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weekly Notes- Feb 28th 2020
Y i CITY OF OAF{PAIRK HIEFGHTS—WEEKL Z2S 28th,2020 TO: City Council Me.nbers st FROM: Eric Johnson,City A min' or Zoning&Development Items: 1. No new applications have been received.Staff did meet with Twin Ci i res again and reviewed some plan updates.As noted in the past,this Project is largely complaint with City regulations and is an attractive concept.Some concems remain about exterior lighting and final stormwater drainage elements,however neither appear problematic towards City approval.This should be on the March 2020 Planning Commission Agenda. 2. If you have topics for discussion for the planned COUNCIL GOAL Setting meeting slated for 3/24-please email me these items for the collective listing. 3. Invitations have been sent to the Advisory Panel Members - See enlosed. Other Items: MN DOT has issued the year end 2019 Lift Bridge/Loop Trail Update I have enclosed it in iia entirety.On a related note there is beginning to be some major planning occurring by Stillwater and other jurisdictions for Bridc„e opening and the holding-hands event around the trail. I know the Chief has participated in these conversations and will continue to monitor the events as they may be better planned.To date the City has not been asked to engage;n any significant role or contribute`ending. m Department heads are asked to complete job-performance reviews for their departments and have these completed by early April.This was last done approximately 24 months ago and is time to check in with all staff and engage in their strengths and questions. Enclosed is the typical form used. These are largely viewed as a coaching tool-•if need be-and certainly not disciplinary tool, • Police Officer Brian Tannessen did submit his resignation to the City as he has accepted a job with the City of Stillwater.We wish him the best of luck. o On Monday I did attend a LOCAL ADVISORY TEAM meeting on the Manning and STH 36 project.Their plan remains to seek construction in 2021 but does continue tri depend on the 2020 Legislature for tiunding.It is a$31 Million project. The Department of Corrections has asked the City to stop placing Is snow-piles along the Valley View Park Road.'This Is snova that is removed from cul-de-sac and other cut-back areas. The City has been placing snow in this area for several years.The City holds an easement over this land, but is owned by the Dept of Corrections.I have asked that this be reconsidered as snow stoppage space is limited and it may just be that sorreone never noticed it before. r� Their concern is that the embedded Atk j w sand may create a mess in the Spring. The volume of sand is perhaps 1% of the total volume and has not been an issue in the past.We are looking for the - easement language to see if the DOC ' has this ability. We want to be good neighbors, but finding another location could be difficult and expensive. Mayor McComber provided: 1. MASOC newsletter for 2/28/20 2. Legislative Update—Lockridge Grindal for 2/24&2/27 3. METRO CITIES News for 2/21 &2128 4. NLC Weekly for 2/24&2/29 5. Update from US Census—Workday 2/25 6. LMC Information on CORONAVIUS and how cities can begin to prepare some of its policies. 7. Information from Rep.Shelly Christensen for AV28 Please let me know if you have any questions-651-253-7837 Call Anytime. City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd. N•Oak Park Heights,MN 55082•Phone(651)4394439•Fax(651)439-0574 February 28,2020 Washington County CDA Chris Eng �.�.- 7645 Blvd oodbury,MN 55125 RE: Invitation to Participate in City of Oak Park Heights Allen S.King Plant Decommissioning and Reuse Advisory Panel Dear Chris Eng: Xcel Energy has announced that the Allen S. King Plant will close in 2028. At 179 acres with 4,000+ linear feet along the St. Croix River,this is a premier property and the re-purposing of this property will have a profound impact on the City,the St.Croix Valley and beyond.As the City of Oak Park Heights is the primary land-use authority,it has begun to study the issues and explore ideas relating to how the Allen S. King Plant Site could be repurposed. Any decisions will of course have impacts well into the 2151 Century. To begin to explore and analyze some of these questions,the City has established the"City of Oak Park Heights Allen S.King Plant Decommissioning and Reuse Advisory Panel." This Panel has been devised to facilitate and educational and visioning process that will consider a broad spectrum of opportunities and constraints,including physical,environmental,economic,social, scenic,recreational and more.This process will be moderated by a professional planning firm(STANTEC)and will also include the preparation of very preliminary conceptual master plans that can visually demonstrate options for future concept discussions. The City Council intends that the Panel should be representative of a broad spectrum of stakeholders,including local,regional, state and federal interests.The objective is for all parties regardless of their affiliations to better understand the complexity of the issues and the magnitude of the opportunities that are presented by this transformation and NOT to determine a final use. The Panel is intended to help inform the City's actions at every step in the decommissioning process and to contribute to the creation of a vision that is worthy of this opportunity.. Accordingly,the City invites your organization to appoint a single representative to serve on the City of Oak Park Heights Allen S. King Decommissioning Advisory Panel. The Panel members will be asked to participate in approximately one meeting per month for twelve months to gain information from various experts and interested voices. Municipalities or other governmental entities are asked to appoint a non-elected person—such as a member from the planning commission or other trusted community member. However,joint-powers type entities such as the local watershed may do so if no alternatives are available.All nominated persons would be vetted by the City Council and are requested represent the general views and issues of importance to their nominating organization and to communicate back to their respective group. If your organization would like to participate in this process, we would ask that you complete the enclosed NOMINATION FORM and return it to the City not later than April 101b,2020.The first meeting of the entire Advisory Panel is planned for May 2020,with a final date pending. Should you have any questions please reach out to Eric Johnson,City Administrator at 651-439-4439. Sincerely, r• r f Mayor Mary McComber Council Member Chuck Dougherty Council Member Mike Runk Council Member Mike Liljegren )Affz*T- Council Member Carly Johnson NOMINATION FORM City of Oak Park Heights Allen S. King Plant Decommissioning and Reuse Advisory Panel. Name of Organization: Nominee of Organization: Role of Nominee in Organization: Number of years in such Role: 'p�'ll.'J'i ESIt�4pvU y,".bVwil�l r Contact Information of Nominee: Address i7t Email: I' Phone: By submission of this FORM your organization is offering its support for the named individual to faithfully represent the general goals and interests of such organization throughout such process. Please review the attached City Policies related to the Allen S. King Plant Decommissioning and Reuse Advisory Panel that will act as a general guide. Please complete this NOMINATION FORM and return it to the City not later than April 10, 2020 to the Attention of. Eric Johnson,City Administrator 14168 Oak Park Blvd N. Oak Park Heights,MN 55082 OR to: eajohnson@cityofoakparkheights.com Should you have any questions please reach out to Eric Johnson, City Administrator at 651-439-4439. Organization Sent TO Address CITY-State-ZIP Email Best PHONE? City of OF H Plan Flog Com in lsslon(l mem ber) IN PACKET Cityof OPH Parks Commission()member) IN PACKET Xcel Energy Collettelurek 1700 East County Road E White Bear Lake,MN 55110 colette.cJorek@xceIenergy.com 651-779-3105 Washington County CDA Chds Eng 7645 Correll Blvd Woodbury,MN 55125 ChrisE@washingtoncoontycda.org 651-202-2814 The St.Croix River Association Deb Ry- PO Box 655 St.Croix Falls,WI 54024 debryon@scramail.com 715-483-3300 Watershed District-MSCWMO Matt Downing 455 Haward Ave Oakdale,MN 55128 mdowning@mnwcd.org 651-330-8220 Andersen Corporation Jay Lund 1004th Ave. Bayport,MN 55003 651-264-5150 City of Bayport—M UST BEA NON—ELECTED OFFICIAL Adam Bell 294 N.Rod Street Bayport,MN 55003 abell@ci.bayport.mn.os 651-275-4404 City of Stillwater-MUST BE A NON—ELECTED OFFICIAL Tom McCarty 216 N.4th Street Stillwater,MN 55082 tmccary@ci.stillwater.mn.os 651-430-8800 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Sarah Strommen BOB Lafayette Rd St.Paul,MN 551554044 commissioner.dnr@state.n— 651-259-5300 M innesota Department of Transportation Adam Josephson 1500W.County Road B2 Roseville,MN 55113-3174 Adamjosephson@state.n— 651-234-7719 Greater Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce Robin Anthony 200 Chestnut Street E.Suite 204 Stillwater,MN 55082 director@greaterstlllwaterchamber.cn 651-439-4001 National Park Service Julie Galomka 401 North Hamilton Street St.Croix Falls,WI 54024 715-483-2270 St I water A rea School Dl strict Denise Pontrelli 1875 Greeley Street S. Stillwater,MN 55082 pontrellid@stlllwaterschools.org 651-351-8340 Coalition of Utility Cities Shane Zahrt C/O Flaherty&Hood-525 Park Street,Suite 470 St Paul,MN 55103 SAZahrt@flaherty-hood.com 651-225-8840 Sierra Club Margaret Levin 2300 Myrtle Ave,SUITE 260 St.Paul,MN 55114 margaret.levin@sierraclub.org 612-659-9124 Center for Environmental Advocacy Kathryn Hoffman 1919 University Ave,Suite 515 St.Paul,MN 55104 khoffman@mncenter.org 651-223-5969 Union Pacific Railroad Sandy Christansen 9405.Frontage Road,Suite 1200 Woodridge,IL 60517 630-427-2355 Minnesota Commerical Assoc.of Realtors Matt Anfang 6600 France Ave 4485 Edina,MN 55435 matt@mncar.arg 952-908-1787 P1VVr ILV LILJtLV r 0 1 CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS POLICIES RELATING TO THE ALLEN S.KING PLANT DECOMMISSIONING AND REUSE ADVISORY PANEL--APPOINTMENTS AND ROLES PURPOSE: The City Council desires to appoint an Advisory Panel to inform and support the City Council's decision making regarding the future of the Allen S.King Plant.The following policy shall govern the formulation of this group, describes its role and relationship with the Council and what the expectations are from participating members. Invitation to Serve on the Advisory Panel: The City desires participation from a number of parties generally known in the community with an apparent stake or clear interest in such dialogue and which includes the organizations listed below. These entities will be sent a Letter of Invitation to participate in the City's process and such invitation shall be signed by the Mayor and every Council member.Each group, or organization if they desire to participate shall nominate a SINGLE representative, who is expected to be available to attend 10-12 monthly meetings. The City's desire is that such person would generally relay the views of the organization they represent where possible.All members so appointed shall be reviewed and approved by unanimous consent of the City Council. 1. City of OPH Planning Commission(i member) 2. City of OPH Parks Commission(1 member) 3. Xcel Energy 4. Washington County CDA 5. The St.Croix River Association 6. Watershed District-MSCWMO 7. Andersen Corporation 8, The City of Bayport—MUST BE A NON—ELECTED OFFICIAL 9. The City of Stillwater-MUST BE A NON—ELECTED OFFICIAL 10, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 11. Minnesota Department of Transportation 12, Greater Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce 13, National Park Service 14. Greater Stillwater Area School District-MUST BE A NON—ELECTED OFFICIAL-(2 seats one must be a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT expected to be able to serve through the term of the discussions) 15. Coalition of Utility Cities 16. Sierra Club 17. Center for Environmental Advocacy 18. Union Pacific Railroad 19. Real Estate Group—TBD(such as the SPAAR...hgps://spaar.com/)St.Paul Area Association of Realtors 20. Three(3)At-Large Members(may be either City residents,or business owners)may be invited to serve on the Panel. Interested individuals shall submit a letter and application to the Council explaining their role in the community and interest in serving on the Advisory Panel.Depending on the level of interest,the Council may choose to decrease or increase the number of at-large members. Locally Elected Officials are precluded from serving on this Panel where they directly represent a given city, school district, county's interest. In the case of these public organizations the appointment of staff,volunteers, or other appointed officials to their respective bodies is requested. For example: The City of Stillwater may appoint their Planning Commission Chair who is a non-elected person but is appointed by the City Council. In circumstances where there is a"joint-powers"organization such as the MSCWMO or WCCDA,appointment of Staff or Non-elected officials is preferred. However, this may result on overtime expenses or budgetary constraints that may preclude participation.If such staff or other volunteer is not available and if such JPA board members are elected individuals and are available,the City Council may evaluate these on a case-by-case basis so as to ascertain their underlying entity and relationships.Any person so appointed would be expected to clearly represent the joint-powers entity,not their primary jurisdiction. Appointment of Co-Chairs: The City Council also desires the appointment of CO-CHAIRS positions so as to better ensure continuity of the process in the event one person cannot attend.The role of the"co-chair"is to ensure the meetings move forward and to facilitate the discussion and presentations and in allotted time. In all respects, the CO-CHAIR position acts only as manager to ensure the process remains vital and fluid and not to advocate for any given position. The Mayor or a Council Member may nominate and the Council shall appoint up to two co-chairs, any such appointment shall be by unanimous vote of the City Council.If no chair(s)can be determined,the Panel shall be managed by City Staff or City Consultant until such time as a CO CHAIR can be found.A CO-CHAIR may be removed from the Panel by simple majority of the Council. The appointed CO-Chair individuals may or may not be otherwise Iisted in the invited participation listing stated above, if not listed they shall become full members of the Panel once appointed. Further Expectations of the Advisory Panel: The meetings are generally anticipated to be a method by which Panel Member can avail themselves of the best available information regarding the many facets of regulations,challenges and opportunities related to this site. Fundamentally, few— if any, decisions are expected to be made by the Panel itself. As the discovery process unfolds, all members of the Advisory Panel are expected to follow a Code of Conduct that will be provided by the City and which will outline rules of discussion and how any collective recommendations might be made.All members serve at the pleasure of the City Council and the City Council may amend the number of participants or which participants at any time at its sole discretion. Guests&Public Visibility: The City would expect to invite elected or appointed officials to attend the meetings—not as a panelist, but instead offer them an opportunity to listen and gain more information as to what is being accomplished. These guests would include: Metropolitan Council Sector 12 - Board Member Local legislators, MPCA, and other governmental organization representatives. Guests will be welcomed at meetings and materials will be shared with them,as supplies permit.Otherwise copies will be available for download from the City Website. The general public is also welcome to view and listen to these meetings as space allows,but such meetings are not PUBLIC HEARINGS and data presented and dialogue held is for the primary benefit and consumption of the Panel Members. City Council Role: Oak Park Heights elected officials may not serve on the Advisory Panel as the work of the Advisory Panel is'intended to support the Council in its decision making regarding the future of this property.The Council will be fully briefed by the Consultant,following every working meeting.The Council will have the opportunity to either accept and embrace Panel recommendations, or direct course corrections, as needed. As it relates to City Council general interface with City Consultants, these communications should be channeled through City Staff similar to current City protocols. St.Croix . ..:. Y. lowCROSSING Annual Project Summary Report (March 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020) This Annual Project Summary Report for the St. Croix Crossing Project is developed in accordance with the Amended Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) and the Riverway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which are included in the 2006 Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement(SFEIS), the 2012 Re-evaluation of the SFEIS and