HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.e. Request Dakota County Membership of MVTA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Regular Meeting: February 2, 2021
AGENDA ITEM: Request Dakota County Membership
of MVTA
AGENDA SECTION:
Consent
PREPARED BY: Logan Martin, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 6.e.
ATTACHMENTS: None APPROVED BY: LJM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to adopt a resolution requesting that Dakota
County remain a full member of the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA).
BACKGROUND
Staff is aware of a pending action by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners to withdraw from
the MN Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) at their February 2, 2021 meeting. MVTA plays a crucial
role in providing transit opportunities in the South Metro, and it would be beneficial if Dakota County
remained an equal partner on the Board. MVTA is an independent transit agency created under the
State’s opt-out legislation in the late 1980s, and it has served Dakota and Scott counties well since that
time. Partnership and collaboration amongst jurisdictions is crucial to MVTA’s success, so the
County’s appointment of a Board member is important.
The attached resolution respectively requests that Dakota County continue providing a representative
to the MVTA Board and acknowledges the important role that MVTA plays in our region’s transit.
Almost ½ of the County’s population resides in MVTA’s service area, so it is prudent for the County
to continue playing an important role on these issues.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of a resolution requesting that Dakota County remain a full member of
the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA).
CITY OF ROSEMOUNT
RESOLUTION NO. 2021- XX
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT DAKOTA COUNTY REMAIN A FULL
MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) currently provides, under the
terms of a joint powers agreement, quality transit services to the cities of Apple Valley,
Burnsville, Eagan, and Rosemount in Dakota County and Prior Lake, Savage and Shakopee
in Scott County, and
WHEREAS, for over 30 years, the MVTA has steadily gained ridership and has served our
area residents with a welcome transportation option, providing reliable bus service within the
communities served and also express commuter service to downtown Minneapolis and St.
Paul, and
WHEREAS, the population of Dakota County cities currently members of the MVTA
(Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Rosemount) represent nearly half of the total
population of the County, and
WHEREAS, citizens from many non-MVTA Dakota County cities (i.e., Lakeville and
Farmington) are also customers of the MVTA which further reinforces the importance of the
service provided by the MVTA in Dakota County, and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County 2040 Comprehensive Plan recognizes the importance of
regional cooperation in the development of transit service and infrastructure to improve the
responsiveness and efficiency of transit services, therefore it is vitally important that Dakota
County continue to remain a full member of the MVTA Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rosemount,
that we respectfully request that Dakota County remain a full member of the MVTA Board to
ensure a coordinated approach in the delivery of transit services to the majority of the
residents of Dakota County.
ADOPTED this 2nd day of February 2021.
____________________________
William H. Droste, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Erin Fasbender, City Clerk