In This Issue:
- Sign Up! 2026 Metro Cities Policy Committees
- Metro Cities Breakfast at LMC Annual Conference
- Preliminary 2027 Wastewater and SAC Rates
- Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs Application Released
Sign Up! 2026 Metro Cities Policy Committees
Metro Cities 2026 policy committee process will begin in July. Your participation is encouraged! Committees will recommend the association’s legislative policies for 2027. 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. This will help us keep rosters accurate. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Metro Cities Breakfast at LMC Annual Conference
Metro Cities will host a breakfast at the League of Minnesota Cities 2026 Annual Conference in Rochester on Thursday, June 25th. Breakfast will be held at the Mayo Civic Center in suite 110/111, from 7:45-8:45 am. This is a great opportunity to connect with other metro city officials. If you are at the conference, please join us! See 2026 LMC Annual Conference - League of Minnesota Cities for more information.
Preliminary 2027 Wastewater and SAC Rates
On Tuesday, Metropolitan Council Environment Services (MCES) staff presented the preliminary MCES Budget to the Metropolitan Council Environment Committee. The presentation covered proposed changes in the MCES budget and customer rates for 2027. The proposed budget includes a wastewater charge increase of 3.5%, no increase for sewer availability charges (SAC), a 7.2% increase for industrial waste strength charges, and an average increase of 3.5% for industrial permit fees. Municipal wastewater charges will account for 78% of MCES revenue in 2027.
Staff compared MCES rates to peer agencies across the country where MCES average household rates of $392 continue to be below the national $604 average. The 2027 rates are anticipated to be considered for adoption by the full Council on July 22. Click HERE to view the full presentation.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs Application Released
The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is accepting applications for its Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs. The Redevelopment Grant Program supports local communities with redevelopment projects that need to fill a financial gap for the reuse of land for site redevelopment, and there is a 50% local match requirement. The Demolition Loan Program supports local governments with the acquisition and removal of vacant blighted structures when there is no immediate plan for site redevelopment. There is approximately $2 million available for these programs. You can find more information about the programs and the applications HERE. All applications and required documents are due by August 3rd at 4:00 pm.
DEED will hold an in-person workshop to provide more information:
Tuesday June 23, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
CareerForce, 1201 89th Ave NE (Room 2014), Blaine, MN