Minnesota Session Laws - 2002, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 296-S.F.No. 2546 
                  An act relating to local government; permitting the 
                  cities of Rockville and Pleasant Lake and the town of 
                  Rockville to jointly develop a consolidation plan; 
                  permitting the cities of New London and Spicer and the 
                  town of New London to jointly develop a consolidation 
                  plan; requiring hearings, approval by the governing 
                  bodies, and referenda; permitting the city of 
                  Montgomery to abolish its ward system. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [CONSOLIDATION PLAN.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [SUBJECTS; DEADLINE.] The cities of 
        Rockville and Pleasant Lake and the town of Rockville may 
        develop a consolidation plan within one year after the effective 
        date of this act.  The consolidation plan must address or 
        expressly eliminate each subject mentioned or referred to in 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 414.041, and any other matters 
        pertinent to the consolidation.  The plan must provide for the 
        election of new municipal officers for the combined 
        municipality.  The one-year planning period shall be considered 
        a proceeding for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 
        414.033, subdivision 6. 
           Subd. 2.  [LOCAL HEARING.] The communities shall jointly 
        conduct at least one hearing regarding the consolidation plan 
        and to discuss the issues referred to in Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 414.041, subdivision 3.  Any hearings conducted under 
        this provision must be preceded by at least two weeks' published 
        notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation in the 
        affected area.  Changes may be made to the consolidation plan as 
        a result of the hearings. 
           Subd. 3.  [APPROVAL.] The consolidation plan must be 
        approved by the governing body of each participating city and 
        town in a joint resolution. 
           Subd. 4.  [REFERENDA.] Once each governing body approves 
        the consolidation plan, referenda shall be conducted at a 
        general or special election in each of the three communities on 
        the same day.  Costs of the respective referenda shall be borne 
        by the respective communities.  A majority of those voting in 
        each community must approve the proposed consolidation. 
           Subd. 5.  [FILING; FINAL APPROVAL.] If the consolidation is 
        approved in each referenda, the plan, joint resolution, and 
        results of the referenda shall be filed with the director of the 
        state office of strategic and long-range planning.  The director 
        may review and comment, but shall, within 30 days, order the 
        consolidation of the communities in accordance with the 
        provisions of the consolidation plan.  The director may not 
        alter the boundaries, procedures, or other provisions of the 
        plan. 
           Subd. 6.  [EFFECTIVE; NOTIFICATION.] The consolidation 
        shall be effective upon the issuance of the consolidation order 
        by the director.  The director shall cause copies of the order 
        to be mailed to the parties, the secretary of state, the 
        department of revenue, the state demographer, and the affected 
        county auditor. 
           Sec. 2.  [CONSOLIDATION PLAN; NEW LONDON, SPICER, NEW 
        LONDON TOWNSHIP.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [SUBJECTS; DEADLINE.] The cities of New 
        London and Spicer and the town of New London may develop a 
        consolidation plan within one year after the effective date of 
        this act.  The consolidation plan must address or expressly 
        eliminate each subject mentioned or referred to in Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 414.041, and any other matters pertinent to 
        the consolidation.  The plan must provide for the election of 
        new municipal officers for the combined municipality.  The 
        one-year planning period shall be considered a proceeding for 
        the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 414.033, subdivision 
        6. 
           Subd. 2.  [LOCAL HEARING.] The communities shall jointly 
        conduct at least one hearing regarding the consolidation plan 
        and to discuss the issues referred to in Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 414.041, subdivision 3.  Any hearings conducted under 
        this provision must be preceded by at least two weeks' published 
        notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation in the 
        affected area.  Changes may be made to the consolidation plan as 
        a result of the hearings. 
           Subd. 3.  [APPROVAL.] The consolidation plan must be 
        approved by the governing body of each participating city and 
        town in a joint resolution. 
           Subd. 4.  [REFERENDA.] Once each governing body approves 
        the consolidation plan, referenda shall be conducted at a 
        general or special election in each of the three communities on 
        the same day.  Costs of the respective referenda shall be borne 
        by the respective communities.  A majority of those voting in 
        each community must approve the proposed consolidation. 
           Subd. 5.  [FILING; FINAL APPROVAL.] If the consolidation is 
        approved in each referenda, the plan, joint resolution, and 
        results of the referenda shall be filed with the director of the 
        state office of strategic and long-range planning.  The director 
        may review and comment, but shall, within 30 days, order the 
        consolidation of the communities in accordance with the 
        provisions of the consolidation plan.  The director may not 
        alter the boundaries, procedures, or other provisions of the 
        plan. 
           Subd. 6.  [EFFECTIVE; NOTIFICATION.] The consolidation 
        shall be effective upon the issuance of the consolidation order 
        by the director.  The director shall cause copies of the order 
        to be mailed to the parties, the secretary of state, the 
        department of revenue, the state demographer, and the affected 
        county auditor. 
           Sec. 3.  [MONTGOMERY; REPEAL OF WARD SYSTEM.] 
           The city of Montgomery may by ordinance abolish its ward 
        system and provide for election of council members at-large.  
        The ordinance must be adopted by July 1, of the year in which it 
        is to take effect. 
           Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This act is effective the day following final enactment.  
        No local approval is required. 
           Presented to the governor March 25, 2002 
           Signed by the governor March 26, 2002, 2:28 p.m.