Local feud of the week!
Going on between Perfect Duluth Day and the Duluth Citizens Blog. PDD's co-founder/co-owner Scott Lunt is thinking about suing because a DCB moderator has taken up the moniker Starfire, which happens to be the name of Lunt's business. The problem: DCB's Starfire at times has intimated that he's Lunt (though he hasn't outright said it in any posts that I've seen). Lunt calls that's defamation of character.
The DCB posters are mocking Lunt and the PDD posters, and vice versa, which makes for decent bored-at-work reading.
An interesting question in all of this: how do you sue someone whose identity you don't know?
Posted by: Stahl on 5/09/2008 at 10:45 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Good news out of Building Safety?
It's early, but I've heard from three different sources that things are really turning around over at City Hall's Duluth Building Safety department.
It's amazing to me that only a couple months after hiring a consultant, and getting a new leader in there (Bryan Bushey) running the day-to-day operations, that a noticeable difference is already being felt within the building community.
Posted by: Garmoe on 5/08/2008 at 10:14 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Park Point Airport dispute
One thing you learn fast in journalism is that most if not all stories you write are parts of larger issues going on for years.
The background on the airport dispute on Park Point, which I wrote about a few weeks ago, has a particularly lengthy history, which I received in an e-mail recently from Dick Gould, a resident out there.
I figured I'd pass it on to you all, in case you're interested. But beware, the dispute stretches all the way back to 1935.
TITLE: Park Point Recreation Area: An Historical Review
>
> With the Sky Harbor Airport once again at the center of a
> controversy involving the cutting of both
> old- and young-growth forest, issues concerning recreational use,
> public safety, land stewardship and public vs. private rights of way
> have re-emerged for debate among Park Pointers and citizens throughout
> the State of Minnesota. A review of some of the history surrounding
> the establishment and use of the Park Point Recreation Area will make
> clear the fact that controversy with regard to this area has extended
> over more than half a century. It would seem to be an appropriate
> point of departure for discussion:
>
> 1935 - A park, extending from the "swamp" adjacent to 43rd St. and
> extending to the lighthouse ruins is first proposed.
>
> 1936 - WPA begins work on the Beach House and a narrow-guage railway
> within the park.
>
> 1939 - State of Minnesota, for a fee of $1.00, conveys to the City
> land now known as the Minnesota Point Recreation Area (including the
> Pine Forest) "upon the condition that the City of Duluth shall use
> said land for purposes of public recreation and public health and that
> facilities provided on said land shall be OPEN UPON EQUAL TERMS TO ALL
> PERSONS, WHETHER RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DULUTH OR ELSEWHERE, AND
> JOINT TITLE TO SAID LAND SHALL REVERT TO THE STATE AND THE STATE SHALL
> BE ENTITLED TO TAKE POSSESSION THEREOF UPON BREACH OF THE
> AFORESAID CONDITIONS." The law is passed in 1939 and
> recorded as Public Record the following spring.
>
> 1946 - Transfer of the existing seaplane base, established during
> WWII, to parkland by City of Duluth. Three separate sites are
> considered 1) 16th St. on the bay 2) Hearding Island and 3) the
> "barrens"
> south of the Recreation Center. The Minnesota Aeronautics Board and
> the Aeronautics Authority vote favorably for the the 16th St. site.
>
> 1950 - The Community Club Executive Board expresses its concern over
> the building of a landing strip, noting that it "will destroy the only
> stand of virgin timber left in this area."
>
> 1952 - PPCC minutes record the following airport-related items: "Club
> highly critical of airport landing strip construction at Sky Harbor
> seaplane base; concerns include possible lowering of property values,
> potential hazards, bothersome aircraft noise. Club uses secret ballot
> to vote on landing strip; 49 for, 115 against."
>
> "State Aeronautics Commissioner says plans for landing strip will
> definitely be abandoned if residents continue objecting."
>
> 1952 - Federal Civil Aeronautics Administration withdraws its
> recommendation for investment in Federal funds for a landing strip.
> District Airport Engineer for the FCAA says residents' opposition
> serves to indicate that investment would result "only in bringing
> discredit to the Federal Government."
>
> 1955 - The PPCC writes to the City Council regarding cross-strip
> construction at airport, noting that "this consruction is contrary to
> plans originally presented; construction would cut into wind and wave
> barrier that was built during Recreation Center development to halt
> any erosion that could bisect the Point."
>
> 1956 - Club notes its opposition to a barbed wire fence around the
> airport placed on land leased from the Parks Department.
>
> 1969 - Duluth Airport Authority (DAA) is created.
> State law attempts to define and clarify land use, stewardship and
> management authority over the Recreation Area of various parties,
> including the DNR, DAA and City of Duluth.
>
> 1980's - 1990's - DAA engages in a variety of capital projects,
> including paved taxiways, hangar construction, light pole installation
> and navigational instrumentation.
>
> 1997 - Through the efforts of the late Willard Munger, State of
> Minnesota passes the Minnesota Point Conservation Act, reinforcing
> protections not only of the Recreation Area, but extending the length
> of the sand spit commonly known as Park Point.
>
> 1999 - Minnesota Point Environmental Management Plan makes the
> following claim: "Primary Threat to the Minnesota Point Pine Forest
> (is the) Expansion of Sky Harbor Airport, either by intent or through
> compliance with inappropriate regulations," and "remains the chief
> concern for this compelling site."
>
> 2002 - Approximately 118 acres south of the barrens are designated a
> State of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Area. As such, it is
> reserved as "a Public Use unit, open to the public for nature
> observation and educational and research activities."
