08-60 � �.
Presented by
� b�'�� ��— � � Council File # � � � (1
GreenSheet# 3p•-1 `�3�1
RESOLUTION ?-S
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA
1 WHEREAS cities are the front-line providers of important public services to our region and state, such as
2 police and fire protecrion, library services, parks and recreation, housing and economic development; and
4 WHEREAS the combination of state aid reductions and changes to state property ta�c laws in recent years
5 have meant substantial homeowner property tax increases in Saint Paul, and these property tas increases
6 aze unsustainable for our citizens; and
7
8 WHEREAS the Mayor and City Council have responsibly maintained and improved essential city services
9 during a time of reduced state support for our city's work; and
lo
11 WHEREAS the economy of Saint Paul and the entire state is reliant upon the State of Minnesota ma ing
12 appropriate investments to construct and maintain transportation infrasiructure; and that the efficient
13 movement of people and goods is a key state responsibility; and
14
15 WHEREAS the Mayor and City Council are committed to completing the Central Corridor Light Rail Lme
16 in cooperation with the City of Minneapolis, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Met Council, and the State
17 of Minnesota; and
18
19 WHEREAS the Capital City of Minnesota provides cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities
2o for the benefit to the enrire State of Minnesota and the state should partner with Saint Paul to improve
21 opportunities for the citizenry through inveshnent in capital infrastructure projects; and
22
23 WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul is a leader in promoring projects that reduce �eenhouse gas emissions
2a and is working with the private sector to build cleaner, greener manufacturing plants to produce green
25 products; and
26
27 WHEREAS the high number of home foreclosures and vacancies caused by bad mortgages and deflation
28 of the value of housing is causing great stress on individuals and communities throughout the state; and
29
3o WHEREAS improving Saint Paul citizens' access to quality education and workforce opportunities is a
31 responsibility of the City; and
32
33 WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul continues to act with purpose, to ensure that our people can live an
34 work in a diverse, vibrant community with quality educational opportunities, safe sireets, thriving local
35 commerce and modern infrastructure; and that the eclectic character of our Great City provides
36 opportunities for all our citizens to participate fully in our society;
37
38 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following items are the legislative agenda of the City of Saint
39 Paul for the 2008 Minnesota legislative session:
40
i, y
J�' � d
41 Tax, Revenue and State Aids
42
4; • Advocate improving the Local Government Aid formula to restore previous cuts, reduce t e yeaz-
44 to-year volatility of aid levels that cities receive and reform the formula to consider inflation in the
q5 cost of providing city services. Saint Paul opposes artificial caps on local government revenues or
46 authority.
47
48 • Advocate for an extension of Saint Paul's authority to issue Capital Improvement Bonds, al ow an
49 annual inflationary adjustment in the maximum annual dollar amount of capital projects that may
5o be financed through CIB, and extend the term for which CIB bonds may be offered to match the
51 expected life of the improvement which the bond sale will finance.
52
53 • Support the inclusion of cities in Revenue Recapture Program•
54
55 • Support the removal of the sales tax charged to municipalities on street & road maintenance
56 supplies, equipment and materials purchases as well as materials purchased for local road, bridge,
97 sidewalk, trail and transit construction.
58
59 • Support the elimination of the sales tax charged to municipalities for the purchase of public sa ety
60 equipment.
61
62 Transportation
63
64 • Advocate full funding of the $280 million in state matching dollars that are needed to ensure at
65 the Central Corridor project is built on its present timetable. These funds should be made available
66 from both the 2008 bonding bill and a comprehensive transportation funding package that includes
67 dedicated funds for transit and specifically Central Comdor.
68
69 The City will continue to work with Met Council as the principal agency to ensure all the needs o
70 Saint Paul residents are met throughout the process of developing and building the Central Corridor
71 including — but not limited to — supporting a sufficient number and placement of stops to maximize
72 the line's social and economic benefits to the region and to the neighborhoods adjacent to the
73 corridor.
74
75 • Support dedicated funding for transit and transportation capital and operating costs throug a
76 comprehensive, regional transportation package that includes enhanced bus service and funding for
77 Central Corridor — related site preparation for the City of Saint Paul.
78
79 • Support Ramsey County's request of $9 million in state bonding for Union Depot, which is neede
80 to meet federal matching requirements.
81
82 • Support the following transportation projects:
g3 o Rush Line Corridor -$1 million (Ramsey County);
g4 o Red Rock Corridor -$2 million (Washington County);
g5 o High Speed Rail -$10 million (Washington Counry);
g6 o I-94 Corridor -$1 million (Washington County); and
g� o Robert Street Corridor -$1 million (Dakota County)
,.
