HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 01-03-1986EL
w CITY OF
PLYMOUTFF
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
January 3, 1986
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.....
1. COUNCIL VACANCY APPOINTMENT SELECTION MEETING -- Monday, January 6,
1986, 6:15 p.m. Mayor Schneider has called a meeting of the City
Council to continue its discussion of the applicants for appointment
to the seat he will vacate on the Council upon assuming the office
of Mayor. This meeting will be held in the Council conference room
and follows up the interviews which were held with all four
candidates on December 30.
2. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING -- Monday, January 6, 7:30 p.m.
Regular City Council meeting in City Council Chambers.
3. PLANNING COMMISSION -- Wednesday, January 8. Joint study meeting
with HRA to rc,,ie rc cd C� ' ^�
:� viuN r%i ici�Sivc f lAl, Housing Element at
6:00 p.m. in the Council conference room. The Planning Commission
forum is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The Planning Commission meeting
follows at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Agenda
attached. (M-3)
4. PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION -- Thursday, January 9. The
Park and Recreation Advisory Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. in
the City Council Chambers. Agenda attached. (M-4)
5. MEETING REMINDERS:
A. ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES MEMBERSHIP GENERAL
MEETING -- Thursday, January 9, p.m. at the Brooklyn enter
Community Center.
B. MUNICIPAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING -- Wednesday,
January 15, Decathlon Club, Bloomington. oard of Directors
meeting - 5 to 6:00 p.m.; Social Hour - 6:15 p.m.; Dinner - 7:00
p.m. Our legislators have been invited to attend.
C. DAVID DAVENPORT & PAT NEILS APPRECIATION DINNER -- Tuesday,
January 21, Radisson Inn Plymouth. Social Hour - 6:00 p.m.;
Dinner - 7:00 p.m.
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH. MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 559-2800
C11Y COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
January 3, 1986
Page 2
D. SEMINARS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS -- Conference for Newly Elected
Officials, Saturday, January 25 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at
the Sheraton Midway Hotel. Pre -conference workshops for all
elected officials - Friday, January 24 - "Serving your
Constitutents", 8:00 - 5:00 p.m.; "Economic Development", 7:00
P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
6. SKIING IN PLYMOUTH -- Saturday, January 18, 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.,
Plymouth creek Park.
7. REVISED JANUARY CALENDAR -- A revised January calendar is attached
showing the change of meeting date for the HRA annual meeting from
January 6 to Monday, January 27. (M-7)
FOR YOUR INFORMATION.....
1. MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE TRIP -- In conjunction with the City's
financial consultants, Ehlers and Associates, Lloyd Ricker and I
have been attempting to schedule a meeting with representatives of
Moody's Investors Service. We had sought to have this meeting
scheduled prior to year end, however, due to change of personnel at
Moody's, the meeting was not able to be scheduled until Tuesday,
January 23. The purpose of the meeting will be to share with
Moody's the latest operating figures for the City which will be our
year end figures (unaudited) for 1985. It has been our hope for
some time that we would be able to convince Moody's representatives
that the City's bond rating merited an increase from the A-1 to AA.
Our meeting is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. in New York and we will
depart here that morning and return late evening. Those anticipated
to attend the meeting are former Mayor Davenport, Mayor Schneider,
Lloyd Ricker, Steve Apfelbacher, and Holly Doughty, both of Ehlers
and Associates, as well as myself.
2. HENNEPIN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1986-1990 FIVE YEAR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM -- The County highway and bridge
construction program for the next five year period has recently been
adopted. In Plymouth there are two projects scheduled. The first
is the County Road 9 improvement from I-494 to County Road 18,
which, as the Council is aware, is scheduled for construction
beginning in 1986, with completion in 1987. The second project is
the upgrading of County Road 10 from I-494 easterly to County Road
18 which is scheduled for 1987.
3. STATE BUDGET CUTBACKS -- Bob Renner of Larkin, Hoffman and Daly, the
Municipal Legislative Commission's (MLC) lobbyist, has just informed
us that the Governor has instructed the Department of Finance to
develop a budget reduction plan to reduce the 1986 local government
aids by 3.2 percent. This amounts to just over $12,400 for
Plymouth. More significantly, however, the Governor has directed
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
January 3, 1986
Page 3
that the homestead credit payments to cities and counties should be
reduced by 3 percent. Significantly, the Governor's proposal would
exempt school aids and the school portion of the homestead credit
from his cuts. The MLC Board of Directors has previously taken a
position which recognizes that local governments should share in any
mandated state aid cutbacks, but that such cutbacks should be made
across the board and not selectively as the Governor appears to be
proposing. This topic will certainly be a point of serious
discussion at the annual MLC legislative dinner scheduled for
January 15.
4. 1986 PROPOSED LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES - CITY POLICIES AND
IORITIES -- Five League of Minnesota Cities legislative study
committees annually discuss and adopt policies which the membership
desires to promote in the upcoming State legislative session. Each
policy is given an A, B, or C priority based upon whether or not it
is to be actively promoted (A ranking), or to receive attention only
if the matter is brought before the legislature during the session
(C ranking). The League Legislative Committee is recommending to
the membership that the attached policies and priorities be adopted
for 1986. City officials will consider adoption of these policies
at the Legislative Conference to be held on Wednesday, February 5 at
the St. Paul Radisson Hotel. Councilmembers are encouraged to
attend the conference if at all possible. In any case, Council -
members should familiarize themselves with the proposed policies to
establish Plymouth's position with respect to each during voting at
the League Conference. Please advise me if there are any policies
or areas where you have question. (I-4)
5. MINUTES: -- Park and Recreation Advisory Commission minutes for
December 12, 1985 are attached for your review.
6. EXTENDED OFFICE HOUR PROGRAM -- Attached is a weekly record from
October 21 through December 30, 1985 showing the total number of
persons served through the extended office hour program. The
counter shows the total number of customers served each evening
varies from a high of 13 to a low of 2 persons, for an average of 5
persons per Monday evening. During calendar year 1985, a total of
310 persons were served under this program, for an average of 6
customers per Monday evening. Departments with the highest customer
counts throughout the year are Finance, Assessing, ,and Park and
Recreation. (I-6)
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS -- The following departmental activity reports
for the month of December are attached:
a. Planning Applications (I -7a)
b. Building Inspection (I -7b)
8. HENNEPIN COUNTY SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL & RECOVERY NEWSLETTER -- The
attached newsletter from the Hennepin County Department of
Environment and Energy provides on update solid waste disposal and
recovery program efforts in Hennepin County. (I-8)
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
January 3, 1986
Page 4
9. CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Letter from Hennepin County Commission Bud Robb responding to
Mr. E. J. McConVille, 4310 Larch Place, regarding
noise pollution adjacent to the proposed County Road 9 project.
(I -9a)
b. Letter from George Mellen to Virgil Schneider, stating his
desire for reappointment to the Planning Commission. (I -9b)
c. Letter of appreciation from Mr. Pete Ankeny, 1985 United Way
General Campaign Chairman, on the city employee's 89 percent
increase over 1984 contributions to the United Way. (I -9c)
d. Letter to Mayor Davenport from Jorgen Roed, Scanticon
Corporation. (I -9d)
James G. Willis
City Manager
JGW:jm
attach
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1986
WHERE: Plymouth City Center
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
CONSENT AGENDA
All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the Planning
Commission and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of
these items unless a Commissioner, citizen or petitioner so requests, in which event
the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on
the agenda.
PUBLIC FORUM 7:15 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER 7:30 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
3.* APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Planning Commission Minutes, December 18, 1985
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. McCombs -Knutson Associates. Conditional Use Permit for Outside Vehicle
Storage at 12800 Industrial Park Blvd. (85134)
B. Stuart Nolan, Stuart Corporation. Residential Planned Unit Development Final
Plan/Plat, Site Plan, and Conditional Use Permit for "Stuart Addition" wesL ui
Plymouth Creek and north of 37th Avenue North. (85121)
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Opus Corporation. Lot Division and Site Plan for a 36,000 sq. ft.
office/warehouse facility east of Niagara Lane and north of 28th Avenue North;
and, an associated application for a Sign Program and Variance for this area
of development. (85125)
6. OLD BUSINESS
None
7. OTHER BUSINESS
8. ADJOURNMENT 10:00 P.M.
Plymouth Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
Regular Meeting of January 9, 1986, 7:30 p.m.
Plymouth City Center Council Chambers
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Visitor Presentations
4. Report on Past Council Action
5. Unfinished Business
a. Review Draft of Annual Report
b. Parkers Lake Update
c.
RP
6. New Business
a. New Plats
b. Review Yearly Meeting Dates
c.
Cm
7. Commission Presentation
8. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next Meeting - February 13, 1986
A --,A
9
CC3
V)^
a
a
O
I
P
H p
'
Cle
� W
m�
O <
/��� /
�
U V 1 V V
B
oaxl
i O �
w
��Qh
r--4o0p"
VoU
9
III
c V V'✓
CQ cllj*
cr
V)^
a
a
O
I
P
H p
'
fv Cv
� W
I
O <
/��� /
�
U V 1 V V
B
oaxl
i O �
w
��Qh
r--4o0p"
VoU
,
H
aoz''
i
w �
• O
aoa�U
oot
0.;oCY)U
�cz
�
x
x
�
U
oa
Fo
w'
�
c
H
U
U
�
1
io
I r
w r� U,
rzF
>0
L)
4-4
i r.
ccIL4
M
m
a
OU
U
O�
i
W
H
F
~w
aoe
c-
z w U
O••
O
W •• O
a.o
w�U:
III
c V V'✓
CQ cllj*
cl
cr
V)^
a
a
9-
I
P
H p
'
fv Cv
� W
I
O <
/��� /
�
U V 1 V V
B
oaxl
i O �
cq
��Qh
r--4o0p"
VoU
,
H
aoz''
i
w �
• O
aoa�U
oot
0.;oCY)U
�cz
a
r\ CO.'.
U
cl
O
V)^
a
to '
VV
9-
N N
P
H p
'
fv Cv
� W
I
¢
<3
/��� /
�
U V 1 V V
B
oaxl
i O �
cr
��Qh
r--4o0p"
VoU
,
kwccn,
aoz''
i
i
• O
aoa�U
cl
LO
O
V)^
po�Np
to '
VV
9-
N N
z o
PC
'
fv Cv
WI
U w
I
¢
<3
_ tirn�c
- N
B
oaxl
i O �
cr
��Qh
r--4o0p"
VoU
,
kwccn,
ECwx
o0
Lo
a iv
LO
O
LL (A,
po�Np
wiiH
i.
Enrn
H
z o
U
WI
U i PQ ; w
WI
U w
U N
•
c.w
.y
:7 ,�
LO
m
O
wiiH
i.
Enrn
H
z o
U
WI
U i PQ ; w
WI
U w
U N
•
c.w
.y
:7 ,�
B
oaxl
o
r--4o0p"
VoU
,
kwccn,
ECwx
o0
^UoU�
a`c
oot
0.;oCY)U
H
r-aFo wwFo;
U
oa
Fo
m
Proposed
City Policies
and Priorities
For distribution to all member cities.
All mayors, managers, and clerks receive a copy of the proposed policies. Please
share this document with your council members. If necessary, additional copies are
available from the League office.
LMC Legislative Study Committees have developed these policies and the LMC
Legislative Committee is recommending them to the membership. Each policy has
an A, B, or C priority. An explanation of each level is in the Foreword.
Please rev' ese ro ive —Ce_Q .2nce. City
officials wi a o t nference on Wednes ,
at t Hotel, 11 E. Kellogg v .free to
ac eague staff with questions or concerns.
ea ue or Minnesota Cities
9
183 University Avenue East
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
e
m
.., - .. •.tom - �`., _- .,,. _
.....
•--�•n+w-
�1A
FOREWORD
One of the most important purposes of the League is to serve as a vehicle
through which city officials throughout the state can define their mutual
problems and develop positive policies and proposals for their solution.
To accomplish this purpose a three-step consultative process has been
established providing for the study of issues by committees of city officials,
the review of the resulting recommendations by the Legislative Committee
composed of the Board of Directors and the study committee chairpersons, and
final adoption at an annual legislative conference attended by representatives
of all member cities.
The policy statements and legislative proposals contained herein are the
result of this process and are intended to be adopted for the 1986 legislative
session. They provide the League Board of Directors and the staff with a
continuing source of guidance when testifying before legislative committees and
taking other actions which have legislative or policy implications.
Priority designation. The priority designation is indicated next to the
title of each proposed policy. These priorities were developed by the study
committees and reviewed and, in some cases, modified by the Legislative
Committee.
The priorities are intended to give additional guidance to the League Board
and staff in implementing the League's legislative program.
"A" priority indicates a major issue, one where the League would introduce
legislation or would work actively with other groups to seek new laws and
regulations.
"B" priority indicates items that are important to cities but where the
League would probably spend substantially less time unless the Legislature or
other groups mounted a major effort to which LMC had to respond. While the
League might initiate legislation on "B" priority items, these would be
relatively non -controversial items, or those where most of the research has
already been completed.
"C" priority indicates items where the League would respond only when the
issue is raised by other groups.
0
Table of Contents
Committees
Section
Government Structure and General Legislation (GSGL) ............. Pink
Personnel and Public Safety (PPS) ............................... Salmon
Land Use, Energy, Environment, and Transportation (LUEET) ...... Blue
Development Strategies (DS) ..................................... Green
Revenue Sources (RS) ............................................ Yellow
Federal Legislative (FL) ........................................ White
Z �
Priorities
Government Structure and General Legislation Committee
Policy Number
Title
Priority
GSGL-1
Tort Liability and Insurance
A
GSGL-2
Open Meetings
A
GSGL-3
Purchasing Authority of Plan B Managers
B
GSGL-4
Towing of Abandoned Vehicles
B
GSGL-5
Mandates
B
GSGL-6
State Licensing of Contractors
B
GSGL-7
State Audits and City Financial Reporting
Requirements
B
GSGL-8
Government Training Service
B
GSGL-9
Charitable Gambling Fees
B
GSGL-10
Contractors' Bonds
B
GSGL-11
Absentee Balloting
B
GSGL-12
Precinct Boundary Changes
B
GSGL-13
Uniform Local Government Election Day
B
GSGL-14
Campaign and Finance Disclosure
B
GSGL-15
Voting Equipment
B
GSGL-16
Land Sales by Competitive Bid
C
GSGL-17
Optional Poll Hours
C
GSGL-18
City Election Campaigns
C
GSGL-19
Election Day Registration and Adminsitrative
Improvements
C
= -LA
GSGL-1. Tort Liability and Insurance. (A)
The League supports the continued existence of the Municipal Tort Liability
Act and legislative action to provide affordable insurance coverage.
The Municipal Tort Liability Act was enacted to protect the public treasury
while giving the citizen relief from the arbitrary, confusing, and
administratively expensive prior doctrine of sovereign immunity with its
inconsistent and irrational distinctions between governmental and proprietary
activities. The act has served that purpose well in the past, however, courts
frequently forget or ignore the positive benefits secured to citizens damaged by
public servants as a result of enactment of the comprehensive act which includes
some limitations on liability and some qualifications of normal tort claims
procedure.
The special vulnerability of far-flung government operations to
debilitating tort suits continues to require the existence of a tort claims act
applicable to local governments or local governments and the state. The need for
some type of limitations is evidenced by recent experiences with the insurance
market.
Cities in Minnesota, as well as throughout the country, are finding it
increasingly difficult to obtain insurance at an affordable rate, if at all.
Amendments in 1983 to increase the dollar amounts recoverable by plaintiffs were
League supported and should be adequate to satisfy any reasonable claim.
Further changes in the law to increase the liability exposure of
governments should not be made until the Governor's Advisory Commission on State
and Local Relations (ACSLR) completes its study of the insurance and liability
crisis local and state governments face and makes recommendations for statutory
changes to the Legislature. The advisory commission should explore equitable
means of limiting taxpayer liability through a uniform tort claims act
applicable equally to the state and local units of government as well as by
limiting joint and several liability.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-2. Open Meetings (A)
The League recommends that the Open Meeting Law be amended to conform to
the Data Practices Act.
City officials strongly support the basic premise of the Open Meeting
Law --to assure the public's right to be informed about the conduct of public
business. Experience with this law since 1974, however, indicates clearly that
there are areas where the legislation should be amended in the public interest.
The League believes that there are certain specific instances where the public
interest would be better served by permitting a local governing body to meet in
executive or closed session.
These instances include certain discussions relating to employees such as
"hiring" interviews, discussions regarding the purchase or sale of land for a
public purpose, and discussions of information protected under the Data
Practices Act. These latter situations are particularly troublesome since it is
often necessary for the council to choose between violating either the Open
Meeting Law or the Data Practices Act.
Additionally, the League opposes any legislative attempt to alter the
recent court ruling that the Open Meeting Law applies only to meetings where a
quorum of the governing body or its established committees is present. The
ruling clarified the law which was often viewed as applying to any meeting
between two office holders. Limiting the application of the law to gatherings
of a quorum or more is a common sense approach to implementing the statute and
should not be altered.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-3. Purchasing Authority of Plan B Managers. (B)
The League supports changing the purchasing authority of city managers in
Plan B cities from $1,000 to conform to the figures in the Uniform Municipal
Contracting Law.
Currently the law allows Plan B city managers to make purchases under
$1,000 without council approval. This provision has not been changed for many
years and inflation has seriously eroded the utility of the provision. The law
should be amended to increase the figure to the dollar amounts in the Uniform
Municipal Contracting Law which allows purchases under $10,000 to be made
relatively easily.
Page 1 of 1
AA
GSGL-4. Towing of Abandoned Vehicles (B)
The League supports legislation clarifying the authority of cities to
impound abandoned motor vehicles.
Recently, the Legislature passed Minnesota Statutes 465.75 which prohibits
a private vehicle tower from removing a motor vehicle from private property
unless he has the permission of the owner of the vehicle or of the owner of the
property. While the intent of this statute to prohibit hawkish towing companies
from improper towing practices is laudable, the ramifications of the law go too
far.
Cities are authorized to impound abandoned motor vehicles and Minnesota
Statutes 168B.04 provide a detailed process to accomplish the removal of health
hazards and eye sores. Unfortunately, the recent legislative act could be
construed to prohibit cities from utilizing private towers to remove and impound
abandoned or junked automobiles.
