Minutes - Environmental Policy Board - 04/02/2007

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. . . Ms. Pierson stated that in Minnesota prospects for conservation finance at the federal level are declining. On the State level there is the Metropolitan Council as a resource. On the County level the resources are watershed organizations, city funding, and private funding. However, philanthropy is rarely a principal funding source to complete the entire program. Ms. Pierson provided data from Minnesota Conservation Finance History by jurisdiction name. Statistics show that Minnesota voters support conservation of water, protecting natural areas, wildlife, and water threatened by development, investment for future generations, and strengthening the economy. It creates a quality of life that attracts businesses. Ms. Pierson stated that the TPL analyzes what an increase of a particular level might generate in a community. She explained bonding proJections. If Anoka County were to raise taxes by $20 per household, it would raise revenue for conservation by approximately $20,000. Critical steps for success are to gather together a coalition of elected officials, land trusts or other non-profit organizations, local leaders and others; evaluate feasibility and legal research, public opinion polling, measure development, communication of the message (direct mail, advertising, PR, fundraising), coalition building, and community outreach for a campaign. Ms Pierson distributed a Conservation Finance Handbook as a resource for the EPB members. It lists. critical steps for success. Ms. Pierson stated the feasibility research assesses open space, parks and conservation priorities, explores fiscal capacity and finance options, evaluates legal requirements, political profile and election history. She noted the willingness to pay for other projects the City has done in the past. Ms. Pierson recommended doing a public opinion survey to determine potential level of public support for financing parks and open space; test voter priorities, sample ballot language, spending tolerance, fiscal safeguards. The results from the poll would help shape the program recommendations. Many communities choose to bond against property tax increases. Both Washington and Dakota Counties chose to bond for 10 years. The public is very interested in having public accountability measures in the ballot. It makes a difference how you structure the campaign, what date you choose for voter turnout. Ms. Pierson stated that ballot measure design must meet legal requirements. Ballot language best practices include legal standards in the language and should include benefits, present costs in understandable ways, accountability provisions, and the title. If you use a title, it sets a framework for the question. Ms. Pierson stated that in the campaign, it makes a big difference how the campaign governance is structured. She suggested creating a plan for fundraising, design communications, media, seeking endorsements and getting out the vote. All of these were important in passing the measure in Blaine and Dakota County. In Blaine, they had Environmental Policy Board! April 2, 2007 Page 4 of 14