Robert Lilligren

Candidate

Minneapolis City Council

Ward 8

612-825-2237

www.voterobert.com

 

Sierra Club

Questionnaire

 

 

1. Urban development is an important issue to our members. What role do you see for yourself as a central city council member to affect our regions growth patterns?

 

Urban development is an important issue to me – personally and professionally. One of the main reasons I entered the City Council race is because of the poor development decisions being made. These decisions have negatively impacted Minneapolis and damaged the 8th Ward. I am a developer on a small scale. As a conservationist and preservationist I have sought non-traditional methods to create housing that use less energy, less water and does less damage to the environment. I see myself playing a central role in directing and promoting sustainable development for our region from City government.

 

2. What urban design principles will you support for riverfront development?

 

Any riverfront development needs to keep water quality and runoff issues at the forefront. Other important issues will be sensitivity to the natural elements of the site, public enjoyment of this resource and community approval for the development.

 

3. What will you do as City Council Member to reduce air toxic concentrations in

our city?

 

Automobile emissions are a large contributor to air toxins in Minneapolis. I-35W completely intersects the 8th Ward. Air toxicity is a huge concern here. One of my neighbors lives one-half block off of I-35W, as do I. He recently participated in a benzene-levels test. During morning and evening peak traffic hours his benzene levels rose beyond the scope of the instruments used in his test. In the current discussion of automobile emissions we only measure carbon dioxide levels. One measure I would take to reduce air toxic concentrations is to broaden the scope of toxic traffic emissions testing and take measures to reduce the levels of the toxins present. The most effective means to reduce traffic emissions is to reduce traffic. The promotion of public transportation and alternatives to the one-car-one-driver model is a cause I am already involved in through my appointment on the Hennepin County I-35W Project Advisory Committee and as a Board member of the Midtown Greenway Coalition. Also, expanding the scope and increasing the monitoring of the current garbage incinerator emissions and responding to any new findings will be important. It will also be critical for me to stay aware of discoveries in the field of air toxins and to respond to new findings.

 

4.  What will you do to maintain and improve our parks and boulevards?

 

 Parks, boulevards and other urban green spaces are part of what makes a city livable. In my community activism I have stressed issues like clean and green streets; community gardens and their permanence; and the creation of parks. On the most local level, I encouraged my neighbors to reclaim our violent, crime-ridden street by working in our yards, on our boulevards, and – most significantly – cleaning up our littered streets. This not only sent a message of civic pride to passersby, but also eliminated an important tool that drug dealers used on our streets. They regularly stashed drugs and money in pieces of litter. When we removed the litter, the criminals lost a tool of their trade. From city council I would direct efforts and resources to educate our citizens to the importance of clean streets. I would encourage the planting of trees and gardens on our boulevards. As a community activist I lobbied my neighborhood organization to prioritize the creation of a park here. The first steps have been taken by identifying the stakeholders – pubic and private – and bringing us all to the table to plan and fund a feasibility study for this project. I will bring this strong interest and experience in promoting and creating green spaces in our city to the Council.

 

5.  With the increased commercial development of our downtown what will you do to help solve the growing transportation pressures into our city?

 

One way I help eliminate the growing transportation pressures in our city is by not owning a car. I rely on my feet, my bike, or the bus to get me around town. In Minneapolis we develop with an emphasis on car traffic. THIS IS A MISTAKE. It is short sighted. As a board member of the Midtown Greenway Coalition I have been active in promoting alternative transportation: including bicycle, pedestrian and electric trolley mass-transit. MnDOT has been charged with increasing capacity on the downtown section of I-35W. Instead of interpreting this to mean that we add more lanes, I advocate increasing capacity by increasing mass-transit service and its users. I believe I will be a strong voice on city council for alternative transportation.

 

6. What will you do to deal with the continued airport expansion and transportation pressures related to increased airport traffic?

