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2004-03-05 Friday NewsThe Friday News March 5, 2004 Snowy Day I watched the Channel 4 News last night at 10:00 p.m. where Paul Douglas told me that he only expected 1-3 inches of snow by morning — being that I'm optimistic I expected only 1 inch. At six a.m. when my wife looked out of the window she reported to me that there was "a ton of snow out there". When we turned on the morning news, we saw lots of school closings and snarled traffic. (My kids eagerly watched TV hoping SSP School would be closed, but it wasn't even though Sibley was.) My unofficial guess of the snowfall amount, is 10 inches. I predict snowfall amounts by looking out my rear window at the picnic table on my deck. Many of City Hall workers took the day off. Some tried to come in, but then decided to turn around and go back home. Fortunately a member of us live close and/or are brave, and City Hall was open in time for business today. Welcome to a typical Minnesota winter. PW started plowing the wet, heavy snow at 7:00 a.m. this morning, but it is slow going. They hope to be done by 3:30 this afternoon. Ecolab to Leave Mendota Heights We learned this week that Ecolab will be selling their research and development facility located at the intersection of Sibley Memorial Highway (TH13) and Wachtler Avenue (CR8) and moving into the old Cray facility located in Eagan. (See attached article) We are all sad to see Ecolab go — they have been such a wonderful business to have in our City. We will now have to work with a new owner to determine a new firture for the site. Digital Imaging for Mendota Heights Over the last several years Mendota Heights has been budgeting fields to build up a "War Chest" to use to purchase the equipment to digitize the City's records. We had learned that Dakota County staff was extremely happy with their digitizing system. Thursday, Kathy Swanson, Linda Shipton, Guy Kullander and I took a trip to Hastings to look at their system and talk to their staff about it. They use e-doc software and all their staff members that were involved in the demonstration gushed over the system. When we buy our system this is one that we certainly should put high on our list. Having sales people tell you a system is great is one thing, but when people you know confirm it, that makes you much more comfortable with the purchase. If you read the morning paper you will have noticed that Dakota County offices had a bomb threat yesterday — we went down after lunch, so we missed the threat, but all of their staff was still talking about it when we arrived. Respectfully Submitted, Jim Danielson Administrator Attachments: Just the Facts, The Pipeline, Plamiing Application Synopsis, ARC Agenda, email from Mario Reyes, Letter from Comcast, AMM Bill Tracking Report, Articles from The CDA Today "Village Commons in Mendota Heights Dedicated, & "CDA Commissioners Reappointed Officers Elected", Article from the Gisborne Herald "Minnesota councilor compares notes", Article from South-West Review" Dodge Nature Center hires new director", Article from Twin Cities.com "Ecolab R&D moving", The Gun Club Gazette, and the Friday Fax Issue # 12 March 5th, 2004 !/44l ; TA e The DAC 02-26-2004 0036 hours Mendota While S/B on Lexington from Hwy 110 Officer Tanner Spicer Heights stopped a car that did not turn off its high beam headlights as it Police approached. When Officer Spicer made contact with the driver, he advised that he would have turned off his high beams but he Department didn't have low beams. Officer Spicer requested driver's license and was told by the driver that he did not have it with him. A quick computer check by name revealed the man was cancelled. Support Theft 02-26-2004 1143 hours Staff The complainant reported that she heard, from the back room, Bekky Trost someone enter her business and hollered that she would be right Cathy Ransom up. By the time she made it to the front, the party had removed Police Officers the cash from the cash drawer and was driving away. Officer Jerry Murphy Patrick reported the suspect was a male with gray hair driving a Yvette Tillery big beige 4 -door. Lee Flandricb Gas Drive Off(s) 02-26-04 2050 hours to 03-03-04 1058 hours Scott Patrick During the course of the past week, officers took 5 gas drive -off Bobby Lambert (thefts of gas) calls. The officers issued citations on one of the Eric Petersen offenses. Made contact with dad on one. On another the driver Tener Spicer Todd returned and paid. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Department Thad Willson checked an address in Bagley to see if a mini -van still lived there Jeff VonFeldt on yet another. One license plate came back "not on file" Jennifer Hurst meaning the license number was written down wrong by the victim. The officers are still investigating the most recent theft. Investigations THE PRICE OF GAS WENT UP THIS WEEK! Mario Reyes Identity Theft Investigation Brian Convery March Td a Dakota County deputy stopped a car for having a headlight out. As a result of the stop, they found the driver had a Sergeants fake DL with the information from a victim of identity theft in MH Donn Anderson and the drivers picture was on the license. In the car the deputy Neil Garlock located numerous items related to check fraud as well as an John Larrive assortment of stolen property. During the subsequent interview Investigator Brian Conve cleared u 31 check forgeries. This Chief 9 rY p 9 C e Mike person assisted officers in locating their supplier and a warrant Aschenbrener was drafted for a residence in Hastings. The warrant yielded more property from MH and their supplier of stolen ID's and paperwork in Hastings. On March 5th the DCSO executed -1- Issue # 12 March 5th, 2004 another warrant based on information from the previous warrants, and determined that the main supplier of information was a resident of our service area. On March 8th a warrant was executed at that residence. The suspect fled as the SWAT team was arriving. The suspect forced his way into an attached garage and then into the occupied residence. He was arrested a short time later and is currently in the DC jail. The investigators are still sorting through all of the information (4 warrants worth) obtained as the result of one traffic stop for having a headlight out! IVIAAG Call Out 03-01-04 1550 hours MHPD officers assisted on a shots fired complaint in WSP. Officers Eric Petersen and Bobby Lambert (the MHPD representative on the MAAG team) were on scene during the entire call -out. After evacuating the building and obtaining a search warrant the team entered the suspect's apartment found it unoccupied. The one paragraph DUI or DWI primer I get asked the question a lot as to what the law actually states. MSS Chapter 169A is officially titled "Driving While Impaired." In 2000 the law was completely rewritten and moved out of the traffic law chapter of 169. It was intended to be a comprehensive overhaul. 169A.24 First-degree driving while impaired, is a DWI arrest within ten years of three or more qualified prior impaired driving incidents. A person who commits a first-degree DWI is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than seven years, or the payment of a fine of not more than $14,000 or both. 169A.25 Second-degree driving while impaired, is an arrest for DWI when two or more aggravating factors are present at the time of arrest or the person refuses to provide a test, and one aggravating factor is present at the time of arrest. Second-degree DWI is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable as such; plus the person is subject to long term monitoring. 169A.26 Third-degree driving under the influence, is when a person is arrested for DUI and one aggravating factor is present at the time of arrest or the person refuses to submit to a chemical test. Third-degree DWI is also punishable as a gross misdemeanor (GM). 169A.27 Fourth -degree driving while impaired is violation of 169A.20 with no aggravating factors. Aggravating factors include, 1) qualified prior impaired driving incident within the ten years immediately preceding the current offense, 2) having an alcohol concentration of .20 or more as measured within 2 hours of the offense, 3) having a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle at the time of the offense if the child is 36 months younger than the offender. The current BAC limit that is allowable under MSS for a person under 18 YOA = .00; for an adult operating a commercial vehicle - .04; for everyone else .10. For a quick comparison one 12oz beer = one 5oz glass of wine = one 1.25oz glass of 80 proof liquor. To reach a .10 on a full stomach, a 180 lb man would need to consume 5 drinks in 90 minutes, a 140 lb woman would need to consume 3 drinks in 90 minutes. For the complete Minnesota State Statutes on DWI / DUI law follow this link: hftp://www.revisor.le.g.state.mn.us/cqi-bin/qetstatchap.pl and for the full story on traffic safety efforts in MN follow this link: hftp://www.dps.state.mn.us/ots/defauIt.asp. DWI law changes quickly in every aspect; except that we have not been able to reduce the number of deaths related to alcohol and driving to zero. In 2003 there were 239 alcohol-related fatalities and 4,221 injuries. Drive safely and have a great weekend! X/A (D NEWS M LETTER The Pmipeline Public Works Engineering March 4, 2004 Code Enforcement Public Works Rich put a valve box extension on a water main valve box at Miriam Street and Chippewa Avenue. He helped the Parks Crew pull the pump on the Rogers Lake aerator and removed another muskrat. Rich responded to a power outage alarm that was set off at the Vernoica Lane lift station due to a power interruption. The Street Crew reinstalled stop signs and street name signs at LeMay Lake Road and Mendota Heights Road. They picked up a Christmas tree on Apache Lane that someone deposited there. They cut down broken tree limbs overhanging the street on Mendota Heights Road and Executive Drive. They repaired a broken wing slide on the grader. There were no snow events for the week, but they loaded trucks with sand in preparation for the winter snowstorm that is predicted for the area beginning on Friday. The Parks Crew worked on the aerator at Rogers Lake with Rich's help. They devoted time reorganizing shelving and doing some spring clean up in their back shop area. They also checked for sod damage along the bituminous pedways. Engineering Marc Mogan met with George Burkards of United Properties last week to discuss the City's involvement and options for rebuilding the City's retaining wall that collapsed adjacent to the retention pond near their new building under construction at Pilot Knob Road and Enterprise Drive in the industrial park. This item will be placed on an upcoming agenda for Council consideration. The Engineering Department was notified of a water main break near 641 3rd Avenue on Sunday. St. Paul Regional Water Service crews were able to complete the repairs that same day, and damage was minimal. Engineering sent out public hearing notices to residents of the Somerset neighborhood in preparation of the upcoming public hearing for the Somerset Street Reconstruction Project that is scheduled for the second meeting in March. Code Enforcement A permit was issued to Imperial Developers for sewer and water service to the United Properties' JES commercial building under construction at 2400 Pilot Knob Road. United Properties' client plans to occupy the building by the end of April. