HomeMy WebLinkAbout01(B) - Review of SCALE Legislative Priorities Report
ITEM: 1B
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 12, 2025
PREPARED BY: Jason Wedel, City Manager
PRESENTED BY: Jason Wedel
AGENDA ITEM: Review of SCALE 2026 Legislative Priorities
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Provide feedback on the 2026 SCALE legislative priorities
BACKGROUND:
The SCALE Legislative Committee is soliciting input from each of the members entities to assist
in the preparation of the 2026 legislative priorities. They are requesting each organization review
and respond (with one submission per organization) to the questions below.
1. Is your organization comfortable with the following general categories?
a. Top priorities in policy;
b. Top priorities in bonding; and
c. Support for other policy positions.
2. Is your organization comfortable with the specific priorities outlined in the 2025
Legislative Priorities?
3. Are there any specific priorities your organization would like to add?
4. Is there something on the current list that should not be a priority? If so, why?
Attached is a copy of the 2025 SCALE legislative priorities for reference.
Responses on the legislative priorities are due by Friday August 29th. The Legislative Committee
will compile the responses and review them with the SCALE Executive Committee on Friday,
September 19th. The proposed priorities will be reviewed at the General Membership meeting on
Friday, October 10th, and then presented to the legislative delegation on Friday, November 14th.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. SCALE-2025-Legislative-Priorities
City of Prior Lake | 4646 Dakota Street SE | Prior Lake MN 55372
CORE VALUES
» Relationships
» Innovation
» Influence
» Partnerships
» Education
» Leadership
» Facilitation
The Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE) was formed in the spring
of 2003 to encourage greater efficiencies and leadership in public service through enhanced
communication, service collaboration, and resource sharing.
•Members include officials from the cities, school districts, and townships within Scott
County, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Scott County. (See
membership list on back page.)
•SCALE members meet monthly to discuss ways in which local governments can continue to
maximize the value of taxpayers’ money through cooperating in mutual service areas, such
as public safety, parks and recreation, transportation, community development, and
general government.
•SCALE recognizes that the 2025 Legislative Session is focused primarily on the State budget,
but may include some policy bills and a supplemental bonding bill.
•SCALE established these priorities based on this understanding, and appreciate our
legislative delegation's consideration in advancing these priorities.
For more information:
SCALE
Perry Mulcrone
Phone: (952) 457-6692
E-mail: pmulcrone@co.scott.mn.us
www.scaleinfo.org
CITIES
Belle Plaine
Credit River
Elko New Market
Jordan
New Prague
Prior Lake
Savage
Shakopee
TOWNSHIPS
Belle Plaine
Blakeley
Cedar Lake
Helena
Jackson
Louisville
New Market
St. Lawrence
Sand Creek
Spring Lake
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Belle Plaine Public ISD #716
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage ISD #191
Jordan Public School District #717
New Prague Area ISD #721
Prior Lake-Savage ISD #719
Shakopee Public ISD #720
Shakopee Area Catholic Schools
Southwest Metro Intermediate District
COUNTY ENTITIES
Scott County
Scott County Community Development Agency
Scott County Township Association
REGIONAL ENTITIES
Metro Cities (AMM)
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA)
Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
Scott Soil and Water Conservation District
Three Rivers Park District
TRIBAL COMMUNITY
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribal Nation
2025 Legislative Priorities
Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency
GOVERNMENT WITHOUT BORDERS
Working. Smarter. Together.
(952) 873-5553
(952) 440-5515
(952) 461-2777
(952) 492-2535
(952) 758-4401
(952) 447-9800
(952) 882-2660
(952) 233-9300
(651) 307-0101
(612) 860-0836
(612) 308-0871
(952) 758-4505
(952) 445-6495
(952) 445-8715
(952) 461-1920
(952) 492-3284
(952) 423-8177
(952) 492-7030
(952) 873-2400
(952) 707-2000
(952) 492-6200
(952) 758-1700
(952) 226-0000
(952) 496-5000
(952) 445-3387
(952) 567-7300
(952) 496-8100
(952) 402-9022
(612) 490-6363
(651) 215-4000
(952) 882-7500
(952) 440-0067
(952) 492-5425
(763) 559-9000
(952) 496-6109
TOP PRIORITIES IN POLICY
The incremental costs of growth to be paid for by development:
Scott County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Minnesota. Growth is
accompanied by incremental costs to infrastructure (water, sewer, parks, storm water, and roads).
To facilitate continued orderly residential growth, it is essential that development fees are
collected to ensure infrastructure meets the demand for housing starts without shifting costs to
existing residents.
»SCALE supports infrastructure accountability: SCALE is seeking legislation to provide
cities and townships statutory authority to collect street infrastructure fees to offset the
cost for safety and capacity improvements to collector road networks necessitated by
new development.
