09/05/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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THE METRO CITIES MISSION is to represent the collective interests of all metropolitan area cities on metropolitan issues and statewide issues with metropolitan significance ABOUT METRO CITIES Metro Cities is the only metro -wide service and lobbying organization representing cities in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Our membership currently consists of 86 cities from all 7 metro counties, that make up more than 85% of the metro area's population. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE Metro Cities is governed by a 19- member Board of Directors and served by a four - person staff. Board membership is comprised of local elected and appointed officials representing each class of city, and is geographically distributed to reflect the composition of our membership. MAJOR FUNCTIONS Metro Cities represents metropolitan cities before the Metropolitan Council on issues such as comprehensive land planning, zoning, transportation, growth, housing, wastewater and water resources, and livable communities. Metro Cities represents metropolitan cities before the Legislature on transportation funding, economic development, housing, LGA and other state aids, property taxes, tax increment financing and other issues with metro and statewide significance. Metro Cities provides a forum for policy development with four committees (Municipal Revenues, Metro Agencies, Housing /Economic Development and Transportation /General Government) comprised of local officials and staff that meet annually to develop policies that guide Metro Cities in its representation of city interests before the Legislature and Met Council. Metro Cities provides important services to its membership, including the License and Permit Fee Survey, Salary Survey, and staff support for the Metropolitan Area Management Association (MAMA). POLICY DEVELOPMENT A vital function of Metro Cities is to provide a forum for policy development and consensus building that allows city officials to deepen their awareness and understanding of other communities, collaboratively problem solve, and develop consensus based policies. As the only general purpose metro -wide city organization, and with membership that includes the central cities, inner ring and developing suburbs as well as freestanding communities, Metro Cities is uniquely suited for this task. METRO CITIES RELATIONSHIPS WITH LMC AND MET COUNCIL While Metro Cities is affiliated with the LMC and routinely cooperates on important issues, our mission is separate. A key distinction is Metro Cities' work with the Metropolitan Council. Metro Cities, created subsequent to the Council, coordinates with and monitors the Council's work on a range of issues and responds as appropriate to protect the interests of metro cities. Although, Metro Cities and LMC work collaboratively on a wide array of city issues with metro and statewide importance, there have been and likely will be issues where our metro focus will dictate a different approach.