Minneapolis Park Board Independence Amendment (2009)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Minneapolis Park Board Independence Amendment did not appear on the November 3, 2009 ballot in Hennepin County for City of Minneapolis voters.[1] The measure called for greater financial independence from city hall.[2]
The charter amendment was developed as a response to Minneapolis Taxation Board Amendment (2009) which proposed to eliminate the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation and to transfer the power to the City Council.[3] The board argues that the charter amendment is necessary because the board's finances have suffered in recent years.
Court case
In September 2009 Judge Cara Lee Neville ruled that the independence amendment would not appear on the November ballot despite enough valid signatures being submitted on August 17, 2009.[4] The September court case resulted after city officials voted against placing the measure on the ballot. Shortly thereafter, attorney Brian Rice filed a lawsuit against the city on behalf of measure supporters. The city council voted 11 to 2 to block the amendment from the ballot after the city attorney stated that the city lacks the authority to create an independent government unit.[5] The park board said they plan to appeal the judge's decision.
Signatures
On August 10, 2009, amendment supporters submitted approximately 17,086 signatures to place the measure on the November ballot.[2] Supporters of the petition were required to have a minimum of approximately 10,000 signatures - 5 percent of the turnout in last fall's election.[6]
Related measures
See also
- Judge rules Minneapolis Park Board independence measure won't appear on ballot
- Minneapolis Park Board supporters file signatures for independence
- Minneapolis Park Board circulates petition for financial independence
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Public Radio, "Group pushes for Mpls Park Board to be independent," August 10, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Downtown Journal, "Independent Park Board initiative beats signature quota by almost 7,000," August 11, 2009
- ↑ Minnesota Public Radio, "Group pushes for Mpls Park Board to be independent," August 10, 2009
- ↑ The Minnesota Daily, "Court sides with city in park board battle," September 10, 2009
- ↑ Minnesota Public News Radio, "City Council, Park Board going to court over rejected amendment," August 28, 2009
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Minneapolis Park Board tries to put its quest for independence on ballot," July 6, 2009
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