Patrick McDougle

@pmcdougl

Minnesotan, Software Engineer, Aspiring Aviator, City Nerd. He/Him/His. Opinions are my own and not official statements of any organization I am a member or employee of.

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Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· 22h

My letter to the Board of Estimate & Taxation about the Mayor's proposed budget. Feel free to borrow the text or talking points for your own letter to the body. Their email addresses can be found here: lims.minneapolismn.gov/boards/bet

Distinguished members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation,

Today Mayor Frey put forward his 2027 recommended budget, including his levy recommendations. I am writing to you today to express my concern in the recommendation to hold the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to a 2.5% levy increase.

Since 1883 the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board has stewarded the highest quality assets and services for the residents of Minneapolis, which have regional and national significance. Holding them to a 2.5% increase is unacceptable to me as a resident and property tax payer. In 2024 this body made a critical mistake in not accepting the park boards full levy ask and as a result we lost a whole hour of park building hours that we will likely never get back.

I know this body is consistently put in the position to weigh difficult decisions, but I urge you to choose the hard decision of raising our property taxes. MPRB and its assets (parks, programming, and staff) should not have to pay for the lack of accountability and oversight from the Frey administration's department budgets. Minneapolis parks do far more for the public safety ecosystem in this city than MPD ever could, yet they continue to be the place we rob from when the times are tough.

Enough is enough, please give the parks what they ask for.

Best,
Patrick McDougle

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· 1d

Yes but...we've still got work to do...

Hennepin County Attorney results for Mpls 13-11. Frazier has 442 votes (32.86%) and Folk with 654 (48.62%)

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· 4d

In 2024's budget year, the finance office agreed to raise the capital budget spending (which arguably is required to ensure that this city's infrastructure remains functioning). Notice how the budget drops just in time for the next mayor?

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· 13d

MN statute 325D.44 would like a word

Screenshot of the MN Revisor for unfair trade practices stating:

325D.44 DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES.
Subdivision 1. Acts constituting. A person engages in a deceptive trade practice when, in the course of business, vocation, or occupation, the person:
(1) passes off goods or services as those of another;
(2) causes likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services;
(3) causes likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, another;
(4) uses deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin in connection with goods or services;
(5) represents that goods or services have
sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities that they do not have or that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection that the person does not have;
(6) represents that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand;
(7) represents that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another;
(8) disparages the goods, services, or business of another by false or misleading representation of fact;
(9) advertises goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised;
(10) advertises goods or services with intent not to supply reasonably expectable public demand, unless the advertisement discloses a limitation of quantity:|
...

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· 21d

Engaged with some voters, dropped some lit. First door knock of the election season ✅

Me wearing an Ilhan shirt and Ellison, Flannigan and Frazier buttons. In Logan park.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· 28d

I was slightly less generous, but same sentiment

Photo of a n95 respirator inside a gallon sized ziplock bag clipped to a mailbox. A note says "To our USPS mail carrier if you want it"

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Jul 7

Makes me sicker than this health department illustration which I lifted from a very real health department email.

City of Minneapolis graphic featuring a stick figure vomiting and having a bout of diarrhea at the same time.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Jul 5

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Jul 3

Minneapolis has not had to do this since 2010.

Chart showing gallons of sewage Minneapolis has had to outflow to the Mississippi river. 0 gallons since 2011

Slide showing how Minneapolis keeps it that way.

Text of slide:

SW005 - Combined Sewer Overflow Improvements
• Description: Remove direct stormwater connections into sanitary sewer system.
• Purpose and Justification: Reduce the amount of clear water in the sanitary sewer system to reduce the risk of overflows of untreated sewage to the Mississippi River.
• Additional Detail:
• City's storm and sanitary sewer systems were originally built as combined systems.
• The City is required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDES) program to eliminate point source discharges to surface waters.
• The reduction of clear water in the sanitary sewer system is required by MCES, which provides regional wastewater collection and treatment.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 29

Checking in to the state sicko convention.

Photo of me with my We Keep Us Safe shirt and my alternate badge.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 23

Assuming you're referring to Palmisano's newsletter... For me it's the truth stretch about the CIP and how the council just put the CIP back in the state CLIC recommended.

At yesterday's City Council Meeting, the majority of my colleagues voted against the acquisition of a site for the Community Safety Training and Wellness Center. This project has been one of my top priorities for years, and it has unanimously been a top priority for previous City Councils that were serious about good governance.

