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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-04 City Council Work Session Meeting PacketAgenda City Council Work Session City of Edina, Minnesota Community Room, City Hall Tuesday, January 4, 2022 5:30 PM I.Call To Order II.Roll Call III.2022 State Legislative Delegation Meeting IV.Adjournment The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing ampli'cation, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Date: January 4, 2022 Agenda Item #: III. To:Mayor and City Council Item Type: Reports / Recommendation From:Risi Karim, City Management Fellow Item Activity: Subject:2022 State Legislative Delegation Meeting Discussion CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: None; discussion only. INTRODUCTION: Staff have invited Edina's state legislative delegation to attend the City Council's work session. Representatives from the Municipal Legislative Commission, Metro Cities and the League of MN Cities are also invited. Staff have prepared a draft summary and information regarding potential legislative topics for discussion purposes. ATTACHMENTS: Description Staff Report: 2022 Legislative Position 2022 Legislative Summary 1/4/2022 Mayor and City Council Scott H. Neal, City Manager Risi Karim, City Management Fellow DRAFT 2022 City Legislative Positions Information / Background The 2022 state legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 31. This staff report provides additional background regarding the City’s positions on state legislative issues that might be considered this legislative session. Association Legislative Priorities The City of Edina belongs to the Municipal Legislative Commission (MLC), Metro Cities (Association of Metropolitan Municipalities), and The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC). Each of these associations have a set of legislative priorities adopted annually. In most cases, the City of Edina’s interests align with these organizations. City of Edina Legislative Positions Following are general City positions on topics that could be addressed this legislative session. While not all items are of equal priority, the document provides general direction to staff as we respond to the changes in the legislative environment throughout the session. General Government Scott Neal, City Manager SNeal@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0401 Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager LSchaefer@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0416 Motor Vehicle Lease Sales Tax Allocation  In 2015, state legislation was passed to reallocate $32 million of the sales tax collected from leased vehicles from the State’s general fund, 50 percent to Greater Minnesota and 50 percent to metro counties through the County State Aid Highway fund. To balance funding for transit and roads/bridges, the new law excluded Hennepin and Ramsey counties from receiving their percentage of funding. Instead, the other five metro counties split the proceeds generated in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. With the elimination of the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) in 2017, REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 2 all seven metro counties now collect their own local transportation sale tax, but the exemption still blocks Hennepin and Ramsey counties.  The City of Edina advocates for returning to the original intent by eliminating the exemption of Hennepin and Ramsey counties and distributing the sales tax on lease vehicles, per the county state aid formula, to all metro counties. Distributing Hennepin and Ramsey county proceeds to the other five metro counties puts cities in Hennepin County at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing county funds for road and bridge projects. This change would provide an estimated $10.7 million in additional funding to Hennepin County to be used on roads and bridges. Utility Franchise Fees  Preserve current legal structure for utility franchise fees for local governments. Utility franchise fees allow costs to be shared by all users versus only property owners.  Edina uses utility franchise fees for the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) and Conservation and Sustainability (CAS) funds. Both funds are vital to the City’s progress in sustainability and pedestrian/cyclist safety. Public Notices in Newspapers  The Legislature should eliminate outdated and unnecessary city publication requirements that are no longer relevant or representative of the technology that has significantly increased access to government. These requirements are unnecessarily costly to the city. In 2019, Edina spent approximately $21,052 on public notices. Cities should have the authority to determine whether web publication should replace or supplement newspaper publication based on the unique needs of each community.  Cities should have the authority to a) Determine whether web publication should replace or supplement newspaper publication; b) Designate an appropriate publication that reaches the maximum number of residents possible; c) Use alternative means of communication to fulfill statutory requirements such as city newsletters, cable television, video streaming, email, blogs and city websites; d) Expand the use of summaries where information is technical or lengthy by removing the requirement for Council approval of summary publications. Data Practices  The purpose of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) is to provide open and transparent information to the public, while protecting personal information from indiscriminate disclosure.  Cities are experiencing increases in repetitive, overly broad, and far-reaching data requests that require significant staff time to locate government records, redact private data or data unrelated to the request, and assemble documents to be provided in order to comply with requirements to provide access to public government data.  