Longfellow Community Council, 4/17 meeting
RIVER GORGE COMMITTEE STEWARDS PROJECT: The board approved $8,315 from Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) funds to implement the River Gorge Committee’s Gorge Stewards project in Longfellow. LCC’s money will allow the River Gorge Committee to leverage almost $19,000 from other organizations.
The River Gorge Committee will oversee the volunteer, education and preservation programs in the Longfellow neighborhood. According to River Gorge Committee member Lyndon Torstenson, 500 people volunteered to help preserve the Mississippi River Gorge last year. “This has served as a model for other communities. Down around Hastings, they’re doing something similar,” said Torstenson.
THE FUTURE OF NRP IN COMMITTEE: Senator Patricia Torres Ray and Representative Karen Clark introduced a bill to the Minnesota House and Senate, which, in part, supports the continuation of the tax increment funding (TIF) districts in Minneapolis as a means of paying for the NRP. Because of its financial component, the bill will likely be attached to the omnibus tax bill. However, Ward 12 Council Member Sandra Colvin Roy told the board that she doubts there will be a tax bill.
LCC board member DeWayne Townsend expressed hope the fact that the Mall of America and St. Paul are asking the legislature to extend their TIF districts would help the NRP cause. “It would look bad if they extended the Mall and St. Paul, but not Minneapolis,” said Townsend. “That would be lovely if that were true, but they don’t care about looking bad, in my experience,” said Colvin Roy, who told the board that Senator Larry Pogemiller had told her that the TIF issue is dead in the senate. According to Colvin Roy, the senate tax chair is strongly opposed to extending the TIF districts.
If they don’t extend the TIF districts, there is a possibility of funding NRP using the growth in the fiscal disparities pool. Colvin Roy told the board she thinks the house would mostly likely champion NRP. “My advice to you is not to mess with the fiscal disparities pool debate. Just keep stressing the importance of the program,” Colvin Roy told the board.
Having attended a recent meeting with City Council members, board member Marcea Mariani expressed frustration with what she perceived as a lack of unified support for NRP from City Council. “It seems to me that if it could die on the vine, that would be preferable [to the City],” said Mariani. Colvin Roy assured the board that the city’s message to the legislature on NRP is, “We really want this to happen.”
COLVIN ROY TO PROPOSE IDLING ORDINANCE: The council member will propose an ordinance restricting vehicle idling to under three minutes. Colvin Roy got the idea after noting that one of Minneapolis’ environmental goals is to reduce the moderately unhealthy air quality days to fewer than 35 per year. In 2007, Minneapolis reported 178 days with moderately unhealthy air. Colvin Roy told the board idling a car creates two times the wear and tear that driving does and releases more pollutants.
The ordinance will have exceptions for police and fire department vehicles. It will also allow some idling in below zero and above 90-degree weather. Colvin Roy is also looking at removing some “no turn on red” signs throughout the city to reduce idling time at corners. When asked what she thought about drive-through restaurants, Colvin Roy admitted that would be a difficult battle.
EMERGENCY DEFERRED LOAN PROGRAM: The board approved an additional $25,000 to restock its emergency deferred loan program. The program provides funds to homeowners who couldn’t otherwise qualify for a loan should something catastrophic occur, like a hole in a roof or a broken boiler.
BY-LAW CHANGES: The board voted to approve proposed changes to its by-laws. LCC membership will be able to vote on the changes at the April 21 annual meeting at Minnehaha Academy. The by-laws and proposed changes are on the LCC website at www.longfellow.org
NEXT: Board meeting, May 15, 2008
MEETINGS: 3rd Thursday monthly, 6:30 p.m., check website or call 612-722-4529 for meeting location
CONTACT: 722-4529, www.longfellow.org
BORDERS: Mississippi River to Hiawatha Ave., Minnehaha Park to 27th St. railroad tracks
last revised: April 21, 2008