Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/23/2016

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Metro Cities Task Force Report on Metropolitan Governance - Metro Cities Page 2 of 4 Cities successfully secured passage of staggered terms legislation in 2008; however the legislation was vetoed by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Earlier this year, the Metro Cities Board of Directors convened an ad hoc group of Board members and staff to determine whether Metro Cities' legislative policies pertaining to regional governance warranted review. The impetus for the Board's directive was twofold. Metro Cities' legislative policies on regional governance, particularly regarding the selection of Metropolitan Council members, were policies of long standing that notably did not address whether Metropolitan Council members should be appointed or elected. Recent legislative discussions and the release of the Legislative Auditor's report on transit governance prompted the Board. to question whether Metro Cities' legislative policies on regional governance should be re-examined. The ad hoc work group of the Metro Cities Board met in early April, and recommended a policy review under the direction of Metro Cities' Metropolitan Agencies Committee. This committee addresses policies and issues pertaining to the Metropolitan Council. It was determined that a task force of representatives of the Metropolitan Agencies Committee, augmented with additional city officials from throughout the region, be formed. The Task Force met three times during the months of August and September and discussed key issues relating to regional governance at length. Task Force members identified a number of issues and priorities, based on a survey of Task Force members. These centered on goals and priorities for regional governance, opportunities and challenges facing the metropolitan region and its cities, the Council's strengths and weaknesses, whether the current Council is equipped to meet the needs of the region and its cities, and problems that might be addressed through a change in the governance model. The Task Force recommendations were forwarded to the Metropolitan Agencies Committee, and subsequently adopted by the Metro Cities Board of Directors and full membership in November, 2011. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS The findings and recommendations of the Metro Cities Metro Governance Task Force include new legislative policies on principles for regional governance, Metropolitan Council member selection, a comprehensive analysis of the Metropolitan Council and legislative oversight of the Metropolitan Council. This report also includes findings and observations identified by Task Force members that should be considered in any evaluations, discussions or proposals regarding our system of regional governance. The Task Force recommendations specifically emphasize the need for increased local involvement and participation in the selection process for members of the Metropolitan Council, to increase the accountability and credibility of the Metropolitan Council with local units of government. As the units of government most affected by regional policymaking, any regional governance changes to be particularly responsive to metropolitan area cities. The Task Force recommendations continue support for a regional government and the need for an increase in accountability by the Metropolitan Council to local units of government. The Task Force recommendations support a comprehensive study that includes abroad range of stakeholders and that looks forward in defining how the Metropolitan Council can best meet the needs of the region and its communities into the future. Any systematic changes to the governing structure of the Metropolitan Council should not be considered until a comprehensive analysis of the region's future needs is undertaken. TASK FORCE FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS • Cities are the primary constituency of the Metropolitan Council and the entities most impacted by the statutes and policies relating to and governing the Metropolitan Council. As such, it is imperative that the Metropolitan Council work in partnership and collaboration with city governments. • There should be more opportunities and formalized processes for local government involvement and participation in the work of the Metropolitan Council, including the selection of Metropolitan Council members, to help promote accountability, collaboration and problem solving among regional and local units of government. • Any model of governance that proposes to have elected local officials serve on the Metropolitan Council (i.e. a Council of Governments model) must be a model under which city officials would make up the majority of local elected officials on the Metropolitan Council. The Task Force does not recommend this model of governance for the Council, but members expressed strong opposition to any governance model under which county elected officials would represent a majority of local officials on the Metropolitan Council. The impacts of policy decision making by the Metropolitan Council fall most significantly onto city governments. http://www.metrocitiesmn.org/index.asp?Type—B BASIC &SEC=%7bD 0523 9DA-610D-4... 2/17/2016