In This Issue:
- Metropolitan Governance Task Force Update
- LOCAL SALES TAXES ADVISORY TASK FORCE UPDATE
- MnDOT IIJA Discretionary Match Program Accepting Applications
- Transitway Update
- Implementing Climate Programs in IIJA and IRA
- PRO Housing Grant Application Posted by Metropolitan Council
- Metropolitan Council Establishes and Appoints Members to Workgroups
Metropolitan Governance Task Force Update
The Metropolitan Governance Task Force, established by the 2023 Legislature to review and make recommendations on the governance of the Metropolitan Council, held their third meeting on Wednesday. The task force heard presentations on the recent Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on governance, and also heard from Metropolitan Council staff on aspects of the Council’s work and authority, including community development and environmental services. The task force also continued discussion on ideas for public engagement. Some members raised the question of jurisdiction for potential governance bills, given the scope of the Council’s scope of work that goes beyond transportation to include housing, water supply, parks and land use planning, as well as other services. Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected] with any questions.
LOCAL SALES TAXES ADVISORY TASK FORCE UPDATE
The Local Sales Taxes Advisory Task Force met on Wednesday of this week. The sole agenda item for the task force was to take public testimony. The task force heard from Senate Taxes Chair Ann Rest and House Taxes Chair Aisha Gomez, a professor from the University of North Carolina, representatives from cities and counties, and others. Testifiers discussed the history of local taxes, issues of tax progressivity and regressivity, and other issues and considerations for local tax policy.
Metro Cities provided written and verbal testimony that articulated support for allowing cities to diversify their revenues, the importance of a balanced revenue system, and support for the legislature’s continued work to establish workable criteria for cities seeking legislative authorization to impose a local tax. The committee did not discuss or take questions on provided testimony. Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected] with any questions.
MnDOT IIJA Discretionary Match Program Accepting Applications
MnDOT has established an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Discretionary Match Program to provide funding to federal IIJA grant recipients (including cities) to help them meet match requirements. $216.4 million is available to Minnesota entities that have been awarded a discretionary grant under IIJA for a transportation-related purpose. Click HERE to visit the program’s website, where you can find information on eligibility and other program requirements. Funds will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click HERE to access the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Match Program application. Contact [email protected] or Mike Lund at [email protected] (651-215-4003) with any questions.
Transitway Update
At Wednesday’s Metropolitan Council meeting on September 27th, Metro Transit staff provided an update on continued development of the METRO Network. The update included specifics on engagement efforts, as well as some projects of note. These include Gold Line BRT, Grean Line Extension LRT, Purple Line BRT, and the Blue Line Extension LRT project. Staff described how the transit agency is learning from previous engagement efforts to iterate and improve. Specifically, staff spoke about how Metro Transit is attempting to have earlier and more frequent engagement with stakeholders. The rest of the presentation included photos and maps for several active Metro Transit projects. Click HERE to view the full presentation used at Wednesday’s meeting.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
Implementing Climate Programs in IIJA and IRA
The Energy Foundation is hosting an in-depth discussion with local experts on the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the CHIPS Science Act. The discussion will focus on how Minnesota can best position itself to access funding made available via this federal legislation. The event is on Wednesday, October 4th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in person at Sabathani Community Center. Click HERE to view a full list of speakers and topics. The registration deadline is today, Friday September 29th at 5:00 PM. Click HERE to register. If you have questions about the event, please reach out to Nichole Ramalingam at [email protected].
PRO Housing Grant Application Posted by Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council has posted their draft application to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant program for public comment. This draft application will be open for public comment until the end of day Tuesday, October 10th and the Council’s Community Development Committee will host a public hearing on Monday, October 2nd on the application. This program is for grants of up to $10 million to support communities to take steps to remove barriers to affordable housing. To learn more, click HERE. Contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.
Metropolitan Council Establishes and Appoints Members to Workgroups
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Council established and appointed members to three work groups: the Climate Group, the Housing Work Group, and the 2050 Regional Development Guide Work Group. These groups are intended to be a forum for internal work for Council Members to then direct and guide staff on these topics and to advise the Council. The work groups come at a time as development of the 2050 Regional Development Guide (RDG) is underway. Adoption of the 2050 RDG is scheduled for late 2024. Contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.