Downtown Journal

Park Board will likely rule on ballot measure next week

Fri, Sep 4 2009 — Source: Downtown Journal

Voters likely will know next week whether they’ll get to weigh in on the expansion of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s financial independence, according to an attorney close to the initiative. Brian Rice on Aug. 28 filed a lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis on behalf of a citizens’ group after the City Council voted 11-2 to not place on the fall election ballot a question regarding the Park Board’s autonomy.

Minneapolis initiative has more than enough signatures to make ballot

Tue, Aug 11 2009 — Source: Downtown Journal

If signatures hold up, it’s all but certain that voters in November will decide whether to make the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board financially independent from City Hall. Supporters of a petition drive collected 17,086 signatures by Aug. 10. They needed 10,449. The effort drew out several well-known local political figures, including a former City Council member (Pat Scott) and a former Park Board president (Scott Neiman), to form a petitioners’ committee.