Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2014

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As it developed this plan, the Council heard a desire from stakeholders for the Council to play a larger role as a regional convener around issues that the Council alone cannot resolve, ranging from economic competitiveness to regional poverty to water supply. The Council will use its regional role to be a convener of regional conversations, in both areas where the Council has statutory authority and issues with regional significance. The Council can make a significant contribution by bringing the best thinkers, experts, and stakeholders together to collectively develop regional or subregional solutions. This includes fostering collaboration among cities or among organizations working on similar issues. For example, in 2013 the Council, working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Geological Survey, hosted regional meetings in the Northeast Metro Area about the issues related to the decline in water levels in White Bear Lake. This effort is a good example where the Council has joined interested parties to help analyze problems and ultimately to develop solutions. While the challenges of the next decade may vary, the Council intends to play a role as a regional convener to advance conversations around: • Promoting affordable housing within the region; • Addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation within the region and elevating this important issue, which affects the long-term viability of the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region; • Developing integrated plans and investment strategies to transform racially -concentrated areas of poverty into thriving mixed -income, multi -racial neighborhoods; • Promoting the wise use of our region's water through rebalancing surface water and groundwater use, conservation, reuse, aquifer recharge, and other practices. As new issues emerge — such as the groundwater and surface water interaction issues in White Bear Lake — the Council is prepared to play a convening role. The Council will collaborate with regional partners to develop a shared vision and strategic priorities to advance regional economic competitiveness. At the regional level, the Council will continue to grow its partnership with cities, counties, GREATER MSP, and other partners in economic competitiveness, including possible development of a shared economic competitiveness strategy that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner as well as a process for identifying select development or redevelopment opportunities whose location, scale and complexity justify a regional focus. The Council will leverage its research and analysis function to examine and analyze the land use and infrastructure needs of the region's leading industry clusters and thereby inform city and county discussions about land use strategies that support economic development. Beyond convening regional stakeholders, the Council will strengthen its approach to outreach, public participation and community engagement by developing a Council -wide Public Engagement Plan. Providing additional technical assistance and enhanced information to support local planning The Metropolitan Land Planning Act and the Council's review authority give the Council a unique role with local governments. The Council already provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions to support the local comprehensive planning process and the effective implementation of regional policies around issues as diverse as aviation -compatible land uses, natural resource preservation, and inflow/infiltration mitigation. DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 38