Red and Black and Room All Over

Maybe its a sign of the times that the Chamber has not been able to fill the bus that will deliver enthusiastic Bemidjians to the state capitol on Tuesday, March 9th. There is still room on the bus for Bemidji Day at the Capitol, in fact only about 40 people are signed up.

Could it be that the dismal state of the state's finances and the lack of any optimism coming out of St. Paul has soured the community on the lobby effort?

The current political climate notwithstanding, getting on the bus is still a great way to learn about our legislature and meet new people.  Here's what you get for your $100 ($80 if you already have the required sweater/vest.):

• Transportation to and from St. Paul
• Water and Snacks on the bus (Dunn Bros. coffee and sweet rolls from Raphaels)
• Be on a team for scheduled appointments with legislators
• Meet people you wouldn't usually network with
• Learn about local issues
• Visit our awesome state capitol building and observe the legislative process
• Reception following meetings at the Kelly Inn
• Fun

You can still contact Lori at the Chamber and get on the bus. All the info you need is on the Chamber website.

Recipe for a Budget Fix: Cut 10%

A little less here and a bit less there, pretty soon you've got a recipe for a budget reduction, right?  Unfortunately, it is going to take more that a bit here and there to find  $600,000 that is expected to be cut from the City's 2010 budget.  Word is that City department heads have been asked to recommend cuts of 10% on their budgets. Not sure if there was any mention of revenue enhancements--street light fee, anyone?

This exercise is going on all over the state as cities and counties scramble to prepare for the state aid cuts that will be coming out of the state capitol. The Association of MN Counties has put together a budget balancing recipe with a list of a nearly a dozen ideas and presented it to the legislature according to this story in the Pioneer Press.

Minnesota counties would give up all their state aid in exchange for authority to levy a half-cent sales tax.

The State Patrol would be cut in half, and county sheriffs and city police departments would patrol the highways.

Counties would take over plowing and maintaining all state highways, except for freeways.

Those are among a package of 10 cost-saving proposals that the Association of Minnesota Counties outlined at a Capitol press conference today.

They would also combine county planning and zoning with cities and townships and ask for home rule charter authority (the ability to make laws, much like the city can do now).

Can you help identify the ingredients for a palatable solution to our budget dilemma? What are your priorities? What DON'T you want cut? What are you willing to have LESS of?

Personally, I would like solutions found that don't include laying off staff. I also don't want park maintenance to take a big hit. I would be willing to have less salt on the streets and shorter service hours at city hall. I would also like to be able to pay my city utility bill online. I would be willing to sell the residential refuse route and the equipment that goes with it. Maybe we should delay the planned quality neighborhood initiative study and the $48,000 consultant contract that goes with it.

What do you want for your tax dollars? Call the council, or log in to the comment section on the city website and let them know what is important to you.

Like Trying to Stop a Toyota

Governor Pawlenty has proposed cutting LGA (local government aid) to cities by $250 million, including cuts to Bemidji of $581,323 in 2010 and $302,000 in 2011. That means we have to make immediate reductions to the city budget. But putting the brakes on the city’s budget is like trying to stop a Toyota. The tax levy has already been set and can’t be changed, so budget adjustments must come in the form of efficiencies, service reductions, layoffs, fee increases, or. . . ?

Got any good ideas? The city will need all the help they can get to reduce this year’s budget because all the low hanging fruit was picked last year.

Pawlenty’s proposed cuts come on top of the $485,688 LGA reduction that the city has already incorporated into the 2010 budget. While Pawlenty’s cuts aren’t yet law and some legislators have said that LGA cuts in the final budget won’t be that high, it is pretty much universally agreed that cities will be hitting another pothole on the road to balancing the state’s biannual budget. (The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) provided insight into the preliminary 2010 budget and its impact on cities in their February 19, 2010 webinar.)

If past practice prevails, suggestions for cutting the budget will come from within. The city manager and department heads will put together their ideas for reductions to be presented to the council. Likewise, council members will probably have their own individual preferences for how to reduce the budget (as they did in 2009). Is this time-worn process of developing budget reductions—within the confines of city hall—the best way to carve out the cuts? Will it be fair to employees? Will it result in solutions that the community wants?

Last year’s LGA unallotment by the governor resulted in “out of the box” thinking by some cities. Spring Lake Park, MN implemented some creative strategies to reduce their budget that were the result of employee input and had community support. Each employee group was given a choice –whether they would be willing to take two weeks off without pay or make the decision to have someone in the group laid off. The choice was theirs to make. A variety of solutions emerged that included unpaid leave and the layoff of two part-time employees. City hall was closed for two weeks; once in August during the State Fair and for one week between Christmas and New Years. They didn’t receive any negative feedback from the community.

