HomeMy WebLinkAbout[08b] Legislative Priorities
Council Agenda Item 8b
MEETING DATE: November 6, 2017
AGENDA ITEM: Legislative Priorities
SUBMITTED BY: Administration
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Annually the area cities prepare a list of legislative priorities to assist
with lobbying legislators when the session begins.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Historically the area cities have discussed the legislative priorities either
as a group of Mayors/Administrators or at the Intergovernmental Meeting. The agenda for the last
intergovernmental meeting included the concept of Legislative Priorities. Since the cities were not able
to meet jointly in October, each Administrator is forwarding the list of priorities to their respective
Council for consideration. It is understood that not all cites agree philosophically with all the items
listed; however, there is no expectation that cities will lobby for each of the items. The joint resolution
is a show of support for the efforts of the area cities and that we all work together. Councils only have
lobby for items that are important to them.
The list includes all the area bonding projects as well. As can be seen from the following resolution, St.
Joseph has three bonding requests submitted for consideration in the 2018 session. They are as follows:
1. Jacob Wetterling Recreation Center (2.5 M)
2. CR 75 Pedestrian Crossing (1.25M)
3. East Park (.3 M)
Sometimes the key to successful Bond funding is through utilization of a lobbyist. Staff will be securing
quotes to hire a lobbyist to act on behalf of the City.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: TBD
ATTACHMENTS: Legislative Priorities
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the Mayor to execute the Resolution of Legislative Priorities
and discussion on the hire of a lobbyist.
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 POLICY AND FUNDING PROPOSALS:
Policy Proposals
1. Licensing & Regulation of Hotels/Motels: APPROVE Legislation allowing cities under
30,000 in population to adopt ordinances to license and regulate hotels and motels.
2. Mobile Home Relocation Act and Uniform Relocation Act: AMEND these
regulations to clarify to role the local government jurisdiction plays in a development
where relocation of mobile home residents is required and whereby the affected
property is privately owned but public assistance is provided. Require the Developer
to be solely responsible for the relocation and do not allow Uniform Relocation Act
benefits to be apply making the City solely responsible for the relocation and its
costs.
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. 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.
Funding 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. Expansion of I-94 to St. Cloud: Continue to FUND lane expansions of I-94 from St.
Michael to the St. Cloud area.
th
3. City of Sartell, 50 Avenue South Project (West Metro Corridor): APPROPRIATE
funds to support the completion of the West Metro Corridor transportation project,
th
otherwise known as 50 Avenue South Project.
4. City of St. Cloud, Heatherwood Road: APPROPRIATE funds to construct Heatherwood
Road connecting the I-94 Business Park to the new Coborns & Marco Business Park
($6,000,000).
STATE BONDING APPLICATIONS:
1. Waite Park, Amphitheater Regional Park: APPROVE $5 million for the events and
regional park construction.
2. City of St. Cloud, George Friedrich Regional Park: APPROVE $6 million for planning,
land acquisition, and park construction.
3. 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.
4. City of St. Joseph, Pedestrian Bridge 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.
5. City of St. Joseph, East Park (Sauk River): APPROVE $ 300,000 for designing and
constructing a canoe access, bathrooms and parking facilities.
6. City of St. Joseph, Jacob Wetterling Recreation Center: APPROVE 2.5 M for designing,
constructing a regional recreation center focusing on youth programming.
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENTS:
1. Franchise Authority and Right of Way: SUPPORT legislation that continues to
preserve local government’s authority in right-of-ways that is owned by the local
government entities to manage this property and the utilities that are allowed to
locate in these areas. OPPOSE any legislation that takes the local jurisdictions
rights away for managing their rights. Encourage utilities to work with local
governments through franchise agreements.
2. Water Standards, Regulations, and Permitting: SUPPORT legislation that
advocates for a more comprehensive clean water framework which focuses its
efforts to address water pollution in the state in an efficient and fair manner and
one that is supported by science. Require independent scientific peer review of
regulations that will impost excessive costs on communities, allow cities more time
to evaluate waste water permits, and provide funding for any additional
requirements that are adopted.
3. Publication Requirements: SUPPORT legislation that would allow municipalities to
utilize alternative publication methods for legal notices.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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.
8. Local Government Aid: SUPPORT legislation that reduces pressure on the property tax
system and equalizes property tax bases with LGA appropriations.
9. Levy 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.
14. Traffic Enforcement – Cameras: SUPPORT legislation which allows law enforcement
agencies to have authority to use photo enforcement technology to enforce traffic laws.
Specifically allow law enforcement officers to issue citations for traffic violations by mail
where the violation is detected with photographic evidence.
Adopted by the Cities of St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, and St. Augusta
prior to the 2018 Legislative Session.
Mayor Dave Kleis Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll Mayor Kurt Hunstiger
Mayor Rick Miller Mayor Rick Schultz Mayor Bob Kroll