In This Issue:
- 2024 Legislature is Adjourned
- 2050 Regional Population Forecasts: Join Us for an Online Forum
- 2024 Metro Cities Policy Committees
- Metropolitan Council Committee Discusses Draft 2050 Policy Plans
- Metropolitan Council Grant Programs Webinar
- Minnesota Housing Single Family RFP is Open
- Cumulative Impacts Rulemaking Information Session
2024 Legislature is Adjourned
The 2024 Legislature adjourned on Monday of this week, with passage of a large omnibus bill that included a tax and other omnibus bills, in the final hours of the session. No capital investment bill was passed this year. Metro Cities will provide a comprehensive legislative update early next week that highlights legislative outcomes of interest to metropolitan cities.
2050 Regional Population Forecasts: Join Us for an Online Forum
Metro Cities will host an online forum for city officials and staff on Thursday, June 13th from 2:30-4:00 pm on the draft 2050 regional population forecasts.
Metropolitan Council staff will present the methodology used to develop regional and local forecasts. Forecasts describe when and where employment, population, and household growth, are expected, and are determined by examining location characteristics, real estate dynamics, and activity and travel patterns within the region. The draft forecasts will be finalized by the Metropolitan Council in early 2025.
Please join us! The webinar will include presentations by Metropolitan Council staff, and time for Q/A. Please RSVP to Jennifer Dorn at [email protected]. A meeting link and information will be provided in advance of the meeting.
2024 Metro Cities Policy Committees
Metro Cities policy committee process will begin in July, and four committees will recommend the association’s legislative policies for 2025. Participation is open to member city elected officials and staff. Committee descriptions and dates are on the website. Please be sure to sign up for the committee(s) you wish to attend. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Metropolitan Council Committee Discusses Draft 2050 Policy Plans
On Monday, the Metropolitan Council’s Community Development Committee (CDC) discussed a draft of the Council’s 2050 Housing Policy Plan, as well as a draft Land Use Policy Plan. The discussion included draft Livable Communities Program (LCA) goals, and the difficulty on including LCA goals in a 10-year plan. View the presentation HERE, and the draft Housing Policy Plan HERE. View the presentation on the Land use Policy Plan HERE, and the draft plan HERE. Council members discussed draft language that would require cities to allow more than one housing type in land use categories with residential uses. Council members suggested improvements to this language and suggested providing a minimum range.
The Imagine 2050 Regional Development Guide will be released for public comment on August 14th. Draft plans will return to the Community Development Committee again before the plans are released for public comment. The final Regional Development Guide will be adopted in early 2025. Metro Cities is participating in a regional advisory planning group that is discussing content for the regional development guide and will also host workshop discussions this summer on population forecasts, proposed density policy, and other issues. Stay tuned for additional information.
Please contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.
Metropolitan Council Grant Programs Webinar
The Metropolitan Council will host a webinar on the 2024 Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) programs on June 26th at 10 am. This webinar will provide a program overview, 2024 program changes, application scoring criteria, and other information on the programs. You can register for the webinar HERE.
The Metropolitan Council Policy and Pre-Development program round two applications will open on Monday, June 17th, and applications are due on July 22nd. The Policy Development program provides funding to cities to support updating zoning policies to allow for more density or to introduce an inclusionary zoning policy. The Pre-Development program provides funding for early-stage development activities including site planning, environmental sustainability needs, financial modeling, community engagement, and project impact analysis. Learn more about the Policy Development program and application HERE, and the Pre-Development program and application HERE.
Please contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.
Minnesota Housing Single Family RFP is Open
The 2024 Single Family Request for Proposal (RFP) through Minnesota Housing Finance Agency is open, and the deadline to apply for funding is July 11, 2024. This program provides funding to cities for activities related to single family, owner-occupied housing, including manufactured homes. This includes acquisition, rehabilitation, resale, new construction, and owner-occupied rehabilitation. You can find more information, and how to apply for this program HERE.
Please contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.
Cumulative Impacts Rulemaking Information Session
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is hosting a virtual meeting to provide an overview of the cumulative impacts rulemaking process. The agency will discuss how they understand the statute and will use input from stakeholders to implement the program. The meeting is on Tuesday, May 28 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM via Zoom. Click HERE for more information. The MPCA will continue to develop their approach through working sessions being held this summer. Stay tuned for further information. Click HERE to view a brief video produced by the MPCA on the new cumulative impacts law.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.