Cities could be forced to use its own employees and equipment because it is
not "in the business of towing." The law should be amended by adding an
exclusion for private towers who act at the direction of a city following the
procedures prescribed in Minnesota law.
Page 1 of 1
=-4
GSGL-5. Mandates (B)
The League opposes any additional mandates unless the Legislature provides
adequate revenue sources to implement the law.
One of the most serious problems facing cities is the growth in the number
and cost of federal and state -mandated programs which substitute the judgments
of Congress and the State Legislature for local budget priorities. Recent
examples of costly mandated programs include comparable worth, employee right to
know, legal compliance audits, and newspaper publications. Special bills to
address this problem on an ad hoc basis have not provided a permanent or
statewide solution to these problems.
The League therefore supports the 1985 legislation which requires the state
to adopt a policy of deliberate restraint on its mandated programs, including
providing a mandatory fiscal note identifying local government costs on any new
mandated programs when they are introduced in the Legislature and a statement of
compelling statewide interest to accompany all state mandates. The League
further supports the recently adopted ACSLR recommended guidelines for mandating
for the legislative and executive branches.
Revenues or alternative revenue producing mechanisms, other than the
general property tax subject to levy limits, must accompany new mandates. Also,
the Legislature should repeal obsolete, unnecessary, and unduly restrictive
mandatory laws and rules.
Page 1 of 1
--L'
GSGL-6. State Licensing of Contractors (B)
The League opposes the state's takeover of trade contractor licensing.
Licensing of general trade contractors and various other activities has
long been a local prerogative, and the mechanism for license review, issuance,
and enforcement is already in place. The primary reason that local licensing
has been successful and therefore maintained at the local level is that
inspection and enforcement personnel reside at the local level, know the area
and activities, and are familiar with local ordinances and restrictions, thus
providing better and faster enforcement.
Suggestions have been made to form a statewide licensing authority and
split the revenue among the licensing agency and various municipalities with the
cities maintaining enforcement tasks. It is questionable under this arrangement
if either the agency or municipalities would have enough funds to accomplish the
respective tasks. The current proposals seem to overly complicate the existing
system which is effectively regulating the contractors and may result in a
reduction of small contractors who operate in only a limited number of
communities.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-7. State Audits and City Financial Reporting Requirements (B)
The League supports continuation of the existing auditing and financial
reporting requirements for cities.
Minnesota has one of the most modern and rigorous systems of oversight of
municipal finances in the nation. The state auditor currently reviews annual
financial reports of cities. Cities over 2,500 must have annual audits and the
state auditor has the authority to audit a city upon receipt of a petition.
There is no need to require cities under 2,500 to follow more rigorous
accounting requirements than presently exist or to have annual audits.
Additionally, the state auditor should not be given the power or
responsibility to audit local governments on a regular basis. The private
sector is fully competent to conduct governmental audits and may be more
economical and practical than a state agency.
Page 1 of 1
Z�
GSGL-8. Government Training Service Funding (B)
The League supports continued state financial funding for the Government
Training Service.
The Government Training Service (GTS) has been invaluable in maximizing
training opportunities while minimizing training costs for local government
officials and staff over the past nine years. Both the need and the demand for
services are greater than ever during these times of tight budgets.
GTS continues to respond on behalf of all local jurisdictions in Minnesota
by developing innovative, low-cost alternatives and exploring cost-effective
delivery systems. The Legislature should continue state financial support for
GTS.
Page 1 of 1
Z- �L-\
GSGL-9. Charitable Gambling Enforcement Fees (B)
The League supports legislation modifying the charitable gambling statute
to provide local units with a share of the annual state permit fees and a
portion of the tax proceeds to reimburse local units for enforcement costs
Since the establishment of the State Charitable Gambling Control Board and
liberalization of the charitable gambling permitted within various
establishments, there has been a significant increase in local enforcement needs
and costs, while the main source of funding these costs, the local license fee,
has been precluded by state action from being used.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-10. Contractors' Bonds (B)
The League supports legislation modifying statutory requirements for
contractors' bonds on public projects to allow a city to specifically waive this
requirement on small contracts.
Minnesota Statutes 574.26 currently requires a performance or surety bond
on every contract which a public body would enter into, regardless of the dollar
amount or duration of the contract.
While performance or surety bonds serve a very valid and useful purpose,
they become an expensive nuisance in many small contracts that a public body
might enter into, and indeed, may be an unnecessary impediment for smaller
businesses trying to do business with a public body. For these reasons, the
League supports legislation which would allow a city to waive the requirement on
specific small contracts.
Page 1 of 1
AA1 r,'
GSGL-11. Absentee Balloting (B)
The League supports the use of punch card voting devices for absentee
balloting in health care facilities and mailed absentee ballots.
Currently, the law allows the use of punch card devices for absentee
balloting when a voter applies in person to the city clerk for an absentee
ballot.
The League recommends that the law be expanded to include use of punch card
devices for all absentee balloting, including mailed ballots and absentee
balloting in health care facilities and when a voter applies in person to the
county auditor.
The League supports the use of absentee balloting procedure used in health
care facilities to be expanded for use of the home bound voters (re: handicapped
voters and infirmed).
Page 1 of 1
-=- AA
GSGL-12. Precinct Boundary Changes (B)
The League supports legislation to provide a more orderly way in which to
deal with redistricting after a legislative reapportionment plan is filed
Current law requires counties to redistrict county commissioner districts
within 180 days after receiving final census figures. Cities are not permitted
to change precinct boundaries during a five-year period ending January 1 in a
year ending in two.
Therefore, counties following city ward and precinct lines use old
boundaries, which in many cases will need to be changed before the 1992
elections.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-13. Uniform Local Government Election Day (B)
The League opposes the designation of a uniform local government election
day.
Home rule charter cities currently have the authority through their
charters to designate when they want to hold their local elections. Statutory
cities may establish either an odd or even year November election date.
Decisions affecting only local units of government should be made at the
local level unless an overriding state interest can be demonstrated. The League
believes that there is no statewide necessity to provi" for a uniform local
government election day.
However, if the Legislature enacts a uniform local government election day,
the following features must be included:
1. Home rule charter cities should retain the option of setting their own
election date.
2. Municipal primary elections should continue to be optional.
3. All direct costs of state -mandated changes and additions to present city
election duties should be paid by the state.
Page 1 of ]
4
GSGL-14. Campaign and Finance Disclosure (B)
The League supports legislation which would simplify the election process
so that it would encourage rather than discourage candidates for local office
1. Distinctions between types of campaign committees and reporting
requirements should be eliminated.
2. The League opposes any state -mandated requirement of candidates for city
office to file statements of economic interest.
3. The Legislature should not oppose campaign contribution limits or
reporting requirements in cities less than 20,000 population.
4. To the extent permitted by the state and federal Constitutions,
individuals who actively seek to influence the nomination, election, or defeat
of a candidate or ballot question through the expenditure of their personal
funds, or funds they solicit, should be required to make reports to the same
extent as corporations, associations, or persons working together.
Page 1 of 1
=—jA
GSGL-15. Voting Equipment (B)
The League supports present law which allows a city the option of selecting
which state -approved equipment it determines will best suit its needs and
opposes any state -mandated system of voting equipment.
At the present time, two kinds of equipment are approved for use in
Minnesota, lever machines and punch card devices. The League encourages the
certification of optical scanning equipment. We ask the Legislature to make any
necessary changes in the statute to permit their efficient use.
Page 1 of 1
z -A
GSGL-16. Land Sales by Competitive Bid (C)
The League opposes legislation imposing a mandated competitive bidding
process for sale of land by cities
Legislation introduced in the 1985 session would require that any land sold
by a city would have to have three weeks published notice and be sold at the
most favorable bid to the city. Though the bill allowed all bids to be
rejected, it did not consider activities such as Tax Increment Financing or other
development activities where a formal bidding process could be used to prevent
development or situations where no bid is received. The bill also did not
consider cases where small or unbuildable parcels exist that should be handled
through negotiated sales or trades with neighboring property owners.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-17. Optional Poll Hours (C)
The League opposes current law that mandates all cities, regardless of
their size, to have their polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for state elections.
Prior to 1983, cities under 1,000 population located outside the
metropolitan area could by resolution fix the poll hours to begin no later than
9:00 am for a state general election and no later than 5:00 pm for a state
primary. This flexibility would reduce costs to very small cities.
The League also supports legislation for municipalities to set their
polling hours by referendum.
Page 1 of 1
= —JA
GSGL-18. City Election Campaigns (C)
The League supports extending income tax credits or deductions for
contributions to city election campaigns.
Candidates should be encouraged to seek broader backing from among
constituents. Extending income tax credits or permitting deductions by using
criteria for state and federal deductions should be permitted for city election
campaigns.
Page 1 of 1
GSGL-19. Election Day Registration and Administrative Improvements (C)
The League supports voter registration prior to election day and encourages
legislation to improve the current system of voter registration.
The following steps would improve the current system:
1. Election day registration and voting should be permitted, but not
mandated, to take place in adjacent rooms.
2. Require public entities to make available facilities for polling places.
3. Certain penalties for election day infractions are so severe that they
constitute a barrier to effective enforcement of the law. The League recommends
that the laws be reviewed and modified where necessary so that the laws can be
effectively enforced.
4. Any state -mandated registration programs should be accompanied by
sufficient state funds to pay local costs on a continuing basis.
5. The use of certified dorm lists should be considered as an option for
verification of residency of students.
6. The League encourages the promotion of pre-election day registration
through the media and all other available means.
7. The League supports legislation allowing the removal of a registration
card after the city twice receives official postal notification that the notice
of registration is undeliverable at the individual's last known address.
8. Permitting election judges to sign ballots prior to sending out absentee
ballots.
9. Write in candidates with less than 5 percent of the total vote cast
would need not be listed on election returns.
Page 1 of 1
Policy Number
PPS -1
PPS -2
PPS -3
PPS -4
PPS -5
PPS -6
PPS -7
PPS -8
PPS -9
PPS -10
PPS -11
PPS -12
PPS -13
PPS -14
PPS -15
PPS -16
PPS -17
Priorities
Personnel and Public Safety Committee
Title Priority
PERA Benefits, Financing, and Administration A
Comparable Worth A
Time and Distance Residency Requirements B
Social Investing B
Retiree Health Benefits by Cities B
Veterans Preference and Military Leaves B
Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act B
Law Enforcement Personnel B
Fire Personnel Standards B
Modifications to the State Building Code B
Emergency Medical Services B
Workers' Compensation B
Local Police and Fire Relief Association B
Disability Retirement "B
FLSA and Volunteer Firefighters C
Unemployment Compensation.7�+'" C
One Class of Beer ^: C`'
3
PPS -1. PERA Benefits, Financing, and Administration (A)
The following principles should govern any changes the Legislature makes in
PERA and the other statewide pension plans. '
1. The League of Minnesota Cities opposes modification of the "high five"
formula. The adoption in 1973 of the "high five year" benefit formula for PERA
has provided very adequate pension benefits for career municipal employees.
Further shortening of the averaging period would create windfalls for some PERA
members and multiply opportunities for manipulation of service and salaries to
maximize pension benefits without proportional contributions to the fund.
2. Any increases in PERA benefits should be granted only to the extent that
proposed contributions and current reserves are sufficient to fully fund the
increases in the opinion of one or more recognized pension actuaries who are
independent of the PERA organization. Any benefit increase or contribution
reductions permitted by excess reserves or excessive current contributions or
combinations of the two should be of such amounts as to benefit the employer and
employee equally as a percentage of overall employee salary.
11 3. In order to avoid recurring problems similar to those experienced by the
federal government in its pension programs, the LMC opposes payment of health
care costs for retirees from the PERA fund.
Among all the proposals fox benefit increases, the one that most threatens
the financial soundness of PERA and other Minnesota public pension funds, is the
proposal to provide health insurance to retirees paid from the pension fund.
Full payment would commit the taxpayers to an open-ended promise to pay a cost
that is escalating at the rate of 15% to 20% per year even in low inflation
years. Partial payment would provide a foot -in -the -door for full payment.
Either would hamper efforts to control health care costs by making the recipient
responsible for a significant portion of charges to encourage thrifty use.
'`' 4. If any increase in benefits is enacted for PERA retirees, the resulting
;..costs should not be paid from the PERA fund, but rather should be financed by a
6irect..appropriation from the state general fund.
°The LMC supports the continuation of the Minnesota post-retirement
investment fund as a means of providing post-retirement increases in the pension
benefits of retirees under the state-wide pension funds.
6. No money or funding should be transferred directly or 'indirectly from
PERA to less well funded plans. Since integration of pension fund
administration mechanisms may lead to combining the funds, the LMC opposes any
move to combine administration of the three statewide pension programs.
-,, aegislature should amend the present provision on disbursement of
theo percent tax provision on automobile casualty insurance to allow
x itures by the recipient political subdivision of any excess over the
emp oyer's share of police retirement costs for any police department purpose
Instead of requiring payment to the PERA police and fire fund.
.Page 1 of 2
PPS -1. PERA Benefits, Financing, and Administration (A)
Since the PERA police and fire fund has now essentially achieved full
funding, employers' and employees' contributions should be reduced to an amount
sufficient to pay normal costs. Furthermore, the employer (taxpayers) through
payment of more than 50 percent of contributions to this fund is creating a
surplus not needed for pension purposes.
8. Individual local police and fire relief associations, with city consent,
should be allowed to merge into the PERA police and fire funds only if all
active members are brought under the PERA benefit structure and if:
a) savings will accrue to the city in the opinion of the state actuary as
well as in the opinion of the affected municipality; and
b) all actual funding liabilities as calculated by a state actuary which
are transferred to or assumed by the post-retirement fund are immediately
reimbursed to the fund by the transferring city; and
c) all actual funding liabilities as calculated by a state actuary which
are transferred to the PERA active fund shall be reimbursed to PERA at either the
percentage that the PERA police and fire active member fund is funded in the
year of consolidation or the percentage that fund was funded on the date of the
Moorhead local fund consolidation, whichever is greater; and
d) transferring employees shall draw benefits at the PERA level based upon
the salary level upon which pension contributions were made.
9. A new defined contribution plan similar to the state unclassified plan,
but with no option to transfer to any defined benefit plan, should be created
within PERA. Elected officials, and volunteer ambulance and fire personnel,
regardless of compensation levels, should have an option to join this program
rather than the regular PERA program or any local relief association. In
addition, newly hired employees of the League of Minnesota Cities,.who are
eligible for PERA, should become a part of this program. Non -vested League
employees should be given an option to remain in the regular..PERA program or
join the newly created defined contribution program. �,
10. The League opposes any change in the PERK Rule vif'90 or the current
early-retirement reduction factor. PERA is the only statewide pension fund with
members eligible for the Rule of 90 and with a one-fourth percent pension
,.reduction per month under age 65 early-retirement reduction ,factor. Members
have provided substantial service in reliance on these beneficial and
purportedly permanent fund features.
11. If the federal government should require all newly hired police and
fire personnel to participate in Social Security, :current PERA contributions
rates and benefits should be halved for affected new hires.
Page 2 of 2
PPS -2. Comparable Worth (A)
The League supports legislation providing state financial assistance tov'
reimburse cities and other local units of government for the costs of conducting
and implementing the state -mandated comparable worth studies.
1984 legislation mandated all local units of government to conduct and
implement comparable worth or pay equity studies. Cities already have incurred
substantial costs in conducting these studies and are likely to incur
substantial costs in implementing these studies. In some cases, the costs of
implementation has necessitated exploring the option of compensation reductions,
freezes, and/or layoffs. There is.also concern about the future ripple effects OIL
these studies will have on the compensation practices of local units of AP
government.
To the extent that these were mandated studies, the state must assume at
least some of the responsibility for funding the result of these studies. The
p League therefore requests the Legislature to provide funding to reimburse cities
and other local units of government for the costs of conducting and implementing
the state -mandated comparable worth studies.
Further, the state should explore additional legislation to protect local
governments from lawsuits arising out of this state mandate, including a
continued prohibition on state court lawsuits and state defense and
ndemnification for federal suits brought against local units of government.
Finally, the League opposes any modification to the existing statutes to
'exempt particular classes of employees from the coverage of the pay equity
concept or to limit the ability of arbitrators to consider the results of any
PPS -3. Time and Distance Residency Requirements. (B)
The League supports legislation allowing cities in the metropolitan area to
enact reasonable area and response time restrictions if there is a demonstrated
Job necessity for certain employees to reside close to the city.
In recent years the Legislature has limited the authority of cities and
other local units of government to impose residency requirements for their
employees. The Legislature has recognized, however, the need for insuring the
ability of certain employees to be available to respond to emergency situations.
In 1984, in the same bill which prohibited non -metropolitan cities from
enacting blanket residency requirements, the Legislature specifically allowed
non -metropolitan cities to enact reasonable area and response time restrictions
if there were demonstrated job necessities for employees to reside close to the
city. Unfortunately, a drafting error prohibited metropolitan cities from
enacting these restrictions. In 1985, the Legislature acted to allow
metropolitan communities to impose reasonable time and distance requirements for
volunteer firefighters.
The result of the 1984 and 1985 legislative actions is a situation where
metropolitan communities still cannot impose reasonable time and distance
requirements for their police officers, paid firefighters, or any employee with_.
the exception of volunteer firefighters.
The League recommends that the Legislature grant metropolitan cities the
same authority granted non -metropolitan cities to impose reasonable time and
distance requirements where the city can show a demonstrated job-related:.
necessity. Because these requirements must pass this difficult test and
directly affect the public safety of the community, these requirements should
under no circumstances be considered as mandatory subjects of collective
bargaining.
• sxi+evt v,'taLi�"4f ".ti �,tms+i..u.-w.ri.,.
.1 .
PPS -4. Social Investing. (B)
Without each employee's consent to other priorities, -public employee
Pension funds should be invested solely for the purpose of maximizing investment
return.
Investment management responsibility for public employee pension reserves
should be removed from the state Board of Investment and lodged in a politically
independent board the membership of which is limited to persons qualified to
manage investment portfolios for large pension programs.
PPS -5. Retiree Health Benefits by Cities (B)
Before anv eovernmental unit makes anv new commitment to nav all or an
part of such premiums or charges, it shall ascertain the entire costs. Any
governmental entity paying for retirees' benefits shall budget for the year in
which the commitment is to be incurred sufficient funds to cover all projected
current and future costs which will accrue during that year, as determined by a
licensed certified public accountant or recognized actuary.
