Metro Cities Bill Tracking ReportSaturday, November 7, 2009 |
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Index
| Municipal Revenue & Taxation | General Legislation | Housing & Economic Development | Metropolitan Agencies | Transportation |
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill modifies the procedures related to tax forfeited properties, and gives additional authorites to counties. Metro Cities is working with the LMC, Department of Revenue, and other stakeholders about our concerns with the bill.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: 1B --
Mandate relief task force findings. The bill establishes the commission on mandate reform and abolishes levy limits. It includes mandate relief for TNT notification requirements.
support
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the bill amends statutory provisions for speed limits for roads in 'rural residential districts' so that speeds are 35mph in these districts rather than 55mph. Urban districts in this bill are defined as the territory contiguous to and including any street or highway built with business structures or housing situated less than 100 feet for a quarter mile or more. Speeds in these areas would be 30mph.
support
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The bill establishes a framework that will allow the state to access federal stimulus funds.
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The bill contains several mandates to be repealed that affect education, health care and services, and local units of government including some Truth in Taxation and publication requirements.
support
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Governor's Budget bill as it relates to taxes. Includes cuts to LGA and the MVHC, green JOBZ, corporate tax reductions, etc.
oppose in part
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Secondary Policies: 1C --
Senate Omnibus Tax Bill. The bill includes revenue increases and spending cuts. It reduces LGA and MVHC by $5m in 2011, and $10.6M in 2012-13. The bill repeals levy limits and allows cities to do emergency debt certificates to cover aid losses. It includes a number of local TIF provisions and extends the 5 year rule for redevelopment and renewal TIF districts. The bill raises revenue through an income tax increase and through a number of tax expenditure reductions. The bill eliminates the targeted PTR and temporarily reduces renter PTR. It includes a tax credit for historic structure rehabilitation. The bill also contains a number of public finance provisions.
support in part
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Secondary Policies: 1C --
Omnibus Tax Bill. Includes repeal of levy limits, cuts to LGA/MVHC ($50M in 2009 and $68.2M in 2010, with a freeze thereafter at 2009 levels), mechanisms to allow flexibility for cities to address budget shortfalls, expansion of TIF pooling to address foreclosures and housing replacement districts, extension of housing miprovement areas to 2013, mandate relief provisions and work groups on performance measuers and the property tax system. The bill raises revenue in the amount of $1.5 bilion through increases in cigarette and alcohol taxes and expanding sales tax to digital sales. The bill also includes the elimination of development subsidies and a number of other credits and deductions with the exception of the R+D credit. The bill slightly reduces the MVHC, and expands the direct PTR by $20M. The bill also includes a local sales tax option for counties.
support in part
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill creates a 'council' of state and local officials to establsh benchmarks for local government performance, and would be voluntary for cities. The bill provides a 0.25 cent per capita reimbursement for cities that participate and eliminates TNT requirements and levy limits on participating cities.
monitor
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The bill creates state property tax benchmarks, critical indicators and principles to ues when evaluating property tax proposals The bill requires the House and Senate tax committees to prepare resolutions on targets and benchmarks for use during the biennium.
monitor
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The bill appropriates money from the state general fund in 2010 to the commissioner of public safety to provide grants to local units of government to fund transition costs associated with entering into regional or inter-local service sharing agreements in the area of public safety. The grants must be provided to local government units that are entering into these multijurisdictional agreements to facilitate cost savings, improve efficiency, and streamline the delivery of services. The appropriation is available until June 30, 2011.
monitor
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the bill provides for a full levy limit repeal
support
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the bill abolishes levy limits and relieves local governments from the TNT hearing mandate. The bill was amended in the Tax Committee to include relieving local governments from TNT publication requirements for two years,
monitor
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the bill repeals the levy limit for local governments.
support
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The bill requires an adjusted levy limit base. Under this bill, for taxes levied in 2008 through 2010, the adjusted levy limit base is equal to the levy limit base computed under MS 275.72, multiplied by the ratio of the total tax capacity of the current taxing year divided by the total taxing capacity of the previous year, plus100 percent of the difference between the local government aid certified in 2009 and the actual aid paid; and 100 percent of the difference between the market value homestead credits certified in 2009 and the actual amount of the market value homestead credits paid.
