Metro Cities News 3/1/24

Mar

In This Issue:

Metro Cities Annual Meeting – Mark Your Calendar!

Metro Cities will hold its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 24th at 5:00 pm at the Roseville Oval Skating Center Banquet Room. The meeting will feature a social hour starting at 5:00 pm, guest speaker, and the election of Board officers and members. More information to follow! Please RSVP to Jennifer Dorn at [email protected].

Metro Cities Board of Directors Openings

The Metro Cities Board of Directors will have openings for terms beginning July 1. The 19-member Board is comprised of elected and appointed officials and must be balanced by city size and population. The Board oversees Metro Cities’ operational budget, strategic goals, and legislative policies. The Board also appoints municipal officials to the regional Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). A nominating committee will meet in March to recommend officers and members for election at the annual meeting. Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and completed application. For more information contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected]. The deadline for applications is March 13, 2024.

February Budget and Economic Forecast Released

The Office of MN Management and Budget (MMB) released the February Budget and Economic Forecast HERE on Thursday morning. The forecast shows a revenue surplus of $3.7 billion projected for FY 24-25, up from $2.4 billion anticipated in the November forecast, and $2.2 billion for FY 26-27 (the November forecast showed a projected surplus of $82 million for FY 26-27). Debt capacity guidelines for a capital investment bill now support a $980 million bill, up from $830 million stipulated by the November forecast.

State officials noted that current spending is expected to outpace revenues which will result in the state’s budget being structurally imbalanced in FY 26-27, and the Governor and legislative leaders continued to express caution on new spending.

The Governor is expected to release a supplemental budget in the next few weeks, after which time budget targets will be considered and set.

School Resource Officer Legislation Update

HF 3489 (Frazier) was passed by the Ways and Means committee and referred to the General Register. The bill is scheduled for a floor hearing on Monday, March 4. This legislation comes after a change to law in 2023 that prohibited school resource officers (SROs) from using certain holds except when necessary to prevent bodily harm or death to the student being restrained or another individual in the school. The 2023 law change caused confusion and led to several agencies pulling their SROs out of schools.

HF 3489 does the following:

Defines the term “school resource officer and removes SROs from the category of an “agent of the school,” making it clear they are not employees of the district and that they are not present for school disciplinary purposes.
Clarifies that SROs ability to use force under existing state statute (Minn. Stat. § 609.06)
Specifies duties for SROs. Clarifies that SROs have the authority to perform other duties as peace officers including the ability to intervene in non-criminal, caretaker situations.
Requires SRO training for peace officers assigned to serve in that capacity.
Requires the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board) to develop an SRO training course.
Requires the POST Board to develop a model policy in consultation with several stakeholder groups.
Requires any law enforcement agency with a school resource officer program to adopt and implement policies based on the POST Board’s model policy.
Includes the authority for the POST Board to impose licensing sanctions and seek injunctive relief for failure to comply with the requirements in the bill.

Click HERE for a summary of HF 3489. SF 3534 (Westlin) is awaiting consideration in the Senate Finance committee. Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.

Bill Exempting Certain Group Homes from Local Licensing Receives Hearing

HF 3938 (Curran) was passed, as amended, by the House Human Services Policy Committee and referred to the State and Local Government Committee. The bill would exempt any state licensed residential programs defined in section 245A.02, subd. 14, paragraph (b), or assisted living facilities defined in section 144G.08, subd. 7, with a licensed capacity of six or fewer persons from rental licensing regulations imposed by local governments.

Proponents of the bill argued that rental licensing is duplicative of the Department of Human Services’ regulation and that cities are using rental licenses to create a de facto ban on group homes within their jurisdiction. Metro Cities submitted written testimony opposing this legislation, highlighting the important role that group homes play in cities and the need for cities to ensure livability and safety standards for residents.

The Senate companion, SF 3839 (Boldon) is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Human Services committee on Monday, March 4 at 3PM.

Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.

Traffic Camera Bill Heard in House

HF 2098 (Sencer-Mura) was passed, as amended, by the House Transportation committee on Thursday. The bill authorizes state agencies and local road authorities, including cities, to use traffic safety cameras in designated work zones or near schools. The bill establishes a pilot program for the implementation of speed safety cameras on trunk highway work zones and includes an appropriation for implementation and reporting costs.

