Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/27/2018

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Metropolitan Agencies Council should convene a group of local officials to identify any technical changes necessary for implementing the new structure. Metro Cities supports allowing the Council to utilize the SAC `transfer' mechanism provided for in state statute, when the SAC reserve fund is inadequate to meet debt service obligations. Any use of the transfer mechanism must be done so within parameters prescribed by state law and with appropriate notification and processes to allow local official input and should include a timely `shift back' of any transferred funds from the wastewater fund to the SAC reserve fund. Efforts should be made to avoid increasing the municipal wastewater charge in use of the transfer mechanism. Metro Cities supports principles for SAC that include program transparency and simplicity, equity for all served communities, and between current and future users, support for cities' sewer fee capacities, administrative reasonableness, and weighing any program uses for specific goals with the impacts to the program's equity, transparency and simplicity. As such, Metro Cities opposes the use of the SAC mechanism to subsidize and/or incent particular Metropolitan Council goals and objectives. Metro Cities supports current SAC policy that enhances flexibility in the SAC credit structure for redevelopment purposes, and supports continued evaluation of SAC fees to determine if they hinder redevelopment_ Metro Cities supports the Metropolitan Council providing details on how any changes to the SAC rate are determined. Metro Cities supports a periodic review of MCES' customer service policies, to ensure that its processes are responsive and transparent to communities, businesses and residents. Metro Cities supports continued outreach by MCES to users of the SAC program to promote knowledge and understanding of SAC charges and policies. 4-0 Funding Regional Parks & Open Space In the seven -county metropolitan area, regional parks essentially serve as state parks, and the state should continue to provide capital funding for the acquisition, development and improvement of these parks in a manner that is equitable with funding for state parks. State funding apart from Legacy funds should equal 40 percent of the operating budget for regional parks. Legacy funds for parks and trails should be balanced between metro and greater Minnesota. Metro Cities supports state funding for regional parks and trails that is fair, creates a balance of investment across the state, and meets the needs of the region. 4-P Livable Communities The Livable Communities Act (LCA) provides a voluntary, incentive -based approach to affordable housing development, tax base revitalization, job growth and preservation, brownfield clean up and mixed -use, transit -friendly development and redevelopment. Metro Cities strongly supports the continuation of this approach, which has been widely accepted and is fully utilized 2018 Legislative Policies 46