/
�� / I
88 Culturai and Economic Development
89
90 • Advocate for $25 million in bondin� for the Saint Paul Outdoor Recrearion and Team ports
91
92
93
(SPORTS) Iniriative.
• Advocate for SS million in bonding for the Asian Pacific Cultural Center.
94
95 • Advocate for state assistance to address the RiverCentre's immediate needs and to prepare or
96 future capital projects in Minnesota's Event Disinct:
97
9g • Forgiveness of the remaining 13 loan payments that the state required of the city as part of t e
99 Xcel Arena construction project. Saint Paul has repaid $6.75 million of the original $48 million
100 loan; and
101 • A$43 million appropriation to the City of Saint Paul, to help defease city-issued bond debt
102 owed on the RiverCentre Convention Center.
103
io4 • Support the current law method of granting telecommunications cable television/video franc ises.
los Current law is not a barrier to the increased competition that is needed to ensure that companies
106 will continue to provide more and better telecommunication services to our whole community.
107
lOR • Support efforts to create a policy framework that will lead to affordable, ubiquitous broadban
109 access throughout the state by 2015.
110
l i l • Support mare flexibility for cities to use existing redevelopment tools to take advantage of public
112 transportation inveshnents.
113
114 Environment and Energy
115
116 • Advocate for $11 million in state bonding to complete the polar bear renovation and fully fund t e
117 gorilla renovation at Como Zoo.
118
119 • Advocate for $9.8 million in bonding far Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, Lilydale Regional Par ,
120 and revetment along Upper Landing in Saint Paul.
121
122 • Advocate for the creation of a Green Jobs Redevelopment Sites section within the existmg
123 Minnesota Inveshnent Fund law for green manufacturing projects in Saint Paul.
124
125 • Support the expansion or creation of incentive programs to encourage energy efficiency
126 improvements in existing buildings, and higher energy efficiency in new construction.
127
128 • Support Metropolitan Council's request for $10.5 million in state bonding to fund parks projects m
129 the metropolitan area.
130
131 • Support passage of the constitutional ballot question that if passed would provide funding or
132 wildlife habitat, clean water, parks and trails, and the arts. The allohnent for regional parks systems
133 should be no less than I S percent of the new dedicated revenues.
134
��, � a
135 Housing
136
137 • Advocate for an update to the Targeted Nei�hborhood Revitalization Pro�am to provide su cient,
138 flexible fundin� for cities that have nei�hborhoods with substanrial numbers of vacant, dilapidated
139 buildings.
140
141 • Support initiatives that will reduce the incidence of mort�age fraud, improve the information an
142 counseling given to bonowers before they sign for a mortgage, and expedite the process for
14; reengaging a foreclosed property.
144
la5 Education & Workforce Development
146
147 • Support increases in the After School Community Learning Program as part of any educarion
148 funding increase enacted by the 2008 Legislature.
149
150 • Support a$1 million request of the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board for the Bui mg
151 Lives program.
152
153 • Support the request of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for capital facilities pro�ects at
154 Saint Paul College ($13.5 million) and Metropolitan State University ($4.98 miIlion).
155
156
157
• Support an increase of $7 million for the Early Childhood Learning and Child Protection Facilities
Grant program.
158
159 • Support efforts to increase funding for job search assistance, skills training, childcaze, and relate
160 programs to help people find and retain employment.
161
162 Public Health & Safety
163
164 • Advocate for a change in state law that would make it a crime for unauthorized individuals to be m
165 an underground utility tunnel.
166
167
168
• Support the $10 million request of the Minnesota Department of Health to construct a drinking
water interconnection between the Saint Paul and Minneapolis systems.
169
170 • Support the proposal by Steps to a Healthier Minnesota for $26 million to finance projects an
171 education programs targeted at reducing or eliminating obesity, heart disease, diabetes and lung
172 disease.
173
174 General Municipal Advocacy
175
176 • Support the 2008 legislative agendas of the League of Minnesota Cities and MetroCities, except m
177 cases of conflict.
178
179 • Support a state demonstration project in the City of Saint Paul as a precursor to ensuring that al
18o children in the state have access to adequate health insurance.
181
��- �v
182 • Support the rights of cities to manage their operarions without inappropriate interference from the
183 state. The state should not attempt to coerce cities to change tl�eir ordinances by threatenin� to hold
184 property tax relief for city residents. Local voters are the appropriate authority to hold local
185 governments accountable for their ordinances.
