SMPSTFA: South Metro Public Safety Training Facility Association
The SMPSTFA was formed several years ago by the cities of Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) to construct and manage a new state-of-the-art training facility for the police and fire employees of the three cities and MAC. In 2002, the group’s efforts [...]
Monthly Archives: May 2003
SMPSTFA: Seeing is Believing
May 31, 2003 – 1:54 pm
Eden Prairie Business Meet & Greets
May 29, 2003 – 8:19 am
In 2002 the City started a new program called the Business Appreciation and Retention Program. The objective of the program is simple: City representatives go out and tour local businesses, thanks local business leaders for their contributions to the local economy, and inquire about local businesses experience with City government. By all [...]
It’s a Deal! (Maybe)
May 27, 2003 – 6:42 pm
It looks like state legislative leaders have reached an agreement on the shape of the state’s 2004-2005 budget.
The highlights are described at: http://www.amm145.org/newsletter.htm
This bill impacts Eden Prairie. The new state budget decreases the amount of financial assistance that Eden Prairie receives from the State from just over $1,000,000/year to $0/year. Yes, that is [...]
Minnesota Personal Protection Act of 2003
May 26, 2003 – 10:32 pm
That’s what they’re calling it anyway…….
The Minnesota Personal Protection Act of 2003 becomes effective on Wednesday, May 28th. The MPPA, more commonly known as the “conceal & carry” bill, allows greater freedom to citizens to receive permits from County Sheriffs to carry handguns. Permit holders may choose to conceal their handguns while [...]
Student Board and Commission Members
May 23, 2003 – 2:43 pm
From Left to Right: Chris Shea (Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission), Andy Krause (Heritage Preservation Commission), Ross Viland (Heritage Preservation Commission), Mackenzie Epping (Heritage Preservation Commission), David Westphal (Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission), and Kian Missaghi (Human Rights and Diversity Commission).
This fine group of young people are six of the twelve Eden [...]
Joint & Several
May 21, 2003 – 3:10 pm
Joint and Several liability reform is one of those “under the radar” issues that are very, very important to our daily lives as citizens in this country, but get precious little attention from the general media. Joint & Several is being discussed by state legislatures all over the country. I found this concise [...]
State Budget Process Winding Down
May 19, 2003 – 11:47 am
While the federal budget process seems to be winding up, the state’s budget process is winding down. The Star Tribune had a good article in today’s paper about where we might end up with the state’s budget over the next few days or few weeks.
So far, here’s what I see:
Profile of Learning: Out
Pledge [...]
How Much Are You Worth?
May 17, 2003 – 8:32 pm
Some time ago, before I came to know Minesota as my home, the State Legislature adopted the Minesota Pay Equity Act. The Pay Equity Act attempts to adjust the wages of local government employees around the state pursuant to the principles of the theory of “comparable worth”. For more information on comparable [...]
Minnesota’s Other Season
May 15, 2003 – 9:16 pm
We’ve all heard the old joke, right? Q: What are Minnesota’s two seasons? A: Winter and Road Construction season.
It’s funny (I guess) because there is an element of truth to it. The number of days that one can count on for road construction work in this state are limited by the severity [...]
Municipal Liquor: What’s It’s Future?
May 11, 2003 – 8:34 pm
When I moved to Minnesota in 1996 I was surprised to find that cities were in the retail liquor business. Not all cities, but some. I came in 1996 to become the new City Administrator in Northfield. We had municipal liquor. Eden Prairie has it as well.
The question is: Why?
There [...]
Dog Park
May 8, 2003 – 10:08 pm
Our Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission recently heard testimony on the issue of a establishing an Off-Leash Dog Park, or a simply a “Dog Park” for short. The Eden Prairie News carried a short article about this week’s Dog Park meeting.
The purpose of a Dog Park is to provide an opportunity for people [...]
Reverse Referendum Hypocrisy
May 7, 2003 – 2:29 pm
One of the concepts moving through the halls of the state legislature this year is Reverse Referendum. I’m not sure of the origin of the “reverse” term within the “Reverse Referendum”, but it works something like this: City Councils would adopt a proposed tax levy for the upcoming budget year, publish it, and [...]
Why Do Cities Lobby?
May 6, 2003 – 3:19 pm
The Office of the State Auditor released a report today that analyzed the lobbying costs of local governments. The report was critical of the amount of money spent by Minnesota local governments on lobbying the State Legislature. A full copy of the report which details the lobbying expenditures can be found at State [...]
Will You Subsidize LRT?
May 5, 2003 – 1:21 pm
Light rail transit is coming to Minnesota. The construction aspects of the Hiawatha LRT is over the hump. The rail cars are on order. One even visited Minneapolis last year.
The newest struggle for the LRT is determining who must subsidize its annual operations. The Star Tribune had a [...]
Anonymity and Credibility
May 2, 2003 – 10:15 pm
I spent time today considering what to do about an anonymously published flyer that was put up around town that slandered a member of the City Council.
The flyer started to turn up this morning. Our street and parks maintenance staff found a few of them around town. By the end of the [...]