Any governmental unit paying any part of the cost of retiree benefits
authorized by this subdivision, other than including retired employees in a
single group with -active employees, shall establish a separate dedicated fund
from which the cost of these benefits shall be payable and shall be authorized �-
to levy and collect a tax, if necessary, in the next annual tax levy for the
purpose of providing the necessary funds for the payment of such projected
costs.,
In order to prevent the creation of large unfunded deficits for promised
health care for retired public employees, in the same way that unfunded,
actuarial deficits were created by promised pension benefits prior to statutory
requirements for funding, the League of Minnesota Cities urges the Legislature
to impose the foregoing restrictions. ;v
k ,
V^ M
PPS -6. Veterans' Preference and Military Leaves (B)
1. The League recommends that the Legislature amend the Veterans' Y
Preference Act to provide that a veteran must select.one and only one hearing
procedure rather than be able to request both a veterans preference hearing and
a grievance procedure under a collective bargaining agreement.
Current statutes entitle a veteran to at least two different hearing
procedures to challenge any disciplinary action. This is not only grossly
inefficient but may also be unworkable since the standards for court review of
the decisions of veterans' preference boards and grievance arbitrators vary
significantly.
'The -Minnesota Supreme Court in a recent decision also has indicated to the
egislature that these statutes need to be amended. The law should provide for
_a selection of a single hearing procedure and eliminate any requirement for
salary payment pending the hearing when the veteran does not request a hearing
within ten days or when an impartial hearing body determines that the dismissal
was for just cause.
2. The League recommends that the statutes be amended to provide that when
mployee is temporarily absent because of short-term military service that
the employer pay only the difference between military pay and the public pay,
rather than the full combined salaries.
This pay differential should apply for a period of 15 calendar days. When
an employee is ordered to report for duty for a period longer than 15 calendar
days per year, no additional seniority status, efficiency rating; vacation, sick
leave, or other benefits shall accrue during the period of active duty.
Unless there exists, at the time of an order to report for duty, a war or
declared emergency, the employee shall not be entitled to a leave of absence
�9
without pay and the employee's public employment shall be considered terminated.
PPS -7. Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act (B)
1. The League recommends that legislation be enacted that gives public
employers the option of either requesting arbitration within a specific time or
allowing essential employees to legally strike
Cities in Minnesota are very diverse in their public employment practices.
Their ability to deal with employee strikes also varies greatly. The history of
bargaining in the public sector has indicated that if properly prepared for,
even strikes by "essential employees" do not unduly threaten public health and
safety. In contrast, the prohibition of the right to strike has forced undue
reliance on arbitration, which usually has resulted in large compensation awards
to essential employees.
For these reasons, the League recommends that legislation be enacted that
gives public employers the option of either requesting arbitration within a
specific time or allowing essential employees to legally strike.
2. The League recommends that the Legislature reinstate the previous
definition of employees covered by PELRA to persons employed for more than 100
days.
The 1983 Legislature reduced the period of time part-time employees must be
employed before they are considered employees covered by PELRA. This has
resulted in higher wages for some part-time employees but, more significantly,
has resulted in cities hiring fewer part-time employees. Additionally, many
employees who view their work as temporary or transitory in nature, have been
asked to pay their fair share of union dues, even though they receive no benefit
from union membership.
Experience with the law over the last two years has indicated general
dissatisfaction with the law by every affected party except unions representing
primarily full-time employees.
3. The League opposes an
yees to refuse to cross
changes in PELRA which would
the picket lines of other ci r
change the definition of supervisory or confidential employees
public
es, or would
Supervisors of public employees should have their management role
acknowledged and have their status limited to meet and confer. In no event
should supervisory or confidential employees be represented by an employee
organization which represents the employees they supervise. Further limitation
of the definition of supervisory personnel would mean that in all but city
- manager cities, no employees could be considered torbe,supervisory employees for
purposes of PELRA.ri: `
4. The League recommends that legislation be passe requiring employees
Aaw covered under a collective bargaining agreement to choose a single method by
which to review disciplinary action
- —1
PPS -7. Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act
Employees presently have a variety of grievance procedures available to
them, including civil service systems, veterans' preference, and procedures
agreed to under collective bargaining. It makes little sense for an employee to
have two bites of the apple in challenging disciplinary action, particularly
when the standards for review of the different grievance hearings are as varied
as they are. The result under the current statutory system literally precludes
effective discipline of public employees. Requests for reform have been made
from many sources, most recently by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Page 2 of 2
z _IA
PPS -8. Law Enforcement Personnel (B)
The League opposes any increase in state standards for the recruitment,
training, and conduct of law enforcement personnel.
The current uniform state licensing system establishes adequate minimum
standards for law enforcement personnel. The League supports the continued
flexibility provided in the system to employ a class of peace officers who meet
specified requirements which are less than those for full-time officers and
allows upgrading of part-time officers to fully licensed status, as well as
allowing the POST Board to grant variances for political subdivisions having
particular difficulties in complying with licensing standards to permit phased
compliance.
Cities should retain responsibility for personnel matters and the state
should not unnecessarily complicate local personnel practices which have worked
well in the past.
W4 I
PPS -9. Fire Personnel Standards (B)
The League opposes any additional state established -mandatory or suggested
physical, physiological, educational, or compensation standards for retirement
-� or employment of firefighters.
Fire suppression has traditionally been a uniquely local function in
Minnesota. Not only are firefighting problems vastly different from one µV_
communit to another but well over ninety percent of Minnesota communities rely
y ,
primarily on volunteer firefighters for fire suppression services.
The League believes that local governing bodies ay%- best equipped to '
determine the nature of local fire risks, the level of local fire prevention
efforts, and the practical availability of firefighting personnel. Efforts by„n;:,
the state to improve firefighting capabilities should be undertaken through
increased financial assistance to provide improved programs or by direct
employment of specialized personnel at the state level with such personnel made
. available to assist local units of government.
MMx m
'.. `" "- r
R
PPS-10. Modifications to the State Building Code (B)
The League supports the current ability of non-metropolitan cities,
counties, and towns to opt-out of the inspection and enforcement
responsibilities mandated by the State Building Code
y�
y 1 r i
2
r
t
I
,. � ♦ $ .++ ASS �" �� � �'., �
" mer -
w
n
az ..
PPS-11. Emergency Medical Services (B)
The League supports the current statutory minimum requirements for
ambulance vehicles, equipment, and attendants' training but opposes any
additional requirements unless the state provides adequate funding or funding
sources.
Cities as a group are the single largest provider of ambulance services in
the state and form a vital part of the network of emergency services. To
maintain and improve the emergency services network for all residents of the
state the Legislature must provide funding for training and equipping emergency
medical personnel. State grants and aids should be available to enable all '
cities to have access to adequate emergency medical service. Additionally, witht.ri:
the increasing interest'in paramedic services, the Legislature should assist in
providing easily accessible training on a statewide basis at minimum cost in
order to meet appropriate qualifications."
The Legislature should modify the current statutory requirement that all
ambulance personnel have training of Advanced First Aid at a minimum to allow a K.
city to employ an ambulance driver with less than full training as long as the
uirement for two fully-trained ambulance personnel is met.
PPS -12. Workers' Compensation (B)
The League requests the Legislature to eliminate the presumption that heart
and lung ailments of police and fire personnel arise from their employment.
Existing workers' compensation statutes create a presumption that heart and
lung ailments of police and fire personnel arise from employment. Improved
equipment and methods of fire fighting and law enforcement and increased
statistical data as to personal risk factors affirm that presumption no longer
reflects reality or serves a public purpose.
`A
PPS -13. Local Police and Paid Fire relief Associations (B)
The League of Minnesota Cities supports enactment of legislation which
would provide for a clear majority of voting members on local police and paid
fire relief associations to be appointed by the city council. Relief association
records should be clearly classified as public records under the law.
In the event that the Legislature chooses not to enact such legislation,
the city council should have control over the assets in the special fund of the
association, including power to disburse funds, choose the auditor, designate
the persons to be covered with a surety bond and establish the amount of surety
bonds. City administrative and auditing expenses in respect to the association
should continue to be charged to the relief association special fund. In
addition, the law should permit relief association paid lobbying by only one
regularly assigned member to be released for the purpose of lobbying. Those
lobbying costs including salary should be financed entirely from the general
fund of each association.
If the Legislature does not grant cities control of the assets of the local
associations' special funds, the state should assume all future increases in
financial requirements of those local funds.
..:A —
M.
f
t
,y
t
.0
n
vo
Ak
Page 1 of 1 ,
low$§+]far
.i
a
rte.
4 3' R
PPS -14. Disability Retirement (B)
1. Pre-existing conditions. Public retirement funds shbuld not be charged
the costs resulting from disabling conditions that a pre-employment history or
physical demonstrates existed on or prior to the date of public employment.
2. Transfers. Needs to balance employment roles for minorities and women
in unfilled positions should not override programs to transfer present employe
from jobs and departments for which they are presently disabled to jobs and
departments for which they still qualify.
3. Uniformity. Statutes governing local public safety pension plans
should be amended to provide to the cities with such plans a substantial voice
on the governing board of the plans. Further, a uniform statutory procedure and
method of determining percentages of disability payments should be
provided to
local public safety fund members with physical or mental conditions which`
permanently disqualify them from public safety employment but which do not.,
disable them from all other gainful employment.
4. 10.0% Disability Retirement. Public pension plans in which city
employees participate should be required to use a uniform definition ofY
disability which limits full or 100 percent to those whose medical conditions
disable them from engaging in any substantial
gainful activity over a
substantial period.
Unreasonable service limits tests should not be imposed, and no employee`
should be required to have more than five years of service under the applicable
plan in order to qualify for disability retirement Workers' compensation
entitlements should be deducted from any disability pensions
Disability benefits from all other sources othep than privately financed
disability insurance, as well as a portion of employment earnings, should be an
offset against city disability pension payments to the extent that these
combined payments approach after-tax salary for the former position.
Rising costs of disability retirements pose a threat to the financial
soundness of most Minnesota public pension plans. The foregoing changes are
needed to minimize the financial impact of legitimate disabilities. Furthermore,
abuses of disability retirement provisions in public pension plans have, in the
past, caused serious waste of human resources and scarce public funds.
In view of the current laws forbidding discrimination against handicapped
persons who are not disabled from gainful employment, the League recommends
legislation to implement the above listed policy.
� 1
Page 1 of 1
PPS -15. FLSA and Volunteer Firefighters. (B)
Paid firefighters who have not vested in a local volunteer firefighters'
relief association and who are forced out of volunteer status by a rule or
decision of their employer should be allowed a deferred pension proportionate to
their period of membership as a volunteer as that period relates to the minimum
vesting period, multiplied by the benefit they would have received upon
vesting.
Recent changes to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act require employers to
pay time -and -one-half compensation for overtime hours worked by paid
:,. firefighters when they serve as volunteers for the same employer. To avoid this
r liability, many employers have prohibited paid employees from serving as
volunteers in the same capacity as their regular work. This has resulted in
disputes as to volunteer pension rights.
xr
-40
Page 1 of 1
=--A
PPS -16. Unemployment Compensation (C)
The League recommends that the Legislature amend the unemployment
compensation law to lengthen the requalification period, to limit eligibility
for temporary employment under one year in duration, and to relieve part-time
employers who continue employment of an individual from any responsibility to
contribute to compensation due to termination from other employment
The requalification q period for employees who voluntarily quit or are
dismissed for cause is too low and should be substantially increased. In
addition, the League believes that individuals who knowingly accept temporary
employment of specific limited durations not exceeding one year and whose
employment is thus ended, should be deemed to have voluntarily ended their
employment and thus should be disqualified for certain benefits.
The employers' involved should not be saddled with unemployment
compensation costs for individuals who accept and perhaps even plan for the
termination of such employment. Also, students temporarily employed as interns
should be ineligible for unemployment compensation since the position is
primarily an educational experience which by its very nature is not expected to
be of indefinite duration.
Finally, the current law unfairly treats cities employing part-time police,
fire, or park personnel which are required to contribute to unemployment
compensation due to termination from other employment even though the part-time
employment is continued.
Wr
PPS-17. One Class of Beer (B)
The League opposes the establishment of one class of beer and the off-sale
of wine in other than liquor stores.
The establishment of one class of beer in Minnesota would cause substantial
problems in controlling the sale of beer in filling stations, grocery stores,
drug stores, and elsewhere where 3.2 beer is presently sold. Also, 3.2 on-sale
g establishments would be selling strong beer in competition with on-sale liquor ~
kw, establishments and municipal liquor stores.
;p
t DVL rM.
lip
i
N
I
.s
F
=-4
Priorities
Land Use, Energy, Environment, and Transportation Committee
Policy Number
Title
Priority
LUEET-1
Wastewater Treatment
A
LUEET-2
Land Use, Planning, and Annexation
A
LUEET-3
Solid and Hazardous Waste
B
LUEET-4
Transportation
B
LUEET-5
Ground and Surface Water Management
B
LUEET-5
Eminent Domain Law
B
LUEET-7
Adverse Possession
C
LUEET-8
Energy Conservation and Production
C
LUEET-1. Wastewater Treatment. (A
The League supports increased state and federal assistance, and alternative
programs which provide financing for wastewater treatment construction projects
Clean water is vitally important to the citizens of this country and
particularly to residents and visitors of Minnesota. Minnesota's cities remain
committed to improving water quality. Unfortunately, the costs involved in
providing cleaner water are staggering. Because of the incredible cost, it must
be recognized that it is economically impractical to immediately eliminate
pollution. Therefore, all levels of government must take a reasonably balanced
approach to solving the pollution problem.
The ability of cities to comply with any clean water program must be
recognized as contingent upon the availability of adequate funds for building
treatment facilities. Since 1978, federal funding for the wastewater treatment
construction grant program has been cut in half. Additionally, the federal
share of construction grants dropped from 75 to 55 percent in fiscal year 1985.
The budget constraints facing the federal government are undeniable, but those
same constraints exist at the state and local level as well.
It is unfair to those city residents who in the past have contributed their
federal tax dollars to projects in other locations to be faced with a tripling
of the local share for a project in their city. For this reason, if the federal
government does not return the federal share for rehabilitation, repair,
upgrading, and new construction of treatment facilities to 75 percent, the state
should be the level of government to bear the increased burden.
The League commends the Legislature for the enactment in 1984 of a separate
state grants program and 1985 legislation which increased overall state
financing assistance in certain circumstances. Increased revenues are needed
for this program and the League opposes any reduction in the amount of the
cigarette tax dedicated to wastewater treatment funding.
The League recommends that the Legislature establish an expanded
reimbursable grant program using up to one-half of the funds currently
appropriated to wastewater treatment. This program, to be offered to
communities on a totally voluntary basis, should seek to encourage immediate
construction with minimal prior review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
and provide reimbursement to communities on the basis of proven performance in
reducing pollutants in wastewater effluent. The program should be structured to
the extent practical to avoid discouraging privatization and innovative
treatment methods.
The League supports a full review by the Legislature of proposed water
quality permit fees and opposes the imposition of these fees on local units of
government to the extent that they only serve as an alternative means for the
state to raise revenue. If fees are determined to be properly imposed on
governmental units, the fees should be based solely on the cost of actually
providing governmental services to the political subdivision and private sector
alternatives should be made available to ensure minimal costs to local
taxpayers.
Page 1 of 2
S—
LUEET-1. Wastewater Treatment (A)
Further, it is inequitable and the League opposes efforts by either the
state or federal governments to institute enforcement actions or impose
increased fees or charges against communities for failure to meet effluent
standards while at the same time assigning these communities a low priority on
the needs list for state and federal funding.
Page 2 of 2
LUEET-2. Land Use, Planning, and Annexation. (A)
The League supports current efforts to study the state planning statutes
and recommends that the Legislature refrain from enacting any annexation or
planning legislation in the 1986 session, pending a recommendation from the
Governor's Advisory Commission on State -Local Relations.
In conducting a review of any proposal affecting land use, planning,
development, or annexation, the League urges the Advisory Commission or the
Legislature to consider that public policies which encourage substantial
development in non -urban areas and which extend public services beyond existing
jurisdictions and service areas are wasteful and courtier -productive.
Additionally, it should be accepted by all that prime agricultural land is a
major natural and economic resource and any state land use strategy must include
as a major objective the preservation of prime agricultural land.
State law should continue to encourage the preservation of prime
agricultural land and discourage the development of such land outside designated
growth areas to be served by a city. The state should also encourage local
governments to adopt agricultural preservation policies and ordinances.
It must also be considered that, even if these steps are taken, a great
deal of development will still occur in the fringe areas surrounding cities.
The League recommends as a long-term goal that state statutes regulating
annexation be changed to make it easier for cities to annex this developed or
developing land, in order to insure the integrity of our governmental systems.
It is unfair to city residents to have individuals avoid paying their fair share
for municipal services provided by the city government by living in the fringe
area around a city.
The League supports the current efforts of the Governor's Advisory
Commission on State -Local Relations to conduct a comprehensive review of the
state planning statutes over the next year. The commission's main goal should
be to evaluate and recommend possible changes to the planning statutes to
address the problems of consistency and process in existing law.
Particular attention should given to the problem of development and the
delivery of governmental services.to urbanizing fringe areas. Recommendations
and proposals for statutory change should be presented to the 1987 legislature.
Pending these recommendations, the League urges the Legislature to refrain from
amending the state's planning and annexation statutes in any way in the 1986
sessi.
At
r,
,a
-w
-4
LUEET-3. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (B)
The League supports state programs designed to minimize or eliminate the
need to landfill solid and hazardous waste.
The problem of regulating, controlling, and disposing of solid and
hazardous waste will be one of the major environmental issues of the next
decade, both nationally and locally. Major state legislation addressing this
issue has been enacted annually since 1980. These acts responded to the
concerns and issues raised by the League and local government and we commend the
Legislature for its actions.
The existing waste management and control system for the handling and
disposal of hazardous materials centralizes responsibility at the state level
but requires the cooperation and support of all levels of government. The
system established for solid waste is more diffuse, relying on cities to
control and regulate collection, counties to regulate or operate existing
landfills, and the state to coordinate responsibilities and pian for future
disposal needs. Both systems have been designed to foster and encourage
abatement, recycling, and resource recovery for as much of the waste stream as
possible and then to assure environmentally sound disposal for the remaining
waste.
