11-13-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Make clear the 60 -day time limit begins at the point when a formal complete written ! application is received on forms provided by the city with appropriate additional 3 supporting documents and including the payment of fees if necessary. 4 ® Increase the initial time limit to 90 days for municipalities with less than 5,000 5 population. 6 7 LE -4. Public Infrastructure Utilities (RS) 8 9 Issue: Current infrastructure funding options available to cities are inadequate. Existing 10 special assessment law, Chapter 429, does not meet cities' financing needs because of the benefit 11 requirement. The law requires a minimum of 20 percent of such a project to be specially assessed 12 against affected properties. In practice, however, proof of increased property value to this degree 13 of benefit can rarely be proven from regular repair or replacement of existing infrastructure such 14 as streets or sidewalks. Alternatives to the Chapter 429 methods for financing infrastructure 15 improvements are nearly nonexistent. 16 17 The Legislature has given cities the authority to operate utilities for waterworks, sanitary 18 sewers, and storm sewers. The storm sewer authority, established in 1983, set the precedent for a 19 workable process of charging a use fee on a utility bill for a city service infrastructure that is of 20 value to all those in a city. Similar to the storm sewer authority, a transportation or sidewalk 21 utility would use technical, well - founded measurements and would equitably distribute the costs of local infrastructure services. 24 Response: The Legislature should authorize cities to create, as a local option, 25 additional utilities such as a transportation or sidewalk utility. Such authority would 26 acknowledge: the effects of repeated levy limits and the general funding shift from the state 27 to local governments for building and maintaining necessary infrastructure; the benefits to 28 all taxpayers of a properly maintained public infrastructure; and, the limitations of 29 existing special assessment authority. 30 31 LE -5. Development Fee Disputes (RS) 32 33 Issue: State law is clear that fees collected under Minn. Stat. § 462 are eligible for 34 judicial review in the event a dispute over the fee arises. The law is not clear what notice 35 requirements to the municipality are necessary relative to the timing for an aggrieved person to 36 seek review. 37 38 Response: The Legislature should amend Minn. Stat. § 462.361 to establish a 60 -day 39 time limitation in which an aggrieved person may bring an action against the municipality. iQ LE-6. Housing (AID) 43 Issue: The roles of federal and state government are critical to assist cities in responding to the critical lack of both rental and single - family housing for those priced out of the market. 'hi The federal government has largely removed itself from providing direct funding and subsidies 46 for housing production. 9