Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/10/2014

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bill, then Governor Harold LeVander observed that the Council "was conceived with the idea that we will be faced with more and more problems that will pay no heed to the boundary lines which mark the end of one community and the beginning of another." A region -wide perspective provides the opportunity to address issues that: • are bigger than any one community can address alone; • cross community boundaries to affect multiple communities; • could benefit from an opportunity to share best practices; or • require resources that are most effectively used at a regional scale. Four additional actions created today's regional organizational structure: • 1969: The Legislature created the Metropolitan Sewer Board to consolidate sewer systems, reduce costs, and modernize the system. • 1969: The Legislature created the Metropolitan Transit Commission to acquire the privately held transit system with the charge to overhaul the system, buy new buses, and improve signage, shelters, and bus stops. • 1974: The Legislature designated more than 31,000 acres of existing city and county parks to be a new regional parks and open space system. • 1994: The Legislature gave the Council operational control over transit and regional wastewater systems—consolidating planning, services, and operations into a single agency. For nearly 50 years the Metropolitan Council has played a key role in coordinating regional growth and planning—providing essential services such as transportation and wastewater treatment, and convening partners to accomplish ambitious goals unrealistic for a single community but possible as a region. Thinking ahead—and working together—helps the region achieve a high quality of life, economies of scale, high-quality regional services, and a competitive edge envied by other metropolitan areas. Thrive MSP 2040: Planning a prosperous, equitable, and livable region for today and generations to come Under state law, the Council is responsible for preparing a comprehensive development guide for the seven -county metropolitan area. Thrive MSP 2040 provides a framework for a shared vision for the future of our region over the next 30 years. While the Council is responsible for developing Thrive and the plans for the three statutory regional systems—wastewater, transportation, and regional parks—the vision within Thrive can only succeed through partnerships with local governments, residents, businesses, philanthropy and the non-profit sector. As a regional plan, Thrive addresses issues greater than any one neighborhood, city or single county can tackle alone to build and maintain a thriving metropolitan region. At the same time, the future's increasingly complex challenges demand innovative strategies and greater collaboration. Building on our region's past planning successes, the Council will adopt more collaborative, integrative approaches to allocating limited funds and addressing the demanding challenges that lie ahead. Protecting our resources and investments, Thrive provides the foundation for a prosperous, equitable, and livable region for today and generations to come. DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 5