>
> 2002 - PPCC, Duluth Airport Authority, state-wide conservation groups
> and individual private parties embroilled in an extended controversy
> surrounding the placement of a barrier fence planned to run through
> the center of the Pine Forest. Various parties meet in an effort to
> arrive at a suitable compromise that will ensure safety while
> mitigating the damage done to old growth pines. Areas of controversy
> include land ownership/stewardship, management authority and adherence
> to prior agreements and public law.
>
> 2003 - URS Planning and Urban Design Group
> (Minneapolis) completes its Park Point Urban Impact Study. This study
> is later adapted (2006) to comprise the Park Point portion of City of
> Duluth's Comprehensive Plan. In addition to the language below, the
> plan reviews and summarizes each of the sources listed at the end of
> this article. Language specific to the Pine Forest includes the
> following:
>
> "Minnesota Point Pine Forest Area. This old growth red and white pine
> forest was given special protection through the Minnesota Point
> Protection Act pf 1997 and was declared a state Scientific and Natural
> Area (SNA) in 2002. The area contains approximately 118 acres, with 19
> acres actually owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural
> Resources."
>
> SOURCES:
> 1. Public Document #599327 - Recorded April 14, 1940.
> 2. Minnesota Point Time Line ( year) - Janet E. Olson 3. Park Point
> Urban Impact Study - URS Planning Group, Ltd.
> 4. Minnesota Point Environmental Management Plan 5. Position
> Statement on Proprietorship of Park Land on Minnesota Point [PPCC on
> the request of DAA, 2002]
> 6. Minutes of The Park Point Breeze
> [Compiled by Ellen Dunlap]
Posted by: Garmoe on 5/07/2008 at 12:37 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink
Ness backs Reinert
I asked Mayor Don Ness about the whole dispute over whether Roger Reinert did anything wrong regarding talking to other councilors about the 300 foot rule.
Here was Don's response, via e-mail:
"Councilor Reinert's actions were completely appropriate and reflect an interest to have strong lines of communication among councilors. The intent of the law is clear, you cannot have agreements made among a majority of councilors to vote a certain way, it does not prohibit councilors from communicating with one another on a given subject. If we confuse the intent of the law by admonishing councilors for communicating with one another legally, then we would be discouraging the type of legal communication that benefits public policy formation and decision making."
Posted by: Garmoe on 5/05/2008 at 4:03 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Want your salary information posted?
Posted by: Garmoe on 5/01/2008 at 10:39 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Sour grapes?
If you read today's story talking about a debate over whether Councilor Roger Reinert violated the open meetings law over the weekend, then you know Councilor Jim Stauber has no problem with calling people out when he feels they did something wrong.
But did Stauber bring up the issue because he was bitter at Reinert for pushing the repeal the 300-foot rule? That's what Reinert said, calling it a matter of "sour grapes."
Stauber said it's purely a matter of wanting to make sure open meetings laws are followed.
My guess is this issue died with Monday's newspaper, especially since Stauber said he doesn't plan to push the issue.
Posted by: Garmoe on 4/30/2008 at 8:50 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
Here's how much you pay in sales taxes
Ever wonder how big the bite on taxes is, when you take a bite at a Duluth restaurant?
Here's a run down by Duluth Finance Director Genie Stark
Posted by: Garmoe on 4/23/2008 at 4:40 PM | Comments (4) | Permalink
Seeing Red
With the much-hyped meeting between the school board and city council tonight, the anti-red planners are stepping out and flooding the councilors inboxes with messages. Well, maybe not a flood: it's about 15 messages, but that's still a lot for them considering they often get only 15 messages in a week. One of those messages was from anti-red planner Gary Glass, also a school board member.
Hi Garry/Sharla:
Here's the schedule and agenda [Note: find it here] for the meeting hosted by the School Board at the request of the Duluth City Council.
Note the format of the meeting is scripted down to defining the specific topics for Q&A!
I hope we can amend the agenda at the beginning of the meeting and delete non-elected members from hogging the time as is currently planned, and get directly to the topics of concern to the City Council members, and all Duluthians!
Note also the active investigation during the week at the District for compliance with federal regulations.
Sincerely,
GEG. 525-2384.
EDIT: Though it's available on the school board web site, I'm told that Glass was the first to send the council an agenda, much to the ire of a few councilors. Two of them, Garry Krause and Jim Stauber, also note that it's loaded on the front end with presentations about the red plan and school finances. "I already know about the red plan," Krause said.
Posted by: Stahl on 4/21/2008 at 2:11 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Is the home buyback program dead?
Now that Duluth City Councilors are toying with scrapping the 300-foot ordinance completely, it puts in limbo a new program the Housing and Redevelopment Authority is trying to launch. They want to buy back rentals and sell them to homeowners, thus slowly turning the area around St. Scholastica and UMD back to more of a friendly family atmosphere.
But if there's no rule banning new homes from going from homeownership to rentals, there's no point for the program. "It is important to us that there be some kind of control in place," said Rick Ball, executive director of the HRA.
His group is waiting on the sidelines to see what happens. He feels like councilors will approve some sort of solution that will make their program work.
"I'm hoping they don't throw everything out," Ball said. "Stay tuned and see what happens next."
Posted by: Garmoe on 4/21/2008 at 9:02 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
What would you cut, Herb Bergson edition
Continuing with asking current and former elected officials with what they would cut to reduce the $5 million deficit, former mayor Herb Bergson responded with this:
Posted by: Stahl on 4/17/2008 at 9:02 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink