In This Issue:
- Preliminary 2050 Long Range Forecasts Available
- Adult-Use Cannabis Updates
- Governance Task Force Update
- Infrastructure Resilience Advisory Task Force Concludes
Preliminary 2050 Long Range Forecasts Available
Every ten years, the Metropolitan Council updates local forecasts of when, where, and how much population, household, and job growth the seven-county region and local jurisdictions can expect over the next 30 years. The regional forecast analyzes the seven-county region within the larger national economy, while local forecasts use modeling that considers location characteristics and amenities, activity patterns, and accessibility.
The Metropolitan Council has published the preliminary 2050 local forecasts. You can view the data and submit comments through February 2024 HERE. The Council has also published a regional forecast overview for 2023 HERE. For more detailed tables and information, click HERE.
The second version of the forecasts will be released this summer.
Adult-Use Cannabis Updates
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) hosted a webinar on Tuesday, January 30 where staff provided updates on the implementation of legislation passed in 2023, ongoing rulemaking work, community outreach efforts, and more. Speakers included OCM Interim Director Charlene Briner, Dept. of Human Services Rulemaking Attorney Vanessa Vogl, and OCM Outreach Director Merone Melekin. Click HERE for a recording of Tuesday’s webinar.
The OCM provided an overview of their plans for the beginning of 2024, including some proposed legislative changes for the 2024 session. One recommended law change concerns the licensing process. The OCM is planning to recommend that provisional or temporary licenses be obtained by applicants after which they will work with local governments to ensure compliance with local ordinances. If applicants receive local approval, they would then receive a fully endorsed OCM license. Other suggested changes relate to social equity licenses, and how applicants will be prioritized and regulated. More detail can be found in OCM’s 2024 report to the legislature. Click HERE to view the 2024 OCM Report.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
Governance Task Force Update
The Metropolitan Governance Task Force, created by the 2023 Legislature, met for the last time on Thursday. The meeting was spent reviewing the Draft Report prepared by Legislative Coordinating Commission staff. The draft report includes information on the task force’s creation and membership, recaps for all task force meetings, notes from public engagement listening sessions, and more. The report includes an agreed upon problem statement, guiding principles document, and six governance reform proposals advanced to the Legislature, without recommendation, by the task force. A minority report was filed and discussed at Thursday’s meeting. The minority report will be included in the final report to the legislature. Click HERE to view the draft report, the minority report, and all the appendices that will be included in the final report.
Infrastructure Resilience Advisory Task Force Concludes
The Infrastructure Resilience Advisory Task Force met for its final meeting on Monday, January 29. The task force was created by the 2023 Legislature and charged with evaluating issues related to coordination, sustainability, resiliency and federal funding on state, local, and private infrastructure in Minnesota. Monday’s meeting was spent reviewing the Draft Report, which includes overviews from task force meetings and recommendations. Draft legislation was included in the draft report, but ultimately the task force opted to advance the draft report without bill language. Chair Koegel still plans to introduce the legislation during the 2024 session. The key recommendation coming out of the task force is to create a Minnesota Infrastructure Board to oversee the state’s vision for infrastructure and asset management. The primary responsibility assigned to this board will be to expedite infrastructure coordination across jurisdictions, agencies, state, and local government, and public and private sectors. Click HERE to view all meeting materials for the Infrastructure Resilience Advisory Task Force.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.