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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMISC INFO 2015-11-23\ \ . � � 3 � ♦ e \ j ® § / \ ' \ \0E ui » \ \\ oa \\ :\ 7§ � §)) /.k« [ 7§ \\ {0 / _\ / t \� Ew \ - -n SE � g »{* 'F {{ - E - \E }\ 7a)) «a \ \ . � � 3 � ♦ e \ j ® § / \ ' \0E \ \\ \\ §)) &E / \{!0\� � � g »{* 'F {{ E ; « ) f 3 7a)) \f�f cz U o .» R #_ CD | ) �� .CD U) \ 7� [{ f/ {2:3(, /f/\ !) � )- ] -® \� \\ 0}\ E )w )E ( o : - �) ® rf){ §]f \,o/ mo a - E (* E(CD k\ w_ ) { \ { }\ § cn 5§B e) :a 0 3 m 0 c � �N m• N � > E 2 5 o m m m o ice+ 3cm aE ppm 0 OCc m N c 0 m c a a 0=0 Tm m L °Y'm >: •Q�� V/ mON mem cU c_ m OZ, E O cz :Es�-o 3aaaimm m m m C L m 'U •�A/� EL LD 4mm Ec V J m m. EA ice+ cc L m m a 0 ai m m m u a o 0- m 0' c N U m m— N— U °?mN:E E3d�m3E m m U E N O c 0 m T r m U 0 CZ >, m 2 c c I- m m m U 6 p0m`>0m 3 m 0 m d m c O m a O ym� m m td .L. 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'os 4nm p-3 oo 3�m2 ym3°mE9 O4U0 °3cnmm m°ami MEccco� o0�;uv m m o -p_ $ .5,= a m m U m Q j O E ci0M � �_ mm d 2 m OE 3. c _ E ZQ m°3F°S c7 Lm.1°3 L F O 2 V ( � m O 8 � O N m > C m N 0o N N m Z q C O> m OI A o E���m, m m ccom w 0ac o'o :Y sN 4 m ,E0 uin ti m E o E � a0 c c rn'coEv m cm �.,. eLLIa% 3 a F s �� We're applying equity to everything we do Governor Mark Dayton didn't mince any words when he spoke to St. Cloud's chapter of the NAACP in October. He made it clear that his administration fully recognizes that Minnesota is becoming a more diverse state and he intends to make sure that all people have the ability to succeed. Adam Duininck As the Twin Cities region's main FROM THE CHAIR planning entity, the Metropolitan Council has been on the forefront of this issue. Data shows that by 2040, 40% of the region's population will be people of color, compared with 26% today, and one in three households in the Twin Cities region will be composed of people ages 65 and over. These are huge demographic shifts, and we know by measures such as employment, home ownership and income that people of color are lagging far behind white citizens. Our current housing stock will not accommodate the needs of a growing population of senior citizens. To address this problem the Metropolitan Council is taking the concept of equity and incorporating it in all of the work we do. This work was started by my predecessor, Chair Sue Haigh, and the Council Members and I are committed to continue it as we move forward with our Thrive MSP 2040 plan. The Council has been raising these important policy questions and we believe it is important to act as well. Are our regional parks as welcoming to new immigrants as they are to others? Is mass transit connecting low-income citizens to job centers across the region, and is it accessible to seniors? How can we help communities make plans to meet these changing demographics? Equity is one of the key principles we will apply when we answer these questions. It is not about placing the needs of one group over another. It's about giving every citizen in the region an equal shot at a fair outcome.. Equity is recognizing institutional and systemic barriers and creating access and opportunities that benefit everyone. Council grant program spurs water conservation Communities that want to give their residents an incentive to use water more efficiently may now apply to the Metropolitan Council for a grant. The Council approved using $500,000 in state Clean Water Legacy funds over the next two years. Applications are due Nov. 30, 2015, and the Council will' notify applicants by Dec. 31. Communities may use the funds to lower the cost of purchase and installation of products that reduce municipal water use, such as EPA WaterSense-certified high -efficiency toilets, irrigation controllers, and Energy Star -certified washing machines. The grants are only for programs that reduce water demand from customers (residential or commercial) that are connected to a municipal water supply, and for those who replace specific appliances or devices with new devices that use substantially less water. The entire grant amount will pass through city coffers and directly to homeowners for project scope maintans strong ridership projections in new products and installation order to help secure federal funding. costs. The Council grant will cover 75% of homeowner costs while terse communities must provide 25% ra lj S sio of costs. this summer by their leaders, who provide guidance Visit www.metrocouncii.org for oafs grant program details. EPA O�" Updated water plan gives communities choices The amount of water consumed in the Twin Cities region is enormous — an average of nearly 500 million gallons every day. On average each resident uses 75 gallons per day. The demand will increase as the region's population and economy grow. We can expect 800,000 more people living here by the year 2040. These challenges lie at the heart of a newly updated regional plan that charts a path toward a future of affordable, safe, abundant