The city supports mechanisms to define and regulate reasonable data requests, and charges that better reflect the actual costs to respond to large data requests that require extensive time to compile, redact private data, and create summary data. Purchasing Agency  The City Manager is the chief purchasing agent of statutory Plan B cities. State law requires purchases and contracts over $20,000 are recommended by the manager but require additional approval by the City Council. There are only 18 Statutory Plan B Cities in MN.  In Edina, this approval is obtained through Requests for Purchase on the Consent agenda.  The $20,000 statutory threshold has not been raised since 2004. This does not account for standard inflation over the past 15 years. REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 3  A majority of City purchases are well over $20,000. Allowing the City Manager a higher purchasing threshold can making purchasing more efficient, while still maintaining compliance and oversight of budget.  Neighboring charter cities with the Council-Manager form of Government, have significantly higher limits, including St. Louis Park ($175,000), Bloomington and Richfield that have city manager purchasing authority in excess of $20,000.  The City of Edina supports a raise in legal maximum to at least $100,000, with the ability for individual City Councils to set lower thresholds at their discretion. Repeal Statutory Salary Limitation on City Employees  Minnesota law limits the salaries of city employees to 110% of the Governor’s salary, with an annual inflationary adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index.  Locally elected City Council Members and Mayors are in the best position to determine the needs of their communities, including the compensation of city employees.  The artificial cap on salaries places Minnesota cities at a disadvantage when recruiting and retaining talented individuals. o No other state in the nation has a similar cap, which puts Minnesota cities at a disadvantage when recruiting nationally. o In 1998 and 2003, the Legislature exempted entities including school districts, hospitals, clinics, and health maintenance organizations owned by a government organization from the salary limitation. During the 2018 session, the Legislature expanded that exemption by allowing the Metropolitan Airports Commission to be exempt from the salary limitation. This puts cities at a very specific and unique disadvantage when competing with other political subdivisions for talent. The Legislature should end the salary cap altogether and be consistent with all political subdivisions.  The artificial cap results in salary compression making it difficult to attract leadership positions.  Public employee salaries are public data. In addition, Minnesota law already requires that each political subdivision post the salaries of its three highest-paid employees on its website, so the salaries of key employees are readily known to the local taxpayers and voters who provide the ultimate check on the actions of city councils. Rank Choice Voting System  Minnesota Law currently allows only charter cities to consider and adopt rank-choice voting as an alternative voting method in local elections. Edina, being a statutory city, is excluded from adopting such voting choice.  The City Council supports legislation that would give statutory cities the same authority as charter cities to adopt rank-choice voting.  The City of Edina also supports implementing statewide standards for those cities that choose to adopt rank-choice voting in order to ensure the elections are consistent throughout the state and that voters have confidence in the fairness of the alternative process, as well as confidence in the outcome of such elections. Perry Vetter, Parks & Rec Director PVetter@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0430 Park Dedication Fees for Multifamily Redevelopment Projects  Current state law does not allow statutory cities to capture park improvement district fees from certain types of multifamily buildings because they are not subdivisions. Multifamily buildings and apartments generate significant demands to parks and outdoor amenities. REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 4  Support legislation to provide authority for statutory cities to collect fees for park improvements if a property is redeveloped and creates new demands on the park system.  By changing the legislation around the park improvement funds, cities could more evenly distribute the costs for maintaining and creating new parks. Josh Furbish, Liquor Operations General Manager JFurbish@EdinaMN.gov 952-903-5732 Municipal Liquor  Edina has operated a municipal liquor since it was established by a local referendum in 1948. The liquor operation generates over $1 million annually in profit. These profits fund Edina’s recreation facilities, such as the ice arena, art center and aquatic center, as part of the City’s effort to reduce the cost of user fees and encourage greater access. The City’s recreation programs serve children and families from all over the metro area, and not just Edina.  Continue support of municipal liquor stores and recognize their ability to generate profit that is transferred back into local community programs and amenities.  Oppose proposals that diminish the ability of municipal liquor stores to provide fiscal and local control benefits to their community.  