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS March 5, 2004 TO: City Council, Connnission Members, and City Administrator FROM: Patrick C. Hollister, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Planning Application Synopsis The Planning Commission will discuss the following items at their March 23, 2004 meeting: Planning Case 404-07 Patrick J. Donohue Front Yard Setback Variance for a Garage Addition 1924 Walsh Lane Planning Case #04-05 Amendment to the "I" Industrial Zone For schools and professional training CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION AGENDA March 10, 2004 — Large Conference Room 1. Call to Order - 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of January 14, 2004 & February 11, 2004 Minutes 4. Unfinished and New Business: a. Introduction Packet b. NOC Issues C. City Administrator Update 5. Acknowledlze Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence: a. January 2004 ANOM Technical Advisor's Report b. January 2004 ANOM Eagai-/Mendota Heights Departure Corridor Analysis C. Airport Noise Report, February 6, 2004. d. Airport Noise Report, February 13, 2004. e. Airport Noise Report, February 20, 2004. f. Airport Noise Report, February 23, 2004. g. Airport Noise Report, February 27, 2004. 6. Other Commissioner Comments or Concerns 7. Public Comments 8. Adiourn Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids. This may not, however, be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at (651) 452-1850 with requests. James Danielson From: Mario Reyes Sent Thursday, March 04.2OU42:34PK8 To: MHTS Subject: Internet class On Saturday m-12:3OpmsdFriendly Hills Middle School #197.Mendota Heights, West St.Pau|Police Depts & the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will be putting on a class to raise awareness to problems of Sexual Predators on the Internet. They will cover safety tips on how to safelyd monitor the of the Ccomcast Comcast Cable Communications, Inc 10 River Park Plaza St Paul, MN 55107-1219 February 25, 2004 Mr. Jim Danielson Administrator, City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 551.18-4106 RE: Straight Talk Regarding Victory Sports Dear Jim: Television coverage of the Minnesota Twins and Mr. Carl Pohlad's newly created "Victory Sports One" have received significant media attention in recent weeks. In fact, yesterday's Star Tribune reported that Mr. Pohlad's Victory Sports will soon launch a significant media campaign and that Victory will launch a website today (enclosed). According to that article, Victory President Kevin Cattoor says that the website "will have key messages and give people a place to go so they can communicate their concerns to the appropriate people who can influence this issue," such as cable commissions and city councils. To help place these recent actions in perspective, we've detailed Comcast's current sports programming lineup, and specifically, television coverage of the Minnesota Twins. Comcast: Your Preeminent Source for Regional Sports Programming Comcast is proud of our reputation as the pre-eminent provider of regional sports programming in the Twin Cities. Through Fox Sports Net, our customers enjoy broad- based regional sports programming as part of our Standard Cable lineup. This broad- based service includes our local National Hockey League franchise, the Minnesota Wild; our local National Basketball Association franchise, the Minnesota Timberwolves; a diversity of University of Minnesota athletics (including championship Gophers hockey) and much more. In addition, Standard Cable includes Comcast's Channel 13 (the television home of the St. Paul Saints baseball team), and all of the local broadcast stations such as Channels 4, 5, 9, 11, and 45, which carry Minnesota teams. We are proud to report that, in the Twin Cities, Comcast delivers local sports! Comcast: Home of Diverse Sports Programming In addition to our extensive offering of local and regional sports, we are also proud of our reputation as the best source for the rich diversity of all other sports programming including ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, Outdoor Life Network, The Speed Channel, The Golf Channel and WGN, USA Network and many more. Some of these networks also carry regional games of special interest in our area, such as the upcoming Big Ten Basketball Tournament to be seen on ESPN in March. Comcast: Great Home Entertainment Value As the United States General Accounting Office's October 2003 report on cable television noted, over the past three years for which data is available (1999-2002), the cost of sports programming to cable operators has increased by 59 percent —five times the rate of inflation (and substantially more than the rate of our local price adjustments). In the face of these and other programming cost increases, Comcast has aggressively sought to bring broad-based programming to customers at a price that has assured high value. To do so, we have offered services on the Basic and Standard Cable service levels that have broad appeal and are made available to us at a reasonable cost. To accommodate specialty or higher cost services, we have upgraded and expanded our system to be able to offer specialty or "niche" tiers of service and packages. Comcast and Baseball Comcast is a great source for televised coverage of baseball. We'll carry at least 33 Minnesota Twins games in 2004 on local broadcast television (KSTC-TV and KMSP- TV), along with any nationally televised games on ESPN or ESPN2, including the postseason. For example, ESPN and ESPN2 are scheduled to carry 155 games during the upcoming regular season. Meanwhile, Superstation WGN will carry over 100 Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games this season, while WTBS will feature 78 Atlanta Braves games. In addition to the Major League Baseball offerings on Standard Cable, customers who want more can choose the MLB Extra Innings digital pay-per-view package. Over 900 games for out -of -market (non -Twins) games will be available to customers over the course of the regular season. (Blackout restrictions apply to the Twins.) Minnesota Twins/Victory Sports Initiative For the past six seasons, Comcast and Fox Sports Net (formerly Midwest Sports Channel) brought customers more than 100 Minnesota Twins games a year, all as part of our Standard Cable lineup. Fox Sports Net is a network with broad appeal and more than 3 million customers in the region. Recently, Mr. Pohlad created Victory Sports One and pulled the Twins games off Fox Sports Net. Victory Sports also secured the rights to some Golden Gopher basketball games and a limited number of other teams. Much of Victory Sports' other programming is ESPN News — which it carried almost 60 percent of its telecast hours during one recent week --- duplicating a service that is already available to Comcast customers. The Star Tribune has recently reported that: ■ Victory Sports seeks approximately $2.20 per subscriber per month; ■ Victory Sports is requiring that Victory be included in Standard Cable (Expanded Basic) service, not on a digital tier; and, ■ Victory Sports has reached agreement with no major cable operators or satellite providers, (see Star Tribune, February 23, 2004, enclosed). 01 The Star Tribune has also reported that Victory has refused to look at proposals from Fox to return the Twins games to Fox Sports Net, which reportedly would offer to double the amount the Twins received last year and which Fox says would put the Twins in the top tier of major league teams, (see Star Tribune, February 23, 2004, enclosed). Comcast and Victory Sports Comcast has had discussions with Victory Sports representatives and is willing to continue the discussions. However, for reasons we're confident you will appreciate, we do not comment publicly on negotiations with programming partners or potential partners. Irrespective of the specifics of any proposal, however, Mr. Pohlad and his Victory Sports are asking Comcast customers to pay additional money, for a second channel, just to get the Twins coverage they had last year (which was provided on Fox Sports Net at no additional cost to customers). Overall, our customers don't want to pay more for the same programming. Our customer research shows more than 60 percent of our customers said they weren't willing to pay Mr. Pohlad and Victory anX extra amount for a second channel to carry the Twins. They told us it should be available on some kind of enhanced service or on a pay-per-view basis. We hope this information is helpful. In addition, for your reference we have enclosed a set of talking points which are used by our Customer Account Executives and may be helpful in answering constituents' questions. At Comcast, we remain committed to provide customers great service, great choice and great value, and we will keep you informed as this and other issues evolve. In the interim, if you would like to discuss this issue further, please do not hesitate to contact me at (651) 493-5281. Sincerely, Kathi Donnelly -Cohen Director of Government Affairs Enclosures (3) 11 �i J F VictoryPresidentDevin Cat- F Sp N, ze,-,-Cays toor said the fact the offer wasn't even looked;.at is an in_, dicatiori of how. serious Carl it Pohlad is about, his network. "Nothing-.has";changed," .. "Will Cattoor said. "Before 1 called ' ; [Thompson) .back last time,I . ai n i nmet with the Pohlads and that was .their, response. If -they I ■ Aft r ' choose to see if they: can come in town and,n eet.with him; so T be it. Me launched Victory m ByluddZulgad Octob.ex. asci;, are:,moying Star Tnbune Staff Writer ahead:" Victory has distribution on Bob Thompson might be' . 