HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008.11.17 RESO 2008-0050CITY OF HUGO
RESOLUTION 2008-50
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE RECONSIDER
OR DELAY CHANGES IN THE MINNESOTA "GREEN ACRES" LAW
WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Legislature, as part of the 2008 tax bill, made
significant changes to the "Green Acres" law; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hugo's current and proposed new comprehensive plans both put
a high emphasis on agricultural land preservation and open space preservation; and
WHEREAS, a significant percentage of the agricultural land and open space in the City
of Hugo is currently enrolled in the Green Acres and Agricultural Land Preservation Programs;
and
WHEREAS, the proposed law requires all land owners to reapply to stay in the program,
and it changes the payback rate and years of payback; and
WHEREAS, The City of Hugo would benefit from the required paybacks if the law is
implemented as scheduled; and
WHEREAS, Washington County held an informational meeting October 1, 2008 for
affected land owners, a large number of which were from the City of Hugo; and
WHEREAS, many questions at the October 1st meeting were unanswered, but time is
short and land owners need to make decisions with some of their questions unanswered;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Hugo requests the
Minnesota State Legislature delay implementation of this law until January 1, 2010; and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Hugo respectfully asks the Minnesota
State Legislature, with the leadership of State Representative Bob Dettmer, State Representative
Matt Dean, and State Senator Ray Vandeveer, to rewrite the law to deal with whatever egregious
situations it was trying to correct, and to allow reasonable applications of the law which would
allow for the preservation of agricultural lands and open space in communities such as Hugo.
Adopted and passed this 17m day of November, 2008 by order of the Hugo City Council.
ATTEST:
Michele Lindau, City Clerk