Sierra Club North Star Chapter
Questionnaire for Minneapolis City Council Candidates
"Brevity is a trait of a good conservationist."
-- anonymous
CANDIDATE'S NAME: Ralph Remington
OFFICE SOUGHT: Minneapolis City Council Ward 10
TRANSIT
(1) Do you support the creation of a Minneapolis-St. Paul LRT connection? What will you do to advance the Central Corridor project linking the two cities by light rail?
Yes! I will strongly advocate for creating the connection in whatever capacity the city can advance it, and at the state level.
(2) Will you actively and vigorously support construction of the North Star commuter rail line?
Yes! We need a true transit system (I also support the Southwest Corridor line).
(3) How often do you use alternate modes of transportation for non-recreational purposes? a) Daily b) Several Times a Week c) Once or twice a month d) Not at all
Not at all, and I’m not happy about it! The interesting thing about this is that I didn’t have to start driving a car until I moved to the Twin Cities. I moved here from New York City and I’m originally from Philadelphia, and have lived in Frankfurt, Germany and Washington, D.C. I used public transportation for the first two years that I lived in Minneapolis and then I had to break down and buy a car at the age of 30 because the lack of transit options and the poor bus scheduling and routes made it impossible for me to handle my business responsibilities in a quick and efficient manner. I know first hand what it’s like to have access to great mass transit system, and we’re past due here in the Twin Cities.
(4) What new improvements for bike users and pedestrians will you champion as City Council Member? How will you promote pedestrian friendly development?
I will:
- Champion the conversion of city streets into pedestrian thoroughfares where appropriate, where walkers and cyclists have the right of way but cars are allowed at low speeds (if allowed at all).
- Reduce traffic and parking by gradually reducing parking spaces in specific areas.
- Enact and enforce zoning that honors human scale, so that walking is a pleasant experience. Scale in pedestrian friendly areas needs to be dense and low.
- Establish more signaled pedestrian crosswalks.
- Encourage more enforcement of penalties for drivers who continue when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk.
- Seek to adapt the cityscape to changing seasons: outdoor cafes, public squares and street performers in summer; skating rinks, heated benches and street corners in winter months.
- Promote cycling as a major mode of transportation by making bikes available with a City Bike system, allowing anyone to borrow a bike from stands around the city for a small coin deposit. When finished they simply leave the bike at a stand and their money is refunded.
RIVER
(1) How will you balance development pressures and a healthy Mississippi River that can accommodate both public access for recreation (i.e. biking trails) and wildlife habitat?
I think that it’s important for all interests to come to the table in a spirit of community. Part of my job as a Council Member would be to provide leadership, educate and get educated where necessary. It’s important for developers and community residents alike to realize that we all benefit from a healthy natural habitat along the Mississippi and a healthy Mississippi River in general. We should examine places where bike trails and recreational activities will not detract from the migratory habits of many of our bird species.
(2) The city-approved Above the Falls Master Plan calls for redevelopment and continuous parks and open space along the Mississippi riverfront in north and northeast Minneapolis. What will you do to move the implementation of this plan forward?
The plan is well thought out and the planners have attempted to be balanced. With that in mind, I will lobby at the state level to try to push lawmakers into moving the plan forward. By saying this I also realize that this will require big funding, and with the current Republican administration there may not be the money available to proceed as quickly as we’d like to do it.
(3) What is your position on the proposed Crown Hydro and Mississippi River Marina projects, and what will be your role as they move through the intergovernmental decision-making processes?
I don’t support the Crown Hydro project.
Marinas aren’t environmentally sound. They increase boat traffic, which increases erosion and streambank degradation. There are spills, noise and leaks and all other intrusive behavior typically linked with them. While marinas are viewed as an amenity to some, I would proceed with caution in looking at any marina project. As with all development projects, I would always look at the potential environmental impacts in making decisions.