22 cable systems around the: frustrated, buthe isn't about to ^: Upper Midwest and is in about up 90,000 -homes; but no agree-! give The FiI Sports Net,presi ments have been reached with dent, said despite . the fact .' major cable operators orsatel-, Twins aiid Ucto ry{ p" lite.proyiders. Than includes _ offic,ais'wciuld ,notlook at his Comcast. and":.Time, Warner, which; serve much •of the met - latest proposal -fon the team's television :rights;; he will colt 1 ;_ ropolitan.area.:.: 'issues tinue his quest to get the club's. Among the are Vic - games back; on •FSNNorth ; , tory :s approximate asking price .Find that might include tak- of $2.20 .per: subscriber, along ing the offer.all :the way to Carl i�dth the fact network: officials ; Pohlad; .wl o owns both the:-,, want,the •service to be put on Twins andVictory' y the expanded;basic tier and not .4,We ivill start ng oii an offer [this] week; 'said Thomp dI tal : ,vWt, ;- „ "To lie quite: honest one of ; son; vho_is';in'cllarge of the 27 the reasons we, are - doing -,.this-, FSNs In the country 'I have to noia,:is:we thlrllc we can,'provide ; get some indication,'this isn't i a solution to._the.situatian;" j "We` going to4fali on deaf ;ears.. But.. ..!Thompson g g said canf et, seven If I doz t get',that Indica , the. Twins the <iype.;of; money:. tion; It has ,never`stoppe'd"me they are looku g %nand,make . before` frond picking ',up' he the distributors: happy. {FSN;);is ,., phone -and calling; somebody:, � a service thev ale already carry-, , who I tllink will listen. If that's ing I zn :probablyoversimpHfy - ri. Carl Pohlad or [Carl'sson) Jim, ; irlg .the whole;issue,;,f, it ter Pohlad,:so.he,it..Ijust: wa:nt.to ; ? taiy,,pnpaper'it seems tome make sure they are seeing what there is a basis. for this• deal,to is out there."- ; , I lye done If people want it to , , What Thompson .put,iut there :in the past few weeks was So far Thompson .has "re- a multiyear proposal: -that_ , spected .the ,chain` 10 comF would have,included addition-. ' Mand','. as he puts it;' talk ng` al money to shut down Victory,; ,; with Victory executives; and , which launched in October Cat toorinparticular,about'the-:. and is, set -to. catry J 05, -games Twins':irights..:But Thompson-.;. this season: sounds as if the next<call might, ;,Thompso,n :refused, to go,;,., go dire tiv;to.tho:,Pohlads into specks, but the deal was.: ".I'm surprised and ,a little i believed to be, for 10 years and „ frustrated, "he said of the situa-. start with an :annual rights fee ' : tion: `'If ...you,;go back, it seems. of about $12 million; with that ;: allalong the Twins were doing number escalating in subse-• ", this [launching Victory) 'be- quest years: ;; cause cewere not paying them "We were prepared.xo male enough:. Now- I'm ata point a proposal ,`.had we -been able a;: where l certainly consider this to — thaVwould;have been: :, an attractive,;offer that would - about, doAle :of what they got :,: e pay them comparable,to every last. year."from. us;" :, Thompson>, other.team;.a-nd:it's.a little fres-_, said: `Suffice to say,:it would '; trating that 'they-yvon't,even lis - have !put.tbe Twirls in the,top,. ten' tier of major league teams, -and IuddZulgadzsiat: would have :been '.Pore: --than-.' jzulgad@slurtribunexom. fair marketvalue 'f .,„' m Comcast. Talking Points Victory Sports One February 25, 2004 SITUATION On October 31, Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad launched his own regional sports network called Victory Sports One, in order to achieve exclusive control over the broadcast rights to Twins baseball. He also acquired the rights, from ESPN and the Big Ten athletic conference, to broadcast approximately half of the University of Minnesota men's basketball games for the 2003-04 season. According to recent press reports, Victory Sports has also acquired telecast rights to the NCAA Division I men's hockey semifinals and regional finals, as well as the Division I wrestling semifinals and men's lacrosse quarterfinals. The University of Minnesota is the two-time defending NCAA hockey champion and current defending national wrestling champion. MESSAGES & TALKING POINTS • We have had discussions with Victory representatives and are willing to talk further with them. We do not comment on negotiations with programming partners or potential partners. • What Carl Pohlad and Victory are asking Comcast customers to do is pay additional money for a second channel just to get the Twins coverage they had last year — at no additional cost — on Fox Sports Net. • Overall, our customers don't want to pay more for the same programming. Our customer research shows more than 60 percent of our customers said they weren't willing to pay Carl Pohlad and Victory anX extra amount for a second channel to carry the Twins. They told us it should be available on some kind of enhanced service or on a pay-per-view basis. • About Twins and sports coverage: Comcast remains the leading provider of regional and national sports programming. We'll carry 27 Twins games in 2004 on local broadcast television, along with any nationally televised games on Fox or ESPN (six Twins games are scheduled for Fox national coverage), including the postseason. Comcast will also carry several University of Minnesota Golden Gopher basketball games in the 2003-04 season. In addition, we will continue to carry Fox Sports Net --- North, ESPN and more than a dozen other sports networks for our customers. Comcast. About Victory's unwillingness to negotiate with Fox Sports Net: It's astonishing to hear that Victory won't even consider an offer from Fox Sports Net -- North to carry Twins games, especially if the offer would put the Twins in the upper echelon of baseball TV rights deals. Comcast customers and customers of the other television providers in the Twin Cities area already get Fox Sports Net – North. Fox Sports Net is already the leading regional sports network and has the Wild, the T -Wolves, and much more. Fox Sports Net already has the experience of producing hundreds of Twins telecasts. Why won't Victory at least consider a potential solution that would give Carl Pohlad more money and give Twins fans a chance to see Twins baseball without having to pay more for an additional channel? About Victory reps saying we should eat the costs of the channel: He is essentially asking Comcast customers and/or Comcast to subsidize Carl Pohlad's latest business venture. Now in it's fifth decade in the industry, Comcast has built a reputation for investing heavily in upgraded broadband networks, offering advanced products and services, backing up those products with local customer service, and delivering the most value for the customer's entertainment dollar. • About the "free offer": Carl Pohlad and Victory have made it clear that the "free" offer will not apply to Twins baseball. Once baseball season starts, it's as simple as this: Pohlad and Victory are asking you to pay additional money for a second channel to get Twins coverage you got last year — at no additional cost — on Fox Sports Net. Providing this service to our customers for a few short months without a long-term agreement is not a good solution for anyone. Background info on the Twins and Comcast sports coverage: For the past six seasons, Comcast and Fox Sports Net - North (formerly Midwest Sports Channel) brought customers more than 100 Minnesota Twins games a year, all as part of our Expanded Basic cable package. Carl Pohlad's Victory Sports pulled the Twins games off Fox Sports Net, a network with broad appeal and more than 3 million customers in the region. Victory Sports also secured the rights to some Golden Gopher basketball games and a limited number of other teams. Much of Victory Sports' other programming is ESPN News — which it carried almost 60 percent during one recent week -- duplicating a service that is already available to Comcast customers. Fox Sports Net brings fans the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Minnesota Wild, University of Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey and much more to an audience of more than 3 million subscribers. Victory Sports, a startup network with far fewer premier attractions, is reportedly available to approximately 90,000 rural cable households throughout the region. It has no carriage agreement with any major cable or satellite provider in the Twin Cities. AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 1 of 14 AMM Bill Tracking Report 11 Tuesday, March 2, 2004 AS M MI 1Index Municipalneral Legislation ousing & Economic Metropolitan I Revenue & r Development 7 Agencies Taxation • IA • 2A Seasonal * 3C ALHOA Formula Change • 4F Le islative Constitutional Weight Limit - Oversight of the Amendment - for Garbage e 3Q Economic Development Met Council Tax and Expenditure Trucks Responsibilities Limits • 4G Zoning • 21AMAI-n-dates-A e 3H Tax -Increment-Financiniz Around I Local Authority_ y_ Airports • 1B LGA a 3H Tax Increment Financing• 2A Land -Use (TIF) e 4G Co. Plat • 1G Metro Moratoriums Authority --7 Transit Aid (ARMR) CSAH City Reduction 9 31 State Role in Approval MWIC Restoration e 2A Crimnet Redevelopment/Reinvestment Repealed Delay Unfunded Local Mandate e 31 Development Grant e 4M Regional • IZ Purchase of Program Parks P_rQpg_rty_4Y_a * ZAMandates -&- Public Local Authority * 4Z -Entity Comprehensive Planning -_Lake 9 2C Firearms on _ E.Im-o City Property * 2D Salary_iQjp e 2EII I -Feel Metropolitan Radio Board e 2F Metropolitan Radio Board * 2Z Eminent Domain * 2Z Reverse l'ittp://www.Imnc.org/aiini-1/repoi-t.cfii-i 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 2 of 14 Policy HFile HAuthor HStatus Title/Summary euorES IA Constitutional Amendment - sf Sen. Tax 1073 Bachman, Con Secondary Tax and Expenditure Limits - Michelle Policies: - -February 13, 2004 This bill proposes a constitutional - amendment that would impose strict revenue and expenditure limits on both the state and local governments. Annual increases in local government revenues and expenditures would be limited to inflation plus growth in property value, unless higher figures were approved by the voters. LB F—I F;7--] Tax LGA --February 4, 2004 1 F Sen, Fax http:Hwww.ltmlc.org/an,im/report.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 3 of 14 http://www.lmnc.org/ailn-i,i/repoi-t.cfiii 3/2/2004 1782 Solberg, Committee This bill would eliminate the counting of 1577 Hottinger, Corr Secondary Loren taconite aids when computing LGA, add John Policies: - $1 million to the LGA appropriation for 2005, and set increasing appropriation amounts for'06, '07 and'08. IG hf Rep. Tax Metro Transit Aid Reduction sf Sen. Bakk. Tax( 2332 Dorman,Committee - MVHC Restoration Delay 2100 Thomas Secondary Dan Policies: February 26, 2004 This bill would increase the 2005 LGA IC, 113 appropriation from $437M to $497M by reducing transit aid in the metro area, not restoring the 2004 Market Value Homestead Credit(MVHC) cuts as scheduled, and using $20M of federal funds. It would also eliminate the counting of taconite aid from the ability -to -pay measure of the current LGA formula. The bill authorizes a metropolitan property tax to replace the lost transit aid. Other Identical bills: SF 2353, Sen. Stumpf SF 2378, Sen. Skoe lZ hf Repo Tax Purchase of Property by a 17814 Thissen, Committee Public Entity --February 4, 2004 Secondary Paul This bill says that when the state or a Policies: - political subdivision acquires taxable real property and that property becomes tax exempt, the state or political subdivision must pay to all other taxing jurisdictions levying property taxes on the property either a portion of the taxes due for that property every year for five years or a lump sum payment at the time of acquisition. 