oppose
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The bill repeals the Local Government Aid program and creates the "MN Fair Plan". It allocates aid to each county based on the total amount of aid received by all cities in that county for aids payable 2009. For aids payable in 2010 the bill requires that the county distribute to each city an amount equal to 80 percent of the amount of aid the city received under LGA in calendar year 2009. For aids payable in 2011, the county would distribute to each city an amount equal to 60 percent of the amount of aid the city received under LGA in calendar year 2009. For aids payable in 2012 and thereafter, the county would distribute to each city an amount equal to 40 percent of the amount of aid the city received under LGA in calendar year 2009. If the total aid distributed to the cities in any calendar year would be more than the amount allocated to the county, the aid to each city would be reduced proportionately.
oppose
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The bill provides an additional LGA increase and requires aid to be used for funding police and prosecutor services above the level funded in 2008.
oppose in part
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The bill provides mechanisms for cities to respond to tate aid reductions by authorizing cities to establish street improvement districts,to issue emergency debt expenditures to reallocate lodging taxes to the general fund.
support
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$225,000 payment to Coon Rapids to be added to LGA payments
monitor
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County sales tax authority through reverse referendum, local option sales tax elimination, couty program aid reduction, lifting of levy limits in 2010. 1/2 of revenue raised by the sales tax is dedicated to proerty tax relief and savings from conty program aid reductions can end up in reductions in cuts to LGA
monitor
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The bill creates a 2% property tax discount if property taxes are paid in full by May 20th or within 20 days of a postmarked property tax bill. The discount would be absorbed by local units of government.
oppose
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Secondary Policies: 1G --
the bill would protect Market Value Homestead Credit reimbursements for cities that are net contributors to fiscal disparities from unallotment and aid cuts. Estimated that approx. 36 cities are net contributors. Determines a "protected state reimbursement amount" for each city.
monitor
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If Market Value Homestead Credits are reduced or reduced or eliminated, the property tax statement must not state property tax credits are paid by the state.
support
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Secondary Policies: 1D --
This legislation reduces the Market Value Homestead credit and spends the savings by increasing the property tax refund
monitor
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the bill reduces the Market Value Homestead credit rate and allows a claimant who is a homeowner meeting income qualifications to be eligible for a refund equal to the amount of the claimant's property taxes, net any refund determined under subdivision 2, that exceeds six percent of the claimant's household income. The bill also appropriates state monies to achieve this goal.
monitor
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the bill extends the limited market value provision indefinitely.For assessment year 2009 and thereafter, the amount of the increase shall not exceed the greater of (1) 15 percent of the value in the preceding assessment, or (2) 25 percent of the difference between the current assessment and the preceding assessment.
monitor
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the bill requires the MN Department of Revenue to conduct a study of the metropolitan fiscal disparities program and report to the House and Senate tax committees by Feb., 2010. The study is to consider whether the program is meeting its goals and what changes may need to be made. The bill appropriates $50,000 to the Dept of Revenue to conduct the study.
support
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the bill eliminates the one-year lag in determining fiscal disparities contribution net tax capacities and distribution levies so that current year net tax capacities would be used instead of the previous year's when computing the contribution and distribution NTC. The bill seeks to get rid of the lag on the distribution side to avoid 'distortion. The proposal would increase CI property taxes by $21M and reduce homestead taxes by $20.8M due to the area wide tax rate on the contribution NTC being higher than the average metro tax rate. The bill would decrease therefore the demand for property tax refunds, meaning a gain of $1.5M to the state's general fund.
monitor
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the bill would exempt the first tier of CI market value (up to $150,000) from the state general levy, thereby shifting that portion of the state general levy to upper CI property.
monitor
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This bill eliminates sales tax and motor vehilcle sales tax on purchases of public safety equipment by local police and fire departments.
