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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: Last week Judge Cara Lee Neville ruled that the Minneapolis Park Board Independence Amendment will not appear on the November ballot despite enough valid signatures being submitted on August 17, 2009.[1] The September court case resulted after city officials voted against placing the measure on the ballot. Shortly thereafter, attorney Brian Rice filed a lawsuit against the city on behalf of measure supporters. The city council voted 11 to 2 to block the amendment from the ballot after the city attorney stated that the city lacks the authority to create an independent government unit.[2] The park board said they plan to appeal the judge's decision.
The measure calls for greater financial independence from city hall.[3] The charter amendment was developed as a response to Minneapolis Taxation Board Amendment which proposes to eliminate the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation and to transfer the power to the City Council.[4]
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