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Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: APRIL 10, 2017
AGENDA #: 5F
PREPARED BY: FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER
PRESENTED BY: FRANK BOYLES
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION EMBRACING LOCAL CONTROL
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to request city council adoption of a resolution
embracing local decision making authority.
History
The League of Minnesota Cities(LMC) and the Metro Cities(MC) organizations
annually adopt legislative policies through policy committees composed of elected
and appointed city officials. These policies are then used as a basis for lobbying
the State legislature.
A longstanding policy in both bodies is support of local decision making control.
Over the years various legislative proposals have included initiatives which would
undermine local control. Both the LMC and MC have steadfastly lobbied on behalf
of cities to oppose such intrusions on local authority.
Current Circumstances
This legislative session is no different. Earlier in the legislative session a bill was
introduced which would have significantly undermined city ability to regulate small
cell antenna installation within cities. Fortunately, that initiative has now been
defeated—at least for this session.
For years, the legislature has proposed and in some years adopted levy limits
restricting the ability of local city councils to levy taxes as they believe appropriate
for their community. While taxpayers may agree on the intended result, the fact of
the matter is the state legislature is acting as if they know local community needs
better than the locally elected officials.
This year, bills have also been introduced which propose reverse referenda by
which a small portion of a community’s electorate could initiate a referendum vote
if they do not concur with the tax levy, lease purchase agreements or new or
existing franchise fees adopted by the city council.
ISSUES: The closest government to the people is local government. Generally local
government officials have a better sense of what is appropriate for their community
than any other levels of government. Therefore, it is appropriate to adopt a
resolution in support of local decision making authority. If adopted by the council,
the resolution will be shared with our legislative delegation, the LMC, MC and
others as appropriate.
Attached is a handout from the League of Minnesota Cities on this topic.
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
None by adopting the resolution.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second to approve a resolution supporting local decision making
authority as part of the consent agenda.
2. Remove this item from the consent agenda for additional discussion.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
Alternative #1
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 17-___
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, local elected decision-makers are in the best position to determine what
health, safety and welfare regulations best serve their constituents; and
WHEREAS, just like state legislative leaders, local elected officials are held accountable
through Minnesota’s robust elections process; and
WHEREAS,
ordinances at the local level are enacted only after a comprehensive, legal
and open process; and
WHEREAS, local units of government are required to publish notices about meetings
where policies will be discussed and decisions will be made; and
WHEREAS, under the state’s Open Meeting Law, public policy discussions and decisions
must occur in meetings that are accessible to members of the public; and
WHEREAS, cities are often laboratories for determining public policy approaches to the
challenges that face residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, preservation of local control in Minnesota has yielded statewide benefits such
as the 2007 Freedom to Breathe Act, an amendment to the Minnesota Clean
Indoor Air Act; and
WHEREAS, more than two dozen bills that restrict local decision-making have been
introduced in 2017 to date.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA that this City Council supports local decision-making authority and opposes
legislation that removes the ability for local elected officials to respond to the needs of their
businesses and constituents
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 10th DAY OF APRIL 2017.
VOTE Briggs McGuire Thompson Braid Burkart
Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
______________________________
Frank Boyles, City Manager