2A hf 722 Rep. Civil Law Seasonal Weight Limit for sf 457 Sen. Fina Erhardt, Garbage Trucks --February 25, Belanger, Secondary Ron William Policies: - 2004 Expands the current exemption for recycling trucks from seasonal limits on truck axle weights to include trucks carrying household refuse or garbage in political subdivisions that mandate curbside pickup. A compromise among city, county, state, and refuse collectors was adopted in the House Transportation Finance Committee and sent to the Cival Law Committee. The HF now allows up to 7 tons per single axle for recycling and refuse vehicles until July 1, 2005. A study is currently underway and the study committee will make recommendation on this issue to the http://www.lmnc.org/ailn-i,i/repoi-t.cfiii 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 4 of 14 http://ww-w.Irnnc.org/a1Tun/report.cfin 3/2/2004 legislature in early 2005. The amended bill also changes a weight limit violation from a criminal to a civil penalty. AMM reluctantly supports this amendment. 2A hf Rep.. House floor Mandates & Local Authority sf Sen. Sen, 171.7 Lanning, --February 20, 2004 1.790 Dibble, Morrie Scott This bill would increase the threshold for competitive bidding for small ciites and the purchase limit for city managers in plan B cities. It would also authorize the use of reverse auctions and electronic bidding. NOTE. After being amended in committee, the House and Senate versions of this bill are now slightly different. The Senate version increases the purchasing authority of plan B city managers to $20,000 rather than $25,000 as the House version does. 2A hf Rep_ House floor Land -Use Moratoriums sf Sen. Stat; 2021 Buesgens, (ARMR) --February 23, 2004 2274 Vickerman, Loc; Secondary Mark Jim Ope This is one of the four bills being pushed Policies: - by the Alliance for Reasonable Municipal ' Regulations (ARMR). It would eliminate cities' ability to extend land -use moratoriums beyond one-year. The House version of the bill was amended in committee to allow a 6 month extension to a moratorium under the same circumstances that a city is currently allowed to extend the 60 day rule. 2A Crimnet Unfunded Local sf Sen. Crin Mandate --February 20, 2004 2079 Ortman, Prey Secondary Julianne, and Policies: - Establishes a Crimnet Local User Safe Implementation Plan by the Commissioner ' of Public Safety and the Criminal and Juvenile Information Policy Group by December 31, 2005 setting forth the cost and mandated standards for inclusion of all local users by December 31, 2009. All cities and counties with local police will be mandated to pay an annual fee of between $2,000 and $25,000 based on population to pay off the bonds issued to develop the Crimnet system. The bill does not provide for the State Public Safety Department to pay anything. 2A hf Rep.. Local Mandates & Local Authority sf Sen. Loc; 2270 Adolphson, Government --February 20, 2004 2067 Vickerman, Gov Secondary Peter and Metropolitan p This bill is sponsored by the Minnesota Jun and O p e Policies: - Newspaper Association. It makes http://ww-w.Irnnc.org/a1Tun/report.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 5 of 14 _ Affairs numerous technical changes and authorizes several electronic means for public bidding and notification. In most instances the electronic means supplement, but do not replace, current publication requirements. 2C Firearms on City Property -- sf Sen. Solon, Crin February 4, 2004 1654 Yvonne_e, Prey Secondary This bill would amend last year's Citizens and Safe Policies: - Personal Protection Act to give local units Con - of government the authority to ban guns in public buildings and parks by posting signs at all entrances. 21) hf Rep. Local Gov.Salary Cap --February 4, 2004 1759 Erhardt, and Metro This bill would eliminate local Second �' Ron — Affairs government employees from the list of Policies: - Committee those subject to the state salary cap. 2_E_. hf Rep.. Local Gov. & 91.1 Fee / Metropolitan Radio sf Sen. Jobs 2060 Hilstrom, Metro Affairs Board -'February 27, 2004 1972 Ranu-m, and Secondary Debra Committee Jane Con Policies: Dev This bill would increase the maximum 911 Con 2F -- emergency telephone service fee to 60 cents and appropriate the resulting revenue to local public safety answering points (PSAPs). Additionally, this bill would eliminate the sunset of the Metropolitan Radio Board and expand its membership to include representatives of Isanti and Chisago counties. 21 hf Rep. Government Metropolitan Radio Board -- sf Sen. Jobs -- 2136 Holberg, Operations February 27, 2004 1973 Ranum, and Secondary Mary_ -Liz Committee This bill would eliminate the sunset of the Jane Con Policies: - Metropolitan Radio Board and expand its Dev - membership to include representatives of Isanti and Chisago counties. This bill was heard and passed by the local government committee of both the House and the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 25. 2Z hf Rep. Local Gov. & Eminent Domain --February 16, sf Sen. Judi 1_901 Paulsen, Metro Affairs 2004 2037 Kiscad_en, Con Secondary Erik Committee This is one of four bills being pushed by Sheila Policies: - the Alliance for Reasonable Municipal - Regulation (ARMR). It would permit the awarding of attorneys fees if the final judgement or award exceeds the original offer of the condeming authority by 20 percent. The bill would also require the acquiring authority to prove by a http://www.Imilc.orc,t=/anu-n/repoi-t.efi-ii /an/repo.efin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 6 of 14 http://www.Imnc.org/ainn-i/repoit.cfin 3/2/2004 preponderance of the evidence that the proposed taking is authorized by law and is necessary to serve a primary public purpose. If the petition for condemnation is denied, the court may award reasonable fees for attorneys, appraisals and experts as well as other costs incurred by the owner of the property. NOTE: This bill was passed out of the House Civil Law Committee with no recommendation. 2Z hf Rep. Local Gov. & Reverse Auction & sf Sen. Rest, Stat( 1918 Carlson, Metro Affairs Electronic nic Bi oCICIIng --February 9, 1824 Ann Loc; Secondary Lyndon Committee OPS - 2004 Policies: This bill would authorize the use of " reverse auction and electronic bidding by local governments when purchasing supplies, materials, and equipment. 2Z hf Rep. Local Gov. & payroll - Direct Deposit - sf Sen.KKleis, Sen, 1995 Knoblach, Metro Affairs February 20, 2004 1787 Dave Secondary Jim Committee This bill would authorize cities to require Policies: - H 11 direct deposit for all employees. 2Z hf Rep. Gov. Municipal Elections --February sf Sen. Marty, pass * _1719 Rhodes, Jim_ Operations 27, 2004 1613 John Sen, Secondary Committee This bill would allow cities to use 2/23 Policies: - cumulative voting and/or ranked -order - voting in municipal elections. This bill was amended in committee to apply only to the City of Roseville. 2Z hf Rep. Gov. Voter Approval for Casino sf Sen. Agri 1741 Lenczewski, Operations Location --February 4, 2004 1591 Ranum, Vete Secondary Ann Committee Jane Affa This bill would prohibit the location of a Gan Policies: - casino in a city unless the voters of the Con - city have approved it in a referendum. 2Z hf Rep. House floor Storm Water Charges -- sf Sen. Sen, 1935 Hornstein, February 12, 2004 1626 Wiger, Secondary Frank This bill would prohibit cities from setting Chuck Policies: - storm sewer charges on the basis of a - property's water consumption. 2Z hf 97 Rep. State0.08 Blood Alcohol Limit -- sf 58 Sen. Foley, pass x Strachan, Government February 27, 2004 Leo Sen, Secondary Steve Finance This bill would lower the legal blood 2/12 Policies: - alcohol limit from 0.10 to 0.08, 2Z hf Rep. House Floor Nonconforming Uses sf Sen. Stat( y 2057 Abrams, (ARMR) --February 23, 2004 2251 Scheid, Loc; Secondary Ron Linda Con This is one of the four bills being pushed http://www.Imnc.org/ainn-i/repoit.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 7 of 14 Policies: - by the Alliance for Reasonable Municipal _ Regulations (ARMR). It would eliminate the 50 percent threshold for repairing damages to nonconforming uses. Therefore, a nonconforming use could be improved, repaired, replaced, restored and maintained, as long as the nonconformity or occupancy is not discontinued for more than one year. The House version was amended in committee to specify that it does not allow for the expansion of a nonconforming use. 2Z hf Rep. Local Gov. & Development Fees (ARMR) -- sf Sen. Stat( * 2103 Nelson, Metro Affairs February 23, 2004 2273 Werain Loc; Secondary Carla Committee This is one of four bills being pushed by Betsy_ Ope Policies: - the Alliance for Reasonable Municipal Con - Regulation (ARMR). It would require cities to show a "direct and essential nexus" between a proposed fee or dedication and the development project being assessed the fee. It also adds additional notification requirements when a new or increased fee is passed, as well as additional regulation regarding challenges of fees or required dedications. 2Z hf Rep. Transportation Eminent Domain --February 18, 2167 Juhnke, Al Policy 2004 Secondary This is a compromise position to the Policies: - ARMR eminent domain bill - (EF1901,SF2037). If the final judgement exceeds 20% of the authorities highest offer, the owner is entitled up to $2,000 for attorney fees. It also permits the independent appraiser to submit his bill of up to $1,500 directly to the road authority and makes all appraisals private data only to be shared with the land owner. Finally, MnDot is to prepare a two page pamphlet on the entire eminent domain process. 