In May, Miami-based Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits filed a lawsuit against the State of Minnesota that seeks to bluntly eliminate a Minnesota law called the Coleman Act which also contains the open wholesaling system of spirits distribution unique to Minnesota. Open wholesaling of spirits requires that all spirit brands (with some exceptions) be available for sale to all licensed Minnesota-wholesalers. This encourages healthy competition among wholesalers that benefits both sellers and customers. If Southern Glazer's gets its way, we estimate that more than half of the spirit brands in Minnesota could become exclusive with Southern Glazer's. If that happens, we can expect • Wholesale spirits prices to go up • Service levels on certain brands to go down • Purchase and delivery schedule options will be reduced • Sale margins will be compressed The City supports an amendment of the Coleman Act that reinforces a system of open wholesaling for all spirits. Environment and Sustainability Grace Hancock, Sustainability Coordinator GHancock@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-1621 Jessica Vanderwerff Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator JWilson@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0445 Energy Management  Support legislation to adopt a more advanced state energy code and/or allow for local adoption of more efficient building standards.  Support legislation to modernize and expand Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Programs administered by energy utilities.  Support continued funding of the Mighty Ducks Grant Program through the State of Minnesota, acting through its agency, the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. This program is vital for ice REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 5 arenas across the state to become more environmentally and financially sustainable through the conversion of R-22 refrigeration systems to modern cooling operations.  Support legislation to increases distributed generation technologies, such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal production, wind, combined heat and power for both public and private entities.  Increase the State’s Renewable Energy Standard. Support Right to Repair legislation  Allocate 100% of state revenue generated by the solid waste management tax (SCORE) to County waste management activities to be used toward efforts to advance waste reduction, reuse, recycling and organics programs to meet city, county and state recycling goals.  Support efforts for the proper labeling of compostable products and do not allow products with misleading claims to be sold or distributed in the State.  Fund expanded infrastructure at the local level for the creation of compost processing sites and/or anaerobic digesters.  Support legislation that includes Extended Producer Responsibility initiatives requiring manufacturers to finance all costs associated with collection, reusing, recycling, or safe disposal of their products such as carpets, mattresses, and electronics.  Develop and fund zero-waste initiatives that manage all discarded materials to their highest and best use according to the waste management hierarchy set forth in the Waste Management Act to help local units of government reach recycling and composting goals. Sustainable Transportation  Support funding and technical assistance to electrify public and school buses. Local Environmental Public Health Programs  The City of Edina supports the authority and opportunity of all cities and counties to locally operate delegated food, pool and lodging establishment regulatory programs supported by a local fee structure.  The City supports legislation that provides continued support of locally delivered environmental public health services.  The City supports a unified retail food safety system in a single state agency, which supports delivery of food safety program activities by local jurisdictions.  The City supports research and funding to explore the reduction of on-site fossil fuel use for electricity and/or heat, to reduce community member exposure and public health effects. Water Quality  Support state funding for research and training for public and private applicators of chloride- containing de-icing chemicals, and legislation to address liability concerns of private deicing salt applicators.  Support state laws that provide limited liability to commercial salt applicators that are certified through an established voluntary salt applicator certification program. Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) Municipal Grant Program  Inflow and infiltration are terms for the ways that clean water (ground and storm) makes its way into sanitary sewer pipes and gets treated, unnecessarily, at regional wastewater plants.  The Metropolitan Council identifies cities contributing excessive inflow and infiltration (I/I) into the regional wastewater system and charges the city for the excess.  The City of Edina supports state financial assistance to cities for metro area I/I mitigation, such as the Municipal State Bond Grant Program. REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 6 Local Environmental Protection Measures  Adopt enabling legislation to allow cities to implement local environmental protection measures.  The City Council requests the State Legislature adopt enabling legislation allowing local governments to devise and implement environmental protection measures, including such measures as plastic bag and Styrofoam food packaging bans and maintain authority for fees of said products. Transportation Chad Millner, Engineering Director CMillner@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0318 Andrew Scipioni. Transportation Planner AScipioni@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0440 Municipal State Aid (MSA) Funding  The City of Edina has 40.85 miles of roads designated as MSA. The funding is a vital part of maintaining these high-quality connections. The City of Edina asks for continued support of municipal state aid funding. The state aid road system was developed to provide vital, high-quality connections necessary for the overall state highway network to work well. The roads that are on the state aid system typically carry heavier traffic volumes, connect major points of interest and provide an integrated and coordinated road system. Street Improvement Districts  Enable legislation that would allow cities to create street improvement districts as a long-term replacement plan of special assessment financing of street improvement projects.  