduced from 3 blocks to 1000 ft. This, by my not so technical measure of steps, makes it just a little over a block. If the parks in our system are "advertised" as being within 6 blocks of every resident in Minneapolis, shouldn't we go by that measure to make sure that folks are notified about changes to the park closest to their home?