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APA Minnesota Legislative Committee

If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact the committee co-chairs, Bob Patton rtpatton@aol.com (651- 201-6226) or Andrew Mack andrew.mack@jpbgba.org (218-759-3582).

American Planning Association, National Conference

National Delegate Assembly on Surface Transportation

Transportation for America

APA MN - Surface Transportation Guide (draft for comments)

 


Legislative Updates (FINAL, as of 6/13/2010)  Excel file   PDF file


 

As the APA Minnesota and MACPZA continue to work together on reforming Minnesota’s planning and zoning enabling statutes, measures aimed at redesigning government processes within the state are moving forward at the State Capitol on separate tracks. One track is using the work of the Legislative Audit Commission to look at environmental permitting and review processes, renewable energy, and transportation services. Another track through new legislation will create a commission to review and recommend improving government collaboration by reviewing existing laws that impede intergovernmental collaboration and exploring opportunities to improve service delivery and sharing through the use of new technologies and designing models for new powers.  

Legislative Audit Commission Directs Legislative Auditor to Evaluate State Environmental Review Processes and Permitting

The Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) chose the state’s environmental review and permitting system as one of three new program evaluations slated for study by the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). The LAC is a bi-partisan commission, comprised of six 6 members from the House of Representatives and six members from the Senate, and are equally divided between the majority and minority parties. Membership is governed by Minnesota Statutes.   The commission appoints the Legislative Auditor and selects topics for the Program Evaluation Division to review. It also periodically holds hearings to review audit and evaluation reports. The commission chair rotates every two years between the House and the Senate.   The commission solicited topics in February and surveyed legislators in March about theses topics. The LAC's topics subcommittee recommended the three selected topics to the full LAC.   The schedule for conducting the evaluation will be determined. The OLA is completing work on three 2009 program evaluations. The 2009 program evaluations are:
  • governance of Minnesota’s transit systems;
  • renewable energy development fund; and
  • medical non-emergency transportation services.

The issues the environmental program evaluation may include are:         

How do environmental permit processes and related environmental reviews differ across various federal, state, and local government entities? What are the key elements in the environmental permitting and review processes and how long do they take?

To what extent do state agencies coordinate permitting and review processes with one another and with other units of government that issue environmental permits?

Could changes to permitting or review processes improve efficiency while maintaining appropriate levels of environmental protection?

How do environmental permitting processes vary in neighboring states?

Can Minnesota draw lessons from approaches used elsewhere?  

The background paper summarizing the work is available online at: http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/announce/envirper.pdf  

Additional information about the LAC is located online at: http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/lac.htm  

Online information about OLA is at: http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/bkgd.htm  

Bill Creates Collaborative Governance Council

A council to increase collaboration between all levels of government would be created under a bills approved through committees in the Minnesota House and Senate. The legislation creates a 12-member “Collaborative Governance Council’ will be required to:  

  • review laws and rules that slow collaboration efforts and develop recommendations;
  • improve delivery of governmental services;
  • connect entities and share information through the use of technology;
  • facilitate credit and debit card transactions and electronic data interchanges; and
  • create model forms for joint powers agreements.
If the bill becomes law, the Collaborative Governance Council will consist of the state auditor, and four legislators. The new body will also be compromised of one representative from each of the following organizations:
  • League of Minnesota Cities
  • Minnesota Association of Townships
  • Association of Minnesota Counties
  • Minnesota School Boards Association
  • AFSCME
  • Education Minnesota
  • SEIU
The council will be required to meet at least quarterly beginning on July 1, 2010. The bill also requires the council to develop recommendations designed to increase collaboration in government and report those recommendations to the governor and legislature by February 1 of each year until the council expires on June 30, 2015.   The most recent committee level action occurred on March 26, when HF 2840 was passed and referred by the Finance Committee to the floor. Its companion, SF 2511, is on the Senate floor.

 


Misc Documents                                                                                           

2010 Approved Work Plan             

APA Minnesota Policy Platform

Enabling Law Reform - Purpose and Need

                                           Action Plan Outline

                                           Timeline for Action Steps

  

2010 Meetings    
January 8 Agenda Meeting Notes
February 12 Agenda Meeting Notes
March 23 Agenda & Program Meeting Notes
April 9 Agenda Meeting Notes

 

2009 Meetings
   
January 9
Agenda Meeting Notes
February 6
Agenda Meeting Notes
March 6
Agenda Meeting Notes
April 10
Agenda Meeting Notes
May 8
Agenda Meeting Notes
June 12
Agenda Meeting Notes
October 9
Agenda Meeting Notes
November 6
Agenda Meeting Notes
December 7 (Joint Meeting)
Agenda Meeting Notes


Come and join the Legislative Committee at their next meeting!

See the above agenda or call for more details.

 

 

 

 

 


American Planning Association Minnesota Chapter
Phone: 1-888-882-5369 (toll free)
E-mail the APA Minnesota