Almost 85 percent of municipal streets are ineligible for municipal state aid (MSA) funds and must be paid for with property taxes, special assessments or other funding sources such as franchise fees. Maintenance costs increase as road systems age, and no city is spending enough on roadway capital improvements to maintain a 50-year lifecycle. For every $1 spent on maintenance, a road authority, and therefore taxpayers, save $7 in repairs.  Cities need greater resources and flexible policies in order to meet growing demands for street improvements and maintenance. Enabling legislation that would allow cities to create street improvement districts (like sidewalk improvement districts already allowed under Minn. Stat. § 435.44) would allow cities to use this tool as a long-term replacement plan of special assessment financing of local street improvement projects. Local Bridge Replacement Program (LBRP) Funding  The Local Bridge Replacement Program provides local agencies transportation funding for the reconstruction, rehabilitation or removal of bridges or structures. The City has 27 local bridges.  The program is financed by the passage of specific legislation allocating general obligation state bond funds. The program does not receive enough funding. In 2019, there were $36 million dollars in waitlisted unfunded bridge projects, including a request from the City of Edina on the Minnehaha Creek and Wooddale Avenue bridge.  The City of Edina supports funding dedicated to the Local Bridge Replacement Program to provide safe bridges. Public Safety Andrew Slama, Fire Chief REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 7 Aslama@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0332 Funding of Fire Resources, Training and Statewide Response Teams  The Edina Fire Department relies on State funding for training through the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE). Edina is one of the primary departments that makes up the MN Task Force 1 Statewide Response Team.  The department relies on the appropriation of the dedicated revenue funds from insurance surcharge proceeds to fund vital functions of the Minnesota Fire Service. This funding has been approved by the Minnesota Legislature in the past. The MN Fire Service requests approximately $13 million to be appropriated from the dedicated revenue account to fund the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE) and the Statewide Response Teams (HAZMAT, Task Force 1 Structural Collapse Team and Air Rescue Team).  The City of Edina supports broader discretion in the use of the Fire State Aid it receives. Railroad & Hazardous Substance Safety Training and Funding  Support railroad safety by requiring railroads to continue to provide training to responders and to share planning, response and rail line activity information with responders and emergency managers.  Edina has one active railway that carries two freight trains a day through the City. Residential Fire Sprinklers  Oppose efforts to statutorily limit the use of residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers protect occupants, firefighters, and property from fires. Recent Minnesota studies show the cost of installing residential fire sprinkler systems averages $1.15 per sprinklered square foot, or approximately 1 percent of new home construction.  Support the inclusion of professionals and industry experts in the creating or writing of any code parameters, particularly as it relates to the installation of fire suppression systems in residential building code. Retail Fireworks Sales  Oppose the expansion of legal firework sales in Minnesota. Fireworks cause injury and pose a serious fire risk to humans and animals. Oppose expansion of aerial and audible fireworks in Minnesota to protect residents from serious risk of injuries and property damage. Community Health & Safety Project  $10 million in state funds has been requested to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish and equip a new Community Health and Safety Center to be relocated in the southeast quadrant of the city of Edina.  The construction of a Community Health and Safety Center helps the City prepare for and respond to current and future public health crisis as well as other emergencies in and around Edina. The Community Health and Safety Center will replace the existing Edina Fire Station 2 and house the important community functions of public health, restaurant and swimming pool inspections, rental housing licensing and inspections services, and recycling and organics collection services.  The Center will also house staff that provide fire prevention and inspection services, fire suppression, emergency medical services including Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance care, and Emergency Management Co-locating the Community Health Division with the Fire Department will allow staff to create proactive programming to provide preventative services before a situation becomes an emergency. Additionally, the Community Health and Safety Center would be designed to incorporate spaces that would safely provide service to individuals, community groups, and large- scale events such as vaccination clinics, disaster medication distribution site, or other community health or safety events. REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 8 Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager LSchaefer@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0416 Funding for Public Safety Disability Retirements  Public Safety Duty Enacted in 1997, 299A.465 was enacted requiring Cities to pay the costs of health insurance benefits for firefighters and peace officers disabled in the line of duty, as well as their dependents, until they are 65 years old.  