Speaking at NIEBNA Meeting: Tuesday Jan 12

Scheduling note, I'll be at the NIEBNA meeting on Tuesday January 12 at 6:30 at Ginger Hop.

I'll provide an update on the NCEC's recent actions and the future transition from NRP funding to NCEC administered funding for neighborhood groups.

Standards of Community Engagement

Since joining the NCEC, I've heard story after story from people concerned about the notification process city departments, officials, and electeds use to bring citizens into the decision-making process.  Last week, a Northeaster (who I consider highly involved in neighborhood and city activities) brought to my attention a city meeting advertised as a "community meeting" in a press release.  However, the resident didn't receive any notice of the meeting despite being subscribed to numerous e-notice services from the city (including departments that were participating in the "community meeting").  

The meeting, the January 6th regular meeting of Minneapolis' Civilian Review Authority (CRA), had the sole purpose "to present, discuss and seek public comment on the 'CRA Participation in Performance Review of MPD Chief Dolan.'" 

Hopefully, the lack of notice was merely an oversight within the established protocol for instances when public comment is sought.  However, it is just as likely that the CRA followed the city's established practice for seeking comment which resulted in under notification.   

In my experience with the city, I've found the engagement process to be inconsistent.  For staff members and elected officials who believe engagement is an important part of the process, then citizens receive frequent, timely notices of ways to be engaged and involved.  The opposite is just as true. 

In the coming months, I will push the NCEC and the NCR (Neighborhood & Community Relations Department) to ensure that people's voices are heard and used in the process of making decisions.  To do that, the NCEC must establish community engagement standards, review the current practices of city departments, and work with departments and elected officials to ensure everyone complies with the standards.

Park Board to Review Citizen Engagement Model

Tonight, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) staff shared information on early steps the MPRB is undertaking to review and update their citizen engagement model with members of the NCEC at Waite Park in Northeast Minneapolis. In particular, the MPRB has worked to increasing its "micro" community engagement at all of its parks. 

Staff described typical past citizen engagement as seeking input (via outreach or groups like Citizen Advisory Committees) on topics like selecting pieces of equipment that should be included in a new park.  Today, the park seeks citizen input on whether or not there should be a playground at the park or should a park exist at all.  Future engagement models need to determine how to include input on all levels of decisions.  The parks "micro" engagement aims determine the needs of a park's closest neighbors and get away from one-size-fits-all programming.

The MPRB staff pointed out many demographic changes have occurred since the heavy investment park facilities in the 1950s and 60s.  Minneapolis demographic homogeneity is no more and the cookie cutter approach of 1 tennis court/1 baseball diamond/1 kiddie pool for every X thousand people does not take into account the diversity of play and sports that exists today. Park use is also changing as Minneapolis' population changes how we live - today, 25% of Minneapolis households include children and 40% of households live alone.  Demand for amenities like trails are increasing while demand for some kids sports facilities are dropping.

The Park Board is formulating a plan to determine how to better serve Minneapolis in an engagement model.  At this time, they are looking for ideas on the following:

• Outreach to non-park users;
• Engaging people with busy schedules;
• Reporting findings (completing the engagement feedback loop)

Send me your thoughts via email (doronclark@gmail.com) or by leaving a comment on this post.

Alternates for NCEC?

The Minneapolis Park Board weighed in on the unresolved issue of alternates for the NCEC tonight by appointing an alternate for their commission seat.  Park Board President Tom Erwin appointed Carol Pass as the park board alternate to the NCEC. 

I've received nearly unanimous support from neighborhood groups for NCEC alternates. What do you think?

NCEC Meeting August 25

The third meeting of the NCEC occurs on Tuesday August 25th 5-7:00 pm at Minneapolis Police Department, Fourth Precinct, 1925 Plymouth Ave N, 55411.  

Agenda items include:

• Finance update regarding funding of NRP Phase 2 and "NRP Phase 3"
• Updates from Search and Selection Task Force and Bylaws Task Force
• Resident communication