This year we have 90 delegates and a waiting list. What does Portland’s mystique mean to us here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul? Our communities seem to envy Portland, but why?

Portland has a reputation as a green, sustainable city with a high quality of life. Their transit system is accessible, user-friendly and is a proven successful economic driver in the community.

But wait. Three years ago the civic leaders from Portland came to Minneapolis & Saint Paul. They were amazed that our region is home to 19 Fortune 500 companies. (Portland has 1) They were jealous of our park system and the integration of our lakes and trails.

This summer Portland’s unemployment rate was 9.5% while the Minnesota Metropolitan region was at 6.9%. The city of Portland has a homeless population estimated around 15,000, while the estimated number in the entire state of Minnesota is 13,000. They have an annual precipitation around 40 inches and we have a mere 34 inches annually.

High unemployment? Significant homeless population, less sun, more rain….let’s move to Portland! Maybe those of us who live in Minnesota prefer the myth of Portland to the reality of their numbers.

The ICLV agenda includes a bike tour through Portland, a look at their South Waterfront development and a study of the streetcar system effects on neighborhood commercial renaissance. The delegation will also discuss PSU’s role in Portland: “knowledge to serve the city”, public/private collaboration for education reform and Business Leadership in Economic Development Planning and Policy.  In addition, the entire program will be conducted using public transit.

When we return, the delegation hopes to dispel Portland’s myths, embrace the legends, and start making their success stories a reality back here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

Austin always tops the lists of great places to live for young/creative people. The city markets itself with “Keep Austin Weird” or “Live Music Capital of the World”. What is Minnesota’s brand?

A few weeks ago the Star Tribune published an editorial urging Minnesota to tell our story more effectively. The article was written after national site selectors visited Minneapolis-Saint Paul and praised several civic efforts.

How can we connect our community to Austin, Texas? The Minneapolis Regional and Saint Paul Area Chambers of Commerce intend to find out. They will host the 9th annual InterCity Leadership Visit in November. By invitation only, the civic leadership of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, will travel to Austin with a delegation of 75 community/regional representatives. The first trip was to Denver in 2001 and the ICLV has since traveled to Seattle, Boston, Dallas, San Diego, Toronto, Atlanta and Charlotte to learn about city and regional best practices.

This trip has two objectives. First is to introduce the delegation to Austin’s innovative ideas, programs and initiatives. The second, though initially less tangible, is far reaching. Relationships will develop during this shared educational experience. We will return with a more cohesive team of civic leaders working on behalf of our community. The ICLV enhances the dynamics of community vision and problem solving.

Who knows, come December, you may see some “Texas swagger” right here in Minnesota.

Learn more about Austin’s very cool brand at http://www.downtownaustintv.org.  What would be a cool brand for the Twin Cities?

June 10th was the official launch date of the new Nice Ride MN bike initiative across Minneapolis.  It has been neat to see these stations showing up all around town and it will be even more exciting to see how well it is adopted.

Nice Ride MN is the largest bike sharing program in the United States.  The first phase will include 1,000 bikes distributed across 75 locations (700 bikes and 65 locations are already up and running).  These locations include some of the most popular spots in Minneapolis including Downtown, Uptown, University of Minnesota, Dinkytown, Lyn-Lake, Seward, and the warehouse district to name a few.  The program will run seasonally from April to November and then the kiosks and racks will be removed for the winter months.

The program is a combination of a base subscription price and a usage fee.  The subscription prices come in three different sizes — Single Day ($5), 30 days ($30) or a full year ($60, unless you are a student then it is $50).  Once you have a subscription you can use the bikes for free as long as it is returned within 30 minutes to any station.  If you keep the bike over 30 minutes you start incurring a usage fee that adds up very quickly.  For 31 – 60 minutes it costs $1.50, 61 – 90 minutes adds another $3.00 and anything over 90 minutes you start paying $6 for each additional half hour.  This pricing structure strongly encourages users to take the bike from point A to B and then check it back in so it is available for the next user.