The system has not been entirely implemented as yet, but it appears to be
working and therefore the League does not perceive a need for major changes to
existing legislation at the present time, but any future legislation that may be
considered should enhance and not diminish the emphasis on these concerns:
1. Effective Planning. To the greatest extent possible, all levels and
units of government and the private sector should be involved in all phases of
planning and managing the solid and hazardous waste streams to assure a cost
efficient and environmentally sound solid waste and hazardous waste disposal
system.
2. Alternatives to Landfills. The League strongly endorses abatement,
-
recycling, and resource recovery activities and programs to reduce the need for
,. the land disposal of waste. The goal should be to reduce to the maximum extent
practical the need for land disposal of unprocessed solid waste, and to totally
avoid the land disposal of hazardous waste.
The League would support the eventual prohibition of disposal of
" unprocessed solid waste in landfills provided that cost-efficient alternatives
are developed and funding is provided to cities to implement their
responsibilities in a revised solid waste management system. A tax on solid
waste deposited in landfills would be supported by the League if the funds
derived from the tax would be used to establish a fund to pay for post closure
costs of landfills and to finance recycling and abatement programs in the
particular county where the tax is derived.
In order to make local waste programs viable, a process for regulating the
-.>_... flow of solid waste must be available to provide a sufficient source of waste
for any recovery program or facility. The League also supports the concept that
producers of solid waste should pay the true and full costs of solid waste
disposal and commends the Legislature for its forward looking initiatives during
x Page 1 of 2
44:1V7.1 Al
LUEET-3. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (B)
the 1984 session in which a three -tiered system of fees on land -disposed solid
waste was established with the intent of establishing a fee structure based on
the type of waste disposed of in landfills.
3. Compensation and Incentives for Communities. Waste disposal facilities
have many undesirable impacts on "host" communities and compensation for all
direct and indirect costs incurred by the community should be provided. Direct
costs include such things as fire protection, water and sewer services, buffer
zone design and amenities, litter clean-up, while indirect costs include such
items as road maintenance, monitoring costs, end-use planning and city
administrative costs associated with the facility. The current authority for
landfill host communities to impose a fee on waste deposited in the landfill
should not be reduced.
4. Funding for Environmental, Personal, and Property Damages. Recent
studies have indicated that most, if not all, landfills eventually cause
groundwater contamination problems. It is largely undetermined at this point
what the eventual impacts will be, and in contemplation of this, the League
supports a surtax on solid waste going into landfills which will go into a fund
dedicated to compensate persons or communities injured or damaged by adverse
environmental incidents caused by landfill contamination, including real or
personal property damage, personal injuries, clean-up activities, and
alternative water supplies.
5. Clean-up of Hazardous Substance Locations. The clean-up and
decontamination of existing hazardous waste sites should continue before there
is further damage to public health and environment. If a responsible party can
be identified, that party should be liable for clean-up costs and personal
injury damages as defined in law. If a responsible party cannot be identified,
then the clean-up should be financed by the state superfund.
6. Condemnation Awards. The League supports legislation ensuring that
condemnation awards to compensate for a taking of polluted land are adjusted to
accurately reflect the fair market value of the land in its polluted condition
rather than its fair market value after pollutants are removed by the acquiring
authority.
Page 2 of 2
LUEET-4. Transportation (B)
The League supports jurisdictional reassignment of roads based on
functional classification but opposes any program for turnbacks that does not
provide a corresponding source or mechanism of funding these roads.
An efficient transportation system is a vital element in planning for the
fiscal, economic, and social development at state, regional, and local levels.
Since the agricultural and recreational economy of the state and its cities are
dependent upon highway transportation, it is necessary to determine the
long-range highway needs to assure the vitality of the state's economy.
Furthermore, environmental concerns and the need to conserve energy require
that alternate modes of transportation be utilized in meeting the diverse needs
which exist in various communities and regions of the state. In order to
provide a more adequate state governmental structure and funding mechanism for
transportation system planning and development, the League recommends that the
following changes be made:
1. Turnbacks. The State Highway Study Commission has been studying the
possibility of reclassifying many roadways in the state as to appropriate use
classifications and jurisdiction. The increased cost for cities to assume
responsibility for general maintenance and life cycle treatment far exceeds the
current financial capacities of cities. For this reason, no wholesale program
of highway turnbacks should be instituted at this time.
Instead, existing mechanisms for the orderly turnback of roads should be
fine tuned, including increasing the level of funding in the municipal turnback
account, and prohibiting unilateral revocations or turnbacks by road authorities
unless a hearing is held and the road is brought up to its normal maintenance
standards before the revocation is effective.
Other changes needed to facilitate turnbacks include:
a) State aid rules should be changed to allow counties to upgrade county
state aid highways using c.s.a.h. funds prior to turnback with cityconcurrence
and without penalty as currently imposed by the rules;
r b) The League supports use of a portion of the highway motor vehicle excise
2 tax to provide an adequate source for turnback funds, and;
c) The League supports allowing cities to determine if a turnback road will
be designated as a state -aid road or local street and if the city chooses to
designate the road as a state -aid road this designation should not affect the
standard designation process so that developing cities will be able to continue
to designate a percentage of new road growth as part of the state -aid system.
2. An adequate level of highway user funds should be maintained so that
highway maintenance and reconstruction may be continued, and adequate funds be
available for the state -aid street program
��
Y
Page 1 of 2= �.
LUEET-4. Transportation (B)
The Legislature has recently taken appropriate steps in this direction by
increasing license fees and the gasoline tax to maintain this fund. Efforts
should be made to eliminate any inequities in the motor vehicle license fee
schedules and other vehicle taxes.
The League supports legislative efforts to establish a system of direct
appropriations to cities under 5,000 out of the 297 county share of the highway
user funds at least to the extent that townships receive direct appropriations,
as well as mandatory state guidelines concerning county use of these funds to
ensure that all communities within a county receive an equitable share of these
funds. Further, the state should establish minimum county funding participation
requirements for projects.
3. The special state bonding program should be continued to provide funds
for counties, towns, and cities for the replacement or repair of bridges.
4. Funding for at least the existing level of operation for mass transit
should be maintained by the state. Available funds should be used at the city's
option for capital or operating expenses.
5. The Legislature should continue the Minnesota Department of
Transportation as the ride -share program coordinating agency and to provide
adequate funding for its continuation.
6. The League supports the continued dedication of the sales tax on motor
vehicle sales for transportation purposes, and advocates the prompt transfer of
the motor vehicle excise tax into the highway user and transit assistance fund.
7. The possibility and feasibility of utilizing existing railroad trackage
as part of a fixed guideway and/or light rail mass transit system should be
addressed. If existing railroad trackage/right-of-ways are petitioned for
abandonment, these or portions thereof should be preserved by appropriate
government agencies through alternate public use until rail systems once again
become economically feasible or needed because of energy considerations.
8. The Legislature should restore the bikeway grants program in order to
promote safety in a growing recreational activity.
9. The League opposes legislation allowing truck tractor and trailer
combinations of up to 110 feet on Minnesota highways due to the public entity
and infrastructure cost problems caused by these trucks, such as off tracking of
rear wheels, acceleration distance needs, and time and distance required for
passing.
Page 2 of 2
—T—
LUEET-5. Ground and Surface Water Management (B)
The League supports 1985 legislation establishing a framework and providing
incentives for local governments to adopt programs or plans aimed at conserving
Minnesota's ground and surface waters and recommends that the Legislature not
substantively amend these statutes in the 1986 session.
In order to safeguard the public health and the environment it is necessary
to plan and manage our water resources as a valuable state resource. Many
watershed districts, counties, cities, and towns have done a good job of dealing
with surface and groundwater management issues and have the authority and
ability to continue to do so in a cost-effective manner. These existing
mechanisms should continue to be used to the greatest extent possible to address
surface and groundwater management problems instead of establishing a new system
or creating new organizations.
Local units of government should retain the basic responsibility for
surface water management as they are the level of government closest to the
problem. 1982 legislation required local governments in the metropolitan area
to adopt surface water run-off controls and regulations. 1985 legislation
encourages similar steps to be taken in the non -metropolitan area of the state.
These statutes should be given sufficient time to work before additional
programs or extensive changes to existing programs are enacted by the
Legislature.
The Legislature should provide funds to further encourage counties to
undertake water planning activities, and these state funds should be made
available to cities that are required to make substantial amendments to local
plans and controls, or that are employed to assist the county in preparation of
the comprehensive water plan. Special levies should also be made available to
fund water management projects.
Page 1 of 1
n;.
=- `A
LUEET-6. Eminent Domain Law (B)
The League recommends that the Legislature undertake -a thorough study of
the eminent domain statutes.
The League believes the entire eminent domain process should be critically
reviewed and streamlined. This examination should include a re-evaluation of
the advisability of an alternative system of review of condemnation awards, for
example a professional referee, a hearing examiner, etc. rather than a court;
using a professional referee in lieu of three commissioners to establish the
value of the land; the public purposes for which the law may be used, including
its use to encourage economic development; the difficulty posed by the existence
of pollution on the condemned property; and the legality and feasibility of
collecting property taxes on property for several years in instances where the
award is substantially in excess of the market value of the property for tax
purposes.
Page 1 of 1
LUEET-7. Adverse Possession (C)
The League supports legislation making it clear that no adverse possession
can be had against the state and its political subdivisions.
Page 1 of 1
Lk
LUEET-8. Energy Conservation and Production (C)
The League supports legislation providing incentives for energy
conservation and production in both the public and private sectors.
Overall energy conservation strategies involving the public, private,
commercial, and industrial sectors are being developed by cities based on the
rationale that conservation efforts achieve the greatest energy savings at the
lowest cost.
The League believes that a city's individual energy conservation strategy
can be accomplished if the Legislature permits or establishes some of the
following measures:
1. Retrofit of Local Government Buildings. Local governments and school
districts operate nearly 8,000 buildings in Minnesota. Possible energy savings
in this sector range from 16-67 percent of current energy consumption by
implementing operation maintenance changes and capital improvements programs.
The League recommends support of the use of special levies to local
governments for implementation of energy conservation measures, including
building energy audits. This special levy could be designed to complement 1983
legislation authorizing 10 -year installment payment contracts for capital
equipment or services intended to improve the energy efficiency of municipally
owned buildings. It would also supplement the existing special-purpose capital
expenditure levy law available now only to school districts.
2. District Heating. To promote statewide applications of district
heating technology and to allow communities to make most efficient use of the
State District Heating Bond Program, the League recommends the following:
a) The Legislature should provide additional funds or the ability to
special levy for conducting district heating feasibility studies at the
community level;
b) The Legislature should strongly encourage consideration of district
heating potential in the power plant siting process.
c) The Legislature should continue to allow use of State District Heating
Bond Program for renovation of existing district heating systems.
d) Repayment of state bond issues would follow repayment of local
obligations.
3. Low and Moderate Income Energy Assistance. Rising energy costs will
continue to place a burden on the economic vitality of communities in Minnesota.
The League recommends:
a) continuation of the fuel assistance program for low-income households,
with expanded services to train recipients in energy conservation practices and
with a requirement of recipient participation in weatherization programs if the
recipient is the owner;
Page 1 of 2
LUEET-8. Energy Conservation and Production
b) support for weatherization programs operated through cities, counties,
and CAP agencies, and;
c) continued support for the MHFA loan and grant program for home
weatherization.
4. Conservation and Renewable Energy Financing. Declining federal support
for implementing conservation and renewable resource projects will place a
significant burden on local government attempts to maintain vital services to
their residents and promote community development.
The League recommends that cities be allowed to bond and to make a special
levy for energy conservation and renewable resource projects. The Legislature
should also continue to encourage private sector conservation through tax
credits and other incentives and should explore the possibility of expanding
incentives for earth -sheltered and underground development.
S. Local Regulatory Authority. Local governments are in the best position
to assess local needs and regulate energy consumption within their communities.
The League recommends giving any municipality the option to adopt and enforce an
energy code that may be more stringent than the state building code for purposes
of energy conservation.
Page 2 of 2
Policy Number
DS -1
DS -2
DS -3
DS -4
DS -5
DS -6
DS -7
DS -8
Priorities
1A
Development Strategies Committee
Title Priority
Tax Increment Financing A
Development Financing A
Housing B
Municipal Service Districts B
Port Authorities B
Community Development Principles C
Tax -Exempt Status of Land Held by Cities
for Development C
Small Cities Community Block Grant Program C
� t
t
Fw
r.: pay vT >•
+'w !y :`
LA
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES POLICIES
DS -1. Tax Increment Financing (A)
The League recommends that the tax increment financing remain available for
cities. Cities are willing to work with the Legislature to improve the program,
as well as correct any problems with tax increment financing.
Tax increment finance has permitted many cities in various parts of the
state to define and carry out rehabilitation, redevelopment, housing, and
economic development projects on their own initiative. It represents the most
feasible and effective legal strategy which is currently available to cities to
preserve and improve their physical and economic environment.
In view of the dramatic reductions in federal assistance for development
and housing, tax increment finance remains one of the few options available for
cities to promote growth and development in their cities.
Page 1 of 1
=-
DS -2. Development Financing (A)
The League supports the continued use of industrial -development bonds and
other tax-exempt instruments as development tools.
The following principles should apply to the allocation of tax-exempt
development authority:
1. A maximum of Minnesota tax -ex
retained by municipalities.
t development allocation authority bei
2 The maintenance of local discretion and flexib4lity in development
decisions.
3 The minimization of state control of local development decisions.
Tax-exempt financing allows cities to undertake a diverse range of
activities to prevent economic deterioration, to attract new businesses and
jobs, to retain existing businesses and jobs, and to maintain and strengthen the
local tax base.
Pending federal tax legislation would substantially change the
applicability of tax-exempt development financing. Should the state become
involved in designing a new system appropriating tax-exempt bond authority to
cities, the League recommends that the above three principles apply, in general,
and that the League be centrally involved with the governor and the Legislature
in fashioning an equitable system.
Page 1 of 1
DS -3. Housing (B)
The League of Minnesota Cities continues to encourage the use of tax-exempt
financing for housing and supports the Minnesota Municipal Housing Revenue Bond
Act, M.S. 462C, passed in 1979, and as amended In addition, the League
recommends that legislation be considered to deal with the effects of proposed
federal legislation that not only restricts single-family housing bonds but also
multi -family housing bonds. The legislation should insure that all cities have
the tools necessary to provide for their housing needs The League also
supports legislation, which should include specialized opportunities for small
communities, that would provide new housing bond alternatives, such as the
taxable bond option and the continuation of the interest rate write-downs
program.
Cities recognize that incentives for the construction and rehabilitation of
housing form a vital part of city redevelopment efforts and serve the housing
needs of its citizens, especially those of low and moderate incomes.
Since 1981, the Legislature has enacted several allocation plans which
divide single-family bonding authority among cities. Because of increased needs
and abilities of cities to conduct local housing bond programs, the current
allocation to cities is often inadequate.
Because of the Federal Mortgage Subsidy Bond Tax Act of 1980, the ability
of cities to conduct housing programs has been severely limited. Federal law
placed an annual cap on the dollar volume of the single-family mortgage revenue
bonds that may be used in Minnesota, and the proposed legislation may extend the
cap to the multi -family bond program. Because the proposed legislation would
also be devastating to city housing efforts, the Legislature should review the
single-family and multi -family housing laws together to develop new measures to
insure that cities have the tools to provide for housing needs. Changes should
include a fair allocation system and anything necessary to allow a taxable bond
option to cities.
The League, in general, supports amendments to Chapter 462C necessary to
further assist cities in using housing revenue bond programs both as a
redevelopment tool and as a way to provide housing for low- and moderate -income
households.
As for the MHFA, program funds should be targeted to cities in a manner
consistent with local plans and programs. The MHFA should continue to improve
its procedure whereby representatives of a diverse group of cities, chosen in
consultation with the League, can participate in decision making as to MHFA
priorities in targeting funds to cities.
MHFA should be required to submit its multi -family bonds issue for review
and approval to the city in which the development is located. The MHFA project
should be consistent with the city's multi -family bond policy, and the project
should be reviewed by the Metropolitan Council or by the city's regional
development commission.
The League supports the continuation of state income tax exemption of
interest on housing bonds and continuation of the interest rate write-down
program for cities.
Page 1 of 1
DS -4. Municipal Service Districts (B)
The League supports legislation which would allow cities to create
municipal service districts. Cities should be allowed to finance the types of
improvements listed in M.S. 429.021 (relating to the construction, replacement,
and maintenance of such things as streets, sidewalks, gutters, storm and
sanitary sewers, waterworks systems, street lights, and public malls, parking,
or courtyards). Both service charges and ad valorem property taxes should be
available to finance services or capital improvements in the district.
Recent court decisions concerning special assessments have made it more
difficult for cities to use special assessments to finance public services and
improvements. The Minnesota Supreme Court has interpreted the state
Constitution to require not only that a special assessment project "specially
benefit" affected parcels of property, but also that the city be able to prove
that the market value of a property will increase in direct relation to the
amount of the special assessment applied to that property.
This interpretation has created particular problems for several important
city functions. First, it is more difficult to assess all (or even part) of a
capital improvement project to repair or replace, as opposed to newly built
improvements. This result hinders cities from meeting the widely recognized
need for maintenance of the existing public infrastructure.
Second, cities' ability to finance annual operating and maintenance costs
of some services to property through the use of special service charges is
either unclear or non-existent under current law.
The only current financing alternative to special assessments or service
charges is the general property tax. But it may not be desirable to use the
general property tax to finance some capital or operating expenses. For
example, if a road is used almost exclusively by people living in one corner of
a city, it may be bad public policy to require the cost of replacing that road
to be borne by all the property in the city. This is especially true if the
property in the rest of the city has already been assessed for similar
improvements.
Or, if the central business district or mall of a city benefits from more
frequent snowplowing or street cleaning, better lighting, etc. it may not be
good policy to have all the city taxpayers share in those expenses.
DS -5. Port Authorities (B)
The Legislature should adopt enabling legislation allowing any city to
create a port authority.
A number of cities have benefitted from special acts of the Legislature
allowing them individually to create port authorities. These cities have
benefitted from additional flexibility in the economic development field. These
opportunities should be available to all cities rather than requiring individual
acts of the Legislature.
