Metro Cities News 7/15/22

 

In This Issue:

 

Policy Committees Start Next Week

Metro Cities’ policy development process begins next week, with meetings of four policy committees. Committee members received packets this week. If you have not yet registered, but would like to participate, please contact Jennifer Dorn at [email protected].


State Revenues Above February Forecast

The state general fund receipts for Fiscal Year 2022 are estimated at $30.3 billion, 10.7% higher than projected in the state’s February Budget and Economic Forecast, with all tax types exceeding forecasted amounts. State revenues for the final quarter of FY 2022 are 29.5% more than forecast. A copy of the recent update from the Office of MN Management and Budget can be found HERE.

 

2023 MCES Wastewater Rates and Charges Recommended for Approval

On Tuesday, Metropolitan Council staff presented the proposed 2023 wastewater rates and charges for the Environment Committee. The committee’s recommendation is part of the overall 2023 MCES budget adoption process. The proposed budget includes a wastewater charge increase of 5.5%, no increase for sewer availability charges (SAC), and an average increase of 5.5% for industrial permit fees. The Metropolitan Council held virtual customer forums on May 26 and June 7 to discuss the proposed budget with municipalities. The webinars saw attendance from 50 different communities. This action item will be before the full Metropolitan Council on July 27. The preliminary operating budget adoption is scheduled to take place on August 24. Click HERE to view the full presentation from Tuesday’s meeting.

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

 

Metropolitan Council Authorizes Nine LCA Tax Base Revitalization Awards to Four Cities

Four metropolitan cities will receive funds from the Metropolitan Council for environmental development and contamination cleanup projects. This week, the Council approved nine awards totaling $2.6 million as part of the Livable Communities Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA).

TBRA provides grants to clean up and redevelop contaminated land and buildings. The awards are split into two programs – Seeding Equitable Environmental Development projects and contamination cleanup projects. SEED grants are for sites in areas that have low levels of building permit activity, low-wage job concentrations, and concentrations of people of color and low-income households that do not necessarily have a specific redevelopment project but show potential for job or housing creation.

The cities of Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Saint Louis Park, and Saint Paul are recipients of this first round of funding. Another $2.5 million will be available in the second 2022 round. More information can be found here.


Webinar on Equity in Transportation and Land Use

Prevention Institute and Equitable Cities are jointly hosting a webinar on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 12:00 PM CT. This is a new resource for local leaders working to advance equitable municipal transportation, land use, and built environment policies. The presentation will cover policies and strategies that promote equitable and inclusive access to physical activity and safe places to walk, bike, and use transit for communities facing health inequities and disinvestment. This work is being done in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Activity-Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations strategy. Click HERE to register for the event.

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

 

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