NCEC Nov 12 2014: Special Meeting Regarding 2015 NCR Budget, Neighborhood funding and expanded uses of Consolidated TIF funding

[Ishmael Israel]

HISTORY: 

October NCEC Meeting: A resolution from the October NCEC meeting resulted in the scheduling of a special meeting on November 12th at the NCR office to discuss the mayor's 2015 proposed budget which included expanding the use of Tax Increment Finance district funds. 

November NCEC Special meeting:  There was a quorum present at the November 12th special meeting.  I, Ishmael Israel, chaired the meeting and three of the four NCEC officers were present as well as Director Rubedor and Howard Blin, NCR staff.

   Result of November 12, NCEC Special Meeting: 

The intention is for an adopted consensus statement be made available for presentation to the Health, Environment & Community Engagement Committee on November 17 and to the Ways and Means/Budget Committee as part of the 2015 Budget process.

ACTION/REQUEST:

The executive committee, Commissioners Clark and Zaffron submit the letter below for your review and approval by 6pm, Sunday, November 16, 2014.  

The proposed draft that will be voted on is as follows: 

As residents and representatives from every part of Minneapolis, we share the Mayor's goals for our city: to improve how well our city runs, to help our city grow, and above all to foster a more equitable city for all of our residents to create One Minneapolis. We share these goals because our neighborhoods are where we will succeed or fail in achieving them; our neighborhoods are where we all live, work, and play every day. 

We support Mayor Hodges' proposed increase in funding to the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department, to the Community Participation Program, and to the One Minneapolis Fund. These are the city's most direct investments in equitable engagement throughout our city, and the proposed increases in these areas will allow us to continue this work in every neighborhood and in every community.

However, we are concerned about the change in policy represented in this budget proposal regarding the use of funds that have, until now, been dedicated to neighborhood purposes (with the sole exception of the Target Center). For 25 years, the city and state have agreed that funds generated by the downtown development districts should fund neighborhood revitalization projects and purposes. The Neighborhood Revitalization Program has been a national model, and the city and our neighborhood organizations must work together to continue its successes through our new Community Participation Program and the One Minneapolis Fund. Allocating these funds to other purposes represents a significant change in policy: one that we believe deserves a more robust, inclusive public process. Until that occurs, the NCEC believes that funds generated by the Consolidated TIF district should continue funding only the Target Center, neighborhood programs, and the NCR administration. 

We know that there is much more progress to be made towards a more equitable and inclusive city that welcomes every resident, including at the neighborhood level. The Community Participation Program is still quite new, and we agree that we must work to increase the effectiveness of, and accountability for, neighborhood funds. Minneapolis must build on the past successes of neighborhood organizations to address today's problems, including -- especially -- racial equity.

The Council has charged the NCEC with establishing community engagement policies, increasing participation and broadening representation, and partnering with NCR to study issues, courses of action, policies and programs regarding community participation policies and integrating the voice of residents into the City’s decision-making processes. The NCEC is prepared to partner with NCR to facilitate a robust, inclusive citywide engagement process to develop program recommendations for the Council consistent with its charge for investment of excess TIF funds back into the neighborhoods and community to help achieve the City’s overarching goals and strategic objectives. 

Together, neighborhoods, residents, community groups, and the entire city enterprise can address these dilemmas. Let’s do this together!

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[J. L. Strand]

Chair Israel,

NCEC members have voted one the proposed NCEC Statement. The votes received and recorded by the Secretary as of 6:00pm CST today are shown below. With 15 of 16 seats filled with 1 vacancy, the required simple majority to adopt is 8 votes. The Statement has been adopted on a vote of 11 Ayes, -0- Nayes, -0- Abstentions, 4 Not voting.

Tally of Votes

Jeffrey Strand, District 1—Aye

Denis Houle, District 2 — Aye

Kirk Roggensack, District 3 —Aye

Doron Clark, District 4 — Aye

Kenya McKnight, District 5 — Aye

Debra Behrens, District 6 — Not voting

Carol Pass, District 7 — Aye

Francisco Segovia, District 8 — Not voting

Ishmael Israel, Chair, Mayor — Aye

Matthew Dobratz, Mayor — Aye

Eric Gustafson, City Council — Aye

Andres Hortillosa, City Council (Resigned effective November 1, 2014)

Brittany Lewis, City Council — Not voting

Tessa Wetjen, City Council — Aye

David Zaffrann, City Council —Not voting

Maleta Kimmons, Park Board — Aye

Respectfully,

Jeffrey Strand

NCEC Secretary

District 1

[J. L. Strand]

Chair Israel,

Votes from three commissioners were received after the 6:00pm CST time, but I recommend including them in the final tally. The Amended final tally if accepted then becomes 14 Ayes, -0- Nayes, -0- Abstentions, 1 Not Voting.

Tally of Votes

Jeffrey Strand, District 1—Aye

Denis Houle, District 2 — Aye

Kirk Roggensack, District 3 —Aye

Doron Clark, District 4 — Aye

Kenya McKnight, District 5 — Aye

Debra Behrens, District 6 — Aye

Carol Pass, District 7 — Aye

Francisco Segovia, District 8 — Aye

Ishmael Israel, Chair, Mayor — Aye

Matthew Dobratz, Mayor — Aye

Eric Gustafson, City Council — Aye

Andres Hortillosa, City Council (Resigned effective November 1, 2014)

Brittany Lewis, City Council — Aye

Tessa Wetjen, City Council — Aye

David Zaffrann, City Council —Not voting

Maleta Kimmons, Park Board — Aye

Respectfully,

Jeffrey Strand

NCEC Secretary

District 1

On Sunday, November 16, 2014 1:04:36 AM UTC-6, Mr. Ishmael Israel wrote:

[J. L. Strand]

Chair Israel,

Votes from the four remaining commissioners were received after the 6:00pm CST time, but I recommend including the four final votes in the final tally. The Amended final tally if accepted then becomes 15 Ayes, -0- Nayes, -0- Abstentions. The vote was unanimous in support of the Statement.

Tally of Votes

Jeffrey Strand, District 1—Aye

Denis Houle, District 2 — Aye

Kirk Roggensack, District 3 —Aye

Doron Clark, District 4 — Aye

Kenya McKnight, District 5 — Aye

Debra Behrens, District 6 — Aye

Carol Pass, District 7 — Aye

Francisco Segovia, District 8 — Aye

Ishmael Israel, Chair, Mayor — Aye

Matthew Dobratz, Mayor — Aye

Eric Gustafson, City Council — Aye

Andres Hortillosa, City Council (Resigned effective November 1, 2014)

Brittany Lewis, City Council — Aye

Tessa Wetjen, City Council — Aye

David Zaffrann, City Council —Aye

Maleta Kimmons, Park Board — Aye

Respectfully,

Jeffrey Strand

NCEC Secretary

District 1

On Sunday, November 16, 2014 1:04:36 AM UTC-6, Mr. Ishmael Israel wrote: