Agenda - Council - 01/24/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Metropolitan Agencies • The Metropolitan Council must recognize the limitations of its authority and continue to work with cities in a collaborative, incentives-based manner; • The Metropolitan Council must recognize the various needs and capacities of its many partners, including but not limited to cities, counties, economic development authorities and nonprofit organizations, and its policies must be balanced and flexible in their approach; • Metropolitan counties, adjacent counties and school districts must be brought more thoroughly into the discussion due to the critical importance of facilities and services such as county roads and public schools in accommodating forecasted growth; and • Greater recognition must be given to the fact that the"true" metropolitan region extends beyond the traditional seven-county area and the need to work collaboratively with adjacent counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the cities within those counties. The region faces environmental, transportation, and land use issues that cannot be solved by the seven-county metro area alone. Metro Cities supports an analysis to determine the impacts of Metropolitan Council's growth management policies and infrastructure investments on the growth and development of the collar counties, and the impacts of growth in the collar counties on the metropolitan area. 4-L Natural Resource Protection Metro Cities supports the Metropolitan Council's efforts to compile and maintain an inventory and assessment of regionally significant natural resources for the purpose of providing local communities with additional information and technical assistance. The state and region play significant roles in the protection of natural resources. Any steps taken by the state or Metropolitan Council regarding the protection of natural resources must recognize that: • The protection of natural resources is significant to a multi-county area that is home to more than 50 percent of the state's population and a travel destination for many more. Given the limited availability of resources and the artificial nature of the metropolitan area's borders, neither the region nor individual metropolitan communities would be well served by assuming primary responsibility for financing and protecting these resources; • The completion of local Natural Resource Inventories and Assessments (NRUA)is not a regional system nor is it a required component of local comprehensive plans under the Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act; • The protection of natural resources should be balanced with the need to accommodate growth and development, reinvest in established communities, encourage more affordable housing and provide transportation and transit connections; and 2017 Legislative Policies 46