Two views on tax-krcrement financbg. -

' June 16,1998

Next novernor faces critical state issues Can Minnesota's next governor skilled workers, highly motivated, asks runway fold a map? by Dana Schroeder who can function as well as any in the world, particularly as it relates The ability to pass that "common the commentators produced a long to information technologies," he noise help sense" test is one thing Marcia list of critical issues that deserve said. by Martin J. Kirsch Keller Avner, public policy director attention: workforce skills, educa- fnr the Minnesota Council of Non- tion, tax and spending policy, wel- "Most of the workforce will have Eastern Richfield is getting a new its, would like to see in the can- fare reform, transportation, afford- to be retrained," Krueger said, neighbor and it's not arriving qui- ~iuatesvying to be the state's next able housing, health care, tech- "since most jobs will require infor- etly. chief executive. "Can they prove nology access, crime and livability mation technology skills." He said they have common sense?'she and management and leadership the state will need almost 8,800 Indeed, when the new north-south asked. style. new technology workers for each runway makes its home on the of the next 10 years, including western edge of the Minneapolis- The Minrzesota Joz~malasked Workforce skills. Rick Krueger, replacement workers. And even St. Paul International Auport, there Avner and six other public policy president of the Minnesota High- that figure, he said, undercounts the will be no need for knocking on thought leaders to reflect on the Tech Association, called the skill of need. since those are traditional east Richfield residents' doors to issues that should be addressed dur- Minnesota's workforce the number technology jobs, like computer pro- signal the arrival. The thundering ing the rest of the gubernatorial one issue facing the next governor. grammers or people who work for noise of jet engines barreling down campaign. Besides common sense, "We must make sure we have Continued on page 2 the runway and the shaking and rattling of windows, walls and objects in homes will herald a new, unhappy era of low-frequency Fate of municipal board raises questions ground noise for this community. The Minnesota Munici~alBoard. by Philip H. Wichern Should anything be done? Or A new north-south runway is part the nation's first statewide quasi- should the board just rest in peace? of the Metropolitan Airports Com- judicial agency overseeing munici- articles by state Senators John Hot- mission's (MAC) response to pal incorporations, mergers, annex- tinger (DFL-Mankato) and Jim Municipal board history growing congestion at the Min- ations and other boundary changes, Vickerman @FL-Tracy). The board was created in 1959 to neapolis-St. Paul International Air- was an innovation championed by apply statewide standards to port, as MAC executive director the Citizens League in the 1950s. Interestingly, these two legislators municipal boundary-setting deci- Jeff Hamiel reported in his article Now it appears the board is headed were apparently instrumental in sions. Those decisions had previ- in the April 14 Minnesota Jouml. for what could have been a nearly adding the following sentence to ously been made by county com- Richfield recognizes the impor- private burial. the 1997 Community Based Plan- missioners, upon application of tance of the airport to the econom- ning Act: "The Municipal Board municipalities, townships or 100 or ic vitality of the region and has not The Minnesota Journal examined shall terminate on Dec. 3 1, 1999, more residents in those townships. opposed the construction of the annexation issue and the and all of its authority and duties The result had been "municipal runway. However, the city ...... micipal Board's work several shall be transferred to the office of boundary chaos" and proliferation believes the MAC should provide years go in an Oct. 18,1994, arti- strategic and long-range planning." of small municipalities, particularly noise mitigation in order to protect cle, "Annexation debate: How That sentence and other legislation in the Twin Cities area, where one Richfield from the devastating should state cities grow?'and in became Chapter 202, which passed new municipality contained 43 res- noise impacts of the community. June 18, 1996, pointlcounterpoint and was signed into law a year ago. Co~ltinuedon page 5 Continued on page 4

June 16,1998 MINNESOTA JOURNAL Moving beyond the Minnesota Miracle-without a crisis Another view: Original intent of tax-increment use lost There is a crop of major city may- dement or downright suspicion ors that New Republic magazine among taxpayers. In a recent meet- The article on the accelerating rate House Tax Committee said, "We returned to the regular tax rolls as 3. The use of TIF should be limited has referred to as the "new progres- ing hosted by the Twin West -, ,of qrowth for tax-increment are stuffing the developers' pockets soon as sufficient tax increment has to'recovering the cost of physical sives." They have taken cities & by Lyle Wray chamber ofcommerce on j , I\ ncing(TF)intheMay19 with money." been generated to pay all the oblig- improvements to the property in the crisis-over burning rivers, crime, ed state mandates to local govehr ~l&inesotaJournal explained the ation of the district, regardless of TE districts. crumbling school systems-and asphalt plants and one public works that our core cities have been large- ments, state and local elected off% possibility of abuse, misuse and The following resolution was passed the original term of the district. begun to turn them around using a employee for every three hundred ly protected from the dangerous cials and members of the business overuse by cities using TIF for at several DFL precinct caucuses The net tax capacity of TIF districts variety of strategies. Featured citizens-not counting an addition- crises faced by many around the community discussed the thicket of redevelopment. The original intent of cities statewide averaged 6.1 per- prominently in these turnarounds is al contingent to do park services. country. stateAocal relationships. There was of using TIF only to finance rede- cent in 1997. Richfield's was 11.53 a good dose of competition in pub- This staffing level is multiple times plenty of frustration about who velo~mentof blihted areas has "It is evident in Richfield that tmlevies have percent. With several new TIF dis- lic services. that of comparable mature subur- The question for the next governor pays for what and how much gets bee; lost for the Lost part. Many tricts created recently and if those ban communities. Snow removal is and for Minnesota's citizens is this: spent. One person, in an un-Min- of the citizens of Richfield believe been raised because sf TIE" being considered by the Richfield Some of these mayors are writing not done on a 24-hour basis and Absent such a crisis, how do we nesota fashion, stomped out of the this is the case. They also believe HRA are carried out, some resi- books to share their experiences. road surfaces are in some cases- propel reform in systems which room. Despite a number of false that with increments being passed dents estimate TIF districts could Indianapolis Mayor Steven Gold- shall we say-not the best. may otherwise be captured by sta- starts over the years, we need to get on to the developer, schools, cities and the DFL district convention held 2. The tax capacity of the original reach 25 to 30 percent of Rich- smith has produced The 21st Centu- tus quo interests? This should be serious about sorting things out. and counties will have difficulty earlier this year and we intend to base value of a TIF district which field's tax capacity. And it appears ry City. Mayor John