1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to local government; appropriating money for a grant to the city of Hugo 
1.3 	to study the feasibility of a regional sewer and water system.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. HUGO; REGIONAL SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM FEASIBILITY 
1.6 	STUDY.
 1.7 	(a) The cities of Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbus, Hugo, Lino Lakes, and 
1.8 	Lexington may conduct a feasibility study to evaluate:
1.9 	(1) the costs, benefits, sustainability, and potential for growth in the existing separate 
1.10 	water, sewer, or water and sewer systems, including environmental costs and benefits;
1.11 	(2) the costs, benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of operating a regional water 
1.12 	supply system, a regional sanitary sewer system, or both;
1.13 	(3) the infrastructure needed to be improved, added, or replaced to establish a 
1.14 	regional system, the estimated capital costs, and potential financing sources;
1.15 	(4) the estimated operating costs of a regional system and the fee structure needed to 
1.16 	pay for the regional system's operations, maintenance, and periodic capital improvements;
1.17 	(5) the benefits to aquifer management and the sustainability of water supply for 
1.18 	the cities; and
1.19 	(6) any other information determined by the cities to be necessary or useful.
1.20 	The cities must consult with state and regional agencies with expertise in water and 
1.21 	wastewater infrastructure funding and construction, including the Metropolitan Water 
1.22 	Supply Advisory Committee, for advice on what should be included in the feasibility study. 
1.23 	(b) The city of Hugo, with cooperation from the other participating cities, shall 
1.24 	report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
2.1 	jurisdiction over water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and funding on the results 
2.2 	of the feasibility study and any recommendations for evaluating and implementing a 
2.3 	regional water and wastewater system in other areas of the state. The report must be 
2.4 	submitted by January 15 of the year following completion of the feasibility study.
2.5 	(c) $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council in fiscal 
2.6 	year 2014, and available until June 30, 2015, for a grant to the city of Hugo to study 
2.7 	the feasibility of establishing a regional sewer, water, or sewer and water system. The 
2.8 	appropriation is not available until the council determines that Hugo and at least four of 
2.9 	the following five cities have each adopted resolutions to cooperate with each other in 
2.10 	conducting the study: Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbus, Lino Lakes, and Lexington. 
2.11 	The grant agreement must require that at least ten percent of the cost of the feasibility 
2.12 	study be paid for by the participating cities, and that each participating city commit to 
2.13 	contributing money to help pay for the feasibility study.