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Housing & Economic Development <br />• Local authority to manage public rights -of -way, to zone, to collect compensation for <br />the use of public assets, or to work cooperatively with the private sector. Cities may <br />exercise local authority over zoning and land -use decisions for wireless service facilities; <br />and <br />• Public -private collaborations that support broadband infrastructure and services at <br />the local and regional level, including partnerships and cooperation in providing last -mile <br />connections. <br />3-Q City Role in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development <br />Historically, cities have played a major role in environmental protection, particularly in water <br />quality. Through the construction and operation of wastewater treatment and storm water <br />management systems, cities are a leader in protecting the surface water of the state. In recent <br />years, increased emphasis has been placed on protecting ground water and removing <br />impairments from storm water. In addition, there is increased emphasis on city participation in <br />controlling our carbon footprint and in promoting green development. <br />Metro Cities supports public and private environmental protection efforts to reduce <br />greenhouse gas emissions and to further protect surface and ground water. Metro Cities <br />also supports "green" design and construction techniques to the extent that those <br />techniques have been thoroughly tested and are truly environmentally beneficial, <br />economically sustainable and represent sound building practices. Metro Cities supports <br />additional, feasible environmental protection with adequate funding and incentives to <br />comply. <br />Green jobs represent employment and entrepreneurial opportunities that are part of the green <br />economy, as defined in M.S. 116J.437, including the four industry sectors of green products, <br />renewable energy, green services and environmental conservation. Minnesota's green jobs <br />policies, strategies and investments need to lead to high quality jobs with good wages and <br />benefits, meeting current wage and labor laws. <br />3-R Impaired Waters <br />Metro Cities supports continued development of the metropolitan area in a manner that is <br />responsive to the market, but is cognizant of the need to protect the water resources of the <br />state and metro area. Since all types of properties are required to pay storm water fees, <br />Metro Cities opposes entity -specific exemptions from these fees. Metro Cities supports the <br />goals of the Clean Water Act and efforts at both the federal and state level to implement it. <br />Metro Cities supports continued funding of the framework established to improve the <br />region's ability to respond to market demands for development and redevelopment, <br />including dedicated funding for surface water impairment assessments, Total Maximum <br />Daily Load (TMDL) development, storm water construction grants and wastewater <br />construction grants. <br />2019 Legislative Policies <br />36 <br />