Norquist of For many of the "turnaround" cities front-and-center on the radar scope providing needed services. It is present it to the legislative task force yields tax revenues to fund the there is no method presently to Milwaukee has a soon-to-be- around the country, a precipitating of the next governor and of the Third, we need to pursue efforts evident in Richfeld that tax levies meeting this summer to study the ongoing expenses of the city, coun- locally control it! released book. Both--one a Demo- crisis galvanized action and provid- Legislature, in which representation to encourage local governments have been raised because of TIF. problems in the state TIF laws: ty and school district during the life crat and the other a Republican- ed permission-albeit accompanied from suburban communities will to measure the quality and effec- At a recent Richfield meeting, of the TIF district should be Don Priebe CfomrRichjield tell tales of driving down costs by the necessary political courage soon make up the majority. tiveness of their public services. state Rep. Dennis Ozment (R- 1. Tax-increment financing districts increased at the same rate as all the mayor) and Gordon Anderson, dramatically using competition. to act-to take some strong steps to This measurement is now required Rosemount), member of the should be ended and the property other property in the city. Richjield reform. A burning river and city Here are three suggestions: in order to receive a small propor- In both cases, there was no whole- bankruptcy, for example, can have tion of local government aid, but sale rush to "privatize." But sound a way of clearing the decks and First, we need to spend smarter on we need to think more carefully steps were taken to put public mobilizing public insistence on local government aid in Minneso- about some next steps. There are Another view: Much of TIF growth due to rising values departments into competition with action being taken. ta. The ladd report to the Legisla- national efforts to set up compar- other vendors. Changes have been ture almost a decade ago now sug- isons of quality and cost for public We are perplexed by your analysis nomic development entities. An would, of course, be equally inap- that more restrictive state policy quite dramatic. Mayor Goldsmith In part we may be the victims of an gested we sharpen our pencils on services. We need to be in that of the 1997 growth in tax-incre- increase in captured value is not the propriate to infer that tax-increment changes need to be made. However, spoke of one unit-that had been earlier breakthrough solution to local aid systems to spend less, tar- game and to win it. ment financing captured value, as same as increased use; this is an use had either diminished or if most of the 1997 growth is due to "managed to death" with tech- local government financing in Min- get spending more to need and gen- presented in the May 19 Minneso- important distinction when public remained constant in those respec- changes in the economy, not actions niques such as total quality man- nesota. More than 25 years ago, erally provide incentives for effi- If our metropolitan area is to grah Journal article, "Tax-increment policy changes are being consid- tive years, simply because of mar- by city officials, our policymakers agement- that immediately pro- Minnesota wisely moved to contain ciency. This has yet to be acted on. the brass ring of excellence as grows at faster rate." The title ered. ket-driven valuation changes. could enact legislative changes tar- duced a 25-percent savings when local property taxes and to support place to live, work and recrea L (e,zplies that the growth in tax- geted at the wrong cause. subjected to competition. Opening a floor of services in education and Second, we need to get serious in (and not just shop), the next gover- increment financing captured Your report correctly states that Since 1990, the Legislature has up competition has driven innova- public services-the result of the sorting out who does what nor, the Legislature and local elect- value is athibutable to the aggres- tax-increment financing captured implemented many TIF policy On a positive note, we were tion and cost-reduction in areas Minnesota Miracle. The state has between state and local levels. ed officials need to craft the next sive use of TIF by cities. However, value increased by 8.4 percent in changes that have restricted the use encouraged that your study high- such as waste hauling, road repair rightly been praised for this innova- Our system, for all of its merits, steps beyond the Minnesota Mira- much of the growth in captured 1997. However, you fail to mention of TIF by cities and other develop- lights an important future consider- and parking enforcement. tion and many states-from Ohio continues to confuse taxpayers and cle. As citizens, we must insist on value in 1997 is due to the eco- that tax-increment financing cap- ment entities. In fact, the average ation for TIF districts. The class- to New Jersey-are struggling with elected officials and to blur the it--despite the absence of a precipi- nomic rebound in commercial and tured value has only increased by captured value in TIF districts rate compression contained in the Unlike these experiences else- an issue addressed here long ago. lines of accountability. Explaining tating crisis. industrial property market values, 7.6 percent since 1993. This is due statewide has declined by 13 per- 1997 and 1998 tax bills will result where, for the most part our two The upshot of pumping billions of the Minnesota property tax system rather than to the creation of new to the fact that tax-increment cent since 1993. We are concerned in reductions in tax-increment core cities have not moved dramati- dollars a year into local government with state aids, levy caps and state Lyle Wray is executive director of districts by cities and other eco- financing captured values actually that your report could lead legisla- financing revenues for many dis- cally to embrace this new direction. and educational aid-more than a mandates at Truth-in-Taxation the Citizens League. declined in 1994, were almost stag- tors and other policymakers to the tricts around the state. The League In one, we still have city-owned third of the state budget-has been hearings generally produces bewil- nant in 1995, and did not rebound conclusion that recent statutory of Minnesota Cities spent consider- The Minnesota Journal to near the 1993 level until 1996. It changes have not had an impact and able time informing legislators Publisher -Lyle Wray about the impact of class-rate com- next decade all of the state's higher "How we will position ourselves to Krueger described the challenge as Editor - Dana M. Schroeder pression on tax-increment financ- Governor education institutions will only be competitive in a service, tech- "making sure our education system Conttibuting Editor -Ted Kolderie Correction ing districts. In the end, we were Continued from page 1 meet 12 percent of the need in nology and information systems meets the needs of a changing Sketches - Ray Hanson The article "Tax-increment use grows at faster rate" in the May 19 Min- only modestly successful in enact- economy." He believes the educa- ing a mechanism that will allow Minnesota. "We're going to need economy?" The Minnesota Joumal (ISSN 0741-9449)is a nesota Journal contained an error regarding the change in the number of tion system must become more these deficiencies to be addressed. massive retooling," he said. publication of the Citizens League, a nonprofit tax-increment districts with captured value between 1993 and 1994, due industries classified as high tech- Education. Ranking high on many performance-based. "We need a nonpartisan Twin Cities public