Agenda - Council - 11/15/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The northern suburbs continue to have extremely competent legislative representation. However, outside consultants will increase their ability to present a well defined case for specific needs. This is becoming more important as development patterns have emerged,, because a greater share of public investment for private development has gone to areas other than the northern suburbs. Money for roads, sewers, airports, major public entertainment centers including the race track, the zoo, and the stadium have been concentrated in regions to the south of our area. Particularly in recent years, state and municipal bodies have placed a greater emphasis on the use of public affairs personnel and consultants to develop and execute specific legislative agendas. Municipalities and counties throughout the metropolitan area hire lobbyists to compete for the type of legislative programs that we so desperately need in the northern suburbs. Minneapolis, for example, not only has highly qualified in-house governmental relations personnel, but also hires several outside consulting firms to complement their lobbying efforts. The same is true of the City of St. Paul and Hennepin County. Many suburban communities have a consultant to represent them on tax issues alone. The coalition of Out-State Cities employs a firm which develops tax data runs almost instantaneously when various tax packages are presented during the legislative session. The northern suburbs need to organize and assert %heir right to reasonable development incen%ives. The issues outlined below will be of marticu!ar importance to the northern suburbs during the coming sesszon: HIGHWAY FUNDING An adequate transportation system is absolutely essential for development. This refers to the highway system as well = YOU :~ as an e~fec%ive mass transit system, w~i probably recall that We%dy Ander.~on, of our firm, was klred by %he nor%her% suburbs to lobby for the Highway 610 Brid~e. His efforts played a major part in the completion of that structure. FiNANCiAL DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES Tax increment financing and the =;' ; pos_.m_!~y of en%ermrise zones in our = == -r_- are key development incen%ives for area. They have been the subject of considerable discussion in the las5 two (2) !egis~--~-= ====~o~ . ~==_V ........ S So~e chanc=s have adve~seiy affected %he nor%hem suburbs vm==l!y %moor%ant th=~ our developing cor~uni%ies be enabled ~o comoeze with areas tha% have used these %oois no as ~ ~ _ s.s~ their grownh ~n the past.