Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/23/2016

Home

Metro Cities Task Force Report on Metropolitan Governance - Metro Cities Page 3 of 4 Representation of county officials on the Metropolitan Council must only be considered under the premise that any county representation on the Metropolitan Council be commensurate with the involvement of counties in the statutory authority and policymaking activities of the Metropolitan Council. Task Force discussions identified several issues around potential conflicts of office and concluded these issues are potentially significant and must be resolved before this type of governance model is considered for the Metropolitan Council. • Any changes to the overall governance structure of the Met Council must consider the - impacts to the region and its governance as a whole, and not under any single function (i.e. transit). • Any additional functions granted to the Council must have the input and support of metropolitan communities and be designed to respond to needs and services that cities cannot provide as efficiently or equitably. • Regional level operation and planning functions should remain as integrated -functions. • Our system of regional governance deserves periodic evaluation as the needs of our region and its communities evolve and change. • Greater recognition must be given to the fact the metropolitan region extends beyond the seven counties, and the critical issues relating to transportation, environment, and land use cannot be solved without the participation from adjacent counties. • Any changes to the Council's structure or functions should be considered by a coalition of stakeholders that includes cities, counties, the business community and adjacent units of government. There should also be a means to involve local governments from the adjacent counties. • This report recognizes the position of Metropolitan Council Chair is a full-time position and that as such the salary should reflect the actual needs and responsibilities of the position. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE POLICIES The Task Force recommends legislative policies that emphasize the following tenets: Continued support for Metropolitan Council member selection through appointment by the Governor; Strengthening local official involvement and input into the selection process for Metropolitan Council members through specific statutory changes to the nomination process through which local officials would make up the majority of nominating committee members, and which would require the Governor's adherence to the nominating committee's recommendations barring extraordinary circumstances; • Continued support for staggered terms for Metropolitan Council members with the appointment of the Chair to coincide with the term of the Governor; • Principles of regional governance that emphasize the importance of Metropolitan Council accountability to and collaboration with city governments; Support for a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of the Metropolitan Council; Support for legislative oversight of the Metropolitan Council. METRO CITIES ORGANIZATION Metro Cities (the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities) was established in 1974 to represent metropolitan communities at the Metropolitan Council, and at the Legislature on statewide issues with regional significance. The organization is governed by a 19 member Board, whose members are comprised of local city officials from throughout the region. The purpose for the organization is to represent the joint interests of metropolitan cities before the Metropolitan Council, State Legislature and Executive Branch, to promote collaborative problem solving efforts between and among cities and state and regional policymakers, to serve as a forum for the interchange of ideas and information among metro cities, and to foster inter -city cooperation. Metro Cities' vision is a strong and economically vibrant region that promotes successful metropolitan communities. Our mission is to advance the joint interests of cities in the metropolitan region at the state and regional levels of government. http://www.metrocitiesmn. org/index. asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7bD0523 9DA-610D-4... 2/17/2016