Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/24/2019

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HIGHLIGHTS 2019 Issues, Work and Accomplishments: LEGISLATIVE ■ Metro Cities effectively advocated for economic development and redevelopment funding through DEED's MN Investment Fund (MIF) and Job Creation Fund (JCF), and redevelopment funding. The 2019 Legislature funded MIF and JCF and authorized DEED to transfer funds to the redevelopment and demolition programs. ■ Metro Cities supported increasing the Local Government Aid (LGA) appropriation this session. The Legislature appropriated an additional $26 million in 2020 and $30 million in the following biennium and beyond. Metro Cities monitored legislation that would have provided LGA funding to cities not receiving it under the current structure, and Metro Cities supports ongoing analysis of the LGA program to ensure it is addressing the needs of metropolitan cities. ■ Metro Cities supported legislation to extend the date for PERA aid to local governments this session. This legislation was considered but not passed. The aid will expire in 2020; Metro Cities will support this extension again next year. ■ Metro Cities supported funding to meet a variety of local housing needs, including housing infrastructure bonds, a state match for local housing trust funds, and a state tax credit, among other proposals. The Legislature passed a $60 million capital appropriation for housing infrastructure bonds. ■ Metro Cities monitored legislation initiated by the builder's association that establishes a commission on affordable housing, and worked to secure changes to the authorizing language to more precisely define the terms and scope of issues to be considered. Metro Cities will closely monitor the work of the commission and will respond to any recommendations consistent with the organization's policies. ■ Metro Cities initiated legislation for a $10 million capital appropriation to assist cities in the metropolitan area with inflow and infiltration (1/1) mitigation on local public infrastructure, and supported legislation to assist private property I/1 mitigation efforts. A House capital investment bill included $8 million for this purpose. A House Legacy bill appropriated $1.8 million for private property I/1 mitigation. There was no bonding bill this session, and the final Legacy bill did not include private property 1/1 assistance. Metro Cities will continue to advocate for I/1 funding. ■ Metro Cities supports comprehensive transportation funding that includes support for local road needs, including funding for the Small Cities Account and a Large Cities account to assist cities with local road needs not addressed in the Municipal Street Aid (MSA) formula, and state funding for regional transit systems. The final 2019 transportation bill did not include this funding. ■ Metro Cities supported funding for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) mitigation. The Legislature included funding for this purpose in the Environment budget. "Cities across Minnesota's metro area can face challenges in providing essential services such as clean water, well - maintained streets, wastewater infrastructure, and police and fire protection. Meeting the needs of communities requires teamwork and by working jointly with the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, we help ensure the future is bright for cities across our state." — Senator David Senjem (Rochester)