Minneapolis Park Watch

HEADS-UP FOR THE OCTOBER 20, 2010 PARK BOARD MEETING

5:00 P.M. REGULAR BOARD MEETING. Committee meetings to follow. The meetings will be held in the boardroom at Park Board headquarters, 2117 West River Road, just north of Broadway Pizza.

5:30 P.M. OPEN TIME. Speakers need to sign up before 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.

This meeting is the last meeting that David Fisher will be attending as Superintendent. His four month stint as interim superintendent ends on October 31. We are grateful that he accepted the invitation to come to Minneapolis to fill this position.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Mon, 10/18/2010 - 3:37am. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

The following is MPRB President Erwin's letter regarding agreements with Superintendent Gurban and Superintendent Emeritus David L. Fisher (click each page to enlarge):

Posted by Arlene Fried on Wed, 03/24/2010 - 11:16pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

Posted by Arlene Fried on Tue, 03/23/2010 - 10:44pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments

The following article by Cristof Traudes was posted March 17, 2010 in the online editions of the Southwest Journal and Downtown Journal:

GURBAN OUT, FISHER BACK AFTER JUNE

Posted by Arlene Fried on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 8:17pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

PARK WATCH EXTRA

Park Watch has just learned that today Superintendent Jon Gurban has submitted his resignation, effective June 30, and that former Park Board Superintendent David Fisher will become interim superintendent on July 1. Details later.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 8:57pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments

COMMENTS ON CITY PAGES' MARCH 3, 2010 ARTICLE ABOUT SUPT. GURBAN

The following are online comments published in response to City Pages' March 3, 2010 article about Supt. Gurban:

Posted by Arlene Fried on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 11:09pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

The following article was published as the cover story in the March 3, 2010 edition of City Pages:

Angry Management
After six stormy years, the Minneapolis park board is giving its controversial superintendent the boot

Posted by Arlene Fried on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:01am. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

A MONEY SAVING SUGGESTION REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT EXTENSION

The following statement was read at Open Time during the February 17, 2010 Park Board meeting:

Posted by Arlene Fried on Sat, 02/20/2010 - 2:24am. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

The following article by Steve Brandt was published in the February 4, 2010 issue of the Star Tribune:

MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD TO SEEK SUPERINTENDENT

Minneapolis park commissioners agreed Wednesday to search for a new superintendent to run the city's renowned park system.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 7:14pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

The following article by Cristof Traudes appeared on February 4, 2010 in the Downtown Journal:

PARK BOARD VOTES 6-3 TO OPEN SEARCH FOR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT

President says Superintendent Jon Gurban has done great work but that moving on 'happens as the natural growth of an organization'

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is set to move beyond Superintendent Jon Gurban, voting 6–3 Wednesday night to begin a search for candidates.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 6:19pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

The following editorial commenting on Wednesday's Park Board meeting was published in the Star Tribune on November 6, 2009:

WISER HEADS PREVAIL AT PARK BOARD

Vigilance needed to ensure contract extension vote stays tabled.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 10:41am. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

The following article by Steve Brandt appeared in the Star Tribune on November 6, 2009.

PARK BOARD SHELVES CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR SUPERINTENDENT UNTIL NEW YEAR

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board abruptly removed a proposed extension of Superintendent Jon Gurban's contract from its agenda Wednesday night.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 10:50am. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

MINNEAPOLIS PARK SUPERINTENDENT OFFERED CONTRACT EXTENSION

The following article by Steve Brandt appeared in the October 23, 2009, edition of the Star Tribune:

MINNEAPOLIS PARK SUPERINTENDENT OFFERED CONTRACT EXTENSION

Posted by Arlene Fried on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 12:52pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

Details for Superintendent Review Committee

Commissioners Tracy Nordstrom and Walt Dziedzic, Co Chairs; Commissioners Bob Fine, Mary Merrill Anderson, and Annie Young.

Date: 9/29/2009 Time: 5:00-6:00 p.m. Type: Regular Location: KENWOOD PARK Address: 2101FRANKLIN AVE.W Minneapolis Map and Directions

Schedule Start times and agendas* are subject to change.

Permalink | Read more | Calendar

Posted by News junky on Sat, 08/11/2007 - 4:47pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments

From the Southwest Journal Parks Notebook by Mary O'Regan and Dylan Thomas

«

On May 16, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted to reelect Superintendent Jon Gurban, extending his term another three years. Park Board Commissioner Annie Young, who did not support Gurban's initial election in 2003, proposed that his new contract include an annual performance review and work plan.

The board compromised and will include her suggestions in the negotiations with Park Board President Jon Olson, but not in Gurban's contract. Young also asked that the board review his contract before its presentation to the superintendent, but her request was denied.

Posted by News junky on Sun, 06/10/2007 - 6:38am. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

There will be a 20 minute Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board study session on the CALHOUN MASTER PLAN UPDATE beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Minnehaha Room on the second floor of the MPRB Headquarters Building at 2117 W. River Road prior to the regular Board meeting this Wednesday. This meeting is open to the public.

Also on the study session agenda will be the Grand Rounds Missing Link and Net Debt Bonding from State.

The Superintendent's Review Committee will meet at 7:15 p.m. for a review of RECOMMENDED TERMS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S NEW CONTRACT. This meeting will be in the Board room and also is open to the public. The regular MPRB meeting will be at 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, you can call the Park Board at 230-6400.

Posted by Arlene Fried on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 4:53pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments

The following letter was submitted by Joyce Murphy of Lowry Hill who witnessed MPRB Superintendent Jon Gurban yelling at another Lowry Hill resident who was questioning him about the construction at Parade.

To all who represent me on the Minneapolis Park Board:

On Monday evening May 14th I went to the Lowry Hill Homeowners annual meeting at the Walker Art Center. The program for the meeting included reports about the progress that the city and state were making for the citizens of our state and city.

Posted by webmaster on Wed, 05/23/2007 - 4:28pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

Full transcript of the previously posted video clip, titled The Sequel: Minneapolis Park Board President vs. Free Speech, where Arlene Friend again attempts to speak during Open Time at the Park Board meeting -- after the ACLU sent a letter to the Park Board's attorney:

Posted by webmaster on Tue, 05/22/2007 - 2:05pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more

Full transcript of the previously posted video clip, titled Minneapolis Park Board president quashes free speech, where Arlene Friend attempts to speak during Open Time at the Park Board meeting:

Posted by webmaster on Tue, 05/22/2007 - 1:58pm. | Permalink | Login to post comments | Read more