the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Record of Decision (ROD). This report describes the actions taken by FHWA, MnDOT, WisDOT and other agencies between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020, to implement the St. Croix Crossing Project and the terms of the Amended MOA and Riverway MOU. This report has been distributed to the signatories of the MOA and MOU, interests and members of the Stakeholder Group. This report is also available on the project website www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing. Major actions either ongoing or completed March 1,2019 thru Feb. 29, 2020, include: - River bridge superstructure and approach bridges—punchlist items & contract close-out - Minnesota Roadway—punchlist items and contract close-out - Wisconsin Roadway—portions complete/punchlist items and contract close-out - Mitigation Items—items complete/ongoing Construction work began on the St. Croix Crossing Project in the spring 2013 and the new bridge portion was opened to traffic on August 2, 2017. The Lift Bridge is still being converted, is expected to be substantially complete if the weather allows, and open as the bicycle/pedestrian/boat facility by May 1st of 2020. The full loop trail would then be totally opened along it's approximately 5 mile length. Design Accomplishments: A)Permitting/agency approvals: i. MnDOT/WisDOT requested and obtained permits, modifications of permits, agency approvals and other documents to meet the project schedule. B)Financial Management Plan—Annual update: completed by FHWA, MnDOT and WisDOT. Page 1 of 33 Right of Way Accomplishments: A)Minnesota and Wisconsin property acquisition activities occurred to allow the construction schedule to be met. All Right of Way for the roadways, Lift Bridge and new bridge has been acquired. Re-conveyance of excess MnDOT property is on-going. Mitigation Package Accomplishments — Status of"During/After Construction" items: Remaining Riverway MOU related: A)"Riverway interpretation (kiosks for interpretation ofnatural/cultural resources)' completed by the National Park Service as of November 23, 2019: a. Conducted a sign assessment throughout the Riverway for efficacy and identified replacement needs; replaced headquarters identity sign; replaced visitor center auditorium audio-visual system; conducted an observational study of river use; conducted a visitor survey for safety and experience of river use between MN Interstate State Park and Osceola Landing; conducted a study and prepared the final document for Arcola Bluffs and Fairy Falls cultural landscape. al Park Service DA"tmentof e Yor . d 12018 NPS Arcola Bluffs and Fairy Falls cultural landscape assessment Page 2 of 33 B)"Recreation, education, and Riverway restoration" completed by the National Park Service as of November 23, 2019: a. Serviced floating toilets;purchased ramps to floating toilets; conducted research and prepared the final document regarding the historic Stillwater Boom Site;researched and documented submerged cultural resources in the St Croix River; installed trees, potted plants and erosion control material for the Headquarters/Visitor Center landscape; stabilized the shoreline-public access section at Osceola Landing; prepared bathymetric mapping of the Lower St Croix River; supported ongoing habitat restoration work in the Lower St Croix River; conducted several sampling methods to test for Zebra Mussel veligers. 0 ,mil: °� on sr_oo� Campingrejgulatlo,s diferujs oiv ao,r.=.•„n ® a„ao,„r efthelighl3ridw Sec St,Croix N1,P9 fur nun'c iuli,rmnd”, w co.,,,r Ff9h f�in9e .— rtai r•.a. Zebra Mussel Access Control Point .rwchofrtic pcopcery ular,d this secdouof ii ctg'1,1,19 eIII W td Ph.� a-ds, f -I J_1.P-11111-11 u 81p1} ,. ,I�.rc 1:11 4 mt r�nem P,r,e,l r11e,vPread nfrrhrn mnsr.0, kl+` r;nke i I '-'n' K 'll- vi1l,auL al rrnusTel rsr�r L.,,, l ermi.xv,nt rrlaieixEr t�t,+nd ,sland� vi've lAxii .o Some r�k c�.ueake. Z,1? 'vS1iViLFii]IA mom Sin 3 way ide D®� WISCONSIN 0®t, h P° National Park Management Boundary Minnesota/Wismn,!,State Managemem Bound dal Personal Watercraft Prohibited 17 c,l Pc'rv,xed w,I,rer.ei L 11 11111111 Lctl 41Nor n Siee i.:rnrh'nfi mthe hcorhre 1-tI ,Sr.Cmix and Na,ni'l.:�sr,a 1'i'-�e_.Is 1 fikicly sna'.pact f.c n,i 1,I1 .P�nnel fnm,ed ln'h,.v and,,t of Boating Speed Regulations the Nallonal Pack bcundadas. [a lou- vnA—b,rat, r-ri-d 5. Mthe 51(xYPfi!pre�ciblesp2ed n.CE...1:. maintain SICCCa�C,hal i1111U c'aaC g1C8LLC Illall LL'C elilCa E,CY hl,u - 'E'he,v iv ulvnaslai�-no.vekc rule per,vininK to ur,y -n'idlil]1 W iccl mall shalet,n',iacludulg �� ;aslands and�cithin l00 haroPal sn}mmena Croix -• Emergency Information High Bridge to Cull 911 ifyou need an immediate response from am° Boom Site Lan• • location. To report a violation: Cc ri Ll,e Na.lorral Park Service 1.On the Afirm esota side of rhe river,contact the St.Croix River Visitor Center Washuainem County ShoriiL:(611)4)9-9381. SL.Croix Fal.Wiscousul {715)483-3273 V5'cbvile,www.np.v.grovfrvucrr 2.On the W'iaconsinside of the river;—tact the! St,Croix CountvSherlff:(715)386-1701. upda Md 2]12 EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA aarts,ay.7l rnr m rak Historic Boom Site Map Page 3 of 33 Nati—I Park servile u•5-Repanment of the Mteriw Sub-weed N---Cmt- kdkewaad,COWrado St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Ruins of a Forgotten Highway:Surrey and Documentation of Historic Dater Control Features P .F r, 4 Submerged Resources C:enter'rechnical Report Na.36 Submerged Cultural Resources Report Page 4 of 33 r W" s , 3 �a Submerged cultural resources identified by NPS r Submerged cultural resources identified by NPS Page 5 of 33 Submerged cultural resources identified by NPS C)"Spill response plan" completed by the National Park Service as of November 23, 2019: Page 6 of 33 a. Initiated and executed a cooperative Agreement with Upper Mississippi River Basin Association to prepare a Spill Response Plan,which engaged over a hundred stakeholders and groups in several discussions and the final preparation of the plan. Tabletop exercise for the spill response plan was held by NPS on 3-8-19. NATIONAL PARD SERVICE St. Croix National Scenic Riverway INITIAL INCIDENT ACTION PLAN (IAP) �ti1N.iF6fd 4h��' ImEo xrn w �1lCWli�n This lnitisf Incident Action F)an rs developed to aid 0 rnitratrng a timely and eRecirve response to spills of oil and ether hazardous materials in the St Croix National Scenic River ay. It is intended to be used during Opera trona! Period 97 of response only at the discretion of the Incident Commander tf is not infended to supersede the direction of the Incident Commander or ehmrnate[he need For ongoing communication during a response. EAP PLhroyad hN JnCjd9nt Comihande fe): ORG NAME 6A1EfiEF1E FkX Ux W IC(Qf t.fire Dept,CoiaW EWi Tewy MPr) Fkst ResprndMg Stae lAMCA i NM DMT1 FOSC;USCG FVebselmiaGftfyl,EPR(raCQi'y,daIP G 00W, FPS lead Rew enfaeke IArf LU.Ui AM1M'iHIR Leatl ftepreSeNadve National Park Service's Spill Response Plan Page 7 of 33 D)"Public boat access (locational study, environmental study and wetland mitigation by MnDNR)"—Funding was provided to MnDNR in 2013 and since then preliminary designs have been completed by MnDNR for a boat launch/parking area adjacent to the new river bridge in Minnesota. Wetland impacts have been mitigated for with the regulating agencies. MnDNR is working on final design, operations and maintenance issues with the City of Oak Park Heights, Metropolitan Council and the Union Pacific Railroad. Underwater mussel surveys in the vicinity of the proposed boat access may be necessary in 2020. MnDNR has requested approval from Union Pacific and others to construct. If approvals are obtained by MnDNR, construction of the boat access could occur as soon as fall of 2020. PmNw;Braces _ __J — \ ^ IE huuw/us xE— to I `�• �� n6 HJi4bN WSIN N0.A`' � L_-i= 's"� � - F�Ck110A dg51N N0.3 __ ,�.A' �. 'ti\��.,Y _� __ �c➢F h31POkNN!FILL ig11F eCREEk I ``:�,'. \, - .yl� FIL_li ItCf6'bIIPN PRVN NO 7 ilUll I it Lkk ih;h 1f p`^`R[,ICNIK)N IIASIH N0.1 UH4AH()UNUfk3UNUAbLWI 5� V� nz kv W @ 4 p I Sh -_-_ ..c. x,, May.. •. A ,2 P IWI I ,aaoza. . ,s..m o. ..uvnminsamau :o Plansheet showing MnDNR Boat Access—preliminary design E) "Completion ofloop trail system... "—Majority of loop trail has now been constructed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. The upper loop trail in Minnesota was constructed in Page 8 of 33 2018, with connections made to the lower loop trail previously completed. A parking lot in Minnesota was also constructed in 2018 along TH95. Parking for loop trail users in Minnesota is also being accommodated along the Treatment Plant Access road,just north of the new bridge. The Wisconsin loop trail was constructed in 2018 and 2019 between the Lift Bridge and the new County Road E interchange. Trail heads with parking lots in Wisconsin were also constructed in 2018 and 2019. Interpretive panels along the loop trail provide information on the adjacent areas. See attached loop trail progress map, dated 1-22-2020. a. Minor loop trail work was completed in the spring of 2019 in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Minnesota, the contractor established the turf along the upper trail. In Wisconsin, the contractor installed all pedestrian railing as well as signing and striping from the lift bridge to the hilltop parking lot. Views on MN and WI loop trails, at Oasis Cafe and looking towards Lift Bridge b. Work on converting the Lift Bridge to bike/ped/boat use will continue until May of 2020, when the Loop Trail will finally be complete and fully open to the public. F) "Growth Management MOU& Riverway MOU bluffland protections" --- The Growth Management MOU outlined the purpose and goals for mitigating the potential negative impacts to the area resources, including water resources, from accelerated growth in St. Croix County. Growth Management thru local governments' local plans and ordinances is an importance purpose of this mitigation item, as is to promote natural, cultural and historic resource protections, thus preserving water quality and scenic values. WisDNR, St. Croix County, Town of St. Joseph, the STH64 Corridor Communities and UW-River Falls have implemented the conditions of the Growth Management MOU since 2013. They have completed water resources planning/protections, expanded their local government planning/zoning support and provided greenspace protections. They have completed soil and water modeling and monitoring, studied sanitary wastewater treatment facility needs and refined stormwater management programs. One example of the growth management efforts implemented was thru protection of sensitive and scenic lands by providing 3 new St. Croix County parks, expanding 1 County park and 1 State Park in St. Croix County. Page 9 of 33 St. Croix County Bluffline Mitigation Properties St.Croix River Crossing Loop Trail Main Trail &a Addition to Homestead Paris Homestead Park I Eckert Blufflands Willow River Sfafe Pork `3r Addition to Eckert Blufflands `ST. CROlx ®D-dR-tr m easE 1 Co-UINT•Y North Hudson s aa.co ryn qsno --",4 11 Addifioa to Willow River State Park ®rowor se dosepn nqsao s This graphic shows the protected sensitive and scenic lands acquired with Growth Management funding since 2013. This includes properties such as: - St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail -- Main Trailhead - Orf Family Overlook on Bass Lake - Eckert Blufflands on the St. Croix, county Park—combining Richards and Eckert acquisitions— 167 acres - Addition to Homestead Parklands on Perch Lake, County Park—40 acres - Addition to Willow River State Park—2.6 acres along Trout Brook Road - Additional Eckert Blufflands —2 acres, Deed Restrictions and Easements The Riverway MOU outlined the mitigation necessary for damages to blufflands because of the St. Croix Crossing Project. In 2013, Riverway MOU related funding was provided to the WisDNR, St. Croix County and Town of St. Joseph for protection of replacement lands necessary to offset the impacts of a new crossing on the Wisconsin bluff. Protection includes the purchase of fee title, the purchase or transfer of development rights or the purchase of conservation easements from willing sellers of lands located in St. Croix County. Protected lands acquired are to be perpetually maintained for land and water conservation purposed, scenic protection and other compatible uses, including low-impact public recreation. WisDNR, St. Croix County and the Town of St. Joseph have now completed these Riverway MOU related efforts Page 10 of 33 within the Riverway Basin, thus providing benefits to the Riverway by mitigating for the damaged blufflands. An annual report compiled by the WisDNR on January 31, 2020 details all of the Growth Management MOU and Riverway MOU deliverables of the funded projects within their responsibilities and can be viewed at the Wisconsin DNR office, 1300 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701. Remaining MOA related: A) "Lift Bridge Related:" a. Lift Bridge Conversion Project—Conversion activities continue. i. Kraemer North America, LLC was awarded the Lift Bridge Conversion Project contract on June 30, 2017. ii. Construction began by Kraemer on August 2nd, 2017 and is anticipated to be completed by May 1st, 2020, weather dependent. iii. Span 6 was floated out during the summer of 2019, in order to allow boats to pass while work on Span 4 (Lift Span) occurred. iv. In 2019, steel repairs and painting occurred on Spans 2, 4 and 6. Electrical work occurred on all spans during 2019. Mechanical work such as the drive machinery occurred in 2019 also. Added striping and signing. Added gate arms. Painted spans with the same green color as the original 1931 paint color. v. Replaced concourse with jointed concrete, with same design as used in 1931. Finished sidewalk ramps for ADA compliance. vi. Steel repairs, mechanical, electrical, lighting,painting and replacing the concourse are all work necessary to convert the Lift Bridge to bicycle/pedestrian/boat use. vii. Stillwater Dockwall removal and partial shoreline restoration occurred in late 2019 and full shoreline restoration will also occur after the Lift Bridge is converted in 2020. Erosion control was established in the Stillwater Dockwall area in late 2019 and landscaping will be planted there in the spring of 2020. viii. Project information can be found at hlt2://vrvvw.dot.state.mn.us/metro/proiects/liftbridge Page 11 of 33 x, ROAD a ' EL05ED RF1Ab f" 0005ED Recent view of Chestnut Street, looking east to the Lift Bridge MW 1 Future animated view of the converted Lift Bridge B) `Zift Bridge Publication"—Washington County Historical Society was hired in 2015, but the contract was terminated and a professional/technical services consultant was then hired to complete the Lift Bridge Publication. Because of this change of vendors, an amendment to the Amended Section 106 MOA was necessary in early 2016. Since then, the Lift Bridge Publication was drafted Page 12 of 33 and reviewed by the regulating agencies during 2018. The Publication was completed and distributed in April of 2019. In accordance with the MOA, hardcopies and e-books were distributed to all MOA signatories, invited signatories and concurring parties, along with the e-book provided on the St. Croix Crossing Project, Lift Bridge Conversion Project and MnDOT's Historic Bridges websites. Additional hardcopies are also available for purchase at the Minnesota's Bookstore, operated by the Minnesota Department of Administration. Front cover of the Lift Bridge Publication Following an extensive edit of the book to correct grammatical errors and the index, a second edition was issued in late July 2019 and replaced the earlier version on the websites and in hard-cover editions. The Minnesota Bookstore has sold 105 copies from May 2019 through January 2020. The second edition is available from the bookstore for $19.95. See attached"Status of Cultural Resource Mitigation as of 1/3/2020". Also, the complete listing and the current implementation status of the Section 106 mitigation items are found in the attached "Summary of Preferred Alternative Mitigation Items". Construction Accomplishments: A.Lift Bridge: During 2019, work progressed on the conversion of the Lift Bridge. High waters due to flooding on the St. Croix River negatively impacted the overall schedule. Page 13 of 33 1 rA r m � a View of Lift Bridge from Lowell Park—Lift Span (Span 4)work View of Lift Bridge from Lowell Park—working on Span 4 while boat passage is provided thru Span 6 Page 14 of 33 repairs • the gears, Y Z.' • .ala ori �►wr,r�:.�a�i ►►'"' �•' r� (r i �tree■ �� T i � ' a fl .Y x°94.. _ !r;� Orly �I 1 ■F I ^ i r � — ^�".,r.?