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In this Issue
Friends,
The 2017 Legislative
session is over. It was challenging in several ways for the Met Council and for
the services we offer. But in the end, one can't help feeling like a severe
weather event just missed us. Here are some of the highlights:
- At
one point this session, the transportation funding proposal under
consideration would have led to a 40% cut to transit services. In the end,
Metro Transit will receive $70 million over two years in additional one-time
funding. This will address the transit budget deficit for the next two
years, but leaves significant funding challenges in the years that follow.
- Despite
many proposals that would have stymied the Southwest LRT project, none
passed, and now the project is in a strong position to continue to move
forward.
- The
final bonding bill provides funding for several long-sought investments in
regional transit projects, including renovations at the Mall of America
Transit Station, and the METRO Orange Line bus rapid transit project that will
run along I-35W, (with the new transit station at I-35W and Lake
Street).
- The
tax bill includes $126 million in transit bonding authority to be used
over three years to replace aging buses and to fund region-wide capital
maintenance projects.
- Nearly
$500,000 was included to continue Metro Transit’s innovative technician
training program partnership with Twin Cities RISE!, which will give
another group of job-seekers a unique chance to build their careers in our
organization.
- Our
Environmental Services division received $1.9 million for work on regional
projects that address water supply issues. It also received $3.7 million
to continue its inflow and infiltration mitigation grant program – this
critical program helps cities fund projects to combat storm water
intrusion into the regional wastewater system.
- Community
Development will work with regional park implementing agencies to
distribute parks funding provided by four bills. Since the Metropolitan
Council matches state dollars for land acquisition and bonding projects, some
of the state funding from this session will unlock additional regional
resources that will benefit our regional parks.
And finally, the annual Metropolitan Council governance reform
initiatives failed again. We will continue to deliver impressive outcomes for
the region, including great transit service, affordable and high quality
wastewater service, comprehensive land planning that supports affordable
infrastructure, and much, much more.
Also going on this past month, the Met
Council has been soliciting feedback on a proposal to increase fares on our
services. There are a couple more opportunities to provide feedback, either in
person at a public hearing or an open house, or via written or oral comments.
Details here, as well as below. Please let us know how transit affects your
life and what you think of the fare increase proposal.
As
always, if there is an issue where I can be helpful, please don't hesitate
to contact me.
Sincerely,
Cara
The Metropolitan Council is seeking public input on a proposal to raise transit fares in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Proposed fare increases would affect all regional transit services, including those operated by Metro Transit, Metro Mobility, the Metropolitan Council, (including Transit Link and suburban service), and suburban transit providers (Maple Grove Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Plymouth MetroLink, and SouthWest Transit). Transit fares, under state law and regional policy must be set on a regional basis and be consistent across providers.
Upcoming Public Hearings in/near District 8
June 13, Open House in Minneapolis, 1315 Lowry Avenue North, at 6 p.m.
June 14, Public Hearing in St. Paul, 390 Robert Street North, at 6 p.m.
Learn more about the proposal and to weigh in.
If you cannot attend either meeting, you may complete the survey here.
One spot is open on the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission (MPOSC), which helps the Council develop long-range plans for the metro area’s renowned system of regional parks, park reserves and trails. The commission is comprised of nine members – eight community members that serve geographic districts in the region, and a chair that serves at-large. Members serve four-year terms. See MPOSC Map (pdf).
Open seat:
- District D – includes
the central and eastern portions of Minneapolis. (Council Districts 7 and 8)
Individuals must live in the district they represent. To apply, visit the Secretary of State’s website – there is both an online and paper application available. The position will be open on June 15.
Cities
in the seven-county region are eligible to apply
Water problems related to
water quality, water quantity, and wastewater infrastructure issues facing
the region today are often addressed as separate individual concerns and are
not tied to other urban planning issues associated with land use, transit
development, water infrastructure, and parks and green space. The
Metropolitan Council is interested in working with local governments to
implement integrated solutions directed at solving our region’s water-related
problems in ways that provide multiple benefits, maximize the extent of
positive impacts, and are technically sound.
An
integrated approach to solving water-related problems will mean thinking
about all aspects of water when determining the best solutions for the
situation. This approach promotes the concept of a community examining
wastewater issues, stormwater issues, and water supply issues together to
determine the most efficient and cost effective way to address the issues.
