Diverse group to make recommendations about planning, land use, design and development

June 27, 2012 (MINNEAPOLIS) Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and City Council President Barbara Johnson have proposed a diverse set of additional appointments to the Citys Stadium Implementation Committee.

On June 15, David Wilson, managing director at Accenture, and Thomas Fisher, dean of the University of Minnesotas College of Design, were named Stadium Implementation Committee co-chairs. The City Council also appointed Mayor Rybak, Council President Johnson and Council Members Kevin Reich, Diane Hofstede, Sandy Colvin Roy and Betsy Hodges to the committee.

For the stadium to be successful, it must reach out into the surrounding community. These committee members will help us do just that and bring more voices to the table, said Mayor Rybak. The stadium must be a great place to play football and hold other great events, but it must also be a good neighbor that is woven into the community.

Mayor Rybak and Council President Johnson are proposing the following additional appointments:

Russ Adams Executive director, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability

Hussein Ahmed Executive director, West Bank Community Coalition

Tim Baylor Developer, outgoing member of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission

Judith Yates Borger Downtown East resident

Rolf Engh Vice president and general counsel, Valspar

Chris Ferguson Entrepreneur, owner of Dairy Queen franchise in Stadium Village; member of the Central Corridors Corridors of Opportunity Committee

David Fields Community development coordinator, Elliot Park Neighborhood Association

Sarah Harris Outgoing executive director, Downtown Improvement District, transitioning to University of Minnesota Foundation

Clint Hewitt Retired landscape architect, former University of Minnesota planner

Peggy Lucas Developer, outgoing member of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission

Wade Luneburg Secretary treasurer, UNITE-HERE Local 17

Peter McLaughlin Hennepin County commissioner

Cory Merrifield Founder, Save the Vikes

Tom Meyer Architect, Downtown East resident

Cathy Rydell Executive director, American Academy of Neurology

D. Craig Taylor Executive director, University of Minnesota Office of Business and Community Development

The Stadium Implementation Committee will be responsible for making recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council on planning, zoning and land use; to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority on the exterior design of stadium, plaza and environs; and more broadly on the long-term planning and development vision for Downtown East, West Bank and the University area. The State legislation that authorized the stadium directs the City of Minneapolis to establish the Stadium Implementation Committee.

If approved by the Council, Stadium Implementation Committee members will serve one-year terms that begin on July 1, 2012.

On Thursday, June 28, the City Councils Committee of the Whole will consider Council President Johnsons resolution to make these appointments, with final consideration by the full Council likely on Friday, June 29.

Office of Mayor R.T. Rybak News Release

Contact: John Stiles, Communications Director, (612) 673-3665 office,

(612) 581-1788 mobile

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