I became an advocate for a training and wellness facility after the tragic killing of Justine Damond in 2017. In fact, I remember that some of the very first conversations with her fiance, Don Damond, about this project happened with my youngest son, all 8 pounds of him, strapped to my chest in one of those cloth infant wraps. I made a promise at that time to advance reform and structural change of the Minneapolis Police Department - and we reaffirmed that promise once again after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. This site is about building the infrastructure we need for that promised reform and structural change.

My son is now five feet tall and finishing third grade. After those first two years of effort, we started to gain momentum. Any large project like this is a slow moving ship. It has been part of our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the last five years. Our city's CIP is a multi-year roadmap that identifies and schedules our major infrastructure and large investments.

With the former police chief, Medaria Arradondo, I brought chiefs in our community - from the University of Minnesota, Metro Transit, and cities in Hennepin County - and state legislators to give them a presentation and a bonding tour about what this could be. After the murder of George Floyd, almost exactly six years ago today, we began a bigger debate on what public safety could and should be in Minneapolis. We reimagined this facility as something inclusive of our entire public safety ecosystem rather than just police.

Last December, the funding in the CIP for this facility was removed by my colleague in a budget amendment to instead fund new Public Works projects two years out. Still, we unanimously agreed on this as our top priority for money from the state. Staff found a way to bring together the beginning resources for this project and found an ideal place for it to be located, with a purchase agreement a year in the making. But because of the vote yesterday, we have almost nothing to show for the nine years of conversations, time, energy, and work that have gone into this project. I am frustrated and defeated.

Police reform matters. My colleagues and I all agree on that. The real question is whether we're willing to invest in making reform real — this must happen both with and beyond policing. As we verge on the sixth commemoration of the murder of George Floyd in our city over this holiday weekend, this weighs heavily on me. If we want safer and more accountable public safety delivery in Minneapolis, then we must be willing to build the systems that we need. I will continue pushing for that investment. We cannot wait another nine years.

Yours in Service,
Linea

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 20

In fact 215 miles of high risk sewer pipe in the city! lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/Age...

Two slides talking about the city's rehab program for sewer infrastructure. Text from slide one is:

SA001 - Sanitary Tunnel & Sewer Rehab Program
• Description: Repair and rehabilitation of sanitary sewer system.
• Purpose and Justification: Ensure continuous operations of the sanitary sewer system to protect human health, protect the environment and to support a thriving community.
• Additional Detail:
• Sanitary systems consists of:
832 miles of sanitary sewer piping
10 lift stations
5.5 miles of deep collection tunnels
• Projects prioritized utilizing an asset management approach.

The slide also has a table showing funding sources for this rehab. Some years having as low as 19M and as high as 36M

Slide two shows a graph of sewer pipe risk. The high risk bar shows 215 mi of high risk sewer lines. 253 mi of low risk sewer lines. 225 medium risk.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 18

Cubert from Futurama in the test tube where he came from with the professor saying: "I left him in his first tube too long, and he got squished up against the side."

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 18

This was the same day I took quite possibly the best photo I've ever taken.

Woman model standing on a park bench in the Minneapolis sculpture garden. She's wearing a short jacket that comes to just above the knee. She's holding an stripey pink umbrella that's perfectly centered in the flanking tree canopy. All of the colors are very vibrant.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 18

Assuming the bonding bill passes it won't be long before you can do this again! (I took this photo back in 2010)

Model kicks water while standing in the functioning Berger fountain.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· May 16

My public comment to the city council regarding the proposed ethics education ordinance. lims.minneapolismn.gov/File/2026-00...

Hello members of the city council and clerks office,

I am sorry that l'm reaching you after this ordinance already passed out of committee. I'm writing to express my concern about 2 of the restrictions introduced in 10.80 (c)

1.) Many of the members of city boards an commissions are highly civically engaged individuals who participate in many forms of service to their communities. A strict reading of restriction #5 would preclude anyone from being an election judge as election judges are temporary city employees. I'd suggest clarifying this language to explicitly exclude temporary employees from this section of the ordinance.

2.) In the same vein as above many future leaders of our community use service on boards and commissions as their first experience being on a deliberative assembly.
While I understand that the city should limit board and commission members from abusing their seat as a pulpit for campaigning, treating our volunteer/stipended boards and comissions with a higher level of ethical scrutiny than say the elected council, BET, or mayor is frankly insulting. Restriction 6 should be deleted and the sentiment should be part of the ethics training itself.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Apr 29

Certainly the worst feature of the new line. The best features are the easier to clean seats the USB chargers, and the skylight emergency exit.