support
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the bill eliminates the sales tax on local government purchases. The cost to this bill is approximately $150 million per year to the state.
support
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This bill exempts the purchase of regional public safety radio equipment from sales tax charges for purchases made between December 31, 2007 and June 1, 2009.
support
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This bill allows cities whose receipts are not going to cover their expenses to issue certificates of indebtedness for a period not to exceed 2 years to cover the expected shortfall plus the expenses of issuing the certificates.
support
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the bill authorizes the consolidation of the Mpls Employees Retirement Fund (MERF) into the PERA.
monitor
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Decreasing the aggregate production tax rate by half.
monitor
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the bill prohibits local governments from issuing bonds to cover other post employment benefits.
monitor
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The bill creates the Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning. The director is the state planning officer and is responsible for the coordination, development and communication of information, performance measures, planning, and policy concerning the state's future. The director must develop a long-range plan based upon the plans and strategies of state agencies, public advice about the future, and other information. The financial forecast must assume the continuation of current laws and reasonable estimates of projected growth in the national and state economies and affected populations. Revenue must be estimated for all sources provided for in current law.
monitor
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the bill contains several changes to the state tax/budget system. It includes extending the sales tax to clothing and legal/accounting services, eliminating the corporate income tax in four years, and gives businesses a sales tax exemption on capital purchases, bumps up the stae property tax in 2010, phases in a return of income tax rates to 1990 levels for over $250K incomes. The Senate Omnibus Tax bill provides for the upfront sales tax exemption for capital equipment.
monitor
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Re-establishing the board of innovation to study, recommend and approve innovations and reforms for local and state government
monitor
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the bill allows for providing publishing alternatives (web sites) to legal newspapers for truth in taxation notices, etc. The House and Senate Omnibus Tax bills eliminate TNT requirements.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill contains a number of mandate relief provisions for local governments. Provisions include allowing group applications for certain waivers, changing who pays for the cost of challenging an election, moving the building fee reporting threshhold from $5K to $10K, moving the pay equity reporting cycle frmo three to five years, and expanding several uniform bidding and contracting laws.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill requires a wage and salary freeze for all government employees through June 30, 2011. It prohibits any increase including across-the-board increases,cost-of-living adjustments, increases based on longevity, increases as a result of step and lane changes, lump-sum payments, increases in employer contributions to deferred compensation plans or any other pay adjustments. Transfers or promotions are excepted. The bill does not prevent an employer from effectuating an increase in the rate of salary or wages for employees if required by a contract or collective bargaining agreement that is in effect before the effective date of the legislation. However, from the effective date of the bill until June 30, 2011, a government employer could not enter into a new contract or collective bargaining agreement that increases salary or wages or increase the rate of salary or wages for employees through extension of an expired contract or collective bargaining agreement.
oppose
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill requires municipalities to utilize state cooperative purchasing contracts. Metro Cities is working with the LMC to see whether there may be compromise on this bill so as not to undermine the activities of those cities already participating and to maintain flexiblity. The language in the House State Govts. bill is permissive for cities to use state purchasing.
oppose in part
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County, home rule charter, and statutory city governing bodies authorized to reduce their salaries.
monitor
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Allows metropolitan area local governments to impose reasonable areas or response time residency requirements for job-related reasons
monitor
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omnibus state government budgget bill including the requirement of local governments to utilize state cooperative purchasing.
monitor
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The bill allows counties and cities to establish neighborhood revitalization programs and appropriates general fund dollars, available through grants to counties, that have adopted a resolution enacting support of a street and neighborhood revitalization and reinvestment program.
monitor
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This bill changes the limitation on city council salaries to only prohibit increases from taking effect before the next election.
monitor
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This bill reduces all public employees from all levels of state and local government who receive an annual salary over $100,000 by 5% or to $100,000, whichever reduction is less.
monitor
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the bill establishes the Statewide Radio Board and requires the Statewide Radio Board to develop a statewide plan for local and private public safety communications interoperability that integrates with the Minnesota emergency operation plan and to promote coordination among local, state, federal, and tribal public safety agencies in addressing statewide public safety communications interoperability within Minnesota.