It’s time for Bemidji to broaden the process and get community buy-in by not only asking employees for solutions, but the community too.

What could community engagement look like? Listening sessions with council members? A community survey? How about asking for comments online? The legislature created a website for constituents to opt in with ideas and preferences for how to redesign state government. Bemidji residents can comment online at the city’s website.

It will take everyone on the Toyota team to get Toyota back on track. Engaging the entire Bemidji community in finding solutions to Bemidji’s budget makes sense too.

DNR Influence in Local Decision-making: Could MN Supreme Court Ruling Have Local Impact?

While most readers were focused on the Governor's State of the State address in last Friday's (2/12/10) Star Tribune, I was interested in another story that addressed development along the St. Croix River.

The Minnesota supreme Court sided with the City of Lakeland and the property owner in a variance request that had been approved by the city. The MN DNR had opposed the variance request. The court ruled that " the state agency (MN DNR) had no authority to deny Lakeland's approval of a "setback variance" governing how (Ron) Hubbard would build his house."

"We've pushed this because we've seen so many people bullied up and down the river by the DNR," Hubbard said. "Most people can't afford to fight them."

The DNR has weighed in on a similar issue in Bemidji. The Edgewater Group has requested an amendment to the South Shore Planned Unit Development (PUD). It includes a variance to the setback on the Group's property. The amendment is needed because the development proposes buildings that connect across property lines that are outside the PUD. The amendment will bring all the properties into the PUD. (The entire South Shore Development Plan and Guidelines can be downloaded by section here.)

The Planning Commission recommended approval of the change in January; it was sent to the Joint Planning Board and heard at their February 10th meeting. In between the two meetings, the local DNR sent a letter opposing the change and threatened legal action against the JPB if they approve the variance. The Board postponed their decision to February 25th so their legal council could respond.

The proposal for the PUD amendment was worked out jointly among the developer, JPB staff and City staff after consultation with both the city's and JPB's legal advisers. It represents a reasonable and responsible approach to the proposed development that respects the spirit and intent of the current PUD.

No one can envision all of the potential scenarios that might occur during development and the current dilemma could not have been predicted. But that is why the zoning ordinance, unlike the rest of our laws, has a built-in process for change. Namely, the variance and amendment processes.

State enabling law vests local jurisdictions with the ability to create and administer local zoning regulations. The DNR has jurisdiction over public waters that extends to the shoreland through the state shoreland regulations. However, local staff, planning commission members and policy-makers--the JPB, in this case--should have the ability to thoughtfully assess the merits of local projects and "vary" the rules without the heavy-handed intrusion of the DNR. Apparently, the MN Supreme Court thinks so too.

Real Life Civics Lesson--Take Your Pick

Political intrigue, old buildings, and architectural features--I'm not talking about the latest Dan Brown novel. It's what you might encounter by volunteering with the City of Bemidji. There are several openings on City of Bemidji committees and Commissions. In all cases interested citizens should submit a letter of interest to the city clerk by email cityclerk@ci.bemidji.mn.us. Current opportunities if you're feeling civic-minded:

South Shore Design Review Committee (SSDRC):
According to the City's advertisement, this committee will "administer the Lake Bemidji South Shore General Planned Unit Development(PUD) and the Design Guidelines for the PUD."(Open to non-residents too.)

City Charter Commission
There has been a resignation from the Charter Commission. This group of seven are the people's watchdogs. The City Charter is basically the City's Constitution. It spells out the authority that is vested in the citizens, the City Manager and the City Council. The Commission provides oversight on the activities of the Council and Manager and, for example, "sound the alarm" when the Charter is violated. The question of authority and whether the Charter was violated was raised in 2009 when the Council bypassed the authority of the City Manager and eliminated city staff. The Charter Commission did not meet to discuss the issue--a mistake, I believe and a lapse in their role as representatives of the citizens.

Heritage Preservation Commission
The HPC is vested with the role of protecting the City's historical resources. Activities by the Commission include inventorying historic properties and listing five historic properties on the Bemidji Historic Register. Recently, they have been focused on grant seeking to renovate the Carnegie Library building.

These citizen volunteer opportunities are open to any citizen resident and could be a way for you to make an impact on your community.
Volunteer.
The City needs you.

More Grant Opportunities

In the words of Matthew Lesko, TV pitchman, "You would be crazy to miss this opportunity." Here are some real funding sources that I found to pass on to you.