affairs organiza- to a change in reporting by the Department of Revenue in 1994. This issue will undoubtedly need tc nology. He noted that his organization is of the commentators' agendas was world-class education system," tion, 708 S. Third St., Suite 500, Minneapolis, be revisited. advertising right now in Silicon education, ranging from early Krueger said. MN 55415, Mary Anderson, president. Articles Because the Department began in 1994 reporting only TFdistricts that "There are hardly any jobs that Valley for high-tech people. "There childhood programs to K-12 and and commentary are drawn from a broad range actually contained captured value rather than reporting all certified TE James Miller, executive director, don't require technology skills," he is intense competition nationally," postsecondary education. Peter Hutchinson, president of The of perspectives and do not necessarily reflect districts, it appeared that the number of districts had declined in 1994. But League of Minnesota Cities said. He noted that administrative he said. He spoke of changing our Public Strategies Group, Inc., and League positions on policy questions. The Jour- when comparing the number of districts with captured value, rather than a assistant positions require skills in concept of economic development Former Congressman Tim Penny, former superintendent of the Min- nal is published once a month. Periodicals nearly five percent decline in the number of districts in 1994 (as the arti- working with databases, e-mail, from creatingjobs to creating skills now a senior fellow at the Univer- neapolis public schools, said he postage paid at Minneapolis, MN. cle reported), there was actually nearly a five percent increase in the for the jobs that will already exist. sity of Minnesota's Humphrey hopes gubernatorial candidates will number of districts in 1994. So instead of 1997 representing the third year spreadsheets or design work on b-nual subscription rate for nonmembers is $40 Editor's note: Due to a space Institute, said he is "deeply con- talk about the future of learnin of growth in the number of TIF districts with captured value, there has newsletters and people working in issues. Orders may be placed at 61Y338- shortage, the "On Balance" Marcia Avner also spoke of the cerned" about inner-city schools. standards for K-12 education. "( actually been a growth in the number of TFdistricts for at least six a place like Morey's Fish House u, dorby mail at the above address. roundup of editorial opinions can be operating computer-run importance of addressing the "We're not doing well by those "What will the accountability be straight years--every year since 1991. (The number of TIF districts with from newspapers around the state machinery. state's workforce needs. "How will who live in the core cities," he said. for school districts, for schools, for Postmaster: Send address changes to The Min- captured value is not available for 1990.) will not appear this month. It will 708 St., 500, Minnesota position itself in a time "We have to figure out how to do nesota Joumal, S. Third Suite Min- return in July. Krueger pointed out that over the of economic change?'she asked. better." Continued on page 6 neapolis, MN 55415 We apologize for the error.

MINNESOTA JOURNAL June 16, 1998 June 16, 1998 MINNESOTA JOURNAL in the federal day-night noise level yearly cost to taxpayess remained firm of Flahaty and Koebele yeas later what had been done. The (Dm) airport noise metric. As a low, not only because fees ase pre- selves as lobbyist for the coalition, record is cleas that there were no Continued fmm page 1 result. the fill1 iinnact of low-fre- Continued from page 1 scribed for applications, but also an association of 61 cities outside separate public Ileasings, 110 inde- quency noise isn't apparent if you because its staff was few and its the metropolitan area. The coalition pendent studies, 110 public revela- Just how bad will it be? First, con- try to measure it 011 an A-weighted board rne~nbersstill receive the has achieved changes in Chapter tion of the clash and compromise sider the proximity: scale in a DNL airport noise con- s. Twenty-two of 45 had less same per diein rate set by the origi- 41 4, including elimination of the of inierests that resulted in the tour. LL.,LI 1,000 residents and the total nal 1959 law. requireilient of a favorable referen- boarcls terminatioa. In short, the @Thenew north-south runway will number of n~unicipalitiesin five dum vote by township residents in 1997 decision to terminate the be as close as 600 feet from homes. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Intema- counties had already reached 130. I have not found any independent affected areas, perlnitting incon- board was not based on broad input tional Airport is not the only ailpost stitdies that challenge this record of testable annexation of lands that and solid planning. Rather, the NewFord Town and Rich Acres in the coitntry Facing a low-fre- - Chapter 414 of Minnesota statutes accomplishments or any executive the Minnesota Pollutioil Contsol board appears to be a casualty of were the same distance fi.oin the quency noise problern. Cul.~.ently, provided statewide standards and official or agency or any legislative Agency requires cities to service negotiations in closed sessions by end of the south parallel runway airports examini~lgthe problem delegated their enforcement to the conunittee study that criticizes the with water and sewer. lobbyists and legislators. and had to be acquired by the MAC include Baltimore-Washington board, which since 1959 has head board's work or requests its term- because of severe noise impacts. International, Boston-Logan Inter- and approved or denied all local nation. According to a 1994 coalitioil doc- This may be just legislative "poli- national and San Francisco Interna- requests for annexations, incorpo- ument, "Basics of Annexation," the tics as usual." Sen. Pat Pariseau's @Thiswill be the first ailport in the tional. The community of El "Just lznng oft,it'll pass ...It's jztst errst Ricl?fi'eld's,flie~zdl~~rzeighbor11ood rations, mergers ancl municipal Oppositio~lfrom cities coalition's goals included replacing (R-Farnlington) effort to reverse country, as far as is known, to Segundo, California, next to Los iriv'ort CIII~its /1igl7lyfi*equetzt, so-called 'low,j?equer~cy'~~OLIIZCI ~zoise!" boundary changes. The goveinor Why, then, is the board being ter- the Municipal Board with an the termination did not attract expand its runway system by locat- Angeles International Airport, is appoints three part-time board minated? It appears it was a casual- adtninistrative law process w get- attention or many votes. Maybe it ing a runway this close to a residen- also struggli~lgwith a low-frequen- residential neighborhoods would be initigation measures for low-frc- members for six-yeas terms. ty of the high-stales politics of ting the county comnissioners off doesn't matter: One less state tial community. cy noise problem. redeve1ol)inent to larger commer- quency noise and other environ- cities versus townships and the board, prohibiting the incorpo- agency saves taxpayers' money, cia1 buildings. Larger buildings are mental impacts on the community. One board member must be a lawyers' and lobbyists' interests ration of even more cities and pro- doesn't it? Low-fi-eqnency ground noise Studying the impact more capable of absorbing the lawyer and one a resident outside versus the board's enforcement of hibiting urban and suburban devel- The worst noise impact that Rich- The city of Richfield commis- noise than smaller struct~~Ges. Numerous ineetiilgs and open the metropolitan area. In board pro- statewide standards. opment outside cities. Unfortunately, we may never field will experience from the run- sioned two studies by a natioiial houses gave community mnenxbers ceedings involving incorporations, know, because costlbenefit and way will not be the high-frequency noise consulting firm to determine Just how much of eastell1 Richfield a chance to help shape the plan. At consolidations and aimexations of In 1991, the League of Minnesota 1997' session policy impact studies have not been screeching noise of aircraft oves- the level of impact on the comnlu- could be lost to redevelopment at a MAC Planning and Environment unincorporated land, those boasd Cities and the Coalition of Greater According to Diane Koebele, attol~ done. It is very possible that head. Instead it will be the low-fre- nity and the level of annoyance at the 75-decibel level? Coininittee meeting in May, Rich- members ase joined by two county Minnesota Cities con~missioneda ney with Flahe~tyand Koebele and lawyers will earn more in the alter- I quency ground noise of the jet given noise levels. 