Agenda - Council - 01/12/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I i I i I I ,! ! I I I I I I I I I I First, the statutory procedure on zoning ordi- nances provides ample opportunity for the par- ticipation of both the general public and indivi- dual property owners in decisions relating to zoning ordinances or the Municipal Comprehen- sive Plan. It is inappropriate to allow such a long deliberative process to be overturned by a rela- tively few voters who may have narrow interests in the issue. Second, the clear intent of the existing plan- ning law is that zoning ordinances and amendments not be subject to IR. Without a clear uniform statutory procedure for the implementation of municipal planning, statutory and charter cities will be subject to different procedures and the act will not be realized. 111-18. Ener§y Technical Assistance Programs (C) Increasing energy costs and removal of federal support for local government energy technical assistance programs will place a significant burden on local government efforts to maintain the vitality of their communities. Energy technical assistance programs are needed to provide information to communities on how to reduce energy costs in their operations; establish energy information exchange networks; and apply for federal energy block grant funds. The League recommends that the Minnesota Legislature provide state funds for such local government energy technical assistance programs. The purpose of these programs would be to main- tain and enhance the Conference of Local Energy Officials (CLEO) information exchange network and to provide on-going energy technical assis- tance programs to Minnesota local governments. 111-19. Energy Conservation and Production (C) Overall energy conservation strategies involving the public, private, commercial and industrial sec- tors are being developed by cities based on the rationale that conservation efforts achieve the greatest energy savings at the lowest cost. The League believes that a city's individual energy conservation strategy can be accomplished if the legislature permits or establishes some of the fol- lowing measures: 1. Retrofit of Local Government Buldings. Local governments and school districts operate nearly 8,000 buildings in Minnesota. Possible energy savings in this sector range from 16-67% of current energy consumption by implementing operation maintenance changes and capital im- provements programs. The League recommends support of additional funds to local governments for mini and maxi-audits, including implementa- tion of energy conservation measures. 2. District Heating. To promote statewide applications of district heating technology, and to allow communities to make most efficient use of the State District Heating Bond Program~ the League recommends the following: a. The Legislature should provide additional funds for conducting district heating feasi- bility studies at the community level; b. The Legislature should permit cities to make special property assessments for the cost of connecting or converting to community district heating systems; and c. The Legislature should strongly encourage consideration of district heating potential in the power plant siting process. d. The Legislature should continue to allow use of State District Heating Bond Program for renovation of existing district heating systems. e. Repayment of state bond issues would follow repayment of local obligations. 3. Low and Moderate Income Energy Assis- tance. Rising energy costs will continue to place a burden on the economic vitality of communi- ties in Minnesota. The League recommends: a) Continuation of the fuel assistance program for Iow-income households, with expanded ser- vices to train recipients in energy conservation practices; b) Support for weatherization programs operated through cities, counties, and CAP Agen- cies; c) Continued support for the MHFA loan and grant program for home weatherization. 4. Conservation and Renewable Energy Fi- nancing. Declining federal support for imple- menting conservation and renewable resource pro- jects will place a significant burden on local govern- ment attempts to maintain vital services to their residents and promote community development. The League recommends that cities be allowed to bond and to make a special levy for energy con- servation and renewable resource projects° 5. Local Regulatory Authority. Local govern- ments are in the best position to assess local needs -15-