North Metro Mayors Minute for the September 2021 Board Meeting
Our September 2021 board meeting started in the parking lot of the New Brighton Community Center, feasting on bite-sized morsels handcrafted by Entourage Events Group staff in their 53-foot mobile fully decked-out kitchen.
Entourage CEO Steve Hark was our guest presenter at the meeting. He introduced us to a Philadelphia parks program that brings live music and local food to 10 parks over 10 weeks with 10% of the proceeds going back into park improvements. Steve pitched an idea of The Kitchen being used in a city park with community restaurants doing the food service. Brooklyn Park Councilwoman Tonja West-Hafner immediately saw the potential to introduce more people to the terrific restaurants in her city. Learn more about Steve’s offerings here: http://entourageeventsgroup.com/
In business matters, the board adopted a 1% reduction in dues for 2022. Operations Committee Chair Jim Dickinson, Andover city administrator, says after three years of tightening expenses and lowering dues he feels we’ve right sized our operations.
Meeting host New Brighton Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas updated us on developments, ranging in value from $3 million to $100 million. The city is growing efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion, with a coordinator to be hired soon.
I appreciated legislative insights from Senator John Hoffman and Representative Kristin Bahner.
City updates included New Hope reporting their new aquatic park drew 46,000 guests, up from 18,000 for the old pool. Fridley Mayor Scott Lund wonders if COVID stay at home orders helped the municipal liquor store have its third record year of sales. See meeting minutes next month for more updates.
Community Partner Comcast announced this week a $1 million Comcast RISE program that will give 100 small businesses owned by people of color $10,000 grants to be distributed in late November. The window to apply is Oct. 1-14, 2021. Learn more here: https://vimeo.com/604205688
I hope to see you at the final 2021 board meeting at Brooklyn Park City Hall on Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. (which is a change from the original location). It’s likely to be a hybrid again. City managers and administrators will meet Oct. 20 in New Hope.
Jill Brown, Executive Director
Cell: 612-889-2611
Email: JillCBrown@msn.com