be completed even though there is funding to complete that trail. Graco
Inc., 88 11th Ave. NE, refuses to honor its trail easment agreement that was
part of a city subsidy.
The details below from the Mill City Times:
http://millcitytimes.com/opinion/breaking-with-riverfront-bike-ped-trails-at
-stake-graco-must.html
I would note that this is a corporation that says:
Graco is committed to conducting its worldwide business according to the
highest standards of ethics and integrity. This commitment stems not only
from a desire to avoid the many problems ethical violations can create, but
more importantly from a conviction that good ethics is good business. Graco
firmly believes that ethical conduct has helped and will continue to help us
fulfill Graco’s mission of serving its stakeholders through sustained
profitable growth.
Ethics and integrity are not simply a slogan, but a part of our value
system reflected every day in the performance of our employees. Our Code of
Ethics and Business Conduct embodies these values and sets forth the standards
of ethically sound behavior and accountability that we expect of all
employees.
If you know of, or suspect, a violation of Graco's Conduct of Business
Guidelines, or a violation of any law, you should do one of the following:
Call, write or e-mail Graco's Vice President and General Counsel.
Karen P. Gallivan
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Graco Inc.
88 11th Ave. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 612-623-6604
E-mail: <email obscured>_ (mailto:<email obscured>)
* Call the Graco Ethics Hotline toll-free at 1-877-846-8913
* E-mail Graco at <email obscured>_ (mailto:<email obscured>)
... some of the Mill City Times article:
BREAKING: With Riverfront Bike & Ped Trails at Stake, Graco Must Live Up
to to Its Agreement
Friday, February 13, 2015 at 6:20AM
A May 31 deadline for Fed funding will be missed unless Graco lives up to
its word and grants easement, quickly.
A Mill City Times Exclusive: When the City of Minneapolis granted Graco a
$730,000 subsidy to expand its Riverfront facility, and to vacate Sibley
street, City staff realized the importance of insuring a trail connection as
part of the long term vision for the Central Riverfront Regional Park (since
renamed St. Anthony Falls Regional Park). As part of the subsidy package,
and as a condition of approvals granted by the City Council on August 14,
2000, Graco agreed to give a trail easement across its property next to the
river. Graco also agreed to provide an easement for a possible parkway
connection for cars on the other side of the building.
This is a project that has been waiting in the wings for years, it would
be a shame if the Eastside is short-changed again because Graco reneged on
a promise.
- Liz Wielinski, MPRB President
Where's the proof? Fast forwarding to today, sources with knowledge of
discussions between the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and local company
Graco report that an impasse has been reached, with Graco claiming that
"sometime between 2002 and 2005 the City of Minneapolis released it from its
obligation to grant the easement." Ok, fair enough. Except Graco has been
unable to provide any documentation to back up its claim. A search of the
public record by a long time riverfront activist has failed to find
evidence of the release in the public record. Furthermore, if such a release
were granted, common sense would lead one to believe that Graco could be more
specific than "sometime between 2002 and 2005".
This is a big deal. It's hard to overstate the importance of this parcel
to the just completed Master Plan for St. Anthony Regional Park (see plan
below), with it's centerpiece being a continuous trail loop on both sides of
the river, connected by bridges at the North and South ends of Minneapolis.
The loss of $1 million in Federal funding would be a huge setback as
well, with the shortfall likely being made up with taxpayer money.
Thanks,
Scott Vreeland
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Commissioner District # 3
(612) 721-7892