COMMUNITY GARDEN:
Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Grant Program Community groups are invited to apply for the 2010 Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Grant Program. Fiskars, a leading manufacturer of scissors and garden tools, will award grants worth up to $2,000 each in garden tools and green goods through the Orange Thumb program. The program is open to any community group with a gardening project. Eligible programs include garden projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, sustainable agriculture, and/or horticultural education. Deadline: February 19, 2010.

BEACH CLEANUP: The City has been unsuccessful in two tries to secure DEED funds to clean up the South Shore Beach. Could this Blandin grant opportunity—under the economic initiatives category—be used for the South Shore beach investigation/cleanup? Blandin Foundation Grants are awarded in six strategic focus areas. Each addresses a unique aspect of rural life, with the common vision of healthy rural communities grounded in strong economies, where burdens and benefits are widely shared. 1) Economic initiatives; 2) Educational attainment; 3) Fairness and opportunity; 4) Develop diverse leaders; 5) Rural voice; and 6) Intercultural competency. (Web site); Due March 15, 2010 (letters of inquiry are recommended prior to submission)

LIBRARY LOTTERY
Sisters in Crime announce their "We Love Libraries" lottery. Monthly grants of $1,000 will be awarded from January through December 2010. All U.S. libraries are eligible.

Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment
Got a HISTORY PROJECT? A portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, was appropriated to the Minnesota Historical Society for history-related projects around the state. The Statewide Historical and Cultural Grants program, is seeded by a pool of $6.75 million to be awarded in the 2010-11 biennium for "projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation." Minnesota Historical Society Grants

FOLLOW-UP
Last month I posted the Pepsi Refresh Everything grant opportunity and at least one local go-getter, Nate Dorr accepted my challenge and applied for $25,000 funding to support the Bemidji Skatepark. You can vote for Bemidji's project here.

Move the Skate Park Funding Request to No.1; VOTE NOW!

The local group that is working to fund the Bemidji Skate Park has entered a contest to receive $25,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Everything competition. Lead by Nate Dorr, the group has already raised $150,000 toward their goal to build a world class skate venue in Bemidji City Park. Winners are based on the online voting results. You can vote for Bemidji's projet here. Bemidji's application is currently in 12th place. Only the top ten get funded.



From the group's submission:

We have a final design complete that can be found on our website, Bemidji Skate Park. It will have bowls and transitions, as well as street plaza style terrain. It will be Minnesota's first six foot tall park, since we were successful in our efforts to work with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust adjusting their skatepark policies statewide.We were one of three projects worldwide to receive Tony Hawk Foundation's maximum grant of $25,000 because of our vision, organization, and low-income rural community. Other funders include Burton Snowboards, Nike, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community ($25,000), Neilson Foundation ($100,000), and many smaller business and community donations. Our local Home Depot is behind the project, and will help us with this community build project. The park will be free to use, will last for decades, and will get kids and adults off the couch and outside!

Vote now!

Why Are You Picking on Bemidji, Gov. Pawlenty?

A war of words between the City of Bemidji and Tim Pawlenty continued with more comments on the Governor's radio show Friday morning.

The exchange began last week when the Governor blasted Bemidji for raising the levy to offset the Governor's LGA cuts. The Mayor's response in The Pioneer and the Star Tribune corrected inaccuracies in Pawlenty's comments and explained the increase. But that didn't stop Pawlenty from going on the attack again today, complaining that "50% of the City's budget is from state aid."

Here are the facts from the City's Truth in Taxation Report:

Sources of funds: Taxes 32%, fines, licenses, interest 32%, State aid 36%
(There are more details and comparisons with other comparable cities in the report.)

I can't explain the LGA formula. I'm not sure who can. But I have always considered our role as a regional center as one reason that Bemidji should benefit from LGA. We serve the region as a government, healthcare, education and retail center. The negative side of that is that 43% of the property in the city is non-taxable. The positive side is that our community remits a lot of sales and income tax dollars to the state. LGA is one way the state compensates our community for our regional role.

Successful greater Minnesota communities like Bemidji are important assets for the state. In tough economic times the Governor should be supporting communities, not disparaging them.

Vote for Your Scupture Choice by February 6th

What sculpture subject should be chosen to represent Bemidji? About 10 2-foot-tall sculptures will be manufactured and then given to local artists to decorate before they are placed throughout the city.

The poll is at The Bemidji Pioneer. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the question. Voting ends Saturday, February 6th!

Here's the vote as of 2-05-10:

Results Votes
beaver 108 (31.2%)
canoe 26 ( 7.5%)
fish 46 (13.3%)
frog 10 ( 2.9%)
Sm.Paul Bunyan 109 (31.5%)
turtle 17 ( 4.9%)
other 30 ( 8.7%)
Total Votes: 346