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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE:December 9, 2025 <br />DISCUSSION <br />TO: Mayor and Councilmembers <br />FROM: Nicole Miller, City Administrator <br />AGENDA ITEM: 2026 Legislative Priorities for Lake Elmo <br />CORE STRATEGIES: <br />☒ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☒ Efficient, reliable, innovative services <br />☒ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☒ Balanced Finances now and future <br />☒ Managed Growth ☒ Resilient Infrastructure <br />BACKGROUND: As we prepare for the upcoming state legislative session, staff would like to ensure we <br />are aligned with the City Council’s priorities and expectations for legislative engagement. Staff is <br />requesting your guidance on any specific legislative issues, bills or policy areas you would like us to <br />provide input on. Following this discussion staff will begin to create a handout for representatives, laying <br />out Lake Elmos priorities and why they are important to Lake Elmo and setting up meetings with them. <br />Your direction will clarify resources needed to reflect your position and priorities for the upcoming <br />session. <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: The 2026 legislative session will begin February 17, 2026. Some <br />questions to aid the discussion are as follows: <br />Does the council wish to focus on Lake Elmo specific issues, east metro focused issues, or statewide <br />priorities? <br />Does the council wish to duplicate advocating efforts that other organizations are doing? <br />What specific issues would you like us to discuss with our state representatives? <br />Do any council members wish to participate in meetings with staff and our representatives? <br />Do we want to send staff/council to City Day on the Hill in early March? <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) hosts policy committee <br />meetings every summer to identify emerging municipal issues across the state as well as draft positions for <br />the upcoming legislative session. The LMC staff then brings a set of legislative priorities for the League <br />Board of Directors to adopt and for league staff to advocate for during the upcoming session. The board <br />approved the LMC 2026 Cities Policies on November 6, 2025.