|
In this Issue
This past month, following recommendations from a task force of city and business representatives, the Council approved simplifications to the calculation of the
Sewer Availability Charge (SAC). The changes make the SAC determination process
for new or expanding businesses simpler and faster. The improved system will
benefit a wide variety of businesses throughout the region, such as a
restaurant that wants to expand outdoor seating to patios and sidewalks on a
seasonal basis.
SAC
is a one-time fee charged by the Council to a community when a property
connects to the regional wastewater system for the first time, or when the use
of the property changes in a way that increases potential demand on the
system. Why potential demand? Because the
wastewater system must be able to handle the flow on the busiest day of the
year. For example, think of the wastewater flow from a typical weekday at US Bank
Stadium. It’s low enough for a small pipe. But on the day of a football game,
the flow increases exponentially—so the pipes must be built large enough the
handle that flow.
The Council’s wastewater treatment services are
paid entirely by user fees – no taxes are used to support those
operations. More than three-quarters of the
revenue for the services comes from the municipal wastewater charge. This is a monthly
charge by the Council to communities based on the volume of flow discharged
into the regional wastewater collection and treatment system.
As a result of the changes made
this past month to the SAC program:
- Many SAC determinations will be easier, faster and simpler.
- Determinations on remodels will result in fewer “surprise”
charges.
- SAC credits will be simpler to obtain.
- The amount of outdoor space for patio and sidewalk seating
excluded from the calculation of the SAC for a restaurant will be doubled.
The
changes go into effect on July 1, 2018.
Video: Sewer Availability Charge
Steve
Chávez
District 15, Council Member
 Representatives
from the Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, Hennepin County, City of
Minneapolis and City of Brooklyn Center grabbed their shovels On March 20 to break ground on the region's second rapid bus line, the C Line. The C Line
is part of a planned regional network of a dozen rapid bus lines in heavily
traveled corridors that, when completed, is expected to connect 200,000 people
a day to almost half a million jobs across the region.
|
The Metropolitan
Council has received the Silver 2018 National Planning Achievement Award for a
Best Practice from the American Planning Association (APA). The
award recognizes the agency’s Planning Assistance for Thriving Communities
initiative, a multi-format compilation of planning guidance, resources, and educational
opportunities in one centralized, accessible location to assist local agencies
with their comprehensive planning efforts. The Council is one of
16 APA Achievement Award recipients this year.
Each year, APA recognizes outstanding
efforts in planning and planning leadership through its National Planning
Excellence and Achievement Awards. The two-tier awards are selected through a
juried process. Excellence Award recipients are the highest honor and
Achievement Awards recognize accomplishments in areas of specialization within
the planning profession.
Read more about the award and other honorees.
Every e-newsletter, I
will ask a Council trivia question and the first two people who email the
correct answer, I'll treat them to coffee at their time
and place of choice in the district.
Trivia question: Name one of the key differences between local regular-route bus service and Arterial BRT (like A Line or C Line)?
Email answers to steven.chávez@metc.state.mn.us. |