^ x„ a. t. View of concourse and approach roadway on Chestnut Street being removed I — w - -- I' View of concourse being replaced so it will look like it did in 1931 Page 17 of 33 t r y 1 � r tid View of concourse and approach roadway on Chestnut Street after being replaced Page 1S of 33 View of Stillwater Dockwall in late 2019,just before it's removal. y w]� z. View of Stillwater Dockwall in late, late 2019, being removed and erosion control was established. Page 19 of 33 tlkFrFF ttet�(tryt�y a ` z� .... � _._J --•- l B. Superstructure for the new river bridge by Lunda/Ames Joint Venture: a. The new bridge opened to vehicular traffic on August 2, 2017. Punchlist items were completed in 2019 and contract close-out processes initiated. f a1 View of new bridge with traffic on it, looking into Minnesota from Wisconsin C.Minnesota Roadway: i. During 2019, the TH 36 and TH 95 roadway approach operated efficiently. View of operating roadway in Minnesota, looking into river valley ii. Punch list items (warrantee and corrective actions on bituminous and concrete work) were completed for the MN roadway contract with Ames/Lunda JV. Page 21 of 33 11 L175j$t, ,�m- k �v 5p 8 View of Treatment Plant Access Road punchlist item work D.Minnesota: Landscaping along the east side of TH95 from Bayport to Chestnut Street and the interchange area was installed in 2018 and was finalized in the spring of 2019. 4,291 trees/shrubs/vines/perennials/native sod were installed consistent with the Visual Quality Manual. View of landscaping being along TH95 in Minnesota Page 22 of 33 tiikte(�ti r, fl414 t. t.. R lK6 i � w„ b View of landscaped beds between Treatment Plant Access Road and TH95 in Minnesota E. Wetland restorations in Minnesota adjacent to new bridge and at Xcel Dockwall: Restoration of wetlands was re-initiated under the new bridge after flood waters submerged the plants enough to kill them in 2018. Larger diameter trees and more water tolerant species were placed in 2019 to restore the wetlands. t Page 23 of 33 z 77 I� View of re-established vegetation under new bridge and at the Xcel dockwall to restore the wetlands in Minnesota. F. Minnesota Loop Trail: Turf was established along the trail in 2019 Upper loop trail in Minnesota, looking north. Page 24 of 33 1 qv MAiOA IEx�[IES I1 4 - W.a...i 9rd ' . Upper loop trail near the Oasis Cafe in Minnesota, looking south. y - 1 Upper loop trail by parking lot near Sunnyside Marina, looking north. Page 25 of 33 G.Wisconsin Roadways: a. During 2019 the final elements of the loop trail were completed, including the pedestrian railing, signing, and marking along the trail near the lift bridge, landscaping maintenance along the trail, and pedestrian underpass painting a Railing installation near the Lift Bridge Final marking at Lift Bridge. Page 26 of 33 1� i% j25 Pedestrian Underpass Painting at Main Trailhead T i' Finished Trail, east of Lift Bridge Page 27 of 33 z t ice• Main Trailhead in Wisconsin b. Welcome to Wisconsin Sign Installation. The Welcome to Wisconsin sign was installed along WIS 64 near Exit 1. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in June 2019. 1. Welcome to Wisconsin sign Page 28 of 33 Communications Efforts: As renovation of the historic 1931 Stillwater Lift Bridge winds down, communication volumes of project information in both states decreased in 2019. Communication again was primarily delivered to the public through project email updates, earned media, digital media and social media. The goal of these communications was to provide project updates and other information efficiently and effectively. A. Communications Team accomplished the following in 2019: ❑ Public and private group presentations (MnDOT and WisDOT) ❑ Distributed 9 total project email updates to the"Metro—Hwy 95 Stillwater/St. Croix Crossing: 2018-2019 Construction" email list. (13,127 people signed up for Hwy 95 Stillwater/St. Croix Crossing: 2018-2019 Construction. ❑ 32% average email open rate Regularly updated the project website with construction photos, news releases, and graphics. ❑ Total visits to all pages under the St. Croix Crossing directory (mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing/ - includes all sub-pages, i.e. contacts, gallery, ADA, etc.): 16,506 (March 1-Dec. 31, 2019). Average time spent on all St. Croix Crossing webpages: i minute,34 seconds (March 1-Dec. 31, 2019). Social media remained a priority for public engagement efforts and robust audience numbers were maintained from season to season. ❑ Facebook:MnDOT's St. Croix Crossing Facebook page is now unposted and unavailable to the general public since fall 2017. ❑ Twitter: Twitter account was deleted in 2017 following the opening of the St. Croix Crossing bridge. ❑ Media: During 2019 there were approximately 27 St. Croix Crossing/Stillwater Lift Bridge-related stories. Media covered many angles of the project in 2019 focusing on construction activities. The media outlet types that covered St. Croix Crossing related stories included: ❑ Metro dailies ❑ Community newspapers ❑ Broadcast(TV and radio) ❑ Web ❑ Trade publications Continuing the trend from previous years, the majority of project media coverage was positive. Some of the topics that dominated coverage included: ❑ Construction progress ❑ Loop Trail construction and completion ❑ Lift Bridge renovation ❑ Traffic impacts for Stillwater's July 4th fireworks C. Tools used in 2019 to provide and receive project information and updates were: Project email updates Email: stcroixcrossing.dow state.mn.us Page 29 of 33 Li Websites: a) St. Croix Crossing:www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossingZ and https://projects.Snwi.gov/stcroixcrossingL b) Stillwater Lift Bridge: www.mndot.gov/metro/pro,jects/liftbridge/index.html c) Wisconsin Hwy 64 Loop Trail: https://www.sccwi.90v/39,/St-Croix-River- Crossin Trail provides information on the trail heads and loop trail in Wisconsin. Community planning is currently underway for a Lift Bridge/Loop Trail grand opening celebration on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, 2020. A multi-agency and community task force has been meeting since mid-February 2019 to plan a number of events to celebrate the completion of the lift bridge and loop trail in the spring of 2020. Potential activities may include a spaghetti dinner and pancake breakfast, a street dance, a ribbon cutting and an attempt to set a new Guinness Book of World Records by linking wrists along the length of the new St. Croix Crossing Loop Trail. Construction Cost/Schedule A. Approximate Cost Subtotal: Minnesota Roadway Approach $72M River Bridge Foundations $39M River Bridge and Ramp Bridges $394M Wisconsin Roadway Approach $25M Mitigation Package $49M B. Construction Scheduled in 2020: 1. Stillwater Lift Bridge Conversion to Bike/Ped/Boat Facility: Anticipate substantial completion in May 2020, weather dependent. 2. Minnesota Landscaping—complete 4th phase: around the Stillwater Dockwall and fill-ins. Plant installations completed in the spring 2020, with up to 2 years of warrantees following the installations. 3. Wisconsin Loop Trail landscaping: warrantee completed in October 2020. 4. Mitigation Package Implementation—Ongoing thru 2020 for the only remaining mitigation item --- MnDNR's construction of their boat access. Page 30 of 33 Next Steps for 2020 (Timetable will be determined by FHWA, MnDOT and WisDOT) 1. Continued Stakeholder Involvement 2. Minnesota Roadway Approach- contract closeout 3. Minnesota Landscaping-4th Phase installations then warrantee period 4. River bridge superstructure and ramp bridges—contract closeout 5. Wisconsin Loop Trail —landscaping warrantee period 6. Stillwater Lift Bridge Conversion—ongoing construction then contract closeout 7. Permit Conditions and any additional agency coordination 8. Environmental Compliance, Monitoring and Documenting 9. Financial Plan—annual update 10. Mitigation Package: - complete all "During Construction"items and"After Construction" items. 11. Communications: Communication will continue throughout the construction and mitigation efforts for the St. Croix River Crossing (SCRC) including the completion and opening of the Stillwater Lift Bridge. Our communication will be coordinated with Washington County, St. Croix County and the cities of Stillwater, Bayport, Oak Park Heights, Houlton and the Town of St. Joseph. We will also work with the Greater Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce. Other efforts will include, but are not limited to: ❑ Project email updates periodically as work continues (both Minnesota and Wisconsin) ❑ Mailings to businesses/residents affected by construction ❑ News releases/media interviews as needed ❑ Twitter messages as needed ❑ Project information in city/chamber newsletters and other communication channels ❑ Website updates have been ongoing since the opening of the SCRC and will continue as needed. ❑ Participation in community events/Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce functions/city events ❑ Business outreach to alert the business community and the public about construction impacts such as lane closures, shoulder closures and road closures, detours and possible boat navigation issues because of construction. 12. Project Management-- Manage program schedules, resources, cost estimates, deliverables, reporting, etc. developed within the framework of the Project Management Plan's organizational chart including regular meetings of functional groups and as needed- Project Core Team, Stewardship Councils and Executive Team. Page 31 of 33 This report describes the actions taken by FHWA, MnDOT, WisDOT and other agencies between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020, to implement the St. Croix Crossing Project and the terms of the Amended MOA and Riverway MOU. Responsibilities covered by the Riverway MOU and Section 106 MOA are expected to be completed in May 2020, with the substantial completion of the Lift Bridge Conversion Project. Therefore the environmental mitigation commitments of the Riverway MOU and Amended Section 106 MOA will have been fully met. These Annual Project Summary Reports will no longer be provided although project information is available as needed from MnDOT and WisDOT. Proiect Team Contact information: MnDOT: Michael Beer, Project Director 651-366-4358 Mlchael.Beerkstate.mn.us Kent Barnard, Communications 651-253-2803 Kent.Barnardg state.mn.us Todd Clarkowski, Project Coordinator 651-366-4576 Todd.Clarkowski2state.mn.us WisDOT: Tara Weiss, Project Development 715-836-2283 Tara.Weissgdot.wi.gov Christena O'Brien, Communications 715-828-9471 Christena.Obrien2dot.wi.gov FHWA: Tim Anderson - MN 651-291-6126 Timothy.Andersongdot.gov Pete Garcia- WI 608-829-7513 Pete.Garciakdot.gov Websites: o The St. Croix Crossing Project website www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing_/has been the main project website and will continue to exist until the completion of mitigation for the project. This website will be minimally updated to reflect mitigation efforts and will provide links to other project websites. o The existing Stillwater Lift Bridge conversion website www.mndot.gov/metro/projects/liftbridge/will be the main location for information about the project along with information about the lift schedule and other activities related to the lift bridge. o St. Croix County's Loop Trail website: ha2s://www.sccwi.gov/395/St-Croix- River-Crossing-Trail provides information on the trail heads and loop trail in Wisconsin. o All of these websites are interconnected so that someone viewing any of the websites will find links to the other sites. All websites also provide a link to sign up for project specific email updates. o Please note that these websites will be closed following construction. Page 32 of 33 Attachments to this report include: • Loop Trail Progress Map dated 1-22-2020 • Status of Cultural Resources mitigation as of 1-3-2020 • St. Croix Crossing Project layout and Summary of Preferred Alternative Mitigation Items Implementation Status, dated 1-22-2020 e . y x Y l v ProjectWise:/36/8214/114/predesign/projectmanagment/areamanagement/annual_project_summary_report/stcroix-annual report for march 2020- final-2-11-2020.docx Page 33 of 33 /f� � Q o o O N N \� G O MZE = as 'M F, E N y O O 0 V U O o C�. i� o River _ •L H O M CLC�1 a O E O I o J v CL x • • O asps L • O es rs°,a C. 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K.„ r n "I'rX�i�fib! .". r " •_ s l , r" 1 � r x 2 r a �i i M j z O wk�x.. tl „ ., � OEU \ na -11 � SA LU OZ e ` b `r s � - _ + c s , . z ., O se Off_ aLU J �. . .% - _., ' -- NSJ.HE)igFr v IH t N ,' '1 Nvo d0 Alli) • )IVO C �'3Atl N33H`J r • n W 41 f �• ti ST.CROI%RIVER CROSSING PROJECT SUMMARY OF PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE MITIGATION ITEMS--IMPLEMENTATION STATUS-d ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION MANAGEMENT PLAN Avvd'at4ma®atet Cast v Q11— MEWc(n wa(b) m mleFl ,.ranxs9e�eam..m.=slsan�a �e`va. ®esum vta - atmar e��s w.wr a City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd. No Box 2007 a Oak Park Heights,MN 55082•Phone(651)439-4439*Fax(651)439-0574 2-24-20 MEMO: TO: B. DeRosier/A. Kegley/B.Caruso/J. Pinski FROM: Eric Johnson, City Administrator RE: Performance Reviews It is time the City once again review our respective staff members and provide effective review and communication relative to their performance. Attached is the typical form we have utilized as I still believe it provides the general guidance we need for standardized comparisons. If you wish to use an additional form that is fine as well, but this sheet needs to also be completed. If you have a different form you would like to use,we can discuss that as well. If you would be so kind as to complete these for each of your respective staff members(Full- time Regular and Full-Time—Temporary)it would be appreciated. If you would please have these back to me by April 31 it would be appreciated. Thank you Eric 1 s AM City ®f Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd. N•Box 2007.Oak Park Heights,MN 55082•Phone(651)439-4439•Fax(651)439-0574 Employee Performance Review Personal Information: Name: Interviewer: Title: Department: Date of Report: Anniversary gate: Type of Report: Annual Special Probationary(Interim) Probationary(Final) Performance Factors:(a score is to be inserted by the reviewer and reviewee for each item) N/A Not Applicable 1. Unsatisfactory-continued performance at current level may result in disciplinary action. 2. Meets Minimum Expectations,results achieved consistently meet minimum job requirements. 3. Meets level required,excels in several areas. 4. Consistently excels.Excellent Mandatory Factors: Performance Level Scoring Supervisor Self Score 1. Attendance;Absenteeism;Punctuality;Remaining on the job. 2. Quality of Work;Accuracy;Neatness;Thoroughness;Competence 3. Work Habits;Observes work and safety rules;Follows instruction 4. Initiative;Self Starter;Finds work to do;Self-motivated. 5. Dependability;the degree to which employees can be relied upon to get the job done. 6. Relations with other employees;Cooperativeness;Ability to get along with co-workers; "Team Player" 7. Quantity of work;Amount of acceptable work accomplished 8. Adaptability;ability to adjust to new or different assignments. 2 9. Judgment and common sense;Ability to make sound decisions and take correct actions. 14. Keep supervisor informed on pertinent issues or work schedule changes in a timely manner. 11. Department Goals;Demonstrates an interest and ability to assist in accomplishment of goals. 12. Attitude:Demonstrates a positive attitude toward performing work assignments. Scoring Supervisor Self Score Operational Factors: Evaluate Appropriate To.bob 1. Public Contact;Manner in dealing with and helping the public. 2. Planning and organizing work;Effective and efficient Utilization of time and resources. 3. Communications(oral and written);Effective expressions; How well are ideas understood by others. 4. Supervisory ability;Leadership;Getting work done through others;Training subordinates. 5. Management ability;Effective and economical management of Department,or Program. 6. Confidentiality;Maintaining the confidential nature of Department information. 