1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to cities; allowing a city to request a written estimate before hiring a private 
1.3 	consultant;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 471.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [471.462] WRITTEN ESTIMATE OF CONSULTANT FEES.
1.6 	(a) Before a city engages a consultant to assist it with reviewing an application for a 
1.7 	permit, license, or other approval relating to real estate development or construction, an 
1.8 	applicant may request a written nonbinding estimate of the consulting fees to be charged 
1.9 	to the applicant based on information available at that time. If the applicant requests the 
1.10 	estimate, the application shall not be deemed complete until the city has: (1) provided an 
1.11 	estimate to the applicant, (2) received the required application fees, as specified by the city, 
1.12 	(3) received a signed acceptance of the fee estimate from the applicant, and (4) received a 
1.13 	signed statement that the applicant has not relied on the estimate of fees in its decision to 
1.14 	proceed with the final application from the applicant.
1.15 	(b) Before a city commences review of a complete application for a permit, license, or 
1.16 	other approval in accordance with section 15.99, it may require the applicant's written 
1.17 	acceptance of the actual fees to be charged by the city's consultant.