HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 2003-598CITY OF PLYMOUTH
RESOLUTION 2003-598
ADOPTING PRIORITY ISSUES
FOR THE 2004 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
BE IT RESOLVED by the Plymouth City Council that the following issues are
legislative priorities for the City of Plymouth in the 2004 session:
Taxpayer Bill of Rights. State imposed limits on local government decision making,
such as Minnesota's proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights legislation, are inconsistent with
local accountability and are rigid formula mechanisms that counter representative
democracy and challenge local units of government to plan with financial confidence.
Levy Limits. Levy limits should not be re-enacted for 2005 and beyond. Local
government officials should have the ability to make decisions on local taxation and
service levels.
Wine Sales in Grocery Stores. Eliminating the sale of alcohol to minors has been a top
priority of the City of Plymouth for several years. The City conducts compliance checks
and has adopted a Best Practices Program. The City of Plymouth opposes the proposal to
allow wine sales in grocery stores or other venues where currently prohibited. The limit
on points of sale for alcohol aids in preventing youth access to alcohol.
Emergency Preparedness. Additional measures have been identified as necessary for
improved emergency preparedness at the state and local levels including training for local
fire and law enforcement personnel, additional detection and decontamination capability,
additional vaccinations/antidotes and protective equipment, and improved interagency
communications. The Legislature should support and fund these activities at both state
and local levels to improve our readiness to meet emergency conditions that may arise
from either natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
CriMNet. The City of Plymouth urges continued support and funding of CriMNet, as
well as improvements to enhance the integrity of the system.
Firefighter Staffing. Shortage of paid -on-call and volunteer firefighters is a statewide
issue. The City of Plymouth encourages the State to enact legislation to enhance
recruitment and retention of paid -on-call and volunteer firefighters. Consideration could
be given to providing tax credits and supplemental disability insurance.
Affordable and Life Cycle Housing. Economic and demographic trends indicate that
Minnesota's population is aging and workers need more affordable housing closer to
where they work. The region's population age 65 and older will likely double from the
year 2000 to 2020. Jobs in Plymouth are projected to increase approximately 27% during
the same period. Housing is both a statewide and local issue. The City urges the
Legislature to maintain and increase resources to the extent possible in order to
encourage the development of affordable housing for both of these groups. Local
property taxes should not be relied upon to fund housing programs because they increase
the cost of housing for those most in need and have regressive impacts.
Surface Water Quality Plans. As mandated by the State, the City Council has adopted a
surface water quality plan and committed significant local funds for implementation.
Because lakes and watersheds often cross municipal boundaries, the City Council
requests that the State maintain and increase funding or bonding, to the extent possible,
for water quality improvements to enhance funding at the local level.
Transportation Funding. The entire economy benefits from a sound and adequately
funded transportation system. To adequately address growing congestion, this system
must be multi -modal. Consequently, significantly greater resources are needed to provide
high quality, efficient systems that include both transit and highways. The City
encourages the Legislature to identify long-term funding sources with growth potential
that will increase transportation funding to levels that will allow the building of high
quality, efficient metropolitan and local transit and highway systems. In addition, local
elected officials should continue to be included in MnDOT's decision-making process
when state -aid roads and highways are planned in a city.
Sales tax exemption on local government purchases. When the State was experiencing
a budget shortfall in 1992, the Legislature repealed the sales tax exemption for local
government purchases. Cities now pay state sales tax for purchases of items such as road
maintenance equipment and building materials. Since the Legislature provided no
additional state aids to offset the cost, this policy effectively increased local property
taxes to finance state government operations. The City supports legislation to reinstate
the sales tax exemption for all local government purchases.
Local control of residential speed limits. State law currently controls speed limits on
residential streets, with limited exception. Legislation is requested to allow more
flexibility for local officials to establish speed limits for residential streets that do not
have an impact on neighboring cities.
Construction Delays by Utility Companies. The City has experienced significant
project delays due to lack of timely response by utility companies in relocating utilities.
Legislation is requested to require that if a utility company fails to relocate utilities in a
timely manner and causes a delay in a construction project, they shall reimburse the City
and contractor for costs incurred due to the delay.
Sales Tax Exemption for Plymouth Ice Center Expansion. The original Plymouth Ice
Center was built under Mighty Ducks legislation, which included a provision for sales tax
exempt status on the construction. Because much of the cost for the current expansion
project is being donated through partners in a joint collaboration, the project is worthy of
consideration for tax exempt status.
Adopted by the Plymouth City Council on December 16, 2003.