TED CAPITAL BONDING PROJECTS
Improvements to Quentin Avenue and Bridges in Savage:
The State recently awarded the Highway 13 through Savage and Burnsville project for a Corridors of Commerce grant. The project includes
impro ts to the intersection of Highway 13 and Quentin Avenue in Savage. Traffic models show that the current design of Quentin Avenue
and its unique bridge issue will not support the increase in traffic. Quentin Avenue connects State Highway 13 and County Road 16. It is crossed
by a City owned railroad bridge that restricts Quentin Avenue to a single lane stop sign pass-through with a height clearance of 10’6”. The short
clearance of the old bridge prohibits fire trucks from using Quentin Avenue. Complicating the issue is a second nearby bridge on the same rail
line that will need to be improved if the bridge over Quentin Avenue is replaced. The City bought these bridges in 2008 to facilitate the future
impro ts of Quentin Avenue when the need became apparent. The planned improvements to Highway 13 has created the need to replace
the bridge(s) and improve Quentin Avenue. The City is requesting $7.4M for the needed improvements on Quentin Avenue.
Interstate 35W and County Road 2 interchange development:
arket is requesting $5M for design and environmental documentation for this project.
TOP PRIORITIES FOR CAPITAL BONDING REQUESTS
The following three projects are ready to build and move forward if the State allocates bonds:
Merriam Junction Trail Extension:
Scott County requests $7.3M in State funds to design and construct 4.3 miles of multi-use trail,
including elevated boardwalks over wetland and lake areas, to close the existing gap in the regional
trail system in northern Scott County. This project will link the Merriam Junction Regional Trail
(connecting Scott and Carver Counties) to the Big Woods Regional Trail in Scott County and connect
the communities of Shakopee, Prior Lake, and Louisville Township.
Innovation Center:
The Shakopee Innovation Center project creates a post-secondary institution that is next-generation,
highly creative, uniquely flexible, and sustainable with a focus on driving education, entrepreneurship,
and collaboration across the Twin Cities metro area. Driven by partnership among the City of
Shakopee, Scott County, and Minnesota State University-Mankato, the facility is expected to serve a
diverse group of local participants with a variety of needs, skills, ideas, and backgrounds.
Prior Lake Outlet Pipe Lining:
The Prior Lake Outlet Pipe (PLOP) was constructed in 1983 as part of the greater Prior Lake Outlet
Channel (PLOC) to address high lake level issues on Prior Lake, which did not have a natural outlet. The
PLOP is at risk of failure, and this funding request would provide the funds necessary to repair the pipe
through a Cured-In-Place-Pipe liner, extending the life span by another 50 years. The PLOC Project
Cooperators (Cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and
the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District) are requesting $2M to cover the pipe lining costs.
Prior Lake Outlet Pipe Lining
Innovation Center
Merriam Junction Trail Extension
Housing project in Scott County
»In conjunction with growth and development, SCALE supports the swift implementation of the 2023 legislative housing investments
and a sustained increase to state funding for dwelling options across the housing lifecycle. The prevailing objectives of any housing
initiatives should prioritize local control with coordinated efforts to increase production of residential units, the preservation of
existing homes, and housing stability programs for individuals and families experiencing the need for transitional and emergency
accommodations.
» Additionally, SCALE specifically supports Increased flexibility in the utilization of Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) and Statewide
Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA) funds.
Merriam Junction Regional Trail (Louisville Segment)
Louisville Segment
Eliminate the need for public notices to be published in newspapers and all public notices to be published online on the official website of counities and cities siNilar to that allowed school districts.x48$% 'VOEJOH S:&' StDte $iG is Eeing Fut E\ in m to m ZKiFK GeFUeDses DEilit\ to SUoviGe seUviFes
Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District State Aid Funding
SCALE opposes the decrease in SWCD State Aid which is being cut by 20% in 2025. This overall decrease of $15M to $12M will result in a
decrease in our ability to provide services to Scott County residents.
Road bridges:
SCALE supports the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT's) ownership and major maintenance of bridges within its highway
right of way. Scott County, townships, and cities are not the appropriate entities to own and maintain those bridges. MnDOT is much
better equipped with staff and resources to own and maintain the bridges located within their right of way. Townships and cities do not
have the financial resources nor staff to take on ownership and maintenance of these important infrastructure assets. Proper maintenance
of bridges is a safety concern and MnDOT is the appropriate entity to own and maintain those bridges.
SCALE SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING POLICY POSITIONS
Local School District Control and Funding
SCALE supports providing funding to local districts as well as the flexibility to spend those funds to address local needs without statewide
mandates.
