June 2013 - BOMA Greater Minneapolis Newsletter

June 2013

The B’ONION Edition President’s Message

BOMA Members and Friends:

By Jon Kuskie for over 100 years.

L

ike the humble Minnesotans we are, BOMA has long been reluctant to toot our own horn about our leadership on issues that affect commercial real estate.

Through our Government Affairs Committee, our professional lobbying firm, our paid staff, and our dedicated members, BOMA Greater Minneapolis has helped to shape the business environment and the skyline of the Minneapolis area

It’s time we step into the public forum, claim credit for our accomplishments, and be recognized for our work on behalf of the industry.

As a lasting tribute to our contribution to the community, we’ve succeeded in gaining naming rights and a revision to the stadium design recently introduced. The outside will

feature a Mount Rushmorelike façade of BOMA Presidents towering over the main entrance, while pillars inside will be engraved with information about the tax and construction codes we were successful in helping to shape.

Watch your email in 2016 for announcements about the grand opening gala at the new “BOMA Stadium!”

After many years of hard work developing and writing articles for the BOMA newsletter, the Communications Committee decided to have a little fun this month. We hope you’ll kick back for a few minutes and enjoy our BOMA B’Onion.

Artwork by Jean Beaupre, Schafer Richardson, Member of the Communications Committee.

Nominate your favorite BOMA president to be included on the stadium by sending a tweet to #FaveBOMAprez.

Sign of the End Times Cities Consider Merging Doping Scandal

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IDS Under New Ownership 4-5 6 Easy to Unseat BOMA Prez Legislative Update 7 BOMA Greater Minneapolis

Minneapolis Transit New Committee/Policy Spring Social •

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Sign of the End Times?

Those of you who have ever served on a BOMA committee know that Sheila Miller, BOMA’s Member Services Director, has long said she will NEVER tweet in this lifetime. But two separate BOMA members spotted her recently at the Energy Innovation Awards in Minneapolis tweeting about BOMA’s Kilowatt Crackdown entry in the competition.

BOMA Greater Minneapolis www.bomampls.org 121 South 8th Street, Suite 610 Minneapolis, MN 55402-2825

While Miller doesn’t claim to have invented the Internet, she did once attend a conference with Al Gore.

Phone: 612-338-8627 Fax: 612-340-9744

The BOMA Newsletter

Sheila Miller, Editor and Publisher Statements and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the opinion of BOMA or its membership. Articles may be reprinted only by written authority of the editor.

BOMA is not known for being “early adopters.”

“We like to be sure these things are going to catch on before we engage,” said Miller, “but when the Pope started tweeting last year, we knew eventually we would have to join the Twits. Just for the record, though, I was learning HTML code for websites before some of our members were born!”

DISCLAIMER: All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon representation that the Agency and/or Advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The Agency and/or Advertiser will indemnify and hold harmless the publishers, the employees and agents of the publisher from any loss or expense from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement including claims or suits for defamation, libel, violation of rights of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement.

Officers President: Jon A. Kuskie, Zeller Realty Group Vice President: David K. Wright, FMA, RPA US Bank Corporate Real Estate

Cities Consider Merging In the Face of Local Government Aid Cuts Drastic cuts in Local Government Aid (LGA) from the State have forced local governments to begin considering mergers to achieve efficiencies. While such mergers would be anticipated to provide savings for taxpayers if police forces were merged, fire departments combined, street services consolidated, and computer systems shared, one of the hurdles to be considered is name changes.

A study by the League of Minnesota Cities shows that most cities are reluctant to adopt the name of the city they’re merging with since they feel it leads to a loss of sense of identity. They’re also reluctant to hyphenate their names since most of the resulting names would become cumbersome when

printed on city vehicles and water towers.

The League is recommending that cities negotiate merged names but sometimes that poses difficulties too.

Illustrating those difficulties, Bloomington wanted to merge with Eden Prairie to become Blooming Prairie, but since that name was already taken, they decided to include Savage to become the state’s largest city by total acreage and be called Savage Blooming Prairie because it sounds tougher.

Minneapolis is considering annexing Richfield to become MineField.

