HOW YOU DO WITH THE HYUNDAIS AND KIAS.
>> YOU BET.
>> Eric: WE ALL REMEMBER THE MASSIVE $300 MILLION RESTORATION TO THE STATE CAPITOL.
NOW THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING IS IN NEED OF EXPANSION THAT COULD RUN AS MUCH AS $500 MILLION.
IT'S A BIG DEAL, CONTROVERSIAL AND AGAIN WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE CONTEXT AND COVERAGE FROM MARY LAHAMMER.
>> A DECADE-LONG PLANNING PROCESS LED TO THE EVENTUALLY RESTORATION OF THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL.
NOW THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING NEXT DOOR IS IN NEED OF A SIMILAR RESTORATION WITH AN EVEN LARGER PRICETAG.
>> SO I NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
>> THE CAPITOL AREA ARCHITECTURAL AND PLANNING BOARD CHAIRED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS WHERE THE WORK IS DONE.
AGAIN, WE'RE UNIQUELY PAYING ATTENTION.
>> MARY LAHAMMER, WE USUALLY HAVE FUN INTOE THROES SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE BUT YOU HAVE TO COME TO ANOTHER ONE.
>> A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS SIT ON THE BOARD.
ONE OF THEM IS A FRESHMAN.
>> I'M EXCITED TO BE ON THE CAP BOARD ESPECIALLY GIVEN MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
>> YOU GET THE NEED, YOU VOTED YES TODAY.
>> I DID.
I KNOW THE BUILDING INSIDE AND OUT.
IS THERE A NEED FOR REPAIR?
ABSOLUTELY, A MASSIVE PRICE TAG EVEN COMPARED TO THE STATE CAPITOL AND THAT IS A BIG CONCERN AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS VERY INVOLVED IN A DECISION THIS LARGE.
>> AND I SEEM TO REMEMBER HEN TOM BAKK AND DEM ACCURATELIES THEY WERE BUILDING A NEW SENATE BUILDING.
IT WAS A REAL POLITICAL ISSUE AND IT MAYBE EVEN MADE DEMOCRATS LOSE THE CHAMBER.
COULD THAT HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE?
>> I THINK SO, IF THEY DON'T ENGAGE IN THE RIGHT WAY I THINK THIS COULD BE A BIG POLITICAL PROBLEM.
>> .
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FAMILY BUDGETS RIGHT NOW WHY IS GOVERNMENT SPENDING TO THE TUNE OF $450 MILLION.
>> SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES POSE A SERIOUS THREAT.
WALLS, CEILINGS, OOFS, HEATING, COOLING, AIR QUALITY ARE ALL IN POOR CONDITION CONDITION AND AT RISK OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE SUCH AS THE FLOOD THAT HIT IN 2016, RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL LEAKS, CRACKS, AND MOLD INVADING THE BUILDING.
>> WE WENT THROUGH A WORKSHOP PROCESS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AT THE CAPITOL.
>> MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN WORKSHOPS REVEALED THE NEEDS IS AND HELPED FORM A PLAN FOR MORE FUNCTIONAL ACCESSIBLE SPACES.
>> IT SHOULD BE EXTINGUISHED, IT SHOULD BE DIGNIFIED, HOWEVER IT SHOULD NOT BE OSTENTATIOUS, IT SHOULD NOT TURN AWAY OR BE UNINVITING TO THE PUBLIC WHO IS COMING TO THE BUILDING.
RIGHT NOW THE COMMITTEE ROOMS AND MEETING ROOMS ARE NOT MEETING ADA.
>> A CONSULTANT FROM NEW YORK CITY SAID THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE COUNTRY AND ADJACENT BUILDINGS LIKE THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING ARE ARCHITECTURALLY IMPORTANT.
>> I CARE SO GREATLY ABOUT THIS CAPITOL COMPLEX.
IT'S A BRIGHT SHINING STAR FOR OUR STATE AND FOR THE WHOLE NATION.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS AN AWESOME ACCESSIBLE PLACE, SAFE PLACE FOR THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC TO ENGAGE MORE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
>> FINAL DECISIONS AND APPROVAL ARE STILL AHEAD, BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN.
>> I FOR ONE HAVE A TON OF QUESTIONS.
AND I WORRY THAT OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE A VOTE YEA OR NAY.
>> WHILE THE LARGE CAPITOL MALL REMAINS INTACT ONE HISTORIC BUILDING SPECIALIST CALLED THE EXPANSION PLAN PRETENTIOUS AND EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE USE OF PUBLIC SUPPLY AND DEMAND GREEN SPACE.
>> FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENT OF CASS GILBERT.
HE WAS PASSIONATE AND PERSISTENT ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF KEY VISTAS TO AND FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.
THE ELIMINATION OF PUBLIC LAND HAS BEEN USED BY MANY TO ENJOY VIEWS AND PUBLIC ATMOSPHERE.
IT FEELS LIKE LAND GRABBING.
THE OSS OF THIS GATHERING PLACE ALSO LIMITS VISIBILITY OF STATE LAWMAKERS AND PROCESS THAT AFFECTS THEM.
IT'S THE ONLY PUBLIC SPACE ON THE MALL VISIBLE BY ALL THREE BRANCHES OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
>> MAKING SURE THE PUBLIC IS FRONT OF MIND IN HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THE NEW BUILDING AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THE CAPITOL SPACE AND THE ENTIRE MALL.
>> AND THE NEARBY BUT SEPARATE PROPOSAL FOR NEW GREEN SPACE OVER I-94 COULD RELATE TO THIS PROJECT.
>> RECONNECT RONDO FOR ITS RE-ENVISIONING AND INTERSECTION A LITTLE WAYS FROM HERE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT RICE AND UNIVERSITY NOW, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE FEEL AND DESIGN OF THAT SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S EASIER TO MOVE BETWEEN THE CAMPUS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THIS MATTERS TREMENDOUSLY.
WE WILL ALL BE IN THESE ROLES FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS IT'S RELATED TO THE BEAUTY AND THE PROMISE OF THE CAPITOL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
SO WE CAN DO THIS WITH GREAT HUMILITY, GREAT CARE, AND FOLKS SHOULD FEEL SEEN AND HEARD AND VALUED AS PART OF