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Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | Political Conventions
Democratic Convention slows down Minneapolis City Hall
Half of the Minneapolis City Council's committees will be canceled for the last week of August while some members head for Denver. That plus a previously scheduled off week for the council, create a five-week gap for several committees.
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Looking for a zoning variance in Minneapolis? How about buying a city-owned lot?
If so, better get your paperwork in early. Half of the Minneapolis City Council's committees will be canceled for the last week of August while some members head for Denver.
Those trips to the Democratic National Convention, plus a previously scheduled off week for the council, create a five-week gap for several committees.
Mayor R.T. Rybak and Council Members Robert Lilligren, Ralph Remington and Don Samuels are heading for Denver. Gary Schiff was going to join them but changed his mind.
In St. Paul, Mayor Chris Coleman is going to Denver, as will Council Member Melvin Carter III. But the city said that week's council schedule will not be curtailed.
Among those staying to tend to council business is Council President Barbara Johnson.
"I would be a really little fish in a great big huge pond," Johnson said. "I'm not a delegate, so aside for going for the parties I really don't have any role there. There's plenty to do here."
Council Member Lisa Goodman, who's staying here, said she had no choice but to cancel the Community Development Committee because there wouldn't be a quorum.
Spokesman Jeremy Hanson said that Rybak will be busy at the convention as a spokesman for the nation's Democratic mayors.
Lilligren said he'll participate in the Native American and gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender caucuses, while Remington said he'll participate in the African-American caucus. Both are delegates, but Samuels plans to watch three children while his wife, Sondra, is a delegate.
Their absences have led to cancellation of the council's community development, zoning and planning, and executive committees.
The combination of those cancellations and the previously scheduled off week created the five-week gap for those with city business.
According to City Clerk Steve Ristuben, the off weeks -- six of them this year -- allow the council to attend National League of Cities sessions, take vacations, catch up on reading documents, or hold meetings in their neighborhoods.
Ristuben said that accommodating the various religious observances and spreading out the weeks is laborious.
"To do that is a multi-month process. It's a round-robin. ... It's one of the hardest processes we do in a year," he said.
Staff writer Chris Havens contributed to this article.
Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438
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