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Superintendent Jon Gurban
Southwest Journal: Parks notebook
From the Southwest Journal Parks Notebook by Mary O'Regan and Dylan Thomas
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Park Board superintendent reelectedOn May 16, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted to reelect Superintendent Jon Gurban, extending his term another three years. Park Board Commissioner Annie Young, who did not support Gurban's initial election in 2003, proposed that his new contract include an annual performance review and work plan.
The board compromised and will include her suggestions in the negotiations with Park Board President Jon Olson, but not in Gurban's contract. Young also asked that the board review his contract before its presentation to the superintendent, but her request was denied.
A Heads-Up for the June 6, 2007 Minneapolis park board meeting
There will be a 20 minute Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board study session on the CALHOUN MASTER PLAN UPDATE beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Minnehaha Room on the second floor of the MPRB Headquarters Building at 2117 W. River Road prior to the regular Board meeting this Wednesday. This meeting is open to the public.
Also on the study session agenda will be the Grand Rounds Missing Link and Net Debt Bonding from State.
The Superintendent's Review Committee will meet at 7:15 p.m. for a review of RECOMMENDED TERMS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S NEW CONTRACT. This meeting will be in the Board room and also is open to the public. The regular MPRB meeting will be at 5:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, you can call the Park Board at 230-6400.
Superintendent Jon Gurban Loses His Composure at Lowry Hill Annual Meeting
The following letter was submitted by Joyce Murphy of Lowry Hill who witnessed MPRB Superintendent Jon Gurban yelling at another Lowry Hill resident who was questioning him about the construction at Parade.
To all who represent me on the Minneapolis Park Board:
On Monday evening May 14th I went to the Lowry Hill Homeowners annual meeting at the Walker Art Center. The program for the meeting included reports about the progress that the city and state were making for the citizens of our state and city.
Transcript of May 16 Open Time
Full transcript of the previously posted video clip, titled The Sequel: Minneapolis Park Board President vs. Free Speech, where Arlene Friend again attempts to speak during Open Time at the Park Board meeting -- after the ACLU sent a letter to the Park Board's attorney:
Transcript of May 2 Open Time
Full transcript of the previously posted video clip, titled Minneapolis Park Board president quashes free speech, where Arlene Friend attempts to speak during Open Time at the Park Board meeting:
The Sequel: Minneapolis Park Board President vs. Free Speech
This is what happened after the ACLU petitioned the Minneapolis Park Board on behalf of a citizen whose "Open Time" statement urging the board not to renew the superintendent's contract was cut off by the Park Board President.
Star Tribune: Minneapolis rehires Gurban to run parks
In an article subtitled "The park superintendent was given a new three-year contract. Some citizens and board members had concerns," Star Tribune reporter Pam Louwagie wrote:
Three and a half years after hiring a superintendent who hadn't applied or interviewed for the job, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to extend a new, three-year contract to him.
The vote authorized a three-member subcommittee to draft a contract that the board president will use to negotiate with Superintendent Jon Gurban.
After the meeting, Park Board President Jon Olson said that Gurban's current salary is $114,500, ... and that the board has authorized the maximum allowable under state law, or nearly $140,000.
Minneapolis Park Board president quashes free speech
Minneapolis Park Board President Jon Olson cuts off a member of the public speaking out against the extension of the superintendent's contract during Open Time at the May 2, 2007 Park Board meeting.
Discussion to extend superintendent contact
Dec 31 1969 - 6:00pm
The discussion of extending the Superintendent's contract and a raise will be discussed by the full board at this meeting. This decision will decide the leadership of the MPRB staff for up to 3 years.
AN EVALUATION OF SUPERINTENDENT JON GURBAN
Or 10 Reasons Why The MPRB Needs A New Superintendent
MPRB Superintendent Jon Gurbans contract expires at the end of this year. Instead of conducting a search for a new superintendent, it is expected that at the May 16 Park Board meeting the Park Board is going to rehire Gurban for another three years in spite of the fact that his leadership has been problematic.
So far, there has been no indication that the public will have any opportunity to comment on the rehiring. It will be done very quickly and without public input. The following 10 examples are indications of the Park Boards administrative dysfunction and poor management practices under Superintendent Gurban:
Superintendent Jon Gurban's Job Performance Review
In June 2006, the Park Board retained Personnel Decisions International (PDI) to evaluate the current performance of Jon Gurban, and to set goals and objectives (which were previously non-existent) for the remainder of his contract with the Park Board.
Attached is the summary of that review which PDI presented to the Park Board commissioners.
Diamond Lake trail isn't welcomed by all
This is an email sent to the Star Tribune reporter after her article in the Star Tribune on September 24 -
Diamond Lake Nature Trail?
Due to some disagreement between neighbors on Diamond Lake Lane, as I understand it, earlier in 2006, one of them complained about the other one's mowing the grass adjacent to their back yard that happens to belong to the Minneapolis Park Board (that Park Board staff had even requested them to mow and that they had been mowing for many years). As the complainer is a friend of Michael Schmidt's, the Park Board responded by putting up a sign in the middle of the back yard of the mower - interfering with their view of the lake, but hardly visible to anyone else.
The Blotter: Gurban Gets a Clue
At the City Pages Blogs, Britt Robson writes:
SW Journal: Free speech flip-flop
By Scott Russell
Park Board reverses itself - now, no permit required to distribute campaign literature in the parks