In other austerity measures, Edina will be replacing the Perrier in their water towers with Aquafina.

Secretary/Treasurer: Kimberly K. Ihle, CPM, RPA, CCIM CBRE Directors Kevin A. Connolly, CPM, RPA Cushman & Wakefield | NorthMarq David R. Dabson, RPA, CCIM Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. Lynette Dumalag, Nelson, Tietz & Hoye, Inc. Susan J. Goldstein, Xcel Energy Brett K. Greenfield, Colliers International Michael A. Hagen, The 614 Company Tanya J. Hemphill, RPA, CPM, CCIM Investors Real Estate Trust Tom W. Heuer, Aspen Waste Systems, Inc. Pat McQuiston, Target Corporation Jeffrey C. Steinke, RPA, Ryan Companies US, Inc. Amy J. Wimmer, Hines Kevin Lewis, Executive Director

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2012 BOMA Golf Champs Doping Scandal The scandal that rocked the cycling world has found its way to the more placid sport of golf.

More specifically, the 2012 BOMA golf champs were charged with doping last Friday by the Minneapolis Police Department. No arrests have been made, but several eyewitnesses have come forward claiming to have seen the accused getting a little too upset over that missed birdie opportunity on Hole 12.

In a stunning display of force, Minneapolis Police, clad in full

riot gear, raided the office of Andrew Twito last Friday, seeking banned substances. Andrew, who currently chairs the BOMA Communications Committee,

Andrew Twito & Jason Butterfield at the 2012 BOMA Golf Tournament.

invoked his Fifth Amendment right to silence when asked to comment by his colleagues on the Communications Committee.

Another of his teammates – a broker by trade, so much more eager to talk – was not so reticent.

“We’d been runners-up for years,” said Jason Butterfield, “and there’s a lot of peer pressure out there on the greens!

This just seemed like the way to finally claim that trophy.”

team members are upstanding BOMA members with no previous criminal records. Until the investigation is concluded, however, Andrew and his teammates will not be allowed to play in the July 29, 2013 BOMA Tournament. t

As police conduct their investigation, it is worth noting that the accused

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IDS Center Under New Ownership.

What’s next for this iconic property?

Now that the sale of IDS Center has become final, speculation is mounting about the new ownership’s plans for the property.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a representative from a local market research firm disclosed that during the due diligence phase of the purchasing process, her firm was contracted to conduct a “highest and best use analysis” for the property.

Neighboring buildings would need to provide easement agreements to permit the installation of anchors from their facades and roofs.

Diverting the Mississippi to Create Waterfront Green Space on Nicollet Mall Tubing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, riverboat cruises, water skiing and paddleboat rides could be among the choices at the new park, following the recent announcement that the Minneapolis Park Board has succeeded in their effort to secure funding to create additional green space in Minneapolis by re-routing the Mississippi down Nicollet Mall.

Downtown buildings that flank the Mall are celebrating the re-routing project for the anticipated added value it will bring when their properties are waterfront. Nicollet Mall restaurants are scrambling with plans to deliver “dockside” bar and restaurant service.

The study revealed that downtown has an adequate supply of office space, but the true market gap is in amusement parks. Seeking to re-brand the iconic property as a worldArtist’s rendering of proposed waterfront project by Jean Beaupre, wide travel destination, Schafer Richardson, Member of the Communications Committee. leveraging the draw of the Mall of America for world travelers and pulling regional visitors into downtown, the new ownership company is The Kmart store at the south end of Nicollet Mall is expected rumored to be considering razing the IDS Center to begin to be less enthusiastic when a river runs through it. Mayor construction of a ferris wheel on the scale of the London Eye. Rybak has delivered on his promise to “bust right through the back of that Kmart.”

Another feature of the park might be a stunning roller Continued on next page. coaster swooping between buildings throughout downtown.

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IDS Center Under New Ownership. What’s next for this iconic property?

Continued from previous page.

While an IDS Center amusement park would be anticipated to provide excellent return on investment for its owners, it would also be expected to spur economic growth in the Minneapolis CBD, therefore a quest for public funding is sure to be on next year’s legislative agenda.

