Sierra Club - North Star Chapter

Annie Young

Citywide at-large Commissioner

October, 2001

Twin Cities Group Political Committee

Park Board Questionnaire

1) What urban design principles will you support for riverfront development?

I continue to promote “green” building and sustainability design when taking on Park Board projects. Unfortunately, this has been a slow and difficult struggle especially on private/public projects or private developments. However, an example of my comments is that when the Guthrie came before us with their newest thinking and introduced architects I asked them to address these principles – although I commended them first because they had included that wording already in their planning.

I am concerned about how the Historical Society will emphasize historic for every part of the project which could lead to some environmental problems.

I wish I had realized how close these buildings are to the parkway. I wish they didn’t come so close –back another few feet wouldn’t have hurt.

As an aside, it is a shame that there is not more of a mix of affordable units in order to provide a more diverse flavor to the area.

2) What will you do as City Council (PARK BOARD) Member to reduce air toxic concentrations in our city?

Plant more trees.

Clean up our own house and be a model for others

3) What will you do to maintain and improve our parks and boulevards and green spaces?

I am always looking for ways to improve our park system. I do want to improve the recycling efforts.

4) With the increased commercial development what will you do to help protect and expand park and green space in our city?

I continue to push for more green space. I attend lots of neighborhood meetings and encourage groups to include green and open space. And it isn’t always commercial development that is a threat. In the case of the Minneapolis Institute of Art plans to expand with the Children’s Theater, they have insisted on putting “things” in Washburn Fair Oaks Park which is an extremely important green space for the high density housing in the area.

I wanted a Central Park on Block E.

And I always encourage more landscaping – plants and flowers.

5) 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 waterways?

I continue to use The Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center’s parking lots as a model. They are built in order to handle runoff and clean the water as it enters the earth. I support bio-filters and wetlands; I am always looking for new surfaces to use on paths and walkways in our parks. I continue to work in partnerships that link us to our suburban communities that do much of the dumping that comes into our streams and creeks and then into the lakes and river. We cannot do cleanup alone.

6) Would you support a citywide phosphorous fertilizer ban?

We have been working on this the past three years with our city delegation and Senator Higgins on in the legislature. It is not a ban as much as a reduction in the use. I have found through my “no mowing” and “no chemicals or pesticides in the park” planks from my previous elections that I have faired far better using the word “reduce” and talking on next steps and setting long range goals. These are very significant changes for a system as big as ours.

7) Would you support a storm water treatment system?

In recent negotiations within the city on system-wide efficiencies, the city public works department now manages the storm sewers. I would have to consider proposed treatments and cost before I could give a definitive answer.

8) Would you support building additional holding ponds to protect our city lakes?

Yes. However the location of them is a big problem and then convincing the neighbors and then having it be on all the other partners’ plates at the same time. These ponds take partnerships and lots of cooperation from many parties.

9) What would you do to promote bicycle and pedestrian transit?

I already have shown support when possible for both the Midtown and Humboldt Greenways and have worked with many of the members on the Midtown Greenway Coalition and its plans. Bike racks, trails, and pedestrian walkways are incorporated in the majority of park projects.

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

Whatever it takes. I myself this year moved away from PAC and lobbyists’ contributions and yet have been able to run a decent campaign (which is difficult citywide). I think upper limits of what can be spent on each race would be helpful. I am a proponent of nobody campaigning before the filing dates and then when filing closes everyone starts on a level playing field. I supported Instant Runoff Voting and Proportional representation and think with our independent board it may difficult but should certainly be given a try.

11) How will you use your position as Park Board 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?

I have already introduced the Paper Reduction Act which is always being improved upon as we look at these issues. I have been pushing Green buildings for heaven only knows how long. I support Commissioner Zimmermann’s work on cleaner fuels in our vehicles and again I use info learned from The Green Institute when trying to suggest changes in the system. We have taken significant steps with millions more to go.

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

I think the public, including members of Sierra Club, have been successful in getting MNDot to reconsider their options on how to finish off the Hwy at 55 and 62. This (along with the terrorist attacks) will allow us to slow down and hopefully make some better decisions about how this should be wrapped up while saving the spring and as much natural area as possible.

13) 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?

I am not sure the MAC is going to be doing much of anything until Northwest Airlines catches up on its back bills. I will work to preserve as much green space as possible and consider any proposals very carefully as to their environmental impacts, infringement on green space and other considerations.

14) 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?

I have always thought that the area would be a wonderful place to have within our system. It provides a more natural entrance into the city and the possible partnership of all three of these agencies could be interesting in trying to use the 27 acres as a refuge and usable space. As far as restoration to the original state – is that even possible?

Thank you for your consideration. I would be honored to carry the Sierra Club endorsement past the election and include as part of my work in my next 4-year term.