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B. 2012 Legislative Priorities0 _6 CITY OF CHMNSEN MEMORANDUM 7700 Market Boulevard TO: Mayor & City Council PO Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 FROM: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Administration DATE: January 9, 2012 GKP Phone: 952.227.1100 Fax: 952.227.1110 SUBJ 2012 Legislative Priorities Building Inspections Phone: 952.227.1180 Fax: 952.227.1190 Attached please find staff's proposed 2012 Legislative Priorities. My expectation for Monday's meeting is for the City Council to review the priorities and add any Engineering others you feel are important. Phone: 952.227.1160 Fax: 952.227.1170 ATTACHMENTS Finance 1. Proposed 2012 Legislative Priorities Phone: 952.227.1140 Fax: 952.227.1110 2. League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Priorities: For the detailed report, go to https: / /www.Imc.org /pa e� /l /legislative- policies.jsp 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: 952.227.1130 Fax: 952.227.1110 Public Works 7901 Park Place 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 g:\admin \tg \legislative priorities\2012 \council memo 1- 9- 12.doc Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow City of Chanhassen ffff OF cu of 2012 Legislative Priorities 1. TH Upgrading TH 101 from Flying Cloud Drive to Shakopee/Minnesota River Flood Mitigation Study: 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. • In February 2011, MnDOT initiated the Minnesota river Flood Mitigation Study to investigate lower -cost solutions to flooding on State Highways 101 and 41. This study showed that the proposed land bridge at Highway 101 has a higher benefit cost ratio than the Highway 41 improvements, and would cost an estimated $27.7 million to build. Staff expects MnDOT to make their final decision in the first quarter of 2012. 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. • The City of Chanhassen received a $100,000 grant from the DNR to help offset the local contribution, which is estimated at $250,000. Problem: No funding or schedule to make the corridor four lanes. 3. 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 \tg \legislative priorities\2012\2012 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.). 5. 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. 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. 9. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS): The state should develop a policy /strategies to prevent the continued spread of AIS across Minnesota. 10. State Bonding Authority: Use the state's bonding authority to fund MnDOT's turnback projects. g: \admin \tg \legislative priorities\2012\2012 legislative priorities.doc