An Evaluation Of Superintendent Jon Gurban
Or 10 Reasons Why The MPRB Needs A New Superintendent
MPRB Superintendent Jon Gurbans contract expires at the end of this year. Instead of conducting a search for a new superintendent, it is expected that at the May 16 Park Board meeting the Park Board is going to rehire Gurban for another three years in spite of the fact that his leadership has been problematic.
So far, there has been no indication that the public will have any opportunity to comment on the rehiring. It will be done very quickly and without public input. The following 10 examples are indications of the Park Boards administrative dysfunction and poor management practices under Superintendent Gurban:
- Failing to acknowledge and analyze unsuccessful entrepreneurial projects which have resulted in costly lawsuits and/or lost taxpayers dollars, i.e. the Nicollet Island Pavillion, the Fuji-ya/Wave site and, most significantly, the Naegele skatepark which has cost taxpayers at least $3.1 million.
- Failing to provide quarterly financial statements to the commissioners and the public.
- Circumventing the Park Boards legal framework by developing plans for costly projects without Board direction or approval, i.e. the mega-million dollar Parade event center.
- Failing to comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act by not honoring all requests for public information.
- Withholding of information from the commissioners and the public, i.e. the Minnesota Thunder Soccer Teams proposed contract.
- Awarding of contracts to selected vendors without issuing requests for proposals (RFPs) as required, i.e. the study for Crown Hydro.
- Suppressing criticism of Superintendent Gurban and his administration by excluding from the public record letters that are critical.
- Circumventing Park Board laws and procedures by attempting to bypass mandated Citizen Advisory Committees, i.e. Parade Stadium.
- Violating open meeting laws.
- Failing to respond to citizen correspondence.
The above 10 examples of bad government are reasons why Superintendent Gurban should not be rehired.
The most important thing that our Park Board Commissioners are elected to do is to provide for their constituents a superintendent whose tenure will clearly reflect the hallmarks of good government: TRANSPARENCY, OPENNESS and ACCOUNTABILITY.
The administrative practices of our Park Board, since Superintendent Gurban has been in his leadership position, do not align with these good government guidelines. The poor management practices, as outlined above, are undermining the health of our park system.
It is time that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board recruit a new superintendent, one who can establish compliance with Park Board ordinances and procedures and adhere to the guidelines of transparency, openness and accountability.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Needs a Superintendent Who Will:
- Be open and transparent in all of his communications with the Board and the public.
- Acknowledge and analyze unsuccessful entrepreneurial projects.
- Provide quarterly financial statements to the Board.
- Comply with the Minnesota Government Data practices Act by providing requested public information.
- Work within the Park Boards legal framework and develop plans for major projects only when directed to do so by the Board.
- Issue requests for proposals (RFPs) as required.
- Include in the record all letters from the public regardless of whether they are complimentary or critical.
- Take the initiative to convene mandated Citizen Advisory Committees without citizens having to demand them.
- Comply with open meeting laws.
- Respond promptly to all citizen correspondence.
TAKE A STAND FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT and set aside a few minutes to contact our Park Board commissioners. Tell them that its time to recruit a new superintendent.
URGE THEM TO VOTE ON MAY 16 TO INITIATE A SEARCH FOR A NEW MPRB SUPERINTENDANT who respects good government and to:
DEFER EXTENDING MR. GURBANS CONTRACT AT THIS TIME!
Mary Merrill Anderson mmerrillanderson@minneapolisparks.org (at Large) 612-230-6443 ext 7 M. Annie Young ayoung@minneapolisparks.org (at Large) 612-230-6443 ext 9 Tom Nordyke tnordyke@minneapolisparks.org (at Large) 612-230-6443 ext 8 Walt Dziedzic (District 1) 612-230-6443 ext 1 Jon Olson (District 2) 612-230-6443 ext 2 Scott Vreeland svreeland@minneapolisparks.org (District 3) 612-230-6443 ext 3 Tracy Nordstrom tnordstrom@minneapolisparks.org (District 4) 612-230-6443 ext 4 Carole A. Kummer ckummer@minneapolisparks.org (District 5) 612-230-6443 ext 5 Bob Fine bfine@minnepolisparks.org (District 6) 612-230-6443 ext 6