1 field residents pleaded wit11 MAC cornrnissioiiers designated by the case shtdy analysis of the board's lobbyist for the coalition, from native dispute process and that the I engines thundering down the run- @ 950 single fanlily ho~licsand to protect Richfield from the run- county board "of the county in annexation handling. The study 1992 on there were "countless hear- costs of boundary changes may I way, the roar of reverse thr~tstersas The first study in spring 1997 was duplexes, or nine percent of that way's devastating impacts by which all or a majority of the noted problems cities were having ings" on bills to eliminate the increase. Such considerations aircraft are landing and the running based on acoustical measure~llents categoly of Richfield housing; adopting the nlitigation plan. affected land is located." But the in annexing and noted that "Based Municipal Boasd. But the legisla- appear to be irrelevant. The board up of the engines of stationay air- at five locations near or on the designated co~nmissionersmay not on anecdotal infol~nation,there tion was never successful until staff is tsying to begin to iinple- craft. Minneapolis-St. Paul Internatioilal @ 40 1 multi-unit residential Richfield recognizes that fui~dill~~~, haye been elected fronl dlst~~cts appears to be township bias in the 1997, when a quiet compromise lnent the law, though no funds or Airport. The measurements were dwellings, or seven percent of for noise mitigation will need tbs .ontain any of the affected tes- Municipal Board nlemnbership and was wosked out in conjunction wit11 instiuctions have been provided for Low-fieq~~encynoise registers at made to the side of an existing run- Richfield multi-housitlg; come from several sources. In a~.-- iA-. y. The three core board nlein- process. Municipal Board decisions consideration of the Community the tranntion. frequencies below I00 hertz (more way to detei~ninethe extent of tion to MAC fullding, the city bers decide who will chair the solnetiines appear nlore political Based Planning Act. than an octave below middle C on low-frequency noise that can be @ 486 students, or 12 percent of the would provide a significant contri- boasd and they select an executive than based on evidence and facts. The more important question is, the piano). It is characterized by expected at various distances from Richfield school population; bution through tax increment or director who oversees a small The reqt~ireinentthat. the two coun- According to various groups lobby- What will we do? Will we allow rattling, shaking and vibrations of the runway. other funding sources. It may also office staff. ty commissioners be from areas ing on the planning act, city, county the Municipal Bomd to be tenni- windows, walls, pictures and other @ 2,895 residents, or eight percent be necessary for the city and MAC outside the affected areas will and township representatives met nated without careful evaluation objects in the home. The second study in fall 1997 was of the Richfield population; to cooperate in asking the Minneso- By the late 1960s, when I partici- allnost inevitably result in the with legislators and staff and agreed and public discussion? of the annoyatlce level of residents ta Legislature for special f~~i~ding pated in a federally funded evalua- appointment of two commissioners on a package compromise.The Low-frequency ground noise dif- in El Segundo, California, next to a @ an estimated $5,107,863 in tax and mal~ageinentauthority for this tion, the board had compiled an representing mral parts of the conipro~niseincluded termitlation We should denland a full account- fers in other ways from high-fre- rmlway at the Los Angeles Interna- capacity, or about 23 percent of unique situation. outstandiilg record, gaining nation- township." of the board and introductioil of an ing of how and why the board has quency ove~flightnoise. Instead of tional Airport. Actual noise mea- Richfield's total, assuming no rede- al recognition. Subseqirently, at alternative process of dispute reso- been terminated and an analysis of the average 15-second noise event surenlents were col~elatedwith the velopment in the affected area. Richfield has suffered airport casu- least five other states created simi- Subsequently, the Coalition of lution by mediation in exchange for how its functions will be per- of an aircraft ove~flight,the average level of aniloyance experienced by alties in the past. In the recently lar agencies. The board's statistics Greata Minnesota Cities has changes to objectionable provisioils formed. We should get firm com- low-frequency gro~~ndnoise event residents. The data fro111 the two Obligation ofMAC coillpleted New Ford TowntRich are impressive: Over the last 38 become the leading proponent for in the planning act. Simply leaving mitments from state legislators that lasts 45 seconds and will be occus- studies was used to develop a low- State and federal environmental Acres acquisition, the city lost years it has handled over 7,100 board termination. The St. Paul law the board without signif cant juris- they will take another look at the ling hundreds of times per day. frequency noise contour. laws obligate MAC to identify and 1,092 residents, 335 single-family boundary changes, or about 300 a diction was consid- tern~inationand the record of the niitigate noise and other e~lviron- homes and 67 apartments, 195 stu- year-fewer early in this decade. It ered, but rejected in board. Until ~i~ajorquestions are Mitigating low-frequency noise is Those studies determilled that a mental iinpacts of the north-south dents and tax capacity of $383,173. reduced the number of new incor- favor of abolishing it answered, the board's termination also more difficult than high-fse- noise exposure of 75 decibels or runway. Where there are noise This time, though, the city will porations, eliminating incorpora- and assigning its should be delayed. Otherwise, nei- quency noise because the longer above is a threshold of impact that impacts, it is MAC'S job to develop retain the property affected by the tion of sinall new municipalities. It remaining duties and ther the board--or we-should rest sound waves are more able to pene- is highly annoying to resideuts, a plan and mitigate or lessen them. new runway within the cornmunity, assisted in resolving most bounday staff to Min~lesota in peace. trate objects. As a result, residential maluag their hoines uninhabitable. Richfield was forced to coimnis- even if MAC or other f~~ndingis changes without costly legal con- Planning. sound insulation and noise walls This 75 decibel threshold would be sion its own noise and land-use used for redevelopment. flicts, with only 13 contested Phil+ H. Wiclzer~zis refirecl associ- have little impact on low-frequency comparable in annoyance level to