SF 1560

2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/17/2015 08:24am

A bill for an act
relating to metropolitan government; establishing a task force to study and make
recommendations on metropolitan governance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin TASK FORCE ON METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Established. new text end

new text begin A task force on metropolitan governance is established
to study and make recommendations to the legislature on metropolitan governance.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The task force consists of 19 members appointed by July
31, 2015, as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) four legislators with interest and experience in urban and regional government,
appointed one each by the speaker of the house, the house minority leader, the senate
majority leader, and the senate minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (2) two persons representing cities in the metropolitan area and four mayors of
metropolitan area suburbs, appointed by the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities;
new text end

new text begin (3) two county commissioners representing counties in the metropolitan area,
appointed by the Counties Transit Improvement Board, at least one of whom must
represent Scott or Carver County;
new text end

new text begin (4) one person appointed by the mayor of the city of Minneapolis and one person
appointed by the mayor of the city of St. Paul;
new text end

new text begin (5) one person representing townships in the metropolitan area, appointed by the
Minnesota Association of Townships;
new text end

new text begin (6) one person representing an employee collective bargaining unit of the
Metropolitan Council, appointed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO;
new text end

new text begin (7) one person representing private business, appointed by the Minnesota Chamber
of Commerce;
new text end

new text begin (8) the chair of the Counties Transit Improvement Board; and
new text end

new text begin (9) the chair of the Metropolitan Council.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin First meeting; chair; other officers. new text end

new text begin The member appointed by the
senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration will
convene the first meeting of the task force by August 30, 2015. The task force shall elect
from among its members a chair and vice-chair and any other officers that the task force
determines would be necessary or convenient.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force shall study and evaluate models of metropolitan
governance to address regional planning, financing, construction or acquisition, and
operation of infrastructure and services, including but not limited to transportation, water
and wastewater, parks, trails, recreation facilities, and open space.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin State; metropolitan agencies must cooperate; subcommittees. new text end

new text begin The
Metropolitan Council and state and metropolitan agencies shall cooperate with the task
force and provide information requested in a timely fashion. The task force may establish
subcommittees and invite other stakeholders to participate in the task force's study and
development of recommendations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin No compensation or expenses; grants. new text end

new text begin Public members of the task
force shall receive no compensation or per diem for participation on the task force. The
task force may accept grant funds from any federal, state, local, or nongovernmental
source to support its work and offset any costs imposed on the Metropolitan Council,
provided accepting the money does not create a conflict of interest under Minnesota
Statutes, section 10A.07, for the task force or its members. Money accepted under this
subdivision is deposited in the general fund and is appropriated from the general fund to
the Metropolitan Council for the purposes of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Administrative support; staff. new text end

new text begin The Metropolitan Council must provide
meeting space, administrative support, and staff support for the task force. The task force
may hold meetings in any publicly accessible location in the metropolitan area.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Open meeting law. new text end

new text begin Meetings of the task force are subject to chapter 13D.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to
the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with responsibility
for or jurisdiction over the Metropolitan Council and metropolitan agencies. The report is
due by February 1, 2016.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective
the day following final enactment and expires June 30, 2016. Subdivisions 5, 6, and 7 apply
in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
new text end