Desired outcomes include:
- Protecting the quality and
quantity of the region’s water resources
- Prioritizing the need for
improved, aging infrastructure
- Protecting the economic
vitality of the region, cities, and neighborhoods
- Protecting natural ecosystems
and park systems
Examples
of water-related problem solutions include but are not limited to:
- Private property mitigation
of service lateral replacements and foundation drain and sump pump
disconnections that reduce inflow and infiltration to our wastewater
infrastructure
- Water supply projects such as
low-flow plumbing fixture installations and irrigation management
systems to help stretch water supplies
- Installing low impact
development projects that reduce the volume of stormwater and/or improve
water quality
- Utilizing green
infrastructure to manage flooding, help to recharge our aquifers, and
revitalize neighborhoods
- Water reuse or other projects
that diversify and stretch our water resources while fostering climate
resilience
- Deploying advanced
technologies and projects that support multiple water benefits (such as
fixing a wastewater issue while addressing a surface water issue) while
reinforcing and improving decision-making on all levels
The
Council has $1 million available for the pilot grant program. Grants
will be awarded on a competitive basis to metropolitan area cities. The
number of communities receiving a grant will depend on the projects proposed.
The Council may divide the funds among mulitple projects or select a single
project to receive the entire $1 million.
Grantees
must be able to provide a 100% match to the dollars requested for the
program. Grantees must also be able to enter an agreement with the
Metropolitan Council, using standard Council contract terms. Finally, the
grantees must be able to identify and quantify at a watershed level the water
impacts and outcomes expected from the project.
APPLICATIONS
MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JULY 17.
Projects
awarded funding must be completed by Dec. 31, 2019 (barring extenuating
circumstances).
The
Council will encourage all successful applicants to include Metropolitan
Council Underutilized Businesses in grant-funded activities. The Council will
require all grantees to report on the results of these efforts. For more
information about these businesses, visit the Council's
website, or contact the staff listed below.
If you
have any questions, please contact Judy Sventek or call
651-602-1156.
On Thursday, June 8, I attended the premier of a
documentary airing on Twin Cities Public Television was produced with the Minnesota
Housing Partnership and the financial support of the Metropolitan Council
(among other funding partners). The 60-minute documentary addresses how
affordable housing is under constant threat from changing economic forces and
urban development that break up vital communities. As a result, low-income
residents have fewer and fewer options, and local businesses and schools must
deal with the impact of losing those families. TPT has
announced upcoming air dates:
Learn more and to view a :30 preview.
 On May 19, I joined in the Bike to Work Day festivities, starting with a crew at the Birchwood Cafe and biking to the Hennepin County Government Center for donuts, giveaways, and hearing from local officials.
On Thursday, May 25, I joined a multi-department Met Council team and other partners at the 25th Annual Environmental Initiative awards to receive the Community Action Award for the Governmental Solar Garden Collaborative. The Governmental Solar Garden Collaborative is a joint effort by and for 31 local governments in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan region to procure solar garden subscriptions from a single Request for Proposals (RFP) process to offset the energy usage at public facilities. Twenty-four participants said that they were moving to sign subscription agreements for a cumulative 33 megawatts of solar capacity. In 2015, Minnesota generated 35 megawatts for community solar subscriptions total.
On Wednesday, May 31, Met Council Members Katie Rodriguez, Gail Dorfman, Wendy Wulff, and I attended the first public hearing for proposed fare increase which was held at the Minneapolis Central Library. On June 1, Council Member Rodriguez and I attended a special open house at the Adult Education Center located at Lake/Hiawatha in Minneapolis. This site had a high number of participants in the now-expired Transit Assistance Program pilot. (There is a proposal to make the program permanent) Aramaic, Oromo, Spanish, and Somali translators were on hand to help the over 50 attendees ask questions and better understand the proposed fare increases.
MNDOT is hosting a Rethinking I-94 community visioning workshops taking place in June. MNDOT is planning major work to improve of sections of I-94 and is seeking community input on how they can make innovative changes to improve cross town and neighborhood access along the corridor. These workshops will each focus on the I-94 corridor, as well as specific geographical areas along I-94. The geographical areas of interest will coincide with the location of the workshops, which are included below. The Met Council has been a key partner on this work.
The two sessions in Minneapolis are listed below:
June 19, 5-7 p.m. at Hope Community Center on 611 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis
AND
June 28, 2-4 p.m. AND 6-8 p.m.at Brian Coyle Center on 420 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis
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