planning experts and developed its between 1993 and 1996. It has Apparently, most ate projkssor of j~oliticnlstudies, noise. the 60 DNL high-frequency thresh- ow11 mitigation plan when MAC And this tiine, the city will be out approved over 99 percent of annex- stakeholders weit U~iiver~sityof Manitoba, Wiluzipeg. old that the Minnesota Legislature failed to recognize the low-frequen- froat wlth a initigation plan that ation applications and spawned aware of what was He en17zed Iiis M.A. arzd Ph.D. irz Finally, low-frequency noise is required MAC to include in their cy noise iinpacts on tlie city. will ellable the comlnun~tyto over 450 local joint agreements happening, but there j~oliticalscience af the Unive~rily mneas~~redon a different scale than current residential sou~ldinsulatio~l proactively redevelop and prepare between cities and townships. was no broad public of Mi~mesotaaricl irz 1968 +vl-oreIzis high-frequency noise. MAC noise prograin. The plan has been submitted to the for the problcin before the plan^ 1ng notification and docto~althesis on tlze jmlitics of consultant Ilar~isMiller Miller & MAC for inclusion in its Final hit the new nulway. ~ghits handling of cases and groups like the Citi- bou~zda~ysetting in tlie T~virzCities Hanson Inc. has said that a "C- Because noise insulation and noise Environmental Inlpact Statement its decisions il~aybe appealed in zens League were r?wtropolitanarea. He ~vnsvisitirzg weighted" scale is better suited to walls are ineffective, tlie only noise for the north-south runway. The Martin J. Kirsch is rlzr4yor of Riclz- court, less than five percent of its not informed. Even scholar at the Urzil~ersitj~of Min- meas~~ringlow-fsequency noise nlitigation strategy available for the mitigation plan calls for over $300 jeld decisions were overturned or "...Alittle r~zelodrar~~atic, some legislators nesota's Cerztel-for Urban arzcl than the "A-weighted" scale used highly annoyed, 75-decibel level million in redevelopment and other remanded for f~~rtherhearings. Its b~ltthey do i~znlcetheir point! ... " were not awase a Regional Afftilinr. in 1995-96.

MINNESOTA JOURNAL June 16, 1998 June 16, 1998 MINNESOTA JOURNAL and the state must invest more in visibility," said George Latimer. ship with the state. You shouldn't "We need strong leadership that Governor the University to keep up and retain Issue commentators Governor "The biggest barrier to rural eco- have to get separate decisions works well with various jurisdic- Continued from page 1 an edge. Marcia Keller Avner, public policy director, Minnesota Council of i Continued from page 6 nomic development is the lack of regarding technology from a tional levels and a really thought- Nonprofits affordable housing. We need to whole bunch of state agencies." ful analysis of the big issues the Hutchinson said he'd like to know look at housing strategy as a core s@teand the counties are facing," kids, for families?'he asked. what's happening at the higher Peter Hutchinson, president, The Public Strategies Group, Inc., and 1 1 r bond and just do it. We need for supporting social stability." "The government should be a she said. education institutions other than the former superintendent, Minneapolis public schools ; IU make a major investment in a leader to make it easier to conduc Penny also said the state needs to University of Minnesota. "What is relatively short amount of time." Health care. "Health care is business electronically," he said. She'd also like the candidates to focus on school-to-work transi- MnSCU and is something better 1 Rick Krueger, president, Minnesota High-Tech Association emerging again as a public policy The state should not just provide discuss the qualities they would tions, since 40 percent of high coming out of it?' he asked. "Will Hutchinson said we need to pay issue," Swain said. "The public is information electronically on how seek in their cabinet and judicial school graduates do not go to col- there ever be anythmg besides an George Latimer, distinguished visiting professor of urban studies, attention to increasing traffic con- disaffected with the concept of to file forms like license applica- appointments and to address how lege or technical school. "We need interim chancellor?" Macalester College, and former mayor of St. Paul gestion. "Is there ever going to be managed care. We need a discus- tions, but should allow people to they see the role of nonprofits rela- more linkages to help them make anything besides two seasons- sion and resolution of what we can do the actual filing electronically, tive to the role of government. the transition to meaningful Taxes and spending. Lynn Reed, Tim Penny, senior fellow, University of Minnesota's Humphrey winter and highway construc- expect in health care." he said. employment," he said. research director of the Minnesota Institute, and former Congressman tion?'he asked. "Is the congestion Avner's last question: "How will Taxpayers Association (MTA), ever going to get fixed?" He said the lack of insurance cov- He also noted that state agencies the candidates ensure that Min- Penny said another important edu- sees a number of critical issues in I Lynn Reed,research director, Minnesota Taxpayers Association erage for 400,000 Minnesotans is should cooperate to use a single nesota has a culture of strong pub- cation-related issue is youth ser- the areas of tax and spending poli- "We're now looking at gridlock "not only a public embarrassment, source of identification for all lic affairs commitment and strong vice. "Connecting youth with com- cy. rom Swain, special counselor to University of Minnesota President every bit as bad as Los Angeles it's unsound economics," since we licenses and filing, rather than col- engagement? If they're going to munity projects and citizen Mark Yudof and other communities we end up paying more for emer- lecting people's names and ignore their party's endorsement, participation is really important to "We continue to want our taxes deplore," Tom Swain said. "The gency care than for preventative addresses separately each time. what system will they propose the future," he said. "Community and other revenue to be raised in an Given the state's generous surplus, but Minnesota's 87 counties will be whole issue of how we should face health care. "You need someone to look at it instead?" I service ought to be considered part accountable way," Reed said. "We Hutchinson said the next governor individually implementing the development in the outlying sub- comprehensively," he said. "The and parcel of a student's educa- should minimize hidden taxes and will have to deal with the question reform. "What's the role of the urbs needs better understanding Marcia Avner said the lack of uni- Office of Technology must pro- Hutchinson thinks people want tion." subsidies to the voters and make of "What do we do with all this state in ensuring that 87 counties from the governor. Otherwise versal health care coverage will be vide that kind of leadership." leadership on values questions, more of a connection between the money?" meet some type of standard?' she we'll have such sprawl we'll never an emerging issue with the aging like "What does fatherhood mean? George Latimer, distinguished vis- benefits received and the voters." asked. "It could be a race to the recover." of the population. Crime and livability. Hutchinson How do we feel about two-parent iting professor of urban studies at "We don't know what to do when bottom." believes that in addition to all the families? What are the rules on Macalester College and former The MTA believes the property tax there's a lot of money," he said. Mordable housing. Swain Technology access. Peter news on drugs and murder, people divorce, drinking, sex, and drugs?' mayor of St. Paul, said the changes should continue to move gradually "The counterpart is, It ain't going "Will there be a safety net for peo- believes affordable housing is an Hutchinson said Minnesota needs want to know about things that Minnesota has made in public edu- to a market-based system in order to last forever. We need to integrate ple who don't meet the work issue that must be addressed by the to work on "equality to really rich affect the daily livability of their "For a lot of folks there is ambigu- cation must be watched carefully. to restrain levy growth. The organi- these things with a fmancial plan requirements?' Avner asked. next governor. "[State Rep.] access to information," not only by neighborhoods, such as windows ity," he said. "We need someone "We must have an assessment poli- zation opposes reducing the bottom that makes sense." 