HomeMy WebLinkAbout[07c] Legislative Priorities Council Agenda Item 7c
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MEETING DATE: March 7, 2016
AGENDA ITEM: Legislative Priorities
SUBMITTED BY: Administration
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Annually the Area Cites prepare a list of priorities when
speaking to legislators. This year the list has been revised and broken into two portions,the first is
legislative proposals and the second is general policy statements. The general policy statements are
similar to what the League of MN Cities is pursuing whereas the legislative proposals are unique to the
six area Cities.
As of this dates, St. Cloud, Sartell,Waite Park, St. Augusta and Sauk Rapids have approved.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT:
ATTACHMENTS: Request for Council Action
Legislative Priorities
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize execution of the 2016 Legislative Priorities.
Joint Resolution by
The Cities of St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids,Waite Park, St.Joseph, and St.Augusta
Advocating Support for Proposals and Policies of Common Interest to the Central Minnesota
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 provide
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 proposals and general policy statements 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 cities.
NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,by the Councils for the cities of St.Cloud, Sartell,
Sauk Rapids,Waite Park, St. Joseph, and St.Augusta,Minnesota that the following legislative proposals
and legislative policy statements are of common interest or concern to the Central Minnesota Region and
therefore we officially support and advocate for the following actions of the MN State Legislature:
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS:
1. St. Cloud Regional Human Rights Office: APPROPRIATE funds to support
outstate offices of the State Department of Human Rights with a full-time office for
the St. Cloud Region ($180,000).
2. Licensing & Regulation of Hotels/Motels: APPROVE Legislation allowing cities
under 30,000 population to adopt ordinances to license and regulate hotels and motels.
3. Right-of-Way Management: APPROVE Legislation to clarify cities' rights to
control the right-of-way on streets and highways lying in two jurisdictions and clarify
statutory authority on the municipality's rights to manage the public right-of-ways
that would be applicable to all public utilities.
4. Expansion of I-94 to St. Cloud: Continue to FUND lane expansions of I-94 from St.
Michael to the St. Cloud area.
5. City of Sartell, 4tbi50tb Avenue South Proiect(West Metro
Corridor): APPROPRIATE funds to support the completion of the West Metro
Corridor transportation project, otherwise known as 4t'Avenue South Project.
6. City of St. Cloud,Heatherwood Road: APPROPRIATE funds to construct
Heatherwood Road connecting the I-94 Business Park to the new Coboms &Marco
Business Park($6,000,000).
STATE BONDING APPLICATIONS:
1. City of St. Cloud, George Friedrich Regional Park: APPROVE $6 million for
planning, land acquisition, and park construction.
2. City of St. Cloud,Downtown Accessibility Program: APPROVE $2 million for
planning and private and public projects to improve accessibility of St. Cloud's historic
downtown.
3. City of St. Joseph, Pedestrian Bridle over CR#75: APPROVE $1.25 million for
planning, design, land acquisition, and construction of a pedestrian bridge over CR#75 in
central St. Joseph.
4. Stearns County, Lake Wobe2on Trail Extension from St. Joseph to Waite Park:
APPROVE $1 million to extend the Lake Wobegon Trail from St. Joseph to Waite Park.
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENTS:
1. Publication Requirements: SUPPORT legislation that would allow municipalities
to utilize alternative publication methods for legal notices.
2. Regional Collaboration: SUPPORT legislation and funding for a program to
encourage locally initiated regional efforts of local government jurisdictions to
encourage these types of efforts.
3. Tax Exempt Credit Program: SUPPORT legislation to assist Cities with
disproportionately high amounts of government and/or nonprofit business properties such
as Colleges,Universities, and Hospitals.
4. Sales Tax Exemption for all public purchases: SUPPORT legislation that would
clarify the local government sales tax exemption approved in 2013 to define exemption
for all purchases made by local units of government.
5. Amendment to MN Statute 429. SUPPORT legislation to modify MN Statute 429
requiring assessing 20% of the cost to utilize bonding without referendum and adding
language to provide a meaningful method to determine benefit from replacing failing
underground infrastructure.
6. 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 public, business and
commercial travels, that is highly expandable, and is priced affordably to optimize use.
7. 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.
B. Local Government Aid: SUPPORT legislation that reduces pressure on the property tax
system and equalizes property tax bases with LGA appropriations.
9. Lew Limits: SUPPORT facilitating local accountability by allowing local authorities to
formulate and adopt budgets without state restrictions.
10. State Mandate Relief: SUPPORT legislation that reduces or eliminates unfunded and/or
onerous mandates to local governments. Further, Support legislation that sunsets any
unfunded mandates for evaluation.
11. 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.
12. Administrative Authority: SUPPORT the expansion of authority of Statutory and Home
Rule Charter cities ability to impose and collect administrative penalties to include
enforcement and traffic infractions.
13. Private Well Installation: SUPPORT retention of local control of private water well
installations.
Adopted by the Cities of St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, and St.
Augusta prior to the 2016 Legislative Session.
Mayor Dave Kleis Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll Mayor Brad Gunderson
Mayor Rick Miller Mayor Rick Schultz Mayor Bob Kroll