In This Issue:
- Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) Openings
- Metro Cities 2020 Legislative Policies
- Metropolitan Council Chair Position Posted
- State Revenues Update
- Metropolitan Council Awards TOD Funds
- Minnesota Housing Announces 2019 Funding Selections
Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) Openings
Metro Cities is seeking candidates for the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) for two municipal seats that will become open in January. The TAB qualifies the region for federal transportation funds and is a participant in the 3C transportation processes that affect transportation planning and funding in the metro region.
Municipal appointees must be elected officials, and Metro Cities’ guidelines place a priority on making the TAB balanced for city size and geography. There are no term limits for TAB seats, but members are reappointed every two years and must meet attendance requirements to qualify for reappointment. The guidelines used by the Board in making appointments also give preference to those who agree to serve on the Metro Cities Transportation Policy Committee.
The deadline for application is Friday, December 6, 2019. Interested candidates should submit (1) a completed questionnaire, (2) a letter of interest and (3) resume to Kim Ciarrocchi at [email protected] or by mail to Metro Cities at 145 University Avenue W, St. Paul, MN 55103.
Metro Cities 2020 Legislative Policies
Metro Cities membership approved the 2020 Legislative Policies at the Policy Adoption Meeting on November 14th at the Metro Regional Meeting. The 2020 legislative policies will be sent to each member city and are also available on the Metro Cities website here. Thank you to the policy committee chairs (Jason Gadd, Patrick Trudgeon, Gary Hansen, and Bryan Hartman) and committee members for your hard work this year!
Metropolitan Council Chair Position Posted
The position of Metropolitan Council Chair has been posted, following the recent resignation of Chair Nora Slawik, effective November 15th. Metropolitan Council member Molly Cummings was appointed to serve as Interim Chair of the Metropolitan Council until a new Chair is appointed. The posting can be accessed through this link: https://mn.gov/governor/administration/careers/
Pahoua Hoffman, Executive Director of the Citizens League, has been asked to conduct the hiring process for the new Chair. Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215-4002 or [email protected].
State Revenues Update
Net general fund revenues for the state totaled $1.89 billion in October - 1% higher than forecast. Receipts from several tax categories were greater than forecast for the month, while corporate franchise taxes were lower than forecast for October. As with all monthly updates, the State Office of Management and Budget notes that revenues are preliminary and subject to change. The next complete state economic and budget forecast will be released in early December.
Metropolitan Council Awards TOD Funds
The Metropolitan Council awarded two Transit Oriented Development grants to projects in Minneapolis. The grants total $1.4 million. A third project, located in St. Paul, was tabled for further discussion at a future meeting. The awards come from the $4.5 million allocated for TOD projects in the 2019 Livable Communities Fund Distribution Plan. Additional information on the projects is located on the Council website.
Minnesota Housing Announces 2019 Funding Selections
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency announced its latest funding selections and awards on November 21. 74 awards totaling $254 million will create and preserve over 2,600 homes across Minnesota, according to the agency. Award funds come from three entities – the state (MHFA), the metro region (Metropolitan Council), and private (Greater Minnesota Housing Fund).
Metropolitan region awards were made to projects in the following cities: Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Edina, Forest Lake, Golden Valley, Inver Grove Heights, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, New Hope, Oakdale, Plymouth, Prior Lake, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Roseville, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Shakopee, Wayzata, White Bear Lake and Woodbury.
Awards were also made to projects in the following counties: Carver County, Ramsey County, Hennepin County, and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity which makes housing investments across the entire seven-county metro region.
The awards will finance construction, rehabilitation and preservation of 2,156 multifamily units and 509 single family homes. Detailed information on the awards, including projects and locations in the metro, can be found on the Minnesota Housing website.