With the first week and a half behind it, the biggest complaint so far appears to be the hold that is placed on a credit card for single day subscribers.  When a person arrives at the kiosk (attached to each bike rack) they put their credit card into the machine and get a single day subscription and an unlock code to check out their bike.  At the same time a credit card hold is put on their account in the amount of $250 just in case they run off with the bike.  This hold is released within a week but is giving some debit card users trouble since it holds $250 from their account until it is released.  This is not an issue for 30 day or year subscribers since their credit card information is collected online when they register and then an electronic Nice Ride key is sent to them via mail.  This electronic key allows a user to walk up to any station and unlock a bike directly without having to go to the kiosk.

Overall this looks like a great program that will get us more active and give us the opportunity to see Minneapolis from a little bit different vantage point then we are used to driving in a car.   I have seen a similar program in Lyon, France and it was widely used and enjoyed throughout the city.  I encourage everyone to try it at some point this summer and get a new perspective on Minneapolis.

With the departure of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC) president, Kristofer Johnson, this is an opportunity to explore uniting these two business associations.

I am a director of the InterCity Leadership Visit, a program sponsored collaboratively by both the Minneapolis Regional Chamber (MRCC) and Saint Paul Area Chambers of Commerce. In this role, I’ve researched business and economic development associations in such cities as Denver, Seattle, Boston, Dallas, San Diego, Atlanta and Charlotte. I am also a former MRCC employee.

Both chambers work at increasing their value to member companies who struggle to keep chamber dues in their budget. In a community where there are 35+ chambers in the 7-county metro area, this is not easy to do. Larger member companies such as Target, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy are expected to join each and every one of these chambers.

Using the word “larger” to describe companies starts the size debate. It builds apprehension and has prohibited a real, candid conversation about a chamber merger. What will happen to the “small” business owner? Will all the money and attention be diverted to the “larger” city? If done effectively and collaboratively, no.

Many people worry that in a merger the smaller businesses would lose their voice. To avoid this, the regional chamber with city-specific councils should be considered. This model provides each council with a board and programs that fit their individual community need. Small businesses get the necessary networking opportunities plus the support of the larger companies’ financial assistance for economic development and policy influence. While the plan has flaws it does take advantage of each chamber’s efficiencies while keeping local contact around community issues.

“Local” means different things to different businesses. That is why the council model works. Minneapolis and Saint Paul would each maintain an office, dedicated staff and volunteer committees focused on the needs of their community. For instance, a Saint Paul Council would continue to successfully advocate for Central Corridor. Concurrently the Regional Chamber moves forward a regional transportation plan, ensures Minnesota remains a Delta Airlines hub, leads the region’s economic development efforts, and supports local and state policies important to ensuring an attractive business climate.

The MRCC and SPACC work diligently to maintain a full slate of programming and meet a variety of needs. Each chamber has a leadership program, an emerging leader curriculum, networking groups, annual meetings, policy-focused committees and golf tournaments. Both chambers find sponsorships and participants for each event. Simultaneously, the same few large members sponsor these events at both chambers. These sponsors are challenged to fully utilize their investment and find the appropriate and available employees to represent them at so many different occasions.

What if there was only one large, metro-wide annual member meeting? Attendees would have much wider audience for promotion of their business. The regional chamber could update the entire metro area on significant issues. The sponsoring member gets more for their investment, and metro business people have just one date on their calendar. The councils would still have monthly meetings available for local issues, information and connections.

Besides the InterCity Leadership Visit, the MRCC and SPACC already successfully collaborate on annual events to celebrate the Minnesota Twins, The Timberwolves, The Vikings and The Wild. When attending these events, you don’t find people segregated with Minneapolitans on one side and Saint Paulites on the other. There is energy, pleasant chatter and lots of business cards exchanged. This friendly banter could become a focused, collective voice on regional business issues.

