11-13-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Response: The private sector must be required to pay a greater share of the improvements that benefit their industry. The public sector should not be expected to 3 underwrite the costs of improvements sought by the private sector. The state and federal 4 government must participate in adequately funding the mitigation of the negative impact of 5 railroads on local government and its citizens. The federal government must exercise 6 greater over -sight of the STB to ensure fair and equitable solutions are reached when 7 dealing with cities in Minnesota. 8 9 IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY 10 11 SD -1. Redesigning and Reinventing Government (GC) 12 13 Issue: Every level of government is re- evaluating, reprioritizing, redesigning, and 14 renewing its organizational structure and programs in response to financial realities and citizens' 15 needs and problems. Reforms, however, must be more than change for the sake of change or a 16 reshuffling of existing programs to appease the electorate. To be meaningful, reorganization and 17 reassignments of governmental entities and services should save money where feasible, deliver 18 improved services, serve essential needs, and be equitably structured. Cities have and will 19 continue to pursue the use of cooperative agreements, the re- evaluation of city programs and 20 services, and changes to organizational structures. 21 22 Response: The federal, state, and county governments should: 24 • Ensure that in redesigning, reinventing or reassigning government services and 25 programs that the appropriate level of service to citizens is evaluated and citizen 26 demands and expectations are adequately addressed. 27 • Promote local efforts through incentives, rather than mandates. 28 • Communicate and establish a process of negotiation before shifting responsibility for 29 delivering services from one level of government to another or seeking to reduce service 30 duplication. 31 • Transfer authority for use of revenues dedicated to such programs, or provide 32 appropriate and adequate alternatives. 33 • Identify and repeal programs or discontinue services that are no longer necessary or 34 which can readily and fairly be provided by the private sector. 35 • Employ existing government entities in redesign efforts rather than create new agencies 36 or units. 37 38 SD -2. Unfunded Mandates (GC) 39 1'0 Issue: The cost of federal and state mandated programs substitute the judgment of 41 Congress, the president, the Legislature, and the governor for local budget priorities. These 42 mandates force cities to reduce funding for other basic services or to increase taxes and service charges. The passage by the Legislature of reporting requirements for new state mandates, and 21