 

My response to the increased airport traffic (both air and ground) is one of accountability and planning. We need to hold MAC accountable for promises made during the last phase of expansion plans. Though the recent attacks on our country resulted in decreased air traffic, we will soon be experiencing increases in this field and need to plan accordingly. I think using other, feeder airports is one solution. More sound insulation programs is another. If we want to build another airport to accommodate an increase in traffic we need to start land banking now. The 8th Ward is practically defined by transportation issues (I-35W, the airport, mass-transit, etc). I have a history of supporting community- and environment-friendly transportation and I plan to continue to work to promote careful planning and alternatives to the status quo in this area.

  

7. Run off from impervious surfaces, roads, sidewalks, roofs and lawn chemicals are impacting our lakes, rivers, and creeks. What will you do to improve water quality in our city's waterways?

 

Improvements of waterways and water quality are an area that I do not yet have enough expertise and experience to make proposals. I recognize the importance of the issue. Globally, the quality of water is probably our most pressing issue. As I’ve done in the past, I will make the effort to reach out to people in the community and experts in this area to find solutions to run off problems effecting our waterways.

 

A. Would you support a citywide phosphorous fertilizer ban?

 

Yes I support the ban on phosphorous fertilizers. I own six residential properties on my block. I use no phosphorous fertilizers or chemical applications of any kind (including pesticides) on any of my yards.

 

B. Would you support a storm water treatment system?

 

Yes I would support a storm water treatment system.

 

C. Would you support building additional holding ponds to protect our city lakes?

 

I need to learn more about holding ponds versus other storm water systems before making a decision on holding ponds.

 

8. What would you do to promote bicycle and pedestrian transit?

 

I am a year-round bicycle commuter and pedestrian. I will bring a lot of insight into this discussion on city council. I have lots of ideas to promote bicycle and pedestrian transit in Minneapolis and have already worked to implement some of them. One way to promote bicycle use we need to create facilities where bike commuters can store their bikes, shower and change from bike gear to business or work clothes. The obvious locations for these facilities are within parking ramps. From city council I would work to encourage this kind of development (there are already ordinances which support it). As a member of the Hennepin County appointed traffic Mitigation and (community) Enhancement Committee I have been a vocal proponent of stressing the creation of safe and welcoming pedestrian ways while we plan for more cars. I will continue promoting this from city council.

 

9. Do you believe central cities should accept a greater or lesser share of the Twin Cities projected population growth?

 

I think that cities depend on concentration of population to be viable – especially in the areas of transit and affordable housing. I think that the core city of Minneapolis needs to accept a high concentration of residents while maintaining renewable and sustainable systems of transportation, development, etc.

 

10. What if anything will you do to promote city level campaign finance reform?

 

Campaigns are too expensive. This puts elected office beyond the reach of those who do not have the resources to run a campaign.  Though I do not have specific proposals, I could easily support finance reform that brings elected office within the reach of all our citizens.

 

11. How will you use your position as City Council Member to direct city procurement policies towards green products and buildings, such as super high efficiency vehicles, passive solar construction, chlorine free paper, recycled carpets and clean fuels?

 

City council members really can create procurement policies to use green products and environment-friendly goods and services. As a conservationist and preservationist, I see myself using my position on city council to promote these policies.

 

12. What will you do as a City Council Member to help protect Camp Coldwater Springs (Bureau of Mines Land) and the 27 acres of green space that surrounds the area?

 

Now that the MAC purchase of the Bureau of Mines Lands is not going forward we have a real opportunity to preserve this area for a public use. From city council I would make it a priority to identify the stakeholders on a park and/or education center for this land, bring them to the table, and listen to alternative ideas for green space here.  It could possibly be linked to surrounding parks space. This seems like a point of new departure for Camp Coldwater Springs. I think it is important to involve the community to develop a plan and then for the governmental agencies involved – city council, Park Board, Hennepin Co., etc – to be accountable to implement that plan.

 

A. Would you oppose the Metropolitan Airports Commissions efforts to build on the

current land a parking facility or any other type of development that would

disturb the current green space?

 

Yes I would oppose the MAC building a parking facility on the current green space.

 

B. Would you support turning the Bureau of Mines Land over to the either the Department of Natural Resources, State Park System or Minneapolis Park Board to be restored to it original natural state?

 

Yes I would support the Bureau of Mines Land being turned over to the DNR, State Parks System, Mpls. Park Board (or some combination of agencies) for restoration.