HF 2673

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/05/2012 01:50pm

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 a chair, appointed as provided
in subdivision 3, and 17 members, appointed as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) four persons with interest and experience in urban and regional government,
appointed one each by the speaker of the house of representatives, the house minority
leader, the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the senate Committee on Rules and
Administration, and the senate minority leader;
new text end

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

new text begin (3) two persons representing counties in the metropolitan area, appointed by the
Association of Minnesota Counties;
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 Saint 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 labor, appointed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO;
new text end

new text begin (7) one person representing private business, appointed by the Itasca Group;
new text end

new text begin (8) two persons representing nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations,
appointed by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership; and
new text end

new text begin (9) two persons representing suburban mayors in the metropolitan area, appointed
by the Regional Council of Mayors.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Chair, other officers. new text end

new text begin The chair of the County Transportation Improvement
Board shall serve as chair of the task force. The task force may elect from among its
members a 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. Among the models the
task force must study is a hybrid council-of-governments model.
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 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 for the task force or its members.
The Metropolitan Council may administer any grant money given to the task force.
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 Meetings. new text end

new text begin The task force is encouraged to invite public observation and
input into its study and deliberations. The task force must provide as much notice as
practicable of its meetings, with the assistance of Metropolitan Council staff, and hold
the meetings in public in locations that are publicly accessible. Chapter 13D does not
apply to meetings of the task force but the task force must, to the extent practicable, act
in compliance with the spirit and intent of 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, 2013.
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, 2013. Subdivisions 5, 6, and 7 apply
in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
new text end