The law required the City to pay costs up-front and directed the Department of Public Safety to reimburse the full costs paid by the City on an annual basis. By 2002, the state funding was deficient, and the law was amended to no longer require the State to reimburse Cities.  Since this law was enacted, the number of disability retirements and costs of providing health insurance continues to increase significantly. At the same time, the percentage of claims reimbursed by the State has diminished each year. Last year, the City was reimbursed for only 20% of its costs.  The State should fully fund the post-employment health insurance costs for police/firefighters disabled in the line of duty as was promised when the law was enacted in 1997. In the alternative, the State should provide these benefits to firefighters and police officers directly and eliminate the City as pass-through. Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support for Police and Fire  Police/Fire are responsible for caring for the public in traumatic situations. As employers, it is critical that we recognize, help prevent and support those who are at risk or have PTSD.  In 2019, worker’s compensation legislative changes that presumes a diagnosis of PTSD is work- related for police officers and firefighters.  The City supports efforts that focus on treatment and support for employees to safely and effectively return to work whenever possible. The current duty disability processes under PERA and worker’s comp are not always compatible with that goal.  The City also supports programs and funding for emotional trauma training for public safety officers and advancing wellness and mental health support as a component of any law enforcement reform. Arbitration Reform  The current system of police arbitration under the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act (MPELRA) undermines the ability of appointed and elected officials, including police chiefs, to make lasting discipline or termination decisions to ensure a public safety department meets the needs of the community.  Individual arbitrators are allowed to override the discipline and termination decisions that, in the professional judgment of city managers and police chiefs, are necessary to ensure professional, safe, and effective policing. Ultimately arbitrators can, in his/her sole judgment, require a City to return an officer to the streets when the City has determined the officer is not meeting the standards required of the department and community, without any appeal process for the City.  The City supports using administrative law judges (ALJs) instead of arbitrators and instituting a standard of reasonableness that would focus on whether or not the facts presented show the employer’s actions were reasonable and consistent with City and Department policies. Affordable Housing Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager SHawkinson@EdinaMN.gov 952-833-9578 REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 9 Protect Low- and Moderate-Income Tenants  Tenant Protection in Affordable Housing Property Ownership Change o A preference would be a statewide tenant protection plan, but in lieu of that, support a city’s ability to enact tenant protections to support access to affordable housing and housing stability for tenants. Amend State statute 471.9996 to allow for a 90-day tenant protection period following the transfer of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) property ownership. o Currently state statute prohibits any local adoption of an ordinance to control rents on private residential properties unless the ordinance is approved in a general election. Investment buyers have been purchasing NOAH multi-family residential properties, rehabilitating properties and increasing rents. In some cases, new owners have non-renewed the leases of existing tenants with minimal notice and/or implemented substantial rent increases with minimal notice. A 90-day period that would prohibit rent increases and non- renewals would allow time for existing residents in these situations to seek alternative housing.  Eviction Expungement Reform o Records of unlawful detainer filings remain on a tenant’s public record regardless of whether the matter was settled or dismissed prior to the court hearing or if the tenant prevails at the hearing. In these cases, the eviction record is not a reasonable predictor of future tenant behavior and should be expunged since the existence of this record impedes the ability of the renter to secure suitable rental housing in the future. o The City supports legislation that would expand the eligibility for discretionary and mandatory expungements for eviction case court files. Support Regulatory Tools for Affordable Housing  4d Tax Classification Tax Rate Program o The 4d low-income property tax program is run by the state and provides a property tax benefit to qualifying low-income rental properties. The program provides an incentive for market-rate properties to designate a portion of their units as rent-restricted and provide tax relief to existing rent-restricted properties. o Although preservation of the program is the top priority, the City supports evaluating the 4d low-income property tax program to determine how program changes could affect renters, landlords and property taxpayers. Studies should include participation and input from metropolitan local government representatives.  Affordable Housing Tax Reduction o Bifurcate property taxes for the value of the land and the value of the building. o Land Trust Program  Edina has 16 land trusts residential properties, with property values in the city rapidly increasing. The high property values and corresponding taxes are impacting the ability for land trust homeowners to remain in their home.  