2Z hf Rep. Health and Ambulance Service --February *' 2348 Thissen, Human 27, 2004 Secondary Paul Services Policy This bill relates to the provision of Policies: - Committee ambulance service within the seven - county metro area. In cases where a municipality is interested in becoming the ambulance service provider within their city, the bill would require the current ambulance service provider to negotiate a cooperative services agreement with the municipality. It then establishes a set of conditions under which the state Emergency Medical Services Board must approve the cooperative service agreement. r r littp://www.Imnc.org/ainin/report.cfln 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 8 of 14 2Z lif Rep. Civil Law Government Data Practices sf Sen. Judi 2160 Larson, Dan Committee March 1, 2004 2501 5k.oglund, Cory Secondary This bill would classify data identifying Wesley Policies: - subscribers to municipal electronic newsletters and data on customers of all municipal utilities as private data. 3C lif Repo Local Gov. & ALHOA Formula Change sf Sen. Stab 2448 Abrams, Metro Affairs February 27, 2004 2177 — Higgins I,= Secondary Ron Committee This is a bill that AMM and the Met Linda Ope Policies: - Council have been working on to change Con the formula used to calculate metro cities' Affordable and Lifecycle Housing Opportunities Amount (ALHOA) under the Livable Communities Program. The new formula would result in a lower, and more stable, ALHOA amount for the vast majority of metro cities and includes a grandfather provision for the small number of cities that would experience an higher ALHOA under the new formula. For additional information about the ALHOA concept and this legislative initiative, see the January 26 AMM News. 30 Economic Development sf Sen. Rest, Loc; Ann Responsibilities --March 1, 2004 2457 Gov Secondary The bill would permit metropolitan and Ope Policies: - counties to establish a economic development authority. Under current law metro counties are excluded from the provisions of MS 469.1082 which allows non -metro counties to form an EDA. 3G Economic Development sf Sen. Jobs - Responsibilities --March 1, 2004 2457 Betzald, Enei S Secondary The bill would authorize the Anoka Don Con Dev Policies: - County Regional Railroad Authority to exercise the powers and duties of an Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the purpose of transit -oriented development. The bill does not permit the Regional Authority to tax under the EDA statute. The legisaltion does not change the powers or duties of municipal HRA's or EDA's. A project of the Regional Railroad Authority must be approve dby the governing body of the city or town I I within the project is to be constructed. 3H lif Rep. Taxes Tax Increment Financing -- sf n. Sen. Taxi 1684 Davids, February 5, 2004 1778 Kiedin, Secondary Gregory This bill would establish a state grant fund Bob Policies: - to help cities and TIF authorities offset deficits in TIF districts caused by the 2001 property tax reforms. The bill also authorizes use of the "special authorities" (elimination of the certified littp://www.Iiiiiic.org/aiTu-ii/report.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 9 of 14 http://www.Imne.org/anun/report.cfin 3/2/2004 tax rate, changing the fiscal disparities election and TIF revenue) to pay for shortfalls in pay-as-you-go notes. The bill permits the grant fund to support pay-as- you-go shortfalls. A developer can directly apply to the fund for a grant. 3H Tax Increment Financing sf Sen. Rest, Tax Ann (TIF) --February 12, 2004 1826 Can Secondary This bill would authorize the expenditure Policies: - of tax increments for job training that is - intended to result in new job growth within a TIF district. The TIF authority may expend increments directly or reimburse an employer as long as the job training program is approved by the local workforce council. Job training expenditures would be authorized for new districts and existing districts certified after July 31, 1979, as long as the existing districts modify their TIF plan to provide for this expenditure. 31 J h_f Rep. Taxes State Role in sf Sen. Rest, Jobs Ann — _2298 Abrams,. Redevelopment/Reinvestment 1801 — and Secondary Ron Corr Policies: - --February 20, 2004 Dev This bill establishes an International Economic Development Zone and provides its occupants with tax incentives similar to those currently provided for enterprise zones, border zones and JOBZ zones. The zone must contain a regional distribution center that will increase foreign trade. The zone would be a joint powers agreement (with port authority powers) between Minneapolis, Bloomington, Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. 31 hf Rep. Jobs & Development Grant Program sf Sen. Jobs 2343 Osterman, Economic --February 23, 2004 2269 Kelley, and Secondary Lynne Development This is the Governor's bonding proposal to Steve Corr Policies: - Finance grant $ l OM to the Department of Dev Corr - Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for a statewide grant program, with the stipulation that half the money be used for redevelopment projects and half for greenfield development projects. The bill also appropriates $15 for grants to a biotechnology/health sciences zone. 4F Legislative Oversight of the sf sen. Stat Secondary Met Council --March 1, 2004 2471 Bachman, Michelle Loc; Gov This bill would give the Legislative Ope Policies: - Commission on Metropolitan Governance http://www.Imne.org/anun/report.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 10 of 14 _ the authority to review and comment on Con any case in which the Met Council requires modification of a local comprehensive plan or proposes to "deny a local unit of government any of the services or approvals under its control which are necessary for the implementation of an approved comprehensive plan." If the Commission advises the Met Council not to proceed, the Council cannot proceed until 30 days after the legislature has convened for its next session. 4_G h_f Rep. Transportation Zoning Around Airports -- 2143 Thissen. Policy February 17, 2004 Secondary Paul Committee This bill would give joint airport zoning Policies: - boards the authority to override municipal - zoning of land within two miles of the boundary of a commerical service airport, if they find that the municipal zoning allows for uses incompatabile with current or future functioning of the airport. 4G hf Rep. Kuisle, Transportation Co. Plat Authority - CSAH 1913 William Policy City Approval Repealed -- Secondary February 5, 2004 Policies: This bill would grant county boards SM -- approval authority over city subdivision plats that abut county roads based on consistancy with county guidelines that govern right-of-way, drainage, access control, and congestion management. (Dakota County is the only county that currently has this authority.) The bill would also repeal the city approval and appeal process for county CSAH projects within city boundries. 4M hf Rep. Environment Regional Parks --February 12, sf Sen. Kleis, Env. 1852_ Knoblac_h, & Natural 2004 1965 _Dave & N SecondaryJun Resources Finance This bill defines certain outstate parks as Res( Con Policies: - Committee Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and - says they should receive 40 percent of their operations and maintenance costs from the state. 4Z hf Rep.. House Floor Comprehensive Planning - sf Sen. Stat 1737 Lipman, Lake Elmo --February 27, 2004 1770 LeClair, Loc; Secondary Eric. This bill would authorize the City of Lake Brian - Con Policies: - Elmo to adopt and implement a - comprehensive plan that maintains rural densities and ensures that the city cannot be required to construct a local sewer system to connect to the regional system. SA hf Rep. Olson, Tax Dedicating Motor Vehicle http://www.linnc.org/anmi/report.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 11 of 14 http://www.lnuic.orc,/anun/repoi-t.cfin 3/2/2004 1688 Mark Committee Sales Tax Revenue --February 4, Secondary 2004 Policies: - This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate the motor vehicle sales tax collected from the sale of new vehicles exclusively to public transit purposes and the motor vehicle sales tax collected from the sale of used vehicles exclusively to highway purposes. 5_A hf Rep. Transportation Local Road Improvement sf Sen. Fina 1850 Swenson, Finance Fund --February 12, 2004 1955 Lan seth Secondary Howard This bill would modify the Local Road Keith Policies: Improvement Fund to add a Rural Road 5K -- Safety Account. Appropriates $125M in state bonds to be split $25M for Trunk Highway Corridors, $50M for Routes of Regional Significance, and $50M for the Rural Road Safety Account, which is to be split 50150 between metro and outstate. 5A lhf Rep. Ruth, Transportation Transportation Funding -- sf Sen. Fina 25.60 Connie. Policy February 27, 2004 2377 Murphy, Secondary Modifies last years allocation of $400M Steve - Policies: - trunk highway bonds and $400M - advanced federal money from being spent "to the maximum feasible extent allocated equally between the department of transportation metropolitan district and the remainder of the state", to mandating the money be spent equally between the department of transportation metropolitan district and the remainder of the state. If passed,this would force MnDot to change that portion of funding on Hwy. 212 that is from the "outstate" portion of the $800M total. 5A hf Rep. Government Road User Fee Task Force -- - 2210 Erhardt, Operations February 27, 2004 Secondary Ron Creates an eleven member Road User Fee Policies: - Task Force to study alternatives to the - current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fael taxes. A preliminary report is due to the legislature by January 15, 2007 and a final report by January 15, 2009. This bill passed out of House Transportation Policy February 24. 5A hf Rep. Transportation Highway 610 Bonds •--February sf Sen. Fina ** 2485 Zellers, Finance 27,2004 7,2004Provides 1828 Limine; Secondary Kurt Provides$30M trunk highway bonds for Warren Warren Policies: - the completion of Hwy. 610 from Hwy. 169 to 194. 5A hf Rep. Transportation Interregional Corridor sf Sen. Fina http://www.lnuic.orc,/anun/repoi-t.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 12 of 14 * 2527 Cornish, Policy Funding --March 1, 2004 2482 Murphy, Con Secondary Tony_ Requires MnDot Commissioner to Steve Policies: - develope a plan for a statewide system of _ ten -ton county and county state aid highways to support the interregional corridor system. Authorizes $83M state bonds per year for ten years starting 2005 for a total of $830 million instate bonds. SF hf Rep. Transportation Transportation Utility -- 1785 Thissen, Finance February 5, 2004 Secondary Paul Authorizes cities to impose a Policies: - transportation utility fee on properties - within the city with a two-thirds vote of the city council. Proceeds from the fee are to be used for street reconstruction, facility upgrades and maintenance projects contained in a locally adopted capital improvement plan, public facility plan or master plan. This bill also allows use of the fee for affordable housing. 