monitor
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the bill modifies the municipal enforcement provisions of the State Building Code
monitor
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the bill allows municipalities to adopt ordinances in addition to the state building code.
monitor
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the bill authorizes local units of government to impose administrative fines for traffic offenses. The bill was amended in the House Transportation Committee (see Metro Cities News 3/09).
support
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The bill repeals the 2008 changes to the Green Acres law.
monitor
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the bill stipulates that as a condition of performing work under a public works contract, service contract, or subsidized project, a home rule charter or statutory city may by ordinance require the entity that contracts with the city to hire a certain number or percentage of city residents or low-income residents in the performance of the contract or project. The ordinance must include the dollar amount of the contract or project to which the program applies, a definition of "low income," whether the required number or percentage of workers is defined by total work hours or work force, and the extent to which the requirements of the ordinance may be met by existing employees or new hires.
monitor
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Changing the date for application to the metropolitan agricultural preserve program from March 1st to June 1st.
monitor
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the bill amends the municipal boundary law A municipality may annex by ordinance unincorporated territory that abuts the municipality. The municipality must adopt a resolution of consideration and file it with the Office of Administrative Hearings, the clerk of the county where the property is located, and the clerk of the affected township at least 90 days before the municipality may enact an annexation ordinance. The resolution must include a statement of the municipality's intent to annex under this paragraph and a legal description of the area to be annexed. After the adoption of the resolution of consideration the municipality must update its comprehensive plan to include the area proposed for annexation and must prepare a report detailing the urban characteristics of the area and a plan for the provision of urban services.
monitor
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the bill provides for the receipt and appropropriation of federal economic recovery funds
monitor
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the bill states that two or more cities, or existing municipal power agencies may form a municipal power agency by the execution of an agency agreement authorized by a resolution of the governing body of each city or municipal power agency.
monitor
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the bill requires a notice and public hearing before the adoption of interim ordinances.
monitor
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the bill proposes to amend the state constitutinon provide for public debt to be incurred for public information technology systems, licenses and infrastructure.
monitor
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Appropriating $5 million from the Federal stimulus dollars to be used as grants to local units of government to pay for the installation of solar panels.
monitor
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The elimination of nearly all corporate and individual income tax credits
monitor
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The bill provides for a housing opportunity area tax abatement program. The owner of property located within a housing opportunity area who has a housing choice voucher contract with a housing authority may apply for housing opportunity area tax abatement by annually submitting an application to the housing authority. The application must include the number of housing opportunity units as well as the total number of dwelling units contained within the property. The housing authority shall annually determine the number of qualified units located within each property for which an application is made. The housing authority shall establish rules and procedures governing the application processes and may charge an application fee. The housing authority shall determine housing opportunity areas within its service area and annually deliver to the county a list of all properties containing qualified units within that service area by December 31 of the assessment year for which the property is eligible for abatement. The list must include the number of qualified units and the total number of dwelling units for each property.
monitor
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the bill creates a housing account to provides grants to cities, counties and other qualifying entities for the purposes of renovating, and developing affordable home ownership and rental assistance. The bill appropriates an amount equal to the deed tax to the Commissioner of Finance for this program.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill requires a notice of and mandatory mediation prior to the commencement of mortgage foreclosure proceedings. The bill also creates a homestead-lender mediation account.
monitor
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The bill allows a municipality to adopt an ordinance providing for owner-occupied residential use. The ordinance must define "owner-occupied". An owner-occupied residential use ordinance may only be applied to residential property at the time it is first sold after completion of a foreclosure or forfeiture process. The bill was amended in committee to limit the provision to property in either a targeted neighborhood as defined in section 1.13469.201 or an area qualified to receive funding under the Housing and Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110-289. --
support
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill modifies the Targeted Neighborhood Revitalization Program to include any city, and modifies the definition of housing activities to include work to address vacancies and foreclosures. The bill modifies the definition of targeted neighborhood to targeted "community". The bill also appropriates $30 million for this purpose. (MN Realtors oppose).
