The Minneapolis parks system has announced a laundry list of what it wants from the 2019 legislative session, including more funding for youth and key projects on the Mississippi River.
Minneapolis Park Board seeks state money for youth, Mississippi River projects
The board will discuss its 2019 legislative agenda at Wednesday's meeting.
January 1, 2019 at 3:32AM
Some of the items piggyback off interim Superintendent Mary Merrill's 2019 budget, which highlighted a need to reinvest in youth programming.
In addition to the $100,000 bump from the 2019 property tax levy for Teen Teamworks, the board also wants lawmakers to invest another $800,000 to expand other youth employment programs, such as Conservation Corps and Urban Scholars.
"Demand for youth employment through the [Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board] is growing, but state funding has not kept pace with need and growth," according to the document.
There is a separate request for more than $1 million in funding to help provide universal day care for Minneapolis residents and "reimagining" a mentorship program called Youthline.
To bypass the law, some cities and counties hire private vendors who are able to get liquor licenses to run their bars.
The Park Board is asking legislators for more than $24 million to help several ongoing projects that are not part of Met Council's bonding request.
Included on the list of bonding projects are $3 million for the 26th Avenue project, which will create a river overlook and a trail connection from 26th to West River Parkway, and $5 million for park improvements next to the Stone Arch Bridge called Water Works.
Construction on both projects is expected to start in the spring of 2019.
Some of the items on the agenda include support for several pieces of legislation.
The board supports changing state law allowing it to apply for liquor license at their golf courses to help beef up revenue and hopefully attract more clientele.
Currently, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division says that municipal golf courses cannot apply for on-site liquor sales.
It also supports money allocated to repair the Stone Arch Bridge's deteriorating foundation and legislation that would strengthen penalties and/or laws for reporting inaccurate information to police.
The list of about 20 items will be discussed at the Minneapolis Park Board meeting Wednesday.
Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647 Twitter: @KarenAnelZamora
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