New easier to clean seats with USB chargers.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Apr 28

So this bond reallocation (which didn't pass--thanks council) from traffic safety to cop city was an accident?

Table showing a proposal to reallocate traffic safety and animal care and control money to police training and wellness center money.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Apr 20

Please come if you'd like to testify about the city's capital priorities (including the police training and wellness center). We love hearing public input.

Public Listening Session on Minneapolis Capital Projects
Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee (CLIC)

We want to hear from you!

CLIC is an advisory group that helps the City of Minneapolis plan its 6-year Capital Improvement Plan and we value your input.

When: Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM
Where: Room 118, Elliot Park, 1000 East
14th St Minneapolis, MN 55404

At the public listening session, you will have the opportunity to:
• Hear about capital projects that are being planned for the 2027 to 2032
Capital Improvement plan
• Share your thoughts
• Learn how CLIC shapes the city's future

minneapolismn.gov/government/budget

For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats, please contact William O'Brien at 612-673-2492 or liam.obrien@minneapolis.mn.gov. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Apr 7

Not sure I'm going to make it to city hall to testify in person, but sharing my public comment about the re-appointment of Commissioner of Community Safety, Toddrick Barnette.

Members of the Minneapolis City Council,

Please reject the mayoral re-appointment of Toddrick Barnette for a 4 year term to the commissioner of community safety. This position is the equivalent of a C-Suite role in the corporate world and in that world, commissioner Barnette would be removed for his mis-management of the divisions under him. During his service he has frequently appeared in front of council unable to answer basic questions about the operations of divisions under him. At least one of the divisions under his purview has a reckless inability to adhere to its budget. The residents of Minneapolis deserve a commissioner who takes their management of the office seriously and understands its internal operations and budget. Our highly paid city leaders must be held accountable to the public and the council’s budgetary authority. It’s imperative for the council to exercise its oversight authority by rejecting this re-appointment.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Patrick McDougle
Lynnhurst, Ward 13, Minneapolis

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 28

Aeon's CEO makes $274,501

Screenshot of Aeons most recent federal 990 backing up my claim.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 27

Also don't make me tap the sign...

Screenshot of LIMS showing that Shaffer hasn't authored anything.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 24

Also boo on defunding traffic safety to fund a training facility for people that frequently show they don't keep us safe.

Project Description

The goal of this program is to increase safety for traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The primary method of improving safety in this program is by upgrading deficient signal systems. Many traffic signals in the City lack overhead signal indications on mast arms. Deficient intersection locations are prioritized based on crash history.
Before and after crash studies have shown up to an 80% reduction in right angle crashes and a 30% reduction in all crashes. The City has proposed several overhead signal conversion projects in 2026-2031. In addition to adding an overhead signal, these projects will upgrade the entire signal system to have state-of-the-art technology such as video detection systems, emergency vehicle preemption (EVP), countdown pedestrian signals, Accessible Pedestrian Systems (APS), and ADA compliant curb ramps. Intersections with bicycle and pedestrian crashes will be evaluated and signal operations can be modified to improve safety.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 24

These look very similar to common flight training ground reference maneuvers. Rectangular course and turns around a point. Might just be a pilot keeping their skills sharp. If below 2300', that's also clear of MSP and KMIC (Crystal) airspace.

Airspace diagram of this area.

Foreflight

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 20

The wild part is that this document doesn't require the new training facility until 2029. See attached screenshots.

A row of a table of recommendations, showing the id number of the dedicated training facility. MSOC.01 is the id number for this recommendation.

A timeline showing that the id number from the other screenshot MSOC.01 is under a heading for proposed implementation in 2029.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 18

What's their source on state funds? CBR from last year makes no mention of state funds for this project. www.minneapolismn.gov/media/-www-c...

Table from the 2025 capital budget request showing that the wellness center is completely funded by net debt bonds and NO funding from other sources

Partnerships

Have Grants for this project been secured? If yes, please include grant source and amount.

None at this time.

Describe status and timing details of secured or applied for grants or other non-City funding sources:

Grants or other sources of funding have not been applied for at this time. The project will qualify for utility rebates for energy efficient mechanical and electrical components.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 15

Never too early to begin training for the 2030 winter Olympics

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 12

Ward 11, you messed up.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Mar 10

So much so that I couldn't help but make this. I'm sorry and you're welcome.

Patrick McDougle@pmcdougl· Feb 11