7. Other: Specify Supervisor's Comments:(attach additional sheets as needed) Employee Development: Give suggestions/direction as to what employee shall do to develop or improve performance 3 Overall Evaluation: The overall evaluation should be consistent with the above factor ratings and comments. Please place an "X" in the appropriate placeholder. Annual Satisfactory or above. Improvement needed. Performance is less than satisfactory;employee must be given a special evaluation in three months. Special Satisfactory or above. Unsatisfactory. Probationary(interim) Satisfactory or above.Satisfactory progress is being made toward completing probationary period. Improvement needed. Performance must improve in order to satisfactory complete probationary period. Unsatisfactory. Employee is ineligible for continued employment. Probationary(Final) Satisfactory or above. Employee is eligible for permanent appointment. Unsatisfactory. Employee is ineligible for permanent appointment. Signature of Department Head/Reviewer Date: Employee's Comments(opportunity for employee to make commentary as to the nature of the report,its findings or the review process-additional sheets may be attached). On signing this Review Document,I certify that the above Review Findings were discussed with me. Signature of Employee Date 4 Eiric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent Saturday, February 29, 2020 6:15 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd: MAOSC Weekly Session BULLETIN - Feb 28,2020 For weekly notes ----Original Message--- From: Minnesota Small Cities<cap@maosc.crg> To: marymccomber<marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Fri, Feb 28, 2020 3:12 pm Subject: MAOSC Weekly Session BULLETIN -Feb 28, 2020 i u :i1mucc q i 4 I 1 I BULLETIN Weekly Sessl®n Update February 28, 2020 k.' 4 Dear Oak Park Heights Leaders and/or Staf, N It was a very busy and exciting week at the ° legislature for MN Small Cities! NcC only did we have a Ford Meeting at the League of Minnesota Cities affilces,but several enthusiastic MAOSC members also joined us for our&Tfifi Tzml[Day at th(@ C;aplfth 9.We were able to arrange meetings with legislative leaders such as Senator GazellYa,Suan Kent and Representative Daud.t.Governor Waiz met with cur board members as well!The energy was high as members met one-on-one with their elected officials throughout the day,to i discuss legislative priorities important to small cities.It was a great opportunity to emphasize the importance of small cities and the vital role we all play in Minnesota's collective community.We capped off the day with a Legislativa R4-ce-ptWn where we vrere able tc continue networkeng with lawmakers in a more relaxed setting. If you were not able to join us this time,please make a point of it next year! State udget: The February Forecast came out this week,projecting a slightly larger surplus than previously expected. Legislators now tare a$1.5 billion surpluses this session. In light of this news,the Governor has called for putting more into the reserve with some targeted spending on key inilfatives.Meanwhile GOP,leaders were quick to call for mere tax cuts in an effart to reduce the state budget. i Hearings: j t 1 HF3068-a bill that allows voters to opt-out of sharing their private data when voting in the presidential primary-passed off the House floor.There has been no action in the Senate yet and there will not be, before the primary takes place. SF3029 -a bill investing$30m!Ilion more for broadband funding-was heard in the Senate this week. MN Small Cities sent a letter of support. The following is a list of some notable bilis introduced this week.Those marked in BOLD TEXT may be moving throuah the process soon and I would appreciate any feedback You or Your staff may have: SF3558,Nelson: Establishes a tax credit contribution fund:tir housing developments. SF3582,Draheim: Requires voters to approve municipal capital improvements over$1,000,000. SF3671,Draheim: Prohibits an increase in property values for homesteads owned by persons 65 years of age or older. SF3793,Kv ran: Requires municipalitties to base c©wstruction permit fees on a cost per sgivau);foot. i SF3794,Draheim:Caps park fees at five percent and creates the option of donating land or ? building recreational facilities Instead of paying the fee.The Will also establishes requirements for retarding the way fees are called and the purposes for which the money wao obtained. i SF3795,Drahelm:Requires that municipalities report the cosh associated wilkh conducting I building inppecdons.The bill also requires municipalities to provide explanations of fees collected that do not appear on the deparitmenit°s list of common definitions for categories of constriction tion and development-related fees. SF3796,llvram Proldb%;municipalities firom,maing a designated baailding dV5rJm3 for c9de inuspan.Ions anleas lase city adopts an orftarzz identiVyling that daslgnated building ficial.If a cRV adopts such an ordinance,the municipality Is subject to civil action fbr negligent construction code inspection. It was a busy,but FUN week as our staff ran around tracking bills and meeting with legislators,In an effort to help YOU track US,we've set up a twitter account where we can post more about what we are doing at the Capital and the legislation we are tracking. Please give us a follow Finally,I want to sincerely THANK those of you that came to St.Paul for our MN Small Cities Day On The Hill- especially Lonny Bach of%uthhaven,Colleen Winter of Melrose, Pam Bluhm of Chatfield,Andrea Lauer of Rw,M ton,and Dave Denoyer of Flooderood_in addition to our hardworking Board Members. I hope these weekly bulletins will help you track what we are working on at the CapitD;.My goal is to keep these as short and simple as possible,but I welcome feedback on any topics or issues that you want to see included. As always,Thank Yore for the work you do for your communities!Our state is better because of the hard work that is being done by leaders in Minnesota's small cities.If at any time you have concerns,issues or suggestions for improvemant-feel free to email me at cap@maosc.oro. i Have a great weekend! Sincerely, i I Cap O'Rourke ' Executive Director MN Small Cites 612 483 1863 capCa rnaosc.or4 2 Eric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Monday, February 24,2020 10.47 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd:This Week at the Minnesota Legislature February 24, 2020 For weekly notes -----Original Message--- From: Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. <legalert@locklaw.com> To: marymccomber@aol.com <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Mon, Feb 24, 2020 10:41 am Subject: This Week at the Minnesota Legislature—February 24, 2020 " x im' _'�mm III M 11'F41'>1' 'r 17 A� "i74F -i n i*Qz A& m ,.14-TI .ITE"09 If I MW I f P vForward] dd � '7777177 111�7,' 77 Si6tte overnment •. 1 f ,AI ` p kV • • � GRINDAL NAUEN H.Theodore Grindal Partner As the legislature begins its third week of the 2020 Legislative Session, committees and divisions will continue meeting to hear and pass bills ahead of the March 20 first committee deadline—where committees must act favorably on a bill in the house of origin in order Rebecca Jr. Kianninen for it stay alive during for the legislative session. Partner Veterinary Immunity @ On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division will hear House File 1530, authored by Rep. Jeanne Poppe(DFL-Austin), which would provide immunity to licensed veterinarians who report animal cruelty. Specifically, this legislation would offer civil and Daniel G. Larson criminal penalty immunity to a licensed veterinarian who reports Director, State&Local suspected animal cruelty. 1 Government Affairs Currently, veterinarians operate under a mandate to report animal cruelty when they encounter it. However, they are not immune to civil or criminal prosecution for doing so. Prison Safety On Wednesday, a joint hearing of the House Public Safe Finance Y J 9 Safety Amos A Briggs and Policy Division and the House Corrections Division will hear a Government Relations presentation on the Office of the Legislative Auditor's report on prison safety and security. t This report comes after a corrections officer was killed in July of 2018 in an assault by a prisoner at the Stillwater correctional facility. Later .di Ah& that year, another officer suffered a medical emergency and died at ' the Oak Park Heights prison in the aftermath of responding to an Peter H.Glossing assault. Several other violent incidents at state prisons have been Associate/ reported as well. Communications& Grassroots Advocacy The legislative auditor's report will evaluate the safety of Minnesota prisons for staff and offenders as well as whether the Department of Corrections has taken reasonable steps to maintain and improve safety in state prisons. .4 Raising Tobacco Age At the end of December of 2019, Congress passed and President Angie A. Huss Communications& Trump signed into law a budget deal that included a provision that Grassroots Advocacy raised the national tobacco age to 21, effective immediately. On the state level, plans have already been in the works for the 2020 Legislative Session to renew efforts to raise the legal age to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21 statewide—led by Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), Senator Paul Anderson (R-Plymouth), Representative Heather Edelson (DFL-Edina), and Representative Ann T. Lericzewskil Patty Acomb (DFL-Minnetonka). Government Relations Even with the federal law in place, advocates intend to pass this legislation to align the state's tobacco age with the new law to ensure q z strong implementation, compliance, and enforcement. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee will hear Senate File 463, authored by Senator Nelson, that would raise the legal purchase age of tobacco products Jessica E- Leimd"erg to 21-years-old. The restriction includes e-cigarettes and other Government Relations devices used for delivering nicotine through vapor, also known as vaping. These efforts follow the action of more than 50 local units of government in Minnesota to raise the age of purchasing tobacco products from 18-years-old to 21-years-old within their respective jurisdictions. 2 Kevin J. Matzek This legislation passed the Senate Health and Human Services Government Relations Finance and Policy Committee with bipartisan support during the r 2019 Legislative Session. Insulin Affordability On Wednesday, the Minnesota House of Representatives is scheduled to take up House File 3100, also known as the Alec Smith Carol J. Mraz Affordable Insulin Act, authored by Representative Mike Howard Government Relation: (DFL-Richfield). This bill would make emergency insulin available at pharmacies with a 30-day supply even if the prescription is expired. It would be renewable three times. The state would then reimburse pharmacists from revenue derived from registration fees paid by drug manufacturers. The issue of insulin affordability has remained a priority for legislators Nathan!61 C. Mussell since the end of the 2019 Legislative Session. While both Partner Republicans and Democrats at the Capitol have agreed that the state needs an emergency insulin program, the funding mechanism ., continues to be the major difference between the two bills. The Senate Republican proposal would pay for emergency insulin Tthrough the Health Care Access Fund while the House DFL proposal pays for emergency insulin through a fee on insulin manufacturers. Kara V.Osterman Precinct Caucuses Govemment Relations On Tuesday evening, precinct caucuses will be held around the state j at 7 PM. Precinct caucuses are meetings run by Minnesota's political parties. They are the first in a series of meetings where parties may y endorse candidates, select delegates, and set goals and values. Information on where to attend a precinct caucus meeting can be found' here. Callen D.Sheehan Government Relations Committee Deadline Changes a .r Last week, the House and Senate extended the first and second committee deadlines by a week to accommodate legislators who wish to travel home on Tuesday to attend their local precinct caucus meeting. Below are the new deadlines: 1st Deadline-March 20, 2020 2nd Deadline-March 27, 2020 3rd Deadline-April 3, 2020 The first deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin. The second deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house. The third deadline is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills. The deadlines do not apply to the House committees on Capital Investment. Ways and Means, Taxes, or Rules and Legislative 3 Eric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2020 9:55 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd: Legislative Alert:State Budget Officials Project$1.513 Billion Surplus For weekly notes -----Original Message--- From: Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. <legalert@locklaw.com> To: marymccomber@aol.com<marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Thu, Feb 27, 2020 9:51 am Subject: Legislative Alert: State Budget Officials Project$1.513 Billion Surplus i( ml ! Vievi4 I m u i �L State Government Relations LoCK ..ate y t R � �. GRINDAL NAUENy �(I i. 440Ailloincis at Law H.Theodore Grindal M Partner :. - Today, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budge:(MMB) ' released the state's February Budget Forecast, which projects Minnesota's state budget to have a$1.513 billion surplus for the current biennium that runs through June of 2021. Rebecca J. Kanninen Partner This updated forecast is an increase from the previous budget forecast in November of 2019 where the state was projected to have a$1.332 billion surplus, an increase of$181 million. According to state budget officials, the"economic outlook is stable but a slowdown remains in the forecast. The small budgetary improvement continues into the next biennium and the structural Daniel G. Larson balance is improved, but budget challenges remain." Director,State&Local Last May, legislators and Governor Walz approved a two-year$48.2 billion state budget that runs through June of 2021. Governor Walz 1 Government Affairs and state legislators will use these projections to crate bonding bill and potential supplemental budget for this legislative session, which concludes on Monday, May Y Y 18. Amos A. Briggs Government Relations p Peter H.Glessing Associate/ Communications& Grassroots Advocacy r I r� Angie A. Huss Communications& Grassroots Advocacy Ann T. Lenczewski Government Relations I Jessica E.Undeen Government Relations 2 Metro Cities News 2/21/20 Page 1 of 5 lC IMT leo CITIES Member Login 8 alropoRen Muniaoaitles Home Metro Cities News About Us Meetings&Events Membership Advocacy Policies&Resources MAMA Return to the blog upcoming Events Metro Cities News 2/21/20 by.Kimberly Ciarrocchi Thu Merlg,2020 Category:Newsletter Metro Cities Board of Directors Meeting Crtegory:Metro Chiea Board of Dimaors FebThu Apr 16 2020 21 In This Issue: I_ Category:AnDwl Meeting Thu May 21,2020 , i -- --- ' Crtegory:Mrtro Chiea Bond of Dineten City Emalgyee Salary Cap Expansion Bill Passes Senate Committee Thl u Jun1e,2020 • House Housing Committee Hears 8500 Million Bondinc Bill.Tax Credit Bill Metro Cities Board of Directors Presidential Primary Bill Heard in Ways and Means Meeting Transit Ambassador Bill Passes House Transportation Committee Category:Md.Cifi-Baemefoire . Metropolitan Council Meeting Posting and Recording Requirement Bill Debated Thu Jul11,2020 Flushabie Wiggs Bill Passes House Commerce Committee Metro Cities Board of Directors House Taxes Committee Discusses Local Performance Measurement Program Meeting • Metro Cities Board of Directors Openings Category:Metro Chles Board of Dlreatora • Save the Date for the Metro Cities Annual Meetinal View Full Calendar • TarldSgff hf�Ate Our Tweets r: Second Week of Session Concludes;Budget Forecast Next Week The 2020 legislative session is concluding its second week,and activity is robust,with full committee schedules and bill hearings.Specific legislative updates on items of interest to metropolitan cities are included below. The February Budget Revenue forecast will be released by the Office of MN Management and Budget (MMB)next Thursday,February 27,Governor Walz will issue his State of the State address on March 23. Local Option Sales Tax B"IIs Receive Consideration in house The House Property and Local Tax Division heard bills from four local governments seeking authorization for a local sales tax this week.Before the bills were heard,House Research staff provided the committee with an overview of laws governing local option sales taxes,including new law changes passed by the 2019 Legislature.Click to view the presentation. In 2011,the legislature began requiring that a local referendum to establish a local sales tax be held before the local government approached the legislature for authorization.In 2018,there were a record number of sales tax referenda on ballots and 16 out of 22 passed.Statutory changes in 2019 require local governments to bring a local sales tax proposal to the legislature for authorization prior to taking the question of a sales tax to the voters.State law also limits the use of local sales tax revenue to projects that provide regional benef.t.Regional benefit Is not specifically defined in state law. https://www.me`rrocitiesmn.orglindex.php?option=corn dailyplanetblog&view==entry&year... 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/21/20 Page 2 of 5 Cities are now required to submit proposals to the legislature by January 31 for consideration in that legislative session.Twenty cities and two counties met the deadline for the 2020 session.Finally,some changes were made to how projects can be bundled together and how they appear on the ballot. Specifically,no more than five projects can be bundled into the same local sales tax proposal and each project must be voted on separately by residents.This allows voters to approve one component of a proposal and not others- Projects that would be funded by the four proposals heard this week included a civic center,county jail, water treatment facility,and facilities for public works and police.For each bill testifiers were asked about the cost of projects,their ability to raise the revenue using a sales tax,and the regional benefits of projects.Bills were laid over for possible consideration in an omnibus bill. On Monday,February 24,the Property Tax Division will hear additional local option sales tax bills, including for the cities of Edina,Moorhead,St Peter,Breckenridge,Bemidji,and Itasca County. Questions?Contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215-4002 or -i c. Street Improvement Districts Bill Passes House Subcommittee The House Subcommittee on Local Government passed -Elkins,that allows cities to create street€mprovemem districts and to collect fees from property owners within:an established district to fund municipal street maintenance,construction,reconstruction,and facility upgrades.The bill,which is permissive,is an initiative of the League of MN Cities and supported by Metro Cities and is intended to provide cities with an additional tool to build and maintain city streets.Metro Cities testified in support of the legislation at the hearing on Wednesday,along with LMC and the City Engineers Association.The MN Automobile Dealers Association and the Jewish Community Relations Council spoke in opposition to the bill.The bill passed on a 4-2 vote and was re-referred to the Government Operations Committee. It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in that committee. Questions?Please contact Steven Huser at .aven(o)metrocitiesmn.org or 657-215-4003. City Employee Salary Cap Expansion Bill Passes Senate Committee A bill that would raise the political subdivision compensation limit to$200,000 was repassed by the Senate Local Government committee on February 18.