In This Issue:
- Metro Cities Policy Adoption Meeting: Mark Your Calendar!
- Regional Solicitation Survey
- Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience Planning Funding
- 2050 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) Workshops
- Metropolitan Council Discusses Equity and Environmental Justice Framework for Regional Development Guide
Metro Cities Policy Adoption Meeting: Mark Your Calendar!
Metro Cities’ legislative policies will receive final adoption at Metro Cities’ Policy Adoption Meeting on Thursday, November 16th at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be virtual and will feature a speaker from the Office of Cannabis Management to discuss the state’s regulatory structure for the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Legislative policies and protocols for the adoption of policies will be posted in advance of the meeting. Please mark your calendar! Questions? Email Jennifer Dorn at [email protected].
Regional Solicitation Survey
Metropolitan Council staff this week presented to the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) information on a forthcoming Regional Solicitation Survey. A survey was conducted during the last solicitation and staff hopes to improve the survey in several areas. Like last year, the survey will include a budget exercise where participants will be asked to allocate funds into the various application categories. Participants will also be asked to allocate funds within each of the major modal categories (roadways, transit and travel demand management, and bike/pedestrian facilities). Council staff also discussed efforts to survey demographic groups not well represented in the last survey. The survey is expected to be launched in late October or early November.
As a reminder, 2024 Regional Solicitation applications are open and due by December 15, 2023. Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience Planning Funding
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has opened applications for climate planning funds focused on three areas:
- How to increase resilience to stormwater and reduce localized flood risk.
- How to improve the resilience of wastewater systems.
- How to reduce human health effects and adapt community services, ordinances, and public spaces to the changing climate.
There is $750,000 available and cities are eligible to apply, along with tribal nations, counties, towns, soil and water conservation districts, water management organizations, and water districts.
Click HERE to view the MPCA’s webpage for information on this grant opportunity. Applications are due no later than 4:00 PM on December 14, 2023. The MPCA is holding an online information meeting on Tuesday, November 14 at 1:00 PM. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
2050 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) Workshops
The Metropolitan Council is developing the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) that sets the strategic vision for the region's transportation network with investment direction, comprehensive plan guidance, and technical assistance. Council staff have developed draft policies and actions for consideration and are inviting stakeholders to share their expertise as policies are refined for the 2050 TPP.
The Metropolitan Council is offering three dates and times to attend a workshop:
- November 1st, 9:30AM-11:30AM, in-person at the Metropolitan Council (390 Robert Street, Saint Paul).
- November 3rd, 10AM-11:30AM, virtual (MS Teams).
- November 6th, 1PM-3PM, in-person at the Metropolitan Council (390 Robert Street, Saint Paul).
The workshop is designed specifically for technical staff working in transportation who will be locally implementing regional policy and work, including cities, state agencies, counties, transportation management organizations, and non-profits. Please share this invitation with interested staff within your city. Click HERE to RSVP and for background information and agenda details.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
Metropolitan Council Discusses Equity and Environmental Justice Framework for Regional Development Guide
At this week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, members of the Metropolitan Council held small group discussions on draft equity and environmental justice definitions to be used in the 2050 Regional Development Guide. Council staff presented background information on the framework and process that led to the proposed definitions before moving into discussion questions.
The draft equity definition reads: “Equity at the Metropolitan Council means that historically excluded communities - especially Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color - have measurably improved outcomes through an intentional and consistent practice of adapting policies, systems, services and spending so that they contribute to the repair of both historic and ongoing injustice.”
The draft environmental justice definition reads: “The Metropolitan Council Environmental Justice (EJ) framework defines ‘Environmental Justice’ as the right for all residents to live in a clean, safe environment that contributes to a healthy quality of life.”
Council members were asked to share what about the definitions resonated with them, how they would use the draft definitions, and how they might help achieve regional goals. Click HERE to view a recording of Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Click HERE to view the presentation slides used by Council staff.