HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04] Legislative Priorities�0 0
At-a- p-prrcoved -b - Sa- rtel,I- Ci'ty- - o- unci,l -o,nt 1Z =l4 09
Joint Resolution of the Central MN Cities of St. Cloud, Sartell,
Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, St. Augusta and Rockville
Advocating Support for Certain Legislative Issues and Proposals of
Common Interest or Concern to Central Minnesota Region
WHEREAS, the Central Minnesota -St. Cloud area has a strong history of collaboration
and coordination amongst its local units of government to facilitate well planned communities
that are provided municipal services in the most cost - effective and environmentally responsible
manner possible; and
WHEREAS, to better assist our State legislative leaders, we have collectively identified
certain legislative issues and proposals that are of specific impact and interest to our
communities to enable them to respond in a manner that strengthens the partnership between
our local units of government and the State in fostering the continuation and enhancement of
socially, economically and culturally vibrant.
Now, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Councils for the Cities of St: Cloud, Sartell,
Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, St. Augusta and Rockville, Minnesota, that the following
legislative issues and proposals are of common interest or concern to the Central Minnesota
Region and therefore officially support and advocate the following actions of the MN State
Legislature:
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES:
1-- Sales Tax Exemption for Collaborative Expansion &. Upgrade of Regional
Wastewater Treatment Plan: Approve the exemption of construction materials,
equipment and supplies for construction of the $43 million expansion, rehabilitation
and upgrade to the regionally funded (.St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St.
Joseph and St. Augusta) St. Cloud Wastewater Treatment Plant.
2- Local Government Aid: Restore LGA funding to the 2008 certified level with no
further reductions.
LMC FF--1 State -Local Fiscal Relations; FF -3 Funding LGA, FF -4 Local Government Aid Reform
— pages 92 -95.
3- Levy Limits: SUPPORT eliminating State control of local levies to facilitate local
accountability,
LMC F -13 State Restrictions on Local Budgets --- page 101.
4- Tax Rate Driven Levies: Enable cities to adopt tax rates that determine levy
amounts.
5- Market Value Homestead Credit MVHC : SUPPORT legislation that provides the
relief directly to the property owners rather than through the local units of
15
As approved by Sartell City Council on 12 -14 -09
government. Any reductions in MVHC should result in a reduction in relief to the
property owner benefiting from the credit.
LMC FF -7 State-Local Fiscal relations -- page 97.
6- Tax Exempt- Credit Pro ram: SUPPORT legislation to assist Cities with
disproportionately high amounts of government and nonprofit business properties
such as Colleges, Universities and Hospitals.
LMC FF -19 Payments for Services to Tax -- Exempt Property -- page 106.
7- State Mandate Relief: SUPPORT legislation that reduces or eliminates unfunded
and /or onerous mandates to local governments (e.g. personnel related mandates
such as binding arbitration, lack of State funding for State retirement plan, aggregate
value requirements for insurance benefits, and pay equity; MPCA fees; storm water
fees). No additional mandates should be enacted unless the legislature or agency
imposing the requirements provides a permanent stable revenue source for the
mandate.
LMC SD -1 Unfunded Mandates —page 1; SD -3 Redesigning and Reinventing Government —
page 2 (Promote local efforts through incentives rather than mandates); HR —1
Personnel Mandates &Limits on Local Control —page 113.
8- State Fee Increases: SUPPORT measures that preclude State agencies and
operations from shifting funding reductions and /or cost increases on to
municipalities in the form of fee increases.
LMC FF -5 State Charges for Administrative Services -- page 96.
9- Eminent Domain: SUPPORT modifications to the 2006 Eminent Domain statute to
remove recently added attorney fees and cost penalty provisions in actions involving
public infrastructure improvements in order to restore a fair balance between the
rights of private landowners and the interests of the public.
LMC SD -16 Private Property Rights and Takings — page 14 --16.
10- land Use Reform & Annexation: Support legislation that better protects the
environment, reduces green gas emissions, reduces the cost to deliver municipal
services, and protects the interests of cities in annexation statutes.
LMC LE -1 Growth Management & Annexation -- page 54.
11- Regional Collaboration: SUPPORT regional efforts of local government jurisdictions
by providing additional incentives that encourage these types of efforts.
LMC SD -3 Redesigning and Reinventing Government —page 2 (Promote local efforts
through incentives rather than mandates).
(3�
As approved by Sartell City Council on 12 -14 -09
12- North Star Commuter Rail: Support extension of North Star Commuter Rail service
northward to the St. Cloud area in a manner that serves the needs of business and
commercial travels, that is highly expandable, and is priced affordably to optimize
use.
13- State Airports Fund: SUPPORT restoration of the $15 million to the State Airports
Fund.
LMC LE -35 Airport Planning and Funding -- page 89.
14- Water Conservation Pricing Le islation: SUPPORT legislation to repeal the water
conservation pricing legislation that was enacted in the 2008 legislative session.
15- Street Improvement District Authority: SUPPORT legislation that would give
municipalities the authority to establish street improvement districts to collect fees
from property owners within a district to fund municipal street maintenance,
construction, reconstruction and facility upgrades.
LMC FF--15 City Revenue Diversification — page 103.
15- Statutory Approval Timelines — 60 -da Rule: SUPPORT the revision of State Law to
reflect that the 00- daytime line applies to the period in which the City is in control
of the application and does not include the period during which the applicant is
debating whether or not to proceed with a local appeals process.
LMC LE -4 Statutory Approval Timelines -- page 57.
17- Green Acres Legislation: SUPPORT the repeal or reform of the Green Acres
legislation adopted last legislative session.
18-- Administrative Authorit : SUPPORT the expansion of authority of Statutory and
Home Rule Charter cities ability to impose and collect administrative penalties.
LMC SD -28 Administrative Fines — page 30.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT /STATE BONDING REQUESTS:
1- St. Cloud Civic Center Expansion: Support $15.1 million state funding for $30 million
expansion project —City of St. Cloud.
2- Regional Parks & Trails: Support State bonding as follows:
a. Sauk River Park Land Acquisition (City of Sartell — Dehler property) - $1.3
million, ranked #1 land acquisition priority by Central MN Parks &Trails
Board
b. Rockville County Park &Nature Preserve (City of Rockville) - $ 250,000 for
access and trail improvements to enable the park to be opened for use by
the public.
As approved by Sartell City Council on 12 -14 -09
/3 E
c. Quarry Park & Nature Preserve (City of Waite Park) - $422,500 for 39.5 acre
land acquisition to facilitate expansion of the park and creation of an
additional access into the park.
d. Rocori Trail (City of Rockville) - $1,459,500 to construction Phase la from
178th Avenue to 14th Avenue in Cold Spring.
3- St. Cloud Regional Airport Lard Acquisition (City of St. Cloud) - $2 million
Adopted this day of , 20091 by the Council for the City of St. Cloud.
Mayor
City Clerk
Adopted this day of 2009, by the Council for the City of Sartell.
Mayor
City Clerk
Adopted this day of , 20091 by the Council for the City of Sauk
Rapids.
Mayor
City Clerk
Adopted this . day of , 20091 by the Council for the City of Waite Park.
Mayor
City Clerk