Beyond networking, is further opportunity for both chambers. Imagine one regional economic development proposal! What if there was only one organization that built a strategic, mutually agreed upon plan that was implemented and supported by all businesses, metro-wide. At the end of the day we shouldn’t be worried about a company relocating to Plymouth or White Bear Lake, rather if a business is going to choose the state of Minnesota or Washington.

Economic realities have produced creative collaboration for public-private partnerships and combined government services. Both chambers could take baby-steps in working closer together. Merging back office operations might be an easy place for both to start. In addition to the InterCity Leadership Visit they could consider additional programming to benefit their organizations and their members.

The United Way did it. Catholic Charities did it. The YMCAs did it. I think the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Chambers should consider it too.

I am a former MRCC employee and my business partner, Ellen Watters worked for the SPACC.  Both organizations have struggled to be relevant to their member companies while businesses cut back on their association fees.  In a community where there are 35+ chambers in the 7-county metro area, this is not easy to do.  Larger member companies such as Target, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy are expected to join each and every one of these chambers.

As the director of the InterCity Leadership Visit (a program sponsored collaboratively by both the MRCC and SPACC) I’ve researched business and economic development associations in such cities as Denver, Seattle, Boston, Dallas, San Diego, Atlanta and Charlotte.  The communities that have seen the best successes are cities that have built and supported one regional organization.

In Atlanta, the chamber is the “go to” organization for business support, policy making and professional development/retention of employees.  When the public schools were close to losing their talented superintendent, the chamber stepped in and worked in a public forum to produce much-needed reform on their school board.  This resulted in a renewed interest in businesses supporting the public schools and also inspired qualified and dedicated business people to run, and win seats on the school board.

What could the MRCC and SPACC  do together?

Many people argue that the smaller businesses would lose their “street level” support if the chambers merged.  The model to consider gives each city their own “council” and their own board with programs that fit their individual community need.  Those small businesses get networking opportunities plus the support of the larger companies’ financial assistance for economic development and policy influence.

The MRCC and SPACC spent the last few years trying to maintain their current offerings.  Each chamber has a leadership program, an emerging leader curriculum, small business awards, annual meetings and golf tournaments.  Both chambers struggle to find sponsorships and participants for each event and program, while the larger members are challenged to find the right attendees to represent them at so many different occasions.  What if there was one large, well-attended regional annual chamber meeting.  The metro area networking benefits everyone.

Imagine if there was one regional Leadership program.  The applicants would compete for a spot rather than be assigned by their company to attend.  Immediately the alumni of each program would double their professional connections by achieving access to others from “across the river” who participated in past programs.  Community issues from Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington, St. Louis Park could be looked at collectively by engaged business and nonprofit leaders and benefit from a regional dialog about solutions.

Beyond networking, is further opportunity for both chambers.  Imagine one regional economic development proposal!  What if there was only one organization that built a strategic, mutually agreed upon plan that was implemented and supported by all businesses, metro-wide.  At the end of the day we shouldn’t be worried about a company relocating to Plymouth or White Bear Lake, but if a business is going to choose Minnesota or Seattle.

Economic realities have produced creative collaboration for public-private partnerships and combined government services.  Both chambers could take baby-steps in working closer together.  Merging back office operations might be an easy place for both to start.  In addition to the InterCity Leadership Visit they could consider additional programming to benefit their organizations and their members.

The United Way did it.  Catholic Charities did it.  The YMCAs did it.  Why can’t the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Chambers do it?  I think they can, and they should.  What do you think?

Location

The ramp in question is 501 Self Park located at 501 4th Avenue South in Downtown Minneapolis.  To give you a reference it is the ramp just across 6th Street from Thrivent.  It is surrounded by government facilities — Hennepin County Government Center  is just across 4th Avenue,  Minneapolis City Hall is just across 5th Street and the Hennepin County Jail is right next door across the Light Rail tracks.  If you drive past this ramp you will see signs directing you into this ramp that say “Court Parking”, Public Parking, and an advertisement saying $2.00 for the first 20 minutes.  There is no question in my mind that they are praying on the occasional parker who is coming downtown to interact in someway with one of these government entities or a nearby business.

