Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.b. Discuss 2019 Legislative Agenda EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Work Session: December 4, 2018 AGENDA ITEM: Discuss 2019 Legislative Agenda AGENDA SECTION: Discussion PREPARED BY: Logan Martin, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 2.b. ATTACHMENTS: Draft 2019 Legislative Agenda APPROVED BY: LJM RECOMMENDED ACTION: Review the City’s 2019 Legislative Agenda and consider changes or new initiatives. BACKGROUND In order to provide direction to the City’s representatives at the State Legislature, the City annually drafts a set of priority projects, funding requests, or legislative initiatives. This list outlines the City’s desires from a legislative standpoint, and they can be shared with other partners and interested parties. Mayor Droste and I had a preliminary meeting with Senator Clausen and Rep.-Elect Huot last week to get acquainted and discuss issues, and the attached list was shared with them as a draft document. The City typically adopts its legislative priorities in January prior to the beginning of the Legislative Session. After an initial discussion at the work session, staff will plan to update the attachment and present it to Council for final approval. RECOMMENDATION The City Council should review the draft list of Legislative Priorities and consider any additions or changes. 2019 Legislative Priorities The City of Rosemount has identified the following legislative priorities for 2019. 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 3 & Rosemount High School. The intersection of State Highway 3 and 142nd St W. is overly congested and needs to be addressed. ISD 196 is completing a significant project in 2018 to improve traffic flow in and around Rosemount High School; however the intersection at Highway 3 and its traffic issues are not being addressed. Hundreds of students and parents use this single access point to enter / exit the school, and the increased traffic on Highway 3 requires a traffic control solution be installed. The City supports a State / ISD 196 partnership to address this intersection in the near term. • National Guard Land Transfer for Municipal Facility Project. The City has been in conversation with the MN National Guard about a land transfer to support a municipal facility project. The National Guard maintenance facility on Biscayne Ave. has excess land, and the State has indicated a willingness to dispose of that property. The land would be ideal for a future municipal facility (Police & Public Works headquarters or a recreation center), which are both being considered. The City would be very supportive of this land transfer, as it would serve as a good example of inter-governmental partnership while saving the City considerable costs in acquiring land. • Completion of full highway interchange at Hwy 52 & 42. The recent improvements to sightlines at the entrance / exit ramps at Hwy 52 & 42 were necessary, however the installation of MnDOT’s planned full-cloverleaf interchange at this area is still needed. Not only will this project provide further safety and traffic improvements along this corridor, but it will also incite planned commercial development in the area. The City supports funding to complete MnDOT’s full build-out of this intersection. • Increased equity in Dakota County’s Transportation Cost Share Policy. The City supports Dakota County’s recent work in exploring changes to its Transportation Projects Cost-Share Policy. The current policy of a 55%/45% cost-share on County roads is overly burdensome and impacts the City’s ability to utilize MSA funds for other needed projects. County investment in its roadway infrastructure is crucial for transit and economic development initiatives, and responds adequately to the growth anticipated in the region. The City support additional investment and a reduced cost-share allocation on County roadway projects. • 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. Legislative clarification is needed as privacy rights and safety are balanced with the potential usefulness of drones. • 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 activity. Minnesota is one of only five states that has no such requirement. • Support Dakota County’s request for funding for the Mississippi River Regional Trail. The portion of the trail in Rosemount must contend with three active rails, industrial land, and high truck traffic in a constrained corridor. An agreed upon solution with the Union Pacific Railroad calls for two grade separated railroad crossings to keep trail users safe from railroad and truck traffic. State bonding support in the amount of $2.5 million is sought which will be matched by Dakota County to complete the project.