Agenda Packets - 1985/01/02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LUEET-4. TRANSPORTATION (B) (cont'd) 2. An adequate level of highway user funds should be ralntalned su GiaL highway maintenance and reconstruction may be continued, and adequate funds be available for the state -aid street program. The Legislature has recently taken appropriate steps in this direction by increasing license fees and the gasoline tax to maintain this fund. Efforts should be made to eliminate any inequities in the motor vehicle license fee schedules and other vehicle taxes. The League does not support establishing a system of direct appropriations to cities under 5,000. 3. The special state bonding program should be continued to provide funds for counties, towns and municipalities for the replacement or repair of bridges. 4. Funding for at least the existing level of operation for mass transit should be maintained by the state. Available funds should be used at the city's option for capital or operating expenses. 5. The legislature should continue the Minnesota Department of Transportation as the rideshare program coordinating agency and to provide adequate funding for its continuation. 6. The League supports the continued dedication of the sales tax on motor vehicle sales for transportation purposes, and advocates the prompt transfer of the motor vehicle excise tax into the highway user an transit assistance fund. 7. The possibility and feasibility of utilizing existing railroad trackage as oart of a fixed guide way and/or light rail mass transit system should be addressed. If existing railroad trackage/right-of-ways are petitioned for abandonment, these or portions thereof should be preserved by appropriate government agencies through alternate public use until rail systems once again become economically feasible or needed because of energy considerations. B. The legislature should restore the bikeway grants program in order to promote safety in a growing recreational activity. LUEET-5. ANNEXATION (B) The League supports legislation making it easier for cities to Public policies which encourage substantial development in non -urban areas and which extend public services beyond existing jurisdictions and service areas are wasteful and counter -productive. Cities offer a variety of lifestyles that conserve energy, and they are already centers of substantial public and private investment. Additionally, prime agricultural land is a major natural and economic resource and any state land use strategy must include as a major objective the preservation of prime agricultural land. The state should establish a policy encouraging the preservation of prime agricultural land which discourages the development of such land outside designated growth areas to be -28-