2019.01.23 CC Packet - Goal Setting Session

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General Government operate in an open collection system, authorize city employees to collect waste, or implement organized collection through one or multiple haulers to increase efficiency, reduce truck traffic and control costs to residents. Metro Cities supports current laws that allow cities to work with existing haulers to achieve the benefits of organized collection or investigate the merits of organized collection without the pressure of a rigid timeline and requirement to pass `an intent to organize' at the beginning of the discussion process. Metro Cities opposes any legislation that would further increase the cost or further complicate the process cities are required to follow to organize waste collection or prohibit cities from implementing, expanding or using organized waste collection. 2-0 Election Administration Cities play a critical role in managing and ensuring the integrity of elections. Any changes made to election laws should not place undue financial or administrative burdens on local governments. Additional costs resulting from election law changes should be the responsibility of the state. Eligible voters in Minnesota may vote by absentee ballot prior to Election Day. Starting 46 days before the election, a voter can request, receive and cast an absentee ballot in one visit to their county or city election offices. As more and more voters choose to vote early with absentee balloting, improvements must be made to increase efficiency of administering absentee balloting before Election Day, reduce the potential for errors and to improve voter experience. Metro Cities supports: • 2016 laws allowing in -person absentee voters to place their ballots in a secure tabulator, and statutory changes to allow this for the duration of absentee voting; Establishing an earlier deadline for ending in -person absentee voting; • Revising absentee ballot regulations to allow any person 18 and older to witness the absentee process and sign the envelope as a witness; and • Authorizing cities with health care facilities to schedule election judges to conduct absentee voting at an earlier date in health care facilities. 2-P Utility Franchise Fees, Accountability and Cost Transparency Minnesota cities are authorized by Minnesota statutes M.S. 216B and 30113.01 to require a public utility (gas or electric) that provides services to the city or occupies the public right of way within a city to obtain a franchise. Several metro area cities have entered agreements that 2019 Legislative Policies 16