5L hf Rep. Transportation CSAH Funds Distribution -- sf Sen. Fina * 2489 Erhardt, Policy February 27, 2004 22.9.4 Marko, Secondary Ron Provides a second distribution formula for Sharon - Policies: - County State Aid Highway (CSAH) funds - for increased gas tax rate or vehicle registration tax rate. The additional CSAH funds would be based 50% on percentage of vehicle registrations in the county and .50% on lane miles. Part of the new funds to each county would be dedicated to cities under 5,000 population based on percentage of CSAH roads within that city compared to all CSAH roads in that county. SZ hf Rep. Transportation Toll Road Planning --February sf Sen.. Fina k 2539 Hornstein_., Policy 27, 2004 23.97 Marko, Secondary Frank Requires the Commissioner of Sharon Policies: - Transportation to prepare a 20 year toll - facilities plan by June 30, 2005. The plan must provide coordination with state highway construction plans and include provision for transit and HOV vehicle advantages. Any prohibiting noncompete provisions in toll facility development agreements may not restrict or prohibit development, design, construction, or operation of public transit. 5Z hf Rep. Transportation Toll Road Repeal --February 26, _sf Sen.. Fina 1876 Vandeveer, Finance 2004 2398 Marko, Secondary Ray This is a proposed statute change that Sharon Policies: - would repeal the state's authority to - establish toll roads. Similar Bills: http://www.Imnc.orc,/ainin/report.cfin 3/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Page 13 of 14 | http://www.Imnc.org/aii,im/repol-t.cfin 33/2/2004 http://www.Imnc.org/aii,im/repol-t.cfin 33/2/2004 AMM Bill Tracking Report Key Page 14 of 14 currently drafted, it would also apply to I L city -owned utilities.) 1. * means Bill has changed since last report 2. ** means new bill AMM is monitoring 3. ***means Bill did not meet committee deadline and is dead For best printing results, go to file/print/properties in your browser and switch from portrait to landscape. Preyared by the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (AMMO 1-ittp://www.Iiinic.org/aiin-n/repoit.cfiii 3/2/2004 Dakota County Community Development Agency Volume 13 Number 4 Village Commons in Mendota Heights Dedicated eprnSentatives and residents ofDakota County and Ktho City of Mendota Heights gathered on November 20, 2003 for the dedication and open house of Village Commons located at 720 Linden Street in Mendota Heights. Guest spm8k8:e at the dedication included Mendota Heights Mayor John J. Huber, County Commis- sioner Patrice nmnnis'aion8rPatrioo Bat8g|ia' K8et[opo|itonCouDCi|nnnnobe[ Richard Aguilar and CDA Board Choir Robert J. Alpers. Village Commons iSmMOunit development with 4O one -bedroom and 2Otwo-bedroom apartment style units. The building has o total square footage Of 78,770 (in- C\uding2O'O8Osquare feet ofunderground heated park- ing). The development also features 8community room with kitchen. laundry facilities and screened porch. The total Coat for the development was approximately $5 Viewpoint..................................................... 2 CDA Commissioners Reappointed .............. 3 Senior Dining Fundraiser ............................. 3 The completion of Village CunnnnOna marked the sixteenth senior housing development con- structed by the Dakota County CDA and the second in Mendota Heights. Village Commons iSa direct result of efforts by the Qty of Mendota Heighta, Dakota County and the Dakota County CDA. The CDA/SSenior Housing Development Pn}gnann serves County Commissioner low- tnmoderate-income seniors patrioeBataglia who are @g9 55 and better with S8fo, eff0rUeb|m housing. Resi- dents pay 30Y6 of their adjusted household income to- wards rent for o one -bedroom unit and 3296 of their income for a two-bedroorh unit. Rents for these units Continued on page 5 Village Commons in Mendota Heights was dedicated onNovem- ber 2(l Pictured here with the dedication plaque are 0tn(LCity Cnuno0momberLVtanDuggan, CDA Executive Director Mark U0ers, CDA Commissioner Brenda Ap/e/baoher, CityCnuno0member AVa[yJaonneSohneeman,CDA Commissioner George Kaoaeq CDA Board Chair Robert Alpers, County Commissioner Patrice 8atagl/a, Mendota Heights Mayor John Huber, Metropolitan Cnuno&memherRichard Aguilar, CDA Commissioner Robert, Doff- ing, Metropolitan Couno//mmmber Tom Egan and City Couno8momberJaokWte0i CDA Receives Certificate OfExcellence in Financial Reporting --.--------..4 Split Entry Book ............................................ 4 Mendota He9ghts Continued from page 1 range from $32O-$000for a one -bedroom unit and $475-$755 for @two-bedroom unit. Underground heated parking spaces are an extra $45 per month. Income limits for the program are $39,550 for a one person household and $45'2OOfor a two person household. The CDA maintains waiting lists for each development. Applications can be requested by mail by ne|\inQ (051) 075-4440 or are available at the CD/YS office located at 1228 Town Centre Drive in Eagan dur- Village Commons is located atC0Linden Street in Mendota Heights just north of Highway 11Oand east ofDodd Boulevard and is part of the city's Town Center Redevelopment area. LobbatWllage ingthm hours of a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The CDA currently has two more senior housing de- velopments under construction, Lakeside Pointe,in Eagan and The Dmkotah in VV8S1 St. Paul. Both of these build- ings will beoccupied in March and April 2OO4. For more information on the CDAeSenior Housing Development Program, please call Jackie VVunrennoa et(051)O75- 4514. Community room features a commercial kitchen endat- tachedscreened Fireplace sitting area /nlobby. renda Apfelbacher and Robert Doffing have been reappointed to three-year terms on the Dakota County Community Development Agency's (CDA) Board of Commissioners. They rejoin the seven -member board who are appointed by the Dakota County Board of Com- missioners. Brenda Apfelbacher represents District 2, which cov- ers the cities of South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul and part of Inver Grove Heights. She has served on the board since 2001. Robert Doffing represents District 3, which covers the cities of Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights and part of Eagan. He has served on the board since 1998. The other five members of the board include: Rob- ert Alpers (District 5), Donna Berg (District 7), Ron Clare (District 1), George Kassan (District 4) and George Macaulay (District 6). County Commissioner Michael E. Turner was reappointed as the County Board Liaison to the CDA Board. The CDA Board elected officers at its meeting on January 20, 2004. Robert Alpers was elected to Chair of the Board, George Kassan as Vice -Chair and Donna Berg as Secretary. The CDA Board meets on the sec- ond Tuesday of each month. Brenda Apfelbacher Robert Doffing Will 1111111 1 • r=91. esidenfis at Winsor Plaza, a CDA senior housing de- velopment in Lakeville, hosted a fundraiser on Janu- ary 19, 2004 to raise money for their Senior Nutrition Program. The fundraiser consisted of a thrift sale of donated items from residents at Winsor Plaza and Main Street Manor, silent auction of quilts donated by the St. John Lutheran Church and a sloppy joe lunch. Sales totaled $1,051 and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans supplemented their earnings with matching funds. The Senior Nutrition Program is administered by the Scott -Carver -Dakota CAP Agency and offers seniors noon meals served Monday through Friday. The program is available at 11 locations throughout Dakota County and is open to all Dakota County senior citizens who are 60 years of age or older. Some of the senior nutrition sites also serve Meals on Wheels. The program provides well- balanced meals, socialization opportunities and nutri- tional education to participants. State budget cuts to the CAP Agency have sparked the need to supplement their funding for the program by raising money at each senior nutrition site. "This pro- gram provides seniors with daily assistance with the preparation of one meal," said Joan Lynch, CAP Agency Senior Nutrition Director. "Each day the CAP Agency pro- vides meals for over 300 seniors in Dakota County." For more information about the Senior Nutrition Program, please call Joan Lynch at (952) 402-9854. Winsor Plaza residents served lunch to raise money for their senior nutrition program. Pictured above are Winsor Plaza residents June Johnson and Peggy Wilber. Residents also sold items at a thrift sale to raise money for their senior nu- trition program. Page • 3, T i Q (}7 N N LL p S O ,^j 4� � Cd g y � .G ix -i a)'C 'LM It ""' 't",y 0 'N Ol cdb o 4 'o ,, >,"6 4 zs E 00 bl Cd 4" CZ^� �+—vzpati�° cd>°�aS�m�04� m bA X bJ) O r > t~ a) p R a� > W m ty v°'i two o cmd a°i aoi o H o.a o-�ao"C0Hoc� Efl N _ bmn� qq MmPo SAA ouid.°Hm O � �p�y � � Oi..� � „L O w O y • "" O O ° O V] i.'4 O .+.., N cz m >> 4a O Cd cd CSS 0.. by 0 0 0 0 0 • .o 0 '~ "=, U CH cif Cl - 0 �7 m0 •..,.,-1 Com.) ,Y`T+-!i O "0 V�, co V] a) R+ H N 2'S O ° OV O y, S•'. ct1 mO cd •� O 041 ^~" C14 ;0." m O�� co O bA o°nobnCtp ? °N Zo[ocd°w caccz0 - Name-ou° >~mroogo�o.�"� �peros O O ,S; CSS "C a) 0 v '•C f -i oo w�N0Qam3�y��° 00,OZ 0 0 o-pn _ m V m � to -0 co o --o mm�p :5 p >C.'3 m oo°E'er U-11 a) m OV O R. O O ,-r-� O G i~ O '�-'�., H CSS V 41 ~ V U W_ o �bA.�� CZ c� Z3��1p°�� v F7�wa o - p m- an d bA m w(D m C3 u r~• `�-+ bA a) 0,14 cG 3 .- o Cd o4''.-1 q cu .� to a> "O c N y O� i = m `cam d L 2 c c� � is C R C:5 L Co O O s. C E O O E o :3 co a) C 000 ai�C'S c c 00 � O C LT - a) . N O O B O :m a> E 0 LL Sunday, Feb. 29. 