water. In mid-September, a broad-based advisory committee of local, regional and state representatives approved the Metropolitan Area Master Water Supply Plan, and the Metro Council adopted it shortly thereafter. "The Council does not intend to be a supplier of drinking water," said Sandy Rummel, Council Member and chair of the advisory committee. She emphasized that the Council provides information and planning tools to help communities secure safe and plentiful drinking water, while protecting the region's water resources. "We had two years of intensive conversations—within the committee and out in the communities," Rummel said. "We realize one size does not ft all. Communities can consider a menu of options to manage their water resources—conservation, reclaimed wastewater, stormwater recharge of underground sources, and use of surface water and groundwater." The issue is pressing because more than half of the water supplied by municipal utilities comes from one underground aquifer, a layer of water -bearing rock underlying much of the region. And across the region, groundwater levels are going down, potentially affecting not only future available supplies but also the condition of lakes and streams. Updating a plan adopted in 2010, the new version incorporates new data from federal and state agencies. It also reflects new Council assessments of how surface waters and groundwater interact and feasibility assessments of various water supply options. "The plan came a long. way by way of incorporating a more collaborative approach," said Steve Albrecht, public works director for the city of Burnsville. "It's a framework offering a suite of options rather than a single prescriptive solution." Local planners help update Planning Handbook Communities now have a fresh, user-friendly online resource for updating their local comprehensive plans. In September, the Council launched the online Local Planning Handbook. The Handbook isa one-stop shop for guidance, information; and technical assistance for communities working to complete their comprehensive plan updates. Council staff updated the Handbook in response to the needs that local planners identified in surveys about the 2008 comprehensive planning process and in more recent surveys. As the staff developed the Handbook, they tested it extensively with the help of a focus group made up of 42 local planners and consultants from across the region. "The. new Handbook has received unprecedented—and highly deserved—rave reviews by city professional staff for its navigational ease, relevant,. timely and contextually appropriate information, and its general thoroughness as a resource for cities," said Patricia Naumann, Executive Director of Metro Cities. The updated Handbook includes a resource library on subjects like transportation, housing, parks, and land use. Simple, plain -language "how to" sections help local planners and officials understand what is required to be included in their local plans. Staff contact information connects community planners with personalized technical assistance. For communities that want to go beyond the planning requirements, the Handbook provides additional data resources and tools. Each community will find their own individual Community Page in the Handbook. These pages include local forecasts, affordable housing allocations, sewer forecasts, Thrive community designations, and the policies specific to the community type, and more. Visit wvvw.metrocouncil.org to access the Handbook. Land Use Implementation Transportation Awn Plan Resilience Water Resources Elements Economic Parks &Traits Competitiveness Housing Cities, county OK changes to Southwest LRT line AlLfrve.corridor-city_councils and Hennepin County in — Metropolitan Council staff areworking with environmental September approved changes that reduced the cost consultants to prepare the Project's Final Environmental of the Southwest LRT line by $250 million. The new Impact Statement (EIS), with completion expected in project scope maintans strong ridership projections in the second quarter of 2016. The Federal Transit order to help secure federal funding. Administration will issue a Record of Decision on the Final EIS in the second quarter of 2016, signifying the end of the In their second round of municipal consent hearings, environmental review and approval process. the communities agreed with the changes recommended this summer by their leaders, who provide guidance and oversight on the project's Corridor Management— Committee. The changes retain construction of 15 of 17 stations, with the intent to build Eden Prairie Town Center Station in the future, and will connect LRT to the existing SouthWest Station transit hub. The changes retain 94% of the ridership and will serve 96% of the jobs in the corridor. The 14.5 -mile line with 15 stations is scheduled to open in 2020, and around 34.,000 average weekday boardings are expected by 2040. The current project cost estimate is $1.77 billion.