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1 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING <br /> APRIL 28 , 1992 <br /> PAGE 2 <br /> 4 <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Referring to the recently adjourned Legislative Session, <br /> 7 Senator Marty felt it had been productive and there was <br /> 8 considerable bipartisan cooperation . A good example of this <br /> 9 spirit of cooperation was the Healthright bill . The Senator <br /> 10 felt this was a step in the right direction to get a handle on <br /> 11 health costs , although it will be several years before the <br /> 12 cost savings and actual costs will be realized . <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Senator Marty authored both a DWI bill and a Crime Package. He <br /> 15 noted that the Crime Package passed unanimously in both the <br /> 16 Senate and the House . <br /> 17 <br /> 18 The Senator ' s position on the sales tax is that it affords <br /> 19 more equity . He noted that the Governor ' s proposed cuts on <br /> 20 Local Government Aids would not have impacted school <br /> 21 districts , counties or townships . The sales tax has more merit <br /> 22 as it affects all entities . <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Representative McGuire advised that the Workers ' Compensation <br /> 25 bill which passed offers a sixteen percent reduction in rates , <br /> 26 controls medical costs and has administrative reforms . She <br /> 27 noted this legislation will be monitored closely to see if it <br /> does what was intended . <br /> 30 The education reductions did not cut as much as if shifting <br /> 31 had been implemented. Violence prevention and criminal <br /> 2 incarcerations were funded dollar for dollar. A teacher <br /> 33 internship pilot program and higher education courses for high <br /> 34 schools were fully funded . <br /> 35 <br /> 36 Representative McGuire noted that the environmental issues did <br /> 37 not fare so well during this session. A landfill clean up <br /> 38 account was instituted and programs were put in place to <br /> 39 control eurasion milfoil . A park development program for the <br /> 40 metro area was also funded. . Other programs which were <br /> 41 addressed and implemented were energy efficient standards for <br /> 42 highway lighting and funding of Metro Mobility. She advised <br /> 43 that the 1 . 2 million dollars allocated for Metro Mobility will <br /> 44 reduce some portions of the program if the agency , does not <br /> 45 find additional funding. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Ramsey County has been authorized as an Housing and <br /> 48 Redevelopment Authority. This authorization will sunset in two <br /> 49 years . <br /> 50 <br /> 51 Representative McGuire offered her assistance to the City with <br /> 52 the EPA regarding the granular carbon filtration plant . She <br /> 53 also indicated a willingness to help with the re-routing of <br /> the MTC bus in St . Anthony . <br />