A-2. 2015 Legislative PrioritiesI
CITY OF
CHANHASSFN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone 952 2271100
Fax 952 2271110
Building Inspections
Phone 952 2271180
Fax 952 2271190
Engineering
Phone 952 2271160
Fax 952 2271170
Finance
Phone 952 2271140
Fax 952 2271110
Park & Recreation
Phone 952 2271120
Fax 952 2271110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone 952 2271400
Fax 952 2271404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone 952 2271130
Fax 952 2271110
Public Works
7901 Park Place
Phone 952 2271300
Fax 952 2271310
Senior Center
Phone 952 2271125
Fax 952 2271110
Website
www ci chanhassen mn us
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
DATE: January 10, 2015
SUBJ: 2015 Legislative Priorities v
Attached please find staff's proposed 2015 Legislative Priorities The only
change from last year's list is in the AIS priority highlighted in yellow I have
provided a link to the Metro Cities and League of Minnesota Cities legislative
priorities below
On Monday night, the city council should review the list and add any other
items that you feel are important
ATTACHMENTS
1 Proposed 2015 Legislative Policies
2. Metro Cities Legislative Policies- www MetroCitiesMN.or.
3 League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Policies- www lmc ora
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Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
City of Chanhassen
2015 Legislative Priorities
Upgrades to TH 101:
a. From Pioneer Trail to County Road 61; and
b. Begin Discussions Regarding Turnback and Upgrade of TH 101 North from
Highway 5 to Crosstown Boulevard to a "Super Two - Lane" Design /Safety
Improvements
C. State Bonding Authority: Use the state's bonding authority to fund MnDOT's
tumback 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
These are the last two segments of TH 101 to be turned back to Carver County
• The city needs these corridors upgraded to improve safety, expand economic growth,
create new fobs, and expand our tax base
• Staff is working with other agencies on next steps
• Possible funding source from the state level, the state's bonding authority, and
advancing State Turnback Funds.
Problem: No funding source exists for construction of either segment of TH 101
Additional funding needs to be put into the flexible highway account to accelerate
construction of both segments and other important tumback projects in the region.
2 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
infnngmg on the ability of local agencies to provide and control bus services for the
benefit of area businesses and residents Suburban riders are an integral part of the
suburban transit system
3. 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
Local Governance & Planning: 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
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current service levels. The people who know what is best for this city are the people who
live and work here
4 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
on how communities go about protecting their natural resources Carver County needs to
determine how the State's AIS funds are to be used Using Hennepin County's AIS Prevention
Grants program would be a big step to help local units of government and organizations
implement projects that prevent the spread of AIS
5 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, EPA Standards and Regulatory Rules, etc )
Meet with Terry Jefferies to discuss which process is best to streamline (to be
determined).
6 TH 5 Project Improvements (West of TH 41 to Norwood Young America): This is a
point project with MnDOT; Carver County, and the Cities of Victoria, Waconia,
Norwood/Young America, and Chanhassen
Problem: No funding or schedule to make the corridor four lanes
7. 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
OTHER AGENCIES LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Metro Cities www metrocitiesmn.ora
League of Minnesota Cities www line or
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