11-13-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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® Require major political parties to provide a list of eligible voters to serve as election L judges to counties by May 1 and for counties to provide lists to cities by May 15. 3 • Authorize cities to enact an ordinance no more than 90 days prior to the opening of 4 filings to require write -in candidates for city elective offices to file a written request 5 with the filing officer no later than the day before the election in the same manner as 6 candidates for state and federal offices are now required by M.S. 204B.09, Subd. 3, in 7 order for votes cast to be tabulated and reported in the official canvass. 8 ® Allow precinct polling places to be located within 3,500 feet outside of precinct 9 boundaries. 10 11 SD -13. Local Election Authority (All) 12 13 Issue: City authority to schedule city elections and establish terms of office for local 14 elected officials strengthens regard for the role of local self- government, particularly when voters 15 approve those matters in home rule charter cities. Additionally, statutory cities currently lack 16 authority to create or abolish wards. 17 18 Response: The Legislature should oppose further limits on either the number or the 19 length of terms city elected officials may serve as provided in current state law, particularly 20 when those terms have been established by voters in home rule charter cities. State policy 21. on uniform elections should continue to recognize and uphold local authority to schedule city elections in November of either even- or odd- numbered years. The Legislature should support provisions to give statutory cities general authority to create and abolish wards. 24 25 SD -14. Environmental Protection (RS) 26 27 Issue: Cities demonstrate strong stewardship for the protection and preservation of the 28 environment. Minnesota municipalities have historically been the leading funding source for 29 environmental protection and improvements. Municipal efforts include environmental protection 30 through wastewater treatment, wetland restorations, stormwater treatment, public utility emission 31 reductions, brownfield cleanup, safe drinking water programs, as well as others. 32 33 However, at some point the diminishing or nonexistent environmental benefit received 34 from additional efforts is fiscally irresponsible. Often, the programs are improperly designed to 35 meet their stated goals. Additionally, the absence of funding by the state and federal 36 governments has removed an essential restraining feature in program design and implementation. 37 Agencies are less accountable to the governments that mandate environmental programs when 38 they do not have to find the money to implement the programs. 39 40 Specific problems faced by cities include: 41 42 ® New programs or standards are continually adopted without regard to the existence, 41 attainability or cost of existing programs and standards. Regulatory bodies fail to consistently use good science and the most current and accurate 45 data when establishing water quality standards. 27