Requested by Department o£
By:
Approved by the Office of Financial Services
BY�
Approved by City Attomey
�
Date ��/G�p'�lefC�X Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
Adoption Certified by Cour cil Secretary BY�
By: /l.oGV' // �/�Sl�n
Approv y D f
By: � t W/Li (/Qa
Adopted by Council:
� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
� 17S' C?b
MO — MaYots OtEce
09-JAN-08
Green Sheet NO: 3048351
CoMact Person 8 Phone:
Michael Wilhelmi
266-8521
Must Be on Council Aaen
Doc.Type: RESOLUTION
E-DOCUment Required: N
DocumentContact:
ConWCt phone:
� 0
Assign 1
Number Z
For
Routing 3
Order 4
5
vor's OfSce
plRavor•s OtLce I Department D'uector
i Attome
�4laror's Office Mavor/ASSistant
ouncil
Clerk C5 Clerk
Totai # of Signalure Pages _(Clip Ail Locations for Signature)
Action Requested:
The Saint Paul City Council approves of The 2008 Legislative Agenda
itlatlons: Approve (A) or R
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Civil Service Commission
1. Has this person/firm ever worked under a contract for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this person/firm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not nortnally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separaM shee! and attach to green sheet
Initiating Problem, Issues, OppoRunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
AdvanWgeslfApproved:
Disadvantages If Approved:
Disativantages If Not Approved:
Trensaction:
Funding Source:
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(Explain)
Activity Number:
CostlRevenue Budgeted:
January 9, 2008 224 PM Page 1
council File # �'�b
Green Sheet # 3048351
RESOLUTION
ITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA
Presented by
1 WH� S ciries are the front-line providers of important public services to our region and state, such as
2 police fire protecrion, library services, parks and recreation, housing and economic development; and
4 WHEREAS e combinarion of state aid reductions and changes to state property tax laws in recent years
5 have meant sub Yanrial homeowner property tax increases in Saint Paul, and these property taac increases
6 are
7
our cirizens; and
8 WHEREAS the Mayo d City Council have responsibly maintained and improved essential city services
9 during a rime of reduced ate support for our city's work; and
lo
11 WHEREAS the economy of 'nt Paul and the entire state is reliant upon the State of Minnesota making
12 appropriate investments to cons ct and maintain transportation infrastruchxre; and that the efficient
13 movement of people and goods is ey state responsibility; and
14
15 WHEREAS the Mayor and City
16 in cooperation with the City of D
17 of Minnesota; and
committed to complering the Central Corridor Light Rail Line
Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Met Council, and the State
18
19 WHEREAS the Capital City of Minnesota provi s cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities
2o for the benefit to the entire State of Minnesota and � e state should partner with Saint Paul to improve
21 opportunities far the citizenry through investment in ital infrastructure projects; and
22
23 WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul is a leader in promo
24 and is working with the private sector to build cleaner,
25 products; and
26
27 WHEREAS the high number of home foreclosures and vacancies
2s of the value of housing is causing great stress on individuals and �
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions
ufacturing plantsto produce green
by bad mortgages and deflation
iities throughout the state; and
29
30 WHEREAS improving Saint Paul citizens' access to quality educarion and�' \kforce opportunities is a
31 responsibility of the City; and '
32
33 WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul continues to act with purpose, to ensure that o people can live and
34 wark in a diverse, vibrant community with quality educational opportunities, safe s�eets, thriving local
35 commerce and modern infrastructure; and that the eclectic character of our Great Cit�' provides
-�-
36 opportunities for all our citizens to participate fully in our society; �
37 \
38 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following items are the legislative agenda o\the City of Saint
39 Paul far the 2008 Minnesota legislative session: ` �`
40 \\
as-�nv
Tag, Revenue and State Aids
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
• Advocate improving the Local Government Aid formula to restore previous cuts, reduce the year-
'� to-yeaz volarility of aid levels that cities receive and reform the formula to consider inflation in the
��wst of providing city services. Saint Paul opposes artificial caps on local govecnment revenues or
• Suppo�the inclusion of cities in Revenue Recapture Program
• Support the`r�
supplies, equij
sidewalk, trail
• Support the el
equipment.
Transportation
31 of the sales taac charged to municipaliries on street & road maintenance
it and materials purchases as well as materials purchased for local road, bridge,
transit construction.
3t�on of the sales tax charged to municipalities for the purchase of public safety
• Advocate full funding of the $2$� million in state matching dollars that are needed to ensure that
the Central Corridor project is bui��on its present timetable. These funds should be made available
from both the 2008 bonding bill and �comprehensive transportation funding package that includes
dedicated funds for transit and svecific�v Central Corridor.