The City supports reducing property taxes for owners of land trust housing by making the land held by the Land Trust Tax Exempt with the homeowner paying property taxes on the value of the house only. o Multifamily Development  For 100% affordable multifamily developments where the land is owned by a nonprofit or government entity and leased to the building owner, building owner will pay a property tax based on the value of the building with the value of the land tax exempt.  Affordable Housing Fee on Development o The City of Edina requires a contribution into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund on new multi-family residential development. A contribution for all new development, including REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 10 single-family homes or non-residential development, would help increase the trust fund for future housing projects and initiatives. o The City supports legislation that would allow for the collection of a portion of the permitting fee, particularly on tear-down rebuilds, to contribute to affordable housing on all new development. Create New Funding Sources for Affordable Housing  Affordable Housing Financing Bonding Authority o The legislature provides bonding authority to construct affordable housing. The demand for affordable housing continues to rise, meriting the need for additional financing. o The city supports an effective bonding bill that provides Housing Infrastructure (HIB) and General Obligation (GO) Bonds to fund affordable housing to serve low-income households.  Establish Revenue Resource for Affordable Housing o The need for affordable housing in the State has grown to crisis proportions, requiring a larger response than local jurisdictions can provide on their own. Increased State level funding is critical to enable local jurisdictions to enact programs to facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing, including subsidized and Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH). o The City supports establishment of a financing source to fund local and regional programs to facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing.  Affordable Housing Trust Funds o In the 2017 session, the legislature passed language that enables cities to set up and resource Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTFs). The City of Edina created an Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2019. o The City supports legislation that establishes a dedicated revenue source for AHTFs, including a state match for local and regional housing trust fund investments and policies in support of affordable housing.  Tax Credit Contribution Fund o The housing market depends on federal tax credits to build affordable housing. Federal funding is increasingly volatile. A state-run program would simplify and increase participation in supplying adequate housing for all. The Minnesota Tax Credit Contribution Fund incentivizes private investment and promotes community and economic development. o The program is capitalized by contributions from taxpayers that have state income or corporate/insurance premium tax liabilities. In exchange for contributions to affordable housing, participating taxpayers receive credit against their state income tax liability equal to their contribution to a specific development or the general loan pool. Participation in the program is simple, and the credit is flexible, easy to use statewide, leverages significant private equity, and boosts local businesses. o The city supports the establishment of a tax credit contribution tool to incentivize private investment and promote community and economic development.  Use of Pooled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Affordable Housing o Currently, state statute allows for the pooling of tax increment financing to be utilized for affordable housing within the defined redevelopment area of the city. However, the pooled TIF must be maintained in a separate fund with ongoing annual reporting requirements. o Allowing cities with established Affordable Housing Trust Funds to deposit the pooled TIF in those funds will allow for greater flexibility in the use of the pooled TIF for qualified costs to facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing while alleviating the administrative burden of annual reporting. o Support legislation that would allow the City to deposit pooled TIF for affordable housing in Edina’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 11 City of Edina Staff Contact Information General Questions  Scott Neal, City Manager SNeal@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0401  Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager LSchaefer@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0416 Affordable Housing  Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager SHawkinson@EdinaMN.gov 952-833-9578 Environment/Environmental Protection Measures/Clean Water  Grace Hancock, Sustainability Coordinator GHancock@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-1621  Jessica Vanderwerff Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator JWilson@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0445 Parks & Recreation  Perry Vetter, Parks & Rec Director PVetter@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0430 Municipal Liquor  Josh Furbish, Liquor Operations General Manager JFurbish@EdinaMN.gov 952-903-5732 Public Health  Jeff Brown, Community Health Administrator JBrown@EdinaMN.org 952-826-0466 Public Notices  Sharon Allison, City Clerk SAllison@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0408 Public Safety  Todd Milburn, Police Chief REPORT / RECOMMENDATION Page 12 TMilburn@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0487  Andrew Slama, Fire Chief Aslama@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0332 Transportation  Chad Millner, Engineering Director CMillner@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0318  