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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.a. Council Goals for 2016-Legislative Priorities EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Special Meeting: February 9, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Council Goals and Legislative Priorities AGENDA SECTION: Joint Mtg. w/ Planning Commission PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator, AGENDA NO. 2.a. ATTACHMENTS: Council Goals item from 2/1 Meeting, Legislative Priorities item from 1/19 Meeting APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion Only EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Regular Meeting: February 1, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Council Goals for 2016 AGENDA SECTION: New Business PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 9.a. ATTACHMENTS: Draft goals for 2016-17 APPROVED BY: ddj RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Council Goals for 2016-2017. BACKGROUND The City Council met on January 8th and 9th to discuss goals for 2016-2017. Following review of goals for previous years, staff information, and discussion, specific goals for 2016-2017 were identified. Mayor Droste provided a summary draft of the new goals and staff incorporated the new goals into the format used in previous years. The proposed final draft is now ready for consideration and approval by the Council. DISCUSSION The first page of the 2016-2017 goals is updated slightly from the adopted goals of previous years. The goals broadly address continuing to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of City services, strategies to become a more sustainable community, and further efforts to attract and support businesses. Community sustainability includes social, economic and environmental priorities. The second page of more detailed and specific initiatives was completely re-written and also developed to complement the overall goals discussed above. As before, a number of the goals and work initiatives may have a time frame beyond one year, but will nevertheless be addressed in 2016. Of particular note, several park and recreation projects are incorporated into a proposed bond referendum. These items tentatively include an additional sheet of indoor ice, ball fields, soccer fields and completion of Central Park improvements. Upon adoption of the goals, they will be included on the City’s website and a future City newsletter. RECOMMENDATION If the Council has no further changes in the proposed goals for 2016-2017, it is recommended that the Council approve a motion adopting them. Each year the Rosemount City Council meets in sessions dedicated to discussion of long-term issues of significance to the community and to set a vision. The discussion results in the adoption of explicit goals that guide the work of City staff and the Council itself to prioritize work flow, budgeting decisions, and objectives. The City Council adopted its 2016 – 2017 goals in February 2016. INCREASE the number and variety of businesses in Downtown Rosemount and other commercial locations EXPAND business and employment opportunities in the Business Park and UMore Park INCREASE Rosemount’s marketing visibility to site selectors INCREASE Rosemount’s business-friendly practices through streamlined business development and permitting processes ENGAGE with regional transportation initiatives for major highways, transit ways, and high-speed rail and INCREASE public awareness of them BUILD public infrastructure improvements designed to encourage private investment and development IDENTIFY and IMPLEMENT best sustainability practices Use Resilient Community, Star Communities, and Green Steps implementation strategies Implement Comprehensive Plan strategies and create an Environmental Task Force. INCREASE well-designed and diverse public spaces ENCOURAGE community, cultural, and leisure events to add vibrancy to our quality of life INCREASE existing community transportation and transit connections INCREASE community lifecycle housing options addressing rental, senior, and affordability needs MAINTAIN an engaged, healthy, inviting, and safe community MAINTAIN stable revenue streams for core services and fiscal discipline INCREASE technology and workflow measurements for greater productivity and customer satisfaction EXPLORE shared services and partnerships A. Prepare for a bond referendum for an additional ice sheet, ball fields at UMore Park, green fields at Flint Hills complex, and completion of Central Park improvements. a. Engage athletic associations b. Determine how question or questions will be stated on the ballot c. Seek approvals from State and District 196 for preferred ice arena site d. Schedule vote for late spring or summer 2016 B. Open dog park for small dogs along walking corridors. C. If a new elementary school is approved in Rosemount, partner to expand gym space or add another gym at the facility. D. Implement plan for re-use of splash pad water. Apply for a grant to supplement funding. E. Install electronic entry sign on 145th Street near City Hall/Central Park entrance that can be used for events and government meetings. F. Install improved television monitors for public viewing in the Council chambers. G. Establish an Environment/Sustainability Task Force to address no more than three issues -- for example, storm water best practices, water conservation. H. Establish a Facilities Task Force to address the short and long term needs for City government buildings: City Hall, Police, and Public Works. I. Develop plan for turf field and possible dome at Flint Hills field complex. J. Engage the community in the Comprehensive Guide Plan update. K. *Continue UMore Park development partnership with University of Minnesota. L. *Expand stakeholder partnerships with churches, ISD 196, National Guard, RAAA, RAHA, RAAC, and other organizations. M. *Pursue a partnership for indoor recreation facilities. E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y City Council Regular Meeting: January 19, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Legislative Agenda AGENDA SECTION: PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 6.g. ATTACHMENTS: Proposed Legislative Agenda APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve the attached 2016 Legislative Agenda BACKGROUND Over the past several years, the City has adopted a Legislative Agenda in order to communicate the City’s positions on issues that we would like the Legislature to address. A draft legislative agenda was reviewed by the Council at the January 5th work session. A slightly updated version is attached for consideration. DISCUSSION The draft Legislative Agenda consists of some holdover items from the 2015 Legislative Agenda as well as some new items that have been recommended by either City Departments or Council members. As in the past, we endeavor to keep the list fairly short and also do not repeat all of the positions of the League of Minnesota Cities or the Metro Cities organization. The topics are not necessarily listed in order of importance. Upon adoption of the Legislative Agenda, it will be communicated to our area legislators and also posted on our City’s website. RECOMMENDATION The City Council should make any necessary changes in the proposed Legislative Agenda and approve a motion to adopt it. 2016 Legislative Priorities The City of Rosemount has identified the following legislative priorities for 2016. 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 and a State TED grant have been approved, the local share for Rosemount is still about $2.5 million which is equal to over two 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 and be written to address recent court rulings that citations interfere with interstate commerce. 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 on Bonaire Path 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 safety improvements for 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 or similar legislation. 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. Rosemount hopes to implement body cameras later this year. 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. 2 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 prostitution and other criminal activitiy. Minnesota is one of only five states that has no such requirement. Support Youth Intervention Program (YIP) 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.