While I will say that this discount card is a good idea (I would tweak it somewhat*) I’m wondering where this came from all of a sudden?
Make no mistake, the Parks Department Administration has every right to come up with these kind of marketing/promotional ideas, in fact with all the (white**) people over there making 6 figures or more a year, they should be kicking out ideas like this every week.
But my main question is, ‘Who authorized the card?’
If the Parks Board authorized this without consent of the council, that goes against everything they have been saying about the advisory nature of the board over the past couple of weeks. People who I have spoken with who have attended the last couple of meetings heard NOTHING about the card. So maybe the board was in the dark also (but I have my doubts)?
Three city councilors told me they didn’t hear about it until yesterday when the press release was put out. But even if the other five rubber stampers knew about it, it certainly wasn’t because it was brought up in a public working session, committee meeting or informational. And there was NO council authorization.
While any city department certainly has the right, and probably even the legal right to come up with different marketing and promotional ideas within their set budget, I think they are walking a fine line with this one.
But “What if the mayor authorized it”? Not within his duties as far as I am concerned because this has to do with budgetary and fees charged which is the duty of the city council to approve. So how is it that the city council sets the swimming pool rates but has NO say in a discount card?
Once again, this just shows how the Parks Administration and the Mayor’s office thumbs their noses at the council.
*The discounts are ‘nice’ on the card, but nothing too substantial. I guess I would have pursued a corporate sponsorship like from Sanford Profile or Scheels.
**According to a Human Resources report, the Parks Department has 74 employees, NONE of them are a minority.
Another incursion into private enterprise. The city built private indoor tennis, gave land for a hotel, TIF’s, concessions, now this. How can they attract businesses if they’re in the business competing with them. How much sales tax is lost from discounts?
Here’s a trick around sales tax. Buy HyVee gift cards in Minnesota but use or barter them here.
BAHAHAHA.
“Here’s a trick around sales tax. Buy HyVee gift cards in Minnesota but use or barter them here.”
You must be from the same accounting school as our mayor. Your really pulling of a major tax coup Dan.
Too funny.
So my concern is are we now at risk of a lawsuit. I at first thought this was a passcard that I get when I travel to other cities like Chicago. They have “Chicago Go” and “Seattle Go” plus many other cities. The company provides addmission to many different places for one flat price. I see some market confusion here.
In the near future, after ten punches, you’ll get a free meal at BK with this card….
The only way to stop city corruption is to cut off their water. Everything Huether has not been per citizen choice and (especially) vote. I pride myself on finding ways to not support them with sales tax. Order on the internet. Stop in Worthington for groceries on your way back from MSP. Buy gas in Brandon or Hartford. My protest is nominal but it could catch on. It’s my 6 cents worth.
Just keep quiet. Mad Mike is in charge. He doesn’t want public input. He knows all.
You get a 10% discount but pay with your 35% credit card. Just what we need, another Denny credit card scheme.