NCEC Resignations November 2013

[Ishmael Israel]

Good afternoon Commissioners,

I have sad news to report.  Several commissioners have had to resign from the commission recently.  Each has done their due diligence by advising me.  In turn I have notified staff and Commissioner Strand, the Commission Secretary.

Lastly, I have to pass the information on to the Commission.  Commissioners Levison, Muse, Mariani, Martin and Jimenez have each properly submitted their resignations per NCEC bylaws.

I thank Commissioners Jimenez, Muse, Mariani, Martin and Levison for their respective contributions they have each made to the body of work of the NCEC.  As resident leaders and advocates, I hope that we all can maintain contact and serve as resources in our individual work going forward.

NCR staff will initiate the respective processes for filling the appointed positions as well as the district seat that will trigger a special neighborhood election.  If you have any questions, please email me individually to cut down on numerous emails.

Ishmael Israel

NCEC Chair

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ISHMAEL ISRAEL 

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*Representing Minneapolis Residents and Resident Councils*

*Minneapolis Neighborhood Community Engagement Commission *

2013-14 Commission Chair-Mayoral Appointee

Recent NCEC Monthly Meeting: http://v.qwikcast.tv/view.aspx?q=81SDA

*Northside Residents Redevelopment Council* 

Outreach and Engagement Management

NRRC.org

[Kenya McKnight]

Greetings all,

Pardon me but I'm choosing to respond in general.

This is unfortunate as it seems that half of our commission is missing now, but I am hopeful that the seats will be filled with more great citizens ready willing and able to serve.

I appreciate the work of our fellow Commissioners and I'm not sure the reasons of why people chose to resign but I trust it was for their best interest. I will follow up with chair Israel for details yet I also think it would be helpful to us as a commission and to the department to review reasons for the resignations so that we can better figure out how to make the Commission workable for people forward, whether it's because of time commitments, complications in processes, language barriers or any reason that could be useful to us improving our commission, relations with community, and sustaining our commissioners forward.

Thank you for your leadership Commissioner Israel and the executive committee for informing us and leading us through this process.

Respectfully,

Commissioner McKnight

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[Jeff Strand]

Thanks Chair Israel and Commissioner McKnight.

As one of the remaining members appointed to the NCEC when it was established, I have observed members resigning their positions for a variety of reasons. Sometimes members have received significant job promotions or have embarked on advanced educational pursuits, or have had individual or family circumstances arise necessitating their actions. 

This said, I have a few personal comments to add stimulated in part by the ongoing dialogue. First, I have been dismayed by the overall length of time taken by NCR Department to act with NCEC to fill vacancies on the commission. Former Commissioner Jeffrey Martin resigned in early September 2013 and I recall that Commissioner Clark and I announced that to the commission meeting that month. It appears the vacancy was not posted when city wide open appointments for the Fall 2013 cycle were announced. Other more recent resignations by former Commissioner Mariani and others will necessitate special elections, it appears, in District 8 and District 6.

I would encourage all NCEC members to actively recruit potential volunteers for appointment and/or election keeping in mind the desire to maintain NCEC's relatively high level of diversity and inclusion along several aspects of diversity, including racial, economic, age, gender, geography, etc. I would suggest to the NCR Department and the appointing or electing authorities to review and consider the recommendations from the NCEC Boards and Commissions Diversity Task Force. Commission members have taken a great deal of time and effort to thoughtfully prepare these reports for NCR Department, public officials and the community--so I hope those NCEC reports are consulted and not merely "put on the shelf."

I recommend that NCR and others continue to be clear on expectations for meetings and time commitment to effectively serve on the NCEC. I believe Minneapolis has about 52 boards and commissions [one for every week of the year :)]. I understand from work on that aforementioned prior task force as well as the City Department Engagement Task Force, that obligated hours and meetings varies widely. Since NCEC is among the group with high time obligation levels, the City might consider whether it is appropriate to offer a modest financial stipend in addition to paid parking/transit? I have no problem if a stipend were confidentially needs tested so that members who are more economically fortunate or privileged would not be compensated.

Additionally, I think the recent vacancies, especially those occurring between the City's biannual appointment processes, should again give rise to the discussion about a limited number of Alternates on the NCEC and other boards or commissions, as appropriate. The neighborhood districts would, in my opinion, be served well by having seamless transition and succession by an Alternate elected during the prior election process. The Alternates proposal was considered during the bylaws revision process, but has been put in the parking lot pending comprehensive action on boards and commissions by the City Clerk. Likewise, having the Mayor, City Council, and Park Board identify an Alternate might provide for more time-efficient filling of vacancies that arise. Having the Commission fully staffed is ideal as the adage "many hands make light work" applies to the work of the NCEC.

Finally, I second Commissioner McKnights questions about time commitments, language barriers, complexity of process, etc. I would encourage the NCR Department to conduct exit interviews with department members in order to survey what was done well or not so sell, what worked or did not work in their perceptions. I think exit interviews/surveys could be done for all NCEC members who resign or whose terms end without reappointment or re-election. I think this was a recommendation of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

I also thank all of the members for their contributions and service on the NCEC. I have communicated individually to those former members.

Respectfully,

Commissioner Jeffrey Strand

District 1

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[Andres Hortillosa]

Hi Jeff, et al,

I carefully read your email and the ideas you propounded in it. I agree will all of them especially concerning the Alternate. This can be done in District elections. The person getting the second highest number of votes could be designated as the Alternate. This is another way of growing leaders in reserve. We can allow Alternates to attend some meetings (twice a year) by way of invitation. This bi-annual opportunity can be a way of continuing the engagement with the potential Commissioner.

I predict a stipend will encourage prodigious participation and we can tie the stipend to attendance. This may also potentially curb even excused absences.

Andy

District 3 Commissioner

Very Respectfully,

Andres D. Hortillosa, MBA, MS, FACHE
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