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Issues/Concerns

Concern #1 - Lack of transparency and public input in City Council’s decision-making process 

  • Voted to end yard waste services in illegal closed-door meeting

  • Developed plans for downtown conference center behind closed doors

  • Have failed to provide answers to citizens’ questions about the Downtown Conference Center, redevelopment of Capitol Avenue, and River Market proposal at MSP

Concern #2 - City Council’s disregard for citizen input and the will of the people

  • Assumption that merely including an issue on the posted agenda of a committee or city council is sufficient in soliciting public input rather than being intentional 

  • Disregard for the City Charter mandate that the City Council is a non-partisan body, and elections are to be non-partisan.

  • Disrespect for the checks and balances built in the city charter that mandate the City Council's role is to provide advice and consent in the appointment process.

  • Disregard for the election outcome for the capital improvement tax and allocation of funding for the Monroe Street expansion.

Concern #3 - Lack of respect and civil debate on City Council

  • Some council members engage in grandstanding and casting aspersions on other council members or citizens to divert attention from raised concerns. 

  • Some council members respond rudely to citizens who disagreed with them, both verbally and in written responses.

Concern #4 - Lack of integrity demonstrated by mayor and some City Council members

  • Inappropriate use of city property for political advantage (key card incident:  

  • Inappropriate inclusion of city staff on political flyer

  • Threatening citizen commission members with removal from commission position

Concern #5 - Strong show of partisanship on nonpartisan City Council

  • Large campaign funds donated to a city council race by a PAC of a state official

  • Appointments to Parks Commission give appearance of courting political favors

  • Local political party donated to several city council candidates

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