support
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Secondary Policies: --
creates the "MN Neighborhood Renewal Act" which allows non profits, cities, counties or the state to act as receivers to gain access to foreclosed properties that are vacant for the purposes of rehabilitating the properties, and allows the receiver to remain in possession of the property until the foreclosure process is completed or the certificate of note is paid.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
Thje bill requires cities outside the metropolitan area to do comprehensive planning every 10 years. The bill provides for city growth areas and requirements relating to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It allows for TIF districts for "Compact Development" in which the square footage of CI property will be increased on a site.
support in part
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill extends the time for establishing a new special service district to 2013.
support
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Secondary Policies: 3J --
The bill establishes the Mississippi River Critical Habitat Corridor. Development along the corridor has been managed by a 1973 Critical Areas Act since 1973. This is an attempt to update language and codify it in statute. The fees contained in this bill that would impact cities were removed. Existing ordinances must be considered in writing the rules.
monitor
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This bill removes a deadline for establishing housing improvement districts without the passage of special legislation. The bill was heard in House taxes; members voiced concerns about what happens if the owners default on the property and other liabilities for cities. The House bill was amended with a new sunset of 2012 and included in HF 2020.
support
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the bill amends the redevelopment grant program to include for priority projects the reduction of vehicle miles travelled, an alternative to building on undeveloped land, and promotion of art and culture. It also requests $20m for bonding.
support
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the bill provides for cities to create TIF districts for transit improvement areas, following the authorization last year of TIA areas. CIties must work through DEED for this authorization.
support
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the bill authorizes the extension o ftime for certain activities in a Medina TIF district.
monitor
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the bill relates to a TIF district for the city of Mound
monitor
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the bill allows for the city of Eagan to extend a TIF district for seven years.
monitor
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The bill allows for a Coon Rapids TIF district extension.
monitor
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The bill allows the city of Anoka to establish TIF districts.
monitor
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The bill provides for the city of South St Paul to create a TIF district with the same area and original tax capacity as its Concord Street pre 1979 TIF district.
monitor
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allowing North St. Paul to extend the five year rule for two TIF districts.
monitor
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the bill authorizes the city of Hopkins to extend the duration of a TIF district by up to five additional years. The five year rule for the commencement of activities in district 1-3 is extended to seven years. The four year rule for activities to start after certification of district 1-3 is extended to 6 years--local approval is required.
monitor
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the bill authorizes the city of Minnetonka to exend the duration of a TIF district.
monitor
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the bill allows the City of Columbia Heights to extend the five year rule on a TIF district
monitor
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the bill allows for additional authority in spending increments for housing replacement districts to include market rate housing and expands use of the housing replacement district laws to Brooklyn Park, and reauthorizes the cities of Fridley and St Paul. Neither the House nor Senate tax bills include the pooling provision. The Senate bill authorizes HRD laws for Brooklyn Park and St Paul.
support
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The bill allows for an extension of a TIF DIstrict in Saint Louis Park. (Excelsior Grand) through 2019 (current law authority terminates in 2009).
monitor
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The bill allows for an extension of duration and activities for a TIF district in Saint Louis Park (Elmwood Village) to 25 years after receipt.
monitor
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the bill allows for an extension of a TIF district for South Saint Paul.
monitor
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The bill authorizes the creation of a tax increment financing district for the city of Arden Hills for the Twin Cities Ammunition Plant. Provides that the district is exempt from TIF rules -- deemed to be a redevelopment district without meeting the blight test, 5 year rule is extended to 10 years, duration of district is increased to 30 years, and the city may delay receipt of the first increment by up to six years. (general law limits to four years).
monitor
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the bill amends limits on TIF districts from 25 to 30 years.
support
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Creates a St. Paul central corridor light rail tainsit project area and extending certain TIF districts to pay for costs incurred by lost parking due to construction of light rail.
monitor
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The bill allows cities to transfer excess TIF revenue to the general fund to offset state aid cuts.
