1d. Approval of 2012 Legislative Priorities0
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
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
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
DATE: January 23, 2012 0 •��,
SUBJ: Approval of 2012 Legislative Priorities
PROPOSED MOTION:
"The Chanhassen City Council approves the 2012 Legislative
Priorities."
Approval requires a simple majority vote of the council.
Attached please find the City of Chanhassen's 2012 Legislative Priorities.
These priorities incorporate the suggested changes from the council's last work
session. Staff is in the process of scheduling a meeting with our legislators and
will let you know when a date has been determined.
RECOMMENDATION
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Approval of the 2012 Legislative Priorities as attached is recommended.
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
ATTACHMENT
Planning &
Natural Resources
L Priorities 1. 2012 Le
g
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
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Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
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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.
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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.
9. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS): The state should develop aggressive policies /strategies to
prevent the continued spread of AIS across Minnesota. There needs to be a consistent balance
and/or set of policies on how communities can go about protecting their natural resources. The
State of Minnesota should assume primary responsibility for financing and protecting our natural
resources.
10. State Bonding Authority: Use the state's bonding authority to fund MnDOT's turnback
projects. The state needs to look at additional resources for the transportation needs of the
metropolitan region. Using the state's bonding authority is the first step in meeting this growing
need.
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