Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/27/2018

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General Government • Revising absentee ballot regulations to allow any person 18 and older to witness the absentee process and sign the envelope as a witness; and • Authorizing cities with health care facilities to schedule election judges to conduct absentee voting at an earlier date in health care facilities. 2-P Utility Franchise Fees, Accountability and Cost Transparency Minnesota cities are authorized by Minnesota statutes M.S. 216B and 301B.01 to require a public utility (gas or electric) that provides services to the city or occupies the public right of way within a city to obtain a franchise. Several metro area cities have entered agreements that require the utility to pay a fee to help offset costs of maintaining the right of way. Cities are also adopting energy policies that use renewable energy resources to light or heat public facilities. Policies and programs have also been instituted in cooperation with the public utility franchisee to increase energy efficiency for all users. Cities also contract, at city expense, with public utilities to "underground" wires. State laws have also require energy companies to provide more electric energy from renewable sources. The specific amounts vary by type of utility. Metro Cities supports: • State policies adopted by legislation or through rules of the Public Utility Commission that provide cities with the authority to include city energy policies and priorities in a franchise or similar agreement with a franchisee; and • Greater accountability and transparency for city paid costs associated with underground utility and similar work performed by electric utilities as part of a local project. 2-Q Water Supply Municipal water suppliers are charged with meeting the water supply needs of their communities and work to do so with safe, reliable and cost-effective systems that are sustainable both for established cities and for all future growth. The aquifers in the metropolitan area cross municipal boundaries and therefore require a coordinated regional approach to planning for their future availability. Currently, approximately 75% of municipal water supply in the metropolitan area comes from groundwater. With proper management of the resource, the current water supply in the region is adequate; however, Metropolitan Council projections predict localized declines in aquifer availability due to population growth estimates if current usage levels are maintained. Regulation of water is complex and compartmentalized. Various agencies permit its use, plan for its availability, regulate stormwater, treat wastewater and protect the safety of water. To 2018 Legislative Policies 17