The City wi11 continue to work with Met Cou"t�cil as the principal agency to znsure all the needs of
Saint Paul residents are met throughout the proc+�ss of developing and building the Central Comdor
including — but not limited to — supporting a suffic�nt number and placement of stops to m�imize
the line's social and economic benefits to the region�id to the neighborhoods adjacent to the
corridor. �'�,
• Support dedicated funding for transit and transportation cap�Yal and operating costs tlu a
comprehensive, regional transportation package that includes�€nhanced bus service and funding for
Central Corridor — related site preparation for the City of Saint P'anl.
• Support Ramsey County's request of $9 million in state bonding
to meet federal matching requirements.
• Support the following transportarion projects:
o Rush Line Corridor -$1 million (Ramsey County);
o Red Rock Corridor -$2 million (Washington County);
o High Speed Rail -$10 million (Washington Counry);
o I-94 Corridor -$1 million (Washington County); and
o Robert Street Corridor -$1 million (Dakota County)
Cultural and Economic Development
• Advocate for $25 million in bonding for the SPORTS Initiative.
Depot, which is needed
(��'� 6
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
9b
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
1 os
109
110
I11
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
• Advocate for $5 million in bonding for the Asian Pacific Cultural Center.
• Advocate for state assistance to address the RiverCentre's immediate needs and to prepaze for
� future capital projects in Minnesota's Event District:
• Forgiveness of the remaining 13 loan payments that the state required of the city as part of the
el Arena construction project. Saint Paul has repaid $6.75 million of the original $48 million
loa�;, and
• A$43v,nillion appropriarion to the City of Saint Paul, to help defease city-issued bond debt
owed on��he RiverCentre Convention Center.
• Support the currcnt law method of granring telecommunications franchises. Current law is not a
barrier to the incre�ed competition that is needed to ensure that companies will continue to provide
more and better telec�mmunication services to our whole community.
• Support more flexibility f� , ciries to use existing redevelopment tools to take advantage of public
�..
transportarion inveshnents. �
Environment and Energy
• Advocate for $11 million in state bond�g to complete the polar beaz renovarion and fully fund the
gorilla renovarion at Como Zoo.
• Advocate for $9.8 million in bonding for Bruo`�V�ento Nature Sanctuary, Lilydale Regional Park,
and revetment along Upper Landing in Saint PauY�:�
• Advocate for the creation of a Green Jobs
Minnesota Inveshnent Fund law for green
Sites section within the exisring
projects in Saint Paul.
��
• Support Metropolitan Council's request far $10.2 million in `�tate bonding to fund parks projects in
the metropolitan area. ��
„ �t
• Support passage of the constitutional ballot question that if passed �vould provide funding for
wildlife habitat, clean water, parks and trails, and the arts. The allotil�ent for regional parks systems
should be no less than 15 percent of the new dedicated revenues. ��
Housing
• Advocate for an update to the Targeted Neighborhood Revitalization Program`#�o provide sufficient,
flexible funding for cities that have neighborhoods with substantial numbers of �cant, dilapidated
buildings. �,
• Support initiarives that will reduce the incidence of mortgage fraud, improve the infoil�ation and
counseling given to borrowers before they sign for a mortgage, and expedite the proces�,for
reengaging a foreclosed property. 1 '�
�
\\
�8'�d
133 Education & Workforce Development
134
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
• Support increases in the After School Community L,earning Program as part of any education
funding increase enacted by the 2008 Leb slature.
Support a$1 million request of the Ramsey Counry Workforce Inveshnent Board for the Building
�i,ives program.
• Sup�ort the request of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universiries for capital facilities projects at
Saint �ul College ($li.5 million) and Metropolitan State University ($4.98 million).
144 • Support an� crease of $7 million for the Early Childhood L,earning and Child Protection Facilities
145 Grant progr
146
147 Public Health & Safety
148
149 • Advocate for a change
15o an underground ufility
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
law that would make it a crime for unauthorized individuals to be in
• Support the $10 million request � the Minnesota Department of Health to construct a drinking
water interconnection between the�int Paul and Minneapolis systems.
• Support the proposal by Steps to a Health�er Minnesota for $26 million to finance projects and
education programs targeted at reducing or gliminating obesity, heart disease, diabetes and lung
disease. �.
General Municipal Advocacy
• Support the 2008 legislative agendas of the League of MiYa�nesota Cities and MetroCities, except in
cases of conflict. ��
Yeas Nays Absent
Bostrom
Carter
Hams
Helgen
Lantry
Stark
Thune
Adopted by Council: Date
Adoption Certified by Council Secretary
By:
Approved by Mayor: Date
By:
Requested by Departrnent
B Y� `�-IGu`'�`
Approved by the Office of Financial
�
Approved by Ci Attorney �
By: �
for Submissiop to Council
�
��