If passed, HF 2098 would allow any city under 10,000 in population to have one active traffic camera system operating at any given time. Cities over 10,000 in population would be able to use one camera system for every 10,000 residents. The bill includes an authorization for cities to designate and train one or more “traffic enforcement agents” who would be responsible for issuing citations with these camera systems. Peace officers do not have to be officially designated as traffic enforcement agents to use this technology and issue citations.

Metro Cities submitted a letter of support for HF 2098 at Thursday’s hearing. Click HERE for a summary of HF 2098, as amended. Click HERE to view the bill that passed out of committee. HF 2098 was referred to the House Judiciary and Civil Law committee.

Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.

Source of Income Protection Bill Heard and Sent to House Floor

On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee heard HF 3640 authored by Representative Her (DFL- St. Paul) which would prohibit discrimination based on source of income, and prohibit the refusal to sell, rent, or lease to a person who participates in a public assistance program. A public assistance program is defined as federal, state, or local assistance, including but not limited to rental assistance, rent supplements, and housing choice vouchers. The bill passed the committee and was sent to the House Floor. Contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.

Bills of Note

HF 4222, Novotny/SF 4278, Limmer: Bill authorizes the expanded use of tracking devices for fleeing motor vehicles.

HF 4233, Coulter: Bill authorizes a public finance program for local candidates.

HF 4240, Kraft/SF 4295, McEwen: Bill establishes a local climate planning and action hub within the MPCA.

HF 4241, Kraft/SF 4203, Mitchell: Bill removes certain exceptions for municipalities from the State Building Code, requires certain ordinances to be adopted, requires enforcement of the State Building Code.

HF 4251, Her: Bill prohibits the MN Office of Cannabis from approving certain cannabis products that contain synthetic parts, obscure the fact that the product is cannabis, imparts a cooling, burning, numbing, or other sensation.

HF 4253, Myers: Bill establishes a first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program and appropriates funding.

HF 4268, Sencer-Mura/SF 4267, Dibble: Bill requires that the Metropolitan Council design, construct, and fully fund bus rapid transit infrastructure elements such as sidewalk ramps, pavement paint, and other ADA components.

HF 4271, Howard/SF 4254, Port: Bill authorizes housing and redevelopment authorities to create public corporations for the purpose of purchasing, owning, and operating properties converted under the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration program.

HF 4295, Koegel: Bill appropriates $1 million from the Trunk Highway Fund for the community roadside landscape partnership program.

HF 4303, Reyer: Bill creates a new green infrastructure grant program.

HF 4321, Schultz: Bill prohibits sanctuary cities.

HF 4324, Vang/SF 3785, Hoffman: Bill establishes Race Based Equity and Inclusivity in Procurement and Contracting Act.

HF 4325, West: Bill lowers the gross receipts tax rate on cannabis products to 8 percent, sunsets the local government cannabis aid account, and authorizes cities with retail stores to impose a local cannabis tax of up to 2 percent.

HF 4329, Sencer-Mura: Bill amends public road use provisions.

HF 4370, Gomez: Bill requires recipients of 2023 public safety aid to report on the use of that aid.

HF 4376, Hemmingsen-Jaeger/SF 4084, Mitchell: Bill requires cities larger than 50,000 in population to elect its council by wards and to use a citizen commission for redistricting.

HF 4398, Huot/SF 4113, Mitchell: Bill establishes a Local Government Oversight Task Force.

HF 4404, Youakim: Bill expands the eligible uses of increment from tax increment financing districts to include transfers to local housing trust funds, imposes requirements for uses of transferred increment.

HF 4425, Hemmingsen-Jaeger, Bill prohibits restrictions on home day care.

HF 4440, Agbaje: Bill requires landlords to provide just cause for terminating tenancy.

HF 4463, Tabke: Bill modifies the Minnesota housing tax credit.

HF 4464, Hassan: Bill creates a statewide landlord database, creates a civil penalty for a failure to register with the statewide landlord database.

