Alcohol and Tobacco Use

LWVE supports the following as it relates to alcohol and tobacco use:

Educational programs that support improved chemical health, including:

Ongoing programs, especially in the middle and high school years.

Regular continuing education for adult educators, coaches and school administrators.

Alternatives to suspension for alcohol and tobacco violations in the schools

Allocation of public funds for a community initiative to prevent illegal alcohol and tobacco use.

Consistent city and school guidelines for adults who chaperone youth activities.

City ordinances and law enforcement efforts designed to reduce underage alcohol and tobacco use.

The establishment of a suburban Youth Court to address alcohol and tobacco violations.

Breaking the Cycle of Violence

LWVE supports programs to prevent violence and serve the victims of family violence. These programs should include:

Educational programs that emphasize self-esteem, healthy sexuality, problem solving, positive expression of emotions, non-violent conflict resolution, and respect for others to prevent violent behavior. This would include support for:

Government-sponsored parenting and early childhood classes.

Local or state government mandating or encouraging such education programs in school curricula.

Use of public money to train teachers and administrators to use non-violence curriculaa.

Training for childcare providers.

A requirement that adult educators, including coaches, participate in prevention of sexual harassment and violence education programs, and that public money be provided for adequate training.

The use of public money for a state-wide public information and communication campaign designed to prevent violent and sexually violent behavior; i.e., to promote healthy sexuality, non-violent conflict resolution, and gender and racial equality.

Efforts of state and local government to develop and coordinate programs dealing with primary prevention of violence.

Allocation of public monies in governmental programs to combat violence through reducing substance abuse and poverty, and by identifying and responding to individuals who have been violent or are at risk for violent behavior.

The following social institutions taking an active role in preventing violent behavior:

a.            Religious community

b.            Business community

c.            Legal community

d.            Medical community

e.            Media

f.            Civic and recreation community.

Efforts to encourage the media industry to exercise

self-restraint in the promotion of violence.

8.      Efforts to encourage the pornography industry to exercise self-restraint in the promotion of sexually violent pornography.

9.      Comprehensive and timely procedures for agencies dealing with family violence.

10.      Specific crisis intervention training for police officers.

11.      On-going services including sufficient shelter space for abuse victims.

12.      Continuing a program of mediation as a possible alternative to criminal prosecution in resolving domestic disputes.

13.      A complete and continuing system of data collection on incidents of family violence to aid in planning and evaluation of services.

14.      Providing sufficient advocates to protect the interests of victims of family violence.

15.      Provision and enforcement of immediate legal remedies for victims of family violence.

16.      Developing continued coordinated training programs for all legal and human services professionals to address the ongoing problems of family violence.

 

City of Edina Advisory Boards and Commissions

(Adopted May 2006)

League of Women Voters of Edina supports:

Codified, uniform term limits for all appointed advisory boards and commissions;

Appointment to advisory boards and commissions that reflect the demographics of the City of Edina;

Accurate, consistent, accessible and timely publication of:

the purpose of advisory boards and commissions, openings on boards and commissions, and the application/appointment process;

advisory board and commission member names, term dates and contact information;

city staff liaison names and contact information;

advisory board and commission meeting notices, agendas and minutes.

 

Community Center

LWVE supports maintaining a Community Center in Edina which

Responds to the diverse interests and changing needs of all age groups.

Includes broad citizen involvement in its governance.

Employs a professional staff to ensure quality programs.

Has access to multiple funding sources including financial support by both the city and school district.

 

Education

LWVE supports continuing a system of excellence in Edina’s public schools which is characterized by

An adequate combination of both state and local revenues

Procedures which fit teaching methods and content to the students’ rate and style of learning, needs and abilities

 

Families engaged in choice of teachers, instructional organization, school building and/or school district

LWVE supports school district boundaries which coincide with city boundaries.

 

Fiscal Priorities for the City

LWVE advocates a balanced, adequate and equitably funded city budget which emanates from

Long range financial planning.

Financial information provided to all citizens.

Meaningful citizen participation in setting priorities.

 

Land Use/Environmental Quality

LWVE advocates land use policies for the City which

Require consideration of environmental impact.

Protect open lands and water resources in the city of Edina. We urge the city to exercise its  powers to acquire land and regulate land use to protect water resources.

Regulate development to facilitate efficient use of transportation systems and utilities.

Promote communication between planning commission and community concerning pending development decisions and land use changes.

Implement and maintain a system of bike paths and walkways.

 

Public Facilities

LWVE supports public facilities in Edina which

Balance public interests and needs with fiscal responsibility.

Respond to the diverse and changing needs of Edina.

Allow for citizen involvement in their governance.

 

Recycling

LWVE supports a local recycling program based on the “4 R's”: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, React; which includes

Active assistance for recycling all materials.

Adequate city staff for local recycling programs.

Household pickup of recyclables.

An anti-scavenging ordinance to protect recyclables from being picked up by anyone other than the designated receiver.

Regulations to require local units of government to use recycled products.

Continued individual choice of hauler in Edina.

 

Renewable Energy

LWVE supports the use of renewable energy and energy conservation to improve environmental and public health, energy independence and security for the residents of Edina

LWVE supports renewable energy objectives for the City of Edina. Examples include:

Participation in a renewable energy coalition;

Consideration of renewable energy technology for city and school buildings;

Establishment of a percentage of city energy to come from renewable energy sources;

LWVE supports the establishment of a City of Edina Energy Commission to provide recommendations to the city regarding energy, conservation and education of residents on energy issues.

LWVE advocates that the city and school district inform the public about their energy conservation and renewable energy efforts.

 

Senior Citizens

LWVE supports policies that are responsive to the growing senior citizen population in Edina, including

A Senior Center with the following attributes: ample on-site parking; easy accessibility by all of its members; programs for diverse interests and needs; intergenerational uses; adequate staffing by professionals; inclusive of all Edina seniors; adequate funding by the City.

An adequate transportation system for Edina seniors which includes door-to-door service to the Senior Center; paid professional drivers; low cost fares to other Edina locations.

Adequate, affordable, and accessible housing to meet the needs of seniors in Edina.

Continued city funding of public health care for seniors in Edina.

Maintain and support the Edina Senior Center.

 

Transit

LWVE supports a transit system in Edina.