In the meantime, the Corps of Engineers has already begun excavation on Nicollet for the river re-routing.

Excavation around the IDS Center began last week.

Artwork by Jean Beaupre, Schafer Richardson, Member of the Communications Committee.

Watch your email for updates! t

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New Board Member Believes it Will be Easy to Unseat BOMA President he’s too busy bouncing off the walls with over-enthusiasm.

We all thought he was lying Last week Tom Heuer of suede shoes finished with a when he told us he had Aspen Waste attended his miniature top hat, and Mike two dozen cookies and first BOMA Board meeting Hagen bragging about his four cans of as one of the newly elected two dollar cuff links paired Mountain Dew board members. He had with his three dollar tie from for breakfast, high expectations and was Marshall’s, Tom said it was but he proved hoping that his bribe to Kevin obvious that none of the that he wasn’t Lewis for a seat on the board other board members would when he got would pay off. “The first step be paying attention when he uncontrollably in taking control of the board makes his swoop for power. excited over was easy. I made Kevin an “Plus, I have a lot of dirt and discussions of offer he couldn’t refuse over personal information on each archiving old a game of golf. He loves of the board members so property files.” obsolete office equipment they know not to get in my and dried-up pens which I way.”

When asked have unlimited access to in what his ultimate goal is and my line of work!” said Tom Tom stated that “Unseating his reason for wanting to take Jon Kuskie from the role of over the BOMA Board, Tom while smiling.

President is going to be much stated, “I need more storage Between Brett Greenfield’s easier than expected. He’ll room for the discarded fashion statement of green never see it coming because treasures I’ve come across

By Tara Christensen, CWNM Member of the BOMA Communications Committee

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over my years in the garbage world. I plan on helping myself to storage space at BOMA members’ managed buildings for things like my vintage collection of 1988 printers and my Precious Moments miniature figurine collection.”

“My first meeting was an overall success,” Tom added. “I have high hopes that within the next year, I will be in each and every one of the BOMA members’ buildings.” t

Legislative Update Minnesota Legislature mandates increased hours of sunlight As a rider to legislation mandating increased energy production from solar, the Minnesota Legislature required the sun to shine at least 12 hours per day, year round. The House Speaker noted that it was time for the sun to contribute its fair share. “The people of Minnesota are tired of the short winter days and will no longer tolerate this

New Tax Imposed on Golf Determined to deliver on their promise to repay the $850 million school funding that was borrowed from school districts in the past as a way to balance the budget, the House DFL pushed through a new strategy in the final moments of the 2013 Legislative session.

elitist position.” No word yet on what penalties will be assessed if the sun fails to cooperate. t

Recognizing that Minnesota consistently ranks at or near the top in golfer participation in the U.S., the House (who

BOMA Greater Minneapolis

are primarily bowlers), determined that by putting a tax not just on golf courses, but on rounds of golf, they could balance the budget while putting Minnesotans back to work – literally.

It’s estimated that with their sunshine mandate providing improved weather for golfers yearround, the payback should come easily in the next biennium. t

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Enhancing Minneapolis Transit Unwilling to leave his legacy to chance, our outgoing mayor is organizing the world’s largest and longest celebration of environmental consciousness and multimodal transportation, ever. “Rybak to the Future!” will be a 12-year evolution in urban redesign that will transform downtown Minneapolis from the vibrant city that it is today into tomorrow’s paragon of sustainability. If Chicago was the twentieth century’s “City with Big Shoulders,” Minneapolis

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will be the twentyfirst century’s “City with Big Calves.”

Mayor Rybak Enjoys a “Nice Ride.”

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Rybak to the Future will kick off with the Greatest of the Greatest Days of Summer, organizing the world’s largest street dance.

100,000 fully k r a u s e n e d celebrants will be sporting solar powered light sticks while parading down

BOMA Greater Minneapolis

Hennepin Avenue, doing The Electric Slide between Loring Park and Nicollet Island. Fireworks over the Mississippi will spell out: Yield! while Pink belts out “Get The Party Started!”

Thereafter, all automobile traffic will be banned from downtown. Rumor has it that the only internal combustion vehicles to be allowed downtown will be buses and food trucks.