Andrew Scipioni. Transportation Planner AScipioni@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0440 Utility Billing  Alicia McAndrews, Finance Director AMcAndrews@EdinaMN.gov 952-826-0414 DRAFT 2022 Summary of Legislative Priorities December 29, 2021 General Government Park Dedication Fees for Multifamily Redevelopment Projects  Support legislation to provide authority for statutory cities to collect fees for park improvements if a property is redeveloped and creates new demands on the park system. Community Health & Safety Project  $10 million in state funds has been requested by the City to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish and equip a new Community Health and Safety Center to be relocated in the southeast quadrant of the City of Edina. Support for this project during the upcoming legislative session is paramount for the advancement of this project. Municipal Liquor  In Edina, Municipal Liquor profits fund recreation enterprises that are utilized by people throughout the region. On an annual basis, Liquor profits contribute over $1 million annually to fund Braemar Arena, Edinborough Park, Braemar Golf Course and other facilities. The City opposes proposals that diminishes the ability of municipal liquor stores to control the sale of alcohol, providing funding for services that benefit the community, and reduce the burden on property taxes. Repeal Statutory Salary Limitation on City Employees  Minnesota is the only state in the nation to place a salary cap on City employees. Since the salary cap was originally enacted, the Legislature has exempted school districts, hospitals, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. This artificial cap on city salaries, combined with pay equity laws, results in salary compression and places Minnesota cities at a very specific and unique disadvantage when recruiting and retaining talented individuals. Affordable Housing Affordable Housing Fee on Development  The City supports legislation that would allow for the collection of a portion of the permitting fee, particularly on tear-down rebuilds, to contribute to affordable housing on all new development. Pooled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Affordable Housing  Support legislation that would allow the City to deposit pooled TIF for affordable housing in Edina’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Allowing cities with established Affordable Housing Trust Funds to deposit the pooled TIF in those funds will allow for greater flexibility in the use of the pooled TIF for qualified costs to facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, while alleviating the administrative burden of annual reporting. Establish Revenue Resource for Affordable Housing  The City supports establishment of a financing source to fund local and regional programs to facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The need for affordable housing in the State has grown to crisis proportions, requiring a larger response than local jurisdictions can provide on their own. Increased State level funding is critical to enable local jurisdictions to enact programs to facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing, including subsidized and Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH). Environment and Sustainability Energy Management  Support legislation to adopt a more advanced state energy code and/or allow for local adoption of more efficient building standards.  Support continued funding of the Mighty Ducks Grant Program through the State of Minnesota, acting through its agency, the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. This program is vital for ice arenas across the state to become more environmentally and financially sustainable through the conversion of R-22 refrigeration systems to modern cooling operations. Water Quality  Support state funding for research and training for public and private applicators of chloride-containing de-icing chemicals, and legislation to address liability concerns of private deicing salt applicators.  Support state laws that provide limited liability to commercial salt applicators that are certified through an established voluntary salt applicator certification program Public Safety Funding for Public Safety Duty Disability Retirements under 299A.465  The City supports a solution that requires the State to fully fund the post-employment health insurance costs for under this statute as was promised when the law was enacted in 1997. This statute requires the City to fully fund cost of continued health insurance for police officers/firefighters disabled in the line of duty, and apply for reimbursement from the state. State funding has remained stagnant for years, even though costs have increased exponentially and the State has expanded benefits required of cities. Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support for Police and Fire  The City supports efforts that focus on treatment and support for employees to safely and effectively return to work whenever possible. The current duty disability processes under PERA and worker’s comp conflict with each other and are not always compatible with the goal of treatment and return to work.  The City also supports programs and funding for emotional trauma training for public safety officers and advancing wellness and mental health support as a component of any law enforcement reform. Arbitration Reform  The current system of police arbitration under the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act (MPELRA) provides arbitrators sole authority and undermines the ability of cities to make employment decisions that ensure a public safety department meets the needs of the community. The City supports the League of Minnesota Cities’ positions related to arbitration reform and assuring City representation in discussion further changes to the Police Accountability Act.