HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.d. Legislative Agenda
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Special Work Session: January 5, 2016
AGENDA ITEM: Legislative Agenda AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 2.d.
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Legislative Agenda APPROVED BY: ddj
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Consider the draft Legislative Agenda and make changes as
needed
BACKGROUND
Over the past couple of years, the City has resumed the practice of adopting a Legislative Agenda in order
to communicate the City’s positions on issues that we would like the Legislature to address. Staff has
drafted a proposed Legislative Agenda for 2016 which is attached for consideration.
DISCUSSION
The draft Legislative Agenda consists of some hold over items from the 2015 Legislative Agenda as well as
some new items that have been recommended by staff or council members. As in the recent past, we
endeavor to keep the list to about one page if possible. Also, as noted, we do not attempt to repeat all of
the positions of the League of Minnesota Cities or the Metro Cities organization, but rather note them by
reference. The items are not necessarily in order of importance at this time. After discussion and changes,
it is proposed that the Legislative Agenda be adopted formally at a regular council meeting. The adopted
Legislative Agenda will be shared with our area Legislative representatives and other legislators as needed.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is requested to review the draft document and direct any changes to the items or the order
before formal adoption at a subsequent regular meeting.
2016 Legislative Priorities
The City of Rosemount has identified the following legislative priorities for 2014. The City generally
supports the platforms of Metro Cities and the League of Minnesota Cities and these policies are not
generally re-stated here except where they have unusual relevance for Rosemount.
• Interchange funding for Highway 52/County Road 42. While federal funding has been
approved, the local share for Rosemount is still about $3.5 million which is equal to over three
years of our MSA allotment. This is limiting our ability to make other needed improvements in the
community of a more local nature.
• Trains blocking intersections for long periods of time. State law currently allows blocking for
ten minutes. See https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=219.383. We have had recent
complaints of blocked intersections for 30 minutes or more. New legislation should address
repeated offenses by a particular railroad.
• Funding for extension of railroad quiet zone. Rosemount has developed a quiet zone through
most of the community at a cost of over $1 million. As the community grows east, another
crossing currently outside our quiet zone is increasingly disrupting the lives of new residents.
Because this next crossing is on an unpaved road with no crossing arms or signals at all, the cost to
add this one crossing to our quiet zone may be $750,000- $1,000,000, or nearly as much as the
entire rest of the community. Our ability to fund this locally is greatly affected by the obligation
for the 42/52 interchange noted above.
• Approve early voting bill introduced last year. This bill would make elections much more
manageable for both the voters and the local election officials such as our City Clerk’s office.
• Approve legislation on data from body cameras (e.g. SF498). Police departments are in very
uncertain territory right now about when data from body cameras is public. This opens up local
governments using body cameras to needless litigation in the future unless the laws are clarified.
• Funding for expansion of Rosemount’s Family Resource Center. This facility has been a
huge success in Rosemount with 360 Communities staffing it to help families with after school
tutoring, a food shelf and other programs. But it is now too small for the demand placed upon it.
• Consider legislation on control of drones. Law enforcement and citizens are uncertain about
whether drones can hover over someone’s private property and also about the safety of allowing
them at certain types of public events. Clarification is needed as we begin to hear reports of
people shooting at them in other places.
• State Licensing of Massage Therapists. The City supports legislation requiring the statewide
licensure or registration of massage therapists to assist local law enforcement efforts to control
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prostitution and other criminal activitiy. Minnesota is one of only five states that has no such
requirement.
• Support Youth Intervention Program state grant for $1.75 million in the supplement budget
added to the YIP base. The additional funds would help an additional 10,500 at risk youth to
receive intervention services and provides a return on investment of $9.78 saved for every state
dollar spent. This program is supported by the Dakota County Sheriff and County Attorney.