1d. Approve 2011 Legislative Priorities0
CITY OF
CHANgASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952,227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227,1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn,us
MEMORANDUM
TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM: Laurie Hokkanen, Assistant City Manager
DATE: February 14, 2011 aw-
SUBJ: Adoption of 2011 Legislative Priorities
PROPOSED MOTION
The City Council adopts the 2011Legislative Priorities.
A simple majority vote is required to approve this item.
BACKGROUND
Attached please find the 2011 Legislative Priorities. The city council
discussed these at their work session on January 24, 2011. Members of
council and staff also met with Representative Joe Hoppe, Met Council
Representative Craig Peterson, County Commissioners Tom Workman and
Gayle Degler, and Chaz Johnson from Congressman Kline's office to discuss
these priorities on February 1, 2011.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the city council adopt the Legislative Priorities.
ATTACHMENTS
2011 Legislative Priorities
G: \Admin \LH\City Council \Legislative Priorities\2011 Adoption cover memo.doc
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
City of Chanhassen
� 2011 Legislative Priorities
TH 101 Corridor Project (Pioneer Trail to Scott County Line): This is a
joint project with MnDOT, Carver County, Scott County, and the Cities of Shakopee
and Chanhassen
• Completed Corridor Scoping Study, Analysis, Preliminary Design and Environmental
Screening in 2007.
• Received funding through the Metropolitan Council's Surface Transportation
Program (STP) for segment between Lyman Boulevard and Pioneer Trail.
Construction is scheduled for 2013.
• The city needs this corridor improved to expand economic growth, create new jobs,
and expand our tax base.
• Staff is working with other agencies on next steps.
Problem: No funding source for construction south of Pioneer Trail.
2. TH 5 Project Improvements (West of TH 41): This is a joint project with MnDOT;
Carver County; and the Cities of Victoria, Waconia, Norwood /Young America, and
Chanhassen.
• The city entered into a joint powers agreement for the completion of Corridor
Scoping, Analysis, Preliminary Design and Environmental Screening in 2009.
• MnDOT has also received STP funding for the bridge repairs in Victoria and partial
overlay on TH 5 ($1,250,000).
• City has received HSIP and TE Federal funds for pedestrian underpass and trunk
highway safety improvements at Minnewashta parkway. Construction is scheduled
for 2012.
• MnDOT has received $1,342,000 in federal funds for the TH 5 Signal Retiming and
Coordination. Construction is scheduled for 2012.
Problem: No funding or schedule to make the corridor four lanes.
Highway 212: Continue Development of Highway 212.
• The development of Highway 212 from County Road 147 on the Chaska/Carver
border to the City of Cologne.
Problem: No construction funding source secured.
g: \admin \lh \city council \legislative priorities\201 I legislative priorities.doc
4. Environmental: The permitting processes are too time - consuming and streamlining the
processes would be a good start (NPDES, MS4, Non - degradation, Wetland Conservation
Act, and Clean Water Act requirements, etc.).
Unfunded Mandates: Chanhassen opposes both current and future statutory changes
that create mandated tasks that require new or added local costs without a corresponding
funding mechanism. Without a funding source, Chanhassen is potentially in the position
of having to increase property taxes and /or fees. These unfunded mandates add to the
responsibilities for cities and the ability to fund traditional service needs.
6. Local Controls: The city strongly supports participation in cooperative arrangements,
but strongly opposes any effort to weaken the ability of local governments to provide the
best services and benefits for their communities (levy limits, unfunded mandates,
cooperative purchasing, ability to grant variances). Local budgets are subject to intense
public scrutiny. Inflation alone forces cities to spend more money to maintain current
service levels. The people who know what is best for this city are the people who live
and work here.
7. Support "Opt -Out" Suburban Transit Agencies: Chanhassen supports opt -out cities
and suburban transit agencies, in concurrence with the findings of the Office of the
Legislative Auditors January 2011 Governance of Transit Report. Creation of these
agencies provided residents and businesses with a desired service that met their needs
while maintaining financial and management controls. The State should refrain from
infringing on the ability of local agencies to provide and control bus services for the
benefit of area businesses and residents.
8. Voting Regulations: Chanhassen strongly supports our democratically elected
representative -form of government, and seeks to ensure voter confidence in election
results. To this end, Chanhassen supports legislation that would require verification of
citizenship of newly registered voters, would require registered voters to provide photo
ID as proof of identity at the polls, and would eliminate the voucher for same day voter
registration.
Minnesota River Crossing Study: It is anticipated over the next 6 months Mn/DOT will be
working on a study to evaluating the bridges and approach roadways for Trunk Highway 41,
Trunk Highway 101, and Trunk Highway 169 to determine what capital improvements would be
necessary to minimize roadway closures and/or add capacity due to flooding events for the
existing river crossings and their approach roadways. Highway 41 and Highway 101 alternatives
would primarily be related to elevating roadway profiles and Highway 169 alternatives would
primarily be related to adding capacity with and without widening existing bridges.
The evaluation will include an alternatives analysis to identify a range of construction
approaches. Bridge and construction alternatives considered will include a hydraulic model
development and analysis, high -level pre- environmental screening, traffic analysis,
constructability analysis; total project cost estimate, right -of -way, construction and mitigation
and benefit /cost analysis. MnDot hopes to leverage dollars with this study to complete an
environmental document and preliminary design on the preferred river crossing.
Problem: No construction funding source secured.
G:\Admin \LH \City Council \Legislative Priorities \2011 Legislative Priorities.doc