Paid Family Medical and Earned Sick and Safe Time
SCALE supports adjusting legislation of employer and employee premium payments and adequate State funding for the MN Paid Leave and
the Earned Safe and Sick Time (ESST) mandates for employers with leave programs that exceed the 48/80 hours requirements of ESST.
School Teachers' Retirement Account (TRA) Funding
SCALE supports legislation allowing school districts the ability to pay both the district portion and the employee portion of School Teachers'
Retirement Account (TRA) during a board approved 5 year leave of absence.
Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism
SCALE supports attendance-review and implementation of the recommendations of the
legislative work study group to address chronic absenteeism crisis.
Critical Infrastructure
SCALE supports funding for aging road and bridge infrastructure and rural business development.
Broadband
SCALE supports the expansion and Improvement of internet broadband.
Franchise Fees
SCALE supports legislation to allow Cities to Collect franchise fees on Internet & Data Services.
Reform Official Public Notices:
SCALE supports legislation that would allow greater flexibility in the manner that public notices may be published, including the use of
official city websites as an alternative to a locally subscribed newspaper. Additionally, SCALE supports making permanent the current
legislative allowance for the publishing of school district public notices.
Housing:
Louisville Segment
TOP PRIORITIES IN POLICY
The incremental costs of growth to be paid for by development:
Scott County is the second-fastest growing county in the state of Minnesota. Growth is accompanied
by incremental cost(s) to infrastructure (water, sewer, parks, storm water, and roads). To facilitate
continued orderly residential growth, it is essential that development fees are collected to ensure
infrastructure meets the demand for housing starts without shifting costs to existing residents.
»Infrastructure accountability: Statutory authority for recognized impact fees: SCALE is
seeking legislation to provide cities and townships statutory authority to collect street
infrastructure fees to offset the cost for safety and capacity improvements to collector road
networks necessitated by new development.
Housing:
SCALE specifically supports the statewide as well as the local affordable housing aid and local homeless prevention aid that allows for the
greatest flexibility to allocate housing resources based on local community needs and priorities.
SCALE SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING POLICY POSITIONS
School Resource Officers:
SCALE supports the removal of any and all references of “school resource officer” and “police officer” being agents of the school district and
thereby subject to the restrictions described within the recent bill. Use of force by school resource officers and police officers is already
addressed under the existing State Statute § 609.06.
Education:
SCALE supports the increase in the general education formula for the 2024-2025 school year by an
additional 2%. The current budgeted amount is only 2% and falls well short of the rate of inflation.
This additional funding would help address staffing shortages, students and staff mental health
supports, and interrupted learning recovery efforts.
Repeal of PELRA Provision:
Repeal the PELRA provision enacted last session to allow districts and municipalities to maintain inherent managerial rights regarding number
of personnel. School boards and municipal boards want local control to make decisions that are best for their own districts and municipalities
as one size does not fit all.
Innovation Center
Louisville Segment
Housing Project in Scott County
»Housing Options: SCALE supports the swift implementation of the 2023 legislative investment in housing and a sustained increase
to State funding for housing options across the lifecycle. The sustained investments should prioritize the increased production
of housing units, the preservation of existing housing and housing stability programs for households experiencing the need for
transitional and emergency housing.
Reform the Metropolitan Council governance structure:
Currently, members of the Metropolitan Council are non-elected officials appointed by the Governor to four-year terms that are coterminous
with the Governor’s term. SCALE supports changes to legislation which follow the below principles for Metropolitan Council Reform:
»A majority of Metropolitan Council members shall be elected officials with staggered terms
»Metropolitan cities and counties shall appoint their own representatives
»The Council shall represent the entire region, therefore voting shall be based on population and incorporate a
system of checks and balances
Louisville Segment of the Merriam Junction Trail
Quentin Avenue improvements
TOP PRIORITIES FOR CAPITAL BONDING REQUESTS
SCALE supports the following five projects which are regional projects impacting the southwest
metro region. These projects are ready to build and move forward if the state allocates bonds. We
ask for bonding funds only when the money is ready to be used.
Improvements to Quentin Avenue and bridges in Savage:
The state recently awarded the Highway 13 project through Savage and Burnsville a Corridors of
Commerce grant, which will help fund some improvements to the Highway 13/Quentin Avenue
intersection in Savage. However, current and projected traffic models show that the current design
of Quentin Avenue, particularly with its unique bridge issues, will not support the increase in traffic.
Quentin Avenue connects Trunk Highway 13 and County Road 16, crossed by a city-owned railroad
bridge that restricts Quentin Avenue to a single lane stop sign pass-through with a height clearance
of 10 feet. This restrictive bridge height clearance presents a clear public safety hazard as it prohibits
fire trucks from using Quentin Avenue. Further complicating the problem is the presence of a second
bridge on the same rail line that will require improvements if the bridge over Quentin Avenue is
replaced.