Pricing

The sign is accurate that the first 20 minutes are $2.00.  If you are there 21 – 40 minutes it jumps up to $13 and then it is an additional $2.00 every 20 minutes until you reach the daily maximum of $24.  If this is where the story ended I would attribute it to high downtown prices and just move on.  The piece that really angered me was the parking special, if you arrive by 9:00 it is only $8 for the entire day.  But wait!  I arrived at 6:50 am and left at 8:23!  There is one more catch — you cannot leave until after 12:00!  From a business perspective why would you add the limit of not leaving until a certain time, this goes against better judgment whereby the sooner someone leaves the more space is available for others to park.  Then it hit me, they want to pray on the short term parker who has to come downtown for some type of government service!  The $2 rate for the first 20 minutes is very nice but lets be honest, when was the last time you had to go to a government office and was able to get in and out including walking to the office in under 20 minutes?  Anyone coming downtown to renew their license, talk to a city official, attend a court hearing or bail someone out of jail will be caught by this pricing!  The true municipal parking ramp can be found by just driving to the other side of the same block and entering the parking ramp off of 5th Avenue and paying $3 an hour up to a daily maximum of $10.50 if you are there less than 12 hours.  The entry to the skyway looks identical and are within 30 feet of each other.

Who Runs the Ramp?

The ramp is operated by Allied Parking.  When I called to inquire about the pricing policy I was told by management that they are absolutely taking advantage of the location and are charging high rates for short-term parkers.  The individual suggested that more customers should shop around and that they allow a 15 minute grace period if someone enters and decides not to park.  He indicated that they try not to be false in their advertising and try to make it as clear as possible through their signage.  After talking to Allied I went back to look at the signs and realized why I didn’t think twice about parking there.  The most visible sign said “Court Parking” and Public Parking.  There is only one little sign once you are already in the ramp that said the rates and it blends into the wall so it would be very easy to miss as you are going around the corner.  It is also posted where you pull a ticket but by that time you are committed since there isn’t an easy way to exit and are more focused on figuring out how to get your ticket then looking at the rates.  In reviewing the signage I think much more can be done to make sure customers don’t think this is a government ramp and to ensure parkers know the price before they are shocked.  The most interesting thing of the whole conversation was at the very end when I was offered some free parking passes for my trouble and to keep my future business.  I declined — I wasn’t calling because I couldn’t afford the $19, I am much more concerned for the citizens that have to use the government services, park and then are ripped off!

Who Owns the Ramp?

Given the location and the signs, you would easily think this might be a government owned ramp — It is not!  After considerable looking it actually is owned by a very well known national company.  The ramp itself is owned by an entity called Urban Growth Properties Trust with an address of Scottsdale, Arizona.  If you look into the trust you find that it is owned by a private company called InterPark out of Chicago.  I called InterPark and found out it is actually owned by GE Capital Real Estate which is an operating unit of General Electric!  I am sure GE corporate is not specifically aware of this pricing strategy as I would hope they would also see that this practice is unfair.  The thing that makes this that much more insulting is that I am a GE shareholder — In essence I am benefitting personally from this terrible pricing policy!

Outcome

My hope in writing this post is that you share this terrible story with as many others as you can and hopefully enough people will hear and express their disappointment that the predatory pricing changes.  My greatest fear is that users will continue to park in this ramp, be ripped off and then leave thinking it was the City of Minneapolis or Hennepin County taking their money which will lead to even more distrust and dissatisfaction with government.  What I would ask the ramp to consider is making it explicitly clear that this ramp is a private business — Not Government Owned, and to remove the restriction penalizing parkers who arrive early but leave before noon.