(4) St. Anthony Falls and a seven-mile-long stretch of whitewater rapids in the Mississippi River Gorge once were the most prominent natural features in the heart of Minneapolis. Will you support a study to determine the feasibility of restoring these features?
Absolutely.
WATER
(1) Run off from impervious surfaces, roads, sidewalks, roofs and lawn chemicals are impacting our lakes, rivers and creeks.
a) Please describe at least two measures you will take to improve water quality in our city’s waterways.
I will work on our zoning ordinances and area plans to ensure sustainable development –for water quality specifically, see below (next question). Also, I will help educate people on how to prevent nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.
b) Please describe if and how you will encourage/require implementation of alternative storm water infiltration practices (e.g. rain gardens, rain barrels, permeable/pervious paving, green roofs, etc.).
I will codify incentives for developers who incorporate rain gardens, rain barrels, permeable/pervious paving, true green roof technology (not just planters), etc.
c) Please describe if and how you will encourage/require implementation of holding ponds and water quality treatment to supplement traditional storm water conveyance systems.
I will encourage natural growth along waterways as well as plantings and additional holding ponds. It is important for all concerned to acknowledge that runoff diversion is essential to superior water quality—in addition to trying to prevent NPS pollution in the first place.
(2) Will you support posting multi-lingual signs on all city lakes and along city river shore line warning people of the high mercury levels in our Lakes?
Yes.
(3) What will you do to help preserve the 100,000-gallon daily flow of water at Coldwater Spring, the "Birthplace of Minnesota," sacred site for Native Americans, and the last spring of size in the Twin Cities?
I will make sure that the current state law is enforced, and will scrutinize any proposed development in the vicinity of the spring.
CLEAN ENERGY
(1) What is your plan for making Minneapolis/St. Paul a national leader in both energy conservation and clean energy production? What alternative energy models will you propose?
We must commit to purchasing renewable energy in an increasing proportion of the city’s overall energy use. Doing so will provide a significant market/demand for clean energy production, helping to facilitate the expansion of our state’s wind power providers. We need to incorporate solar energy technology wherever feasible into our infrastructure. Concurrently, we need to set aggressive conservation goals, and actually work towards achieving them. We should look at proven and emerging energy models locally, nationally and internationally.
(2) Minnesota has a chance to lead the nation into a hydrogen-powered future by producing hydrogen cleanly from water, using wind-generated electricity (or other minimum disturbance technology). How will you encourage this, and how will you propose establishing an infrastructure in the Twin Cities that would support hydrogen-powered vehicles?
I will support a study of a hydrogen-powered transportation system and infrastructure. If the technology is feasible, I would help to incorporate the planning and implementation of this infrastructure through our (by then) combined Planning/Transportation Department, and Minneapolis Plan. I will also convene study groups with my City Council colleagues so that we may share ideas on “state of the art” technology in these areas.
GREEN GOVERNMENT
[questions for non-incumbents]
(1) What changes to city policy and procurement practices will you champion that lead the city towards a greener business plan?
I would support implementing stringent green purchasing guidelines. I would work to ensure that all city development projects follow sustainable design principles. Overall I would encourage the promulgation of the pedestrian friendly and sustainable practices of New Urbanism. The city needs to lead by example!
(2) Will you support purchasing hybrid vehicles for the city's non-emergency fleet, and if so, what percentage increase do you propose for 2010?
Yes. Knowing that we’re under tight budget constraints, I would expect no less than to replace vehicles as they reach the end of their city use cycle with hybrid (or alternative fuel) vehicles. I’d like to see purchasing increase enough each year to reach a total of 50% of the non-emergency fleet by the end of 2010 (through a combination of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles), but that may not be fiscally realistic.
(3) How will you reduce the city's dependence on fossil fuels?