support
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The bill amends the eminent domain statutes for the purposes of mitigation of the effects of foreclosures by allowing cities to take take possession of abandoned property in either a targeted neighborhood as defined in section 469.201, subdivision 10, or an area qualified to receive funding under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110-289. Abandoned property would be either property that has been substantially unoccupied or unused for at least six months and for which taxes have not been paid for at least one previous year; and that has not been maintained. The bill passed the House Civil Justice Committee although questions were raised about the potential uses that would be allowed under the legislation. Opposition to the bill was expressed through testimony by the MN Realtors and Institute for Justice.
support
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The bill exempts service charges for cities with solid waste to energy facilities from the waste management tax.
monitor
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the bill provides for al ocal government renewable energy grant program. The Commerce Commissioner shall make grants to cities for pojrects that meet certain criteria: reliability and cost-effectiveness of the renewable technology to be installed under the proposal; the extent to which the proposal effectively integrates with the conservation and 6energy efficiency programs of the energy utilities serving the local government; the extent to which the local government has maximized other cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation improvements; the total life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions reductions per dollar of installed cost; the geographic distribution of grant recipients throughout the state; the percentage of total project cost requested.
support
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the bill appropriates money from the Clean Water Fund for clean water legacy and drinking water protection activities, and funds Outdoor Heritage recommendations, parks and trials and the arts.
support
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the bill appropriates money from the clean water fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for grants to local units of government to implement and comply with changes to the requirements for a construction stormwater general permit-NPDES/SDS adopted by the agency on August 1, 2008, including implementation of best management practices, runoff controls, erosion prevention, and ditch stabilization, in order to protect 1.11water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation.
monitor
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the bill provides for the federal use of fund allocated to the state from the stimulusbill and provides for clean water and drinking water loans and grants.
support
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The bill modifies city rent control provisions to allow cities to manage or control property to which it is providing public assistance and for a period of time consistent with the term of the public assistance. Public assistance is defined as direct subsidies, low-interest loans, tax credits, bonds, and infrastructure development.
support
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the bill requires a study of the merits of merging the seven metro counties into an elected Metropolitan Council.
monitor
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The bill makes the Metropolitan Council a council of elcted officials appointed by counties and the Governor. Each county with a population under 200,000 will be allowed to appoint 1 county commissioner, counties with population over 200,000 will appoint 2 county commissioners. The bill also calls for 5 governor appointees to consist of elected city officials from within the metro area and the commissioners of DNR, Transportation and the Housing Finance Agency.
monitor
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Modifies regional library system maintenance of effort by reducing the local support of library MOE with any local aid cuts the local government receives.
monitor
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Allows affordable housing amendments to comprehensive plans be approved by a simple majority.
support
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The bill requires a watershed management organization to notify the Met Council when the organization receives a local water management plan or plan amendment. The bill also modifies the period for comprehensive plan reviews by adjacent local governments from 180 days to 60. The rationale is that the 180 days was established when the LUPA was created and cities needed time to become familiar with the requirements. Metro Cities approached the Council about having the review period be 90 days rather than 60, and they agreed and will propose an amendment to the bill to this effect. The bill was heard in the Local Govt committee and members raised questions about the watershed organizations' and the role of the Council in these plans. The bill was laid over for further consideration.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill establishes a statewide moratorium on billboards and declares existing billboards nonconforming uses.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: 4G --
The bill's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through land use planning. It requires the Met COuncil and cities to include these goals in their planning. When preparing an environmental assessment worksheet, environmental statement, or alternative urban area review, the governmental unit shall identify and consider mitigation measures that will reduce, eliminate, or offset greenhouse gas emissions. Metro Cities has expressed concerns about the bill and the needed investment to meet vehicle miles goals, and the cost of expediting comp plans when resources for many cities are down. Language from the bill that would require the U of M to do a study on the goals and would allow $500K of Livable Communitie money for this purpose has been ncluded in both House and Senate transportation bills (the remainining language has not been included and is unlikely to advance further this session).