Page 1 of 1
DS -6. Community Development Principles (C)
The League supports legislation which continues state assistance to cities
for community and economic development. The League encourages the Legislature
to appropriate funds for direct assistance to business for economic development
As a matter of principle, the state should not encourage the use of such direct
assistance for the sole purpose of moving businesses from one Minnesota city to
another. Technical assistance should be furnished by the appropriate state
agencies to aid cities in promoting local development activities
Minnesota cities have traditionally been responsible for their own economic
growth. During the '60s and '70s, cities promoted development through the use
of industrial revenue bonds, tax increment financing, and housing (or mortgage
revenue) bonds. Substantial. federal grant programs supplemented local resources.
The economic realities of the 1980s require even greater efforts by cities
in community and economic development. As federal assistance disappears, cities
are forced to become more creative in the use and leveraging of available
resources.
In recent years, the state has assisted cities' development efforts through
legislation and agency -administered programs, including Minnesota Main Street,
Star Cities, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency loan programs, and small business
rehabilitation loan programs. State legislation must continue to provide
maximum flexibility for cities to carry out community development activities.
Additionally, the state must actively promote economic development through
direct assistance to businesses and more extensive technical assistance to
maximize cities' ability to leverage local, state, and federal resources.
Any proposed community and economic development legislation should respond
to the following concerns:
1. Protection of cities' ability to finance capital improvements;
2. Management of economic growth to maximize cities' existing capital
investment;
3. Revitalization of cities reversing the trend of dispersion of population
and economic activity;
4. Recognition and allowance for the great differences between cities
regarding their stages of growth and development, demographics, and types of
economic activity within and adjacent to their borders; and
5. The legislature should enable the Small Business Finance Agency to
package projects which are approved by local city councils into larger
'industrial revenue bonds.
Page 1 of 1
.... {' g n
DS -7. Tax -Exempt Status of Land Held by Cities for Development (C)
The League supports granting unlimited tax-exempt status to property held
by cities and their political subdivisions for later resale to promote economic
development.
Up until recently, almost all property owned by political subdivisions was
granted tax-exempt status. In 1979, the Legislature changed the law to provide
that property held by a political subdivision of the state for later resale for
economic development purposes would be considered a public purpose and therefore
tax-exempt for a maximum period of three years. In 1984, the Legislature
revised the statute, providing tax-exempt status for a period of eight years in
most situations and granting an exemption for an unlimited period of years if
the property is held for housing programs or is classified as "blighted land"
under state law.
The 1984 law provides, however, that the property will be taxable if the
property is acquired for economic development purposes, and building or other
improvements are constructed after acquisition of the property, and if more than
one-half of the floor space of the buildings or improvements available for lease
to or use by a private individual, corporation, or other entity is leased to or
otherwise used by a private individual, corporation, or other entity.
The overall intent of the statute is designed to create an incentive for
political subdivisions to engage in economic development activities as well as
to promote moving the property back onto the tax rolls. Unfortunately, it does
not fully recognize that the process of developing industrial and economic
growth, rehabilitating, or building housing may extend over a long period of
time. The uncertainty caused by the vague provision on improvements and leasing
of one-half of the property discourages cities from being active in establishing
and maintaining local development corporations, from retaining as much control
as possible over their economic development and planning process, and from being
selective as to the type of development which may occur in the city.
Cities have every incentive to get property back on the tax rolls as soon
as possible. Therefore, the League recommends that the provision concerning
one-half installation of improvements be deleted or at the very least clarified,
and that the eight-year limit on tax-exempt status be removed.
Pag
44
e
',g:
.l ,
O ` L
_ N
1 of 1 R,
..��-
Ak
DS -8 Small Cities Community Block Grant Program (C)
The League supports the state's continued administration of the Small
Cities portion of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The
League also supports the continuation of the set-aside of federal funds for
economic development grants and augmented state appropriations to supplement the
federal funds set aside The League discourages any legislative attempt to deal
statutorily with complex, specific program criteria that are best handled
administratively.
The Small Cities CDBG program should continue as a source of funding which
encourages cities to "develop viable communities by providing decent housing and
suitable living environment and expanding economic df�ortunities, principally
for purposes of low- and moderate -income," in compliance with congressional
intent. The state should maintain the CDBG program balance between cities'
economic development needs and the needs of low- and moderate -income people.
Cities should retain maximum flexibility in determining how to carry out CDBG
program objectives.
Page 1 of 1
Priorities
Revenue Sources Committee
z A
Policy Number
Title
Priority
RS -1
State Funding to Cities
A
RS -2
Local Government Aid
A
RS -3
State Administrative Costs
A
RS -4
Municipal. Bonds
A
RS -5
Sales Ratio Study
B
RS -6
Elimination of Levy Limits
B
RS -7
Property Tax Reform
C
RS -8
License Fees
C
RS -9
Special Assessment Financing
C
RS -10
Equipment Financing
C
RS -11
Railroad Taxation
C
RS -12
Tax -Exempt Property
C
0
RS -1. State Funding to Cities (A)
The state is facing a potential revenue shortfall. The League of Minnesota
Cities commends the Legislature for establishment of a large budget reserve and
hopes that that is large enough to absorb any shortfall in revenues. The League
of Minnesota Cities recommends that legislative leaders and the administration
work with the League's Board of Directors in developing and analyzing
alternative state responses should the shortfall exceed the budget reserve.
At the time this policy is being drafted, it has not yet been determined
that the scope of the state revenue shortfall will require actions beyond use of
the budget reserve. Therefore, it is premature for us to propose specific
responses.
Property tax relief should continue to be a high priority. Cities will
continue to do their best in that regard but the state has appropriately assumed
a large role as a partner in that effort. The state should be a reliable
partner and look to other areas of the state budget first in responding to any
state budget crisis. Cities are currently experiencing many financial
challenges that make it very difficult for them to continue to provide adequate
services while keeping taxes as low as possible. These challenges include
dramatic increases in insurance costs, federal cutbacks (including the
elimination of federal revenue sharing), and declining tax bases in most
non -metropolitan cities. Cities are not in a position that they can easily
absorb another financial blow.
The League Board of Directors is broadly representative of the 855 cities
in Minnesota. That team will work to represent city interests in developing
suggestions for how the state should respond if it is determined that a very
serious budget problem must be dealt with.
Page 1 of 1
RS -2. Local Government Aid (A
The League strongly supports continuation of the local government aid
program as an essential component of the state's property tax relief system. It
is recommended that a six percent increase in the total appropriation be
authorized for 1987 (state fiscal year 1988). The League makes the following
recommendations regarding the distribution formula:
1. The formula used to distribute 1986 local government aid (LGA) should be
continued for 1987. There should be a comprehensive study and review of this
distribution formula and alternatives prior to the 1987 legislative session.
The League is prepared to assist in that study. Major changes in the
distribution formula should wait until the 1987 legislative session.
2. The League has a continuing goal of working toward a simple,
easy -to -understand formula. Special provisions which benefit or hurt a
particular city or group of cities work against that goal and can skew benefits
to all other cities. Therefore, the League is generally opposed to these
special provisions but is prepared to analyze and respond to proposed provisions
on an individual basis.
3. The maximum increase for an individual city should be greater than the
precentage increase in the overall LGA appropriation in order to allow cities
farther from the formula to "catch up." As currently provided, the maximum
should be 150 percent of the overall increase in state appropriation. With the
recommended appropriation increase of six percent for 1987, the maximum increase
should be nine percent.
4. As provided in the 1986 distribution, cities with large amounts of aid
on a per capita basis should be somewhat constrained in their growth. It is
recommended that cities receiving more than $150 per capita be limited to a
maximum increase equal to half the general maximum increase. For 1987 that
would be equal to 4.5 percent (half of nine percent).
Local government aid is an important component of the state's property tax
relief system. It complements cities' other major revenue source, the property
tax. A complementary revenue source for cities is necessary because a city's
ability to raise revenue from the property tax does not necessarily coincide
with the cost of the services which that city must provide to its residents.
Because of the payment schedule shifts enacted in response to a past state
budget crisis, aid for calendar year 1987 is paid out of state fiscal year 1988.
Because cities must set their levies in the fall of 1986, the 1986 Legislature
must establish the funding level and formula for 1987 during this legislative
session.
A six percent increase in LGA is recommended for calendar year 1987.
Property tax relief has always been a high priority for the state. Cities will
continue to try to keep levies down as far as possible but will find that a
tough challenge in 1987. Federal revenue sharing has been used by many cities
to fund essential services and will be completely eliminated for 1987. Further
budget pressure will likely result from continuing increases in insurance,
Page 1 of 2
RS -2. Local Government Aid (A)
implementation of comparable worth studies, increased debt service costs, and
cutbacks in other intergovernmental revenues. A six percent increase in LGA
will assist cities in avoiding sudden large increases in property taxes.
It is recommended that the distribution formula adopted for 1986 be
continued for 1987. Studies of distribution formulas should continue prior to
the 1987 legislative session and major changes should wait until that session.
The League is willing to again bring various city interests together to assist
in analyzing and responding to proposals.
In general, the League is opposed to special formula provisions which
benefit or hurt a particular city or group of cities. Provisions that benefit a
particular city or groups of cities do so at the expense of all other cities.
No matter who wins or loses, these special provisions work against having a
simple, easily explainable formula. It has been a continuing League goal to
have a simple, easy -to -understand formula that all cities can quickly get on.
In the long term these special provisions make it much more difficult to achieve
that goal. However, the League realizes that it is likely that specific
amendments will be proposed and is prepared to analyze and respond to those
proposals on an individual basis.
The maximum increase for any individual city should continue to be 150
percent of the percent increase in overall state appropriation. Therefore, with
a six percent increase in overall state appropriation, it is recommended that
the maximum for any city be set at nine percent. A larger spread between the
maximum increase and the increase in the overall appropriation would result in
very large increases for those cities at the maximum at the expense of all
cities on the formula. Cities receiving more than $150 per capita in LGA should
be limited to a maximum increase equal to half of the general maximum.
Page 2 of 2
RS -3. State Administrative Costs (A)
The League is opposed to deducting state administrative costs from the
funds appropriated to provide property tax relief. All state government costs
should go through the standard appropriation process review and be funded
directly by specific state appropriation, not handled as a broad deduction from
the property tax relief programs.
For the first time, certain costs of state government are being paid for
through the local government aid appropriation. In 1986 this includes $178,000
for the state auditor's office and $16,000 for the state demographer. The
decisions on the necessary staffing and funding levels for state agencies are
made in the appropriation committees, tax policy is generally handled by the tax
committees. Coordination between committees is often difficult in the final
weeks of the legislative session. The decision to impose these administrative
costs last year resulted in nullifying the absolute grandfather provision and
determining that the state would not pay the full amount it had promised cities
the previous August. This also resulted in less funds being available for
property tax relief.
In order to promote a cohesive and comprehensive state tax policy and
provide for adequate review of proposed state agency costs, it is recommended
that no state agency administrative costs be deducted from property tax relief
funds. This will allow the tax committees to fully determine the level of
property tax relief to be provided and retain primary input on such provisions
as the grandfather clause.
Page 1 of 1
RS -4. Municipal Bonds (A)
The League of Minnesota Cities recommends that the Legislature repeal
interest rate limitations on bonds so that cities can continue to effectively
participate in a changing bond market.
The traditional way of financing most local public improvements and
facilities has been and will likely continue to be through the issuance of
bonds. But the public bond market is undergoing change. Congress is seriously
considering proposals that would remove the tax-exempt status of many bonds sold
by public entities in the future. Because the public sector has not had to
compete with private investments, it is difficult to predict the full result of
this but clearly interest rates will be higher.
The current interest rate limitation (Minnesota Statutes Section 475.55) is
a floating rate that has not prevented any bond sales since its adoption. But
it may do so when cities and other public bodies are forced to enter the taxable
bond market. It is the League's position that artificial statutory bond
interest ceilings do not have the effect of holding down interest rates and may,
in fact, add somewhat to the costs of bond issuance by the creation -of
additional legal and procedural requirements.
Interest rates in the bond market fluctuate in response to a combination of
many economic forces. Local officials must operate within the realities of the
market, and whether there is a statutory ceiling or not, local officials have
every incentive to keep issuance costs as low as possible. Therefore, it is
recommended that the interest limit be repealed so that city officials can
respond effectively to whatever bond market changes occur as the result of
market forces or federal action.
Page 1 of 1
=-4
RS -5. Sales Ratio Study (B)
The Legislature should direct the department of revenue to study
alternative ways of determining the sales ratio for small communities with very
few actual sales.
Various state formulas consider property tax base valuation in distributing
aid. Sales ratios are calculated for each jurisdiction by comparing actual
selling prices of properties to the estimated market value that had been
assigned by the assessor. These sales ratios are used to equalize assessed
values so that all local governments are treated fairly and not rewarded or
punished based on their assessment practices.
Sales ratios are, therefore, very important in determining how much state
aid a particular community will receive. Yet there are significant problems in
determining the sales ratio, particularly in small communities. Often there may
not be enough sales in a given class of property in an area to accurately
determine a sales ratio. Current practice is to then apply a countywide
average. The county average may be overly influenced by a large regional center
and not accurately reflect the situation in the smaller cities of the county.
It is recommended that the Minnesota Department of Revenue be directed to
study alternative ways of calculating the sales ratio for areas with few sales
and report its findings and suggestions to the 1987 Legislature.
Page 1 of 1
='
RS -6. Elimination of Levy Limits (B)
The League of Minnesota Cities recommends that the Minnesota Legislature
repeal the levy limit laws in order to improve cities' abilities to plan for and
respond to change and enhance local accountability.
Cities in Minnesota must comply with multiple limits on their ability to
levy taxes. These limits make it difficult for many cities to adequately plan
for and respond to changing conditions. Federal cutbacks, skyrocketing
insurance costs, costs of comparable worth salary adjustments, and other forces
often require cities to re-examine their budget. Constraints on their ability
to levy prevent some local officials from using property taxes as a source of
revenue to provide for adequate reserves or absorb increased costs.
Local elected officials are accountable to the public and should be
entrusted to responsibly use their taxing authority. Cities exist in a very
dynamic, changing environment. They are expected to be able to quickly respond
to changing federal policies, state mandates, court rulings, and market forces
such as those currently shaking the insurance industry. Statewide limits
artificially constrain the options available to elected officials and are too
inflexible.
All cities are subject to a per capita limit outlined in M.S. 275.11.
Certain levies are allowed outside this levy limit, but these special levies
differ from those contained in the other limits.
Statutory cities are further constrained by a millage limit on their
general purposes levy found in M.S. 412.251. Special purpose levies are allowed
outside of this levy limit. Home rule cities may have levy limits in their
charter. Their charter limit may be affected by M.S. 426.04 if it is less than
13 1/3 mills. Iron Range home rule cities in which more than 25 percent of the
assessed value consists of iron ore have special provisions in statute.
The percentage limit in M.S. 275.51 is the one with which most policy
makers are familiar. The 1983 Legislature exempted all cities with less than
5,000 residents from this limitation. This was a positive step, but cities of
all sizes should be trusted to use their taxing authority.
Given uncertainties in state and federal financial aids and the diverse
problems and circumstances faced by cities throughout the state, uniform limits
are impractical. These limits are inconsistent with the principles of local
self-government and accountability and should therefore be repealed.
Cities should be encouraged to plan for future capital improvements (major
street projects, bridge rebuilding, etc.) and their financing. Current law
allows cities to establish a public works reserve fund to help fund future
capital improvements. Levy limit restrictions currently hamper many cities from
making use of this tool. If levy limits are retained, the levy for public works
reserve funds should be given special levy status. Currently the system
encourages debt as a funding mechanism for capital improvements because of the
special levy status of debt retirement. All capital funding options should have
equal status as special levies.
Page 1 of 1
=—a-\
RS -7. Property Tax Reform (C)
In enacting any major reforms of the Minnesota property tax system, the
Legislature should ensure that the following conditions are met:
1. The impact of the proposal has been thoroughly analyzed, not only from a
statewide perspective, but also in terms of its impact on individual
communities.
2. There should not be major shifts in the relative relationship of tax
burdens between taxing jurisdictions.
3. All significant changes should be phased in so that cities can
adequately plan for any needed adjustments.
4. Property tax reform should not jeopardize existing development districts
whose establishment and financing was based on continued maintenance of the
current tax structure. Any tax reform needs to recognize existing tax increment
finance districts and their cash flow and obligations as outlined in their tax
increment financing plan. Impact on enterprise zones must also be addressed.
5. Local government aid should be maintained as an essential component of
the property tax system. (See RS -2. Local Government Aid for the League's
position on LGA.)
6. If the net individual homestead tax burden is increased, the state
dollars freed up should be used for property tax relief such as the circuit
breaker. Changes in the circuit breaker application procedure should then be
implemented so that qualifying property owners are able to meet their tax
obligations without increasing delinquency rates or jeopardizing their cash flow
to the point that their ability to get or maintain mortgage financing with tax
escrow accounts is jeopardized.
7. Simplification and accountability are desirable goals that should be
addressed within the above tenets.
Many significant changes to the overall property tax system are currently
being considered. Because no specific proposals had been put forward during the
development of these policies, the League has developed some general criteria to
consider in evaluating any tax reform proposal.
It is very important that any proposal be evaluated on the basis of its
impact on individual communities. A proposal that appears balanced on a
statewide basis can have a very diverse impact on individual cities.
The disparity or difference in property tax burdens among taxpayers in
neighboring tax jurisdictions should be kept within acceptable limits. Any
imposed disparities could have a significant impact on the ability of cities to
compete with each other on a fair basis for residents or economic development.
Page 1 of 2
RS -7. Property Tax Reform (C) (cont'd)
Tax increment districts are dependent on the mill rate and assessment
ratios of the current property tax system. The financial viability of those
projects should not be jeopardized by state -imposed changes in the tax
structure. Likewise, enterprise zone businesses have been recruited based on a
commitment that they would receive a preferential classification ratio in the
calculation -of their property tax obligations. These development districts
should be protected from any negative consequences of tax reform. The tax
increment financing plan in effect at the time that legislation is passed should
be the basis for determining remedies.
Any reduction or elimination of the state homestead credit program should
not be implemented unless the freed state dollars are dedicated to property tax
relief.