(The bill was also considered in 2019).The bill also caps the severance pay provided a"highly compensated employee leaving employment"to three months'pay.This section applies to state employees only.Senator Dan Hall,who chairs the committee, is the chief author of _ .It awaits a hearing in the Senate State Government committee. A House companion bill,' '- .-Masin,that repeals the compensation limit and does not contain the $200,000 cap received its second reading in the House on February 13 and awaits a floor vote. Metro Cities'policy supports a repeal of the salary cap.Please contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215- 4002 or oatriciann metrocitiesmn.or with any questions. House Housing Committee Hears$500 Million Bonding Bill,Tax Credit Bill The House Housing Finance and Policy Division held its first hearing of the session this week. Committee chair Rep.Alice Fausman presented her proposal for$400 million in housing infrastructure bonds(HIB)and$100 million in general obligation bonds.Rep.Hausman's proposal also includes a one time use of FIBs fer emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness.Another bill, -Hassan,provides$50 milllon to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency(MHFA)to pay for the construction,acquisition,and rehabilitation of short-term housing facilities for individuals and families without a permanent residence.$25 million would be provided from housing infrastructure bond proceeds authorized in the bill,and$25 million would be appropriated from the general fund. Anew state tax credit would be created and funded via -Tabke that was also heard.The tax credit contribution fund would provide a tax credit incentive to individuals or businesses who make qualifying contributions to a housing fund administered by MHFA.The funds could be directed to and used for specific projects in a city or awarded competitively to projects that apply.Earlier tax credit proposals created a dollar-to-dollar credit while the 2020 bill creates a 90-cents to the dollar tax credit. Metro Cities supports state bond funds for new housing in the metro region,as well as funds to preserve and rehabilitate existing homes.Metro Cities also supports the state tax credit bill as it would haps://www.metrocitiesmin.org/index.php?option=corn dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year... 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/21/20 Page 3 of 5 spur private investments in housing developments and could be targeted to specific projects that meet locally identified housing needs. Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-366-7564 or :harli metrocitiesauls with any questions. Presidential Primary Bill Heard in Ways and Means -Dehn made a stop in the House Ways and Means committee on Wednesday night after being heard in three other committees.The bill restricts access to data collected through the presidential primary election and allows voters the option of being excluded from party preference lists. Committee members discussed their concerns about the collection and dissemination of party preference information.Some committee members said the bill does not go far enough in ensuring the protection of this data and argued that all party preference information be purged(as opposed to the opt-out feature in HF 3068).The bill passed out of Ways and Means and was sent to the General Register. Transit Ambassador Bill Passes House Transportation Committee The House Transportation Committee passed nr juts-Tabke,on Thursday.The bill would establish a transit ambassador program,authorize administrative citations for failure to pay fares,and reduce the judicial penalty for non-fare payment from$175 to between$35-$10.The bill also reduces the charge from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor.A delete-all amendment was adopted that restricts the program to LRT lines which reduces the cost of the legislation from an estimated$6.3 million over the next biennium to$1 million.The amendment also calls for the program to operate for six months and requires the Metropolitan Council to provide a report to the Legislature on the performance of the program.The bill was referred to the Public Safety Committee. Metropolitan Council Meeting Posting and Recording Requirement Bill Debated A bill that would require the Metropolitan Council to post council and advisory board meeting agendas on the council's website at least three days before convening the meeting was heard by the Senate Local Government committee on February 18.A second section of the bill,SF 29: —Osmek requires the council and advisory board meetings to be recorded by audio or video and posted on the council's website within two working days of the meeting for a period of three years. Metropolitan Council staff testified that the Ccuncii already complies with the bill's requirements and audio and audio/video recordings are made of council and advisory board meetings.Council staff explained current protocol and said they would provide a cost estimate for any technology changes that would need to be made to upgrade Council meeting rooms. The League of Minnesota Cities commented that recording requirements in the bill,if expanded to cities,could be financially burdensome to smaller cities with limited staff and resources.The bill passed on a voice vote and awais a floor vote by the Serrate. Flushable Wipes Bill Passes House Commerce Committee The House Commerce Committee heard -Claflin that would require labeling standards of non- woven disposable wipes labeled as flushable.Non-woven wipes that are not flushable,such as baby wipes,are consequential for sanitary sewer and wastewater infrastructure.Standards to determine what products are flushable are developed by the non-woven fabrics industry.Only products that meet this standard could be labeled as flushable under the bill. The City of Minnetonka shared the city's experlence with the damage caused by non-flushable wipes on the local sanitary sewer system.Metro Cities,the League of MN Cities and MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)testified in support,while the MN Chamber of Commerce testified in opposition to the bill.The bill passed and was re-referred to the Environment Policy Committee. Questions?Please contact Steven Huser at._ _ ',or 651-215-4003. littps://www.metrocitiesmn.org/index.php?zption=corn dailypianetblog&vierentry&year... 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/?.1/20 Page 4 of 5 House Taxes Committee Discusses Local Performance Measurement Program The House Taxes Committee on Thursday heard from State Auditor Julia Blaha and her staff on the Local Performance Measurement Program(PMP).The PMP is a voluntary program put into state law in 2010.The auditor's office reviewed how the program was developed and trends of participation over time.The program is voluntary.Local governments establish standards and performance measures that are publicly posted.Participating local governments receive 14 cents per capita,with a maximum of$25,000 and are exempt from levy limits(there are currently not levy limits in state law). The auditor's office noted that participation has trended downward with 57 cities and counties participating in 2017.The auditor's office noted that feedback from participating local governments noted that the reimbursement is low and sometimes does not keep pace with staffing costs to implement and that citizen responses and input has been low.Chair Marquart noted that he continues to see value in this type of program and that it is a way to establish best practices,and that it may need some maintenance to inc;ease participation.To view information on the presentation click Ouestions?Contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215 4002 or paldcia(oIm rocitigsmn.ora. Metro Cities Board of Directors Openings Due to term completions,there will be an opening on the Metro Cities Board for a term starting on July 1,2020,and the organization is seeking interested candidates. The Metro Cities Board of Directors is comprised of 19 city officials,elected and appointed,from throughout the region.The Board is responsible for overseeing Metro Cities'budget,strategic plan and legislative priorities.It also makes appointments to the Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board(TAB),Technical Advisory Committee(TAC)to the TAB,and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Board.Metro Cities'bylaws require that the slate of Board members be balanced regarding geography and city population. Candidates are asked to provide a(1)cover letter,(2)r6sum€and(3) Uf 9T7• Candidates may also provide letters of reference.A Nominating Committee will meet in March to make recommendations on candidates for election by the membership in April. Applications can be submitted to Kimberly Ciarrocchi at The deadline for application is Thursday,February 27.If you would like additional Information,please contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215-4002 or „ Save the Date for the Metro Cities Annual Meeting! Mark your calendars and save the date for the Metro Cities Annual Meeting!This year's event will be held on Thursday,April 16 and will again be held at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium.The evening will start with a social hour,followed by guest speaker Rick King, Chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.The evening will wrap up with a brief business meeting to elect members and officers to the Board of Directors. All member city staff and elected officials are welcome and encouraged to attend!More Information and details will follow. Questions or wish to RSVP?Contact Kimberly at 651-215-4000 or Bills of Note ,Scott:Bill prohibits the collection and dissemination of political party preference during the presidential primary. ,Becker-Finn:Bill changes State Building Code;requiring the installation of baby diaper changing stations in restrooms accessible to the public. ,Freiberg:Bill amends the Minnesota Constitution agreeing to enter into agreement among states to elect the president by popular vote. Elkins:Bill allows jurisdictions to adopt ranked-choice voting. Persell/SF 3346•Eichorn:Bill authorizes the city of 3emidj!to impose a local sales and use tax. https://viww.metrocitiesmn.org/index.php?©P�®n=c�� dailyplanetblogt,, riew=entry&year... 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/21/20 Page 5 of 5 HF 3429.Dehn:Bill makes several miscellaneous changes to the general laws governing the administration of elections. HF 3430,Dehn:Bill restricts access to party preference data related to the presidential nomination primary and allows voters to request that their data be excluded from the lists. HF 3436•Acomb:Bill establishes a grant program to provide financial assistance to cities to address climate change. HF 3483.Sauke/" Senjem:Bill changes the deadline to appoint(or reappoint)charter commission members. HF 3511.Freiberg:Bill makes it so that a city's LGA amount cannot be lower than its certified aid amount for the previous year,beginning in 2021. HF 3546•Lien/` ,Eken:Bill authorizes the city of Moorhead to Impose a local sales and use tax. HLU,'.,Brand:Bill authorizes the city of St.Peter to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 35iy Demuth:Bill eliminates local government aid payments for a city with a regional or statewide sports or entertainment facility that fails to detail an adequate number of peace offers to protect visitors to the facility. HF 3594•Edelson:Bill authorizes the city of Edina to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 3602.Long:Bill allows write-in votes for the presidential primary election. HF 3605•Sundin:Bill appropriates money for wetland replacement credits for local government roads. HF 3617•Backer:Bill authorizes the city of Breckenridge to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 3620•Howard/SF 3347•Senjem:Bili modifies class 4d property to have a classification rate of 0.25 percent. HF 3638.Fischer/5f_141.1,Ruud:Bill appropriates money to reduce sources of PFAS that are conveyed to municipal wastewater treatment facilities. HF 3649.Lee:Bill extends an appropriation for grants to address emerald ash borer. SF 3250.Howe:Bill allows for the delivery of absentee ballots to a veterans home or a shelter for battered women. SF 3271,Kiffineyer:Bill creates an account for election technology and cyber security.The bill also requires election day registrants to cast provisional ballots. SF 3286•Jasinski:BIII requires local governments to publish a notice of any gift or grant 14 days before meeting to decide whether to accept the gift. Share this post: Metro Cities(Association of Metropolitan Municipalities) 145 University Ave W.Suite 125 St.Paul,MN 55103 651-215,4000 Back to top A powered by Q flims://www.metrocitiesmn.org/indiex.php r'Option=corn dailyplanetblo &viev,,--entry&year... 3/V2020 Metro Caties News 2/28/20 Page 1 of 7 METRO Member Login 8 SIMPAMOMidpalties Home Metro Cities News About Us Meetings&Events Membership Advocacy Policies&Resources MAMA Retum to the hlog Upcoming Events Metro Cities News 2/28/20 by:Mike Lund Thu Mer 19,2020 Category:Newsletter Metro Cities Board of Directors Mein Category:Metro Chiee Board of Directors Feb ThuApr142020 28 In This Issue IeSLQcitie genual Mee�q • Ca[egory:Annuel Meetep . ..` Thu May 21.2020 ..: i. .i... ...,1!IT ' -.--- ----- Ca[egory:MNro Calea Board of Diractora • Vehicle Registration Modification Bill Passes House Transportation Committee Thu'"' ""2020 Flushable Wipes Bill Passes House Environment Policy Committee Metro Cities Board of Directors Broadband Funding Bills Heard Meetino ave-the-D,�t�farMexrQs�ities Annusl.Met ! cm.gay:Me.Of—Board of0I.M. Metropolitan Council Accepting Regional Solicitation AoDlications Thu Jul 18,2020 Presidential Primary Data Bill Passes House Metro Cities Board of Directors Metropolitan Council Passes Livable Communities Fund Distribution Plan Meeting Metro Cities Hosts Workshop with Minnesota Housing Category:Metro olden Board of Direetnrs EVENT:Local Governments Roundtable on 2020 Census View Full Calendar • Bills of N Our Tweets Bilis Affecting City Roles in Housing Introduced Four bills were introduced this week that would affect and modify city roles relating to housing,building permits and development fees.The bills would cap park dedication fees,eliminate the state building official mandate,change building permit fees to a square foot determination,and modify the municipal permit fee form required by the Department of Labor and Industry(DOLI). -Koran would require cities to base adopted fees for building permits,including any inspection fees on a"cost per square foot."The bill would be effective January 1,2021. -Draheim would cap the park fee at five percent of the fair market value of the development.It would also allow,in addition to the cash fee option,for fees to be paid by donating land,building recreational facilities,or a combination ofthese items.The bill also requires cities to maintain records for the purposes the money was obtained and how it was spent. -Draheim would modify the annual reporting requirements for cities which collect permit fees. Currently,cities that collect over$5,000 in permit fees must issue a report,on a Labor and Industry form,to the agency,listing revenues collected and related expenses.This bill would raise the cap to $7,000 and require all cities to submit the form.If a city did not collect up to$7,000 it would check a box indicating so and not have to fill the remainder of the form.Cities collecting over$7,000 would submit the form with new clarification on the expense cost categories,including:"labor,transportation,office space,and any other expenses incurred by the municipality as a result of conducting inspections." -Koran would prohibit a city from requiring the use of a designated building official,designated bui'ding official-limited,or inspector working under the designated building official to conduct inspections necessary to issue a building permit.The bill would authorize a private building inspector to be hired by a property owner or allow a city to adopt an ordinance requiring the use of a designated https://www.metrochtiesmn.orghndex.php?option=com dailyplanetblog&view=-entry&year... 3/1/202.0 Metro Cities News 2/28/20 Mage 2 of 7 building official or inspector working under the designated building official to conduct inspections necessary to issue a building permit.The bill also establishes a cause of action for cities that have adopted an ordinance requiring use of building officials.An owner of real property may bring a civil act;on against a city seeking damages for a negligent inspection if the inspector acted within the scope of work,the inspector's act or omission caused injury to or lass of property or personal injury or death. The bill also allows attorney fees to be awarded If the owner prevails. Metro Cities staff is reviewing the bilis to determine the changes to existing laws and impacts on local costs and decision-making.Your feedback on any of the bills is welcome and encouraged.None of the bills have a scheduled hearing at this point. Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-366-7564 or charlie metrocitiesmn.t with comments,feedback and questions. February Budget Forecast Released Officials from the state's Office of MN Management and Budget(MMB)released the February Budget and Economic forecast on Thursday.The forecast projects a state general fund budgetary balance of $1.513 billion for FY2020-21 for the state's$48.3 billion budget,$181 million.The February 2020 forecast also projects a budgetary balance of$2.3 billion at the end of FY 2022-23.This is an increase of$417.7 million compared to the November 2019 forecast for the same biennium. MMB officials noted that state spending has dropped,most notably in the area of education as a result of declining K-12 pupil enrollment.Officials also noted that the United States is in the eleventh year of economic expansion and noted Minnesota's low unemployment rates relative to the nation.Officials stated that consumer spending is strong. State Economist Laura Kalambokidis stated that the forecast does not account for potential economic changes that may result from the Covid-19 but noted that the virus is a possible threat to the forecast, one whose possible effects could be modest but are not yet known. Officials noted that the state budget reserve is currently funded at$2.3 billion.They also discussed $491.4 million reserve reduction made by the 2019 Legislature as part of the enacted budget last year. MMB also highlighted that the February forecast projects an increase in the current stadium reserve. The stadium reserve is now projected to be$129 milllon in FY 2021 and$262 million in FY 2023. House and Senate leaders and Governor Walz responded to the forecast.Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka stated that the Senate majority's priorities would include reducing income tax rates,expanding the K12 education credit,and eliminating the tax on social security income,among other items.House Speaker Melissa Hortman stated that the surplus provides an opportunity for investments in families, and that low interest rates should compel a robust capital investment bill.House leaders also noted that the forecast does not include inflation. Governor Walz stated that the surplus is good economic news and suggested that caution should be taken to protect the stability of state revenues and expressed support for replenishing the budget reserve by paying back the$491.4 million reduction.The Governor also noted support for a robust capital investment bill. The February forecast will serve to inform the budget aspects of legislative work over the remaining months of the session,informing legislative budget targets and negotiations. The forecast can be found Legislative Housing Commission Holds First Meeting A new housing commission established by the 2019 Legislature met for the first time this week. The commission heard an overview on the reccmmendations of the 2018 Governors Housing Task Force.Staff from Prosperitys Front Door,a group formed by philanthropy and two large housing funds to track the outcomes and state progress on the task force goals,provided an update on several outcomes and metrics since the report was issued.Commission members asked about housing production and preservation data as well as inputs into the cost of housing production. Some members focused questions on the effect that development fees have on the cost of housing. Prosperity's Front Door responded that the largest cost drivers are labor,land and construction materials and how no single input,including development fees nor permit and inspection fees,is driving h4s://www.metrocitiesmn.org/index.php?option=com dailyplanefolog&,view=entry&year... 3/1/2020 Metra Cities Nears 2/28/20 Page 3 of 7 the cost of new homes.The work of several cities to produce data showing the total cost of fees relative to the sale price of a new single-family home is three to six percent,was explained. The commission is chaired by Rep.Peter Fischer and Sen.Karin Housley who will alternate serving as chairs for each meeting.Commission members listed other nems they would like the commission to discuss,including access to lending and Its impact on homeownership disparities and innovation and new construction techniques. Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-366-7564 or with any questions. Vehicle Registration Modification Bill Passes House Transportation Committee The House Transportation Committee passed -Tabke that makes changes to vehicle registration fee calculations.The changes are based on the recommendations of a Vehicle Registration Task Force.The legislation proposes to change the base amount calculation used to determine registration fee amounts so as not to include a vehicle destination charge,and to base the registration amount to the vehicle's Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price(MSRP)value.The bill also calls for removing statutory language that does not allow the state to correct an erroneous tab fee amount if it will raise the amount a vehicle owner paid the previous year.This bill is estimated to decrease Highway User Tax Distribution Fund(HUTDF)by$3.7 million In FY 2021,and$12.8 million in the 22/23 Biennium. A fiscal note on the bill that was provided at the hearing shows a$316,000 decrease in Municipal State Aid(MSA)in 2021,and a decrease of$1.9 million in FY202-23.The bill was passed to the House Taxes committee.The Senate Transportation will hear the companion bill next week.Metro Cities is monitoring this legislation and its impacts and will provide further information and updates. Questions?Please contact Steven Huser at ;__ __ or 651-215-4003. Flushable Wipes Bill Passes House Environment Policy Committee The House Environment Policy Committee heard -Claflin,a bill that would require labeling standards of non-woven disposable wipes labeled as flushable.Nonwoven wipes that are not flushable, such as baby wipes,are consequential for sanitary sewer and wastewater infrastructure.only products that meet this standard could be labeled as flushable under the bill.Metro Cities supports this bill. The bill passed and was re-referred to the Judiciary Committee. Questions?Please contact Steven Huser at ven®metrocitiesmn.org or 651-215-4003. Broadband Funding Bills Heard $30 million in annual funding for the statewide border-to-border broadband grant program is part of companion bills heard in House and Senate committees this week. . -Draheim/;i i . -- Ecklund would transfer$30 million annually from the general fund to the broadband fund,beginning in FY21.The bills do not contain any policy changes to the state broadband office or the grant program. Metro Cities wrote a letter of support for the funding for both committee hearings. Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-215-4001 or --:with any questions Save the Date for Metro Cites'Annual Meeting! Mark your calendars for the Metro Cities Annual Meeting on Thursday,April 16 at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory,Bullard Rainforest Auditorium.The evening will start with a social hour,followed by guest speaker Rick King,Chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.The evening will wrap up with a brief business meeting to elect members and officers to the Board of Directors. All member city elected officials and staff are welcome,simply RSVP to kimberlylglmetrocitiesmn.orc. Flyers with Board election information will be mailed to each city in March. Questions or wish to RSVP?Contact Kimberly at 651-215-4000 or&02rl metro i smn ore. Metropolitan Council Accepting Regional Solicitation Applications haps://www.metrocitiesmn.org/bidex.pI ?op7ion=coin daiIlyp4anetbTlog&viev�—entry&year... 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/28/20 Page 4 of 7 The Metropolitan Council has released the 2020 Regional Solicitation and is accepting applications for federal transportation funding until April 16,2020,at 4 p.m.After technical experts from across the region rank and score the projects,the Transportation Advisory Board(TAB)will select projects for funding in late 2020.Approximately$180 million in federal transportation funds will be available for allocation in 2024 and 2025. Eligible metro-area applicants Include the seven counties,cities and townships,state agencies, American Indian tribal governments,transit providers,and non-profit organizations(TDM applications only). To learn more about the Regional Solicitation and to apply online,please visit the Renional Solicitation Projects will be selected from 11 application categories: 1. Strategic Capacity(Roadway Expansion) 2. Roadway Reconstruction/Modernization 3. Roadway Spot Mobility&Safety 4. Traffic Management Technologies(Roadway System Management) 5. Bridge Rehabilitation/Replacement 6. Multiuse Trails and Bicycle Facilities 7. Pedestrian Facilities 8. Safe Routes to School 9. Transit Expansion 10. Transit System Modernization 11. Travel Demand Management(TDM)(2022 and 2023 funds) Council staff will conduct two training sessions at the Metropolitan Council,390 Robert St.in Saint Paul, in the Lower Level Room C Computer Lab on the dates below.Please contact Elaine Koutsoukos at 651- 602-1717 or ine.KoutsoukosOrr tate.mn.us.TAB Coordinator,to reserve your computer station for one of the following dates. • Thursday,March 5 from 1:00-2:00 pm or 3:00-4:00 pm Friday,March 6 from 8:30-9:30 am or 10:00-11:00 am Questions about the Regional Solicitation can be directed to Elaine Koutsoukos at 651-602-1717 or Presidential Primary Data Bill Passes House -Dehn was heard on the House Floor on Wednesday evening.The bill restricts access to data collected through the presidential primary election and allows voters the option of being excluded from the party preference lists.An amendment to further limit the party preference data so that the national parties only receive a list of voters who voted for that party and clarified penalties parties would face for misusing the data was adopted.Rep.Scott offered a delete all amendment with language from and Rep.Munson offered an amendment to repeal the presidential primary law,both of which failed. Finally,there was discussion over creating an audit trait to ensure that the data is protected and purged where appropriate,but this language was not included.HF 3068 passed the floor 72-55. Metropolitan Council Passes Livable Communities Fund Distribution Plan The Metropolitan Council approved a funding plan at its February 26 meeting under which$24.5 million for cities will be available via the Livable Communities program in 2020. In addition to$18.8 million in Livable Communities pass-through funding,the Council authorized an additional$5.7 million in transfers from reserve balances. Local Housing Incentives Account The LHIA is dedicated to funding affordable housing.Scoring criteria changes include a requirement that significant components of a project must serve households with incomes up to 60%of the area median income(AMI),down from the previous 80%standard.Awards will also prioritize housing types that are not currently available or serve an unserved population in the project area.Applicants apply via Minnesota Housing's Consolidated RFP(applications due in June)and funding awards are announced in November,along with other state sourced funds.The$2 million authorized budget plus$2.5 million in reserves brings total 2020 funding to$4.5 million. h4s://www.metrocitiesmn.org/index.php?option=com dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year... 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/28/20 Page 5 of 7 Tax Base Revitalization Account and Seeding Equitable Environmental Development The TBRA funds site investigation and contamination cleanup projects,for redevelopment.The 2020 programs include an authorized budget of$5 million plus$1 million in reserves.$250,000 of the$6 million will be used for the SEED program which makes awards for sites within current and formerly identified area of concentrated poverty and properties directly adjacent to identified areas that do not have a specific redevelopment project.This decrease,from pr-ious$500,000 levels,was made due to low demand for SEED awards. Livable Communities Demonstration Account&Transit Oriented Development The 2020 LCDA has$9 million to award-$6.8 million from the authorized budget and$2.2 million from reserves.The LCDA-TOD account has$5 million.This includes$500,000 for pre-development grants- $250,000 in both the spring and fall.This year,Housing Performance Scores will not be included in the scoring criteria.Council staff explained the scores did not make a significant difference in score calculations. The Council will also review applications for potential displacement impacts and mitigation strategies as well as project readiness for LCDA and LCDA-TOD projects.More information on the revised FDP, including the 2020 calendar(application due dates,award dates)can be found and Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-215,4001 or riarila0metroci+les npn , with any questions. Metro Cities Hosts Workshop with Minnesota dousing Metro Cities hosted a workshop with officials from MN Housing for metropolitan city officials and staff last Friday.Presentations included information on how to submit competitive applications for state funds to help meet local housing needs.The event featured Minnesota Housing leadership staff who explained single family and multifamily funding programs,as well as agency funding priorities.Agency research staff also presented housing and demographic changes.Minnesota Housing staff encouraged cities to reach out to the agency while applications are drafted to receive technical assistance. Minnesota Housing's slideshows can be accessed on the Metro Cities web. Thank you to the city of Saint Anthony Village for hosting the workshop! EVENT:Local Governments Roundtable on 2020 Census The next Local Governments Roundtable on 2020 Census is next Friday,March 6,at MMCD/Metro Counties Building.The meeting includes local government professionals and officials who are promoting participation in the 2020 Census.You are welcome to share this Invitation within your office or city hall.Organizers are especially interested to involve community engagement specialists, communications specialists,and interested elected officials.Meeting details are at h,Up://Ioca W,920census..eventhrite.com. Contact Todd Graham,metro demographer ftodd.graham metc.state.mn.usl with any questions concerning the agenda or meeting details. Bills of Note ,Elkins:Bill regulates personal delivery devices and preempts local authority related to personal delivery devices. Kresha:Bill authorizes the city of Little Falls to impose a local sales and use tax. Urdahl:Bill authorizes the city of Litchfield to impose a local sales and use tax. Munson:Bill prohibits political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing extreme risk protection orders,also known as red-flag laws. Vang:Bill establishes State General Election Day as a holiday in even-numbered years. Sandell/. Kent:Bill authorizes the city of Woodbury to impose a local lodging tax. .,Nornes:Bill authorizes the city of Fergus Falls to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 3740.Koznick:Bill directs counties in the metro area to remit funds to the council for some transit operating expenses,directs the Met Council to develop a code of conduct on transit,requires the Met Council to not reduce Metro Transit Police staffing levels,makes changes to fines for transit fare violations,and directs the Met Council to make payments to some local law enforcement agencies. ,Robbins:Bill limits the use of party preference data collected through the presidential primary process. HF 3769•Lippert:Bill authorizes the city of Northfield to Impose a local sales and use tax. http,s://www.metrocitiesmn.org/index.php?option=cont dailynianetblog&view=entry&year.,. 