In This Issue:
- Reminder: CRF Spending Reports Due November 10
- RSVP for November 19 Policy Adoption Meeting!
- Elections Shift Several Legislative Seats - Split Majorities Maintained
- Metropolitan Council Approves Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) Awards
- TAC Discusses Regional Solicitation Funding Scenarios
- Governor Walz Appoints Department of Revenue Commissioner
Reminder: CRF Spending Reports Due November 10
The next Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) spending reports, for spending by local governments through October 31st, are due next Tuesday, November 10th. The deadline for cities to spend their CRF allocation is November 15th. Any funds returned to counties must be returned by November 20th. The Office of MN Management and Budget (MMB) FAQ document can be found here:
https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/crao/faqs-for-local-governments-as-of-sept-25-411pm.pdf
Please contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215-4002 or [email protected] with any questions.
RSVP for November 19 Policy Adoption Meeting!
Metro Cities’ policy adoption meeting will be held remotely on Thursday, November 19th at 4:00 p.m. at which time 2021 legislative policies will be adopted by the membership. Draft policies are available for review here. Protocols for policy adoption were emailed to city managers and administrators and additional details will be provided in advance of the meeting. Cities are asked to select delegates for voting purposes and attendance is open to all member city officials and staff. Your presence is important and appreciated.
Metro Cities has invited Briana Bierschbach from the Star Tribune and Brian Bakst from Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) on the 19th to share their insights on the elections and upcoming legislative session. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 651-215-4000. We look forward to seeing you!
Elections Shift Several Legislative Seats – Split Majorities Maintained
This election cycle, in addition to the presidential and national elections, the 201 state legislative seats were up for election. After tabulating results, the state Senate will continue to be led by a Republican majority, 34-33, and the House will continue to be led by a DFL majority, 70-64. Pre-election, the Senate Republican majority was 35-32, and the House DFL majority was 75-59. Senate results can be found here and House results here. An estimated 3.2 million Minnesotans voted this election, representing 78% of eligible voters.
Senate
In the metropolitan area, the open seat in Senate District 44 (Minnetonka, Plymouth) vacated by Senator Paul Anderson, Ann Johnson Stewart-DFL, won the seat. In the Burnsville-Bloomington seat in Senate District 56, Senator Dan Hall lost to DFL candidate Lindsey Port. The Lakeville and Farmington seat in Senate District 58 was won by Zach Duckworth-R, who defeated incumbent Matt Little-DFL. The Minneapolis seat in Senate District 62 was won by Omar Fateh-DFL and the St. Paul seat in Senate District 64 was won by former State Representative Erin Murphy-DFL. The open seat in Senate District 42, held by Carolyn Laine, was filled by Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein-DFL. In the seat in Senate District 47, Chanhassen City Councilmember Julia Coleman-R, won.
Outside the metropolitan area, two Senate seats flipped. Senate District 27, which includes Austin incumbent Senator Dan Sparks-DFL, lost to Gene Dornink-R. In District 14, which includes St. Cloud, incumbent Jerry Relph-R, lost to DFL challenger Aric Putnam. An open seat in Duluth was won by DFL candidate Jen McEwen. Both incumbent Rochester senators – Senator Dave Senjem in Senate District 25, and Senator Carla Nelson in Senate District 26 – won re-elections.
Senator Susan Kent from Woodbury won re-election and elected to continue the position of Senate Minority Leader. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka was elected by his caucus to maintain his position as Senate Majority Leader.
House
In Shakopee, DFL Rep. Brad Tabke was defeated by Republican Erik Mortensen. In St. Louis County House District 6, Rep. Julie Sandstede-DFL, maintained her seat. Republican John Burkel won the open northwest Minnesota seat in House District 1A. DFL candidate Heather Keeler won the open seat in House District 41 which includes Moorhead.