oppose in part
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Requires the Commissioner of Commerce to develop a state plan for a green infrastructure; providing funding to create energy-efficient residences; authorizing bonding to fund energy-efficient public buildings, renewable energy for public schools, green industrial parks, and a solar certification laboratory
monitor
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The language that has been signed by the Governor: A utility's design assistance program must consider the strategic planting of trees and shrubs around buildings as an energy conservation strategy for the designed project.
monitor
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the bill allows local governments to impose special assessments to fund parks, trails and recreational facilities.
monitor
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The bill provides for clean water legacy money to be spent on grants to comply with water protection rules.
monitor
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the bill appropriates money from the clean water fund for clean water legacy and drinking water protection, provides for the disposition of clean water fund and eliminates the clean water legacy account.
monitor
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The bill amends the conservation rate structure requirements to only be required on public water suppliers serving more than 2500 people instead of 1000 people.
monitor
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the bill appropriates 750,000 in 2010 from the clean water fund to the University of Minnesota for the development of a comprehensive statewide sustainable water resources detailed framework to protect, conserve, and enhance the quantity and quality of the state's ground and surface waters. The detailed framework shall be a long-range framework, with an implementation schedule and associated benchmarks, for policy, research, monitoring, and evaluation in order to achieve sustainable ground and surface water use. For the purposes of the framework, water use is sustainable when current use does not harm ecosystems, degrade water quality, or compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The detailed framework shall be developed by the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center in cooperation with federal, state, and local government and private nonprofits with expertise in water resources. In developing the detailed framework, the water resources plans of organizations with water resources expertise shall be considered. The detailed framework must include identification of infrastructure needs, drinking water, ground and surface waters, storm water, agricultural and industrial needs, the interfaces of climate change, development and land use, and demographics. The detailed framework must identify best practices and methods for determining the effectiveness of those practices for wastewater treatment, drinking water source protection, pollution prevention, conservation, and water valuation.
monitor
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the bill states that the commissioner may issue a public waters work permit for the temporary drawdown of a public water when the permit applicant is a public entity; the commissioner deems the project to be beneficial and in the public interest; the permit applicant has obtained permission from a majority of the riparian landowners; and the permit applicant has conducted a public hearing.
monitor
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The bill was amended and provides an appropriation of $3,081,000 in '09 and '10 to the Metropolitan Council to operate and maintain the Metropolitan Regional Parks System.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill appropriates $27 million to the Met Concil for metropolitan regional parks funding.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: 5C --
The bill as introduced allows the Met Council to transfer 75% of the livable community levy to pay for their transit operating deficit through 2011. Metro Cities has been working with other stakeholders to oppose the bill. Language in the House bill caps the amount to $1M. Language in the Senate bill caps the percent at 50%.
oppose
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Secondary Policies: --
This bill authorizes the Metropolitan Council to issue, after July 1, 2009, up to $34.2 million in bonds for transit capital consistent with the council’s transit planning.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill provides for oversight and distribution of transporation funding and requires the MNDOT Commissioner to meet certain investment percentages and a minimum guarantee of state highway and bridge funding for all state transportation districts
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
Appropriates funds for local roads and bridges and authorizes grants to fix fracture critical bridges.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill appropriates monnies for transportatin funding, Met Council and public safety activities, fund tranfers and various fees. *The bill was amended in Transportation to expand the taxing district to the entire metro area and allows, for this biennium, the capturing of existing levy dollars for operational costs. The bill was also amended to cut $6m in operating revenue for the Council's bus system.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
teh bill modifies management, priorities, research and planning provisions related to the MN Department of Transportation. The bill requires that MNDOT consider spending funds on research for bridge innovation technology and that before the release of MSA or county funds, cities and counties must submit plans for bridge and highway project prioritization.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill re-directs transit dollars from the metropolitan sales tax to pay for busing costs incurred by schools.
