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Update: Per RPU Board Chair Jerry Williams, this will not be on Tuesday’s agenda.

The “city” is considering a 3.5 million gallon water reservoir at St. Mary’s Park and I have a number of concerns about the process.  I don’t like the fact that many neighbors found out about this by reading the newspaper.  I don’t like how this process has seemingly played out in private, despite the fact that we own the utility.  I don’t like how neighbors have not been asked for comment or ideas.  While I currently have a conflicting meeting, I am going to try to head to the RPU board meeting on Tuesday April 24, 2012 to get more information.

Many of you want to know where I stand on the issue.  This is a little difficult because even as the councilman for the area I have not been invited to the discussions.  My philosophy is that St. Mary’s park is an asset that we own.  I will never support any action of which the net result is that the asset is made worse.  This was my philosophy when it was suggested that we give away a portion of Soldier’s Field.  Not surprisingly no city council members have come out in support of that.

I really don’t know what has been decided, what is planned, and how flexible those decisions are.  I don’t know why engineers are suggesting that this would be a good place as opposed to somewhere more on the edge of the city.

There actually are potential ways to put a reservoir in the park and have it be an asset.  For example if it was put back in the NW part of the park, partially into the ground, with a green roof, and then filled around the edges, we could create an elevated green space in an underused part of the park with a great picnic area and an iconic view of the city.  That would cost more money, but again, hurting a park to save money is not OK in my book.

In speaking with RPU they did say that neighbors were notified of a meeting at CUDE.  Apparently neighbors within 500 ft. of the park were sent notices.  Also a notice was sent to the neighborhood association.  However, a downtown meeting during work hours is not what I consider a sufficient chance for input.  [edit: I am told this was at least an evening meeting] There will also be a park board meeting, but again I think the neighborhood deserves to have a meeting in the neighborhood.

I would like to see the existing reservoir removed.  I am interested in what the neighborhood thinks about the existing tower.  I see it as a historic landmark, and though it is not used (except for cell towers) I wouldn’t mind seeing that stay.  I believe the existing reservoir is about 1 million gallons.  To visualize how big a 3.5 million gallon tank would be, picture the existing tank, the same height, but 87% wider.  (OK math teachers, you can check my math)…

One thing that I can say with absolute certainty is that the more you are involved the better the outcome will be.  We had a number of successes on 6^th street which would not have happened with out citizen involvement.

Here are some questions answered by Gary Neumann: Read the rest of this entry »

There are two fundamental views of economic development.  First you can try to be as cheap as possible with low standards, low wages, poor benefits, heavy subsidies, and no quality of life.  Many southern states have tried this strategy and have poor education, environment, healthcare, and quality of life.  It is a never ending race to the bottom.

The other way is to try to compete by being the best you can be and being a place where people want to or need to locate.  This is perfect or Rochester because we have unique skills, resources, and businesses.  One of the best ways to do this is a concept called placemaking. Read the rest of this entry »

OK this sounds interesting…

Video of the International Tree Climbing Championships

http://www.davey.com/ask-the-expert/video-library/itcc.aspx Read the rest of this entry »

To be clear the urban design is great not the iPhone 3g pictures…

I am going to try to link to a picasa photo album here.  Hope it works, let me know if it doesn’t.

Side note, should I disappear you may want to search for me in Denver.  What a great city…

This will be the first of a number of posts analyzing what has happened to the City of Rochester’s budget over the last decade.  I have been gathering data regarding population, inflation, budgets, LGA, and taxation.  I am going to tag these items with “decade lookback.” Read the rest of this entry »

Indian Heights is one of the best kept secrets in the Rochester Park System.  Here is a brochure about the park. Read the rest of this entry »

This was the second of my 2 half day sessions today and focused on strategic partnerships.  Again I met some great civic leaders from around the country.  This session actually focused quite a bit on networking and communicating in your community. Read the rest of this entry »

This is going to be the worst cycle in Rochester’s recent history, though Governor Dayton would make it better if he keeps his promise to hold LGA harmless.

On November 8, we overruled staff and did not allow a building safety position to be filled due to budget concerns.  We also significantly reduced our allocation to the request to maintain landscaping in the city.

This is going to be painful and the sad thing is that tax collections in Rochester are just fine.  Our issue is that the state is taking more and return less to us.  Hopefully, they will come through on a jobs bill and hold LGA harmless.