With no cars allowed in the CBD, conventional Continued on next page.

Minneapolis Transit Continued from previous page. status rides for the business commuter will be replaced with new ones: The “Nice Ride” program will be expanded to offer “Really Nice Rides” for elite pedal pushers.

Bike Lanes will be painted on EVERY street, and traffic spikes will be installed between traffic and bike lanes to puncture the tires of food trucks and buses carelessly crossing into bike territory.

Parking ramps will be converted to the MinneApple’s version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Street cars will return to Minneapolis for the first time since 1954.

And, after decades of trying, Minneapolis will finally have its Downtown Circulators — Pedal Pubs and Rickshaws! t

Introducing the

Really Nice Rides for status conscious business professionals.

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BOMA Seeking Volunteers for New Committee Food Committee BOMA is seeking six volunteers who have delicate palates but very thick skin. These connoisseurs will represent the BOMA membership in choosing the menus for each BOMA function. BOMA members demand a fine dining experience including* “big buns,” a delicious salad (the definition of which varies from member to member), a dessert, coffee, and a main course that is hot and hearty while also being low calorie and healthy. The main

I c ho o se th e fo od f or BOMA E v ent s!

course may not include fish, (“it makes people gag”), pork, (violates people’s religious dietary restrictions), chicken (people are sick of it), or beef (too heavy for lunch).* Menu choices must come in under a price of $26.50 per person, which must equal $31 or less after tax and service charges.

determining the menu for the next event.

Following each BOMA event, the Food Committee will review attendees’ evaluations of the meal before

Food Committee members will be rewarded with a large button that says, “I choose the food for BOMA events.”

Volunteers must make a one-year commitment.

Resignation after a single meeting will not be permitted. t

* Feedback taken from actual member surveys.

BOMA Office Introduces New Registration Policy Those who have ever planned a party know how difficult it is to buy groceries, do the cooking, and arrange the table if guests do not RSVP. Without a guest count, a best guess is nerve-wracking and can sometimes prove horribly inaccurate, leading to

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awkward food shortages or terrible food waste.

UNLESS you’re planning a pot luck!

In recent years, BOMA staff has found it increasingly difficult to contract for the correct number of meals for

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events since the number of attendees who arrive without pre-registration has been growing.

In a compromise suggested by one of the hotels at which we host events, BOMA will be discontinuing hot meal service at some of our

BOMA Greater Minneapolis

meetings and events, and instead will ask all attendees to bring a dish to pass.

The new Food Committee will provide guidelines on what to bring, so please watch your email for announcements.

springsocial

By Andrew Twito, RMR Chair of the BOMA Communications Committee

The BOMA spring social at Cowboy Jack’s presented a great opportunity to network in a more informal setting.

As a first timer at the social, however, I was surprised to discover that the social also serves as an initiation ritual for the incoming President.

the option of proving his merit by riding the mechanical bull, barrel throwing, or cow tipping.

He chose bull riding and managed to hang on for a few seconds amid raucous cheers from the crowd, but it wasn’t long enough for our camera to focus for a photo.

With the venue being Cowboy Jack’s this year, Jon Kuskie was given

In keeping with tradition, the BOMA staff serenaded Jon and the

new Board members with a moving a capella rendition of “Don’t Cry On My Shoulders ‘Cause You’re Rustin’ My Spurs” from a table top.

I will not soon forget the networking bonds that were forged that day through blood, sweat, and beers. t

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BOMA Member Denise Mazone bested Jon Kuskie at the bull riding competition, setting a new record by hanging on for 45 seconds.

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In this Edition...

JUNE

Despite all caps, red font and 17 exclamation points, tenant’s hair actually not on fire.……. Story on page 4.

JULY

Local elevator inspector orders elevator shafts to be painted neon pink by the end of 2014, “because he can.”……. Story on page 6.

August

Tenant emails his work request by candlelight after waiting 3 years to report burnt out lightbulbs.……. Story on page 8.

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4 11 29

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Board of Directors Meeting Medical Buildings Meeting

Holiday - BOMA Office Closed Board of Directors Meeting Golf Tournament

Board of Directors Meeting

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