I would be a pit bull on promoting the expansion of our mass transit system by advocating the widespread use of streetcars and LRT throughout the city, particularly along the Midtown Greenway. I would also advocate for a strong BRT system (using alternative fuel sources) on 35W. Looking towards the future I would push for integrating viable, cutting-edge transportation options. I will advocate the use of POV lanes for anyone driving a hybrid vehicle, and retaining a tax incentive for their purchase (it’s ridiculous that SUVs can be a write-off, but hybrids not!). I would champion the creation of a City Bike System. I would promote the expansion of the hOur Car program.
Transportation is an obvious area, there are others (large and small) that can make a difference. For example, expanding the use of LED technology for light sources (traffic signals, street lighting, etc.). I would promote the investigation and implementation of straw bale and other energy efficient construction that is currently not allowed under city building codes.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
(1) Are you willing to dedicate city resources to conduct a thorough examination of the relationship of air pollution to human health, including health disparities among communities of color? How would you stop environmental injustice and environmental racism in our city?
Yes. We need to be examining air quality throughout the area. We also have to make sure that lead based paint is stripped entirely from old housing stock. Lead poisoning disproportionately affects children of color.
In addition we must ensure that developers are creating affordable housing and mixed income units in ALL areas of the city of Minneapolis. Where there are mixed incomes there will also be amenities and safeguards that are beneficial to ALL. To provide these incentives we will allow developers to build in affluent areas if they will also develop additional property in low-income neighborhoods at a 2-1 ratio. By affordability I mean at 50-65% of AMI (Area Median Income).
I will coordinate my efforts with State Representative Keith Ellison and others who are actively pursuing creative solutions to undoing Environmental Racism. I will publicize the fact that areas where people of color reside are often poisoned with pollution, noise, particulates and toxic waste rendering those areas uninhabitable.
AIRPORT
(1) Please describe your position on the airport expansion plan. Why should environmentalists be concerned about this and what will you do to address these concerns?
I do not support the airport expansion plan. We need to limit the number of planes and flights that fly into MSP and get rid of the hub and spoke system. The noise and pollution from the airport has a major detrimental effect on our city. I would work with residents, city officials (Minneapolis and surrounding cities), state legislators, and other stakeholders to oppose the expansion.
PARKS
(1) Do you support an independent Park Board? How will you work with the MPRB and other entities on urban reforestation?
Absolutely, I definitely support an independent park board! I will work closely with the MPRB to ensure that we tackle the problem of Dutch Elm Disease and stay up to the minute in the latest solutions to our forestation difficulties.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
(1) Do you support campaign finance reform at the municipal level? If so, what initiatives have you currently supported to make systematic changes at the municipal level? And, will you support having a city website with campaign contribution information disclosed?
Yes I do. I also believe the city should have a website for disclosing campaign contribution information on frequently updated basis (now, disclosure is too infrequent).
(2) Do you accept campaign contributions from energy companies, chemical companies or developers? If so, how will you balance environmental concerns with the agenda of those contributors?
No I do not, and I have publicly stated that I will not accept contributions from real estate developers.
GENERAL
(1) How will you change city government operations to better protect and enhance Minneapolis’ environment in the future?
I will promote the merging of the Planning and Transportation departments. One doesn’t effectively work without the other. We cannot achieve a sustainable city without Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Expanding our mass transit system isn’t optional—it’s absolutely necessary to protect and enhance our environment.
The city needs to incorporate sustainability principles into everything they do. We need to not only hear from, but also actually listen to environmental advocates. I will make sure that the environment has a strong voice at city hall.
(2) Please identify your five greatest environmental accomplishments.
Helping the homeless to move into pre-existing housing. Refraining from owning a car until I was 30 years old. Being an active advocate for mass transit.
(3) How will you engage the public in decisions affecting our environment?
I will hold town meetings in Ward 10 to listen to their concerns, and to educate residents about sustainability and New Urbanism. Citizens won’t participate if we don’t listen, or use what they bring to the table. I will encourage them to participate in the decision making process, AND actually act on their input.
Share your ideas & concerns with Ralph at 612-821-3819 or email rembuz@aol.com |
