Finding a Green Way to Govern

The CRA work group that I worked to create back in February has now met for the second time, and started doing the difficult work it was created to do: delving into the process for civilian review of Minneapolis Police Department officers. The work group is charged with working on recommendations from the independent study of the CRA that was completed and received by the Council in February. The work group’s work plan will be presented at an upcoming Public Safety and Regulatory Services meeting. There were some decisions made by the work group at our last meeting and at today's HE&E committee. They are being forwarded to the PS&RS committee which also oversees the Task Force and should go to the full City Council May 12. Here are the recommendations: 1) The work group voted unanimously to recommend that the PS&RS committee hear Requests for Proposals from independent external groups to conduct an audit of the Internal Affairs unit of the Police Department. This a...

In the City of Minneapolis, it is impossible (search for "535.110") to build an electricity-generating wind turbine on any piece of land not zoned industrial . And even then, a turbine can't be over 35 feet tall. In my opinion, this conflicts with the City’s Sustainability Indicators , especially the second, which calls for an aggressive increase in renewable energy use by 2015. According to the ongoing industrial land use study , Minneapolis will likely lose 30% of its industrial land over the next 20 years. These trends are incompatible. I'm looking into possible solutions to this problem. Obviously, we can't let anyone go ahead and build a high power wind turbine in their back yard with no control - there are safety, noise and aesthetic issues to be addressed. But there is no good reason that I can see for treating wind turbines differently from cell and ham radio towers and communication antennas. These are permitted (search for "535.470") in a...

Please join me for the next in my series of monthly forums on public policy issues of importance to residents of the Second Ward: Land Use and Transportation Policy April 11th, 6:30-8:30 pm Pratt School, 66 Malcolm Ave SE The City is engaged in an extensive land use study , especially focused on industrial land uses. We are also in the midst of establishing a 10-year transportation plan for the city. The City Council will likely face difficult policy decisions in the months ahead. Your participation and input will be greatly appreciated.