oppose
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill modifies provisions related to public transit, dial a ride and financial assistance to transit providers and provides for local planning development and provides for a transit study to identify transit needs in the metro area.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill requires that the funding of all state, county, statutory or home rule charter city, and town highways, streets, roads, bridges, transit systems, and other transportation infrastructure projects must be achieved in lieu of taxation or bonding through the use of state-chartered banks to create money as provided in this section. For purposes of this section, "state-chartered bank" means a bank chartered in Minnesota. The governmental agency sponsoring a project referenced in subdivision 1 shall submit documentation of it to the commissioner of 6management and budget for funding. The documentation must contain the accepted, verified, and authorized project bid. The commissioner of management and budget shall assign the project a unique project number and shall arrange funding of the authorized bid value with the wealth-based money authorized by this section.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill would transfer transit functions from the Met COuncil and create a MN Transit Authority. The bill also increases the general sales tax and dedicates the proceeds to this authority. It also abolishes certain local sales tax authority and transit opt outs.
oppose in part
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Secondary Policies: --
The language introduced did not pass, but the following language was signed by the Governor in the bonding bill: For a grant to the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority to acquire land for,design, and construct park-and-ride or park-and-pool lots located along the Rush Line Corridor along I-35E/I-35 and Highway from the Union Depot in downtown St.Paul to Hinckley.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill appropriates $5m from the bond proceeds fund to the Met Council for a grant to the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority to prepare an environmental impact statement for preliminary engineering for the SW Transit Way Corridor.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
Establishing the Minnesota Council on Transportation Access to study, evaluate,oversee and make recommendations to improve public transportation services,specifying council duties, membership, required reports and expiration;appropriating money to the legislative coordinating commission
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill establishes Metro Transit as the central purchaser for all public transit vehicles in the state.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
Appropriates money for transit improvement areas and authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
Adding the role of planning, design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of passenger rail track, facilities, and services to the duties of the Commissioner of Transportation. A report laying out the status of passenger rail to the legislature is required by February 1, 2010.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill requires the Met Council and MNDOT Commissioner to provide free transit passes for unemployed individuals seeking employment.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill requires the Met Council to convey the Apple Valley Transit Station propety to the MN Valley Transit Authority to carry out the purpose for which the Apple Valley Transit station was constructed.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill reduces transit fares to 25 cents, with the intent to increase ridership and reduce emissions and congestion. Costs to this bill have not yet been determined.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill authorizes the city of Minnetonka to esetablish street improvement districts and apportion street improvement fees within districts. The bill is opposed by the Realtors, business chamber, and multi housing association. Language giving cities broad authority to do street improvement districts is included in the House Omnibus tax bill.
support
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Secondary Policies: --
This bill requires the Metropolitan Aiports Commission (MAC) to prepare an inventory of carbon emissions currently created at mSP and reliever airports. The MAC must come up with a plan to reduce carbon emissions and report its plan by January 2010.
*
Secondary Policies: --
This bill requires the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian accomodations as part of the trunk highway bridge improvement program
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
the bill extends the transit taxing district to the entire metropolitan area. The bill would not require the Met Council to extend services to to cities receiving assistance under the replacement service program.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
This bill requires that public transit service providers that are recipients of state operating assistance must provide free transit service for any service-connected disabled veterans and active military service members in uniform.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
creation of a design build pilot project and creastion of a design build selection council.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
Modifies design-build requirements
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
This bill requires that road authoritie mitigate construction impacts on small businesses through a grant program. Cities would apply for grants and disperse the funds to impacted businesses. $100,000 was made available in grants through DEED to help pay for the costs.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill establishes a requirement that by December 31, 2009, the Minnesota Department of Transportation must submit a final environmental impact statement to the Federal Highway Administration. The requirement applies to trunk highway construction or reconstruction projects (1) on high priority and medium priority interregional corridors (IRCs), and (2) for which an environmental impact statement was started before August 1, 2006.
monitor
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Secondary Policies: --
The bill prohibits the use of administrative fines by cities for crimes having a felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor penalty. Metro Cities opposes this measure.
oppose
*
Secondary Policies: --
the bill adds a provision governing the relocation of highway centerlines and modifies provisions relating to county state aid highways and MSA streetsl; it also regulates placement of advertising devices.
monitor