Consideration is being given to reducing or removing the homestead credit
in favor of greater reliance on the circuit breaker. Implementation of such a
system might jeopardize the ability of some homeowners to make their May
property tax obligations or be able to afford higher escrow account payments on
their mortgages. It is recommended that if such a system is implemented that
homeowners apply for it early in the year and have it credited against their tax
bill in both the May and October payments. Perhaps the application for circuit
breaker could be sent out with the property tax statements.
Page 2 of 2
RS -8. License Fees (C)
The Legislature should repeal all maximum fee provisions relating to
off -sale liquor, on -sale wine, bottle club, and Sunday liquor licenses and allow
cities to decide locally the appropriate fee to charge for such licenses.
With few exceptions, the statutes granting authority to issue licenses or
permits do not specify maximum fees. Cities have the discretion to set fees
based on their own costs, needs, and standards. Case law provides ample
limitations on cities' power to set license fees by requiring that revenues
produced must be related to the cost of issuing the license and regulating the
licensed business.
It is inappropriate for the Legislature to set maximum fees for off -sale
liquor, on -sale wine, bottle club, and Sunday liquor licenses. Cities have
acted responsibly in using their discretion to set on -sale liquor license fees.
It makes no sense to grant that power and then to deny them the power to set
off -sale liquor and on -sale wine license fees as well as Sunday liquor and
bottle club fees. There is no evidence to show that lifting the statutory cap
would lead to unjustified fee increases. Some sort of reasonable increases in
off -sale license fees could be expected in light of the fact that the statutory
maximum fee has not been increased for over 30 years.
Page 1 of 1
Z -A
RS -9. Special Assessment Financing (C)
The law on interest charges on special assessments should be changed so
that a city may charge an interest rate that more fully reflects the cost of the
financing.
Special assessments financed by bonds.
In 1982 the Legislature changed the law governing the statutory interest
ceiling for municipal bonds. The new law, which provides for a floating monthly
maximum interest rate, creates a problem in regard to the interest rate which a
municipality may charge on special assessments. The interest rate which may be
charged is determined according to the maximum rate allowed to be paid on
municipal bonds for the month in which the resolution authorizing the special
assessment is adopted. If a city sells the assessment bonds in a later month,
the interest rate payable on the bonds may be greater than that allowed to be
charged for the special assessment. The city is left having to absorb extra
costs.
The League recommends that the law be changed to ensure that a aty may
charge an interest rate on special assessments at least one percentage point
higher than the rate payable on the bonds which finance the assessment.
Special assessments financed internally by a city.
M.S. 429.061, subd. 2, restricts to eight percent the interest rate a city
may charge on internally financed special assessments. The League recommends
that the allowable interest rate be increased to more accurately reflect the
cost to the city of internally financing assessments.
Page 1 of 1
RS -10. Equipment Financing (C)
M.S. 412.32 should be amended so that all Minnesota cities are able to
issue "five-year equipment certificates" in an amount not to exceed one percent
of the city's assessed valuation in any given year. No reverse referendum
provision should apply unless the city wishes to exceed the one percent limit.
Statutory cities in Minnesota have the power to issue certificates of
indebtedness, payable in not more than five years, to purchase fire, police,
ambulance, street construction, or maintenance equipment. (M.S. 412.301.) If
the amount of the certificates exceeds one percent of the city's assessed
valuation, a reverse referendum provision applies.
In 1983, the Legislature granted similar financing powers to Minnesota's
home rule charter cities (M.S. 412.32), without any reverse referendum
provision. However, the total principal amount of the certificates (or "capital
notes") issued in a fiscal year is limited to no more than one-tenth of one
percent of the city's assessed value that year. In many cities, this limit is
prohibitively low, and effectively prevents the city from making use of the
authority granted in this statute.
Page 1 of 1
RS -11. Railroad Taxation (C)
—
A new formula should be adopted for the valuation of railroad operating
property for property tax purposes.
The existing system for taxation of railroad operating property is not
consistent with the taxation of other commercial and industrial properties. The
present formula values railroad operating property at about 20 percent of the
value which would be determined by a local assessor using generally accepted
assessing principles. The League recommends that a new system of property
taxation be established which would enable railroads operating in Minnesota to
be taxed consistent with the taxation of other commercial and industrial
properties. This system should contain the following features:
A new formula should be developed for the valuation of railroad operating
property for property tax purposes. The new formula should contain two equal
factors. One of these factors should be 50 percent of an amount based upon: the
average value of all of the taxable land in the city or county times the area of
the railroad operating land plus the value of railroad operating structures as
determined by the local assessor. The other factor would be an amount based on
either the stock and debt of the railroad or the capitalization of earnings
approach.
"Operating land" is defined to mean any land which underlies the operating
structures defined below and rights-of-way adjacent thereto and which is
necessary to the integral performance of railroad transportation services.
"Operating structures" is defined to mean all structures owned or used by a
railroad company in the performance of railroad transportation services
including without limitation, franchises, bridges, trestles, tracks, shops,
docks, wharves, buildings, and other related structures. All operating
structures except railroad bridges, trestles, tracks, docks, and wharves should
be taxable.
The present system for valuing and taxing non-operating property should not
be changed.
Page 1 of 1
S-A
RS -12. Tax -Exempt Property (C)
State, county, school district, city, regional government, and other owners
of tax-exempt property (except houses of worship) should be required to
reimburse cities for the cost of police, fire, and street services
One of the glaring inequities in the Minnesota tax system involves local
services that are provided free to tax-exempt property owned or used by the
state, counties, school districts, regional governmental bodies, and by certain
non-governmental organizations. It is widely acknowledged that such property
benefits directly from governmental services such as police and fire protection
and street services provided by cities. Since there is no legal basis, however,
for claiming reimbursement for the costs of such service, they are borne by the
local taxpayers. Furthermore, such property is concentrated in certain cities,
resulting in a heavy cost burden upon those cities.
Page 1 of 1
Policies
Federal Legislative Committee
Policy Number Title
FL -1 General Revenue Sharing
FL -2 Federal Tax Reform
FL -3
State -Local Tax Deductibility
FL -4
Municipal Bond Restrictions
FL -5
Mortgage Revenue Bonds
FL -6
Housing
FL -7
Superfund
FL -8
Wastewater Treatment
FL -9 Non -Point Pollution and Stormwater Regulations
=--4
FL -1. General Revenue Sharing
The League of Minnesota Cities supports federal legislation to reauthorize
General Revenue Sharing (GRS) with adequate funding to assist local governments.
The League supports a revision of the current distribution formula to recognize
the differences in local fiscal capacity and to more directly assist cities in
meeting the costs of federal mandates.
Recognition of fiscal capacity in the distribution of GRS will provide
assistance to those cities whose capacity to raise local revenues is inadequate
to meet the needs of residents.
The League concurs with the National League of Cities that GRS remains the
top priority federal aid program. GRS provides vital financial assistance to
all cities. Therefore, re-enactment of GRS must be a priority for the 99th
Congress.
Continuation of GRS as an entitlement program for general purpose local
government should address the need to compensate cities for the cost of
federally mandated programs and to aid in the funding of local services in areas
of national interest as well as to provide revenues to assist cities in
overcoming the adverse effects of federal fiscal policies and national economic
conditions.
Reauthorization of GRS on an entitlement basis for five years is needed to
re-emphasize the need of cities for dependability of GRS funding as well as to
provide continuity in the assistance offered to local government.
Page 1 of 1
FL -2. Federal Tax Reform
LMC opposes current federal tax reform proposals that reduce the ability of
cities to raise revenues and capital to meet local needs.
The League agrees that the current federal tax system is in need of major
reform to overcome disparities in the treatment of individual and corporate
income and to address the need to simplify the manner in which individuals and
businesses are taxed.
Unfortunately, tax reform proposals favored by both the Reagan
Administration and the House Ways and Means Committee -would make modifications
in marginal income tax rates at the expense of local government revenue and
bonding authority.
Page 1 of 1
=-4
FL -3. State -Local Tax Deductibility
The League of Minnesota Cities supports full deductibility of state and
local taxes for federal income taxes and opposes federal tax reform proposals
that call for its elimination or reduction.
The continuation of deductibility recognizes the direct and indirect
relationships between federal and local tax systems and supports the historic
right of states and localities to raise revenues and of individual taxpayers not
to be double taxed.
Continuation of the deductibility of state and local taxes is fundamental
to the maintenance of federal fiscal policy that recognizes the importance of
the authority of cities to determine the level of local taxes and services.
Full deductibility ensures a flexible and progressive tax system, based on the
ability to pay.
Minnesota city officials support the current National
policy that advocates restoring to the federal tax system a
fairness, efficiency, and simplicity without imposing a new
employed widely by state and local government.
Page 1 of 1
League of Cities'
higher degree of
tax on taxes
FL -4. Municipal Bond Restrictions
LMC opposes imposition of use tests and the severe restrictions on local
authority to issue tax-exempt bonds.
The League also opposes House Ways and Means Committee action to limit the
eligibility of the many activities for tax-exempt financing, including:
industrial parks, hydroelectric plants, electric and gas furnishing facilities,
district heating and cooling systems, public transit and parking facilities,
hazardous waste facilities, etc.
Efforts to set a use test at ten percent (or $10 million) of bond proceeds
create an arbitrary and unrealistic view of the manner in which cities must
provide for maintenance of infrastructure and management of growth. It would be
more reasonable to assume that if more than 50 percent of the benefits of such
municipal bond issues rendered to a non-governmental entity, such bond authority
would be circumscribed to reflect the involvement of private interests. It is
simply unworkable for cities to responsibly carry out local improvement and
development activities with these severe restraints on tax-exempt financing
authority.
Tax reform proposals that seek to redefine governmental and
non-governmental. uses of municipal bonds strike directly at the authority of
cites to finance needed public improvements as well as redevelopment and
economic development activities in the public interest.
Proposed restrictions that would require all tax-exempt, non-governmental
bond issues to be limited by a state by state per capita volume limit threaten
to force cities and other units of government to compete for allocation of
severly restricted bond authority. Such policy pits public and private uses
against one another and denies cities the flexibility to implement local
improvement planning and economic or redevelopment strategies in a timely and
responsible manner.
Restrictions on arbitrage and refunding proposed by the House Ways and
Means Committee go far beyond the regulation of profits and result in greater
costs to cities and directly intrude on local financial management decisions.
Page 1 of 1
FL -5. MortRaQe Revenue Bonds
The League of Minnesota Cities supports the use of tax-exempt financing for
housing and urges Congress to resist efforts to further restrict single- and
multi -family housing bonds.
Current federal tax reform proposals, along with severe reductions in
federal spending for assisted housing imposed since 1981, have made the problem
of the lack of affordable housing in many cities a critical one for local
government.
LMC opposes the expiration of the Mortgage Revenue Bonds in 1987 unless
Congress acts before that time to establish a new, more efficient and extensive
housing program to aid cities' housing programs aimed at both rehabilitation and
development of single- and multi -family housing. LMC therefore opposes proposed
federal tax reform provisions adding housing bond authority to those bond issues
regulated by a new per capita volume limit.
The current allocation of bonding authority to cities for single family
housing is inadequate. Now that limited resources may be even more scarce,
further cuts in assisted -housing programs cannot be justified. Nor can federal
tax reform efforts jeopardize the affordability of current and future housing
for low- to moderate -income residents.
Page 1 of 1
FL -6. Housin
The League of Minnesota Cities supports substantially higher levels of
federal funding for housing production aimed at those with low and moderate
incomes.
A multi-year commitment is needed to assure stability and planning of
housing programs at the local level. Current assisted -housing programs that
provide less than 100,000 units per year are clearly inadequate.
Changes that have already occurred with the withdrawal of federal housing
funds make more urgent the need for establishing a fair allocation system among
cities and may make the provision of authority for cities to issue taxable bonds
to meet local housing needs a concept worth examining for the future.
Rather than the current record of retreat from responsibility for housing,
the federal government must support programs encouraging rehabilitation of
single- and multi -family dwellings, including preservation of tax incentives to
encourage investment in preservation of current housing stock as well as
construction of new housing to meet the need for affordable housing.
In all areas of federal housing legislation, attention should be paid to
the implementation of housing policy whether through direct spending or that
which occurs through tax code provisions.
Page 1 of 1
FL -7. Suverfund
The League of Minnesota Cities supports the enactment of a broad-based
corporate tax to support increased funding of a five-year program needed to deal
with hazardous waste site cleanup efforts.
Current Superfund program funding is inadequate to meet the costs of
cleaning up hazardous waste sites and assisting local government to recoup costs
associated with efforts to rehabilitate polluted areas and to provide access to
safe drinking water for city residents.
A combination of excise taxes and corporate surcharges in addition to the
current feedstock tax is needed to accomplish that purpose as well as the
extension of tax levies to hazardous materials riot currently taxed. The League
recommends that Congress review Minnesota's system of generator taxes in
establishing federal taxes and surcharges.
Hazardous Material
Efforts to require disclosure of hazardous material production, use, and
storage must continue, although cities must be given reasonable opportunity to
aid in the design of requirements affecting local government and ample time and
means to implement them. Federal community right -to -know legislation should
address conflicting provisions of state and local right -to -know and emergency
response mandates and establish a national policy governing both concerns.
Waivers should be provided for instances in which local government demonstrates
that health safety needs require special treatment.
Page 1 of 1
FL -8. Wastewater Treatment
The League of Minnesota Cities supports a return to a federal share of 75
percent of the costs of rehabilitation, repair, upgrading, and new construction
and continued eligibility for construction of treatment plants, interceptors,
and major appurtenances, infiltration/inflow collection, major sewer
rehabilitation, collector sewers, and combined sewer overflow projects.
The League also favors retention of tax incentives that encourage
privatization of construction and operation of treatment facilities and opposes
federal tax reform proposals to end or restrict such options.
Clean water is important to the economic and social well-being of not only
the state of Minnesota, but the nation as a whole. The League supports the
federal government's recognition of water quality as a national problem and
feels the establishment of national water quality standards is appropriate,
providing that the federal government assists in funding necessary programs.
Current Congressional efforts to phase out construction grant programs in
the House and Senate Clean Water bills must be opposed. At a minimum, current
levels of funding must be maintained to assure that cities will be able to
continue pollution abatement efforts on an uninterrupted basis. The League
opposes any reduction in federal funding of these programs.
Creation of a federal loan program to assist in the financing of wastewater
treatment projects is appropriate but only as a supplement to the existing grant
program and not as a replacement program.
Federal grants should be made to the states through water quality block
grants, with the focus on achieving significant improvement of water quality.
Oversight by EPA should be restricted to general supervision of grant
administration by the responsible state agencies such as the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency.
Much of the costs of construction are directly attributable to delays in
processing grants and reviewing projects. Administrative costs could be
significantly reduced by employing block grant delivery to the states.
Assistance from the federal government is necessary if there is to be any
hope of meeting the 1988 target for effluent standards. If federal funds are
not available to support the requirements and objectives of the act, timetables
for meeting these requirements should be postponed or the requirements reduced
for at least secondary treatment standards. The League suggests that the EPA's
compliance policy should be modified so that municipal wastewater treatment
compliance plans can be constructed to achieve the level of compliance that is
consistent with federal financial assistance.
Additionally, the League recommends that wastewater treatment programs be
modified to provide financing to upgrade alternative environmentally sound
systems of on-site or community disposal of domestic and commercial waste in
cities.
Page 1 of 2
FL -8. Wastewater Treatment (cont'd)
The existing system has tended to rely too heavily on single solution
approaches which may not be appropriate or economically feasible in small.
cities. As a result, small cities have been required to install very costly
central collection and treatment systems without regard to cost/benefit
considerations or their ability to finance the continuing operation of such
systems. Similarly, larger cities have been discouraged from using alternative
strategies where they might have been appropriate.
Page 2 of 2
FL -9. Nor. -Point Pollution and Stormwater Regulations
The League of Minnesota Cities supports action by Congress to establish a
separate funding program for abatement of non -point pollution. Congress should
resist e=fforts to designate a portion of wastewater treatment construction grant
funds for that purpose.
The League of Minnesota Cities also opposes proposed EPA stormwater
regulations requiring the identification, testing, and regulation of discharges
from countless numbers of locations.
Page 1 of 1
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
December 12, 1985
Page 37
Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, Beach, LaTour, Mullan and
Reed; staff Blank and Pederson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Edwards called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Commissioner LaTour
to approve the minutes of the November meeting. The motion carried with
all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
There were not visitors present at this meeting.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Our grant has been approved for the purchase of a fitness court to be
installed in Zachary Park. The Plymouth Rotary Club will donate $1,000
for two years to the Recreation Department for the fitness court; they
will help install it, also.
b. The Parkers Lake Phase I construction plan was also approved.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. The appointment to PRAC will not be completed until sometime in January,
zfter the Council fills their vacancy. The PRAC educational seminar
will be held March 13 during the regularly scheduled meeting. The r-eeting
will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. and include dinner. Regular agenda
items will be discussed first.
b. PRAC reviewed their 1985 goals taken from the 1984 annual report in
preparation for making their 1986 goals and objectives. It was decided
that goals 2 and 13 should be combined since they are somewhat similar.
A possible new goal dealt with meeting with surrounding city's commis-
sions occasionally to share ideas, etc. Director Blank said he would
draft the language for this goal to be reviewed at the January meeting.
Carol Beach suggested that a specific goal be written regarding a
community center. After some discussion, it was decided to include a
separate statement within goal 2 about the development of a community
center.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Director Blank reviewed the 1986-90 Parks CIP list. He pointed out
that the first item in 1986 is trails rather than the County Road 15
trail as listed. He stated that the most important item under consid-
eration is the Zachary concession building which is necessary to fully
utilize this athletic complex. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BEACH
AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COIJNCIL
AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO PROCEED WITH THE
NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FACILITY. The
motion carried with all ayes.
