In this Issue
Since I was
appointed to the Council in 2011 by Gov. Mark Dayton, I have also served as the
representative and chair of the Council’s Land Use Advisory Committee (LUAC). LUAC is one of multiple advisory
committees and task forces made up of members of the public and external
parties that advise the Council on policy issues important to the region. As
called for in state law, LUAC gives the Metropolitan Council advice and support
on regional land use and comprehensive planning issues.
The Land Use
Advisory Committee has at least 16 members and a chair. The committee includes
at least one member from each Metropolitan Council district. It represents each
of the seven counties in the region. Locally elected officials make up at least
half of members on the committee. LUAC is structured this way to ensure that
every part of our region has adequate representation on the committee and to
allow for a varied discourse between elected and community members.
LUAC creates
value for the Council and for the public, because of the work members do raising
important issues about how we manage urban, suburban and rural land across the
region. When we convene, community leaders, mayors, and city council members
have open dialogue about transportation investments, water resources,
development patterns, household formation and job creation.
Often, the
committee submits valuable advice to the Council that improves coordination
between the Council and local governments. For example, the Local
Planning Handbook –
which is proving to be a significant resource for cities and counties during
the current round of comprehensive planning at the local level – was shaped in
part by LUAC discussion and feedback. Council staff and policymakers use the
expertise and advice of LUAC to make better decisions.
We are
currently looking for candidates for two seats on LUAC. If you live or know
someone who lives in District 3 (southwest Hennepin County) or in District 4 (Carver
County), please encourage them to apply, or reach me at 651-645-4644 to discuss
the committee and its work. We are always looking for passionate individuals –
with or without land use experience – to help us advise the Council on this
body. Please visit our website to view the
application.
Thanks for your
consideration.
Sincerely,
Jon Commers
The Metropolitan
Council is considering potential changes to the process for determining SAC.
The recommendations are based on the work of a task force with representatives
from local governments, businesses and other customer groups.
The task force focused primarily on the
way SAC is determined, and the Council is exploring using gross square footage
for SAC determinations rather than net square footage for individual uses. This
change should not have an impact on the SAC rate and typically would result in
the same SAC unit determinations, but simplifies the process for our customers.
We want your feedback – if you are
interested in learning more, contact us with your questions or to schedule
a time to come and meet with you. Or visit www.metrocouncil.org/sacprogram
to learn more.
About SAC
The Metropolitan Council charges this fee directly to
local governments. We charge SAC when a residential, commercial,
industrial or institutional property first connects to the regional wastewater
(sewer) system. We may also charge SAC when a business grows or a property
changes use in a way that creates more demand on the wastewater system.
Wastewater pipes and treatment plants are expensive to build and rehabilitate.
We borrow money to size them large enough to serve both current and future
customers. The space required for future customers is called reserve capacity.
SAC pays the debt for that extra capacity.
Learn more
At our Sept. meeting, the Metropolitan Council voted to award $1 million to five metro
cities looking to improve water quality and encourage conservation. The awards
are part of a pilot project to support local efforts to address issues in their
communities related to water quality, quantity, and wastewater treatment.
Projects were reviewed for their
integrated problem-solving approaches, and their ability to achieve multiple
benefits and measurable outcomes. The Council received 30 requests for funding
totaling $7.2 million.
Projects awarded
funding
-
One Water Grant Program, South
St. Paul -- $300,000 toward
initiatives to improve water conservation efforts and reduce the city’s
water use, reduce the volume of stormwater runoff that is polluting water
resources, and reduce the amount of stormwater and groundwater that seeps
into the sanitary sewer system.
-
Evergreen Stormwater Reuse
System, Roseville -- $300,000 toward
building an underground stormwater storage facility in or next to one of
the city parks to relieve flooding in a downstream storm sewer. The
facility would reduce sediment and phosphorus in the stormwater, providing
an opportunity for a reuse system that would supply water for irrigation
and reduce demand on drinking water supply.
-
Becker Park
Infiltration Project, Crystal -- $200,000 toward an infiltration facility beneath a
recreation area in Becker Park. The facility would filter runoff from a
147-acre watershed and reduce the amount of phosphorus and suspended
solids being released into Upper Twin Lake.
-
Northwood Inflow/Infiltration
Study, New Hope -- $50,000 towards
a study to better understand some of the issues the city is experiencing
with stormwater and groundwater making its way into the sanitary sewer
system and needed improvements to public and private infrastructure.
-
Inflow and Infiltration Private
Property Compliance Program, West St. Paul-- $150,000 to help reduce the amount of stormwater and
groundwater from private properties that gets into the city’s sanitary
sewer system.
Read more about the Green Infrastructure Grant Pilot.
The Council is taking
steps to make sure more small businesses owned by women, people of
color, veterans and people with disabilities can participate in contracts the
Council puts out for bid. A change in Council purchasing practices will engage
more diverse businesses in economic opportunities and ensure access to jobs is
more inclusive and equitable.
The Council has changed its procurement
process so it can assign more of its contracts, in addition to construction
contracts, an inclusion goal. The goal describes how much of the work should be
available to Minnesota businesses that are owned by women, people of color,
veterans or people with disabilities.
The change means the Council can assign inclusion goals to contracts for
professional, technical, architecture, and engineering services. It's intended
to encourage more disadvantaged and underutilized businesses to bid on locally
funded contracts.
The Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB)
program previously assigned inclusion goals only to locally
funded construction projects, similar to goals the federal government requires
for federally funded construction projects to promote opportunities among
diverse businesses.
Learn more about the Council's inclusion programs and
goals.
Union
Flats Groundbreaking - On Oct. 25, I attended the
groundbreaking for the Union Flats development in Saint Paul. The event was
attended by local officials, project partners and community members. The project
will include 216 units of housing affordable at 60% area median income or
below, a public connection to Territorial Road from Charles Avenue, bicycle
amenities, two small pocket parks and an enhanced pedestrian environment. The
Council contributed funds for the project through its LCA program, which supported
site acquisition, soil remediation, and asbestos abatement activities.
Riverview
Corridor PAC Meeting - On Oct. 12, I attended the Riverview Corridor Policy Advisory Committee
(PAC) meeting as the Council representative. The PAC voted to recommend modern streetcar between downtown St. Paul and the Mall of America on West 7th Street crossing the river on Highway 5 as the draft locally preferred alternative (LPA). The public hearing for the
draft LPA will be Nov. 9, at Highland Park High School beginning at 5
p.m., with an open house until 6 p.m. A presentation will be made at 6 p.m. with
public comments beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in this project or the future of the Riverview Corridor, I encourage you to attend.
Rail~Volution
2017 - On
Sept. 16-19, I was one of the handful of Council Members representing the
Council and the Twin Cities region at the annual Rail~Volution conference in
Denver. Every year, transportation professionals gather for a week-long
conference to share best practices and cross-pollinate ideas. I greatly enjoy
attending on behalf of the Council, as it is a great opportunity to learn from
other regions but to also share the innovative projects and programs we are
implementing here in Minnesota. Visit Rail~Volution’s website to learn more about the
conference and some of the topics that were discussed at this year’s event. The
event is held in a different city each year and next year Pittsburgh will
have the honor. |