The following recommendation by MPRB President Liz Wielinski was posted on the Issues List on March 2, 2015.

A Suggested Solution for Additional Parking for Graco is a Ramp on One of its Own Parking Lots

I would recommend that everyone look at the hybrid map attached to this link at Hennepin County

http://gis.hennepin.us/property/map/default.aspx?pid=1502924410014

if you zoom out a bit you will be able to see the 8 surface parking lots that go from Plymouth at the south to Broadway at the north.  All of these are owned by GRACO and would provide ample room for a new HQ, and room for additional manufacturing capacity all with views to the river and downtown if they chose to create one ramp to serve their suburban employees from Minnetrista and other locales.  It isn’t lack of respect for Graco it is wondering why in this town that abhors surface parking why this is considered OK instead of preserving parkland (and yes it is still zoned industrial because there is no PARK zoning in Minneapolis. Parks can be located in any zoning).

Liz Wielinski
Park Commissioner for the Eastside

The following commentary by Jenny Fortman was submitted to and published by the Star Tribune on February 22, 2015.  Jenny Fortman is a board member of the Sheridan  Neighborhood Organization.

Graco is Unfairly Holding Trail Hostage

The following piece was posted on the Issues List on February 23, 2015 by Bob Carney, former candidate for Minneapolis mayor and Lobbyist for “We the People.”

I’m glad to see the Star Tribune published Jenny Fortman’s Commentary article, but to me three things are missing.  First, it’s important to keep in mind that Graco’s commitment to provide the easement was part of a Tax Increment Financing deal in which Graco received financing that I think was valued at about $1 million.  Second, the Planning Commission’s document established as a condition of that deal that Graco WOULD provide the easement — actually two easements, one for a trail, the other for a road.  The point is that this deal was, and is, a contract, in writing, involving land.  Graco has a legal obligation according to the contract — counter arguments can be made, but I think the starting point is clearly that a contract exists.

Third, in 2011 Graco provided a letter to the Park Board supporting the plan that is going forward now, and stating Graco had ALREADY provided a trail corridor.

I don’t have any problem with trying to be nice and encourage Graco to “do the right thing” — but I think this situation has reached a point where we need to start talking about Graco’s legal obligation, and the harm Graco could cause if the Federal money is lost.

I’ll plan on following up on this with a more detailed post.

The following story was reported by Beth McDonough for KSTP-TV on February 18, 2015.

Minneapolis Park Board Votes on Taking Back NE Riverfront Property from Graco

Link to video:

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3710544.shtml

A stalemate between the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and manufacturing giant, Graco came to a head Wednesday.

The site is next to Graco’s headquarters in Northeast Minneapolis along the Mississippi River.
At a public meeting Wednesday, the Park Board considered taking the land through eminent domain.

Right now, Graco owns the land. The Minneapolis Park Board wants it as an easement to expand a recreational trail from Boom Island further north. It’s an issue close to home for Northeast resident Jenny Fortman, “it’s a critical piece to connect Minneapolis into the bike trail system and make the river an amenity it should be.”

Continue reading →

The following article was aired and posted on WCCO-TV on Wednesday, February 18, 2015.

Click the link below for associated video:

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=11151595

GRACO’S CODE OF ETHICS

One of the major topics on this Wednesday’s MPRB agenda is Graco and their reneging on their agreement with the Park Board.   Park Board Commissioner Scott Vreeland has suggested in a post to the Issues List that the public might want to remind Graco of its own code of ethics that states “good ethics is good business.”  And he quotes from their website their code, suggesting that the public might want to remind Graco of their code which is quoted below.

“Graco is committed to conducting its worldwide business according to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. This commitment stems not only from a  desire to avoid the many problems ethical violations can create, but more  importantly from a conviction that good ethics is good business. If you know of, or suspect, a violation of Graco’s Conduct of Business Guidelines, or a violation of any law, you should do one of the  following: Call, write or e-mail Graco’s Vice President and General Counsel.
Karen P.  Gallivan
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Graco Inc.
88  11th Ave. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 612-623-6604
E-mail: _[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) ”

Submitted by Arlene Fried
Co-founder of Park Watch

GRACO RENEGES ON AGREEMENT WITH MPRB

Park Watch has just learned that Graco is refusing to follow through on their agreement with the Minneapolis Park Board to grant an easement for a riverfront trail.  They also received a subsidy from the City of $730,000 as part of the deal.

Here is a link to the Mill City Times article.