Trail work finished in 1985 was discussed, as well as trail work not
completed and trail work proposed for 1986. Director Blank then explained
PRAC Minutes of December 12, 1985
Page 38
z 5
how park dedication funds have been spent this past year and how the
remaining undesignated balance will be spent. Some of the undesignated
balance in the park dedication account may be spent to remove buildings
west of Niagara Lane that are on Minneapolis property, to buy the house
on Fernbrook Lane next to the Historical Society building, and to buy
a small house near East Medicine Lake Boulevard which will be used for
the future regional trail.
b. A list of possible new programs was discussed that could be implemented
to produce more revenue. Some of the ideas mentioned included: pay
concerts in the amphitheatre (where Music in Plymouth is held), planning
trips and parties for companies in Plymouth, ads in Plymouth on Parade,
charging swimmers at our beaches, selling beer at tournaments, etc. It
was decided that a committee should be formed to do further research
into revenue producing programs. Carol Beach and John Mullan volunteered
to serve on the committee.
c. Director Blank stated that we would be making our final payment in 1986
on the 19 -acre Bass Lake Playfield contract -for -deed. He also mentioned
that a developer may be dedicating 2.8 acres for neighborhood park
proposed in this area. In order to meet neighborhood park requirements,
we will be buying an additional 3.2 acres for a total of six acres of
neighborhood park land.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Chair Edwards encouraged PRAC members to attend the 1986 Minnesota Recreation
and Parks Association Annual Conference which will be in Duluth.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.
1985
McPlymouth Pleased Patron Counter
"Over 300 Served"
Division: All Divisions*
T — k -,c
DATE
#
Finance
#
Assess
#
Admn
Plan.
#
Bldg.
Inspec.
#
Eng.
It
Park
& Rec.
TOTAL
PER
EVENING
10/21
1
5
2%
1
11%
1
21%
8
10/28
2
1
1
4
11/4
1
4
1
1
1
8
11/18
1
1
2
4
11/25
1
1
1
3
12/2
1
2
2
5
12/9
1
2
3
12/16
1
1
2
12/23
2
2
12/30
8
3
1
1
13
TOTAL BY
DIVISION
5
27
3
6
5
2
4
52
% of Total
Traffic:
10%
52%
6%
12%
10%
4%
8%
100%
Average customers per Monday night equals 5
TOTAL 1985:
71
96
6
22
35
15
65
310
% of Total
Traffic:
23%
31%
2%
7%
11%
5%
21%
100%
Average customers per Monday night equals 6
* Police Dept. did not keep weekly records as they would have been available to serve the
public until 7:30 pm. without the extended office hours program.
OF PLANNING APPLICATION VOLUME BY TYPE
The following figures represent the number of applications received and in process by the
Planning Department for the month of: December 1985
TYPE OF APPLICATION
THIS YEAR THIS MONTH LAST YEAR
MONTH TO DATE LAST YEAR TO DATE
Site Plan
3
58
1
50
Preliminary Plats*/RLS
-
28
1
36
Final Plats*/RLS
1
47
2
47
PUD Concept Plans
-
7
-
10
PUD Preliminary Plats
-
10
2
14
PUD Final Plats
1
18
1
26
Conditional Use Permits
6
64
3
58
Rezonings**
-
13
1
18
Lot Division/Consolidation
1
32
2
27
Variances
2
52
1
43
Sign Plans
_
-
_
1
Site Plan Amendments
_
1
Rev General Development Plans
-
1
Land Use Guide Plan Amendments**
-
7
_
6
Landscape Plans
_
Other
-
3
-
2
TOTAL
14
341
14
338
* Other than Planned Unit Developments
**Includes Planned Unit Developments
._L_.. -7 G`,
COMPARISON OF PLANNING APPLICATION VOLUME BY TYPE
The following figures represent the number of applications received and in process by the
Planning Department for the second half of 1985:
TYPE OF APPLICATION
duly
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Site Plan
10
6
4
3
6
3
Preliminary Plats*/RLS
4
3
2
2
1
-
Final Plats*/RLS
9
2
2
3
4
1
PUD Concept Plans
1
-
-
1
1
-
PUD Preliminary Plats
2
1
-
2
-
-
PUD Final Plats
2
2
-
-
2
1
Conditional Use Permits
8
5
8
6
5
6
Rezonings**
2
1
2
1
-
-
Lot Division/Consolidation
4
3
2
-
4
1
Variances
9
2
6
5
5
2
Sign Plans
-
-
-
-
-
-
Site Plan Amendments
-
1
-
-
-
-
Rev General Development Plans
-
-
-
-
-
-
Land Use Guide Plan Amendments**
1
-
-
1
1
-
Landscape Plans
-
-
-
-
-
-
Other
-
-
1
1
1
-
TOTALS
52
26
27
25
30
14
* Other than Planned Unit Developments
**Includes Planned Unit Developments
MONTHLY PERMIT ISSUANCE BUILDING DIV
DECEMBER '85
BUILDING PERMITS
CURRENT
Y.T.D.
1984
L.Y.T.D
Public
0
5
0
1
Comm/Ind/New
3
22
1
19
Alteration
7
115
8
102
Residential
31
633
30
589
Multi -Family
0
16�y�`^�
0
C'"pa) 19
Remodeling
22
486
15
499
Foundations
0
10
2
6
Garage
0
17
0
53
TOTALS
63
1304
56
1288
VALUATION/PERMITS
Public
Comm/Ind/New
Alteration
Residential
Multi -Family
Remodeling
Foundations
Garage
TOTALS
OTHER PERMITS
Plumbing
Mechanical
Signs
Grading
Wells
Moving
Septic/Removal
Demolish
TOTALS
BUILDING PERMIT FEES
PLAN CHECK FEES
SAC FEES
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
t0
4,098,000
268,265
2,600,636
0
192,789
249,000
8,200
$7,416,890
$1,712,016
$0
21,720,268
148,620
6,018,582
248,500
57,385,976
2,473,806
12,120,000
0
2,721,191
73,144
1,185,000
330,000
109,741
0
$102,972,774 $3.274,070
$361.000
19,676,072
5.675.398
49.272,568
23.233,829
3.062,359
806,480
322,779
$102.410,485
73
1313
63
1070
43
1040
75
1020
5
94
21
159
1
19
3
25
0
20
0
6
0
5
0
0
12
ill
0
0
0
4
0
3
134
2,606
162
2,283
$26,559
$402.712
$14,657
$375,749
$15,971
$218.244
$8,786
$202.769
$13,175
$479,350
$15.300
$448.800
49
451
55
386
SEWER a WATER ACTIVITY CURRENT Y.T_D.
SEWER A WATER CONNECTIONS
Sewer 33 735
Water 36 764
TOTALS 69 1499
METERS ISSUED
5/8 X 3/4 -"ch
31
686
3/4 inch -
7
70
1 inch
1
6
1 1/2 inch
1
39
2 inch
0
6
3 inch
0
2
4 inch
1
7
TOTALS
41
816
ecl'*al a sreportp
Hennepin County Solid Waste Disposal & Recovery
Public meetings in January
Draft environmental impact statement
completed on resource -recovery project
Two public meetings will be held in mid-
January by the Metropolitan Council on
the draft environmental impact statement
(EIS) which evaluates aspects of
Hennepin County's proposed waste -to -
energy project.
The meetings will be at 7 p.m. Wednes-
day, Jan. 15, in the A -Level Auditorium,
Hennepin County Government Center,
and at 7 p.m. Thursday. Jan. 16, at the
Edina Community Center, 5701 Norman -
dale Road, in Edina. Persons who wish
to make comments about the EIS are
invited to attend one of the meetings.
Written comments on the draft environ-
mental impact statement, which was
prepared by the Metropolitan Council,
should be sent to the council, 300 Metro
Square Building, 7th and Robert Streets,
St. Paul, MN 55101, by Friday, Jan. 30.
i � 2
&I
The draft EIS describes and evaluates
the environmental aspects of a 1,000 -
ton -a -day resource -recovery facility at
the Greyhound site near downtown
Minneapolis and four transfer stations,
proposed for sites in Bloomington,
Brooklyn Park, Hopkins and south
Minneapolis. The EIS also evaluates
locational and technological alternatives,
a no -build alternative, and sociological
implications of the project.
The Greyhound plant will be a mass -
burn facility, in which unprocessed solid
waste is burned to cogenerate electricity
and steam. The plant is to be con-
structed and operated by Hennepin
Energy Resource Co., Limited Partner-
ship, of which Blount Energy Resource
Corp., of Montgomery, Ala., is the
general partner. The plant will be
� 01 ,.
4cj_,Jam_
4 y }
i v
i
operational in 1989 and cost about $70
million to construct.
One area that is given considerable
attention in the draft EIS is air quality.
The Greyhound facility will generate
gaseous emissions, such as carbon
dioxide and sulfur dioxide, and odors
from the handling of solid waste.
However, the impact analysis did not
indicate significant potential emission or
odor problems due to the operation of
the plant. (Hennepin County is commit-
ted to using the best available technol-
ogy, called "dry scrubbers and bag -
houses," in the Greyhound facility.)
The executive summary of the draft EIS
states that development of the resource -
recovery facility and transfer stations "is
not expected to result in significant long-
term impacts to geologic or hydrologic
resources" The transportation analysis
indicates "no significant degradation" in
traffic operations at the Greyhound site
and transfer -station sites. Concerning
noise, the primary impact of the Grey-
hound facility and transfer stations would
be during construction, with elevated
noise levels being "only temporary in
nature."
The draft EIS said that there are not
expected to be any adverse impacts
from the project on ecological resources.
As for aesthetics and cultural resources,
project impacts are expected to be
minimal since the facilities will be
located in industrially zoned and
developed areas. And, construction and
operation of the proposed facilities will
generate additional jobs in the county.
The final EIS is to be completed by late
February or early March 1986, with the
Metropolitan Council board scheduled to
act on the adequacy of the final EIS in
late April 1986 after review by council
committees.
Hennepin's 1,000 -ton -per -day resource -recovery facility is to be built on a 14.6 -acre site Blount then must obtain permits for the
just northwest of downtown Minneapolis. The site is bounded by streets on three sides: project, such as for air quality and solid -
7th Street North (foreground, right); 6th Avenue North (foreground, left); and 5th Street waste disposal, from the state Pollution
North (center). Railroad tracks are on the site's eastern edge. Control Agency.
L77SS MR H.LnORxid
aAza H.LfIOWXga 0070
U30dxVw Hinolixia
s I'I'I I M 9 f
7Z91
awd
301V14Z_ c S n
31'ct � �n9
a special report
County board to review
solid waste master plan
Eighty percent of Hennepin County's
solid waste is to be used by resource -
recovery facilities, 16 percent is to be
recycled and 4 percent handled by
waste -reduction methods, according to
the county's proposed solid waste
master plan.
The master plan — Hennepin's guide for
solid waste management through the
year 2000 — was prepared by the
county Department of Environment and
Energy, with the assistance of the
county's so!id waste ma^agement
advisory committee, which consists of
city, industry and citizen representatives.
A public meeting on a draft of the
master plan was held Dec. 4 at Ridge -
dale Library in Minnetonka. Written
comments were accepted through Dec.
16. The plan will be submitted to the
Metropolitan Council, as required by
state law, after it is approved by the
County Board in early 1986.
Approximately 960,000 tons of solid
waste currently are generated each year
in Hennepin County, and the amount will
increase to about 1 million tons by the
year 2000.
A total of 365,000 tons will be burned
annually at an energy -recovery plant at
the site of the former Greyhound bus -
repair building near downtown Minneap-
olis. The county has signed a construc-
tion and operating contract with a limited
partnership, of which Blount Energy
Resource Corp., of Montgomery, Ala., is
the general partner. Construction is
scheduled to start in summer 1986, with
full operation scheduled for 1989.
Electric power generated at the Grey-
hound facility will be sold to a utility, and
steam will be used for heating downtown
buildings.
Three private resource -recovery plants
— proposed by the Reuter Co., of
Hopkins; Richards Asphalt Co., of
Savage; and Waste Energy Systems, of
New Brighton together will handle
another 700 tons a day of the county's
waste. If any or all of these projects are
not built, the county plans to sponsor
additional waste -to -energy facilities.
The major element of Hennepin's plan to
recycle 16 percent of the waste pro-
duced in the county, or about 400 tons a
day, is the curbside collection of recycla-
bles and yard waste. Collection service
initially would be directed at single-family
homes through four-plexes in all cities in
the county, with apartment buildings
possibly added later.
In addition to the residential collection of
glass, cans, newspapers and other
materials, recycling strategies include
buy-back centers, drop-off yard -waste
composting sites, demonstration projects
for the recycling of office paper and
cardboard containers, and recycling
promotion and technical assistance.
uaspnug uu0P'do1TPH
1uaui1dedaQ
sdre;j-V orlgnd aqj ,Cq padedadd
R2.I9UH pue 1uauluodinu'3
;o 1uatL'ldedaQ S1unoo
uidauuaH @741 JO 1J'^dad reloads y
9861 iagwaoao
�,g{,gg uuty� `stiod'eauut�
saqu90 luauruaanoD 2091: -V
adauH a zuauruo.rinuR;o
quaur�aedaQ f4uno0 utdauuaH
Designation
ordinance
is approved
The Hennepin County Board has
adopted an ordinance requiring that
solid waste be delivered to the county's
proposed energy -recovery and transfer -
station system, which is to be in opera-
tion in 1989.
The ordinance, approved Dec. 10, will
not take effect until a 1,000 -ton -per -day
waste -to -energy facility at the Greyhound
site near downtown Minneapolis is ready
for start-up, which is scheduled for late
1988.
In effect, the ordinance assures that the
county will have an adequate waste
supply for its designated waste -to -energy
plant and four proposed transfer
stations, which will be located in
Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Hopkins
and south Minneapolis.
The ordinance regulates the flow of solid
waste in Hennepin County; defines the
geographic area, and the types and
quantities of waste subject to designa-
tion; specifies where solid waste is to be
delivered; and requires that the desig-
nated solid waste be delivered to the
specified point or points of delivery. The
ordinance also establishes procedures
and principles to be followed by the
county in establishing and amending
rates and charges at the designated
facility; exempts from the ordinance
certain materials; and states additional
regulations governing waste collectors
and related collection matters.
E. F. ROBB. JR. PHONE
COMMISSIONER 'Ee,A �\ 348-3084
s
BOARD OF HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
2400 GOVERNMENT CENTER
MINNEAPOLIS. MINNESOTA 55487
December 30, 1985
Mr. E. J. McConVille
4310 Larch Place
Plymouth, ME 55442
Dear Mr. McConVille:
I have received your letter and appreciate your concern for noise
pollution adjacent to the proposed County Road 9 project. The
Department of Transportation also recognizes the potential for noise
pollution and will certainly take steps to minimize it.
As you have stated in your letter, the Department of Transportation
has published some general statements in the EAW regarding their
intent to minimize noise pollution. While these statements are
admittedly quite general, the purpose of the EAW is to investigate
potential problems and cite the most probable solutions. It is the
opinion of the Department of Transportation that earth berms in
conjunction with landscaping is the most feasible solution.
The EAW is prepared very early in the development of a project.
Therefore, specific locations for earth berms cannot be determined for
inclusion in that report. Since that report, however, elevations have
been taken and the following potential locations for earth berms have
been identified:
-- south side east of Zachary Lane
-- north side west of Zachary Lane (adjacent to sports field)
-- south side west of Larch Lane (requires removal of some
existing shrubs and trees)
Since the proposed earth berms cannot be constructed within the
existing right of way, slope easements are required. Also except
where indicated above, the existing berms and landscaping will be
preserved.
:- C ca�—
Please be assured that your concerns as well as the concerns of others
whose neighborhoods abut the project are respectfully reviewed. The
Department of Transportation is aware of these concerns and will do
whatever is feasible to mitigate further noise pollution.
If you have additional questions, comments or concerns, you may
contact Ted Hoffman, Chief Design Engineer, at 935-3381. Also please
feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
E. F. Robb, Jr.
Commissioner
cc: James Willis, Manager, City of Plymouth
Fred Moore, Public Works Director, City of Plymouth
Vern T. Genzlinger, County Engineer A
4310 Larch place
Plymouth, MN 55442
December 2, 1985
Commissioner E. F. Robb
Hennepin County Government Center
300 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
Dear Commissioner Rabb:
This memo is to confirm our telephone conversation of a few
weeks ago regarding the reconstruction of County State Aid
Highway 9 from Interstate 494 tc. Nathan Lane. The purpose
of that conversation was to s-_-1 icit your help in resolving a
concern of area residents related to the noise pollution
caused by the new roadway.
As stated in the Environmental Assessment Worksheet, the
noise level all along the new roadway will exceed MPCA
standards. Since all of this roadway will pass through
residential areas either currently completed or planned in
the future, several thousand people will be exposed to this
pollution.
Our concern is that as of this date, the Hennepin County
Department of Transportation has only published some very
general and vague statements about the County's intent t,-,
use any kind of screening to minimize the effect of the
noise pollution. We feel that the County needs to prepare
detailed plans for screening before starting the
reconstruction to ensure that the screening can be
effectively implemented. We ask your assistance in
identifying the County's plan to minimize the above
mentioned noise pollution.
EJM/sm /
copy:+/Jim Willis
City Manager
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Sincerely,
E. J. McConville
.-L q vJ
December 27, 1985
Mayor -Elect Virgil A.Schneider
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth,Minnesota 55447
Dear Mayor Schneider
Planning Commissioner Chairman Steigerwald has advised me that the
term I am serving on the Planning Commission is about to expire.I
have enjoyed my short tenure and believe I have demonstrated a
benefical contribution to the city.Based on this belief I do seek
reapointment to the Planning Commission.
I look forward to continued service to the city.
2
Geo ge Mellen
17315 24th Ave.N
Plymouth,Minnesota
55447
First Bank
911F System
First Bank System, Inc.
1200 First Bank Place East
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55480
612 370-4343
December 26, 1985
Mr. Jim Willis
City Manager
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth MN 55447
Dear Jim:
D. H, Ankeny, Jr.
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
On November 14, I had the great pleasure of reporting that the
Minneapolis United Way had raised $31,815,988 for this year's campaign
-- a 10.2 percent increase over 1984. Raising this amount of money is
a tremendous accomplishment and the entire Minneapolis community can
be justifiably proud of the results. It couldn't have happened,
however, without your strong support and leadership. I want you to
know how much I appreciate everything you and your associates at City
of Plymouth did to make this campaign so successful.
The 89 percent increase in your Employee Campaign was certainly
instrumental in helping us reach our goal. You are to be
congratulated for this outstanding achievement.
As proud as we are of our success, the real satisfaction comes
with the knowledge that the dollars we raised will return to the
community in the form of services and programs to assist those in
need. I have enclosed a brief report about how your United Way
dollars will work for the community in 1986. Thank you again for
helping to prove that "Love does make the difference" -- the United
Way.