Former GOP Rep. Matt Bliss defeated incumbent John Persell-DFL, in Bemidji’s House District 5A. House District 5B, which includes Grand Rapids, the district will be represented by Republican Spencer Igo. Republican Jordan Rasmussen won the open seat in House District 8A, which includes Fergus Falls. In House District 11B, Republican Nathan Nelson picked up the open seat. The Mankato region’s House District 19A and 19B will be filled by new representatives. Republican Susan Akland defeated Representative Jeff Brand in 19A and DFL candidate Luke Frederick won an open seat. Republican Brian Pfarr won the open seat in House District 20A, and Republican Bjorn Olson won the open seat in House District 32A.
In Rochester area’s HD25B, DFL candidate Liz Boldon won an open seat. Representative Jeanne Poppe lost her race in Austin’s HD27B to Republican Patricia Mueller. In Anoka County’s open HD38A, Republican candidate Donald Raleigh won and in the north metro’s 41B DFL candidate Sandra Feist won. DFL candidate Cedrick Rommel Frazier won an open seat in Crystal’s HD45A. In Eagan’s 51B district, DFL candidate Liz Reyer won the open seat. Former Rep. Keith Franke from St. Paul Park defeated incumbent Anne Claflin in District 54A. In Burnsville’s and Lakeville’s open seats, Democrat Jessica Hanson won in District 56A, defeating former Rep. Pam Myhra and Democrat Kaela Berg defeated former Rep. Roz Peterson in House District 56B.
DFL candidate Esther Agbaje won an open seat in Minneapolis’ HD59B and DFL candidate Emma Greenman won the open seat in HD63B. In Saint Paul’s open 66B, DFL candidate Athena Hollins won and DFL candidate John Thompson won the open seat in HD67A.
Speaker Melissa Hortman was re-elected as Speaker of the House and Leader Ryan Winkler was re-elected as Majority Leader.
Metropolitan Council Approves Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) Awards
The Metropolitan Council selected seven projects to receive funding from the Livable Communities Demonstration Account. The projects are located in five cities – Brooklyn Park, Hopkins, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Paul. The 2020 LCDA account had $8.5 million, which was fully awarded.
At the November 2 Community Development Committee meeting, the geographic distribution of the awards was discussed. Metro Cities is also interested in and tracking where Livable Communities applications come from and where funds are awarded. Metro Cities recently reconvened its Livable Communities work group to provide feedback to the Metropolitan Council as it reviews the LCA program, its statutory guidance, and 2021 Fund Distribution Plan. The FDP includes scoring criteria and program priorities.
This year’s LCDA program was oversubscribed. The Council received 15 applications from ten cities. One application was withdrawn due to project delays.
Metro Cities strongly supports the Livable Communities program and its full range of statutory objectives that include jobs, tax base revitalization, environmental cleanup and affordable housing. The program is funded through the region’s property tax base and is for regional purposes. Contact Charlie Vander Aarde at 651-215-4001 or [email protected] with any questions.
TAC Discusses Regional Solicitation Funding Scenarios
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) discussed possible funding scenarios for the Regional Solicitation this week. The Regional Solicitation is the process by which federal transportation funding for the regional are allocated. Members discussed seven scenarios and have recommended to TAB continue to consider four. The scenarios include two that would ensure that each county receive funding for a project, a scenario that provides funding for more low-cost projects, and a scenario focused on funding for modal midpoints.
The TAC was also presented with historical geographic balance of project selection. Members agreed that skipping higher scored projects to ensure projects are funded in all counties should not be pursued. Members also discussed the challenges projects could face if they were to only receive partial funding, and how that could impact the leveraging of funds from other sources. The TAB will discuss these funding scenarios, and possibly others, at their next meeting later this month.
To view the scenarios, which include historical regional distribution information, click here.
Governor Walz Appoints Department of Revenue Commissioner
Governor Walz has appointed Robert Doty as Commissioner for the Department of Revenue. Mr. Doty is currently an assistant commissioner with the Department and fills the position recently held by Cynthia Bauerly, who resigned in September. Mr. Doty previously served as the Executive Director of the Minnesota State Lottery and CFO of the Harvest Network of Schools, as well as the CFO of Minneapolis Public Schools. Mr. Doty will begin his new role on November 12th.