3/1/2020 Metro Cities News 2/28/20 Page 6 of 7 Theis/ ,Relph:Bill authorizes the city of Wait Park to impose a local sales and use tax. Brand:Bill makes materials purchased for the construction of a fire station in the city of St. Peter exempt from sales tax. ,Nelson/ Senjem:Bill revises the list of public employees not eligible for PERA coverage. HF 3792 Wolgamott/ Relph:Bili authorizes the city of St.Cloud to impose a local sales and use tax. HF'470R.Hornstein/., Dibble:Bill requires mixed municipal solid waste incinerators to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent by 2030. Mekeland/. Koran:Bill expands the definition of metropolitan area for the purposes of 911 emergency services. ._,Ecklund:Bill adds residential real estate containing less than four residential units rented for periods of less than 30 consecutive days or advertised as a short-term rental to class 4b for property tax classification. Wolgamott:Bill appropriates onetime money($2.5 million)for grants to local governments for ash tree disposal. I Elkins:Bill changes definition of Travel Trailer"to also include tiny houses Qess than 500 square feet). Howard:Bill allows housing Infrastructure bonds to be used for the rehabilitation of naturally occurring affordable housing. HF 3870•Nelson/ Rosen:Bill makes changes to the allocation of fire state aid for relief associations. h ,Fabian:Bill authorizes the city of Warren to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 3875•Poston:Bill authorizes the city of Wadena to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 3883•Murphy.Bill authorizes the city of Hermantown to impose a local sales and use tax. HF 3912,Runbeck:Bill makes materials purchased for the construction of a new public works facility in the city of Hugo exempt from sales tax. Kiel:Bill authorizes the city of East Grand Forks to impose a local sales and use tax. Hansen:Bill appropriates$500,000 to the Pollution Control Agency to reduce PFAS in wastewater. L:,Mathews/ Gruenhagen:Bill establishes a Parent's Bill of Rights and prohibits the state or any political subdivisions from violating the listed rights. ,Chamberlain/ Davids:Makes modifications to the 4d affordable housing tax credit program. SF 3558.Nelson:Establishes a tax credit contribution fund. 11 1.56-7 Carlson:BIII limits the use of party preference data collected through the presidential primary process. j69,Housely/ Pinto:Bill establishes a state-wide licensure for massage therapy and Aslan bodywork therapy. ,Kiffineyer.Bill requires a photo ID to register to vote and to vote.Bill also creates a voter identification card and establishes a provisional ballot system. Draheim:Bill requires voters to approve municipal capital improvements over$1,000,000. Draheim:Prioritizes DEED workforce funds to be awarded to jobs in high demand and with high wages. ,Draheim:Bill prohibits an Increase in property values for homesteads owned by persons 65 years of age or older. ,Utke/ Grossell:Bill authorizes the Lake of the Woods County to impose a local sales and use tax. .,Draheim:BIII caps park fees at five percent and creates the option of donating land or building recreational facilities instead of paying the fee.The bill also establishes requirements for recording the way fees are collected and the purposes for which the money was obtained. ,Koran:Bill prohibits municipalities from using a designated building official for code Inspections,unless the city adopts an ordinance identifying that designated building official.If a city adopts such an ordinance,the municipality is subject to civil action for negligent construction code inspection. ,Koran:Bill makes it so that cities must accept a project's application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency as their application for local housing money for the same project.Bill also prohibits cities from fining nonprofits that receive money for low-income housing for late applications. Koran:Bill requires municipalities to base construction permit fees on a cost per square foot. Draheim:Bill requires that municipalities report the costs associated with conducting building inspections.The bill also requires municipalities to provide explanations of fees collected that do not appear on the department's list of common definitions for categories of construction and development- related fees. https://www.metrocitiesmn.org/index.php?option=com dailyplanetblog&view—entry&year... 3/1/2020 Eric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Saturday, February 22,2020 6:32 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd: Moving America Forward on Infrastructure in 2020 For weekly notes ----Original Message--- From: National League Of Cities (NLC) <news@nlc.org> To: marymccomber<marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Sat, Feb 22, 2020 6:02 am Subject: Moving America Forward on Infrastructure in 2020 View in 7it- � 'I � 4, iL . . r Moving America Forward on Infrastructure in 2020 This week the very first infrastructure forum for 2020 Presidential candidates. Here's a recap of what NLC and other infrastructure partners heard at the Moving America Forward Forum on how the candidates would lead together with cities and towns if they were elected our next President. I Ac NATWNAL CONGRESSIONAL LEAGUE OF OTE:S memrwwrn� CITY CONFERENCE Speaker NANCY PELOSI Innovative Partnerships Essential to Support Early N Childhood Success Partnerships are key to the success of Tucson's Family Engagement Network and the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Florida in improving early childhood outcomes. �iow Goverivi,nerit Modern Tedi lii,n lf3roves Lives a• - Solving for emerging issues ......., from global child welfare to challenges much closer to home — starts with the ` notion of expanded data use. How to Integrate EITC Work with 2020 Census Participation i7l A robust and accurate count in urban areas often -w depends on local government and non-profits' ability to engage and convince traditionally undercounted, marginalized groups, to participate in the Census. News GRPS selected for national after-school tennis program WZZM 93 - February 18, 2020 As 2020 Census Approaches, Guidance Abounds for Local Gov 2 Government Technology - February 14, 2020 City Council: Resolution adopted supporting agenda for National League of Cities The Post- February 12, 2020 Announcements Attend a Cybersecurity Summit for Local Leaders Join your peers, their trusted advisors, and the U.S. Secret Service for a free half-day summit in Roanoke; Newport News; and Stafford, VA or Annapolis, MD. Register today. Apply for the 2020 Readiness Challenge Are you planning a smart city project? Communities of all sizes are invited to apply for the 2020 Readiness Challenge to receive support on their projects. Apply by March 16 OR August 15 for consideration. App1y here. Webinaar: Make Early Learning a Priority Join your colleagues in prioritizing young children and their families in exploring how to expand early learning opportunities. Learn how data and emerging trends can help your city deliver services and programs for young children. Learn more. Job Postings Southside Development Manager -- Invest Atlanta Neighborhood to the River Community Outreach Coordinator -- City of Portland Chief Executive Officer -- Workforce Central NNOMLa NL` C0FCMI5 3 Eric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Saturday, February 29, 2020 6:10 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd:Three Important Takeaways from Silicon Valley For weekly notes -----Original Message---- From: National League Of Cities(NLC) <news@nlc.org> To: marymccomber<marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Sat, Feb 29, 2020 6:04 am Subject: Three Important Takeaways from Silicon Valley View in browser- y , 4 tis w » r � f k i a s gym, Three Important Takeaways from Silicon /alley Opportunities like the recent Silicon Valley Future of Cities event, hosted by the National League of Cities (NLC) and Tech for America, provide local officials the opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture by having collaborative conversations with leading technology companies, fellow leaders, and thought partners. 1 How the City of Oakland is leveraging on-the-ground organizations to understand and meet the needs of communities As cities have responded to e-scooters being deployed on their streets, the conversation has evolved from how do cities take control of the deployment to how do cities utilize them to advance transportation goals? Healthy Housing and the Value of Peer-to-Peer j" Engagement Lessons Learned from Rochester, NY Join your peers in a dynamic learning lab to address common challenges and ensure healthy and safe AM housing in your community. Ninth Circuit Hears from Local Governments on FCC - - - Small Cell Preemption The three-judge panel peppered counsel for localities, members of the wireless industry, and the FCC with questions on the siting process and the agency's rationale for the order. News 1 big thing: This year's census may be the toughest count yet Axios - February 26, 2020 2 Announcements Take the 2020 Cities Agenda to Your City NLC has created a template resolution for local leaders to introduce and adopt the 2020 Cities Agenda into your community, as an official mark of support for Leading Together. Thank you to Broward County League of Cities, FL, College Park, MD, Athens, OH, and Winston-Salem, NC for doing your part to secure America's brighter future, together. It's your turn to take action! Find the template resolution here. The 2020 Census is here! The National League of Cities is proud to unveil its $1.6 million dollar Census Rapid Response Grant program to help you successfully Get-Out-The-Count in your historically undercounted communities. Learn more about this grant and outreach to hard-to-count communities. Webinar: Make Early Learning a Priority Investing in Neighborhoods So Families Can Thrive Learn how local leaders can design child and family-friendly neighborhoods, ensure economic opportunities are available to all and help residents feel a sense of hope and belonging in their communities. Learn more. Job Postings Chief of Police -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Comprehensive Associate Coordination Planner -- City of Meridian City Attorney -- City of Madison 3 Eric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 25,202011:47 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd: Planning for Census@Work Day For weekly notes ---Original Message--- From: Minnesota 2020 Census<mn202Ocensus@public.govdelivery.com> To: marymccomber<marymc comber@aol.com> Sent: Tue, Feb 25, 2020 10:55 am Subject: Planning for Census@Work Day a=a•s Y.'.q N'• N•O. ®-• .A aY i•O�.•. We count minnesota s.craaP% ' 2024 Dear census friends, This week, the We Count Minnesota Team wants to call attention to an important initiative created by one of our community partners. Census@Work on April 7, 2020 is spearheaded by the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. All Minnesota employers are encouraged to register and make time on this day for employees to respond to the census while at work. We believe this will be a powerful program for increasing the census response rate in our communities. Employers are often a trusted resource for residents who may need extra reassurance that being counted in the census is important and doesn't put them at risk. Census@Work is open to ALL employers. All businesses and government agencies, anywhere in the state of Minnesota, are encouraged to participate. We're asking you to help spread the word about Census@Work by taking these simple steps: • Make sure your organization pledges to participate in Census@Work. Employers rho have mads Zvi r NrrGi i ; �1L: u1 r Lr:� a . i • Share information about Census@Work with your local chamber of commerce or business association, so that they might promote it among their membership. Common questions about the program are answered here. Thanks for all you do, The We Count Minnesota Team at the State Demographic Center Follow We Count Minnesota efforts on Facebook, Twitter and Instasiram. Use the hashtag #WeCountMN to spread the word. p y p modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at Update our subscriptions, modi any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by Minnesota 2020 Census This email was sent to marymccomber@aol.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud,on behalf of.Minnesota 2020 Census•658 Cedar 5t.,Centennial Office Building•5t.Paul,MN 55155 2 What you . . d to know about COCINAVIRUS 19DISI)�S[ coronavirus disease 2019 What is coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)? What are severe complications from this virus? Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a respiratory illness Many patients have pneumonia in both lungs. that can spread from person to person.The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified How can I help protect myself? during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan,China. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed Can people in the U.S.get COVID-19? to the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in China, There are simple everyday preventive actions to and limited spread among close contacts has been detected in some countries outside China,including the United help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. States.At this time,however,this virus is NOT currently These include spreading in communities in the United States.Right now, Avoid close contact with people who are sick. the greatest risk of infection is for people in China or people Avoid touching your eyes,nose,and mouth with who have traveled to China.Risk of infection is dependent unwashed hands. on exposure.Close contacts of people who are infected are Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 at greater risk of exposure,for example health care workers seconds.Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains and close contacts of people who are infected with the virus at least 60%alcohol if soap and water are not available. that causes COVID-19.CDC continues to closely monitor the situation. If you are sick,to keep from spreading respiratory Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.? illness to others,you should Yes.The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was • Stay home when you are sick. reported on January 21,2020.The current count of cases • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue,then throw the of COVID-19 in the United States is available on CDC's tissue in the trash. webpage at lht l"s°ff .cdc gov/coronavirus/2010-ncav! • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects cases-in-usohtml. and surfaces. How does COVID-19 spread? What should I do if I recently traveled to China The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an and got sick? animal source,but now it seems to be spreading from person If you were in China within the past 14 days and feel sick to person.It's important to note that person-to-person with fever,cough,or difficulty breathing,you should seek spread can happen on a continuum.Some diseases are highly medical care.Call the office of your health care provider contagious(like measles),while other diseases are less so.At before you go,and tell them about your travel and your this time,it's unclear how easily or sustainably the virus that symptoms.They will give you instructions on how to get care causes COVID-19 is spreading between people.Learn what without exposing other people to your illness.While sick, is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses avoid contact with people,don't go out and delay any travel at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/aboutto reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others. transmission.html. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Is there a vaccine? There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed illness with symptoms of to the virus that causes COVID-19. fever cough Is there a treatment? • shortness of breath There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms. For more information:www.cdc.gov/COVID19 (531493]-A 02/21 020 League of Minnesota Cities Pandemic Planning Guidance for Cities 2/28/2020 The following is guidance on preparing for and implementing a Pandemic Plan. Each city will need to customize their own plan and determine which aspects of this guidance will work for their city with their unique services, location and size. Consult with your city attorney on any legal aspects of the guidance provided below. Also consult this document from the Center for Disease Control (CDC): CDC Guidance for Businesses PANDEMIC PLAN PHASES Many plans identify two or three phases as outlined below: • Phase One: Preparation. This phase involves putting in place all the policies and procedures, equipment, supplies, technology and training your city may need during a pandemic to maintain the highest levels of customer service possible to residents. Most organizations are in this phase with regard to the coronavirus (COVID-19). During this preparation phase, the city should: ✓ Identify critical services that must continue during a pandemic and those which could be temporarily suspended. For example, the Police Department will need to continue to respond to 9-1-1 calls but may choose to temporarily discontinue crime prevention events like the city's Night to Unite event. Note: City Council and other meetings are likely going to be considered critical services that must be continued during a pandemic. Emergency management decisions and regular city business may still need to be conducted. The normal Open Meeting Law notice requirements apply when calling a regular, special or emergency meeting. All three of these types of meetings can be conducted via telephone or other electronic League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 means if it is "not practical or prudent because of a health pandemic"to meet in-person. More on this special exception and the conditions can be found here: Minn. Stat. 13D.021 ✓ Determine staffing needs for critical services, including support staff ✓ Determine which job duties associated with critical functions could be performed remotely from home and which must be conducted at city sites ✓ Identify technology issues associated with remote work and a plan for ensuring technology support is channeled to the most critical functions ✓ Determine lines of authority (at least three staff deep) for each department head, manager and supervisory position. Produce telephone lists with cell/home phone numbers for all staff in each department ✓ Develop methods for sharing keys between back-up staff quickly and easily where such keys are needed to carry out essential functions ✓ Assess employees' home computer/internet access for employees assigned to critical functions ✓ Determine back-up plans for critical functions which may include: o Cross-training staff o Having retirees on standby o Using former city employees o Contracting with outside agencies ✓ Purchase preventive supplies like gloves, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and make readily available at various city sites ✓ Determine policy changes which may be needed (such as clarifying supervisory authority to send ill employees home, no handshaking policy, employee travel ban, etc.) ✓ Identify building security issues if city buildings are not staffed ✓ Identify key staff who have authority to: • Approve overtime; • Assign duties outside of an employee's job description; • Approve leave; and League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 • Hire temporary employees for up to thirty days ✓ Maintain a list of home/cell phone numbers to communicate with assigned staff as needed regarding changes in city services and employment conditions and determine individuals who have access to that list; consider maintaining printed vs. electronic copies ✓ Obtain City Council approval on the city's pandemic plan unless otherwise delegated ✓ Communicate the city's pandemic plan to all employees and key stakeholders • Phase Two: Intermediate to full Response. This phase occurs when the City Manager/City Administrator/City Council conclude that a pandemic threat is sufficiently severe within the United States to be prepared for the possibility of staff, equipment and other shortages. During Phase Two, the city should: ✓ Implement preventive health measures and pandemic-related employment policies and notify employees they are in effect ✓ Begin planning for the possibility of cancelling city events/services ✓ Notifying residents, businesses and other stakeholders of potential cutbacks in city services Depending on the severity of the outbreak, some of these measures may be implemented gradually or not at all. For example, if few deaths are occurring and the virus is not more deadly or serious than a normal seasonal flu, the City will likely "stand ready" to implement measures but may choose not to implement the more drastic measures. Decisionmakers at the City should use advice from appropriate state and federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Homeland Security to make decisions about full implementation of this phase. • Phase Three: Full Response. This phase occurs when the City Manager/Administrator and Council have reason to believe a severe and widespread pandemic is imminent in the Midwest and Minnesota. It may involve: League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 ✓ Cutting back on all non-critical city services and communicating with employees, residents and other stakeholders that the cutback is now in effect ✓ Implement telecommuting or remote work policies for designated positions as appropriate and devote resources to most critical functions ✓ Cancelling all employee travel and city events ✓ Implementing back-up staffing plans as needed As with Phase Two, full implementation of Phase Three will depend greatly on the severity of the virus train and its impact on public health. Depending on the threat level, the City's decisionmakers may skip Phase Two and immediately proceed to Phase Three. EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION This section outlines relevant issues you may want to communicate to city employees. • City's Current Sick Leave Policy. For example, "the City's current policy on sick leave allows an employee to use sick leave "when you have been exposed to a contagious disease of such a nature that your presence at the work place could endanger the health of others with whom you would come into contact." It also allows use of sick leave to care for injured or ill children, spouses,fathers, mothers, sisters or brothers. • What to do if you feel ill. Example: At the first sign of illness, you should leave work immediately to avoid exposing coworkers and you should stay home until you are completely recovered, or the pandemic flu virus has been ruled out. • What to do ifyou've been exposed to the virus. Example: If you have been in contact with someone who is suspected of having the virus, you should report this information to your supervisor and stay home until the pandemic virus has League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 been ruled out for the original contact person or for you or until you have recovered fully from the flu. o Note: The CDCs guidance for healthcare workers, including those involved in medical transports such as police/fire and ambulance is explained in further detail in a later section of this document. Such personnel may routinely come in contact with persons having flu-like symptoms. The risk associated with any given transport will have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and in coordination with current knowledge about the prevalence of the virus in Minnesota. Cities should continually check recommended sources for updates on the risk levels in Minnesota: DOH Corona Virus Updates • When you can return to work. Example: You may be required to produce a physician's note stating that you may safely return to work, depending upon the availability of medical providers and the severity of the pandemic outbreak. o Note: The CDCs guidance suggests employers should generally NOT require a doctor's statement during a pandemic as medical facilities are likely to be extremely busy and unable to provide such documentation in a timely manner. This includes medical certification required for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) purposes. • Supervisory authority to send ill employees home. Example: As always, supervisors have the authority to require an ill employee to leave the workplace, as a safety consideration for the health of other employees. While supervisors should not make judgments about a medical diagnosis, they may rely on symptoms to make a determination to send an employee home. (Coronavirus symptoms are respiratory in nature and may include fever, cough and shortness of breath.) • What will happen if your sick leave is exhausted. Example: If your sick leave runs out or is insufficient, you will first be required to use vacation, accrued compensatory time and applicable disability insurance. If you do not have any League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 paid leave available through the City's paid leave programs, you will be considered for a special extended leave program which is only available during a pandemic. (Vote: some cities may be unable to offer an extended leave program. For those that wish to, you may consider allowing the employee to run_a negative sick leave balance up to a certain maximum or provide a sick leave donation bank. • What will happen with your health insurance. Example: If you are eventually forced to use unpaid leave due to a pandemic related illness or complication thereof, the City will continue its share of all insurance benefits for(insert City's policy on paying health insurance premiums; cities subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act will generally want to continue the city's contribution for at least twelve weeks). • What will happen with regard to employee travel. Example: Work-related travel may be suspended temporarily during a pandemic. • How the city will communicate with employees. Example: E-mail and web site postings will likely be our primary means of contact, but please make sure your supervisor has up to date contact information for you (e.g., cell phone number). SAMPLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES Mandatory Preventive Measures: • Use of social distancing methods (maintain distance from those who are ill and under extreme conditions, from all other people in the workplace) • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth • Stay home when you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick • Discontinuing handshaking as a greeting • Implement extended hand-washing method (at least 20 seconds with soap and water) after using the restroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing • Use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) as needed or when soap and water are not available League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 • Use disinfectants to wipe down work surfaces at least twice per day or when a possible contamination has occurred (CDC guidance suggests businesses provide disinfectant wipes for commonly used surfaces such as doorknobs, keyboards, desktops and suggest employees be encouraged to wipe down surfaces after each use) • Use cough and sneeze etiquette and dispose of tissues in trash cans Optional Preventive Measures: • Obtain a seasonal flu vaccine (can be done at any appropriate time) • Follow the Center for Disease Control recommendations for use of a facemask. The CDC currently recommends facemasks for those individuals who show symptoms of COVID-19 and those who are taking care of someone with COVID- 19 in close settings (e.g., health care facilities or at home). Such individuals are not likely to be actively at work. SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYEES — HEALTHCARE/PUBLIC SAFETY/WASTEWATER As always, cities who employ healthcare workers are responsible for following applicable OSHA requirements, including OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030), Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.132), and Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134) standards. See the Standards page for additional information on OSHA requirements. The CDC provides detailed guidance for workers at increased exposure which includes city employees who perform medical transports and first responder assistance (e.g., police, fire, ambulance). Consult this link for more information: OSHA Control Prevention See section on Healthcare Workers and Employers. The above link includes this guidance for emergency medical services (EMS) and medical transport: ■ Workers and employers involved in EMS or other medical transport operations will likely need to adapt guidelines for the mobile work environment. That may League of MN Cities Pandemic Plan—Basic Information 2/26/2020 mean relying on PPE (e.g., respirators) to protect workers when use of AIIRs or other isolation mechanisms are not practical and when staff have potentially prolonged, close contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in transit. Also refer healthcare workers to this link: OSHA Hazard Recognition The CDC guidance for wastewater employees is located on the same website page: OSHA Control Prevention and includes the following: ✓ Coronaviruses are susceptible to the same disinfection conditions in the healthcare setting as other viruses, so current disinfection conditions in wastewater treatment facilities is expected to be sufficient. This includes conditions for practices such as oxidation with hypochlorite (i.e., chlorine bleach) and peracetic acid, as well as inactivation through the use of ultraviolet irradiation. ✓ There is no evidence to suggest that additional, COVID-19-specific protections are needed for employees involved in wastewater management operations, including those at wastewater treatment facilities. Wastewater treatment plant operations should ensure workers follow routine practices to prevent exposure to wastewater, including using the engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE normally required for work tasks when handling untreated wastewater. ADDITIONAL HELPFUL LINKS Be Ready Minnesota - Infectious Diseases State of Minnesota Emergency Closure Policy for State Agencies Eric Johnson From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Friday, February 28,2020 9:14 AM To: Eric Johnson Subject: Fwd: House Action on Insulin Affordability For weekly notes -----Original Message— From: Rep. Shelly Christensen<rep.shelly.christensen@public.govdelivery.com> To: marymccomber<marymccomber@aol.com> Sent: Thu, Feb 27, 2020 4:30 pm Subject: House Action on Insulin Affordability lAgwop trouble viewinq this email'?View d as a Web Uage. Representative Shelly Christensen NI EEM HWSE OF RE OEMTXTII l 1113unwrave Dear Neighbor, I was glad to see many of you out making your voices heard in our neighborhoods at precinct caucuses! No matter what party you belong to, it's a great opportunity to get together in our community and discuss issues that will impact our lives. I hope you'll continue that civic engagement by voting in the presidential primary on or before next Tuesday. You can vote right now via absentee ballot, either by mail or in at your county elections office. If you're not sure whether you are registered to vote at your current address, you can check your registration status here. You can always register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. I'm grateful for your participation in the political process! 1 r ru hi lM i w Y Ai High School Pages get to spend the week up close with the legislative process. I was glad i got to meet Noah, a Stillwater resident who is serving as a page this week! In IQ AIII y f f. 2 It was fun to have a group of Stillwater students visit me at the Capitol! We talked about ways youth can and are getting engaged and moving conversations forward. Lowering Prescription Drug Prices Minnesotans shouldn't lose their lives because they can't afford the lifesaving medications they need. Over the last ten years insulin manufacturers have tripled the price of insulin, raking in billions of dollars in profits and forcing thousands of Minnesotans to ration a drug that's as necessary for them as air or water. Big Pharma needs to have a financial stake in solving this affordability crisis. Last night, the House passed our bi that ensures Minnesotans can get the insulin they need at a price they can afford. I was proud to cast my vote for the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act and will continue working toward making affordable health care a reality and tackling prescription drug costs. Race on Marriage Licenses Minnesota has a law on the books that requires couples to record their race during the marriage license application process. I believe it's intrusive and unnecessary-there is no reason Minnesotans should be required to share information about their race in order to get married. My bill repealing this requirement has been advancing through the committee process! •tierSo-.. r D .i . z _ 3 Stay Warm - Cold Weather Assistance While it may sometimes seem like cold weather is behind us, we still have several weeks before we can permanently turn down the thermostat. If you need help keeping your home warm for the rest of winter I want to remind you of the resources available. First, if you need assistance paying your bills you can contact the Department of Commerce to see if you qualify. While utilities are still allowed to disconnect services during winter, under Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule they are required to meet several criteria before doing so. If you feel that a utility has not met these criteria you can reach out to the Public Utilities Commission or the Attorney General's Office, both of which have resources to aid those facing disconnection of service. As always, feel free to contact my office if you need help! Free Tax Filing Quick reminder that tax filing help is available for many Minnesotans. Last year, almost 62 percent of Minnesotans qualified to file for free but over 780,000 of them didn't. You likely qualify if your income is $69,000 or less, if you're eligible for the federal earned income tax credit, or if you're an active duty military service member. Find out more information here from the Department of Revenue. They also have a short video about free e-filing here. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here. You're also invited to like my Facebook page here. If you have comments or questions about our work at the Capitol, I always welcome your feedback. You can reach me at re_p.shelly.christensen(M-house.mn or(651) 296- 4244. Sincerely, Representative Shelly Christensen Share this email with friends: SNARE To unsubscribe,click here. This email was sent to marymccomber@aol.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of:Minnesota House DFL-100 Rev.Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.Blvd.•Saint Paul,MN 55155 4