In This Issue:
- RSVP for Metro Cities Policy Adoption Meeting November 16th!
- Local Sales Taxes Task Force Update
- Metropolitan Governance Task Force Update
- Register for the Next MN Shared Mobility Collaborative Convening
RSVP for Metro Cities Policy Adoption Meeting November 16th!
Metro Cities’ legislative policies will receive final adoption at the 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. Draft legislative policies can be viewed HERE. A quorum is required for the adoption of policies. Please plan to attend! RSVP to Jennifer Dorn at [email protected].
Local Sales Taxes Task Force Update
The Local Sales Taxes Advisory Task Force met this week, with the meeting facilitated by Wilder Research. Task Force Chair Marquart reminded members of the task force’s charge to address authority and evaluation criteria for local taxes, and that the focus should be on what is politically feasible.
Members discussed and evaluated potential key terms and definitions including access, autonomy, benefit, burden, flexibility, and regionality. Members will discuss the terms of equalization, equity, simplicity, and transparency, at their next meeting. Future task force work will also include constructing principles based on consensus on key terms, with a consideration on the perspectives of stakeholders and the lifecycle of local taxes. The next meeting of the task force is November 8th. Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected].
Metropolitan Governance Task Force Update
The Metropolitan Governance Task Force met this week, and discussed several items, including the governance structure in Portland, Oregon, that is an elected member structure. A presentation on the Portland governance model was provided by its President, who discussed the model’s governance structure and funding, how advice is sought from local governments on decisions, the particularities of land use and constraints, and other issues. The discussion included struggles with pay structures and working with various commissions on issues and decisions. Members of the task force asked a variety of questions regarding transit operations and planning, the election process, balancing constituent needs, and conflicts of interest. The task force also heard a presentation on TriMet, a separate agency in Portland that addresses transit, and has seven members appointed by the Governor and is funded through an employer payroll tax.
Members discussed upcoming public engagement meetings, with four meetings planned for December and January. Next week’s meeting will include a discussion of the Boston governance model. Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected].
Register for the Next MN Shared Mobility Collaborative Convening
This convening will focus on electric vehicle carshare and will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. Program development and evolution of Miocar, a nonprofit electric vehicle carsharing program that aims to make battery-powered cars accessible, will be discussed as well as findings and progress from HOURCAR's Multifamily Electric Vehicle Carshare Pilot Project, a program that placed hubs with electric chargers at multifamily complexes around the metropolitan area. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.