HF 4465, Kozlowski: Bill amends the notice periods related to the abandoned property of a tenant.

HF 4466, Kozlowski: Bill clarifies the right to counsel in evictions.

SF 4175, Fateh: bill provides for an annexation election, makes changes to orderly annexation law, repeals 60/40 rule.

SF 4178, Fateh/HF 4274, Noor: Bill provides tenants with remedies if a rental unit is not available for occupancy by the move-in date and authorizes a tenant to seek recovery of prorated rent amount owed and attorney fees.

SF 4186, Gustafson: Bill requires recipients of public safety aid to report on the use of that aid.

SF 4202, Mitchell/HF 4242, Kraft: Bill modifies the energy code standards and adoption timeline for residential buildings.

SF 4205, Howe: Bill appropriates $48 million from the general fund for the Emergency Communication Networks Division to issue grants to local governments and others participating in the ARMER system.

SF 4245, Oumou Verbeten/HF 4156, Feist: Bill requires law enforcement officers to collect and report certain data when conducting a traffic, pedestrian, or bicycle stop.

SF 4247, Hauschild/HF 3848, Lislegard: Bill provides for an annual inflation and population adjustment to the appropriations for local government aid and county program aid.

SF 4255, Koran/HF 4331, Niska: Bill abolishes the Metropolitan Council.

SF 4260, Carlson/HF 4411, Greenman: Bill transfers $5 million in 2024 and 2025 from the general fund to the VOTER account.

SF 4262, Mitchell/HF 4182, Freiberg: Bill establishes the Equal Access to Broadband Act and modifies provisions governing broadband services and broadband infrastructure.

SF 4273, Limmer/HF 3950, Robbins: Bill authorizes city attorneys to file delinquency petitions for offenses committed by a juvenile when a county attorney declines to file a petition. The bill also authorizes city attorneys to prosecute felony offenses and certain gross misdemeanor offenses when a county attorney declines to prosecute.

SF 4275, Howe/HF 3945, Perryman: Bill authorizes local governments to conduct criminal background checks under certain circumstances.

SF 4285, Nelson/HF 4351, Petersburg: Bill bonds for $25 million for the small cities assistance account.

SF 4297, Mitchell/HF 4120, Koegel: Bill requires public comment periods if it is the public body’s practice to offer a public comment period.

SF 4298, Mitchell/HF 3439, Rehm: Bill amends the State Building Code to require electric vehicle charging infrastructure in all new residential buildings that provide on-site parking facilities.

SF 4316, Fateh/HF 4231, Sencer-Mura: Bill authorizes amortization for production, processing, and industrial uses as defined by ordinance.

SF 4322, Coleman/HF 3913, Petersburg: Bill appropriates $5 million in bond proceeds for the transportation economic development infrastructure program.

SF 4333, Bahr/HF 3381, Stephenson: Bill requires cities, towns, and school district general elections to be conducted on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an even-numbered year, but permits cities of the first class to hold elections in even or odd years.

SF 4336, Jasinski/HF 4380, Burkel: Bill prohibits MnDOT from requiring local cost participation on trunk highway projects for costs that are incurred within the trunk highway right-of-way and the those costs necessitated as a result of the project.

SF 4338, Kupec/HF 1391, Fischer: Bill funds a stormwater retention and infiltration study.

SF 4353, Howe/HF 4059, Engen: Bill prohibits being in a stolen vehicle.

SF 4425, Dibble: Bill appropriates $100 million from the general fund for the state to match discretionary programs from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

SF 4438, Jasinski/HF 4431, Petersburg: Bill appropriates $300 million in trunk highway bonds for the corridors of commerce program.

SF 4441, Dibble/HF 4432, Petersburg: Bill appropriates $15 million in trunk highway bonds for the transportation economic development program.

SF 4455, Pappas/HF 4461, Hollins: Bill requires a license to sell copper metal.

SF 4456, Mann/HF 4413, Koegel: Bill allows members of an advisory public body to participate remotely in up to half of their meetings in a given year.

SF 4461, Mann: Bill allows unlimited remote participation under the open meeting law.