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9 General Government <br /> 2-A Mandates, Zoning & Local Authority <br /> Metro Cities opposes statutory changes that erode local authority or create <br /> additional mandates that add to local costs without a corresponding state <br /> appropriation or funding mechanism. New unfunded mandates potentially increase <br /> property taxes, which impedes cities' ability to fund traditional service needs. <br /> Metro Cities believes that zoning decisions should be made at the local level. Metro <br /> Cities supports legislation to give local officials greater authority and discretion to <br /> approve or deny variances in order to allow flexibility in responding to land use <br /> needs of their own community. <br /> Metro Cities also supports legislation to remove barriers to uniform zoning <br /> ordinance amendment processes for all cities, regardless of city size classification. <br /> To allow for greater collaboration and flexibility in providing local services, Metro <br /> Cities encourages the removal of barriers or hurdles to cooperation and <br /> coordination between cities and other units of government or entities. Metro Cities <br /> supports local decision-making authority. <br /> 2-13 City Enterprise Activities <br /> Creation of an enterprise operation allows a city to provide the desired service while <br /> maintaining financial and management control. The state should refrain from infringing <br /> on this ability to provide and control services for the benefit of community residents. <br /> Metro Cities supports cities having authority to establish city enterprise operations <br /> in response to community needs, local preferences, state mandates or to ensure <br /> residents' quality of life. <br /> 2-C Firearms on City Property <br /> Cities should be allowed to prohibit handguns and other weapons in city-owned <br /> buildings, facilities and parks. This would allow locally elected officials to determine <br /> whether to allow permit-holders to bring guns into municipal buildings, liquor stores, city <br /> council chambers and city sponsored youth activities. It is not Metro Cities' intention for <br /> cities to have the authority to prohibit legal weapons in parking lots, on city streets, city <br /> 2017 Legislative Policies 1 1 <br />