2004 Dodge Na'ture Center hires new directc Ben Van Gundy has been hired as the new executive director of the Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center. A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Van Gundy served for the last ten years as director of the Polk County Conservation Board in Des Moines, Iowa. The Polk County Conserva- tion Board is Iowa's largest park system and has exten- sive environmental education programs. "We are very happy to have Ben as our new executive director," said Robert G. Mairs, president of the Dodge Nature Center Board of Directors. "He is a seasoned conservation administrator with a good blending of man- agement, natural resource, and environmental education experience." Van Gundy has more than 27 years of experience as a conservation administrator and possesses a B.S. degree in fisheries and wildlife biology from Iowa State University. "I am thrilled to be chosen as the new executive director of the Dodge Nature Center," Van Gundy said. "The Dodge Nature Center is one of the premiere nature education centers in. the country, and I am glad to be able to carry on the legacy started by Olivia IT -vine Dodge and supported by so many people." The Dodge Nature Center was established in 1967 to provide a place where mem- bers of our community can experience, study and enjoy nature, and in doing so become more responsible stewards of our natural resources. The Dodge Nature Center provides nature edu- cation to more than 40,000 children and adults each year and is a private non-profit organization. Ecolab R. &D moving TwinCities com Posted on Thu, Mar. 04, 2004 Ecolab R&D moving BY 38M M::CARTNEY Pioneer Press Page I of 2 Ecolab Inc. will move its research and development operations next year to a sprawling complex in Eagan that once was the headquarters for supercomputer company Cray Research. The St. Paul -based maker of industrial cleaners and sanitizers said Wednesday it has agreed to buy the 90 -acre campus near Dodd Road and Highway 55, including four interconnected office buildings that total 481,000 square feet. The new campus eventually will house Ecolab research and development operations now in Mendota Heights as well as a data center now in St. Paul. About 350 employees work in research and development and about 50 work at the data center, company spokesman Michael Monahan said. Ecolab's chief executive Al Schuman said, "We had to do it — we were bursting at the seams." The move will not affect the company's global headquarters, which is spread over three buildings on Wabasha Street in downtown St. Paul. In fact, Schuman reaffirmed Ecolab's commitment to St. Paul in a letter, dated today, to St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. As far as St. Paul goes, only Ecolab's small data center at 88 Empire Drive will be affected. Ecolab looked at expanding its 141,000 -square -foot Mendota Heights research and development facility, but found it much less expensive to buy up than build out. It would have cost about twice the price of the former Cray facility to expand the Mendota Heights building, and Ecolab would have ended up with less than half of the total space, Schuman said. Although the terms of the deal were not revealed, Schuman said the price of the Eagan complex was "reasonable, very reasonable." The Eagan complex will foster research innovations by allowing the company to organize its labs by technology rather than by division, said Susan Nestegard, Ecolab's chief technical officer. Another attraction of the old Cray headquarters is that it's close to Ecolab's pilot plant that develops ways to mass-produce the company's new products. The company plans to spend "a couple million" dollars to renovate and outfit the new complex, Schuman said, including upgrading utilities and installing wet labs. Schuman envisions that someday the Eagan campus will become for sanitation what the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is for disease — a worldwide authority and research center. The company, on track to accomplish its five-year goal of doubling its sales by 2007, expects to grow into the huge space, and likely will add several hundred workers there over the next few years, Schuman said. There is plenty of room on the site for further expansion as well, he said. "This is it — we will never leave Minnesota," Schuman said. Last year, Ecolab had $3.8 billion in sales. Of its 20,000 employees, about 2,290 work in Minnesota. Given the economy and the challenges of subdividing the property for smaller tenants, the former Cray complex has lingered on the market since it was put up for sale in the fall of 2002. Because of its layout and parking constraints, the complex is designed for use by one tenant, said Ted Carlson, a broker with Welsh Cos. who represents J.P. Morgan Co., the owner of the old Cray complex. "Companies don't move to Minnesota because of the labor costs and taxes, so the pool of potential buyers was small," Carlson said. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/809893 I .htm?template=coritentModi.iles... 3/4/2004 Ecolab R&D moving Page 2 of 2 In 1989, Cray paid about $100 million to build the complex. The building became an asset of Silicon Graphics when that firm bought Cray in 1996, and Silicon Graphics sold it for $38 million to WamNet, an Internet transporter of large corporate data files. WamNet then sold the complex to J.P. Morgan, and signed a 20 -year lease on it, Carlson said. Such were WamNet's heady aspirations at the dawn of the dot-com boom. But after struggling with years of losses, WamNet last summer sold its main business to Virginia-based Savvis Communications, and no longer occupies any space in the building. According to Dakota County assessor records, the building's market value last year was $27 million. The building has one tenant, Bull Services, a subsidiary of Integris, which leases about 20,000 square feet, Carlson said. The tenant is on a "year-to-year" lease, according to Ecolab. Ecolab officials say they hope to finalize the deal by the end of this month. The company plans to sell its Mendota Heights building and the St. Paul data center. Jim McCartney can be reached at jmccartney@l.gioneerpress.com or 651-228-5436. O'l �'ini� .3is �r cs:soGiit�s A!Il http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/8098931.htm?template=eontentModules... 3/4/2004 avian cholera can develop and could potentially effect the entire local goose population. Courtesy of: http://Www. conservation. state. mo. us/landown/wild /nuisance%anadageese/giantAm Feb 27 2604 16:38:46 Via Fax 6514528940 Administrator L�1��C -FridayFax- y—g".". .4 weekly legislative UpdOtefton? the League of illfinnesoto Cities Register for the State of the Cities Legislative Conference on March 3! GET INVOLVED AND MAKE POUR CITY'S VOICE HEARD AT THE CAPITOL Many issues and initiatives in this legislative session will shape your city's quality of life and your ability to innovate and address local issues. Understanding the state of our cities and the impact of upcoming legislative and administrative actions is crucial in these changing times- At the League's 2004 State of the Cities Legislative Conference, you will' • Learn the findings of the State of the Cities Report 2004. • Find out about proposed limitations on city revenue. • Hear frorn leaders shaping the future of the state -local relationship, • Meet with your legislators as part of City Day at the Capitol. —March 3, 2004 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 1-94 at Haniline, St- Paul— Register online at: %vwwJ1mnc.or Short-term deficit down, long-term deficit up Today. Finance Commissioner Peggy Inuison released the much -anticipated February update of the semi-annual state financial forecast. The February forecast projects state revenues and expenditures for the remaining 16 months of the 2004-2005 state biennium as well as for the 2006- 2007 biennium. The forecast projects a slight decrease in the projected state deficit to S 160 million for the balance of the current biennium. The projection is down slightly from last November's S 185 million projected deficit and modest when compared to the S4,5 billion deficit that confronted legislators at the beginning of last legislative session_ Thebad news in the report is that the long-term state budget deficit—the projections for the 2006- 2007 biennium have actually increased. For the next biennium, the new forecast figures indicate the February 27, 2004 Page I deficit will grow by $47 million over the projections from last November, leaving the projected long-term projected deficit of $441 million- Inflation and other expenditure pressures will ultimately add to the long-term deficit. In fact, according to the forecast, the addition of inflation in 1006 of S200 million and in 2007 of an estimated S450 million could push the "effective" deficit to more than S 1 billion in the 2006-2007 biennium. Compared to recent speculation of a short-term widening revenue/expenditure gap, the February forecast may be generally good news for city programs- However, the Legislature will have to take steps to address the shortfall, which could involve reductions in state expenditures, a drawdown of state reserves or both. Revenue increases do not appear likely given the governor's stance in opposition to tax increases to address the deficit. The projected state rainy day fund reserve remains at $631 million, which should be more than sufficient to cover the projected deficit. However, Commissioner Peggy Ingison and State Economist Toni Stinson raised concerns about the volatility of the current revenue projections and suggested that the use of the reserve could be premature. The governor must now release a supplemental budget including proposals for addressing the immediate S 160 million deficit. We suspect he may include proposals to begin addressing the expected 2006-2007 deficit as well- The governor's recommendations will mark the beginning of the legislative discussions oil the state budget, C� Although the slightly lower short-term deficit estimate is good news, cities will have to remain vigilant. With the deficit and competing needs for additional or increased state funding this session, the Legislature will likely be reprioritizing at least portions of the state budget. For more information on citN legislative issues, contact any member of the Leap,- of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651 281.1200 or 800.925,1122 Feb 27 2004 16:39:30 Via Fax _> 6514528940 Administrator LMC Ali,,,- ,,, C;A, -Fri dayFax- .4 iveekly legislative update from the League of iWinnesoto Cities Taxpayer's League renews TBOR push The Taxpayers League of'Minnesota is renewing its push for the Legislature to enact legislation to limit state and local spending through a constitutional amendment similar to a Colorado law known there as the taxpayer's bill of rights (TBOR)- The Taxpayers League effort is clearly aimed at building support in the March 2 Minnesota caucuses. Materials distributed by the Taxpayers League are encouraging their members to attend caucuses to secure legislative support for TBOR. They have developed a simplistic pledge supporting the enactment of TBOR in Minnesota that is targeted to legislators. The League of'Minnesota Cities has been educating legislators about the significant problems with the TBOR proposal- Now we need your help- Please take action todav to send a message that tax and expenditure limits (TELs) and TBOR would be bad for Minnesota by, 1. Adopting the attached city council resolution opposing TELs/TBOR at your next city council meeting_ 2. Attending your political party's precinct caucus March 2 and urging adoption of the attached caucus resolution to oppose TELs in any form, including TBOR. 3. Meeting with your legislators during City Day at the Capitol — one of the events connected to the 2004 State of the Cities Legislative Conference on March 3 — to ask them to oppose TELs/TBOR_ For more information on TELs/TBOR, see this week's 15 -Minute Advocate, published in the Feb- 25 issue of the Cities Bulletin and posted on the LMC web site, and access the TELs/TBOR Action Toolkit available on the LNIC web site at mrw\v_hnnc_or9 (where you'll find a copy of the resolutions, talking points and fact sheets). February 27, 2004 Page 2 Upcoming hearings: The House has set its first committee deadline of March 12- Now the Senate has not agreed to this deadline