'What about the hard-core unem- Myron Orfield has his finger on an putting a computer in the hands of being smashed and being hassled to step out on some of these issues cy for charter schools and other rates of the state income tax or ployed? The mentally ill? We'v iswe we as a community are not every student, but by improving on the street. "Where are we going without the baggage of being a reforms," he said. eliminating it entirely for a large uately dealing with," he said. the quality of the state's access to on public safety?'he asked. religious rightist." "It's hard to get people to remem- had no serious debate about th f group of people, since that would ber there can be hard times," Swain safety nets that people will con(I information. "If the Silicon Valley He also said recent research shows reduce their stake in participating said. He noted that the John Bran- ue to need. What will we do if they Swain said we need a better under- is where technology is invented, Avner said the biggest cost issue Swain wants a governor willing to benefits in educational outcomes- in the political process. The MTA dl-Vin Weber study a few years can't find and sustain work at a liv- standing of how affordable hous- let Minnesota be the state where for counties across the state is the use the bully pulpit. "A governor as well as in workforce stability also favors broadening the sales tax back showed that "we're already able wage?" ing can be put in place while still technology is employed and val- criminal justice system. She said has to be someone willing to put and medical service delivery-to base by taxing clothing and then committed to a spending level preserving the safety of suburban ued," he said. Hennepin County might have to himself at risk," he said. "That creating greater residential mobili- lowering the tax rate. where the slightest downturn will Transportation. Penny believes neighborhoods. As new jobs cut preventative pro&ams because means taking on tough issues that ty. "We have to get our hands be a problem." the state must face up to the fact develop in fringe areas, it's hard to Rick Krueger would like to see the of out-of-home placements for maybe don't have great public around that topic," he said. "It's not good when an increasingly that its transportation system-pri- attract less skilled workers if there position of the state's Office of juveniles. She noted that Minneso- understanding and using the bully small minority pays an increasingly "Reserve funds are wise and pru- marily its roads-needs work. He is no affordable housing. Technology elevated. "Give them ta is one of the few states that pulpit to rally people to the appro- Latimer also pointed out the impor- large proportion of the tax," Reed dent," Swain said. "But you can't said the state should concentrate more authority rather than less," doesn't deal with the costs of these priate cause." tance of early childhood and day said. run for governor by saying hard resources on six to 12 major routes "Affordable housing is rising in he said. "Let them provide leader- placements at the state level. "Is care programs. "The next governor times are around the corner. People connecting the regional centers this the way it should be done?" Penny thinks the governor needs will have to grapple with unequal "The big picture is accountability," don't want to hear that." around the state, such as Mankato she asked. to focus on just a few priorities. opportunity before kids start he said. "The money is a really and Rochester, and Mankato and "We end up doing a little good in a school," he said. "The very kids important thing to keep people Welfare reform. George Latimer St. Cloud. Management and leadership lot of areas and not a lot of good in with less access to day c&e face engaged. I think this could do more said the welfare-to-work transition style. Avner wonders what the any area," he said. "Wouldn't you barriers in school." to reconnect people than anything is very important to watch, because He believes with the emerging candidates think of Governor Arne rather have a government that else." the data on what's happening is information economy Minnesota's Carlson's advice that the next gov- focuses on a few areas and really Avner asked whether the focus going to lag behind reality. small cities could be major ernor continue to use the power of gets something done? You have to over the last few years on early Avner believes it is time to look at employing centers, "but not if the veto. say 'No' to some things so you childhood programs will continue. the state's tax expenditure policy. "If the economy slows and the easy they're sitting on two-lane roads can say 'Yes' to others." "Do we have a long-term commit- 'Tax breaks stay on the books for a to employ are taken care of, we'll with a bunch of stoplights to get to "Do they agree with that approach, ment to developmental child care gazillion years," she said. "We tend move into those chronically on an airport." which is a negative check on leg- "We must have a general interest and Head Start?'she asked. to do tax policy in fragments." welfare," he said. "The jury is still islative activity?'she asked. She and show the special interests out as to whether the five-year rule "We need some imagination about said she'd like to hear the candi- they're in the minority," Penny Tom Swain, special counselor to She said we should give tax expen- will work." He noted that the quali- where we want to go and then put dates talk about how they see the said. "We must face the fact that University of Minnesota President ditures-things like mortgage ty and accessibility of day care will the resources behind it," he said. role of the governor in working some things are more important Mark Yudof, said the state is com- interest deductions or special tax be very important in the welfare The governor should focus on par- with the state's Congressional del- than others." ing off a few years of greater sup- breaks for certain industries-the transition. ticular routes, both urban and egation and with the Legislature port for higher education. "We same level of scrutiny we give to and try to accelerate the fund&^ "in developing policies in the Dana Schroeder is editor of the must recognize that the economic proposed appropriations budgets. Avner said the state will play a crit- these links. "I'd like to say within state's best interest." Minnesota Journal. engine is the University," he said. "The governor proposes an appro- ical role in welfare reform over the five years we either raise the gas Competition among colleges priations agenda," she said. "What next four years. The state has "...Can Ifold a map?... How can I answer a stupid question like that?... "The governor should be the around the country is increasing about a tax policy agenda?' passed welfare reform legislation, Continued on page 7 I've never seen the map in question!" state's best lobbyist," she said.