Sincerely,
Pete Ankeny
1985 General Campaign. Chairman
Enclosure
Investing in Our Communities -the United Way
A Report to the Contributor
The United Way provides you — the contributor — with an objective, consistent
and fair vehicle for investing your charitable dollar. During the past year nearly
250 volunteers spent more than 16,000 hours assessing community problems and
evaluating health and human service programs to ensure that your contributions
provide maximum benefits to people in need. During 1986, your United Way dollars
will support nearly 390 programs at 107 health and human service agencies.
The highly successful campaign, combined with lower inflation rates, means that
your 1986 United Way allocations offer real growth in new and expanded program-
ming to meet high priority needs in our communities:
Eighteen new programs and 68 expanded programs are included in the 1986 alloca-
tions portfolio. Five of the new programs are offered by agencies receiving United
Way dollars for the first time: Centro -Legal, Greater Minneapolis Food Bank, North
Suburban Family Services Center, Scott -Carver Economic Council, and T.C.O.I.C.
(Twin Cities Opportunities Industralization Center). New and expanded program
allocations total S1.8 million.
Northside Minneapolis residents face complex and serious problems that continue
to grow. 1986 allocations to programs serving Northside Minneapolis residents in-
creased by 24 percent and include funding for new programs offered by T.C.O.I.C.
and the Minneapolis Urban League as well as expanded funding for 17 programs
which focus on problems as diverse as crime victimization, chronic malnutrition,
emergency needs, and abuse and neglect of children and adults. Allocations to pro-
grams serving Northside Minneapolis total more than S2 million.
The outer county communities (Anoka, Carver, Dakota and Scott county communi-
ties) are experiencing rapid population growth and an increased need for health and
human care services. 1986 allocations to programs serving these communities in-
creased by 41 percent and include funding for five new programs offered by North
Suburban Services, Scott -Carver Economic Council, Scott -Carver Red Cross, and
Lutheran Social Services as well as expanded funding for eight programs which fo-
cus on problems as diverse as chemical abuse, emergency needs, and abuse and ne-
glect of children and adults. Allocations to programs serving outer county communi-
ties total more than S 1 million.
A continuing commitment to young people and their development is reflected in the
1986 allocations portfolio. Over half of all United Way funded agencies offer pro-
grams for young people. Thirty agencies will receive funding for 44 programs that
address the special needs of teenagers. These include two new programs offered by
Minneapolis American Indian Center and Storefront/ Youth Action as well as ex-
panded funding for programs that offer new experiences for city and suburban
youth in the areas of employment, education and counseling. Allocations to pro-
grams serving teenagers total nearly $3 million.
Competition for United Way funding has never been greater. In total, funding re-
quests exceeded available dollars by 22.7 percent. United Way volunteers reviewed
451 program proposals from 153 agencies to develop an allocations portfolio which
strikes a delicate balance between need and available resources, encouraging new
programming in high priority areas and maintaining support for high quality exist-
ing services.
C�c,
HOW YOUR MONEY IS WORKING FOR YOU IN 1956
The United Way
1985 Campaign Pledges............................................................................................................................................................................531.815.988
(less) Pledge loss due to employment changes. etc...........................................................................................................................................(1.670.339)
(less) Designations to other United Ways.................................................................................................`...........................................................(225.000)
InterestIncome, Special Grants and others ................................................................................................................................................ 555.000
NETINCOME............................................................................................................................................................................................... $30.475.649
Administration. Government Relations. Pledge Collections Expenses..........................................................................................................$ 951.000
CampaignExpense............................................................................................................................................................................................. 1.398.000
1 Initpci Wav, of AmPHnn o, c n. n
PROGRAMALLOCATIONS...................................................................................................................................................................... $27.810,739
Programs Provided by United Way:
First Call For Help", Voluntary
855.756
Action Center, Travelers Aid,
151.632
Labor Community Services ......................................
$792.000
Community Planning. Allocations
5,210
and Evaluation............................................................
744.000
Agency Management Development ...................................65,000
5.200
VentureFund......................................................................50,000
5.940
Alexandra House. Inc.........................................................74.200
Amer. Cancer Society ......................................................
855.756
Amer. Diabetes Assn.. MN Affiliate. Inc .........................
151.632
Amer. Heart Assn.. MN Affiliate. Inc ..............................
456,396
Amer. Red Cross, Carver Co . ............................................
5,210
Amer. Red Cross, Mpls. Chapter ..................................
1,919.100
Amer. Red Cross. St. Paul (Dakota Co.) ............................
5.200
Amer. Social Health Assn .................................................
5.940
Anoka Co. Assn. for Retarded Citizens .............................74,257
665.068
Anoka Co. Health & Social Services Dept . .........................
64,797
Arthritis Foundation, MN Chapter ....................................92,328
Assn. for Retarded Citizens, Dakota Co.............................60.145
344.562
Assn. for Retarded Citizens, Hennepin Co .....................
285.481
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Gtr.Mpls ..............................
415,536
Bloomington Public Health Service ....................................33,180
193.202
Boy Scouts of America - Viking Council ........................
484,881
Bridge for Runaway Youth (The) .....................................
199.798
Camp Fire. Mpls. Council ................................................
208.000
Carver Co. Community Social Services .............................36.000
159.012
Catholic Charities, St. Paul/Mpls.................................
1.501.996
Central Center for Family Resources ................................46.800
646.865
Centro Cultural Chicano .................................................
164.040
*Centro-Legal.......................................................................28.484
Cerebral Palsy Center. Inc ...............................................
227.139
Charities Review Council of My .........................................29.765
130.238
Children's Dental Services Assn.......................................11.628
101.607
Children's Home Societv of MN .......................................
346.967
Chrysalis Center for Women ...........................................
194,924
City. Inc. (The)..................................................................
328,890
Community Action Council. Inc ......................................
144,568
Community Clinic Consortium
100.000
The Annex. Beltrami Health Center. Community University
Health Care Clinic, Health Etc. Clinic. Southside
*North Suburban Family Services Center ..........................32,735
Community Clinic, West Suburban Teen Clinic .........
149.430
Community Emergency Assistance Program ................
108.749
Courage Center................................................................
460.756
Domestic Abuse Project. Inc ............................................
258.000
East Side Neighborhood Service. Inc ..............................
649.886
Ebenezer Society.................................................................85.605
Plymouth Christian Youth Center ..................................
EdenHouse.........................................................................51.416
Relate. Inc........................................................................
Emergency Food Shelves in Hennepin Co., Inc- ..............47.700
Residen(Council Services. Inc...........................................67.475
Epilepsy Foundation of MN .............................................
118.902
Family & Children's Service .........................................
1,630.995
Genesis Q for Women, Inc . ..................................................
66,000
Girl Scout Council, Gtr. Mpls..........................................
299,540
Glenwood-Lyndale Community Center. Inc ...................
241,434
Greater Mpts. Council of Churches ....................................52.000
Sojourner Shelter................................................................21.200
Division of Indian Work ...............................................
174,290
*Greater Mpls. Food Bank ...................................................36,000
Storefront/Youth Action ..................................................
Harriet 1bbman Women's Shelter .....................................97,020
Illusion Theater & School. Inc . ...........................................
66,498
Indian Familv Services .......................................................77.430
151.672
Indian Health Board of Mpls.. Inc ...................................
143,661
International Institute of MN ..............................................49.690
Jewish Community Center of Gtr. Mpls.........................
236.351
Jewish Familv & Children's Service ...............................
435.265
Johnson Institute (The).......................................................14.175
Judicare of Anoka Co.. Inc.................................................32.760
Katandin.Inc......................................................................
36.280
Learning Disabilities Assn., Inc. (eLDA) ............................63.000
Legal Advice Clinics. Ltd....................................................14.562
Legal Aid Society of Mpls.................................................
665.068
Legal Rights Center, Inc.....................................................85.550
Loaves and Fishes. 'Ibo .......................................................13.250
Loring Nicollet-Bethlehem Community Centers ............
344.562
Lutheran Social Service of MN ........................................
797.185
MELD..................................................................................25.200
MSB..................................................................................
193.202
Management Assistance Project ........................................36.500
Mental Health Assn. of MN .............................................
164.475
Metropolitan Visiting Nurse Assn ...................................
506.840
Mpis. American Indian Center ........................................
159.012
Mpls. Crisis Nursery...........................................................79.000
Mpls. Urban League........................................................
646.865
Mpls. Youth Diversion ........................................................99.796
MN Assn. for Children & Adults with
Learning Disabilities....................................................
114.243
MN Citizens Council on Crime & Justice ........................
130.238
MN Foundation for Better Hearing and Speech .............
101.607
MN Institute on Black Chemical Abuse .............................91.814
Multi Resource Centers. Inc ............................................
344.402
Nat'l. Council on Aging, Inc ............... ...................................
2.865
Nat'l. Council on Crime & Delinquency ............................
2.200
Na-way-ee........................................................................
100.000
Neighborhood Involvement Program ..............................
175.641
*North Suburban Family Services Center ..........................32,735
Opportunity Workshop. Inc ............................................
113.608
PPL Industries. Inc..............................................................40.000
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center .............................
550.030
Pillsbury United Neighborhood Services. Inc ..............
1.627.091
Pilot City Health Center .....................................................
40.560
Plymouth Christian Youth Center ..................................
135.140
Relate. Inc........................................................................
215.624
Residen(Council Services. Inc...........................................67.475
Rise.Inc............................................................................
126.528
Sabathani Community Center ........................................
301.679
Salvation Army (The) .......................................................
561.474
'Scott -Carver Economic Council .........................................87.400
Senior Citizen Centers of Gtr. Mpts., Inc .........................
390.505
Sojourner Shelter................................................................21.200
Southside Family Nurturing Center ..................................84.000
Storefront/Youth Action ..................................................
148.300
Suburban Community Services .....................................
182.220
Survival Skills Institute ...................................................
151.672
"I'COIC..................................................................................60.000
United Service Organization SO .....
4.050
VailPlace .............................................................................60.833
Wellspring Therapeutic Communities ...............................34.320
YES.....................................................................................76.000
Young Men's Christian Assn. (YMCA) .........................
1,111.700
Young Women's Christian Assn. (YWCA) ......................
815.076
Reserve for emergencies and contingencies ......................90,739
*Newly funded in 1986
11,26/85
Scanticon Corporation
Development and Management of Executive Conference Centers and Hotels `+ z
Jorgon Rood
President and Chief Executive Officer December 27, 1985
Mr. David J. Davenport
Mayor
City of Plymouth
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Dear David,
it is with a special warmth and an enthusiastic feeling 1
look back to your visit to Scanticon-Princeton in October.
To have been given an opportunity to introduce our plans
and concept to you and the city officials of our new
community has inspired all of us very much and has created
a feeling of being a fully accepted member of the City of
Plymouth, our hometown for Scanticon number two in the
USA.
David, thank you for taking the time, together with your
City Council members and others, to meet with me and my
executive team to study first hand the Scanticon concept
and culture, and our plans for the new Scanticon project
in Plymouth. And, thank you for your kind words in the
letters you have sent to us .
I know it must be a very special situation for you these
days to say "good bye" after 11 years with the government
and the political leader of the impressive growth of City
of Plymouth. 1 feel fortunate that we were able to land
the Scanticon project before your leaving the Office.
With the main approval process behind us, you are transfer-
ring a "clean" Scanticon file to your successor.
Please give my best regards to the members of the Plymouth
delegation and a special greeting to the new Mayor of
Plymouth.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to you and
Belle from the Scanticon team, Kirsten and myself.
Since ly,
0.)4—
J
3 •--
Jo gen Roed
Scanticon Corporation, Princeton Forrestal Center, 105 College Road East, Princeton, NJ. 08540
(609)452-8808 TWX: 510.685-2324 (Scancorp prin)
AP PuMkslon
BUSINESS MATTERS
■ Development and construction
Of an ex-
ecutive conference anter and hotel.
was announced by Mr. Jorgen Rood,
president and chief executive officer
of Seaetkon Corp. of Princeton.
Scheduled to open in September
1987, the conference center will be
located on a 21 -acre site in
Plymouth, IS minutes from down-
town Minneapolis and 25 minutes
from the airport. The anter will be
pmt of the new 165 -acre Northwest
Business Campus developed by
Prudential Development Co. of
America.
A joint venture between Scanticon
Corp. and the Prudential Insurance
Co., the conference center will con-
tain 33,000 square feet of dedicated.
specialved meeting space, as well as
240 luxury guest rooms, two
restaurants and recreation anter.
Scanticon- Minneapolis will be
completed a a cost of $40 million.
The construction of Scant-
icon-Mineapolis marks the second
Scanticon project in the U.S.
An internationally recognized
leader in the development and opera-
tion of purpose -designed conference
centers, Scanticon operates its
flagship property, Scant-
imo-Prinaron. Stantirnn's fust ex-
ecuuw confereoa anter was open-
ed in Denmark in 1969.
■ PA Computers and Tele-
cmankatkm will move its head
offices from 707 Alexander Road,
West Windsor, to the Princeton Cor-
ponte Center off Route 1 in South
Brunswick, PA President Stephen
Payne said.
The stove will probably take place
at the beginning of January, a com-
pany spokeswoman said, adding that
the firm, with about 35 employees at
the headquarters, has outgrown the
Alexander Rod offices.
PA Computers and Tele-
communications is involved in con-
sulting and analysis in the areas of
information systems. communication
networks and system integration. The
company has branches in Oakland,
Ca. and Arlington, Va. as well as
eight oversea offices.
■ A package of bills establishing a
New Jersey Development Authori-
ty for Suras Businesses, Minorities
and Women's Este. In in to provide
financing and other assistance to
small, minority and women owned
businesses received final legislative
approval tau week by the General
Assembly.
The authonry would have rhe
power to issue bonds, extend credit,
make twin and loan guarantees,
provide letters of credit, purchase
EARMNGS
Dataram
Dat&arn Corp. has reported net
mixime for the second quarter ended
Oct. 31 was $827.000. or 41 cents a
share, up from the 5392,000. or 20
mats a share, in the prior year's
second quarter.
Revenues to die current quarter
were $4,383,000, a 16 percent in-
crease from the 53.787,000 revenues
of the ccx,,— ie period a year ago.
For the past six monde of this
year, there wit a net profit of
51,917,000, or 96 ceras a share.
- 4 nd to Int year's sat mouth net
los of $1,1114,00, or 90 ata a
dune. Ravin were 58.827,000
this six -moods period. sex mpsed to
$8.104,000 Gar the same period last
year.
Net income included gains from
the sale of marketable securities
&mounting to :102.0110 or 5 cent :
dare, for the current quarter and a
total of $451.000. or 23 men a
Jorgen Road (left), president and CEO of Scanticon Corp. and David Davenport, mayor of Plymouth.
Minn. hold artist's rendition of Scanticon-Minneapolis.
lose or assistattce packages. become
involved in loan participations with
banks and other investors., nuke
arrangements with banks to establish
compensating balances in return for
banks making loans to eligible busi-
nesses.
The authority would be funded
from the proceeds of the sale of
Casino Reinvestment Development
Authonty bonds in the amount of
SL2 million annually for 25 scan.
Fifty percent of money would be
made available to minonties and 50
percent to women: the money would
be invested in accordance with the
distribution formuiar in the Casino
Reinvestment Authority bill (A-688).
The authority may also receive
gifts, grants, loans and other
financial aid from the federal. State.
and local governments and from
individuals, authorities. partnerships
and other entities: application and
commitment fess: investment income
derived when monies are not im-
mediately required for use.
The bill would appropriate
590.000 to he rapid in five annual
installments.
The second measure 4A -I8241
would permit a bank. bank holding
company, savings bank or savings
and loan association to establish
subsidiaries to originate loan and
of 51,873.000 incurred during the
same period of 1984.
Assets exceeded 5100 million for
the first time in the company's his-
tory growing 31 percent during the
last year to 5106.8 million at Sept.
30.
For the first nine months of 1985
direct premiums wnnen totalled
$56.2 million. a 51 percent increase
over the 537.1 million wntten during
the comparable period of 1984.
American Reliance is a mutual
property and casualty insurer opens-
ing in nine states and is head-
quartered in Lawrenceville. The
106 -year-old insurer was recently
named Insurance Company of the
Year by the National Association of
Professional Insurance Agents.
ORS Automation
ORS Automation Inc., of Prince -
Pon has aired third -Quarter revenues
assistance packages for purchase by
the New Jersey Development
Authority for Small Business. Min-
orities and Women Enterprises.
This authority would be estab-
lished by .A-1828.
The loans and assistance packages
would have to meet the underwriting
standards established by .A-1828.
The businesses to which the loans are
made and the assistance provided
must be eligible businesses. that is.
minority or womeen's enterprise.
■ The Senate last week passed
legislation. sponsored by Sen.
Opening
Officials attend last week's
ribbon arthng of the newly
designed Princeton Shopping
Center. They are Barbara
Weinstein (left in photo at right),
designer of the renovation
project from The Hillier Group:
Bob Hillier, president of The
Hillier Group: Carl Peterson,
project coordinator for Gilbane
Co.; Glenn Paul, president of
Clancy -Paul; Bill Mathesius,
Mercer County Executive;
Andrew Saunders, vice
president of George Comfort &
Sons; and Dana Comfort, of
George Comfort & Sons.
Wvnona Lipman, that requites a
certain percentage of state contracts
to be set aside for minority and
women -owned businesses.
The bill 51776. amends the Small
Business Set -Aside Law to include
the minority and women -owned busi-
nesses categories. The bill, which
passed 33-1 and includes the gov-
ernor's recommendations contained
in his conditional veto message. was
sent to the Assembly.
Under the legislation, state con-
tracting agencies would continue to
be required to work toward the goal
of setting aside 15 percent of their
contracts for small businesses.
Another 7 percent of the contracts
must be set aside for minority-owned
businesses and 3 percent for
women -owned businesses.
The Department of Commerce &
Economic Development would set
the regulations on the designation of
prospective small businesses, min-
ority businesses and female bum-
resses seeking to bid on state con-
tracts.
■ The Pennington Business and
Professional Association has an-
nounced final plans for its annual
Holiday Walk Thursday. Dec. 5.
The evening will feature Santa
Claus
while r
open I
augurs
season
The
well I
parucil
Book
Porch.
The N
Pennm
Libra
Precis,
Galle
Chas,
Aroun
Types
Non
non w
inclu
socias
Bvm
Main
Nation
Assoc
Asses
Prince
Send
Char.
Bush
Rine