Agenda - Council Work Session - 12/07/2010

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ll -€ 800 MHz Radio System Metro Cities supports the work of the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (previously the Metropolitan Radio Board) in implementing and maintaining the 800 MHz radio system, as long as cities are not forced to modify their current systems or become a part of the 800 MHz Radio System until they so choose. Metro Cities further urges the Legislature to provide cities with the financial means to obtain required infrastructure and subscriber equipment (portable and mobile radios) as well as provide funding for operating costs, since the prime purpose of this system is to allow public safety agencies and other units of government the ability to communicate effectively. 11 -F Building Codes In spite of the serious downturn in the construction economy, thousands of new housing units have been constructed annually in the metro area, and when the economy rebounds, building will resume. Structural and water intrusion problems have surfaced in many houses and commercial buildings built in the last 20 years. These. problems have resulted in dissatisfied homeowners and conflicts between the state, builders and cities. Metro Cities supports art equitable distribution of fees from the newly created Construction Code Fund, with proportional distribution based on the area of enforcement where the fees were received. Metro Cities further supports a joint effort by the state, cities and builders to collectively identify appropriate uses for the fund, including education, analysis of new materials and construction techniques, building code updating, building inspector training, development of performance standards and identification of construction "best practices." Metro Cities does not support legislative solutions that fail to recognize the interrelationships between builders, state building codes and cities. IhG Administrative pines Traditional methods of citation, enforcement and prosecution have met with increasing costs to local units of government. The use of administrative fines is a tool to moderate those costs. Metro Cities supported expansion of the 2009 administrative fine authority to allow cities to issue administrative fines for defined local traffic offenses. While the expanded authority is a welcome enhancement, further compromise language is necessary to enhance the workability of the authority. Metro Cities continues to support cities' authority to use administrative fines for regulatory ordinances; such as building codes, zoning codes, health codes, and public safety and nuisance ordinances. Metro Cities supports the use of city administrative fines, at a minimum, for regulatory matters that are not duplicative of misdemeanor or higher level state traffic and criminal offenses. Metro Cities also endorses a fair hearing process before a disinterested third party. 10 Metro Cities