MINNESOTAr JOURNAL June 16,1998 June 16, 1998 -A JOURNAL State fing significant amount of contaminated land If only you could clone success. not the result of the cities expand- Even (especially?) policymakers ing their limits. It results from com- need a slap on the back when poli- - 'panies now being able to put u cies and laws have their intended Policy tidbits blown our way-without a storm. signs in areas the cities zone " effect. With little fanfare, but mercial," even if the land is us$1 apparently significant success, the So the real alternatives are a court nesotan realized he means to create only for growing corn. state is remediating a signdicant settlement or a political settlement. this impression!-T. K. amount of Minnesota's contami- There could even be a political set- The Department of Transportation nated land. tlement without mediation. All the (bad) news that's fit to used to be able to prevent this use -Ted Kolderie. print: Back in November of last of its highways for advertising. But According to the Pollution Control year, the Twin Cities Project on a legislator took away MnDOT's Agency, 17 sites were removed Debate over lack of insurance Media and the Public looked to ability to deny a permit for a sign in from this year's list of Permanent often conjures up rhetoric of desti- raise the public discourse regarding an area not truly used for cornmer- List of Priorities (PLP), which is tute mothers and their starving chil- local media coverage. Along with cial purposes. The effect is what the state's Superfund list, and only dren. To be sure, this population is public forums, it also cornmis- you see.-T. K. one was added. This year was no in great n%d of attention and the sioned a study focusing on business fluke, either. In 1992, there were state and federal government have and crime coverage in the two Can we at least agree to disagree? 189 properties registered on the responded with significant legisla- major local dailies compared with Last December, the Minnesota PLP, and that number today is tion protecting the truly needy, par- the Seattle Times, which represent- Education Association (MEA) con- down to 122. The only way to be ticularly children and the elderly. ed an area perceived to be similar ducted a survey of educators and removed from the list is to pass the Who, then, are the uninsured? to the Twin Cities. voters to find out what each group PCA's "white glove" test, demon- thought about various suggestions strating essentially that contaminat- According to a recent report by the The study found that the business for improving education. The most ed land is fit for reuse. Hennepin County Community sections of all three newspapers popular suggestion of educators Health Department, approximately were largely positive, but that was to decrease class size (which PCA officials credit two landmark 13 percent of the county population changed dramatically when busi- ranked fifth out of five options for laws passed this decade. The Land went uninsured for part or all of last ness news made the front page. voters), while voters wanted more Recycling Act allowed a PCA pro- year-about 131,000 people. It Seven out of 10 front-page busi- parental involvement (which was gram-voluntary Investigation and found, however, that more than ness stories in the Star Tribune second on educators' list). Cleanup (VIC)-to provide liabili- two-thirds of this population are were rated negative, compared with ty protection to property owners under the age of 65, either singles half for the Pioneer Press and one- The widest disparity between the who willingly investigated or or couples with no children at quarter for the Seattle Tims. two groups involved emphasis cleaned up property suspected of home.-R. W. basics and improving teacher being contaminated. Special fund- There was a similar disparity for ty. Seventy-seven percent of vCs ing has also made investigation and We have to wonder how the Citi- crime coverage. Over four noncon- believed more emphasis on basics remediation more attractive to zens League gets on the mailing secutive weeks covering a four- was needed to improve education, owners of potentidy contaminated lists for some of the stuff that cross- month period, the Star Tribune and 74 percent agreed that improv- land, as the PCA currently has es our desks. Case in point: A printed 1,632 column inches of ing teacher quality was needed as more than 900 sites in the VIC pro- recent promotional flyer for an out- crime news-more than 40 percent well. Fewer than half of educators gram. The Landfill Cleanup Act of fit called Fun Services, whose list more than the Pioneer Press and believed similarly in these two sug- 1994 also handed over clean-up of equipment for rent includes Vel- almost triple the crime coverage of gestions.-R. W. and long-term responsibilities for cro walls, sumo suits, human bowl- the Seattle Times. Crime rates? The closed landfiis to the state, which ing and an inflatable obstacle study said that according to FBI "TakeNote" contributors include allowed the state to forego time- course. Have they been attending Crime reports, serious crime is Minnesota Journal and Citizens consuming federal litigation over our study committee meetings? more prevalent in Seattle than in League staff members. costs and get to the clean-up work -Janet Dudrow. the Twin Cities.-R. W. itself.-Ron Wirtz. Some supporters of education The now quite-visiblespread of The arguments are coming on vouchers are creating the impres- billboards up and down the Inter- strong now that it's better to talk sion with what they say and write state highways across Minnesota is out the issues raised by the educa- that Minnesota enacted a tax tion lawsuits than to fight them out deduction for private-school tuition in court. And, as intended, this is in 1997. This came through, for Minnesota Journal PERIODICALS bringing editorial writers and others example, in a paper that Harvard Citizens League POSTAGE PAID around in support of "mediation." Professor Paul Peterson wrote Suite 500 AT MINNEAPOLIS recently for a meeting in Washing- 708 S. Third St. MINNESOTA Mediation, though--especially in ton at the Brookings Institution. Minneapolis, MN 55415 the form proposed for the lawsuits brought against the state by the That is not so: The compromise in NAACP and by the Saint Paul the special session was for Gov. school district-will in no way Carlson to get the tax credit and for substitute for a decision in court. the DFL legislators to limit its use The mediation is intended simply to education expenses other than to generate aproposal for a settle- private-school tuition. ment of the issues-a proposal which will then have to go to the Listening to Peterson's effort to Legislature for decision. justif) his explanation, a Min-

MINNESOTA JOURNAL June 16,1998 I a Citizens League Matters - June 16, 1998 News for Citizens League Members League explores "What's on the Public Agenda?" Peter Hutchinson and Joan Growe lead new League study

