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Metropolitan Agencies ( <br />IWA Purpose of Metropolitan Governance <br />The statutorily- defined Twin Cities metropolitan region is made up of 193 cities and <br />townships covering over 3,000 square miles in seven counties. The effective and efficient <br />delivery of certain public services and the continued economic growth of this region is <br />enhanced by the existence of a regional entity to provide coordination and facilitate <br />cooperation. <br />Therefore, Metro Cities supports the continued existence of a metropolitan governance <br />system for the purpose of- <br />Facilitating long -term region -wide planning with the cooperation and consideration of <br />the affected local units of government; and <br />■ Planning for and providing those public services that are needed by the region, but <br />cannot be effectively and efficiently provided by local governments or the state. <br />■ With or without the Metropolitan Council as it exists today, the region needs some <br />entity to perform these functions. However, the Twin Cities' metropolitan Governance <br />structure should not be granted, nor should it assume, general local government or <br />state agency powers. <br />IV -B Roles and Responsibilities of the Metropolitan Council <br />The primary responsibilities of the Metropolitan Council are to: <br />■ Plan for the orderly and economical development of the metropolitan area by preparing <br />a comprehensive development guide that includes long -range comprehensive policy <br />plans for the transportation /aviation, wastewater treatment and recreational open <br />space systems. <br />■ Review local comprehensive plans for compatibility with the plans of neighboring <br />communities, consistency with Metropolitan Council policies and conformity with <br />metropolitan system plans. <br />■ Provide specific regional services and administer select regional grant programs as <br />assigned by state or federal law. <br />■ Provide technical assistance, research and information to local units of government. <br />Overall, it is the Metropolitan Council's role, through the regional development guide and <br />its accompanying policy plans, to set broad regional goals and then provide cities with <br />2011 Legislative Policies 25 <br />