by which a bill must have had its first hearing, but for all practical purposes right now the House is setting its own limits for bill hearings. The committees, particularly in the House, are jam packed with bills, and bills that affect cities. For the most up-to-date listings, check with their website Ww leg.state.min.us. ..:w ................. __ Schedules will be lighter on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning as members travel back to their districts for precinct caucuses on Tuesday evening. Here's a taste of the upcoming week: WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2004, 12:30 PIVI Committee: House Transportation Policy Room, 200 State Office Building Chair, Rep. Ron Erhardt HF 1913 (Kuisle) relating to highways; providing for county board approval of certain preliminary plats and initial plat filings. WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2004, 2:30 pmi_ Committee, Civil Law Room- 10 State Office Building Chair, Rep. Mary Liz Holberg HF 561 (Gerlach) Pre-empts cities by setting mandatory penalties for tobacco sales to minors by retailers, sets state uniform penalties. WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2004, 2:30 pm Committee- House Local Government & Metro Affairs Room-, 200 State Office Building Chair: Rep. Jerry Dempsey HF 898 (Thissen) Erninent domain; inverse condemnation by a business when a governmental entity occupies the market authorized. HF 2 103 (Nelson, Carla) Municipalities authorized to require the dedication of land for public purpose (the ARMR, fee bill) Por more inforniation on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651,281.1200 OT 800,925.1122 Feb 27 2004 16:40:12 Via Fax –> 65145ZB94H Administrator Paye 003 Of 006 L E A G U E O F M I N N E S O T A C I T I E S State of the Cities Legislative Conference March 3, 2004 Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 1-94at Hanzline, St. Paul ® Learn the findings of the State of the Cities Report 2004. • Find out about proposed limitations on city revenue. • Hear from leaders shaping the future of the state -local relationship. • Meet with your legislators as part of City Day at the Capitol. Many issues and initiatives in this legislative session will shape your city's quality of life and your ability to innovate and address local issues. Understand the state of our cities through a discussion ofi – Current city fiscal conditions and strategies used to balance city budgets. -- Economic trends including the recession and the apparently jobless recovery. – Impacts of increasing health care costs and Minnesora's aging population. – The state of federalism—how the erosion of local control hampers city officials' ability to tailor unique policy solutions to Their communities. Regisoarion fee is S70. Register online anytime: vVwvV.Im11C.org Here's how you'll spend your day: 8:00 Registrarion, coffee, and doughnurs 8:30 Welcome and Overview Mark Voxland, President, LMC 8:50 City initiatives from the White House Toby Burke, Special Assistant to the President 9:00 Overview of legislative issues and getting the most out of City Day at the Capitol Gary Carlson, laatergovernrraental Relations Directo , LlllC 9:30 State of the Cities Report 2004 Eric Willette, Policy Researck Manager, LMC jirn 111lider, Executive Directo, IMC 10:1.5 Break 10:30 Funding public services Sen, Mickele Bachmann; Bill Blazar; Vice President, 11Llennesata Ckarnber of Corwnerce; lokra Gunyou, City Manager, Minnetonka and forn,;er State Finance Director, Dr. Daniel [lllud;w, Professor ofP.Ui, Administration, A»eri acan Ur:iversiiy; Mickael Nees .Adjunct Sckolar, Cato Institute Learn abour proposals to impose limits on revenues and spending at the state, and porenrially local, levels. 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Let's talk about local control Sen. Dean Jokson, Senate Majority Leader Rep. Steve Sviggum, Speaker of tke House Explore mandates and regulatory issues shaping your ability to determine your city's quality of life. 1:45 Concluding remarks Ludy Jokrson, First Vice President, LMC 2:00 City Day at the Capitol Make appointments to build and strengthen your relationships with your legislators. Feb Z? Z004 16:40:48 Via Fax -> 65145ZH94H Administrator Paye 004 Of 006 CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION RESOLUTION # A RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE TAY AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION PROPOSALS (TaBOR and Similar Proposals) WHEREAS, the Taxpayers League and others are endorsing proposals to amend the State Constitution to institute tax and expenditure limitations at the state, and potentially local, levels of government that could only be overridden by a vote of the people -- an example of these proposals is the "Taxpayers Bill of Rights"; WHEREAS, such proposals would tie the hands of state and local leaders in times of crisis and other unpredictable circumstances, putting state and local governments on "auto pilot" and circumventing thoughtful consideration of policy decisions; WHEREAS, such proposals would prevent state and local officials from making the tough decisions they were elected to make, passing the responsibility for learning all aspects of often complex issues to citizens who have other jobs and responsibilities; WHEREAS, amending the constitution is a virtually irrevocable action and should only be undertaken when legislative remedies have proven inadequate; WHEREAS, such proposals are unnecessary - a "solution in search of a problem" - as demonstrated by lawmakers at both state and local levels of government taking action to deal with one of the worst budget crises to hit the State of Minnesota and, by result, Minnesota's cities: WHEREAS, this is further demonstrated by the fact that state and local spending as a percentage of personal income has actually declined in recent years, even before the 2003 deficit; WHEREAS, regardless of whether TaBOR/TELs are applied just to the State or to local governments as well, these proposals would bring great harm to local communities through continued reductions in state funding, increases in unfunded State mandates, and, potentially, direct tax and expenditure limitations at the local level, which would severely erode decision- making at the local level and the ability to provide the basic services residents and businesses expect and deserve; WHEREAS, such proposals would force the State, and potentially cities, to spend valuable tune and money asking for permission from the same people who elected them before any action can be taken on important issues, and would also force taxpayers to pay twice for governance - once for elections of their State and local officials, and again for elections to make the decisions those officials should have made. WHEREAS, such proposals contradict the fundamental principles upon which our constitution and system of government are based - that representative, not direct, democracy is the most effective form of government as it is most likely to result in good public policy; Feb Z7 Z004 16:4128 Via Fax -> 6514528940 Administrator Page 005 Of 006 WHEREAS, those states that have instituted proposals Similar to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, such as Colorado, now face severe problems in meeting the basic needs of their citizenry; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the city of —that this Council believes that state and local elected officials are elected to do a job - that job is to represent the interests of their constituents, to deal with difficult decisions, to thoughtfully debate and determine the best course of action for the state or the COTIMIUnitY they serve. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council opposes limits on state and/or local taxes and expenditures, whether through constitutional amendment or other means, and supports the principle of representative democracy as the best route to Sound public policy. ADOPTED by the City Council this day of '2004. Feb 27 2004 16:41:51 Via Fax -> 6514520940 Administrator Paye 006 [If 006 PRECINCT CAUCUS RESOLUTION OPPOSING TAY AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION PROPOSALS (The "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" and similar proposals) I move that this precinct caucus approve amending the party platform to oppose tax and expenditure limitation proposals, including the so-called "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" (TaBOR). TaBOR and other tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) are being proposed for the State, and also potentially local governments, primarily in the form of constitutional amendments. Specifically, TaBOR, as it is being discussed, would place caps on spending and revenues for the State of Minnesota, and potentially Minnesota's local governments, and these limits could only be overridden by a vote of the people. TaBOR/TELs proposals are overly simplistic, one -size -fits -all solutions that would undermine the ability of duly elected officials to react to emergency situations, changing circumstances and the needs and desires of the citizens they serve. State and local officials are elected to do a job - that job is to represent the interests of their constituents, to deal with difficult decisions, to thoughtfully debate and determine the best course of action for the state or the community they serve. These proposals would prevent state and local officials from doing the jobs their constituents expect them to do and would pass responsibility for learning all aspects of often complex issues to citizens who have other jobs and responsibilities. They would also force taxpayers to pay twice for governance - once for elections of their State and local officials, and again for elections to make the decisions those officials should have made. TaBOR/TELs are "a solution in search of a problem" - they are unnecessary.. Last year, both state and local lawmakers demonstrated their abilitv to take action to deal with one of the worst budget crises to hit Minnesota. Also, by the State's own numbers, state and local spending as a percentage of personal income has actually declined in recent years, even before the 2003 deficit. Regardless of whether TaBOR/TELs are applied just to the State or to local governments as well, these proposals would bring great harm to local communities. There would inevitably be continued reductions in state funding, increases in unfunded State mandates, and, potentially, direct and severe erosion of decision-making at the local level and the ability to provide the basic services residents and businesses expect and deserve. I make this motion in an effort to promote accountability among elected officials at all levels of government and preserve local control of our local governments.