The League's new study com- those issues the public says Members of the steering com- mittee, "What's on the Public are important and in need of mittee included Jean Harris, Agenda," is moving off the attention-matches the "offi- Sally Evert, Marie Grimm drawing board and into the cial" agenda of public bodies (all League Board members), second stage of an experimen- and the unofficial daily agenda Jim Rickabaugh, Carl tal three-part study design. of elected officials and admin- Holstrom and TomJohnson. istrators. Equally important, if The study, which comes out these agendas don't match we The interview phase of the of last year's Public Leadership want to find out why. study will be conducted like lnitiative (see below), will last summer's Public investigate the extent to This study is using a different Leadership Initiative. The which the public's agenda- methodology from traditional League Board of Directors League study committees. will conduct about 60 inter- The League Board of Directors views with county, city and Welcome approved this study several school district officials in the New and returning members months ago, but recognized metro area. Jurisdictions Bert Amdahl Jim Larsen that the subject matter pre- were chosen based on geogra- Cornelius Boganey Daniel Luthringshauser sented an unusual challenge. phy, representativeness and Richard Bringewatt Carlos Mariani Peter Hutchinson, who size of constituency. Ann Burkholder Anne McLaughlin urged the League Board to Cynthia Chamberlain John Mohr approve the study, was The interviews will be done by Paul Curran Barbara H. Montgomery appointed co-chair along with the end of July. The results of Allen Desmond Forrest G. Moore retiring Secretary of State the interviews will be synthe- Humphrey Doermann Kent Morrison Joan Growe. sized and a study committee Noor Doja William Nelson charge will then be drafted. Jane Dorsey Jerry Newton A steering committee led by Bill Drake Jim Nystrom Hutchinson and Growe has A "regular" League study Julie Dyste Mary Orr spent the last couple of committee will be recruited Char Ellingson James A. Payne months discussing the com- sometime in late August-early Evan Ellison Jeanne A. Powers mittee process and the scope September to conduct the Elizabeth Fennelly Robb L. Prince of the issues. They recom- third, and final, stage of the Jerry Geis Arthur M. Pry mended interviewing public project. A focus group of the George Gribble Fred Rose officials before the usual study public officials interviewed will Joan Anderson Growe John C. Rosholt committee starts its work. provide additional input and John Hagman Anne Rozga reaction to the committee. Chery Hays Peter Sammond Don Helmstetter Karen Scott Vicki Hooper Ames Sheldon The Public Leadership Initiative Ernest Jenkins Harlan M. Smith Daniel W. Johnson Eric P. Stoebner Last fall, League Board of Directors approved an initiative to look at Terri J. Johnson Lucas Van Hilst the state of public leadership in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. Benjamin J. Kanninen Fran Voerding The League defined public leadership as the intersection of the gov- Mary Keel Roberta Weltzin ernment, business, non-profit and civic sectors where the region's Audra M. Keller Deborah Wexler public business is conducted. Through its publications, meetings and Frederick Knox Judy Woodward study committees, the League hopes to raise awareness of issues of Kyle Knutson Suzanne Yerg public leadership, define what public leadership is in meaningful terms Betsy Kremser for today's political and social climate and come up with tangible, practical steps to develop and support public leaders. Janet Dudrow leaves the Citizens League staff Senior Research Associate While at the League, Dudrow Dudrow was also the Janet Dudrow has left the was the lead staff person and Assistant Editor of the Citizens League to join Allina principle author of five League Minnesota Journal and the lia- Board election set Health Systems as a communi- study committee reports: son between Editor Dana cations specialist. Dudrow, Minnesota's Budget Problem Schroeder and the League All League members should who has been a research asso- (1993); The Case for a office. She contributed count- have received their ballots for ciate since January 2, 1992, Regional Housing Policy less articles, helped in the the annual election of the will be writing and developing (1994); Choose Reform, Not preparation and dissemination Citizens League Board of communications strategies Declining Quality (1 995); of the annual tax surveys and Directors. Eight of the 12 that reflect what the Allina Compete Globally, Thrive was a consistent contributor candidates will be elected to a Foundation is doing in the L~cally(1 996); and Straight of Taka Notes- Dudrow was three-year term beginning this community. "A"s for Minnesota's Schools also a familiar smiling face at August Ballots are due at the (I997). the registration table for most League office by Monday, June Under League past president League events. 29. An Election Committee Mike Christenson, the Allina Dudrow was recruited to full- eagerly awaits your decision. Foundation has been very time work at the League after A party was held in Janet's aggressive in connecting its ini- serving as an intern for the honor recently where she was Thanks, Cargill tiatives with policy changes. first budget study in 1992 presented with some lovely Part of Dudrow's new job will while in graduate school at the parting gifts from the League's A hearty thank you to Cargill be to find the policy implica- Humphrey Institute. She was policy boutique-a Get-A-Life for hosting the Citizens tions in those initiatives and no stranger to the League, T-shirt and bound copies of League and Active Citizenship then push the policy agenda however, serving as a volun- her study committee reports. School's recent Citizenship forward. Christenson said teer on several study commit- Matters forum on June 3. that Dudrow's skills and expe- tees, and as a contractor for Janet Dudrow's contributions And a special thank you to rience make her the perfect fit several League projects includ- to the League's members and Toni Green of Cargill's pub- for a job that requires com- ing the DeSantis Series of staff will be greatly missed. lic affairs staff for giving up a municating information that is forums on neighborhood Thank you,Janet, for a job June evening to make sure sometimes quite complicated. issues and the League's 1988 well done! that everything went all right annual report. Help Wanted

The League is currently reviewing resumes of candi- dates for the position of Research Associate. A job description can be found on the League's web site. Youth group presents to labor study committee Interviews will be conducted by the end of June with a A group of Minneapolis Monique Barnes, South and Terrall Lewis of Summit decision sometime in July. teenagers, organized by the High School; Terri Ervin Academy OIC. Citizens Downtown YMCA and Roosevelt High School; League members Jennifer The League is also in the mar- Maurice Evans, North High Bloom, Archie Spencer, Summit Academy OIC have ket for clerical help. School; Tyesha Harris, Matthew Ramadan, Jim spent the last several months Receptionist Gayle Ruther is South tiigh School; Dorsey and Gary working on the problems and leaving the League to work Oumkarn Isreepersaud, Cunningham also acted as opportunities that the labor closer to her home in the Washburn High School; advisors. shortage represents for teens. northeastern part of the Chrishenda Kazee, metro region. Our web site Roosevelt High School; The youth group will also pre- In May, the "Youth Citizens also has the details for this Terrell Oliver, North High sent their findings to the Twin League" presented their find- job. If you, or someone you School; Maria Overton, Cities Economic Development ings to the League committee know, is interested in applying Roosevelt High School; Group (TCED), chaired by studying the issue. for either job, please send a Roger Pettis, North High Rebecca Yanisch of the cover letter and resume to: The participants all were School; Cameron Taylor, MCDA, on June 10. The pre- rewarded with a certificate Cooper High School. sentation was arranged by Citizens League and a special T-shirt designed TCED member and League 708 South 3rd St., Ste. 500 for the project. Participants Special thanks to Makeda Board member Matthew Minneapolis, MN 554 15 and their high schools were: Zulu-Gillespie of the YMCA Ramadan.