To facilitate the needed future improvements to Quentin Avenue, the city bought these bridges in
2008; at this point, these future improvements to Highway 13 – replacing the bridges and improving
Quentin Avenue from the TH 13 Corridors of Commerce project limits to McColl Avenue to modern
roadway standards – have become necessary. As such, the City of Savage is requesting $7.4M for
these critically needed improvements.
Louisville Segment of the Merriam Junction Trail:
Scott County requests $7.3M in state funds to design and construct 4.3 miles of multi-use trail,
including elevated boardwalks over wetland and lake areas, to close the existing gap in the regional
trail system in northern Scott County. This project will link the Merriam Junction Regional Trail
(connecting Scott and Carver Counties) to the Big Woods Regional Trail in Scott County and connect
the communities of Shakopee, Prior Lake, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and
Louisville Township.
Innovation Center:
The Shakopee Innovation Center project creates a post-secondary institution that is next-generation,
highly creative, uniquely flexible, and sustainable with a focus on driving education,
entrepreneurship, and collaboration across the Twin Cities metro area. Driven by partnership among
the City of Shakopee, Scott County, and Minnesota State University-Mankato, the facility is expected
to serve a diverse group of local participants with a variety of needs, skills, ideas, and backgrounds.
Shakopee is requesting $4M for this project.
Scott Dakota Household Hazardous Waste Facility:
Scott and Dakota counties have a combined 593,000 residents — more than 10% of the state
population — and five active landfills. Requesting $8M in capital funds for a new regional facility
located in Lakeville which will increase participation by offering another convenient location to
properly manage waste and recyclables. This new facility will also prolong the life of the two existing
facilities by slowing the growth at those locations.
*nterstate anE $ountZ 3oaE *nterchange %eveloQment: Household Hazardous
Waste Facility
CORE VALUES
» Relationships
» Innovation
» Influence
» Partnerships
» Education
» Leadership
» Facilitation
The Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE) was formed in the spring
of 2003 to encourage greater efficiencies and leadership in public service through enhanced
communication, collaboration of services, and sharing of resources. Members include elected
and appointed officials from the cities, schools, and townships within Scott County, the Shakopee
Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Scott County. (See membership list on back page.) SCALE
members meet monthly to discuss ways in which local governments can continue to maximize
the value of taxpayers’ money through cooperating in mutual service areas, such as public
safety, parks and recreation, transportation, community development, and general government.
The mission of SCALE is to explore new and innovative ways in which government entities can
collaborate to provide superior services while making the most of limited resources. SCALE
recognizes that the 2024 Legislative Session is focused primarily on legislative policy items but
may include a supplemental budget and another bonding bill. SCALE established thse priorities
based on this understanding, and appreciate the consideration of our legislative delegation in
advancing these priorities.
Contact Information:
SCALE
www.scaleinfo.org
CITIES
Belle Plaine
Credit River
Elko New Market
Jordan
New Prague
Prior Lake
Savage
Shakopee
TOWNSHIPS
Belle Plaine
Blakeley
Cedar Lake
Helena
Jackson
Louisville
New Market
St. Lawrence
Sand Creek
Spring Lake
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Belle Plaine Public ISD #716
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage ISD #191
Jordan Public School District #717
New Prague Area ISD #721
Prior Lake-Savage ISD #719
Shakopee Public ISD #720
Shakopee Area Catholic Schools
Southwest Metro Intermediate District
TRIBAL NATION
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribal
Community
COUNTY ENTITIES
Scott County
Scott County Community Development
Agency Scott County Township Association
REGIONAL ENTITIES
Metro Cities (AMM)
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA)
Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
Scott Soil and Water Conservation District
Three Rivers Park District
2024 Legislative Priorities
Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency
GOVERNMENT WITHOUT BORDERS
Working. Smarter. Together.
(952) 873-5553
(952) 440-5515
(952) 461-2777
(952) 492-2535
(952) 758-4401
(952) 447-9800
(952) 882-2660
(952) 233-9300
(651) 307-0101
(612) 860-0836
(612) 308-0871
(952) 758-4505
(952) 445-6495
(952) 445-8715
(952) 461-1920
(952) 492-3284
(952) 423-8177
(952) 492-7030
(952) 873-2400
(952) 707-2000
(952) 492-6200
(952) 758-1700
(952) 226-0000
(952) 496-5000
(952) 445-3387
(952) 567-8100
(952) 496-8100
(952) 402-9022
(612) 490-6363
(651) 215-4000
(952) 882-7500
(952) 440-0067
(952) 492-5425
(763) 559-9000
(952) 496-6109
Perry Mulcrone
(952) 457-6692
pmulcrone@co.scott.mn.us
Tony Albright
Poul Haas Government Relations
(612) 801-9401
tony.albright@poulhaas.com